Wild Love

Werewolves of Forever, Texas 1

Wild Love Emma Rand is living life to the fullest. After receiving devastating news from her doctor, her boyfriend dumps her and she decides to fulfill her lifelong dream of writing a book. She moves to Forever, Texas, to find the solitude she needs to write. If only she has enough time left. The Carr brothers have waited for their mate, and when Emma finally arrives, they know they've found her. Setting out to win her heart, however, won't be as easy as Jayden, Jacob, and Jackson thought. She's gravely ill, and only turning her will keep her alive. Yet when her ex-boyfriend talks her into trying an experimental cure, will she accept the medical surgery that might cure her? Or will she let her heart show her the way to a long and happy life with her three mates? Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among siblings. Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Vampires/Werewolves, Western/Cowboys Length: 39,373 words

WILD LOVE Werewolves of Forever, Texas 1

Jane Jamison

MENAGE EVERLASTING

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

WILD LOVE Copyright © 2012 by Jane Jamison E-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-751-0 First E-book Publication: June 2012 Cover design by Les Byerley All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 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

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WILD LOVE Werewolves of Forever, Texas 1 JANE JAMISON Copyright © 2012

Chapter One Emma Rand glanced around the street of Forever, Texas, and wondered if she should’ve chosen another destination. If she’d learned nothing else in the past month, she’d learned how short life can be. She didn’t have enough time to make any mistakes. Not if she wanted to finish what she’d started before… She shoved the terrifying thought away, determined not to think the worst. Hadn’t her mother taught her to think positively? “You bring to you what you fear the most.” Even now, seven years after her death, she could still see her mother’s sweet face, her kind eyes, and the determination in her set jaw. Yet her mother had never envisioned what lay ahead for her only daughter. How could any mother have? As the brisk wind of the Texas panhandle whipped through her hair, Emma heard the doctor’s words as clearly as if he were sitting next to her in the passenger seat of her newly purchased convertible MINI Cooper. “I’m sorry, Emma. I had hoped for a better prognosis, but the scans confirm my suspicions. I wish I had better news.” She hadn’t cried. Not then and not later. Why cry when there was nothing anyone could do? Most days, it didn’t seem real. But others,

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ones like today, the daunting reality hit home hard. A pain stabbed into her forehead as though to emphasize the awful truth. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths until the ache subsided. Opening her purse, she found her medication, took two pills out, then popped them into her mouth and swallowed. She hoped that today would not be one of those days when it seemed all too real. She blew out a breath and told herself to stop worrying about tomorrow when she had so much to do before nightfall. Checking her makeup in the rearview mirror and forcing her expression into a more pleasant one, she got out of her car, hit the button to lock it, and looked around. Forever, Texas, was smaller than she’d imagined. Small stores, reminding her of a Norman Rockwell painting, lined Main Street. Cheerful homemade signs decorated a clothing store boasting “fashions all the way from Dallas” while a dentist office across the street offered free dental checkups for seniors. A barbershop sported one of the old-fashioned red-and-white barber poles, and she could see three older men inside, their camaraderie showing in their happy expressions as they passed the time with the white-coated barber. Judging from the few vehicles parked along the street, the primary mode of transportation was pickups with horse-trailer hitches attached to the rear. Yet, maybe there was more to the town than she’d gathered at first glance. Although Forever was the epitome of a southwestern state, she remembered seeing a Gothic clothing store with windows filled with black clothing as well as studded collars and a couple of silver dog leashes. “I guess even small-town America can get a little kinky.” She promised herself she would check out the store as soon as she’d settled in. Forever, Texas, hadn’t been big enough for her to find anything on the Internet but the barest of information such as location, population—currently 2,512 people—and a map showing her the only route to get to the town. But she couldn’t turn back now. After paying

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six months’ rent in advance for the home, she didn’t have enough money to pay for anything but the necessities of life. As it was, she counted herself lucky that Martin, the newest member of the janitorial service in her apartment building and a former resident of Forever, had told her about the town and had even called the owner of the rental property for her. Judging from Martin’s description, Forever had sounded like the perfect place to live out her dream. A tiny thrill rushed through her whenever she remembered Jackson Carr’s deep, velvety voice. He could’ve made a fortune being an announcer and doing voice-over work in the entertainment industry. She’d even told him so, and he’d laughed, striking a chord deep inside her. In fact, part of the reason she’d chosen the rental house over other choices around the country was because of his voice. The instant she’d heard his rich timbre, she’d had to meet him. Funny. At first, when Martin had phoned him, he hadn’t wanted a renter. But after a few minutes talking to him, Jackson had abruptly changed his mind. She shook her head. Why was she thinking about him? The last thing she needed was a man in her life. Especially one that might cut and run once she’d told him her problem. She glanced around and wondered again at her good fortune. From the looks of things, she’d been lucky to find anyone with a rental house. A black-and-white dog, wagging his tail, scampered over to her, and she bent to run her fingers through its soft fur. He pushed his muzzle against her leg and whined, begging her to scratch him behind the ear. She laughed and took his face so she could look into his large brown eyes. No one needed to tell her how intelligent he was. She could see it in the way he regarded her, just as she could with most animals. People said she had an uncanny way with animals. Yet as much as she loved them, especially dogs, she’d never had a pet. Working full-

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time while trying to write didn’t leave much room for anything else. A fact her boyfriend, Brian Miller—correction, her ex-boyfriend— had complained about often. But it wasn’t as though she’d had a choice. He hadn’t helped with her expenses, and she hadn’t expected him to. But a girl had to make a living. Later, once she’d gotten her test results, she’d had more time to give. But by that point, Brian had stopped caring. Sometimes, she wondered if he’d stopped caring long before the results. “Sorry, boy. I wish I could spend all day with you, but I’ve got to get going.” She straightened up and sighed as the dog whirled and dashed down the street. He ran zigzagging across the road until he came to an intersection, then he stopped and glanced back at her. He barked once as though saying good-bye then disappeared around the corner. Sadness threatened to take her over again, but she threw back her shoulders and thrust her dark mood away. She’d had her fill of sadness. She’d cried for Brian. Or more to the point, about Brian and the way he’d dumped her after hearing her terrible fate. She hadn’t known what to expect when she’d told him, but she’d never have believed that he’d leave her. Hadn’t he told her that he loved her only a few weeks earlier? Still, now was not the time to linger on the past. Instead, she renewed her resolve and marched over to Milly’s Coffee Spot. Pausing at the double doors, she peered into the diner while pretending to read a flyer for an upcoming meeting of the chamber of commerce. She wouldn’t have thought a town the size of Forever would have a chamber of commerce. Still, reading the flyer gave her a chance to check out the locals before entering. Nothing new so far. The people occupying the tables as well as the stools at the counter seemed like average small-town citizens. Why had she expected anything different? Yet she couldn’t shake the impression

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that they were more than what they appeared to be. “Knock it off, Emma. You’re letting your nerves get the better of you. Get going. This is where you live now.” The fragrant aroma of grilling hamburgers and salty french fries tantalized her nostrils as she stepped inside the diner. A bell announced her arrival, and a pretty blonde woman behind the counter jerked her head up and smiled. All at once, Emma was aware of many sets of eyes staring at her. Tension rippled in the air like a tangible thing. Didn’t they get many visitors? Or were they simply paying her back for gawking at them through the window? She plastered on a pleasant expression then hurried over to slide onto a barstool and assumed the rest of the customers would go back to eating. Trying to blend into her surroundings, she slumped in her seat, placed her purse on top of the counter, then studied the menu on the chalkboard hanging on the wall above the pass-through to the kitchen. Two men cooked, their backs toward their patrons. “Hi there. How ya doing?” Emma widened her smile. “I’m fine, thanks. Other than being a little hungry.” The girl behind the counter appeared to be about her age. She leaned forward to rest her elbows on the counter, her friendly gaze searching Emma’s face. “Good. I’m Milly, the owner, and you’ve come to the right place. So what’s it going to be? Are you hankering for a full meal or just a snack to tide you over? Either way, it’ll be good.” Most of the selections contained hamburger or steak, with a few chicken meals tossed in to vary the menu. She couldn’t see a single salad, much less anything she would’ve considered healthy. And she could forget about finding a soy burger. Not that she needed to worry about healthy eating any longer. Plus, when in Rome… “Hi. I’m Emma Rand. What would you recommend?” A smile cracked Milly’s face, and a gleam sparkled in her brightblue eyes. She pushed a strand of golden hair back into place behind

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her ear. “Our hamburgers are our specialty, and our steaks are to die for. Then, once you’ve downed a ten-ounce steak, you can enjoy a big piece of apple pie with whipped cream on top. At least that’s what I have every day for lunch.” Emma couldn’t keep her surprise from showing. She checked out Milly’s firm, lean body. A body most women would have to starve to keep in shape. “You’re kidding me, right? How can you eat like that and not be as big as a house?” Embarrassment warped into her neck then colored her cheeks. “Oh, damn. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just that I’m amazed. I mean, you’re so trim.” Instead of reacting badly, as Emma had feared, Milly laughed. The sound reminded Emma of the bells over the door that had announced her arrival. “Aw, don’t worry about it. I get that all the time. I was blessed with a fast metabolism, I guess.” Milly flattened her palms on the counter and lifted her body high enough to see Emma’s frame. “Besides, your body isn’t anything to sneeze at.” “Thanks, but there’s no way I can eat like you do. I wish I could. So I guess I’ll take a hamburger instead, please. Oh, and can you cook it well-done?” She’d have thought she’d ordered human flesh from the way Milly cringed. “Mack’s not going to like that.” Why would someone called Mack care how she wanted her burger cooked? “Who’s Mack, and what’s he got to do with my hamburger?” “Mack’s my cook, and he gets pretty worked up when someone orders meat well-done. Hell, even when they order it cooked medium well, he still gets his dander up. He’ll cook it the way you like it because I’m the boss and I’ll tell him to, but he won’t be happy.” “It’s a sin to eat a burger or a steak any way except rare.” Emma jumped at the gravelly voice that hinted at years of smoking and pivoted to look at the man at the end of the counter. His long face reminded her of a bloodhound’s, with his wrinkles making

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folds of skin. When he grinned, he exposed long canine teeth, and she couldn’t help but gawk at him. She slammed her mouth shut and wondered how she’d forgotten her manners. “I’m sorry?” “Don’t mind Jim none.” Milly tossed a cloth at Jim, causing the rest of the customers to laugh as Jim ducked. “He and his brother are set in their ways. Sometimes I don’t know how Brenda handles those two old dogs.” Emma blew out a breath, relieved that the tension was gone. “I don’t want to make anyone mad, so whatever Mack wants to do is fine with me. That is, as long as it’s not too bloody. Can I get fries with that?” “Of course you can. They already come with your meal.” Milly narrowed her eyes, making Emma feel like a specimen under a microscope. “And like I said. Don’t worry. I’ll handle Mack and get you the burger the way you like it. No problem.” Within a few minutes, Milly set a plate in front of Emma. The burger, although not as well-done as she would’ve liked, didn’t have any pink in it, so she figured Milly had kept her word as best she could. She took a big bite, closed her eyes, and let the juices slide down her throat. How long had it been since she’d eaten anything other than organic vegetables, soy products, and vitamins? Too damn long if the rumbling of her stomach was any indication. When she opened her eyes again, she almost choked. A huge, hairy man glared at her from the pass-through opening separating the counter area and the kitchen. His bald head glistened with sweat, and the way he chewed on a toothpick, flicking it from one corner of his mouth to the other, had Emma wishing she could look away. But she couldn’t. Something about the man fascinated her. Were his teeth unusually long? Were his eyes a strange amber color? She blinked and looked again, but he’d already turned his back to her. “Mack, quit trying to scare her and get back to cooking. Leave the poor girl alone. She doesn’t know any better.” Milly pivoted to face

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Emma. “At least not yet.” Not yet? Emma made a quick check around the diner. Then, realizing that she was staring at the customers again, she turned back to her food and concentrated on her hamburger. She started eating faster than she liked. A tingle of awareness that the people here were unusual stiffened her neck. Although they appeared normal on the outside—aside from a few of them showing very large teeth—she could sense that something else, something not quite common, was below the surface. They all oozed a major level of confidence mellowed with a definite air of caution. She chanced another glimpse at the young couple sitting at the table closest to her. The girl, wearing a cheerleader’s uniform with the head of a wolf emblazoned on the front, held hands with a teenage boy decked out in camouflage attire. Both were young and vital, happy and laughing, yet Emma couldn’t shake the feeling that they were watching her, sizing her up. But for what? She finished her meal in a hurry then placed a five and some onedollar bills on the counter. “I guess you really were hungry.” Milly picked up the money and didn’t bother to add it. “I was, and keep the change.” “I was hoping you’d say that.” Milly shoved the cash into the pocket of her apron. “You be sure to come back again, okay?” “I will. But maybe you could help me find someone.” In a second, the air filled with tension, and she forced herself to resist the urge to look around. Instead, she focused on Milly, who’d taken a step back and straightened to her full height. Somehow her smile seemed less friendly now. “If I know him, I will. Who are you looking for?” Emma handed her a paper containing the information for the rental. “I rented a house from a Mr. Jackson Carr. In fact, I paid up through the end of the year. Do you know where I could find him?”

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A stirring among the crowd had Emma sliding off the stool, instinct telling her to be prepared to run. She braced her feet apart and held her ground. But why did she feel like she had anything to fear? Because the locals were curious? Milly’s face held a dreamy expression. “Jackson Carr, huh?” “Yes. Is that a problem?” “Not if you like hot, hunky, and all male. If you do, you’re going to love your new landlord.” “Oh.” Her landlord was handsome. But what did it matter? “His brothers, Jacob and Jayden, aren’t bad on the eyes either. I tell you what, Emma. Right here on Main Street, you’ll find the office of Forever Realty. I’m sure Jackson had Robert Virton handle the transaction. After all, there’s only the one realty company in town. Pop on over there and ask him to drive you out to the Carr Ranch.” Emma took the paper back, thanked her, and rushed out the doors, relieved to get away from the others’ prying stares. Once outside, she stopped and dragged in a deep breath. “Good grief, Emma. You’re acting like you’re being chased by wild dogs.” Shaking off the odd feeling, she hurried across the street to Forever Realty. Emma burst into the real estate office, almost knocking over a short, stocky man with huge, round glasses. “Oh!” She stumbled backward as the little man jumped out of the way. “Are you all right?” He reached for her, taking her by the elbow to steady her. “Here, take a seat. Can I get you some water?” “No thanks. I’m fine.” She slid onto the chair on the other side of the huge mahogany desk, gathered her wits, and took in her surroundings. The office was one room, filled primarily with the oversized desk, a few chairs, and a filing cabinet. A window air conditioner sputtered and dripped water into a pot on the floor. Still, the humid heat cocooned her like a wet blanket. If anything, it was hotter in the office than it was outside under the grueling summer sun. “Can I help you, miss?” He tilted his head back and forth as

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though studying her from different angles. Green eyes sparkled in a pleasant face. He shuffled around his desk, paused to squint at her, then plopped his rotund body onto his chair. For a moment, she would’ve sworn his hair, what little there was of it, turned a soft purple. She blinked but saw only his balding head surrounded by tufts of graying black hair. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have barged in here like that. I’m Emma Rand. Are you Mr. Virton?” A grin split his round face. “That I am. But please call me Robert. My old man was Mr. Virton. Did you say you’re Ms. Rand?” At her nod, he added, “Wonderful! We were hoping you’d show up today.” “We?” “The Carr brothers and the rest of us.” Emma didn’t bother asking who he meant by the “rest of us.” Instead, all she wanted was to get to her rental home and move in. “Do you think I could have the keys and get settled? I’ve had a long drive, and I’d like to get some rest.” Robert jumped to his feet. “Sure. No problem. I tell you what. I don’t have the keys on hand, but I’m sure Jacob does. Either that or he can call one of his brothers to get them. I just passed Jacob as I drove into town. He’s out in the pasture by the highway feeding cattle, and he might still be there. If you like, I can drive you. It’s on the way to the rental home anyway.” “Thanks, but I’ve got my own car. I’ll let you lead the way, okay?” He rubbed his hands together. “Sounds like a plan. Shall we go now?” The energetic man was out of his chair and striding toward the door before she could answer. Emma followed him outside, where she got into her car, backed out of her parking space, then pulled behind his pickup truck as he waited in the middle of the road. He waved and started driving down Main Street. Keeping behind Robert wasn’t a problem with only a few cars

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passing by. Keeping her nerves from getting the best of her? That was something else. Why did the fact that the Carr brothers were hot make her so nervous? Ten minutes later and Robert pulled his pickup off the road and onto the shoulder. He honked two times then slid off his seat and stalked toward a wooden fence. Emma pulled her car behind his and joined him. She searched the flat horizon but didn’t see anyone. “Are you sure he’s out here? Do you think he heard you honk? Maybe we should call or go by his place of work?” Robert chuckled. “This is his place of work. Trust me. He heard. See? There he is now.” Emma followed Robert’s tilt of the head and blinked. A horse and rider galloped across the pasture, eating up the distance with the long, easy strides of the beautiful animal. Dirt billowed up from the ground under the horse as it galloped toward them, but the rider didn’t bounce as so many riders did. Instead, he rode above the horse almost as though his body didn’t touch the saddle. His hat was pushed low on his head, his denim shirt and jeans highlighting his firm physique. He pulled the large bay to a stop a few feet from the fence then turned the horse to the side. His long leg draped over the horse and drew her attention lower to the worn boot hooked in the stirrups. The man, his eyes shaded by the hat, sat with his wrists crossed on top of the saddle horn. Emma could feel his gaze on her, could almost touch the power radiating from him. She tried to look away and found she couldn’t. The beautiful horse snorted but stood still as the cowboy swung his leg over and dismounted in one graceful movement. Emma’s breath hitched in her throat, and she wondered if she was dreaming. Like a hero right out of a Western movie, Jacob Carr sauntered over to her, his boots kicking up dirt. His stride, like the horse’s, was long and easy, and she couldn’t help but let her gaze drop to the silver belt buckle so close to his crotch. Her mouth dried

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up as her imagination took over. If the rest of his strong, masculine body was any indication, he was powerful between the legs, too. She jerked her gaze away from temptation and fought to calm her racing heart. The electricity oozing from him, however, wouldn’t let her focus go anywhere except on him. Dark eyes latched onto her then slid inside her to strike a match to a flame she’d thought had burned out long ago, long before her illfated romance with Brian. A lean face led to a strong chin. Dark stubble covered the square jawline, over and around the sensual lips. Short brown hair framed his face then curled around his ears. He walked like a man who knew who he was and how he fit into the world. A raw power oozed from every pore, and sexuality surrounded him like a haze of lust. He looked like he’d just walked off a billboard and into her life. He nodded at Robert then wrapped the horse’s reins around the top post. “Good to see you, Robert.” A fresh roll of heat swept through her, almost buckling her knees. Wetness flooded between her legs, dampening her panties. Her pulse pounded in her ears, an echo to the rhythm she felt quickening her clit. A quick image of him lying between her legs made her moan. Startled that she’d made the noise out loud, she dipped her head and concentrated on regaining her equilibrium. If that was even possible. “Emma Rand, this is Jacob Carr.” His name didn’t do him justice. But then again, what name would? Yet when he offered her his hand, she almost fainted. What was it about the man that had her willing to beg for his touch? She’d never been one to care about a man’s appearance. Instead, she’d always gone for the intelligent man, the man who could feed her mind and soul. Yet, although she didn’t know him, she was certain he could feed not only her mind and soul but her body as well. She took a deep breath and slid her shaking hand into his. The heat that had started at first sight leapt even higher, lashing into a blazing firestorm. A burning sizzle zipped up her arm and into

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the rest of her body, but she didn’t try to take her hand away. She’d suffer the torture of a thousand flames for his touch. Her pussy creamed, and her legs weakened. Holy crap. She flicked her tongue over her upper lip then yanked her hand away. Get a grip, Emma. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Rand.” Had her name ever sounded better? The voice was silk bedsheets and wet sex rolled into one. It was smooth yet had a tantalizing edge that could overwhelm any woman. “Please, call me Emma.” Hell, he could call her anything he wanted, just as long as he called her. “And you should call me Jacob. I guess you’re wanting a key to the house?” He dug into his front pocket and pulled out a key chain with two keys attached. Her gaze strayed from his pocket to his crotch, and her dry mouth watered. Was it her imagination or had the bulge in his jeans gotten bigger? She struggled to keep her hand at her side instead of reaching out, unzipping his jeans and taking his hard cock in her hand. He shook the key ring, bringing her attention upward, then took off one of the keys and handed her the key ring. Another electrifying zing flew over her flesh and down into the inner recesses of her being. Her pussy pulsed with need. “Thank you.” If she had a million lifetimes, she would never get tired of his smile. “Do you know how to get to your new home?” She shook her head. At that moment, she didn’t care if she ever saw the rental house. She’d rather stay right where she was, drinking him in. Fortunately, logic finally broke through the fantasy. “Uh, no. I assumed Robert would show me the way.” “That’ll work since I’m on horseback. How about I meet you there?” He lifted his eyebrows at Robert then brought his chocolate gaze back to hers. “I’ll see you in a few minutes, okay?” She nodded then watched as he turned toward his horse. His jeans

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fit his firm, round bottom, not too tightly but just enough to make her ache to squeeze a cheek. She jerked her head up as he mounted the horse with ease, shot her a wink, then urged the horse into a trot. “Ms. Rand? Emma?” She forced her concentration away from the horse and rider. “Uhhuh?” “Are you ready to go?” Ready to go wherever Jacob Carr wanted her to go? Ready to explore his body with her tongue? Ready to let him ride her from behind? She continued to stare after him until at last she couldn’t see him any longer. “Emma? Did you hear me? Are you ready to go to your new home?” Robert’s emerald eyes twinkled as he studied her. She nodded and turned toward her car. “Am I ever.” **** “She’s here.” Jacob kept watch, waiting for Robert’s pickup to come over the rise in the road leading to the small rental home that rested on the far corner of the Carr Ranch. He held the phone away from his ear and hit the speaker button on his cell phone. “Was I right? Is she the one?” Jackson tried to hide his feelings, but Jacob could hear the excitement in his brother’s voice. “You were dead-on, bro. And you sensed she was the one by just hearing her voice over the phone, too. Your ability never fails to amaze me.” Every werewolf could sense his mate when he met her, and a lucky few could sense their mate as soon as they came within a certain distance of each other. But only an alpha-alpha like Jackson could recognize his mate by the sound of her voice. Jacob paused, listened to his inner wolf, and once again confirmed what he already knew was true. “Yeah. It’s her. I felt it the moment I saw her.”

