Just a Taste of Me

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JUST A TASTE OF ME Wolf Creek Pack 2

Stormy Glenn

EROTIC ROMANCE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com


ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

WARNING: 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." If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]


A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

JUST A TASTE OF ME Copyright © 2009 by Stormy Glenn E-book ISBN: 1-60601-445-5 First E-book Publication: July 2009 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2009 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com


DEDICATION This book is dedicated to my new sister-in-law. Thank you for listening to all of my crazy story ideas, letting me go on and on about my writing, and letting me be the aunt to the world’s most perfect baby. Welcome to the family.


JUST A TASTE OF ME Wolf Creek Pack 2 STORMY GLENN Copyright © 2009

Chapter 1 Reece stared in disdain over the crowd gathered in the dimly lit bar as he fingered the beer bottle in his hand. He really didn’t want to be here, but he couldn’t figure out any other place that he really wanted to be either. The bar itself wasn’t so bad as far as bars went. The music was loud, the beer cold, and the individual wooden booths offered some semblance of privacy. Reece could just see a couple of pool tables past the back of the wooden bench seat across from him. Still, there was something in the air tonight, something that was making him feel very edgy, but damned if he could figure out what it was. It was making him feel restless and irritable, not a good thing for one of his kind to be. Reece signaled the waitress, holding up his beer. Maybe he just needed to get drunk and find a nice piece of ass to fuck for the night. Lifting his head, he gazed out at the crowd, perusing all of the women there for their fitfulness. He liked sex, the rougher, the better. It kind of cut down on who he could have sex with. His partner needed to be strong enough to sustain his forceful appetites, the dominant aggression he couldn’t keep at bay when he had his dick deep in some woman’s pussy.


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His eyes briefly settled on a slender woman standing next to the bar before dismissing her and moving on. She had been interesting at first, attractive even, but for some reason she just didn’t hold Reece’s attention for more than a moment. No, he was looking for something else, something—fuck! He wasn’t looking for that! A small man had just walked through the door. Reece was confused as to why he even noticed, but damned if the man didn’t make Reece’s cock stand up and shout its interest. The man was unlike anything that Reece would ever have looked at, so small Reece almost missed him. He had to be at least a foot shorter than Reece and nearly a hundred pounds lighter. Much too small and fragile for the kind of sex Reece enjoyed. And he was male. Reece had never been interested in men before so why was this one captivating him so much? Oh sure, Reece could look at a man and appreciate his looks, but he had never been with a man sexually. So, why couldn’t he pull his eyes away from this man? What was it about the little man that held Reece so captivated? Was it his collarlength, curly, honey-blond hair? His pale green eyes? It certainly couldn’t be the small delicate body hidden under the baggy jeans and dark green sweatshirt he was wearing. Could it? Reece moved his eyes away, forcing himself to keep looking for his night’s prey but his eyes kept coming back to the little man, time and time again, almost against his will. There was just something about him that fascinated Reece. As Reece watched, the man leaned over the bar and talked to the bartender, turning his head to look where the bartender pointed before nodding and walking in the same direction. Reece felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up when the bartender smiled at the dark haired man dressed in black slacks and a white dress shirt who was standing at the bar, then gestured after the little man with his head. The man in the slacks snickered and then followed after the little man. Reece knew instantly that the man who had captivated his


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attention was in trouble. Something serious was about to go down, and the intriguing man was going to be right in the middle of it. Just the thought made the wolf in Reece rebel. He could feel his hands starting to clench, his claws coming out as he growled low in his throat. Reece got up from his seat and began making his way towards the bathroom, the direction both men had gone. The closer Reece got to the bathroom, the stronger the faint scent became that he had first picked up where the man had walked. It was heady, making him almost dizzy. It was sweet, but tangy at the same time and totally intoxicating. As Reece pushed open the door of the men’s restroom, he could hear a frightened squeak, a lot of heavy breathing, and the sounds of a struggle. His eyes immediately went to the far stall. He knew he should just turn and walk away. This wasn’t any of his business. The last time he had stuck his nose in a situation like this, he had paid for it. He was still paying for it. What did he care if someone was assaulting the little human? And he could now tell that the man was a human. He could smell it. It was wrapped up in that intoxicating scent that seemed to shoot straight down to his hard cock. Damn! As he stepped closer, Reece could see the small man struggle against the man from the bar. Reece’s canines dropped down as he leapt across the room and grabbed the larger man by the back of his neck, tossing him across the room. He crouched down in a defensive stance in front of the smaller man, his hands curling as his claws extended. No one was more surprised than Reece when a deep aggressive growl came from his throat. “Mine!” “I saw him first.” The other man’s claws extended as he challenged Reece. “He’s not been claimed which makes him fair game.” Reece knew what that meant and it filled him with a savage rage unlike anything that he could ever remember feeling. The man before him was claiming the frightened man behind him as a blood donor.


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Essentially, the bloodsucker was correct. The smaller man had not been claimed, which did mean that he was fair game for anyone. However, that didn’t mean Reece was going to let it happen. Reaching behind him, Reece grabbed the small man, ignoring his frightened cries, and pulled him up against his body. Reece took just a moment to gaze into the man’s frightened green eyes before grabbing the man’s hair and tilting his head to one side. Reece tried to resist what he was about to do, but some force, some power stronger than him, made him lean in, slowly licking the soft skin between the man’s neck and shoulder before sinking his canines deep into the man’s soft flesh. Reece groaned the moment the human’s sweet blood reached him, closing his eyes in ecstasy. It was heaven, nirvana, and the richest ambrosia he had ever tasted all rolled into one sweet taste. As Reece swallowed down the human’s life’s essence, he suddenly noticed how soft the man felt, how well he fit into his arms, the fragrant aroma of his silky hair, his pale skin. He reached around with his free hand and grabbed the man’s hip, pulling him closer into the apex of his thighs, pressing the man’s smaller body against his aching erection. He wanted nothing more than to strip the little human from his clothes and thrust his hard cock deep into his warmth, but the scent of the other man still lingered in the small room, reminding Reece that they were not alone. Reluctantly withdrawing his canines and licking across the bite mark to close it, Reece raised his head and looked down at the man in his arms. Large pale green eyes the color of a summer meadow stared back at him. They were a bit dazed, filled with fear. Reece moved his hand slightly from the back of the man’s neck to stroke his thumb down his soft cheek, trying to reassure him. Then his eyes dropped to his lips, his luscious pale lips that begged to be kissed.


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Oh, Reece wanted to kiss those lips even more than he wanted his next breath, but he had something he knew he had to take care of first. Picking the small man up in his arms, Reece held his face to the crook of his neck. Reece reached up with one claw and sliced into the soft skin of his neck before holding the man’s head back to his skin. “Drink,” he demanded, holding the man tighter against the cut in his neck when the man began to struggle. The man shook his head frantically as he turned his head to look up at him. Reece opened his mouth, letting his canines drop into view. “Now!” He closed his mouth, smiling his approval, when the man opened his mouth and quickly licked the side of his neck and began swallowing his blood. He knew that the little man was just doing what he thought would save his life. He had no idea that his life was about to change in ways he couldn’t even imagine. “Enough!” Reece said fiercely a moment later, causing the man to look up at him in surprise. “Lick it closed.” The second that the man’s tongue swept over the bite wound on his neck, Reece decided that he was going to feel that tongue on his cock before the night was through. A human he might be, but that didn’t mean that Reece wouldn’t be enjoying him in some manner. He pulled the man against him, tucking him into the side of his body as he turned back to glare at the bloodsucker standing outside of the small stall. “Mine!” he growled. “Well, shit! If you wanted first choice, you didn’t have to bond with him. I would have given you a shot. Now, you’re fucked, buddy,” the man replied as he turned on his heels and left the room. Yep, he was fucked, Reece realized as he turned back to face the trembling man in his arms. By exchanging blood with him, he had bonded with the human, binding them together for the rest of their lives. Now what was he supposed to do with him? “I’m Reece, Quilliam Reece. What’s your name?” Reece asked gravely.


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“K—Ke—Keeley,” the man stammered. “Why are you here?” “I—I didn’t m—m—mean to. I’ll go, swear. I’ll never come back. I won’t tell anyone.” Reece raised his hand to softly caress the side of Keeley’s face. “No, Keeley, it’s too late for that, much too late.” He wasn’t surprised when Keeley started to struggle, pulling away even as he started pummeling Reece’s chest with his fists. Grabbing the back of Keeley’s neck, Reece did the only thing he could, the one thing he had been thinking about since he had laid eyes on the man. He lowered his lips to Keeley’s, capturing them before Keeley could stop him. Oh, Keeley was so sweet. He tasted like the sweetest, most succulent thing Reece had ever tasted. Reece could go on kissing Keeley for the rest of his life. He stroked his tongue over Keeley’s lips, feeling him resist for just a moment before opening his mouth and allowing him entrance. One hesitant brush of Keeley’s tongue against his and Reece knew he was in trouble. He had to have more. Reece’s kiss was urgent and ravenous as his tongue explored the recesses of Keeley’s mouth. Reece felt a deep growl of approval escape his mouth as Keeley’s hands moved up to clench in his shirt, holding Reece’s lips to his as he pressed his body tightly against Reece’s. It appeased the wolf in Reece to know that his new little mate wasn’t immune to him. Hearing a commotion outside the bathroom door, Reece reluctantly lifted his head to look down at Keeley. He was amused by the stunned look on his face. He was pretty sure that if he let go of Keeley, he would fall to the floor. “Do you understand what’s happened here, Keeley?” Reece asked quietly. ****


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Keeley stared up at the big man that held him in his arms wondering how he had ended up in the twilight zone. He had just wanted to use the bathroom. Now he had been attacked, bitten, drank some strange guy’s blood, and been kissed. But oh, what a kiss it had been. Just the thought of the man’s lips on his again had Keeley’s toes curling. He had been kissed more than a few times in his life but never like that. It had made him want to rip the man’s clothes off and lick him from head to toe and then start all over again. “Keeley?” Keeley raised his eyes to the man’s coal black ones. “What?” “Do you understand what just happened here?” Reece asked again. “You kissed me.” Seemed pretty clear cut to him. He leaned back a little as Reece chuckled. He could feel the rumble in the chest pressed against his. “There’s more to it than that, Keeley, a lot more.” “If I tell you, will you kiss me again?” Keeley whispered. Please! He watched, fascinated, as the man’s dark eyebrow went up in surprise. “You liked me kissing you?” the man asked. “Oh yeah, that was hot!” Keeley groaned, his eyes dropping down to the man’s lips. “Are you—do you like men?” Keeley’s eyes shot back up to meet the man’s curious ones. “Yeah,” he replied hesitantly, his eyebrows drawing together in a frown. “Don’t you?” “No.” Keeley immediately felt like the floor had dropped out from beneath him. Reece didn’t like men? Then why in the hell had he kissed him? Was Reece just playing with him? It wouldn’t be the first time someone had pretended to like Keeley only to turn around and beat the crap out of him for being gay. He doubted it would be the last time either.


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Dropping his arms from the man’s shirt, Keeley tried to step back only to be stopped by the strong arms wrapped around him. Keeley tried to push them away from his body, but Reece didn’t seem to want that. Reece just tightened his arms even more. “Please let me go.” “I can’t do that, Keeley.” Keeley dropped his head forward in resignation as he stopped struggling. Just fucking perfect! The man that held him was too big for him to fight off. There was no way Keeley could win against him. Closing his eyes, Keeley took a deep breath and braced himself for the beating he was sure to come. “Fine, just get it over with.” **** Reece stared down at Keeley’s bent head in confusion. He could smell the fear and desolation rolling off of him. It suddenly dawned on Reece that Keeley was waiting for him to start hitting him. “Keeley,” he said quietly, surprised at how much anger was filling him at how easily Keeley was accepting such violence against himself, “I would never hurt you.” “Then let me go,” Keeley whispered, almost begging, as he looked back up at Reece. “I can’t do that.” “Why not? What do you want from me?” Keeley asked quickly as he reached into his front pocket and pulled a wad of cash out, holding it up to Reece. “Here, this is all I have, I swear.” Reece shook his head. “I don’t want your money, Keeley.” “Then what do you want? My car? Here, take it,” Keeley said as he dug back into his pocket for his car keys, holding them out to Reece. He looked desperate. “I don’t have anything else.” Reece shook his head. “No, Keeley, I don’t want your money or your car,” he said sternly. He knew he wasn’t making much sense


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from the confused look on Keeley’s face. He just knew that he could never give Keeley up. As of a few minutes ago, Keeley was his mate. “Then what do you want from me?” “I wish I knew, Keeley, I wish I knew.”


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Chapter 2 Keeley stared out the window of Reece’s truck wondering how in the hell he got himself into this situation. A stop to go to the bathroom? A wrong turn? What? It wasn’t like he asked to be picked on—did he? He knew he was a little flamboyant, but he had thought that he had hidden it pretty well beneath the baggy jeans and oversized sweatshirt. He didn’t even have any nail polish on. So, why was he sitting in some strange man’s truck not knowing where they were going? Keeley had no idea where they were headed or why he was agreeing to it. He turned his head to look over at the man driving the truck. There was just something about Reece that called to him on a very basic level. Keeley knew he had to be out of his mind. Reece had admitted he wasn’t even into men. So, why was Keeley agreeing to all of this? He should be running for the hills—screaming. He didn’t even want to think about the bite thing. That had just been too weird. Somewhat of a turn on, but weird nonetheless. “Where are we going?” Keeley finally asked when the curiosity got to be too much for him. “My house,” Reece replied without even taking his eyes off the road. Great! He was going home with a straight man that kissed better than anyone he had ever met. Could his life get any more complicated? As the strong, manly scent of the man next to him


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reached Keeley, making his cock sit up and beg for attention, he sighed deeply. Guess so! “Is something wrong, Keeley?” Reece asked as he turned to look over at him. Keeley smirked. “Well, let’s see. I’ve been attacked, not once but twice, bitten by some weirdo, forced to drink his blood, kissed by a straight man, and now I’m being kidnapped and taken to god knows where against my will by said straight guy. What could possibly be wrong?” “You sure have a mouth on you,” Reece said. “I sure hope you know what else to do with it besides flap your lips.” “Why would you care? You don’t do guys, remember?” “I think that’s about to change,” Reece replied ruefully. “Why?” Keeley asked. “‘Cause I’m so damn cute?” Reece shook his head. “You are that, Keeley, but no, that’s not it.” “Then what is? You suddenly decide to switch sides and see what a gay man feels like? Did curiosity get the better of you? Or are you just hoping to get some kicks trying something new and kinky?” Keeley drawled sarcastically. “Keeley—” Reece started to say, hoping to calm him down. He could feel the agitation and resentment coming off of Keeley in waves. “Why me? Couldn’t you find some other poor sucker to kidnap? Because I have to tell you, as sexy as you may be, I’m not into straight guys,” Keeley stated, crossing his arms over his chest as he glared across the truck cab at Reece. “Damn it, Keeley, this isn’t about sex!” “Oh, really? Then why the kiss?” Reece rolled his eyes. “Okay, it is about sex, but not just sex. There’s more to it than that.” “Well? I’m waiting,” Keeley said after Reece was silent for several moments.


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Keeley yelped a moment later when Reece suddenly swerved the truck and pulled off to a side road, slamming on the brakes, and put the truck in park. Keeley’s eyes widened in fright, and he pressed back against the door when Reece unbuckled his seatbelt and scooted across the bench seat, reaching for him. Oh shit! “Reece!” Keeley cried out when Reece ripped his seatbelt in two and yanked him across the seat. He pushed his hands against Reece’s chest, trying to lean away from him, but Reece was having none of it. He wrapped one arm around Keeley’s waist, the other around his neck, his hand clenching in Keeley’s hair. When he pulled his head back, Keeley could see the long canine teeth in Reece’s mouth as he pulled his lips back and growled down at him. “Enough! Not another sound out of you. Understood?” Keeley quickly nodded his head, wondering what he had just unleashed. He should have kept his big mouth shut. It was always getting him into trouble. He just couldn’t seem to keep it shut. He stared up at Reece, wondering if he was about to die, when Reece leaned down and started sniffing at his neck, his long tongue coming out to lick at the skin he had bitten in the bathroom back at the bar. Keeley couldn’t stop the shudder that went through his body, nor the further hardening of his cock in response to the man holding him. He let his head drop back to the seat as Reece continued to lick and nibble at his throat, moving slowly down to his chest. Lifting his head when he heard a small tearing sound, Keeley realized that Reece had just used a very sharp, very long claw to split his sweatshirt right down the middle. He was about to protest when Reece’s lips latched onto his nipple. Keeley stifled his groan, remembering that Reece didn’t want to hear a single sound out of him. Part of him was terrified of the violence he could feel in Reece. The other part glorified in the strength apparent in Reece’s massive body.


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He knew, logically, that he should be scared out of his mind right now. He knew without a doubt that Reece could kill him without breaking a sweat. Maybe that was why he was so turned on by the strength of Reece’s body, but also the gentleness of his touch. Illogically, Keeley never wanted it to end. Everywhere that Reece touched him, burning desire followed. Keeley felt like he was going up in flames. And Reece’s hands were touching him everywhere. By the time Reece reached the buttons of his baggy jeans, Keeley was breathing rapidly. He was ready to rip his jeans off himself. Luckily, Reece took care of that for him. Keeley heard another tear, then felt cold air pass over his body. As the warmth of Reece’s body lifted off of him, Keeley realized that he was totally naked. He was a little self-conscious until he heard the deep growl above him and looked up. Reece was staring down at him like a man possessed. There was even a faint glow to his eyes. Keeley felt as if time had stopped as Reece stared down at him, not moving. He slowly reached up and cupped his hand to the side of Reece’s face. He let his fingers move over him, his strong cheekbones, aquiline nose, his soft, luscious lips. Just as suddenly as time stopped, it kicked back in again as Reece growled, reaching for him. He was all over Keeley, kissing him, biting him, touching him. Keeley became mindless with pleasure. He wasn’t sure there was an inch of his body Reece hadn’t touched in some way. Just when he thought it couldn’t get any better, he felt Reece’s long fingers encircle his hard cock. As he firmly squeezed him and began quickly stroking him, Keeley was sure he was going to lose his mind. He didn’t even care when Reece pushed his legs up to his chest. A moment later he cried out as he felt Reece’s cock press against his tight entrance. He tried to protest, to tell Reece he wasn’t ready for him yet, but the orgasm shooting through his body robbed him of speech.


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Keeley bit his lip to keep from crying out, trying not to make a sound as Reece had demanded, but the pleasure pouring through him was too much. He opened his mouth and screamed out his release as every nerve in his body fired off at once. By the time Keeley came down to earth, Reece’s cock was deep inside his ass, his teeth deep into the soft skin at his throat. One of Reece’s hands was clenched tightly on Keeley’s shoulders as he used them for leverage to thrust rapidly into Keeley. The other was wrapped around Keeley’s hip, holding his body against Reece’s. Keeley couldn’t do anything but lie there under the massive body above him and accept the great fucking he was getting. Even having come moments before he still wanted more. He wanted the feeling of Reece filling him up never to end. He lifted his legs and wrapped them around Reece’s waist, crying out when Reece’s rather large cock grazed his sweet spot when he pulled back. Reece hit it again when he pushed in. Keeley couldn’t keep from crying out again and again as Reece continued to thrust against him. It was glorious, consuming. He never wanted to stop. His body had other ideas, though. It wanted another climax, and it got what it wanted as Keeley yelled out Reece’s name, filling the space between them again even as his muscles tightened down on Reece’s cock. Swimming in a fog of pleasure, Keeley vaguely heard Reece roar above him just as he felt hot seed fill him. Still riding the haze of his orgasm, he was unprepared for the small extension that came out of the top of Reece’s cock and latched onto his prostate. Every tiny movement that Reece made above him, even breathing, moved his body and the small knot attached inside of Keeley, prolonging his orgasm until his world narrowed to the body above him and the cock in his ass...then nothing. ****


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Reece lifted his head off of Keeley’s shoulder as he felt the knot at the end of his cock recede. He reluctantly pulled himself free of Keeley’s body as he stared down at his new mate. He grinned at the serene smile on his lips, the softly closed eyes. Letting his eyes travel further down the small body beneath him, Reece was surprised by the beauty of Keeley’s body. He was even more stunned by his response to what his eyes were greedily drinking in. Keeley’s chest wasn’t strongly muscular like Reece’s, but more petite. He had muscles but they weren’t roughly defined. Even his abdomen was dainty, a soft swell between his prominent hipbones. But his legs—for such a short man, Keeley’s legs seem to go on forever. Reece was getting hard again just looking at him. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. He was the alpha of his pack. He was supposed to mate a female and produce cubs for the next generation. He had always known that. Having Keeley as his mate was not in the cards. So, why then, was he so obsessed with the little man? Why did just looking at his delicate little body turn him inside out and make him as hard as a rock? Reece could think of nothing that he wanted more at that moment than to sink his cock right back into Keeley’s tight grasp. However, considering that his mate was unconscious at the moment, it probably wouldn’t be the polite thing to do. Reece shook his head ruefully as he reached into the glove box and pulled out a small package of wipes. Reece quickly cleaned himself up, then pulled his jeans up and buttoned them. Leaning down to clean Keeley up, he quickly realized that he had destroyed his clothing in his exuberance to get to him. His mate was naked with nothing to wear, not that Reece was complaining. He’d keep him naked all of the time if he had his way. However, there might be people at his house, and just the thought of anyone but him seeing Keeley’s sexy charms made him see red.


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With an amused shake of his head, Reece grabbed his cotton shirt off of the floor of the truck and pulled it over Keeley’s head. He couldn’t help smiling. The damn shirt went all of the way down to Keeley’s knees. Oh well, what could he do? Reece scooted back over to his seat and pulled Keeley around so that his head rested on his thigh then buckled him into the middle seatbelt. As Keeley settled against him and began softly snoring, Reece couldn’t help reaching down to stroke his hand through his thick, honey-blond curls. Keeley really was adorable. Now Reece just had to figure out exactly what he was going to do with him. He had a few ideas, but most of them involved them both being naked and a flat surface. For a man who had never even thought about being with a man, he was surprised by how much the idea was growing on him. Reece started the truck and headed for home. As he drove, he tried to figure out how he was going to explain Keeley to the others. He knew that there were other gay men in other packs that had mated men. There just weren’t any in his pack. He wasn’t sure how it would be received. He didn’t think anyone in his pack would be particularly rude to Keeley, but he wasn’t sure how they would accept him either. His mate being human wouldn’t help the situation any. There were more than a few members of his pack who tended to look down on humans as inferior beings. Reece was honest enough with himself to admit he might be one of them. He didn’t hate humans or anything. He just didn’t like them much. In his experience, humans were self-serving and greedy, only caring about themselves. They also distrusted anything that they couldn’t explain or put under a microscope, like werewolves. Reece knew he was going to have to explain the situation to Keeley but he wanted to put it off as long as he possibly could. He wouldn’t relish Keeley’s response when


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he found out that he had been mated to the alpha of a werewolf pack. It wasn’t going to be pretty. Reece pulled into his driveway and turned the truck off. Looking out the front window of the truck, he could see the lights on in the house, telling him that not everyone had gone to bed. Great, just fucking great! Resigned to what he was about to face, Reece got out of the truck and went around to the passenger door. Opening the door, he grabbed his jacket from behind the seat and wrapped it around Keeley before picking him up in his arms. “Reece,” Keeley whispered drowsily as he opened his sleepy eyes and tried to look around, “where are we?” “Ssshhh, we’re home, baby. Go back to sleep.” “‘Kay.” Reece looked down at Keeley in surprise when he closed his eyes and went right back to sleep, his face snuggled into Reece’s neck. His hand curled under his chin, pressing against Reece’s chest. Taking several deep breaths to calm his raging hormones, Reece started towards the house. He could see Devlin Morgan, his pack beta, sitting in the living room watching television. Holding Keeley with one hand, Reece opened the door with the other, passing through before kicking it shut with his foot. He hoped to get upstairs with his precious bundle before Devlin stopped him. That wish went out the window when Devlin called out to him. “Hey Reece, what do you have there?” Damn! One foot lifted to go up the stairs, Reece stopped, then set his foot down and turned around. Might as well get this over with. “This is Keeley, my mate.” “Dude!” Devlin called out in surprise as he jumped to his feet and walked across the room. “Congrats, man. Where’d you find her?” “Him,” Reece replied, holding his breath as he waited for the fallout.


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“Him? You’re mated to a man?” Devlin asked in surprise. He leaned down to look closer at Keeley before raising his eyes to Reece’s. “Are you sure he’s a man? He’s looks too pretty to be a man, Reece.” “He is rather pretty, but I’m positive he’s a man,” Reece chuckled. “Oh?” Devlin asked skeptically. “Yeah, you have a problem with that?” Reece could feel his hackles standing up at Devlin’s attitude. Keeley was his mate and Devlin would just have to accept it. He wasn’t going to give him up. Reece was a little stunned when he realized that he had just made that decision. Keeley was his, his to love and his to protect and no one was going to separate them. Devlin crossed his arms over his chest as he solemnly regarded Reece. “I don’t have a problem with it, but there are those in our pack who will. Namely, the females. You know they’ve been trying to mate with you since you became alpha.” “And you know as well as I do that we don’t choose our mates, fate does. I never went out to find a man for my mate, but apparently that’s what fate has chosen for me. The rest of the pack can just learn to accept it or find another pack. I’m not giving Keeley up.” “If he really is your mate, you shouldn’t have to, but are you sure, Reece?” Devlin asked. Reece looked down at the sleeping man in his arms, smiling. “Yeah, I’m sure.” “Then you have my support, as does he,” Devlin replied strongly. Reece nodded. “Thank you, but before you agree, there’s one more thing that you should know. Keeley’s human.” “Shit!” Devlin swore. “You sure know how to pick them, Reece.” “Does this mean you won’t support me?” “No, of course not. I’ll always support you, but this just makes things a little harder,” Devlin replied. He ran his agitated hand through his hair as he looked down at Keeley again, then up at Reece. “Does he know?”


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Reece shook his head. “No, there hasn’t been time to explain thing to him.” “Don’t you think you should?” Devlin asked. “I plan on it, but there—” “Reece? Are we home yet?” whispered a small voice against Reece’s chest. Both sets of eyes turned down to the man Reece held in his arms when he spoke. They watched with amusement as Keeley opened his eyes and blinked up at them several times. “Hello.” “Keeley, this is Devlin Morgan, my right hand man. He lives here with me, with us,” Reece said quietly, wondering what Keeley’s response was going to be to his words. Keeley didn’t disappoint him. He just ignored him. He smiled, showing off his perfect white teeth, and held out his hand. “Hello, I’m Keeley.” “Yes, I know.” Devlin chortled as he shook Keeley’s hand. “Reece was just explaining that to me.” “Did he also explain to you that he kidnapped me?” “Uh, no, he must have missed that part,” Devlin replied, looking over at Reece curiously. “I’ll just bet he did,” Keeley grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest, his lower lip coming out in a pout as he glared up at Reece’s smiling face. “Uh, Reece, do you think now would be a good time to explain things to Keeley?” The glare that Reece sent him promised sure retribution. “No, now is not the time,” Reece growled. “Explain what to me?” Keeley piped in. “Does this have anything to do with the whole sex thing?” “No! This does not have anything to do with—with that. Now—”


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“I swear, Reece, if you tell me to keep my mouth shut again I am so out of here. This obviously concerns me, and I want to know what it is,” Keeley stated firmly. “I don’t want to discuss it right now, Keeley,” Reece growled. “Why don’t we—damn it, Keeley, stop that,” Reece shouted when Keeley started to struggle. He tried to hold onto him, but Keeley fought too much. With a deep sigh, he set him on his feet, rolling his eyes when Keeley instantly started towards the front door. Fuck! Keeley was going to drive him crazy. He just knew it. Reece ran after Keeley, reaching him just as he yanked the door open. He pushed his hand against the door, slamming it closed. “Planning on stealing my jacket, Keeley?” he asked as he stared down at him. Keeley glared up at Reece but immediately dropped the jacket off his shoulders and handed it to Reece. “The shirt is mine, too,” Reece asserted, daring Keeley. “Well, considering that you ripped mine apart I think I’ll keep the shirt.” “It’s my favorite shirt, Keeley.” A moment later his jaw dropped open when Keeley whipped the shirt off of his head and handed it to him. “Now can I go?” he asked, glaring up at Reece as he stood there bare-ass naked. “Fuck, Keeley, you’re going to be the death of me,” Reece growled as he dropped his jacket to the floor and pulled the shirt back over Keeley’s head. He could hear Devlin laughing in the background. Perfect! Gritting his teeth, Reece bent down and lifted Keeley up over his shoulder and carried him across the room and up the stairs. He did his best to ignore Keeley’s yelling, but it was right in his ear. Damn, that boy had a set of lungs. Opening his bedroom door, Reece walked over and tossed Keeley onto the bed, immediately turning to walk back and lock the door.


