Tater's Bear

Brac Pack 22 

Tater’s Bear Watching his barn burn to the ground, the one place that brought him solace, Tater walks away. But in doing so, he is thrown into a course of events that will alter his life forever. Olsen Lakeland has finally found his mate. Instead of celebrating, the bear is fighting to hang on to the man that he loves and stop Tater from going insane. As the two traverse through the depths of unknown territories, the prince of vampires is on the verge of madness when he ingests blood tainted with the drug Liquid Wrath. To make matters worse, a bounty has been called on all four leaders' heads. Chaos reigns when Brac Village becomes the target for multitudes of rogues bent on destroying Maverick and his pack. In the fight to protect and the coming together of old and new, a hybrid is born. Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal, Shape-Shifter Length: 36,122 words

TATER’S BEAR Brac Pack 22

Lynn Hagen

EVERLASTING CLASSIC MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic ManLove

TATER’S BEAR Copyright © 2011 by Lynn Hagen E-book ISBN: 1-61034-946-6 First E-book Publication: November 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston 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 Tater’s Bear by Lynn Hagen 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 Lynn Hagen’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Hagen’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

 

TATER’S BEAR Brac Pack 22 LYNN HAGEN Copyright © 2011

Chapter One Fuck, fuck, fuck! Tater threw his arms over his head as he watched Olsen Lakeland walk off of his front porch. Tater kicked the front door with his booted foot, punching it at the same time with his fist. What in the hell was going on in his life lately? His uncle was a goddamn drug dealer? What kind of crazy world did he walk into? He couldn’t believe that Maverick had found drugs in the barn that Tater had used for many years as a reprieve when he needed to get away from it all. And his motorcycle that gave him a peace of mind to work on? Gone. Burned to a crispy-fried piece of useless metal inside the barn. “Is that you, Tater?” his mom called from upstairs. Tater rocked his forehead back and forth on the wall, laying his hands on either side of his head, using the wall to hold his weary body up. Tater sighed, looking down at his boots as he wished he was any place but here right now. Too much was happening at once, and he felt like his life was out of control. Olsen Lakeland just walked away, out of his life, and Tater was torn between letting him go and chasing him down, insisting that the man stay. “Fuck!” He slammed the palm of his hand against the wall. “Tater, go to bed,” his mother called from upstairs.

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Tater pushed away from the wall and looked over at the steps leading upstairs. It was amazing that the fire department was outside killing the fire that engulfed the barn in flames, and his mother was in her bedroom acting as though nothing was wrong with the world. Tater turned and wrenched the front door open, walking onto the porch just as the last of the flames were banked. His dad was out there talking with the fire marshal, trying his best to blow smoke up the guy’s ass to cover up what really happened to the structure. His Uncle Clark had been using his barn to make some drug called Liquid Wrath. Tater had gone inside the red building, angry that his uncle would do something like that, and tried to rid the barn of the chemicals. Unfortunately, he hadn’t known the shit was unstable. Hence, his burnt-down barn. He watched his dad talk, his arms flailing around animatedly as he pointed at the barn and then back at the house. They’d find out. The fireman would see the chemical lab his uncle had set up in there and know Tater’s dad was full of shit. Right about now, Tater didn’t give a fuck. He’d lost so much tonight already. He gave his barn one last look, or what was left of it, and then started to walk up the dirt driveway, away from home and away from what had taken place here. His back still hurt from Maverick tackling him. The guy was too damn big to be treating Tater like pigskin. How was he supposed to know the chemicals in the barn had been explosive? They never should have been kept in there in the first place, and none of this would have happened. Tater had no clue where in the fuck he was going as he reached the main road, but it was better than being at home right now. He watched a truck amble closer, the headlights blinding him as Tater walked down the side of the road. He groaned when the truck’s brakes squeaked loudly, signaling that the driver had stopped. “Hey, you looking for a ride?”

 

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Tater slowed his walking as he looked over at the rusty blue piece of shit idling across the road from him. He didn’t recognize the man, but damn if the fucker didn’t scream pervert. “No thanks.” The pervert leaned out of his window, slapping the driver’s door with the palm of his hand. “I could make it worth your while.” Tater could feel a tick start in his jaw. His night was already shot down the toilet. He didn’t need a pervert following him down the damn road. “I said no, now fuck off.” Tater ran a hand over his shortcropped hair, eyed the jerk for a second, and then continued his walk to nowhere. The truck began to move backward slowly, the tires on a lazy rotation as the pervert followed him down the deserted back roads of Brac Village. “I can help you ease your worries,” the man said in an annoying, syrupy tone. “Stop playing hard to get and come take a ride.” That’s it! Tater stormed across the road, the brakes squeaking as the pervert stopped the truck, triumph gleaming in his lust-filled eyes. Tater got right in the man’s face, pointing his finger as he growled. “Do I look like a helpless victim to you? I’m six foot two and two hundred forty-five pounds of muscle. If you don’t get the fuck out of here, I’m going to show you just how bad of a night I’ve really had.” Tater slapped the doorframe with his hand and then crossed back over to his side of the road, walking away from the truck and everything else. Tater couldn’t understand where all his pent-up anger was coming from. Normally he was pretty easygoing. On second thought, yes, he did. His reprieve was burnt to the ground, taking his treasured motorcycle with it. His fucking uncle was a drug dealer that probably wasn’t going to live through the night now that Maverick had him. His father was a homophobic asshole that didn’t have an ounce of concern for anyone other than himself, and the man he wanted but was too afraid to commit to just walked out of his life. Oh yeah, he

 

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knew exactly why he was ready to chew nails and spit them at the pervert. He sighed as he continued walking. There was no use getting all riled up when there wasn’t a thing he could do about any of it. That’s what had Tater so ticked off. It was the fact that he couldn’t do anything about any of this that didn’t set well with him. Okay, maybe he could do something about Olsen, but that was another story altogether. Tater stopped walking and looked around him, seeing nothing but a large pasture and woods. He loved country living. Too bad he had to experience it under his father’s thumb. It was true that he was old enough to get out on his own. But where would he go and with what money? Maybe it was high time he found a job. It was a thought he needed to seriously consider. But Tater knew that making decisions when high on emotions was always a bad idea. That’s why he tried his best to steer clear of Olsen Lakeland. Every time he got around that man he was high on emotions. Olsen made him feel things Tater didn’t want to examine too closely. Commitment was something he’d never really liked. He felt tied down anytime someone tried to commit him to something, anything. It was almost like a suffocating feeling he’d get whenever his dad had him commit to something or another. Tater ran his hands over his head as he sat down on the soft shoulder of the road. He couldn’t even commit to deciding on where he was wandering off to. That’s why his bike had never been fully assembled except once. Tater couldn’t commit to getting the job done. “It’s awfully late for a human to be out wandering around.” Tater growled softly. If that pervert was back, he was going to teach him a lesson about stalking folks. Wait, did the guy say human? Tater turned his head slowly, glancing over his shoulder at someone he’d never seen before smirking at him.

 

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Just great. Another weirdo. What was it about tonight that was bringing all the freaks out? “Fuck off.” Tater knew it wasn’t polite, but polite had flipped him off and walked away when everything fell down around him. Polite could kiss his ass. “That wasn’t very polite.” The man spoke Tater’s thoughts as he stepped closer. Tater snorted as he shrugged. “I was just thinking the same thing. But after the evening I’ve had, I honestly don’t give a shit.” “You should.” Tater’s jaw clenched when he saw vampire fangs in the guys mouth. It was bad enough the Lakelands and Maverick had tried to convince him that paranormal creatures existed. He had fallen for the whole ball of wax. But the longer he thought about it, the more he realized that they were full of shit. It couldn’t be true and Tater wasn’t going to swallow any of it. He’d had enough of people trying to pull the wool over his eyes. He wasn’t sure what their angle was, but he discounted it all. Now this fool was out to trick him as well. Some people took that shit way too seriously. He’d heard of some folks getting their dentists to cosmetically change their teeth to resemble fangs, but Tater had never met anyone up close who had. “Not impressed.” “A real cynic, I see.” The man chuckled. “I can change your mind very easily.” “I’d rather you not. My list of fucked-up things to happen to me has somehow tripled in the past few hours. Why don’t you go show those cows over there? They’d be more impressed than I am right now.” Tater waved to the pasture. There were a few cows grazing, looking as though they didn’t have a care in the world. The man hissed, showing Tater his fangs in full view now. What was with this guy? Was he that desperate to show off his dental work? Tater stood, wiping his ass off as he began to walk again. Maybe if he

 

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walked far enough, he’d have a collection of weirdos to take his anger out on. Surprise was probably the best word he could use to describe the situation when the slim stranger grabbed his upper arm and spun him around. For a skinny guy, he sure as hell was strong. Tater was impressed. “Knock it off, fuckhead.” Tater reared back and punched the stranger in his jaw. If the man put his hands on Tater first, he had every right to defend himself. “What the hell did you do that for?” The guy grabbed his jaw, pushing it back and forth and then stretching it wide. “What’d ya put your hands on me for?” Tater countered as he glared at the fanged fucker. “Because you were walking away. What the hell do you think?” The stranger waved his hands around animatedly. “Walking away is just rude when someone is talking to you.” Maybe Tater should have gone to bed like his mom had suggested. His night was turning out to be one strange ass occurrence after another. Tater ticked off the night’s adventures in his head, his burnt barn, his dope-dealing uncle, Olsen leaving, the pervert in the truck, and now this guy. What the hell else could happen to him tonight? “That’s what I normally do when someone shows me his or her deranged dental work,” Tater said as he turned on his heel and started walking…again. “I–I was just hungry. I wasn’t going to hurt you,” the guy stuttered. Tater stopped in his tracks and laughed. He laughed hard at the man’s words. He wasn’t too sure why he was laughing, but he couldn’t manage to stop himself. Maybe everything was finally catching up to him and he was losing his mind. Whatever the reason, Tater laughed so hard that he bent at the waist and placed his hands on his knees, tears rolling down his face.

 

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The fanged stranger began to laugh as well, but Tater could tell the guy had no clue why they were laughing. Fuck, man, neither did Tater. “Why are we laughing?” the man finally asked. “Haven’t a clue,” Tater confessed. “Must be in the air.” “Oh.” The slim man looked around as if he could see the reason for their amusement as a living and breathing entity. Tater shook his head as he straightened. Some of his stress had ebbed with the laughter, but not nearly enough to make the tension in his body recede. “Where are you headed?” “Nowhere.” The man shrugged. “I’m kinda wandering around. You?” “Same here.” Tater extended his hand. “Name’s Tater.” “Dudley.” The stranger shook his hand. “Dudley?” Tater held back his chuckle as he appraised the man. “You don’t look like a Dudley. Why don’t we call you D?” “Okay.” D shrugged. Tater looked at him more closely this time. D was short and skinny as hell. The man could use some extra pounds and a gym. Maybe a shitload of carbs as well. “As long as you keep your teeth to yourself, you’re welcome to walk with me.” D looked at him suspiciously but nodded. “Deal. But I do have to feed. I’m really hungry.” Tater eyed the guy, wondering why he was still going with the pretense of being a vampire. “Go suck a cow then.” He chucked his thumb over his shoulder. “Eww. No way.” D shuddered as he glared at Tater. “You go suck one.” “I’m not the one claiming to need blood.” Tater gave up when D just stood there staring at him. He began to walk down the road…again.

 

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“Wait up,” D called out as he raced to catch up to Tater. “Seriously, though. I need to feed.” “Fine then. Go suck on that wolf over there.” Tater waved his hand toward the woods. D stumbled and then grabbed Tater’s shoulder, his head snapping around. “What wolf?” “Right over there,” Tater said as he pointed to an extremely large wolf slowly following them. Was it his imagination, or was the wolf really watching them? “Oh hell. That’s not a wolf. Well, he is, but he’s a shifter,” D said as he grabbed Tater’s arm. “We have to run.” Tater pulled his arm free as he continued to keep his eye on the large wolf. “If we run, he’ll chase us. Just keep walking.” “But you don’t understand—” “I understand that my night is getting impossibly stranger by the moment. So maybe if we keep walking to Grandma’s house, the wolf will run ahead of us.” D grabbed Tater’s arm again, pulling on it to get Tater to stop. “This isn’t a laughing matter. He’s a shifter.” D drew out the last word dramatically, as if that could make Tater understand what the hell D was talking about. Tater cocked his head to the side, stretched his jaw out, and bit his bottom lip, wondering what in the fuck D was talking about. “And what’s a shifter?” D gaped at him. “A man that can change into a wolf. Or the other way around, I’m not really sure, and I don’t want to stick around to find out.” Tater pulled his hand down his face. His bed looked like a pretty good option right about now. He knew bears could wander the woods. The Lakelands seemed friendly with one in particular. But wolves? And now D was telling him they could change into men? It was the same garbage everyone else was trying to shove down his throat. Was he the only sane one around here? It had to be in the

 

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water or something. Everyone kept spewing off things about men that could change into animals and other weird shit. Tater was getting real tired of it. Maybe he was still lying on the ground from when Maverick tackled him. That would explain all of this. He was lying on the ground under the large man, with a concussion. It sounded plausible and a lot saner than what D was saying. “Okay,” Tater shouted over to the wolf. “If you’re a shifter, shift.” “Are you fucking nuts?” D gasped as he pulled at Tater’s arm. “Why in the hell are you taunting him?” “Because I have nothing better to do with my time.” Tater growled. It was true. Where the hell was he heading anyway? Nowhere. What did he have to do? Nothing. Tater stumbled back when a man appeared before his eyes. And he was fucking naked. Tater blinked, and then he saw a wolf again. “Oh hell,” Tater shouted as he grabbed D’s wrist and started to run. There was no way in hell he had just witnessed a wolf changing into a man right before his eyes. No fucking way! He was just as crazy as everyone else now. “I told you,” D panted as he ran beside Tater. If D was telling the truth about that, if everyone had been telling the truth, then Tater had a goddamn vampire running next to him. He quickly let go of the guy’s wrist. That list of weird and fuckedup things that were happening to him was getting longer by the second. Tater noticed the wolf running alongside of them in the woods, but he made no move to cross the road and come after them. Tater slowed down, trying his best to catch his breath. He wasn’t used to all this damn exercise.

 

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“Why in the hell are you slowing down?” D asked as he backtracked, jogging in place. “Are you nuts? What part of shifter didn’t you understand?” Tater found himself bent over once again, his hands on his knees. Only this time he was trying to slow his heart rate. “Fuck it. We can’t outrun him. So if he’s gonna eat us, I’m tossing you to him first.” D slapped his hands on his hips, glaring at Tater. “Gee, thanks. But I think you’re the one that’s gonna be in trouble.” “How so?” Tater asked as he finally stood, taking in a deep breath as the sweat rolled down from his scalp. What he wouldn’t give for a nice cool breeze right about now. “Because, I don’t have to outrun the wolf. I just have to outrun you.” D chuckled as he backed away. He took a few steps backward, waving his fingers at Tater. “You wouldn’t dare,” Tater said in a warning tone as he looked over his shoulder to see the huge wolf watching them from the woods. “Why not? You were about to feed me to him.” Tater winced at the hurt tone in D’s voice. He had been joking around. He hadn’t meant to hurt the poor guy’s, er, vampire’s feelings. Fuck if things weren’t strange as hell tonight. It felt like he walked into a parallel universe or something. There was no way any of this could be real. “I wasn’t serious,” Tater confessed as he looked back over at the woods. He waved his hand at the wolf, indicating that he wanted the wolf to come to them. “Why don’t you change back and tell us what the fuck you’re up to?” Tater shouted. D threw his hands in the air and walked around in a circle, looking as though he was about to have a nervous breakdown. “You have lost your damn mind. Vampires and shifters are enemies!” Tater snorted as he waved a finger between the two of them. “Then it’s two against one.”

 

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D looked at him in shock. “You’d really help me? After I tried to feed from you?” “Dude, you did not feed from me. Remember that.” “You’re taking this pretty well. Do you deal with the paranormal a lot?” “Nope, so don’t remind me before I really wig out here.” “Duly noted.” Tater had to think of a way out of this. He was standing next to a vampire and staring across the road at a wolf that could change into a man. He was pretty sure there wasn’t a handbook for this sort of situation. “Why isn’t he changing?” Tater asked D. “Yeah, because I hang with shifters all the time.” D snorted. “How in the hell am I supposed to know?” “You don’t have to be a smart-ass about it. Think. What are we supposed to do?” Tater chewed on the side of his lip as he looked from D to the wolf. There had to be a logical explanation here. Why wouldn’t the wolf change back to a man? Not that Tater was thrilled to see that kind of weird shit happen again. He had to admit, it was kinda cool and scary as hell at the same time. Tater wasn’t sure if he wanted to see it again or pass out from the impossibility. “If I knew what we were supposed to do, we wouldn’t still be standing here debating the subject.” Tater was going to have to figure out how to shake the wolf off their tail. The creature really wasn’t doing anything wrong. But it was creepy as hell to be followed. Tater’s head whipped around when headlights showed brightly, bathing him and D in the beams as it ambled down the road and then began to slow down. Tater groaned. If one more thing went wrong tonight, he was going to kick someone’s ass just to relieve the mounting stress. “Uh, should we run again?” D asked.

 

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“I’m not sure, but it seems our friend over there has just crossed the road.” Tater nodded toward the advancing wolf. Why hadn’t he just gone to bed?

 

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Chapter Two Olsen Lakeland slammed on the brakes when he saw his mate standing next to a stranger and a fucking wolf advancing toward them. What in the hell was going on here? Nothing seemed right about this situation, and Olsen didn’t like the fact that Tater was a part of it. Tater was supposed to be safe at home. Well, as safe as he could be at home, considering everything that had gone on tonight. But Olsen did not expect to find his mate on the side of the road with a stranger and a wolf shifter. “What the hell is going on?” Olsen asked as he climbed out of the cab and slammed his truck door closed. His canines were already showing, and his bear claws were emerging as Olsen walked around the front of his truck. “Just what I didn’t need. I swear that damn list is growing longer by the minute.” Tater huffed as he and the stranger backed away…together? Olsen didn’t like this, not one bit. “What list? And who the hell is that?” Olsen pointed at the man beside his mate. He could see the shocked look on his mate’s face but was too enraged to sheath his claws and canines right now. Did Tater realize what kind of a situation he was in? Who he was keeping company with? There was no way his mate could know he was standing that close to a shifter. “Who are you?” the stranger asked, and that was when Olsen saw the fangs. Oh, hell no.

 

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“Get over here, Tater.” Olsen pointed to the spot in front of him. Tater shook his head back and forth as he took another step back. “I’d rather take my chances with the vampire. What in the hell are you, Olsen?” So his mate did know. Somehow that knowledge made Olsen see red. “You two know each other?” the vampire asked, snapping his head between Tater and Olsen. It pissed Olsen off that his mate and the vampire seemed to be chummy. Did that mean Tater had allowed the vampire to drink from him? Olsen tilted his head, looking for wounds on his mate’s neck. From this distance, he saw none. But that didn’t mean there weren’t any. Olsen kept an eye on the wolf just a few feet away from him. He wasn’t sure how the shifter played into all of this, but he wasn’t letting his guard down. If the wolf was one of Maverick’s wolves, then Olsen had nothing to worry about. But since he really didn’t know Maverick’s pack that well, he wasn’t taking any chances. Olsen started forward with the intention of grabbing Tater until he heard a low, menacing growl come from the wolf. He stopped instantly. As big as he was, even he wasn’t stupid enough to take on a wolf shifter while Olsen was in his human form—especially one that seemed to be guarding his territory. That mere thought sent Olsen’s protective instincts through the roof. He bared his teeth and growled back at the wolf as he jabbed a finger toward Tater. “Mine!” The wolf lost its feral look and cocked his head to one side. “Look, why don’t you shift so we can talk?” The wolf looked at Tater, and the vampire then trotted to the other side of the truck and shifted. A moment later, a tall blond man stood there—naked. Olsen frowned, not liking the fact that there was a naked man within a mile of his mate. He hurried to the truck and

 

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grabbed a spare set of jogging pants he always kept in the cab then tossed them toward the back of the truck at the naked man. When he turned back to Tater, his mate was standing there with his mouth hanging open. “He really can shift.” “Yes, he’s a wolf shifter,” Olsen said as he glanced over his shoulder at the stranger. Thank goodness he was dressed. Olsen would have hated to kill the fucker just for being naked in front of his mate. Tater’s eyes snapped to him. “What are you?” “I already to you that I was a bear.” Tater looked like he was mulling the information over in his head. Olsen could see the wheels turning slowly. “The bear I saw in the woods when we were looking for Alex, who was it?” “Riley.” “Your brother?” “Yep.” “Look,” Tater said as he pointed a finger at Olsen. “Stop with the monosyllable answers. I’m trying my best not to freak out, so help me along here. You guys trying to convince me of people who can change into animals is one thing. Me actually seeing it happen sheds a whole new light on the subject.” Olsen exhaled loudly as he rubbed the back of his neck. This was a conversation he had planned on having with his mate, but not this soon and definitely not in front of witnesses, strangers no less. He had thought Tater had believed his family and Maverick when they told him about the paranormal world. Apparently his mate had changed his mind. This only complicated matters. “Come over here so we can talk privately.” Olsen jerked his head to the side as he walked over by the woods. He could see the vampire eyeing them curiously, but Olsen ignored him. The vampire was the wolf’s problem, if he was reading the blond man correctly. He waited patiently as Tater took his sweet old time crossing the road. “I’m listening,” Tater said as he kept a few feet away.

