Hellfire

Southwest Shifters 1

Hellfire After her pack is killed, Kate hides her inner wolf and goes on the run. She moves in with a rising rodeo star and tries to blend in with the humans. Gage and his lover, Tanner, are at the rodeo for one reason – to see Shiloh Ford, champion bronc rider, in person. The two Lycans are shocked to discover the human cowboy has a fiancés, and she's a wolf. Desperate to bring the she-wolf into their pack, Gage and Tanner befriend Shiloh, but the wolf-shifters find they're just as attracted to the cowboy as they are to Kate. Despite the electrifying bond between Kate and the two Lycans, she refuses to turn her back on the life she's built with Shiloh, but when fire forces her out of their home, Kate has to make a decision. Will she continue to reject her true nature or accept her place in the wolf pack? Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Vampires/Werewolves Length: 24,332 words

HELLFIRE Southwest Shifters 1

Gale Stanley

MENAGE AMOUR

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

HELLFIRE Copyright © 2011 by Gale Stanley E-book ISBN: 1-61034-914-8 First E-book Publication: October 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Hellfire by Gale Stanley from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

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

DEDICATION For Uncle Joe, who gave me a copy of Omnibus of Science Fiction a long, long time ago and inspired my love of all things fantastical.

HELLFIRE Southwest Shifters 1 GALE STANLEY Copyright © 2011

Chapter One “Yeehaw!” Flush with excitement, Tanner waved his brand-new cowboy hat in the air. Gage elbowed him in the gut a couple of times until he got the hint. The straw Stetson went back on his head, and Tanner tried to look contrite but couldn’t quite pull it off. Frowning, Gage took off his own hat and wiped the sweat from his brow with a sleeve. The hat had been a gift from his lover, and although he’d made a big stink about wearing it, he had to admit it was good for something. The wide brim had kept the sun off his head. As the big orange ball disappeared over the horizon, the cavernous, dirt-filled arena felt as foreign to Gage as a lunar landscape. It wasn’t that he hated the rodeo—in fact, he’d never been to one before—but he felt totally out of his element. “What the fuck am I doing here?” “Helping me satisfy my cowboy fetish.” Tanner tipped his Stetson and gave his boyfriend a wicked grin. “You know I’m a fan of men in tight chaps.” “What am I, chopped liver?” Tanner cracked up. “I hate liver. You’re filet mignon all the way, baby.” “Then show a little appreciation.” He would do anything for Tanner, and had, many times over, but this was above and beyond.

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Crowded by a bunch of hot, sweaty bodies, and hot as a habanero, he felt like an ass decked out in full Western regalia, plaid button-down shirt, jeans, and high-heeled cowboy boots. It was tantamount to torture. Tanner winked at him. “I’d love to, baby, but we’re a little too public.” “You’re right about that.” The arena was packed. There wasn’t an empty seat in the rickety old wooden stands. Spectators must have come from all directions to see the riders and ropers. “So how about toning it down a little?” Sometimes he wished he had his partner’s exuberance and love for life, but one of them had to remember the rules—do not attract attention. “Sorry, baby.” Tanner’s chin dipped to his chest. “Can’t help it. Guys in cowboy hats and tight jeans are hot.” He leered at Gage. Gage hid his amusement. “Yeah? Well so far I haven’t seen anything worth writing home about.” Tanner leaned in and spoke in an aside. “That’s because you already have me in your bed every night. You’re spoiled by my nineinch dick.” “Yeah, you’re bigheaded in every way.” “And you love it.” Tanner chuckled and reached behind Gage’s back to tug on his long hair, held back by a piece of rawhide. “You know you’re number one on my fuck-it list. Just humor me this once, and let me drool over a real, honest-to-God cowboy for a couple of hours. Believe me, you’ll reap the rewards tonight.” “Since when do you need inspiration to play cowboys and Indians?” “Since never, you know you’re my man. But I’ve been following this guy on the Internet. I’m not kidding, Gage. Wait until you see him. He’s the hottest thing on the rodeo circuit.” Suddenly the announcer’s voice crackled over the loudspeaker. “And now we’ve got Shiloh Ford, a champion bareback rider.

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Originally from Texas, Shi now calls this great state of New Mexico home.” The second that bucking chute was slung open, Tanner’s face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. Gage had to admit he liked that look on his lover’s face, no matter how it got there. He would grin and bear it, even if it meant baking like an overdone potato. An oppressive mix of sizzling temperatures and high humidity had hit the Southwest with a vengeance, and with no relief in sight, it could be potentially dangerous. As far as Gage was concerned, the best place for a wolf was home with the air-conditioning turned way up. Tanner elbowed Gage and brought him back to Earth. “Watch this.” Gage glanced around him. All eyes were glued to the dirt-filled arena, and he focused on the bronc rider, too. Tanner started counting under his breath. “One.” Gage whistled. Bareback bronc riding had to be the most physically demanding rodeo event. Shiloh Ford might as well have been riding a jackhammer with one hand. “Are you watching?” Tanner hissed, and Gage gave him a dirty look, which he didn’t even notice. “He’s gotta stay on that horse for eight seconds. Two.” Gage shook his head, expecting the cowboy to go flying any second, but he hung on. Shiloh Ford must have some motherfucking balance to survive those swerves and spins. “Three.” Gage decided he liked the way the cowboy moved, so completely sure of himself. And Tanner wasn’t kidding. Shiloh Ford looked damn good out there. From what he could see, the cowboy had a nice body and a sweet baby face. The last of the sun’s rays made the man’s hair look like burnished gold. Suddenly Gage really didn’t care how long Shiloh stayed on the bronc. He was just enjoying the show. “Four.”

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Man versus animal at his most basic, just horse and rider. But I’m seeing wolf and rider. Shiloh Ford can ride me to— “Five.” Flush with adrenaline, Gage suddenly got caught up in the moment and started counting with Tanner. “Six.” Gage held his breath. “Seven.” Shit, in the scheme of life, eight seconds is a miniscule part of a day, but right now it seemed like a lifetime. “Eight!” Tanner threw his hat up in the air. Gage caught it, filled with excitement for the spectacle in the arena. He and Tanner watched, rapt. Damn if Shiloh Ford didn’t ride that monster out until he stopped bucking. Tanner shook his head, voice full of admiration. “Few cowboys can ride that mother to a standstill. Shiloh Ford can ride a bronc like nobody’s business.” Gage handed Tanner back his hat, already thinking about leaving. As far as he was concerned, they’d seen the best part of the show. Now that Shiloh had done his thing, Gage lost interest in the rest. “Okay, you made a believer out of me. I’m a fan.” “Good, because you’re going to meet the man in person later.” “What are you talking about?” “I got us tickets to the festivities at the Silverado Saloon. Hobnobbing with the rodeo stars and all the beer you can drink.” Fuck! Would this night never end? “I can hardly wait.” “Don’t be such a party pooper.” “Spectating is one thing, but you know damn well it’s not a good idea to socialize. What if people start asking questions? Like, are you from around here? What kind of work do you do?” “What’s the problem? Just say we’re visiting from Texas. It’s a big state. No one will know the difference.” “Yeah, unless they’re visiting from Texas.” “Look, we won’t stay long. I just want an up close look. And maybe an autograph.”

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“If I wasn’t so secure in my manhood, I might be a little jealous,” Gage complained. Tanner chuckled. “You do look a little green.” His chiseled features turned serious. “All kidding aside, you are looking green around the edges. You feel okay?” Not really. Besides being hot and annoyed, he had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Gage leaned toward Tanner and spoke in a soft voice so no one else could hear. “My wolf is giving me agita. He wants out.” “Maybe we should go.” Tanner’s face got that disappointed, pouty look that never failed to get him what he wanted. Gage sighed. Sometimes he felt like he was dealing with a temperamental child. “No, I don’t want to ruin your evening. You’ve been looking forward to this.” He took the hat off and combed his sweaty hair with his fingers. “A little walk might help, maybe even a run if I have to.” He narrowed his eyes at Tanner. “Don’t go running off with a cowboy while I’m gone. I’ll be back.” **** Gage stepped away from the stands and turned right. His wolf made a hard left and caught him up sharp. Those claws scrabbling in his gut were hard to ignore when his wolf set its mind on something. He decided to let the beast lead the way, and he turned left, sniffing, his nose filtering out each smell: sweat, testosterone, horse shit, wolf. Wolf? She-wolf! Impossible. Gage suppressed a growl, stopping it midway up his chest. He followed the scent, trying to narrow down the source, and ended up on the fairgrounds. All his senses pointed to a woman talking to an old geezer. The wolf wanted to pounce, but he reined it in and hung back. The woman, a five-foot-nine beauty, wore Daisy Dukes and a white tank top tight enough to show off an impressive

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rack. The old guy, a carny worker, had his eyes glued to her chest, and for some reason that bothered Gage. He suppressed a growl. The feminine, wolfish scent wafting past Gage’s nostrils drove him mad, and he sucked it up greedily, rolling it around until he could taste it on his tongue. Every hair on his body stood erect, and a surge of desire shot right to his cock, filling it so his erection stretched his jeans until they were uncomfortably tight. He couldn’t remember a time when his inner wolf had been so stirred by a woman. She was the one, all right, the one who’d called to his wolf. The woman exuded an animal magnetism, drawing his attention to her like a wolf to Red Riding Hood’s granny. But she was nobody’s granny. Long, slim legs ending in a pair of white Adidas put explosive, lust-filled images in his head. He imagined her limbs wrapped around his hips as he fucked her. Looking his fill, he tore his gaze from below the waist to check out her face, with its high cheekbones and full red lips. One long strand of hair had come loose from an ebony ponytail. She kept brushing it back from her eyes, wolf’s eyes, amber and slightly slanted. She looked up, caught him staring, and froze like a deer in the headlights. Gage froze, too. One eye-to-eye look from her sent a jolt of adrenaline straight to his heart and set it hammering against his ribs. Overcome by an urge to grab her and run, he took a deep, calming breath. Shit, he didn’t want to scare her off. He just wanted to talk. Yeah, right. His wolf had already decided it wanted a damn sight more, but it would have to wait. There was too much at stake here to let his libido make a mess of it. A she-wolf was a rarity, and he owed it to the pack to bring her into the fold. Besides, if he didn’t treat her right, one of these cowboys would shoot him for sure. The carny was already giving him the evil eye. Gage ignored him and started walking toward the odd couple. A crowd passed in front of him. Pissed off, he shoved his way through,

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but she was gone. The old guy didn’t look friendly, but Gage held out his hand anyway. The carny ignored his outstretched hand, and he dropped his arm to his side. “My name is Gage. I wanted to talk to the lady. Guess I just missed her.” “Humph.” The man gave him a sour look. “Guess you did.” “Do you know which way she went?” “You know her?” “Yes.” “Then I’ll tell her you were looking for her.” Fuck! Suspicious old coot. “Never mind, I’ll catch her later.” He tipped his hat and turned away. One way or another, he planned to see this woman again. Different scenarios played through his head as he climbed the stands and sat next to Tanner. “You feeling better?” “I’ll live.” “You still look off. Let’s go home. I got my cowboy fix.” “Hell no. Didn’t you say something about tickets to some party?” Tanner’s eyes went wide. “What got into you?” “Maybe I just feel like dancing.”

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Chapter Two Gage looked up at the big old barn rimmed in multicolored neon lights and rolled his eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding.” He elbowed Tanner and snickered. “You take me to the nicest places.” Tanner sighed. “Okay, so the Silverado isn’t the fanciest place in New Mexico, but it has its own rustic charm.” “I’m just not feeling it.” “Sorry, babe.” Tanner opened the door and motioned Gage through. “I’ll make it up to you. How about a weekend in Vegas for your birthday?” Inside, Gage sniffed as if he could still smell the animals, hay, and manure the building once housed. “If I was interested in sniffing scat, I’d shift and head for the forest. Better make it a week. And I want to stay in the penthouse.” Tanner had to concede it wasn’t much, just a bar and a dance floor. Someone had spared no expense on the red, white, and blue streamers hanging like vines on the walls, and matching balloons bobbed like giant grapes against the ceiling. They didn’t add much to the decor, but the place must have had something going for it—the bar was packed, and hard-core country enthusiasts decked out in boots and buckles crowded the dance floor, doing the Texas two-step. The patrons were a lot more interesting than the setting. Tanner looked around, licking his lips. “Whoa, doggy. I want to lasso me one of these hot cowboys.” “Down, boy. Don’t forget where you are.” “This is not Brokeback Mountain, Gage.”

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“It’s not all about liking men. Anything you do that brings attention to us is bad for the pack. Remember that.” “Yeah, yeah. I know. You won’t let me forget it.” Tanner knew his lover was right, but he enjoyed giving him a hard time, in more ways than one. Gage knew he was a tease, and he expected nothing less. Gage flashed him a tolerant smile. “How about getting us a couple beers and then checking out the wildlife?” “Sweetheart, there’s not a man in here that can hold a candle to you.” Tanner blew him a kiss and started fighting his way to the bar. **** Gage looked for a quiet spot where they could drink their beer unnoticed. He didn’t intend to stay long. No more than fifteen or twenty minutes, just enough time to keep Tanner happy. That’s what love’s all about, satisfying your partner. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for Tanner, and vice versa. Hoping to find a small, empty table in a corner, he made his way around the dance floor. That’s when he spotted him, Tanner’s rodeo hero, Shiloh Ford, signing autographs for a bunch of adoring fans. Tanner always did have a good eye for hot men. Being a sucker for blue-eyed blonds himself, he could see the attraction. The cowboy was different eye candy for a man used to tall, dark, and hairy. He’d never been with a human, and all the wolves in his pack had similar coloring, amber eyes, and dark hair. Their small group of survivors, mostly male, had left the East Coast after their people were massacred sixteen years ago. For the most part, they stuck with their own kind. They had to for self-preservation, and since there were so few women, the men had turned to each other for comfort. He’d fallen hard for Tanner, and thank God his romantic interest had been reciprocated. Tanner’s playfulness balanced against Gage’s more

