Heal

ALPHA 5: HEAL Treva Harte

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Alpha 5: Heal Treva Harte This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Published by Loose Id LLC 870 Market St, Suite 1201 San Francisco CA 94102-2907 www.loose-id.com Copyright © June 2009 by Treva Harte All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions. ISBN 978-1-59632-960-7 Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader Printed in the United States of America Editor: Christine Pacheco Cover Artist: April Martinez

Prologue “She’s about ten miles outside Vegas. Near Summerlin.” “Why are you telling me?” Dio hunched closer to the phone, blocking out the noise of the bar in the background. “Why do you think?” “You want something.” “I always want. That’s why I am what I am. Now you can figure out what I want and if it’s safe for you to take my tidbits. Your decision. That’s why you’re Alpha.” And Alpha was a good thing to be. The position had always gotten him what he wanted. Right now one of the things Dio wanted was her. It had been a long time since he’d seen little Miss Ruth. Dio ran his tongue over his teeth, remembering what it had been like. Nasty. Vicious. Just the way he liked it. She wasn’t getting away this time. He hated unfinished business. “I’ll take your little love offering. But don’t get in my way.” “I do what I want, asshole. Just the way you do.” How the hell had he known just what Dio wanted? The dude was a little scary. Fortunately he was also on Dio’s side. Dio smiled, a tight, appreciative grin. “I can appreciate that attitude. But, like I said, don’t get in my way. I don’t appreciate anyone that much.”

Chapter One Arlin watched Ruth through the window of the café. She was studying the menu as carefully as if she’d be taking an exam on the contents at the end of the day. He suspected she did everything as intensely, important or not. She wasn’t his type really. Ruth was attractive in an ice queen way, looking remote and cool with her ash blonde hair braided back from her face. He didn’t go for ice queens. He liked women to be warmer. More emotional. Prettier. Younger. More like Tala. There was no reason for the memory of Ruth to linger in his mind. He’d been fascinated when she’d first smiled at the sight of him—as if she was stunned to remember what it was like to smile but had to do it. There had been something there when they started to talk. But it died down before they’d finished the first cup of coffee. By then she’d tried to put distance between them, reminded him she was the doctor who was taking care of the patient he’d brought in. She hadn’t said he was too young, not out loud, but he could tell. She was too much work. He was not interested. Much. He watched the tip of her tongue peek out as she pushed her glasses up and focused on the menu. His fists tightened. So did his cock. Damn it. He should find some other way to deal with the situation if his little head insisted on taking an interest in her. But his feet were already headed inside and she looked up from the menu as the door opened. He shoved his sunglasses up and she smiled as she met his eyes. The smile was uncertain, a faint reflection of the warmth she’d shown once, when they’d first met. “Ruth.” “Mr. Kinkaid.” “I know that’s on my business card but Kinkaid is my middle name.” “Oh! Ah… Arlin.” He perversely enjoyed the slight hesitation as she forced herself to say his first name. He figured she’d love to keep things formal if she could. “How are you?” “Horny.” Her mouth dropped open as he sat down. “What did you say?” Not what he’d meant to. Why the hell did he do this around her? But Jesus, now that she was close she smelled just the way he’d tried to forget. Spicy. A little aroused already. Tempting. Her steely outside and that tantalizing inner warmth didn’t match up. He picked up the menu. “Well, aren’t you hungry? Going to have the tarragon chicken salad?” Hungry. She must have misheard. Maybe she was putting her own thoughts into his mouth. It just wasn’t fair, feeling that sudden jolt of interest the minute he walked into the room. He was just a pretty boy. Boy being the operative word here. Even if she had been looking for someone that young, he was involved with someone else. It didn’t matter if Tala, the “someone else,” was married and related to him. She’d seen the looks on the male faces when Tala was near. And when Tala left, she’d taken all her men—including Arlin—with her. Arlin hadn’t contacted Ruth since. Until now. He’d called and said she had to meet him without saying why. What did that mean? For just a moment, back when they’d first met, she thought Arlin had been—that there had been something. She didn’t even know what to call it, it had been so long since she’d felt anything at all. It was safer to not feel, not hope, not be hurt. It was better not to feel this prickling awareness that a particular, too-special man was in the same room with you and that just having him near was making everything around you brighter, sharper, more intense. She yanked her mind back to the conversation. “Y-yes. How did you know that’s what I’ll get?”

