Shane's Need

Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska 4 

Shane’s Need Shane has always been the joker of the Dillon clan, but he does it to hide the scars from his childhood. He has never shared what the years away from the pack with his mentally unstable mother were like. As he starts to fall in love with Eve, he finds himself unable to ignore the nightmares that haunt his nights. Eve has always sensed there is more to Shane than he shows the world. As she tries to find out what lies beneath the surface, she sees the dimensions of his personality and attempts to help him deal with the wounds that resurface. But an argument leaves them at odds, and Eve in the path of danger. NOTE! You are purchasing Siren's newest serialized imprint, the LoveXtreme Forever Series. This is the fourth book in the Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska collection. These books are not stand alone and must be read in the numbered order. Each book may end on a cliffhanger but usually with a happy-for-now for the heroine and one or more men. The final book contains a happily forever after for the heroine and all her men. Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Vampires/Werewolves Length: 22,407 words

SHANE’S NEED The Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska 4

Kiera West

LOVEXTREME FOREVER

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: LoveXtreme Forever

SHANE’S NEED Copyright © 2011 by Kiera West E-book ISBN: 1-61034-457-X First E-book Publication: September 2011 Cover design by Les Byerley All art and logo copyright © 2011 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

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Shane’s Need by Kiera West from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Kiera West’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. West’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION To my readers. Thank you so much for the support and I hope you love Shane as much as I do. Kiera

SHANE’S NEED The Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska 4 KIERA WEST Copyright © 2011

Chapter One Eve MacMillian lifted her face to the weak winter sun, trying to gain what warmth she could from it. It seemed that lately, she had felt the bite of the Alaskan winter even more. It sunk into her bones and chilled her from the inside out. The wind shifted, something in the scents telling her that someone had joined her. She knew without turning it was one of the Dillon men. Each of them had their own scent, and she knew this was Shane. There was a tinge of the same scent for all the cousins, but each of them had a particular aroma around him. She was beginning to easily tell them apart. Eve didn’t know if she should be happy or upset about that development. “I thought I would find you here,” Shane said as he stepped up beside her, the crunch of his boots against the snow so loud to her now. Ethan had told her things like this would start happening. The better sense of smell and hearing took some getting used to that was for sure. “I just thought I would catch the last of the sun for the day.” He nodded but said nothing else. There was something about Shane that told her he knew when to push and when to leave her alone.

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“What’s going on?” She sensed his shrug. “Not much. The rents went back home. Not much they can do now. They needed some privacy I think. Both of them were very close to Uncle Mike. The mourning will be longer than they can stick around.” Still now her heart hurt to think of their most recent loss. The Dillons had all loved their uncle so much, and losing him had been a blow to all of them. Two weeks later, she could still feel their pain. In the short time she had known their Uncle Mike, she had realized how vital he was to their pack. It had been painful to watch, and the empathic twinges she felt had been worse. She was more connected to Noah and Ethan, and their pain had kept her awake at night. Even though she had gone through the sympathy pains, if she hadn’t felt them, she wouldn’t have known any of them were hurting. Not one of them spoke about it. But they did. Very deeply. She glanced at him now and found that he was looking out over the valley. The weak sunlight cast shadows on his face, which should have made him more intimidating. Instead, it seemed to make his skin glow. “I don’t know what it’s like to lose a family member.” Shane looked at her then. It was odd to see him so reserved since he was usually the one to keep everything light. He seemed to weigh every action which was out of character. Of course, losing someone like Mike would definitely turn anyone solemn. “You’ve never lost anyone close to you?” Now it was her turn to shrug as she looked back over the valley. The sun was already dimming, and it would soon be dark as midnight. “My folks were both only children and much older when they had me. I was an only child.” “That must have been tough.” She didn’t like talking about her family, or lack of one. It was odd that it would not have made she and her parents closer. They barely spoke even when they were in the same room. “I really didn’t know

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anything different. I’m not sure if I could handle another sibling. Although, it would’ve been nice to have someone to take some of the attention.” She could feel Shane’s intense study of her, and she immediately regretted her words. Shane might play the jokester like all the others, but he also was a keen observer. “Your parents were tough on you?” She turned around and started walking back to the cabin. She didn’t want to deal with those problems. Part of the reason she had come to Alaska was to escape them, to ignore the issues she had with her parents. It was what her family was good at. Stony silences and long distances. She knew a man like Shane wouldn’t understand. Their family was close, so close that she would think it would be suffocating to someone like her. Usually, though, she only felt comfort. As usual, Shane fell into step beside her. He was always accommodating to women. She had noticed the way he acted around them from time to time. Didn’t matter what the age, Shane always gave women what they expected of him. And every one of them loved it, she thought with a frown. “Gonna tell me about your folks?” he asked. She sighed and tried to hide her irritation. Her parents were famous in the scientific world. People heard their names and instantly asked for an introduction. Her first real date—and unfortunately her first experience in bed—had been a grad student trying to get an internship with her parents. It really didn’t help her ego to know that even if she had wanted to, she couldn’t have helped the weasel. “What’s there to tell? We don’t get along.” Even she heard the way her voice thinned out. She despised any type of whining. Intellectually she knew she didn’t need her parents’ approval. Still, being an adult didn’t help with the feelings of inadequacy. “Okay.”

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He said nothing else but took her hand. He forced her to slow her pace, which was odd because she usually had to walk fast to keep up with all the long-legged Dillons. As they crunched through the snow, she waited for him to ask more, to prod the information out of her. But, in true Shane fashion, he didn’t. He waited. Out of all the cousins, he was the most patient. “You’re not going to ask me for more information?” He shook his head. “It upset you. I didn’t want to upset you. It’s been a bad few weeks.” She sighed again feeling the weight of the cousins’ grief. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of strangeness. She went from practically living like a nun to taking on one lover, then six, then she found out they were wolves. On top of that, apparently, someone wanted them all dead. Or gone, or something. “Has Noah talked to Vic?” Shane nodded. “He’s had a few video conferences on the computer with him and a few of the other bears.” “Anything at all?” They had reached the front of the house, and he shook his head. “Have no idea what the hell is going on. It has been downright odd how it just went completely silent when Mike was killed. It was like they went too far and decided to pull back.” “Maybe, but they almost killed Ethan before this.” “And both of them seem completely over the top. The fire, the attack, now Mike’s murder, all seem over the top.” A chill that had nothing to do with the cold wind slinked down her spine and filtered into her blood. “This doesn’t have to do with the oil.” “No, but we can’t ignore it could have in a way. What if someone within the company has gone rogue? There would be a lot of jobs if we allowed them to drill. With the economy the way it is, people can be a bit desperate.”

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“But, it wouldn’t do much good. There is very little oil there, just enough to cause people to pay attention.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. We own the land.” “Are you two going to stand out there and freeze to death?” Rand asked from the open doorway. She glanced at him and couldn’t hide the smile. He was eating, again. These men never seemed to have enough food…or enough of her. Since first going to bed with Noah, she found herself the sex toy for six very sexually hungry men, and she loved it. It had been something she was missing from her life, and would miss again when she went back to the lower forty-eight. “It was like you said, Rand. She was out there watching the sun.” She started walking toward the door, then stopped in her tracks. Settling her hands on her hips, she looked from one brother to the other. “What is that supposed to mean?” Rand took another bite of apple and smiled, but said nothing. She looked at Shane. “We all know you like the sun.” She shrugged as she started trudging through the snow again. If anything, by the time she left Alaska, she would have some worldclass muscles in her legs and rear. “I like it, but I actually am more of a winter person. I just make sure I am out there to see it for the few hours it’s around each day.” Rand stepped back to allow her room to step into the mudroom. When she pulled off her cap, his gaze went to her hair. “I can see why. I take it you don’t tan.” She laughed as she unbuttoned and unzipped her jacket. “My skin only burns. It is the bane of my existence.” Shane snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him. “But, it’s so soft.” She felt his warm breath against her sensitive flesh before he nuzzled against her neck. Her body reacted as it always did when one of them touched her. Heat infused her blood, and an ache to be with them, to feel that connection, started to develop. It was something that was growing by the day. There were

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times when she was alone that she had to fight the need to hunt one of them up even for just a hug. Her worries dissolved the moment she felt Shane’s teeth tug on her earlobe. Heat filtered through her blood, chasing away the chill from being outside. Instantly, her nipples tightened, her body already starting to prepare her for their lovemaking. Rand stepped in front of her. His lips quirked as he looked down at her. His face was so familiar, yet so new to her. Each time they made love together each of the cousins looked a little different, a little more feral. “I love to touch it. You might not be able to tan, but I’ll take this silky skin any day.” He cupped her face, brushing his thumbs over her cheeks. She shivered as Shane’s mouth moved over her neck, his teeth grazing her pulse point. Rand bent his head and took her mouth in a hot kiss. His tongue delved in, sliding along hers. Delicious, it was the only thing she could think of. The only word that came to mind. They’d turned her into a glutton. Rand pulled away before she was ready and she moaned in irritation. Rand chuckled, causing his breath to feather over her skin. “That’s a sound I like to hear.” “You don’t think we want to build the anticipation, honey?” Shane asked. She could hear the amusement in his voice. Eve wanted to cuss at the same time she wanted to laugh. All of them were really good at teasing, but Shane was an expert. Her pussy lips were already damp with her need for both of them. Her inner muscles clenched at the thought of having both of them inside her. She loved being conquered, taken. “Just so you know, I’m not going to be that patient.” Shane’s chuckle slipped down her spine and added another level of heat to the building inferno. “You’ll be just what we want,” he said.

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Eve should have objected to the arrogance in his tone but there was a part of her who loved it, reveled in it. Rand took her hands in his and tugged her through the door and into the family room. There was a fire roaring, the room warm and inviting. As they made their way to the couch, Rand stripped her shirt off her and then started devouring her mouth again. Shane shimmied her pants and panties down. She was hot, burning up with need for both men. When would it end? Would it end? Eve always thought something would give. That they would grow bored with her, or she would somehow think that this was a bad thing. Rand fell back onto the couch with a laugh, pulling her with him. She smiled at the joyous sound, the way they made her feel alive. She had never felt so alive as the time she had spent with all the Dillon men. He kissed a path down her neck to her breasts, latching his mouth onto her nipple. She moaned when she felt his teeth graze the tip. The simple touch shot straight to her pussy. Shane kneeled behind her, his mouth moving down her spine. He bit then kissed each of her cheeks then slipped his tongue between her legs. He licked her slit, slowly, leisurely, sliding his tongue into her cunt. She moaned again, unable to keep the sound from escaping. Eve bit her lip, trying to hold back another moan. Shane wasn’t playing fair of course. In and out he moved his tongue, the slippery movement all but driving her absolutely insane. Rand cupped her face and bent her head to look at him. “Don’t. Don’t hide your pleasure. Let us know how we make you feel. It adds to our own enjoyment.” In that next instant, Shane touched her clit with his tongue. She shivered, feeling the first wave of a possible orgasm hit her. But, he pulled away, causing her to growl. He laughed. “I like that, hun.” She felt his bare skin against her legs, knew that he had already gotten rid of his clothes. His skin was warm, the scent of him

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surrounding her. She wanted nothing more than to live that moment forever. When she was like this with any of the Dillons, they made her feel real, safe, whole. He rose off the couch, and Rand was moving her so he could undo his pants. His cock sprang free, already wet with his pre-cum, waiting for her. Everything in her throbbed, needed, wanted these two men. It was madness, something that she should be better at controlling, but she wasn’t. They touched her, and she melted. Shane wrapped his hand around his cock and stroked it. The head was engorged and she wanted nothing more than to slip it into her mouth. Rand started working his cock into her. Then, he groaned her name. She closed her eyes, enjoying the full feeling, the connection to him. “Damn, you’re so fucking wet, baby. You still fit me like a glove.” She started moving as Shane moved closer, holding his cock out for her to taste. She eagerly took it in her mouth, enjoying the taste of him. Salty, primal, she loved giving oral sex to each of the Dillons. There was something so…primitive in the act. He thrust into her mouth, his cock bumping the back of her throat as his brother took her hips and started thrusting up into her. She could barely think, other than gaining pleasure and giving it. She added her hand, stroking him as he took him in her mouth. He tangled his fingers in her hair, thrusting hard, so hard he gagged her a few times, but she didn’t care. Rand’s thrusts increased in speed and strength. His fingers dug into her skin and she was sure it would leave marks. She didn’t care. Having the brothers using her, getting their enjoyment from her added another level to the lovemaking. Being taken so completely always added that extra element. Shane pulled out of her mouth and held his cock up. “Suck my balls,” he ordered. She bent her head and did as he ordered. She breathed in his scent, the musky, sensual scent, and sighed. She kissed her way down his cock, enjoying the way it

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twitched with each brush of her mouth. When she reached his balls and licked them, he groaned loud and long. “Yeah, that’s it, suck them.” She slid her tongue over his sensitive flesh and he twitched again. She didn’t even try and hide the smile. She pulled the flesh between her lips, enjoying the shudder that ran through him as she did. While she sometimes felt as if they were in charge, she knew she had some power over them. They were as sexually susceptible to her as she was to them. She worked her way up his cock, nipping and licking it as she went. When she reached the tip again, she hummed at the salty sweet taste of him. Soon though, he pulled away with a curse and was climbing behind her. Rand stilled, and she felt Shane’s cock at her back entrance. Slowly, he entered her, each inch until he filled her completely. She shivered in pleasure. Then, the brothers started thrusting into her in rhythm. She felt her arousal start to climb again. Her body throbbed, and amazingly she felt another orgasm approaching. Rand slipped his hand down her torso and pressed against her clit, sending her flying over the edge. “Oh, God,” she screamed as she came again as shudders racked her entire being. She felt wrung dry and ready to collapse, but the brothers weren’t done. They continued to thrust in and out of her, sending her over the edge again and again. Each orgasm took her higher, pulled more from her, until she was mindless to everything but the pleasure they were giving her. As she tipped over into another free fall, Rand joined her, pumping into her furiously. A moment later, Shane followed, his shout of ecstasy echoing through the room. By the time they were done, she was limp, barely able to move. She barely noticed when Shane pulled out of her and pulled a cover over her. She rested her head on Rand’s chest. Shane brushed her hair out of her face. “You need some rest, honey.” She sighed. “I need to do some work.”