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serious, thoughtful nature worked well for them. They were good for each other. Still, Shiloh was easy on the eyes, their polar opposite in looks, and tempting as hell. The cowboy looked even better up close, tall with broad shoulders and a chest that tapered down to a narrow waist. He had thick blond hair, streaked from the sun, and eyes a man could drown in. I’d do him. Just in my dreams, of course. He wasn’t afraid of making Tanner jealous. They were rock solid. There was no room for jealousy when pack law called for multiple mates. Their Alpha had some crazy idea that promiscuity would prevent extinction, and the men were required to spread their seed among the females on a regular basis. And no getting around it, both he and Tanner enjoyed male threesomes now and then, but only with their own kind. Strangers were one of his big fears. Human strangers, who would call them freaks and slaughter them, or worse yet, cage them like lab rats, they couldn’t be trusted. Suddenly Shiloh looked up and caught his eye. Just like that, blue sparks lit up Gage’s world, and his legs turned to jelly. It was no ordinary look of appreciation between two men acknowledging mutual good looks, nor was it that aha moment he had when he saw the she-wolf. Something in between those two sensations, maybe it was just good old-fashioned lust. Whatever, Shiloh’s sexy stare had him feeling warm, like he had too many clothes on. Suddenly Gage wished they were alone so he could strip and give Blondie a closer look at the boner he’d inspired. The cowboy wasn’t unaffected. Below the waist, the broncobuster sported an impressive bulge at his crotch. Gay? Without a doubt, Shiloh Ford was interested. So was he. An image of the cowboy, naked, willing, and on his knees, sent a rush of anticipation straight to Gage’s weeping cock. He’d always been tempted by forbidden fruit, and damn if he didn’t want to take a bite out of the cowboy. It would never happen, but a little fantasy couldn’t hurt. He saw himself

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making a pass at Shiloh, a pleasantly surprised Tanner coming back to join in the fun. A panorama played out in his head. Two dark-haired men sandwiching a blond— Gage went slack-jawed when a woman walked up to the cowboy and Shiloh put his arm around her. Fuck! It was her. The she-wolf. What is she doing with him? And what is he doing with her? Does he know he’s got a wolf by the tail? His own wolf came awake with a vengeance, and his dick got stiff as a steel rod. The woman pulled his attention from Shiloh. Damn, she looked good. Her black hair hung loose, and her jeans molded to her curvy ass. What the hell was wrong with him? One minute he was drooling over an attractive man, the next a woman. Was it her scent or his looks? The way he moved or her mile-long legs? He wanted them both, so hard for them his cock would end up sporting a zipper imprint. His head spun. Afraid he might shift involuntarily, he took a deep breath to calm his randy beast. The woman’s eyes opened wide when she spotted him staring. Shit! Caught like some big-eyed, drooling dog in heat. He had a splitsecond decision to make. Back off, find Tanner, and get the hell out of Dodge? Or take advantage of this opportunity and make first contact? He started toward them. **** Kate hated these affairs, but she would never stop Shiloh from doing what he loved. The rodeo was his passion. Sometimes she wished he could work up the same passion for her. A little voice in her head whispered, It’s not entirely his fault. She didn’t bring much passion to their infrequent couplings either. They loved each other, but they weren’t together for the sex. When they fucked, the act was physically satisfying, but the spark was missing. Kate sighed regretfully. Shi had never lied to her. He told her right from the beginning he swung both ways but preferred men. Isn’t that

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why you signed on for this? Because you needed someone you could trust, someone who didn’t want anything in return? Being engaged and living together provided cover for both of them. Shi could act the macho cowboy and still have a good excuse for not bedding his female fans, and she had the safety and security he provided. Her only regret was not being 100 percent truthful with him. Shiloh didn’t know just how different they were—two-differentspecies different, Lycan and human—and he never would know, not as long as it was up to her. It was safer for both of them, and deep down Kate just knew Shi would turn away in horror and disgust if he discovered she was half wolf. Even worse, he might sell her out. No, he could never know the truth. Kate stood by Shiloh’s side while he basked in the accolades he well deserved. Knowing she’d be on display tonight, she’d changed her clothes, dressing with care, every item chosen to make a favorable impression yet not stand out. Her faded jeans were casual but not dumpy. And the Silverado was air-conditioned, so for once she’d let her hair down. The black mane fell past her shoulders. Her stilettoheeled black leather boots made her almost as tall as Shiloh. As Shiloh greeted fans and signed pictures, Kate sensed she was being watched. Her skin prickled with heightened awareness, and the hair stood up on the back of her neck. Trying not to be obvious, she sniffed, discreetly scenting the air around her. The unknown yet weirdly familiar scent of the stranger she’d seen earlier wafted to her nostrils and tightened her chest. Glancing over the crowd, her pulse quickened at the sight of the mysterious man who stood head and shoulders above most of the others. He was staring at her and she quickly lowered her eyes to the floor. Shit! He was coming this way, and he was no rodeo fan looking for an autograph. He might be dressed like a cowboy, but he didn’t walk the walk. She wanted to plead indigestion and make a quick exit, but he was already close, and she was afraid he’d catch her on her own. At least

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here she felt a little safer. He couldn’t do anything with Shi and a crowd of people surrounding her. She hoped. The stranger stood patiently waiting until Shi spoke to those in front of him. Midthirties, six foot five, at least—and my God, those eyes! Amber and slightly slanted, the eyes of a predator, wolf eyes, like her own. And they were locked on her. Her nipples tightened into hard little aching buds, and her pussy leaked, reactions she’d never had with any other man. His nostrils flared, and his lip curled, as if he could smell her arousal. Kate took a deep, stuttering breath, and his scent imprinted on her wolf. He’s one of my kind! Why hadn’t she recognized his scent earlier? Why should she have? She hadn’t seen another Lycan in sixteen years. Her heart hammered in a staccato rhythm. What did he want with her? Maybe it was only curiosity that drew him and he would go back to whatever den he had crawled out of and leave her alone. She really liked it here, and she didn’t need some strange wolf showing up now and ruining the life she’d made with Shiloh. She always figured the West and the rodeo would be the last place anyone would look for her. She figured wrong. Escaping scrutiny indefinitely was impossible, especially when your fiancé was a rodeo champion. “Tell me again why I let you talk me into this?” Kate muttered to Shiloh. “How would it look if you weren’t here? You’re my fiancée, remember?” Shi whispered in an aside. “Hey, you’re shaking. What’s wrong?” His gaze followed hers, he caught the man looking at her, and he grinned. “And I thought he was here for me, looks like you have an admirer. Interested?” “No!” Shi never lied about his not-so-secret one-night stands, and he made it clear she had the same option, but she had no intention of using it, especially with this man. Shi looked at her funny. “Is he bothering you?”

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Kate forced a grin and shook her head. “It’s a free country. He can look, but I don’t have to bite.” Unfortunately, her wolf wanted to bite, and that bothered her more than anything. She didn’t know her wolf well, and she had always believed the animal would lead her astray if she let it. At last, the stranger stood directly in front of them, and he reached out a hand to Shiloh. Shi held their connection a beat too long, and the stranger didn’t try to retrieve his hand. Finally, Shi relinquished his hold, almost reluctantly. The handshake might have seemed innocuous to others, but Kate smelled arousal—on both of them. She knew that look in Shiloh’s eyes, and she saw it mirrored in the stranger’s eyes. Could it be Shi the man was after and not her? Through the buzzing in her ears, she heard the man introducing himself and chatting with Shiloh. Shi gave her a little shake. “Kate?” She pasted a smile on her face and turned. “Gage, this is my, uh…my—” “Fiancée,” Kate offered. “Kate.” Gage smiled knowingly. “A pleasure.” Kate took the offered hand, ignoring the little sparks his touch set off. “Gage offered to buy us drinks.” Shi smiled sheepishly. “His buddy is a big fan. I suggested tomorrow night might be better.” Buddy? No, no, no! But Shi was already hooked, anxious to meet these men somewhere for fun and games. “I think we already have plans.” Shi quirked a brow. “No, babe, you’re mistaken. We’re free.” Gage looked her straight in the eyes and sent her some message she didn’t understand and didn’t care to. His smile was positively predatory. “I’m looking forward to it.” Kate nodded agreeably but didn’t commit. She had no intention of meeting Gage, and somehow she would talk Shi out of seeing him, too.

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“There you are.” Another rugged giant with gold eyes appeared, a bottle of beer in each hand. “I thought you ran out on me, but I’ll forgive you because you’re going to introduce me to Shiloh Ford.” The newcomer glanced at Kate curiously then turned his attention to Shi. Overwhelmed by their physical presence, Kate could only stare. She hadn’t seen another Lycan for sixteen years, and now suddenly there were two standing in front of her. They were breathtaking, more attractive than any men had a right to be. Similar in height and build, Gage sported long black hair held by a leather band at his nape, while the new man had chestnut hair cut in a shorter, shaggy style that brushed the collar of his shirt. Shiloh looked like he’d died and gone to heaven. He was already reaching for the other man’s hand. “Tanner.” He handed the beers to Gage and shook Shiloh’s hand. “Great to meet you,” Shi told him. “And this is my fiancée, Kate.” A flicker of disappointment flashed in Tanner’s eyes. Then he took Kate’s hand, and it turned to heated recognition. It seemed these men were attracted by both sexes. It would be better if they only wanted Shi. Gage was speaking to Tanner. “Shiloh and Kate are meeting us tomorrow for drinks.” “Excellent!” Tanner smiled broadly. “I’m looking forward to it.” Kate wished she could say the same.

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Chapter Three Tanner forgot to duck as he walked through the door of their small house. Fuck! Rubbing his forehead, he called back to Gage, “Watch your head.” They hadn’t gotten around to enlarging the front door yet. It involved calculating the amount of room from the top of the frame to the ceiling, and the weight bearing down from the second floor. Construction was not his thing. Gage wasn’t much better. They had opted to concentrate their combined efforts on the important rooms first, bathroom and kitchen, and they had only just completed them. When the pack first settled in New Mexico, they had lived in abandoned pueblos, communal housing consisting of flat-topped buildings with a lot of rooms. Eventually humans discovered the adobe dwellings, and the remote area had become a popular tourist attraction. Their home received too much unwanted attention, and the Lycans were afraid to shift. Many predators made their home in the Gila Forest: bobcats, cougars, bear, and fox among them, but very few wolves. They were an endangered species. Reintroduced in the eighties, most of them had been killed. The big, bad wolf, Tanner thought ruefully. We’re not the cold-blooded killers of fairy tales and folklore, but we always get the bad rap. Even being seen in human form caused problems. The tourists would want to know why people were living without the basic amenities. The Alpha started looking around for new living quarters. Alex had made contacts in New Mexico, and he didn’t want to leave the area. Deciding to hide in plain sight, he looked for an area where their

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people could be seen but blend in enough that they wouldn’t look suspicious. Alex had been so excited when he found the old mining town south of Silver City. Gage and Tanner went back with him for a look, and they’d both had the same reaction. No way! Right off the bat, a gun-toting local came out to greet them, and Tanner wanted to turn tail and run. Alex had convinced them to at least check the place out. The pit stop didn’t have much to recommend it. Unimpressed with the town’s run-down buildings, creaky swinging gates, and unfriendly residents, they tried to dissuade Alex, but he stayed firm. Their Alpha had turned on the charm and had the welcoming committee eating out of his hand. The few residents who were left, old-timers who didn’t have the means to move on, liked the Alpha’s plans. He’d promised them food, alcohol, and tobacco, and they promised him a live-and-let-live attitude. Once the pack moved in, they started helping the residents with repairs on their ramshackle homes. It meant the Lycans had less time to work on their own houses, but it was worth it to keep their neighbors happy. The old-timers minded their own business and discouraged outsiders. It was a win-win situation. Alex had been right all along, but then that’s why he was Alpha. **** Gage came through the door laughing and tackled Tanner. “Hey. Be careful. I might have a concussion.” “Poor baby, let me kiss it and make it better.” “You can kiss my ass.” “Now there’s an idea.” Tanner laughed. “Glad to see you’re in a good mood. So I guess you’re not sorry you let me drag you to the rodeo?”

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“Hell no. That little she-wolf is going to make an excellent addition to our pack.” Gage planted a blistering kiss on his lover’s mouth. Tanner came up for air. “Whew, did I inspire that, or was it the little filly?” Gage hesitated, and his face flushed scarlet. He felt a little embarrassed to let on that the cowboy had played a part in his good mood, too. “You’re kidding, right?” Tanner’s mouth fell open. “It’s Shiloh, isn’t it? You got a hard-on for my cowboy.” “Your cowboy?” Gage snorted. “And here I thought you were jealous of me.” Tanner gave him a sheepish look. “Hey, I’m not jealous of anybody. Just surprised. I didn’t think he was your type.” “Neither did I, but that’s one cowboy I wouldn’t mind riding. Seriously, I don’t know who I was more attracted to, him or the woman. I was actually fantasizing about a quad. The fearless foursome.” “Hmm.” Tanner’s brows shot up. “Now don’t get all excited. It’s just a fantasy. The last thing we need is a human lover.” “Then why are we meeting them tomorrow?” Tanner definitely sounded disappointed. “We need to make contact with the woman, and it’s obvious she’s nervous. She’ll be more comfortable with Shiloh around. You can distract the cowboy, and I’ll try to talk to her.” Tanner grinned broadly. “Tsk, tsk. The things I have to do for the pack.” Gage chuckled. “Yeah, I can see how reluctant you are.” “Talking about reluctant, I wonder why the female is so jittery.” Gage turned serious. “She was definitely aroused but trying to hide it. I don’t think she’s been around her own kind for a long time.” “Do you think Shiloh knows? That she’s not like him, I mean.”

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“Hard to say.” Gage thought about it. “She could be keeping her ancestry a secret, and I wouldn’t blame her one bit after what our people have been through, but she’d have to deny her wolf. That’s not easy.” “Maybe we should talk to the Alpha before we do anything. Alex will know how to handle her.” “No!” Gage growled. Tanner looked up, surprised. “I don’t want anybody handling her.” “You think you can do better than the Alpha?” Gage took a calming breath. “It’s been a long time since I wanted a woman, the Alpha’s matchmaking notwithstanding.” “Agreed.” Tanner nodded. “Matchmaking for breeding purposes doesn’t count. That’s just doing what you got to do for the good of the pack.” “But that little female got me hard just looking at her. It surprised the hell out of me.” Gage didn’t have much experience with women. He had been a kid of thirteen when he lost his family. It all started when the Lycan elders gave one of their women permission to marry a human man and live with him in their secret community in the Pine Barrens. Others had chosen to leave the pack and hide their identities so they could live in the outside world with human lovers. The elders didn’t want to lose any more of their people, and they had made a bad decision. When the marriage failed, the human man betrayed his wife and her people and came back with other men to burn down their homes. The Lycans shifted to their wolf forms and tried to escape, but the majority of their people died. Most humans didn’t suspect the burnt carcasses weren’t ordinary wolves. Forest fires were common in the Barrens, and humans didn’t cry over dead wolves. The survivors, a small group of shell-shocked youngsters, were afraid to stay and rebuild.