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When he turned back around, Keeley was leaning up on his elbows as he glared at him. “Planning on keeping me prisoner?” Reece rubbed his hand down his face before putting both on his hips as he looked at his furious little mate. “Look, Keeley, I don’t want to argue with you. I’d rather—” “Argue? You think this is arguing? This isn’t arguing. This is you being an uncivilized caveman. I’m surprised you didn’t drag me upstairs by my hair.” “Oh, believe me, I thought about it,” Reece barked back. Keeley stared at him for a moment, one eyebrow raised in surprise. Then he slowly started to laugh. Within moments, he was laughing so hard he had fallen back to the bed, his arms wrapped around his stomach. Reece smiled and walked over to stretch on the bed beside him, resting his elbow on the bed, his head on his hand as he stared down at Keeley’s face. He watched, amused, as Keeley’s amusement slowly faded away. Keeley turned, finally, and looked up at him, raising his hand to gently caress the side of Reece’s face before letting his hand fall back to the bed. “What’s going on, Reece? Please tell me,” he whispered quietly. “If I tell you, will you kiss me?” Reece asked, repeating Keeley’s word from earlier back at him. “I’d kiss you even if you didn’t tell me,” Keeley said as he rolled over to climb onto Reece’s body, straddling him even as he pushed him onto his back. Reece had just enough time to grab onto Keeley before he was kissing him. Reece groaned, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of Keeley’s ass as he took control of the kiss, ravaging Keeley’s lips with his own. Damn, kissing Keeley was like kissing a light socket. It sent electrical shocks through out his entire body, all of them aiming straight for his hardening cock.


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When the need for air became too much, Reece reluctantly pulled his lips away from Keeley’s. He was pleased when he heard Keeley’s moan of protest, glad that he wasn’t the only one wanting. “Keeley, take off your shirt.” “Uh uh,” Keeley said, shaking his head. “Talk now, fuck later.” “And what if you don’t like what I have to say?” “Well, unless you’re a serial killer, married, or plan on sharing me with the guy downstairs, I can’t think of too much else that would keep me from you,” Keeley replied. “No, it’s none of those things, believe me, but it might be worse.” “Worse than being a serial killer? Now I really want to know what’s going on,” Keeley replied as he pushed against Reece’s bare chest and sat up. “What? You brought me here to make porn movies or something?” Reece couldn’t help but smile at Keeley. “No, no porn movies for us.” “Then what? What is so terrible that you’re afraid to tell me?” Keeley asked seriously. Reece looked at Keeley for several moments, wondering if this would be the last time that Keeley ever allowed his touch? Would he run screaming from the room or just get up and leave? “Reece?” Keeley asked when Reece didn’t say anything. “I’m a shape shifter.”


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Chapter 3 “Yeah. And?” Reece stared up at Keeley in shock. Maybe he didn’t hear him. “Keeley, I’m a wolf, a shape shifter. I can shift into the form of a wolf, with fur and claws and teeth and everything.” “That’s it? That’s your big news?” Keeley asked. “Reece, I already knew you were a shape shifter.” “You knew? How could you possibly know? You’re human,” Reece asked in astonishment. “Well, the claws and long teeth were kind of a dead give away. Besides that, one of my best friends is mated to a shape shifter. I’ve been living with his pack for the last few weeks.” Reece could only stare at Keeley, his mouth dropping open and closing several times. He was in complete shock. Keeley already knew that he was a shape shifter because his best friend was mated to one? Did he know everything then? Did he know that they were mated? “How much do you know about shape shifters?” He asked. Keeley shrugged his shoulders. “I know that they are a tight-nit group for safety reasons. Although, the pack I was with were pretty open and friendly. My friend, Nate, didn’t explain everything to me, I’m sure, but he told me enough to know what to look for when I meet one.” “And your friend? He’s human?” Keeley nodded. “Yeah, why?” “Did he explain to you about mating?” Reece asked hesitantly.


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“Not really. I mean he explained about the full moon thing when I saw all of the full moons circled on his calendar so I know about that. I know he and Joe are pretty tight.” Keeley let out a little laugh. “In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people so wrapped up in each other the way they are.” Keeley stared down at Reece’s apprehensive face, knowing that there was more. “What don’t I know?” “For a wolf, finding a mate is the most wonderful thing that can happen. It’s like finding the other part of our soul. Our mates are chosen for us by fate. We don’t just go out and decide to pick someone. But once we do find our mates, there can never be another for us.” “And this has what to do with me?” Keeley asked, suddenly feeling very apprehensive. “When we find our mates, we exchange blood with them. It creates a bond between us that can never be broken. We can’t even get a hard-on for someone else after that. It doesn’t matter who they are, man or woman, our mates are it.” “Fuck me! That damn bite thing you did in the bathroom. You mated me,” Keeley whispered in wonder. “Yeah,” Reece whispered back. “That’s why you had sex with me? Because I’m your mate?” Reece nodded. “Now that we’re mated, I can never have sex with anyone else. You’re it for me.” “Sucks to be you,” Keeley replied. “Does that mean that you don’t want to be mated to me?” Reece asked cautiously. Keeley smirked over at him. “I didn’t exactly say that, but it doesn’t mean I’m all too pleased with it either,” he said as he scooted his body up against the headboard. Reece rolled over onto his stomach and looked up at him. “What aren’t you pleased with?”


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Keeley stared down at his hands, twisting them together in his lap. “You didn’t pick me because you wanted me. You picked me because of some overloaded hormonal response.” “Keeley, you are my mate. That means—” “It means that you picked me because you had to, not because you wanted to. You’re not even gay, Reece. You’ve never even been with a man before. If you had a choice, your mate would have been a woman.” “How do you know? I could have been with plenty of men,” Reece scoffed. “Which explains how you know oh so much about fucking another man,” Keeley replied sarcastically. “What do you mean? Didn’t you enjoy it?” “Yes, I did enjoy it, but you could have caused me serious injury taking me the way you did,” Keeley replied. “What do you mean?” Keeley rolled his eyes. He never thought he’d be in a position where he would be explaining man-on-man sex to another man, his lover nonetheless. It was weird, and just a little embarrassing. “Keeley?” Reece asked when he didn’t say anything. “You can’t just put your dick in my ass and hope for the best, Reece. Not only is it uncomfortable, but you could cause me to rip and bleed. There are—things you have to do first to get ready.” “Things? What things?” Reece asked, sounding totally confused, but intrigued. “Just—things!” “Like what? Tell me. How am I supposed to know if you don’t tell me? I don’t want to do anything that might hurt you or make you uncomfortable, Keeley. And you’re right, I’ve never been with a man before, so you need to tell me what to do.” “Oh hell, I need some lube. Do you have any?” Keeley asked, knowing that it would be easier to show Reece rather than tell him. “Lube? What kind of lube?”


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“Lube, slick—hell, oil will work in a pinch. Do you have anything like that? Something that you use to jack off?” Keeley watched with amusement as Reece’s face burned red when he crawled to the side of the bed and reached into the nightstand drawer. It was nice to know he wasn’t the only one embarrassed here. Reece rolled back over and handed a bottle of personal massage oil to him. Keeley took the bottle and opened the cap, pouring a good amount onto his fingers before looking over at Reece, his eyebrow raised. “Drop the jeans and get on your hands and knees, big guy.” “Drop the je—what are you going to do?” “Don’t worry, you’ll enjoy it. I do. Now come on, hurry up,” Keeley commanded. Reece didn’t look convinced, but he did as Keeley ordered, dropping his jeans on the floor and climbing onto the bed on his hands and knees. He folded his arms together and rested his head on them, sticking his butt in the air. Keeley crawled around behind him, settling between his legs. He brought one hand up to caress the rounded swell of Reece’s ass cheek, smiling when he felt Reece jump. “Relax, honey. I know exactly what I’m doing.” He knew Reece was nervous. He’d bet, being a big strong male, that no one had ever been anywhere near his ass before. Well, that was about to change. “Can’t you just tell me, Keeley?” Reece asked desperately. “No, it wouldn’t be the same. You need to know what it feels like, what feels good and what doesn’t. This is the best way to show you. Now, just lie there and enjoy yourself. And remember to relax.” “Easy for you to say. You’re not the alpha with his ass stuck up in the air,” Reece mumbled. Keeley smacked him on the ass, making Reece jump again. “I won’t tell if you don’t.” “Promise?”


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“I promise. This is just between you and me, Reece,” Keeley replied before be bent down and placed a kiss on Reece’s ass cheek. “Oh god,” Reece whispered. Keeley just smiled, then ran his fingers down the crease of Reece’s ass. He could feel the small shudder that went through Reece’s body as he fingered his small puckered entrance. From that little response, Keeley was pretty sure that Reece was going to enjoy this just as much as he did. “You always start out with just one finger,” Keeley explained as he pushed his finger in and wiggled it around. “You need to stretch me out slowly so that it doesn’t hurt. Besides, the stretching in itself can be very arousing.” “Uh huh,” Reece groaned, pushing back against Keeley’s finger. “See? Doesn’t that feel good, Reece?” Keeley asked as he pushed another finger in and moved it around. “Fuck, yeah!” “If you like that, then you’re really going to like this. There’s this place inside. I call it the sweet spot. If you curve your fingers just right—” “Oh fucking hell, do that again,” Reece yelled, his body nearly arching off the bed. Keeley obliged him, stroking his fingers over Reece’s prostate again. “You know, you can reach this spot with your cock if you angle yourself just right. That’s when it’s really good,” Keeley stated as he added a third finger and began thrusting them into Reece’s ass. “Just don’t stop, please, don’t stop,” Reece pleaded. Keeley used his other hand to reach between Reece’s legs and grab his cock, stroking him to the rhythm of his fingers thrusting into him. The little groans and whimpers coming from his big alpha male were making him so hard that it was all Keeley could do to keep from coming himself. “Keeley—Keeley, gonna—”


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That was his cue. Keeley quickly pulled his fingers from Reece’s ass and replaced them with his cock, thrusting deep into Reece as he could go. Fuck, he was so tight. It felt like his cock was in a vice grip. “Keeley, I want—I need to see you,” Reece groaned. Keeley quickly pulled out and rolled onto his back, grabbing his cock in his hand. “Climb on, honey. You can ride me.” Reece looked skeptical for a moment. Then he moved over to straddle Keeley’s legs, slowly lowering himself onto the cock in Keeley’s hand. As Keeley moved his hand out of the way and grabbed Reece’s hips, Reece finally settled all of the way down, his ass pressing against Keeley’s balls. He clenched his inner muscles several times, adjusting to the foreign object impaling him before looking down at Keeley. “Now what?” Keeley giggled. “Just do what feels good, Reece. Move around and experiment a little, find out what you like, what feels good.” Reece leaned forward, a hand on either side of Keeley’s head, resting his weight on his hands. He lifted his hips and slowly brought them down, his eyes closing in ecstasy. “More, Keeley, need more,” Reece demanded. “Anything you want, baby,” Keeley replied as he reached down to grab Reece’s hard cock in his hand. He began stroking him, slowly at first, then faster and faster as Reece’s hips began to move in a more rapid pace. He reached up with his other hand and wrapped it around Reece’s neck, pulling him down for a kiss, rubbing his tongue slowly over Reece’s lips before delving inside. As he brushed his tongue against Reece’s he could feel him start to go wild. Reece’s hips moved faster, impaling himself on Keeley’s cock as fast as he could. Keeley continued to stroke Reece’s cock as his groans turned into growls. Keeley could feel Reece’s hands moving to grasp his hair.


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“Reece,” he whispered as he turned his head to the side. He knew what he was asking Reece to do. He knew it would bind them together more than they already were. He just didn’t care. He needed Reece to claim him just as much as Reece needed to do it. It was an overwhelming compulsion that he couldn’t ignore. As Reece sank his teeth into the soft flesh of his neck, Keeley planted his feet firmly on the mattress and angled his hips up, pegging Reece’s sweet spot on the next thrust. He grinned when he heard Reece grunt, his hands clenching against the side of his head. Wrapping his arm tighter around Reece’s neck, he tried to hold on long enough for him to come. He needed to feel Reece tighten around him, to feel his sweet release before he could get his own. He looked up in surprise when Reece suddenly reared back, his back arching as he roared out his release, covering Keeley’s hand and stomach with pearly white seed before collapsing down over Keeley’s body, his head buried in Keeley’s neck. Oh yeah, that’s what he had been waiting for. Dropping his hands down to grasp Reece’s hips, he thrust himself up into his mate as far as he could go, glorying in the feel of Reece’s inner muscles tightening around his cock. He cried out as the top of his cock exploded, filling Reece with his pleasure. Keeley’s eyes were closed, his chest rising and falling rapidly with each breath he took, his mouth hanging open slightly. “Keeley,” Reece said, breaking the silence hanging in the room. “Never again, Keeley. Do you understand me?” Reece growled. Keeley opened his eyes and looked up at him. “I’m sorry,” Keeley whispered, dropping his eyes to avoid Reece’s fierce look. He had obviously crossed a line he shouldn’t have. What did he expect? Reece was an alpha male. They didn’t like to give up control to anyone, especially not another man. “You belong to me now, and if you ever do this with anyone but me, so help me Keeley, I’ll tear a strip out of your hide you’ll never recover from!” Reece growled.


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Keeley’s eyes widened and glanced up to his. Was he serious? “Even though I’m a man?” “I don’t care if you’re an alien with purple polka dots. You’re my mate and I will not share you, ever! If you so much as look at another man, you’ll find out just why I’m the alpha of my pack. Do I make myself perfectly clear?” “You’re not mad at me for what I did?” “Hell, no! I’m hoping you have more to show me. That was fucking unbelievable,” Reece said with a grin before becoming serious again. “Did you understand what I said, Keeley? No one else, ever, just us, you and me.” Did he understand? Reece was telling him that not only did he enjoy what they had done together, but he wanted to do it again. On top of that, he was demanding that Keeley not be with anyone else but him, even though he was a man. Hell yes, he understood, and he was thrilled. “I’ll agree under one condition,” Keeley replied. “What?” Reece asked, looking suspicious. “This time, you fuck me!” Keeley almost thought he might have demanded more than Reece wanted to give, but then he started to smile. It lit up his entire face. “I think I can do that “Now?” Keeley said breathlessly. He could feel his cock getting hard just from the thought of Reece pounding into him again. Earlier in the truck had been unbelievable. He wanted to experience it again, then again and again. Reece sat up and rolled to his side, looking around the bed. “Where’s the lube?” Keeley grinned, holding up the bottle in his hand. Reece grabbed the bottle out of his hand and popped the lid open, pouring some out on his fingers before dropping the lid back down on the bed. He reached over and slapped Keeley on the ass with the other. “Okay, baby, on your hands and knees.”


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Keeley shook his head. “Uh uh, I want to watch.” Reece felt his eyebrow shoot up in surprise. “Is it safe?” Keeley nodded, pulling his knees up to his chest and spreading them wide open, baring himself to Reece’s hungry gaze. “Oh yeah, it’s perfectly safe, and it feels damn good too,” Keeley laughed. **** Reece scooted around until he was kneeling in front of Keeley’s ass, marveling at how much he was anticipating being inside that tight little ass. If his pack could see him now, they’d think he had lost his ever-loving mind. He was practically salivating just from looking at Keeley’s tight little hole. He’d be a pile of goo by the time he actually got in there. He glanced up at Keeley in concern. “You’ll tell me if I hurt you?” As soon as Keeley nodded, Reece reached down with his finger and began gently stroking around Keeley’s puckered entrance, slowly around the edges, never quite touching him there directly. By the time he claimed his little mate, he wanted him so out of his mind with pleasure, he’d never feel any pain or discomfort. When he saw the small drops of clear liquid starting to pool on the tip of Keeley’s engorged cock, he knew he was getting closer. The more he caressed him, moving closer to what he desired, the more Keeley seemed to moan and whimper. “Reece, please,” Keeley pleaded as Reece brushed ever so lightly over his quivering flesh. Reece grinned. He could get used to this. Keeley was so damn responsive to his lightest touch. He wondered what he would be like when he really got good at this. Well, practice made perfect. As carefully as he could, and remembering how Keeley had done it, Reece pushed his finger into Keeley. He paused, looking up to Keeley’s face to see his response. Was he doing it right?


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He must be. Keeley’s lower lip was caught between his teeth and his hands were gripping his thighs so hard his fingers were nearly white. Determined to drive Keeley out of his mind with lust, Reece pushed in a second finger and began searching for that all-elusive sweet spot. He knew he had found it when Keeley’s body suddenly stiffened and he cried out, his head falling back onto the mattress below him. It took all of his control to keep caressing Keeley when all he really wanted to do was bury his cock so deep inside of him, he would always be a part of him. “Reece, more. I need more,” Keeley panted, looking up at him with desperate eyes. Reece pushed in a third finger and thrust all of them in at the same time. He curled his fingers slightly trying to hit Keeley’s prostate with each thrust of his fingers. He must have been doing something right, because Keeley’s cries were becoming louder with each plunge. “Reece, please. I’m begging you. I need more,” Keeley whimpered. “What do you need, baby?” “I need you!” “Then you can have me,” Reece said as he pulled his fingers free and grabbed Keeley’s legs, putting them up over his shoulders. He looked down and inhaled deeply. Keeley was right there waiting for him. He grabbed his hard cock and stroked it a couple of times before pushing it against Keeley, rubbing up and down over him. “Is this what you want, baby? You want my big cock in that tight little ass of yours?” he growled. “Yes, yes, yes!” Keeley cried out, his fingers clutching desperately at Reece’s arms. Reece held his breath, watching as he slowly sank into Keeley’s tight depth. Earlier he had been out of his mind with lust when he had claimed Keeley. This time he wanted to enjoy every moment of it.


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Once he was seated all of the way, he bent over Keeley, a hand on either side of his face. He leaned down until his nose was nearly touching his. “Open your eyes, baby. I want you to see me take you.” Keeley opened his eyes and stared up at him, his eyes a little dazed and filled with desire. Reece couldn’t believe how powerful it made him feel to know that he had put that look into Keeley’s eyes. Reece began moving his hips, knowing from the little catch in Keeley’s breathing that he was hitting his sweet spot. There was no way he could fake the look of ecstasy that was on his face. He continued to thrust into him in a slow, steady pace. “You’re mine now, Keeley, my mate. Say it. I want to hear you say it,” Reece demanded as he gazed down at him. “Yes, yours, Reece,” Keeley said. “Quilliam,” Reece corrected him. “In here, when we’re alone, when I’m making love to you, you’ll call me Quilliam. I want there to be no mistake as to who is making love to you, Keeley.” “Quilliam,” Keeley whispered breathlessly. “Your mate, Quilliam.” “Yes!” Reece hissed between his teeth. “Mine!” Keeley’s breathing increased and he reached between them to grab for his cock. Reece stopped him, grabbing his hands and holding them down to the bed as he entwined his fingers with his. “No, just me, Keeley,” Reece whispered. Keeley’s breathing hitched, his cock throbbing between them at Reece’s words. He squeezed his hands in Reece’s, gripping him more tightly as Reece continued to thrust into him. It was slow and steady, but it was building them both towards something that Keeley just knew was going to rock both of their foundations. “Quilliam,” he whispered as he felt himself about to come. “That’s it, baby, come for me. Show me how much you want me,” Reece demanded. “Ooohhh,” Keeley cried out as he came, his eyes falling closed.


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“No! Open your eyes, baby. Look at me. I want to see you,” Reece ordered. He watched as Keeley opened his eyes back up and looked at him. His breath caught in his throat at the look in Keeley’s pale green eyes. They widened as if in wonder, but it was the look of adoration in them that took Reece’s breath away. That look had him groaning a moment later as he came, feeling Keeley’s inner muscles clamp around him as he released himself into his tight grasp. He pumped his cock into Keeley until he felt the knot extend and take hold, Keeley crying out again. “That’s it, baby,” Reece whispered as Keeley whimpered. He rocked his hips back and forth, just enough to keep Keeley stimulated. He wanted to draw out his pleasure, to see that look of affection in Keeley’s beautiful green eyes for as long as he could. Reece continued to rock his hips, his hands still holding Keeley’s as he laid little kisses along his jaw, his chin, his neck. He kissed every bit of skin his lips could reach. Each movement spurred on by Keeley’s small whimpers and cries. Finally, regrettably, he felt the knot recede. Pulling himself from Keeley’s body, Reece rolled over onto his back, pulling Keeley with him. He wrapped his arms around his shoulders and held him close, his golden head tucked under his chin. It was several moments before either of them spoke a word, each caught up in the emotion of the moment. Reece was astounded by how drawn to Keeley he was, how obsessed he had become with his little mate in just a few hours. He had no idea what a few days or weeks might bring about. He was shocked by how fast he could feel himself falling for Keeley. He had known the man less than a day and already he couldn’t imagine being without him. Keeley was becoming as important to him as breathing, and that scared the crap out of him. “What now, Reece?” Keeley asked quietly into the silence of the room.


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“Now? Now we go take a shower and get some sleep. In the morning, we’ll go get your car and your stuff and move you in here,” Reece replied. “Just like that?” Keeley asked. “Yeah, just like that.” Reece chuckled. “I told you that you belonged to me now and I won’t give you up. You agreed with me.” **** “Under duress,” Keeley laughed, sobering quickly when Reece’s body stilled. He lifted his head and looked up at Reece in concern. “Reece?” Reece let Keeley go, rolling to the side of the bed and standing up. “I’m going to take a shower. You can use it when I’m done if you want,” he said over his shoulder before walking to the bathroom. Keeley immediately knew that Reece had taken his words seriously. Damn! The man needed to loosen up. Keeley climbed to the side of the bed and got to his feet, following Reece into the bathroom. He caught Reece just as he was stepping into the glass-encased shower. “Quilliam, if you walk away from me like that again, you’re going to see a temper tantrum that will make what happened earlier tonight seem like a cake walk.” Reece turned around and looked at him, one eyebrow raised at Keeley’s challenging voice. But beneath the dominant alpha male exterior, Keeley thought he saw uncertainty lingering in his coalblack eyes. Keeley knew that his off-handed comment had hurt Reece. Keeley stepped forward, pressing his body up against Reece’s, reaching up to cup his face in his hands and force him to look down. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I was joking around. I guess we both need more time to get to know each other’s idiosyncrasies.”


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Reece stared down at him for so long, a stone look on his face, that Keeley began to wonder if he had read the situation wrong. Maybe he hadn’t hurt his feelings after all. Maybe Reece just didn’t care. Keeley felt like the world’s biggest fool as he dropped his hands from Reece’s face and looked down at his feet. “I’ll let you shower,” Keeley said quickly as he turned away and walked back into the bedroom. He hoped that Reece would call him back and tell him that he understood, that he wasn’t upset. Instead, he heard the shower turn on. Guess that kind of said it all. He had seen something that wasn’t there. Reece was just accepting him because of an overdeveloped hormonal response. He didn’t really want him, not the real Keeley. He just wanted a mate and apparently, he didn’t really care who it was. Keeley picked up the discarded shirt he had been wearing earlier and pulled it over his head before climbing into the bed. He scooted as close to the edge as he could get without falling off before pulling the covers up over his shoulders. It was stupid, he knew, but the way that Reece had made love to him—maybe that was his problem right there. Reece hadn’t made love to him. He had fucked him. There had been no love involved, just a sexual need. He had thought that it had meant something. He was such an idiot! He wanted what Nate and Joe had. They loved each other so much that they could hardly stand to be away from each other. Nate practically followed Joe into the bathroom because he didn’t want to be without him. That love and need, that obsession, that’s what he wanted, but it didn’t look like that was what he was going to get with Reece. He still didn’t know what Reece wanted from him. One moment Reece seemed to want him, to need him. The next, he didn’t even want to be in the same room. Keeley wished he would just explain it to him and be done with it. At least then, he would know where he stood.


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Until then, Keeley guessed he would just have to play it by ear. He just had to remember that Reece didn’t want him in the same way that he wanted Reece. The only reason he was here was because he was Reece’s mate. Keeley quickly wiped the tears out of his eyes when he heard the shower shut off. It wouldn’t do him any good for Reece to know how upset he was. Reece obviously didn’t want the emotional entanglements that went along with a relationship. Hearing Reece walk into the bedroom, Keeley shut his eyes and prayed that Reece would think he went to sleep. He didn’t want to talk to him right now. He didn’t know if he could keep from saying something else that would make him feel like a fool. Keeley held his breath, waiting, as he felt the bed dip with Reece’s weight as he climbed in. But Reece just pulled the covers up and rolled over to go to sleep. Keeley didn’t know what hurt worse, feeling like a fool or being ignored? He let his breath out slowly as he heard Reece’s soft snore. He rolled over onto his side to look at Reece. He was sleeping on his back, one arm across his stomach, the other over his head. And he was the sexiest thing Keeley had ever seen. It was just his luck to be falling in love with a guy that didn’t even want his love, just his body. Although, he would have preferred that Keeley be a woman. As Keeley closed his eyes, he wondered how long he could last before he really did fall in love with Reece, then had his heart broken? Because he knew it was coming.


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Chapter 4 Keeley opened his eyes to see the empty bed beside him. He could see the imprint of Reece’s head in the pillow, but the sheets themselves were cold. He imagined Reece had fled the moment his eyes opened up to avoid him. As he rolled to the side of the bed, he wondered if his life could get any more disappointing. First, he had been kidnapped and held prisoner by a madman bent on using him for his own greed. Then he had been kidnapped by the man of his dreams to be used for his own personal needs. Maybe he just needed to stay away from men. Now that was a depressing thought, Keeley smirked to himself as he got up and went into the bathroom. He pulled the shirt over his head and dropped it on the counter before stepping into the shower and turning on the water. He made quick work of soaping himself up and washing his hair before rinsing off and getting out. Grabbing a towel off the shelf, he dried off, then looked around for something to wear. He really didn’t want to put his dirty shirt back on. Wrapping the towel around his waist he walked back into the bedroom and eyed Reece’s dresser. Would he mind Keeley using another one of his shirts? Was that too personal? Would he be invading Reece’s space if he got into his dresser? Deciding that it was a better choice to stay clear of Reece’s stuff, Keeley walked over to look out the window. He didn’t know how territorial werewolves might be. For all he knew, Reece could mark his territory by peeing all over the place.


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That thought reminded Keeley of how little he actually knew about Reece or what he wanted from him. He didn’t even know if he was allowed to leave the room. But, if he had to be confined to one room, this was better than the room he had with the Teacher, bigger too. Keeley guessed it wouldn’t be so bad. He had a bathroom, a nice view from the windows, and a nice, large bed to sleep in. He assumed that Reece would come to visit him, even if it was just to sleep in the bed at night. This was his room after all. And then there would be those occasions when Reece decided to share himself with Keeley. Those would be the times he fantasized about when he was alone, pretending that Reece really wanted him and not just any mate. Resigned, Keeley went back into the bathroom and pulled the shirt back on. He had to wear something. With nothing else to do, Keeley went about straightening up the room. He made the bed and cleaned up the bathroom. He was once again standing by the window looking outside when the bedroom door opened and Reece walked in. “Oh good, you’re awake,” Reece said as he looked over and saw Keeley standing next to the window. “Are you hungry? Devlin made something to eat.” “I could eat,” Keeley replied. “Well then, come on. Food’s waiting,” Reece said, turning on his heels and heading out the door. Keeley stared at the open doorway for a brief moment before following Reece out and down the stairs. As they walked into the kitchen, he heard a low whistle. He quickly turned his head to see Devlin standing in the kitchen doorway, his eyes perusing his nearly naked body. Keeley could feel his cheeks heat up as he tried to pull the shirt farther down his thighs.


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“Damn it, Keeley, couldn’t you find something else to put on? Do you have to parade around in front of everyone in just my shirt?” Reece yelled. Keeley was suddenly filled with anger. He hadn’t asked for this. He had been forced into it. Reece had no right to be angry with him. He knew that all of his clothes were back in his car. If he wanted him to wear something else, he should have provided it for him. “Oh, that’s right,” Keeley replied as he turned to glare at Reece’s angry face. “I forgot this is your favorite shirt. Here, you can have it back. I don’t want it.” Keeley whipped the shirt over his head and threw it at a very stunned Reece before turning and going right back to the bedroom, slamming the door when he got there. Going over to the bed, he lay down, grabbing one of the pillows and hugging it to his chest as tears filled his eyes. This just wasn’t going to work. The continuous emotional roller coaster ride he was on was going to drive him crazy. Maybe he should just cut his losses and leave while he still could. He tried to remember how far it was back to the bar where his car was. Could he walk it? Would he have enough time before Reece discovered he was gone? Keeley rolled over and stood up, crossing the room to Reece’s dresser. He opened several drawers before he found a shirt and a pair of jogging pants with a draw string waist. Pulling them on, he cinched the drawstring and rolled up the legs. Reece was quite a bit bigger than he was and the pants hung on him, making him look like a little boy playing dress-up. Keeley felt ridiculous, but at least he was covered. Now he just needed to get his shoes and money out of Reece’s truck and get away before he was caught. He opened the bedroom door and started sneaking down the stairs when he heard a loud crash coming from the kitchen. Before he could stop and think about it, Keeley was running towards the kitchen, thoughts of Reece being hurt swirling around in his head.