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“We were lucky Martin overheard her talking to someone outside her apartment and jumped in to tell her about Forever and our rental. Calling me on the spot so I could hear her voice was good instinct on his part. I hate to admit it, but I was starting to give up.” The relief in his brother’s voice was unmistakable. He shifted the phone from one hand to the other. “Martin always did have a good head on his shoulders. Too bad he had to leave, but maybe that’s what fate had in store. Maybe he had to leave to be the catalyst to get her to come to us. Otherwise…” He didn’t have to complete his sentence. All the Carr men had worried that she’d never come and they’d have to leave their home to find her. It didn’t happen often, but when luck or fate or whatever deity the men believed in didn’t bring their future mate to Forever, then the men had to strike out on their own. If she didn’t come to them, then they had no choice except to leave the pack to search for her. Werewolves who never found their intended mate ended up living lonely lives. On nights when the moon was full, those desperate men would spend the hours until morning howling to the moon, their hearts broken, their hopes destroyed. “Jayden and I will be there in a few minutes.” “No. Stay where you are. Let’s not overwhelm her right off the bat.” Jackson’s tone dropped lower. “Says the man who got to meet our future mate first.” “Yeah, well, I was the one who grabbed the keys when Robert called to say she might get here today. The early wolf gets to see his mate first, you know.” “No, I don’t know.” His younger brother, Jayden, chimed in from somewhere near Jackson. “So? What’s she like? Is she hot?” Leave it to Jayden to get down to the nitty-gritty. “I’ll fill you in on the details back at the house.” “In other words, she’s not good-looking.” Jayden growled. “I

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know it won’t make a difference to us. A mate’s a mate, no matter what they’re like. But still, a man can hope.” The less his brothers knew about the amazing appeal of their mate, the less likely they were to show up at the rental home and cut into his alone time with her. “You’re right. It doesn’t matter, so cut out the disappointment.” “Yeah, well, anyway, just be sure you handle her right. Don’t scare her off with your ugly mug.” He could hear Jackson laughing at Jayden’s dig. Jacob laughed, too, but his chuckle died away as Robert’s pickup crested the rise. A small car followed the pickup as the vehicles headed toward the entrance to the driveway. “I need to go, bros. I’ve got a lady to show around the house. And trust me. I plan to give her the grand tour, including showing her around the bedroom.” “No way, man. Don’t touch her until all of us have met her.” “What did you say, Jackson?” Jacob made static noises. “You’re kshhh ing up. I can’t crrr you.” “Don’t try and pull that old trick. Jacob, are you hearing me? You’d better keep your paws off her.” “Can’t”—he made more static sounds—“crrr you. I’ll call kishhh later.” Jacob grinned, turned off the phone, and shoved it into his back pocket. The two vehicles came down the dirt driveway and pulled to a stop in the circular drive. Robert slipped out of his truck and hurried to open Emma’s car door. She stepped out, a smile of thanks brightening her features. Damn, but she’s beautiful. Maybe she’ll smile at me like that. The Carr brothers had hoped their mate would be sexy, even gorgeous, but no one ever knew until they actually met. Even if she’d been less than pretty, they would’ve thought her amazing. Any prospective mate was appealing to the werewolves who would pledge to love her until the end of their days. But Emma was anything but

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unattractive. He studied her as she swayed toward him. She was a little thing with long brown hair highlighted with golden streaks. Her face was oval, innocent looking, yet possessed of a quiet quality that he’d seen in the photographs and paintings of queens. Although petite, her legs looked like they went on forever, and her breasts were smallish but firm and perky. The T-shirt she wore highlighted her trim physique and fell gently around the swell of her breasts. He could see the outline of her nipples through the thin material and felt his cock twitch. He groaned and pulled his attention away from her breasts to her lower half. Her jeans hugged the curve of her hips, and he ached to have her turn around and show him her tight, round ass. A tight, round ass he planned to shove his cock into as soon as possible. His balls tightened and his cock twitched again as he imagined his hands cupping her perfect-fit-for-him breasts. She was so small he could lift her high with ease then position her pussy against his crotch or even his face. The animal inside him howled, pacing back and forth, and scratched his insides to get free. Her sway was simple, yet intoxicating and sensual. She moved not in the “look at me” way some women did but with a gentle glide that made him want to throw her over his shoulder and take her home to his bed. When they reached him, she deferred to Robert, standing off to the side as they came to a stop. She glanced around as though looking for something. “Where’s your horse?” Her voice matched her. Sweet, soft, yet with a backbone of steel hiding beneath the lilting tone. He’d wager she had a spine to match, and he couldn’t wait for her to go through the transformation to werewolf. Once she did, he’d bet she’d be wild in bed. “He’s tied up out back. There’s a hitching post if you ever want to borrow a horse for the day. In fact, anytime you’d like, you can ride with me.” Or just ride me. Almost as though she’d heard his thought, she froze, regarding

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him with big brown eyes that pulled at his cock and heart alike. “That sounds like fun, but I don’t know how to ride.” “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you.” He smiled, attempting to convey how much he ached for her in that one simple gesture. “I’d love to teach you everything you want to learn.” Especially anything between the sheets. She frowned, again making him think she’d heard his thought. “Um, could we go inside? I’m dying to see my home for the next few months.” Her home until he and his brothers took her back to the main house, he thought. “Sure.” He slid his gaze along her ripe body then pivoted and turned the key in the lock. The door swung open, and he gestured for her to enter. Placing a hand against Robert’s chest, he stopped the man before he could follow her inside. “Thanks, but I can handle things from here.” Robert grinned and gave him a curt nod then became all business when Emma turned back toward them. “Emma, I’ll let Jacob take over. The paperwork’s all finished and the rent’s paid up for several months. So, since I have other matters to handle elsewhere, I’ll take off. If that’s okay with you?” “Are you sure? Don’t you have a check-in list or a walk-through inspection we need to do together?” She shifted from one foot to the other. “I’m sure. We don’t work that way around here. Anyone who gets to stay in Forever is someone we already know we can trust.” She raised her hand and opened her mouth as though to say something more, but Robert had already whirled around and was scampering toward his pickup. Once Robert was in his truck, he glanced back at them. Jacob shot him a salute then closed the door behind him. Emma stood, her hands clasped in front of her, a curious expression on her face. “Would you like help unloading your things?”

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“Thanks, but no. I’m fine. I packed light. I brought a few clothes, my laptop, a handful of mementos, and a few groceries to get me by for the first day or so. The only thing I might need would be more groceries and household items. I can find those back in Forever, right?” “You can. But don’t worry about having to run to the store. We stocked up the pantry and the fridge. Free of charge, of course.” “Wow. That was really nice of you. Thanks.” Her beautiful eyes met his. “Did you say we? As in you and your brothers?” “Yeah. Jackson’s the one you talked to on the phone. Then there’s Jayden. But hey, don’t believe everything you hear. Okay, maybe half of it.” She laughed, the sound making him smile. “Milly, the woman that owns the coffee shop, told me there were three of you. But again, thank you for the groceries.” “No problem. It’s just our way of welcoming you to Forever. How about I give you the grand tour?” She grinned at his joke. “Such as it is, you mean?” “Yeah. I know it’s not a big place, but hey, it’s clean, comfortable, and cheap with all utilities included.” “Oh, no. I didn’t mean that your home isn’t very nice. It is. I really like it.” If her face got any redder, she might be mistaken for a fire hydrant. “It’s okay, Emma. I didn’t take it the wrong way.” She inhaled, making her chest rise and fall. He caught himself staring at her breasts then jerked his gaze back to her face. “If you want to watch television, I can get the cable man out in a few days as well as a big-screen television. He’ll have to make a special trip, but for the right amount of money, he won’t mind.” “No. Don’t bother. I’d rather read or write anyway.” “So you’re a writer?” “Yes. Or at least I’m trying to be one. I’m planning on finishing a book while I’m here. Then I’ll send it off to some publishers.”

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“What kind of book are you writing?” “It’s a romance novel.” She laughed at the cringe he’d tried unsuccessfully to hide. “Don’t worry. I won’t ask you read it.” “No. I mean, I’d be glad to read it.” She narrowed her eyes. “Riiight. And in return I’ll muck out your horse’s stall.” He couldn’t help but feel pride. Their future mate was not only pretty but witty, too. “I bet you would. You look like a woman who can do anything once you set your mind to it.” The corners of her mouth lifted as she tucked her head. “I’d like to think so, but life has a way of getting in the way. So, anyway, about that tour…” “Of course. The tour.” He strode to the middle of the room, placing himself between the big sofa and the small stone fireplace. He threw his arms wide in a theatrical manner. “This is the living area. Notice the luxurious sofa, the sturdy coffee table, and the easy chair perfect for those lazy reading sessions you’ll want to enjoy.” She giggled, tried to adopt a serious expression, and failed. “Oh, I’m sure I will. I’m sure I’ll spend a lot of time using every piece of furniture.” He walked a few yards into the small galley kitchen. “Here you have the chef’s kitchen. The modern conveniences simply overwhelm the mind.” She relaxed, her shoulders dropping as his jokes achieved their intended purpose. “A chef’s kitchen, huh?” The funny face he made earned him another giggle. “Okay. So maybe it’s more like a Betty Crocker kind of cook’s kitchen. But it has all the necessary items like a stove, an oven, a refrigerator, and a microwave.” “What more could a girl ask for?” He latched onto her sparkling brown eyes. “A girl, especially one like you, could ask for a whole lot more. If I have anything to do with

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it, she’ll get whatever she desires.” She parted her mouth, drawing his focus away from her eyes. The air sizzled between them, and he’d swear he could reach out and touch the electric current connecting them. He fisted his hands, hearing Jackson’s warning to not touch her until they’d all met her, but the need inside him, the animal clawing to take her, was strong. If he could have, he would’ve thrown her on the couch and plunged his cock deep inside her pretty pink pussy. Having grown up in a town filled with werewolves, he’d heard the stories about how males felt once they’d found their mate. From electrifying touches to mesmerizing looks, he’d listened intently to the tales, memorizing the signs for when he and his brothers would meet their mate. Yet still, he’d been caught unprepared. His entire body ached for her like a man thirsting for a drink of water in the middle of the desert. His soul yearned to unite fully with hers. His mind wanted—no, needed—to know everything about her. She flicked her tongue over her lips and almost brought him to his knees as the lust surged through him. If he didn’t keep his mind on something other than her, he’d never keep the beast inside at bay. But was that even possible? Moving as though his legs were immersed in quicksand, he stalked over to the bedroom door, pushed it open, and led her inside the room. He had to clear his throat to speak. “This is the bedroom. Please note that turn-down service is provided upon request.” She stood, frozen to the spot, her mouth partly open, her eyes wide. “I’m sorry?” “Uh, it was just a joke.” Although if she wanted, he’d gladly arrive every night just in time to tuck her into bed alongside him. The idea of her lying naked and covered with a lightweight sheet burned fire into his cock. He grabbed one of the four bedposts to keep from grabbing her. Instead, he pointed to the right. “The bathroom’s right through there.” She ran her hand over the quilt and took in the wooden nightstand

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and dresser. “Everything looks like it was made by hand.” “It was. My father liked to make things. He made all the furniture in the house except the sofa and the leather chair in the living room. My mother made the quilt. In fact, she lived here for a short while before they were ma—uh, married.” “Really?” “The Carr family goes back to the first days of Forever. Back in the late eighteen hundreds, our ancestors brought their families and friends here and claimed it as a place of sanctuary. This is our home now and forever.” He grinned. “Which is one reason why they named the town Forever.” “What’s the other reason?” she whispered, the quiet sound flooding him with need. He studied her, wanting her to understand the hidden meaning behind his words, yet knowing she wouldn’t. Later she would. “It’s named Forever because once you find the person you’re meant to be with, you stay with her forever.” Her mouth parted in a silent “oh.” He could almost see her mind racing, taking in his words. “Are you saying no one ever gets divorced here?” “Not that I can remember.” She blinked then glanced around the room again, “Are you sure you want a stranger using these things? They must mean a lot to your family.” He liked the fact that she was considerate. Her oval face and luscious, edible mouth had sex kitten written all over them, and her heart was kind. She was the perfect combination of temptress and loving spouse. He moved closer slowly, like a wolf sneaking up on its prey. “My brothers and I are picky about who rents the house. But I can tell you’ll take good care of things. Jackson wouldn’t have rented it to you sight unseen if he hadn’t trusted you.” “But how could he have known? We didn’t talk that long.” He liked that she asked a lot of questions. An inquisitive mind was

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an intelligent one. “We tend to go with our gut around here, and Jackson’s gut told him you could be trusted to treat our house with respect.” “I will. I promise.” She edged closer to him. “Tell me about your brothers.” If he had his choice, he wouldn’t talk about his brothers. Not yet. She’d be a mate to all of them, but for just a brief moment in time, he liked having her to himself. “Jackson’s the oldest and says he runs the pack. But Jayden, the youngest, and I just let him think that. Jackson does, however, have a lot of influence with the rest of the townspeople.” She tilted her head. “The pack?” He mentally swore at himself for the slip. “It’s just something we call ourselves. You know. Pack, group, gang, club, whatever. Forever is a close-knit community.” The fragrance of pheromones mixed with a flowery scent tantalized his nostrils. She sensed his tension and brought her gaze to his, pulling him into the chocolate pools. Her body’s warmth was a living thing he had to experience. He couldn’t deny himself any longer. He leaned in, closed his eyes, and inhaled, drawing in more of her heavenly aroma. She tensed but didn’t move away. Sweeping his palms along her arms, he nuzzled his face in the curve of her neck and drank in her scent. The fragrance of roses mixed with her unique essence and made him dizzy with desire. “What are you doing?” she whispered. He opened his eyes and forced himself away from her. He shuddered as though he’d literally torn his body from hers. “It’s not what I’m doing that matters. It’s what I want to be doing.” Her eyes widened, her lips parted again, and he gave up the fight he didn’t want to win. Tugging her close, he crushed his mouth to hers.

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Chapter Two As soon as Jacob’s lips touched Emma’s, he knew. Something was wrong with her. He could sense a darkness, a sadness that held her hostage, yet he couldn’t put his finger on what it was. He also sensed that she wouldn’t reveal that secret. Not yet. Mates never kept secrets from each other. But he’d find out eventually, and he and his brothers would make it right. Yet the only thing that mattered in the present was having her. The taste of her was beyond imagination. She was salty, spicy, and sweetness mixed together to create one incredible flavor. He whipped his tongue around hers, his dancing with hers, teasing hers to make her chase his back into his mouth. She moaned and pressed her body against his, the taste of the sound sweeping into him. He tightened his hold on her and deepened the kiss, needing to hear her sweet desirefilled yearning again. She was the perfect size, the perfect amount of seductress and lady. After all the nights he’d lain in bed, wondering what his mate would be like, he realized now that he hadn’t come close. His expectation of what she was like was dwarfed by the reality of her. He gripped her bottom with one hand, loving the way her cheek molded to his palm, then fondled a breast with the other hand. Sucking on her tongue, he found himself answering her whimper with a growl. She arched, pushing her breasts against him, her peaked nipples proving she was as turned-on as he was. He skimmed his thumb over her nipple and she pushed harder against him. The desire inside him roared to life, clawing, howling to get free and make her his. Fangs broke through his gums, and it took every

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ounce of strength he had not to change. But she wasn’t ready to see his wolf. He closed his eyes and forced the fangs to recede. Gaining control, he nibbled on her soft flesh and dug his fingers into her ass. Lifting her, he carried her to the bed and laid her on top of the quilt. “You’re so beautiful.” He was stunned to see a tear in the corner of her eye. “Did I do something wrong?” Or was it something he’d said? She clutched his shirt, holding it in a death grip, and shook her head. He smiled and, placing his thumb at the corner of her eye, wiped away the tear before it could fall. “Whatever it is, Emma, forget about it for now. My brothers and I will make it better soon enough. Nothing can hurt you while you’re here, so don’t let anything get in the way of us.” The sadness on her face washed away to give way to wonder. “But I don’t know you.” He took her wrists and forced them above her head. Alarm gleamed in her eyes, and for a moment, he was afraid she’d tell him to stop. Could he if she asked him to? “Yes, you do. You can feel it just like I can. If you didn’t, you would’ve told me to leave the first moment I touched you.” Her nipples formed small pebbles against her shirt, and her flat stomach showed between her top that had risen to bunch under breasts and the waistline of her jeans. He placed a tender kiss on her chin then traced a path down over the hollow of her neck and over the thin material of her shirt. Circling her hard nipples, he wet the shirt with his tongue and nipped at her buds. She thrust her breasts toward him, urging him to go on. Her whine of longing sent power rushing into his cock. **** Emma felt the cream leaking from her slick folds. Whenever Jacob touched her, another small orgasm ripped through her. She was

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more alive than she’d ever been, more alive than she’d ever thought she could be. He pulled her to him, moving his leg between hers. She cried out and trembled, her heart beating faster. Her throat constricted even as she tried to drag in another breath. His leg bumped against her pussy, foretelling of what he could do to her, with her. She bucked, her body calling to his, her clit wanting his cock, her lips wanting his mouth. He kissed her again, more demanding than the first time. Her pussy clenched, ready to accept him, needing to have him. She cried out in joy when he kept her two wrists in one hand then tugged her shirt higher. He yanked her bra down, and she heard the rip but didn’t care. His hot gaze locked onto her exposed breasts. Growling, he sucked her tit into his mouth. He shoved his leg harder against her crotch. She wrapped her legs around him and pushed back, thrusting against him, rubbing her aching pussy against the rise in his jeans. Her mind warned her not to go on, that he was a stranger, but her mind had lost control of her body. Her body recognized him as her lover. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, “I want to fuck you and make you scream.” She moaned, wanting the same thing. “Please do it.” He chuckled then looked into her eyes. “Please fuck you? I will. I promise. But there are other things, other people you have to meet first.” “No.” She hated the complaint echoing in her voice but couldn’t stop. If complaining didn’t work, she would beg him instead. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you suffer.” In quick moves, he undid her jeans, pulled them to her ankles, and tugged them off her. Tearing her panties away, he bent her legs to her chest. Emma gasped as he buried his face in her pussy. He licked her, swirling his tongue over her mons and between her folds. He kissed the tender skin around her pussy then lashed across her clit. He teased

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her again, first flicking his tongue over her clit then pushing his face against her aching nub and blowing on it. She bucked, not to get away but to ask for more. Her body heard his primal call, and her instincts kicked in. Sucking, he nipped at her, making satisfied noises, then pressed his thumb against her sensitive bundle of nerves. Burying his face between her legs, he nibbled at her and circled his thumbs along the sides of her clit, urging the wings of her passion to bring her to the brink of release. She squirmed, but he held her to him. Drawing her sensitive nub into his mouth, he sucked, licked, then sucked some more. “Damn, you taste good.” His rich voice flowed over her, caressing her. He pushed her legs farther apart then renewed his attack on her pussy. Pulling on her clit, he brought her close to the edge again. She cried out and tried to grasp his hair. She felt his chuckle against her skin a second before he thrust his tongue inside her pussy. She bucked as he added fingers and searched for her G-spot. She quivered under his control as her sight became hazy. She lifted her head to peer down at him. At that moment, he stopped and raised his head just high enough that she could see amber-filled eyes above the smoothness of her mound. She squinted, her mind trying to see clearer than her eyes would allow. Had she seen the tips of fangs? Had his eyes flashed with a glowing amber color? He closed his eyes, lowered his head, and added two fingers to her pussy again. He clamped his mouth over her clit and dragged her to him, his tongue flicking quickly over her until she couldn’t stand another minute of delicious torture. She screamed, the orgasm shuddering through her. He feathered kisses along her inner thigh, over the swell of her mons, and across her flat stomach to her belly button. He paused in his ascent to caress her breast. He nibbled her nipple then flicked his tongue over the other one.