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Alex, the oldest, became their leader. One day he’d celebrated his twenty-first birthday with a wife and child. The next he was a young and inexperienced Alpha leading a group of younger men and a few females halfway across the country. Alex chose New Mexico, home of their gods, the kachinas, powerful spirit beings who, if given proper veneration and respect, would provide and protect. The Lycans believed their very beginnings went back to Kweo, the wolf spirit, who had mated with a human woman and brought forth the first wolfshifter. Somewhere along the way, the Lycans had displeased Kweo, and he had deserted them in their time of need. Since the great fire, they’d been trying to repopulate, and it just wasn’t happening—until pack members Noah and Wade took a human woman as their mate. She became pregnant, and Gage suspected Kweo had had a hand in it, wanting the two species, Lycans and humans, to become one. Perhaps Kweo had even sent them the she-wolf. “Earth to Gage.” Tanner gave him a little shake. “So why don’t you want to tell Alex?” “It’s not that I don’t want to tell him.” Gage sighed. “I just don’t want him passing Kate around the pack with the hope of getting her pregnant. I found her. She’s mine.” The words just popped out, but Gage felt right about them. Tanner’s jaw dropped, along with the rest of his face. “Do you think you found your mate?” The hurt look on Tanner’s face made his heart twist. Supposedly a Lycan knew when he found his true mate, something about matching hormones and body chemistry, ripe for reproduction. “Our mate.” Reproduction aside, he loved Tanner, and he wouldn’t let anything or anyone affect their relationship. “We’re in this together or not at all. Whatever this feeling is—love or just making pups—it’s not going to come between us.” This feeling he had for the female seemed strong but different. Maybe all the old Lycan traditions hadn’t disappeared

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with their people. “We need some time to figure things out. Let’s keep this to ourselves, just for a little while.” Tanner still didn’t look convinced. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Alex won’t be happy if he finds out we kept it from him.” “Fuck! Does Alex have to know every damn move we make?” Tanner didn’t say a word, and that was answer enough for him. His face heated, and he stormed out of the living room, not really knowing why he felt so angry. He needed some alone time to cool off and let his wolf settle. Maybe a shower would help. Gage closed his eyes, leaned his head back, and let the warm water wash away his tension along with the sweat. He wasn’t really angry with Tanner. He just felt at odds. Meeting this woman had brought everything back, memories of all he had lost. Right now, he wanted to wipe his mind clean, as well as his body. Or try to, anyway. There’d be time enough to think and talk about the past tomorrow night, when he and Tanner would meet the she-wolf and her cowboy for drinks. Gage reached for the shampoo, poured some in his palm, and lathered his hair. Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t hear the shower door open. **** Tanner followed the sound of running water to the bathroom. They had opted to build a shower for two, and Gage must have turned on both jets. Steam poured through the open door in a warm, silent invitation, and he accepted it. His lover’s body outlined through the smoky glass of the shower proved a potent allure, and hoping to surprise him, he slipped inside and wrapped his arms around Gage in one quick motion. Gage jumped, obviously startled, but then he relaxed back into Tanner’s arms. “I was hoping you’d join me.” Gage’s voice was still tight with tension.

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“I almost didn’t. You were so angry, I thought maybe you needed some time alone.” “I think I’m more upset with myself than anything. Old memories…” “I know, baby,” Tanner murmured, working the shampoo through the long hair he loved so much. “Seeing the she-wolf brought it all back for me, too.” He rinsed Gage’s hair and brushed his lips over a broad shoulder. “You’re not the only one who feels something for Kate—and Shiloh. I don’t know what it means, but I do know we need to find out for ourselves, and you’re right about the Alpha. He’ll put things in his own perspective and do what he thinks is good for the pack, not for us, or for Kate. As far as I’m concerned, the she-wolf and her cowboy are our little secret, at least until tomorrow night when we get a better idea what’s going on.” Gage sighed with relief. “Thanks, I feel better knowing you’re with me on this.” He rolled his neck. Bones cracked and popped. “Thank me later after I loosen up all that tension in your muscles.” “You just want to get your hands on me.” “Is that a problem?” “Hell no.” Tanner started at the shoulders, applying gentle pressure in circular movements. Gage arched his throat, obviously enjoying the attention. Running his hands slowly down Gage’s back, fingers charting a smooth course over well-defined muscles, Tanner worked his way down in slow, fluid motions. He paused at his lover’s hips and pulled Gage toward him, wanting desperately to feel that fine ass pressed against his aching shaft. Gage gave up control, letting Tanner do what he wanted. What he wanted was to make Gage crazy. Wanting to build tension and excitement, he slid his hands around to his lover’s lower belly, forming a circle with his fingers, purposely not touching his erection. Gage wiggled his hips back, and Tanner’s cock slid up the crack of

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his ass. A strangled cry escaped his partner’s throat, and Tanner licked a sensitive spot behind his ear. “Want something, baby?” Gage let out a soft groan. “Touch me.” “My pleasure.” As the water flowed over them, Tanner used his soap-slick palm to torment Gage’s cock with slow friction, moving the foreskin back and forth over the swollen cockhead. “Fuck. Are you trying to make me crazy?” Gage spun around and ground his mouth against Tanner’s in a smoking-hot kiss. Tanner gasped when Gage started massaging his ass cheeks then rimmed his hole with a finger. “Now who’s the tease?” Tanner murmured against his mouth. In response, the soap-slick finger pushed inside. “Oh hell.” Frustration won out, and Tanner reached down to fist both of their cocks in his big, soapy hands. Gage closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against Tanner’s. “More.” Tanner positioned their cockheads together and rolled his stretchy foreskin over the head of his lover’s penis. Docked together like two spaceships, the delicious intimacy had Gage moaning. “Do you like this, baby?” “God yes,” Gage hissed, rubbing and grinding against him. Tanner started a rhythmic stroking, loving the feel and the friction of their shafts joined together like this. At his partner’s coaxing, he pumped harder and faster. Gage tensed, and Tanner could feel how close he was. A deep, animal groan rumbled up from Tanner’s chest, and his toes curled in pleasure as his own climax approached the point of no return. He thrust savagely and let out a roar as he exploded. Through heavy-lidded eyes, he watched his lover’s face contort in an expression of lust-filled bliss as he growled out his release. Continuing to hold each other, they relaxed and let their orgasms play out. Tanner nuzzled and nipped at Gage’s neck. “Who needs a foursome?”

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Chapter Four Shiloh rolled over, and in a few minutes, Kate heard his soft snores and knew he’d fallen asleep. Sleep didn’t come that easy for Kate. She lay awake for hours, staring up at the ceiling and hoping the rhythmic whump of the fan overhead would lull her to sleep. It didn’t. It didn’t do much to cool off the room either. Naked and drenched with sweat, she panted like a bitch in heat, trying to breathe in the heavy air. Finally, afraid she would wake Shiloh, she decided to let him have the bed to himself. She sat up and brushed aside the long hair plastered to her face and neck. Freeing the tangled sheets from around her feet, she slipped out of bed and crept noiselessly through the house. The air, thick with moisture, wasn’t any better in the living room. She went into the kitchen and opened the freezer, grabbed a few ice cubes, and held them against her heated neck, then down her chest. The cold made her nipples pebble, and once again her thoughts turned to the Lycans. Her mind whirled in mass confusion, her thoughts returning to the two men again and again. She had a million questions, starting with where had they come from and ending with why were they here. If they were from her pack, then they’d been born in the Pine Barrens, halfway across the country. She had taken that journey herself in a roundabout way, hitching and hiking. She’d be traveling still if she hadn’t met Shiloh. New Mexico was not a place she would have chosen to settle otherwise. In all the states she’d been through, she had never come across anyone like herself. Even so, she never assumed she was the only Lycan left.

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But it surprised the hell out of her when the two wolf-shifters showed up. She knew from personal experience just how hard it was to keep a wolf bottled up, and she assumed if there were others, they probably shifted, if not frequently, at least from time to time, yet wolf sightings were few and far between here in New Mexico. So if they weren’t living here as humans or living wild, then where? Had she brought them here? Had her sex pheromones sent out an invitation to mate? She had no idea how far her scent could travel. She knew so little about her own people. When her family was killed in the great fire, she’d been a child of six. She survived only because she hadn’t been home when the fire started. Her father had taken her and Casey hunting. Her older brother didn’t think she should come, and her father agreed with him, but she begged and pleaded, and finally he relented. To this day, she regretted not staying with her mother. She might have comforted her at the end, and she would have died with her gladly. They had been quite a distance away when her father smelled smoke. He told her and Casey to stay put, warned them not to move until he came back for them. Then he left. Casey, at twelve, thought he was a man and should be helping to put out the fire, not hiding in the woods. He left a crying Kate squatting among the brambles at the edge of a glade. She never saw him again. Afraid to move, she stayed put until two days had gone by. By the time she returned home, everyone was dead or gone. A hunter, maybe the very one who had set the fire, found her sitting by her dead parents, crying. He took her home, and so her new life began, with a human hunter and his wife. She had a very lonely and secluded childhood. Homeschooled, she had no friends. She might as well have been a prisoner. Kate never spoke to her foster family about her biological family. She hardly spoke at all. She buried her past. It was too painful. Puberty came and

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went, yet she never shifted. Her wolf remained confined, just like her human self. Then one day she overheard a conversation between her stepparents. The woman’s voice sounded shrill, and the man kept shushing her. “I don’t think she’s going to shift. Maybe she can’t.” “She can, all right,” he told her. “They all can. Or could. But it doesn’t matter. We don’t have to prove she’s functional. They want her, and they’ll pay for her. That’s all I care about.” “Why do they want her?” the woman asked. “Who cares? You know I never planned to keep her.” There was no mistaking the hard disgust and dislike in the man’s voice. Although she had never revealed her identity, they had known all along she was Lycan. Just as she suspected, the man had been one of those who burned down her village. Now he intended to sell her. Kate had no idea who they were, and she had no intention of sticking around to find out. A day came when the man and woman locked her in her bedroom and went out of the house. Kate packed a small bag that she could carry in her jaws. Then she broke the window in her bedroom. She had never shifted before. The change always came with sexual maturity, but there had been no one to guide her through it, just as there was no one to guide her now. She was scared to death, not even sure she knew how to transform her body. But the broken window was her incentive. The man and woman would find the shattered glass, and she would never get another chance. Suddenly visions of her childhood had resurfaced, and her eyes brimmed with tears. She could almost hear Casey’s taunts. In typical big-brother fashion, he would never tolerate her crying. “Stop whining,” he’d tell her. “You’re a wolf. Remember, Kweo has placed some of his own heart and spirit inside you. Find it and you will find your inner wolf.” Change begins in the mind.

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The body serves the mind. We are shaped by the mind. She had concentrated and repeated Casey’s mantra over and over, and it had taken her to a place of spiritual transformation that called to her wolf. Instinctively her body had dropped to a crouch and bent forward, twisting in painful contortions. God, how it hurt. Her bones pushed and pinched, threatening to pierce her skin. Black fur had raced over her limbs, and her face elongated into a snout. At last the agony ended with the eruption of a tail wagging furiously. The black wolf was glad to be out. It took her bag in its jaws, leaped through the second-floor window, and discovered it had the righting reflexes of a cat. It ran and never looked back. **** “The unseasonably early drought, which could go down as one of the nation’s worst, has spread across twelve states. Severe water restrictions are being enforced as record temperatures are broken. A massive wildfire in Arizona that has already burned hundreds of square miles of forest and forced thousands of people to evacuate is now poised to move into New Mexico. Fire crews are cutting down trees and burning fuels to try to stop its advance.” Gage shut off the radio and turned a worried face to Tanner. “What? We knew it was coming. The drought left the state ripe for wildfire.” He put his arms around Gage. “I don’t like fire any more than you do. If it gets close, Alex will probably want to evacuate. We can’t do anything about it. If you want to worry about something, focus on this header so I don’t get a concussion every time I walk in the front door.” “Yes, sir.” Gage and Tanner stayed inside and worked on their house all day, thankful they didn’t see Alex. Neither man wanted to lie to their

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Alpha, but they weren’t ready to come clean yet either. Whether or not they confided in him depended on tonight’s meeting. At seven they showered and dressed in black jeans. Tanner wore a white shirt. Gage put on a black shirt and tied his long hair back with a leather band. He looked to Tanner for approval. “Very sexy. Irresistible, in fact.” Tanner planted a kiss on his lips. “If we don’t leave now, I might change my mind and drag you back into bed.” He grabbed the keys from the dresser. “Come on, I’ll drive.” Shiloh had suggested a place near Deming, about an hour from Silver City. It was a midsize hotel with a restaurant and a bar that looked like a set from a John Wayne movie, with wagon wheels, wood floorboards, and whiskey barrel tables. It was definitely not a locals’ bar. The customers were all tourists, cowboy—and girl— wannabes wearing all the proper gear: jeans, boots, and widebrimmed hats. “Fuck!” Gage growled under his breath when they walked in and saw Shiloh alone at the bar. “Maybe she’s in the bathroom.” “She’s not here.” “Okay, calm down. She might be meeting us.” Tanner took the empty stool on Shiloh’s right. Gage took the one on the left. The cowboy looked from one to the other, settling his focus on Tanner. “I’m glad you both came.” “Glad we did—” “So how come you didn’t, both come, that is?” Gage broke in abruptly. Shiloh’s head swiveled around. “Uh, excuse me?” Gage forced a smile. “The invite was for two.” Uncertainty crept over Shiloh’s face. “Is that a problem? Kate doesn’t go out much. She already told me she wouldn’t be at the rodeo tomorrow.”

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Shiloh waved the bartender over. “Draft?” “Sounds good,” Gage answered for both of them. “So do you go out without her often? Leave her home alone?” “That’s none of your business.” The cowboy flushed red. “What’s all this interest in my girlfriend?” Gage almost told the cowboy that everything about Kate was his business, but he bit his tongue. “It just doesn’t seem right, that’s all.” “I told you Kate is a homebody. I travel all the time. She’s welcome to come, but she doesn’t want to.” Shiloh finished his beer and got off his stool. “Hey, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Nice meeting you, Tanner.” He ignored Gage. Gage looked at Tanner and silently shook his head, willing his boyfriend to let the cowboy go. They weren’t here for him. As tempting as Shiloh was, they’d come to get closer to the she-wolf, not to get involved with a human man. Either Tanner didn’t see him, or he flat out ignored Gage. Tanner stood up and blocked the cowboy’s path. “Wait. I don’t want you to leave. Neither does Gage. He’s just a little off the last couple of days. The heat and the drought…” Shiloh relaxed a little and looked over at Gage. Gage pasted a contrite look on his face. He was pretty sure it was Kate’s idea not to come, and making an enemy of the cowboy would not get them closer to her. “I’m sorry, Shiloh. My mother was abused, and sometimes I just get a little overprotective when it comes to women.” Shiloh nodded. “I understand.” “Can we start over?” “Sure.” The cowboy smiled and sat down. “I asked her to come. She begged off. Look, I’ll be perfectly honest. Kate and I live together, but we both believe in our personal space. We each have our own lives.” No surprise there, but it’s Kate’s life I’m more interested in. “You sound like an old married couple already.” Gage sighed inwardly.