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When he reached the doorway, the sight before him brought Keeley to a stop. Reece and Devlin were in a knock-down, drag-out fight—in human form. He wanted to run when Reece was distracted, but the moment he heard Reece grunt in pain, he knew he couldn’t. “What the hell is going on in here?” He yelled at the top of his lungs. Reece and Devlin ignored him and went on fighting. Keeley grabbed the nearest object he could find, a cookie sheet, and started swinging, hitting both men on the head. They both stopped fighting, grabbing their aching heads as they looked over at Keeley in shock. “For two men that are supposed to be the alpha and beta of their pack, you sure are acting like a couple of two year olds. What in the hell is wrong with you?” Keeley yelled. “He started it,” they both said at the same time, pointing to each other. “Get the hell out of my kitchen until you can behave yourselves,” Keeley growled. He couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of his mouth even as he said them. “Your kitchen?” Reece asked, one eyebrow raised. Keeley felt Reece’s confusion. He wasn’t sure yet why he wasn’t running for the hills instead of arguing with Reece. Keeley held the cookie sheet up again in a threatening manner. “Yes, my kitchen. Now get the hell out until you learn some manners!” Inwardly, Keeley was shocked when both men made a hasty retreat out of the kitchen. He was surprised that it had worked, or that Reece and Devlin had even listened to him. It wasn’t like he could take either of them in a fight, fair or not. They were huge compared to him. Maybe that was how a person dealt with dominant men, beating them up with cookie sheets. He’d have to remember to keep some handy for future use, because he had not doubt he’d be using them again to beat some stubborn heads in. He also knew that for now, he’d


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stick around. What tomorrow held, who knew? He’d just have to take it day by day. In the meantime, he had a kitchen to clean. Looking around the mess in the kitchen, Keeley could only shake his head. It was going to take him at least an hour to get it cleaned up. He might as well get started. **** “Fuck, man, why didn’t you warn me that Keeley had a temper?” Devlin said as he sat down beside Reece on the front steps, rubbing his sore head. “You mean you didn’t pick up on that last night?” Reece asked in mock surprise. “Sorry, dude, I was too busy admiring the view.” “Shut up before I hit you again. You’re not supposed to be admiring anything on my mate,” Reece growled. “Well, if he didn’t keep putting it all out on display—” “Devlin,” Reece growled again. “I’m only saying—” “I know what you’re saying, but you try asking that man to wear clothes. You saw what happened when I did it,” Reece replied. “No, I saw what happened when you yelled at him. You didn’t ask him anything,” Devlin stated firmly as he looked over at Reece. “In fact, in the two times I’ve seen him, I heard about three sentences come out of your mouth where you weren’t yelling at him. The rest of the time you’re either shouting or carrying him off somewhere.” Reece could feel his face heat up at Devlin’s admonishment. He knew he probably deserved it, but no one liked to be told that they were wrong or had behaved badly, especially not him. “Have you claimed him yet?” Devlin asked after a few moments. “Yeah, a few times. That seems be the only time we’re not arguing,” Reece said.


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“What did you think of it?” Reece chuckled, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together, letting them hang between his legs. He looked up at the bright blue sky, inhaling deeply, then slowly letting it out. “Unfucking-believable.” “Yeah, I always thought so, too,” Devlin said. Reece’s forehead wrinkled up as a sudden thought hit him. Was Devlin concerned how he would react if he brought a man home? They had never discussed Devlin’s sexual preference but it had never really mattered to Reece. He turned to look at his best friend and beta. “Why have you never brought anyone home? Were you afraid of how I’d react?” “No. I just never met anyone I cared enough about to bring home. I’m hoping that I have a mate out there somewhere, waiting for me to find him. And I sure as hell hope it’s a him.” “And if it’s not?” Reece asked curiously. Devlin shrugged his wide shoulders. “I guess I’ll deal with it just as you have.” “Good god, don’t do that,” Reece grumbled. “I haven’t handled this well at all.” “What do you mean?” “I’m pretty sure I’ve totally fucked things up with Keeley, and I haven’t got a clue how to fix it,” Reece said sadly. “What did you do? More yelling?” “No, I just wish it was that easy. Last night Keeley was joking around and I took it the wrong way. When he tried to apologize I wouldn’t let him. I basically ignored him for the rest of the night. To tell you the truth, I was surprised he was still here this morning.” “What did he say that made you so upset?” “It was stupid,” Reece said, looking back down at his hands. “So? It obviously upset you. What did he say?”


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“While we were having sex I made him admit that he was my mate. Afterwards, when I reminded him of it, he laughed and told me he had said it under duress.” “I can see where that might upset you,” Devlin said. “I think I would have been upset, too.” Reece nodded. Keeley’s words had made him upset. They had hurt. He had thought that their time together then had been special, something he knew he had never experienced with another living being. He had thought that Keeley had felt it, too. When Keeley had told him that he had admitted to being his mate under duress, Reece had felt stupid for seeing something in their mating that Keeley hadn’t. He had just wanted to get away as fast as he could to lick his wounds in private. “Then what happened?” Devlin asked, interrupting Reece’s thoughts. “I told him I was going to go take a shower, but he followed me. He said that he was sorry, he hadn’t meant to hurt my feelings. He had just been joking around. Then he said that we hadn’t known each other long enough to learn each others idiosyncrasies.” “And you said?” Reece shrugged. “I didn’t.” “Didn’t what?” “I didn’t say anything. After a few moments he went back into the bedroom and I took a shower. By the time I got back to bed, he was asleep.” “That’s it? You didn’t say anything? You didn’t wake him up and try to talk to him? Nothing?” Devlin asked in surprise. Reece shook his head. “No, like a dumb ass, I just went to sleep.” “Dude, you are right. You have fucked up.” “Gee, thanks. You’re all heart,” Reece replied sarcastically as he reached up and punched Devlin playfully in the arm. “So what are you going to do?”


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“I have no idea. If Keeley were a woman, I’d buy him flowers or something, but he’s not. I don’t know how to tell another man that I’m sorry.” “Men like flowers too, you know,” Devlin smirked. “Seriously?” Reece asked, looking back over at him in surprise. “You think Keeley would like flowers?” “It would never hurt to try, and even if he doesn’t, he might see the gesture for what it was. On the other hand, you could always buy him some clothes. He seems to be dressed in your shirts a lot.” Reece’s face turned bright red and he dropped his head. “What?” Devlin asked when Reece mumbled. “I like him wearing my shirts, okay?” Reece growled as he lifted his head and glared at his beta. “Dude, you have it bad,” Devlin grinned. “What do you mean?” “You’re falling for him,” Devlin said. “Luckily for you, that’s not a bad thing where your mate is concerned.” “You don’t think it’s too—girlish?” Reece asked, the uncertainty clear in his voice. “What? Just because you’re a man means you can’t fall in love? I sure as hell hope that’s not true. I have every intention of falling in love one day, hopefully with my mate. Does that make me any less of a man?” “No, I guess not.” Reece said a moment later. “This is all just so new to me. I always hoped I’d find my mate some day, but Keeley kind of threw me for a loop. I don’t know what to do with him.” “Want me to draw you some pictures?” Devlin leered. Reece rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean, Dev. He’s a man. I don’t know anything about being with a man. Hell, last night Keeley had to show me how to—well, I just don’t know what in the hell I’m doing.” “I sure wish you’d finish that sentence. It’s going to drive me crazy not knowing what he showed you.”


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“You’re not helping here,” Reece growled. “Okay, okay. Have you tried just talking to the guy? Asking him what he wants? Maybe he likes flowers and jewelry and stuff like that. Maybe he’d like to be romanced, cuddled and kissed. Some men do, you know, and it doesn’t mean that they are any less of a man. We all need to feel wanted, Reece, even men.” “You think?” Reece asked skeptically. Before Devlin could answer him, the front door flew open. Reece and Devlin jumped to their feet and turned to see Keeley standing in the doorway, his hands on his hips as he glared down at them. “You two need to go into town and get my car and my clothes. While you’re there, pick up another cookie sheet. The last one has a big dent in it the size of your heads. I need a new one,” Keeley stated firmly before slamming the door closed. Reece stared at the door for a moment in shock. “You think he’d get mad at me if I went in and asked him for a kiss before we left?” “I think he’s already mad at you, so you couldn’t be any worse off if you did. Besides, if he likes sex it might put him in a better mood. He does like sex, doesn’t he?” Devlin asked curiously. Reece grinned over at him. “Oh yeah, he likes sex.” Devlin rolled his eyes as he nudged his alpha in the shoulder. “I’ll be waiting in the truck.” Reece waited about two seconds after Devlin walked away before walking into the house and heading for the kitchen. He found Keeley rinsing dishes in the sink. Standing in the doorway, he watched his mate for a moment, wondering how he was going to bridge the rift between them. “Keeley?” he said softly as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “What?” Keeley asked sharply, not even turning around to look at him. “Never mind,” Reece said, turning around to leave. Keeley was obviously still pissed at him.


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“What do you want, Reece?” Keeley inquired quietly before Reece could leave the room. Reece stopped and looked back over his shoulder to see Keeley staring at him. “I just wanted to know if I could get a kiss before I went into town.” He was perplexed when Keeley threw the dishtowel down onto the counter and walked towards him. Damn, he looked cute. “You never have to ask for a kiss, Quilliam,” Keeley replied right before he leaned up and kissed him. Reece groaned, wrapping his arms around Keeley, lifting his body up in his arms and walking the few steps it took to reach the kitchen table. Setting Keeley down on the table, he moved in to stand between his thighs. Lifting his lips a moment later, Reece looked down into Keeley’s face. “I’m sorry, Keeley. I know I was an ass last night and I have no excuse. I was upset by what you said and I should have accepted your apology when you gave it. Will you accept mine now?” Keeley stared up at Reece, surprised that he was apologizing. He hadn’t been expecting that from him. It might change a lot of things between them. “I’ll accept your apology on one condition,” he said. “Anything, just name it,” Reece said quickly. “Get me more than one cookie sheet, because the next time you ignore me, I’m going to hit you over the head again.” **** Reece climbed into the truck twenty minutes later and started it up, driving down the driveway. As he pulled out onto the main road, he could feel Devlin looking over at him in amusement. He turned and glared at him when Devlin leaned over and sniffed him, then snickered. “Not a word!” he growled. Devlin held his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t say anything.”


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“Good!” Reece said as he turned to look back out the front window. “However, if I did say something, it would be that you reek of sex. I assume that Keeley accepted your apology?” Devlin asked, raising his eyebrow in avid curiosity when Reece’s face turned red and a slow grin crossed his lips. “Yeah,” Reece replied, remembering how quickly one small goodbye kiss had turned into an all out romp on the kitchen table. Just the thought of how sexy Keeley had looked spread out on the table while he had pounded into his tight little ass was making him hard again. He wasn’t sure he was ever going to get enough of him. “Please tell me you didn’t fuck him on the kitchen counter,” Devlin asked. “Nope,” Reece chuckled, “kitchen table.” “Dude! That’s—that’s just—” “Envious?” Reece asked tauntingly as he smiled over at Devlin. “Yes, damn it!” Devlin snarled. “I want someone to put that look on my face.” “What look?” Reece asked, wrinkling his forehead. “Oh please,” Devlin replied, rolling his eyes. “You look like the cat that ate the canary. If you were any more pleased with yourself right now, you’d be revolting.” Reece just grinned. Yeah, he was pretty pleased with himself right now. Not only had Keeley given him a kiss goodbye, and then some, but he had accepted his apology when he had every right not to. He was slowly coming to realize that Keeley did not fit into the general stereotype of what he thought humans were. He was more giving and unselfish than anyone he had ever met, werewolf or human. It was enough to rock the foundation of Reece’s beliefs about humans. “You still going to get him flowers?” Reece smiled over at Devlin before looking back to the road ahead of them. “Yeah. He deserves them.”


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Reece was quiet for a moment, thinking about his conceptions of how humans were, before turning to look back over at Devlin. “Dev? What do you think of humans?” “What do you mean?” Reece shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve always thought humans were—less than us, I guess. They seem so greedy and unscrupulous, you know?” “I think that’s just because of the ones you’ve had dealings with. Not all humans are like that, Reece. Most of them, in fact, are pretty nice. Sure, they tend to look out for themselves, but that’s just because they don’t have packs.” “I guess. Keeley just seems so much different than that.” “How so?” “After the way I treated him—hell, from the moment I met him, he’s been nothing but accepting of me. It didn’t even faze him when I told him that I was a shape shifter. He already knew.” “He already knew? How?” Devlin asked in surprise, sitting up straighter in his seat. “His best friend is mated to a shape shifter. I guess he’s been living with their pack for the last few weeks.” “No shit? What pack?” Reece burst out laughing. “You know? I was so busy trying to get him to kiss me I never got around to asking.” “Bet you never thought you’d be in that position,” Devlin smirked. “No, I never did, but, strangely enough, I can’t imagine being mated to anyone else now. How weird is that?” “It’s not weird at all, Reece. He’s your mate. You’re supposed to feel that way,” Devlin responded. “Is that all it is? Am I feeling this way just because he’s my mate?” Reece asked. Keeley had voiced that very issue. Reece wondered if Keeley might be right. Was he feeling a strong connection to him because they were mates or was it something else?


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“I don’t know, Reece. I’ve never had a mate. That’s only something you can answer. But you’ve dated before. Haven’t you ever felt close to someone? Is it anything like what you’re feeling for Keeley?” “No. That’s just it. I’ve never felt this way about someone before. It’s like I can’t stop thinking about him, wanting him. Just the thought of you, my best friend, seeing him dressed in just my shirt makes me want to rip your throat out, and I love seeing him in my shirt.” “Reece, you know I would never make a move on Keeley, right?” Devlin asked cautiously. “Hell, yes I know that,” Reece replied, hitting the steering wheel with his hand. “It just doesn’t matter. No one should see him like that except me. On the other hand, I don’t want him walking around in anything except my shirt. How fucked up is that?” “Do you want me to move out?” Devlin asked quietly. “No, it’s your house too. I’m just trying to figure out why I’m so messed up over all of this,” Reece answered. “Dude, you’re not messed up. You’re falling for your mate. And while it may all seem confusing now, once it does happen, you’ll wonder why you ever fought it. Save yourself some time and just give in now.” “Is it really that simple?” Reece questioned skeptically. “Sure it is. You obviously like him and you don’t seem to have a problem with him sexually. What’s there to fight against? The fact that he’s a man? I think it’s a little too late to be fighting that. You’ve already claimed him. Why not just accept the fact that you’re mated to the man and enjoy him?” “You make it all sound so easy, Dev, but how can it be? What happens when the pack finds out that I’m mated to a man? You know it’s not going to go over easy. Then there’s the whole human thing.” “Do you plan on keeping him?” Devlin inquired. “Of course I do. What makes you even ask that? Keeley’s my mate!” Reece said sharply.


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“Then why does any of the rest of it even matter? If you plan on keeping him, then that’s the end of it, don’t you think? You and the pack are just going to have to accept it,” Devlin reasoned. Reece was silent for a moment, then slowly started chuckling. “I guess that pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?” “Yeah, it does, but don’t worry, Reece, there’ll be some grumbling in the beginning, but eventually the rest of the pack will accept Keeley. I imagine that pretty soon, him being human won’t even be an issue.” “I hope so,” Reece replied quietly. “Well, look at this way, either they accept him or he hits them over the head with a cookie sheet.”


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Chapter 5 Reece could see Keeley standing in the doorway when he and Devlin pulled up in front of the house a couple of hours later. Reece thought he looked a bit anxious. Keeley hopped from foot to foot while he waited for Reece to carry his bags in, giving him a quick kiss before grabbing them and heading back inside. “Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be back down for lunch. You can start pulling the stuff out. It’s all in the fridge in containers.” Keeley hurried up the stairs, stopping at the top to look back down at Reece’s amused face. “And don’t forget to set the table.” “Hey wait, don’t you want your cookie sheets, Keeley?” Reece called up to him. “Put them in the kitchen. I need to go get into some of my own clothes,” Keeley yelled back as he hurried to the bedroom. Reece was a little disappointed that Keeley seemed so determined to put his own clothes on. It made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that something of his was covering Keeley. Maybe Keeley didn’t feel the same way. Guess he’d have to talk to him about that. Talking seemed easier than ignoring the problem and hoping for the best, as long as he remembered not to yell. Keeley didn’t react well to him yelling, which might be a problem. Reece tended to yell a lot. Reece shrugged his shoulders and went back out to the car for the rest of the stuff he had purchased in town, which were as many cookie sheets as he could find, a large bottle of lube, and a bouquet of red roses with baby’s breath and a nice crystal vase. The lady at the


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flower shop said that Keeley was sure to like them. Reece certainly hoped so. Setting the cookie sheets down on the counter, Reece filled the vase with water and put the roses in it, setting it in the middle of the table. He grabbed the small note card that came with the flowers and pulled it out of its small envelope to read. You’re adorable…Quilliam It had seemed like the thing to do at the time, but now he felt stupid. Maybe he should just give him the flowers and not the note? It felt like an emotional, mushy thing to do now that he stood in the kitchen. Maybe he shouldn’t even give him the flowers? “Don’t even think about it, Reece.” Reece jumped and spun around to see Devlin standing in the doorway. “About what?” “You can’t fool me, Quilliam Reece. You’re thinking about not giving Keeley the flowers or the note. Don’t. Take a chance here, Reece. Give him the flowers and the note. See what he says. I think you might be surprised.” Reece felt his face heat up as he put the note back in the small envelope, placing it in the middle of the flowers. “You’d better be right about this. If he makes fun of me, you’re a dead man.” “Even if he doesn’t like the flowers, Keeley doesn’t seem like the type of person to make fun of you,” Devlin said as he walked farther into the room. “Where is he anyway?” “He grabbed his bags and ran upstairs to change. Seems he felt the need to change,” Reece replied dryly, his eyes straying to the kitchen doorway. “Don’t see too much into that, Reece. It may not have anything to do with wearing your stuff. He’s in a new place and he barely knows anyone. He might just be looking for the comfort that his own stuff brings him.” Reece thought about it for a moment then nodded his head. Devlin was probably right. Keeley was in unfamiliar surroundings. If wearing


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his own clothing made him feel better, Reece needed to see that for what it was and not that Keeley didn’t want to wear his shirt. “Come on, Keeley told us to set the table and get the food out for lunch. He said everything was in containers in the refrigerator. We’d better have this on the table before he gets back down here or he’s going to be using one of those new cookie sheets on us again.” Devlin looked over at the stack of cookie sheets, shaking his head. “Did you have to get him so many? Seriously, dude, it’s like weapons of mass destruction here,” he snorted as he counted the cookie sheets. He looked over at Reece in amazement. “Thirteen? You got him thirteen cookie sheets? Are you out of your mind?” Reece shrugged his shoulders at Devlin’s astonished look. “He said he’d forgive me if I got him more than one cookie sheet. I wasn’t taking any chances. I bought every damn one of them I could find. If there had been more, I would have bought them, too.” “Dude, you’re crazy. That man is a menace with a cookie sheet. I’d hate to see what he would do with something really lethal,” Devlin reached for a stack of plates. “Just keep him away from the kitchen knives.” “Do you really think he’s any less dangerous with a cookie sheet than he would be with a kitchen knife? I think we’d be better off just not making him angry.” Reece suddenly stopped moving and cackled, making Devlin look over at him in confusion. “What?” “Look at us? I’m the alpha of my own pack. You’re the beta. We’re sitting here talking about not pissing off a five-foot-seven, one hundred and forty-five pound human. We are so fucking pathetic.” “Does that mean you’re not worried about pissing him off?” “Do I look stupid?” Reece laughed. “No, but—sweet hell!” Devlin exclaimed, looking past Reece. Reece quickly turned around to see what Devlin was looking at. “Fuck me!” he whispered when he got sight of the man standing in


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the doorway. Keeley was every wet dream he had ever had all rolled into one sexy little package. Keeley had changed into a pair of tight jeans that rode low on his hips. He was still wearing Reece’s shirt, but tied it in a knot that came down to just above his belly button, which was sporting a gold ring. Keeley looked totally drool-worthy, but it was the fire-engine red nail polish on his fingers and bare toenails that really held Reece’s attention. The black eye liner and the just-got-of-bed mussed, honeyblond hair only highlighted his delicate features. “Keeley,” Reece hissed softly, trying to catch the breath that had suddenly left his lungs. His cock was throbbing in his jeans so hard he could almost hear it. Every thought going through his mind centered around throwing Keeley down on the floor and fucking him until neither of them could walk. “Ooh, roses,” Keeley said. “For me?” he asked, looking over at Reece with barely contained excitement. Reece just nodded his head, too speechless to say anything. He tried to keep his tongue from hanging out as he watched Keeley bounce over to the table and lean in to sniff one of the rose buds. Oh damn! He was bending so far over the table that his ass was sticking out right there, right in front of Reece. He started to reach out to caress that tight ass in front of him when he noticed Keeley reaching for the card stuck in the flowers. He held his breath as he waited for Keeley’s reaction. Reece’s eyes widened in shock when Keeley squealed and he suddenly found himself with an armful of a hugging and kissing Keeley. Reece wrapped his arms around him, smiling over at Devlin. “Guess he liked the flowers.” Devlin smirked, nodding his head as he sat down to the table. “Can we eat now?” Reece looked down at Keeley, smiling at him. “Hungry, baby?” “Oh, I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon,” Keeley replied.


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“Well then, let’s sit down and eat,” Reece said as he grabbed a chair and held it out for Keeley. Once he had sat down, Reece grabbed another chair and pulled it over next to Keeley’s and sat down. It didn’t take long for all three men to dig in and begin eating. There was silence for a little while, everyone enjoying the food that Keeley had prepared. Finally, Devlin patted his full stomach and he looked over at Keeley with interest. “So, Keeley, what’s with the nail polish?” “You don’t like it?” Keeley asked, holding up his hand out at arm’s length and tilting it back and forth in the light. “I have other colors—dark red, pink, even purple.” “No, no, it’s nice. Very becoming,” Devlin replied. “Thank you. I like it.” Keeley grinned, then looked over at Reece. “What do you think? Do you like it?” Reece wasn’t sure how to answer Keeley. Strangely enough, he did like the nail polish. It just seemed to suit Keeley’s personality. What he was having a hard time with was the fact that Keeley, a man, wore it—and that it turned him on. “Keeley.” Reece began, trying to find the words to tell Keeley he liked it, but he wasn’t sure he was supposed to. Men just weren’t supposed to be into stuff like that. “You don’t like it?” Keeley asked quietly, lowering his hand back to his lap as he looked down at his empty plate. “Reece, tell him the truth,” Devlin suggested as he stood to his feet and walked out of the room, leaving the two of them alone together. Reece looked over at Keeley’s bowed head, feeling like all kinds of a fool. Keeley had been so excited when he had come into the kitchen and Reece’s lack of comment had sucked all of that wonderful enthusiasm right out of him. Reece was an idiot. Deciding that he would rather have Keeley happy than sad, no matter what the cost, Reece reached over and picked Keeley up,


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settling him down in his lap. He reached over with his hand and lifted Keeley’s chin, forcing him to look at him. “I do like the nail polish, maybe too much. All I’ve been able to think about since you walked into the room is throwing you down on the nearest flat surface and fucking you until neither of us could walk.” “Why too much? If you like it, what’s the problem?” “Oh, baby, it’s not so much that.” Reece shook his head. “You have to remember that I’m new to this type of thing. And I guess, being who I am, I’ve always thought that there was a way for men to act and a way for women to act. You don’t fit into that mold.” “And that’s a bad thing? Do you want me to act more like you? I can, if that’s what you want. I don’t have to wear the nail polish and the eye liner and stuff. I can just—” Keeley said quickly. “No, baby, no. I like the way you look.” Reece stroked his hands down Keeley’s back trying to soothe him. “I’m just not used to it. You have to remember, I’m the alpha of my pack. I hold my position by my power and my strength, by being a man. I don’t have any experience with someone like you.” “Do you—am I—I need to think about this,” Keeley said as he pushed himself away from Reece and stood to his feet. “I’m going to go upstairs for a little while.” “Damn it, Keeley, you’re not listening to me,” Reece yelled as he jumped to his feet. “I like the way you look. Those tighter-than-fuck jeans, the fact that you’re still wearing my shirt, the belly button ring, the nail polish, all of it. I’ve never seen anything sexier in my life. I just don’t know if I’m supposed to like it.” Keeley’s eyebrows rose in surprise as he stared at Reece’s red face. “Why shouldn’t you like it?” he asked in bewilderment. Reece ran his hand through his hair, his entire being filled with frustration. “Fuck, this is hard.” “What’s so hard about it? Either you like the way I look or you don’t.”


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“Oh, I like the way you look all right. That’s not my problem,” Reece said, his eyes running over Keeley’s body with great interest. “Then what is? I don’t understand!” Keeley cried out, tears starting to form in his eyes. “I know you don’t Keeley,” Reece said as he pulled him into his arms again. “I wish I could explain it to you, but I’m having a hard time understanding it myself. That’s what’s so hard about it. I don’t want to hurt your feelings by saying something stupid.” Keeley raised his head to look up at Reece. “Then just tell me.” Reece took a deep breath and let it out. “Okay, bear with me here. I love the way you look right now. I especially like that fact that you’re wearing my shirt. Knowing that something of mine is covering your body makes my cock ache.” Keeley giggled. “I can tell,” he said as he pressed his abdomen against the hard ridge in Reece’s pants. “I’ve just always been led to believe that only women dress like you do.” “Do you think I’m less of a man because I’m dressed this way?” Keeley asked hesitantly. “No, and that’s what is so confusing for me. You’re very much a man, but I’ve always been taught that men are supposed to be hard, powerful, without emotion. You’re not,” Reece explained. “You’re soft and cuddly.” “You make me sound like a puppy.” “No,” Reece chuckled. “But you do have to admit, you don’t fit into the stereotypical ideal of what a man is.” “Well, duh!” Keeley explained. “I was raised in a commune. Everyone wore the same thing, ate the same thing, behaved the same way. Once I got out, I wanted to experience everything, especially colors. I love colors.” “Colors? Commune? What in the hell are you talking about?” Reece nearly shouted as he stared at Keeley.


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Keeley rolled his eyes. “When I was a small child, a man came and took me from my parents. He was with a bunch of government people that told my parents I would be better off with them because I can—well, I know things.” “Know things?” Reece asked in confusion. “What sort of things?” “Sometimes I just know things, like when the phone rings, I know who’s calling. When someone knocks on the door, I know who it is. That bar where I met you? I just knew I was supposed to stop as soon as I saw the sign.” Keeley waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. “I had no idea why I was supposed to stop. I just figured I needed to go to the bathroom.” “Okay, so you know things. What does this have to do with this commune thing?” “That’s where I grew up. There were a lot of other people there just like me. Some could read minds, some could tell if someone was telling a lie, some knew things like I do. Basically, we all had some sort of psychic ability. And we were all kept prisoner by a man we called—” “The Teacher! You’re talking about the Teacher, aren’t you?” Reece said ominously. “Yeah, how’d you know?” Keeley asked as he looked up at Reece in confusion. “My pack enforcers, Chase and Donovan? I sent them down to the Wolf Creek Pack to help protect a man named Nate. That’s your friend, isn’t it?” Reece asked in wonder. Keeley nodded his head. “Yeah, he’s the one I was telling you about. You’re the alpha that sent Chase and Donovan down to help? They saved us, you know? The Teacher had us held in a warehouse while he went looking for Nate. Chase and his friends came in and freed us.” Reece nodded, holding Keeley closer to him as he realized how close he had come to never having his little mate in his life. One


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simple decision had changed the entire course of his life, of so many lives. Suddenly, Reece started laughing, making Keeley glance up. “I just figured out why you’re here, baby,” Reece explained at the confused look on Keeley’s face. “As the alpha of my pack, I made the decision for Chase and Donovan to go help, against the wishes of several people in my pack. They felt that we shouldn’t get involved, but I disagreed and sent them anyway.” “Why?” “We’re werewolves, baby, no matter what pack we belong to. Oh, I understand the territory thing, but this had nothing to do with that. If we’re going to survive as a species, we have to help each other.” “So, what does this have to do with me being here?” “I made a decision against the wishes of several members of my pack, a decision that gained me nothing but the knowledge that I was helping someone else. You’re my reward,” Reece explained. “I’m you’re reward? But what about the way I dress? The nail polish and stuff?” Keeley asked cautiously. “That’s the most perfect part. I think the way you look is hotter than hell. And now that we’re mated, the rest of my pack is just going to have to deal with it. You’re going to scandalize them to their very toes.” “And that’s a good thing?” Keeley asked, doubtful. “Oh, hell yes. I’ve been trying since I took over the alpha position to bring this pack into the new century, but a certain select few have done everything they could to undermine me and keep our pack with the old ways. I think their alpha being mated to a man that looks as sexy as you do will change a lot of minds.” “And how do you figure that?” Keeley asked, not looking convinced. “It’s real simple, baby,” Reece said as he kissed Keeley on the forehead. “I want you to be as outrageous as you can possibly be. If you want to wear nail polish and eye liner, wear it. If you want to


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parade around the house in nothing but my shirt, do it. I want you to do whatever makes you comfortable and who cares what anyone else thinks?” “Seriously?” Keeley asked in surprise. “Seriously. And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be whoever you want to be. If anyone bothers you over it,” Reece pointed to the stack of cookie sheets he had bought for Keeley, “hit them with one of those.” Keeley looked over at the stack of cookie sheets in shock, seeing them for the first time. He started laughing at the sheer number. “I can’t believe you actually went out and bought me a bunch of cookie sheets after I hit you with one.” “You did say that was the only way you would forgive me,” Reece reminded Keeley. “Well, yeah, but I didn’t mean it. I would have forgiven you anyway. I just wanted you to squirm a little,” he replied. “I’d rather watch you squirm, preferably on my lap,” Reece said, his voice becoming low and seductive. Keeley looked up at Reece to see if he was serious. The wide grin on Reece’s lips told Keeley that he was. “Give me ten minutes, then meet me upstairs.” Keeley giggled, jumping up from Reece’s lap and racing out of the room. Reece sat there for a moment, stunned by Keeley’s eager invitation. Considering what he had looked like when he had come downstairs, it was all Reece could do to give him those ten minutes without running after him. He looked up at the clock, watching the second hand slowly tick by. He knew, logically, that it wasn’t moving any slower than normal, but it sure felt like it. Time seemed to drag by. Getting to his feet, Reece began clearing the table, anything to keep himself busy for the next few minutes. “Reece? I’m ready.”