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Her pussy tightened, ready for more. Placing his body on top of hers, he held his weight off her and studied her face. The small smile on his lips shot more lust through her. His amber eyes were gone, the dark brown lightened with only flecks of amber. When had his eyes changed? Had the light tricked her into seeing more amber than was really there? Or could she blame her disease? She shoved the black thoughts away, determined to keep her mind on what might happen next. “That’s just a taste of what’s to come. No pun intended.” Shock rushed through her as her mind slowly reawakened and logic came back. What had she done? She’d just met him minutes earlier, and she’d allowed him to strip her of her jeans and feast on her juices. Who knew what he was capable of? Who knew what she was capable of? Yet although she tried to comprehend how it had happened, she found that she wasn’t ashamed. Surprised, yes, but glad she’d given in to her desire. She wanted to live her life to the fullest, in every sense of the word, without worrying that she might make a mistake. Life, her life especially, was too short for regrets. He lay beside her, stroking her arm as her breathing leveled out. He was considerate, tender caresses mixing with his soft voice. “Tell me what’s wrong.” “Nothing’s wrong. I mean, I should be ashamed.” She searched his face. “But I’m not. Still, what in the world must you think of me? I don’t even know you, yet I let you…you know.” His features scrunched into a bemused expression. “You know? Come on, Emma. We didn’t do anything except a little harmless fooling around.” He lifted onto his elbow, his gaze zeroing in on her. “But that’s not what I’m asking. I want to know what’s really wrong. I can sense you’re hiding something, and I can tell it’s a big problem. Tell me. I can help.” How could he have known? She didn’t look sick, and she certainly hadn’t acted ill. But how had her past managed to catch up

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with her? No one except her ex-boyfriend, Brian, along with one very close friend and a handful of doctors, knew. She scrambled to the edge of the bed, put her back to him, and gathered her clothes. She tugged on her shirt and pulled up her jeans. A tear welled at the corner of her eye. Why couldn’t she have had a few minutes without that terrible fate hanging over her head? She wiped away the tear before it could fall. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Everything’s fine.” “You’re a lousy liar, Emma. You can trust me.” He sat up and reached for her, but she edged away. Anger and fear took over. She twisted around and glared at him. “Don’t accuse me of lying. Why don’t you mind your own business? No matter what we just did, we’re just landlord and renter. Nothing more.” She stood and paced to stand at the window then gazed into the backyard. She wanted to tell him to leave, yet another part of her didn’t want him to go. His horse nickered and pawed at the ground, tugging on the reins he’d tied around the hitching post. She closed her eyes, remembering the touch of his hands, the stroke of his tongue. “Emma, you don’t need to be afraid. We can handle it together. Me, you, and my brothers.” She was stunned. How much had she wanted Brian to say the same thing? But he never had. Yet Jacob, a stranger, had offered her more than her boyfriend of two years. Another tear welled in her eye, but she was determined not to let him see. She wouldn’t cry in front of him or anyone. Crying wouldn’t help a damn thing. “If there’s nothing else we need to do about the rental, would you please leave? I–I’d like to unpack and settle in.” Her thoughts, however, fought against her reason. Please stay. If only for one night. Please stay. He said nothing for far too long. At last, she heard the bed creak as he rose and stepped toward the door. She had to fight to keep from whirling around and running to him. “I realize you don’t understand this right now, Emma. But if you

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need anything, all you have to do is call. My brothers and I are here for you. Now and forever.” She pressed the back of her hand against her mouth to keep the sobs at bay until she heard him close the front door. What kind of man promised to support her after only a few minutes together? She wished she could believe him. She wished she could believe someone could help her. Her heart broke apart the barrier that had formed around it. Pivoting on her heel, she took a step forward, wanting to call him back, then stopped. She fisted her hands at her sides. “Damn it. Haven’t you learned your lesson yet? You’re on your own. Like it or not.” **** Two hours later Emma still sat on the sofa staring at the empty fireplace. How many times had she started toward the front door, ready to drive around the fenced outskirts of the ranch in search of the Carr brothers’ home? She wasn’t sure how large the ranch was, but if she couldn’t find the entrance leading to his house on her own, she’d go into town and ask for directions The emotions raging inside her didn’t make sense, but the one sensation she couldn’t shake was that she was right where she needed to be. Jacob had stirred feelings in her that she hadn’t felt in a long time. Certainly not since that horrible day when she’d told Brian about her condition. She wanted to trust Jacob and everything he’d told her, but she was still too raw to let herself believe. She lay down on the sofa and rested her forearm over her eyes. As happened so often, the headache came back, along with the memories. “You’re not serious. Are they sure? Who did the scan?” Emma watched Brian as he stalked from one side of her apartment to the other. Maybe she shouldn’t have told him. Maybe the best thing she could’ve done was to keep it a secret, break up with

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Brian, and leave town. At least that way he wouldn’t feel obligated to stay with her, nursing her through the horrors to come, only to lose her in the end. But she’d given in to her need for comfort, for someone to lie and tell her everything would be all right. “I’m sorry, Brian. And yes, they’re sure. They repeated all the tests.” Brian stopped and stared at her. He frowned as though not liking what he saw, and not for the first time, she feared he would never look at her in the same way he had before she’d told him. He raked a hand through his hair. “I never thought…I mean, I know you’ve had bad headaches, but I never imagined…this.” He waved his arm, motioning at her. His scowl oozed disgust and anger. Was he angry at her for getting sick? Did he think she had any control over a disease? Or did he think she’d tricked him somehow? “Brian, why are you looking at me like that? I can’t help what happened or what’s going to happen. As someone involved in medical research, you should understand that better than most people.” “I just can’t believe it.” He let his body fall onto the oversized easy chair across from her. “How am I supposed to have a girlfriend with…Holy hell, Emma, how could you do this to me?” To him? Where was the comfort she needed so badly? Where was the sympathy she’d expected? Yet instead, he was thinking only of himself. “Brian, it’s not like I asked for this. But with your help, there’s a chance I could make it. A slim chance, but it’s better than nothing.” His eyes grew wider as he realized what she’d said. “With my help? What do you think I’m going to do? Spend my days taking you to doctor appointments? Or hold your hair back while you upchuck from your treatments? I won’t let you ruin my life that way.” Pain ripped her heart apart while her stomach flipped over in a sickening twist. “Your life? I’m ruining your life?” They were on their feet and standing toe to toe before she realized she’d moved. His expression reflected the anger she felt.

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“Emma, you can’t expect me to tolerate this.” Why she’d thought she’d get anything else from him was beyond her. “Tolerate? My health isn’t something you have to tolerate. For God’s sake, Brian, you told me you loved me only a few days ago. Has that changed? Or was your love conditional on my health?” “I do love you.” He blew out a breath and slid his gaze down her body. “But this is too much. This isn’t the life we talked about. I have plans. Big plans. But with a sick girlfriend, those plans go up in smoke.” She kept her fisted hands to her sides to keep from slapping him. “So much for the ‘in sickness and in health’ part of our future wedding vows. I guess it’s a good thing we never made it that far, huh?” Brian appeared to mellow. Maybe he realized how awful he sounded, or maybe he simply couldn’t handle her anger. “Look, Emma, I’ll be glad to help you. Within reason, of course. We’ll still be friends.” She laughed, a sound that held no mirth. “Wow. I’ve gone from future fiancée to girlfriend then all the way back to friend. What next? If I start showing signs of my condition, will you take us back to acquaintances?” “Em.” He tried to say more, his mouth working, but nothing came out. Instead, the man she loved stood in front of her and nodded. She swallowed an ache that threatened to close off her throat. “Get out, Brian. Get out and never come back.” A week later with no word from Brian, she packed her bags and drove to Forever, Texas. Emma jolted out of the memory, a sob racking her body. She reached for the satchel by the sofa then dug around for her medication bottle. Finding it, she popped the lid off to pour two pills into the palm of her hand. She tossed them back, swallowing them without water.

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Her cell phone rang, playing the tune that identified the caller. “Brian?” She cursed, vowing to block his calls from now on. She reached for her phone then stopped. Why was he calling her after all this time? Had he changed his mind about them? If so, did she care? A flash of Jacob’s face hit her almost as hard as the pain searing through her head. Yet the image of Jacob along with the promise of his brothers seemed to take the edge off the agony. The ringtone announced Brian’s attempt to reach her again. She glared at the phone, once more asking herself if she cared that he wanted to talk to her. Amazing herself, the answer came fast and hard. No. Yet anger combined with curiosity had her grabbing the phone and punching the button to connect her to the caller. “What do you want, Brian?” More than likely he was calling to ask her if she had taken his favorite CD. “Em, is that you?” “Of course it’s me.” She gritted her teeth against the voice she used to love. “You didn’t sound like yourself.” How was she supposed to sound? “What do you want?” “Em, I’m calling with great news. Dr. Harding—he’s the leading man in his field—has done monumental work that’s led to a breakthrough with a radical form of surgery, and he thinks he may have the answer to your…problem.” She couldn’t help but let the flicker of hope spark to life. Yet the reality of their breakup and his lack of support were greater. “It’s not just a problem. I can’t call a think tank and get their ideas for solving my situation. It’s cancer. The Big C.” She heard the irritation in his tone even though she realized he was trying his best to cover it. “I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. But, Em, he believes his treatment can save your life.” “Why didn’t I hear about this before now?” “It’s experimental, so only a few trusted people know it exists.

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That’s why he needs volunteers. So he can prove it then show the world what he’s accomplished.” Something didn’t seem right, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. “So I’m a guinea pig, is that it? Is this procedure legal? Has it gone through the necessary channels? And how did you meet Dr. Harding, anyway? I doubt you two run in the same social or professional circles.” The silence before he spoke set off warning bells in her head. “Dr. Harding has spent a lot of time searching medical records for the perfect candidate. That’s how he came onto your name. He tried reaching you, but when you didn’t answer, someone gave him my name. Then when we met, he explained everything. I told him I’d call you. Em, I said you’d go for it. I mean, how could you turn down a chance like this? How could you turn down any chance to live?” The tickle at the back of her head got stronger. “It’s experimental. What makes me think he’s bypassing a lot of safety protocols? Does his hospital support him in this? Or is he working on the fringes? And what’s in it for you, Brian?” As much as she’d once loved Brian, she’d known and accepted his flaws. One of which was self-promotion. He never did anything if he didn’t benefit from it. “What’s in it for me? Are you kidding? You’ll get well and we can go back to the life we had. We can go on with our plans. Don’t you want that, baby?” He wanted to go back to the way things were before she’d found out. Before he’d left her alone to face her awful future. “You must have taken something, Brian, if you think we can just pick up where we left off. You dumped me, remember? No. I don’t buy it. There’s got to be more to this than you’re telling me.” “I want my girl back. What more could I want? Come on. No matter how you feel about me right now, you’ve got to take this chance. Do it for us. Do it for yourself.” She had to take the only chance she had, didn’t she? Then why

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was she hesitating? “I don’t know.” “Let me come to where you are. We’ll talk it over and weigh the pros and the cons together. How about that? You’re in a small Texas town, aren’t you?” “How did you find out where I am?” “I haven’t yet. Not exactly. I gave your old lady landlord a bullshit tale about finding you so I could propose, and she fell for it. She even showed me a letter from some bank in Shatland confirming that you’d paid six months’ in advance for a rental house. Too bad it didn’t give me the address or I’d be there by now.” Wasn’t it bad enough that he’d torn her heart out? Now he’d taken to lying to sweet old Mrs. Roberts and reading her mail? “You lied to Mrs. Roberts? Damn it, Brian. You really are a shit.” “I’m not sorry I did it. How else could I have found out where you’d gone? If you’d only answered my calls…Never mind. Just tell me what town you’re staying in and I’ll come get you.” Her first inclination was to tell him about Forever, Texas. Maybe if she saw him again, she could finally be rid of him. Yet as soon as she opened her mouth to do so, she saw Jacob’s face again. Two shadowy figures, both as strong looking as Jacob, stood behind him. She couldn’t tell Brian anything. Not yet. “No. I–I don’t want to see you.” “Forget about me for the moment. What about the surgery?” “I need time to think about it.” “Em, you don’t have time to waste.” She bit her lower lip to keep the retort on the end of her tongue from flying out. “I know. But I’m still going to think about this first. If I want to hear more, I’ll call you. Until then, don’t call me again.” “Don’t be a fool. Just because you’re upset with me—” She ended the conversation, cutting off his attempt to change her mind. Pacing to the other side of the room, she stared out the window and tried to understand the blur of emotions raging inside her. She didn’t want to see Brian. Through the difficult time after he’d

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broken up with her, she’d realized that she’d been lucky he’d left her. If she’d gotten ill after they’d married, things would have been even worse. She would’ve had to struggle with an unsupportive husband and a probable divorce. At least the way it happened had made it a clean and swift break. But that didn’t mean seeing him wouldn’t bring up old feelings she’d put to rest. On the other hand, what if the treatment he was offering worked? What if she could return to her old life? What if she could escape the death sentence hanging over her? Shouldn’t she take the chance and hear him out? Yet she couldn’t help it. She couldn’t get past the impression that Brian was holding back information. An experimental treatment should’ve taken years of research, testing, and documentation before letting patients opt in for the procedure. Why hadn’t she heard about the treatment from her doctors instead of her ex-boyfriend? Something just wasn’t right.

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Chapter Three “What’s she like?” Jackson tore off a chunk of bread and slathered it with butter. Jackson and Jayden sat opposite Jacob at the rustic kitchen table. Their home, located on the other side of the ranch from the house Emma had rented, sat on a small rise overlooking their land. From the huge window in the back of the cozy four-bedroom frame house, Jackson could see cattle and horses grazing in the fields. A red barn was on the next acre, close enough to their home for easy access but far enough away not to pick up any smells unless the wind blew hard. He scanned the horizon and remembered walking the fields as a young boy with his mother and his brothers. “She’s everything we hoped for and more.” Jacob cut off a large piece of his rare steak and shoved it in his mouth. “Yeah? But how exactly? Come on, bro, give us some details.” Jayden rose to gather three more beers from the refrigerator. “Is she tall? Is she skinny? Does she have a great rack? Maybe a bodacious booty?” “Is she intelligent?” Jackson ignored Jayden’s hand raised in the air for a high-five. As the oldest, he tried to maintain a serious demeanor, a counterpoint to Jayden’s playfulness and Jacob’s jokes. From a young child Jackson had been groomed to assume the position of alpha-alpha not only to his brothers and family but to the other werewolves in Forever. Since helping to found the town, a Carr male had always taken the lead in civic and social duties and, although their leadership could be challenged by any werewolf at any time, no one had ever tried.

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Jacob grinned and nodded. “Yes to all your questions. She’s a little thing, but she’s got spunk. She has long brown hair with golden strands in it. I wanted to tunnel my fingers through it and hold on for dear life. Her face is sweet looking with a cute little nose. But her eyes? Damn, when she looked at me all hot and bothered, I thought she’d melt my junk with her heat.” Jackson and Jayden exchanged a telling look. Irritation flared in Jackson. “What do you mean all hot and bothered? What the hell did you do, man?” Jackson glowered. “You were just supposed to show her around the cabin and get a feel for her.” “Oh, I got a feel for her, all right.” “What’s up with that?” Jayden shoved back his chair and stood, ready to take Jacob on. Fangs broke through his gums and claws sprang from his fingertips. Jacob did the same, his eyes morphing to amber, his fangs dripping saliva. He started to go around the table, ready for a fight. “Get over yourself, little brother. If you’d had the chance, you’d have done the same thing.” Jackson moved fast and got between them. “Knock it off, you two. We have more important things to do than have you hounds knock each others’ heads off.” As their alpha-alpha and the leader of their pack, whenever Jackson laid down the law, they listened even though they were his brothers and alphas, too. The rest of the werewolves of Forever had always looked up to Jackson even when he was a boy. Grumbling and still snarling, the brothers took their seats again, reversing to full human form. “What was the impression in town about her?” Jackson didn’t really care what other people thought, but he had to bring the tension down in the room. Distracting his brothers with questions almost always worked. “Milly liked her, and the other pack members in the diner thought

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she was okay. They said she seemed a bit down. Like she was tired. But they sensed there was more to it than just being worn out from driving here.” Most of Forever, Texas, was made up of the descendants of werewolves who had settled the town along with members of the Carr Pack. Although never officially naming the Carr family as the ruling shifters, deference was given to them because of their ancestors’ leadership in founding the town. The current Carr brothers, as well as cousins and other family members, continued that tradition by taking roles of leadership in their society. But the town didn’t restrict their citizenship to only werewolves. A few locals, like Deacon Slater the pharmacist and Robert Virton, were different supernatural beings. Vampires like Deacon were few and far between, preferring a life of solitude, and faeries like Robert were a rarity in any town. Werecats and werebears lived alongside werewolves, and as long as all inhabitants respected each other’s customs and traditions, everyone lived in peaceful cohabitation. “They’re right.” Jacob frowned and sat back in his chair. “I sensed something was off. At first, I thought it was nerves or being sad about the breakup she just went through, but now I’m not so sure. The darkness inside her ran deeper, stronger than simple emotion. Like it’s a physical thing.” Finding out as much as they could about her had been easy. The rental agreement and the information Martin had provided from others living in the apartment complex had given them enough information to start. With a little more digging and a few calls to a couple of her concerned friends, they’d found out about her breakup with her boyfriend. Why they’d broken up, however, remained a mystery even to her closest friends. Jacob ran a hand through his hair. “I told her we’d help her, but she clammed up. She didn’t say anything, but I still got the impression that it’s a major problem. Maybe you can get a better read, Jackson.”

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Jackson nodded. He’d always been able to sense things about people, from aches and pains to emotional issues. At times, he wished he didn’t have the sixth sense, but at other times it came in handy. “I’ll give it a try when I meet her.” Jayden pushed his plate to the middle of the table. “Well, there’s no time like the present. How about we go on over there and introduce ourselves? Then you can get a feel”—he paused to glare at the smirking Jacob—“for what’s going on with her.” “But I’m not finished with dinner.” Jacob grabbed another piece of bread as he chewed another chunk of meat. Jackson stood then walked around and grabbed Jacob by the collar. “You can finish later.” “Are we running over there?” Jayden bounced on his feet, eager as always to change and travel on four paws. “We haven’t had a good run since last week.” “And what? Show up naked on her front step?” Jacob punched his brother playfully in the arm. “Seriously, man, use your head.” “Tell you what. We can run afterwards then swing back to the truck and drive home.” Jackson snatched the keys off the rack. “Let’s go meet our mate.” Ten minutes later they sat in their truck outside the rental house, their eyes on Emma as she stood near the front window and sorted through a box. Her movements were graceful, her body’s curves backlit from the light of the living room’s lamp. “Damn.” Jackson couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was everything Jacob had described and more. Even from a distance, he felt the pull on his cock, his balls drawing up in anticipation. “See what I mean?” Jacob wiggled his eyebrows. “Do you blame me for fooling around with her? Hell, you’re both lucky I didn’t take her right then and there.” “What are we waiting for?” Jayden opened the passenger door and hopped out. “I’m itching to touch her.” Jacob followed his younger brother while Jackson got out on the

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driver’s side. The three brothers came together at the front of the vehicle, their attention on Emma. “Take it easy, Jayden. We don’t want to scare her off.” “How am I going to frighten her? By knocking on her door?” “Your big ugly face could give her a heart attack.” Jacob dodged Jayden’s swipe. “Settle down, the both of you.” Jackson held his hand up, a sign to his brothers to calm down, but he kept his attention focused on the beautiful woman. “Fine. I’m calm now.” Jayden blew out a breath. “But let’s go, okay?” Jayden was halfway down the walkway when Jackson and Jacob caught up with him. They strode toward the house, Jackson taking the lead and asserting his leadership role. All at once, Emma froze, letting the towel she held fall into the box. The men stopped in sync. “Shit. Did she see us?” Jacob murmured just loud enough for a werewolf to hear, but no human could have heard the sound. “I don’t think so.” Jackson frowned. What the hell was she doing? Emma placed both palms on her forehead and closed her eyes. She stood still for several moments, and then, without warning, she crumpled to the floor. Jackson took off running for the front door a second before his brothers did. He hunkered down, ready to break down the door. “Hold up, Jackson. I’ve got the other key.” Jackson’s heart pounded as Jacob fumbled with the lock. At last, he pushed the door open and the men burst into the living room. Jayden fell to his knees beside the unconscious woman, with his brothers doing the same. Jackson gently lifted her head and cradled it in his lap. “Are you getting anything from her?” Jacob took her hand as he squatted next to her. “Give me time.” Jackson stroked her silky hair and studied her oval face that looked so innocent and frail. He slid his gaze along her

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womanly yet petite body and a surge of desire ripped into him, calling to his inner wolf. But now was not the time to quench his desire. Comforting her with soft words, he closed his eyes. He let his mind wander, opening to the world around them then into the shadowy world beyond. Searching, he shifted just enough to bring forth his wolf’s special power, the one only an alpha-alpha could ever possess. He drew strength from deep inside his body, releasing the instincts of the animal inside him. Taking care, he eased into her mind, his tendrils of thought spiraling outward to probe her, careful to be as gentle as he could. Her thoughts, although jumbled, as most humans’ were, came to him in a rush of images and emotion. He sucked in a breath, ready for whatever she would reveal to him. Impressions of her life with her mother and father flowed outward, capturing his attention. A memory of a bicycle she treasured dissolved into that of the bike lying in the road, crushed and broken. The bicycle transformed, morphing into two cars. One car’s hood was bent and shoved into the windshield. A young man stumbled from the vehicle, a whiskey bottle clutched in his hand. The other car had gone off the road and into a ditch. The left side of the car was bent and contorted. Black smoke poured from under the hood, and shattered glass lay everywhere. Two people, a man and a woman who looked like an older version of Emma, were in the car, their bloody bodies twisted at strange angles, their lifeless eyes staring straight ahead. Jackson groaned as the vision changed. A teenager with Emma’s hair and eyes sat crying in the front pew, her bloodshot eyes locked on the two caskets in front of her. Her weeping tore through him. Jackson pushed past the distant memories, striving to find the trouble he knew was hidden from him. The flash of a memory of a man with short brown hair and cold eyes assaulted him. Hurtful words echoed in Jackson’s head as the man turned away from Emma. Anger boiled up in Jackson, and he wanted nothing more than to hurt the

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man as he’d hurt her. No. More than he’d hurt her. He wanted to destroy the man emotionally and physically. Jackson could feel her anger, her agony, her disbelief at the man’s betrayal, and he wanted to slash at the man with his claws. Shoving his feelings aside, he discarded the image and quelled his anger, knowing he had to stay focused on finding the problem. He called to her, daring to let her hear him. Show me, Emma. Show me what’s wrong. He stroked her face with the back of his hand and urged her to let him go deeper inside her mind. And yet, he wasn’t prepared when she did. The truth of her condition slammed into him, and his body shook as her pain tore at his gut. As though he were in her body and reliving the day, an image of the doctor telling her about her condition seared through him. He felt her shock, her denial, and finally, her acceptance. “I’m sorry, Emma. I wish I had better news.” She nodded, numb yet filled with a horrible ache. “Can you operate?” The doctor shook his head. “No. We can’t reach the tumor either by scalpel or by laser. If we tried…” He shrugged and let out a ragged breath. “The odds aren’t in your favor. Plus, you’d suffer irreversible brain damage. I’m afraid there’s nothing anyone can do.” Again, she nodded. “I understand. So…how long?” “No one can say for sure. We can try radiation, chemo, maybe even experimental avenues of treatment.” “Would any of it do any good?” Her heart pounded in her chest, her stomach twisted into knots. “It might buy you a few more months. Maybe even a year.” The doctor leaned forward, his eyes soft with compassion. “But I’d be sick and suffering for those few months, right? Most likely I’d go through all that without getting cured. And in the end, I’d

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die.” She looked down at her hands folded in her lap. “I think that’s a fair assessment. But there’s always hope.” She lifted her gaze and smiled. “Right. And Santa Claus is real and married to Tinkerbell. No thanks, Doctor. I’d rather spend the rest of my life living and not waiting to die.” Jackson inhaled, his pain for his mate adding to the agony he’d received from linking with her. She was dying. He wanted to know more but didn’t think he could stand the heartache. Not yet. He pushed his mind away from hers and severed the connection. “Jackson, are you okay? What’d you find out?” “I’ll tell you in a minute.” He sat, holding her for a few more moments, as much to give him time to recuperate as to comfort her. Scooping her up as though she weighed nothing, Jackson carried her into the bedroom. He waited as Jacob pulled down the cover. Placing her gently on top of the bed, he smoothed her hair away from her face then sat next to her. “Shit, man, you’re scaring us. Give us the facts. What’s wrong with her?” Jayden’s strained tone matched the worried expression on Jacob’s face. “She’s very ill.” Jackson paused, letting the information sink in. “Deathly ill. She has a brain tumor. I’m guessing that’s why she held her head right before she passed out. She must be having headaches.” “No.” Jacob moaned. “Cancer? At her age? She has to be going through hell.” “If only we’d found her earlier. I can’t believe she’s dealing with this by herself. What about her family? Her friends?” Jacob’s agony for her was voiced in his struggle to speak. Jackson shook his head, the pain of finding out her secret twisting his gut. “Judging from the memories I saw, she doesn’t have any close family. As for friends? From how they acted when we called and pretended to ask for references, I don’t think they know.” Anger hardened Jayden’s features. “Could that be why she broke up with her boyfriend? She gets sick and he dumps her.” Jayden