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Shiloh wanted to play, and he was cute as a puppy dog. If only he weren’t human. Shiloh looked down and fiddled with a napkin. “Look, I feel like we made some kind of connection, so I’ll be honest. I’m with Kate, but I prefer men. She’s okay with it. If you’re not, just say so, and I will leave.” Tanner jumped in before Gage could open his mouth. “Well, since we’re being honest, Shiloh, I might as well come clean. It’s not a problem. Gage and I are gay.” Shiloh’s face broke into a big grin. “That’s a relief. When Gage started questioning me about Kate, I started thinking maybe I read you guys wrong.” Gage scowled at Tanner, but his lover pretended not to see and leaned in close to Shiloh. His lips were very close to Shiloh’s ear, and the cowboy shuddered. “We were hoping to get better acquainted.” Shiloh hesitated for the briefest second. “I have to be at the rodeo grounds really early tomorrow, and I booked a room here so I wouldn’t disturb Kate tonight.” Tanner offered the cowboy a slow, sexy smile. “Then let’s move this party upstairs.”

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Chapter Five Shiloh took his time getting naked. He got down to his briefs. His erection, fighting for freedom, had already left a nice little wet spot on the material. Tanner licked his lips, wanting nothing more than to tongue that damp blotch. He settled back against the pillows and snuck a peek at Gage lying next to him. His partner did not look happy. It pained him that he’d put that sour look on his lover’s face. Maybe he should have passed up this playdate, but damn it to hell, he didn’t believe Shiloh was a threat to them. The cowboy appeared to be in the dark about his woman’s identity, so why should he suspect Tanner and Gage? As far as Shiloh was concerned, they were two horny ranch hands. And if Shiloh did know more than he was letting on, Tanner felt he and Gage had a right to know. The rodeo rider could inadvertently put the Southwest Pack in danger. He looked up, and Shiloh gave him a flirty little smile. The cowboy’s expression said, I’m really loving this. So was he. If Shiloh wanted to give them a show, he was all for it. He just hoped those briefs would come off soon so he could see the main attraction. Shi hooked his thumbs in the waistband and shimmied them over his hips. Tanner was not disappointed. If he had to describe Shiloh in one word, it would be stud. He’d never had a blond before. His partners had all been Lycans, big, dark, and hairy. Shiloh was an exciting, sexy change, six feet two inches of wiry muscle with a smattering of light brown hair on his hard chest, a face like Brad Pitt, and an eight-inch dick slapping against his abs. A dream come true. I think I’m in lust. Shi came and sat on the edge of the bed next to Tanner. “I think you’re overdressed for this party.”

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Tanner looked at Gage from the corner of his eye. His partner’s eyes betrayed his lust, but his mouth was set in a frown. Evidently he still thought this was a big mistake. Gage needed to lighten up, and Tanner knew just how to change his mood. He winked at Shiloh and nodded toward Gage. “Undress him.” “My pleasure.” Shi smiled seductively at Tanner and stood. **** The mattress dipped, and Shiloh lowered himself to Gage’s side of the bed. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to do since I first laid eyes on you.” Gage gasped in surprise when Shiloh gripped the front of his shirt and pulled him close. The cowboy reached around his neck and freed the thick black hair that hung down his back, sighing as he ran his fingers through the long strands. “So pretty.” His hands twisted in Gage’s hair. Shiloh held his head still and looked into his eyes. The first press of his lips set Gage’s on fire. His heart beat faster as Shiloh forced his mouth open with his thrusting tongue and they shared a kiss. Soft lips left his and traced a path over his jaw to nibble on his earlobe. “Shi…” Gage sighed, knowing he was lost. He might as well enjoy the ride. “Shh. Lie back,” Shi whispered. Slowly he unbuttoned Gage’s shirt and pressed kisses to his chest. Finally, he took a nipple in his mouth and sucked lightly, flicking it with his tongue. Gage arched his back, pressing his chest against Shiloh’s mouth, wanting more. The cowboy sucked harder then bit him. Fuck! Gage’s nipples were hardwired to his cock. His erection grew rock solid, and he reached for his own zipper. “Uh-uh.” Shiloh sat up and pushed his hands away. “I was told to undress you.”

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Gage eyed the cowboy’s leaking dick and groaned. “You’re taking too long.” From the corner of his eye, he saw Tanner smirking, but he was too hot to give a shit. Licking his lips, Shiloh worked the zipper down and reached inside, groping Gage’s cock and balls, then freeing them. His erection stood straight up like the mast of a ship, the foreskin rolling back to expose the swelling head. Shiloh gave it a few strokes and pushed the foreskin back to his balls until the shaft was completely smooth. He spread leaking pre-cum over the head with his thumb. Then he bent to tongue the slit for a taste. Fuck, Gage was impossibly hard. His breath growing harsher by the minute, he gripped the sheets in frustration. When Shiloh tried to straighten up, Gage held his head down. “Oh God, I want that sweet mouth on my cock. Suck me, cowboy.” Shiloh struggled up and flashed an evil grin. “Not yet. I have my orders.” “Fuck!” Gage growled. He heard Tanner snicker, and he looked over at him. His lover’s eyes were hot and hungry. Tanner liked to watch, and it was obvious he was enjoying this. Gage had already taken off his shoes and socks earlier. He let Shi help him with his shirt then lifted his ass so the cowboy could remove his jeans. Despite the AC, Gage was on fire, and a fine sheen of sweat covered his body. His balls tightened at the look on the cowboy’s face as he lowered his head. But instead of sucking Gage’s aching dick, Shiloh pushed his legs in the air and spread his cheeks. A callused thumb rubbed over his exposed hole. Then Shi buried his face in the crease, and his long, wet tongue licked and sucked at his opening. Gage shuddered and let out a cry. Shi lifted his head and grinned. “Like that, do you?” “Urgh ha huh!” “I thought so.” Shi laughed and began anew to drive him crazy. He sucked and nipped. His talented tongue breached the muscle and

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flickered in and out. Just as Gage reached the edge of an orgasm, he stopped. “Motherfucker!” Gage groaned. “Don’t stop now.” He was dimly aware of Tanner’s harsh breaths next to him, and he looked over. From the glazed look in Tanner’s eyes, he could tell that his lover was extremely turned on, maybe as much as he was. “Yeah, suck it. Suck it all you want,” Tanner encouraged Shi. The cowboy took the hint, rubbing the stubble on his jaw against the soft skin of Gage’s shaft, then soothing it with his tongue, licking from base to head. Soft animal sounds escaped from Gage’s throat as Shi’s wet heat enveloped him. The man’s sexy lips felt so damn good wrapped around the weeping head of his dick, Gage couldn’t hold back a moan and his hips bucked, pushing more of his engorged cock down the cowboy’s throat. Shiloh swallowed his length then let his lips slide back up the shaft. Pleasure raced through him as Shiloh started sucking, and he writhed, straining for more. “God yes. Harder, cowboy. Suck me dry.” Deep, throaty moans and loud slurping noises filled the hotel room. Then Shi slipped a hand underneath him to caress the sensitive skin between scrotum and sphincter. A finger, slippery with spit and pre-cum, pressed against his hole, and Gage clenched his buttocks in anticipation. Shi breached the entrance, pushing the tip of his finger past the ring of muscle, and pleasure shot through Gage’s body. Approaching the point of no return, Gage bit his lip to hold back his release. **** Seeing Gage wrapped up in the pleasure of having Shiloh suck his cock made Tanner’s own cock weep for attention. These two men together were so damn hot. It was the most erotic thing he’d ever seen. For the moment, he was content just to stroke himself while he watched them.

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Suddenly Shiloh released Gage’s cock with a soft pop and looked over at Tanner. His cobalt eyes darkened even more. “Fuck me.” Tanner didn’t need a second invitation. “I thought you’d never ask.” Shameless, the cowboy groaned and bent over with his ass in the air. “There’re condoms on the nightstand.” He widened his legs before sucking the head of Gage’s cock back into his mouth. Lycans didn’t get human diseases. Tanner had never used a rubber in his life and didn’t plan on starting now. “Don’t need them. We’re both clean.” He came up behind the cowboy and stroked himself, spreading pre-cum over his shaft. Then he traced the crease of Shiloh’s ass. Shi tensed and grunted, then pushed back, encouraging him to do more. Tanner teased him, finally pushing his finger past the tight ring of muscle. Satisfied with Shi’s sounds of approval, he added a second finger and searched the tight passage for Shi’s prostate. A harsh grunt let him know when he found it. Fuck! Enough! He couldn’t hold off any longer. He removed his fingers and lined his dick up at Shi’s hole, pushing inside slowly until the head of his cock entered. Shi pushed back against him, letting him know he wanted more. One hard thrust, and he was inside, Shi’s muscles gripping his length like a glove. Tanner started moving, and a tidal wave of unfamiliar emotions flooded over him, a feeling of deep affection and belonging. Somehow, it felt right having Shiloh between him and Gage. Tanner heard Gage cry out with his release and felt himself approaching the point of no return. He reached around Shi to grip his cock and stroke him to completion. A garbled sound came from Shi’s throat, and his wet heat spread over Tanner’s hand. Tanner gave one last thrust and felt the ball-tightening spasm that signaled an orgasm. Shi ground back against him, he saw stars behind his eyelids, and his hot cum filled the cowboy’s ass. Abandoning himself to one of the longest, hottest orgasms of his life, Tanner rested his head against the broad back under him and rode out his climax.

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**** The three men lay next to each other in companionable silence. Shiloh, in the middle, shifted and rolled to his side. He propped his head on a hand and looked down at the dark-haired man on his left. Gage’s eyes fluttered open, and he smiled up at the blond. Shiloh thought he had never seen anyone more attractive, except maybe the man on his right. Gage looked delicious with his long, dark hair spread over the pillows, his heavy-lidded gaze wandering up and down Shi’s body, leaving heat in its wake. Shi played with the man’s hair, letting the long strands slide through his fingers. A twinge of guilt made him uneasy. Although he didn’t know anything about them and he made it a practice not to see any man more than once, he wanted to see Gage and Tanner again. If he did, it would take more time from Kate, and he really didn’t like leaving her alone so much. One day she would tire of him, find a man who could give her what she wanted, and he would lose her. The thought made his heart ache. Despite their strange situation, he loved her. Gage narrowed his brows. “Something bothering you, cowboy?” Shi pursed his lips and shook his head. “No, I was just wishing you could stay the night.” “Why don’t you go home?” “No point to it. It’s getting late, and pretty soon, I’ll have to get ready for an early show. It’s the last day of the rodeo.” “We have an early day tomorrow, too,” Gage told him. “This has been great.” Gage reached up a hand to smooth back his hair. “But we need to get back.” Tanner rolled up behind him and put an arm around him. Being sandwiched between them felt right. Shi looked over his shoulder. “I wanted you since the first time I saw you, both of you.” He hesitated. “I want more…” “But?” Tanner asked.

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“But I don’t want to hurt Kate.” Gage scowled. “I thought you said she knew about your affairs.” “She does. We don’t hide anything from each other.” Shiloh hesitated as he caught a strange look pass between Gage and Tanner. “Go on,” Tanner prodded him. “Kate knows me really well. She picked up on my interest and attraction to you guys, and she never intended to come tonight. Look, Kate and I want to be together, but we both know we’re not getting everything we need from each other, so we found our own solution— outside friendships.” Gage’s brow furrowed and his expression turned dark. “So you’re saying Kate has other men? Or women?” Shiloh shook his head. “No, she hasn’t met anyone she’s interested in, but I have, and she’s okay with it as long as I’m careful. Up ’til now, it’s only been one-night flings. This feels different, and I’d like to see where it leads, but I don’t want to rub her nose in it. We’re sensitive to each other’s feelings.” “You don’t have to worry. We don’t want to hurt her either. Right, Tanner?” Gage asked. “Of course. What happens between us stays between us.” Shi sighed in relief. “Good, I’m leaving with the rodeo after tomorrow’s show. I’ll be back in a week. You have my cell number. Use it if you want to.”

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Chapter Six Tanner kept one hand on the steering wheel. The other fiddled with the AC. “Are you sure this is a good idea? We don’t even know if she’s at home.” “Well how else are we going to find out?” Gage shook his head in disgust. “Maybe I should have just come out and asked Shiloh. Ah, excuse me, but are you sure Kate will be home tomorrow so we can fuck her? And by the way, she’s a wolf.” “Well at least we know how she keeps her secret. He admitted they have separate lives, and he travels a lot. That would make it a lot easier.” “Yeah, and living so far out, she can run without worrying about being caught.” Gage leaned back in his seat and looked at the passing landscape: dry creek beds, tumbleweeds, dust devils, hazy heat waves, as if they were in a fucking desert. “Although I’d bet she’s not doing much running in this heat.” “Yeah, about as much as we are,” Tanner complained. “I don’t think she’ll be happy to see us.” “You don’t know that. Shiloh wasn’t the only one we connected with. Kate felt something, too. She didn’t show up because she doesn’t step on Shiloh’s toes. Besides, she’s on the down-low and hiding. Actually, they both are. The cowboy identifies as straight but prefers sex with men, and Kate…well, Kate’s hiding who she really is, and I want to know what she’s afraid of.” Tanner snorted. “Us, for starters.” “Right. Don’t barge in there like a wolf in a china shop.” “What do you take me for, anyway?” Tanner chuckled.