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Reece dropped the dishes onto the counter and went running upstairs the second he heard Keeley yell out for him. He stopped at the bedroom door and took a deep breath before opening it, and promptly lost all the air in his lungs at the sight that met his eyes. Keeley was lying in the middle of the bed dressed in nothing but a red feather boa wrapped around his neck. It trailed down his chest to lie between his legs. All that was left was Keeley’s seductive smile. He was leaning back against the pillows, his legs bent at the knees and slightly parted as he slowly stroked the hard cock in his hand. “Sweet mercy,” Reece whispered, “you’re trying to kill me.” Keeley giggled, holding up his hand and crooking his finger, calling Reece over to the bed. “Going to join me, Quilliam?” Reece pulled his shirt over his head so fast he barely registered it passing over his head. He dropped it on the floor, then shucked his jeans just as quickly. He couldn’t care less that he was leaving a mess on the floor. His entire attention was centered on the gorgeous body waiting for him on the bed. Starting at the bottom of the bed, he slowly began climbing his way up the mattress until he was lying between Keeley’s legs, his cock right in front of his face. Reece stared at it, licking his lips. “You going to suck my cock, Quilliam?” Keeley crooned, dropping his hand and spreading his legs as far as they would go. Reece cast a worried look up at him. “I’ve never done this before, Keeley. I don’t know if I’d be very good at it.” “I’m not worried, Quilliam. I have no doubt you’ll figure it out,” Keeley said gently. “You learned how to get me ready easily enough.” “Yeah, but—” Keeley sat up to cup Reece’s face in his hands. “Honey, if you don’t want to do this, we won’t. I would never ask you to do something you’re uncomfortable with. We can just move on to something else.”


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“I want to do it.” Reece looked back down at the cock in front of him. He licked his lips, then glanced back up at Keeley. “I’m just afraid I won’t be very good at it. I don’t want to disappoint you.” “You could never disappoint me. Being with you is enough for me. I don’t need this,” Keeley replied gently. Reece’s eyes dropped back down to the cock butting him on the chin. “You’ll tell me if I do something you don’t like?” “Of course, but are you sure you want to do this?” Reece nodded. “I’m sure,” he replied, then looked up at Keeley. “I want to try everything with you.” Keeley grinned, then laid back against the pillows. “Then, I’m all yours, big guy.” Reece laughed. “You’re so easy.” “You have no idea,” Keeley tittered, moaning a moment later when Reece leaned forward and licked the top of his cock. Reece leaned over and licked up the droplets of liquid that had quickly appeared at the top of Keeley’s cock. He had thought it would be bitter, but it was actually not bad, a little tangy, but also sweet tasting. He heard Keeley groan as he ran his tongue down the length of his engorged cock. Remembering what he liked, he moved on down and licked at Keeley’s hairless balls, wondering briefly why Keeley was hairless. He’d have to remember to ask him about that. Right now, however, he wanted to know what the red rubber thing was that Keeley had in his ass. He considered himself to be pretty sexually experienced but he had never seen anything like the rubber object in Keeley’s ass. He reached down and pulled at it with his fingers, nearly jumping when Keeley trembled. “Keeley? What is this?” he asked as he pulled on it again, watching as it popped right back in. “Butt plug. It stretches me out so that you don’t have to,” Keeley said breathlessly. Reece looked up at him in surprise. “I thought you liked me getting you ready?”


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“I do, but sometimes you just need to get to the really good stuff. The plug keeps me stretched out so you can fuck me whenever you want to,” Keeley hissed. “Does it hurt?” “No.” “Does it feel good?” “When you play with it, it does.” “Like this?” Reece asked as he gently pulled on it, letting it pop back into place again. “Hell, yes!” Keeley groaned again, clenching his hands in the sheet next to him. “So, if I was to do this, it would feel really good?” Reece asked as he took Keeley’s cock into his mouth and sucked on it while playing with the plug with his fingers. “Quilliam!” Keeley cried out, his head thrashing back and forth on the pillow. Reece grinned around the cock in his mouth. Guess that answered that question. Keeley was practically coming unglued. Reece put more effort into his work, licking at Keeley’s cock with his tongue as he sucked him. He pulled and pushed at the butt plug, twisting it back and forth, Keeley’s cries and whimpers spurring him on. He had no idea if he was doing any of it correctly, but Keeley didn’t seem to be complaining. In fact, he seemed to be in heaven, which was just where Reece wanted him. “Quilliam,” Keeley cried out as he grabbed for Reece’s hair, “you have to stop. I’m going to come if you don’t stop.” “So come already,” Reece said as he lifted his head to look into Keeley’s frantic eyes. He barely got his mouth around Keeley’s cock again before he was erupting, filling Reece’s mouth. As he swallowed, he heard Keeley crying out. It was such a turn on that it was all Reece could do to get the plug out of Keeley. He had just enough time to thrust into Keeley before he was coming. The feeling of Keeley’s body tightening around him was so great that Reece


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continued to pump into him until the knot took hold and locked him inside of Keeley. Collapsing down over Keeley’s body, Reece buried his face in Keeley’s neck, resting his body on his arms. His body continued to spasm as the air in his lungs rushed in and out rapidly. Finally, when he felt he could breathe normally again, Reece lifted his head to look down at his mate. Keeley’s eyes were closed, his chest moving just as quickly as Reece’s. But he had a very satisfied smile on his beautiful lips. “Was that okay?” Reece asked. He watched with amusement as Keeley’s eyes opened then widened. “Are you serious? That was fantastic, although I think you’re trying to kill me.” Reece grinned as he lowered his head to give Keeley a quick kiss. “Maybe next time we can try it the other way around, hmm?” “You’d wear a butt plug?” Keeley asked in astonishment. “Why not? You did.” “Well, yeah, but—” “No buts, baby. This is an equal opportunity relationship. If you can do it, I can do it. Besides,” Reece said as he grinned, “why should you have all the fun?” Keeley raised an eyebrow. “Who says you wearing a butt plug won’t be fun for me, too?” Reece ran his knuckles down the side Keeley’s face. “I was going to ask you something earlier, but I was a little busy sucking you off.” “So ask now.” “Why don’t you have any hair down there?” He nodded towards Keeley’s bare groin. “I shave.” “Why?” Reece asked, confused. He thought only women shaved their crotches. “It feels better, more intimate. Besides, the stimulation is better.” Keeley cocked his head to one side. “Why? Does it bother you?”


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“No, I like it. I guess it’s another one of those I’m not used to it things. I think we both need to be prepared for that to happen a lot. But I don’t want you to think I don’t like something just because I ask about it. I’m just curious.” “Okay. Anything else you want to know?” “Yeah, can you wear a butt plug with those tight-ass jeans of yours?”


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Chapter 6 Keeley dialed Nate’s phone number and hit speakerphone. He leaned down over the kitchen counter and painted another layer of pink nail polish on his fingernail as he waited for Nate to pick up. “Hello?” “Hey, Joe, this is Keeley. Is Nate around?” “Hey, Keeley, how’s it going?” “Pretty good, actually. That’s what I wanted to talk to Nate about. Have I got a surprise for him. He’s never going to believe it. Is he there?” “Yeah, he’s right here. Hold on.” A moment later, Nate came on the line. “Keeley? What’s up? Did you find a place to drop some roots?” “And then some,” Keeley laughed. “Oh? Do tell, and I want all of the details.” “He’s totally gorgeous, totally likes my nail polish, and totally into me.” “Those are the best kind,” Nate snickered. “Yeah, and the best part? Are you ready for this? He’s the alpha of his pack, and I’m his mate.” Keeley held his breath as he waited for Nate’s reaction. It wasn’t long in coming. Keeley smiled as he heard Nate screaming over the phone. “Oh my god, are you serious? He’s an alpha and your mate? Well, where did you meet him? What’s he like? What’s his name? Has he claimed you yet?” “Slow down, Nate,” Keeley laughed. “One question at a time.” “Okay, okay. First question, what’s his name?”


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“Quilliam Reece.” “Quilliam Reece? Where do I know that name?” Nate asked. “Chase and Donovan are his pack enforcers. He’s the one that sent them down to help you,” Keeley replied. “Seriously? And you’re mated to him?” “Yep.” “Way to go, Keeley. Sounds like you landed on your feet okay,” Nate said. “Yeah, we had a few problems in the beginning, and we’re still working a few things out, but—” “Like what?” Nate asked, interrupting Keeley. “Well, to start with, he was straight before I met him. The whole me having a dick thing was a little hard for him to get past in the beginning, but I think he’s coming along nicely.” “Debauching him, are you?” “Every chance I get,” Keeley laughed. “So, what else is going on?” Nate asked. “Tonight I get to meet the rest of the pack. I’m so nervous I could spit.” “Why? Everyone here loves you. I’m sure they will too,” Nate encouraged. “I’m not so sure. Reece said that there are a few people in his pack that won’t take favorably to my wild ways. Then there are all of the single women that have been trying to hook him since he became the alpha. I don’t think I’m going to be a very popular person.” “Ridiculous. Does Reece have a problem with your wild ways?” “No,” Keeley said. “I think he rather likes me wild, although, he was a little shocked the first time he saw me with nail polish and eyeliner. I thought he was going to pass out, but he thinks it’s hot. I’m painting my nails right now with this great new pink color he bought for me.”


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“If your mate doesn’t have a problem with the way you are, don’t let it bother you. Besides, who cares what anyone else thinks? As long as your mate likes it, that’s all that matters.” “I just don’t want to embarrass him,” Keeley whined. “Keeley, as long as you are yourself, you could never embarrass anyone,” Nate replied. “I second that.” Keeley jumped, turning around quickly to see Reece standing in the kitchen doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. “Reece? How long have you been standing there?” “Long enough to know that you’re worrying over nothing. You’ll be great,” Reece said as he walked over to hug Keeley to him. “I like you just the way you are. Haven’t I shown you that?” “Yeah, but—” “Uh uh,” Reece said as he placed his finger against Keeley’s lips. “What did I say about buts?” “No buts. This is an equal opportunity relationship,” Keeley replied, repeating Reece’s words from the week before. “But what does that have to do with this?” “It has everything to do with it, Keeley. I like everything about you, the hair, the nails, the wild ways. I could probably do without the cookie sheets upside my head, but beyond that, you’re perfect in my eyes and I don’t care what anyone else thinks. You and your wild ways are going to help me bring this pack into the current century, remember?” “Are you sure? I could tone it down a bit tonight, maybe take off the nail polish or something?” Keeley asked anxiously. “No, absolutely not! I love the nail polish. I have some very fond memories of you in red.” Reece grinned, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. “Besides, they’d find out about it eventually, so why not just get it all over with in one fell swoop?” Keeley rolled his eyes. There really was no reasoning with Reece when he was in this mood.


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Not that Keeley minded. He was very playful in this mood, but sometimes Keeley felt the need to hit him again. “Fine. I won’t tone it down, but I’m warning you now, if anyone makes fun of me—” “I already had Devlin hide your weapons of mass destruction, baby, so you’re just going to have to deal with it. I’ll make sure no one is mean to you.” “You hid my cookie sheets?” Keeley exclaimed. “Why in the hell would you do that? I need them.” “Because,” Reece said as he wrapped his arms around Keeley and lifted him up to sit on the kitchen counter. “You’re a lethal weapon with a cookie sheet, and I don’t need to be refereeing any fights tonight.” Keeley crossed his arms over his chest as he glared up at Reece, huffing as he pouted his bottom lip out. “Fine!” Reece groaned. “Oh, baby, you know what that stubborn streak of yours does to me,” he said as he leaned in to capture Keeley’s bottom lip between his teeth. Keeley sighed and wrapped his arms around Reece’s neck, leaning back against the countertop and pulling Reece with him. Reece growled, his hands immediately going to the buttons on Keeley’s jeans. “Guys? Guys? Hello? Still on the phone here,” Nate said after a few moments filled with moans and groans. He jerked the phone back from his ear when he was abruptly hung up on. He stared at it for a moment then looked over at Joe in astonishment. “They hung up on me.” **** Reece watched the members of his pack mingle around his living room, keeping a close eye on his mate. Keeley seemed to be doing okay. Everyone was being pretty nice, no rude comments or gestures


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as far as he could tell. Although, everyone seemed to be slightly shocked by Keeley’s appearance, not that Reece could blame them. Keeley had dressed up especially for the occasion tonight, and it was making it hard for Reece to concentrate—hell, it was just flat out making him hard. Keeley wore his usual tight jeans, but he had topped them off with a nice, white, button-down shirt. Reece was a little put out that it wasn’t his, but it was a bit dressier than one of his cotton shirts. His fingernails and toenails were still painted pink, though. Reece grinned when he saw Keeley’s bare feet just as the first guest knocked on the door. He insisted in running around with no shoes on. Reece was beginning to wonder if Keeley actually owned any shoes. Still, Keeley did look hot, at least to Reece. He was pretty sure that there was more than one person here tonight, men and women, that had taken an interest in his little mate. He could smell the arousal in the air. He hadn’t informed the pack that Keeley was his mate yet. So far, everyone seemed to think that Keeley was just a guest he had visiting. He was waiting for just the right moment, or so he kept telling himself. Truthfully, he knew that he was actually avoiding the announcement. The fallout was going to be interesting. The time would come, though, when he had to make the announcement. He just wasn’t sure when or how he was going to do it. Keeley solved that problem for Reece a few minutes later when he walked over and eyed the small crowd of women that surrounded him. Reece was sitting in a large, overstuffed chair next to the tall river-rock fireplace, with a woman sitting on the arm of his chair. More women where standing behind him. “You seem to be awfully cozy,” Keeley said, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at each of the women surrounding Reece. “Lots of little friends to keep you company?”


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Reece grinned. He could see the little green monster rearing its head in Keeley’s eyes. It was nice to know that his little mate was jealous. Of course, Keeley seemed to be handling it better than Reece would. He’d probably be ripping someone’s head off right about now. “You could always save me,” Reece challenged, raising an eyebrow at Keeley. Keeley looked around the room at all of the people watching them, then back at Reece. “I could, but then the cat would be out of the bag, so to speak. Is that what you want?” “I wouldn’t mind.” Reece knew the minute Keeley made their relationship known, the questions from the pack would begin. He was also hoping it would get rid of the circle of women that surrounded him hoping to be chosen as a mate by the pack alpha. It was one of the things Reece hated about being the man in charge. “What’s it worth to you?” Reece knew that Keeley was stalling for time. Keeley was nervous. Reece couldn’t blame him. He was a human in a room full of shape shifters. “A manicure?” Reece inquired. Keeley had a weakness for anything concerning his fingernails. “Throw in a pedicure, and you have yourself a deal,” Keeley answered saucily. “Done,” Reece readily agreed. “Just how far do you want me to go? Just me or all of it?” Keeley asked. “There is no just you, Keeley,” Reece replied. “It’s all or nothing.” There was no way that Reece was letting Keeley take the heat by himself. He wanted the pack to know that Keeley was human, part of the pack, and his mate. He didn’t want anything left out, not even the fact that they were lovers. Keeley turned to look at the woman sitting on the arm of Reece’s chair, her hand lightly stroking his arm. “Could you excuse me for just a moment?” he asked. The woman looked a little put out as she stood up and stepped out of the way, allowing Keeley to move in.


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“So, big guy, you going to kiss me and ruin the hopes and dreams of all of these women?” Keeley grinned up at Reece as he plopped himself down in Reece’s lap, his arms going around his neck. “Do I really need a reason to kiss you?” Reece murmured as he leaned down and took Keeley’s eager lips with his. As Keeley moaned softly, leaning into the kiss, Reece could hear the muffled exclamations of those around them. Guess the cat was out of the bag now. Lifting his head, Reece trailed his thumb down the side of Keeley’s face, loving the dazed look in Keeley’s pale green eyes. He always looked so astounded when they kissed. It sent all the blood rushing right to his groin every time. “Alpha Reece,” one older man said as he stepped forward and gestured to the man in Reece’s lap, “what’s the meaning of this?” “Does there really have to be a meaning behind it, Douglas?” Reece drawled turning to look at one of his older pack members. “You’re—you’re kissing a man. You’re making a spectacle of yourself in front of your entire pack. Is this how you rule this pack? By shaming yourself and everyone else to be with this—this—” “I’d be real careful with the next words out of your mouth, Douglas,” Reece growled as he lifted Keeley up from his lap and set him on his feet before standing up himself. “This man is my mate.” He could see Devlin slowly making his way to his side out of the corner of his eyes. Keeley stood beside him, his hand pressing against the small of Reece’s back in support. Reece crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Douglas, waiting. “Your mate? You can’t be serious. He’s a man!” Douglas shouted. “I am very well aware of the fact that he’s a man. It’s kind of hard to miss, especially when he’s naked. That doesn’t mean he isn’t my mate.” “You—you can’t mate a man. What about Adrianna? How can you do this to her?”


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“Adrianna?” Reece asked in confusion as he looked over at the woman that had been sitting next to him when Keeley had asked her to move. “What does Adrianna have to do with any of this?” “She’s supposed to be your mate. She’s going to rule the pack by your side,” Douglas reasoned. “It’s already been decided.” “And who decided that? I sure as hell didn’t.” “We did, the founding families. Adrianna is the best choice for you, for the pack. She is—” Douglas said. “Not my mate,” Reece finished for him. “As such, she will not be ruling at my side.” “But—but, he can’t rule at your side,” Douglas said as he pointed past Reece to Keeley. “Why not?” “Just look at him. He’s wearing nail polish and eyeliner. He looks like a male prostitute.” Reece turned to look down at Keeley. He could see the worry in his eyes, the concern for Reece’s reputation and standing among his pack. He sent Keeley a little smile, trying to reassure him that everything was all right before turning to look back at Douglas. “I happen to like the way he looks. It’s hot! And since he’s my mate, my opinion is the only one that counts where Keeley is concerned. If you don’t like it, don’t look. However, I’ve already claimed him which means there will be no other mate for me.” “You’ve—you’ve already claimed him?” Douglas asked in horror. “What did you expect me to do with him? Pretend he’s not mine? You have a mate, Douglas. You know what it’s like when you find your mate. There was no way I could not claim him, even if I had wanted to,” Reece replied. “But, Alpha, he’s—he’s a man. You can’t claim a man.” “Why not? Others have done so.” “Not here, they haven’t. We don’t want that kind of behavior around here,” Douglas spat out.


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“You’re really starting to annoy me, Douglas. Keeley is mine and I’m keeping him. It’s not up to you to decide who my mate is,” Reece said, taking a menacing step towards Douglas. “Fine. If you want to keep him, keep him. But Adrianna must rule by your side. It’s already been decided,” Douglas said, trying to placate Reece. “You said that already, Douglas, but where I come from, the alpha rules the pack. The pack does not tell the alpha what to do.” “We told you when you took over for the old alpha that things were done differently here. The founding families have always had a hand in who rules this pack and Adrianna must rule by your side.” Reece looked at Douglas, perplexed. Why did he keep going on and on about Adrianna ruling by his side? He barely knew the woman. Reece began to feel like there was more going on here than met the eye. “Why is it so important for Adrianna to rule by my side? Explain it to me, and I might consider it,” Reece said simply. He could hear Keeley’s small inhale of breath as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Reece wished that there was some way that he could reassure Keeley the words he was speaking were meant for Douglas, and not entirely true. He had no intention of giving Keeley up or having Adrianna rule at his side. Keeley was the only one for him. But he had to convince Douglas that he was considering it to get the whole story from him. “It just is. Plans have already been made, plans that involve the entire pack. They will bring us great wealth and increase our pack’s territory tenfold, but they all hinge on Adrianna being by your side, ruling with you. If you do not accept her, they all fall through, and then where would we be?” “What plans? And who made these plans? You?” “No, no, others have made these plans, but—” Douglas began, wringing his hands together.


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Reece started to interrupt him when Keeley grabbed his sleeve and yanked on it, leaning up on his toes to whisper into his ear. “You remember that vision thing I told you about? It’s screaming at me right now. There is something seriously wrong with this situation. You need to be very wary of this man. Evil surrounds him,” Keeley whispered. Reece nodded, looking back over at Douglas. “Douglas, I am intrigued by what you are saying. I want to know more, but I prefer to discuss this without an audience. Would you mind waiting in my study while I bid the rest of my guests goodbye?” Reece asked. “Yes, yes, of course, Alpha, anything you wish,” Douglas said eagerly. “Devlin? Would you escort Douglas to my study while I deal with our guests? He’s been in the pack for many ages. I’m sure you can find something for the two of you to discuss for a little while.” Devlin nodded, getting Reece’s silent message. He smiled over at Douglas, gesturing towards the study door. Reece watched them go, an eyebrow raised at how gullible Douglas was. Reece had always known that Douglas was a little short in the brains department, but he had no idea he had fallen off the deep end. Still, someone had trusted him enough to let him know of their plans and Reece wanted to know who that someone was. There was a lot more going on here than a simple dislike of Keeley and his nail polish. As Reece looked out over the members of his pack that had come, he realized that not all of them were there, and he had no idea how many of them were involved in this little plan to mate him to Adrianna. He didn’t like the feeling it gave him. It made him feel like he couldn’t trust his own pack members. He was supposed to be the alpha of his pack. It was his duty to protect them, to insure their


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health and well being. How was he supposed to do that when the threat came from within the pack? “Reece?” Reece turned to see Keeley standing behind him, looking very apprehensive. “Did I do this?” “No, baby. I don’t think this has anything to do with you. There’s something else going on entirely. I’m not sure what it is, but I’m going to find out,” Reece said, patting Keeley on the arm. “Why don’t you go in the kitchen and start cleaning up while I get rid of all these people?” “Are you sure?” Keeley asked, looking very uncertain. “Yeah, I’m sure. We might be able to plan something for another day, but I think the welcoming party is over for now. Now, go on in the kitchen. I’ll be there in a few minutes to help you. We wouldn’t want all of that food you cooked to go to waste, would we?” “No, I guess not,” Keeley said with a small smile. He leaned up and gave Reece a quick peck on the cheek then headed into the kitchen to clean up. Reece shook his head, watching his little mate go. Keeley continued to be a surprise to him. One moment he was about as outrageous as he could be. The next, he was in need of Reece’s protection. He didn’t know if he would ever figure Keeley out. He turned back to look at the other members of the pack. Some of them he knew, others he did not. He hadn’t been the alpha for that long. Maybe he needed to arrange more pack functions so they could all get to know each other better. He certainly felt that they needed more opportunities to get to know what a wonderful man Keeley was. The way that they were looking towards the kitchen doorway Keeley had just passed through made Reece’s hackles stand up. He felt the deep need to get them all out of his house as soon as possible and go check on Keeley. “I want to thank you all for coming tonight. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I’m afraid I’m going to have to end the evening for now,” Reece called out in a clear strong voice. There was just no


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polite way to tell everyone to get the hell out. “Again, thank you for coming.” He watched as everyone began gathering their stuff together and heading for the door. A few glared over their shoulders at him as they went out. Reece just glared back, taking a deep breath when the door shut behind the last one. Reece quickly locked the door and walked over to the study, opening the door to lean in. “Devlin? Douglas? I’m going to help Keeley clean up real quick and then I’ll be right in. Is there anything I can get either of you?” “No, thank you, Reece, we’re fine. Douglas and I were just talking over pack history. Unlike you or me,” Devlin said, “Douglas was born into this pack. He’s a fountain of information. Did you know that this pack used to have over three hundred members?” “Uh, no,” Reece said, his forehead scrunching together in confusion. Three hundred members? That was a huge pack. They only had around thirty members now. Where had the rest of them gone? “Yeah, Douglas was telling me all about it. It’s really quite interesting,” Devlin replied, giving Reece a peculiar look. Reece could hear the unspoken message in Devlin’s words. “Great. I’d love to hear about that too, Douglas. I think it is very important for an alpha to know all about the pack history. Maybe we can discuss it after our little talk?” “I would be honored, Alpha,” Douglas replied, sitting up straighter in his chair, a pleased grin on his face. Reece turned away before rolling his eyes. What a dumb ass! He wondered if all the members of his pack were as stupid as Douglas or if it was just him. Taking over this pack three months ago was beginning to look like one of the stupidest things he had ever done. If he had known all the crap that came along with being an alpha, he would have stayed an enforcer. Instead, he had to go off halfcocked and challenge an alpha for beating up a complete stranger. He really had to stop sticking his nose in other people’s business.


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Of course, if he had done that to begin with, he might not have met Keeley. And Keeley made all of the crap he was going through now worth it. He was worth everything, which was funny considering how hard he had fought being with Keeley in the beginning. It had taken a little more than a week for the entire course of his life to change, even how he perceived what being a man was. Keeley wore sexy clothes, colorful nail polish, and eyeliner, but he was the most masculine man Reece had ever met. He didn’t know how he could have ever thought otherwise. Just the thought of his little mate had him picking up his steps as he hurried to the kitchen. “Baby?” he asked as he walked into the kitchen and found it empty. “Keeley?” Suddenly a deep feeling of dread overtook Reece. He raced around the kitchen opening cabinets and looking under counters trying to find Keeley. He even looked under the table. When he didn’t find him there, he began looking in the other rooms. Opening the laundry room door, Reece let out a low cry as he spotted Keeley lying on his side in a pool of blood. He ran in and dropped to his knees beside him, his hands shaking as he reached for him. “Keeley? Baby?” Reece whispered, his heart pounding rapidly in his chest. There was so much blood. It was everywhere and Keeley seemed to be covered in it. He was afraid to touch Keeley, afraid to find out if he was alive or dead. He just didn’t see how anyone could be alive with so much blood loss, assuming all of the blood was Keeley’s. Hearing a small groan, Reece let out the breath he had been holding and leaned down close to Keeley’s head. He gently rolled him onto his back, his eyes going to his face. “Keeley? Can you hear me, baby?” Reece ran his eyes down Keeley’s body trying to access his injuries. He had several deep cuts and scratches, some bruises, and a few abrasions, but there didn’t seem to be a wound that would


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produce so much blood. “Baby, you have to tell me where you’re hurt,” he whispered softly. Running hands over his head and down his neck, Reece was shocked to see two deep puncture wounds in Keeley’s neck. He instantly sat up and sniffed the air around them, only then detecting the scent he had been too busy to smell when he had run into the room. Bloodsucker! Keeley had been bitten by a bloodsucker. But that didn’t explain all of the blood. Unless they tore out a person’s throat, the bite from a bloodsucker didn’t bleed. Keeley’s wasn’t. So, where was the blood coming from? Reece used one of his claws to cut open Keeley’s shirt, spreading the material to check his chest. Again, besides some cuts, scratches, and a few bruises, there were no deep wounds. He didn’t find any when he stripped off his jeans either. “I’m going to roll you over now, Keeley. I need to check for injuries on your back,” Reece said softly before he carefully rolled him over. Okay, no major injuries. Most of the blood seemed to be on his clothes. He looked down into Keeley’s face again, noting the purplish bruises forming on his delicate face. Someone had worked him over pretty well, and if he ever got his hands on them, they would wish that they were dead. “Keeley? I’m going to pick you up now. I want to take you upstairs and get you cleaned up a bit, then I’m going to put you to bed, okay?” Reece said softly. Thinking of the other people in the house, he grabbed a towel off the shelf and wrapped it around Keeley before gently lifting him up into his arms. As carefully as he could, Reece carried Keeley out of the laundry room. As soon as he reached the living room, he called out for Devlin, then hurried up the stairs. He was just reaching the top steps when Devlin came out, Douglas on his heels.