“You asked for the tarragon chicken last time. I get the feeling you like to stick with what you know.” He smiled over at the waitress who immediately walked toward the table as if she’d just been waiting for Arlin to acknowledge her. “Order?” The waitress stared at him. “Hamburger. Rare as you’re allowed to cook it.” The waitress scribbled down the order. “New here, aren’t you?” She winked at him. “Tuna salad for me.” Ruth’s eyes narrowed first at the waitress and then at Arlin. There. She didn’t always stick to the same thing. “Thanks so much for asking.” Of course she wasn’t the only one who noticed Arlin. Just she, and Tala, and the waitress, and probably every other woman with eyesight was interested. Arlin handed the waitress the menu and then propped his chin up so he could look directly at her. “How are you, Ruth?” “Busy as usual.” “Save any of my kind lately?” Not everyone knew about weres. As far as she knew she was the only one. The only non-were, anyhow. “You sound so matter-of-fact about that.” “It’s just my life, Ruth. I’m used to it. But I guess you still haven’t quite adjusted to what it meant to have saved Dunne.” “I guess I haven’t. That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I think.” He let his hand rest close to hers. She glanced at their hands and then away, willing the jumpy excitement to leave. “We’re all still grateful to you, you know. We haven’t forgotten.” She shrugged. He could feel something hot and strong under the surface of her iced calm. Something, maybe the same something, boiled inside him. But whatever it was that Ruth felt or was, it was under a tight leash. So he reined himself back. Down, boy. No fresh meat today. Arlin kept going with what he’d originally meant to say. “But apparently someone else has figured out you’re involved with us. We noticed some interesting activities on computer sites that hold information about you. Hunt was watching for that.” You didn’t become Alpha of a pack by being stupid. Hunt watched for everything. “What kind of information? I don’t have information on computer sites.” Ruth looked startled and indignant, her pale cheeks turning a little red with her upset. “Nothing illicit, sweetheart. But everyone has information tucked away on the Internet. Things like bank account numbers. Licenses. Voter registrations. Home addresses.” Arlin took the plates from the waitress and put Ruth’s lunch down in front of her. “And yes, of course, they’re supposed to be private.” “Apparently people can waltz in and out of my so-called private information at will. You and Mr. Winters among them.” “But you forget that Hunt Winters and I aren’t people, Ruth. Weres are special.” He watched the flush get hotter on her face. “I’m done teasing you. Truthfully, this is a concern for us. For you.” “Why are you concerned?” She took a bite of her salad. “Because we intend to protect you the way we promised. And because Hunt knows who is checking on you. He’s trouble.” For a moment she looked faintly ill, but her response was as feisty as before. “Who is this he? Can’t the police deal with him?” “He’s were. We deal with our own.” Ruth put down her fork. “I’m not were. Yet you seem to think I have to play by your rules.” “You got involved in pack business when you took care of Dunne. We owe you, but that doesn’t mean you call the shots. We’ll take care of you in our own way.” Arlin leaned forward. “It’s really for the best, Ruth. Can you believe that?” “You want me to take you all on faith. I don’t do that much.” Ruth took another bite of the food and made a face. “Or you can try to handle this by yourself. I know that’s probably what you prefer, but I don’t recommend it. There are others out there who are watching. Other weres who aren’t obliged to you. The one thing you can’t do is

ignore what’s happening now.” Ruth swallowed hard. He knew she wanted to question him. He tried to show her how very serious he was as he leaned even closer, continuing to speak in his harshest tone. What he didn’t want to show was the urgency bubbling in him. Not yet. But he suddenly realized he was desperate to make her understand. To accept. “Weres are not…nice. Whatever happens won’t be as tidy as you’d like.” Ruth stared down at the plate. He wished she’d look at him. He wished he could figure out what was clicking away in that head. He wished she’d give in and trust him to keep her safe. He picked up his hamburger, still watching her. Most of all, he wished he knew he truly could keep her safe. When he’d agreed to this errand, he hadn’t realized how important it could become. “All right. I agree as long as we’re clear on things.” She pushed the plate away. Her lips twitched. “For starters, I loathe the tuna salad.” Arlin began to laugh. She stopped looking amused. “It’s not that funny. I can’t even change what I eat for lunch, and I suspect you’re going to demand a lot of concessions from me. I’m not sure I’m going to be helpful for this, Arlin, especially since you keep pushing me to do things I don’t do.” “Don’t fight me. We’ll only waste time if you do.” They stared at each other. Her cool gray eyes seemed to measure everything about him. He hoped she couldn’t see deep inside him. The longer they sat near each other, the more he knew there were all kinds of things he wanted to make her do. If she knew what they all were, she’d probably run. Hell, she should run. She shivered. Head bent down, she stared at the table. “I’ll try.” Did she know wolves stared down when they submitted to an Alpha? Arlin gripped the table. What the hell was it about her that made him want to show her what submission to an Alpha would be like? “Do you have someone who can take on your patients for emergencies?” Arlin kept any emotion from showing. “What?” She looked back up, face flushed with anger again. “Of course I could but why should—” “I doubt you’ve ever heard of them, but the Hollin pack seems to be looking at you. We figure they’re trying to use you to get at Hunt and his pack. You need to tell your associates it’s an emergency because you need to get away from the clinic and your home before they get to you. They know where you are by now.” She stared at him. Arlin decided lunchtime small talk was over. He threw money on the table and stood. Wordless, she let him pull her to her feet and head them toward the door. Somewhere on the way there she got her voice back. “I have to get back to the clinic today at least. It’s important. I shouldn’t even really have taken time for lunch with you.” The muscles in his jaw loosened just a little. He’d been afraid she’d absolutely refuse. “All right. But don’t drag things out.” He let her grumble without bothering to listen or respond. He wasn’t going to react to her. He just had to get her away, fast, before she had too much time to think. She thought way too much. When they got outside, she flinched, and he stopped dead. “What’s wrong?” “The sun is so bright. It was overcast before so I left my sunglasses and hat in my car.” He looked down at her, really looking at her face…the lips set firmly against each other, the hand shielding her from the sun, and from him. “You’re so pale. What are you doing in the Nevada desert, Ruth?” Without realizing what he was doing at first, he traced her lips with his thumb, willing them to relax and part. Her startled flinch made him stop, reach for his own sunglasses and jam them on her face. Jesus God, she was trembling. Just a little, so little that he hadn’t noticed until he touched her. Why was she shaking? And why the hell did that make him want to jump her and protect her all at the same time? “I-I came here for the wolves.” She cleared her throat. “I mean my university program. Part of it was studying wolves in their natural habitat.” “I guess you’re going to meet some more soon. Finish up work as soon as you can. I’ll contact you tonight.” Arlin looked up at the sky. “Damn. The clouds are back. Looks like rain this time.”