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“I can’t trust you. Look what you got us into last night.” “Me? You’re the one who made the date. And you had a good time, didn’t you?” “Okay, okay. I’ll take half the blame. Just keep your eyes on the road, and be good when we get to her house.” “I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.” They rode in silence for a few miles. Then Gage spoke up. “I’m surprised she puts up with his fooling around. Wolves are territorial. Despite the Alpha’s crazy breeding schedules, we don’t like our rightful partners running with strangers.” Gage paused for effect. “I hope you’re not insinuating that I would do something like that.” Gage laughed. “Course not. You can hardly keep up with me.” “You’re so full of wolf shit, your eyes are brown. I think I held up my end pretty good last night.” Gage cupped his crotch. “Yes, you did, sweetheart. I’m getting a hard-on just thinking about.” “Want me to stop the car and take care of that?” Gage sighed regretfully. “No, I don’t want to meet her smelling like I just got fucked.” “Gotcha.” Tanner agreed. “And she puts up with it because it suits them. They’re using each other. He’s in the closet, playing macho cowboy, and Kate is the beard. She’s hiding, and he’s providing security. But is she hiding from her own kind or someone else? It’s important to find out. Maybe we should be hiding, too.” Gage furrowed his brow. “You’re right. I never thought of that.” “Whatever the problem, she’s better off with her own kind. Humans can’t be trusted. And I’d bet my last dollar she hasn’t told Shiloh what she really is because deep down she doesn’t trust him.” “But she doesn’t know us well enough to trust us either, and convincing her might not be so easy.” Tanner pounded on the wheel. “So let’s just take her. We bring her in and—”

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“And what? Keep her under lock and key? That’s not going to work.” “What if she doesn’t want to come willingly?” “She will.” Despite the confidence he tried to project to Tanner, Gage had his own doubts. And if Kate wouldn’t listen to reason, they might have to take her against her will. That was a last resort. Tanner cleared his throat. “Hey, navigator,” he grumbled, “are you sure we’re going the right way?” “My internal GPS says we are, and it’s never wrong.” Even though it doesn’t have much to go on. There was no real road, more like a byway, and not a tire tread to mark the way. Kate and Shiloh must have used a shortcut to get around because this wasn’t their route. At last Gage scented her, faint but detectable. Tanner crested a low range of hills, and Gage spied the house below them, dead center in a clearing surrounded by leafless trees and dry grasses. “Will you look at that? This has to be the worst drought we’ve had since we settled here.” Tanner stopped the truck. “I don’t like it, Gage, not one little bit. They say the lake levels are so low right now, you can see tree stumps out in the middle of the water and no rain in sight.” “We’re more likely to see smoke from wildfires than rain,” Gage said softly. He looked at the puny tufts of green poking through the dirt and felt a thrill of fear run down his spine. He didn’t scare easy, but fire terrified him. Since the great fire sixteen years ago, he couldn’t sit by a campfire without feeling anxious. “I hear ya. Worst-case scenario, we’ll evacuate.” “And go where? Conditions are bad all over—” Tanner squeezed his shoulder so hard Gage feared he would leave fingerprints. “Well, that answers one question. She’s home, all right.” “So I see.” Gage’s wolf wanted to sit up and howl at the sight of Kate in her little cutoff shorts. Tanner was right—she needed a wolf, or two, and they were just the men for the job. He wanted those mile-

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long legs wrapped around his waist while he pumped his seed inside her, staking his claim. “Okay, baby, put that wolfish charm to good use.” Tanner had a hand poised over the ignition, but Gage stopped him. “Let’s walk. I don’t want to spook her.” Tanner shrugged. “If you think so.” “I don’t know what to think. I’m going on instinct here.” Despite the AC, his sweat-soaked T-shirt stuck to his body. Unbelievably, he felt as nervous as a pup on his first date. He took a deep breath to calm his racing heart and got out of the truck. The she-wolf’s house was constructed of hand-hewn logs, and Gage wondered if the cowboy had built it himself. A lot of love had gone into the building, but it wasn’t a luxurious lifestyle by any means. Still, it was a manner of living that a wolf would prefer, especially one who wanted to hide. Halfway down the low ridge, Gage stopped abruptly. He felt like an intruder, as if he were poking into a private life better left untouched. “What is it?” “Nothing. Let’s get this over with.” **** Kate had come outside for a breath of air, but there was no relief from the blistering heat. She lifted the hem of her tank top to wipe the sweat dripping down her face. Then, hands on hips, she looked around the property, but there was not even a shade tree to take refuge under for a few minutes. She and Shiloh weren’t farmers, but she liked greenery around her. Must be the wolf in me. But with the drought so bad, the grounds and greenery were too parched to survive. Conditions had gotten so bad, forest managers had imposed campfire restrictions, and smoking was prohibited except inside buildings and vehicles. Campers couldn’t even take a motor vehicle off the road. Who’d want to camp in this weather, anyway?

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Guess we should have installed AC. The fans didn’t do much but push around the hot air. When Shiloh built the house, he’d assured Kate over and over he would add on to it later. Whatever you need, baby, just let me know. Then he got more popular on the rodeo circuit and started traveling all the time. So the house was pretty much the way it had been when Shi first built it. He didn’t believe her when she insisted she loved living small, but it was true. She could clean her eight hundred square feet in no time at all, and they didn’t have to spend a lot on furniture or maintenance. The living area had a lot of built-ins and comfy overstuffed chairs. There was no dining room, and the kitchen island served as their table as well as work space. Shiloh had built the bedroom and bath large with plenty of closet space, and there was a small laundry room with a back door. As far as she was concerned, the house was absolutely perfect—except for the lack of AC. If only the rest of her life were as perfect. Lately she’d been feeling really down. She had a great guy, but he was always on the road, and she spent most of her time alone. Plus, Shi had his own secret life, and their infrequent couplings were lacking in passion. She needed something he couldn’t provide, and her lackluster performance in the bedroom didn’t light his fire. They were some pair. Somebody needed to light a match under them. At first she’d been content, but as time went by, she started craving more—more companionship, more sex, more people like herself…No wonder she’d found herself attracted to the two strangers. They were like her. All night she’d lain awake thinking about Shi with those two men, wondering what they were doing, imagining them in bed together, picturing those three naked, sweaty bodies fucking each other. She had never been jealous a day in her life, but here she was lusting after two strangers and angry with Shi because he was doing what she wanted to do. If she were honest with herself, she’d admit it wasn’t Shi she was angry at, but herself. Why didn’t she go last night? Shi

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would have been shocked, but not that shocked. He knew she needed more—he just didn’t know what more she needed. She hadn’t known either, until these men showed up. Fear held her back. She wanted to talk to Gage and Tanner, but she had no idea what their motives were. She had grown used to living, hiding really, among the humans. So far she’d been safe, and she thought it best to let sleeping dogs lie. Her wolf scared her. Her strong physical attraction to the Lycans scared her. God, she hated herself for being so scared all the time. Kate smelled the exhaust before she spotted the dust cloud over the rise. It was hot as hell, but a chill ran down her spine, and a flicker of warning froze her to the spot. Few people came out here. The pickup stopped at the top of the rise, and Kate’s pulse raced. It was them, coming to her almost as if they knew what she was thinking. She watched the two men start down the hill, and she considered making a run for it, then changed her mind. They were wolf, and if they wanted her that bad, they would chase her down. No, she would stand her ground and find out once and for all what they wanted. Better to do it now, when Shi wasn’t home. Shi? Oh my God, did they tell him who they really were? No, they couldn’t have. Kate looked from one to the other as they got closer. Dressed in T-shirts and cutoffs, they were modern-day gods, tall and bronzed by the sun. A sheen of sweat accentuated powerful muscles as if they’d oiled themselves for a photo shoot. Her breath caught in her throat. No cover model could compare with their reality. Unmistakable animal lust radiated from every pore, and her body responded in kind. They looked their fill, too. Gage focused on her legs while Tanner’s admiring gaze settled on her breasts. When his eyes met hers, his lips twitched in amusement, not at all contrite. A smile touched her own lips, and she hid it, wanting him to think she was offended even though she wasn’t. Maybe she was crazy, but she liked his eyes on her.

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Then she glanced at Gage. He smiled shyly, and his face flushed. It could have been from the sun, but she didn’t think so. It was endearing, and she smiled back. Tanner hung back. Gage came a little closer but not much. “We just want to talk to you.” He put his hands out as if in surrender. “In our world we recognize our own by chemical signature. Yours is unmistakable and you must recognize our scent as well. We’re like you. We would never hurt you.” His voice, slightly hoarse, rumbled through her body, calming her wolf. She nodded. Why had she ever thought she was afraid of them? Right now she wanted nothing more than to get to know these men who were like her. Gage seemed to relax and started walking over to her. At the look in her eyes, he stopped, confused. She couldn’t help the nervous tremors shaking her body or the intense way she looked at him, but it wasn’t apprehension running through her veins. Her shorts were damp with arousal, and the pleasurable throbbing between her thighs could only mean one thing—her wolf wanted to mate.

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Chapter Seven Gage stood stock-still, waiting for Kate to make the next move. He had gotten the distinct impression that she wanted to talk, but as soon as he tried to come close, she started shaking. The woman sent mixed signals, but the unmistakable scent of her arousal told him she still wanted them as much as they wanted her. Just knowing she wanted to mate was bad enough, but the heady perfume her body released was seeping into every pore. He was ready to mount her here and now, like the wolf he was. That was it. She’d sensed his wolf on the edge, and it shook her up. After all, they were strangers, big, intimidating strangers. He looked back at Tanner, ready to tell him to back off, but his lover, apparently sensing Kate’s anxiety on his own, stood stock-still behind him. Whatever connection he had with Kate, Tanner seemed to share it, just as Gage had shared the attraction Tanner felt for Shiloh. Complicated beyond belief, he had no idea how to handle this situation. His relationship with Tanner had always been pretty straightforward. Sex, companionship, love, all the right ingredients were there. Sometimes they shared sex with others, but not the deep, emotional love they shared with each other. Now his feelings for two strangers were threatening to grow as strong as his feelings for Tanner. Tanner felt the same, but what about Kate and Shiloh? The emotional roller coaster was confusing and wonderful—as long as no one got hurt.

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Minutes passed, and Kate stood there biting her lip. How could he convince her they meant her no harm? “Kate?” She flinched and looked up. “I swear to Kweo, we won’t hurt you.” At the mention of their god, Kate’s eyes widened, and Gage pressed on. “I promise we won’t touch you or shift to wolf.” A war seemed to be going on inside her. Gage waited to see which side would win out. **** Kate didn’t want to be wolf. Kate wanted to be wolf. Two sides of the same coin. Years ago she had put her past behind her. After she ran away, she’d been positive she would never see one of her own kind again, and she hadn’t. Totally on her own, she knew being wolf was dangerous. On four feet she’d be hunted, either by those who thought she was a real wolf or those who knew she wasn’t and thought they could use her for their own purpose. She never shifted again, forcing herself to adjust to the human world. Always on the run, always moving further away from the East Coast, she’d lived off the streets, finally ending up in Texas, where she found a small, cheap apartment and a job in a diner. That’s where she met Shiloh. He ate there often, and they seemed to hit it off. On a slow night, she opened up a little, making up a story about leaving an abusive boyfriend. His reaction surprised her. He’d turned red and pounded a fist on the table, attracting unwanted attention from the other customers. Suddenly he became her white knight, wanting to find this guy and teach him a lesson. Embarrassed, she started to walk away, and he apologized, telling her his father had beaten him and his mother for years. By the time he’d grown to a size and an age where he could fight back, the old man had died. He never got the revenge he craved,

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but he took care of his mother until she remarried and he moved out. He had a good life now, living in Texas, traveling the rodeo circuit, and trying to make a name for himself. But he could not get past his abusive childhood. Kate told him how lucky he was to have his mother as long as he did. She admitted her family was dead and she had no one. Shiloh took her under his wing, and grateful, she allowed him to get closer, but he never tried to have sex with her. At first she thought he was going slow because he thought she’d been abused, but finally he admitted he preferred men. She didn’t mind. She cared for him, but sex was the furthest thing from her mind. Shi had found some cheap land in New Mexico. He planned to settle there and build a house. He asked Kate to go with him. Stunned, she accepted. Shi could be trusted, he liked her for herself, and if all he wanted was a friend and a pretend fiancée, that was fine with her. They were good together, loved each other in their own way. Sometimes they made love, but their relationship went way beyond the physical. She would do anything for him. Now these two men had come into her life, and she realized how much she longed to know more about her ancestry. Sixteen years ago, when Kweo abandoned her people, she lost her faith. Were these men still believers? Had they found something or someone who had restored their faith? But how could she talk to them when she was more human than wolf? Ten years since she’d shifted. Ten years! She’d forgotten how to let out her wolf, and the thought of trying scared her to death. Terrified of her own spirit self, she feared it was too late to embrace her heritage. What if she shifted and couldn’t shift back, got stuck inside her fur forever? A little voice whispered in her head, Do you want to be stuck inside your human skin forever? If only she’d had her real parents longer. There’d been no one to guide her, to reassure her and be there to lead her through the changes that puberty brought. All that had been denied her when her family

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was killed. And now she felt stupid and childish. How could she admit to these men that she wasn’t afraid of them? It was herself she feared, the wild creature inside her who right this very minute wanted to be set free and fucked senseless. Sometimes fear could be a good thing, making a person careful and keeping them safe, but mostly it had crippled her, emotionally and spiritually, even physically. How long would she let it control her life, keeping her a prisoner inside this human flesh? Suddenly she thought about a day, long years ago, when she’d been bullied by the older kids and ran home crying because she’d been afraid of them. Her mother had comforted her with words she was too young to appreciate at the time. “Courage is not the absence of fear but the means to overcome what scares you.” She’d done it once before, overcame her fear, ran away, and somehow made a life for herself. But it’s not the life you were meant to have. Find your courage again. Own it. Use it. For years she had ignored her own needs, settled for a life that made her feel resentful and dead inside. More than anything, she wanted to find her own true path, whatever it might be. Kate looked from Gage to Tanner and back to Gage. “Come inside. I’ll get you something to drink, and we can talk there.”

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Chapter Eight “Sit.” Kate waved at the old plaid overstuffed couch. “We never installed air-conditioning, but the fan is better than nothing. What can I get you to drink?” “Just water,” both men answered in unison. Kate nodded and headed into the small kitchen. She took bottles of water from the fridge and held them against her burning face. What am I doing? Wrapping composure around her like a blanket, she walked back with the water. She handed a bottle to Gage, and as he grasped her hand, she felt ambushed by an intense, intoxicating connection that went straight to her core. A high like no other, it could also prove to be her death spiral. It’s only strong animal lust, nothing more. She could tell herself that, but her wolf was having none of it. Somehow it knew that a brief sexual encounter and a parting of ways would not suffice here. If they pursued this attraction, once would not be enough. He thanked her and retrieved his hand and the bottle. She was careful not to touch Tanner when she handed him the water. The men took big swallows from the bottles. Kate watched Gage’s throat work as he drank. Why did everything about these men fascinate her? Concentrate, Kate. She tore her gaze from his throat and mouth. “Why are you here?” Both men looked up in surprise. Gage smiled wryly. “Why are you here?” Kate shook her head, clearly agitated. “I asked you first. Please, I need an answer.”