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growled and fisted his hand against the bedpost. “We have to do something.” Jacob ran his hand through his hair. Jackson studied the dark circles under her eyes. “Help me get her into bed. And take it easy. Her body and her mind are worn out.” Together the men laid her gently on the bed. They paused, staring down at her, each trying to come to terms with the fact that their mate could die. Jackson swallowed, his mouth suddenly gone dry. She was beautiful. His gaze strolled over her, from the tip of her head, over the swell of her breasts, then down her long legs. His breath hitched in his throat as he thought about the torture she had to be enduring, facing a fatal illness alone. Even in sickness, her skin glowed, giving her an ethereal look. He reached out to glide a fingertip along her arm and inhaled, stunned at the softness of her skin. The animal inside him howled, wanting to get free to take his mate. The wolf flexed its claws to rake at him. The beast’s snarl wanted to come to his lips. Drawing in a deep breath, Jackson let it out with a sigh. “She smells like roses and—” “Sex.” Jacob glanced at him then back at Emma. “She smells like roses and sex.” Each of them inhaled, bringing in their mate’s scent. For a moment, the men basked in the fragrance of their newfound love. “We’re going to save her.” Jayden ran his tongue over his lips. “We have to.” Jacob and Jackson nodded their agreement. They’d waited too long to lose her now that she’d finally come into their lives. Jackson tugged the quilt over her then tucked the edges under her sides. “She’s going to be all right.” Jackson nodded at Jayden. “She will be once she accepts us as her mates. The transformation will heal her.” “What if she refuses?” “She won’t refuse, Jacob. Why would she? She’s already shown

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she’s attracted to you. We’ll tell her about us and show her what it means to be our mate. It’ll take time, but once we bite her, she’ll heal. Until then we take care of her.” Jackson hoped she wouldn’t take too long to agree to mate with them. “But what if she doesn’t? Or what if she takes too long to accept? This tumor could kill her before that.” Jayden walked to the other side of the room then turned back. “This is so wrong. Our mate finally comes to us, and she’s dying. I can’t stand to think of her suffering.” “We won’t let her die.” Jackson gritted his teeth. He couldn’t lose her. He wouldn’t lose her. “Why don’t we just do it?” Jacob’s gaze fixed on her. “Why not bite her now before she has a chance to refuse? She’ll heal and thank us for it later.” Jackson’s wolf roared to life and rose to the surface. He was on his feet, his hand around Jacob’s throat before the younger shifter knew what was happening. Jackson drove Jacob backward and rammed him against the wall. “Since when does any werewolf in our pack take a mate without her full knowledge and consent?” Jacob struggled to croak out a few words. “Let me go, man.” “Come on, Jackson. Turn him loose.” Jackson glared at his youngest brother. “Is that what you’d do, too? Would you take her before she gave her consent?” Jayden held up his hands and backed away. “No, and I’m sure Jacob wouldn’t either once he took the time to think about it.” Jacob tried to nod, but he couldn’t move. “I’m only suggesting it because of her condition.” Jackson turned his brother free then pivoted to look at Emma. Could he change her without her agreeing if it meant saving her life? “Think about it, Jackson. If we turn her now, she’ll get well almost at once. Who wouldn’t want to get rid of cancer? But if we don’t change her soon, what will we do if the worst happens? Can you live knowing we could’ve saved her and didn’t?” “He’s right.” Jayden took her hand in his. “I don’t want to lose her

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now that we’ve found her. Besides, we can’t let her suffer.” A stabbing pain struck Jackson in the chest, making it difficult to breathe. He’d known only one werewolf who had lost his mate while young, and that poor shifter had wasted away to nothing from the heartache. He’d become a broken man everyone in Forever pitied. Most believed losing a mate early on was worse than never finding her. “We can’t tell her what we are just yet. She’s not ready. If we do, she’ll freak out, and who knows what will happen.” Jacob and Jayden exchanged a look, the one they often used when they knew he was right but didn’t like it. Jacob nodded. “So we give her time to get to know us first. But we can’t take too long. The sooner we can tell her, the sooner she’ll accept us as her mates and the sooner she’ll get well.” “Exactly.” Jackson took in her pale face, her dark eyelashes, and her smooth, silky skin. The quicker she accepted them, the better. They could pleasure her and make her theirs. His cock twitched just thinking about lying between her legs. The brothers came to the edge of the bed, silent as they let their thoughts take over. Emma’s breathing was regular, and a smile formed on her face. “We have to get her to come to.” “You’re right, Jacob.” Sitting back on the bed, Jackson took her hand in his and squeezed. “Emma, listen to me. Open your eyes.” She squirmed and frowned. But she didn’t open her eyes. “Emma. Wake up.” He rubbed her hand and hoped his touch would succeed where his voice hadn’t. Once again, he delved into her mind, going only as far as was necessary to reach her. For several torturous minutes, he was afraid she’d never wake up. Then her eyelids fluttered, and she opened her big doe eyes.

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Chapter Four Emma blinked at the bright sunlight coming through the window. She moaned, blinking again to try and bring the blurry images into focus. Her mind struggled to remember as memories of an angry Brian leaving her apartment converged with the memory of a tall, handsome man riding a horse. “Where am I?” She pressed her palm to her forehead as the world slowly came into focus. She blinked again then gasped and yanked the quilt covering her up to her chin. Three incredibly sexy men stood by her bed. Jacob raised his hands, palms out. “Take it easy, Emma. Everything’s okay. You’re safe in the house you rented from us. We can explain, but give yourself a minute to adjust.” His dark gaze locked onto her. An immediate sense of yearning, a powerful burst of lust, flowed over her, shuddering though her. She took a steadying breath then shook it off. Now was no time to be thinking with her libido. She had to use her head. Her attention shifted to the other two men. The men had to be Jacob’s brothers. Their dark coloring, the shape of their intense eyes, even the way they stood screamed of a relationship born of blood. She’d have recognized them just from their shadowy images standing behind Jacob whenever she’d thought about him. The tallest one looked like the youngest sibling, and his mischievous grin made her wonder what he was thinking. He was as strongly built as the other two men, but his face was a bit softer, rounder than theirs, showing the youthfulness that would fade in a

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few years. Long eyelashes that took nothing away from his masculinity highlighted the dark eyes and high cheekbones. His long black hair touched the tips of his shoulders. The other man, the one who stared at her the hardest, exuded an extra confidence as though he were their leader. He stood, feet apart, his muscular arms crossed over his wide chest. He was as tall as Jacob and, like the youngest man, his dark hair framed his steel-like chin. He lifted his head to thrust out his chin, shook the silky black hair away from his face, and never took his eyes off her. “Jacob? How did you get in?” To her amazement, she sounded almost as though she’d half expected them. Jacob started to sit on the edge of the bed, saw the warning in her widened eyes, and stood back up. “My brothers, Jackson and Jayden, wanted to meet you, so we ran over to say hello. We’d just arrived when we saw you faint, so we rushed inside to help.” He adopted a wry smile. “It’s a good thing I still had a key, huh? I mean, as a landlord should, of course.” Now she remembered. She’d fainted from the pain of her headache. It wasn’t the first time it had happened, and it wouldn’t be the last. She blushed and averted her eyes. “I guess it was exhaustion. I must’ve overdone it, but I’m fine. So you can leave now.” “I don’t think so.” Stunned, she looked at the one in charge. She started to argue with him, but his hard expression trapped the words in her throat. “I’m Jackson, the oldest brother, and we’re not going anywhere.” Irritation flashed through her. “Look, I appreciate your concern, but I’d rather you leave. I’m happy to have met you, even if the circumstances weren’t what I’d hoped. But you can understand that I’m a little thrown by what happened, right?” “Understandable. I’m Jayden, by the way.” The youngest brother’s grin grew wider. “You scared the hell out of us, you know.” “Tell us why you fainted.” Jackson narrowed his eyes. “I told you. I worked too hard is all. Or maybe I’m a little anemic.

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I’ll grab some iron supplements at the store tomorrow and I’ll be fine. Now, please leave.” “We’re not going anywhere until you tell us what really happened.” Jacob strode to the only chair in the room and plopped down. “We know you didn’t faint because you were tired. Or if that’s the case, then your exhaustion isn’t the result of overdoing it in the move to Forever.” “What my brother’s saying is that we know it’s something more.” Jayden sat on the edge of the bed farthest away from her. She brought her knees to her chest, keeping the quilt pulled around her, and wrapped her arms around her legs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. How would you know about my health, anyway? You don’t know anything about me except what I put on the lease application.” Or did they? Had she gotten mixed up in something more? Alarm stiffened her neck. Granted, they were three of the hottest men she’d ever seen, but what kind of men were they? She was in a house out of town and away from anyone who could hear her scream. Yet, she didn’t feel afraid, simply upset. But was she upset at them? Or irritated that they’d caught her at a vulnerable time? The idea of them harming her was ridiculous. She sensed that she could trust them. She wasn’t sure why, but she did. Her gut told her they were okay. Still, she needed to be cautious. She’d trusted Brian, and he’d taken her faith in him and squashed it. “We know that you—” Jackson laid a hand on Jayden’s shoulder, cutting off his words. “We have a feeling that you’re in trouble, that’s all. That maybe there’s something physically wrong. You can trust us, Emma. We only have your well-being at heart.” Trust. There was that word again. Her heart wanted her to believe them, but her head kept blaring alarms. “I told you. I’m fine. Now please leave.” “Sorry again, but that’s not happening. We’d worry about you all

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night, and I don’t make a practice of worrying. Instead, we’re going to stick around in case you need us. We’ll check in on you every so often, but we won’t bother you since you need your rest.” Jackson crossed his arms. “But I told you. I’m fine.” “Yeah, we heard you. But once big brother says something, you might as well accept it and deal with it as best you can.” Jayden rose and headed for the door. “I’m going to see what I can pull together in the kitchen. You look like you could use a hot meal.” “Good idea, bro. I’ll help you.” Jacob winked at her then followed his brother. “Do you guys always stick your noses into other people’s business?” She couldn’t decide if she was comforted or frightened by their refusal to leave. Jackson shrugged. “Not always.” His expression grew more serious. “Only for those we care about.” She hadn’t expected that answer and couldn’t find a response that didn’t sound ungrateful. Instead she let her gaze roam over the wide shoulders and along the strong arms to the lean waist. Her mouth watered as her gaze skimmed over the tented portion of his crotch. He wants me. She gripped the quilt tighter. And I want him. And his brothers, too. Unnerved by her blatant realization, she forced her focus down to study the patchwork pattern of the quilt. “What if I still refuse? What if I call the law?” Did a small town like Forever even have a police force? Besides, what could she say? Three men came to her aid when she passed out then took care of her? He thrust a cell phone in front of her face. She inhaled, taking in a quick burst of masculine scent mixed with an indefinable edge that reminded her of the prairie. “Go ahead. Give it a try. But I should tell you that the sheriff’s a good friend of mine, so he probably won’t hurry to help you. You’ll

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have to phone the sheriff in the next town.” He paused then added, “But he’s my cousin, so who knows if he’ll come?” She couldn’t bring herself to take the phone. If she did, she might touch him, and she knew she’d want to touch him all over his body if that happened. Besides, what good would it do if the law was his friends and family? Instead, she shook her head, and he slid the phone into his shirt pocket. “So, Jackson, what passes for the law here aside from your friends and family? Is there a court? A judge?” He was silent for several minutes, making her uneasy. His dark eyes sparkled with amber flakes. “In Forever, I’m the law.” **** The three brothers stuck to their word, coming to her room to give her a microwave dinner and an apple in bed then poking their heads in once in a while to check on her. She relaxed, accepting their watchful attention and even growing to enjoy it. Rested, fed, and changed into her sleep shirt, she slept through the night for the first time in weeks. When she awoke the next morning, she smiled, stretched, and greeted the day with enthusiasm. She flung back the covers and glanced at the opened closet. The Carr brothers had hung her clothes for her. She opened the drawers of the old dresser to find her lingerie and nighties folded neatly away. “If I’d known renting a house would include maid and cook service, I’d have come sooner.” She caught her reflection in the mirror. Dark circles still haunted the skin below her eyes, but her brown eyes sparkled with renewed energy. She grabbed a pair of jeans, a white T-shirt, and underwear to take with her into the bathroom. The bathroom wasn’t fancy, but it was very homey. Scented soaps sat in ceramic fish-shaped bowls on the pedestal sink and on the edge of the shower-tub combination. Brightly colored fish swam on the

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curtain while seashells dotted the shelves. Her toiletries were placed in a row in the medicine cabinet. “Well, look at that. A fish-themed bathroom in the middle of dry Texas. Interesting.” She turned on the shower and sighed as the water grew warmer. Stepping into the shower, she let the water flow over her breasts then turned and let it skim down her back and over her buttocks. “Emma?” She jumped, almost falling on the slippery tub bottom. Keeping the shower curtain closed, she peeked her head around to gape at him. “Jackson, what are you doing in here?” The heat from his glittering amber-flecked eyes bore into her. Her pussy creamed and her clit throbbed, weakening her legs. She scanned his body, drinking in his tall, hard form. “I came to tell you that breakfast is ready.” “You’re still here? You and your brothers?” She ran a hand through her wet hair. “Why didn’t you knock?” “I did. And yeah, we’re still here. I told you we’d stick around all night.” He slid his tongue over his upper lip. She shivered, her gaze fixed on his mouth. Parting her lips, she could almost taste his flavors. Her breathing quickened, and she clutched the shower curtain tighter. “Jackson, I don’t think you should be in—” Moving faster than she’d have thought possible, he came to her and crushed his mouth to hers. At first she froze. Then his lips lit a fire inside her that melted any chance that she’d protest. She moaned and leaned into the kiss. He skimmed his tongue between her lips as though teasing her. But his teasing didn’t last long as he shoved his tongue inside her mouth. She greeted his with hers, lashing around to drink in every ounce of his tastes. He whipped his tongue around her mouth, exploring, tempting her, then sucking on her tongue. The fire he’d started grew, sweeping through her body. She still clung to the shower curtain, but he didn’t let that stop

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him. Cupping her breast through the thin plastic, he rubbed his thumb over her already-hardened nipple then cupped her behind the neck to keep her close. His touch alone made her pussy throb. He threaded his fingers through her wet hair, groaning as he pressed his palm against her nipple. He nibbled on her bottom lip then skimmed his lips along her cheek to feather kisses down to the valley between her chin and neck. She trembled, sighing when he playfully bit her. “Jackson.” She couldn’t think, couldn’t act, couldn’t say anything except his name. She felt the cream oozing from her, mixing with the water to slide down her legs. He nibbled on her earlobe and brought his hand to her other breast. She let go of the shower curtain, giving him permission to slide his hand between her legs. She mewled, unable to resist him. He pulled her closer, wetting the front of his shirt. Growling, he pushed his fingers between her pussy folds and tortured her aching clit. She jerked as an orgasm swept over her, and she dug her fingers into his shoulders. “You’re mine. You’re ours.” She couldn’t have responded if she’d had to. Instead, she arched against him, urging him to do more, to take more. He lifted her over the tub’s edge and sat her on the toilet. The cool surface of the toilet lid made her shudder until he kneeled before her, spread her legs, and pushed his face against her pussy. He pulled her lips apart then lashed his tongue over her clit. She cried out and gripped his hair. Sucking, nipping, pressing his tongue against her, he drove her crazy. She thrust her hips against his face, wanting him to drink her dry. He ran his hands to her breasts, and she clasped her hands over his, pushing him against her. She spread her legs wider, and he quickened his pace, lashing at her with his tongue as he plunged two fingers into her pussy. He finger-fucked her, driving in and out until she had to stifle a

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scream. He swept his tongue from her clit to her pussy and back again. The turmoil brewing inside her whipped her to a frenzy. She moaned and reached for his hair. If she could keep him between her legs forever, she would. He pressed his mouth to her pussy and sucked harder, faster. The satisfied sounds he made sent her to the precipice again. All at once, he pulled away, leaving her shaking. “No. Don’t stop.” His eyes, more amber filled than before, latched onto her. Lust filled his face, and he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I can’t go on. It wouldn’t be fair to my brothers or to you.” “Fair? I don’t understand. I want you now.” He stood, and she saw him shudder with the effort to move away. “We all want you, but you’re not ready. Not yet.” “Yes, I am.” She reached out, but he backed away and started for the door. At the last moment, he pivoted toward her. She could see his yearning and sensed him wanting to come back to her. But soon his features hardened. “Get dressed and come into the kitchen.” He was gone before she could complain. She stared at the doorway, her mouth parted, her mind whirling with questions. She hurried, dressing as quickly as she could and combing through her damp hair. Her heart pounded as she left the bedroom and hurried down the hallway toward the small kitchen. The aroma of fresh coffee and bacon overtook her. Her mouth watered as she came to a stop in the kitchen doorway. Three gorgeous, sexy men worked to prepare breakfast. Jayden whistled as he flipped an omelet then turned the strips of bacon frying in the pan. Jacob stacked toast on a plate while Jackson poured coffee into four mugs and set them on the table by the plates and utensils. She took in the sight, tears welling in her eyes. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had cooked for her.

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Brian never had. She watched, touched more than she could ever say, as Jacob brought the toast to the table along with a single rose in a small vase. They’d taken care of her all night, unpacked for her, and made her breakfast. She pushed down the emotion clogging her throat then cleared her throat, garnering their attention. “Is this all for me?” Jacob came to her, his hand outstretched. “Who else would it be for?” Jayden busied himself by sliding an omelet and two pieces of bacon onto a plate. He held it in front of him and did a short bow. “For you, m’lady.” She laughed and let Jacob lead her to the table where Jackson pulled out a seat. His dark gaze flicked over her, and a silent acknowledgment of their interlude in the bathroom zipped between them. She took her seat and clasped her hands in her lap. “Tell us again how you got your shirt wet, Jackson.” Jacob took a seat next to her and gave her a wink. “One last time. I startled Emma while she was in the shower, and she doused me with water to get me out of the room.” Jackson sat down and glanced at her, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Is that right, Emma? Did you shoot him with the spray nozzle?” Jayden sat down and reached for his coffee mug. “Um, he startled me. That’s for sure.” She didn’t like lying and hadn’t. But she hadn’t told them the entire truth, either. “Hmm. Good story.” Jacob shot her a knowing look as he buttered his toast. She sat and watched as they chatted about the day’s chores, the cattle branding next month, and other ranch business. They ate their toast, sipped hot coffee, and shoved large bites of food into their mouths. She took a bite of the slightly burned toast then tried to swallow the dry bread with the help of a big gulp of coffee. The coffee burned her mouth and she coughed, the toast taking a hard trip down her throat.

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Jacob patted her on the back. “Hey, are you okay?” Jayden glared at his brother. “She would be if she hadn’t tried to eat that charred piece of cardboard you call toast.” Jackson whacked Jayden on the arm. “Your coffee’s not any better, you know. I told you to make it weaker today. She can’t handle the way we like it.” Her vision blurred as she laughed so hard she cried. “No, please. Everything’s great. It just went down the wrong pipe.” Jacob rubbed comforting circles on her back. “We’re not very good in the kitchen, but we wanted to give you a meal to welcome you to Forever. You know, something more than a microwave dinner and an apple like last night. I guess we should’ve just invited you to Milly’s.” She smiled, letting them know she was fine. “I really appreciate the effort. You’re all very thoughtful.” Darting her gaze from one brother to the next, she added, “Thank you for watching over me as well as unpacking my things. I’m sorry I wasn’t very grateful last night.” Jayden shrugged then downed the coffee as though the heat didn’t affect him. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve heard we’re a bit much to handle right off the bat.” “I know I wasn’t very nice to you, but I’m glad you were here.” She reached out and placed her hand over Jackson’s. “I needed the rest.” “Tell us about your writing, Emma.” Jacob’s obvious interest sent warmth over her. “Jayden put your laptop in the other bedroom and kind of made it into an office for you.” “Yeah. I didn’t mean to, but as I was unpacking, one of the files fell to the floor and I sort of read the story. I hope it’s okay.” “Oh. Um, sure. No problem. Like I told Jacob yesterday, I’m trying to finish my book. It’s a dream of mine.” “Dreams are what separate us from real animals.” She searched Jackson’s face. “What do you mean by real

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animals?” Jackson leaned forward, his mug cupped in his hands. “Never mind. Are you ready to tell us what’s wrong? Are you ready to tell us the reason why you fainted? Will you tell us the truth this time?” Jayden and Jacob studied her, their expressions open and earnest. Jacob played with a piece of toast then tossed it on to his plate. “We want to help. Let us help you.” “I told you. I was very tired. That’s all.” She yearned to tell them, but the words wouldn’t come. How could she tell men she barely knew that she was dying? She’d come to Forever hoping to use her remaining time to finish her book and to live her life where no one would know her secret and take pity on her. She took another sip of her drink and avoided looking at them. A knock on the front door broke the strained silence. Jackson shoved back his chair and strode toward the door. Emma listened to his footsteps and took a bite of the undercooked omelet. “I’m here to see Emma Rand. Where is she?” She gasped, her hand lifted in the air, the food an inch from her mouth. Dropping the fork, she took a couple of deep breaths and tried to hide the turmoil raging inside her.