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“I’ll make sure she takes a nap. Hell, I might just have to join her,” Rand said, and she heard the smile in his voice. She felt the brush of lips on her cheek and then she drifted to sleep. **** Marianna looked out over the freshly fallen snow and sighed. Things were getting out of control. “I heard that, mother.” She looked at her youngest son and tried to hide her disappointment. He really had not lived up to the potential she had hoped for. He tried, but he would never be a Dillon. “I am just feeling a little ennui right now.” He nodded, his gaze taking her in from head to foot. He had been looking at her a lot that way lately. As if he was worried what she would do to him. She was not the killer. “You need to leave this to me. You shouldn’t get your hands dirty.” She nodded. Even if he failed her and could never live up to the Dillon standards, her boy was definitely dedicated to her. “I will, baby, I’ll let you take care of it. Just make sure that the woman doesn’t get hurt.” He gave her a frown, and she knew why. “It is just that Shane is so entranced by her. I would hate for him to be hurt.” “Of course, I do, too. We wouldn’t want anything to upset Shane Dillon.” He turned away, and she wanted to call out to him. But she couldn’t. The anger in her son was boiling beneath the surface. She knew soon there would be a fight, and she wasn’t capable of handling confrontation.

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With a sigh, she looked out the window again. Soon, her son would take over the pack, and she would return to her rightful place. Until then, she would dream of the end.

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Chapter Two Shane came awake with a start, his heart beating so hard he was amazed it didn’t burst out of his chest. Terror raced through his blood, causing his throat to clench as he tried to pull in a breath. He looked to his left and found Eve cuddled up against him and breathed a sigh of relief. Needing some space between the nightmare and real life, he slipped out of bed and headed for the bathroom. He closed the door, trying to be as quiet as possible, then turned on the light. The harsh overhead glare showed the havoc the nightmares were having on him. Being part wolf, all of them tended to handle stress well when it came to their appearances. But, when the dreams he had fought as a child returned, he started losing sleep. Noah had noticed, that much Shane was sure of. He was the only one other than his father he had told. His cousin said nothing. They were worse now. The memory of the time he’d spent away from the pack was bad enough. The torments of his biological mother had been beyond anything he could deal with as a child. As he had grown, he’d pushed it aside and moved on. Now, though, Eve was in his dreams. The horror of the few months he’d spent in Anchorage was now intertwined with Eve. He shook it off, or tried. He could still hear Eve screaming from his dream. He didn’t think he would ever be able to get that out of his head, ever. It had been too real, too much like the real Eve. Still, he had to move on. They needed to find out what the fuck was going on right now, and getting caught up in his memories would just cause more stress.

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After shaving and dressing, he gave Eve a kiss and headed out to the kitchen. He could smell the bacon, and his stomach grumbled. Eve had definitely been good for his appetite. He stepped into the kitchen and frowned when he found Vic Redfoot there talking to Noah. “About time you got out of bed, Shane,” Noah said with a smirk. He shrugged and headed to the coffeepot. “I don’t go on shift for three hours.” He sipped at the hot brew, enjoying the jolt to his system. “What the hell is he doing here?” he asked, nodding in Redfoot’s direction. He didn’t have anything against the Great Bear, but he had started getting more territorial where Eve was concerned. “He’s giving a report on a few more wolves he found.” “And I can answer direct questions,” Redfoot said. “I’ve been doing it for years.” “Do you have any idea what the hell is going on?” Noah asked Redfoot. “Everything has been quiet for two weeks now since the last incident.” Shane hated the way Noah said the word “incident.” The killing of their uncle wasn’t incident. It was so cold, but Shane understood. As Alpha, Noah had to compartmentalize his life. He couldn’t allow his feelings to get in the way of running the pack and keeping them safe. It still bugged him. Their Uncle Mike had been more of a father than an uncle and definitely a friend as they grew older. There were some things he couldn’t tell his own parents, but he didn’t hesitate to talk to Mike. He rubbed his chest, trying to will away the ache that had been there for two months. It did no good. It didn’t help that he got a sympathetic look from Redfoot. “No. But, it bothered Gabe enough to contact me.” Shane snorted. “If your cousin came out of his isolation, it means a lot.”

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Redfoot smiled. “I knew it was something important when he showed up at my house in the dead of night. Of course, the lady I had over for the evening wasn’t as understanding as I was.” “Let me guess, a nonshifter and Gabe showed up in full bear.” Redfoot chuckled. “You know him well.” “On to the wolves…” Noah interrupted. Redfoot sobered. “Same as before but a little more violent. I don’t understand it myself, but it just makes my skin crawl. More blood, more…just more.” “So, not the oil company,” Shane said. Noah shook his head. “If it was, then he’s gotten a taste for it. I don’t see the companies condoning this. They definitely are shifty, and I wouldn’t put it above them to kill a few wolves, but I think it is more personal now.” “I have to agree with you,” Redfoot said. “It’s sick. It’s beyond sick. This looked like he spent time with them, and that just makes me want to throw up.” “What’s going on?” Eve asked from the doorway. All three of them turned their attention to their mate. Redfoot smiled appreciatively at Eve, his gaze taking in the tight-fitting, long-sleeved shirt and yoga pants she wore. Shane had to fight back a growl that rumbled in his chest. Redfoot’s lips twitched even if he didn’t look in Shane’s direction. “Good morning, Eve. You’re looking fine this morning,” Redfoot said, taking her hand in his and raising it to his lips. “I have a feeling it isn’t such a good morning if you’re here this early.” His smile faded, and he patted her hand before drawing away. “Yeah, it isn’t that great. I found some wolves.” She sighed as she headed over to the coffeepot. “I thought maybe after Mike the person had left.”

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She was doctoring her coffee with her back to them, and Shane saw Redfoot and his cousin share a look. “What do you mean?” Noah asked. “What?” she asked as she turned around and leaned against the counter. “You emphasized ‘person.’” “Oh, hmm, I wondered about a wolf or even a shifter who would do something like this. It seems so wrong, you know what I mean?” Shane cocked his head to the side, studying her. “What do you mean by that?” “You’re half wolf, yes?” He nodded. “Most wolves don’t attack unless they are hungry or feel threatened. They aren’t plotting to take over the world. So, I couldn’t see one of your kind doing this. Just seems wrong.” Noah grumbled. “I wish you were right, but there is also the other side of the coin. We are predatory, and a person with the wrong kind of mind, they could go the other direction. So it could very well be a wolf.” She frowned. “I just don’t see it, but then I don’t know your kind very well.” Noah laughed. “I promise to let you use me as a research tool later if you’re still wanting to learn more.” Her face turned a delightful shade of red. “Stop that.” Redfoot set his coffee on the counter and nodded toward Shane, then said to Noah, “I have to get back. Everyone is on edge because of the killings, and it doesn’t do any good that Gabe is still there.” “Your cousin stayed?” He sighed. “Yeah, and he has the manners of a fucking goat. He has irritated not only family members but also the Choctaw Pride.” “How did he do that?” “He accused them of planning this, then took it back saying they were too stupid and lazy.”

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Noah and Shane chuckled as Eve looked at them. “Am I missing something here?” “The snow leopards. They are a bit lazy.” “Yeah, they let us do most of the patrolling, but they don’t mind bitching if things aren’t done the way they want them to be done,” Redfoot said. “I’ll call if I hear anything else.” “I’ll walk you out,” Noah said. As soon as they were alone, Shane realized that the bacon was sitting there ready to be eaten. “Hungry?” Eve nodded. They filled a couple of plates with biscuits and bacon and sat down to breakfast together. “What are you up to today?” “Evan and I are going to go over some of the new data. I also think I need to talk to Rand. We might need to do some flybys with the helicopter to make sure there aren’t any wolves out there.” “I bet Noah already has that in place.” She nodded. “I know that we should have a break in the weather soon, right?” “Yeah, but then, we sometimes get the late spring blizzard.” She chewed a little bit of biscuit and Shane could tell from her expression that she was thinking. “I think we need to get out more.” “I think that maybe you need to rethink that,” Noah said from the doorway. His frown told Shane it would take a lot to convince Noah differently. But of course, Eve paid no attention. She rolled her eyes. “I would go out with several of you, but Evan and I probably need to do some counting of the wolves. There is a good chance some of them are missing.” He could tell that Noah wanted to argue, but Shane shook his head silently, warning him not to argue with her. One thing about Eve, just like every other Alpha mate, she had her own mind, and if you went against her, it was harder to get her to change her mind.

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“I’ll talk it over with Evan and Rand. We’re supposed to get another dumping of snow tomorrow night, or that’s the forecast right now.” She finished off her meal then offered them her usual sunny smile. “I guess I should get to the lab.” She gave them both kisses then hurried out the door with a fresh cup of coffee. “You think we should let her traipse around?” Noah asked. “No. But, you need to offer her something else in the running. She’s a doer. She needs to have something to do. You taking the helicopter out?” He nodded. “I suggest you take her with you. It will make her feel more a part of the operation of keeping us safe. We can’t let her run around out there, but we can definitely give her that at least.” Noah studied him for a moment, then said, “You always understand her better than the rest of us.” He shrugged as he took his own plate to the sink. “I don’t think she’s that tough to understand. She’s never been part of a real family.” “She has a family.” Shane shook his head. “That’s not a family.” “What do you mean?” “She’s been practically living with us for how long? Can you imagine going that long without hearing from our mothers? She hasn’t talked to them since she moved in here. At first I thought it was because she was a little embarrassed with the situation, and she still might be, but it’s odd. Wouldn’t you at least check on your daughter living by herself? She has a cell, but they never seem to contact her. I also have a feeling they viewed her as more of a project than a daughter.” Noah nodded as he frowned. “It’s always amazed me that she’s so loving. You would think that a girl raised in a family like that would be unwilling to give so much of herself.”

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Because Shane understood, because he had lived it, he shook his head. “She soaks it up because she needs it. She needs to be accepted, to be loved.” Noah smiled then started laughing. “That makes her the perfect mate for us.” **** Eve sighed and shifted in her seat. Since she had arrived in the lab, she hadn’t been able to settle. There was something eating at her stomach but she couldn’t put her finger on it. It had to be big to interrupt her research. She usually loved doing this. And she still did, but there was something else bothering her. “What’s going on in your head?” She turned and smiled at Ethan, who was researching on another computer. “I do. It’s just something is bothering me.” He rose from his seat and walked to her. “What?” She sighed. “Can you tell me more about Shane? I mean, he’s part of you, but I have a feeling that he keeps himself separate from the rest of you.” Ethan cocked his head and studied her. They all did that. It was such a wolf-like expression that she always had to fight a laugh. She had spent her life enthralled by wolves and knew just about everything there was to know about them. It wasn’t hard to see why she kept falling for the Dillons one by one. “You are ever observant. Shane is the oldest. He doesn’t share the same mother as his brothers.” “Oh.” That was odd. “He called Jen his mother…” She trailed off when she saw Ethan’s irritated expression. “Jen is his mother. Not biologically, but in all ways that count.” She was astounded. “Was his biological mother a wolf?”