 

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“You don’t have to be afraid of me. I won’t shift and maul you.” Olsen was irritated at the frightened way Tater was reacting to this. His mate looked ready to bolt, which made Olsen ready to chase. He was getting geared up for the chase, ready to run Tater into the ground and show him who the alpha was between them. “Don’t run,” he warned in a low voice. “Why? You gonna hurt me?” Tater took a step back, his body coiling. “Don’t run.” Olsen shook his head as he warned his mate once more. Fuck! Tater ran. Olsen shifted and gave chase. It was instinctual. Something he couldn’t have prevented even if he had tried. Tater glanced over his shoulder, giving a shout as he picked up the pace. Olsen put on a burst of speed, gaining momentum and overtaking Tater. “Don’t eat me!” Tater shouted as he hit the ground. Olsen mentally rolled his eyes as he circled around his mate. He had warned him. Twice. “What the hell are you doing?” the vampire shouted as he ran after them. Olsen roared as he stepped over his mate and got up on his hind legs. Anyone in close proximity was a threat. He landed back on his front paws, scratching at the ground as he warned the vampire away. “Get over here,” the wolf shouted at the vampire. Olsen gave a quick-burst charge and then backed up, defending what was his. Tater crab-crawled backward, which made Olsen’s job of protecting his mate a lot harder. Now there was too much ground to cover, and Olsen was getting irritated. There were too many people around his mate. Olsen jerked around when his brother, Bryce, pulled up in his truck. He gave a loud, warning roar toward his brother.

 

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“What in the hell is going on here?” Bryce asked as he climbed out of his truck and walked slowly over to Olsen. “The bear is trying to eat the human.” The vampire pointed at Olsen. “Tater is my friend. I don’t want him eaten.” Bryce looked from the vampire to the wolf, and then over to Olsen, a wide smile spanning across his face. “You sure know how to get yourself in a fix, don’t you?” Olsen roared again, but Bryce ignored him. “Yeah, I already know Tater is your mate. I’m not going to go near him.” “I’m his what?” Tater stared at Olsen as if he had two heads. Olsen was getting even more pissed by the moment. He had wanted to explain all of this to Tater, but it seemed everyone else was doing his job. “Uh, I take it you weren’t aware of this fact?” Bryce asked as he started walking backward, holding his hands up in front of him. “Forget I said anything.” “His mate?” The vampire’s head snapped around to look at Tater. “How cool is that?” Olsen tried once more to roar, hoping everyone shut the hell up. It was useless as the vampire kept right on talking, only this time he was talking to Tater. “He’s your mate. That means fate has brought you two together. Paired you for life.” “Oh, hell no,” Tater squeaked as he got to his feet. “He’s a damn bear, if no one here has noticed. I don’t do animals.” Tater spun on his heel, walking away from everyone. Olsen shifted, uncaring that he was naked. Obviously the wolf did when he growled and spun the vampire around. Olsen ignored all of them as he chased after Tater. “Tater, wait.” “Fuck off, Olsen. I’ve had enough surprises for one night.” Tater sped up as he tried to get further away from him. Olsen had had enough. He grabbed Tater’s arm, spinning his mate around to face him.

 

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“Look, I’m sorry you’ve had such a rough night, and I’m sorry I only added to it. That wasn’t my intention.” Olsen reached out and cupped Tater’s face, feeling rejected when Tater pulled away. He saw the fear in his mate’s eyes right before Tater looked away. That look told Olsen that he had a fighting chance. If his mate had looked indifferent, then Olsen would have known that trying to mate Tater would have been a lost cause. “Look,” Tater sighed. “I know you mean well. I just don’t do commitments.” Olsen’s heart sank at Tater’s words. How was he going to claim the gorgeous human and take him home if his mate didn’t do commitments? This was getting more complicated by the moment. Olsen knew fate had chosen Tater for him, but he wasn’t sure he was up for the struggle it would take to win Tater over. The man obviously didn’t want to be bothered and was pretty much spelling it out for him. Normally Olsen wouldn’t give up, but his mate’s happiness was the only thing Olsen was concerned about. It tore his heart in two to think of it, but if Tater really didn’t want anything to do with him, then Olsen wouldn’t bother him anymore. Olsen felt like he was leaving a large part of himself behind when he backed away. “Don’t worry, I won’t bother you again.” He spun around and headed back toward his truck, forcing himself not to look back. He was kicking his own ass as he grabbed the truck door for giving up so easily, but he wasn’t going to force himself on anyone, least of all his mate. Tater knew where he lived if he wanted Olsen. “Hey,” the vampire shouted as he ran after Tater. Olsen stalled getting into his truck to see what the wolf would do. The blond man looked at the vampire’s retreating back and then over at Olsen. “Looks like neither of our mates wants us.” Olsen could hear the touch of sadness in the man’s voice. He knew how the shifter felt. It was a fucked-up situation when a mate

 

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rejected his other half. “My name’s Olsen. Can I give you a ride somewhere?” “I’m Sloane.” The wolf nodded toward the pair walking away as he headed toward Olsen’s truck. “Will they be safe together?” “They seem to need each other right now. My mate wouldn’t go with anyone who he felt was a threat to him.” Olsen had learned that much already. Tater was a big man, not as big as Olsen was, but big enough. And Olsen had a feeling that his interference, no matter how justified, wouldn’t be welcomed. He watched Bryce shake his head and get into his truck, driving away. He knew his brother wouldn’t understand why Olsen wasn’t chasing Tater down, but in a way, neither did Olsen. His feelings were a mess right now, all over the place and making Olsen’s brain scattered. “I was headed to Maverick Brac’s home to ask if I can join his pack. Do you know where he lives?” Sloane asked as he climbed into the passenger seat. Olsen nodded. “Everyone knows Maverick.” He glanced in the direction his mate was walking and had an urge to chase him down again and make Tater submit. Olsen sighed and grabbed a pair of jeans from behind his seat, sliding them on. A shifter always kept spare clothing in his vehicle. One never knew when he would need them, and it seemed Olsen needed more than usual tonight. He pulled a T-shirt over his head and grabbed an extra pair of shoes from the box bolted on the back of his truck. He looked across the field at his mate and the vampire as they slowly disappeared, sadness engulfing him. “Give him time,” Sloane said as he shut the truck door. Time. That was something he had been giving Tater, and it didn’t seem to be working. Olsen needed to talk to his pa about all of this. He was

 

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confused as hell and he wasn’t sure what he should do. It seemed the more time he gave Tater, the harder the man pushed him away. Olsen took one last look at his retreating mate before climbing behind the wheel. Tater was back on the road, heading toward his house with the vampire. At least his mate was headed home. He started the truck and turned it around, heading toward Maverick’s. It didn’t take them long to get there. Olsen pulled into the gravel drive of Maverick Brac’s home. “It’s kinda late. Are you sure he’s expecting you?” Sloane shook his head. “I didn’t know how to get in touch with him.” Olsen gaped at Sloane. “So you just decided to show up in the middle of the night. Are you nuts?” No sooner did the words leave his lips than four very large wolves surrounded his truck. Olsen wasn’t sure what he should do. Even in his bear form there was no way he could take on four timber wolves. He didn’t know the Brac pack that well for them to recognize him. “I take it that was a bad judgment call?” Sloane asked as the wolves began to growl menacingly. “Ya think?” Olsen scowled as he let his window down slightly. One of the large wolves jumped up, his massive paws resting against the driver’s door. His night seemed to be going to shit quickly. “I’m Olsen Lakeland. This here is Sloane. He came to ask permission to join your pack,” Olsen stated and then held his breath. One of the wolves shifted, glaring at both of them. “And it seemed appropriate to come calling in the middle of the fucking night with our mates sleeping behind those walls?” The wolf pointed toward the house. “If I didn’t know the name Lakeland, I’d kill you both just for your stupidity.” Yeah, Olsen was thinking the same exact thing and was grateful the wolf was showing restraint. What could he say to that? The wolf had a valid point. He reached over and cuffed Sloane in the back of

 

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his head. “Thanks for getting me in the middle of this shit.” He didn’t care if he just met the guy. Sloane had that one coming to him. Sloane growled but made no move to defend himself. Instead he let his window down a fraction and called over to another wolf. “My name is Sloane, Sloane Brac.” Olsen snapped his head around to look at the wolf sitting next to him. “Brac? Are you any relation to Maverick?” “Cousin.” The guy smirked. Olsen had to fist his hands because he wanted to knock the smirk right off of the man’s face. He wasn’t sure what game Sloane was playing at, but he didn’t like being used—and the guy had used him like a cheap whore on a Saturday night. “Wait right here,” the wolf that had shifted said between clenched teeth. Olsen wasn’t stupid enough, or crazy enough, to disobey. A few minutes later, Maverick Brac’s tall and menacing form loped out of the front door, the shifted wolf, now clothed, trailing closely behind him. Maverick did not look happy. Olsen wanted to kick Sloane out of his truck and take off before the alpha reached them. Having someone that massive and deadlylooking heading his way made Olsen rethink the whole help a shifter out philosophy. “I don’t remember him being that fucking huge,” Sloane said in awe from beside him. “Maybe if you had come during normal calling hours, he may not have been.” Olsen wasn’t sure what the hell he was saying, but the closer Maverick came, the less he liked Sloane. “Who claims the Brac name?” Maverick growled as he approached the truck. Olsen pointed at Sloane, not wanting Maverick’s anger directed at him. He had met Maverick before, but in the dead of night, mistakes could be made.

 

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“Sloane?” Maverick said as he bent his ginormous form down slightly to see who was inside the truck. “Tell me that’s not you.” Sloane gave a slight nod. “Kill him,” Maverick said as he turned his back on them and headed for the house. “Whoa, wait,” Sloane shouted as he was pulled from the truck by the wolves who had shifted into their human forms. “I can explain.” Olsen could hear the panic in Sloane’s voice. Hell, he was panicking and the order was for the wolf to be killed. Maverick turned, his canines gleaming in the light of the moon as his eyes shifted to an eerie crimson. “Explain then. Explain to me how you turned your back on me when I came out. Explain to me why you allowed half of the pack to turn against me, because I’d really love to hear the fucking excuse you have for your betrayal.” “I didn’t betray you!” Sloane shouted from the other side of Olsen’s truck. “I swear. Do you remember Haggard?” Olsen didn’t think Maverick’s growl could have gotten any deeper, but it did. “What about him?” “He’s the one who betrayed you. Call your dad and ask him. I tried to hunt for you, but you had left by then.” Maverick took a step toward Sloane, deadliness coming off of the alpha in waves. “I haven’t spoken to my father in years, but he would have never held something like that a secret.” “He would have if it involved his sister.” Maverick looked taken aback. “What does Aunt Jasmine have to do with this?” “Do you want me to kill him now and save us all the headache?” one of the wolves asked. Maverick shook his head. “No, Tryck. Bring him inside. He seems to have answers to questions I never knew existed.” Tryck snorted. “Family will fuck you over if you let them into your home.”

 

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Maverick’s brows pulled together as he looked over at Tryck. “You have two brothers under our roof.” Tryck shrugged. “Semantics.” Olsen was confused as hell but wasn’t going to say a fucking word. As long as he wasn’t the one in the hot seat, he wasn’t going to interfere. Maverick turned and looked at him, his crimson eyes spooky as fuck. “Go home, Olsen.” He didn’t have to be told twice. Olsen nodded toward Maverick and then put his truck in reverse, getting the hell out of there.

 

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Chapter Three Chauncey put a foot on the bottom step leading to the second floor but stopped as he looked around the banister and into the living room. There was no way he was seeing a vampire. “Who’s the bloodsucker?” he called into the living room. “Chauncey!” his pa chastised him. “Use your damn manners.” Chauncey removed his foot from the bottom step and headed into the living room. It seemed like his entire family was sitting there, minus Olsen. Why wasn’t he invited to their secret meeting? Chauncey had just woken from his sleep to get some sweets, and here his family was having some sort of powwow. “Okay, who’s the vein drainer then?” His pa exhaled loudly as he pointed to a chair on the opposite side of the room. “You can sit over there since your manners still seem to be upstairs.” Chauncey walked into the living room and took a seat, staring at Tater, who was sitting next to the vampire. He was confused as hell about what was going on. Olsen’s mate should not be sitting next to an undead. “Where’s Olsen?” “He’s at Maverick’s. He’ll be back shortly,” Chance said with a grin on his face. “And I for one ain’t moving until I watch him try to kill Count Dracula over there.” “Get out,” Pa said to the entire room. “All of you boys, go to bed since I can’t get you to behave.” Chauncey watched the youngest, Roman, grab his mate and head upstairs. Gavin and his mate, Alex, went next. Chauncey didn’t move

 

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a muscle. He agreed with his twin, Chance. He wanted front-row seats to witness Olsen’s anger. “Boys,” Pa warned. When neither of them moved, his pa pulled up to his full height. “Now.” Instead of going upstairs, Chauncey walked over and pushed the front door open and headed outside. He sat on the front steps, listening as the first of the morning birds started tweeting out their melodies. His brother Olsen’s truck pulled into the drive just then, making its way up to the house. Chauncey stood and walked over to Olsen’s truck as his brother parked it. “Ya got company.” He felt his brother should have a little warning before he walked into the house. Olsen’s brows pulled together as he got out of the truck and slammed the door. “Who?” “Tater and some vampire.” Olsen quickened his steps at the news. “Is Tater okay?” “Seemed fine to me,” Chauncey said as he reseated himself on the front steps. This was going to be a long day. **** Tater could hear Olsen outside with Chauncey. His nerves coiled tight when he heard the squeak of the screen door being opened. Maybe he was a little hasty in deciding to come here. It had seemed logical at the time. “What’s going on?” Olsen asked as he stepped into the living room. His light gray eyes scanned Tater as if looking for any wounds. “I’ll leave you boys to talk,” Olsen’s father said as he waved a hand at D. “Come on, D, let’s go get some coffee.” “I…uh…don’t drink coffee, sir,” D said as he followed Olsen’s father out of the room. “Then it’s high time you start.”

 

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Tater watched their retreating backs, unsure of what to do. Olsen crossed the room and took a seat next to him, sitting just as stiffly as Tater was. “Did something happen?” Tater shook his head. “No. I just didn’t feel like going home.” He felt like a total ass. After the words he had shoved at Olsen back in that field, Tater wouldn’t be surprised if Olsen told him to get out. He hadn’t been very friendly. Tater had just panicked with Olsen being so close, but he felt it best to keep that bit of information to himself until he could figure his feeling out. “You know you’re always welcome to stay here,” Olsen said as he seemed to relax a degree. Now Tater did feel like shit. Olsen was being nice, even after he told him to fuck off. Tater scratched his chin, wondering what to say to the handsome man. He was never one for polite conversation. “Thanks.” “We have a spare bedroom upstairs,” Olsen said as he pointed at the ceiling. “But I think your friend will need it.” Tater nodded numbly. Was Olsen inviting him to his bed? His heart began to pound heavily behind his ribs as Tater’s mouth went dry. He wanted to reply, to give Olsen an answer. He just wasn’t sure the words would make it past his dry throat. “Then let’s get you settled in.” Olsen stood, reaching a hand out to Tater. He ignored it and sidestepped Olsen. “Maybe I should go home.” Olsen turned, his eyes assessing Tater. “But I thought you just said you didn’t want to go home?” This was why Tater didn’t like commitments and relationships. He was nervous as hell and felt trapped. If Olsen had said let’s fuck and nothing more, Tater would have been all over it. But he knew better. Olsen was a forever kind of guy. The man screamed commitment. “I…” Tater wasn’t sure what his brain was trying to force his mouth to say, so he headed for the door.

 

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“Tater, wait.” Olsen reached out and grabbed his arm. “Just sleep?” Tater stopped. He wanted to agree. There were so many things that he did want but wasn’t sure how to ask for them. Everything was coming at him all at once, and Tater felt itchy, like his entire body was breaking out in hives or something. He didn’t say a word when Olsen grabbed his hand and led him toward the steps. The stairs creaked as he trailed behind the handsome man. Tater’s eyes locked onto Olsen’s nice backside. He wondered if a coin would bounce off of the tight muscles. Visions of nipping Olsen’s perfect backside had Tater getting rock hard. He wanted to reach out and touch that nicely rounded ass. “In here.” Olsen pointed to a bedroom door and then opened it. Tater stepped through, his eyes immediately zeroing in on the large bed centered in the middle of the room. He saw everything that was going on here, but was helpless to stop it. Did he really want to? Tater wasn’t sure. He became less sure as Olsen released his hand and began to undress. He wasn’t a little guy, but next to Olsen, Tater felt puny as hell. The man was large, muscular, and Olsen had fine, black hair sprinkling his body. Yeah, Tater wanted some of that. Maybe afterward he could make an excuse so he could leave, but for now, Tater wanted. “If you keep looking at me like that, it will be more than just sleep going on in here.” Olsen smiled as he warned Tater, shucking his jeans. That was exactly what Tater was hoping for. It had been ages since he’d had sex, and the sight of the handsome bear was wreaking havoc on his own body. Tater could feel his cock hardening as he watched Olsen shed his clothes. His eyes drank in the large, sinewy

 

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muscles that were exposed. Only a blind fool wouldn’t be able to see the nice, well-developed back that screamed to be touched. Damn, the man was simply delicious. Tater slid his hands into his back pockets as he looked to his left, pretending he wasn’t watching Olsen when the man turned around. He could feel his eyes pulling to look, but Tater knew if he did, he would drool. “Are you going to sleep fully clothed?” Olsen asked with a bit of a dare in his voice. Was it Tater’s imagination, or had Olsen’s voice dipped lower? Tater didn’t immediately answer. He wasn’t sure what to say. Sex was on the menu, of that Tater had no doubt, but to openly discuss it? Was Olsen crazy? He glanced at his well-worn boots, wondering if he could just excuse himself and head home. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. “Hey.” Olsen walked over and lifted Tater’s chin with the knuckle of his hand. The only thing Tater could see was nicely exposed biceps and pecs. He could feel his body humming as he licked his lips. “You don’t have to do a damn thing that makes you uncomfortable. I promise.” Tater rolled his eyes. As if the man could force him. Olsen was a few inches taller and more heavily muscled than Tater, but he sure as shit could give the bear a run for his money. “I know that.” Olsen stood there studying Tater for a moment before nodding. “Good. Don’t ever think you’re not safe around me.” Again, his eyes rolled. Did Olsen see him as a helpless twit? His lip curled back as he slapped his hands onto his hips. “I can handle my own.” Olsen grabbed Tater’s upper arms, forcing him to look up. “Sometimes being safe isn’t always a physical thing, Tater.” Tater could feel his body tremble in rage. Olsen was talking about Tater’s heart, and it was more than he could deal with at the moment. “Let me go.”

 

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Olsen removed his hand, holding it up as he took a step back. “You know, I don’t get you. I come after you, and you back away. I back away, and you come after me. Let’s cut the dance and get to the point. What are you so afraid of?” Tater clenched his jaw as Olsen hit the million-dollar question on the head. His lips fixed to say the word commitment, but Tater refused to allow the single word to pass. He knew that if he told Olsen the truth, the bear would only try to reassure him that he had nothing to be afraid of. Olsen wouldn’t understand his fear and brush it aside in his attempt to get closer to him. If it were that easy, Tater would have committed to Olsen on the spot. Too bad it wasn’t. “Nothing. I’m not afraid of a fucking thing. This was a mistake. I should go home.” To his surprise, Olsen didn’t try to stop him. Tater wasn’t sure if he wanted the man to or not. His emotions were conflicting, and his gut was twisted into a knot. He wasn’t sure if he was coming or going. But Tater knew one thing for sure. He needed to get as far away from Olsen as possible. He needed to think without a gorgeous bear of a distraction standing in front of him. “Do you need a ride?” Olsen was giving Tater what he wanted. Letting him walk out without a protest. So why did he get so damned pissed when Olsen asked him that question? “No.” Tater turned on his heel and stormed out of the bedroom. The sun was rising higher into the morning sky, so his walk should be less harrowing than it had been last night. He couldn’t believe he had gone over twenty-four hours without sleep. Maybe that was his problem. Lack of sleep could make a person irritable as hell. “It’s a long way from here to your house,” Olsen reminded him with a bit of humor in his tone as he followed behind Tater down the steps.

 

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“I walked it last night. I’m sure I can handle doing it again.” Tater wavered for a split second. He was torn between staying and leaving. He knew Olsen wanted more than a roll in the sack. The bear wanted a commitment, and that was Tater’s deciding factor. “Bye.” He thought about D in the guestroom, but it was daylight out and there was nothing he could do about it at the moment. Besides, Tater knew the vampire was in good hands. Too bad his own brain wouldn’t process that knowledge about Olsen. **** Tater was quickly rethinking his dumb ass idea of walking home. He was so tired that he wanted to lie down on the side of the road and sleep. The black asphalt was looking mighty good right about now. After what felt like a thousand years, Tater finally turned down his dirt drive and headed toward his house. His entire body felt like one big, sore ass muscle. His legs felt weak enough to give out. Tater wiped his hand down his face as he climbed the porch steps. Having plenty of time to think on his long walk home, Tater realized that he hadn’t wanted to leave. He was too afraid to voice his fears and wanted Olsen to take charge, make him stay, and make him commit. Tater knew that wasn’t how Olsen would handle the situation. The bear would always give him choices. Tater had had an epiphany on his long walk. The realization scared him, but he allowed the truth to surface. Tater wanted Olsen to control him. He walked the creaking staircase as he made his way to his bedroom. His bones actually hurt from lack of sleep and walking the long distance. All Tater wanted to do was sleep. First he needed to shower though. The two-day grime was making his skin itch.