***** “There’s no fever, he’s resting comfortably…” Ruth hesitated. “I think I can handle it from here. I’ll call Dr. Hern if anything happens.” “Or me. If I can help.” Ruth paused again. “Um, thanks, Lindsay. I should stay myself—” “I do this as part of the job, you know? And you have an emergency with your family. We know you’re not a slacker around here.” Lindsay smiled at her. “You did a great job with that dog. Do you suppose a wolf really got him, the way the family said?” “No. I doubt there’d be much left if a wolf mauled him. He’s big but he’s still a house dog.” She knew what a wolf could do if it attacked. God. She wished she could call her “family emergency” off and stay. She’d gotten through the whole day by not thinking about what would happen after this. By focusing on the emergency surgery right after lunch. By doing what needed to be done without thinking too hard about why, the way she always handled things. She didn’t want to go back to running away. She didn’t want to be afraid. She refused to be afraid. “You better get to your car. It’s starting to really rain out there.” The angry pelting on the roof and windows punctuated the tech’s statement. “I hope it’s safe to drive.” “Me too.” Desert storms tended to be violent. “Good-bye, then.” It was empty in the reception area. Of course. She’d worked well beyond regular office hours and no one was allowed inside after five. Her footsteps echoed as she walked down the hall. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The wind blew it out of her hands and she turned to wrestle the door shut again, shrinking back from the wind and water. “I’ve been waiting for you.” The male voice yelled in her ear just as lightning blinded her and the thunder cracked directly overhead. Ruth gasped and ran, fumbling for her keys in her pocket. “Damn it, where do you think you’re going?” The hand on her shoulder forced her to stop. She whirled, keys in hand, and struck out at the man’s face. “Ruth!” The voice finally registered and she gasped. He gripped her wrist tightly enough that she wondered if he’d hurt it. “What the hell…” Arlin’s face was illuminated by lightning for a moment then it went black again as thunder crashed almost over them. “I’m sorry, Arlin. I’m sorry.” “Ruth, I’m getting in the car. We can leave my truck here. But you can’t drive by yourself.” When she nodded agreement, his grip loosened. She threw open the door. She sat in the driver’s seat, shuddering and trying to get enough air back in her lungs, resting her head against her crossed arms. She was safe. She was safe. No one had tried to attack her. She was safe. And she was an overreacting idiot. “Ruth?” Arlin sat beside her, shaking drops of water off his raincoat. He was soaking wet. How long had he waited for her? “It was your own fault, making me paranoid at lunch.” She took another deep breath. “I didn’t mean that. I really am sorry. Did I hurt you?” “Naw. Weres have good reflexes. Are you…are you hurt?” She wasn’t going to remember the past again. She wasn’t going to fall apart. She fastened her seat belt and tried to steady herself enough to start the car. “Baby, I don’t know what happened, but I think you better let me drive.” His lips were almost against her ear when he said the words, the sound rumbling into her brain. She took another gulp of air. He wasn’t going to make her explain. Thank God. She couldn’t handle that right now. She’d shatter and never be patched up again. “Yes. Please.” Her hands were trembling as she handed him the keys. He crawled over her rather than go outside, and for just a moment, trapped between him and the seat of the car, she stiffened.

“Ruth?” “I’m fine. Just… I need to undo my seat belt.” She fumbled with it and his hands pressed over hers to help. Then she was free. “Maybe you need some tea before you pack and leave? To settle your nerves?” Arlin wasn’t looking at her as he started the car. “Yes. That would be good. I’m not used to these storms.” She wondered if her lie was obvious. “You don’t have to be afraid, Ruth. I’m here now. You’re safe.” For the first time in a very long time, Ruth wished she could believe someone else was able to keep her safe.