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“Keeley fell asleep so I’m putting him to bed. Do you think you could come up and get the door for me? I have my hands full,” Reece asked, shielding Keeley’s body with his much larger one. He didn’t want anyone to know that Keeley had been attacked until he knew what had happened. “Douglas, could you get us all a drink? There’s a liquor cabinet by my desk. We’ll be down in just a moment.” Devlin looked confused, but came up the stairs anyway. Reece watched until Douglas went back into the study before heading to the bedroom. He waited for Devlin to get there, still hiding Keeley from his view until the door was open. “Devlin? Come in and shut the door,” he ordered. Devlin still looked confused, but did as Reece said, shutting the door before coming back to stand at the end of the bed. Reece carefully laid Keeley down on the bed before sitting down next to him. Only then did he see what had been done to him. “Oh my god! What in the hell happened?” Devlin shouted in horror. “Ssshhh! Keep your voice down. I don’t want anyone to know what happened until I know what’s going on,” Reece admonished him. “What did happen?” “I don’t know. I found him lying on the floor in the laundry room. God, Devlin, there was blood everywhere. I thought for sure he was dead, but I can’t find any major injuries on him. He has cuts and abrasions all over his body like he’s been in a major fight, but the only real injury is this,” Reece said, lifting Keeley’s hair out of the way to show Devlin the puncture wounds in his neck. Devlin stepped closer, his mouth dropping open in shock. “He’s— he’s been bitten.” Reece nodded. “There was a bloodsucker in our house, Dev, and whoever it was, they attacked Keeley. This didn’t happen by chance. Someone was waiting for him in that kitchen, and they had help.”


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Devlin looked at Keeley for a moment, then nodded his head as he walked over to the phone on the nightstand and picked it up. “I’m calling Chase and Donovan home. I think we need the added protection.” “That’s probably a good idea. Until they get here, I don’t want anyone knowing what happened to Keeley. As far as everyone is concerned, Keeley fell asleep while cleaning up the kitchen. Understood?” Devlin nodded even as he heard someone answer the phone. “Chase? It’s Dev. We need you to come home. We’re in trouble.”


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Chapter 7 “Reece.” Reece quickly turned and leaned down over Keeley when he heard him murmur his name. “Keeley? I’m right here, baby. Can you open your eyes for me? I need to see those beautiful green eyes of yours.” Reece held his breath while he waited for Keeley to open his eyes so he could see their beautiful green color. “Reece,” Keeley whispered again. “Need Nate. Get Nate.” “Nate? Your friend Nate? The one that’s mated to a werewolf?” “Ye—es, need Nate. Can help.” “Okay, Keeley, I’ll get Nate,” Reece said softly as he brushed the soft, honey blond curls back from Keeley’s face. “Do you know who did this, Keeley? Did you see anyone?” “Bit—chh. Adr—” “Adrianna? Adrianna did this to you?” Reece asked in shock. Keeley slowly nodded his head. Reece saw him wince. He knew his baby was hurting and would be for a while. Humans didn’t heal as fast as shape shifters. Reece, seeing Keeley’s pain, quickly lifted his mate’s hand and held it against his cheek. “What, baby, what do you need to tell me?” “Love you, Qui—Quilliam. Won’t leave you,” Keeley whispered softly. “Just—just need to rest.” Reece could feel the tears in his eyes fall down his cheeks at Keeley’s softly spoken declaration. He turned his hand over to kiss the back then held it against his cheek again. “I know you do, baby. I


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love you, too. Close your eyes now and get some rest. You need to get your energy back. I want to play with that red feather boa again.” “‘Kay,” Keeley said, his eyes closing almost immediately. Reece watched him for a few more moments before laying his hand down gently on his chest. He pulled the blankets tighter around him, tucking him in before turning to look at Devlin, who was still on the phone. “Tell Chase and Donovan to find a man named Nate. They’ll know who he is. I want them to bring him with them when they come home. Wolf Creek isn’t that far away. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours for them to get here.” “And in the meantime?” Devlin asked. “In the meantime, I want the entire house locked down. And Douglas stays here. I don’t care if you have to tie him up and throw him in a broom closet. He’s part of this, and he is not leaving,” Reece growled. “What about Keeley? Shouldn’t we clean him up a bit and see if he has any other injuries or something?” Devlin asked in concern, looking over at the blood still covering Keeley. “We’re vulnerable right now, and will be until Chase and Donovan get here. After everything is all locked up and Douglas is taken care of I’ll take care of Keeley. No one, and I mean no one, is to get into this room without my say-so.” Reece left Devlin to finish his phone call to Chase while he went and locked up the house. He was just coming out of the kitchen when Douglas opened the door to the study and looked out. “Alpha Reece? Is everything okay?” “Yes, I was just going to finish cleaning up in the kitchen since Keeley fell asleep on the job. I’ll be just another moment and then Devlin and I will be in to join you. I think he stopped off to use the bathroom.”


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“Oh, okay,” Douglas said as he started to turn back towards the study. He paused, looking back over his shoulder. “You know, if Adrianna were here, you wouldn’t have to be doing woman’s work.” It was all Reece could do not to leap across the room and rip Douglas’s throat out at his comment, but he knew that right now, he needed to control his temper. It was more important to get information out of Douglas than to take his anger out on him. “I’m sure you’re right, Douglas, and maybe we can talk about that. Now, why don’t you go back into the study and have another drink while I finish up? Devlin should be down in just a moment to keep you company.” Reece clenched his teeth together as he watched Douglas nod his head and walk back into the study, shutting the door behind him. Oh, he so wanted to tear a piece out of that man. He knew his temper was holding on by just a thread. As a consolation, he promised himself a piece when this was all over. Until then, he was going to have to keep some space between them. He needed information that only Douglas could provide at this point. He’d have to keep him alive. Hearing the bedroom door open, Reece looked up to see Devlin coming out, quietly shutting the door behind him. It was a relief when Devlin gazed down at him and nodded his head. Chase and Donovan must be on their way home. Good! That meant Devlin could deal with Douglas while he took care of Keeley. Reece crossed the room and started for the stairs when he heard a voice coming from the study. He stepped closer to the door and listened, curious, as Douglas should have been the only one in the room. Who was he talking to? “Yes, yes, I know what you’re saying and no, I didn’t say anything to him, but I still think he suspects something,” he heard Douglas say. There was a small pause then Douglas spoke again.


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“No, he took the little shit upstairs. Said he fell asleep on the job.” Another pause. “I don’t know. He told me he was cleaning up after the party.” Since he didn’t hear any other voices, Reece figured he was talking on the phone. He just hoped it was a house line. He motioned to Devlin to guard the door as he walked over and carefully picked up the phone, covering the mouthpiece with his hand. “Well? What else did he tell you? Did he say anything about Adrianna?” A strange voice on the other end asked. Reece was pretty sure he had never heard the voice before. It didn’t sound familiar. “No, well, yes. He said he’d be willing to discuss it with me. If we could just get rid of that little boy toy he’s so fascinated with, I think we could get him to see things our way,” Douglas said. “If you and Adrianna hadn’t fucked things up so bad, we wouldn’t be in this fix in the first place, Douglas.” “It’s not my fault that the alpha chose to hunt for humans. If he had just stuck with the program, none of this ever would have happened,” Douglas replied. “You were supposed to keep him in line, not me.” “I can’t watch him every second of every day. It was your responsibility that night to keep an eye on him. I can tell you no one was happy about that. We needed the alpha to keep the rest of the pack in line.” “In another few weeks, what’s it going to matter? The rest of the pack will be turned over to them and we’ll be rich. Who cares who the alpha is then? He’ll be dead anyway.” “Because, you imbecile, the deal was that we keep providing them with werewolf blood if we want to get our money. No blood, no money. And personally, I don’t particularly want to be one of that bloodsucker’s donors,” the voice yelled. Reece raised his eyes to look across the room at Devlin, wondering if he had heard the same thing that he had. Devlin looked to be in shock and he nodded his head, telling Reece that he had.


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“So, what do you want me to do?” Douglas asked. “Look, you have to convince him to get rid of that toy of his and mate with Adrianna. She has to be in control before our plans can continue. Once they’re mated and she’s pregnant, we can turn Reece over so they can do whatever they want with him.” “This plan is sounding more complicated by the minute. Why can’t we just take him out now and put one of our people in his place?” “Because, you can only become alpha through a challenge. No one we know can challenge Reece and live. He’s too strong for that. But if Adrianna is mated to the alpha and pregnant with his child, when he dies we can have someone take over as guardian of the child until the child is old enough to rule.” “That’s going to take too long, don’t you think?” Douglas asked. “No, not really. With Adrianna being half werewolf and half bloodsucker, it will speed up the gestational period. She could whelp the kid in five months. Once she’s in power, we can continue with the plan.” “So, how is he going to get her pregnant if he’s already mated?” Douglas asked. “If his mate is dead, it breaks the bond between them and he’s free game. I think that was Adrianna’s intentions tonight when she attacked him. I just wished she had finished the job. Then, we wouldn’t be in this fix.” “Okay, so do you want me to kill Keeley then?” “No, no. Adrianna acted in haste tonight. She shouldn’t have attacked him, not yet. It’s only going to put Reece on alert and now she needs time to heal. The little shit stabbed her with something. Just act like your usual dumb self and he should never be the wiser.” “What if he saw her?” “He didn’t. Besides, I doubt he’ll remember a thing. If it begins to look like Reece suspects too much, excuse yourself, go to the bathroom, and call us. We’ll come and deal with him. For now, I want


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you to stay there and learn everything you can about what the alpha knows. Just act naturally and play along.” “Okay, but you owe me for this. I hate acting like the town idiot,” Douglas said. “You are the town idiot, Douglas. Now hang up before he catches you on the phone.” Reece waited until Douglas hung up the phone before hanging up the one in his hand. He gestured to Devlin to go in and keep Douglas busy while he went upstairs and took care of Keeley. He just hoped that the reinforcements got here in a hurry. They were all in a lot of danger. Part of Reece wanted to get Keeley and run. Anything to keep his little mate out of danger. The other part, the alpha part, needed to stay and gather as much information as he possibly could. The more he knew, the more he had to fight with. Quickly going up the stairs, Reece made his way back to the bedroom. Now that the house was all locked up and Devlin was keeping Douglas busy, it was time for him to see to his baby. Reece went straight to the bathroom and turned on the water, making sure it was warm but not too much. He added a bit of Epsom salt and gathered some supplies to clean Keeley’s wounds. He pulled his shirt over his head and laid it on the counter for later. If Keeley wearing his shirts made him more comfortable, Reece was all for it. Turning off the water, he walked back into the bedroom to get Keeley. “Keeley? I’m going to take you into the bathroom and clean you up now, okay, baby? You just hold on and I’ll do all of the work,” he said softly as he pulled back the covers and lifted Keeley into his arms. Reece had no idea why he was talking to Keeley when he was passed out, except that it made him feel better. Maybe there was just one small part of him that hoped Keeley heard him on some level and that he wouldn’t be frightened.


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Once in the bathroom, Reece dropped the towel wrapped around Keeley onto the floor and lowered him into the tub, keeping one arm around his neck to keep him supported. With the other hand, he grabbed a clean wash cloth and began cleaning him. It was slow, tedious work trying to get every last cut and scratch without causing Keeley too much pain. By the time he was done, the water was red and Reece had tears in his eyes. He was just grateful that Keeley had slept through the entire process. While he didn’t seem to be gravely injured, it was hard on Reece when he had to wash every little cut and scrape. He felt like he was just creating more pain with each cleaning. Except for the puncture wounds in his neck and some bruising around his eyes and left cheek, Keeley looked just as he always did—gorgeous and adorable. Lifting Keeley back into his arms, Reece carefully dried him off then grabbed the shirt off the counter and pulled it over his head. Carrying him back into the bedroom, Reece laid Keeley on the small settee while he changed the sheets, then placed him in the bed. Once the covers were pulled up to Keeley’s chin and he was all tucked in, Reece finally let his emotions go. Lying down next to Keeley, he wrapped his arms around him, burying his face in Keeley’s neck, weeping quietly. Unexpectedly, he felt a hand stroking his hair. Softly murmured nonsense words were crooned into his ear. Lifting his head, he was surprised to see Keeley’s pale green eyes looking back at him. “Hey, baby, how are you feeling?” “A little tired and a lot sore, but I’m okay,” Keeley said as he reached up and wiped a stray tear off of Reece’s cheek. “I told you I wouldn’t leave you.” Reece dropped his eyes, embarrassed to be caught crying. “I know, but—” “No buts, remember?” Keeley said. “Keeley.” Reece only stopped crying when Keeley lifted his hand and placed a finger over his lips.


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“No buts, Quilliam,” Keeley said firmly. “Okay, Keeley, no buts,” Reece chuckled weakly. There really just was no arguing with Keeley when he got into one of his stubborn moods. As adorable as he was when he was like this, he could also be a real pain in the ass. “You know, I meant what I said earlier,” Keeley whispered. Reece smiled down at him. “I know you did, baby. I meant what I said, too.” “Even though I’m a man?” Keeley asked uncertainly. “You being a man is just an added bonus,” Reece assured Keeley. “Oh? So you’re into gay men now?” “Let’s just say I’ve developed a strong obsession for all things Keeley.” “All things Keeley, huh? Could you be more specific?” Keeley groaned as he pressed himself against Reece’s muscular body. “Keeley, I don’t think—” “Good, don’t! Just kiss me,” Keeley said as he leaned up and pressed his lips against his. Reece tried to resist Keeley for all of about two seconds before he was returning his kiss, pressing his lips against Keeley’s as he moved his tongue in to stroke his, groaning when their tongues met. He wanted to go on kissing Keeley forever, but he knew if it continued too much longer, he wouldn’t be able to stop with just kissing. He wanted to sink his cock deep into Keeley, but Keeley just wasn’t up to that. “Quilliam,” Keeley moaned as he tore his lips away from his. “Make love to me.” Reece groaned, dropping his forehead down against his. “I can’t, baby. You’re too injured. I don’t want to hurt you any more than you already are.” “I need you, Quilliam. I need to feel you claim me again and get the feeling of that woman biting me out of my mind. I need to replace it with you. Please?” Keeley pleaded.


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Reece looked down into Keeley’s desperate eyes for a moment before nodding his head. “Alright, but you’re not to move, do you understand me? I’ll do all of the work. You just lie there. But if I hurt you, say something.” “You could never hurt me by loving me, Quilliam,” Keeley assured him, sighing with satisfaction a moment later as Reece moved over to lie down between his legs, his large body blanketing his. Reece started at the top of Keeley’s body, laying little kisses along his jaw line before moving to his neck. He paid special attention to the small puncture wounds in his neck, noting the bitter taste there. He knew he’d remember that taste when the time was needed. Pushing Keeley’s shirt up to his neck, he kissed his way down to his nipples, stopping to nibble on each. He paused to look up at Keeley’s face. “Would you ever consider getting these pierced?” Reece asked as he pulled on one nipple with his finger. “Would you like that? Would that turn you on?” Keeley whispered to him. Reece looked back down at where his fingers where gently pulling on the stiff little nub. “Yeah, I think it would,” he said, his voice shaky as he imagined the nipple pierced with a little golden loop. “I think that would be very sexy.” “Then I’ll get them pierced,” Keeley responded. Reece looked up at Keeley again, giving him a big grin. “I’d like that,” he said before returning his attention to Keeley’s nipples, leaning down to put one into his mouth again. “Good, ‘cause I really like that,” Keeley moaned. “You like it when I play with your nipples, baby?” Reece asked huskily. “Hell yes!” Keeley groaned, arching his body, pressing his nipple farther into Reece’s mouth. “It feels so good.” Reece grinned to himself as he moved his lips farther down Keeley’s body, keeping his hands on his nipples. Thank god I can multitask, Reece thought as his lips moved down over the small


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concave spot below Keeley’s navel and his fingers tugged on his little brown nubs. By the time he reached Keeley’s jutting cock, he was ready to take things to the next level. “Hold on, baby. I need to shuck these jeans,” Reece said when he rolled over and Keeley let out a moan of protest. Reece quickly dropped his jeans to the floor and grabbed the large bottle of lube and climbed back to kneel between Keeley’s spread legs. “Roll over, baby.” While Keeley rolled over onto his stomach and pulled his knees up under his body, Reece squirted some lube out on his fingers. Dropping the bottle onto the bed, he looked back down at Keeley, groaning as his cock took serious interest in the site before him. “Damn, you’re beautiful,” Reece whispered, his eyes drinking in the softly rounded butt cheeks, the small puckered hole waiting eagerly for his fingers, and the hard cock throbbing between Keeley’s legs. Reaching out with his hand, Reece slowly spread the lube around Keeley’s tight entrance, then gently pressed his finger in. He stopped instantly when he heard Keeley cry out. “Does that hurt?” he asked in concern. “No!” Keeley wailed as he pressed his body back towards the finger in his ass. Reece grinned, slapping Keeley lightly on the ass as he started moving his finger again. “I said no moving, Keeley.” “Quilliam!” Reece grinned again, pushing another finger into Keeley, groaning at the feeling of his muscles clamping down around them. He knew that in just a moment those muscles would be gripping his aching cock. The anticipation was pure torture. A third finger had Keeley moving his hips again, trying to impale himself on Reece’s fingers. “Keeley, you’re not supposed to be moving.” “I can’t help it,” Keeley groaned.


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“Okay, okay, spread your legs a little more,” he ordered, moving closer to Keeley’s body as he did. Reece gently pulled his fingers free and lined his cock up with Keeley’s ass. “You ready for me, baby?” “Quilliam, I’m going to go find me a damn cookie sheet if you don’t get your cock in my ass in the next five seconds,” Keeley growled, lifting his head to glare over his shoulder at Reece. “Five seconds, huh?” Reece chuckled. He quickly rubbed his cock over Keeley’s sensitive flesh a couple of times. “One.” Then ran his thumb down over his puckered hole. “Two.” He trailed his hand down to squeeze Keeley’s balls. “Three.” Next he moved farther down to stroke Keeley’s cock a couple of times. “Four.” Moving his hands back up to spread Keeley’s ass cheeks and line his cock up with Keeley’s entrance, pushing just the tip in. He grinned up at Keeley. “How am I doing so far, baby?” “Quilliam!” Keeley screamed in frustration. “Five!” Reece said as he thrust forward and sank to the root inside of Keeley, groaning when Keeley’s muscles instantly clamped down on him. Reece dropped forward to rest his head in the middle of Keeley’s back, overcome by the pleasure of being inside Keeley’s tight little body. “That work for you, baby?” he asked a moment later. “If you don’t start moving, I swear to—” Keeley growled. “All these threats, Keeley. You really should do something about this anger problem you seem to have,” Reece said. “Quilliam, please!” Keeley begged as he clawed at Reece’s arms. “Ah, now see,” Reece said as he started slowly moving his hips, “it’s so much nicer when you ask politely.” “Just shut up and fuck me!” Keeley ordered. Reece moved his hips faster until he could hear the little whimpers and moans coming out of Keeley’s mouth. “Is that what you wanted, Keeley?”


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“Harder!” At this point, Reece was all too happy to oblige. He grabbed Keeley’s hips in a tighter grasp and began pounding fiercely into him, over and over again. When Keeley’s body began to shake, Reece leaned over him, one hand going to the hair at the nap of his neck. He tilted Keeley’s head to one side, licking at the two small puncture wounds. “Mine, Keeley, you’re mine, your body is mine, your love is mine. No one gets you like this but me. No one!” he growled just before he sank his canines into the soft flesh over the two puncture marks left by the bloodsucker. “Quilliam!” Keeley screamed as he came, covering the sheets below him with spurt after spurt of seed. Keeley’s hands clenched the sheets next to his head as his inner muscles clenched Reece in their tight grip, forcing his release from him. Reece pulled his teeth free just in time to roar as he filled Keeley with his release. He continued to thrust into Keeley until he felt the knot extend, then leaned down to lick at his bite mark. Reece relished in the new taste that sprang over his tongue replacing the taint of the vampire’s bite. Wrapping his arms around his mate, Reece rolled over to his side taking Keeley with him. One hand rested on Keeley’s abdomen, the other moved under Keeley’s shirt to grab his nipple. His face was buried in Keeley’s neck as he inhaled his mate’s heady scent. Keeley smelled like his Keeley again, sweet and tangy at the same time, and totally intoxicating. Reece suddenly felt like all was right with the world again. He felt calm, peaceful, and content. Keeley turned his head to look up at Reece when he gave off a small sigh. “What?” Reece shook his head. “I was just thinking. You smell like you again.” “What did I smell like before? You?” “No, but you didn’t smell like you. Wolves have a great sense of smell. The first time I met you, when you went into that bathroom? I


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could smell you even before I got there. It was arousing. Just your smell made me hard as a rock.” “I imagine for a straight man, that must have been pretty confusing,” Keeley smirked. “You have no idea,” Reece laughed. “Once I claimed you, though, your scent changed. It was subtle, but it was there. You smelled like you, with just a taste of me. Every time I claim you, I renew that— marking scent, I guess you could call it.” “Well, thank god you don’t feel the need to pee on me,” Keeley said. “So, when she bit me, it changed my scent?” Reece nodded, chuckling at Keeley’s words. “Yeah, it did. I didn’t notice it until now. I guess I was too worried about you. But now that I’ve claimed you again, I can taste the difference.” “I taste like me again, with a little bit of you thrown in?” Keeley asked. “Yeah. I know it sounds weird, but—” Reece said, slightly embarrassed. “There’s that word again. I thought we weren’t supposed to use it?” Keeley asked. Reece smirked. “Okay, okay. It is weird and you’re just going to have to deal with it. How’s that?” Reece asked. “Much better, and it can’t be any weirder than the full moon mating thing Nate told me about. I’ve already got a bag packed with my best butt plug, a large bottle of lube, and a spot picked out for our night together.” Reece raised an eyebrow as he lifted his head and looked down at Keeley. “The full moon mating doesn’t bother you? You know I won’t totally be in human form, right? I’ll be unable to control myself. I’ll hunt you down and take you and probably fuck you until you can’t walk.” “I know,” Keeley grinned. “I’m counting on it.”


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Chapter 8 “You know, Reece, it’s pretty hard to keep on top of things when you’re up here fooling around and taking a nap with your mate.” Reece opened his eyes and lifted his head to see Devlin standing in the doorway, his brown eyebrow raised in query. He quickly made sure the covers were pulled up over both him and Keeley before shrugging his shoulders and grinning over at him. “Hey, Dev,” Keeley said as he rolled over onto his back. “Hey, Keeley, how are you feeling?” Devlin asked, chuckling at the slight color that filled Keeley’s face. “As if I didn’t know.” “I feel much better now, thanks,” Keeley replied, his eyes going to Reece’s face. “Hey, you.” “Hey, baby, you get enough sleep? I think Devlin is hinting that we get up, which wouldn’t be a bad idea. Nate should be here soon and, as much as I like seeing it, I’d prefer your sexy ass was dressed before you greet everyone,” Reece said as he pushed his hand under the covers to rub it along Keeley’s naked hip. Keeley sighed, separating his legs and wiggling around until Reece’s hand fell between his thighs, gently stroking over his semi hard cock. “Do we have to? Can’t we just stay in bed?” “Like the two of you would get anything done if you stayed in bed. I haven’t even left the room yet and already you’re fooling around,” Devlin said. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing under those covers, Keeley. I’m not stupid.” Keeley picked up a pillow and tossed it across the room, hitting Devlin in the chest. “Spoilsport!” Devlin laughed. “At least it wasn’t a cookie sheet this time.”


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“I can fix that,” Keeley threatened with a grin. “No, no!” Devlin said, holding his hands up in surrender. “But as Reece said, Nate should be here soon and Douglas is getting nervous. I think Reece needs to make an appearance downstairs before he gets suspicious.” Reece nodded, sitting up to scoot to the side of the bed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’ll be down in just a few minutes, Dev. Just keep him busy.” Devlin nodded, starting out the door only to stop when Reece called him back. “What did you tell him?” “It’s only been an hour or so. I told him that your little boy toy was giving you problems and you were dealing with him.” “Boy toy? That’s what I’ve been reduced to now? A boy toy?” Keeley exclaimed, sitting up to glare at Devlin. “I didn’t say it. I just—” Devlin began. “You did, too, just now. You just called me a boy toy,” Keeley complained. “Look, Keeley, Devlin didn’t mean it like that. We needed to get some information out of Douglas and the only way we could do that was by playing things his way. If he thinks I’m considering taking Adrianna as my mate and getting rid of my boy toy, he might spill the beans, so to speak. Understand?” Reece asked. Keeley looked at Reece then Devlin before nodding his head. “I guess, as long as you don’t think of me that way. I’m no one’s boy toy, not even yours, Quilliam Reece,” Keeley growled. Reece laughed, wrestling Keeley down to the bed. “I don’t know. I certainly enjoy playing with you.” “Okay, way too much information. I’m going back downstairs now. Reece, if you would join me?” Devlin asked. “Douglas is waiting and our friends should be here soon.” Reece nodded as he rolled to the side of the bed, reached for his jeans, and pulled them on. Getting up, he went to his dresser and grabbed a clean shirt, quickly getting dressed. Glancing at Keeley


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lying in the bed, Reece reached into the dresser and pulled out another shirt, holding it up for Keeley, one eyebrow raised in query. “You need a clean shirt, baby?” Keeley shook his head, a wide grin on his face. “Uh uh. I like them after you’ve worn them because they smell like you. You wear the clean ones.” Reece smiled, shaking his head as he put the shirt back in the dresser drawer. He walked over to the bed and sat down, leaning over to kiss Keeley quickly on the lips. Sitting up, he reached over and brushed Keeley’s honey-blond curls back from his face. “I’m going to go downstairs and join Dev. I want you to promise to stay up here so that Douglas doesn’t see you until our friends arrive. I’m going to leave the door open, though, and if you get afraid or if you hear anything, you just yell out as loud as you can and Dev and I will come running. Okay?” “You know, this would be a lot easier if you’d just bring me my cookie sheets,” Keeley grumbled. “I have no doubt, love, but for now, just do this my way, okay?” Keeley rolled his eyes, then grinned up at Reece. “Fine, I’ll stay up here like a good little boy. You hurry, though. No telling what kind of mischief I could get into if left to my own devices for too long.” Reece could feel his blood start to boil again as Keeley ran his hands under the hem of his shirt and moved them up his chest towards his nipples. “You’re always causing mischief, baby,” Reece growled as he got to his feet, reaching down to readjust his hard cock before walking to the door. He paused, looking back over his shoulder when his mate called out to him. “Hey, Quilliam?” “Yeah, baby?” Reece asked, seeing Keeley sitting up in bed. “Promise you won’t be long?” Keeley asked softly. Reece smiled. He knew Keeley felt anxious. “No, Keeley, I won’t be long, I promise.” “I don’t mean to sound like a coward, but—”


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“There’s that word again, Keeley. We’re not allowed to use it, remember? And you don’t sound like a coward. You sound like someone that’s been attacked in his own home. You’re afraid, and you have a right to be afraid,” Reece assured him. “You don’t think I’m being wimpy?” “No, Keeley. I think you’re being cautious. No matter what abilities you might have, you’re still a human. You don’t have the strength to fight someone that is bigger and stronger than you. Add the fact that you were attacked by someone like me, and I’d say you’re reaction is perfectly normal.” “Someone like you? You mean another werewolf?” Reece shook his head, walking back over to the bed. He so didn’t want to have this conversation with Keeley but he knew it was going to happen sooner or later. He just didn’t want to give Keeley another reason to dislike non-humans. So far, Keeley’s experience with them hadn’t been that good. “No. From what we’ve learned so far, Adrianna is half werewolf and half bloodsucker. She’s not as strong as I am, but she’s a whole hell of a lot deadlier.” “Bloodsucker? You mean a vampire?” Keeley asked in astonishment. Reece quickly sat down on the side of the bed and reached out for Keeley’s hand, giving it a small squeeze, as all of the color left his face. “In the technical sense, yes, but not like you see in the movies. A bloodsucker does drink blood from victims, or donors as they call them. Most of what you’ve seen in the movies is all lies.” “Most?” Keeley squeaked. “What do you mean most?” Reece laid his hand on Keeley’s arm, stroking the silky skin gently “Calm down, Keeley, and I’ll explain everything, okay?” “You calm down, damn it. I was bitten by a vampire!” “Bloodsucker,” Reece said. “Why are you quibbling? I was fucking bitten!” Keeley spat out, glaring at Reece. “Bitten is bitten any way you say it.”


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“Keeley, you need to calm down. Yes, you were bitten, but nothing is going to happen to you. She took some blood. I imagine she was trying to weaken you to the point where you couldn’t fight back when she tried to kill you.” Keeley snorted. “That certainly worked out well for her, didn’t it?” “I’m pretty sure she wasn’t expecting you to fight back,” Reece remarked, trying to control his anger at Adrianna. “Usually when a bloodsucker takes blood, they put their donor into a trance so that they won’t remember anything. I’m sure Adrianna wasn’t expecting it to not work on you.” “How do you know it didn’t work on me?” Keeley asked curiously, finally calming down enough to listen to what Reece had to tell him. “Because you remembered Adrianna biting you and you fought back. If it had worked, you wouldn’t have fought back. And you certainly wouldn’t have remembered any of it. That’s why they do it—no witnesses.” Reece still didn’t understand how Keeley had been able to prevent himself from falling under Adrianna’s spell. He had never heard of something like that happening before. He was just grateful that it had. Maybe it was because Keeley was mated to a shape shifter or because of his own gift? And maybe it was because his little mate was far stronger than anyone gave him credit? “Am I going to turn into one of them?” Reece shook his head. “Not any more than my biting you will turn you into a werewolf. It doesn’t work that way. The only thing that will happen to you is a sore neck for a couple of days. Other than that, there should be no other effects.” “Should? Does that mean you don’t know?” Keeley asked anxiously.