 

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Tater indulged in a long, hot shower as he prayed the pounding spray helped to relax his muscles. He lifted his head, allowing the stream of water to run down his face and over his hair. He wondered how he was going to tell Olsen what he truly wanted. Hell, he couldn’t even find the courage to voice his fear. How was he going to voice his desire? “Tater, stop taking all the hot water,” his mother called from just outside the door. Fuck. He needed to find his own place. This was ridiculous. He had no privacy here, and it was driving him crazy. The problem was, Tater needed to find a job first. He’d always been a drifter. Drifting from one thing to the next, never committing to anything or one job. Tater was beginning to think something was seriously wrong with him. “Tater!” Tater sighed as he cut the water off. He couldn’t even find solace in his own damn bathroom. Grabbing a towel, Tater dried off as he wondered if he’d ever find his way in life. **** “Have you tried talking to him?” Pa asked as he sat down in one of the chairs in the living room. “I have. He seems so out of reach. I’m not sure how to handle this situation,” Olsen confessed. His pa rubbed his chin as he looked to be considering Olsen’s words. He leaned forward, laying his arms on his powerful thighs. It still amazed Olsen sometimes how strong his father truly was. Every last one of the boys thought for sure that his pa was going to shrivel up and die when their mother had passed away. His father had fooled them all. He was still as strong and commanding as he had been when Olsen was a cub.

 

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“You ever think that maybe this is all a little overwhelming for the young man? He hadn’t a clue shifters existed until we told him. Some men need time to absorb something like that.” Olsen sat on the edge of the couch, mulling over his pa’s words. “You think that’s it? That he just needs time to adjust to the news of were-creatures and vampires existing?” Could it be that simple? He thought that he was going to lose his mind this morning when Tater had waltzed right out of Olsen’s house. He worried himself sick that something bad would happen to his mate, but he knew Tater would have thrown a fit if he’d gone after him. “Don’t take my word for it. It could be something entirely different, son. I can see the hunger in his eyes when he looks at you. My question to you is, what kind of hunger is he craving?” Olsen wasn’t sure what in the hell his pa was talking about. What did he mean what kind of hunger was he craving? That didn’t make any sense to him. “Don’t forget we’re having a cookout this weekend. Invite your mate. Make him feel at home here.” Olsen nodded absently as he headed out of the living room and into the kitchen. He pushed the kitchen door open and walked toward the corral, turning his pa’s words over in his mind. No matter what angle he looked at it from, his pa’s words still didn’t make any sense to him. Olsen had been chasing after Tater for weeks now, his mate not giving him an inch. Olsen began to wonder if his relationship with the strong man was already doomed from the start. Maybe fate didn’t always get it right. **** Alex sat at the top of the steps and listened to Olsen and Pa. He knew listening in was wrong, but he hated to see any of the Lakelands

 

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sad. His mate, Gavin, had shown him what a true family had to offer, and Alex wanted his cousin Tater to feel it, too. He knew Tater’s problem. It didn’t take a genius to figure it out. Okay, maybe it would, considering Olsen was clueless. Alex saw the need, the hunger in Tater to be dominated. Now all his cousin needed was for the bear to see it as well. Somehow Alex had a feeling Olsen was going to need an anvil dropped on his head before he bought a clue.

 

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Chapter Four Maverick threw his feet up onto his desk as he looked at his cousin. It didn’t seem real that Sloane was here. How long had it been since he last saw the fucker? Two hundred years, maybe more? “Talk,” he commanded as he rested his chin on his chest, his fingers entwined and resting on his stomach as he listened closely. “It was Haggard. I swear. Do you think I’m crazy enough to betray you? Even in your youth you were the largest timber wolf alive.” Maverick gave a soft snort as he studied his hands. “Flattery will get you killed. I want the truth, and don’t get sidetracked. My patience has gone to shit since I’ve gotten older. My family members are the only beings that have my patience. You do not.” “But I’m your family,” Sloane pointed out indignantly. Maverick was on his feet and across his desk in under a second, grabbing Sloane by the front of his shirt and lifting him out of his chair and across his desk. “I don’t have time for this. Talk.” “Do you remember the great oak tree?” Maverick nodded. He remembered it well. “I got in trouble with Ma, so I was hiding out in the branches of the oak tree when Haggard and Aunt Jasmine walked up. They were acting all crazy-like, looking around like they expected someone to jump out at them at any moment.” Maverick growled and slammed Sloane into the wall. “What in the hell does this have to do with you betraying me?” “I’m getting to that,” Sloane squeaked. “I swear.” “Get to it faster.”

 

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“On–once they stopped looking around, they started talking. Well, Aunt Jasmine started talking. Haggard just kind of stood there with drool rolling down his face.” Maverick’s eyebrows shot up. “Haggard and Aunt Jasmine? Seriously? I thought Aunt Jasmine couldn’t stand Haggard.” “Well, apparently, she hated you more.” “Me?” Maverick’s eyebrows drew together in a deep, thoughtful frown as he remembered back to when he lived with his birth pack. It might have been over two hundred years ago, but he didn’t think he’d ever forget having to fend off his aunt’s sexual advances. It was one of the things that made him appreciate being with men more. “She started making promises to Haggard,” Sloane continued. “If he got rid of you, then she would agree to mate with him and rule the pack at his side when your father stepped down. With you gone, Haggard had a better chance at being next in line for alpha.” **** Olsen chewed his lower lip as he stared at Tater’s house from his truck that was hidden behind a nearby tree. He wasn’t sure if he should bother his mate, but he missed him. He wasn’t so lost in his manhood that he couldn’t admit that. He missed Tater’s delicious scent, his beautiful green eyes, and he missed the way his mate’s nostrils flared when he was pissed. Olsen was so damn screwed. He stood up straighter when he saw Tater come from the back of the house, his arms animatedly flailing around. A low growl escaped Olsen’s lips until he saw Tater’s dad come around the side of the house a few seconds later. He got out of his truck, creeping along the tree-lined yard as he attempted to get close enough to find out what the hell was going on. He hated that his mate didn’t have a stable home life. Olsen wasn’t sure what he would have done if his family was as dysfunctional as

 

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Tater’s seemed to be. His brothers were overbearing, nutty as fruitcakes, and immature as hell, but he loved them and would kill a rock over them. “I don’t care, Dad. It’s none of your business.” Tater’s father bristled, his face pulling back into a mask of rage. “It is my business when you have men coming to my house to see you. I know for a fact that they’re not just friends. Don’t lie to me, Tater. Are you gay?” Olsen’s heart beat out of his chest at Tater’s dad’s words. What men? Did Tater have boyfriends coming to his house? Did Tater have boyfriends? Olsen was ready to rip something apart as his anger escalated. He tried his best to tamp down his anger. Tater’s dad had asked a serious question, and this was a monumental moment in his mate’s life. But still. Boyfriends? “For the hundredth time, my sex life is none of your business. I don’t ask about you and Mom.” Okay, that was just gross. “Ask away, son. I have sex with a woman. Do you?” “Ew. I didn’t want to know that.” Tater’s entire body shivered. Olsen wanted to chuckle. His mate was so damn dramatic. “Don’t try and sidetrack me. Answer my question, Hubert.” Hubert? “Don’t call me that! I swear I would love to know if Mom was still medicated from giving birth to me when she named me.” Tater’s father growled. Olsen rolled his eyes. It sounded weak and pathetic coming from a human. A cub sounded more ferocious than Tater’s father. “Answer me.” Tater gave his father a challenging look before a contemptuous smile crossed his face. “Yes, Dad. I’m gay.” “Pack. Your. Bags,” his father bit out between clenched teeth. His face turned an angry shade of red as he spoke low and menacingly.

 

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“You have ten minutes to get what you can and get off of my property before I get my shotgun.” Olsen wanted to leave the hiding place of the trees and defend his mate, but he knew if he showed his face, Tater wouldn’t even have the ten minutes he’d been granted to gather his belongings. Olsen’s bear was roaring at the injustice his mate had been handed. His fingers curled around the branch as he fought the shift. “Fine,” Tater said angrily as he stormed into the house. Olsen waited. He was going to make sure Tater made it safely away before he approached his mate. He would hate to have to kill his mate’s father for acting stupidly. Olsen saw a light come on in a window on the second floor. He kept his eyes on Tater’s father though. He cocked his head to the side when he saw Tater’s father wipe at his eyes. He wasn’t sure what that was about, but he held no sympathy for the man. He could have easily accepted his son’s choice. He didn’t have to turn his back on his only child and kick him out. Olsen moved back and faded into the darkness as Tater emerged from the house. He slowly made his way back to his truck that he had left on the side of the road, keeping his eyes on his mate and Tater’s father. Once he reached the end of the drive, he walked out of the woods. Tater came to a halt, pain and humiliation flashing in his eyes before he cast them downward. “See it all?” “Enough,” Olsen said as he took a step closer. He reached out, taking a bag from Tater’s hand. Tater was resistant at first, reluctant to let the bag go. His fingers finally uncurled from around the straps, allowing Olsen to take it. “Let’s go home.” Tater shook his head as he walked over to Olsen’s truck. “Take me to Maverick’s, please.”

 

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Olsen would be a liar if he didn’t admit to himself that he was downright pissed and hurt at his mate’s decision. He couldn’t honestly understand Tater and his reasoning. No matter what angle he looked at it from, Tater perplexed him and was testing his patience. “What’s wrong with coming home with me?” Tater stopped walking toward Olsen’s truck, his bags hanging off of his well-defined muscular shoulders as he eyed Olsen. “Because I’d rather go to Maverick’s. Since that seems to be a problem, I’ll walk.” Olsen rolled his shoulders, praying he didn’t take his mate into the field a mile down the road and teach him a lesson on his snapping attitude. “Get in the truck.” “Look. I don’t need—” “Now!” Olsen felt his patience slipping. Enough was enough. Fine, if his mate didn’t want to come home with him, he’d at least take him to Maverick’s. Olsen knew Tater would be safe there. But his funky ass attitude had to go. Tater glared at Olsen for a moment. He could tell his mate was wavering on what he should do. Finally Tater walked to the back of Olsen’s truck and threw his things into the bed. Olsen sighed as Tater got into the truck and slammed the door. He was getting a major migraine dealing with his willful mate. Olsen climbed into the driver’s seat and slammed the door, wincing when he realized what he had just done. This was so not going the way he had thought it would when he left the house. He thought Tater just needed a little coaxing to be reassured that Olsen would never hurt him in his human or bear form. Fuck a stick, he had no clue Tater had a tree stuck up his ass. They drove in silence down the back road. Olsen stole quick glances at his mate, the lit-up dashboard illuminating Tater’s face, giving it an ethereal look. His fingers itched to reach over and pull Tater into his arms. He was tired of the fighting, the arguing, and the resistance.

 

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Olsen just wanted his mate. A whole slew of words crossed through his mind, but Olsen didn’t think any of them would work against his prickly mate. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Tater he was sorry, and Olsen had no clue what he’d be apologizing for. He palmed the wheel, turning onto the gravel drive that led to Maverick’s home and finding an open space to park his truck. Olsen felt like he should say something, but he held back. His mate was about to walk away from him, and Olsen couldn’t think of anything to say to stop him. Tater slid his seat belt off and opened the truck door before Olsen had the damn truck parked. If that wasn’t telling him something, then he was blind. Tater didn’t want him. Olsen climbed out of the truck, grabbing a few bags and walking his mate quietly to front door. He waited as Tater rang the bell. Olsen noticed a camera whiz around, pointing directly at him. He looked down at his hands, at Tater’s belongings, as he waited for someone to answer the door. His mind was screaming to stop Tater. To demand that he come home with Olsen and stop this nonsense. Olsen studied his mate’s profile as Tater looked straight ahead. He really was a handsome man. He felt the longing in his chest to touch anything on Tater. Olsen’s head snapped around when the front door opened. A man with silver hair eyed them both. “Can I help you?” “I’m Tater, Taylor’s friend,” Tater answered. Olsen noticed how Tater omitted his introduction. He mentally sighed. “And you?” the silver-haired man asked. “I’m Olsen Lakeland.” He stretched his arm out. “Loco,” the man said as he shook Olsen’s hand. “I know about the Lakelands. Come on in.” Olsen hovered his hand at the small of Tater’s back as they entered the house, walking into a large foyer. Olsen cocked a brow

 

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when a small child ran up to him and hugged his legs before taking off again. “Don’t mind Maddox. He’s a cub that thinks he rules the pack.” Loco chuckled. “Don’t tell anyone, but he does.” Olsen stepped closer to Tater when Maverick appeared from around a corner, his expression curious as he looked from Olsen to Tater and then down at his mate’s bags. “I take it I’m having a houseguest?” he asked Olsen. “If you don’t mind, sir,” Tater answered. Olsen let a low growl leave his lips as his mate gave the alpha the honorific he hadn’t even received. He wanted to lash out. It took every ounce of restraint to keep his bear from emerging and claiming what was his. He didn’t like all of these males around his mate. It wasn’t kosher, and Olsen was five seconds away from shifting. “Can I talk to you outside?” Maverick asked Olsen and then turned to Tater. “Loco will show you a room.” Olsen watched helplessly as Tater walked away from him. His canines punched through his gums as he growled. “Outside, now,” Maverick commanded. Olsen gave his mate one last glance before following the alpha outside. He paced the front yard as he tried his best to calm his bear. Now that Tater was out of his sight, he didn’t like the idea of his mate being here when he should be at home with Olsen. “Shift,” Maverick commanded. Olsen shifted, roaring as he charged the alpha and then stopped at the last second. He was giving warning, and the alpha knew it. He roared again when a few timber wolves emerged from different directions, growling as they approached him. “Stay back,” Maverick said as he held his hand up. “Olsen’s mate is inside, and he feels like his claim is being threatened.” Olsen was surprised Maverick knew what was going on with him. He roared again, scratching his paws against the grass. The alpha knelt in front of Olsen.

 

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“He’s safe here. No one is going to touch him. I give you my word.” Olsen grunted as he backed away and then charged again, stopping a few feet in front of Maverick. He could see the wolves getting closer, but he was too worried about Tater. What puzzled him most was that Maverick didn’t even flinch. He just knelt there like he was humoring Olsen. Olsen shifted back into his human form. “I want my mate!” “I haven’t a clue what’s going on here, but if Tater is looking for refuge and protection, I’m extending it to him. He is now under my roof and my care. If he doesn’t want to see you, I’m sorry, but he doesn’t have to. Mates come first.” Olsen had already told himself that, but hearing it from someone else’s lips irritated the shit out of him. Hearing it from a man’s lips when it concerned his mate downright pissed him off. He headed toward his truck before he did something really stupid—like ignore the very large alpha and charge in after his mate. He slammed the truck door, not caring this time. Olsen sat there and watched the house as he tried to calm down. He wasn’t sure what Tater’s problem was, but he was at the end of his rope. If his mate wanted time, he’d give it to him, but he was tired of Tater talking to him like he was less than a man. **** Cecil and Blair sat in the den, eyeing the large redhead sitting on the other couch. Cecil wasn’t sure who the man was, but if he had gotten into the house, the guy had to be cool. His mate, Maverick, wouldn’t allow a threat in. “So who are you again?” Blair asked as he leaned forward. “Tater. I’m Taylor’s friend.” Blair sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. “You visiting or running from someone?”

 

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Cecil bit back the chuckle. It didn’t matter how many years he had been around Blair. He loved the guy’s bluntness. “Why does that matter?” the guy asked irritably. “It seems someone is running.” Blair needled the man. Yeah, okay, they were bored out of their minds. Someone new equated to fun in Cecil and Blair’s eyes. “Are you always this nosey?” “Are you always this defensive?” Blair retorted. “Why don’t you go find someone to hassle and leave me the hell alone? You’re irritating as fuck.” “Why don’t you kiss my lily-white ass?” Before Cecil could even blink, Tater and Blair were chest to chest, growling and snapping at one another. His head whipped to the side when Blair’s mate, Kota, stormed into the den, grabbing Blair around his waist and pulling him away. “What’s going on, sunshine?” Kota asked as he glared at the stranger. “He’s an ass,” Blair bit out. Cecil jumped back when the redheaded stranger charged. What the hell was the guy’s problem? A few other mates joined them as Kota pushed Blair behind him. “What’s going on?” Drew asked from beside Cecil. “Fight.” “That’s pretty damn obvious.” Drew snorted. “Details. I want details, man.” “Me, too,” Kyoshi said as he walked in. “Twenty says Kota wipes the floor with the large redheaded man.” Okay, so Cecil was really bored. “You got it,” Kyoshi said as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Although I think someone should tell Maverick what’s going on.” “Not on your life,” Cecil said as he glared at Kyoshi. “As desperate as I am for any sort of entertainment, I’ll ring your neck if you tell my mate.”

 

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“I have twenty that says nothing is going to happen,” Drew added. “You’re on.” The three stood off to the side of the pool table as they watched Kota and the stranger circle each other. This was going to be spectacular. “No, no, no,” Nero shouted as he ran into the den. “I just cleaned in here. You better not make a mess. No, you better not.” Cecil rolled his eyes. He had an urge to knock the pool balls to the floor just so Nero would run over to pick them up. It would get him the hell out of the way. Cecil took a step forward, ready to touch Nero and make the mate go run and find his sanitizer. He was in the damn way! Drew snickered as Cecil and Kyoshi groaned, handing over their money as Maverick stepped into the den. So much for having a bit of fun. **** Tater wasn’t sure what had just happened. All he knew was that he had been minding his own business when trouble found him. He shook his head as he walked away from the angry men that surrounded him. “Tater,” Maverick called his name. Tater paused, looking over his shoulder at the large man. “I think I should go.” “What happened?” Tater gave a disgusted chuckle as he looked past the large man at the man he had argued with. “Life.” He took the steps two at a time as he walked to the room that had been assigned to him. He grabbed his bags from the bedroom and then started for the front door. “Tater, wait!” his best friend Taylor shouted as he ran toward Tater.

 

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Tater sighed as he placed his hand on the doorknob. Why was everyone trying to stop him? All Tater wanted was to get the hell out of there. “What, Taylor?” His best friend panted as he reached Tater’s side. “Why are you leaving?” Tater shifted his weight to his other leg as he looked around the foyer. “It’s not working out too well.” “What happened?” he asked as he narrowed his eyes. “Did someone bother you? Tell me who it was.” Tater laughed at his friend’s fierce protectiveness. It was unnecessary, but well appreciated. “I’m cool. I just need to go.” Taylor looked around before reaching for the door and opening it, coaxing Tater to step outside. Tater went, not really wanting to hear a lecture right now. “Talk to me,” Taylor said as he reached behind him and closed the door. “Oh, hell no. Don’t start that psychobabble crap with me, Taylor. Save it for someone who actually needs it.” Tater headed for the gravel drive. Taylor ran ahead of him, placing both palms on Tater’s chest. “I’m not talking to you as a counselor. I’m coming at you as a friend. We go a long way back, Hubert.” Tater actually laughed. He wasn’t sure if it was from his buddy or if he was finally fracturing under the pressure. “You’re the only one that can call me that and get away with it.” Taylor smacked Tater’s chest as he glared at him. “Don’t try and change the subject. I know you. Now tell me what’s going on.” Dropping his bags on the grass, Tater ran his hands over his short hair. There was so much boiling inside of him that he didn’t even know where to begin. “Everything, Taylor. There is so much shit in my head that I feel like it’s gonna burst soon.”

 

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Taylor’s fingers curled into Tater’s shirt as he looked up at Tater, his eyes pleading for Tater to open up and talk to him. “Let me help you.” He quickly held up a hand. “As a friend.” Should he? Hell, Tater had no one else to talk to. Olsen was out of the question. He was part of Tater’s angst. “Not here.” Taylor nodded as he waved a hand down at Tater’s bags. “I’ll have you taken to the shelter so you have somewhere to sleep. From your bags I take it you can’t go home?” That was an understatement. “Nope. I told my dad I was gay.” Taylor winced as he bit his bottom lip, giving Tater a quick nod. “Okay. Let’s get you settled for the night and then we’ll take it from there.” “On one condition, Taylor.” “Name it.” “I’m already homeless. I don’t need everyone looking at me like I’m crazy as well. No one finds out about me talking to you.” That was all he needed. To be named the town homeless crazy man. Tater had enough weighing him down without a label. “Done. Now let me go get my mate so we can get you settled.” “Mate?” “Oh, hell. I’m gonna kill someone. I guess we have more to talk about than I originally thought.” Tater had a feeling his talks with Taylor were going to be very enlightening, and as painful as getting a tooth pulled. Hoo-fucking-rah.

 

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Chapter Five Olsen sat on the front porch steps as he sipped his morning cup of coffee. His pa had informed him that Tater was no longer at Maverick’s but at the town shelter. Olsen pulled a leg up to the step below him as he rested his arm on his knee. He couldn’t understand what was going on. If anything, Olsen was confused as hell. “You okay?” his womb mate, Bryce, asked as he stepped out onto the porch. Olsen was the first born in a set of triplets, Bryce being the second. Gavin was their other womb mate. He was the last born but the first mated among the three. Olsen looked out over the front yard as he thought about his mate in a shelter. “Not really.” Bryce took a seat on the swing behind Olsen. “Is it Tater?” All six of his brothers and his pa knew Olsen was having problems with his mate. He was surprised the twins, Chauncey and Chance, hadn’t made fun of him. He was expecting it. But the two hadn’t said a word to him about his redheaded problem. It just showed that his brothers did have a compassionate bone in their bodies, even if it was their pinky that carried it. “Yeah.” Bryce stopped the swing as he stood and walked over to Olsen, squatting down next to him. “Can I get a more elaborate answer, or are we going to play twenty questions?” Olsen looked over his shoulder at his mirror image. “What do you want from me? I’m not gonna spill my guts and cry. We’re having issues. Big deal.”