Chapter Two Damn. Everything he’d thought about her before was wrong. Then again, even ice queens could crack. Not that she had. Or if she had, just for a few moments in the car; she was back together again. He watched her effortlessly pack her bags. No. That was bullshit. You didn’t just get over something that made you look sick to your stomach. She’d been terrified. Tough enough to fight it, but terrified. Of what he’d told her? Of him? Maybe a little of both. Arlin looked down and saw his fist was clenched. He wanted to kill the bastard who had frightened her. God. Even if it was him. ***** Ruth rubbed her eyes with the heel of each hand. Outside the sounds of the thunderstorm mingled with the hard drenching rain. But it wasn’t the storm making her jittery. The hollow feeling inside came from the adrenaline overload she’d had earlier. The other emotions came from Arlin. She could feel Arlin’s presence behind her although they hadn’t spoken for almost an hour. Feel his presence was the nice way of phrasing it. She could hear every breath he took, practically graph his body temperature whenever he got close; she knew when he was going to turn toward her and when he would back away. Like now. As he moved away from her, her chest tightened with the loss. They’d shared coffee for half an hour once before today and she’d imagined they might share more. That was all there was between them. Why was she reacting like this? “We should have left long ago.” Arlin was back to prowling the room. “It’s pouring outside. We wouldn’t get far. The streets are flooding.” “I know.” He sounded like he was contemplating swimming away. “You’re making me nervous.” “I’ve been doing that all night. I’m also making you upset.” Arlin didn’t sound overly concerned but she caught the quick glance he gave her. “Why?” She wanted to howl with frustration. To prowl the way he was. She wouldn’t do that. She wasn’t going to slip back into being emotional again. “You’ve given me less than eight hours to take a trip to God-knows-where and for God-knows-how-long. Then you hover over me. Why shouldn’t I be upset?” Ruth caught herself before she let herself go. “I’m sorry. It’s not you, really. It’s the whole situation. I hate being surprised.” “You don’t like being the one not in control either. I think that’s part of the real problem.” Arlin touched her shoulder, and she fought a shiver. “But you’re letting me be in charge. I appreciate that.” “I—” She stared over at him, another crack of thunder muffling any words she could say. She didn’t know what she’d intended to say. God, she was beyond hot and bothered by him. It was ridiculous. And when he began to knead her tense shoulders, she wanted to whimper. There was nothing particularly sensual about his touch, but it had been a long time since she’d allowed anyone close enough to touch her beyond the most common ways. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed that. His hands were both strong and gentle. They knew where sore points needed to be soothed. Except she wasn’t being soothed. He was so young. Ridiculously young and beautiful, with a lean, hard body and a not-quite-girlish face. Why was she trusting herself to someone who had nothing more than a cocky swagger and an intense stare? She braced herself to remind him he was only temporarily in charge. Then he touched her mouth with one finger, the way he had outside the restaurant, and she saw a flash of teeth as he smiled at her. He gave her a glimpse of what he really was: a predator near prey. Suddenly he didn’t look too young. He was so close. So intent. Her stomach clenched in fear and anticipation. “Relax. I’m a master at this, Ruth.” He covered her mouth with his, and when she let out a small gasp, he pushed his tongue inside her mouth. The electrical power flickered and then surged back to life. Or was she seeing lights dance before her eyes as he pushed the kiss to be deeper, hotter, more sexually charged?

She could feel herself sinking into something blazing, something terrifying and amazing all in one. Not terrifying the way she’d expected after avoiding sex for so long. Terrifying in an exciting way. Maybe not terrifying at all. Lord. She couldn’t even put a name to how she felt. Ruth grabbed at his shoulders but she wasn’t sure if she meant to pull him closer or push him away. Either. Both. Anything. Now. “Ruth?” His voice was so sweet—but when he stopped talking to bite her earlobe, she knew his mouth wasn’t sweet at all. His mouth was about temptation, which only looked sweet until you were seduced. “What do you want?” She couldn’t tell him. She didn’t even know. But he did. His fingers touched her breasts, then squeezed her nipples firmly enough to make her squirm. It didn’t hurt, not quite, but just that brush at the edge of pain was enough to make her want to weep. “Do you want this too, Ruth?” He kissed the pulse of her throat, the pulse that had begun to hammer fast and deep at his touch. She couldn’t say anything. It seemed like nerve endings were crackling with fire wherever he touched. Ruth realized she was clutching his head, pushing her fingers through his hair to ask for more. “Please,” she managed. “Oh, please.” “I promise I will. Please you.” His words were coming out in gasps, the way hers were. He held her tight against his body, just as she grabbed at him. And then they were moving against each other, both panting. He was hard, and she was wet and she wanted that hardness on her, in her, drenching them both. Ruth waited for the fear that should have swamped her by now, but she realized raw, hurting desire was making loud demands, clamoring over every other emotion she had. She couldn’t think, not clearly, not the way she usually did when she began to get too close to someone and her brain put up warnings and barriers. He pulled away just long enough to unbutton his shirt and let her look. That seemed almost safe. He wasn’t touching her, but letting her touch if she wanted. And she did. Oh, very much. She smoothed her hands over his chest and watched her fingers shake as they touched the narrow trail of hair that led toward the edge of his pants. She licked the bead of sweat on his neck. God, she was starving for him. She’d never realized how good it was to be unable to think. Not when she could rub herself against someone’s cock instead and wish he was naked. That she was naked. That he was inside her so hot and deep that she’d never need to think about anything but how good he made her want… “You smell like you’re in heat. I love that. It gets me crazy.” He whispered it to her and she moaned. “I’m rubbing against you like a bitch in heat.” She was beyond embarrassment or worry about speaking too plainly. She could feel heat all over her, washing her with needy sensation, washing away anything but what she wanted. Was that being in heat? She’d never felt it before. She liked it. She loved it. “Mmmm. I love that too.” He tapped her shoulder. “Sit down, sweetheart. I’m going to do something you’ll like.” “You don’t know what I l—” He slipped a hand under the top of pants and she arched toward him. Maybe he did know. Maybe he knew her body better than she did. After all, she hadn’t let herself listen to what her body wanted in so long. She found herself sitting down on a chair, her legs spread apart and her pants at her ankles. “No underwear? Mmmm. I like that. I never would have guessed.” She heard the rasp in his tone and was glad she hadn’t had time to fully dress this morning. Arlin knelt between her legs. Her sucked-in breath made him look up. Although he was kneeling, he didn’t look subservient. He looked exactly like what he was…a hunter who had found what he wanted served up right in front of him. “Do you want this, Ruth? Say yes, Ruth. Please say yes.” She tried to speak. “Yes, Ruth.” He whispered the words against her thigh. His hair fell forward as he bent over her. Some of it tickled the inside of her legs. She twitched. “Say yes.” He paused. “Yes.” Her breath caught on a sob. “Shhh.” His murmur might have soothed her if he hadn’t mouthed it against her pussy. Instead, the vibrations