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Evan nodded, something that could have been disgust darkened his gaze. “She was…off. Burt married her because she got pregnant with Shane. He thought he was doing the right thing, but after Shane was born, she went a little off her rocker. She was supposed to attend Mike’s wife at her birth.” “And she didn’t show?” Evan shook his head. “No. She’s a registered nurse, so she could have helped. There was a feeling she disappeared on purpose.” “And no one has heard from her since?” He shook his head again. “I can’t believe she just left her son behind.” “She didn’t. She took Shane with her.” That took her aback. “I had no idea he was raised separately.” “It was only a couple of years. Burt spent a fortune searching for him. Finally, he found him in Anchorage. She’d left him, just left him, then later was reported missing and presumed dead. He was living in a foster home when Burt got to him.” The thought of a little miniature Shane being left to fend for himself made her heart hurt. How could people hurt innocent children like that? Ethan was watching her closely, but said nothing. “How bad was it?” she asked afraid of the answer. “Pretty bad. She’d not always been right in the head like I said, and there were some signs of physical abuse and of course neglect.” She frowned. “Everyone in your family seems so grounded.” “We are. Okay, so we are a little strange because of the whole wolf thing.” She laughed. “Yeah.” “But, that does ground you. Part of the problem with modern society is that everyone gets so far away from what is important. Since we are part of nature, part of the natural cycle, we can respect it.” His fervent words struck a chord in her. She had always felt like a fish out of water. From the time she was born, she never fit in. Not

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with her parents, not with her classmates or colleagues. Sadly, she was an outcast even in her own family. “Don’t look so sad.” She glanced up at Ethan. “No, not sad. I was just realizing how much I fit here. I never really felt at home before. But here in Passion, I feel like I belong.” “Of course, we wanted you to feel that way.” She shook her head, realizing she wasn’t truly getting her point across. “No. It’s more than that. It’s as if my interest in wolves brought me here. All my life, I have been fascinated with them, their habits, their lives. Now that I am here, I can’t imagine what I’m going to do once my grant money runs out.” Now something close to panic moved over his face, but he quickly changed his expression and smiled. “I think we can worry about that later. I can smell Rand’s venison stew. How about we grab a couple bowls and take a break?” She wanted to ask more, wanted to know what had scared him so much, but she knew from his look he would not discuss it. And truthfully, she didn’t want to worry about it right now. For the first time ever she was living in the moment. If she had a niggling worry that something was wrong, she could ignore it. She just hoped she didn’t regret it in the end. **** The smell of death sunk into his soul. It was his partner, his lover, his one and only thing he lived for. He had started this at the request of his mother, had understood it was a fool’s errand. But now, he relished it. Something about killing called to him. He held the wolf as it died, enjoyed the way his body spasmed as life slipped out of him. With a toss of his wrist, he flung the wolf aside and looked around. Blood stained the snow, his clothes, and he smiled.

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Something close to ecstasy filled his body. The need to hunt, the need to kill, the need to watch the death filled him with power. He couldn’t wait until he could kill again.

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Chapter Three Shane fought against the need to run. They only ran in packs now for protection, but the need was there, boiling under his skin. He had forgone it last night to be with Eve, but he knew that had been a mistake now. It was part of their DNA, the need to run free, to escape the structures of their human forms and take part in a ritual as old as Denali. “Feeling cooped up?” He turned and found his mother smiling at him. “I didn’t know you were coming over today.” She rolled her eyes. “I wanted to stay home, but your father insisted. He’s going in with your uncle to Anchorage for supplies. I wanted to go over to Cherise’s, but he told me no.” He knew that tone. His mother did not like losing an argument and he could just imagine his father had pulled something out of his hat to get her to stay. “What?” he asked. “Your father thought you would need to talk to me.” He shook his head. “No. Why would he think that?” Because she had been the mother he had always dreamed of, he couldn’t look her in the eye when he lied to her. “You’re not having problems with Eve are you?” He shook his head, trying to fight the smile but failing. She rolled her eyes again. “I’m not talking about sex.” He sighed. “I know with our genetics sex is normal and not looked down upon, but I really don’t like talking to you about it. There is something wrong about it.”

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She chuckled. “All of you boys are the same. You don’t mind strutting around and letting everyone know you have a mate, but when it comes to talking about intimacy, you freak out.” Shane shook his head even though it was partly true. “You’re my mom. It’s not right.” Her gaze softened as it always did when he called her mom. Worse, her eyes shimmered with tears. While it made him uncomfortable, it warmed his heart. She might not have been his mother by birth, but she would be his choice until the day he died. She leaned up and brushed her lips over his cheek. “All of you think you don’t need your mamas. Fine, but when you do, come find me, Shane. You’ll never be so old that I can’t help you.” She turned away and headed back into the house. Rand was waiting at the door. She paused, saying something to him that made him laugh, and he jogged down to greet Shane. “She’s becoming more meddlesome by the day.” Rand shook his head. “No, she just backed off the last few years while we were waiting to find Eve.” That was true. Both Cherise and their mother were wonderful women, but they did like to meddle, until a few years ago. There was a growing feeling that their mate was nearing and everyone had waited. But, Shane had a feeling they might not have much longer to worry about that. Soon, there would be talk of babies. “She hasn’t been talking to Eve about the future, has she?” Rand shook his head and looked out over the horizon. “I think they’re waiting. Why?” “Cherise read Noah the riot act about leaving her in the dark. She thinks Eve needs to know her true position with the family.” Rand shrugged. “Not that she has much of a choice. Just being associated with us has changed her a bit.” He glanced at his brother. “What do you mean?” “Her senses are heightened. I expected it, and so did Ethan.”

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He had felt that. “That would make sense, but I didn’t think it would be that fast.” “It is. Her hearing is increasing as is her sense of smell. I noticed it today when we were out.” “You were out? What the hell were you all thinking?” “We took her up in the plane. She thought it was a good idea to go out looking for more wolves, but it would be easier to see the inaccessible parts of the preserve from the air. Noah was already planning on doing it, so we brought her along.” “Anything?” “No. But, I think there is. I just think we haven’t found it yet.” “Redfoot didn’t come back, did he?” Rand chuckled. “No, but there have been some complaints about Gabe. That bear has the personality of a…bear.” He chuckled himself, feeling lighter for a moment. “I really can’t believe the crazy bastard came down off his hill. It has to have been about five years since I’ve seen him.” “Yeah, and I am glad to see him. There was some speculation that it was him.” Anger shifted through him. Shane knew the killer had some connection to him, but he had no doubt about Gabe. “Who the hell said that?” “Some of the locals. You know, he’s kind of a legend. Sort of like Bigfoot.” Shane shook his head even as he recognized a familiar scent of their mate. From Rand’s look, he did, too. “Shit, don’t let him hear you call him that.” “Call who what?” Eve said from behind them. He turned to her and smiled. He couldn’t help it. Whenever he saw her, his heart just turned over and fell at her feet. “Gabe Redfoot. He’s a bit of a recluse. He really hates being called Bigfoot, though.”

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“Redfoot?” Her brow crinkled as she thought, and he couldn’t help the little jolt of arousal that slipped through him at the look. Jesus, there was definitely something wrong with him if he was getting hot because of the way Eve looked when she was thinking. “Oh, oh, yes, one of the Redfoots, so a bear?” He nodded. “Unlike the rest of his cousins, he’s always been a loner.” “I thought they were social animals.” He cocked his head to one side. “Do you see us all that way?” For a second she didn’t say anything. Then she flushed red. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean it. My background…” She trailed off and her face turned even brighter. God, she was cute when she was embarrassed. “You see us as animals, to be studied.” She shook her head, and her face turned an even brighter shade of red. “No. I mean, yes. I mean, okay, see, I see everyone as animals. It has nothing to do with your DNA. It has to do with that I am as much of an animal as you or the bears.” “Or the Choctaw Pride.” “Pride?” “Snow leopards. You haven’t met any of them yet,” Shane said. “When can I meet them?” she asked. “Not sure.” Never if he had anything to say about it. She gave him a smile. “That didn’t sound very promising.” Jesus, the woman was too perceptive for her own good. “They’re sneaky. I don’t trust them.” It was her turn to cock her head and watch him as he had done to her. “So, what, you think they’re going to be overcome with lust for me.” She rolled her eyes. “I think they’ll be able to control themselves.” “I’m not so sure about that.” She laughed. “Come on in. Lunch is ready.”

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**** Three nights later, Shane put his plan into action. She needed romance, and if no one else was going to do it, he would be the man who did it. “You need to get ready.” She stopped what she was doing, concern immediately darkening her eyes. “Did anything happen?” He should have thought of that. Damn, he hated that the first thing she would think of was something horrible happening. “No. I thought maybe we could go out tonight.” She frowned. “Out?” He nodded. “I thought we could head over to Gentry’s, get a bite to eat. They have a band tonight, do some dancing.” She flushed. “That’s okay.” Her reaction confused him. “You don’t want to be seen out with me?” She snorted. “Yeah, right.” “Then what?” “Well, I just thought we could stay in tonight.” She busied herself with closing down the computer. Her shoulders had gone rigid, her expression tight. What the hell was up with that? “I want to take you out. Alone.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “I said you don’t have to do that.” Irritation and disbelief filled him. Why were women such a trial? “But I want to, damn it.” She sighed. Her shoulders slumped, and she stood up to face him. “I can’t dance.” Whatever he was expecting, he wasn’t expecting that. “What?”

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“I can’t dance, okay. I’ve never had much rhythm or coordination, and dancing is hard for me to do.” She brushed past him and walked into the house. He needed to keep her from doing that. If she ran into one of them, they would come up with something else to do. Granted, Shane usually didn’t mind doing that, but in this case, he knew what she needed and he wanted to be the one to give it to her. He grabbed her hand and gently tugged her back to him. He leaned against one of the counters and pulled her closer to him. Her face was so bright he was amazed she didn’t go up in flames. “You think you can’t dance?” She shrugged and kept looking at his chest. “Didn’t you ever…” Of course she didn’t. The woman had never been to high school, never had the normal upbringing most kids did. She didn’t get to go to school dances or proms. He sighed. “You can’t tell me you don’t know how to dance with the way you move in bed.” “All you wolves think of nothing else but sex, but that isn’t the indicator for everything.” He chuckled. “Of course it’s all we think of. It’s part of our DNA.” “Well, either way, I am not going dancing.” She said it with so much conviction, he might have believed her. But, he also heard something else, something that told him they had been bad about ignoring a part of something with her. Romance. “Too bad.” She opened her mouth, and he shook his head. “No. We don’t have to dance, but we are going to eat.” “Just you and me?” He nodded. “Is there a reason for this?” she asked suspiciously. It struck him then that he had been right about this. Something told him to take her out on a date. They hadn’t really had to do much to capture her

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attention because of the situation. But now, he realized the mistake they’d made. “Yes, just me. I thought we could go on over and get a good juicy steak.” Her eyes did light up then. “That sounds good. Odd, but I had never been a really big red meat eater until the last few months.” He tried not to be irritated that she seemed more excited by the prospect of eating a steak rather than dancing with him. It was a normal reaction that she didn’t understand yet. All of her senses were increasing as was her change over to their way of life. She would need more red meat to carry their children. Just thinking about it brought the image of her round with their child to his mind. It struck him so hard in the chest that he had to rub it with his hand. Damn, he had never thought that much about having children, but now he was thinking of it constantly. He wanted that with her. “Shane?” He looked down at her. “Sorry. I was off in my own world.” She nodded. “Give me a few minutes to get ready. Just you and me, right?” It seemed important to her, and it had been his plan anyway. She needed some fun, to let loose, and he was just the man to do it in the family. He kissed her nose. “Yep.” The smile she gave him made his head spin and his body respond, but he ignored it. He needed to take her out and give her a little romance. “I’ll be ready in about ten minutes.” She rushed off, and he chuckled. He would make sure one way or another she would have the time of her life. ****