 

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“Issues? Since when do you call it issues? Dude, you’re scaring me.” Bryce chuckled as he sat on the step next to Olsen. “Seriously, anything I can do to help?” Olsen shook his head. He wished it were that simple. “Not unless you can tell me why my mate hates me.” He couldn’t understand how Tater hated him. He’d been nothing but kind to his mate since first discovering who he was. He’d been patient as a mama bear, coaxing Tater to spend time with him, and all his mate had done was push him away. The killer part was, when Olsen backed away, Tater came running. He just couldn’t make any sense of it. What the hell did he have to do to get his mate to open up or at least be less prickly? “Men,” Bryce snorted. “I’ll never understand them.” This made Olsen laugh. “I hear ya. They are a bizarre bunch, aren’t they?” he asked playfully as he stared down into his cooling cup of coffee. “Just when you think you have them figured out, bam, they change their damn minds.” His brother laughed as he spoke. It felt good to hear someone laughing. Lord knew Olsen hadn’t felt like it since meeting Tater and finding out his mate didn’t want him. Olsen sobered. “At least you have a clue before they change their minds. I’m still trying to find that damn clue.” Bryce’s heavy hand landed on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “It’ll all work out. I don’t have a fucking clue how, but it seemed like the thing to say.” Olsen shrugged Bryce’s hand off of him. “Get out of here. Thank goodness you’re not a counselor.” Bryce stood and stretched before walking back up the steps. “Never claimed to be one, bro.” And that was the truth. Bryce couldn’t give advice to save his life, or anyone else’s. The bear worked on a different frequency than most beings. Olsen smiled as he lifted his cup and took a drink of…cold ass coffee. He tossed the

 

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remaining brew out onto the grass as he set the cup on the step beside him. Today was the cookout. Pa had told him that some of Maverick’s pack would be here and that they would make sure Tater came as well. Olsen bristled at the idea that someone else was seeing to his mate’s needs. It just wasn’t right. He should be the one taking care of Tater, not everyone else. He felt like a failure as a mate. “Pa needs you in the kitchen,” Riley, the oldest son, hollered through the screen door. Olsen grabbed his mug and headed into the house. So much for a spot of peace in the morning. “I need you to go into town and get me some supplies for the cookout, Olsen. The list is on the counter.” His pa nodded toward a piece of notebook paper lying by the toaster. Olsen swiped it from its resting place and headed toward the front door. He shoved the list into his back pocket before climbing into his truck. He wasn’t going to lie. Going into town made his heart race. There was no way he would be there without checking on his mate at the shelter. Olsen had a feeling he wouldn’t be welcomed right about now, not with the way Tater had been acting. But to set his eyes on his mate’s beautiful face was worth the attitude Tater was sure to give him. Olsen’s gut twisted and his heart beat faster as he entered Brac Village’s small town. His eyes immediately went to the resource center. He pulled in front of the grocery store, but Olsen’s feet guided him across the street. He stepped up onto the curb in front of the Santiagos’ bike shop, slowly making his way down the row of businesses. Too bad the resource center was right next door. “Hey, Olsen.” Law nodded as he walked out of the bike shop. “We’re not officially open yet this morning, but if you need help, come on in.”

 

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Olsen glanced over at the resource center, longing to go in and see Tater. “Thanks, but I’m here for other errands.” “Anytime,” Law Santiago said as he stepped back into the shop. Olsen braced himself and walked the few feet to the next building, glancing into the large glass window as he passed it to the front door. He saw Taylor sitting at his desk, but there was no sign of Tater. He grabbed the door and pulled it open, stepping inside and then pausing. Taylor looked up from whatever he was doing and smiled at Olsen. “Looking for Tater?” Olsen nodded. “He’s in the back if you want to go see him.” Olsen walked past Taylor’s desk, heading straight for his mate. He paused in the doorway when he saw Tater standing by a back wall, staring out of the window. Fuck, his mate was so damn gorgeous that it hurt to not be able to hold him. Olsen’s hands clenched and unclenched as his breath was stolen when Tater turned and looked at him, tears glistening in his pale green eyes. Olsen closed the distance in a few strides, pulling his mate into his arms. It felt so good to hold Tater. His mate didn’t object, but he didn’t wrap his arms around Olsen either. He didn’t care. Tater was in his arms. He cupped the back of his mate’s head as Tater buried his face into Olsen’s neck. Fear of ruining the moment stopped Olsen from asking what was wrong. He didn’t want this moment to ever end. His mate’s body pressed into his was pure bliss. “I—” Olsen waited for Tater to finish what he was going to say. When he didn’t, Olsen pulled him closer. “You don’t have to say a word. Just let me hold you.” Tater relaxed against Olsen’s chest, his hands hesitantly touching Olsen’s back. He inhaled his mate’s scent, closing his eyes at the

 

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smell of ripe apples and cinnamon. There couldn’t be a more heavenly scent on earth. Olsen relaxed his tight grip when Tater pulled his head back, staring up into Olsen’s eyes with his brilliant green ones. Good god, Olsen had never seen a look like the one shadowing Tater’s eyes. Lost. Tater’s eyes swam in loneliness and a look that said he was so lost that it hurt. Chancing rejection, because Olsen couldn’t stop himself if he had tried, he closed the distance and took Tater’s lips in a searing kiss. Their first kiss. The kiss sent the pit of Olsen’s stomach into a wild swirl. The caress of Tater’s lips on his mouth and along his body set him aflame. Olsen planned on being slow, gentle, but Tater had other plans. The kiss was punishing, angry. He didn’t understand it, but Olsen wasn’t going to allow Tater to punish him. He took the kiss back, commanding it as he cupped his mate’s face. Raising his mouth from Tater’s, Olsen gazed into his mate’s eyes. He saw a third emotion, an emotion he was willing to explore. Lust. Olsen growled when Tater reached a hand between them and unsnapped his jeans. Desire ran through him like a raging river. Olsen wanted. He wanted his mate in the worst way. When Tater tried to shove him away, tried to handle him roughly, Olsen slammed his mate against the wall and inserted his thigh between Tater’s legs. “I’m in charge,” he growled as he nipped at Tater’s shoulder. His bear roared when Tater didn’t tilt his head in submission. Olsen’s breathing became labored as Tater glared at him angrily, twisting his wrists as he stroked Olsen’s cock feverishly. Olsen snapped at him and growled as Tater jerked his hand faster, his jaw clenched as he locked eyes with Olsen. He was challenging him.

 

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Olsen slammed Tater’s shoulders into the wall, making it known with his eyes that he didn’t want Tater to move one damn inch as he unfastened his mate’s jeans. Olsen’s pulse beat faster as he palmed his mate’s large cock in his hand. He could hear Tater’s breath hitch, but his mate’s lips thinned as they began a duel to see who would give in to the pleasure first. Olsen could feel his orgasm approaching. His spine felt like a live wire had touched it as his balls drew close to his body. His legs wanted to tremble, but he fought against coming first. Tater needed to learn that Olsen wasn’t the one who was going to be dominated. Tater’s head fell back onto his shoulders as a guttural cry left his lips. Hot seed splashed Olsen’s hand as he mate fell apart right before his eyes. Watching the sated bliss play across Tater’s face was Olsen’s undoing. He hitched his hips as Tater’s grip tightened, roaring out his release as his body convulsed. Olsen leaned forward, touching his lips to Tater’s ears as sweat ran down his back. “Remember that.” Tater growled and pushed Olsen away. He took a step back. That was as far as Tater could move him unless Olsen wanted to move. “Get the fuck away from me,” Tater shouted as he righted his clothes. Tater’s eyes blazed with fury, but Olsen had caught the scared look in his mate’s eyes before the anger had taken over. Somehow, he was going to get Tater to let down his guard permanently, and when he did, Olsen was going to teach his mate just what submission truly was. **** Okay, so Cecil felt like shit for enjoying the dumb ass argument between Blair and the redhead. He needed to let Tater—Who the hell named their kid Tater? Cecil shook his head at his wandering thoughts. He needed to let Tater know that there were no hard feelings.

 

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But how? There was a barbeque today at the Lakelands’. Cecil hadn’t planned on attending, but now his mind was changed. “I know that look,” Maverick said as he walked up behind Cecil and wrapped his arms around him. “What are you planning, mate?” There was no way he was telling. No matter how good Maverick fucked him. And his mate fucked like a god. Even after all these years Cecil still craved the alpha’s touch. He squirmed around as his cock hardened when Maverick began to kiss him down the side of his neck. No fair! “Tell me.” “N–Nothing. I swear,” Cecil groaned when Maverick cupped his cock through his denim. “I have ways of making you talk.” Yes, Maverick did. But Cecil wasn’t stupid enough to spill the beans. It helped his case when he didn’t know what the hell he was planning on doing anyway. He would have to enlist the help of the other mates, but Maverick didn’t have to know that. “Give me your best shot,” Cecil challenged as Maverick lifted him off of his feet and carried him to their bedroom. God love interrogations. **** Tater stared at Olsen from across the yard. Taylor had dragged him to this dumb cookout stating that Tater needed to work on his social skills. He didn’t take too kindly to Taylor calling him a hermit. It may be true, but he didn’t like his downfalls pointed out. The smells coming from the grills had Tater’s mouth watering as he averted his eyes when Olsen looked his way. He felt like a total shit for treating Olsen the way he had earlier.

 

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Tater didn’t have a clue why he reacted that way. The hand jobs were something he had wanted almost desperately. The only thing he could think of was that he had panicked. Having Olsen so close, so near, made him feel like he was being cornered. Tater was disgusted with himself for the way he had behaved afterward. He wanted to apologize to Olsen, but hell, he didn’t know how. Every time he got around that large bear, he fell apart mentally. There were plenty of people here, making Tater nervous as he searched with his eyes for Olsen. He didn’t like large crowds, and there had to be upwards to fifty people here. The music was blasting from somewhere close to the house as games of cornhole and football got underway. He sidestepped little children as they ran between the adults’ legs. “Matthew!” a man shouted as he gave chase to the toddler. Tater watched as Maverick swooped the wee one up into his arms and blew a raspberry on the baby’s tummy. The child squealed with delight before Maverick reached down and picked up what had to be the boy’s twin. Oddly enough, the alpha didn’t look bad with kids in his arms. One would think the biker-looking man would be out of his depth, but he looked natural holding them. “I have her.” The same man batted another man’s hands away. “Go relax, Heaven. You need a break.” “But what if Skyler cries? You go nuts when our daughter cries, Murdock.” “Only because there’s nothing I can kill to make her stop crying. I want her happy all the time,” Murdock defended. “Impossible dream, dear.” Heaven chuckled as he wandered off and began socializing with a group of men. Tater cocked his head. These two men were obviously partners. He thought maybe they adopted the children, but the twin little boys looked too much like both men.

 

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He scratched his jaw as he felt a small patting at his leg. Tater looked down to see a cute little boy smiling up at him. He wasn’t sure what he should do. It wasn’t like Tater had experience with kids. “Come here, Nevada, and stop bothering the nice man,” a very large and bald-headed man said as he bent at the waist and grabbed the toddler. “He wasn’t bothering me,” Tater said as he smiled at the baby, who started babbling like he was actually holding a conversation with Tater. The bald man chuckled. “I’m Montana, and this is my son, Nevada. His other dad’s at home right now.” Tater was confused as hell. There were nothing but male couples here, except for a teenage girl that was pestering Taylor, yet there were little ones running around. It didn’t make any sense to him. He laughed when Nevada reached out for him. The boy had such a chubby little face that Tater couldn’t resist. “May I?” “Sure.” Montana settled Nevada in Tater’s arms. Now what? Tater jumped when he felt a hand land on his back. He spun, holding Nevada’s back as he looked behind him. Cecil. Taylor had informed him who he was, along with Blair. He growled as he handed the baby back to his father. Tater had seen the gleam of delight in Cecil’s eyes when he was arguing with Blair, and he didn’t appreciate it. “What?” “Still so prickly, dude. Chill out. I wanted to apologize for yesterday and invite you out.” Tater’s eyes darted around the yard, trying to find Olsen. He was listening to Cecil, but his mind was on Olsen. “So, what do you say?” Tater hadn’t heard a word the man had said. He looked down into amethyst eyes that sparkled with mischief.

 

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“Sure, why not?” he answered without knowing what the hell the conversation was about. “Good. Then I’ll see you tonight.” Huh? Tater turned back to Cecil to ask him what he had just agreed to, but the guy was already walking away. What the hell had he gotten into now?

 

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Chapter Six Tater had to admit, he had a pretty good time today. Taylor had introduced him to a lot of people. The only thing he would have changed was the fact that Olsen hadn’t been at his side. Too bad he was too chicken-hearted to go over to the bear and say this. He knew he’d been snubbing Olsen all day, but after what happened this morning, Tater was terrified to say anything to the man. He had been a dickhead and he knew it. Sorry just didn’t seem good enough. Tater had faked amusement and conversations most of the day. Even though he was having a good time, most of it was feigned. He wanted Olsen so badly that his heart ached. Tater braced himself as he watched Olsen saunter over his way. He had been watching the bear covertly all evening, sneaking glances whenever he knew Olsen wasn’t looking his way. But from the frown on Olsen’s face as he neared Tater, he could tell this wasn’t going to be pleasant. The bear stopped a foot away from him, running his tongue along his lower lip before speaking so only Tater could hear. “I see how it is now,” Olsen said as he swung his arms wide, encompassing the entire backyard. “Anyone here can get Tater’s laughter. They can get the relaxed Tater. The real Tater. But me?” Olsen said with a bite, raking Tater’s body with disdain. “Me, I’m running behind you begging for crumbs.” The bear shook his head, resignation in his beautiful grey eyes. “Not anymore. I’m done chasing after you, Tater. I’m done being happy with just the crumbs you drop me.” Tater felt his entire body flush as Olsen moved back across the yard, disappearing around the side of the house. He wasn’t

 

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embarrassed because he thought someone might have overheard. No. Tater was embarrassed because Olsen had hit it right on the head and called him on it. He was torn between running after Olsen or just leaving. Tater opted to chase down the bear. He took off across the yard, not caring about the stares he was getting. He may be afraid of commitment, Tater may even be afraid of how he felt about Olsen, but he wasn’t going to let the bear think all he was going to get were crumbs. Olsen was his entire feast. Tater wasn’t sure where Olsen had gotten off to, but he was determined to find him. He raced through the back door, looking around the kitchen before venturing further into the Lakelands’ home. “He’s up in his room,” Chauncey said as he pointed toward the ceiling. “But I wouldn’t go up there right now unless you want to be claimed. I’ve never seen him like that before.” Tater’s foot hovered over the bottom step as he stared at the man standing in the living room. “What does that mean, claim?” He had a pretty good idea, but he wanted to make sure he understood the term clearly. “It means he’s going to fuck you into the mattress and then a bond will form that is unbreakable. You’ll be bonded for life.” Talk about the biggest commitment ever. Tater wavered for a moment before rushing up the stairs. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Chauncey called from down below. Duly noted. Tater wasn’t sure what he was heading for, but the thought of losing Olsen made his stomach tie into knots. He walked slowly to Olsen’s bedroom door, unsure of what he was going to say. Somehow, Sorry I’m an asshole who’s afraid of commitment didn’t quite cut it.

 

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He stepped through the door to see Olsen pacing manically back and forth across his bedroom. Maybe now wasn’t such a good time to bother the angry bear. “What?” Olsen bit out without looking at Tater. He wasn’t sure what he should do. If he left, it would piss Olsen off and make Tater’s heart hurt. If he stayed, well, the claiming thing Chauncey had warned him about was definitely going to take place—after a round of arguing and growling. Was he ready to be claimed? Tater crossed his arms over his chest, deciding not to say a word. Anything he said would be held against him in Olsen’s outraged mind. To hell with it. He was going to be still as a statue. Let Olsen make the first move. It was a great plan until Olsen actually moved. Tater tensed, waiting for whatever the bear had in mind. “Relax. I would never hurt you. No matter how angry you make me,” Olsen said as he approached Tater. “What do you want?” The question was said with an irritation that cut Tater down. “I’m not sure,” Tater confessed. “I…it’s…I—” “Calm down, Tater,” Olsen said a little softer this time. Tater looked away, unsure about anything at this point. He wanted Olsen, for more than sex, he realized after the fiasco this morning. It was a need that was deeply buried in his gut that Tater didn’t understand. His eyes snapped up when Olsen moved closer, his hands landing on Tater’s shoulders and then sliding down to his hands. He could feel the sweat gathering in his palms as Olsen leaned in, sniffing at his neck. Tater’s instincts almost made him pull away, but he held his place. “You smell like apples and cinnamon.” Olsen groaned in his ear. “So tempting.” Tater nodded. What the hell was he supposed to say to that? He had images of apple pies in his mind as Olsen softly kissed his neck,

 

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his lips barely touching. Tater’s body shivered from the intimate contact. “I’m afraid of commitment,” he blurted out. Why’d he have to go and say that now? Images of Olsen kicking him out before they even got started made Tater tense. Olsen pulled back, his beautiful grey eyes boring into Tater. “I wish you would have told me this from the beginning.” Damn it. There went the sex. He should have let his conscience speak after they had had sex. “I’ll go,” Tater said in defeat as he turned to walk out of the bedroom. “Whoa. Where are you going?” “But, you said—” “I said I wish you had told me this from the beginning when I first met you. I would have known why you were running. It all makes sense now.” Olsen grabbed Tater’s hand and pulled him back into those big, strong arms. Tater shuddered as Olsen’s hands ran over his back. Damn, the man knew how to caress. “You know what I am, right?” Tater nodded. “Do you know what a mate is?” “D told me that you were my mate. That fate paired us. Is it true?” Tater had pondered the vampire’s words since hearing them in that field. “Yes,” Olsen said as he watched Tater intently. Tater pulled his hand from Olsen’s as he sat on the side of the bed. He scratched his head as he thought about everything that happened in the last forty-eight hours. “I think that’s why I was so defensive.” He turned to look at Olsen. “I think that’s why I ran.” Olsen crossed the room to sit next to Tater, his hand resting on Tater’s thigh. God, Olsen’s hand felt like fire as it innocently lay there. Tater had an urge to lay back and let that hot hand do whatever the hell it wanted to. “Because it’s a huge commitment to be mated?”

 

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Tater snorted. “The mother of them all, if I understood D correctly.” Olsen smiled as he nodded. “It is. What do you fear the most about us?” Oh hell, now Olsen was trying to psychoanalyze him. It was bad enough Taylor was putting him through the wringer. Tater fell back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as he palmed his face. There was no way he was going to let Olsen into his screwed-up brain. “Tater?” “Having someone else depend on me, okay!” Tater shouted. He wasn’t sure why he was so aggravated, but telling Olsen his fears made him feel vulnerable. Something he didn’t like one bit. Tater’s body went rigid when he felt the bed dip and heard it squeak. Olsen crawled over him, straddling his hips. “What if I wanted you to depend on me? What if I wanted you to defer to me? Would that change things?” Would it? Tater thought about it as his body began to react to the large bear sitting on his groin. Olsen was a little heavy, but Tater welcomed the weight. Tater felt devilish as he hitched his hips, almost sending Olsen flying. He knew the only reason he got the upper hand was because Olsen wasn’t expecting him to move. “What makes you think I would listen to you?” Tater’s eyes rounded as Olsen slid down his body until he was lying between Tater’s legs. Olsen leaned forward and mouthed Tater’s cock through his jeans. Tater stared down at the most erotic sight he’d ever seen. Please let the man suck cock. Olsen pressed his lips together, making Tater’s stomach quiver and his dick jerk. “Because you want to and you know it.” Tater groaned in disappointment when Olsen removed his mouth, but that groan barely left his lips before Olsen reached up and unsnapped his jeans, slowly peeling back the zipper. Tater couldn’t have looked away if the house caught fire. It was so damn sexy to see

 

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Olsen’s mouth so close to his shaft. His stomach jerked when Olsen lowered his head, letting the tip of his tongue touch Tater’s cockhead. “Apples and cinnamon.” Tater tilted his head to the side. “Are you craving apple pie or something?” Olsen chuckled as he kissed Tater’s dick. “No. That’s how you smell to me. Your scent is unique because you are my mate.” Tater could only nod as Olsen slowly pulled his jeans from his hips, down his thighs, and ending at his ankles. Olsen reared back, removing Tater’s shoes and then pulling his jeans free. Olsen jerked his chin at Tater. “Take the shirt off.” Tater grabbed the hem and nearly ripped it in half as he removed his shirt and tossed it aside. A thickly arched brow rose as the side of Olsen’s mouth twisted into a very sexy half smile. “Very nice.” His hands landed on Tater’s chest, smoothing over his skin, and then his thumbs grazed Tater’s nipples. Tiny electrical shocks burst throughout Tater’s body as Olsen tweaked his nipples. “Sensitive?” “Yeah,” Tater panted. Olsen’s chuckle was deep as he leaned forward and sucked one small brown disc into his mouth. Tater groaned as his body writhed under the bear. Olsen released his nipple, kissed the other one, and then locked eyes with Tater as he slid back down Tater’s body and sucked Tater’s cock in between his lips, suckling the head. “Oh, fuck,” Tater groaned, hitching his hips as he tried to shove his dick all the way down Olsen’s throat. He wanted to throw a fit when Olsen pulled back, placing his hands on Tater’s hips. “If you move, I stop.” Hell no. If Olsen stopped, Tater was going to…whine like a brat. There was no way Olsen was going to tease him and then stop. So he nodded.