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The men exchanged a look and seemed to wordlessly agree on something. Tanner cleared his throat. “We live here.” He grinned broadly. “I dragged Gage to the rodeo, to see Shiloh, in fact, and we were shocked to find you, a she-wolf, living only a short distance from us.” “So you found me by chance?” “Yes.” Gage’s brow furrowed. “Did you think we were stalking you?” Kate pressed her palms to her eyes. “I wasn’t sure.” “Who are you afraid of, Kate?” Tanner asked her. “We need to know. Whoever it is might come after us.” Kate shook her head. “I don’t think so.” She told them her story and watched their reactions carefully. By the time she finished, Tanner was clenching his fists, and Gage, unable to sit still, paced her small living room, red-faced and angry. He came and stood in front of her. “Do you realize that man who took you might have been the one who killed our families? We need to find him. He has to be punished.” Kate flinched, afraid of his temper. “They could be dead by now.” “You don’t know that. Tell me everything you remember. An address, a street…” She wrapped her arms around herself and rocked back and forth. “I was only a child. They didn’t tell me anything.” Tanner came over and put a hand on Gage’s arm. “You’re scaring her.” He smiled at Kate. “And he told me to behave.” Gage got to his knees in front of her and took her hands. “I’m so sorry for scaring you, for what you went through, for everything. Forgive me.” His scent tantalized her, and she didn’t want to let go. She squeezed his hands. “There’s nothing to forgive. We’ve all suffered.” “Not like you. At least we grew up with our own kind. We had each other, an Alpha who took care of us.” “There’s more of you? Of us?” Kate whispered.

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“We’re a pack, Kate. Not a large one, just a small group of survivors who followed an older boy west. But we do okay. Sometimes we find one of our own, and they join us. We want you to join us.” Kate’s eyes went wide. She hadn’t expected any of this. Shaking her head, she pulled her hand away. “I have a home. I live here with Shiloh.” “This isn’t living, Kate,” Gage said softly. Kate sighed heavily. “We have a complicated relationship, but it works for us.” Gage bit his lip. “He’s not—” “I know you were with him last night.” She shrugged. “He likes men. I won’t stop him from going after what he needs to be happy.” “And what do you need to be happy, Kate?” “I am happy,” she said with finality. Gage stood. “Will you at least think about it?” When she looked at these men, her heart ached with grief and regret. Sometimes the hurt eased up, and she thought she was healing. Then something would happen, and back it came. Right now it was back, ripping her heart out again. And this time it was worse, because she hurt for these men as well as herself. But that didn’t mean she could live with them. Being near them made her long for a world she hardly remembered, but it was too late. She was more human than wolf. Suddenly the house wasn’t big enough for all of them. She felt suffocated by life, by her grief and theirs. Kate stood and walked toward the door. “Thank you for coming, but I can’t leave here. Shiloh needs me.” “We need you.” His words made her feel guilty, and she had no idea why. They had gotten along without her up until now. She didn’t owe these men anything, and she steeled her resolve. “He takes care of me.” “We’ll take care of you.”

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Two pairs of sad eyes bored into her, and her mind churned with confused thoughts. What would it be like to live with her own people again? She couldn’t do it. She didn’t know how. “And who will take care of Shiloh?” The men had no answer for her. They walked toward the door, their muscles rippling with the same sexual tension she felt. They focused on her like predators hunting their prey. She shivered, but her only fear was that if they didn’t leave now, she might end up begging them to stay, betrayed by her own body. “I’m sorry if we upset you. Believe me, it was not my intention. I’d like to see you again.” Gage held out a hand. Afraid to touch him, Kate looked at his hand like it was a snake. Finally she took his hand and made the mistake of looking up into his eyes. In slow motion, they moved toward each other with a weird, dreamy intimacy that she could no more resist than she could stop breathing. The first touch of lips joined them with the heat of a soldering iron to metal, and they shared a kiss full of passion and need. As Gage explored her mouth, Tanner came up behind her and nuzzled her neck. She whimpered, and Gage broke their kiss. Long fingers grasped her chin and turned her head. She met Tanner’s golden gaze, feeling a slight tingle of alarm. Then she forgot everything as he slanted his head and his mouth closed softly over hers. She kissed him back, savoring the sweetness but burning for more. The magic of his taste overrode her inhibitions, and shocked at her own eager response to the touch of his lips, she let her tongue press for entrance. Tanner groaned and met her tongue with his. When he finally pulled away, she whimpered at the loss of contact. The kisses left her weak and confused, and Kate felt sure if she hadn’t been sandwiched between the men, she might have fallen. She felt a wild surge of pleasure as Gage took her lips again and forced her mouth open with his thrusting tongue. Tanner pulled her hair back and traced the shell of her ear with his tongue, then nipped

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the lobe. His hands slid under her tank top and cupped her breasts, massaging them gently then rolling her nipples between his fingers until they were hard little points. She hardly noticed when Gage swept her off her feet and carried her into the bedroom, then deposited her on the big bed she shared with Shiloh. He unzipped her damp shorts, breathed them in, and dropped them to the floor. She lifted her arms, and Tanner pulled her shirt over her head. Lying back against the pillows, she watched both men as they stripped. Two pairs of boots were quickly kicked away, then shirts torn off, and buttons went flying. Lastly they shoved jeans over slim hips, and she was able to see the solid evidence of each man’s arousal. A moment of doubt crept into her head at the sight of the two highly aroused Lycans, both seducing her with feral wolf eyes, their long, thick cocks fully engorged. Gage climbed onto the bed and started crawling toward her, his amber eyes on fire, and all thought fled as his hungry mouth settled on hers, feasting like a starving man. The mattress shifted as Tanner settled next to her. She released Gage’s lips, and Tanner leaned over her shoulder to steal them. The two men shared a deep kiss, and the sight stoked the fire burning inside her. They broke apart, and two dark heads bent, each sucking a swollen nipple into the wet heat of their mouths. Kate cried out as two tongues flicked her swollen nubs, lashing them to hard points and sending explosive currents to her pussy. Her hips bucked as she writhed against them, begging for more. Gage drew her nipple taut, teased it with his tongue, then suckled harder. Tanner released her breast with a soft pop and shifted position. He settled between her thighs and pushed them apart. The first stroke of his sandpaper tongue along her damp folds surprised a desperate moan of need from her depths. Each swipe of tongue sparked a fresh jolt of electricity through her body and had her arching for more. While Tanner lapped at her pussy, Gage tortured her breasts, pinching her nipples and sucking one, then the other.

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Tanner’s palms cupped her ass, bringing her sex closer to his mouth. He sucked her swollen button gently, and the sensation made her gasp and lift her hips. When he nipped her clit, he took her over the edge, and she cried out in a moment of pure ecstasy. When she finally opened her eyes, both men were staring down at her, their smoldering eyes pinning her with heat. She stared back, knowing her eyes reflected the same heat back to them. A great, aching emptiness took her, a void that needed to be filled. Never before had she been so aroused, so excited, and so anxious to be penetrated. “Tell me what you need, sweetheart.” Gage bent his head to brush his lips against hers. “Whatever you want, baby.” Tanner echoed him. Emotion had her on the brink of tears. Her men were both steel hard and probably hanging on to control by their claws, but their first thoughts were for her. “Fuck me.” She looked from one to the other. Gage combed a hand through his long hair and frowned. “I don’t know…” “You said whatever I wanted.” Her lip quivered. “Don’t you want me?” “Oh, God.” Gage settled down next to her and held her tight against his body. The hard ridge of his cock pressed into her hip. “You have no idea how much I want you.” He rubbed circles on her back. “But I don’t want to hurt you. I know Tanner doesn’t either.” Kate cupped his jaw. “You won’t.” “Have you ever been with two men before?” he asked quietly. The idea of having both of these men inside her at once made her shudder. She shook her head. “But I want to be.” Tanner pressed closer, his erection nudging her butt. He nuzzled her neck. “Are you sure?” “I’m sure I want you, both of you.” Gage kissed her tenderly. “We won’t hurt you, sweetheart.” Kate pretended to pout. “How disappointing.”

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“That’s my girl.” Grinning, Gage slapped her ass and lay flat on his back. “Climb on, you little minx. Ride me.” Kate straddled his hips and gripped his cock like the horn of a saddle. Gage groaned and thrust up into her hands. “Fuck, baby. Keep doing that, and this will be over way too soon.” “Oh no.” She released him like a hot potato. She wanted this, them, way too much to have it be over so soon. Her head spun as she heard Tanner rummaging in the nightstand. “Lube?” he asked. “Never mind, I found it.” The mattress dipped as he climbed up behind her. “Kate?” Gage caught her eyes. “Do you want me inside you?” “God yes.” This is what she’d been missing. Tonight she would have what had long been denied her. “Ride me, sweetheart,” he urged. Tanner gripped her hips and helped her to her knees. Positioning her weeping pussy over Gage’s stiff cock, she sank down on his length, impaling herself. They both groaned at the contact as Gage pulled her down, giving Tanner access to her ass. She shuddered as he spread cool lube between her cheeks and slipped a finger past the tight ring of muscle at her entrance. Tanner stilled. “Are you okay?” “Yes,” she whispered, a shudder rippling down her back. “Please don’t stop.” Tanner pulled out and slowly inserted two fingers. “Still okay, baby?” “Yes,” she hissed. “More, please.” Tanner removed his fingers, and Kate felt the fat head of his cock press against her ass. For a second she froze. Then he pushed inside and stopped. “Jesus, you’re so fucking tight.” Tanner growled. “You feel so good.” He pressed deeper, and she whimpered at the burn. Gage murmured encouragement, and behind her Tanner whispered words of praise as he slowly worked himself deeper. The

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pain soon turned to pleasure, and an amazing feeling of fullness brought a moan from her throat. Having Tanner buried deep in her ass and Gage filling her pussy brought on a surge of passion and belonging that blended into an intimacy she’d never experienced before. Tanner started moving behind her, and the pressure of his thrusts drove her further onto Gage, who growled at each thrust. Both men started moving in tandem, and she picked up their rhythm, caught between them in ecstatic pleasure. The long, slow strokes and the heady smell of sex drove her into a frenzy. Her ragged breath came in pants. The hunger and emotions coming from her men grew more powerful. Their thrusts and parries grew faster and harder. She squirmed and writhed between them, balancing on the edge of climax. “Oh God, oh God, oh God.” Gage tensed, and she knew he was close. “Mine,” he growled, his fingers biting into her thighs and holding her steady as he shouted out his release. Behind her Tanner groaned, thrust, and then stilled. “Mine.” He pulled her hair aside, and at the moment of his orgasm, he sank his teeth into her neck. The pleasure of his bite started the ripples that signaled her own climax, and all rational thought fled as her muscles gripped them with pulsating waves of pleasure. They collapsed in a sated heap, and Kate luxuriated in the closeness of the two hard bodies flanking her. She felt safe and warm and womanly. They were right. She hadn’t been living at all. Soon it would be time to let them go, and she didn’t want to think about that, because despite the electrifying bond she shared with the Lycans, she couldn’t see them again. It would only be harder next time, and as deep as her feelings were, she still felt more human than wolf, and she couldn’t turn her back on the life she’d built with Shiloh.

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Chapter Nine “Expected high winds will challenge the crews trying to contain the wildfires spreading into New Mexico. Critical conditions remain, according to a spokesman for the teams battling the fires, and authorities have ordered the evacuation of residences in its path.” Gage didn’t just turn the radio off. He threw it across the room. Tanner looked up in shock. “Hey, we’re not in the danger zone. Everyone is pretty confident the fire won’t spread here.” Gage growled at his lover. “So I shouldn’t be concerned that Kate is right in the line of fire.” Tanner flinched. “Fuck! I didn’t even realize…” His face crumbled. “We should have tied her up and thrown her in the truck when we had the chance.” They had their chance two days ago when they claimed Kate and made her their own. She’d been a willing and eager participant, enjoying the lovemaking as much as they did. He’d been so sure that night was the start of something special between the three of them. But when the sun came up, Kate’s whole demeanor changed. Her words shocked him, made him feel foolish and used. “We had wonderful sex, but it doesn’t mean I want more. My life is here with Shiloh.” Is that all their connection meant to her, a no-strings-attached hookup? He didn’t believe it, not for a minute, but Kate was adamant. Finally they had left, but it wasn’t over, not by a long shot. He had intended to give her time and space to think things over, hoping she would come to her senses. But now they had run out of time. “What are we going to do?” Tanner pressed him.

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“We’re going to bring her home,” Gage said decisively. “She’s got no choice, and once she’s here, she’ll realize this is where she belongs.” I hope. “What about Shiloh?” Tanner asked softly. “He’ll come home, and everything important in his life will be gone.” “I don’t know. I really don’t fucking know.” Gage scrubbed a hand through his long hair. “I care about Shiloh as much as you do, but we can’t bring him here. He’s not wolf.” “Neither is Janis, but the Alpha allowed Wade and Noah to bring her into the pack.” “That’s different, and you know it. Her brothers are mated to a she-wolf in Pennsylvania. There’s no way she’d put her family in danger.” “I trust Shiloh,” Tanner insisted. Gage was already headed out the door. “We’re wasting time. Let’s get Kate out of danger. Then we’ll decide what happens next.” **** In the distance, billowing columns of smoke reached for the heavens, but the sight was nothing compared to the nightmare landscape they witnessed the further they drove north. Smoke that found the right mix of gas and air ignited into giant balls of fire, setting the sky aglow. Kate’s land was in a hilly area surrounded by forest, the type of terrain that might increase the speed and intensity of fire. But the house itself was in a large clearing and might be safe for a little while. Gage just hoped the high winds would hold off until they had Kate out of there. It would only take one flying ember to set the house ablaze. The New Mexico State Police had recommended a route around the fire, but Gage’s stomach sank when he realized how many miles the detour added to their drive. He urged Tanner to go faster, knowing his partner was already going as fast the old truck allowed.