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Chapter Five Emma tried to keep her anger in check as she stormed through the living room toward the front door. The smile faltered on Brian’s face when he saw her. “Hi, babe.” His tone was cheery. Jackson’s scowl matched her mood. “Do you know this guy, Emma?” “Unfortunately, I do.” She crossed her arms, resisting Brian’s attempt to hug her. “What are you doing here? I told you I didn’t want to see you. How did you find me, anyway?” Brian shifted from one foot to the other as he watched Jacob and Jayden come into the room. “You know Kelly can’t keep a secret to save her life.” Kelly, Emma’s closest friend, and the only one who knew Emma had gone to Forever, had been sworn to secrecy. Still, Emma should’ve known better. Kelly had always found Brian too charming and too persuasive to resist. “So this is Brian?” How did Jacob know about Brian? She wanted to ask but needed to take care of her unwanted visitor first. “What do you want?” He took a step forward then stopped when Jackson growled. “Hey, man, chill out the beast, okay? Emma and I are friends. Very close friends.” Had Jackson actually growled? Like an animal? Nothing made sense. Not the Carr brothers and not Brian. Still, she had to take care of one situation at a time. “Guys, would you mind leaving us alone? I’m sorry to cut our breakfast short, but I need to handle

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this…situation.” “Are you sure, Emma? We don’t mind hanging around.” Jayden stepped closer to her as though he wanted to protect her. She placed her palm on his chest then took it away. Just that one touch had made her desire come alive. Swallowing, she lifted her chin and turned to give the brothers a big smile. “Thank you. All of you, for everything. For last night”—she paused to give her words more emphasis just for Brian’s sake—“and for this morning, too.” Jacob grumbled something under his breath that only his brothers seemed to hear. Taking her hand, he gave it a squeeze then glared once at Brian before brushing past him and out the door. Jayden followed, with Jackson taking up the rear. Jackson bumped against Brian’s shoulder and shot him a glower, an obvious gesture of warning. She watched the brothers walk down the path to their pickup then closed the door. Taking a steadying breath, she turned and led Brian into the living room. “Who are those guys?” She clenched her fists to keep from slapping him. “Those are my landlords. They’re my friends, too.” A sneer lifted the corner of his mouth. “Friends, huh? What kind of friends? Is that why you’re thanking them for last night? Exactly what did they do for you? Or more to the point, what did you do for them?” “Are you seriously asking me that? And you expect me to answer? Don’t you remember? We’re no longer a couple, which means you don’t have a say in anything I do or who I do it with. Have you forgotten you dumped me?” Rage flashed inside her and churned in her stomach. “I’m asking because I still care.” She snorted, liking the way he frowned at her derisive action. “Okay. Never mind them. I came here to talk to you about your problem.” “My problem? Why do you always call it that? It’s a brain tumor,

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Brian. A real, live, get-your-affairs-in-order mass of cancer stuck inside my head. As I recall, you didn’t want any part of it. At least, that is until you found a cure for my problem.” She made air quotes around the word problem. He sat on the edge of the sofa and patted the seat beside him. “Sit down and we can talk about it calmly, in a rational manner. Plus, I want to tell you about more great news.” Could it have been a mistake? Was Brian here for a different reason? One other than the experimental surgery? Was he going to tell her that the scans were wrong? That she wasn’t given a death sentence? She sat next to him but pulled her hand away from his grasp. “Go ahead. I’m listening.” “I want to talk to you about Dr. Harding’s work.” Her hopes came crashing down. The more she thought about the experimental surgery, the more she didn’t like it. “We’ve already had this discussion, and I told you I’d call you if I wanted to try it. What about it now? Has something changed?” “I consulted him about your condition again, and he’s still willing to let you be the first patient to receive his revolutionary new kind of surgery. It’s a fantastic opportunity. It’s a real chance to save your life. I can’t let you pass it up.” She stayed silent, not knowing what to think any longer. Experimental surgery, at best, was risky. But to be the first? Most of the time, the first patients to try a new procedure didn’t live. Not that she wasn’t already on death’s doorstep. “Let’s skip to the bottom line. What are the chances of this new surgery working?” His face clouded over like a child pouting. “Okay, I’ll admit it. The chances aren’t great. Less than five percent. But it’s better than your chances are now. What’s wrong with you, Emma? I thought you’d call me back and take this. What other choice do you have?” No choices at all. But there has to be more to this than he’s telling me. “I know you, Brian. What’s in this for you?”

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He tried to act shocked at her question, but once she gave him a stern look, he didn’t attempt to lie. “That doesn’t matter. What matters is that you could be healed.” “And what’s on the other side of the coin? If it fails, which it more than likely will, where does that leave me?” She struggled to keep from letting hope take hold. Wishes rarely came true, and medical wishes were even less likely to happen. Brian looked at the floor. “You could suffer significant brain damage. Or worse. But you have to give it a try.” She laughed, unwilling to let him see her cry. “Terrific. I have a ninety-five percent chance of losing what little time I have left.” She walked to the door although her limbs felt like they had hundredpound weights on them. She flung the door open and held her back ramrod straight. “Thanks, but no thanks. I want to enjoy the rest of my life. However short it may be.” “Don’t be a fool, Emma. Any chance is better than no chance.” He came to her and grabbed her by the arms. “If it works, we can be together. You can come back, and we can get married. You have to do this for us.” “For us? So if I’m fixed, cured, back to the way I was before, you’re ready to resume our relationship? To act like it never happened?” He didn’t answer. But then, what answer could he have given? She squirmed out of his hold. “I’m asking you again. What’s in it for you? Please don’t insult me by saying you’re doing this for us, much less for me.” He tensed, anger stiffening his body. “Fine. If you agree to do the surgery, Dr. Harding has promised me a very prestigious internship. I’ll get to work with him side by side, almost as an equal partner. My career will hold limitless promise, and my future will be as good as gold.” Emma closed her eyes against the pain racing from one side of her head to the other. The quick stabs of agony heralded a burgeoning

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migraine. She couldn’t stand to look at him again, so she kept her gaze on the yard outside. Strange. The Carr brothers’ pickup is still here. “Get out, Brian.” He started to argue, but she thrust her arm outward and pointed toward the front walk. “Like hell I will. I won’t let you ruin this for me.” She let out a yelp as he grabbed her by the arms and threw her to the floor. Taking her by the wrists, he pushed her arms above her head and straddled her body. She fought, yanking her arms and kicking her legs, but she was no match for him. “Stop it, Em. Stop fighting me and listen.” “Get the hell off me!” His hold tightened as he took her wrists with one hand and clutched her chin with the other. “Not until you see things my way. I’m not going to let you screw up my chance with Dr. Harding. You’re going through with it even if I have to tie you up and throw you on the operating table myself.” He crushed his mouth to hers and thrust his tongue inside her mouth. Taking hold of her breast, he squeezed and pushed his thumb down on her nipple. She tried to bite his tongue, but he withdrew it and bit her lower lip. Blood seeped into her mouth. “Damn it, Em. What the hell did you do with those men? Did you fuck them one by one or all at once?” She wanted to hurt him, so she shot at him the only way she could. “You’re damn right I did.” Shock registered on his face a second before rage did. “You slut!” She grinned, determined to keep going. “I took them all, one at a time then all at once. I let them do things to me that I never let you do. Because they’re all men. Not assholes like you.” His nostrils flared as he glared at her, but she wouldn’t stop. “And you know what? I enjoyed every second of it.” Pushing as hard as she could, she knocked him off her. On her

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knees now, she hurried to scramble onto her feet, but Brian was right behind her. She cried out as he took her arm and whirled her around to face him. The slap echoed in her ears as the world went blurry. She landed hard on the floor, knocking the breath out of her. Brian was on top of her before she could gather her wits. “I’m taking you back with me, and you’re doing what I tell you to do. I won’t let you ruin this for me.” She glowered at him. He lifted his arm again, and she dragged in a breath, preparing for the next strike. But the blow never came. Instead, Brian’s eyes grew wide, and a second later, he was off her, his body flying through the air. She struggled to turn on to her side but didn’t have the strength. “No, Emma, don’t try. I’ll take care of you.” Jayden slid his arms under her and lifted her as Jackson had done before. She clung to him, putting her face against his strong chest. But she couldn’t ignore the sounds of fighting. Jayden placed her on the sofa then took her face in his hands. “Let me take a look at you.” He studied her, a worried expression darkening his features. She tried to look past him, tried to see what had happened to Brian. A shout—Brian’s?—split the air, accompanied by two growling sounds. “What’s going on? What happened to Brian?” Jayden blocked her view as she tried to look past him. “Don’t worry about him. He won’t hurt you again. Jackson and Jacob are teaching him a little lesson is all.” She sucked in a breath. “What are they going to do to him?” Jayden shrugged. “Not that he deserves it, but he’ll live. We just hope he’ll learn his lesson and stay away from you.” She shook her head. “They won’t hurt him too much, will they? He’ll be okay to drive home?” Although she no longer loved Brian, she didn’t want to see him hurt. Not even after how he’d treated her. “Like I said. Don’t worry about him. My brothers will make sure

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he leaves on his own steam.” He ran a thumb over her forehead just as a sharp pain slashed from the back of her head to her temple. “Are you hurting? Do you have medication you can take? Or should I take you to the doctor’s office?” She shook her head and immediately regretted it as the agony threatened to tear her head in half. “There. On the table.” He looked around and found her medication bottle on the floor. “It must’ve rolled off.” Popping off the lid, he handed her two pills. “Do you want water?” From the sound of the fighting, she knew they’d moved outside. She wouldn’t see anything even if she sent Jayden off to get water. “No. I don’t need it.” She took the pills then tried to get him to move so she could stand. “I need to see what’s going on. Can you help me to the door?” Jayden glanced over his shoulder then back at her. “Jackson will give me hell about it, but okay. But just to the door. After that, it’s into bed for you. Deal?” “Deal.” She tried to get to her feet, but Jayden had a different idea. He lifted her again, cradling her as he’d done before. She didn’t complain but relaxed her body against his. At the door, he turned sideways so she could look outside. Jackson stood at the driver’s side of Brian’s car while Jacob lounged against the hood and glared at Brian, who sat behind the wheel. She couldn’t hear what Jackson said to Brian, but the blood splatters on Jackson’s and Jacob’s shirt told her part of the story. The other part came when Brian glanced her way. His face was bloodied, and one eye was already swelling. For an instant, pity for him welled in her heart. But then the memory of him sitting on top of her, holding her down, flushed all her sympathy away. He deserved what he’d gotten and more. “Should we call the police?” But would it matter? If Jackson wanted the law, he’d call them himself.

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“Naw. Jackson takes care of things in Forever. Your ex is lucky he’s still able to drive. When we heard you cry out then came in and saw him on top of you, we almost lost control.” What did losing control mean? Would Brian be dead if they had? “I’m glad you came back when you did. But how’d you know? I thought you’d already left.” “We had a feeling something was wrong. Or should I say someone was wrong.” Jackson lifted his head, turning his attention from Brian to Jayden and Emma. A scowl lowered his forehead. “Let’s get you to bed before Jackson has it out for me.” Whirling around, Jayden carried her to the bedroom and set her on the bed. “Thank you, Jayden. And thank your brothers, too. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you three hadn’t come back.” He smiled then brushed her hair into place. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll always take care of you.” She started to ask him what he meant, but he was up and striding to the door before she could speak. Instead, she sighed and lay back on the bed. Closing her eyes, she hoped she’d taken her medication in time. If not, the headache would keep her in bed until tomorrow. **** “I’m glad we decided to stick around outside Emma’s. That jerk of an ex-boyfriend is no good. Truth is, we should’ve stuck around inside with her. We could’ve prevented him from hurting her.” Jackson mounted his horse then trotted toward the herd of cattle, with his brothers bringing their horses beside his. The broad expanse of their ranch stretched out before him, and as it always did, the sight of the cattle and horses grazing in their pastures gave him a muchneeded sense of calm. “She needed to face him on her own. She has to be through with him before she can be ready to accept us. But I’m glad we were there

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to help once he started getting rough.” “By the look of things, I’d say she’s already over him. She didn’t want anything to do with him, which is what got him so riled.” Jacob shot Jackson a pointed look, taking Jackson’s thoughts back to his time in the bathroom with her. Had she given herself to him out of the connection she sensed between them? Or had she done so to help herself get over her feelings for Brian? Jayden urged his horse forward and twirled the lasso above his head, picking up momentum before he threw it. The rope was an extension of his arm, sliding easily over the calf’s head and around its neck. Trained for roping, his horse backed up and pulled the slack out of the rope. The calf yanked at the rope but couldn’t break free. Jayden was off the horse in a second and grabbed the calf’s back leg. He tossed it on its side, with the calf letting out a bellow. The calf bucked and grunted, but Jayden brought its legs together and soon had its three legs secured in a lariat. He threw his hands into the air, mimicking the way he would do in a rodeo to signal the timekeeper to clock him. “Stop horsing around and get the cattle into the pen.” He’d never admit it to his brothers, but Jackson was as nervous as they were about Emma. Leaving her alone all day to sort out her feelings was harder than he’d have thought possible. He could still remember the red mark on her beautiful face where Brian had slapped her. It had taken every ounce of his willpower to keep from shifting and tearing the man’s throat out. Then when he’d moved his gaze to her big brown eyes, he’d seen the fire in them when she’d glared at Brian. He wanted to stir up a different kind of fire in her eyes. Yearning surged outward from his abdomen, spinning lust into every part of his body. Repositioning himself in the saddle, he tried to break his thoughts away from her. If he didn’t, everyone would see what he was thinking about. “That boy hightailed it out of town and didn’t look back. The

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other pack members we sent to follow him confirmed it. So why did we stay away all day? We should’ve checked on her.” Jayden shifted in his saddle. Jacob shouted, urging two cows into the pen along with their calves. “I don’t know if I can wait much longer to have her. She’s our mate. Why shouldn’t we just tell her about us and take her? I think after helping her twice now, she’d be more than ready to accept us. It’s obvious that she senses the bond between us.” Jayden turned his calf loose then whooped and hollered, bringing it into the enclosure and closing the gate. “Yeah, bro. Why waste time? Especially Emma’s time.” “We can’t rush her. If we do, she’s bound to bolt. She’s different than other women. She’s fragile right now and hurting in more than one way. We need to respect that and give her time and space.” “She won’t be fragile once we bite her.” Jacob slapped his hat against his jeans, and dirt floated around him. Jackson dismounted then led his horse into the barn along with his brothers and their mounts. Max, a pack member and friend who had his own ranch but still helped out on the Carr Ranch, took his horse and motioned for his two sons to take Jayden’s and Jacob’s horses. They’d take care of them, brushing them down then feeding them. The brothers thanked the father and his boys then walked toward their home. Each was dressed as they always were, in jeans, T-shirts, worn boots, and weathered cowboy hats. “Okay. You make some good points. It’s time to head back to Emma’s.” Jayden slapped Jacob on the arm. “Hear that, bro? We’re going to get our mate tonight.” Jackson growled, warning his younger brothers to take it easy. “I didn’t say we’d take her. First, we’re going to make sure she’s okay. Then we’ll give her more time to get to know us. We’ll take her a pan of Milly’s homemade lasagna and some breadsticks.” “How about some wine, too?”

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He nodded at Jayden’s broad smile. “Why not? Lasagna’s never as good without wine.” **** Emma stared at the computer screen. Once her headache had subsided, she’d promised herself that she’d get at least four thousand words written today, and she was only five hundred words away from her goal. But the last five hundred words wouldn’t come. Instead, her mind kept drifting to the Carr brothers. Each of them had similarities to the other, yet each man was unique. She yearned to know everything about them. What amazed her most was how drawn she was to them. Almost as though she had no control over her body, she ached to hold them. She longed to have each of them between her legs, stroking her breasts, or licking her flesh. The idea of taking all three brothers into her bed made her pussy clench. If given the chance, would she dare? Yet she knew the answer better than she knew her own name. Hell, yes she’d dare! Jackson, the oldest and the obvious leader, was more serious than the other two men. Many times she’d found him watching her, studying her as though somehow he knew more about her than she did. He wasn’t somber by any means but seemed to carry responsibility like a well-deserved medal. His body, like his brothers’, was rock solid, with calloused hands that she ached to have slide over her flesh. Skin, tanned from hours in the sun, highlighted his cheekbones as well as accenting the dark hair on his arms and head. Jayden, the youngest, was at the other end of the spectrum. He didn’t seem to take anything too seriously. Or maybe that was just an illusion with his easy grin telling the world that he loved life and everything around him. He was fun loving, his eyes sparkling like he’d just heard the funniest joke. His long hair, the same length as Jackson’s, was unkempt, giving him a devil-may-care appearance.

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She would love to rub his head and muss his hair even more. Then there was the middle child, Jacob. He was the perfect blend of both his brothers. One moment he was contemplative then in the next second, he was laughing. Still, he had a darker side. She’d noticed how he’d had to tamp down his anger when he’d seen Brian, and she had to wonder what kind of damage he could do if he didn’t hold his anger in check. His short hair spiked up on top and his dark eyes often changed to a strange amber color. She frowned. In fact, all three men had strange eyes. One moment they were a deep brown, and then in the next, amber flakes brightened the dark. She remembered how the amber had increased when they’d glowered at Brian. Jackson’s eyes had glowed when he’d lifted his head and seen her at the front door in Jayden’s arms. What was with their eyes? Did they wear contacts? Or was it a trick of the light? “Emma. Hey, Emma, are you decent?” She spun the office chair toward the front door. She inhaled, her heart skipping a beat. Although she’d hoped they would, she hadn’t counted on them coming back. Still, how many times had she glanced toward the front door? Too many to count. She hurried to the door and flung it wide. The brothers stood on the front porch, their arms filled with containers. They returned her smile and came in as she stepped aside. “Hi. I’m glad you came back.” “We couldn’t stay away.” Jacob glanced around the living room. “Are you alone?” “If you’re asking if Brian’s gone, then I think you know the answer to that. After what happened, I doubt he’ll show his face around here again. So, yes, I’m alone.” “He better not come back if he knows what’s good for him.” The muscles in Jackson’s jaw jumped, and she wanted nothing more than to reach out and soothe him. “He won’t. I’m sure of it.” Jayden strode to the kitchen, followed by his brothers. “Great. But

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let’s forget about him and get on with dinner. I’m starving. We came bearing food.” He laughed at the cringe she’d meant to hide. “Don’t worry. We didn’t cook it. These are homemade dishes from Milly. She said to tell you to call her if you ever need anything.” “That’s so nice of her. I’ll have to get into town and thank her.” She stood back, enjoying how the men took care of everything from heating up the lasagna in the microwave to uncorking the wine. Although they fumbled with a few things, she could tell they were doing their best to impress her. Within minutes, they had the kitchen table set along with a romantic candle lit in the middle of the table. Jayden held out an arm for her. “May I escort you to dinner, my love?” Jacob rolled his eyes while Jackson shook his head. “Don’t lay it on too thick. We already have a dessert that’s sweet enough to rot teeth.” Jacob sent Jayden a quick grin. Waiting until she was seated, the brothers took their chairs and started passing around the food and filling everyone’s wineglass. Emma watched in awe as they filled their plates to overflowing. “I guess you guys don’t worry about calories, huh? You probably work them off around the ranch.” “Calories? What’s that?” Jayden laughed. “We never think about that stuff. That’s for pretty ladies like you to worry about.” She almost choked on the small bite she’d just taken. “Nope. I used to worry about my weight, but I don’t any longer.” Why should she bother? “You shouldn’t. You’ve got a smokin’ body.” “Thanks.” She’d had a lot of men compliment her before, but coming from Jackson made the comment special. She sensed that he didn’t give them often. “Tell us more about yourself, Emma.” Jacob offered her another portion of the Italian bread, and she took it. “We know you want to finish a book. How’s that going?”

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“Okay.” She shrugged then buttered her bread to keep from looking into his soulful eyes. “Could be better, but at least I don’t have writer’s block.” “I know you said it’s a romance, but what’s the book about?” Jayden asked, with a mouthful of food. “It’s a paranormal romance about a werewolf and the woman who falls in love with him.” She glanced at them, then added, “I’m thinking of adding more men to the mix.”