 

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Olsen gave him a smug smile before taking Tater’s cock back into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the head, making Tater’s skin hum. Tater lifted his legs and planted his feet on the bed as Olsen held him in place. His hands automatically went to Olsen’s head. When the bear started to pull back, Tater immediately removed his hands and laid them on the bed, curling his fingers into the sheets. He flinched when he felt a finger probing at his hole. Olsen lifted his head and stared at Tater. “Have you ever been on the bottom?” Tater shook his head as he prayed Olsen put his damn mouth back on his cock. He was close, real close, and he was about to scream if Olsen stopped. Tater growled when Olsen lifted away, reaching for something in the drawer of the nightstand. He averted his eyes when he saw Olsen pull out a tube of lube. Olsen lay back down, swallowing Tater’s cock to the root. “Shit!” Tater shouted as his hips bucked. Olsen’s mouth milked his cock as a finger entered him. Tater didn’t know whether to fuck Olsen’s mouth or yell at the bear for being such a sneaky bastard. The fucking won out. He was surprised Olsen didn’t make him stop until he felt another finger slide in next to the first one. He knew what the man was up to, but Tater didn’t care. The blow job was distracting him as he guessed Olsen wanted it to. Tater gritted his teeth as a third finger joined the other two. He’d never felt so full in his life. He had to admit it felt fucking fantastic. Tater pushed forward, shoving his cock down Olsen’s throat, and then pushed down, impaling his ass on Olsen’s fingers. Reality came crashing through as Olsen eased back, and then got off of the bed, quickly disrobing. Tater’s eyes rounded when he saw

 

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the huge fucking cock between the bear’s legs. “What do you plan on doing with that?” “I’m going to shove my cock into your ass, Tater. Once I do, we will be bonded mates. If you don’t want that, tell me now.” Tater’s head spun at the idea of committing himself to Olsen. He knew he didn’t want to be away from the guy, but from everything he had gathered, this was it, the ultimate commitment. Before he could change his mind, he nodded. He had to learn to take the plunge sometime, and Olsen seemed like the right person to do that for. Olsen swooped down on him, settling between Tater’s legs in the blink of an eye. Tater grabbed the sheets once again as Olsen lifted his legs, pushing them back to his chest. “Let me know if you need me to stop, okay?” Tater licked his dry lips, his throat refusing to work. He bit his bottom lip as he grabbed his legs and pulled them further back to his chest. Olsen’s nostrils flared as his eyes hooded. Tater bit his bottom lip hard as Olsen entered him. “Time out,” he called as he tried to breathe through the pain. How the hell did anyone get fucked in the ass? The shit hurt. Olsen stayed completely still as Tater exhaled slowly, the pain easing. “Okay.” The bear pushed a little further, as if testing to see if Tater would call another time-out. Tater pushed out as Olsen pushed in, the action helping…somewhat. “How you doing down there?” Tater chuckled as he rolled his eyes. “I’m fine. It’s just weird.” Olsen laughed as he shoved his cock to the hilt. “Bastard!” Tater shouted as he gritted his teeth, waiting for the pain to subside. “If you ever do that again, I’m going to smack you.” Olsen grinned as he fell to his arms, his nose and inch from Tater’s. “On my ass, I hope.”

 

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“Kinky bastard,” Tater teased as Olsen began to move. The pain morphed into a pleasure Tater never knew existed as Olsen snapped his hips. “Oh god,” he moaned. “I knew you’d like it,” Olsen said before claiming Tater’s lips. He kissed him with an untapped passion as Tater wrapped his legs around Olsen’s waist. Hell, he’d bottom any time if it felt this fucking good. Tater gasped as Olsen pulled back from the kiss and pulled his cock out of Tater’s ass. “What the hell?” “On your hands and knees, Tater,” Olsen commanded. Tater shivered as he rolled over. The commanding voice was such a turn-on. He spread his legs apart as Olsen entered him from behind. Tater rolled his head on his shoulders as Olsen pounded into him, the sound of skin clapping ringing off the walls. He couldn’t take it. Tater tried to climb up the bed as the sensations threatened to drown him. “Where you going, love? Get back here.” Olsen grabbed Tater’s hips, yanking him back as his cock drove deeper into Tater’s ass. Tater’s shoulders hit the mattress as he cried out. His body felt like it was going to explode. “Do you feel it, love? Do you feel us bonding?” Olsen asked as he fucked Tater harder, deeper, and faster. He felt something. It was like Olsen was inside of him, buried deep. Tater’s head fell back as he shouted when Olsen’s teeth sank into his skin. His cock erupted, sending his seed splashing toward the sheets. Tater clawed at the bed as Olsen held him in place, his teeth embedded into Tater. A growl ripped through the air as Olsen snapped his hips at lightning speed. Tater didn’t think he was going to survive. Olsen’s teeth pulled free as a loud roar filled the room, hot spurts of cum filling his ass. Tater was surprised the windows didn’t shatter as the sound grew louder, Olsen fucking him so hard that Tater knew he’d feel it for a

 

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month. Tater swore he felt Olsen’s cock grow larger. He had to be lost in the moment. There was no way Olsen’s shaft was growing. “Tater,” Olsen gasped as his movements began to slow. “Please tell me I didn’t hurt you, baby.” His voice sounded worried as Olsen literally wrapped his body around Tater’s, almost like a protective cocoon. Tater rested his head on the pillow as he felt Olsen’s heart beat out of control on his back. “No, you didn’t.” But he was going to be walking funny for a while. Olsen kissed the back of Tater’s neck as he moved over, spooning behind him, his cock still buried deep in Tater’s ass. “Good, mate.” Tater felt panic rising up at that word. What the hell had he done? He was one-hundred percent lock, stock, and barrel committed. Shit!

 

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Chapter Seven Pa chuckled as the little ones ran around the backyard. It felt good to have whelps running around again. He watched Matthew and Maddox chase Melonee around, trying their best to catch her, little Nevada tumbling a few times as he tried to keep up. He hiked Skyler over his shoulder as he patted her back, being rewarded with a loud burp from such a little package. “Are you sure you don’t want me to get her?” Murdock asked for the hundredth time, hovering close. Pa rolled his eyes. “It’s not like I raised any of my own. I could have sworn I had seven sons.” “Yeah, exactly. None of them were girls,” Murdock said as he leaned closer, his hands outstretched as if Pa would drop her. He wanted to kick the man. Pa couldn’t blame the wolf for being overprotective. Skyler was cute as a button, but her dad was irritating as hell. “Leave him alone,” Heaven chastised Murdock as he joined them. “I think he knows what he’s doing by now.” Murdock glared at Heaven, his hands moving a bit closer. Pa chuckled as he finally relented and handed the babe over. Geez, he’d never seen a parent so damned nervous before. Pa watched in utter disbelief as Olsen burst from the house in his bear form and then headed straight for the woods. Yeah, this was going to be a peachy-keen sorta night. ****

 

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“Where are we going?” D asked as he ran alongside Tater. “You’re walking too fast.” “I thought vampires were quick,” Tater mumbled as he tried to walk his fear away. He’d lain there in Olsen’s arms, enjoying the feeling of being held, until his obsessive commitment phobia kicked in. He wanted to kick his own ass for up and leaving the bear. The fucked-up thing was, Tater craved the love and connection he felt with Olsen. He just was terrified of screwing it up, of Olsen depending on him. He was sure to make the wrong decision and then Olsen would hate him. Hell, he couldn’t even commit to fixing his motorcycle. For years it lay in pieces and parts on the barn floor. Once, just once, he had put the entire thing together, took it for a ride, and then torn it apart again. He’d attempted to put it together hundreds of times, cleaned the parts a thousand times, but never managed to reassemble it completely after that first time. “Don’t stereotype me. Just because I’m a vampire doesn’t mean I’m fast. Do I look tall to you? I’m not the typical creature you’ve seen on the big screen.” Tater chuckled. “I wasn’t trying to say you were. Sorry.” They continued on the back road leading to Tater’s father’s house. He wanted his damn truck. Tater didn’t care if he had to push it off of his father’s property. It was his, and he had every right to go get it. Tater jumped when he saw shadows emerging from the woods. He quickly shoved D behind him as he braced himself for a fight. “Ah, you really do love me.” D giggled. “Shut up,” Tater growled as at least half a dozen figures walked out. His heart rate increased, and then he let out a loud exhale when he noticed it was Cecil leading the way. “What the hell? Don’t you use conventional methods of travel, like a car?”

 

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Cecil waved him off as he turned to the group behind him. “Why should I when I have the elf express?” “The what?” Tater cocked his head as a very tall and elegantlooking man stepped forward. He had a feeling that looks were deceiving where this man was concerned. “Carter.” Cecil chucked a thumb over his shoulder. “He’s an elf. He can shimmer us anywhere we want to go. Although he can’t take an entire tour bus full of people. Six is a good number.” Tater shook his head. Since getting involved with the Lakelands, everything around him made no sense. “Are you ready?” Cecil asked. Damn. Maybe Tater should have been listening when the guy had been talking earlier. “For what?” Cecil gaped at him as if he couldn’t believe Tater even asked the question. “Dude. Were you not listening back at the cookout? Pizza? Italy?” “Whoa. Slow down. What about pizza and Italy?” “I was hankering for a pizza and thought it would be cool to go to Italy to get it.” Cecil grinned as he wiggled his eyebrows. “Have you heard of takeout?” “Where’s the fun in that? Carter is the one who suggested we go to Italy in the first place.” “Hell yeah,” the man with the pointy ears cut in. “I’ve been there. They have pizza to die for.” His eyes snapped past Cecil when he heard rustling. “Did you bring others?” Cecil’s brows pulled together as he shook his head. “No, this is it.” They all turned to see one man after another walk from the woods a few feet down the road. “Friends of yours?” Cecil asked as they started to back away. “Because I don’t remember inviting them.”

 

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Tater swallowed, his throat drying out as even more men stepped onto the road. He wasn’t sure what the hell was going on, but he didn’t like it. They were being quickly outnumbered. “I know him,” D said as he pointed to one man in particular. “He isn’t a very nice vampire.” “Vampire?” one of the men with Cecil squeaked. “Just get behind me, Tangee,” Cecil said to the man. “Like you could do any more damage than me,” Tangee protested. “I knew this was a bad idea.” “I think we need to run,” D whispered. “This isn’t going to go in our favor. They have bloodlust in their eyes.” Tater looked at the man he was referring to. His pupils were huge. Tater wasn’t sure if that was the sign of bloodlust or not. He wasn’t even sure what bloodlust was, but it couldn’t be good. It sure didn’t sound good. “Run!” D shouted, and Tater didn’t hesitate. He took off toward his father’s home. It was the closest place he could think of. How they were going to protect themselves once they got there was an entirely different mess they’d deal with once they crossed that rickety bridge. “Damn it!” Tater reached down and grabbed D when the vampire fell to the ground. “We don’t have time for you to fall. Not if you don’t want to get eaten.” Tater pulled D up and tossed the short vampire over his shoulder as he hauled ass. “However you got here, use it to get the hell out of here,” Tater shouted over his shoulder at Cecil. He knew that Carter could only shimmer six people at a time. Cecil had stood there and told him that. And Cecil had brought five other men along. There was no way they could get him and D out of there. “No way. I’m not leaving you,” Cecil panted and then yelled to the men behind him. “Carter, get them home.” “On it,” the man with the pointy ears screamed as he and the rest of the men disappeared seconds later. The only ones left from Cecil’s group were Cecil himself, Blair, and a man with facial piercings.

 

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“Oh shit!” Tater skidded to a halt when wolves, very large in fact, broke through the tree line and started heading their way at breakneck speed. “Go.” Cecil pushed at him. “They’re the good guys.” Tater sure hoped he was right. The wolves looked humongous enough to fucking eat them. He blinked, and then blinked again when three bears rushed in behind the wolves. He recognized one of them as Olsen. Well, he thought it was Olsen. The man was one in three of triplets. Tater dropped to the ground, curling his body around D as the wolves and bears raced past him. He peeked up to see there were at least a dozen wolves. The men attacking outnumbered them, but the wolves and bears seemed to be fighting better than the attackers were. “Get moving!” the man with the piercings shouted. “We have to get somewhere safe.” Safe? Where the hell could they go? There was no place safe around here. “And where the hell is that?” The guy looked around frantically and then threw his arms into the air. “Hell if I know.” “Get down, Oliver!” Blair yelled to the man with piercings. Tater rolled off of D and got to his feet when a vampire jumped on Oliver’s back. He was amazed Oliver could fight so well, but not well enough. The vampire was winning. Tater jumped on the vampire, knocking him free of the pierced man. “Go!” he shouted as he wrestled with the undead. Before Oliver could run, another man attacked the goth-looking man. Holy shit! A large portion of the attackers had shifted into wolves. What in the hell was going on here? Tater screamed when it felt like his neck was being torn from his body. He hit the ground and rolled over and over again, trying to dislodge the one tearing skin from bone. He rolled to his feet and then fell backward, right on top of the vampire. He heard a yelp, but the fucker wouldn’t release him. Tater’s

 

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eyes widened when D bared his fangs and jumped onto Tater, yanking at the vampire still clinging to Tater’s back. “Get him off of me, D!” “I’m trying,” D said helplessly as he clawed and bit at the undead. Tater started feeling lightheaded, strange shapes forming in front of his eyes. He pushed to his feet and knew his vision was being affected by the loss of blood. And there was plenty of blood being lost. His entire right side was soaked in his quickly free-flowing blood. “Get him off—” Tater collapsed in a heap onto the grassy field. His fingers clawed the grass as he tried to get to the bear fighting only twenty or so feet from him. “I got you.” Tater whimpered when a blue man with white hair grabbed him under his legs and back, lifting him from the ground. He hadn’t the energy to fight the thing off or the care to wonder how in the hell the man was blue. He closed his eyes, hoping he wasn’t about to die. He needed to tell Olsen he was sorry and that he had fallen in love with the bear. Olsen needed to know this. He needed to know that it wasn’t his fault. Olsen needed to be told that Tater had commitment phobia and that Olsen hadn’t caused it. He needed… **** Olsen was going nuts trying to get to his mate. He reared up on his back legs and swatted at the vampire, bringing his full body weight down to pin the son of a bitch before locking his jaws on the vampire’s neck and tearing it out. He was trying desperately to get to his mate, but every time he made some progress in Tater’s direction, another rogue got in his way. Maverick shifted and shouted to Olsen’s brother, “Bryce, go tell your father to call Zeus and Christian.” Before the alpha shifted back,

 

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his head fell back onto his shoulders and his voice boomed across the open field. “Panahasi!” Olsen concentrated on the wolf biting at his hindquarters when suddenly a dozen men emerged from the forest, immediately taking up the fight. Olsen wasn’t sure how the men knew who to kill, but they were dead accurate. Olsen swung around to attack the wolf at his flank when he saw a blue man appear, scoop Tater up from the ground, and then disappear. He roared his outrage as he clawed and tore at the wolf, his rage consuming him at the thought of someone taking what was his. Olsen tore through the rogues, desperate to find out who the man was that had kidnapped his mate. He was fighting with blind fury. Olsen no longer felt like himself but a beast unleashed. Tater was missing, and there was no way for him to go after his mate. It didn’t escape his notice that more rogues were appearing. Olsen had a sinking feeling that not only was his mate in trouble, but that they were losing this battle. **** Tater felt the fog lifting and his consciousness return. He lay there for a moment, waiting to be attacked, but all was silent. He cracked open his eyes, trying to see his surroundings without anyone knowing he was awake. “You’re safe, human.” So much for being sneaky. He opened his eyes fully to see the blue-skinned man sitting in a window seat, staring out into the darkness. Strangely enough, the man looked melancholy as his eyes scanned for something out of the window. “Who are you?” Tater asked and then groaned when his head began to pound.

 

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“I am neither good nor bad. I am Ahm.” What the hell kinda answer was that? Tater wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer with all the events that had taken place in only forty-eight hours. His life had gone from wondering about Olsen’s intentions to a three-ring circus from hell, clowns and popcorn included. And Tater really hated clowns. Damn Stephen King and the movie It. Every since he had seen that…Wait, what the hell was he thinking about that for? “Where am I?” Ahm turned his head from his vigilant watch to look Tater over. “You lost too much blood.” Maybe he was still unconscious and this was just a bizarre ass dream. “That’s not telling me where I am.” “In a vampire coven.” Damn it, damn it, damn it. Why did he have to ask? The way things were going lately, Tater should have known he didn’t want to know the answer. “Sooo, how do I get home?” Odd question to ask, considering he didn’t have a home at the moment. Tater didn’t like the low chuckle Ahm gave him. He didn’t like it one bit. “You will be returned to your bear as soon as you are up to traveling.” “I’m fine,” Tater protested as he sat up and then quickly fell back, his head swimming and bile rising in the back of his throat. “Okay, maybe not.” “Rest.” There wasn’t much else he could do right now. “What happened to me?” He remembered the fighting and being attacked. Tater’s hand went to his neck, and then he winced when he felt the bandage. Olsen! “I have to get back.” He made a second attempt at getting up, but the effects were worse this time. This time he actually vomited. Tater

 

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held his stomach as he wretched over the side of the bed. His headache became worse as tiny white squiggly lines danced in front of his vision. “If you attempt to get up again, the sickness will only get worse,” Ahm warned. “What the fuck is wrong with me?” Tater asked as he spit out some vile-tasting spew. He felt bad for upchucking on someone’s floor, but not bad enough since he didn’t want to be here. “Shall we say you were given a donation?” “A donation of what?” “Blood.” Tater groaned as his head hit the pillow. “Is that why I’m sick?” “Yes and no.” “I swear, if you don’t start explaining, I’m gonna sit back up and aim toward you,” Tater threatened as shards of pain pulsed through his brain. He wanted Olsen. As crazy as he had been acting toward the bear, Tater wanted his mate. Mate. How strange it was that he thought of Olsen that way now. The word didn’t seem as threatening as he thought it would. He thought of Olsen’s silky black hair and smoky grey eyes, and the pit of his stomach tightened. He wanted his bear. “I don’t take kindly to threats, human.” Tater threw his arm over his eyes, the lights hurting them and making his head pound harder. “And I don’t take kindly to having shit done to me while I’m unconscious. Now tell me what the fuck happened.” “You lost a great amount of blood. I brought you here. Christian fed you before going off to help the shifters,” Ahm said irritably. “Beyond that, you’ll have to ask the prince.” Prince? Tater sighed. He wasn’t even going to ask. He knew he wouldn’t like the answer anyway. He hadn’t liked any of the answers he had received so far. “Do you know what happened to everyone

 

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else?” To Olsen? Tater lay there and thought of the men who had shifted into wolves right before his very eyes, of the men who had hissed, sharp teeth gleaming in the moonlight, and wondered how he had survived. But the bigger question plaguing his mind was had his mate survived? “Why can’t you just lie there and rest? You ask too many questions,” Ahm groused and then looked back out of the window. “You would, too, if everything was coming down on you all at once. I don’t think I can take too much more of this shit.” He knew he couldn’t. Tater was this close to cracking. He needed to know what happened to his bear, and he needed to know what was wrong with him. He wanted to cross the room and throttle the blue man. Too bad he experienced extreme vertigo every time he moved. “Then you don’t belong in our world, in my world. If you can’t handle the paranormal, get out of the kitchen, human.” Was that a joke? Tater had no humor in him at the moment. He was too worried about his bear. “Fuck you, Ahm.” This made the blue man laugh, which only irritated Tater even more. “Sorry, you are not lucky enough to have me grace your bed with my presence.” Fucker.

 

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Chapter Eight Olsen resorted to boxing the fucking wolf in front of him. The man was stupid enough to shift into human form, arrogance coming off of him in waves. Olsen was about to show this rogue what real arrogance was all about. They circled each other, Olsen baring his canines, as did the wolf. He waited for the right opportunity and then rushed the wolf, taking him down, shifting mid-fall and tearing the fucker’s throat out. Olsen backed away and looked around the field at the carnage. He was tired, sore as fuck, and bloody as hell. And he wanted his Tater back. He shifted, staggering a little as he walked over to Maverick. “They took Tater.” Maverick’s eyes were crimson as he gazed around the field. “He’s safe. Ahm is the one who came to your house to warn us. I don’t know what the elf’s angle is, but Tater is with Christian right now.” “What the fuck do you mean he’s safe?” Olsen growled. “Take me to him.” He hadn’t one caring bone in his body about how he was speaking to the alpha. This was his mate they were discussing. “I want my mate!” “Ahm!” Maverick shouted. Olsen wasn’t sure what was going on, but his jaw clenched when he saw the blue man who took his mate appear. Olsen charged him, only to have the man shimmer away and then reappear twenty feet away from him. “I don’t have time for this bullshit, bear. Do you want to go to your mate or not?” Ahm said with disdain. “I could make you drive there. That would teach you some manners.”