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When they finally crested the ridge, Gage panicked. A wall of flame surrounded the clearing. Kate’s truck was still there. “Do you think she shifted and ran?” “Don’t know,” Tanner said doubtfully. “We have to see for ourselves. Do you want to get out and make a run for it?” Did he? Memories overwhelmed him. He was back in the Pine Barrens, an inferno consuming his entire world. Terrified wolves howling in pain. Homes reduced to skeleton framework in minutes. Mass confusion. The stench of burning fur. Blackened forms twitching on the charred earth. He was in the bowels of hell, and he ran. “Gage!” The heat was unbearable, and Tanner had rivulets of sweat running down his face. “We have to go through the fire. There’s no other way.” Gage groaned under the weight of regret and remorse, grief and guilt. Despite being a kid when the Lycan village was burned down, he always felt like he should have saved everyone. Now he had a chance to save Kate, and he couldn’t make himself move. Oh God, Kweo. Is this some kind of test? He put his face in his hands. “I don’t know…” Tanner put an arm around him. “We can do this together. We can save Kate and bring her home.” Tanner’s voice brought him back to the present. Faced with his worst fear, he took comfort in the thought that his partner was there with him and together they were going to save their mate. With his wolf spirit in his heart and Tanner at his side, he could do this. It made all the difference. “Go!” “Hold on.” Tanner gunned the motor and drove down the rise and through the flames. It was hotter than hell, with zero visibility. The cab filled with smoke, and they both started coughing and choking. The pickup stalled once, and Gage thought it was all over, but somehow Tanner got it going, and they ended up inside a ring of fire. The blaze burned

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and crackled, sending flaming embers toward the sky. He prayed they wouldn’t torch the house. Ignoring the burn of the truck’s door handles, he and Tanner threw open the doors, desperate to get inside and look for Kate before the house caught and went up in flames. **** Flames circled Kate like a fiery necklace of reddish-orange citrine. The hot, dry air seared her lungs, but her ears heard a roaring waterfall. It was all so surreal. Every animal instinct shouted run, but it was hopeless. In the space of a heartbeat, her situation had become desperate. Fire just didn’t spread this quickly. Could the right mix of terrain, fuel, and wind send a fire spiraling out of control? Or had the grim reaper come back to claim a life he’d once spared? Overcome by a bizarre sensation of déjà vu, she watched a wall of flames reach for the sky in a taunting dance. She’d cheated death once, hiding in the woods while her family burned to death. Yet Kweo, the wolf spirit she’d forsaken, had given her a second chance, a path back to her people. She’d cast it aside out of fear and cowardice, and now he was punishing her, giving her the death she should have had sixteen years ago. The torment of hellfire was her destiny, and this time there would be no escape. The thick smoke stole her breath and burned her eyes, but she preferred suffocating from smoke inhalation to burning alive. Stumbling through the door, she ran to the back of the house and crammed herself into a corner. Each choking inhale was harder to drag into her raw, sore throat. Time slowed, and darkness closed in on her like a warm, heavy blanket. **** Tanner didn’t think. He ran at the door shoulder-first, and it flew open. Glancing over at Gage, he saw his partner climb through a

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window that had shattered from the heat. They met in the living room, choking and stumbling against furniture in the smoky haze. “Kate! Kate!” Tanner screamed as the thick smoke invaded his lungs. “I’ll take the kitchen.” Gage’s voice was hoarse, and he doubled over, coughing. Tanner hesitated, torn between helping his lover and searching for Kate. Gage straightened. “Go,” he gasped. Tanner nodded once and ran for the bedroom. He found Kate cowering in the corner, hands over her head. When he pulled her arms away, she wheezed and struggled for breath. Tears had plowed a trail through the soot on her face, but she was still alive, and relief flowed through his body. “Thank God, you’re okay.” Is she? Her color was bad, and when Tanner pulled her into his arms, she was like a rag doll. “Gage!” His voice cracked, but Gage was already running through the door. “Is she okay?” Gage croaked. “She’s pale, and her lips are blue, probably from smoke inhalation. We need to get out of here. Now.” He scooped her up, and a worried Gage followed them through the house and outside. Loud popping noises stopped them dead in their tracks. Frozen with shock, they watched the truck wilt as the tires liquefied. The paint had bubbled, metal was starting to peel, and the license plate had melted completely. Windows had blown out, and the frames were deformed. The truck was toast. Fuck, fuck, fuck! Tanner set Kate on the ground and hunched down next to her. “We need to shift. It’s the only way. We’ll get through faster, and we’ll heal faster.” Gage got on his knees next to them. “Come on, sweetheart, shift. We have to go.” ****

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Overwhelmed with panic, Kate sat on the dirt and shook her head from side to side. Tanner shook her, and she looked at him dumbly. Behind him, flames danced, and the thick, choking smoke invaded her body. Her head felt fuzzy, and she couldn’t think straight. “Shift. Shift. Shift.” Kate heard Tanner’s voice through an incessant buzz, and she kept shaking her head. So tired, right this minute she felt the life draining from her body. Gage’s face appeared in front of her, his hands gripping her arms. “Shift, Kate. Damn it, shift!” Leave me alone. Didn’t he know she couldn’t shift? “We’re not leaving without you.” Go. Go and save yourself. “If you don’t shift, I’ll carry you, and we’ll all burn in our human skins. Is that what you want? For us all to die here together?” Why wouldn’t they listen to her? They had to go, but they weren’t moving. Her men would die here because of her. She couldn’t help her family, but she could help them. She needed to be strong for Gage and Tanner. A will to live came back, not for herself, but for them. They didn’t deserve to die. Change begins in the mind. The body serves the mind. We are shaped by the mind. Nothing. Kweo had abandoned her, but surely he wouldn’t desert these men. She prayed he would help her wake her inner wolf one more time. Help me. Help me to help these men. Show me— Muscles contracted painfully, forcing her to hands and knees. Limbs contorted, and thick black fur spread over her sweaty, sootcovered body. Pitifully weak howls expressed her pain, and Tanner and Gage mouthed words of encouragement and praise. Wolf at last, she hadn’t realized how much she missed this side of herself. But there was no time to savor the freedom, the joy of being without selfimposed restraints.

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The two males were already changing, prancing on their paws with impatience. One of them grabbed her by the scruff and pulled her toward the flames. For a second she dug in and refused to let him drag her any closer. Then the other wolf came up behind her and bit her ass. Yelping, more in embarrassment than pain, she leaped into a blast furnace, a hellfire of dancing red-and-orange flames that stole the moisture from her body. Scorching air assaulted her nostrils, along with the smell of burning fur. The engulfing heat was claustrophobic, pressing in from all directions. Just when she thought it was unbearable and she would not last another second, she sprang from the edge of the fire. The two males leaped out after her. Gage licked her blistered nose. Tanner sank his teeth into her scruff and gave her a tug, letting her know he expected her to follow them. Her suddenly submissive wolf nodded and let them lead the way. **** Exhausted, singed, and dehydrated, Gage collapsed by the front door and watched the others sink to their bellies as well. He was never so glad to see his home, but he wasn’t sure he had the strength to shift and open the door. He needn’t have worried. The front door flew open, and Alex came through it. “Thank God,” the Alpha whispered. He went right to the she-wolf, picked her up as if she were a pup, and carried her inside. She let out one whimper of protest then quieted. Gage and Tanner padded inside and watched as Alex set her gently on the floor and locked the door. The Alpha brought them bowls of water, and they drank their fill. Kate was too weak, and Alex brought her a bottle and held it so she could drink. Then he sat on the floor, watching them. He placed a hand on Kate’s rump, and Gage snarled and bared his teeth. Alex lifted a brow. “What’s that all about?”

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Gage shifted immediately, and Tanner followed. “With all due respect, Alpha, you’re a little too close to our mate,” Tanner told him. “Your mate?” Alex frowned and raised a brow, but he removed his hand. Kate crawled a little closer to Tanner, and he put a palm on her back to comfort her. “Our mate.” Gage spoke in a voice edged with burnished steel. “What are you doing here, Alpha?” “Did you think I didn’t know what was going on?” Alex asked, irritated. “It’s my job to know everything that concerns the pack. You’ve both been avoiding me, but you brought her scent back here, and my nose is still working, last time I checked, anyway.” He seemed to be waiting for one of them to say something, but they remained silent. “I’ve had my eye on you for a while. When were you going to come to me and tell me you’d discovered a she-wolf?” Gage shrugged in an evasive manner. “We thought it best to take care of our mate ourselves. It wasn’t our intention to force Kate to come back with us, and we were afraid you might act differently.” “I would have done whatever was needed to bring her here. She belongs with us.” “Ultimately the decision is hers.” “Not really,” Alex said sharply. “We all have a responsibility to the pack. Our number-one priority is to make sure our race survives.” Gage snarled at him. “Our number-one priority is our mate.” From the corner of his eye, he saw Kate’s ears twitch, and he knew she was listening to every word. “Our concern is for Kate. If she decides to stay, we want her to live here with me and Tanner.” He looked over at Kate. “But it’s her choice.” Gage turned back to Alex. “If you have a problem with that, then we’re leaving, all of us.”

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Chapter Ten It was dark when Kate woke in wolf skin, and for a second, panic made her heart race. Then she smelled her mates, and their comforting scents calmed her. My mates! Gage’s words had shocked the hell out of her. She knew how she felt about them already in her mind—they were her men—but she hadn’t had a clue those same deep feelings were reciprocated. At first she thought it was all about the sex. After all, they were attracted to Shiloh, too. Then she realized they cared, but she had assumed it was all about reproduction and the pack. Now she knew it was more, much more, and she ached to make a life with them. It was a glorious feeling to know where she belonged. After she’d lost her family, she’d gone through life always feeling estranged, as if she didn’t fit anywhere. Thanks to her men, she’d finally figured it out. It had nothing to do with looks or strength or weakness. It was all about accepting who she was inside, aligning herself with her inner wolf, and finding peace. That inner peace would help her when she left. Real grief covered her at the thought of leaving them, but what could she do? Gage and Tanner had each other. Shiloh had no one else, just a string of onenight stands, anonymous sex. She was the anchor in his life. Their home must have burned to the ground. How could she leave him now, when he had nothing left but her? Emotionally she might be a wreck, but physically she felt so much better, healing faster as a wolf. In fact, she felt well enough to try to shift back to her human form. It seemed so much easier now, faster, and not quite as painful. Seeing the black fur recede left a vague

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feeling of regret. But there was no need to miss this part of herself. She could call on it whenever she chose. Sadly, she realized it wouldn’t be so easy. Living in the human world meant always being on guard. She pushed those thoughts aside. Whether she shifted or not, her wolf spirit would always be with her, a living presence inside her. Gage settled his big body next to hers on the floor. “You shifted.” He smiled. “You must be feeling better?” “I am. You were right about healing faster.” “You don’t know much about your wolf, do you?” Kate shook her head sadly. “It was the first time I shifted in ten years.” His eyes went wide, and he pulled her into his lap. “It will be okay. I’ll teach you.” He nuzzled her neck. “We’ll teach you.” Tanner sat next to them and reached for her hand. Her heart was breaking, and she blinked back tears. “Don’t be upset.” Tanner squeezed her hand. “It’s never too late to learn.” Her chest felt heavy, and her voice broke. “I can’t stay.” Tanner frowned. “You don’t have to be afraid. The Alpha agreed you belong with your mates. You’ll live here with us.” Gage held her a little tighter. “I think our woman needs a little more than that.” He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. “I love you, Kate.” Then he elbowed Tanner. His expression tense yet hopeful, Tanner eyed her shyly. “I guess you can tell we’re not too experienced with females.” He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I love you, Kate.” How could she ever bear to let them go? A lump grew in her throat and tears threatened to spill. “Hey, sweetheart, this is where you’re supposed to say, ‘I love you, too, Gage.’” “And Tanner,” Tanner added. “I do love you, both of you.”

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Gage’s big thumb wiped tears from her cheek. “I hope those are tears of joy.” Kate didn’t dare meet his eyes. “I can’t stay.” When she lifted her head, their expressions made her heart twist. Gage looked like he’d been gutted. His voice shook. “I don’t understand.” “Shiloh needs me. He’s lost everything. I can’t do that to him.” Tanner exchanged a look with Gage. “We need to deal with this.” Gage nodded. “Do you plan to tell him the truth?” Kate chewed on her lip. “I…I, uh, don’t know.” “If it were anybody else, I’d say no, don’t tell him. But I care about Shi. He deserves to know, and my gut instinct says he can be trusted. Tanner and I talked about this with the Alpha. He wants proof. He won’t allow Shiloh to come here unless we’re absolutely certain he won’t betray us.” “He won’t.” I hope. “Kate, I agree. Tanner and I both agree. To a point. We won’t put the rest of our pack in danger. And we sure as hell won’t put you in danger.” “Me? What are you talking about? “I’m talking about what happens if he hears the truth and flies off the handle.” “He would never hurt me.” “Again, I don’t believe he would, but we have to be absolutely sure. Did he call you before we got to the house?” “I don’t know. I turned my phone off.” She started rocking back and forth. “God, I was so stupid. He must be worried sick.” Tanner handed her a cell phone. “Call him. Tell him you’re okay, but don’t tell him where you are. Gage and I will make arrangements to meet him.” ****

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Shiloh had been worried to distraction and on his way home when Kate reached him. She barely had time to tell him she was okay before Tanner had grabbed the phone from her hand. He told the cowboy not to bother stopping at his house, suggested he check in to the hotel they’d met at previously, and hung up before he could argue. Kate hadn’t been happy about it, but neither he nor Gage wanted to answer a lot of questions over the phone. They had to see his face and his reactions in person. So here they were at the desk, asking which room Shiloh was in. The clerk called upstairs and evidently got the okay to let them up, because he gave them the room number and pointed to the elevator. The door stood open, and when they walked in, Shiloh was at the small table, dropping ice into a glass, followed by the contents of a small bottle of alcohol. “Okay, what’s going on?” He glanced up and took a big swallow from his tumbler. “What’s wrong with Kate? Did she get burned?” He took another drink. “Don’t lie to me. She’d be here if she was really okay.” He sat heavily on the bed and put a hand over his face. When he took it away, his cheeks were wet with tears. “This is all my fault. I never should have left her alone.” Tanner’s heart twisted. It was cruel to let Shiloh take the blame for something that wasn’t his fault. If anything, it was their fault for not insisting Kate leave the house and come home with them. He sat next to Shiloh and put his arm around him. “She’s okay, and that’s the God’s honest truth. There’s no reason to blame yourself for anything.” “Then why can’t I see her?” Tanner took his arm away and looked up at Gage, hoping his partner would explain, because he really didn’t have the right words. Gage took the cue but seemed at a loss as well. “It’s complicated, Shi.” The cowboy’s features twisted. “I get it. She’s leaving me, isn’t she? I’ve been expecting it.” He lifted his glass. It was empty. “You guys want a drink? No? Well, excuse me while I have another.” He

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stood and made his way over to the minibar for another bottle. “I don’t blame her. I love her, but something has always been missing between us. I know who I am. I like men as well as women, but Kate…Honestly, I don’t know what Kate needs, and she won’t talk about it. I guess she just doesn’t love me enough to continue our charade anymore. I won’t try to stop her. She deserves better.” His expression anguished, he poured a drink. Tanner heard enough. He trusted Shiloh, and he wanted to confide in him. He cleared his throat and looked at Gage, sending him a silent message. It seemed like Gage felt the same because he responded to Shiloh before Tanner could open his mouth. “She doesn’t want to leave you, Shi.” The cowboy stared at Gage, confusion written all over his face. “But?” “But that something that’s been missing, well, she found it.” Shiloh’s face turned red and blotchy. “You? Tanner?” His hands twitched involuntarily as he clenched and unclenched his fists. “You played me to get my woman.” “It’s not like—” Shiloh took a wild swing, which Gage easily blocked, and Tanner came up behind the cowboy and wrapped his arms around Shiloh to immobilize him. “Take it easy. Just hear us out.” Gage studied the man struggling in Tanner’s embrace. “Didn’t you ever wonder why Kate stayed in an unsatisfying relationship?” “I know why. She had a traumatic past. She feels safe with me. I take care of her.” “You were her cover, just like she was yours. She’s not like you, Shi,” Gage finally told him. “She’s a Lycan.” “A what?” “She can shift into a wolf.” Shiloh started laughing hysterically. “I must be drunk. I thought you said Kate could turn into a wolf.”