made her jerk against his mouth. His hand held her hips, keeping her in place. His hair brushed against her thighs again, longer now, a prickle of sensation that teased her, matching the rest of the sensations he was creating. And his tongue—his tongue was rougher and longer than a human’s. It was everywhere. “Ar…lin.” Her voice was shaky. “Mmmm?” He hummed the sound against her and made her cry out. Hot, wet suction. That clever wolfish tongue against her clit, sucking, tasting, driving her to clench and unclench tight muscles, to buck against his mouth. As his tongue pushed up inside her, she touched her clit, somehow gone so far beyond her usual clawing fear that she was willing to move recklessly into the evermore gripping heat that Arlin was stoking. She couldn’t help it. Lust tightened inside her chest as she panted. Heat burned her pussy and radiated out everywhere. She needed relief. She needed more than his mouth. “Please oh please oh fuck oh…!” The heat blazed through her and threw her forward. And she untwisted, unraveled, fell apart under his hands and his mouth. ***** What had she done? When she finally gathered the courage to open her eyes, Arlin was standing, rather than kneeling, in front of her. He stared down, seeming to weigh all the fears that had returned, all the shame that had multiplied over her thoughtless actions. His hand lifted toward her and she flinched. The hand stopped. “The storm’s ended.” He sounded as if nothing had happened. She glanced at his crotch and saw he was as hard as he’d been before they started. “We need to go now, Ruth.” Ruth took one deep breath and held it. Subterfuge wasn’t her strong point, but she could pretend nothing had happened as well as he could. Of course she could. Especially since she had no idea how else to deal with what she’d done. Lady. Be. A. Lady. Her adoptive mother had said that to her often enough. She could do that. She’d been acting like one almost all her life. Bad things happened when she forgot. Horrible things. She forced herself to stop thinking. She’d be crying or screaming in another moment if she let herself remember the bad things. They’d been hovering at the edge of her consciousness all night, waiting to pounce. But nothing bad had happened this time. Ruth clung to that realization. No one was shocked. No one demanded anything of her. The only result of her wildness was a satisfied body, slowly recovering from little pleasured aftershocks. A body that whispered for more. A man in front of her who had given her all that and could give her more. But she wasn’t going to ask for more. She scooped up hair from her face and tucked it away. Then she pretended as convincingly as she could. “All right. I’m ready.” Because there was no more to have. Not now. Probably not ever. She didn’t know what Arlin wanted from her but she was sure she wasn’t the person who could provide it. ***** “He’s coming back soon.” Tala straddled her new husband and sighed. “Mmmm. That feels so good. No one else makes me feel as good.” “No one else better try.” Her hips moved slowly as she lowered herself onto his cock. Hunt nipped at her hand before he twisted, flipping her on her back while they were still joined. She wiggled underneath him. “Another power play, Hunt?” “Another power play that I won.” Hunt buried his head between her breasts. She shivered at the scrape of stubble against her skin. “Another one I let you win. Because you on top does feel good. And I’m lazy. You can do the work this time if