 

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Olsen really didn’t like him. He ran his hands over his head to try and calm down. His eyes widened as Ahm charged him, tackled him to the ground, and then they shimmered away. “What was that for?” Olsen growled as he pushed the blue man off of him. Ahm merely laughed as he waved at Olsen and then shimmered away. Olsen rolled onto his hands and knees and then pushed himself up. He looked around the room and then gasped when he saw Tater lying on the bed fitted with silk sheets. Olsen stood there for a moment taking in the sight. His mate was so damn gorgeous. He walked quietly around the bed, noticing how Tater’s lips were slightly parted, his face relaxed. He’d never seen his mate asleep before. When he had claimed Tater, Olsen was the first to fall asleep. He reached out, running a knuckle down the smooth skin of Tater’s cheek. He leaned forward, laying a gentle kiss on Tater’s lips as he ran his hand over his mate’s head. “Olsen,” Tater murmured. His heart rate increased when his mate called out his name in his sleep. It was the sweetest sound Olsen could ever remember hearing. His eyes snapped to the bandage on his mate’s neck. Olsen growled softly as his fingers ghosted over the gauze. How bad was his Tater injured? “Olsen.” Olsen glanced at his mate’s face to see Tater’s eyes open. The pale green was dark with desire. Olsen’s cock hardened at the sight. His bear was clawing Olsen’s insides to get at his mate. To reclaim what was his. “How are you feeling, love?” A small flicker of longing played in Tater’s eyes as he nodded. “Good.” Tater looked Olsen over seductively, his tongue gliding across his bottom lip. “Thirsty.” Olsen groaned at the sight of lust playing across his mate’s eyes and the movement of his Tater’s pink tongue. His cock jerked at a

 

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chance to have that small appendage gliding across his shaft. The beautiful thing about shifters was he didn’t have a stitch of clothing on from being in his bear form. Perfect. Olsen placed one knee onto the bed, moving slow enough to make his mate aware of what he was after. His eyes darted down the bed when Tater’s silk-covered legs spread apart. Olsen peeled back the sheet and then reached out to undress his mate. Tater lay perfectly still as Olsen revealed his pale flesh one piece of clothing at a time. As he removed Tater’s shirt, Olsen kissed his bare skin. Tater moaned as Olsen licked his way from Tater’s collarbone down to one brown nipple. His tongue flicked out, teasing it until it was pebbled and peaked. Olsen’s hands ran up and down his mate’s arms and sides, feeling Tater’s skin pimple at his touch. Olsen lifted his head, curved his hand behind Tater’s neck, and then pulled his mate in close as their lips collided. Olsen felt so feverish for Tater that he wanted to consume him. He could feel the strong man in his arms tremble as Olsen crawled over his mate’s body, hovering as he settled his legs on either side of Tater’s. He closed his eyes, inhaling sharply when his cock rubbed against Tater’s. The feeling threatened his control. Olsen crushed Tater under him as his lips ghosted across Tater’s, his tongue flicking across his mate’s kiss-swollen bottom lip. Tater twined his fingers behind Olsen’s neck, pulling him closer, so close that their bodies melded into one. “Olsen,” Tater panted against his lips. “Please.” His mate’s breath became ragged as his legs kicked restlessly. Olsen traced his lips over Tater’s chin, cheek, and then each eye. He inhaled the sweet scent of apples and cinnamon, feeling a deep-seated hunger clawing at his gut to claim his mate. Olsen rocked his hips, his mate taking the breath out of him.

 

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Olsen nipped the shell of Tater’s ear, whispering softly, “You will not run from me. You will not push me away because I’m a part of you now.” Olsen flicked his tongue, the tip catching Tater’s lobe. His mate shivered at the act. “I’m not going to live with a hole where my heart should be because you are afraid. Let me in, Tater. Trust me.” Olsen closed his eyes when Tater’s breath hitched, nodding into Olsen’s neck. He kissed his way down his mate’s tempting flesh, nuzzling the gauze, whimpering into it before leaning back. Olsen kept his eyes locked onto Tater’s, fear evident in his mate’s pale green ones. His mate didn’t move. Tater watched intently as he gave a small growl as Tater’s cock rested against his stomach, hard and leaking the clear liquid that he wanted to lick clean from his mate’s body. Olsen ran the palm of his hand up the large and beautiful shaft as he knelt between Tater’s firm and muscular legs. “Very nice, Tater,” he teased softly as his thumbnail dipped into the slit that was centered at the top. “Very nice.” Tater’s chest expanded and contracted rapidly as his eyes watched every movement Olsen’s hand made. The side of Olsen’s mouth pulled back into a smile when Tater’s tongue shot out, licking his lips as his stomach quivered. Olsen spanned his hand across Tater’s chest as he slid back, wetting two fingers, and then pressed the palm of his hand into Tater’s perineum as the two wet fingers circled around the tight muscle. Tater’s legs pulled back and then his knees fell apart, his eyes darting around Olsen’s face. Olsen pushed both fingers deeply into Tater’s ass and then pulled them all the way out, repeating the process as Tater’s head thrashed from side to side. He twisted his hand, watching his mate as Tater groaned loudly and bore down onto Olsen’s fingers as he grazed Tater’s walnut-shaped gland.

 

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Olsen laid his hand onto Tater’s thigh as he pushed a third finger in. He wished he had lube, but they weren’t at his house, in his bedroom. He eyes jumped from Tater to the stand next to the bed. Hmm, maybe. Olsen kept his fingers buried deep in his mate’s body as he leaned to the side, stretching to reach the drawer. His fingers curled around the handle, pulling hard. The drawer slid out and then hit the floor. “So much for multitasking.” He chuckled. Tater jackknifed, bent over the side of the bed, and then rolled back over, handing Olsen the lube. A brow hiked up as he smiled at his Tater. “Impatient?” “Hell yeah.” Tater kicked his feet out as he changed positions, getting onto his hands and knees. Good lord, what a magnificent sight his mate presented to him. Olsen leaned forward and nipped both ass cheeks. “Fuck me already,” Tater growled. Olsen chuckled as he lubed his cock and then tossed the bottle aside. He reached his left hand out and pushed Tater’s upper body to the bed, making his shoulders touch the mattress as he curled his fingers around the back of Tater’s neck. “Submit.” To his surprise, Tater’s arms reached up and his fingers curled around the headboard. His shoulders sank lower, and his ass rose higher into the air. Tater’s submission was going to make Olsen’s bear break free. His canines grew from his gums as Olsen began to breathe heavily. He shook his head, trying to cage his bear. His nails slid from their sheaths as his cock grew in size. Olsen quickly moved his hand from Tater’s neck. No! Olsen pinched the skin under the head of his cock, the pain reining in his bear. His cock eased back to its normal size as his nails resheathed. He had to gain control or his size would hurt his mate. “Olsen?”

 

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Olsen ran his hand up Tater’s spine as he grabbed the base of his cock with his other hand, lining it up and opening his mate up to his claiming. Olsen and Tater groaned at the same time as Olsen sank deeper. He fought hard to make his bear heal. Olsen pulled his hips back and then slammed forward, his teeth hurting to the point of pain. His bear wanted to bite, to claim, to reestablish who Tater was to him. Olsen gave up the fight and dropped over Tater, blanketing his back as he sank his teeth deep into Tater’s flesh. “Olsen!” Tater cried as his legs slid further apart, his ass jutting higher, begging for Olsen to fuck him harder. Olsen’s teeth stayed embedded as he grabbed Tater’s hips and powered into his mate’s tight ass. His cock felt like a steel fist was gripping it as he whimpered into Tater’s neck. He was losing control. The thought of his mate being hurt, of nearly dying, had him going crazy. “I’m okay, Olsen,” Tater panted. Olsen wasn’t sure how Tater knew about the internal battle, but the words seemed to calm his bear. He pulled his teeth free, licking the wound as he tried to steady his breathing. Olsen wrapped his arms around Tater as he slowed his frantic movements, his body moving in a gentle rocking motion as he pressed his face into Tater’s back, kissing his spine as his cock glided in and out of Tater’s soft body. “I love you, Olsen.” Olsen couldn’t catch the whimper before it left his lips. Tater had just made him the happiest bear on the planet. “I love you, too, mate.” “I’m scared,” Tater confessed. Olsen closed his eyes, thankful that his mate was reaching out to him, was telling him his fears. Olsen felt closer to Tater in that moment than he had at any other time. “I have you, baby.” Tater nodded into the mattress as Olsen felt apart inside of his mate, his body tightening as his orgasm approached. He reached

 

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under his mate, grabbing Tater’s cock into a tight fist, tugging at his mate’s shaft as Tater mewled and squirmed. “Pull it harder, bear. Harder,” Tater begged. Olsen yanked as his hips shot forward, burying his cock to the hilt. Tater shouted, his head falling back as Olsen’s hand was bathed in his mate’s cum. “That’s it, love,” Olsen crooned as he thrust a few more times, roaring as his body went rigid, his cum erupting from his cock as his hips snapped rapidly, fucking his mate like a crazed man. Olsen was toast. He didn’t have the energy to do a damn thing except drop to his side, taking his mate with him. His dick was still buried deeply, the size having nearly doubled. He would have to wait until it eased before pulling free. He didn’t mind. Olsen had Tater to wrap his body around while he waited. Olsen wasn’t stupid. He didn’t spoon Tater. He pressed his mate into the mattress and covered Tater’s body with his, lying over Tater, making sure his mate didn’t go any damn where. **** Tater woke from his sleep. The first thing he noticed was a heavy weight on his back. He smiled against the silk sheets. Olsen had him pinned down, his weight telling Tater that he wasn’t going anywhere. The second thing he noticed was the rapping at the bedroom door. “Lay here, babe,” Olsen said as he kissed Tater’s ear. The bear got up, sauntering across the room. “Are you going to answer the door like that?” Tater asked his very naked mate. Olsen looked down at his body and then back at Tater. “I’m a shifter. I’m used to being naked.” Tater growled and threw a pillow at Olsen. “Put that on.” Olsen chuckled as he covered his groin with the pillow before answering the door.

 

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Christian stood on the other side, a smile playing across his lips. “Since you are in one of my guest bedrooms, I was wondering if the two of you wanted breakfast.” Tater’s stomach growled right on cue. He was hungrier than he had ever remembered being before. He was also thirsty as hell. His throat almost felt like he had been sucking on sand. “Thanks,” Olsen said as he attempted to shut the bedroom door. “One more thing,” Christian said as he held his hand up. “Your mate lost a lot of blood. I had to have one of my coven members give him some blood. Since it was not mine, he will not change. He wasn’t that close to death, so there was no need to convert him. But he will crave his meat bloodier now and have a constant thirst.” Tater sat up as he listened. It was true. He was thirsty as hell and craving something. He just had no idea what. “He could remain that way, or I could finish the conversion. I’ll let you two discuss the matter.” “Wait!” Tater yanked the sheet from the bed and wrapped it around his body. He noticed the glare coming from Olsen but ignored his bear. “What does that mean?” Christian sighed. “You could be like the mate George, always carrying around a water bottle to quench your unyielding thirst. Or I could convert you into a vampire and you could feed from Olsen. There are downfalls to this, however. Sunlight will no longer be yours, and food will become a distant memory. But you will have immortality, as will Olsen.” The vampire walked away. “Hell of a thing to drop on me and then just walk away,” Tater grumbled as he walked back toward the bed. It was the second time he was asked to make such a large commitment. What the hell was wrong with the world? How had it gotten so screwed up? Tater shook his head as Olsen closed the door. “Hell of a thing,” he mumbled. “What do you think? Can you live with the thirst?”

 

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Tater wasn’t sure. He didn’t know what to—“Fuck!” Tater dropped to his hands and knees as pain unlike anything he had ever felt before ripped through his entire body. He collapsed onto his back as his arms instinctively wrapped around his midsection. “Oh god!” he cried out as he rolled back and forth, the pit of his stomach feeling as though molten lava was burning a hole through him. “Tater!” Olsen shouted as he dropped next to him. “Baby, what’s wrong?” “I…ahhh,” Tater screamed, sweat covering his body as his head felt like it was being squeezed tight. He barely registered his mate getting up and running out into the hall, screaming for Christian. Tater couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t fucking breathe. He felt a cold hand run over his head and then a loud curse as he writhed in pain on the floor. “Did that vampire blood do this to him? Did your fucking guy infect him?” Olsen shouted from beside him. “No,” Christian said loudly. “That wouldn’t have happened. I think I know what’s wrong with him.” “What?” Olsen bellowed. Christian’s cool fingers touched Tater’s neck, his pulse beating so fast that his heart actually hurt. “The one who bit him was infected, Olsen. He was high off of Liquid Wrath. It is now running through Tater’s veins. The only way to save him is to convert him.” Tater could feel his face growing tight, as if all the blood had pooled there. His eyes hurt and his temples throbbed so hard that he feared an aneurysm at any moment. “Do it,” he bit out right before his body began to convulse.

 

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Chapter Nine Olsen paced back and forth, running his hands through his hair so many times that it was standing on end now. He began to pull at it as he watched helplessly. Tater was going to die, and there was nothing Olsen could do about it. “I have to exchange blood with him. If you cannot handle this, leave,” Christian said over his shoulder at Olsen. “Just save him.” Olsen’s voice was hoarse as he watched the prince of vampires lean over his mate. His bear was going crazy, banging his head into Olsen’s ribs, trying its best to break free as Olsen’s pacing became more manic. Olsen wanted to ask the prince about taking the tainted blood into his body, but feared stopping him. The man must know what he was doing. Olsen watched as his mate’s body went rigid, Christian leaning over him, what he was doing hidden. Olsen was scared shitless. He ran his hands through his hair once again, pulling at it as time seemed to slow down. Olsen gasped and took a step back as Christian roared and his fangs elongated, black claws erupting from his fingernails. His skin began to take on a purplish hue as he rolled away from Tater. Not knowing what else to do, Olsen dove for Tater, covering his mate’s body. Just then two Asian men burst into the room, hissing at Olsen. “Please,” Olsen croaked. “Please save my mate.” The one with short-cropped hair took a step in Olsen’s direction. “What happened to the prince, shifter?”

 

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Olsen looked over at Christian. The prince was on his knees, his hands smashed against his temples. “He tried to convert my mate. The drug Liquid Wrath was in my mate’s system. Christian took it into his body.” The man cursed as he approached Christian. Olsen looked away, staring down at Tater, who was finally calmed down. The earshattering screams were no more. He leaned forward, placing his cheek close to Tater’s lips, feeling little puffs of air caress his skin. Olsen breathed a sigh of relief. “You must go.” The man turned to Olsen. “I must calm him, and you cannot be here.” Olsen wasn’t so sure the prince could be calmed from the way the vampire was lashing out. He didn’t know any way to escape as quickly as the small vampire wanted him to. He had no way of getting his mate home without calling his family and waiting around, something he knew the small vampire was against. Olsen had no other choice…“Ahm!” **** Dr. Nicholas Sheehan paced back and forth as he waited to be let into the room. His mate, Jason, stood close by, watching everyone closely. He wasn’t sure what he could do for the human changed to vampire. Normally he would, but the drug running rampant through the paranormal community changed the rules of the game. He knew he was walking into unknown territory, but Nicholas knew he had to try and help Tater any way he could. “Go in,” Mr. Lakeland said as he stepped aside, allowing Nicholas to enter. Jason was hot on his heels, dogging his back as Nicholas approached the bed. Holy hell. He had no clue what to make of this.

 

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“Help him, doc,” Tater’s mate begged from the other side of the bed. “This isn’t normal.” Nicholas glanced back down at Tater. Fuck if that wasn’t the truth. He couldn’t have agreed more. He’d seen what happened when Christian converted someone. Josh was living proof of what took place. This was not it. It wasn’t even close. “What did Christian say?” he asked the bear as he laid his medical bag onto the bed. Nicholas rolled his sleeves back as he took out his stethoscope. “He wasn’t able to tell me. I think he went mad.” The bear’s voice was filled with worry and guilt. “Is someone going to check on him?” “The wolf physician is getting in touch with the vampire doctor. They’re taking care of him,” Maverick said as he leaned against a wall on the far side of the room. Nicholas nodded as he approached Tater. The man’s fangs were twice as long as a normal vampire’s should be. They were still sharp as razors though. Tater hadn’t gained consciousness yet, and Nicholas didn’t want to be near those lethal-looking things when the man finally came around. Tater had also grown in size, almost doubling, and his skin was an eerie shade of pale green. He was at a loss to know what was going on with Olsen’s mate. Nicholas leaned close to the hybrid, praying things didn’t turn ugly fast. **** Maverick watched Nicholas try his best to figure out what was wrong with Olsen’s mate. He had never seen anything like this before. Tater was an anomaly that they would probably try to figure out for years to come.

 

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But there was one thing he could do for the hybrid. This was going to be good. Most people thought Maverick was irresponsible. They thought he took his job lightly. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, in making them believe this, he was able to observe things most thought he had missed, overlooked. And god love it, he still was having his dreams. “Chey.” The entire room turned to look at him. “Pardon me?” Olsen asked as he cocked his head to the side. “I said Chey. He’s a wolf over in Zeus’s pack that has this healing thing he does.” No sense in spilling all of the grey wolf’s secrets. He wasn’t going to divulge that Chey was an omega either. That was no one’s business. “I’m not following you,” Olsen said as he reached a hand down and rubbed it up and down Tater’s arm. “How can he help my mate?” “I’m not really sure. But from the looks of things, Tater needs some help getting through this transformation. I think Chey could be beneficial.” Oh hell, Zeus was going love him for this. The alpha was going to shit rainbow-colored kittens when he found out Maverick knew about his little omega. Maverick himself wasn’t interested in having one around. They were more trouble than they were worth. He already had a houseful of headaches. “Can you bring him here?” Olsen asked, desperation lacing his voice. Maverick had no clue how the bear felt, so he wasn’t even going to try with the bullshit line of I understand how you feel. He hated when people said that. “Let me give Zeus a call,” he said as he walked out of the room. A whole litter of the rainbow kittens. ****

 

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Olsen sat on the edge of the bed, placing his back to the headboard as he pulled Tater’s arm onto his legs. He ran his thumb over his mate’s discolored skin and worried about Tater still being unconscious. He focused on the fact that Tater had confessed his love for him. Olsen held on to the confession with an iron fist. He glanced up when a short man with brown hair stepped into Olsen’s bedroom. “Is this him?” the man asked as he nodded toward Tater. Olsen’s defenses immediately went up. He didn’t know the stranger or the large wolf who had walked in behind him. He glanced over at Maverick, who was back to leaning against the wall. “My name is Chey, and I’m told I may be able to help someone.” The man stepped a little closer, the wolf behind him doing the same. “And this is Eagle.” Chey pointed behind him to the glaring, blondehaired man. “How can you help him?” Olsen asked. Chey moved around the bed until he was on the side Olsen was sitting on. The short man leaned close, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Normally, I can heal those that are injured. But with your mate going through a change unlike any other, I’m not sure if it will work. But if you would let me try, I can see if I can help him.” Olsen knew he would let Chey try. He was lost as to what to do for his mate. He was running out of options. No one seemed to know what to do for Tater. He glanced at his pa, who was standing by the window, watching everything that was going on. When his pa dipped his head in a nod, Olsen swallowed around the lump in his throat and then looked back at Chey. “Help him, please.” Chey’s jaw tightened as his expression went from compassionate to determined. “You may want to move. I’m not sure if he will thrash around or not, and I don’t want you to get hurt.” This coming from a man half the size of Olsen.

 

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He wanted to argue, to shout, to tell the man to get the hell away from his mate, but this wasn’t about him. It was about helping Tater. Olsen slid from the bed and walked over to his pa, needing his father’s closeness for comfort. He glanced out of the window, feeling as if his entire world was falling apart around him. He noticed strangers standing there in the backyard as if they were guarding something. Their stance was rigid. “Who are they?” he asked no one in particular. “Men here to protect Chey,” Eagle growled. Olsen looked over his shoulder, seeing the fierceness in the man’s eyes, and wondered if he was Chey’s mate. He had to be. No one could look that lethal about someone he was just watching over. Not in Olsen’s opinion anyway. He wrapped his arms around his abdomen as he watched Chey climb up on the bed and then kneel at Tater’s side. Nausea rolled through him as Chey laid his hands on Tater’s bare chest, and then his mate began to scream. It was instantaneous. The moment Chey touched him, his mate began to thrash around. Olsen took a step toward the bed, desperate to give Tater some kind of comfort. His pa laid his hand on Olsen’s arm, stopping him from going to his mate. “Let him work, son.” Olsen’s bear roared, standing up on its hind legs as it, along with Olsen, listened to the horrific screams coming from the bed. Olsen’s head began to hurt, and his stomach began to cramp at the pain his mate was broadcasting. He wasn’t sure if it was their bond or if it was empathy, but Olsen thought he was going to lose his mind as Tater traversed through a hell Olsen could only imagine. “His body is confused. It doesn’t know what to do,” Chey said as he pressed his hands harder onto Tater’s chest. “It’s fighting the drug, but unsure if it should change Tater into a human or a vampire.”