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Reece took a deep breath, then let it out. “I’ll admit I don’t know everything about bloodsuckers, and frankly, I don’t want to. However, everything I do know says you’re going to be fine.” “Well, gee, now I feel so relieved,” Keeley said sarcastically. “Keeley!” “What?” Reece sighed. “Okay, bloodsuckers drink blood to survive. We drink blood to cement the bond with our mates. Bloodsuckers cannot change shape, but we can. They are as strong as we are, however.” Reece just hoped that they weren’t as smart. He needed some sort of edge to get his mate out of this situation. “Well, that’s just peachy,” Keeley murmured under his breath. Reece raised an eyebrow at him. “Okay, okay, I’m listening.” “Bloodsuckers are not that much different than werewolves really. We both try to keep ourselves secret from humans for the safety of our races. We both have mates that are predestined for us by fate and our family structure is pretty much the same.” “You mean they have betas and alphas just like you do?” “Yes, but in their case, they’re referred to princes and princesses, stuff like that,” Reece replied. “Why don’t you like them?” “It’s not that I don’t like them, Keeley, but the dealings I have had with them haven’t endeared me to them. Which is funny, considering that in ancient times we lived together rather peacefully.” “Seriously?” Reece nodded his head. “Yes. From what I have been taught and what I have been able to learn on my own, bloodsuckers and werewolves lived together, even mating each other. But at some point, there was some sort of war between them. That pretty much ended things. We all went our separate ways.” Keeley was silent for a few moments then he looked up at Reece. “Okay, so, basically, I was bitten by a bloodsucker, but I should be fine, right?”


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Reece nodded. “So, why was I bitten?” Reece wished he knew. From everything he had been able to put together so far, Keeley was meant to die when he was bitten. Reece clenched his hands as the very thought went through his mind. He wasn’t going to let that happen. “That’s a little dicier, Keeley,” Reece said solemnly. “From what I’ve learned so far, some members of my pack have made a deal with Adrianna to supply her and her coven with werewolf blood.” “Werewolf blood?” Keeley said, grimacing. “Why would they do that? Wouldn’t it be easier to just go out and find some helpless human?” “Werewolf blood is like an aphrodisiac for bloodsuckers. That might be why we went to war with them.” “You think?” Reece shrugged. “I don’t know, but it would explain a lot.” “So, what do these people get for turning you over?” “Money, more territory, prestige. Does it really matter? They made this agreement without my knowledge, and definitely against my wishes. I can’t effectively lead my pack if people are going behind my back and making deals with the devil.” “Okay, I can see that, but what does that have to do with me?” “You remember that little thing I told you about where I can’t have sex with anyone else except my mate? Well, if my mate is killed, my bond with you is broken and I can mate again. And, apparently, they really want me to mate with Adrianna.” “That sucks!” Keeley exclaimed. “Well, I don’t intend to let that happen, so don’t worry about it. Now that I know about Adrianna’s little plan, I wouldn’t claim with her if she was the last mate on earth. Besides, I already have a mate.”


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And he was one Reece intended to keep no matter whom he had to fight. In the small amount of time Reece had known Keeley, the little man had come to mean more than his very life. “And you’d better not forget it,” Keeley replied. Reece smiled at the fierce look on Keeley’s face. “I won’t, I promise.” He patted Keeley on the thigh and stood up. “Now get dressed, baby. Our friends should be here soon and—” “I know, I know,” Keeley said as he waved his hand at Reece. He scooted to the side of the bed. “No one gets to see my sexy ass but you.” “Don’t you forget that!” **** Keeley paced back and forth from the bedroom doorway to the window. Once again, he was so nervous he could spit. He briefly wondered if this was a trait of being mated to a werewolf? Wouldn’t that just be his luck? It was driving him crazy not knowing what was going on downstairs. It was all he could do not to sneak downstairs and eavesdrop on the conversation going on in the study. He just bet it was an enlightening one for everyone involved. Agreeing to stay upstairs until everyone arrived was the stupidest thing he had ever done. But a promise was a promise. If Reece couldn’t depend on him to keep his word when things were tough, then they were screwed when things were normal. Normal…now there’s a laugh. Keeley’s life hadn’t been normal since the day he had had his first vision. He didn’t think being mated to a werewolf was going to make it normal any time soon. Still, with the exception of this little fiasco, he wouldn’t trade a single moment with Reece for anything. Keeley was still reeling from the fact that Reece said he loved him. Sure, Keeley meant it when he


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said it. He just hadn’t expected Reece to respond with the same declaration. Having a big, strong sexy man mated to you and loving you wasn’t a bad position to be in as far as Keeley was concerned. He just hoped he would be able to make it worth it to Reece. Keeley ran to the window when he heard a vehicle pull into the driveway. His heart pounded in his chest as he waited to see who had arrived. He clapped his hands together in excitement and ran for the bedroom door the moment he saw Nate step from the car. He stopped at the bedroom door, peeking around the edge to look downstairs until he saw Reece walk out of the study to the front door. It was all he could do not to run down the stairs, greet his friends, and throw himself into Reece’s arms. He watched as Reece opened the door and allowed several men in, shaking their hands as they walked past him. He couldn’t hear what Reece said to them, but it seemed pretty solemn. Not a single one of them was smiling. Keeley started to get worried and his heart beat faster. Reece turned and motioned for him to come down, holding his finger to his lips, indicating for Keeley to be quiet. Keeley went as fast as he could while trying to be quiet, his heart pounding the entire way. Keeley ignored his friends and walked straight into Reece’s arms. The look on Reece’s face was priceless. He seemed a little stunned. Keeley hoped so. It was his desire to keep Reece always unsure of what exactly he was going to do as often as possible. It would keep him on his toes. “That was way too long, Reece,” he whispered into Reece’s ear. “Sorry, baby, but you know how it is—you find a traitor in your pack, you question the traitor, you knock the traitor around a little.” Reece chuckled. “This isn’t something that happens on a quick time schedule. Interrogation takes time,” Reece replied as he wrapped his arms around Keeley.


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“Likely story,” Keeley murmured quietly, a smile on his face as he turned in Reece’s arms to face his friends. He leaned back in Reece’s arms, a smile on his face as he looked at Nate standing in Joe’s arms. “Nate.” “Keeley,” Nate said, nodding at him. He reached out his hand, grabbing the one that Keeley held out to him. A smile broke out over his face at the emotions he felt coming from him. “Ooh, nice.” Keeley grinned. “I know.” “Details?” Nate asked, grinning back at him. Keeley tilted his head back to look up at Reece. “Do you need me right now?” “No, why?” Reece asked in confusion. “Nate and I need to talk.” “About what?” Keeley and Nate both giggled. “You.” **** Reece watched Keeley and Nate go up the stairs and race down the walkway to the bedroom, shutting the door quietly behind them. He turned back to look at Joe in bewilderment. “What just happened here?” Joe chuckled. “Nate happened.” Reece raised an eyebrow at him in query. “And that means what exactly?” “Nate is a sempath. A sensitive emotion empath,” Joe replied. “He can feel other people’s emotions by touching them.” He looked up to the second-floor bedroom door, smiling. “Apparently, he feels the need to talk to Keeley about what he felt when he touched him.” “That’s why he was so insistent that Nate be here? Because he’s an emotion empath?”


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“Maybe, but I think it’s more because Nate is also a human lie detector. He can tell if someone is lying or not. A slight side effect of being an emotion empath,” Joe replied. “Slight side effect?” Reece choked out. “I’d say being a human lie detector is more than slight.” Joe burst out laughing. “You should try being mated to him. I can’t get anything past the little bugger.” Reece realized the implications of what Joe was saying. He was suddenly very grateful that Keeley only received strange visions. While he didn’t want to lie to Keeley, he still liked the idea of keeping his thoughts to himself. “Dude,” Devlin exclaimed, drawing Reece’s attention. “You are so totally screwed.” Joe just shrugged his shoulders. “Not really. Knowing I can’t lie to Nate, I don’t even try. If I have something I can’t tell him, I just tell him I can’t share and he leaves it alone. It cuts down on the crap between us. It also makes it easier for him to believe me when I tell him something important, like how much I care for him. He knows I’m telling the truth.” “Okay, I guess I can see where that might be useful, but don’t you find it a little strange?” Reece would. He was still trying to deal with the fact that Keeley had premonitions. “Not any stranger than he found it being mated to a shape shifter,” Joe replied. Devlin grinned. “Yeah, I guess I can see that, too.” Reece started chuckling along with Joe as he turned to the other men in the room. “Donovan, it’s good to have you home again. Keeley informed me that you and Chase were instrumental in freeing him from the Teacher. Thank you.” Donovan nodded. “I really didn’t have that much to do with it. Chase called in a few friends and they went in to free them. I was too busy getting my ass shot.”


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“Shot? You got shot?” Reece exclaimed, stepping towards the man he had known most of his life. He stopped and stepped back quickly when the man standing next to him let out a low growl. “Jim,” Donovan said, reaching his hand out for the man that growled, drawing him closer to him. “It’s okay. This is Quilliam Reece, my alpha.” He glanced over at Reece, looking somewhat sheepish. “Reece, my mate, James Nash.” “Uh, Donovan? I thought you were—” “So did I, but apparently we were both wrong. Considering the little man that just ran upstairs, though, I guess I could say the same thing about you,” Donovan said, his eyebrow raised. Reece could feel his face heat up a little. “Yeah, well, what are you to do when you find your mate, huh?” “No doubt.” Reece held out his hand to Donovan’s mate. “James, it’s nice to meet you. You couldn’t have a better mate,” Reece said, smiling. “Please, call me Jim, and I’m sorry about before. I’m still getting used to being mated, and to a man no less,” Jim said as he shook Reece’s hand. “I know the feeling,” Reece replied dryly. “I’d never been with a man before Keeley, but now that I have, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.” Reece, smiling to himself, watched the tender look that Jim gave Donovan. He wondered if he had the same look on his face when he looked at Keeley. He probably did. Keeley was quickly turning into the most important thing in his life. Even more important than being the alpha of his pack. If it came right down to it, would he choose the pack over Keeley or would he choose Keeley over the pack? As he heard a soft giggle coming from upstairs, Reece felt he knew that answer. His mate would always come first. “So, why exactly did you call us home?”


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Reece turned to look at Donovan “Devlin and I felt that we needed you and Chase here to—where is Chase, anyway?” Reece suddenly asked, looking around the room for him. “Chase stayed back in Wolf Creek,” Donovan said. “One, with Joe coming here, their alpha needed an enforcer there to help him out. Two, Chase has also discovered his mates and is dealing with the two little troublemakers. He has his hands full. We figured with Joe and Jim here, you wouldn’t miss him.” “Mates? Did you say mates? As in two?” Devlin asked, stunned. Donovan nodded his head. “Yeah, and they’re giving him a run for his money. I have no doubt that they’ll settle down at some point and make Chase a very happy man, but in the meantime, they’re doing everything they can to make his life hell.” “I have so got to go to Wolf Creek. Everywhere I turn my friends and family are finding their mates, and I haven’t even been laid in weeks. It must be something in the water over there.” Devlin sighed deeply, making everyone laugh. “Well, it might not hurt to make a little trip down there, Dev,” Donovan replied. “Ever since Chase freed all of the Teacher’s pupils there are single men running all over the place.” He leaned over and cupped his hand around his mouth. “I’d say free and sexy, but I still want to get laid tonight.” “I heard that,” Jim growled, glaring at Donovan, but the smile on his face said he hadn’t taken it seriously. Donovan just leaned over and kissed Jim on the forehead before turning back to look at Reece. “So, why did you need us here?” “Someone tried to kill Keeley,” Reece replied. “What?” Joe exclaimed, stepping forward. “Ssshhh,” Reece admonished, gesturing to Devlin to go check on Douglas before looking back at Joe. “Keep it down. Douglas is in the study.” “Douglas? Douglas from our pack?” Donovan asked in confusion.


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“Yes. He’s mixed up in this somehow. Several members of our pack are. The long and the short of it is that some members of our pack have made a deal with a coven of bloodsuckers to use our pack members as blood donors.” “Fuck!” “Yeah, my thoughts exactly.” Reece ran his hand through his hair before continuing. He was feeling very agitated. “Apparently, their plan involves me mating Adrianna, who, it turns out, is half werewolf and half bloodsucker. I mate her, get her pregnant, and they take me out of the picture, taking over as guardian of my child, and thus, running the pack.” “But, if you’re already mated, how can you—that’s why they tried to kill Keeley, to break your bond with him,” Donovan whispered in shock. Reece nodded. “Now you see why I needed you to come home? I don’t know who all is involved except Adrianna and Douglas. It could be anyone in our pack.” “How long have they been planning this?” Joe asked curiously. Reece shrugged. “I don’t know, but it started before I took over three months ago. I do know that there used to be about three hundred members of this pack and now there are only around thirty. I haven’t learned what happened to the other members, yet.” “That’s why you need Nate?” Joe asked. “I had no idea why Keeley wanted Nate here, but he asked for him, and, well…” Reece shrugged. Joe smiled, nodding his head. “And if you can provide something your mate wants, you do it. I get it, Reece. But be warned now, I won’t allow Nate to be hurt in any way. I’m sure he will be willing to help, but—” “Joe, I would never do anything that would hurt your mate,” Reece said quickly. He took a step towards Joe, trying to offer his reassurance.


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“I don’t doubt that, Reece, but you need to understand—touching people can cause Nate pain. If it hurts too much, I will put a stop to it.” Reece nodded. “I expect nothing less.” “Then let’s get this started.” “I’ll go get Nate and Keeley,” Reece replied, heading for the stairs. “Devlin, why don’t you take Donovan, Jim, and Joe in to meet our guest. I’m sure he has some fascinating history that he can share with them.” As he started up the stairs, he heard Devlin behind him. “Have you ever met a slimy little weasel?”


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Chapter 9 “So, how do you like being mated to a werewolf?” Nate asked as he sat down on the side of the bed and leaned on his elbow to look over at Keeley with curiosity. Keeley couldn’t help but grin. “I don’t know if it’s the same as being mated to a human, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.” Nate nodded. “I know what you mean. There’s just something about those strong alpha types that gets your blood pumping, isn’t there?” “And then some,” Keeley replied. “We’ve only been together for a short while, but I can’t even imagine being with anyone else. Reece is so, well, he’s just so—” “Hot? Sexy? Totally drool-worthy?” “Yes!” Nate rolled onto his back, sighing deeply. “I don’t know if this is our reward for all of those years of hell we went through or what, but we’ve certainly seemed to come out on top.” “Reece says I’m his reward for going against the wishes of several members of his pack. They didn’t want him to send Chase and Donovan to help out, but he did it anyway. He says I’m his reward for doing something that gained him nothing except knowing he had done the right thing.” Nate smirked. “He could be right, I guess, but maybe the reward thing goes both ways.” “What makes you say that?” Keeley asked curiously as he stretched out beside Nate on the bed.


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Nate rolled back onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow once again. “Think about it, Keeley. We’re not exactly the fighter type. We’re not strong like they are. We need someone to protect us. But they need someone to love them, just them.” “You mean someone to make their lives easier?” Keeley asked, starting to get where Nate was going with his words. “Exactly. We’re strange, unusual, not the—” “You mean we’re freaks,” Keeley replied sarcastically. “In a way, yes. We weren’t raised in the normal way. Hell, half of us wear nail polish because we don’t know we’re not supposed to. In a way, that works in our favor where our mates are concerned.” “How so?” “Because we don’t know that we’re not supposed to love them the way we do, and that’s the kind of love that they need,” Nate replied. “That’s the kind of love we need to give them.” “I couldn’t agree more.” Both Nate and Keeley yelped and turned to see Reece standing in the doorway. Keeley let out a deep breath, glaring at him. “I swear I’m going to tie a bell around your neck.” “But I learn the most interesting things this way.” Reece grinned as he walked over to Keeley’s side of the bed and sat down next to him. “Now, you were saying something about me being droolworthy?” Keeley rolled his eyes as he looked back over at Nate. “Forgive him, please. His foot is bigger than his mouth, but he still tries to eat it.” He cried out and rubbed his butt cheek after Reece pinched him. “Reece!” “Be nice, Keeley” Reece growled. “Are you causing problems, Keeley?” Joe said from the doorway, interrupting Keeley’s sarcastic response. “Me?” Keeley asked, trying to look innocent and failing miserably.


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“Yes, you,” Joe sat down next to Nate, pulling him back into his arms. “You always seem to be in the thick of things, much like my own baby here.” “Hey, I don’t get into that much trouble,” Nate complained. “You don’t try to get into trouble, baby. That’s the difference. Somehow, I think that Keeley gets into trouble just to make Reece’s life more interesting,” Joe stated, his hand running down Nate’s arm to soothe him. “Do not,” Keeley mumbled. “No, you just hit people over the head with cookie sheets,” Reece stated. “Including me.” “You hit Reece with a cookie sheet?” Joe asked in astonishment. “And Devlin,” Reece added. “They were fighting in my kitchen,” Keeley said, glaring at Reece again. Nate snickered, “Oh, well that explains it.” **** “Are you sure he won’t hurt Nate?” Keeley asked a few minutes later as they walked downstairs. They were getting ready to confront Douglas with what they knew and learn what they didn’t. “Joe’s going to be with him and he said he’d stop it the minute Nate was in any pain. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t needed, baby,” Reece replied. “I know. I just hate the idea of Nate in pain. I remember how much it always hurt him when the Teacher used him. He’d come home after a session and spend days in bed recovering. It was horrible, Reece.” Reece stopped at the bottom of the steps to look back at Keeley. “Keeley, if you’re really against this, I’ll find another way.”


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Keeley stared at Reece for a moment then shook his head. “No, I guess you know what you’re doing. Just don’t let him hurt Nate. I’d hate to be the reason Nate is in any sort of pain.” “I promise, baby. The moment Joe or I think Nate’s in pain, we’ll stop and go with something else. Maybe I’ll eat him,” he stated vehemently, making Keeley laugh, which was just what he wanted. Keeley stepped into Reece’s waiting arms and let him lift him down the last couple of steps. “You don’t want to do that because then after you bit me, I’d taste like me, you, and Douglas, and how disgusting would that be?” Reece crinkled up his nose. “Eewww, yeah, you’re right. That would be nasty. I prefer you with just a taste of me,” he said right before he lowered his head for a kiss. He probably could have lost himself in Keeley’s lips if Joe hadn’t cleared his throat. “Uh, Reece? It’s going to be really hard to confront this guy and look intimidating with Keeley attached to your face.” Reece raised his head to scowl over at Joe. “Do I look like I really care?” “No,” Joe said, “however…” “Yeah, yeah,” Reece snorted, rolling his eyes. Keeley grinned, leaning up on his toes to give Reece a quick kiss on his jaw. “Come on, big guy, we can kiss all you want after we deal with the bonehead.” “You know, sometimes being the responsible one really sucks,” Reece complained as he grabbed Keeley’s hand and walked with him to the study door. He stopped, turning back to look down at Keeley. “You know I love you, right?” Keeley’s eyebrows came together in confusion. “Yeah, why?” “I don’t want you to be upset by anything that I might say when we go in there. I’m going to try and string Douglas along and that means I might say things that you find objectionable. I just want you to know that I don’t mean them.”


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Keeley thought about it for a moment and nodded his head. “Alright, just don’t step out of line too much or I might have to hit you again.” Reece grinned. “Perish the thought, baby.” He looked past Keeley to where Joe was standing, his arm wrapped around Nate’s shoulders. “You two ready?” As soon as they nodded, Reece dropped Keeley’s hand and took a deep breath before opening the door and walking in. For Keeley, it was like watching a transformation from man to beast. One minute Reece was all loving and tender. The next he changed into someone Keeley didn’t know and didn’t care to know. His features were like stone, his body stiff as he went to sit down in a chair across from Douglas. Keeley was in shock when Reece pointed to the floor at his feet. “Sit,” Reece said sternly. The only thing that kept Keeley from handing Reece his head was the satisfied smirk on Douglas’s face at Reece’s command. Keeping his eyes lowered so that Douglas couldn’t see the defiance in them, Keeley walked over and sat down at Reece’s feet, drawing his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them as he leaned back against Reece’s legs. “Now, Douglas, you were going to tell me why I need to have Adrianna rule by my side?” Reece asked, tapping his fingers together as he stared over at Douglas. “Well, Alpha, I—huh—shouldn’t we have this conversation in private?” Douglas hedged. “Why? I trust the men in this room.” Douglas looked around at the others in the room anxiously before glancing back at Reece. “Alpha, we don’t know these men.” “I do, and that should be enough for you. They each understand the…delicacy involved with being an alpha or part of an inner circle. They’ll do what they’re told when the time is right.” “Are you sure?”


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“Positive. Now tell me what’s going on. Who made these plans and why should I agree to them?” “Because it’s the best thing for us.” “Us being?” Reece asked. “For our pack. Our pack is small. We need the money and the new territory that this deal will bring, if we’re going to grow. We have barely any standing in the pack council as it is. This deal could bring us everything we’ve ever wanted.” “How? How will my mating Adrianna do that?” Reece asked. “Why can’t we still do that with Keeley by my side?” Douglas looked agitated for a moment. “Because, that’s part of the deal. Adrianna has to rule by your side. Besides, you can’t rule a pack with a man at your side. It just isn’t done.” Keeley nearly rolled his eyes. If Douglas only knew. He could think of several men that had men at their sides. He’d bet there were more out there that he didn’t know about too. “Do you think that I am unable to rule this pack because of Keeley?” Reece asked. “No, of course not, but—well, it’s just not done, Alpha. He’s a man and that type of behavior just isn’t, well—it just isn’t right. You have to mate with Adrianna so that you can provide cubs for the pack. It’s just the way things are done.” “And what if I don’t want to give Keeley up?” Reece questioned. “You have to understand, Alpha, this entire thing balances on your mating Adrianna and providing cubs. If you’re mated to him, you can’t mate with her. You can’t provide cubs. If that happens, this deal falls through.” “There are other ways to provide cubs, Douglas. Surely you know that. Why can’t I keep Keeley and have Adrianna by my side at the same time? There are cubs without families, and there is certainly modern technology that can assist us if need be.” “Alpha—”


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Reece stood up, cutting Douglas off. He walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink, taking a small sip before turning back to stare at Douglas. “I’m getting rather tired of this conversation, Douglas. I have no plans to give Keeley up, ever.” “But—but—” Douglas sputtered. “I want to know who’s involved with this little scheme of yours and I want to know now,” Reece said as he nodded towards Nate. “My friend, Nate, here is going to make sure that you don’t lie to me.” Keeley held his breath as he watched Joe and Nate walk over to stand behind Douglas. Nate took a deep breath, reached for Joe’s hand then laid his other hand on Douglas’s shoulder. Keeley saw him wince, his body sagging a little before Joe’s arms encircled him, holding him up. “Now, who’s involved in this?” Reece asked as soon as Joe nodded to him. “I don’t know,” Douglas replied. “Lie,” Nate stated simply, getting a frightened look from Douglas. “No, I’m not lying, I swear,” Douglas said quickly in a strangled little voice. “Lie,” Nate said again. Reece raised an eyebrow. “I want the truth, Douglas, and I want it now.” “Alpha, I—” “Look, Douglas,” Reece said as he walked back over to sit down. He rested his hand with the glass of whiskey on one arm of the chair. The other softly stroked through Keeley’s hair. “I like Keeley. I think he’s cute. He also makes a nice little—pet, don’t you think?” “Pet?” Douglas asked in surprise. Yeah, pet? Keeley thought. It was all he could do not to glare up at Reece. Instead, he pinched Reece’s leg, hiding it by wiggling around. Pet, my ass! I’ll show you pet. ****


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“You certainly don’t think I could see him as anything else, do you? He’s a human,” Reece smirked, hoping against hope that Keeley knew he didn’t mean a word of what he was spewing. The pinch to his leg from Keeley didn’t bode well for him. He could see Joe’s eyes widen with surprise, and Nate’s face was in shock as well. Yeah, he knew it. He was digging a mighty big hole. He just hoped his shovel was big enough to dig himself out. “But—but, he’s your mate,” Douglas exclaimed in disbelief. “Yes, he is, but as I said, he’s a human. I am not. I’m a werewolf, the alpha of my own pack. He may be my mate, and I have claimed him, but he will never be a werewolf. You know that as well as I do,” Reece replied carefully. It was all Reece could do not to roll his eyes as Douglas sat back in his chair, looking somewhat more comfortable. “My friend Joe, here understands, don’t you Joe? Nate is his mate, but since he is also a human…” Reece said, smirking at Joe’s sudden look of panic. “Certainly, I understand. A mate is a mate. We crave them like we do air. I wasn’t stupid enough to pass up on my mate when I found him. However, he is also a human. My father, the alpha of my pack, would never accept a human in our pack anymore than I would. So, I claimed Nate and made him my pet,” Joe replied. Reece could see Joe giving Nate’s shoulder a tight squeeze as he spoke, Nate’s lips twisting as he tried to keep from speaking. He turned his attention back to Douglas, surprised by the satisfied look that had come over his face. “This happens more often than you think, Douglas. I know of several werewolves that have taken their human mates as pets. It stops the constant craving we have to find our mates and lets us get on with the business of running our packs,” Reece said. “Accepting them as full mates in the pack is something altogether different, though,” Joe added. “That’s why we make them our pets.


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Since we are stronger and smarter than they are, they soon learn to do what they are told.” “And you just want to keep him as your pet?” Douglas asked hesitantly. “Keeley, stand up,” Reece ordered, hiding the grin that tried to break out by biting his lip. Keeley leveraged himself up then gave Reece’s skin a small pinch in retaliation. “You tell me, Douglas? Does he look like someone that could rule by my side?” Reece asked even though he thought Keeley was the perfect mate to rule with him. Douglas was quiet for a moment as he stared at Keeley. “No, I guess not.” “Truth,” Nate said, getting another strange look from Douglas. Reece grabbed Keeley’s hand and pulled him down to sit in his lap, wrapping one arm around him. He softly caressed his hip with his fingers as he took a drink of his whiskey. Setting the glass on the small table beside him, he looked back at Douglas. “He’s cute. I like him and he does what he’s told—unlike you, Douglas.” Reece pointed to Douglas, shaking his finger at him. “I’ve asked you who made these plans and you’ve done nothing but lie to me. Are you going to let some human be more honorable than you, a werewolf and upstanding member of my pack?” Even though his words were a load of crap, Reece had the satisfaction of seeing Douglas’s face pale. “I had thought better of you, Douglas.” “Oh, Alpha Reece, my sincerest apologies. I just didn’t understand how things were. If I had known how you truly felt, I certainly would not have withheld any information from you,” Douglas replied quickly. “Truth,” Nate stated again. “Does he have to keep doing that?” Douglas asked. “It’s very strange. I promise I won’t lie to you again, Alpha.” “Truth.”


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Reece nodded at Nate, who released Douglas and stepped back. “While I accept your apology, Douglas, I do have to let you know how disappointed I am in you and the others involved in this plan to mate me to Adrianna. Not because of the plan, but because you didn’t discuss it with me. How am I supposed to effectively lead this pack when those around me make plans without my knowledge?” “That wasn’t our intention, Alpha, I swear. These plans were in effect long before you became alpha here. We were just waiting to see what kind of man you were before we discussed them with you.” “And now?” “Well, I don’t think I can speak for the others, but if you’re serious about considering Adrianna ruling by your side, I believe it would be better to have your support of these plans,” Douglas said. “Then tell me, what exactly are these plans and how do they involve me?” Reece asked, trying not to let on how much he already knew. It wouldn’t do to show his hand to Douglas before it was time. He watched Douglas look around the room at the other men and back at him. “Are you sure it’s okay to speak in front of them?” “I trust these men with my life, Douglas. If they don’t hear it now, they will once you leave and I discuss it with them. Might as well cut out the middle man and have it all out now.” “Very well,” Douglas replied. Reece could tell that he didn’t like the idea. “We made these plans before you became alpha, with our old alpha. He was originally supposed to mate with Adrianna, not you.” “Was she his mate?” “Oh, no, but we needed him to mate with her. Everything hinges on that.” I’ll just bet it does, Reece thought. “So, what exactly is this plan?” “Our alpha, you in this case, is supposed to mate with Adrianna and they will rule our pack together. This deal will only be cemented once she has given birth to the first of your cubs.”