you want.” She shut her eyes and smiled. “Thank you, lord and master.” They knew she was toying with him and that it didn’t matter. He pinned her shoulders down with his own weight and slid his cock achingly slowly in and then out of her body. Then he leaned down and bit her, hard, on the shoulder. They both shuddered and he moved faster. “I wish we had Changed. That you were part of me and were.” Tala stared into his eyes. “Doesn’t matter. Mine.” Hunt growled. The growl of the mindspoken words rang in her head. “Changed or not.” “Ease up. Of course I am. And you’re mine.” She reached, stretching, to cup his balls. Gripped them hard for a moment before she cupped them, rotating them gently in her hand. She let them go and arched herself up. Closer, tighter. Her heels braced on the mattress, she began to force the pace faster with her hips. “Never going to give in, are you?” Hunt panted as he pushed them both even more, pressing the two of them closer to the edge. This time Tala resisted, trying to slow them, but they both knew it was too late. Not when they were both gasping; they were close to the surface. “No, I…won’t give in.” Tala shuddered, unable to stop the tremors. Her climax rolled over her, rich and satisfying. “Oh God, Hunt. I love you!” He groaned and emptied himself in her before he laid his head between her breasts. He gave one a slow lick before squeezing her ribs. “Someday you’ll do as I say.” “Don’t lay any big bets on that, Hunt. Sweetie.” She leaned up on her elbows. “I’ll miss this bed when we leave the casino.” “We can take it with us.” “I’d rather find a new one to match our new life.” Tala stretched her neck back, arched her body in a slow, sensuous glide. “I like not knowing what happens next for us. It adds a little spice to our marriage.” “Bored already?” “Do I seem bored?” Tala pinched his butt. “No,” he said. But she heard his voice grumble inside her head.“ But you want Arlin back.” “I always want my cuz around.” She answered him out loud. “He’s not your cousin. And you don’t always think of him that way.” “True that. But since we’ve all been…close…I thought you’d accepted what we share.” Hunt shook his head, letting his face brush against her skin while he did. She sighed. Not even Dunne had been part of their lovemaking for the last few days. Their foursome seemed to be history. Of course Hunt was fine all on his own. Hunt was more than fine. But she wished she knew what was going on in his head. Maybe when Arlin came back. “Arlin yet again? Are you asking for a spanking, love?” Tala looked at her husband and licked her lips. “Maybe.” He settled her against his lap and stroked her ass cheeks. She squirmed against him. “You sent Arlin after her deliberately, didn’t you? Not Dunne. No one else would do except Arlin.” He ran his hand up to touch her hair, not saying anything. “I liked her, you know. I’d like anyone who is willing to save our pack, of course, but I liked her just for herself from what I got to see of her.” Tala nipped his thigh. “She’s very different from me, of course.” “There’s no one like you, love.” “But I think you’re wrong. I don’t see Arlin and Ruth together. Not even for a moment.” She turned to look at his face but, of course, Hunt’s expression gave nothing away but sated pleasure. “Oh, I can think of ways to make them interested for more than a moment. Trust me.” Trust him? She wished she was more sure of him and what he wanted. She was used to being sure. Damn it, he was becoming too important to her even while he stayed mysterious and aloof. Why hadn’t she foreseen that could happen? Whack. She jumped under his hand and barely managed not to yipe in surprise. The small heat his hand generated against her butt was already radiating out to the rest of her body. Especially her pussy. She clenched her legs tight against

each other, trying to control the aftershock his blow had created. “More.” Her voice was husky. She’d never thought she’d be interested in a spanking, but Hunt had shown her differently. He kept her off balance all the time. That’s why she couldn’t predict what he’d do. Why she wasn’t even sure she wanted to.

Chapter Three “I don’t think I should be here.” Ruth stopped dead at the door of the casino. “Why not?” Arlin kept his hand on her elbow. “You’re making things a hell of a lot harder when you question everything. You agreed to—” “Meeting several packs of werewolves was never in the agreement.” Arlin stared down at her. She’d turned back into the prissy veterinarian who wanted to be in charge. This was not the time. If she wasn’t careful, if he wasn’t careful, someone in the room would show her just how not in charge she was. “Weres. It’s weres. Or shifters, if you have to pick a different name. None of us are that fancy about it, though.” “Fine. That’s not my point.” The two of them glared at each other. Ruth was tempted to tell him to leave her. She could live with the fear he’d introduced in her life. She wasn’t sure how long she could live with the half-itchy, half-angry sensation she had around him. “My point is to keep you safe.” “Understood. So why are you bringing me to your den?” He buzzed and the door opened. “Please. Not a den. Some weres get sensitive about words like that. Plus Hunt’s conference room is much nicer than that.” “Fine. To your lair then.” “It’s not my… Enough. I’m doing this to keep you safe, remember? Having you meet the family is a side benefit. They’ve been waiting ever since the wedding to decide what to do about you and this situation.” His arm tightened and he swept her through the doorway before she could protest. They were big. She wasn’t petite but she felt dwarfed next to the looming bulk of men in the room. No, not men. Weres. That probably was what added to the almost visible hum of tension in the room. They were all of them, men and women, so imposing. She saw one of the larger hulks in the room suddenly drop his eyes when one of the smaller women walked past him. Fascinating. In wolf hierarchy, that meant the woman was of higher rank than he was. Ruth was careful not to stare, not to look too curious, the way she had out in the field when she watched packs and made notes for her work. One sandy-haired giant scurried behind the others, keeping to the walls as he pulled up chairs and offered cups of coffee. If he had a tail, he’d have had it between his legs. That was omega wolf behavior. Fascinating. She wished she could take notes. She belonged. Non-weres usually were nervous around too many weres, even if they didn’t understand who they were near. Perversely, Ruth was relaxed against him, relaxed in a way Arlin hadn’t seen her act before. He looked around Hunt’s huge conference room. It seemed too small for all the towering egos there. No normal non-were should feel comfortable among the packs. As if she could hear his thoughts, Ruth was already tensing up, letting her damned second thoughts ruin things. “The white-haired Alpha. He’s looking at me. More like looking right through me.” “That’s my grandfather, Deklin Kinkaid.” He could almost see her brain analyzing and weighing. Whatever she’d come up with wasn’t good. The way she was gripping his arm now seemed close to a little girl grabbing a hand for safety. He looked again at the familiar faces, trying to see them with Ruth’s eyes. Probably the patterns he saw were invisible to her. There was his mother, talking to his aunt-by-marriage. The beta, Oscar, was hanging close to his mate. The only new face he saw was an omega who was anxiously waiting for a signal from anyone in the crowd. Arlin wasn’t sure who had acquired that new pack member while he was gone but he’d find out soon enough. The intricate relationships that tied these packs together weren’t the usual were style. Usually were children ran away and stayed away as soon as they were old enough. There was too much danger of bloodshed otherwise. But the Kinkaid extended family had beaten the odds. They maintained pack loyalty and still kept kin ties. It