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Chapter Six The men stopped eating and gaped at her. Emma searched their faces until they started eating again, but she could tell that they avoided looking directly at her. “Did I say something wrong?” “No, no. Nothing wrong.” Jacob poured another glass of wine for everyone. “Do you believe in things like that?” She laughed. “Things like what? Romance or werewolves?” Jackson’s intense gaze made it difficult for her to breathe. “Both.” “Yes. To both.” She couldn’t have explained her answer in a million years. But it was the truth. Yet she had no idea when or how she’d started believing in paranormal beings. Now it was her turn to study her food and avert her eyes from theirs. An awkward quiet settled over them until Jackson started a different topic. “What else do you like to do?” Jackson’s tone brought her head up. Had he meant to sound seductive? Or was she reading more into it than he’d meant? “I like to read, of course. And some day I’d like to plant a garden to grow my own vegetables.” But would that day ever come? She shook off the darkness starting to close in. Instead, she turned the conversation back to them. “But enough about boring old me. Let’s talk about you guys. I don’t know much about your lives except that you have a ranch and rent out this house. That and you play the role of heroes whenever I have a problem.” The men glanced at each other but didn’t offer a comment. She chuckled, making a poor attempt to hide the sincerity behind her

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words. “But what do you want in return for all your good deeds?” All three men stopped eating to stare at her again. She paused then placed her fork on the plate. “Did I say something wrong again?” Jackson shoved his chair out and paced around the table to her before she had time to think. He lifted her chin, bringing her gaze to his earnest face. “We want you.” The air around her thickened with a mix of testosterone and pheromones. All at once, she found it difficult to drag in a big-enough breath. “I–I’m sorry?” Jayden and Jacob were standing next to her in no time flat. Jackson pulled her to her feet. “We know you’re not well, and we know you don’t have a lot of strength. But until we can fix that, we still want you. Let us take care of you tonight, Emma. Let us show you what we want.” She couldn’t respond, didn’t know what to say. Instead, she let him take her hand and lead her toward the bedroom. Once there, he turned her to face him, his brothers standing on either side of her. A tingle of excitement ran down her spine as Jackson touched her cheek then leaned in for a soft kiss. Closing her eyes, she parted her mouth, welcoming a quick flick of his tongue across her lips. Jacob and Jayden slid their hands along her body and pulled the hem of her T-shirt out of her jeans. She opened her eyes as Jackson broke the kiss and helped his brothers tug her shirt off and toss it to the floor. Heat blazed in his eyes as he unbuttoned the top of her jeans and pulled the flaps wide to unzip the zipper. She held her breath, suddenly shy about her body. But she needn’t have worried. Jackson’s hot gaze grew even hotter as his brothers pulled her jeans down her legs and helped her kick them aside. “You’re amazing.” Jayden knelt beside her and slid his palms along her legs as he kissed a path between them. Jacob copied him, reaching the waist of her lace bikini panties first. She reached out and tunneled her fingers through his hair. At the same time, Jayden and Jacob slid her panties down her legs, and she

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stepped out of them. Had her wish come true? Was this really happening? Her body tingled in anticipation. Jackson’s attention never left her face. He took the straps of her bra and pushed them off her shoulders. The thin red material fell to her elbows, exposing the swell of her breasts. One of the brothers unhooked her bra, and she let it drop to the floor. “Holy shit.” Jayden’s awed tone left a trail of warm breath along her leg. “You can say that again, little brother.” Jacob stood beside her, his focus centered on her bare mons. At last Jackson reached out and cupped her breasts. Keeping his gaze on hers, he slid his hands underneath her arms and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around him as he carried her to the bed. Laying her on her back, he stepped away. The brothers drank her in, scanning every inch of her. Yet instead of embarrassment or shyness, she felt empowered. She held them captive as surely as if she’d bound their hands and feet. “We need to be careful with her. Remember your strength.” Careful? She wasn’t sure what Jackson meant, but it didn’t matter as long as they came to her. Why were they waiting? She moaned, frustration mixing with need. She had to do something to get them to touch her. Sliding her hand along the soft mound of her stomach and over her abdomen, she slid her finger between her folds. She spread her legs and rubbed her sensitive clit. Her pussy was already wet with the juices they’d stirred within her, and she massaged the aching nub. The men watched, transfixed, their eyes changing to the mysterious amber color. She’d remember to ask them about their eyes, but not now. Now was not the time for questions. Instead, she pleasured herself and moved her gaze over them in a silent plea for them to undress. Jackson pulled his T-shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor. His brothers did the same and kicked off their boots. She

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increased the speed of her hand, running her gaze over their hard, marble-like chests. She cupped her breast and rubbed her thumb over her taut nipple. A soft sprinkling of hair covered their chests, and she couldn’t wait to run her hands over their six-pack abs. “Jeans.” With that one word, the men worked their jeans off, exposing their already-growing cocks. All three of them moved toward her, but Jackson shoved the other two back. He crawled onto the bed and lay down between her legs. Taking a moment to watch her stroke herself, he then pressed his tongue against her finger. She jerked but kept massaging her clit. She closed her eyes and cried out as her pussy creamed. Groaning, he pushed her hand away and dove in. He licked her clit, moving his tongue around and over her throbbing nub. A growl tickled her skin, and she added her own sound as he added two fingers to her pussy. He finger-fucked her, sliding his fingers in and out, faster and faster. Just as he had her on the edge of a climax, he pulled his fingers out. Jacob got on the bed beside her. “Relax, Emma. You don’t need to do anything but lie there and enjoy. Now get onto your side.” She did as he asked then gasped as he bent to run his tongue along her ass and into the puckered flesh. Squirming, she mewled with delight as Jacob slid a finger into her tight hole then added two more. Jackson renewed his attack with his tongue as Jacob pumped his fingers into her ring of muscles. Jayden joined them on her other side and cupped her breasts. Placing his dick close to her face, he urged her to take his cock into her mouth. She blew out a breath, making him twitch, then wrapped her hand around his cock as she pulled him inside. Jayden tasted musky and masculine with an added extra something she couldn’t define. He smelled sweaty, but it was an aroma that was all wild man. Her pulse pounded in her ears, and her breath quickened. Every

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inch of her was alive, overflowing with her need for the men. Until today, she hadn’t known how much she’d dreamed of men like them or how much she’d wanted more than one man in her life. Jacob stretched his body next to her and nibbled on the back of her neck. His cock pushed at the crease of her buttocks, and she moaned and wiggled her butt, hoping he’d take the hint. He did, wetting her first with his fingers. He eased into her, giving her body time to adjust, then pushed harder. She cried out in painful pleasure. Blackness started to overtake her as her body tensed for release. She clutched her hand over Jayden’s hand on her breast and sucked his cock harder, taking longer strokes to drag him in and out. Her body shook as the orgasm raked through her. Jackson wiped his mouth then positioned his cock at her pussy. Lifting her leg to place hers over his, he thrust inside her. His huge cock stretched her pussy, making her tight walls give way. Jayden pulled his cock out then bent forward to push his tongue into her mouth, his tongue playing tag with hers. She wrapped her hand around his cock and took all the taste she could from his kiss. He clutched her hair, giving him better access to her mouth. Jacob and Jackson matched rhythms as they pounded into her. She whimpered with each of their thrusts, feeling as though their cocks were meeting in the middle of her. Jayden nibbled on her bottom lip then broke the kiss. He fondled her breast, toying with her nipple as she took hold of his cock again. Slowly, teasing him, she drew his cock back into her mouth then released him with a satisfied sigh before taking him again. She increased her fevered attention to Jayden’s cock, sucking in the head of his dick again then skimming her teeth lightly over his vein-covered skin as she drew him out. With three men taking her, she became more powerful, more of a woman than she’d ever thought possible. She cupped Jayden’s balls and felt them draw up. “Oh, my God, but she’s tight.” Jackson’s panted words filled her with joy.

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“You’ve got that right,” Jacob added. “She’s got us hooked for sure now. Damn, Emma, you’re amazing.” She looked up into Jayden’s lust-filled face, saw his amber eyes, and whipped her tongue around his cock. She relaxed her jaw and throat muscles then pulled him in again, taking him until he touched the back of her throat. Stroking the length of his cock, she sucked on him, drawing in his juices. She had to taste him, all of him. Jackson and Jacob thrust in and pulled out then thrust into her over and over. She moaned deep in her throat, the sound radiating into Jayden’s cock and along her body. All three men made growling sounds filled with lust. Jayden’s hold on her hair tightened as he rocked his hips, helping her maintain her momentum. She was powerful, strong, healthy, and all woman. Almost as though their cocks had given her something more, renewed energy flowed through her. These men were hers and she was theirs. Her body hummed with ecstasy, and her heart filled with joy. The muscles in her stomach tensed, growing tighter and tighter as her abdomen burned with heat. Her pussy clamped around Jackson as the walls of her anus gripped Jacob. She puckered her mouth around Jayden’s cock and tried to make her hold even stronger. Her pussy wept, ready to send her over the edge of the high plateau again. The whirlwind whipped inside her, building stronger until, all at once, a colossal orgasm ripped free, sending her flying. She cried out, her breath and sound covering Jayden’s cock, and she reached out to grip his legs for support. Jayden roared his release seconds before he let go, filling her mouth with his sweet essence. She drank him in then licked him, cleaning him as she searched for every last drop. Jacob wrapped his arm around her to fondle a breast and laid his head against her shoulder. He nipped at her, the nips stinging as though his teeth had gotten sharper. His body stiffened behind her then paused. His yell rang against her ear as he let go, filling her from

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behind. He trembled next to her, adding to her own shudders. Jackson pushed her on her back, moving Jacob over. He plunged into her again, pumping harder, faster. The other two men caressed her, their gazes on her cock-filled pussy. “Fuck her, brother. Make her ours this way until we can make her ours the right way.” The right way? But she couldn’t think past the one thought as Jackson gripped her legs. The muscles in his chest rippled as he rocked her pelvis back and forward, driving into her. Growling, he leaned back to rest on his legs and brought her up to sit on top of him. His cock still filled her, going deeper than ever before. She inhaled as his cock struck the end of her. Cupping her breast, he lifted her nipple to his mouth and sucked. She threw her hair back and clung to his shoulders. Jacob slid a hand along her buttocks to fondle a cheek. Jayden rubbed his cock against her other butt cheek and whispered sexy words. Jackson’s glowing gaze locked onto her face, his intense concentration showing on his features. He took hold of her hips and thrust harder, ramming upward into her pussy, driving her closer to the edge. She parted her mouth as she gasped in air and dug her fingernails into his skin. Taking her by the arms, he laid her back but kept her body above the bed. Her head touched the headboard of the bed as Jacob and Jayden supported her back. Jackson groaned, the sound turning into a growl as he pumped his cock into her, slamming his body into hers. Tensing, he stilled for a moment then rammed into her again, bumping her head against the headboard. His body shook, meeting the shudders racing through hers as he laid his head back and roared his climax. She trembled as the men lowered her to the bed and slid their hands along her limbs in a gesture of tenderness. More satisfied than she’d ever been, she smiled as they rested

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against her. “I’m so worn out I don’t think I could get out of bed and clean up.” “Then don’t.” Jackson sat up, taking her along with him. Picking her up as though she weighed nothing, he carried her into the bathroom. “Fill the tub, Jayden.” Warm water quickly filled the tub as Jackson continued to cradle her against his chest. His scent wafted over her, once more filling her with need. She should’ve tried to stand on her own but couldn’t bear to leave his arms. Once the tub was filled, he stepped in then sat down, keeping her with him as the water rose around them. She relaxed against his chest. Jacob and Jayden gave her a quick kiss then left the room. “Just lean back and rest.” Jackson dipped a soft cloth into the water, poured bodywash on it, and then slid the cloth along her arm. He washed her gently, almost reverently, sliding the cloth along her arms then between her breasts and legs. She let the tension of the past leave her body. “You’d better watch out, Jackson. I could get very used to this.” He chuckled, the warmth of his breath tickling her neck. “I hope you do.” Her eyes grew heavy as the weariness hit her. “Jackson?” “Yeah?” He cupped his hand and poured water over her shoulder. “What’s wrong with you and your brothers’ eyes? They change.” She yawned and found she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. He stopped pouring water on her. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll tell you everything later.” “Mmm?” She drifted off, sleep taking her to sweet dreams of her three men. **** “You’re wrong. We’re making a mistake by not telling her. Especially after what just happened. She has a right to know.” Jayden

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wiped the last dish and placed it in the cabinet. Jacob shot him a look that warned him to take care then sauntered out of the kitchen behind a stalking Jackson. Jayden hurried after them. Jackson was almost to the front door when Jayden grabbed his arm and spun him around. “Are you listening to me?” Amber flashed in Jackson’s eyes, and the tips of his fangs peeked over his lower lip. “Keep quiet or you’re going to wake Emma. She needs her rest.” He lowered his voice for Emma’s sake and not because his brother told him to. But the tone of his voice remained as emphatic as before. “What she needs is for us to take her, bite her, and make her well. Sooner rather than later.” “I don’t agree.” Jackson lowered his gaze to where Jayden held his arm. When he brought his gaze back to Jayden’s, there was no mistaking his anger. “Brother, you’d better get your paw off me right now.” Jayden let go and tried a different tactic. “Jacob, you haven’t said your piece. What do you think? Should we tell her when she wakes up, or should we wait a week or two and let her get weaker? Not to mention letting her suffer with those headaches.” “I can see points to both sides of the argument, so I’m inclined to let Jackson take the lead on this.” Jayden growled and lifted the corner of his lip in a snarl. As usual, Jacob was ready to let Jackson make the call. “Well, I’m not. I’m not going to stand by while she’s in pain. Not to mention keeping the truth about us hidden. She’s ready, and I’m going to tell her.” Jayden was halfway to the bedroom when Jackson grabbed him by the hair and hurled him backward. He landed, the air bursting out of him as he struck the side of the sofa. Within a second, the transformation began as bones broke and realigned in different angles. His gums throbbed as his fangs broke through the skin and fur spread across his body. Tearing off his clothes, he let the change take him.

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Jackson flung his clothes away as he morphed. He snarled, his white fangs dripping saliva. Claws erupted from his fingertips. “Aw, hell. Come on, you two. We don’t need to fight about this. We just need to sit down and talk about it like the brothers we are.” At the same time, Jackson and Jayden turned toward Jacob and let out warning snarls. Jacob held up his hands and backed off. “Okay, okay. Don’t bite my head off.” Jayden took the opening and flung his body at his brother before Jackson had a chance to turn away from Jacob. Together they rolled, slamming into the front door. Getting on all fours at the same time, they glared at each other then jumped into the air. Growls and snarls accented the sound of their bodies hitting each other. Jackson dug his fangs into his brother’s leg, but Jayden didn’t let the searing pain stop him. He opened his jaws wide and clamped down on Jackson’s shoulder. His brother’s blood spurted into his mouth. Jayden made a low noise in his throat, accepting the victory of making a good strike while ignoring the throbbing stabs in his leg. They let go of each other and backed away then circled around while never taking their eyes off the other. “Look, guys. I have to try and get through to you. Stop now before you disturb Emma. Can’t we talk about this? Maybe over a pitcher of beer? I’m buying.” Jacob tried to step between them, but when they both let out a growl, he moved away. Jayden had fought with his oldest brother many times and knew his weaknesses. But Jackson had the same advantage. Other than inflicting a flesh wound that would bleed and look much worse than it really was, neither brother would ever harm the other. But sometimes fighting was the only way to clear things up. Jayden lowered his head and tucked his tail between his legs. Most of the time, he’d bow out first, giving Jackson the respect he deserved, but this was not one of those times. He laid back his ears and waited for a chance to attack.

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Jackson must’ve read the signs and known Jayden was about to strike. Whirling, he dashed toward the kitchen. Was he retreating? Jayden didn’t bother waiting for an answer. Instead, he roared his victory and ran after Jackson. But he should’ve known his brother wouldn’t give up that fast. Jackson spun around a second before Jayden could sink his fangs into Jackson’s hind leg. Instead, Jayden barreled into Jackson, and the older brother snapped his jaws down on Jayden’s ear. He howled, both from pain and from humiliation. Planting his paws on Jackson, he pushed, got loose, then rolled away. “Is someone there? Jackson? Jayden? Jacob?” Jackson skidded to a stop a few feet from Jayden. Both looked at each other then turned toward the sound of Emma’s voice. “What’d I say about waking her up? Now change back. Fast.” Jacob hurried toward the hallway, leaving his brothers to pull themselves together. Jackson began the transformation, his hair disappearing as human skin swept over his body. Limbs changed along with his facial structure until, at last, a wounded and naked Jackson stood beside Jayden. “Jayden, what are you doing? Change back right now.” Jayden started to do as Jackson said then stopped. What if he stayed in his werewolf form? Wouldn’t they have to tell Emma the truth then? How else could his brothers explain a large wolf standing in the middle of the kitchen? He adopted a wolf grin and shook his body in answer. He’d never seen his brother so furious. “If you do this, if you tell her this way, you risk scaring her off. Do you want to take that chance?” Jayden hated it when his brother was right. But when he was right, he was right. Growling, he started the transformation back to human. Jacob rounded the corner a second behind Emma. She stopped, her mouth dropping open as she stared at the two naked men. She

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clutched the material of the long nightgown she wore and shifted on her bare feet. “What was that?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper. Her pale face grew even paler. “Did I just see what I think I saw? Did Jayden…change? Did I see a wolf?” Jayden tugged at the bloody tear in his ear and tried to think of how to explain away what she’d seen. Thankfully, Jacob came to the rescue. “Emma.” Jacob took her by the shoulders and turned her around. He stood in back of her and tried to force her to walk toward the hallway and away from Jayden and Jackson. “No.” Emma tried to twist out of his hold, to turn back to them, but Jacob held on to her and pulled her into the hallway. “Oh, my God. I saw a wolf in my kitchen. A wolf that changed into Jayden.” Jayden and Jackson crept around the corner just in time to see Jacob lead her into her bedroom. They listened while they hurriedly dressed. “You thought you saw a wolf change into Jayden? Sweet Emma, I think maybe you’re getting a little too involved with your book.” “But—” “But nothing. You’re seeing things, Emma. Between the medications you’re taking, the pain pills, then that glass of wine at dinner, it’s no wonder you’re seeing things.” Jayden grimaced as Jacob continued to convince Emma that she’d hallucinated. After a little while, she started believing Jacob and agreed that she’d just imagined the whole thing. Jayden spoke through gritted teeth. “Come on, bro. You know we’re going too far now. Convincing her that she’s seeing things? We have to tell her.” Jackson glanced down the hallway then started for the door. “Yeah. I see your point.”

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Chapter Seven Emma woke in the middle of the night and stretched out her arms, enjoying the feel of the cool sheets against her naked body. Sometime during the night, she’d thrown off her nightgown, but that wasn’t unusual. She’d always preferred sleeping in the buff. For the first time since the terrible day in her doctor’s office, she was happy. Even blissful. She smiled into the darkness then turned her head toward the full moon shining through her window. Where were they now? Even without knowing where they were, she felt protected and treasured and, yes, loved. Didn’t they always show up whenever she needed them? She smiled and hugged herself. Her life had changed so much since arriving in Forever. If only the wonderful feeling could last forever. Reality came crushing down seconds later, reminding her of her short future. How the Carr brothers had sensed that something was wrong with her was unclear. But they needed to know the full extent of her illness. It was only fair that they found out before things got too complicated. A growl had her breath hitching in her throat, the memory of her vision rushing back. Had she really seen a wolf turn into Jayden? Or had a mixture of pills and wine made her see things that weren’t there? She’d finally agreed with Jacob, but now the doubt was back. Another growl had her sitting up, trying to place where she’d heard the sound before. It was almost as though she recognized it. But from where? A third growl joined the first two, and she pulled off the quilt and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Pulling on her nightgown she

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found on the floor, she tiptoed to the window and peeked between the curtains. Jackson, Jacob, and Jayden stood in the backyard, their nude forms clear in the moonlight. Why were they naked? Again, her memory flashed back to the scene in the kitchen. Was she hallucinating again? Or had what she’d seen earlier been real? At least the part about Jackson and Jayden standing naked in the kitchen had been real, right? But even if that was true, why were they still naked? Even Jacob had taken his clothes off. Why hadn’t they at least put their jeans on to go outside? Her men were odd, but she liked the fact that they were different. She’d felt different, out of place, throughout her lifetime. Then, once she’d found out about her tumor, she’d felt out of touch with the rest of the world who could go on about their lives and plan their futures. Whatever her men were doing didn’t matter. They’d helped her and made her feel whole again. Her men. Damn, how she liked the sound of that. She started to pull back the curtain and lift her hand to wave then turned it loose as stunned disbelief struck her. She fought to understand what was going on, fought to merge fantasy with reality. Why had Jayden fallen to his hands and knees? Why would a grown man go outside in the middle of the night and crawl around on the ground? She gasped as Jackson and Jacob squatted down to rest on their heels next to Jayden. What in the world were they doing? Emma blinked, rubbed her eyes, then blinked again. What was happening? Her body trembled as shock hit her. The men changed, their limbs contorting to new positions. Their faces elongated, their amber eyes glowed, and fur swept over their bodies. Within a short time, three wolves paced in a circle, swishing their tails. “Oh, my God.” Emma dropped to the floor just as the largest wolf lifted his head and looked toward her window. She hugged her knees to her chest, held her breath, and listened for any sound of the men— wolves!—coming into the house. Instead, howls penetrated the

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silence of the night. “Am I dreaming? Or am I still under the influence of pills and wine?” she whispered to herself, afraid of the answers she might give herself. Pinching her hand, she winced against the pain and the realization that what she’d seen earlier and what she’d just witnessed were real. She waited several minutes before she thought it safe enough to crawl to the window, and peeked out. The wolves were gone. As though a gate had opened to her terror, she scrambled to her feet and snatched up her cell phone. She started to dial 9-1-1, when Jackson’s words came back to haunt her. “In Forever, I’m the law.” She couldn’t risk calling for help. Besides, who would believe her? She shoved the phone into her purse and rushed to the closet. Throwing whatever clothes she put her hands on first into a small suitcase, she changed into jeans, a shirt, and sneakers then snapped the suitcase closed. She swung the purse over her shoulder and gripped the handle of the suitcase like a life preserver. Trying to make as little noise as possible, she inched into the hallway and through the living room. She scooped her keys off the side table and checked the yard through the narrow window running alongside the door. Seeing nothing to stop her, she opened the door and dashed to her car. Once inside the car, she wrapped her hands around the wheel and took a couple of deep breaths before turning the key in the ignition. One look, however, told her she wouldn’t get far. Her gas gauge sat on empty. “Damn it.” She raced through her options. She could stay in the house and lock the doors and wait for morning. But what then? No one except the brothers and Brian had visited her, and it was unlikely anyone else would stop by. But what would happen when they came back? Would she admit that she’d seen them? Or would they sense that something was wrong and force it out of her?

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The other option wasn’t much better. She could drive the car as far as it would take her and hope she found a gas station or someone to help her. The town of Forever had one station, and it wasn’t open past midnight. Still, could she find help in town? Making her decision, she pulled the car around, headed down the driveway toward the road, and raced toward Forever. The town looked dead with no lights and no cars on the road. As luck had it, her car died in front of Milly’s Coffee Spot. Although the Open sign was turned off, she could see a light in the back of the diner. After checking the area around her, she hurried to the door and knocked. No one answered, so she tried again, this time knocking harder, louder. Panic stiffened her limbs. “Emma?” Emma jumped and would’ve fallen if Milly hadn’t taken her arm to steady her. “Oh! You startled me.” The pretty blonde woman patted her shoulder, her smile welcoming and warm. “What in the world are you doing out at this time of the night?” “I, uh, I had to leave the house, and this was as far as I made it before running out of gas.” Milly frowned and glanced at her car then back at Emma. “But why? What’s wrong? Did something break at the house? Did the electricity go off? If so, I could call Jackson for you.” Emma clutched Milly’s hand to stop her from using the phone she’d taken from her pocket. Milly frowned, and Emma released her hand and plastered on a smile she hoped Milly wouldn’t recognize as forced. “No. It’s okay. I just had to get out of there for the night. You know how it is. Three men, one woman. Things were going a bit too fast what with them showing up all the time.” “Are the Carr brothers smothering you?” Milly laughed. “Although I can think of worse things than having three hot men around.” “Yeah, they’re a little overwhelming. Hey, can you think of any

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place where I can get some gas? I tried my navigation app on my phone, but my phone died.” She prayed that Milly would accept her excuse and believe her lighthearted manner. “Not a chance. Old Roger won’t open up the station until ten tomorrow morning. Providing, of course, that he doesn’t tie one on tonight and sleep in until noon. I don’t understand the problem, but you’re welcome to stay at my place tonight. I have a little apartment at the back of the diner. Take a breather from the guys, and then I’m sure you’ll want to head back tomorrow.” Emma bit her bottom lip and tried to come up with an alternative to staying with Milly. Maybe she should sleep in her car? But wouldn’t that cause more unwanted curiosity? “Thanks, Milly. I really appreciate your help.” Milly looped her arm in Emma’s and tugged her down the alley between the buildings. “Don’t mention it. I’m always glad to help out. We’ll be snug as cubs next to their mamma.” **** “How are you feeling this morning, Emma? I hope you slept well. That old couch of mine’s pretty comfy, but I know it’s not like sleeping in your own bed.” Emma didn’t bother telling Milly that she hadn’t slept much at all. She’d seen the sun rise and had hoped to slip out, leaving a note to thank Milly. But she hadn’t counted on Milly getting up before sunrise to get Milly’s Coffee Spot open for the morning crowd. She gave Milly a wan smile and accepted the cup of coffee Milly set before her. Somehow Milly had managed to cook a huge breakfast for her without Emma noticing until it was too late. She hadn’t wanted to refuse the food after Milly had taken her in. Especially since her stomach felt so empty it was bumping up against her backbone. “Do you think the gas station’s open yet?” Emma kept her gaze on

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the diner’s counter and hated the fact that she’d lied to Milly. “Not yet, hon. But why don’t I call Jackson and have him bring a gas can full? Ranchers always have an extra supply of fuel on hand. Then he can see you back to the rental house. If you like, I can talk to him about them giving you enough space to breathe.” “No!” Emma gave Milly an apologetic look for her outburst. “I mean, I don’t want to put you or Jackson out.” “It’s not a problem. Let me just give him a quick holler.” “No.” Emma pushed her coffee cup toward Milly. “Don’t.” She brushed away a tear before it could track down her cheek. Milly placed her hand over hers. “What’s wrong? And don’t try to deny it. Any fool can see you’re upset. Tell me. You’ll feel better once you do.” Should she tell her about seeing the men change into werewolves? She gazed into Milly’s blue eyes, opened her mouth to spill the truth, then caught herself. What if Milly didn’t believe her? Would she still call Jackson? Or would she help her get out of town? “Let me guess.” Milly squeezed her hand. “You love not one but all three of the big lugs, don’t you?” Emma hadn’t given herself time to think about it, but now that Milly had voiced the question, she knew the answer. She did. She loved not only one man but three men. Men who could change into werewolves. She swallowed then nodded. “So that’s it. You’re worried about loving more than one man. Or maybe one more than the other?” Milly chuckled. “Trust me, Emma. In Forever, that’s the last thing you need to worry about. I know we look like small-town America with narrow-sighted views and puritanical morals, but we aren’t like that. In fact, we have several families around here with one woman hooked up with more than one man. The way we figure it, if a person can find love, then who’s to say what form that love should come in?” “Could you love more than one man? Especially if the men were…different?”