 

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Olsen spun around to face the wall, slamming his fists into the drywall as his mate’s cries echoed throughout the room, throughout Olsen’s soul. Tears trickled down his face as helplessness washed over him. “Which way should I go?” Chey asked. “Tell me,” he cried out desperately. “Vampire,” Olsen blurted out. If Tater’s body was fighting this, fighting to figure out what to do, becoming a vampire was the safer route. He wasn’t sure Tater’s human form would survive the chemical raging through his system. Liquid Wrath was deadly to humans. He had no choice. 0He just prayed his mate didn’t hate him for making the decision for him. “Then get ready,” Chey warned. Olsen spun around, watching in a detached disbelief, mesmerized by the sight as Tater’s body convulsed, his back arched, and then he roared so loud that the windows shook. The fangs that were too large for his mate’s mouth began to recede, stopping their retraction when they were the size of what a normal vampire would have. His blackened claws started to retract as well, normal fingernails appearing. Olsen held his breath, waiting to see what else would happen. Slowly, very slowly, Tater’s normal coloring began to return. His skin didn’t stop changing though. Not until it shimmered with a paleness that was utterly beautiful in Olsen’s opinion. It was better than the pale green and more ethereal than his usual peachiness. “What about his size?” Olsen asked as he took a hesitant step closer, watching every single move his mate made. Chey shook his head as he rocked back on his heels. “I’m afraid that will stay. There were compromises to make, and his size was one of them. He is, for all intents and purposes, a full vampire now. The drug will always be in him, making him aggressive at times, but he

 

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should be okay. I would blacken out the windows before he awakens.” Olsen, along with his pa, began to grab blankets and whatever else they could find to shield his mate from the harmful UV rays. When they had sufficiently covered the windows, Olsen turned back to Chey. “Can I go to him now?” Chey slid from the bed, his face marred with stress lines that hadn’t been there before. He swayed slightly and then laid a hand on the bed to steady himself. Eagle took a step forward, his hand extending, and then he pulled it away, taking a step back as if afraid to touch Chey. Olsen never stopped to think what helping his mate might do to the small wolf. “Can I do anything for you?” The question made Eagle growl, but Olsen ignored the sound. He was worried about the healer. “No, but thank you. I just need to go home and rest.” Olsen knew there was more to it than that. But if Chey didn’t want any help, there was nothing he could do. “Thank you…for everything. I owe you my mate’s life. If there is anything I can ever do for you, all you have to do is ask.” Chey gave Olsen a weak smile as he headed for the bedroom door. He turned as he reached it, staring over at Tater. “He’s going to need blood when he awakens. More than you have to give. Let your womb mates feed him as well. I’m not sure how he will act since he is a hybrid. So be warned.” Olsen nodded as he crossed the room, crawling onto the bed with Tater as Chey and Eagle exited the room. “I’m going to head out,” Maverick said as he pushed away from the wall. “Let me know if there is anything you need.” “Thanks,” Pa said as he walked out with the alpha, leaving Olsen alone with his mate. Olsen wasn’t sure what was going to happen once his mate came to. He held on to the fact that Tater was still alive and that was all that

 

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mattered to him. He curled his body around the man that was twice Olsen’s size now and laid his head on Tater’s massive chest. He found himself dozing as he listened to the steady beat of his mate’s heart, something he prayed he would hear for a long time to come.

 

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Chapter Ten Hunger. Pain. Thirst. His mind whirled as he tried desperately to organize his thoughts. They were scattered, forming and then fleeing before he could make sense of them. A heartbeat. He could hear a heart beating so close that he swore he could taste the blood in his mouth already. He inhaled deeply, taking in the scents all around him. His fingers curled into tight fists as the heartbeat picked up its pace, thundering loudly. It was so damn close. His head began to hurt when he found that there were too many sensations barraging him. The sound of the heart, the pain in his bones, and the feel of hunger clawing at his gut were confusing him. He wasn’t sure which one to focus on first. Hunger. The clawing in his stomach doubled in its intensity as his body began to pulse with pain. He needed to eat, to drink, to quench this unrelenting thirst that threatened to tear apart his very foundation. His eyes flew open, grabbing the source of the beating heart as he sank his teeth into soft, giving flesh. The taste exploded in his mouth, making him hold the heartbeat tighter, daring anyone to take his source away. “Tater!” He could hear the screaming, clarifying in his mind that there was more than one voice shouting at him, but he was lost in the delicious

 

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taste that was easing his hunger, his thirst. His body bucked, and he swung his arm out as his nose was pinched and the source stolen right from under him. He roared as he reached for that ambrosia that was easing his pain. He whimpered when it was returned. He grabbed it tightly in his hands as he sank his teeth back in. It wasn’t the same. This was different. He wanted to protest, but even though the source had changed in flavor, it was still helping to ease the clawing at his very soul. “Tater.” He whimpered again. Was his source going to be taken from him a second time? He wrapped his body around the beating pulse, drinking deeply. “Tater. Let Gavin go.” He hurriedly drank, taking large gulps as fear set in that he was going to lose the very thing that was helping him. He couldn’t allow that. He didn’t want the agonizing pain to return. He lashed out, his hand coming into contact with something as his nose was pinched once again. “Calm down, love.” His chest began to expand and contract painfully as he inhaled, looking for the one thing that was sure to free him from this hunger. There it was again. He grabbed it, bit into it, and then rolled, trapping it under him as he drank so greedily that he began to gag. “Slow down, love.” He couldn’t. If he did, they would take it away again before he could make the pain go away. He felt someone pushing at him, trying to roll him over. He growled, hissed, and then gave off something sounding like a bark as he was forced to relent. “Tater. Open your eyes, love. Focus. Look at me, beautiful.”

 

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He blinked a few times, the room finally coming into focus. His eyes locked onto his bear. His bear. Tater leapt at the speed of light, tackling Olsen to the floor. He tore at his mate’s clothes, needing to feel his mate’s warm flesh pressed against his bone-chilling coldness. He heard a door close softly, but Tater was too far gone to care. “Tater, stop!” Olsen growled. He knew he had to stop, but Tater felt out of control. His hands shook violently as he ripped Olsen’s jeans from his body. “Help me,” he cried desperately. His body swayed heavily as his breathing became labored when Olsen shifted, rearing up onto his hind legs, giving Tater a warning roar, his mate’s jaw almost unhinging, and his sharp incisors gleamed in the low lighting of the room. Tater jumped back, crouching down into a position that readied him for an attack. The bear charged him, overtook him, and then sank his teeth deep into Tater’s shoulders. He knew what Olsen was doing. He was setting boundaries, showing Tater who the alpha of the two was. His mind fought against the submission, but his body knew better than to fight his mate. It gave itself over to his bear. Olsen grunted, his breath snorting out of his muzzle as he slowly released his hold on Tater. “Olsen,” Tater whimpered. Olsen shifted, and his body blanketed Tater’s as his mate held on. “I have you, love.” “W–What’s wrong with me?” Olsen nuzzled his face into Tater’s neck, licking at Tater’s skin. “The vampire who attacked you was infected with a lethal drug. It was transferred into your system and almost killed you.” Olsen wrapped his arms around Tater, holding him tightly. “Christian had no choice but to convert you in order to save you. But it went wrong because of the drug. Maverick brought someone in to heal you. You’re a vampire now, love, only a little different.”

 

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“I don’t understand.” Tater knew something was different, physically and mentally. He could feel it. God, how do I explain this to him? “What?” Olsen’s brows drew together as he gazed into Tater’s eyes. “I didn’t say anything.” “I heard you ask how to explain this to me.” Tater couldn’t understand why Olsen looked so perplexed. His mate’s expression changed in an instant, transforming into shock. “Tater, love. I didn’t say that, I thought it.” Tater lay there on the floor, feeling like he was drowning, confusion weighing him down and pulling him under. Nothing made sense to him. “How have I changed?” “Besides you reading my thoughts?” Olsen smiled. “Well, you’re a vampire, as I’ve said. You’re also twice the size you once were.” Tater bent his head, looking down at his body. He gasped when he saw that Olsen was right. Instead of his bear being the larger of the two, Tater now overshadowed his mate. And he didn’t like it one bit. “I want my body back the way it was,” he whispered helplessly. Tater liked the fact that Olsen was the controlling one of the two. This didn’t feel right. He hated it. His eyes snapped up when Olsen’s chest rumbled with a chuckle. “Don’t worry, love. I’m still the dominant one. Just try and test that, and we’ll see who ends up on his back.” Tater could hear the teasing in his mate’s voice, but he didn’t miss the challenge that was wound through it. As much as he liked Olsen dominating him, there was something inside of him that raged against it. Maybe it was his size, or the fact that he was changed now, but Tater knew in his heart that challenging his mate would be a mistake. Tater might have doubled in size, but Olsen was a force to be reckoned with. “You got that right.”

 

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Tater’s mouth hung open as Olsen commented on what he’d just been thinking. “That is creepy as hell.” Olsen laughed as he climbed up Tater’s body, resting his chest against Tater’s. “But I like it. Just think of all the kinky little things we can say to each other when someone else is around.” Tater laughed at his mate’s way of thinking. “Leave it to you to think of something like that.” In the next breath he was moaning when Olsen reached down and cupped his soft cock. It didn’t stay that way for long. Tater became instantly aroused, his shaft growing under his bear’s skillful handling. “We can’t,” Tater said reluctantly. There was nothing more that Tater wanted than to feel his mate buried deep inside of him. But he was afraid. “What are you afraid of, love?” Maybe this mind-reading thing wasn’t as fantastic as he originally thought. At the moment, it felt invasive. “My size, who I am now. What if I lose control and hurt you?” Olsen growled as he sat up, straddling Tater’s hips. “I don’t think you have to worry about that. I can handle my own.” Tater shot his hips up, nearly tossing Olsen off of him. “You were saying?” “Caught me off guard, buddy. That won’t happen—” Olsen flew forward, his hands slapping onto Tater’s chest and his fingernails digging and breaking skin. “Will you stop that!” Tater laughed so hard that Olsen was being bounced around. “I couldn’t help it. You left yourself open for that.” Olsen slapped his chest as he pushed himself back. “If you keep it up, I’m not going to fuck you.” Now that was a threat Tater was not willing to test. “But what if I—” “Hush, you won’t,” Olsen said as he scooted between his mate’s legs. “By the way, I’m killing my brothers for letting you feed from them when you were naked.”

 

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Tater could feel his entire body flush at Olsen’s reminder. He hadn’t been in control at the time, but now that he was, somewhat, he was going to die of mortification. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, love…They, on the other hand, better hope I forget.” He had no clue where his bear got the lube from, but the tube was dropped down next to Tater as Olsen’s fingers breached him. “Yes,” Tater hissed as his head rolled back. “Fuck. You look sexy as hell with those fangs,” Olsen moaned as he finger-fucked Tater until he thought he was going to lose his mind. Although his mate was doing a fan-fucking-tastic job of making him forget his own name, Tater was still afraid to really move. He didn’t care what Olsen said. With this new hybrid body, he wasn’t sure what his capabilities were, and he wasn’t willing to take a chance and hurt the man he loved. “Ow!” Tater yelped when Olsen smacked his hip. “You better care what I say, mister.” Tater narrowed his eyes, puckering his lips in a pout but didn’t think any negative thoughts after that. It helped that Olsen had plunged into him and made his brain cells scatter to the four corners. “Olsen!” “I thought you needed help taking your mind off of things.” His mate chuckled, looking unrepentant. Tater’s eyes grew when his mate lifted his big, beefy legs up and tossed them onto his shoulders, showing Tater a strength he never thought Olsen possessed. “I told you not to worry.” Olsen thrust deep on the last word, making Tater cry out with pleasure. Tater didn’t care that they were on the carpeted floor or that he was twice the size of his mate, as long as Olsen didn’t stop, fuck everything else. “That’s right, baby. Fuck ’em all.” Olsen grabbed Tater’s hip and jackhammered into his ass, making Tater’s arm shoot out, trying desperately to find any kind of purchase to grab onto.

 

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“M–Make me come, Olsen. Please,” Tater begged as he felt something start to build inside of him. His fear spiked to an all-new high when claws shot out of his fingers as his skin began to give off a slight hum. “Olsen, something’s happening.” “It’s called an orgasm, and I’m not stopping until you come all over me.” Olsen’s face hardened, determination etching into fine lines around his mate’s eyes as he hammered into Tater’s ass harder. Tater’s back arched as an explosion of stellar proportion was set off inside of him, cum erupting from his cock so hard that Tater thought his balls were going to be pulled up into his body. He jackknifed, taking Olsen down and sinking his fangs into his mate as Olsen did the same, his canines embedding into Tater’s flesh as his bear’s cock pulsed inside his ass, signaling his release. Tater was breathing heavy, willing his fangs to let go of his mate. The harder he bit down into Olsen’s flesh, the harder Olsen bit into him. It was a war of wills until finally the storm inside of Tater began to diminish, his senses coming back to him. He whimpered into his mate’s flesh as he eased his fangs free. “Olsen, I’m so sorry.” Olsen growled around Tater’s neck, his body thrusting into Tater’s, knocking them both back, Olsen falling on top of him before his bear finally released him. “Are you okay, love?” Tater thought it an odd thing to ask, considering he was the one who hurt Olsen. “I hurt you.” Olsen chuckled as he rocked back onto his heels. “No, you turned me the fuck on with the power struggle. But, as I told you, you would be the one on your back.” Olsen smacked Tater’s bare hip as he winked at him. “Come on, babe. We need to go let the family know that you’re okay.” Tater snorted, waving a hand down at his body. “You call doubling in size being okay?”

 

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Olsen’s features hardened as his eyes perused Tater’s new form. “I call it being alive.” Tater caught the meaning. His bear didn’t care what he looked like, as long as he still had his mate. “You’re damn straight.” Fuck, he hated the mind-reading thing. **** Olsen had to give his mate clothes to wear, considering Tater couldn’t fit any of his own. Actually, it was Chauncey who donated a few things. The twin was the largest of the sons and was about the same size as Tater’s new body. “My things are still at the shelter,” Tater said as he walked down the steps behind Olsen. “I may not fit my clothes anymore, but I do have personal items as well.” Olsen led his mate into the living room, where it seemed his entire family was gathered. His pa looked up, his eyes questioning. “He’s fine.” “Thank fuck. If I had to donate again, he was going to feed from my damn bear,” Bryce grumbled. “I don’t appreciate being tossed under you, Tater. No offense, but I like my men smaller than me.” He laughed the last part, giving Tater a wink. Olsen growled, hating the fact that his womb mate had seen his Tater naked. He hated the fact that someone else had to help feed his mate, but in all honesty, he was glad it was one of his brothers. He cocked his head to the side when he noticed Chauncey sitting off by himself, a scowl pulling his face down. Olsen glanced over at Chance, Chauncey’s twin, to see if he had the same expression. He wasn’t surprised when Chance had a large smile on his face. Olsen would never understand the twins’ relationship with each other. It was bizarre as hell at times.

 

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“The wolf physician would like to take a few samples of your blood. Is that okay with you, Tater?” Pa asked as he stood from his recliner, walking across the room to stand in front of them. “It’s fine if you choose not to. It’s your body.” Olsen reached out and placed his hand on his mate’s lower back when Tater moved an inch closer to him. “I don’t mind, but what’s he going to do with it?” Pa smiled gently at Tater, his hand landing on Tater’s shoulder. “He just wants to see what’s going on inside of you.” “Do you know why they attacked?” Olsen asked as he pulled Tater’s large body into his arms. It was strange cuddling his mate when Tater stood at least a foot taller than him now, but Olsen didn’t care. The fact that he could cuddle him, that Tater hadn’t died, was all that mattered. “Well,” his pa said as he ran his hand over the back of his neck, turning to face the others. “From what Maverick told me, the blue guy—” “Blue guy?” Riley asked. Pa frowned at the eldest son. “If you hadn’t been up in your bedroom being antisocial instead of down here at the cookout, you would have seen him shimmer into the backyard.” “I was reading a good book,” Riley defended grumpily. “Anyway,” Pa continued after rolling his eyes at Riley, “the blue man told him that some very nasty people weren’t too happy about Alex’s stepfather, Tater’s uncle, disappearing and the drug lab being destroyed. Apparently they had invested a lot of money in what Clark was doing in that big red barn. “It wasn’t a fucking drug lab. It was my refuge.” Olsen felt the anger rolling off of Tater in waves. “I’m sorry you lost it, love.” And Olsen truly was. He hated to see anything upset his baby. After everything that Tater had gone through, was still going through, he wanted to make his mate happy.

 

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“So they sent rogues to do what? Wipe the entire fucking town out?” Chance asked angrily. “What kind of fucked-up thinking is that?” “I, along with the alpha, don’t know, son. But I have a feeling that this isn’t over. I want all of you, including you three”—Pa pointed to Alex, Steven, and then Tater—“to watch your backs. Keep your guard up at all times until this mess is resolved or we get the all clear. Got it?” The room nodded, a few grumbling their answers as Olsen ran his hand up and down Tater’s back. “How is Christian?” “What happened to Christian?” Olsen liked the fact that they could talk privately like this. It made him feel closer to his mate. “When he had to convert you to save your life, he took in your tainted blood. We were kicked out by his mates when Christian’s body started freaking out. He changed into this weird thing and was raging,” Olsen explained out loud so everyone would know. Tater turned toward him with his mouth hanging open. “Seriously?” Olsen nodded. “I’m not sure what was going on, but his mates charged into the room and demanded that we leave. I was so worried about you, I didn’t stop to ask questions.” “Damn.” Chauncey finally snapped out of whatever soured his mood, and whistled low. “That’s truly fucked up.” “Yeah, it is,” Pa agreed. “I’m waiting on Maverick to call me. He said that as soon as he hears something, he’d let me know.” Olsen felt terrible about the vampire. He had immediately jumped in, no qualms about helping to save Tater’s life, and now he may be damaged or insane. Olsen had a feeling that whatever was going on had only just begun.

 

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Chapter Eleven Olsen cocked an eyebrow as Tater grunted. He wasn’t sure what his mate wanted to show him, but Tater had dragged him outside, telling Olsen he had to see this. Whatever this was. Tater shook out his hands, exhaling loudly, and then stood as still as a statue. Olsen slapped his hands onto his hips, waiting for something to happen. There was no way Tater brought him out here to show him how still he could stand. “Hush. You’re breaking my concentration.” Olsen chuckled. “I didn’t say a word.” “No, but you’re thinking too loud.” Olsen shook his head. That was the first time he’d ever been accused of something like that. “Olsen,” Tater thought in warning. “Well, what do you want me to do? I can’t stop my brain from working.” Tater growled and then became still again. Olsen leaned against the side of the house as Bryce and Gavin joined him. All three stood there silently and watched Tater. Olsen jumped back, gasping as Tater’s skin began to glow an eerie shade of green. The same green that it had been when he was first converted. “So he’s a lightning bug now?” Bryce asked as he cocked his head to the side. “All he needs are wings.” Olsen’s hand shot out, the back of it slapping Bryce in his chest. “You’re not allowed to make fun of my mate.”

 

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“Who’s making fun of him?” Bryce asked, but Olsen could see the mischievous glint in his eyes. “I think it’s cool as hell.” “Really?” Tater asked as the glowing began to fade. If Bryce said one smart-ass thing, Olsen was going to kick his ass from one end of the house to the other. “It’s okay, Olsen. I know I’m a freak now.” Olsen pushed away from the house, stalking over to his mate and grabbing Tater’s upper arms. “Look at me, love.” Tater glanced everywhere but at Olsen, and then his gorgeous green eyes settled on him. Olsen was thankful that Tater’s eyes hadn’t changed. He would have missed the pale beauties. “You are not a freak. Do you understand me?” “Hey, I was just kidding, Tater,” Bryce said as he took a step closer, stopping when Olsen growled a warning. “I’m serious. You’re family. It doesn’t matter who or what you are, you’re one of us now. You’re a Lakeland, and nobody, not even one of us, is going to fuck with you.” Olsen’s anger at his brother eased a little at Bryce’s words. He could feel Tater’s tension slowly draining as he nodded at Bryce. “Thanks.” “You want me to kick my ass? I’ll do it,” Bryce said. Tater threw his head back and laughed. “This I’ve gotta see.” Bryce growled. “You would have to say yes.” Olsen grinned as he pulled Tater back, waiting to see what his brother was going to do. He pushed the thought away from his mind about Tater’s trick. It wouldn’t do any good to think about it right now with Tater having been upset at Bryce’s comment. But he was going to find out later what the hell had just happened. “Now you know I can’t technically kick my own ass, right?” “Yes, you can.” Gavin grinned. “Go on, big mouth. Do it.” “Boys, get in here,” Pa shouted from the back porch. “Saved by the bell,” Olsen said as he grabbed Tater’s hand and led his mate inside. It had been three weeks since Tater’s ordeal with the

 

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rogue, and his baby seemed to be adjusting slowly. He hoped his pa didn’t have any news that would set his mate’s progress back. “I’m fine.” Olsen rolled his eyes as he swatted Tater’s ass. “I’ll be the judge of that.” “Settle down, fellas,” his pa said as he sauntered over to one of the recliners and took a seat, sitting with his arms resting on his knees. “Maverick called. It’s all been hush-hush about what happened to the prince.” Olsen stood straighter. He wanted to know what happened to the man that had saved his mate’s life. He’d inquired a few times but was told time and again that no one knew what was going on with the prince of vampires. “How’s he doing?” Olsen asked as his hand slid over Tater’s back. “From what I’ve been told, not so good. He keeps shifting back and forth from his vampire form to his original form. It’s slowing down and the physician is hoping that it will soon stop, but nobody really knows what’s going to happen.” Fuck. Olsen felt like he should do something. After all, the vampire had saved Tater. Even if he hadn’t, Olsen would still feel compelled to help. That was who he was and how he was raised. “You know there’s really nothing we can do, Olsen,” Tater gently reminded him. “He’s the original vampire, according to your father. I’m pretty sure we would be out of our element with him.” Olsen sighed. He knew his mate was right. He just hated sitting around doing nothing. “Did anyone find out who is behind all of this upheaval?” “Not a clue,” Pa said. “Maverick suspects it’s rogue vampires, but there’s no way to tell.” Olsen glanced at Tater when a small frown began to work across his face. “What is it, love?” “It’s probably nothing.”