mostly kept them from attack by those weres who had no close allies to call on. Arlin glanced at his non-were grandmother. Perhaps Leila had managed to instill human notions of family in them. He’d never heard of three wolf packs being in the same room together before this for anything other than murder. “Why do I feel like I’m being introduced to The Godfather and his family?” Ruth whispered to him. Arlin choked. “Don’t say that.” “Sorry I mentioned it. I was kidding. Mostly.” She smiled but he could feel her fingers tighten their clutch against his hand. “We’re exactly like that except for the accents and the fur.” Arlin paused. “Oh, and mostly our businesses are legit. At least they are in my family. We decided we don’t need investigation into what we do from outsiders.” It was odd trying to explain what was obvious to him. He’d grown up with the clash and balance of power as the grandson of one Alpha couple, the son of another. Betas and omegas deferred to him, even though he wasn’t technically Alpha of anything. But he knew this world inside and out, the advantages and disadvantages of his position. Ruth snorted and let go of his arm. Arlin almost grabbed her hand back but saw she was safely focused elsewhere. “Mrs. Kinkaid?” Ruth sailed right toward his grandmother, as if she hadn’t balked at meeting the family not five minutes ago. “I feel as if I truly know you, we’ve e-mailed so much to each other. I’m so glad I can thank you in person for all the medical information you’ve given me over the past few years.” “My dear, I could say the very same thing of you.” There was still a rich Southern accent in his grandmother’s voice. Leila smiled and held out her hands before she turned her cheek up to be ceremoniously kissed. She was used to being courted after all these years as an Alpha bitch. Even though he hadn’t said it out loud, Arlin mentally corrected himself. Alpha grande dame. Leila preferred that term. What the Alpha grande dame preferred was what people did. “I’ve looked forward to meeting you, Ruth.” Arlin relaxed, suddenly realizing he had been getting as tense as his companion. He’d forgotten that Ruth had her own contacts, distant though they were, with his pack. It was her connection with Leila that had brought her to them, had let them know she could be trusted with Dunne and their secrets. His grandmother had said she was someone to turn to when Dunne was dying from blood loss after the Hollin attack. Ruth was open-minded and smart enough to handle the idea of weres and, more importantly, able to help in a medical emergency. They’d been wary, but Ruth had immediately started work when she saw an injured wolf before her. She didn’t even blink when she was told he was a very special wolf. As always, Grandmother Leila had been right. Thank God. The alternative could have been ugly. Arlin looked over at Ruth, standing gravely and deferentially in front of his grandmother, and wondered what it would have been like if she’d proven untrustworthy. He shut his eyes. Thank God he didn’t have to play “what if.” The “what now” was bad enough. She was acting exactly the way a deferential young were should to an Alpha grande dame. As if she knew just what to do to be part of the pack. Part of the pack. Oh shit. He would have done better to wish she’d stayed nervous. He saw the first speculative glances start among the weres nearest Ruth. Damn it, she was acting a little too were. And a were female was a prize for any pack. Any minute now some of those damn weres would start circling, all but ready to sniff her butt to check her out. Well, too bad. All he could smell when he caught her scent was that she smelled ready to mate, just the way she’d smelled when his face been buried inside her pussy. It was damned distracting, but it wasn’t necessarily were scent. He wasn’t sure how he was going to feel once he really got inside her—and he damned well knew he was going to get inside her—but he also knew that no one else was going to get there first. He’d almost died from frustration earlier when he didn’t finish what had been so hotly started but he knew she wasn’t ready then. In the meantime he needed to stay alert because this pack was already looking at Ruth. He stiffened, ready to be guard dog for her, fighting the growl in the back of his throat. Protectiveness and lust mixed together was hell, especially when you didn’t know how to show it without frightening the object of those emotions—or how to hide that crazy mix from your interested family. “Arlin! I missed you!” A warm female body pressed against him from behind. Surprisingly strong arms gripped him tight.