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Eve was slipping on her boots when Ethan came in Noah’s room. “What’s up?” She glanced up at him. His hair had a bit of snow in it, and his shirt was open, his jeans on but not buttoned up. He had just been out for a run. She smiled at him. “I’m going out with Shane.” He frowned. “Going out?” “Yeah.” “Why would you be doing that?” She shrugged. “It was Shane’s idea. Going into Gentry’s for a steak and some dancing. Well, I’m not dancing, but there’s a band tonight. Or Shane says.” He nodded and watched her as she pulled on a sweater over her thermal top. She laughed. “Sort of takes the romance out of the thing when you have to put on so many clothes.” “It won’t be long and you can go out without five layers.” “Well, and then I’ll be leaving.” She tried not to think about it. Didn’t. Ethan gave her strange look and shook his head. They all did that when she talked of leaving. Eve knew they were keeping something from her, but she wasn’t sure what it was. She walked past him, and he followed her down the hall. “So, just you and Shane. Did he clear this with Noah?” She shrugged. “I didn’t know we had to get permission slips.” Ethan chuckled. “Noah might have something to say about that.” She stepped into the family room as soon as he said it and found Noah talking with Shane. “What do I have something to talk about?” She couldn’t speak. All of the men were gorgeous, but tonight, Shane stood out. He had dressed for the occasion. He was wearing a black sweater, with a red shirt beneath it. His jeans were black and definitely a better pair than the normal raggedy jeans she usually saw him wear. Her mouth was dry, her body hot, and every bleeding

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thought had disappeared from her mind. Then, the next thought was, what the hell did I do to catch a man like that? Hell, men, if she included all the Dillon cousins. How she kept them all interested was beyond her. “I told Shane it was a good idea.” She sensed Ethan’s nod behind her as Shane continued to stare at her. There was something in his gaze that had her fighting off a squirming fit. He was looking at her so seriously she didn’t know what to make of it. Shane usually had a smile, a joke, something. But he just stood there staring at her. Then, he shook himself, and a small smile curved his lips. “Ready?” Again, her brain went blank, but this time, she had the sense to pull herself back to the real world before she embarrassed herself again. “You bet.” He held his hand out to her, and she walked the short distance and took it. “Be careful,” Noah said. “Of course, cuz. I’m always careful.” With that, he led her out through the mudroom to the SUV. He led her to the passenger door and then unplugged the battery before joining her in the vehicle. He started the engine and turned to her with one of those wicked smiles he always gave her. “I hope you’re ready for some fun, Eve.” His flirting was infectious as always, and she smiled back him. “I just hope you can keep up.” He laughed and then put the car in drive and headed off into the night. ****

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“You sure that was a good idea?” Noah looked at his brother, knowing there was no jealousy involved. He also didn’t doubt their cousin’s ability. The last few months had kept them all on edge. “Yeah. He asked to take her, and there was something in the way he talked that told me he’s been thinking about this for a long time.” Ethan frowned. “Really? I didn’t think Shane planned that far ahead.” Noah chuckled as he headed into the kitchen. “That’s why I thought it might be important.” Ethan followed him as he expected. “What do you mean? That Eve’s important? She’s been important to every one of us since we met her.” Noah nodded after pouring himself a cup of coffee. He had the watch tonight, and he wanted to make sure to get in some time to check out Gentry’s area. “Yeah, but this was different. I think our cuz is taking the plunge when it comes to Eve.” Ethan snorted. “You think that Shane, the randiest of the group, is going to fall for her?” “We are all going to fall for her in our own way. Hell, we’re all in love with her, just different degrees. I just think that Shane’s ready to take the chance now to get closer to her.” Ethan shook his head, and he knew his scientific brother was trying to sort it all out. “What are you talking about?” “As I said, we all love her, but each of us will be tested in that. Just as you were, as I was. Now, it’s Shane’s turn.” “You think there will be problems?” Noah chuckled. “Of course. There always is when trying to court a mate. And we have all done it in our own way. But, Shane, he doesn’t feel as if he has as much of a right to her as the rest of us. Because of his biological mother.”

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Ethan nodded. “So, he’s decided she needs some romance,” Noah said with a shrug. “It’s just his way of starting to court her, and I have a feeling he’s right. We really haven’t done enough romancing with Eve.” “Just as long as there aren’t any problems tonight,” Ethan said. “There won’t be,” Noah promised. He would make damned sure of it.

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Chapter Four Eve smiled at Shane as he finished off the biggest steak she’d ever seen a person eat. That was saying a lot after she had spent the last several months getting to know the Dillons. They all had huge appetites for everything, food and sex mainly. “Damn, that was good. We need to build some kind of indoor grill so we can have regularly grilled steak. I miss it with our long winters.” “Are you sure you don’t need more,” she said with a laugh. He answered her with a smile. “I think we should celebrate, so we need some chocolate cake. Unfortunately, they don’t have any homemade ice cream.” She felt her face flush again. How was he getting her to blush like a schoolgirl so much today? He was always naughty, always flirty, but there was a different tone in his voice. And, all the Dillons knew about her love of ice cream. They always had a fresh batch whenever she needed it. He scooted closer as she shook her head. “I’m not sure I can eat another bite. Or if I should.” “No, you have to eat the chocolate cake here. It’s chocolate sheet cake, the kind with the dark chocolate icing, and they put these pecans in it…it’s a religious experience.” “I don’t know how all of you keep your weight down with the way you eat.” “Metabolism. It’s one of the great things in our species. We don’t eat as much during the summer—we don’t need the energy—but in the winter, we have to keep ourselves up and going.” He wiggled his

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eyebrows, and she laughed. She couldn’t help it. All of them were incorrigible, but Shane was the worst in the lot. “I like that sound,” he said, his voice warming even more. His gaze was taking in everything about her. “What?” she asked. “Your laugh. It’s lighter than it used to be when you first got here.” She sighed and looked out over the room, but he slipped his finger under her chin and turned her back to face him. “Don’t do that. Don’t look so sad. I just can’t take it.” “I’m sorry. I just think about the person I was when I got here, and she’s so different. I…” “What?” he asked when she didn’t continue. “I don’t want to go back to her. She was so unhappy with herself, her life…I worry that when I leave, I’ll lose what I’ve become.” He brushed his mouth over hers, lightly. The gesture was so sweet that she felt tears burning the backs of her eyes. “You weren’t made here, Eve.” She shook her head, knowing he didn’t understand. None of them would seriously. But, she didn’t have the words to explain it even if they would. “Yes, I’m right. You would not have become the woman you are with us if she hadn’t been lurking inside.” “I don’t think so.” He nodded. “Yes, she was. You’re brave, smart, and sexy as hell.” “I might be smart, but I am not what anyone would call brave.” “I’ll let it go that you didn’t agree with my assessment of your sexiness, but what makes you think you’re not brave?” “I’ve never done anything out of the ordinary. Other than my relationship with you and your brothers and cousins, I have led a very boring and mundane life. I did what I was always told by my parents, what was expected of me.”

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And it hurt to think that although she had done that, she would never gain their love. It hurt her deep inside. “You took this grant. I have a feeling your parents didn’t want you taking it, am I right?” She nodded. “So you went against their wishes.” And they had barely noticed. It was if they would never accept that she was an individual. They had been mad, but in the end, it had been more a disappointment to them than anything else. “You are brave, Eve. Accept it.” He looked so earnest, she didn’t have the heart to tell him no. And the idea that he, along with his brothers and two cousins, believed in her made her insides melt. “Okay, I am.” He gave her a quick hard kiss. “Busy tonight, Dillon?” She looked up and found both the Redfoots standing at their table. God, they were gorgeous. If women knew the amount of beautiful men running around the Passion reserve, they would definitely invest in some long underwear and make a run for the Alaskan border. “Didn’t it look like I was busy? Go away.” He tried to kiss her again, but she could tell from Vic’s expression that they needed to talk. “I need a second.” He tightened his hold on her, but she shook her head and leaned closer. “I need to go to the bathroom, Shane.” He relaxed his hold and kissed her forehead. “Be careful.” She rolled her eyes and slipped out of the booth. “Play nice, boys.” Both of the Redfoots nodded as she hurried to the bathroom. She just hoped whatever they needed with Shane wasn’t bad enough to end the night. ****

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“Please tell me you weren’t doing that to fuck with me, because then I would have to kick your asses.” Vic smiled as he pulled up a chair and sat down. His brother slipped into the booth. “No, we wanted you to know that Michael has done some searching around our grounds. He detected something, some kind of scent that was wrong.” “Let me guess. It smells like bear but has an underlying scent of wolf?” He nodded. “I thought Ethan had said that. Do you think it could be one of your pack?” Shane shook his head. “I don’t think so, but Noah would be better to ask about things like that. He knows the pack’s leaders better than I do. I try to keep away from that shit as much as possible. You shouldn’t have stopped by there tonight.” Vic shook his head. “We wanted to get out. It’s the first night we haven’t had some kind of bad weather in a week and both of us were ready to crawl the walls. Gabe is also talking to a shifter at the FBI who says that our guy might be a psycho.” “He went outside of the preserve? I don’t know if Noah will like that.” Vic shook his head. “No. She’s a leopard. Well, a mutt. As they call them,” he said with disgust. Of all the shifters, the leopards were the worst about pedigree. They did not like anyone muddying their waters. He understood it to a point. They had the least amount of power, mainly because of their size. So, they liked to make it up in numbers. Someone who went outside their pride for a mate was considered lower on the totem pole. “She’s in DC?” “No, she works out of the Seattle office. She sent Gabe a good rundown of the psychosis.”

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“Are you all going to join us in some dessert?” Eve asked. His heart turned over at the sound of her voice. “No. We’re here because the band could make it in. Although, I would appreciate it if you would save a dance for me,” Vic said with a smile. Shane was trying hard not to smack the damned bear upside the head, but Eve shook her head. “I don’t dance.” He wanted to tell her she would tonight, but he wanted to get rid of the Redfoots first. “Don’t you two have something to do?” Vic gave him a grin, but he took the hint. They both stood, and Vic said to Eve, “You ever want a gentleman, you give us a call, Eve.” She was smiling when she slipped back into the booth. “You all are too easy. The Redfoots really like messing with you. Especially Vic.” It was true. Up until now though, he hadn’t felt the need to tear his old friend limb from limb. He shook himself out of his stupor and smiled at Eve. “I know you’re wrong about dancing. We are going to dance. Just like we’re going to eat this cake,” he said as the waitress set a huge cut of the sheet cake in front of them. There was only one fork and Eve frowned at him. “Aren’t you going to have any?” He smiled. “Yeah, we’ll share.” He cut off a piece and lifted it to her mouth. Her eyes widened. “Shane.” Her voice was embarrassed, but he ignored her. She needed this. He needed this. He needed to be the one to give it to her. “Open up, babe.” She did and hummed a little when she took the cake in her mouth. From the look of delight on her face, he hoped that they made it until the band started to play in twenty minutes. “You said you were going to have a piece.” He nodded and took a small piece for himself. But soon, he had another piece up to her mouth. She took it, closing her eyes as she

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hummed again. He drew in a deep breath and calmed his out of control libido. It was really his fault, because he knew that in the early days of mating that they would have issues with their control. She licked her mouth, rubbing her tongue over her plump lower lip. He groaned, and her lips curved. She looked like a cat that had just stolen the best cream. “You’re going to kill me, Eve.” “Hey, this was your idea. If I have to worry about the extra pounds, you’re just going to have to suffer a little bit.” He laughed and scooped up another bite for himself. “I never argue with a beautiful woman.” **** He watched Shane with the Dillon whore. He had to fight the urge to attack, to hurt. Everything in his told him to take her, take her and hurt her. That would do more than what he had been doing. Mother disagreed. He sipped his drink as he watched Shane pull her out onto the dance floor. The song was sweet and slow. The wolf pulled her into his arms and started swaying. He could scent their arousal all the way across the room. He was sure he wasn’t the only one, either. He glanced around and saw that several of the pack had noticed. He watched, mesmerized by the way their bodies seemed to melt into each other. Why couldn’t he have that? The stray thought caught him unawares. He didn’t want that. He didn’t know what he wanted. He had never had the ability to think for himself. As if on cue, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and wanted to scream when he saw his mother’s number. “Yes, mother.” “Are they there?” “Only Shane.”

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There was a pause. He knew she had a soft spot for Shane, although he didn’t understand why. Yes, she had a soft spot for Shane, but the truth of the matter was she hated all the rest of the Dillons. “He’s there with their mate?” Why did she insist on treating the woman as if she mattered? Why could his mother not see what a whore she was? “Yes.” “That sounds like his father. I assume they’re there on a date.” He nodded even as he knew that his mother could not see it. His gaze moved out to the dance floor to the couple again. It was easy to see that they were in lust with each other. Their bodies were melded together. He had watched them during dinner, the way they interacted, the way they behaved. She had been delighted by every little thing Dillon had done for her. What the hell was the matter with a woman who fell for such a dumb act? She was a slut, that’s what, he thought. “You follow them, but don’t do anything to the woman. Did you do that other thing?” He sighed, his body already hungering for another kill, another taste of blood and death. He could barely keep it under control when he was in public now. His mother had done this to him, turned him into such a creature. “I will.” “Good. You know just how to please your mother.” The seductive purr in her voice made him shudder with lust and disgust. He hung up the phone and thought again, she had made him what he was…and it disgusted him.