 

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“Tell me anyway.” “D seemed to know one of the vampires that attacked us,” Tater said. “He told me that the guy wasn’t very nice.” “Not a nice guy?” Olsen cocked an eyebrow. “You don’t say.” Tater’s eyes narrowed. “Bite me!” Olsen grinned. “Can you be serious here for a minute?” Tater snapped. “D might know who these guys are. I think we should talk to him or at least have Maverick talk to him.” “I’d prefer to discuss the biting thing.” Olsen chuckled when Tater rolled his eyes. He grabbed his mate and hugged him close, planting a small kiss on his bicep. A few weeks ago, he would have planted a kiss on his head. Now he just reached his chest. That really would take some getting used to. “All right, let’s call Maverick and have him talk to D,” Olsen said. “You go ahead and do that,” Pa said, “because I need to go have a talk with Chauncey.” “What’s wrong with him?” Olsen asked as he looked from his pa to his womb mates, Bryce and Gavin. His brothers shrugged, but Olsen could see in their eyes that they knew something. “He…uh.” Pa rubbed the back of his neck as his eyes darted toward the front porch. “I’ll discuss it with you later.” Olsen didn’t like this secretive shit. If it involved his family, he wanted to know. He wasn’t going to press the matter right now, but he wasn’t going to wait too long for an answer either. “Come on.” Tater pulled Olsen from the living room and up the stairs. “It’s none of your business.” “Hell, if it’s not,” Olsen grumbled as he followed his mate up to his bedroom, where he had left his cell phone. ****

 

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Tater listened as Olsen talked with Maverick. He looked down at his hands, wondering if now would be a good time to tell his bear that he was feeling panicky. He may be getting used to this new body and this new way of live, but he still had his old ways and his old fears. One of them being the fact that he still felt like running away from all of this. Sure, Olsen was great, but Tater still felt that all-consuming fear that he would screw this up somehow. He had two big commitments, permanent ones, land in his lap in the past couple of weeks, and he still wasn’t sure what to do about that. Not that he could do anything, but his mind still hadn’t fully processed what had happened to him. Tater looked up from the back steps he was sitting on as Olsen leaned against the side of the rail, reaching his hand down to run it over Tater’s hair. He wasn’t sure if Olsen was doing it to reassure Tater or if he was doing it just to be tender. That was another thing. Tater felt like his private thoughts were no longer his. It’s not that he didn’t like being able to talk to Olsen so no one could hear them. It was the fact that everyone deserved to have their own thoughts to themselves, sharing only when they wanted to. “I know, baby. It’s hard on both of us,” Olsen thought as he continued to talk. Tater jumped from the steps, storming across the yard and past the barn, toward the woods. How far would he have to go to be able to think without his mate hearing his every damn word? “Shit!” Tater shouted as he hit the ground, a large bear on his back. “Where do you think you’re going, Tater?” “Away, damn it. I need to think. I need to figure this shit out. I need—” “You’re running. Do you think I don’t know this? I’m not going to let you run off someplace alone. It’s too dangerous out there. And besides, you are going to stop running and talk to me. I know you’re

 

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afraid of commitment, but running is not going to solve a damn thing.” Tater glared at the forest as he lay on the ground. Hadn’t he been thinking a few weeks ago that he wanted Olsen to take charge? To make him commit? Now that Olsen was taking charge, Tater could feel something inside of him rebelling. Was he really that screwed up? Olsen’s nose brushed over Tater’s cheek, his tongue lapping at the side of Tater’s neck. “You’re my mate, love. I need you just as much as you need me. We have a bond. If only you’d reach out and connect to me, we could work through this.” Tater felt the tears threatening to spill. That was what he truly wanted, someone to connect with, someone to bond with. The only thing stopping him from getting what he craved the most was him. “I’m scared, Olsen,” Tater confessed once again as he laid his cheek on the grass under him. “I know, love. I know. And I promise to always keep that in mind when you feel like running, but I can’t allow you to take off, baby.” Tater shuddered when he felt Olsen shift into his human form. The naked man lay over him, kissing the side of his neck, his hard cock pressing into Tater’s ass. The feel of his mate blanketing him was what Tater had been looking for. He wanted to feel protected, taken over. And Olsen was doing just that. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Olsen growled in his ear as he situated his knees on either side of Tater’s hips. “Why didn’t you tell me you need me to be the one in charge, to command you?” Tater could feel his entire body flush as his desires were voiced. How long had he wanted to tell Olsen now? Maybe this mind thing did have its benefits. “It doesn’t matter. I know now.” Olsen began to pull at Tater’s waistband. “Wait!” Tater pulled out from between Olsen’s legs, leaving his mate kneeling on the grassy field, the forest just in arm’s reach. God,

 

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the man looked so damn good kneeling there naked with his cock hard and throbbing. It looked like a thing of beauty. Olsen cocked his head to the side, studying Tater right before Tater tackled Olsen, his mate landing on his back. Tater didn’t waste any time. He swallowed Olsen until pubic hairs tickled his nose. “Fuck, Tater. That’s right, love. Suck my dick.” Olsen’s legs fell apart as he began to thrust into Tater’s mouth. Tater palmed the back of Olsen’s knees, pushing his legs back as he sucked Olsen like a lollipop. Olsen’s cock popped from his lips as he dipped his head, lapping at his mate’s sac. He sucked one orb in, tongue bathing it, and then did the same to the other. He could hear the moans coming from his mate as Tater swirled his tongue around, pulling at Olsen’s nuts with his lips. “Suck it, baby.” Tater released the heady skin as he took Olsen’s cock back into his mouth. His head rose and fell as he tried his best to give his mate the best blow job in history. “You are, baby. You are,” Olsen groaned as his fingers curled into the grass. Tater was desperate to get fucked, to feel this large cock that passed back and forth between his lips in his ass. But he was reluctant to let it go. He wanted both. Tater wanted it all. Olsen kicked out, making Tater stumble from his knees. His bear got to his feet, his wet and hard shaft jutting out proudly. “Take your clothes off, Tater,” he commanded. Tater ripped at his pants, trying desperately to get them off. He knew what Olsen wanted, and Tater was more than happy to oblige. He struggled with the strings of his boots, his fingers uncooperative from shaking so badly. Finally, he got them untied and yanked his boots off of his feet. It only took seconds before Tater’s pants were off. He rolled until he was on his hands and knees, his hole pulsing in anticipation of being filled.

 

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“No, baby. On your back,” Olsen said as he glided one hand over Tater’s bared ass. Tater hesitated. “Get on your back, Tater. Now.” Olsen’s voice was steel. Tater rolled again, looking up at his mate. He could feel his stomach muscles quivering at the command as Olsen squatted between Tater’s legs. “I want to watch your cock dance for me as I fuck you, baby.” Tater nodded as he hitched his hands behind his knees and pulled his legs back. He may be larger than Olsen now, but Tater didn’t want to take the lead, ever. “You don’t have to worry about that. Not a chance in hell, love. Remember, who is on his back?” Tater grinned up at his bear. “I love you, bear.” Olsen chuckled as he spat on his fingers. “You’re just saying that because I’m about to fuck you into the forest.” Tater shrugged. “Maybe.” Olsen smacked his leg playfully. “I love you, too, baby. Now spread ’em.” Tater laughed as he pulled his legs back further, watching the playful glint in Olsen’s eyes turn to lust. “Fuck, baby. You are so damn gorgeous.” Tater hissed as Olsen pushed two fingers past the ring and then scissored them. His breathing became ragged as his mate grazed over his prostate. “You like that?” Olsen teased as he rested his free hand on Tater’s leg, staring down at him with nothing but love in his beautiful gray eyes. Tater’s chest tightened at the way his bear was looking at him. Nobody had ever looked at him that way before. “Dumb question.” Tater panted and then grinned, feeling something inside of him snap into place. There was nothing in the world he wouldn’t do for his bear. The man had gotten past his defenses and wrapped himself around Tater’s heart. He vowed right

 

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there that he would do whatever it took to get over his fear of commitment. Olsen deserved someone to love him fully, and Tater planned on being that man. “Hell yeah, I like it.” Olsen’s expression changed. If Tater wasn’t mistaken, there were tears glistening in Olsen’s eyes. His mate cleared his throat, lowering his eyes as he grabbed his cock and lined it up to Tater’s hole. Tater bit his bottom lip as Olsen pushed, easing his shaft into Tater’s ass. Tater groaned as he shifted around, trying to get Olsen to move faster. He wanted to feel every bit of his bear inside of him. “Patience, love.” Tater nodded, his fingernails digging into the grass as Olsen pushed deeper, slowly filling him. He thought he was going to lose his mind by the time Olsen began to move. The feeling was so fucking fantastic. Olsen’s hands spanned over Tater’s stomach, his fingertips caressing his feverish skin. Tater was dying to wrap his legs around Olsen’s waist, but feared crushing the man. “What did I tell you, Tater?” Olsen growled as he thrust his cock into Tater’s ass harder. “I’m not made of glass. Now put your damn legs around me.” Tater smiled as he did as his mate commanded. He chuckled when Olsen grunted and nodded, as if Tater was being ridiculous. Tater tried his best to hide the smile when Olsen was pulled forward an inch, but his bear said nothing about it. He soon forgot to think as Olsen began to show Tater just how knowledgeable he truly was when it came to sex. Tater’s insides melted, his brain a distant memory as Olsen’s cock slammed into his ass, over and over again. “Close,” Tater warned as he arched his back, digging his nails deeper into the soil. He gasped and then cried out as ribbons of cum shot out of his cock, landing on his chest. His whole body shuddered as his senses short-circuited.

 

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“Tater!” Olsen shouted, pounding his ass with brute force. Tater mewled and writhed as Olsen came inside of him. He lay there panting as a cool breeze tickled across his skin. Tater blinked, looking up at the moon. This had been the most romantic place he’d ever had sex before, and it seemed to only be getting better with his bear. Olsen pulled free and then lay next to him, staring skyward as well. “I’ll always try and make it better for you, love.” And that was all Tater could ask for.

 

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Chapter Twelve Olsen glanced all around before taking a step from the tree line. He and his brothers decided to find out what in the hell was going on around here. They had been driving down the road when they spotted Tater’s father talking with some men out in the pasture that the big battle had taken place. Fortunately for them, the men congregating were close to the tree line. Bryce, Chance, and Olsen parked the truck about a mile down the road and raced through the forest, trying to get close enough to hear what was going on. Olsen was sick as hell of all the shit going on around here lately. When his family first moved here it was a great place to live. It still was, if only they could get rid of the rogue problem. They were like roaches, gathering together in the dark, running when the light was shined on them. Olsen was going to exterminate the bastards. The three walked as quietly as possible until Olsen heard the low murmur of voices. He held his hand up, signaling his brothers to stop. “You can tell whoever sent you that I’ve gone through the ashes of the barn, and there is nothing left,” Tater’s father said in exasperation. “He won’t like that,” one man said with a menacing threat to his voice. “You were supposed to be the one watching Clark’s back. How did the leaders find out?” Olsen could hear a low growl. He wasn’t sure who it came from, but his hackles rose. “My son, Tater.”

 

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Olsen had to suppress the urge to kill everyone standing on the other side of the tree line. He didn’t like the fact that his mate’s name was mentioned in this back-alley meeting. “You know that doesn’t change anything just because he’s your son. Balstic still wants his payment for the supplies and the heads of the leaders who destroyed it. A lot of human blood was in that barn. Now we’ll have to start all over.” Olsen had heard enough. There was no way anyone was getting near his Tater. His mate may be twice Olsen’s size now, but he still needed protecting. He was sick of hearing about the drug and what it was doing to the paranormal community. It needed to stop. Olsen shifted, his brothers doing the same as they charged out of the forest, taking down the three men. To his utter surprise, all three were human. “What the hell?” one man shouted as he threw his hands up, protecting his face. Bryce padded back into the forest and then reemerged in his human form. “I’m going to run to the truck to call Maverick.” Bryce ran back into the tree line. Olsen knew his brother was going to shift so he could make it back to the truck faster. He looked down at Tater’s father and roared. How could a man do that to his own flesh and blood? “Nice bear,” one of the men said as he tried to scoot away. Chance locked his jaws on the man’s shoulder, stopping him instantly. After what felt like forever, two large SUVs and their truck drove right onto the grass, crossing the pasture and coming to a stop not twenty feet away. Olsen watched as Maverick climbed out and slammed the vehicle door. “I hear someone knows the man responsible for the battle in this field a few weeks back.” He eyed the men lying on the ground. Olsen wanted to laugh as two of the men looked as though they were going to piss on themselves. So much for the tough act.

 

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“I want names,” Maverick growled as he squatted in front of the prone men. “I want to know who put the hit out on me and the others.” When no one spoke, the alpha grabbed the closest man’s shirt and pulled him up, the human dangling in front of the alpha. “Talk.” “H–He’ll kill me.” The rumble in Maverick’s chest was ominous as he shook his head. “And I won’t?” “No offense, but he scares me even more.” Olsen wondered who in the hell could scare a human more than Maverick. The shifter was at least six foot nine and looked as though he had just walked out of the bowels of hell. The rough biker look didn’t help calm the effect. “Then you apparently don’t know me too well. I have ways of making a person talk.” Maverick handed the human over to a man that looked like he breathed pain. The human protested, screaming and fighting as he was carried to the vehicle. “Anyone else fear the other more than me?” “His name is Balstic,” the other human quickly volunteered. “He lives in the city. I can draw you a map.” Maverick nodded and then looked over at Tater’s dad. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I see you haven’t learned your lesson.” “Fuck you,” Tater’s dad spat. “I don’t owe you shit, especially not my loyalty, you fag.” Maverick’s chuckle was deep and majestic. “We’ll see about that.” Olsen wanted to rip the fucker’s throat out. What did it matter who a person slept with? He’d never understand prejudice. Olsen backed away when one of the men Maverick brought with him crossed the grass to Olsen and grabbed Tater’s father. As much as he hated the prick, he was still Tater’s dad. He grunted at Maverick. The alpha cocked his head at Olsen as he grinned. “Compassionate bastard, aren’t you? I’m not going to kill him, but I

 

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am going to teach him about having dealings with drug dealers in my village.” Olsen nodded. That was all he could ask. With his conscience clear, Olsen decided to go for a run. He would head back to the house, but in his bear form. That always made Tater smile. **** Olsen reached the porch to see Chauncey sitting on the front swing. His brother looked as though he had lost his best friend, which would be his twin, Chance. He shifted when he reached the bottom step. “Okay. I’m not used to this dour man. Where is Chauncey, and what have you done with him?” Chauncey shook his head, not even taking the bait. This worried Olsen. “Talk to me, bro.” He sat down as Chauncey looked over the yard, his eyes haunted. “I found my mate.” “That’s a good thing, right?” Olsen couldn’t understand why his usually playful brother thought this a bad thing. He would have expected Chauncey to be handing out cigars...that exploded. Chauncey sighed as he kicked his foot out, setting the swing into motion. “I guess.” Olsen sat on the bottom step. He knew he should get inside before Roman or Gavin’s mates saw his naked ass, but his concern for his brother pushed that aside. “What happened? Did he reject you? It is a he, right?” It would be catastrophic if Chauncey’s mate wasn’t. “Yeah, a he. And no, he didn’t reject me.” Chauncey ran his hands through his black-as-night hair. “But I’m having issues getting past his dads.” “Dads?”

 

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For the first time in weeks, Chauncey laughed. “Crazy, huh? He has two dads, and they nearly took me out at the cookout. I couldn’t get within ten feet of my mate without them trying to kill me.” “He’s an adult?” God, he hoped Chauncey’s mate was old enough. He knew for a fact that his brother wouldn’t touch a minor, but Chauncey would moon over the guy until he was legal, making everyone in the house want to shoot him. “He’s in his twenties.” Thank fuck. “So what’s the big deal? They should know that interfering in a mating is frowned upon. I’m shocked Maverick allowed them to stop you.” Chauncey threw his hands in the air as he made some sort of snorting noise. “Maverick was siding with the fathers!” Olsen wanted to chuckle at the look on Chauncey’s face but smoothed a hand over his mouth instead. This wasn’t a laughing matter…not really…sort of. Oh hell, yes it was. “What is he, royalty?” “You would think so from the way they acted. The one with a shitload of tattoos acted as though I was taking his mate. I don’t get it,” Chauncey grunted and growled as he sat back. “Fuck if I know what to do.” “What did your mate say about all of this?” Chauncey grinned from ear to ear, a chuckle escaping his lips. “The little shit slipped me his cell phone number and told me to call him. He’s human, so I’m not too sure how much he knows about the shifter world.” “If one of his fathers is a shifter, he knows plenty. Besides, he lives at Maverick’s, right?” Chauncey nodded. “Then he knows enough.” “Do you think he knows we’re mates?” Chauncey sounded hopeful.

 

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“Call him and find out.” Olsen winked at his brother before getting to his feet. “Just don’t let one of his dads answer the phone,” he teased before running through the front door laughing, Chauncey hot on his heels. Olsen ran straight into Tater. His mate’s arms shot out to steady him as he laughed. “What’s your hurry?” “He’s running before I strangle him,” Chauncey said before taking the stairs to the second floor two at a time. Olsen shook his head at his brother before looking into his mate’s green eyes. “Thanks for saving me, love.” “Is he going to be okay?” Tater asked. “I couldn’t help but overhear.” Tater handed him a pair of sweats that Olsen quickly put on. Olsen swung his arm high, laying it on Tater’s massive shoulders. “He’ll be fine. He just has two overprotective fathers to deal with.” “And an overprotective alpha from what I heard.” Tater walked with Olsen to the kitchen. “Yeah, that too.” Olsen grinned when he saw his pa and D sitting at the kitchen table. His pa was sliding a mug of coffee toward the vampire. Pa waved his hand at the mug, a grin on his face. “Just one sip. Coffee is the cure-all.” Olsen wasn’t sure what D was trying to cure, but he was curious about the wolf. “If you don’t mind me asking, D, why are you avoiding your mate?” D’s head shot up as he glared at Olsen. “I do mind.” Olsen held his hands up in front of his body. “It was just a question. No need to bite my head off.” D rolled his eyes. “Not funny.” Olsen had thought it was. “Leave him be. If he doesn’t want to talk about it, let it go,” Tater chastised Olsen.

 

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Olsen grunted but didn’t say another word about the vampire and the shifter. “Have you heard anything else about Christian?” Pa nodded. “He’s getting better. The physician said the uncontrollable shifting has stopped and he’s gained his paleness back. His mates were driving everyone crazy, hissing and attacking anyone who came near him. It made it hard as hell to examine the guy.” Olsen was relieved to learn the vampire would recover. He could feel Tater relax beside him. They had both been worried about the prince. “When he’s up to it, I’d like to go see him and thank him for saving Tater’s life.” Pa grinned. “That’ll be nice. But I suspect it’ll be a while before he’s up to having company. And you’ll have to get past the two little princes, which isn’t easy.” He chuckled. “I need to talk to you about something else,” Olsen said as he guided Tater to a seat. “That bad?” Tater asked as he sat. Olsen let out a breath and then related to them what had taken place in the field just as Bryce and Chance strolled into the kitchen. “I sure as shit wouldn’t want to be those guys,” Chance said as he poured himself a cup of coffee. “Maverick is one crazy son of a bitch that I would never want to piss off.” “Amen,” Olsen agreed. That was twice now that he’d gotten close up when the alpha was angered by someone else. It made a guy want to keep to himself. “Balstic?” D glanced around the room. “Are you sure that’s the name he used?” The three brothers nodded their heads as they gazed at D. “Why?” “Oh boy. This is not good.” D worried his hands on the table in front of him. “Not good at all.” “Spill it, D,” Tater said from beside him. “Well”—D licked his lips as his eyes darted all around—“Balstic is my uncle, and he’s deeply into traveling to the demon realm. If he is the one that called the hit out on the four leaders’ heads, then you

 

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better believe someone else is calling the shots. He’s evil with a capital E-V-I-L, but he’s not the brightest solar flare.” “I’ll call Maverick,” Pa said as he pushed away from the table. Olsen sighed. He was done with this entire mess for now. All he wanted was to take his mate upstairs and cuddle with him. “Cuddle? Really?” Olsen couldn’t understand why his mate sounded so surprised, but if he kept it up, he was going to spank him. Tater burst out laughing at the table, falling sideways as the tears rolled down his face. Olsen strummed his fingers on the table, waiting for his mate to gain some sort of control. “Care to share?” Chance asked as he quirked a brow. “Not in this lifetime,” Olsen growled. After a moment, a grin crossed Olsen’s face. The sound of his mate’s laughter reminded him that Tater was alive and could laugh. They may have a long way to go with Tater’s fears and the unknown, but as long as they leaned on each other, they could handle whatever came their way. “You got that right, bear.” Olsen chuckled as he tossed his arm over the back of Tater’s chair, enjoying an evening with his family and mate. Was there anything better? **** Chauncey pulled his cell phone out as he sat on the side of his bed. He was nervous as hell but needed to hear his mate’s voice. It was musical and made Chauncey’s heart pound harder than he’d ever remembered before. He grabbed the small piece of paper from the stand next to his bed and dialed, tapping his thumb on his thigh as he waited to hear that golden voice. “Hello?”

 

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Chauncey grinned from ear to ear, feeling like a goober as he inhaled deeply. “Hey, it’s me.”

THE END WWW.LYNNHAGEN.COM HTTP://FACEBOOK.COM/LYNNHAGEN.MANLOVE HTTP://LYNNHAGEN.BLOGSPOT.COM HTTP://GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/GROUP/LYNNHAGEN

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart. You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story.

Also by Lynn Hagen Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 1: Maverick’s Mate Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 2: Hawk’s Pretty Baby Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 3: Sunshine’s Savior Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 4: Remi’s Pup Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 5: Stormy Eyes Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 6: Oliver’s Heart Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 7: Keata’s Promise Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 8: George’s Turn Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 9: Loco’s Love Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 10: Lewis’s Dream Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 11: Mark’s Not Gay Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 12: Nutter Nero Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 13: Heaven’s Hell Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 14: Nicholas’s Wolf Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 15: Murphy’s Madness Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 16: Montana’s Vamp Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 17: Carter’s Tryck Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 18: Joshua’s Law Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 19: Dagon’s Ride Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 20: Steven’s Journey Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 21: Alex’s Secret

For all other titles, please visit www.bookstrand.com/lynn-hagen

 

 

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