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“And the deal?” Reece asked. It was hard to keep from gritting his teeth. He had asked what the plan was so many times he felt like a spinning top. He just wished that Douglas would get on with it and explain the damn plan. “Adrianna is part bloodsucker.” Duh! “Oh? And part werewolf, I assume. Unless—she’s not human, is she?” Reece asked, sounding very disgusted. “Oh no, no. She’s half bloodsucker and half werewolf. We made a deal with her coven to provide werewolf blood in exchange for money and territory for our pack,” Douglas said quickly. “Werewolf blood?” Reece asked, trying to sound curious rather than nauseated. “It’s a bloodsucker aphrodisiac. They love the stuff, even more than human blood. If we provide them with a steady supply of werewolf blood, they’ll pay us in gold, enough gold to buy up all of the surrounding areas to add to our hunting grounds.” “And just how do we go about supplying them with werewolf blood?” “A breeding program.” This time Reece was surprised. “A what?” “A breeding program. It’s simple, really. One full-grown werewolf can supply five bloodsuckers with blood for up to a year if used correctly. If we start a breeding program, add members here and there to the pack then we can average about five to ten blood donors every year. That will feed up to fifty of them a year.” “That’s a lot of blood donors, but how are we supposed to supply them while we wait for the breeding program to mature? It’s not like we can grow donors overnight,” Reece remarked, trying not to show his distaste with the whole idea. “That’s where our former alpha messed up. He was trying to find humans to supply them while we tried to get the breeding program under way. Barring that, he was using our own members, but we went through them too fast.”


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“That’s why we no longer have three hundred members,” Devlin said in a low voice. Douglas turned to look at him, nodding his head. “Yes, that’s true, but he never touched the core members, you understand. Our families are off limits to the bloodsuckers. That was part of our deal with them.” “The core members?” “Those of us that came up with the plan. We do not have to participate in the plan nor do any of our family members. Originally, it was the alpha’s plan, but he needed our help. It wasn’t something he could do on his own, you see,” Douglas explained. “Who are the core members then? If I’m to support this plan, I can’t have just anyone in my inner circle, Douglas,” Reece said quietly, hoping to finally learn the identity of the pack members who had devised this sickening idea. “Well, most of them you’ve met in the three months that you’ve been alpha here. Others wanted to get a feel for you before meeting you. There’s my family, of course, and my brother’s family. Basically, besides us, it’s the five founding families of this pack.” “But that’s half the pack, Douglas,” Reece replied, quickly doing the math in his head. “Actually, it’s nearly twenty members altogether, which is why we need this breeding program so badly. Our families are off limits. We’ve almost run out of donors,” Douglas replied, turning to look at Joe, who was still standing behind him. “Unless, of course, you would like to get in on this. How many members do you have in your pack?” “Enough to get things started until you get the breeding program under way, but I’d have to discuss this with my alpha before I could give you the go ahead. He’d want to know what’s in it for him. In the meantime I could give you a few names to get you started. There are a few members of our pack I wouldn’t mind seeing disappear,” Joe replied.


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“And the remaining members of the pack? What about them?” Devlin asked. “They don’t know anything about this, and we’d prefer to keep it that way. The less people that know, the less we have to share,” Douglas replied as he turned to look at Devlin. “So, how does this work exactly? You invite them over for dinner and they just never go home or what?” “Something like that,” Douglas snorted. “Actually, our old alpha had a plan. He was just starting to get it going when he was challenged. Each family had to submit their child to a secret ritual to be fully accepted into the pack on their eighteenth birthday. If their blood was good enough, they got taken and their families are told that they were not accepted into the pack so they were banished.” “And if their blood wasn’t good enough?” “They got sent back to their families to provide cubs in the breeding program. The alpha also lowered the mating age so that we could get to the breeding program started as fast as possible.” “And you’re sure that no one else knows except the core families? If I agree to this plan, I don’t want to share,” Reece said. Then there was that pesky little thing about being totally disgusted by the whole idea. Reece couldn’t believe the gall of these people. Did they actually think they could sell off the members of an entire pack and no one would be the wiser? “Oh, no, Alpha, I’m positive that no one else except the core members know. It had to remain a secret. If this got out we would never have any blood donors.” Reece nodded as if he understood, which he didn’t. The whole plan was an absolute nightmare. He couldn’t believe that in this day and age anyone, even werewolves, would come up with a plan as vile as this one. “I do have one last question, Douglas. What does this plan have to do with my mating Adrianna? Why is it so important for her to lead


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by my side? Can’t we just implement the breeding program without her?” “You know, I wondered that too, but Timmins told me that Adrianna’s brother is the leader of their coven. He insisted that Adrianna be included in the deal. He wants someone he trusts in charge of things here.” Reece was quiet for several moments while he digested Douglas’s words. Finally, he nodded his head as he lifted Keeley to his feet and stood up. “I need to discuss this with my friends here, Douglas. I’d like you to stay here with Devlin while we step outside for a moment.” Douglas nodded. Reece could tell from the eager expression on his face that he truly thought he had brought his alpha over to his way of thinking. Reece shook his head as he grabbed Keeley by the arm and pulled him out of the study. Everyone except Douglas and Devlin walked out. Reece shut the door and pulled Keeley into his arms, burying his face in his hair. He just stood there for several silent moments while he held Keeley. “I love you so much, baby, and I am so sorry that I had to say those things,” he whispered into Keeley’s hair. Keeley wrapped his arms around Reece’s waist and laid his head against his chest, hugging him back. “Pet, my ass,” he snickered nervously. “I think I’d rather be your boy toy.” “Just as long as you’re mine.” “Always.”


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Chapter 10 “So, what are we going to do?” Keeley asked, raising his head to look up at his mate. He was still reeling from everything they had learned from Douglas. It was an astounding story, made even more terrible by the fact that it was real. Reece shook his head. “I don’t know, baby. They have to be stopped. I’m just not sure how to go about it.” “Well, the first thing we need to do is get the non-core families out of here. Their lives are in danger,” Keeley said as he stepped back from Reece and turned to look at Donovan and Joe. “I agree. We can take them to Wolf Creek. I’m sure that my father would be happy to welcome them into our pack, or at least, give them a place to hold up until this is over,” Joe replied. “Donovan, you’ve been here as long as I have. Any idea who the non-core families are?” Donovan nodded. “I’m pretty sure I can figure it out. I definitely know it is not Douglas or Timmins’s families.” “Or their relatives,” Joe added. Reece nodded. “Could you go with Joe and Nate and get them out of here? Tell them that it’s an order from their alpha, and they need to leave immediately taking only the most important necessities.” Donovan nodded his head. “What are you going to be doing?” “Hopefully putting a stop to their little plans. After that, we’ll be right behind you.” “Reece, if your pack members join with Joe’s pack, where does that leave you? You’re the alpha here. How can you be an alpha with


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no pack?” Keeley asked in concern as he turned back to him, one hand coming to rest on Reece’s chest. Reece looked up at Joe. “Can your pack use another enforcer or two?” Joe grinned. “Always.” “But Reece, you—” Keeley began again. “Keeley,” Reece said as he glanced back down at him, “I never wanted to be an alpha. I was perfectly happy being an enforcer. The only reason I became one is because I won the challenge when I killed the alpha of this pack.” “But—” “Keeley, I swear, I—” Reece stopped for a moment as he looked over at Nate. “Would you mind?” he asked, holding out his hand. Nate grinned, reaching up to grasp Reece’s hand. “I would rather be an enforcer than an alpha. I never wanted this job. I have no desire to be an alpha, truly. I would be much happier being an enforcer and coming home to you every night,” Reece said as he looked back down at Keeley. “Truth,” Nate replied. “I was also telling the truth when I said that I love you,” Reece quickly added just for the hell of it. “Truth.” He lifted his head to look over at Nate, nodding at him. “Thank you, Nate.” “Anytime,” Nate laughed, releasing Reece’s hand and stepping back to lean against Joe. “Do you believe me now?” Reece asked Keeley. Keeley rolled his eyes. “Okay, okay, I believe you. We’re going to live in Wolf Creek and you’re going to be an enforcer just like Joe.” “Of course, this means that you can visit with Nate whenever you want to. Don’t forget that, Keeley,” Joe quickly added. “I’m not sure that’s a selling point, Joe. Can you imagine the trouble the two of them could get into?” Donovan smirked as he


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patted Joe on the back. “Nate doesn’t have any cookie sheets does he?” “Oh, yeah. I didn’t think of that,” Joe groaned good-heartedly. “Maybe you should just stay here.” “Don’t you all have a job to do?” Keeley barked out as he glared at Joe and Donovan. They immediately held up their hands in surrender. “Yes, sir,” they said as they started for the door. “Reece, keep your cell phone on. I’ll call you as soon as we’ve contacted everyone,” Donovan said. “And I’m going to call my father right now. I think we might need a little more protection before the night is out. I want to get everyone out of here first, and then we can worry about their belongings,” Joe added. Reece nodded. “Thank you. You don’t know how much I appreciate this. Please pass on my thanks to your father as well.” “You helped us without reason when we needed it,” Joe replied. “You helped keep my mate safe. My father won’t soon forget that you did the right thing in helping us. Luckily, he has a soft spot for Nate.” “I think that’s as it should be,” Nate chortled as he followed Joe out the door. Keeley had a smile on his face as he watched Nate bicker with Joe all of the way out the front door, Donovan and Jim right on their heels. He shook his head at their antics as he turned to look back at Reece. “Hey, Reece? I thought I was your reward for doing the right thing?” Reece turned to look down at his little mate in confusion. “You are. I told you that. Why would you think differently?” Keeley crossed his arms over his chest and looked up at Reece. “Well, it seems for a man who didn’t think he had much, you suddenly have friends coming out of the woodwork. Joe just said his father would be helpful because of what you did when you sent Chase


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and Donovan down to help Nate out. If that’s so, then what am I here for?” Reece chuckled at the slight pout on Keeley’s lips. He grabbed him by the arm and pulled him close to his chest, leaning down to nuzzle the top of his head. “You’re here to drive me crazy and ask me questions like that.” “Well, I’m just saying—” Keeley whined as he snuggled up against Reece. “Keeley.” “What?” Keeley wrapped his arms around Reece’s broad chest and tilted his head back to look up at him. He could see the firm glare in Reece’s eyes. Keeley giggled, batting his eyelashes at him. Reece rolled his eyes. “What am I going to do with you?” “I have a few suggestions,” Keeley said, fluttering his eyelashes again. “I can even draw you some pictures.” Keeley stood up on his tiptoes and licked the soft skin at Reece’s collarbone. “Better yet, let me show you,” he whispered. Reece groaned, pulling Keeley tighter against his aching body. He relished in the feel of Keeley’s tongue against his hot skin for several moments before pushing him back a little. “How about you hold that thought for just a little while?” “I’d ask you how long, but we both know you can’t tell time,” Keeley said as he stepped back. Taking a deep breath, he looked up at Reece seriously. “What do you need me to do?” “You’re most important job is to make sure that nothing happens to you. Barring that, why don’t you run upstairs and pack us a bag? I don’t know how long it’s going to be until we can get back here so just grab what you think we’ll need.” Keeley nodded. “Anything specific you want packed?” “Your butt plug?” Reece asked with a grin. “That’s kind of a given, honey. Anything else?” Keeley laughed. “Your red feather boa?” Reece asked innocently. “Your nail polish?”


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“Oh, you’re no help,” Keeley said as he turned and headed up the stairs. He had almost reached the top when Reece called out to him. “Keeley?” “Yeah?” he asked, turning to look back down at his mate. “Keeping yourself safe is priority number one. I don’t care about anything else. Understood?” Keeley could see the worry and concern on Reece’s face. “I’ll be fine, Quilliam. You just work on getting us out of here safely. You’re the only one I want biting my neck.” He watched Reece smile and nod his head before turning and heading into the bedroom. Okay, so he needed to pack, but pack what exactly? Several changes of clothes, of course, and then maybe some toys. He could always buy more nail polish once they arrived in Wolf Creek. Keeley walked across the room and opened the dresser, pulling out enough clothing for him and Reece for several days, and setting them on the bed. He piled his butt plug and red feather boa on top of the pile, then added several bottles of lube. Once he had a nice pile going on the bed, he looked around the room for something to pack it all in. Remembering his own suitcase, he ran to the closet and pulled it out. He packed it full of everything in his pile, and anything else he could think of. Keeley regretfully dropped some shoes into the suitcase. He really hated shoes. They made his feet feel like they were smothered. He’d much rather run around barefoot, but it looked like it would be awhile before he could do that again. By the time he was done, he was sweating. He sat down on the side of the bed, resting his hands on his knees as he looked around the room. Was there anything else they needed to take with them? When his eyes landed on a small glass bottle sitting on his nightstand, he knew he had one more thing to pack. Grabbing the bottle, he pulled off the cork top lid and sniffed the dried rose petals inside.


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There wasn’t a lot of scent left, but the memories of the first flowers Reece had ever given him would last forever. Carefully wrapping the bottle in a shirt and placing it in the suitcase, he zipped the travel bag closed. Now he had everything. Grabbing the suitcase and a jacket for both him and Reece, he carried them downstairs, setting them in the entryway coat closet and closing the door. There was no sense letting everyone else know what they were up to. Walking over to the study door, he leaned his head against the door to see if he could hear anything. Sadly, just muffled voices. It looked like he was going to have to go in and let Reece know he was done packing a bag for them. Keeley slapped a hand over his mouth to keep from giggling. This could actually be a little fun. He knew that they were in danger, probably even a life and death type of thing, but there was nothing saying that they couldn’t put a little humor into the situation. Dropping his head down, Keeley opened the door and walked in. He shut the door quietly behind him and saw three sets of eyes on him. Quickly making his way over to Reece, he dropped to his knees. “It’s done, sire, just as you ordered,” he said quietly before sitting down on the floor between Reece’s legs and folding his hands together in his lap. Peeking through his eyelashes he could see Douglas nodding his head in satisfaction. Devlin, however, looked ready to bust. Keeley knew he was doing everything he could to keep from laughing out loud. He had no idea what Reece was thinking because he couldn’t see his face, but he sure wanted to. Feeling Reece’s fingers stroke through his hair, Keeley leaned into the soft caress. “Did you get everything I wanted, Keeley?” “Yes, sire, everything,” Keeley replied meekly. “Good boy. Now, just sit there quietly while Douglas and I finish our talk,” Reece commanded.


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“Alpha?” Douglas said, gaining everyone’s attention. “Do you really think he will make a good pet? Don’t you worry that he might rebel and leave or that someone will find out that you have him?” “There’s that concern in anything we do, Douglas. We’re shape shifters. There is always danger we’ll be discovered. As for Keeley, he’d never leave me. He likes being my pet. Don’t you, baby?” Keeley turned and looked up at Reece, the smile on his face real. “Yes, sire, I do.” The sincere smile on Keeley’s face seemed to appease Douglas. Keeley turned to see him sitting back in his chair, his eyes intent on him. It was actually kind of creepy the way Douglas was looking at him. It made him feel naked. “Does he play?” Douglas smirked. Keeley’s eyes widened at Douglas’s statement. He could feel Reece go still behind him. Oh, this was not good. “Play?” Reece asked tentatively. “Yeah,” Douglas said, raking Keeley’s body with his eyes. “Do you ever share him? Let him play with others?” “I thought that sort of behavior wasn’t allowed?” Devlin asked quickly. “As long as it’s in the capacity as a mate, that’s true. But if Keeley is just a pet, then it wouldn’t be—” “Bad behavior?” Devlin asked. Keeley knew from the tenseness in Reece’s legs that he was trying very hard not to leap across the space between him and Douglas and beat the crap out of him. The barely controlled rage in Reece was almost frightening. “I’ll make you a deal, Douglas,” Reece began. “If I agree to this deal of yours, I’ll share Keeley with you as a reward. But only if I agree to it, understood? If for any reason I don’t like this plan, no Keeley.”


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Keeley wanted to be angry with Reece for agreeing to let Douglas have him except that he had agreed only if he went along with the plan and Keeley knew he would never go along with Douglas’s plan. “Will he agree to it?” Douglas asked, indicating Keeley. “Keeley? If I decide to go along with your plan, and I tell Keeley that I’m giving him to you as a reward, he’ll do exactly what I say. Won’t you, Keeley?” Reece said, wrapping his fingers in Keeley’s hair to pull his head back. “Sire?” “If I decide to reward Douglas for coming up with such a wonderful plan, you’ll do what I say, won’t you, baby?” Reece asked as he looked down into Keeley’s face. “Of course, sire,” Keeley said, a small grin on his lips as he tried to tell Reece that he understood what Reece was saying. “If you believe the plan is a good one, I would be more than happy to be a reward.” **** Reece’s lips twisted together as he tried to hide his grin. He couldn’t believe he was actually having this conversation, but he was glad that Keeley understood what he was saying. He never wanted Keeley to think he would ever share him for any reason. Looking back up at Douglas, he raised an eyebrow at him in query. “Satisfied?” He was disgusted by the look of lust that crossed Douglas’s face as he looked down at Keeley. Besides the fact that no one should be looking at his mate that way, the thought of anyone touching what belonged to him enraged Reece. He couldn’t believe that after everything Douglas had said about him not mating a man and how bad that was, Douglas actually wanted him to share Keeley. He hadn’t realized until now how well he had convinced him that he was considering his little breeding program.


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“I have no doubt, once you see what a good plan this is, that you will agree to it, Alpha,” Douglas said as he raised his eyes back up to Reece’s. “It will bring us everything we could ever want.” “We’ll see, Douglas, we’ll see.” **** Keeley dropped the last piece of fruit on the plate before him and began cleaning up the mess he had made. Reece had told him to come into the kitchen and make something for them all to snack on. Great! Like he didn’t have a million other things to think about. Donovan and his crew had been gone for a little over an hour and they were just waiting for him to call and say that everything had been taken care of. The waiting was driving Keeley crazy, not to mention trying to play nice with Douglas. Just the thought of that creepy man sent a shiver down Keeley’s spine. He couldn’t believe the gall of that man asking if Reece would share him, and after all the bellyaching he had expressed about that sort of behavior. Douglas really took the cake. If a breeding program was ever implemented, Keeley hoped that Douglas wasn’t one of the sperm donors. His genes did not need to be passed on. Taken out of the gene pool before he could reproduce maybe, but not passed on. Besides the fact that the man was a complete imbecile, he was just plain creepy. He reminded Keeley of a slug that had slithered out from under a rock. In his mind, Douglas needed to slither right on back. “Hey, baby, how you holding up?” Keeley turned to see Reece standing in the kitchen doorway, his arms crossed over his broad chest. “I’d be doing a whole hell of a lot better if our resident slime ball was gone, but barring that, I’m doing okay. How about you?”


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Reece dropped his arms from around his chest and sauntered over to stand beside Keeley, reaching out and lightly fingering a loose tendril of honey-blond hair on his cheek. “I’d be doing a lot better if this was all over with.” “It will be soon enough, and then you can tell Douglas to go to hell! Where is the slimy little toad anyway?” “He asked to use the restroom to clean up a bit before we ate something.” “There’s nothing he could do to get the stench off of him. Can you believe he actually wanted you to share me after going on and on about how wrong it was?” “You know I wasn’t serious about sharing you, right?” Reece asked anxiously as he cupped the side of Keeley’s face with his hand. Keeley smiled and leaned into Reece’s hand. He reached up to close his hand on Reece’s and hold it tightly to his cheek. “Yeah, I know. I just can’t believe he actually asked that. The gall of that man to actually think you would share me or use me as a reward.” “Well,” Reece chuckled, “I do see you as a reward, but not for him. I don’t share my toys very well.” “Oh? Am I back to being a boy toy, then?” Keeley sneered as he leaned his head back to look up at Reece. He felt something inside of him shift when he saw the heart-rending tenderness in Reece’s gaze. “Only for me,” Reece murmured just before lowering his lips to Keeley’s. His mouth covered Keeley’s hungrily. Reece’s fingers slid sensuously over Keeley’s bare arms as he pulled Keeley to him. Parting his lips, Keeley raised himself to meet Reece’s kiss. He suddenly felt an overwhelming desire, a need to be claimed by Reece. His fingers clutched desperately at the fabric of Reece’s blue cotton shirt as he tried to press himself closer to Reece’s hard body. Keeley leaned back enough to whisper franticly against Reece’s mouth. “Make love to me, Quilliam. Claim me again.” The sudden darkening of Reece’s coal black eyes told Keeley how his words had affected his mate. If he hadn’t been able to figure that


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out, the hard bulge in Reece’s pants shouted the news. But still, Reece hesitated. “Keeley, I don think that’s—” Reece began as his eyes flitted towards the door then back. “Then don’t think. Just do, damn it!” Keeley said harshly as he tried to pull Reece’s mouth back down to his. “Please, Quilliam, I need you.” A hot ache grew in Keeley’s throat as Reece stared silently down at him. He swore he could hear the frantic beating of their hearts as he waited for Reece’s answer, praying it was the one he needed. “Fuck!” Reece said suddenly as he closed his eyes briefly. Keeley held his breath until Reece opened up his eyes and looked down at him. The lust burning in their black depths made Keeley’s heart thump faster. “Turn around and drop your pants,” Reece growled, his hands already going to his own jeans. Keeley let out a small squeal of happiness as he turned around and unbuttoned his pants. He quickly pushed them down his legs and stepped out of them before bracing himself over the countertop. He spread his legs as far as they would go when he felt Reece’s hand caress his ass. “Lube…we need lube,” Reece said. “Nope, already taken care of,” Keeley panted out as he wiggled his ass against Reece. He couldn’t help grinning when he heard Reece’s sharp inhale as he found the butt plug lodged in Keeley’s ass. “I thought you packed this?” Reece asked as he pulled gently on the rubber plug. “Not—not enough room in the suitcase,” Keeley choked out. “Had to put it somewhere.” “Good choice,” Reece said as he slowly pulled the plug from Keeley’s ass and set it on the counter. “I thought—oh, god, Quilliam,” Keeley groaned as Reece pushed his hard cock right into him. Reece’s large hands caressed the planes


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of Keeley’s back. The stroking of his fingers sent pleasant jolts through Keeley’s body. “Did you have this in your ass the whole time, baby?” Reece asked harshly as he grabbed Keeley’s hips and thrust into him. Keeley pushed himself up on his arms and looked over his shoulder at Reece. He lifted an eyebrow in query when he saw the lip caught between Reece’s long canines. “Ever since I came downstairs. Why? Does that turn you on, baby? Do you like knowing I had something in my ass just waiting for you?” Reece’s eyes glowed. “Hell yes!” he growled as the force of his thrusts increased until they were nearly frantic. Keeley could feel Reece’s hands curve into claws against his skin. He knew that Reece was going to leave marks on his hips. It only made him more aroused knowing that his lover was beginning to lose control. His body squirmed beneath Reece’s as he tried to tilt his neck back towards him. “Qui—Quilliam, please,” Keeley groaned as passion pounded the blood through his heart, chest, and head. As Reece bit into Keeley’s shoulder, the world spun and careened on its axis. Keeley’s body melted against Reece’s and his entire world was filled with his mate. Waves of ecstasy throbbed through him as he came. Before he could catch his breath, Keeley was gasping in sweet agony as Reece let out a loud roar and filled him with his own release. Keeley felt like his body was half fire, half ice as Reece’s knot extended and lodged into place against him. He let his head drop against the cool countertop, his breath catching in his throat every time Reece inhaled causing the knot to move against his sensitive skin. The pleasure that little knot caused was explosive all by itself. Keeley didn’t know about everyone else, but he thought the knot was one of the best things about being mated to a shape shifter. He


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didn’t know how he had gone without it before he had met Reece. He hoped he never found out. “Better baby?” Reece whispered, his breath hot against Keeley’s ear. Reece’s body partially covered his, his hands softly caressed his back. Keeley nodded weakly, too overcome to speak. He reached back and wrapped a hand around Reece’s neck to hold his head against him. Turning his head, he let his lips graze Reece’s cheek. “Love you, Quilliam,” Keeley murmured. “Love you too, Keeley,” Reece replied. He leaned in and kissed Keeley gently on the lips. When he leaned back, Keeley could swear he saw a hint of tears in Reece’s coal black eyes. Reece reached up his hand to rub his thumb across Keeley’s swollen lips. “Only you, only ever you, Keeley, my love, my mate.” “You lying son-of-a-bitch!”


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Chapter 11 Reece heard Keeley cry out as jerked up to stare in horror at Douglas’s retreating back. Reece instantly looked back down at Keeley, concern written all over his face. “Wha—oh, shit, Did I do that, baby?” Reece said as he leaned down to wipe the blood from Keeley’s lip. “I’m so sorry, I just—” Keeley shook his head. “No, it’s okay. Go after him, Reece. He knows. He’s going to tell,” Keeley said quickly as he pushed Reece away from him. He winced and let out a small groan when Reece’s cock pulled from his body. “Go!” Reece grabbed his pants and pulled them back up his legs and quickly zipped them up. He glanced over at his mate one more time. Reece’s heart ached when he saw the small drop of blood smeared on Keeley’s lip. “Keeley, I—” Reece began only to be stopped by Keeley’s finger over his lips. “Reece, I’m fine, but I won’t be if that lunatic gets back to his friends and warns them that you know of their plan. Now go get him while I get cleaned up. I’ll be out in just a moment,” Keeley said as he pushed Reece towards the living room. Reluctantly, but knowing that Keeley was right, Reece turned and ran for the living room. He got there just in time to see Douglas jump into his car and peel out of the driveway. Well, shit! “Dev? Where the hell are you?” Reece shouted as he looked around the large great room of the log cabin. When he received no response from Devlin, Reece headed for the study. He opened the door and stepped in only to stop suddenly when he spotted Devlin


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lying on the floor by the fireplace, a red gash on his forehead and a small pool of blood beneath his head. “Devlin!” Reece yelled as he ran across the room and dropped down to his knees beside Devlin. He carefully turned Devlin onto his back. His heart only started to beat again when he heard a small groan come from Devlin before he opened his eyes and blinked up at him. “What the hell hit me?” Devlin asked as he brought his hand up to cradle his head. “I think Douglas did right before he caught me and Keeley in the kitchen.” “Caught you what?” Devlin asked as he sat up. Reece could feel his face burn red as he tilted his head and looked at Devlin, one eyebrow raised. “Oh, you mean he caught you. Well, that’ll teach you to have sex in the kitchen. Is Keeley okay?” Reece nodded as he stood to his feet. “Yeah, he’s fine. A little embarrassed, but fine.” Reece held out a hand and pulled Devlin to his feet. He stepped closer to get a better look at the wound on Devlin’s forehead. “Question is, how are you?” “I’m fine. The asshole caught me when I wasn’t looking,” Devlin replied, looking slightly embarrassed. “Any idea why? Did you say something to him?” Reece asked. Devlin shook his head, wincing slightly when he did. “Nope. He came back from the bathroom and we were just sitting here waiting for you to get back from the kitchen. Douglas got up and wandered over to the window. When I went to stoke the fire, I heard something behind me and then wham! Lights out.” “Then why did he—” Reece started to say when the study door swung open and slammed against the wall. Reece and Devlin immediately crouched down in defensive postures until they saw Keeley standing in the doorway. “Keeley?” Reece said when he saw the frantic look on Keeley’s face.


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“We have to go. Now!” Keeley said breathlessly. Reece quickly stood to his full height and went to Keeley, grabbing his hand and pulling him closer. “What did you see, baby?” Keeley’s eyes were nearly white. “They’re coming. Douglas called them while he was in the bathroom. We have to go. We can’t wait any longer, Reece. They want to kill us, all of us. We have to go now,” Keeley said, distraught as he looked up at Reece. “What’s he talking about, Reece? Who’s coming?” Devlin asked as he walked up behind them. “Reece!” Keeley pleaded, pulling on Reece’s hand. “Okay, baby, we’re coming.” Reece said as he patted Keeley’s arm to reassure him. “Get your shoes on and grab our suitcase while Devlin and I grab a couple of things. Meet us by the front door, but don’t go outside, understand?” Keeley nodded and ran out of the room. Reece went over to his wall safe and opened it up to pull several items out. As he set a stack of documents on his desk he looked up at Devlin. “Whatever you plan on taking with you, you’d better go grab. We’re out of here in five.” “Reece, damn it, what the hell is Keeley talking about. How does he know Douglas made a phone call?” Devlin shouted as he slammed his hand down on the desk and leaned on them. “Is Keeley in on this?” “In on what?” Reece asked in confusion. He grabbed another stack of papers and put it on the desk before closing the safe. Grabbing a small briefcase, he started loading everything on his desk into it. “Is he in on this plan with Douglas? I mean, how much do you really know about him? Is there anyway that Keeley could be involved in this?” Devlin asked. Reece stopped what he was doing to stare up at Devlin in shock. “Are you serious? Keeley isn’t involved with Douglas or his crazy plan. How could you even think that? Douglas wants him killed.”