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Chapter Five Eve thought there was a good chance she would die from pleasure. Shane slid his hands up her naked body. It was just the two of them at the moment. Candles and the firelight were the only illumination in the room. The scent of the rose petals he’d thrown on the bed filled the air. His mouth moved over the sensitive flesh on her inner thigh. She sucked in a short, fast breath when she felt his teeth scrape against her skin. He chuckled. She could hear the utter delight in it. Frustrating her was something that he, along with all the Dillons, seemed to know exactly how to do. He kissed his way to her pussy. She felt his breath before he settled his mouth on her. He didn’t even hesitate. He slipped his hands under her rear and lifted her as he slid his tongue into her cunt. Heat speared through her blood as he pulled her clit between his teeth. She shivered, trying to reach the pinnacle. The need to find her release was more important than anything else in the world at the moment. Just as she felt herself shift closer to the edge, Shane pulled away. She growled in irritation, and he laughed. “I like that. You’re really starting to sound like one of us now,” he said, kissing his way up her belly, dipping his tongue into her belly button. Then, he moved on to her breasts, taking one hardened nipple into his mouth. A lick of his tongue, then the scrape of his teeth had her body shaking. He moved to her other breast as he teased and pinched the one he had just tasted. Soon, he was kissing his way up to her and devoured her mouth. She could taste herself on his lips as he plunged

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his tongue into her mouth. Her head was spinning and her heart beating so hard. He pulled himself up and rested his weight on his elbows. They were both breathing heavily. She felt his heart beating hard against her chest. She was at least happy he was as affected by the lovemaking as she was. He was smiling, but then it faded as he continued to look down at her. He was as affected as she was, that she knew. He leaned his head down slowly and kissed her then. Slow, easy, and wet. The sweetness of it had her heart just about stopping. Then, in that next instant, it fell. She had always been a little in love with every one of them, but this action, the whole night, had been something special. Shane rose to his knees, took her hips into his hands and entered her in one, hard thrust. She was prepared, but the force of the entry took her by surprise. She gasped. “Sorry,” he said. She wrapped her legs around his waist and slipped her hands around his neck. “Don’t be.” He laughed and started to move. Not deep or hard enough to satisfy. Each thrust of his cock pushed her just a little closer, but not enough to get her to come. She tried her best to urge him to push harder, but he chuckled. “I know what you’re doing, naughty Eve. You will lie there and wait. I want to take my time with you tonight. I want you begging.” The dark promise of his voice had her clenching her pussy muscles against him. He groaned but he didn’t allow her any passage. She wrapped her fingers around the slats in the headboard and arched against Shane. He leaned down and took one of her nipples into his mouth. Then, as he continued to thrust into her, he kissed her breast. Little pecks with a bit of tongue. It added to her aggravation but heightened her arousal. He continued, teasing her, pushing her just so close, but not allowing her to come.

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By the time he started to increase his thrusts, she was definitely begging. She didn’t even know what for, but he was there to give it to her. He thrust once, twice…then he pushed her over the edge. She exploded into a million pieces. Shane followed her a moment later, shouting her name as he came. He collapsed on top of her with a groan. “Shane.” “Shhh, I might be dead.” A laugh bubbled out of her, and he raised his head to look down at her. He brushed her hair away from her face then gave her another sweet kiss on her nose. “I love listening to you laugh. It is one of the best sounds in the world.” He rolled to his side and pulled her with him. “I think we should get to sleep in.” “And why is that?” “Just cuz.” She laughed again. “That sounds good to me.” She felt the brush of his lips against her temple as she drifted off to sleep. **** Hands were scratching at his skin and grabbing him, digging into his flesh. Pain soared through his body, and he fought. He fought so hard, but did no good. He might have cried, he might have screamed, or tried to. He felt the need crawl up his throat, but when he opened his mouth, nothing came out. Not one word. Again and again, the nails dug into his flesh, and he couldn’t make it stop. Blood dripped down his arms as he tried to fight. Panic slid through his body, fear had his heart slamming so hard against his chest he thought he would die.

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**** “Shane,” Eve said, her voice was filled with fear. Her hands were clutching him as she tried to shake him awake. He came up off the mattress, panting, his heart thundering against his chest. Sweat dripped down his back, his body still vibrating with the fear he’d felt in the nightmare. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him close. “You were thrashing about. I was worried that you were having a seizure.” “Must have had a nightmare,” he said. He brushed his lips against her temple and slid his arm around her waist. “Nothing that bad.” “Shane.” She pulled back from him and stared up at him as she took his face into her hands. “Are you sure you’re all right?” He nodded, hoping that she didn’t see the blush that was creeping over him right now. Shame filled him as he realized the weakness he showed by having another of the nightmares. It needed to stop, and it would only do so when he was man enough to make them. Damn it, he didn’t want to go down that spiral again. “Fine, just bad. Don’t even remember it,” he said, lying through his teeth. She opened her mouth, but he said, “Let it go, Eve. Not everything has an explanation.” Even in the darkness he could see the hurt he’d caused her, and he sighed. He needed to get away, do a run to work out the last remnants of the dream. As she dropped her hands and started to pull away, he grabbed her hands. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what it was, but it left me kind of pissy.” “You would tell me if it was something important, right?” He wouldn’t let it be, ever again. That part of his life was done and over with. He nodded. “I would, babe.” Something he couldn’t decipher moved over her face. He could tell she wasn’t convinced but with a sigh, she slipped down back on

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the mattress. He followed her, wanting nothing more than to pull her close and feel the warmth of her body next to his. But the moment he touched her he lost all of those intentions. He kissed her deep and long. Then there was a slant of light into the room. He pulled back and frowned. “Is everything okay in here?” Noah asked. “Yes,” Shane said as he watched his cousin walk into the room and then around the bed, settling on the mattress next to them. “Did you have fun tonight?” Noah asked Eve. Shane nuzzled her neck. “Yes,” Eve said. “Shane gave me a night to remember.” Shane leaned back as Noah reached out and brushed Eve’s red curls out of the way. Shane thumbed her nipple, happy to feel it already hard. “I think Shane and I can probably continue on that theme.” Noah leaned down and pressed his mouth against hers as Shane slipped down her body. Her skin was so damned soft and sweet. He needed to taste her passion, wanted to feel her come apart again. He settled between her legs. He smiled at her damp curls. He knew that it was fresh, that she wanted them even without understanding. It had his cock already throbbing. He pulled her pussy lips apart and sighed when he saw her glistening cunt. With a groan of pleasure, he pressed his mouth on her pussy. The first taste of her need had his arousal soaring to new heights. Sweet as a new strawberry in summer and as tempting as the most luscious chocolate. She moaned, but it was muffled. He looked up her body and saw his cousin slipping his cock into her mouth. “Yes, take me, Eve, take all of me. Damn. She has the sweetest mouth. She knows just how to suck you, doesn’t she,” Noah said as he moved in and out of her mouth. Noah palmed her breasts as Shane took her clit into his mouth.

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She moaned again, and he knew just what it was doing to his cousin. He knew the little vibrations she would cause, racing up and down his cock. He felt her orgasm approaching, but he heard Noah say, “Do not come unless I give you the right.” He pulled out of her mouth as Shane rose up. Noah directed him to replace him. Shane was ready to comply. He loved seeing Noah push Eve to her limits. No one knew how to push her buttons as well as Noah. He took his cock into his hand and tapped it against her lips. She swiped her tongue over the top of his cock. He felt the delicate touch all the way to the soles of his feet. “You’re being naughty, Eve,” Shane said. He looked at his cousin, who was watching the byplay. “She’s being a bad girl, Noah.” Noah nodded in his direction, and Shane pulled back. Noah turned her over and pulled her to her knees. Without waiting, Noah raised his hand up and smacked her hard on the ass. The sound was loud in the quiet room. It was an amazing aphrodisiac. Noah smacked her again, then said, “Turn over, Eve. Shane, you have some restraints, get them.” Noah’s tone told him he was ready to fuck her until she couldn’t move. But, ever the Dom, his cousin was ready to push her to her limits. Shane pulled the apparatus from beneath the mattress. It was something they had not used on her before, something he knew Noah had been saving. It buckled across the head and foot of the bed. Each of the straps had two cuffs, one for her wrists and another for her ankles. Her eyes widened as they belted to the bed. “Get her wrists, Shane,” Noah ordered as he took care of her ankles. When she was tied up, Noah smiled down at her with satisfaction. “Now, we get to make you pay for being so damned naughty.” He slid his hand down her belly to her pussy. Then, he slapped it. She gasped then groaned as Noah slipped his finger into her. The

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musky scent of her arousal was filling the room and Shane couldn’t help but lick his lips. “Such a sweet little cunt. Don’t you get hard just thinking about tasting it, Shane?” He nodded and watched as his cousin slapped her pussy again. He knew what it did to her. It would send little shivers of pleasure racing over her, making her cunt more sensitive. Noah bent his head and licked her then smacked his lips. “Taste her, cuz. Nothing like it. Oh, and remember, don’t come, Eve.” She made a sound that was half irritation and half pleasure. He was smiling as he settled between her legs. He said nothing as he slipped his tongue into her cunt. She was beyond wet. He teased over and over. She shifted her legs as much as she could. When he felt the telltale signs of an approaching orgasm, he pulled away. The cuss word that came out of her mouth had both he and Noah laughing. “What naughty talk,” Shane said, even as she seemed to vibrate. He knew she was so close she would probably come with no problem. Eve loved to be pushed to the edge. Noah moved to her legs, releasing them. He nodded toward Shane and he knew to move to her head. “Take Shane’s cock into your mouth.” She did as ordered, eagerly opening her mouth and taking him in. Shane leaned his head back and groaned as he sunk into the deep, warm, wet recesses of her mouth. He felt the back of her throat against the top of his penis. She stilled, and he opened his eyes. Noah was entering her, his hands on her hips as he started moving in and out of her. Shane slipped his hands into her hair and started moving again. She slipped her tongue over his cock, twirling it over the head. Damn, the woman was lethal with that tongue of hers. He could feel his orgasm approaching. Two more thrusts and he lost it. He held her head as he poured himself into her. She lapped it up, greedily.

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Noah pulled her legs up to his shoulders. His thrusts increased, the headboard slamming against the wall. Shane lay down beside her and kissed her. “Come now, Eve. Come,” Noah ordered. “Fuck!” She moaned against Shane’s mouth but he knew that she was frustrated. Her entire body seemed poised for release, but she had slipped into a state where she needed to come, more than her next breath, but she couldn’t. He raised his head and stared down at her. He brushed a few strands from her face. She opened her eyes and he said, “Come, Eve, come for me.” She continued to stare into his eyes as the first shivers of her orgasm shook her body. Then, she arched against Noah and moaned. It was one of the sexiest things he had ever seen. Watching Eve come, to give herself to pleasure, was beyond anything he had witnessed before. She sobbed out Shane’s name as she came, her body still arched, the perfect image of pleasure incarnate. Noah released her legs and slipped beside her, kissing away the tears on her cheeks. Then, as if knowing what was needed, he settled back and let Noah take her in his arms. He knew now the nightmares would be held at bay that night.

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Chapter Six The first thing Eve heard a few days later was the low murmur of men talking. She pulled herself out of the dream she was having and slowly opened her eyes. It was still dark, of course. The sunlight was staying around longer, but there was still more dark than light. “Where did they find them?” Shane asked. She could feel Noah moving out of the other side of the bed. “Just on the other side of the Choctaw Pride land. Same MO,” Ethan said. When she finally had gotten herself awake enough to sit up, all three of them were moving out of the room. “Hey, all of you stay right where you are.” She heard Noah mutter something under his breath. She slipped out of the bed and grabbed her robe. “What happened?” They all turned around and she could tell from their expressions, they were planning on lying. “Don’t even think about it. You can’t expect me to stay in the dark about stuff like this.” Noah frowned. “We weren’t going to keep you in the dark.” She settled her hands on her hips and glared at him. “And just what were you doing sneaking out of the room? And why didn’t Ethan wake me up?” Ethan and Shane both took a step back, leaving Noah to face her alone. Ethan looked concerned while Shane was smiling. “Now, honey, we were going to tell you.” “Noah, don’t bullshit me.”