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“I did.” “Nobody can shift into a wolf.” “I can,” Gage said quietly. “So you’re a fucking werewolf, is that what you’re saying?” “No. Not a beast like in the movies. A person who can shape-shift into a wolf. A Lycan.” “You’re fucking crazy.” “Show him, Gage,” Tanner urged from behind the cowboy. Gage sank to his knees and bent forward. His body contorted and popped like a crowd of people cracking their knuckles. Fur burst through his skin and grew like a film in fast-forward. In less than a minute, Shiloh was shaking in Tanner’s arms, and his astonished eyes were fixed on the immense black wolf that was Gage. “This isn’t happening,” Shiloh moaned. The animal closed in on him, and he crumpled back against Tanner and turned his face into Tanner’s chest. Gage shifted back to his human form, and Shiloh sagged in Tanner’s arms. “I think I’d better sit down.” Tanner helped him over to the bed and went to get him a drink. “And you’re telling me that Kate can do—that?” “Yes. And what she’s been missing is being with her own kind. She has a chance to live with a pack and learn about her ancestry, and she wants to give it up to be with you.” “It’s a lot to take in.” Shiloh shook his head. “But it doesn’t make any difference, you know.” He looked from Tanner to Gage. “I still love her and want what’s best for her.” Gage sighed with relief. “I was hoping you’d say that.” “But I want to hear it from her. I want to know it’s what she wants.” Tanner smiled for the first time. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.” His face got serious. “But there’s a reason you weren’t invited to our home. We have justification for not trusting humans.

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And so does Kate. Somebody hurt her in the past, and if anyone finds out who and what she is, it will put us all in danger.” Shiloh shook his head vehemently. “You can trust me. I’d never betray her. Or you. You have my word.” “Let’s go then.” Gage gave Shiloh a hand up. “The Alpha will be wanting his truck back.” **** Kate’s heart pounded a staccato rhythm when she heard the truck pull up. As soon as Gage walked in the door, she looked past him, hoping to see Shiloh, but it was Tanner behind him, and disappointment filled her. She knew it would be like this. Shi hadn’t come because she disgusted him, or terrified him. “What’s the matter?” Gage came over and put his arms around her, and Tanner gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “No hello for our guest?” Kate looked over at the door, and there was Shiloh, looking for all the world like a lost kid. She ran over, wanting to hug him, but stopped short, afraid he might reject her. Shi threw his hat off and held his arms out, and Kate ran into them. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he said softly. “Would you have believed me if I did?” “Probably not. I didn’t believe the men. Gage had to give me a demonstration.” Horrified, she looked at Gage, and he grinned and shrugged. “I wasn’t afraid of him at all.” Gage snorted, and Shiloh threw a dirty look his way. “He’s just a little old puppy dog,” the cowboy added. “Ha!” Tanner snickered. “You don’t know the half of it.” “But I’d like to,” Shiloh admitted.

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“Looks like you’ll get your chance, cowboy,” Tanner said with unconcealed affection. He looked straight at Kate. “Shiloh is staying with us until he gets his house rebuilt.” The announcement made Kate’s heart sing. “If Kate doesn’t mind.” Shiloh’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “It could take a while.” “The longer the better,” three voices spoke out in unison. **** Tanner’s eye caught something on the side table, and his brows lifted at the sight of champagne chilling in an ice bucket, four flutes next to it. “Where did that come from?” Kate walked over smiling. “Alex left it. He brought me these clothes, too. They’re from Janis. I asked him to stay, but he said we needed some time alone.” “He got that right.” Tanner picked up the bottle and popped the cork. They all held their glasses out, and he filled them. Gage lifted his glass first. “To Kate.” He turned to the cowboy. “And Shiloh. Partners, lovers, and mates. Welcome to the pack.” They all touched glasses, and bubbles tickled Tanner’s nose as he drank. “Thank you.” Kate’s kiss startled him. It was gentle and tasted like champagne. She let out a little whimper, and suddenly the kiss turned deep and possessive. Tanner heard a moan and realized it wasn’t coming from them. He looked over her shoulder and saw Shiloh and Gage in a clinch. “What are you smiling about?” Kate asked softly. “Shi and his pup.” Kate turned to watch them. “I’ve never seen Shi with a male lover.” “Does it bother you?” Tanner wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder.

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“No. On the contrary. It’s turning me on.” “Oh, I like the sound of that.” Kate let out a contented sigh. “It’s like finding the missing pieces of the puzzle, and now we’re whole.” “For us, too. We always had each other, but you and Shiloh complete us.” They watched the two men for a few minutes, and Tanner chuckled. “I guess Gage will get his fantasy foursome after all.” “What’s that?” “I’ll leave that for him to explain, but not now. He looks pretty well occupied.” Shiloh had Gage’s zipper down. He slipped his hand inside and groped him. Gage glanced up, face flushed and breathing hard. “I think we’re being watched, Shi.” Shiloh froze like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar. Kate smiled suggestively. “I might have to punish you for this, Shi.” His eyes went wide. Then he laughed. Gage gripped his chin and turned his head for a kiss. “They’re hot,” she murmured to Tanner. “So are we,” Tanner whispered in her ear. “Let’s give them a little privacy.” He walked her into the bedroom but left the door ajar in an open invitation to their mates. Kate gripped the hem of her T-shirt, pulled it over her head, and tossed it on the floor. Tanner fingered the lacy bra that barely covered her nipples. “Very nice. Too bad it’s coming off.” He fumbled with the hooks, and laughing, Kate took over. “I got a lot to learn,” he complained as she bounced naked on the bed. “Your turn. And make it quick,” Kate urged. “I never like to keep a lady waiting.” Tanner made short work of his clothes and stood before her, one hand pinching a nipple, his other hand stroking his cock. Kate pouted. “You’re not leaving anything for me.”

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Tanner laughed and flopped onto the bed next to her. He stretched out and put his hands behind his head. “I’m all yours, baby.” **** Kate licked her lips at the sight of all the delicious male flesh laid out before her. Where to begin? The decision was easy. Tanner’s uncut cock fascinated her. She crawled between Tanner’s legs, excited by the sight of his erection peeking out from the foreskin. Stroking his shaft, she watched, rapt, as the folds of skin moved back and forth over the engorged head of his cock. Finally she took the covered head in her mouth, swirling her tongue around the loose skin and lightly nipping at it. “Ah, fuck!” Tanner groaned. “More, baby.” He reached down and slid the foreskin back to his balls. Kate tongued the slit for his pre-cum, letting the salty taste explode in her mouth and immediately wanting more. Tanner dug his fingers into her hair and groaned appreciatively as she ran her tongue around the ridge below the helmet head. Then her lips closed over him, and she worked her way down his length. Letting her teeth graze his skin ever so gently, she slid her mouth back up his hard-as-steel rod. His animal sounds encouraged her, and she swallowed him deep then started sucking in earnest. When she reached a hand under him to search for his hole, his balls drew up tight. “I’m going to come,” he grunted in warning, but she only sucked harder, wanting everything he had to give. His body tensed, and he growled out his release. Kate swallowed every drop then crawled up his body to share a kiss and a taste of his seed. It was only then she noticed Gage and Shiloh watching from the doorway. Naked and with cocks in hand, their ragged breaths were the only sounds in the room. She couldn’t take her eyes off them. “I guess they like to watch, too,” she murmured to Tanner.

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A low growl rumbled up from Gage’s chest. “We’d like to do more than watch.” Kate shivered at the hungry tone of his voice. “What are you waiting for?” She and Tanner slid over to make room on the bed. “Lay down, baby.” Tanner pulled her down to her back. “Close your eyes,” he whispered. Anticipation washed over her as she lowered her lids. Her body jerked at the first tease of fingers ghosting over her flesh. The sensual pleasure of three pairs of hands caressing her body was almost too much to bear. She stopped trying to imagine whose hands were fondling breasts, legs, pussy, and just enjoyed their touch. Then the moist heat of two mouths closed over her breasts, sucking and teasing her nipples with talented tongues. A third tongue licked a path up her inner thigh and lapped at the fluid leaking from her core. Lust flowed through her veins like hot lava, igniting a fierce need to mate, and she surged up against the man between her legs. Her left breast was released with a soft pop, and Tanner ordered, “Make her come, Shi.” Shi licked along her cleft, long strokes that made her shiver. When she reached down to tug his hair, strong male hands grabbed her arms and held them over her head. Long fingers parted her labia, and the tip of a tongue licked each side gently. Then the tongue firmed and pushed inside, making her writhe and arch her hips. “Oh, God.” She moaned and begged for release, and at last Shi took pity on her. He licked circles around her clit then flicked it with his tongue. When he took it in his mouth and sucked, she cried out with the strength of her climax. At last she fell back with a sigh, Shi crawled up her body, and her other men released her arms so she could embrace him. He looked very pleased with himself. “Liked that, did you?” “Oh yes!” She wrapped arms and legs around him and held him tight. “You’re wonderful.” A tear slipped down her cheek. She’d never felt so connected to Shi. “I love you, Shi.”

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“Love you, too,” he whispered back. He kissed her and sat back. Two solid erections prodded her from either side, drawing her attention. She circled both with eager fingers and tugged, rewarded with groans from both sides. A few strokes, and Tanner was pulling her in for a kiss. She turned, as eager for the connection as he. His lips grazed hers and the musky scent of mutual arousal made her pussy ache with the need to be filled. She brushed her fingertips over his nipple then pinched. A sharp hiss escaped his lips, and his fingers dug into her arms. Then he bent his head, captured her nipple with his teeth, and bit down. She let out a piercing cry and he looked up, grinning. “Tit for tat, baby. Paybacks are a bitch.” Kate stuck out her lower lip and feigned a pout. “Make it better.” “My pleasure.” Tanner lowered his head again, this time gently soothing her nipple with his tongue. She let out a soft sigh and her hips moved of their own accord, rubbing her wet slit along his shaft. Gage move in close behind her and nuzzled her neck. “You are so beautiful, sweetheart. I can’t watch you and another man without wanting to touch you myself.” Kate arched back against him and let out a needy moan. Being sandwiched between him and Tanner was heaven. One of Gage’s hands, slippery with lube, traced the crease of her ass, and her arousal ramped up another notch. A callused fingertip teased her entrance before breaching the tight muscles. She whimpered as Gage leaned over her shoulder and shared a kiss with Tanner. When the men separated, Kate licked the pulse in Tanner’s throat, rewarded by his low murmur of appreciation. “I can’t wait to be inside you, sweetheart.” Tanner lifted her leg, pressed the head of his cock against her wet folds, and pushed inside. He captured her mouth, and his kiss, urgent and exploratory, took her attention from the burn as Gage’s thick length penetrated her from behind. Their warmth surrounded her, sparking currents of pleasure along her oversensitive flesh. Tanner set a rhythm, Gage picked it up, and three bodies moved

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as one. It was hard to believe that only a few days ago, she’d been so lonely and miserably unhappy. She never thought she would have real intimacy with a lover, and now she had three. Every move they made, every moan they uttered, sent her higher, and she savored every minute, wishing it would never end but knowing her climax was close. “Oh, God! I’m going to—” Seized by an intense rush of sensation, she cried out and trembled between her men as they followed with their own release. When her spasms stopped and the raggedness of her breathing quieted, the men released her. Sated and weak as a pup, she collapsed against Tanner, perspiration gluing their bodies together. Snuggled in his warm embrace, her eyes grew heavy and closed of their own accord. Kate’s eyes flew open, and for a few seconds she wondered where she was. “Hey, sleepyhead.” Tanner brushed his lips over her forehead. “Feel rested? You’ve been out for a while.” Smiling, she stretched, luxuriating in the warmth of the hard body next to her. “Yes, much better.” Soft groans and movement behind her caught her attention. “Let’s give our mates some room,” he murmured, rolling her on top of him. Surprised, she looked to her left. Shi had crawled over Gage, facing his erection, his own bobbing cock nudging Gage’s lips. Entranced, she watched Shi take Gage’s cock head in his mouth and suck. His partner returned the favor, and soon they were lost in the pleasure of sucking each other off. She felt no jealousy, just love, and her arousal grew hotter the longer she watched. The sounds of her men sucking and slurping drove her mindless with need. Her pussy clenched around Tanner’s cock, and she started moving. He met her rhythm and picked up the pace as if he had read her mind. Panting, she slammed against him, desperate for her release. He pinched her clit, and she let out a cry of deep pleasure, her muscles milking him for his own orgasm. Dimly,

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as if they weren’t right next to her, she heard Shiloh and Gage find their own release. There was no awkwardness as they cuddled in the aftermath, just contentment and love and a deep feeling of belonging. Kate enjoyed the cozy warmth of the male bodies surrounding her. Gage spooned her, and she heard him murmur something about a bigger bed. She chuckled. This bed was just fine with her, big enough to hold everything that was important in her life, and small enough that she could keep it all close. **** More asleep than awake, Gage was enjoying this quiet time with his lovers. As he drifted off, cuddling his sweet Kate, he heard a forceful drumming on the roof, and it startled him to awareness. Suddenly realizing what it was, he jumped out of bed and ran outside. Rain! Wonderful, glorious rain, each drop a sign of good fortune, unity, and fertility. He looked up, letting the drops pelt his face. His hair plastered to his head, and he shivered as his body temperature dropped. The others piled out of the house after him, laughing and shouting. The air felt fresher and crisper than it had in months, and they danced like naked witches in the moonlight, with openness and absolute trust in this gift of new beginnings from the spirit gods.

THE END HTTP://GALESTANLEY.NET

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born and raised in the City of Brotherly Love, Gale cut her teeth on True Story magazines swiped from her mother’s collection and read undercover by flashlight. Her choice of reading material inspired a love of romance and the desire to write her own stories, but life took a detour while she worked as a surveyor and a CAD manager. Now she has the best job in the world. She can be anything she wants, but she doesn’t mind living vicariously through the smokin’ hot alphas and strong heroines she loves to write about.

Also by Gale Stanley Siren Classic: Black Wolf Gorge 1: Call of the Wilds Ménage Amour: Black Wolf Gorge 2: Mating Call Ménage Amour: Black Wolf Gorge 3: Captive

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com