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“You bet I could. I just wish love would get busy and find me my men.” Milly heaved a big sigh. “As for being different? Well, aren’t we all a little different? My daddy used to tell me, ‘Milly, if everyone in the world was the same, I think I’d die from boredom.’” Emma studied the young woman. Could Milly be right? Could she accept the fact that the men she loved were werewolves? Wasn’t that what the heroine in her book would do? “Milly, I can’t thank you enough for everything.” Milly flipped a rag onto her shoulder. “Shoot. I didn’t do anything but have a little girl chat. So, do you want to give Jackson a holler?” “Emma, we have to talk.” Emma’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of Brian’s voice. Widening her eyes at Milly, she swiveled her barstool around to find Brian standing a few feet away. Bruises colored his face, and a large bandage covered one side of his neck, with another bandage covering one of his forearms. “I’m sorry, but we’re not open yet. You’ll have to leave.” Milly’s voice held a menacing tone, surprising Emma in its intensity. Brian snorted. “I’m not here for some hick town’s greasy food.” His gaze zeroed in on Emma. “I’m here for Emma.” **** “You’ll never believe what I found out about that lowlife Brian Miller.” Jayden tracked into the barn, opened the small refrigerator sitting on a low-lying shelf, and grabbed a cold bottle of water. He twisted the lid off and took a drink. “I knew he smelled bad. He’s rotten to the core, I bet.” Jacob snarled then continued brushing his favorite quarter horse. The horse nickered, sensing the nearness of Jacob’s inner wolf. Jackson lowered a saddle onto the saddle rack and joined Jayden in a drink. “Don’t keep us waiting any longer. Tell us what your buddy in Dallas found out.”

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Jayden’s friend, a detective with the Dallas Police Department, had proven useful many times. “He said Brian’s a medical-research assistant.” “So? There’s got to be more to this.” Jackson took another swig. “There is. He’s recently been seen hanging with this big-shot doctor who’s had his fingers in some very controversial procedures. According to my friend, the FBI has its eye on the doc. They think the doc’s gone rogue and is looking for a specific kind of patient. One he can operate on without letting the powers that be know about the surgery. In other words, a patient who doesn’t have any family that would miss her if she inconveniently dies on the table. Except, of course, her sleazy ex-boyfriend who doesn’t give a fuck about her.” “So that’s why the jerk came looking for her.” Jackson downed the rest of his water. Jayden nodded, did the same, then offered his brother another bottle when he took another for himself. “But that isn’t the whole of it.” Jacob led the horse into a stall then banged the brush against the railing, sending dirt and horse hair into the air. He put the brush back on its hook by the gate and kicked the ground at his feet. “Damn, if I could go back in time, I’d crack that little bastard’s head in before he had a chance to talk to her. Do you think she’s thinking about doing it?” Jayden’s wolf itched to run. They’d gone out last night, flexing their muscles as they ran over the dry Texas ground, the full moon driving them on. The run had done them good. As always, reason and stress gave way to the freedom and instinct of their inner wolves. They’d returned to their own house, knowing Emma slept safely in hers. “She might be. After all, we haven’t offered her the alternative.” Jayden noticed the way Jackson worked his neck side to side, a clear sign that his animal was trying to take charge. Anger always brought out the beast in all of them.

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“You said that wasn’t all. What else is going on?” Jacob hooked his thumbs in his pocket, an attempt at a nonchalant attitude Jayden knew he didn’t feel. “The reason that asshole Brian showed up to tell her about the experimental surgery is simple. If he lines up the right patient for the doctor, then he gets a major boost in status, power, and money. The jerk’s selling her out.” “But could the surgery save her?” Jayden shook his head at Jacob. “The odds put it way out of her favor. Less than a five percent chance. But who cares? She’s our mate, and we’ll change her. Once we’ve claimed her, her werewolf blood will get rid of the tumor.” Jackson tossed his empty bottle into the recycling bin. “Then we need to tell her what he’s up to along with telling her about us and that she’s our mate. I agree with Jayden now. We should’ve told her last night, but I wanted to give her more of a chance to get to know us first.” Jayden’s bottle landed on top of his brother’s. “Then let’s get to it, guys. Daylight’s burning.” The brothers rushed to the pickup and piled inside. Gunning the motor, Jackson drove the pickup onto the one-lane road leading to the rental home. They remained silent during the trip, each sifting through the news about Brian and how they would tell her about their inner wolves. Jackson pulled into her driveway and frowned. “Her car’s gone.” Jayden’s stomach dropped to the floorboard. “Maybe she’s gone into town for supplies.” Jackson shook his head at Jacob’s suggestion. “Naw. We stocked the house well. She had everything she needed.” His phone ringing ended the conversation. Jayden snatched the phone out of the glove compartment. “Jackson Carr’s phone. Jayden speaking.” Jayden’s gut twisted as he listened to the ominous sound in Milly’s tone. “Jackson didn’t have his phone on him. Yeah, he’s here,

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but go ahead and tell me.” Jackson growled and reached for his phone, but Jayden kept it from him. He shot his brothers a worried look. “Are you sure she left with Brian Miller? Not with someone else? I don’t understand. Why didn’t you stop her?” His brothers’ intent stares matched the tension in his body. His hope died with each minute. “Okay. Thanks for letting us know.” Ending the call, he slammed the phone down on the dashboard, breaking it into pieces. “Hey. That’s my phone you busted up.” “You’ll want to break something, too, when I tell you why Milly called.” Jayden gritted his teeth to keep his wolf locked inside him. “She’s with him, isn’t she?” Jackson’s eyes glittered with rage. “Yeah. She left on her own in the middle of the night and ran out of gas in front of Milly’s. If Milly hadn’t just gotten home from a run, she wouldn’t have seen her. She invited Emma to stay the night, and she did.” “Why didn’t Milly call us?” Jayden shrugged. “I guess she figured she’d have time this morning to talk to Emma. With Emma’s car out of gas, Milly didn’t think Emma could leave. Hell, she’s tried to call you several times, but you didn’t have your phone on you. Shit, none of us did since we were out running most of the night.” “Then what happened? How’d she end up with Brian?” Jacob dragged a hand through his hair and let out a long, slow breath. “Brian showed up this morning at the Coffee Spot after going to the rental house and not finding her there. He got lucky because when he entered Milly’s, Emma was eating a huge breakfast Milly had made her, trying to stall her until she could reach us. Milly said Emma and Brian had a heated discussion outside, but just as Milly was about to break it up, things seemed to calm down. Then she came back inside and told Milly she needed to talk to Brian some more. Milly thought Emma had things under control, but when she got in Brian’s

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car, the asshole peeled out with Emma still in the car.” “Damn it. Didn’t she try to convince her not to talk to him? Why didn’t she stop her? Why would Emma get in a car with him after what he tried? Where are they going?” “Of course she tried to stop her, Jackson. But she couldn’t change her mind. She couldn’t shift and expose what she was to Emma and Brian. They left a little while ago, but I bet we can still catch up with them if we take the back roads. Milly said she thought they were headed toward Dallas.” “Then let’s burn rubber.” Jackson slammed on the gas, sending gravel and dirt flying as he maneuvered onto the road. **** “Where the hell do you think you’re taking me?” Emma twisted in her seat to glare at Brian. “I said I’d sit in your car and talk a while longer. I only agreed to that because I didn’t want to cause a scene in front of Milly’s. And because you threatened to press charges against the Carr brothers.” “I should do it anyway. They attacked me.” She’d never seen Brian angrier than he was now, but she didn’t care. “They jumped on you because you attacked me. They saved me, and I’ll testify in court to that. You wouldn’t have a chance. In fact, you’re the one who’ll end up in jail.” “Whatever. It doesn’t matter now. You’re coming back to Dallas with me and undergoing the operation.” He took a deep breath as though trying to calm himself then reached out to take her hand, but she pulled it out of his grasp. “You’re doing yourself and others like you a big favor.” Like her? As though having a cancerous brain tumor was something she’d done on purpose, like robbing a bank. Or thinking she’d been in love with a jerk. “I’m glad you finally came around to my way of thinking, Em.”

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She’d never realized it before, but suddenly, she hated being called “Em.” The brothers had never called her that. They’d never shortened her name as though it were too much effort to add the second syllable. “It’s not like you’re giving me a choice, is it? You’re taking me against my will, and once we’re back in Dallas, I’m screaming for help.” “No you won’t. We’re going to a private facility on the outskirts of Fort Worth. The only people who could hear you are working for Dr. Harding, and they won’t give you a moment’s notice.” She couldn’t believe it. How had she ever thought she loved him? “You’re crazy, Brian. You won’t get away with this.” “Come on, Em. I know I reacted badly when you told me, but I was in shock. Since then, I’ve done nothing but search for a way to make you whole again.” Whole? Did being sick made her less than whole or even less than a woman? Her stomach churned as the uneasy sensation swept over her. “Like you really care.” “Of course I do. Your health is my top priority. That and gaining the position and recognition I deserve.” “Recognition for what? Kidnapping? For bringing Dr. Frankenstein his first guinea pig?” Irritation warped into anger. She wanted to yell at him, to scratch out his eyes, to hurt him any way she could. But she had to remain calm and think. Someway, somehow, she’d get out and find her way back to Forever and her men. “Don’t look at it like that, Em.” When she didn’t say anything, he went on. “Since you’re the special first person and my girlfriend, he’s given me the great opportunity to be at his side—and your side— through the entire experiment. I mean procedure. Isn’t that terrific?” “Yeah. Terrific.” She was his ticket to the big time. “But you forgot one thing. I’m not your girlfriend any longer, remember?” He gave her one of the smiles she was starting to detest. “Well, we’ll rectify that soon enough, won’t we?” “You really are crazy.”

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She’d had enough. All the time she’d been with Brian, she’d put up with his selfishness and his single-minded goal to better his career. She’d thought she was in love, but now she knew she’d mistaken attention for love. She turned her head to stare out the window of Brian’s Mercedes and refused to look at him. Instead, she watched the land rush by her and let her thoughts take her back to the men she’d left behind. Werewolves. Men who change into wolves. Emma tried to make her head believe what her eyes had seen. The Carr brothers were werewolves. She’d made love to werewolves. No. She’d made love to men. Kind, strong, generous, and giving men who made her body ache with need at the sight of them. She closed her eyes, remembering their touch, their soft words, their erect cocks that gave her so much pleasure. She could see them almost as if she were back in the house with them. Jackson, with his serious expression and dark, soulful eyes, had given her more tenderness than Brian or any other man had ever done. Jacob, the middle one, a unique blend of both his brothers, had understood her every need. And Jayden. She smiled, recalling his quick laugh. She’d waited all her life for men like this. Now she had not one man to love but three. But how could she return to the rental house knowing what they were? And why hadn’t they told her? If she hadn’t seen them, what would’ve happened next? She’d run out of fear, but the fear was subsiding, giving way to a strange sense of emptiness, as though she’d lost her best friends. As though she’d lost the real meaning for her life. Clarity hit her so hard it took her breath away. She wanted the Carr brothers. What she’d realized at Milly’s was true. She loved them, and she didn’t care if they were werewolves. The answer shocked yet pleased her. Hadn’t she already sensed that she was supposed to be with them? They were meant for her, and she was meant for them. “Turn the car around.”

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Brian laughed. “Oh, sure. Right.” “I’m not joking. I want to go back, and you’re going to take me. If you do, I promise to forget everything you’ve done to me.” His laughter died as he glared at her. “You can’t be serious. You’re going to give up your only chance at living? For what? To live in that little house with no one but the local yokels to talk to? Get real, Em.” “Don’t call me ‘Em.’ I hate it when you call me that. My name is Emma. Not Em. Take me back to town and don’t show your face around me ever again. Now do it.” His anger flashed across his face. “Like hell I will. You’re not going to blow my big chance. I won’t let you.” “Brian, you can’t make me go with you.” His laugh was hard and mean. “What do you think is happening right now? I’ll get you there, and if you cause any more problems, I’ll have you judged incompetent. You’re not thinking straight. The tumor’s making you irrational. No sane person would turn down a chance to be cured.” Would he really do such a horrible thing? She snarled, her lips pulling back in much the same way she’d seen the men do. She opened her mouth to curse him when something in the middle of the road made her turn her head. “Watch out!” she screamed as Brian slammed on the brakes.

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Chapter Eight Emma flattened her hands against the dashboard as the car skidded to a stop, flinging her forward. Her seatbelt jerked her back seconds before her forehead would’ve struck the hard surface, and the momentum whiplashed her against her seat. The force knocked the breath out of her, and her heart raced like a speeding train. She clutched the arm of the door and her seat, her fingers digging into the leather. Brian groaned, his eyes closed and blood trickling down his forehead. He turned his head to look her way. “What the hell was that?” She almost smiled. “Wolves.” She searched the road but didn’t see any sign of them. “Oh, my God, did we hit them?” “You’re worried about some dumb animals? What about me?” He pressed his fingers to his forehead then held up his hand and stared at his bloody fingertips. “Can’t you see I’m hurt?” She studied his wound. “It’s only a scratch. You’ll live.” “But I’m hurt.” She pushed open the door, intent on finding the Carr brothers. Stumbling to the front of the car, she held her breath and braced against finding a bloody body. When she didn’t, she let out a breath of relief then turned in a circle, searching for them. Had they gotten out of the way? Or had the impact sent them into the ditch at the side of the road? Brian joined her. “See? I didn’t run over any animals.” He slumped against the hood. “Too damn bad. I’m sorry I didn’t hit at least one of them even if it meant damaging my car. Someone should

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put out poison and get rid of the mangy mutts.” She whirled to confront him, ready to tell him to get lost, when her gaze slid past him. Unable to suppress a grin, she pointed behind the car. “I wouldn’t let them hear you say that.” Brian craned his neck around to see what she was pointing at. Three wolves, gloriously huge with snarls exposing glistening white teeth, stood in a line. Their ears were laid back and their tails hung low as they hunkered down, ready to attack. “Shit!” He scrambled backward, taking her by the arm to force her in front of him to use as a shield. She rolled her eyes, too happy to see the brothers to call Brian a coward. Instead, she broke free and walked toward them. “Em, are you insane?” She glanced at Brian but kept on moving toward the wolves. “According to you I am. And I told you. Don’t call me ‘Em.’” Bending over, she ran a hand through the largest wolf’s fur. “Is that you, Jackson?” she whispered. The wolf seemed to smile. Cocking its head to the side, his amber gaze locked onto her. “It is.” She chuckled then turned her attention to the other two wolves. “Jacob.” She slipped her fingers through his dark fur. “And Jayden.” He leaned into her as she scratched him behind the ear. She laughed and turned back to Brian. Brian gawked at her. “You are fucking crazy. How can you touch those beasts?” Jackson took a step forward, his snarl growing bigger. He flattened his ears and tucked his tail even lower. Emma moved out of the way. Together the three wolf brothers crept toward Brian. Panic washed the disgust from his face. “No. Stay away. Go! Get back!” The wolves moved closer, the threat to the man evident. She had no doubt they were ready to attack. “Get in the car then throw my things out.” She edged between

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Jackson and Jacob and placed her hands on their heads. Leaning against the side of the car, Brian inched his way toward the driver’s-side door. Taking the handle, he yanked it open and jumped inside. His chest rose and fell as he sat there, gaping at the wolves. “Do as I told you. Then get the hell out of here while you still can.” He grabbed her purse and tossed it out the window. Reaching around to the backseat, he opened his door just far enough to push her small suitcase outside. Closing the door, he took one more look at her, his hands white-knuckled on the wheel. He drove off, leaving skid marks behind. Emma took a few steps forward and watched the man she’d thought she loved disappear from her life. When she couldn’t see the car any longer, she pivoted back to the wolves. But the wolves were no longer there. Instead, the naked Carr brothers grinned at her. Need, both physical and emotional, flooded through her, and she ran to them. Jackson enveloped her in a hug, and his brothers wrapped their arms around both of them. Their nakedness was natural and provided all the reassurance she needed. “How did you find me? How did you know?” Joy filled her as the men—her men—held her, kissing her, caressing her. Her pussy clenched with need, and she slid her palms over each of them, delighting in their rock-hard flesh. She could feel the push of their growing cocks against her, and for a moment, she considered undressing and taking them on the side of the road. “Milly told us. She figured you were heading to Dallas, so we took a back road and cut you off at the pass. Just like in the movies.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I can’t believe you did this.” She hugged Jackson, then Jacob and, lastly, Jayden. If she had anything to say about it, she’d never let them go. At least, not until the end. Jackson cocked his head to the side, reminding her of the way he’d done the same gesture as a wolf. “Why wouldn’t we come after

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you?” “Yes, but to block the road like that? All three of you could’ve gotten killed. No one’s ever put their life on the line for me.” Jayden cupped her under her chin. “You shouldn’t have run off in the first place.” “I was afraid. I saw you in the yard when you changed into wolves, and I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t know if I was seeing things or if I could believe in the impossible.” “But you said you believed in supernatural beings.” Jayden arched an eyebrow then answered for her. “I guess seeing us in person still threw you for a loop.” “You can say that again.” She slid her palm over his cheek. “So that’s what happened.” Jacob winked at her. “You saw us getting ready to go for a night run. Obviously you know what we are now, so why aren’t you still afraid?” She couldn’t find the right words. How could she explain a feeling that permeated her entire being yet left her speechless? She shook her head. “I can’t explain it, but the last thing I fear is you.” She turned to stare down the empty road. “I’m surprised you didn’t attack Brian. God knows he deserves payback for what he wanted to do. And Dr. Harding has to be stopped.” Jackson slid his hand along her back, easing the tension stiffening her spine. “Don’t worry. They’ll get what’s coming to them.” “What do you mean?” She searched for the answer in his face and found it in Jayden’s instead. “My friend with the Dallas Police Department told me the FBI has their sights on both of them. I called him on our way here to tell him Brian was headed back to Dallas. The feds will be all over his place and Dr. Harding’s not-so-secret facility in no time.” “Which is why we didn’t tear Brian’s head off. A headless corpse and a body with large animal wounds are hard to explain to the feds.” Jacob grinned at her. “Trust me. My friend is positive those two will be headed for jail

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and their careers ruined.” She sighed and reached out for Jayden. “I’m just glad Brian’s out of my life for good.” Jackson cleared his throat, his expression serious. “They may need you to testify against them. Can you do that?” Could she handle seeing Brian again? She hated the idea, but if she could keep others from being hurt, then it would be worth it. “Tell them they can count on me.” She touched Jackson’s face, a tender gesture of love. “As long as my men are by my side, I can do anything.” “We’ll always be by your side.” Jackson took her hand from his cheek and pressed a kiss to her palm. “Our clothes are hanging on a bush over there, and our pickup’s just down the road.” Jackson jerked his head to the side. “How about we continue this back at our house?” “You mean your house?” He took her hand and led her to the bush, where the men started dressing. “No. I mean our house. At least, I hope it’s going to be your house, too.” **** The three brothers didn’t say much on the ride to their home. Emma basked in the warmth of Jackson’s and Jacob’s warm bodies as she sat squashed between them in the cab of the pickup. She let the silence wash over her, keeping reality at bay for a little while longer. An energy that filled her with renewed strength and hope radiated off the men’s bodies. Although she tried to focus on the road ahead, she couldn’t help but let her gaze slide down to the denim material covering their crotches. Wetness dampened her panties, and she had to force herself to keep her hands on their legs. If she moved her hands any higher, she might startle them and cause an accident. Letting Jackson take the lead again, she entered their modest

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home and looked around. Their home’s décor suited them, with rustic furnishings of deep browns and tans dominating the room while splashes of color gave the eye something to enjoy. Photographs of the men among friends, people she’d seen in town, dotted the walls. Even without any touches of green like plants, the home exuded a welcoming friendliness. “All of you live here?” “We do. Our parents raised us on the ranch, and their parents before them. Now it’s our turn to find our mate.” Jackson motioned for her to take a seat on the couch then sat beside her. Jayden bumped into Jacob in a good-natured way, taking the other seat next to her. Jacob grumbled, frowned at his brother, then dropped his body onto the leather recliner. “Your mate? You mean like how a wolf takes a female wolf as his mate?” She couldn’t help the disappointment she felt. She wanted all of them, not just one. “In that way, yes, but with a difference, too.” Jackson took her hand and pressed his lips to her palm. “As our fathers did before us and their fathers before them, we waited for our mate.” “I’m sorry? Fathers? As in more than one?” “We have the same mother. Our fathers mated with our mother, giving us more than one father to teach us, to train us in the ways of the werewolf. They loved her, and she loved them back. That’s the way it always has been and always will be with our kind.” She snuggled against Jackson’s arm. “What are you saying?” She thought she knew but wanted him to say the words. What would they say when they learned about her disease? Would it matter to them? And even if it didn’t, how could she put them through the horror of watching her die a slow and horrible death? “We’re saying, Emma, that you’re our mate. We want you. We need you.” “Hell, Jacob, quit babbling on and just tell her.” Jayden gave her the grin she adored. “We love you. All three of us do.”