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Shane snorted. She rarely used curse words, and as usual, it sounded funny when she did. “I’m going with you.” She turned to get dressed. “No.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I either go with you, or I go on my own. I might be able to add something to the investigation. I’ve been brushing up on animal mutilation. I might be able to help.” “She might be able to help,” Ethan offered. Noah was shaking his head, but Shane was stepping up to help her case also. “If the three of us are there, the Redfoots, and lord knows the leopards are going to be there, she’ll be safe.” She saw from Noah’s expression that he knew that he had lost. “Ten minutes, or we leave you behind.” “No problem.” She was ready in eight and appreciative of the travel mug of coffee Rand had for her. Noah grumbled as he turned and walked out the door. She assumed Ethan and Shane were waiting for them. Rand gave her a kiss as he handed the mug to her. “Be careful out there. And don’t get too close to those leopards. They’re sneaky.” She tried not to smile, given the situation, but it was hard not to. All of the Dillons were territorial and while she’d never thought she would be one for knuckle dragging, when one of them did it, she was thrilled. As quickly as she could, she donned her gear, making sure that they didn’t leave her. She didn’t put it past Noah to leave her. When she stepped out into the cold, she felt a frisson of satisfaction when she saw Noah’s frown. Shane was waiting for her by the passenger side door. He helped her up into the SUV and then got in behind her. There wasn’t any music playing, and she had a feeling if she turned it on, Noah would snarl at her. Instead, she turned to Ethan. “Same thing, slaughtered?”

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He nodded. “Same odd mixture of scents. One of the Byrds found it. Even with their horrible senses, they picked up on it.” “Birds? I thought you said this was on the leopard land.” Ethan smiled. “B-y-r-d. That’s their last name.” “And, these are snow leopards?” She frowned as she mentally went over what she knew about big cats. “There aren’t any here in Alaska.” “Not naturally, but the Choctaw Pride moved up here several generations ago, they moved up here from South America. They had been hunted to the point they were worried about extinction in a generation or two. So, we had the preserve, they came here.” “There aren’t any snow leopards in South America,” Eve said. “They weren’t snow leopards when they got here. They were regular leopard shifters,” Ethan said. She chuckled. “Yeah, regular leopard shifters.” “They adapted.” “But, that should take hundreds of years,” Eve said. Ethan shook his head. “Think about what you are saying. We are not the norm. We adapt faster because of our DNA. Only took them a generation to have their fur change to help camouflage them.” She nodded. “I have a feeling they’re bigger, like you?” “Well, not as big,” Shane said, amusement filling his tone. “But bigger than the average snow leopard.” She nodded again and turned around. She glanced over at Noah who was still stoic, still irritated. She leaned closer, resting her arm on the console. “You can’t stay mad at me forever, and you agreed to let me know about these things.” “You shouldn’t be here.” Noah’s jaw jutted out, and she knew what that meant. He wasn’t going to let her go without a little bit of a fight. Well, bring it on, she thought. “Why not?” she asked. “You shouldn’t see the evil. It shouldn’t touch you.”

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Her heart softened. All of them wanted to protect her, and she shouldn’t be so prickly about it. He was a big idiot, just like the rest of them. They all had her best interest at heart, even if they did things wrong. It was hard getting used to people taking care of her. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I love you.” His shoulders lost some of their rigidity. “But, this already has affected me. As I said, I’ve been reading up on this. Attacking animals and mutilating them is the first sign of a serial killer.” “I hadn’t thought of that,” Ethan said. She turned to face him. “I’ve been reading some books and papers on serial killers.” “The first killings weren’t like these ones,” Shane remarked. “You’re right,” she said. “They were almost amateurish. I kind of wonder if we are even looking at the same killer. The first few killings seem random, made to look as if it wasn’t an animal. Then the one outside of the house, where we saved the one, that seemed personal. That was the first time any of you sensed the different animals. The confusion.” “Could have been that we confused it at first. Didn’t detect it,” Ethan said. “No. I think we would have picked up immediately on the different animal scents,” Noah commented. “I have to agree. I think we might have two killers, either with separate goals or one of them killed the other.” “Two serial killers,” Ethan said. “Wouldn’t be the first time.” “I don’t like the term serial killers,” Shane said. “I don’t either, but I have a feeling that might be close to what we have. I didn’t see the last two, but they upset Vic. He was a bit unnerved,” Ethan said. “What would make a serial killer? Especially a wolf?” he asked.

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She studied him a moment and knew there was something about this subject matter that was bothering him. She wasn’t sure what it was, though. He had never been squeamish about it before. “They still aren’t sure. There are some indicators that people are made that way. Childhood trauma seems to be a factor. An authority figure that does something physically or sexually to the victim. There is an argument that they are born with some issues already, but in the hands of a neglectful parent or guardian, they push it to the extremes. There are so many factors.” He nodded and looked out over the terrain. It was so unlike him to be this still, this quiet. She opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong when the flash of bright lights filled the SUV. She turned and found a group of men standing around an opening in the trees. Before they stopped and opened the door, she smelled it. Death hung in the air. The scent of blood filled her senses. It was so strong she felt her stomach roll. “What?” Ethan asked. She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Sorry. Just, the scent.” Noah parked the vehicle. “You can stay in here if you want to.” “You know your senses are becoming a little more sharpened being involved with us. We should have prepared you.” She opened her eyes and looked at Ethan. She knew there was something he wasn’t telling her still. Some little secret he was holding back, but she let it go. Vic was already trudging to the SUV and her side of it. Shane growled and slipped out and had his hand on her door. The smile he gave the bear had no humor in it. “We don’t need your help with our…with Eve.” He opened her door and helped her down. She looked up at Shane and saw the stark expression on his face. What the heck was going on with him? He said nothing. He didn’t even look at her when he led her to the scene.

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She recognized some of the wolves who nodded in her direction and a few of the bears. Then, she saw the leopards. They stood as a group on the other side of those gathered. Lord, another group of gorgeous men. They were tall and built. From the faces she could see, most of them had darker skin, speaking of the South American origins. The tallest separated himself from the group and walked toward them. All of these shifters moved with amazing grace for such big men. Ethan and Shane both growled, but Noah shook his head. “Let it go.” Noah’s command wasn’t taken well, but both his brother and cousin settled down. “Dillon,” the leopard said and nodded at the group. He glanced at her but said nothing before turning back to Noah. “We found them about two hours ago. Out on regular patrols like you suggested.” He motioned toward the wolves, and Noah followed. Eve moved to do the same, but Shane held on to her arm. “Shane, let me go.” “No.” There was a tone in his voice she had never heard before. She glanced at him and was alarmed when she saw the feral look in his gaze. His face was stark white. His hold on her arm became painful. His fingers were digging into her skin. “Shane?” He visibly shook himself and looked down at his hand. “Sorry, babe,” he said, regret filling his voice. He immediately let go of her. He stepped forward to follow Noah, but she stayed him with her hand. “Are you all right?” He pulled her closer and gave her a quick kiss. “Everything is going to be okay.” And he left her there with Ethan, although, at that moment, she wasn’t too sure it was going to be okay.

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**** The scent of his mother filled the air. Damn it, she was supposed to be dead. Shane couldn’t believe that after all these years, she was in the area. “Something wrong?” Vic asked. “There is something really wrong with this scent. It’s some kind of odd mix.” But that wasn’t it. His stomach was in knots at the thought of the evil bitch returning. “Something else though. You brushed off your mate like she was nothing.” He inwardly sighed. If Vic noticed, Shane was positive others noticed, including Eve. He looked back at her and tried to give her a smile and failed. She was watching him, her eyes haunted, her face stark. Ethan was comforting her. He didn’t know why she was so upset. He hadn’t been rude or mean. “You know, as the bonding continues, she is going to start feeling all of your emotions to some degree. She’s probably freaking out because you look like you saw a ghost.” Smelled one, that’s for sure. “She might be a scientist, but I don’t want her to see this.” Vic nodded. “I understand. I am sure she doesn’t, but I do. You don’t think it was the leopards.” He said it as a statement as Shane got his first true look at the wolves. “Holy mother of God.” “I know. I barely kept down my dinner when I saw it.” Blood stained the snow, but unlike before, these four wolves had been tortured. Each one had been staked down, and lord knew how long they had been left in pain. Death and his mother, the scents followed him around as he circled the wolves.

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“This has got to stop, Dillon,” Ray was saying to Noah. “If you can’t protect us, we will take measures.” The threat pulled a growl from Shane, and he strode over to Noah and Ray. Noah grabbed him before he would attack the Byrd leader. “Have any leopards been injured?” Shane shouted the question. “No, it is our kin. You know as well as I do that while we are different, we are related. The deaths of these wolves hit us, they hit us hard. If our ancestors hadn’t allowed you refuge, you would have been dead. You would have died. You owe us. You owe Noah.” “Shane,” Noah said. He didn’t yell, but it was enough to pull Shane back from the edge. He looked around and realized everyone had stopped talking and was watching him. Shane knew that he rarely raised his voice. He would rather compromise than fight. It was easier. But in this, he could not let someone disparage his cousin. “You will not threaten Noah, or anyone else for that matter. That is exactly what these bastards want.” The leopard bowed his head but said nothing else as he headed back to his pride. He looked up and saw his father looking at him across the dead wolves. Shane knew from looking at his expression he had picked up on the scent, too. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with it, deal with the issue that this brought. Not right now. He turned on his heel and headed back to the SUV. He stopped in front of Ethan and Eve. “I’m going to head back to the cabin.” If they thought it odd, neither of them said it. “I’ll go with you,” Eve offered quietly. He wanted to say no because he needed to be alone. But, he wanted her as far away from the evil. He nodded. Ethan cuffed his shoulder as he walked by, and he led Eve to the SUV. They were on the way before she said anything. “You want to tell me what that was all about?” “Not really.” She sighed, and he heard the irritation.

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“I can’t talk about it right now. I need to cool down. It still pisses me off that they blame Noah.” He could almost feel her gaze soften as she stared at him. “You were upset over their behavior toward Noah?” “Yeah.” Mostly. “They are safe because of him.” “You were right about whomever the perpetrators are doing this to pull us apart.” His heart warmed when he heard her say “us.” She might not realize it yet, but she was one of them. One of them all of them would die to protect. “I know, but they weren’t going to listen. Those cats have bad tempers. It’s one of the reasons they almost got hunted to death.” “So, you want to tell me what you smelled when you got there? I thought you might throw up.” He snorted. “Like that was going to happen.” “There is something you’re not telling me.” “I make it a policy to tell a lady what she wants to hear.” She said nothing for a few seconds, and he glanced over at her. Her eyes were narrowed and spitting fire. He thought for sure that she would have slapped him in the back of his head if she could have. “Fine, hide right now. But when we get home, we are going to talk about this.”

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Chapter Seven Eve was pissed. She didn’t get pissed that often, and she didn’t even like using the word pissed, but it was exactly the way she felt now. Damn it, she thought they had gotten further than this. She stomped into the mudroom. The snow flew off her as she trudged along. With ease she pulled off her outer gear and dropped it where she stood. Not normal for her, but she didn’t care. She was ready to have it out with yet another bullheaded wolf. She inwardly chuckled at the name. Talk about mixed metaphors. “What has you smiling,” Rand said as he ambled out into the family room. “Nothing and don’t think you are getting away without a discussion, Shane Dillon.” He sighed and turned around. “Explain,” she demanded. He stilled. “Excuse me?” “Explain to me what happened out there. You freaked.” Rand looked from one to the other. “Uh, I am going to…go…read a book.” He left his brother high and dry, and Eve didn’t care. She barely noticed him leaving the room. “What do you want me to say?” “I want you to explain why you freaked out. There was a look in your eyes I don’t think I ever saw before.” “It was the scent. It was off, way off, and there is something really wrong with whoever did this.” “We know that.”