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“How can you be so sure? Maybe he was planted to lure you into it,” Devlin countered. “Devlin, I know you’re just trying to look out for me, but I am absolutely positive that Keeley is not involved with Douglas.” “Are you willing to bet your life on it?” Devlin asked as he stood back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Yes, and yours too.” Reece could see Devlin look at him in confusion. That, at least, he understood. He hadn’t had the chance to tell Devlin of Keeley’s ability. “How can you be so sure?” Devlin asked skeptically. Reece just shook his head. He spoke in an odd but gentle tone as he responded to Devlin’s words. “I can’t explain it, Devlin. I just know. Keeley would never do anything to hurt me. He’s my mate and he’d give his last breath for me.” “I would give my last breath for Reece,” said a soft voice from the doorway. Reece turned to see Keeley standing there. His breath caught in his throat at the promise shining brightly in Keeley’s pale green eyes. “Hey, baby, you get everything together?” “Yeah. It’s all sitting by the front door. I even have my shoes on. See?” Keeley remarked as he held up one foot and wiggled it around. Reece chuckled at the look of distaste on Keeley’s face. “It won’t be for long, baby. Then you can take them off again. I’ll even paint your nails for you once we get them off, okay?” “Promise?” Keeley grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest to pout over at Reece. Reece eagerly nodded. He couldn’t believe how much he actually looked forward to painting Keeley’s nails again. Keeley had been showing him over the last several days how to do it and paint in the lines, as he called it. It was a very erotic part of caring for his mate, but only one of them. There was an entire gamut of erotic things where Keeley was concerned.


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The most important part of caring for his mate was keeping him safe, which was what Reece needed to do right now. “Okay, let’s go. We’ll call Donovan and Joe once we’re on the road. I’m not taking any chances that we’ll get stuck here.” Reece grabbed the small leather bag off of his desk and headed for the door, grabbing Keeley’s arm to pull him along as he went. “Coming, Dev?” he called out over his shoulder as he walked out of the study. “I really wish someone would explain this mating thing to me, cause I don’t get it,” Reece heard Devlin mumble under his breath as he followed them out the door. “And you won’t, not until you have your own mate,” Reece replied as he picked up the suitcase and headed for the door. He paused with his hand on the door handle to look over at Keeley. “Did you pack everything?” Keeley’s face flushed red and he nodded his head. “Everything is packed in nice and tight.” “Then I guess we can go.” Reece grinned as he opened the door and headed out. He had just reached the bottom step when he spotted several cars coming down his driveway. Anger and alarm rippled along Reece’s spine as he watched the cars approach. “Devlin, I want you to take Keeley through the house and get him to Wolf Creek. Use the back door, but be quiet. Keep him safe, Devlin. Your duty belongs to him now,” Reece said. “No—Reece—” Keeley cried out. “Now, Devlin!” Reece said sternly, his voice low, the tone hardened, as he watched the cars come to a stop before him. “Re—Quilliam, no, please,” Keeley cried out again. Reece turned when he heard Keeley struggling with Devlin. “Keeley, I need you to go with Devlin. I can’t concentrate when I’m worried about your safety. Please, baby, go with him. Devlin will keep you safe.”


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He watched Keeley stop struggling to look over at him. His heart ached when the moonlight caught the tears on Keeley’s face. “Love you, Keeley.” “Love you,” Keeley sniffled through his tears. “You’d damn well better come for me, Quilliam Reece. Do you hear me? I’ll be waiting for you.” “I’ll be along soon enough, baby. Now, go on, go with Devlin,” Reece said softly. He felt tears prick the corner of his eyes as he watched Devlin escort Keeley back into the house and shut the door. As he looked back at the people climbing out of their cars and coming towards him, Reece prayed that Devlin would get Keeley to safety in time, and that he could hold out long enough to find out what color Keeley wanted his nails painted. **** Keeley swiped his arm across his eyes to wipe away his tears as Devlin pulled him out the backdoor and into the trees directly across the backyard. Within a few steps they were eaten up by the shadows. One hand in front of him to keep the branches from hitting him in the face, one hand on Devlin’s arm, Keeley blindly followed Devlin into the darkness beyond the backyard. The only sound he could hear was the rapid beating of his heart and their footsteps running through the forest. Keeley sent up a prayer, then started calling out for Nate, for Justin and Taylor, for anyone that might hear him. He knew he didn’t have telepathic abilities but maybe someone would hear him calling. He could hope anyway. Devlin was relentless, not letting him stop to rest or slow down their stride as he dragged Keeley through the woods. Keeley didn’t know how long they had been running when he felt a small prickle begin at the nape of his neck.


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For an instant, he feared that they had been followed, that they were about to be caught. Then a small buzzing began to filter through his mind until it became a voice. Louder and louder it became until Keeley stopped walking and clutched his head. “Keeley,” Devlin whispered loudly, “we have to keep moving. Come on.” Keeley started forward again, his steps less sure as they had been moments ago as he honed in on the voice in his head until he could understand it and respond. Keeley? Keeley? Can you hear me? whispered the voice in his head. Taylor? Keeley asked silently. Yeah, hon, it’s me. I heard you calling for help. I didn’t know you could talk tele— I can’t. I was just hoping one of you would pick up on it if I transmitted loud enough. But that’s not important right now. I need your help. My mate, Reece, is in trouble. Big trouble. He needs help, Keeley quickly sent to Taylor. What do you need me to do? Call Joe and Nate. Tell them that Reece is at the cabin and he’s in big trouble. The pack came for him. He made me leave with Devlin, but he’s all by himself, Taylor. He’s strong, but I don’t think he’s strong enough to take everyone on by himself. Please, Taylor, you have to help him. Okay, Taylor replied mentally, I’m going to call Joe, but I want you to head back to your mate. I have a plan, but I need you to be there for it to work. Uh, okay, but I’m not sure how to get away from Devlin, Keeley replied as he cast a look at Devlin through his eyelashes. There is no way he’s going to let me go back to Reece. Not after Reece told him to keep me safe. So hit him with something, Taylor snickered. Keeley could just image Taylor rolling his eyes.


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Hit him with something? Have you seen how big these guys are? Keeley asked. Yeah, seems Justin and I are mated to Devlin’s brother, Chase. I know exactly how big they are. Whoa, dude, seriously? That made Keeley stop. He looked up in time to see Devlin turn to stare at him in confusion. He quickly searched the ground for something to hit Devlin with. Spotting a branch lying on the ground at the bottom of a large tree, Keeley started limping over to the tree. As he carefully lowered himself down to the ground, he heard Devlin walk over before he squatted down in front of him. “You okay, Keeley?” Devlin asked in concern. “I think—I think I hurt my ankle,” Keeley said even as his hand slowly moved back to grab the tree branch. He really didn’t want to hit Devlin, but he didn’t think Devlin would believe that his friend telepathically told him to go back to the cabin. He’d sound like a nutcase. As Devlin lifted his foot and bent over to examine it, Keeley brought the limb up slowly over his head. “I’m sorry, Dev,” he whispered. Just as Devlin looked up at him in confusion, Keeley brought the limb down on his head. Devlin’s eyes widened before they rolled back into Devlin’s head and he fell over backwards onto the ground. Keeley quickly crawled over and checked to see that he was okay. “Oh, man, he’s going to kill me when he wakes up,” Keeley said to himself as he got to his feet and began running back towards the cabin. Okay, Taylor, I’m on my way back to the cabin. What’s this great plan of yours? Keeley sent out to Taylor. Is there a clearing there? Taylor asked. Yeah, why? Keeley asked in confusion. Because we’re going to need it. Here’s the plan… ****


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Reece crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the people that walked slowly towards him. Some of them he knew, like Douglas and Adrianna. Some of them he did not. But a basic head count said that it was nearly half his pack, which meant that it was probably everyone involved with the breeding program. “Douglas, you left so fast. We didn’t have time to finish our discussion,” Reece said as the group stopped several feet from the bottom of the steps. “We’ve come for your little pet, Reece,” Douglas said. “That’s Alpha Reece to you, Douglas.” “Not after tonight, it’s not. We’ve decided that you and your little pet need to go. Adrianna is going to mate someone else and be our queen.” “Bitch, you mean,” Reece jeered. “Bitch, queen, it’s pretty much the same to me. I’ll still be the one in charge,” Adrianna said as she stepped forward. “And this will still be my pack.” “You can have it. I never wanted it in the first place,” Reece replied. He glanced at Douglas, hoping distaste showed on his face. “The willingness of some members to sacrifice others for their own greed sickens me.” “We’re doing what’s best for this pack!” Douglas shouted. “No, you’re doing what’s best for you, Douglas. Packs stick together through thick and thin. They don’t sell each other out to make a buck,” Reece spit out. “They don’t sell their souls to the devil for a little power.” “This isn’t about money—” Douglas began. “Don’t fool yourself, Douglas. This is all about money. Money and power. To have power, you need money. To get that money, you sell out your pack members, people you’ve known all of your life, just so that you can have power. But don’t forget, Douglas, you won’t be


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the one in power. I imagine it won’t be long before you’re eliminated just like me.” “That’s not true. I’m one of the core members. Core members are off limits. That’s part of the deal,” Douglas shouted. “For now…” “Look,” Adrianna said as she regarded her perfectly manicured hand, “this is all very fascinating, but it’s getting a little boring. Just bring out your little boy toy so that we can get this over with. I have a nice, hot bubble bath and some prime werewolf blood waiting for me. I need to get home.” Reece smirked over at Adrianna. “Oh, that’s right, your highness, some little human nearly took your throne tonight, didn’t he? How does it feel to know that a human almost ended your existence?” If the sudden rage that came over Adrianna’s face was any indication, she was not happy about her scuffle with Keeley. Reece couldn’t keep his smirk to himself, not that he wanted to. He was proud of the fact that his little human mate had fought off this half werewolf, half bloodsucking bitch. “Kill him,” Adrianna hissed. Reece braced himself, his hands transforming into claws and his sharp canines dropping down as he crouched down in a defensive posture ready to take on anything that they threw at him. He had to give Devlin enough time to get Keeley to safety. With that thought in mind, Reece dove at the nearest werewolf, striking out with his claws before moving on to the next one. Reaching for the next werewolf, Reece bit down on any piece of flesh he could get in his mouth. He swiped his claws at any movement, ripping into flesh. Reece felt someone grab him from behind, tackling him to the ground. Before he could fight his way to freedom, more bodies moved in to hold him until he was unable to move.


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As he panted heavily, a hand grabbed his hair and yanked his head back. Reece looked up to see Adrianna standing over him, her hand clenched in his hair. “Not so feisty now, are you?” she drawled. “I wonder if you’ll be this feisty when I have your little pet in my grasp. Maybe I’ll drain him slowly and let you watch. Would you enjoy that, Alpha?” Reece gave Adrianna a strangled sneer. “He’s gone. You can’t get to him.” “Then I’ll just have to find him, won’t I? I hear Douglas is very excited to have a go at your little pet. Maybe I’ll reward him and let him play before I take his blood,” Adrianna taunted, the tone sounding high and brittle to Reece’s ears. “You’ll never get your hands on him,” Reece growled, struggling between the two werewolves that held him until Adrianna slapped him across the face. Reece glared up at her as his tongue came out of his mouth to lick at the blood on his lip. “Oh, did the poor little baby get hurt? Let me kiss that better for you,” Adrianna said as she leaned in and licked the leftover blood from Reece’s lips, groaning as the potency of Reece’s werewolf blood hit her system. “Mmmm, delicious,” she whispered for Reece’s ears alone. “Werewolf blood is so good, much better than human blood. Once my brother sees the breeding program I’ve started, he’ll be crawling to me for more.” Reece raised an eyebrow in surprise. If he was hearing Adrianna correctly, Adrianna’s brother knew nothing of her plan to start a werewolf breeding program. Wonder if he would be interested in this bit of news? He’d have to get away from Adrianna before he could do anything about it, though. As Adrianna started to stand up, Reece pulled his head back and then forward as hard as he could, head butting Adrianna in the forehead.


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Reece groaned as he felt the impact in his head, wishing his hands were free so that he could rub his head. That hurt, damn it. Probably not the smartest move he could have made but the stream of blood falling down Adrianna’s face as she stood up made all the pain worth it. Adrianna wiped the blood from her forehead, staring at it briefly before she lifted her head to glare at Reece, venom and hate spilling from her dark eyes. “You’re going to die, dog,” she yelled. Reece braced himself, waiting for the fatal blow to fall. He closed his eyes and sent up one final prayer that Devlin would get Keeley to safety in time and then resigned himself to his imminent death.


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Chapter 12 Keeley skidded to a stop on the front porch, taking in the horrific scene playing out below him. There were several dead and bloody bodies littering the ground. But that wasn’t what scared Keeley. What scared Keeley the most was seeing Reece on his knees being held between two large werewolves. He had just enough time to take in the small smirk of satisfaction that crossed Reece’s face before Adrianna started screaming. “Kill him, now!” “Touch him and die!” Keeley yelled out, gaining everyone’s attention instantly. He saw the sudden frantic look on Reece’s face when he spotted Keeley, followed by deep heartache as Reece realized that Keeley hadn’t gotten to safety. “So, the little pet has decided to come out and play,” Adrianna smirked as she turned around to face Keeley. “You really don’t want to see how I play, Adrianna,” Keeley said. “I don’t play well with others.” “Ohhh, so the little human has a backbone.” “I thought you would have figured that out when you tried to kill me last time. Need a refresher?” Keeley asked, one eyebrow going up in query. Keeley’s breath caught in his throat and he tried to appear nonchalant when Adrianna grabbed a handful of Reece’s hair with one hand and yanked his head back. She pulled a knife from her shirt with the other hand and held it against Reece’s throat. “You don’t want to do that, Adrianna,” Keeley said casually. “And why not? How are you going to stop me?” She shouted.


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“Oh, I’m not, but they are,” Keeley said as he pointed around the small clearing. He could see the surprise fill Adrianna’s face, followed quickly by outright fear as men began popping in from thin air. They enclosed Adrianna and her little group of werewolves until they were totally surrounded. “I don’t play well with others, Adrianna, but I do like to invite my friends to a party,” Keeley said as he walked down a couple of steps until he stood just feet from her. “Now, how about you let Reece go, and I might let you live.” “How did you—who are—what—” Adrianna stammered as she looked around at all of the men surrounding her. “Who are these people? I know they’re not werewolves. I can smell it. They’re humans.” Keeley crossed his arms over his chest and raised and eyebrow at her. “Yeah, so?” Adrianna let out a bitter laugh. “You think a bunch of humans can stop me? Do you even know what I am?” “A bitch, would be my guess, but I could be wrong. My sense of smell isn’t as good as a werewolves, thank god. I’d hate to have to be smelling your skanky ass,” Keeley replied. “How dare you!” Adrianna screamed, letting go of Reece’s hair to step towards Keeley. She pointed her knife at him as she continued to shriek at him. “I am Princess Adrianna Ivinovav. I am—” “Yada, yada, yada. Damn, you do like to hear yourself talk don’t you?” Keeley jabbed at her. He could feel his legs shake as Adrianna glared at him, knowing she was going to come after him any second. He just had to get her far enough away from Reece that the others could help free him. Then they would deal with her royal highness. Goading her seemed to be doing the job just fine. Keeley took a small step back as Adrianna advanced on him. “I’m going to enjoy slitting your throat, human, and I’m going to make your mate watch as I drain every last drop of blood from your body,” Adrianna snarled as she took another step towards Keeley.


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“You can try, you old witch!” Keeley said, hoping desperately that his voice didn’t sound as strained as he felt. “Or would that be bitch?” “Rrraaa!” Adrianna screamed as she flew at Keeley. Keeley raised his arms and tried to ward Adrianna off. He cried out as he felt her knife sink into his arm, wincing when she pulled it out. Keeley scrambled backwards, away from Adrianna. As she raised her arm to stab at him again, he fell backwards, the knife coming down over his head. As Keeley pushed at her body and tried to scoot out from under her, he heard a loud roar. Suddenly, Adrianna was lifted off of him. Keeley watched in shock as Adrianna’s body went flying through the air to land heavily on the ground with a sickening thud. Hearing heavy breathing over the top of him, Keeley turned his head to see a large furry figure standing above him. He shrank back as huge clawed hands reached down for him before he spotted the somber black eyes staring down at him. “Reece,” Keeley whispered as he reached for the werewolf standing above him. The moment he was lifted up, Keeley threw his arms around his mate, wrapping his arms around Reece’s neck and holding him tightly to his body. Keeley let out a squeal of surprise when he was suddenly picked up and carried into the house to the study. His breath rushed from his chest when Reece swiped the top of his desk clear with his arm and pushed Keeley down over it. A moment later, Keeley heard a tearing sound and felt air pass over his ass as Reece ripped away his pants. Without a word, the butt plug was pulled from his ass and replaced by Reece’s hard cock. Before Keeley could even grasp the edge of the desk, Reece was pounding into him. Keeley started to turn his head to ask what in the hell was going on when Reece grabbed his hair and held him still with one hand,


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tilting his head slightly to the side. The other hand held him down to the desk by pressing against his hip. “Mine!” Reece growled into Keeley’s ear, his voice deep and gravelly, as he bent over him. Keeley felt himself begin to respond to the seduction of Reece’s claim. A deep feeling of peace entered his being as Reece sank his sharp canines into the soft skin just below his ear, claiming him as only he could. A golden wave of passion and love flowed between them as Reece continued to thrust into Keeley’s tight body. Reece’s hands began to explore the soft lines of Keeley’s back, his waist, his hips. Keeley couldn’t control his outcry of delight when Reece’s pace increased and he became nearly frantic. When Reece reached under him to palm Keeley’s hard cock, Keeley moaned aloud with erotic delight and gave into the soaring ecstasy flowing through his body. A moment later, Reece possessed him even more as he groaned loudly and filled Keeley with his hot release. Keeley’s body vibrated with liquid fire as Reece’s knot took hold of his body, prolonging his orgasm until the pleasure became too much and he blacked out. **** Reece lifted his head slightly and licked at the small wound in Keeley’s neck until it stopped bleeding. He took several deep breaths as he waited for his body to transform back to human, watching as the claws in his hands receded. As the knot in his cock did the same, Reece pulled himself from his mate and stood up. As he looked down at Keeley, he was abundantly grateful Keeley had been wearing a butt plug. As out of control as he had been he could have caused Keeley serious damage. Reece shook his head as he grabbed some wipes from his desk drawer and cleaned them both up. He wasn’t sure that Keeley fully


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understood what a werewolf went through when they won a fight for their mate. Werewolves were naturally possessive of their mates, more so than most humans. If they were challenged for their mates, that possessiveness increased several times over. They had an uncontrollable need to claim their mates once the fight was won. And he had won, fair and square. Keeley belonged to him. The proof was in the mating bite on his shoulder, and the claw marks in his hips. Reece winced when he saw the red scratches along Keeley’s sides. As he gazed down at his mate, Reece hoped that Keeley understood the need he had to claim him, and to forgive him for it. It wasn’t easy to have a mate that turned into a savage beast at the drop of a hat. Reece hoped that Keeley would give him the time to prove that it wasn’t always that way. Hearing a small groan come from below him, Reece quickly reached down and picked Keeley up in his arms before sitting down in the desk chair. He cradled Keeley’s small, delicate body to his, feeling like a monster as his eyes caught each red mark, each little scratch on Keeley’s body. “Reece?” “Yeah, baby?” Reece asked through the lump in his throat. Would Keeley be afraid of him now? Would he want nothing to do with him now that he knew what a savage beast Reece could become? “You still owe me a manicure,” Keeley whispered as he tucked his head under Reece’s chin. “Okay, baby,” Reece answered, feeling tears of joy fall down his cheeks. Reece sat there silently, holding Keeley close to his chest as the tears slid down his face until he felt small fingers plucking at him. He glanced down to see Keeley pulling at the soft cotton of his shirt. “Need your shirt,” Keeley whispered.


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Reece sat forward a little and reached for the hem of his shirt. He quickly pulled it over his head and handed it to Keeley. Reece couldn’t contain his smile of delight when Keeley whipped his own shirt off only to pull Reece’s shirt over his head. As Keeley settled back into his arms, Reece brushed the honey blond curls back from his face so he could see his eyes. “So, want to tell me why you disobeyed me?” Reece asked. “I thought I sent you to safety with Devlin…and where is Dev anyway?” Reece watched with amusement as Keeley’s face turned a deep shade of red and his eyes dropped down to his lap. “I sort of—” the rest of what Keeley was saying was lost when the study door swung open with a loud bang. Reece’s body tensed until he saw Devlin standing in the doorway, his chest heaving and his eyes wild. “Dev?” “I swear to god, Keeley, if you hit me one more time, I’m going to smother you in your sleep. What the hell did you hit me with this time?” Devlin shouted as he glared at Keeley. Reece was in no way surprised when Keeley jumped to his feet and ran across the room to get in Devlin’s face. Keeley had one hand on his hip, the other pointing a finger into Devlin’s chest. His baby had quite the temper. “It was a tree branch, moron. And if you had any brains in that thick head of yours, you’d know that. When you’re out in the woods, you use what’s at hand. You’re just damn lucky I didn’t have any cookie sheets on hand,” Keeley yelled back. “Keeley, if you—” As Devlin began again, Reece decided it was time to step in. They had bigger worries than Keeley hitting Devlin over the head. Namely, the people outside. “Devlin, that’s enough. We have guests and we need to go outside and figure out exactly what happened. We’ll get back to why Keeley wasn’t with you in a few minutes,” Reece said as he stood to his feet and walked over to join the pair.


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“What people?” Devlin asked as he followed Reece and Keeley outside. “Ask Keeley. He brought them. Saved my ass, too. Adrianna was about to slit my throat when Keeley showed up,” Reece replied as he stepped out onto the front porch. He looked around the driveway, noting the dead bodies lying everywhere. Seems the core members of the pack hadn’t made out too well. Neither had Adrianna. She was lying on the ground right where Reece had tossed her, her lifeless eyes staring up into nothing. Reece didn’t know if he had been the one to kill her or the knife that was sticking out of her chest. He hoped he had been the one to finish her. “Keeley,” a voice from beside them called out and a young man walked up, “if you’ve got everything under control here, we’re going to head home. Justin and I have a hot date tonight with Chase.” “Yeah, Taylor, thanks for everything. Tell the guys thanks, too. They were a huge help. We should be heading down to Wolf Creek as soon as we get things cleared up, so I’ll check with you in a couple of days.” “Sounds good. Later, dude,” Taylor said. He raised an eyebrow and smirked as he snapped his fingers…then he simply disappeared. “Fuck!” Devlin said quietly. “Uh, Keeley? Is there something you forgot to tell me?” Reece asked as he turned to look down at his mate in shock. Keeley chuckled. “Did I mention that a few of my friends have some unusual abilities? One of them being teleportation?” “Tele-what?” Devlin asked in confusion. Reece let out a large sigh as he raked his hand down over his face. He took a deep breath and turned to look at Keeley. “From the beginning, Keeley.” His lips twisted into a smirk as he watched Keeley roll his eyes. “I didn’t want to leave you alone to fight on your own. I was afraid I’d never see you again so, as Devlin and I were running


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through the woods, I called out for a few of my friends from back when—” “Back when the Teacher had you, yeah, I kind of figured that. How did they end up here, Keeley?” Reece asked. Keeley shrugged his shoulders. “Taylor answered me. After I told him what was going on, he said he had a plan. I just needed to get back to you and make sure there was a clear area for everyone to get here.” “By get here you mean teleport? And just how does that work? I didn’t think any of your friends were that strong,” Reece said in confusion. “Normally, that’s true. But if we all channel our powers together into one person, that person’s abilities become stronger. Levi can teleport cups and stuff like that but anything bigger needs more power.” “Levi?” Devlin asked curiously. “Who’s Levi?” “He’s one of the students that was being held and used by the Teacher, just like Nate and I were. Chase and Donovan helped free us.” Keeley turned to look over at Devlin in surprise, then at Reece. “Didn’t you explain this to him?” Reece shook his head. “I haven’t had time. I’ve been too busy fighting off a psychotic bitch bent on killing my mate. A mate that is still in trouble for not getting to safety like I told him to do.” Keeley waved a hand at him, then crossed his arms over his chest. “Oh, get over yourself already. You’re my mate, not my master. I’ll do what you say if I feel that it’s a good idea. If not…” Keeley shrugged his shoulders. Reece was about to tear into Keeley and start shouting about the facts of life when Devlin burst out laughing. Reece turned to glare over at him. “This is rich. I wish I had a video camera, because Chase and Donovan are never going to believe this. Keeley’s at least a foot shorter and a hundred pounds lighter than you are. He’s a human to


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boot. And I truly don’t think there is anything about you that intimidates him,” Devlin snickered. “Oh, you’re no help at all,” Reece snarled. “Oh, that’s right. You’re the big, bad alpha, the dominant male, and your little human isn’t even afraid of you when you shift,” Devlin said before more laughter took him over. Reece glared angrily over at Devlin until his words began to sink in. Devlin was right. Keeley wasn’t afraid of him, even when he shifted. Reece had been positive Keeley would be scared when he had claimed him in the study before but Keeley had just reminded Reece that he was owed a manicure and then asked for his shirt. “You’re really not scared of me, are you?” Reece asked in wonder as he looked down at his mate. Keeley sauntered over to Reece and wrapped his arms around Reece’s neck. He grinned up at Reece, the love for his mate shining in his eyes. “Should I be?”


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Chapter 13 Keeley painted another layer of fire engine red on his fingernail, blowing gently on it. It was his last fingernail to paint, and then he’d be ready. Just a little eyeliner, one already worn shirt, and some tight jeans and he’d be ready to go. Reece had promised to take him out somewhere tonight when he got home. And it was about damn time, as far as Keeley was concerned. They had been moved into their new house for more than a month now. Most of that time, Keeley had spent decorating their house. Luckily, Reece had the decorating sense of a box of rocks so he had turned the entire house over to Keeley. Between the overstuffed tan sectional sofa in the living room and the extra large king-sized bed in the bedroom, Keeley felt he had done a pretty good job. He was especially pleased with the vibrant paintings that hung on the walls. He loved the different colors and how they seemed to shine brighter every time the sunlight hit them. Keeley had rounded off his collection of stuff by adding bright throw pillows to the couch, dishes in the kitchen, and a rainbow of towels in the bathrooms. Reece seemed to be pleased, even adding his own touch in the form of flowers several times since they had moved in. He had even gone as far as replacing the cookie sheets that Keeley had to leave behind when they moved to Wolf Creek. While going from an alpha of his own pack back to an enforcer for another pack was essentially a step down in rank for Reece, Keeley thought he seemed happier, more relaxed. Keeley, on the other


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hand, was thrilled that Reece was home every night and had more time to play. And Reece needed to play a lot. Keeley felt that he was too serious. And, as Nate had pointed out before, it was his job to make sure that he was happy and loved, using Keeley’s brand of love to do it. Keeley was thrilled with all of the new changes. He had even adjusted to the fact that Devlin would be living with them until he found his own mate. Devlin wasn’t a bad guy once you got to know him. But Keeley kept butting heads with him. He figured it was because Reece spent more time with him than Devlin. Devlin was feeling a little left out. Keeley was glad Reece had finally given Devlin something to do, even if it was a sucky job. Devlin was taking Adrianna’s body back to her coven and her brother, Prince Ivinovav. Reece hoped the gesture would convey his desire for peace between the werewolves and the bloodsuckers. Keeley was doubtful. “Hey, baby, I’m home,” a loud voice called out from downstairs. “I’m up here,” Keeley called back. He smiled as he heard the heavy thud of footsteps running up the stairs just before the bedroom door swung open. Keeley looked up as he blew on his nails again. “Ooohhh, red? Special occasion?” Reece asked as he sauntered over to the bed and knelt down on the floor before Keeley. “Yep, my lover is taking me out tonight,” Keeley said. “Lover, huh? Anyone I know?” Reece asked as he leaned up and kissed Keeley. “You might. He’s very handsome, drool-worthy even, and he smells fantastic,” Keeley replied. “Should I be jealous?” Reece asked. “Oh, definitely,” Keeley giggled. “Oh, really?” Reece said.


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Keeley let out a squeal as Reece grabbed his legs and pushed Keeley back onto the bed, his larger body coming down to cover him. Reece lowered his head until his nose nearly touched Keeley’s. “And why should I be jealous of this lover of yours?” he asked. Keeley reached up and brushed a stray lock of black hair back from Reece’s face as he answered him. “Because he owns my heart.”

THE END WWW.STORMYGLENN.COM


ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stormy Glenn believes the only thing sexier than a man in cowboy boots is two, or three, men in cowboy boots. She also believes in love at first sight, soul mates, true love, and happy endings. When she’s not being a mother to her six teenagers or cleaning up after her two 70-pound lap puppies, you can usually find her cuddled in bed with a book in her hand or her laptop, creating the next sexy character for her stories. Stormy welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website at www.stormyglenn.com

Also by Stormy Glenn Full Moon Mating: Wolf Creek Pack 1 Tasty Treats: Volume 3 (Man to Man: Wolf Creek Pack 3) Secret Desires: Tri Omega Mates 1 Forbidden Desires: Tri Omega Mates 2 Hidden Desires: Tri Omega Mates 3 Stolen Desires: Tri Omega Mates 4 Mari’s Men: Lover’s of Alpha Squad 1 The Doctor’s Patience: Lover’s of Alpha Squad 2 Julia’s Knight: Lover’s of Alpha Squad 3 Three of a Kind: Lover’s of Alpha Squad 4 Cowboy Legacy Sweet Treats Mr. Wonderful The Katzman’s Mate My Lupine Lover Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM


Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com


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