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She didn’t want to cry and tried to hold back the tears but couldn’t. Instead, she pushed away from them and hurried to the other side of the room. She grabbed the windowsill for support and bent forward, her head dropping to her chest. Her hair fell in front of her face, and she was glad that they couldn’t see the tears falling to the floor. She heard them rise to come and stand behind her. “Emma? Tell us what you’re thinking.” Jackson ran his hand along her back. “Don’t you want us?” “If you don’t, then we’ll take you back to Milly’s to get your car. The pack took care of it after you left by towing it to Ron’s garage.” “Wait. The pack? I thought you were the pack. You mean there are other werewolves in town? In your pack?” “Three brothers is hardly a pack.” Jayden chuckled. “Most of the people who live in and around Forever are part of our pack. They’re werewolves like us.” “Even Milly?” Had she stayed in a werewolf’s home and not known it? “But Milly seemed so normal.” She pivoted to face them. “Ouch. We’re normal, too. We’re just a different kind of normal. We’re shifter normal.” Jacob’s eyes twinkled as he let her know she hadn’t offended him. “Is that why some people in town have large teeth?” “I could make a very bad joke about ‘the better to eat you with,’ but I won’t. Sometimes, especially when shifters see someone new in town, they forget to keep their inner wolf in total control. But no one in the pack would ever hurt you.” “Jacob’s right. And we want to make you one of us. Hell, we’ve dreamed of the day when we’d meet our mate. But we’d never force you to do anything you didn’t want to do.” Jackson, as always, was the serious one. She shook her head and dropped her gaze. “It’s not that. I want you, too. There’s nothing I want more than to become your mate.” Jayden took her other arm, making her look at him. He put his hands on her cheeks. “Then what’s the problem?”

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“You know what the problem is, Jayden. She’s worried about dying.” Stunned, she gaped at Jacob. “How did you know? I haven’t told anyone. Only my doctors, my closest friend, and Brian know.” Jackson leaned in to give her a quick kiss. Emotions, both understood and indefinable, whirled inside her. Her body responded, sending out signals to take him, to beg him to lie between her legs and drink her juices. “I sensed it the first time I met you, but we wanted you to want us back. We wanted you to get to know us first. So go on, Emma, tell us. We know what’s wrong, but we need to hear it from you.” She nodded, her heart ripping apart. She would lose them for certain now. “I have an inoperable brain tumor. I’m only expected to live a few more months.” “You don’t look sick right now.” Jayden reached out to take her hand. “I’m fine. But my headaches are coming more often. Sometimes they’re so bad that I pass out.” “Like you did the night we found you on the floor.” She nodded, worried that they wouldn’t have anything to do with her now that they knew the whole truth. Their silence unnerved her. She’d have given anything not to hurt them, but they had the right to know everything. “Now you know why I can’t be your mate. I won’t do that to you. To any of you. I won’t let you watch me die.” “But you do want to be our mate, right?” She hugged herself. “I would like more than anything to live with you, all three of you. But why would you want to take on my burden? No, I can’t ask that of you.” The men drew closer and comforted her with their touch. “You could never be a burden. But if you say yes, you have to know first that you’ll need to change and become a werewolf like us.” Jackson narrowed his gaze, diving into her eyes then into her soul.

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Could she do what they asked of her? What was the life of a werewolf like? She could remember their graceful wolf bodies exuding strength and power that she’d never hoped to obtain. “I swear I would. I’d do anything, become anything, to stay here with you.” “Can you handle our biting you after we make love to you? It hurts, but it heals fast. Are you ready to accept our way of life?” Jacob squeezed her hand. “If I had a future to give to you, I’d accept in a heartbeat.” But the reality of her condition wouldn’t change simply because she wanted it to. Jackson swept her into his arms, thrilling and startling her. “Then you don’t need to worry any longer. Once we’ve bitten you and taken you as our mate, your new werewolf blood will make the tumor wither and die. You’ll be healthy and well again.” She locked her fingers behind his neck and hung on as he strode down the hallway with his brothers following on his heels. “But how? It’s impossible. I don’t understand.” “You will, Emma. You will.” Jacob rushed ahead of them to push open the bedroom door. Heat burned in her abdomen, and her panties grew wet as she took in their king-sized bed. Taking care, Jackson lowered her to the bed. He stood back, Jacob coming to his side and Jayden walking to the other side of the bed. As though in unspoken agreement, the brothers started unbuttoning their shirts. One by one they undid each button, slowly, seductively as they kept their eyes on her. Emma started to sit up and pull off her shirt, but Jackson stopped her with just one raised finger. She lay back, her breathing growing harder, faster. If she died tomorrow, she’d have spent one last night with the men she loved. Anything more seemed too much to ask. Could she believe in the miracle they offered? Could what they said be true? The small stab of pain in her forehead signaled the start of a headache, but she pushed it away, determined not to let anything ruin the night.

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Jackson tugged his shirt from his jeans then shrugged his shoulders, letting the material slide down his arms. His hard chest with a sprinkling of dark hair brought a lump to her throat. She wanted to run her fingers along the ridges of his toned abdomen. Licking her lips, she shifted her attention to Jacob. Jacob yanked on his sleeve and jerked his shirt off. He tossed it to the floor then slid a hand over his mountainous pecs. He looked like a Greek statue come to life. His amber eyes glistened with unbridled lust, and his lips parted just enough for her to imagine his tongue peeking out. Jayden, forever the lighthearted one, took off his shirt then twirled it around his head. She giggled, loving the way he gyrated, giving her a dance. Like his brothers, he was solidly built. Not by machines or weights but by hard work. They were men by any woman’s definition, and men that other men would envy. Testosterone and a wild essence mixed together in their sleek, muscular bodies, and they personified confidence. Her pussy throbbed, releasing her juices. She gripped the comforter to keep from sitting up and reaching out for them. Jackson pulled the end of his belt, loosening the silver buckle he wore. The buckle shone in the light filtering through the curtains, highlighting the wolf’s head in the middle of the buckle. How had she not noticed it before? But even if she had, she couldn’t have known it was a sign of what he was. With the buckle undone, he unbuttoned his jeans and yanked on the flaps to force the zipper down. She couldn’t stand it any longer. Ignoring Jackson’s command to stay where she was, she got on her knees. Taking hold of the flaps, she pushed his jeans over his bottom, down his lean hips, and to the floor. She didn’t wait for him to step out of them or kick off his boots. Wrapping her hand around his growing cock, she brought him into her mouth. He moaned and tunneled his fingers through her hair. Jacob and Jayden hurried out of their clothes. The bed shifted,

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telling her that Jayden had crawled on the bed from the other side. She circled her tongue around Jackson’s cock and tasted his pre-cum. His balls drew up in the palm of her hand. Jacob pulled on her shirt, and she hated letting go of Jackson’s cock but had no choice. The brothers moved their hands over her body, tugging her shirt and jeans off, then her bra, and finally ripping her panties away. They stopped, their hot gazes raking over her. “You’re more beautiful than I remember.” Jackson’s tone was husky, filled with need. “You’re perfect. Absolutely perfect.” Jacob nodded, agreeing with both his brothers. Jayden leaned his body against hers, his chest resting against her back, his hard cock slipping into place between her buttocks. Her pussy creamed as he slid a hand around her leg to push her folds apart and catch her clit between his fingers. The faster she pumped Jackson’s cock, the faster Jayden rubbed her clit. Her hair moved back and forth with her motions and Jackson’s rocking pelvis. She closed her eyes, letting the delicious sensations sweep over her. Jayden skimmed his hand along her thigh, over her rounded butt cheek, then between her cheeks to her anus. Still massaging her pussy, he bent lower to drag his tongue down her crack. He kissed her butt hole, wetting it as his hand had caused her pussy to flood. Pushing first one finger inside her then a second, he worked her. She tightened her mouth around Jackson’s cock and sucked. His groan changed to a growl, and she reached out to steady herself by taking hold of his trunk-sized leg. Jacob lay down on the bed and pushed his head underneath her breasts. Fondling one breast, he teased her other nipple with his tongue and teeth. She arched her back like a cat, giving both Jacob and Jayden easier access. She moaned and let the shudders race through her body. She trembled, letting his cock go for a moment. Jackson groaned then took her arms and lifted her away from Jacob.

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“Hey, bro. No fair.” Jackson ignored their complaints. She searched Jackson’s face and almost climaxed just from his lust-filled expression. “Is something wrong?” Jackson gripped the back of her neck forcefully, almost painfully. “No. But if we keep going, we’re not going to stop. Do you understand? We’re going to claim you and change you.” “And make me well, right?” He blinked then narrowed his eyes. “Yes, the change will get rid of your tumor. Is that your only reason for accepting us?” She was shocked that he’d think that. “No. Of course not. Even if I were the healthiest person in the world, I’d still want you to claim me.” A crooked smile covered his face. “Good. Then let’s get back to business.” Lifting her, he pulled her legs around his waist and put his cock at her pussy. Looking into her eyes, he pushed inside her. She gasped at the size of him, her vaginal walls giving way to the hard, long length then tightening around him. He rammed into her, bumping her up and down as he drove into her again and again. Jayden moved against her back again, his cock taking the place of his fingers. Taking it easy, he slid into her from behind. She shuddered, the feeling of having two huge cocks inside her making her dizzy. Together they shoved into her as they caressed her back and shoulders with kisses. Jacob growled and gripped her ass, fondling her as he whispered naughty words that made her tingle even more. “That’s it, Emma. Fuck them. Make them yours.” She gasped, unable to say anything. Instead, she reached for him, gripping him behind the neck and dragging his mouth to hers. Jacob devoured her mouth, sticking his tongue in and tasting her juices. He tasted wild and sexy, spicy and sweet, all at the same time. She couldn’t find the right words to describe his intoxicating kiss. He broke away from her then skimmed his thumb over her lower lip.

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“Ride them, babe. Make them come. Then you’ll be all mine.” Jackson growled and shoved the laughing Jacob away. “Not yet, man. Not yet.” Jayden pulled her hair back and nibbled on her ear. Then, arching, he plunged into her harder than before. She cried out and wondered if they’d split her in two. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she clung to Jackson. “I don’t know how much more I can take.” Jackson stopped and took her by the chin, horror filling his face. “Shit. I wasn’t thinking. Jayden, pull out. Stop. We’re being too rough on her.”

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Chapter Nine Jayden fell away. Emma shook her head and reached for them. “No. I’m fine. I didn’t mean it that way.” “Still, let’s not chance it. Not until we’ve claimed you.” Jackson laid her back on the bed. “Like hell you will.” She slid her hand over the swell of her stomach and parted her pussy lips. Rubbing herself, she drew her tongue over her lips in invitation. “Come on. Give me what I need right now.” Jackson grinned. “She’s our mate, all right.” “Hell, no, we’re not stopping.” Jacob shoved Jackson aside and jumped on the bed. Scrambling between her legs, he covered her pussy with his mouth. She yelped in surprise, but her surprise soon changed to soft murmurs of delight. Jacob sucked on her, drinking her juices. He flattened his tongue against her clit, added two fingers to her pussy, and slid his other hand over the rise of her stomach. The sounds he made drove her insane with need. Finger-fucking her, he slid his fingers deeper into her and found her sweet spot. She bucked, bouncing her breasts and pushing her pussy against him, wanting him to keep driving her crazy. She lifted her head to see Jacob’s face as he brought her to the brink of climax. He looked at her, and his dark eyes changed to amber. He pumped her harder, faster, sucking her juices. Even his brief pauses to sigh his delight drove her yearning higher. Jackson stood by the bedside and stroked his cock. She sent him a look, hoping he’d understand her silent message. At once, he crawled

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onto the bed and moved to take her nipple in his mouth. She moaned and spread her legs wider for Jacob. “Hey, don’t leave me out.” Jayden came to her other side and took her other breast. She skimmed her palms along Jackson’s and Jayden’s shoulders, down their arms then to their cocks. Taking each of their cocks in hand, she stroked them, running her fingers over the loose vein-lined skin. They growled at the same time, sending warm air flowing over her breasts. Tensing, the swirl of heat inside her built higher until, at last, the dizziness of before morphed into darkness. She cried out, letting her release drive her over the edge. Her body shook as the climax ripped through her. As her body came to a rest, Jacob still devoured her. He sat up and wiped her juices from his mouth then licked his fingers clean. “Damn, you taste good.” “I want to taste her, too.” Jayden bumped his shoulder against Jacob’s, moving him out of the way. Bending over her body, his chest pressing against her stomach, he lowered his mouth to her pussy and breathed in her scent. “She smells amazing.” “Jayden.” She couldn’t say anything more than his name. Thankfully, she didn’t have to. He grabbed her behind the legs and dipped his head to her. Sucking hard, he pressed his tongue against her clit then slid it around her clit and lower to her pussy. She cried out again as he ravished her, sucking, nipping at her. Flicking his tongue back and forth, he tortured the tender bundle of nerves. He added his thumb to her pussy, moving a finger to her anus. Her cream flowed from her and wetted his hand. Using his moistened hand, he smoothed her juices over the tight-ringed walls to prepare her. She lifted her hips and pushed against Jayden’s mouth. Fire burned inside her as Jackson played with her nipple. She stroked him, matching her strokes with Jayden’s licks.

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Jayden raised his head, leaving her pussy weeping, and pushed her onto her side. “I’m going to make you come this way.” Grabbing a tube from the nightstand, he popped the lid then squeezed the cool gel onto his hand and rubbed it around her anus. “Not that your own juices weren’t enough, but just to be sure…” Moving to put his cock at her tight rings, he pushed in, gently at first. But his rhythm picked up speed and he shoved in harder as his breaths became pants. The sensation of Jayden’s cock inside her ass added fuel to the fire raging in her abdomen. Jackson took her leg and placed it over his and, without a word, thrust his cock inside her pussy. She’d never had two men at the same time before meeting them. Before now, she’d never known what it would be like to have one man take her from behind while another took her from the front. She moaned, the heat from both men’s cocks taking her to the precipice once again. Clutching Jackson’s leg, she held on as the men pumped into her. Jackson rocked his hips, the muscles in his abdomen rippling as he shoved into her pussy again and again. An expression of complete desire covered his face. He added his thumb to rub her clit and held her leg to steady her. The muscles in his arms tensed and flexed with his movements. They were her men, her loves, her life. In giving herself to them, she was taking back her future and making it even better than before. “My turn.” Jacob pulled on her. His amber eyes flashed. Jayden and Jackson grumbled but gave in to their brother’s wish. With their help, Emma slid onto Jacob’s lap. Jackson took her mouth again as Jacob slipped his cock inside her. Jackson groaned as he slid his tongue inside then nibbled on her lower lip. She flattened her hand against his solid chest and matched his fevered kiss with her own. Jayden fondled her and licked the back of her neck. “I’m picking up where I left off.” He slid into her from behind. Emma gasped then closed her eyes for a moment as the sweet

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sensations swept over her. When she opened them, Jacob’s amber gaze met hers. Undulating her body, she took both men, riding them as she’d seen Jackson riding his horse. “Take my cock, Emma.” Jackson stood, bringing his cock level with her mouth. She took him inside and circled his cock with her tongue. His flesh was soft yet hard, and she loved the sound he made when she flicked her tongue along the slit at the top. Jackson grabbed her hair and held on, urging her to take more of him. She pulled him in more, deep-throating him as he helped her move back and forth. She sucked on him, hard then easy, pulling then releasing, hollowing her cheeks to draw him in as far as she could. He tasted so much like his brothers yet with his own special tang added to the flavor. Jayden and Jacob moved together, their motions going at the same speed. Jayden reached around to cup her breast as Jacob flicked his tongue over the other nipple. Jackson soon met his brothers’ paces. Emma made soft mewling sounds as the men filled her. Every part of her hummed with energy, with lust, with love. She clenched her pussy and ass then closed her mouth tighter around Jackson’s cock. He tensed, and she cupped his balls. He was close to the end, and she couldn’t wait for him to come. Sounds of flesh slapping against flesh had her creaming even more. She moaned and drew Jackson’s cock inside her mouth, dragging on him harder. He pumped into her and found her hair with both hands. Letting out a growl that changed into a howl, Jackson released, spilling his seed into her mouth. She swallowed just as another orgasm shuddered outward. Jackson fell to his knees beside her and took her mouth again. He swiped his tongue around the inside of her cheeks, drinking in his release along with her juices. Taking her face in his hands, he drew back and smiled at her. “You, my mate, are amazing.” “You mean our mate.” Jacob shot her a grin then lowered his head to take a nipple in his mouth. He sucked on her, flicking his tongue

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over her taut bud as he fondled both breasts. “Yeah, our mate. Ah, hell!” Jayden rammed into her again from behind then suddenly stopped. With a groan-turned-growl, he climaxed, sending his cum into her bottom. Emma craned her neck around to reach for Jayden. He understood what she wanted and crushed his mouth to hers. His body still shook from his release as he pulled her bottom lip with his teeth. She reveled in the deliciously sinful pain. Letting her go, he fell backward onto the bed. “Just you and me now, babe.” She leaned backward and slid a palm along Jacob’s cheek. He grabbed her by the arms and kept her on him. He pounded into her, fiercer than before, making her bounce up and down. She studied his face, watching as his amber eyes glittered with lust. Rotating her hips, she saw him widen his eyes then smile at her movement. “Take her, Jacob. Ride him, Emma.” Jackson rubbed her clit. “I can’t last much longer.” A look of pained pleasure swept over Jacob’s face a second before he tensed. With a groan, he rammed into her one more time. He clung to her as he exploded, filling her with his release. Seeing the way he looked sent Emma flying over the edge. Blackness threatened to take her, but she held on, letting the biggest climax of them all rack her body. She trembled, her body growing weak as her juices flowed out of her. She slumped against Jacob. Jacob fell to the side, taking her with him. She lay on top of the comforter, feeling alive and free. Jayden moved to spoon her from behind, and Jackson lay sprawled by her feet. “So am I your mate now? I mean officially?” She couldn’t resist smiling. “Yes and no.” She sat up, surprised. “What does that mean, Jackson?” Had they changed their minds? The brothers rested on their knees around her. Jackson, forever the

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leader, took charge. “Yes, because we’ve accepted you in our hearts. But no, because we haven’t bitten you to change you yet.” Relief swamped through her. “Then what are you waiting for?” Jayden shrugged. “Not a damn thing.” “I know we’ve asked before, but I have to ask you one last time. Are you sure, Emma? Do you want to go through the Change? Do you want to be a werewolf?” She tugged Jackson’s hair. “I’d change into the bride of Frankenstein if it meant spending my life with you three.” Jackson’s eyes transformed into a brighter amber. Dipping his head, he started changing. Emma’s heart fluttered as she watched the brothers’ fangs erupt from their mouths. She was ready, but she still couldn’t stop the stab of fear stiffening her spine. Turning her around to put her back to him, Jackson slid his tongue along her shoulder. The rough texture against her flesh tickled and excited her. “This is going to hurt, but we’ll help ease the pain afterward.” Jackson sank his fangs into her shoulder. She cried out, the searing heat from the wound burning into her. Her instinct to survive took over and she tried to break away, but Jackson gripped her in a backward bear hug. Her body shook as he dug his fangs deeper into her skin. Jayden and Jacob glanced at each other and, as though on a silent command, bent over her and dug their fangs into the sides of her neck. Her body jerked, under attack from the werewolf venom coursing into her body, changing her, making her one of them. A surge of fire burned into her, speeding into her veins, transforming her blood into something more. Her heart doubled in time then paused, skipping precious beats before starting again. The room around her blurred and colors grew faint, morphing into an amber-filled world. Emma shouted, her yell turning into groans of agony as the strength in her died. She didn’t want to fight the Change, she wanted

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it to happen, but her body couldn’t withstand the onslaught. Darkness took over, taking her away from the pain. **** Emma drifted in and out of consciousness. She could hear the men’s voices as they soothed her. She could feel their tongues on her wounds. With every lick they gave her, she could sense her body healing. First the wounds they’d given her ached less, and then the dull throb in her head went away. “Emma, are you all right?” Was that Jackson? Jayden? Or Jacob? She couldn’t think straight enough to recognize the voice. “Emma. Wake up.” Jackson. But she could sense Jayden and Jacob nearby. She could smell their individual scents, feel the heat from their bodies, and hear them breathing. She nodded then dared to peek open her eyes. She squinted at the bright light. “Yes?” Her voice sounded foggy, clogged with sleep. “You’re one of us now. You’re our mate, now and forever.” She smiled at Jackson’s words. “Officially?” He chuckled. “Yeah. Officially.” She struggled to sit up but couldn’t. Her body wouldn’t respond. “No. Don’t try to get up. You need to rest. We’re going for a run tonight, and you’re coming with us.” Already? She thrilled at the idea. Running under the moon with her men? She couldn’t wait. “Then tomorrow we’ll move you into our home and you can get to work finishing your book.” She sighed. Now she had all the time she needed to finish her book. “Jackson?” “Yeah?” “I need to hear you say it. I need to hear all of you say it.”

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“That you’re healed? You are. I’m not a doctor, but I know how the Change works. Your tumor is gone.” Silly Jayden. “No. That’s not what I wanted to hear. But that’s almost as good.” “Sure.” Jackson whispered something to his brothers then spoke again. She felt the bed dip as they leaned closer. “I love you, Emma. We love you.” Jayden and Jacob echoed the words, the sincerity in their voices sweeping warmth over her. “I love you all, too.” She yawned, the tortures in her shoulder, neck, and head already distant memories. She smiled as they pulled the cover over her body, her thoughts already changing into dreams. She could see them loping over the land, their amber gazes sliding over her new werewolf body then slipping upward to focus on the white moon above. Running faster, she took her position beside the three wolves. For the first time in her life, Emma felt at peace, secure, knowing that her mates were by her side forever.

THE END HTTP://JANEJAMISON.COM/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jane Jamison is living the life she dreamed of as a teenager. After finding her perfect man then giving birth to a beautiful daughter, Jane started writing for fun. Fun soon turned into the full-time profession that she loves. Jane wakes up every morning, eager to dive into her characters’ lives. Every day she goes to her cozy office along with her four dogs and writes until the real world drags her back to reality. Every night she looks forward to the next day when the story can begin again. To contact Jane, please e-mail her at [email protected].

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