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He shook his head. “Eve, you have to understand just how wrong it is. There is no explanation of that scent. It might seem silly to outsiders, but the odd freaky smell was…it was like some kind of science experiment gone wrong.” The sincerity of his words cooled her temper somewhat. “It’s that bad?” “That is why everyone, including the leopards and bears, are so upset. None of us know what it is, what is killing.” Something was missing, something he wasn’t telling her. “And, you got rude with me, why?” “Because you were there. Being exposed to something like that is wrong.” He stepped closer, hesitating only a second before he pulled her into his arms. The heat of his body warmed the chill that was racing down her spine. “It’s instinctive for us to want to protect you. I’m sorry.” She leaned back and looked at him, cupping his face. “I understand. It just isn’t like you, Shane.” He shrugged. “Everyone is on edge. Even good-time Shane.” She frowned at him, knowing that was the way most people saw him. He was always there with a joke to make her feel better, and he was the center of attention in most groups. His genial, fun-loving manner hid another side of him, though. “Don’t do that.” “What?” “Don’t put yourself down.” He rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t putting myself down. I was just being truthful.” “No you weren’t. I know you have a jovial side, Shane. I understand it, considering your first few years.” “What are you talking about?” “Ethan told me about your mother.” He looked dumbstruck for a moment. Then his face flushed with anger. “I have only one mother.”

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She nodded and walked to him, taking his hands. “I said that wrong. Your biological mother. You tried to fit in, and to do it, you diminish yourself. Can’t you see that this is important, that you are important? You are smart as a whip, and hell, Noah wouldn’t be able to handle all the financial figures. You do that in your head. I’ve seen him cuss at the calculator.” He smiled as she hoped he would. “And, you’re kind. When I was lost, when I wasn’t able to figure out things about Noah, you helped. It is one of the things I love about you.” He stilled. “What?” She smiled, feeling better now that she said it. “I love you. I thought you knew.” He shook his head as she nodded. “I love you because of who you are. You’ll just have to accept that.” She rose to her tiptoes and brushed her mouth over his cheek. He still looked stunned. She heard someone clearing their throat, and she turned to find Shane’s father waiting on them. “Do you mind if I have a moment with my son?” he asked, his smile gentle and a reminder of his son’s. “No problem. I’m going to do some research.” She gave Shane a hug and left them. She didn’t know where she was going. Did she make a mistake telling him that she loved him? He looked so stunned. What did she do wrong? She felt the tears rolling down her cheeks before she realized she was crying. She found herself at Rand’s door. She didn’t knock, but walked in. He was reading in bed, only wearing a pair of jeans. He looked up with a smile and then a look of alarm moved over his face. “Is something wrong? Did someone get hurt?” She shook her head and walked to his side of the bed. She didn’t wait to be invited, just sat down and collapsed on his chest. It wasn’t like her to do this. Big crying jags weren’t her thing. But, since

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getting involved with the Dillons, she seemed to be doing all kinds of things out of character. **** “So, you want to tell me what the problem is?” Shane jerked his shoulder and didn’t say anything to his father. He didn’t know how to, actually. He knew his father had scented the same thing he did. “You will not look at the floor when you address me, boy.” He whipped his head up and tried to remind himself this was his father. He didn’t need to break him in half. “I am not a boy.” “Then maybe it’s time you started acting like a man.” Anger filled him. “Not many men can say things like that to me and live.” “I’m your father, and I have a right. Especially when you’re being an ass. Is there a reason you didn’t tell your mate you’re in love with her?” He said nothing, just looked away. “You still blame me, don’t you?” The agony he heard in his father’s voice tore at his heart and surprised him. He looked at him. “No, I don’t hate you. How could you think that?” “I should have protected you more. I should have made sure that bitch was far away from you.” Shane shook his head. “You couldn’t have known.” “I should have. She wasn’t always like that, you know. Something changed her during the pregnancy. I’m not sure if it’s because of the hormones or her own screwed-up childhood.” “Great, being my mother made her crazy.” “No. Don’t think that. When we found out she was pregnant, we were…I guess happy would be the best word. Your mother was ecstatic. Of course, I should have seen that it was going to change,

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that the depression would come. That family of hers was pretty fucked up.” “And their genes are in mine.” “Don’t make me smack you, Shane. You are a good man. I raised you to be one. And besides that, no Dillon has gone crazy, except Cousin Ed.” He found his first smile. “Ed was a transvestite. He wasn’t crazy.” His father sighed. “I know you talked to people about it, but you never told me. What happened when you were there? We were worried that you would never talk.” “And then you couldn’t shut me up.” His father smiled. “Yeah. But, in the end you never told us. You never confided in me what that woman did to you.” Shane jerked a shoulder. “I don’t truly remember.” “The nightmares?” “Just talking about them made it better.” His father nodded. “So, you smelled her, too. Could be it was someone she was related to?” “Too strong. That crazy bitch is back, and she’s apparently coming after us.” “We’ll talk to Noah in the morning. Not much we can do about this. I’ll call a few of her old family members. She had one or two normal cousins who escaped to the lower forty-eight before the family could ruin them. Why don’t you go make up with your mate?” Shane hesitated for a second or two, then did as his father suggested. When he walked down the hall to his room, he stopped by Rand’s room when he heard the crying. Damn. He opened the door and was immediately speared with a nasty look from his brother. Rand could handle just about anything but a crying lady. “Eve?” She rose off his brother’s chest and shot him a dirty look. Of course, it was completely ruined by her puffy eyes and splotchy skin.

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Their mate wasn’t very pretty when she cried. And at the moment, she was the most beautiful thing the world. He walked into the room slowly as not to spook her. When he reached the bed, he tugged her up and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” She drew in a shuddering breath as he rocked her back and forth as much to comfort her as himself. He heard a sound behind him and found Max standing at the door, a frown on his face. “What did you do to her?” “I was an ass.” He pulled back a far enough to cup her face. “I’m so sorry.” She shuddered as he brushed his mouth over hers. He tasted her, licking his tongue over her lips. “I really am sorry. I should have never been such a…” He found himself at a loss for words as she looked up at him with those watery blue eyes. She sniffed. “Jackass.” He smiled. “Let me make it up to you.” He pulled her up off the bed and kissed her deeply then, letting her feel the love he felt for her but was too afraid to say. He pulled off her sweater and tossed it behind her. He heard Max complain about being hit with it, but he ignored him. He was so focused on getting her naked he didn’t want anything distracting him. Within seconds she was naked, bare as the day she was born. He kissed down her body, kneeling before her. Without a word, he placed his mouth on her pussy, slipping his tongue into her. He didn’t let up, didn’t allow her to prepare really. The taste of her danced over his tongue, slipped through his body. This connection was always so strong, Shane felt his need increase for her each day. Tasting her made him feel so close, as if no one in the world stood between them. He teased her clit and added a finger. He enjoyed the way she shuddered against him when she came. It was hard, fast, and she shouted as it happened.

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“Damn,” Max said. Shane rose to his feet as Rand pulled her into his arms and carried her to the bed. Shane watched his brothers join her on the bed as he tore his clothes off of him. He crawled on the bed and pulled Eve on top of him. His cock twitched with the need to take her, to make her his again. She moved against him and his balls pulsed. She rose up, looking like Venus rising from the waters. She was gorgeous, their mate. The woman was amazing, thrilling, and made just for them. She rose to her knees and slowly sunk down on his cock. She moved over him, pivoting her hips. Lord, she was going to kill him. She smiled down at him, arching back as Max came up behind her. Max nuzzled her neck and cupped her breasts. Shane steadied her hips as Rand plucked at her nipples. She sighed, then moaned, leaning back against Rand. He watched his brother’s darker flesh against Eve’s snow-white skin. Rand eased closer as Max motioned for her to lean down so he could enter from behind. Shane stopped moving as Max entered her ass. She moaned, the throaty sound vibrating through the room. It sunk into his soul. Shane leaned up and took a hardened nipple into his mouth, loving the way she gasped as his teeth grazed the tip of her nipple. Rand moved closer and offered up his cock for her to suck. As always she opened her mouth ready to please, ready to be pleased. Max and Shane moved in tandem, driving her closer to the edge. The only sounds in the room were the slapping of flesh and the moans. “Fuck, that’s good, baby,” Rand said as she worked his cock in and out of her mouth. “God, yeah, just like that.” She had started to shiver as Rand started to move in and out of her mouth fast. He felt her pussy spasm on his cock as she shuddered and gave him a muffled moan. Rand was now moving in and out of her mouth faster and faster. One last groan and his brother gave himself over to his orgasm. He watched as Eve lapped up his brother’s cum, happily. She seemed to take so much pleasure in the act of oral sex it

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always amazed him. Rand pulled back as Shane and Max kept moving. She was just recovering from her last orgasm as they sent her over again. All those delicious muscles clenched down tight on his cock and he knew it was doing the same to Max’s cock. Now she was sobbing, with pleasure, or the beauty of it all. Shane wasn’t sure. Next time, he wanted to be there with her. Max shouted and stilled behind her, and she went flying gain. He thrust back up into her one more time and joined her. She collapsed on top of him, still shivering from her release. Max settled down on the opposite side of her. Each of his bothers gave her a kiss. Then she snuggled her head under his chin and sighed in pleasure. Her body slowly relaxed into sleep. He kept her there, connected to her in the most intimate way. He stared at the ceiling as he thought over just what the hell his mother was doing in the area. **** “Why didn’t you tell us at the site?” Noah asked. He wasn’t as pissed Shane thought he would be, but sometimes Noah’s temper took awhile to brew. He looked at his cousin, his brothers, and Ethan and sighed. It was early morning but a long night of thinking made him realize that he needed to tell at least Noah. When Shane did, Noah pulled the rest of the crowd in. “I was still trying to process it. I wasn’t sure. It had been so long and seriously, I equate anything evil with that bitch.” He jerked a shoulder, feeling defensive. “But, once I processed it, I was sure it was her. I just didn’t know how to tell anyone. Dad scented her, too.” Noah nodded. “You should have told us, but I’m not sure what good it would have done. Right now, though, let’s get all the information we can on that bitch.” He turned to Ethan. “Call Dad although I am sure he already knows. Everyone else spread the word.”

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The cousins filed out and left him alone with Noah. “Now, you want to tell me why you panicked?” He sighed. Noah knew about the nightmares, knew a bit of the hell Shane had escaped. Shane didn’t want to return there, even in his mind. From the look on his cousin’s face, he wouldn’t let it go. “I’m serious. I panicked. I don’t want that bitch here, near us, near Eve. She’s my primary concern.” Noah nodded then rose from behind his desk. He clapped him on the shoulder. “Make sure you talk to Eve about it. I know there are things you don’t want to talk about, but…she would be a good person to talk to.” He nodded and watched him walk out of the office. He should go back to Eve, but he had to get himself back under control. Everything in his being told him to assuage his fear by taking her again, running away from the problem. But he couldn’t. He would not be that weak. Not again. He had to face it all, for the woman he loved. Or die trying.

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Chapter Eight Eve looked over the data and sighed when it started to blur again. The last three days hadn’t been fun. They had found two more groups of slaughtered wolves, and were no closer to finding the killer. When she’d made noises about the FBI again, they all refused to listen. They needed help, and none of them were listening. She decided to go in search of them, irritated that none of them had talked to her since she’d yelled at them earlier. She didn’t know what the heck was wrong with her. One minute she would be screaming at them, the next in tears, and then five minutes later, she would be in bed with them. She knew for a fact she wasn’t pregnant. So, why was she such a mess? When she mentioned it to Ethan, he said something noncommittal about stress. What none of them seemed to understand was that she was used to stress. She’d been living on it for years by the time she hit her teens. Actually, she thrived on it. She found Shane pulling kitchen duty. “Hey, you need a fresh cup of coffee?” he asked with a smile. “No.” “You sure? I got that flavor you like for the Keurig.” “I said no.” He paused and turned off the water. “What’s up?” “Nothing. Just nothing. I feel like something is crawling under my skin. Like if I don’t hit something, I will scream. Adding coffee to that isn’t what I need.” He cocked his head, and she lost it.

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“Just stop it. Just fucking stop looking at me like I’m a puzzle to figure out.” She was screaming like a shrew by the time she finished, and she clapped her hand over her mouth. His lips twitched. “If you laugh, I’ll hit you.” “It might make you feel better.” With a sigh she sat down at the table. “What do you know about it?” “Being involved with us probably gives you some problems. Not that you’re a wolf, but with our connection, that might cause you some issues.” She opened her mouth to say something, but the phone rang. Shane looked at the caller ID. “Would your mother have our number?” Her mother. Crap. Great, now she was taking on their tendency to talk badly. She picked up the phone. “Hello?” “Eve? What on earth is going on?” Her mother’s voice was demanding and a little whiney, and she realized at that moment, she really didn’t like her mother. On the heels of that, she felt guilty. “What do you mean?” “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for two days. Your cell doesn’t work in that godforsaken place, so I had to find the Dillons’ number. Why are you there?” “Ethan Dillon has a first-rate lab.” Her mother said nothing, but Eve knew she heard the irritation in her voice. She couldn’t help it. She refused to allow her mother to put down a place she loved so much. Passion might not be everyone’s idea of heaven, but it was for her. “Was there something you wanted?”

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There was a long pause. Her nasty tone must have caught her mother off guard. “Yes. I had another offer to hire you. Now, I know it isn’t exactly what you were looking for, but Miles said—” “No.” “Excuse me.” “No.” “Just no. You don’t even know what it is.” “I know that you would never pick a job for me I would like. You would pick what you think I should like. I don’t want it. Is there anything else?” Another long pause. “No.” “Good-bye, mother.” She hung up the phone, that itching under her skin driving her to distraction. It was worse. The need to hit something, yell, do…something was eating her alive. “Are you okay?” Shane asked. She looked back over her shoulder. “Yes.” “You don’t seem okay.” “My mother just wanted to force me into a job I didn’t want. She isn’t used to me saying no.” “It doesn’t seem very motherly of her.” She sighed, suddenly almost as sad as she was irritated. “It’s all she can do. It is all she has ever done.” “Why don’t you tell me about it?” She turned and faced him. Anger rolled through her. They were keeping something from her. All six of them. They would change the subject when she asked direct questions about herself. And, Shane was the worst of the lot. His nightmares were getting worse. She said nothing to him. Again, secrets. She was sick of them. Sick of pretending that nothing was wrong. “Why should I?” His eyebrows rose at her snarl. “What?”

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“Why should I? I didn’t know until recently that you have a different mother.” “I have only one mother.” “Right, of course. That ends the discussion. How about those nightmares? Are they getting better?” She knew it was mean, even as she said it. She tried to get herself to stop, but she couldn’t. It was as if something else was in charge of her body, wanting to lash out, to hurt and maim. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Fine, sure, okay. I’ll walk away again. Or maybe you’ll take me to bed and fuck me until I forget, and you won’t have to deal with me.” “I think that’s enough.” The strict tone irritated her even more. “Fine. I’ll be in the lab.” She stormed out. Even as she stomped down the hallway to the lab, she was feeling sick to her stomach. She knew she had said the things to hurt, to make him feel bad. Mainly because she wanted him feeling as badly as she did. She stopped at the door of the lab. She needed to apologize. She scrubbed her hands over her face. God, she was a mess. She could still see his face when she yelled at him. The hurt, the anger, the pain. She was a bitch. Pushing the doors open, she decided to work a bit and then go back and apologize. They both needed to calm down. She walked down the aisle and noticed that there was a different scent in the room. Then she saw her. She as a small woman. Even smaller than Eve. She was small boned, with long, curling blonde hair. She looked like a waif from a fantasy movie. “Can I help you?” She smiled at her, and Eve felt a chill seep into her bones. “Yes.” She didn’t say anything. “Can you tell me your name?” “Marianna.”

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“Marianna. That’s a pretty name.” Eve started to slowly back up. “Thank you. I’ve always though so. I heard you with my boy.” The way she said “boy” made Eve’s stomach sour. Then, it clicked. Shane’s mother. Lord, the woman didn’t look like she could have mothered a man in his late twenties. Eve was sure the woman was insane from the look in her eyes and she knew she needed to keep Marianna talking. “Yes, Shane, he’s your boy, isn’t he?” Of course, said boy was a full-grown man, but from the look in Marianna’s blue eyes, she wasn’t in the real world. “Yes. He’s my baby boy. The best one. He was perfect.” Eve nodded and backed up another few steps. “But, you hurt him. I thought you were the one for him, but you aren’t. You hurt him, and I have to make sure you don’t do it again.” She pointed a gun at Eve’s chest. “I can’t have my boy hurt.” **** Shane paced the kitchen, wanting nothing more than to run, but at the moment, there was no one to do it with. Everyone was out, and Noah was sleeping. He didn’t have the heart to bother his cousin, who had been pulling double duty patrolling and fielding questions from the other shifters on the council. The man was worn out. He didn’t know what to tell Eve. He thought at some point Noah would explain, or maybe Ethan, being the scientist. He understood what was driving her crazy. She was starting to change little by little. She wouldn’t make the complete transition to a wolf until she committed to all of them. But, it didn’t mean she wouldn’t start having some kind of aggression issues. He tried not to let it bother him, but it did. She had been mean, so unlike Eve it had actually scared him. Not that she could hurt him, because she could never do

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that physically even if she wanted to. No, he was worried about her. She was confused and hurting. He didn’t know what to do. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. It was then that he smelled it. That scent, the one that woke him up at night, leaving him panting and in fear. And she was here. Marianna had returned. She would never bother Noah, that was for sure. There could be only one other person she would hurt other than Shane. Eve. Terror raced through his blood as he rushed down the hallway to the lab. When he got to the doors, he saw his worst nightmare come true. His crazy-ass biological mother holding Eve hostage at gunpoint. He opened the door, and his mother saw him. The smile she gave him made his skin crawl. “Shane,” she said breathlessly. “You came.” She hadn’t changed. Not that much. But then, evil sometimes could have a very pretty façade to deceive. She had some black magic in her. He was sure of it. “Marianna.” She frowned. “Mother.” Her lips curved and she smiled. “That’s better. I wondered if you would be interested in spending some time together. I just need to kill Eve first.” He came even with Eve and glanced at her. She was pale, but she looked like she was holding her own. “You don’t need to do that.” “Why? She was mean to you.” “I was mean to her first.” She gasped. “Never. Tell Mother you didn’t hurt her.” He nodded. “As few days ago, she said she loved me. I didn’t tell her I love her, too.” If possible, his mother’s face turned paler. The cracks in her glamour started to fade. The wrinkles he expected started to show.

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“What do you mean? You love her?” He nodded. Marianna pulled the gun back toward Eve again. “You will not love her if she is dead.” She was going to pull the trigger. He felt it down in his soul. Without a thought, he jumped toward her just as the shot was going off. He felt the sting of the bullet and heard Eve scream his name. He struggled with his mother. She still had the gun. “She must die, she must die. All the bitches must die. All the Dillons must die.” In the struggles, the gun went off. She stopped and screamed, her eyes widening. He pulled back, now holding the gun. He looked back to find Eve rushing toward him. Right behind her was Noah, disheveled and looking pissed. “Jesus,” he said as he stopped beside him. He looked down at Marianna. “Who the hell is that?” The room seemed to be dimming. “Marianna.” Noah dropped down to one knee and felt for a pulse. He looked back up at the two of them and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Shane,” Eve said. “I meant it.” “You meant what?” she asked, but she sounded very far away. Like she was in a tunnel or something. “I meant that I love you.” “I believe you.” But he was already starting to slip. “Noah, Shane’s hurt.” He fell forward then, his world turning to black. **** Eve kept a vigil by Shane’s bed most of the next night. His injury hadn’t been serious, but she didn’t want infection setting in.

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“I told you to get some rest,” Noah said as he approached her. “And I ignored you.” He didn’t say anything so she glanced at him. The smile curving his lips confused her. “What?” He shook his head as he stopped by her side. He gave her a kiss on the top of her head. “You just sounded like my mom when you said it.” She rolled her eyes. “Great, now I’m reminding one of my lovers of his mother.” He chuckled. “No, just you are both strong women who don’t take any sh—crap off any of us.” “I bet.” She glanced back at Shane. “I just wanted to make sure there was no infection.” “There won’t be. Ethan shot him up with enough antibiotics. Plus, you have to remember we aren’t a regular species. We heal faster.” She knew that, knew how fast Ethan had recovered from his attack. Still, she couldn’t seem to release Shane’s hand. “Too many of us have been hurt,” she whispered. “I like the sound of that,” Shane said, his voice gravelly with pain and sleep. “You like that so many of us been hurt?” He smiled at her question. “No, I like that you’re saying ‘us.’” He looked over her head at Noah. “Marianna?” “Gone.” He nodded. She watched him closely, looking for any sadness, but she saw nothing. “I have to go talk to the family. Be ready, your mother will be in here soon.” Noah gave her another kiss on the top of the head and left them alone. “I’m sorry.”

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She hadn’t cried since he’d been shot. She hadn’t been able to. Eve had been pretty sure if she started, she would never stop. Now though, the tears streamed down her cheeks. They were cool against her hot skin. “Oh, don’t, babe, don’t cry.” He lifted his hand up to her face and brushed the tears away. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to cry,” she said with a hiccup. He slipped his hand down to hers and gave it to tug. “Come on.” She resisted, barely. “You need to rest. I don’t want to hurt you.” He smiled. “You won’t hurt me. I’m almost recovered.” Proving his point, he easily moved over, giving her space to climb onto the bed, then pulled her over. She did as he asked now, because she was unable to resist him. She sat next to him, leaning her hip against him. She needed the simple touch, this closeness to him. She seemed to yearn for it from each one of the Dillons more and more. Each day, she felt closer to them, as if being away from them might just kill her. “I want to tell you about it, but I can’t.” She sighed. “I understand. You don’t have to.” He shook his head. “I can’t. I really can’t. I don’t remember. Anything.” “You don’t have to lie to me.” “No, listen to me. I really don’t remember things about my life in Anchorage.” “But…nothing?” He shook his head. “I was barely a toddler. I have the dreams, but I can’t remember past that. I know that I wasn’t sexually abused. Dad had me checked out as did the social services. But I have no idea what else went on. She was insane. That was the truth. I just wanted you to know that I wasn’t hiding anything from you.” She nodded. “And it was part of the reason I couldn’t tell you I loved you. Even though I do.”

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She looked down at their joined hands. “I know, Shane.” “No. That’s not enough. Look at me.” She raised her gaze to his, and the face that she was so accustomed to seeing with a smile was earnest. “I want you to know why I couldn’t. I have always felt…like I was on the outside. My mother, well you saw what a nutcase she is…was. When I got here, Mom was pregnant with Rand, and I just wanted to fit in. Just wanted to be part of the family. But, there was always part of me that thought I didn’t deserve it.” “How could you think that?” she demanded. “You deserve just as much as your brothers.” He chuckled. “Don’t go off on a tangent. It wasn’t anything anyone said, just what I felt. So, when you told me, even though I loved you already, knew it the first moments we met, I didn’t think I deserved your love.” “Well, that’s just stupid.” He laughed. “Only you would call me stupid when I’m pouring out my heart to you.” “I didn’t say you were stupid. I said the thought that you didn’t deserve my love is stupid. How could you think that? You’re amazingly smart, kind, loyal…it’s asinine.” He pulled her into his arms. “Well, there is one thing I want to prove to you, and that is how much I love you.” She laughed as he rolled them both so that he was on top of her. “Your mother is on her way.” He took her bottom lip between his teeth and tugged. Heat surged through her. “She can wait. I have something to prove to my lady.” He lowered his head, and she felt her heart fill with love for him, enveloping them both for the hours to come. ****

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He waited hours to hear from her. There was nothing, nothing that could be done to contact her. He shouldn’t have left her alone, shouldn’t have allowed her to wander around unmonitored. She was fragile, and the one thing she wanted was to get back with Shane, for him to take his place. He knew that in the end, that is what she really wanted, and he tried not to resent it. His cell went off, and he looked at the number. He didn’t want any interference from the rest of the family, but they never seemed to understand the mission they had. “Yes.” “Marianna’s dead.” Silence filled the space. “Dead? How?” “Shane. He shot her to protect the woman.” Then, she hung up. How his aunt knew he had no idea, but she always seemed to know. Pain pierced his heart as he thought of his mother, the fragile beauty, the crafty woman, the only one he could ever truly love. Who truly loved him. She might have been obsessed with Shane, but he knew in the end, it would be he and his mother, they would be together forever. The sob caught him off guard as he fell onto his bed. Anger and betrayal, the loss…it all consumed him. They had taken her from him. She was the only one, the only person who understood what drove him. His mother had made him what he was, what she needed. And he had let her down. He rolled over on his back, tears now streaming down his face as he sobbed. He would not let the Dillons get away with this. Marianna would be revenged…and he knew just how to strike at the Dillons. He knew just who to hurt. There was one person that every one of those bastards needed. They took his mother. He would take their mate. But not before he made her suffer.

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End of Book 4: Shane’s Need To be continued in Book 5: Rand’s Craving KIERAWEST.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kiera West is the pen name of bestselling erotic romance author Melissa Schroeder. You can find out more about her writing at kierawest.com.

Also by Kiera West Siren LoveXtreme Forever: Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska 1: Seducing Their Mate Siren LoveXtreme Forever: Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska 2: The Alpha’s Fall Siren LoveXtreme Forever: Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska 3: Convincing Ethan

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com