Arlin laughed and relaxed into the embrace, ignoring the smiles from the onlookers. They knew what Tala was like. What he was like with Tala. Not even marriage would change her teasing. “How did you have the time, babe?” He turned and hugged her back. More warmth sparked between them. “Between Hunt and Dunne—and I’ll bet you’ve been between them a few times—it’s a wonder your few brain cells haven’t scrambled.” “It’s male brains that scramble from sex, silly.” She tapped his head. “Living proof right here.” His Tala. He smiled and looked over his almost-cousin’s shoulder to see Ruth looking back at him. There wasn’t any jealousy or anger or puzzlement in her gaze. There was…nothing. Just a steady stare. The way one wolf might challenge another. He didn’t like it. Or maybe he did. Arlin looked away. How stupid was he tonight? He didn’t need to accept a challenge from an outsider. Malefemale challenges had consequences among weres, ones he wasn’t prepared to make good on with Ruth. She wasn’t ready for the fucking or the fight he’d give her to show dominance. Arlin kissed Tala slowly, letting himself take a good, long time of it. Then he slapped her little rump and said, “Go fetch me your man.” “He’s right here.” Tala rubbed her ass, deliberately slow. “He keeps an eye on us. You know that.” “He doesn’t trust you after three weeks of married bliss?” “He doesn’t trust anyone. But he most especially doesn’t trust you, Arlin. No more than you do him.” Tala walked over to Hunt and put her head on her husband’s chest. “He also doesn’t fetch worth a damn. Let’s all go sit down at the conference table for this chat.” “I can see why you’re taking your time to sample all the wares,” his uncle whispered behind Arlin. “It’s not often we have two female weres sniffing around one male. Mated or not, Tala still checks you out.” Arlin growled as they began to seat themselves around the table. “It’s not like that with me. Or them.” Arlin couldn’t help but glance over at Ruth again. She sat up straight in her chair and kept her hands tightly clasped in front of her. What was she thinking now? “Huh. It’s always like that with weres. You, boy. Lupe.” His uncle turned toward the new were. “What do you think of the new female?” Lupe’s eyes widened a moment and he gulped out, “She’s beautiful. Sir. Sexy.” His uncle Rome nodded and dismissed the omega with one gesture. “See? Beautiful enough to make all the men here try for a taste if she was available. What do your parents think, Arlin?” “About what?” Arlin blinked and then shook his head. “No. It’s not like that.” “You bring an unattached female to the family and you don’t expect your parents to start checking things out?” Rome looked over at Ruth. “Were? She seems like one of us.” “If she is, she doesn’t know. And she’s not here because of me. It’s because others have found her out.” Wait a minute. If she’s not were, there’s no harm, no foul if we give each other a try. No one would expect me to keep her. “If she is were, you should be the reason she’s here. You and Tala have about equal shots at taking over all of the packs one day. Right now Tala might even have an edge since she has Hunt as her mate. You feel like being a beta in her pack?” Arlin’s hair rose on the back of his neck even though he knew Rome was trying for that reaction. Rome would no more want his darling Tala to be beta to him than Arlin would to her. “It’s a long time before Grandfather Dek goes. Longer yet before someone would ever take on you or my father for the right to be Alpha.” But even if his grandfather was crackling with life, his hair was white, just as Ruth had pointed out. Arlin’s father was getting gray at the temples. Strange how being away for a little while made you notice things you ignored before. “Just enough time to get a mate and start breeding.” Rome smiled but the smile was calculating. Dynasties were serious business. So was being Alpha. Rome was the presumptive Alpha in Grandfather Dek’s pack, but he had no direct heirs. Tala was his mate’s daughter, but Grey, the third in their ménage, was Tala’s biological father. A presumptive Alpha without heirs could be overturned and cast out in a different pack. The usual kind of pack. No wonder Rome kept an eye out for danger among this group. Hell, no wonder Rome kept an eye on him. Arlin had always been a potential challenge to his uncle’s leadership just by existing.

Uncle Rome had always been fine with him, easy with letting Arlin run in and out of his home and play with Tala when he was a kid. But that was then. “It’s only been a few weeks since I left. You’ve forgotten who I am already? I still remember you’re my mother’s brother.” Arlin decided to answer the unspoken thoughts directly. “Just like Deklin Kinkaid is my grandfather. We all have kin ties. Close ones. Besides, I don’t want a mate, and I don’t need to be Alpha. Yet.” If Ruth isn’t were, she’d be perfect for someone who doesn’t want to be tied. “Maybe. But you’ve grown up some since you were gone. Yet is coming a lot sooner than you want to admit.” “Rome, I’d be more worried about Hunt than my boy if you want to fret about someone else taking over. Hunt’s already Alpha of one pack and he wouldn’t mind taking over another unattached were female.” Arlin’s father sat down next to Arlin as he made his point, lightly squeezing his son’s shoulder in greeting. “Hell, Lowell, do you really think everyone else would allow that?” Rome shook his head at Arlin’s father. “Even if he doesn’t claim Ruth for his pack—and I highly doubt your Tala would allow it—having one under his protection is a good bargaining chip with any pack that needs a breeding female.” Lowell glanced at his son. “Then again, Hunt’s already got the girl under his protection, doesn’t he? You brought her right to him, Arlin.” Rome leaned forward. “Even though she acts it, Arlin says she may not be were.” “Hmm.” Lowell frowned. “Maybe she’s like Leila—human but with something extra that works.” “Most women aren’t weres, you know. That’s a lot of our problem,” Arlin said. “Too much competition.” “Then she may be in even more trouble being with us,” Lowell shot back. Even if she is were, if she doesn’t know, she won’t want more. Becoming a were’s mate has never crossed her mind. She doesn’t even like weres particularly. No matter what she is or isn’t, if I keep her away from the rest and keep her safe, we’re good. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her, despite what everyone is saying. And what she doesn’t know could end up making me very happy. Arlin steadied. Forced himself to listen to the others, rather than his father and uncle. “…I appreciate all of you staying after the wedding to discuss a potential threat to my pack. It’s nice to be welcomed into the family.” Hunt was standing as he gave his little speech. He was charming. Everyone else said so. But Arlin didn’t need someone else to take charge of anything. Especially someone who had managed to make Arlin beg for mercy when they’d been in a foursome together. Arlin glanced around with those new, assessing eyes and realized if he believed no one else minded Hunt, then he wasn’t thinking too hard. His family could play games well. Lounging, chatting softly to their partners, sitting there with a poker face—only the smell of tension gave the weres’ real feelings away. Hunt could pretend it was a gracious gesture to have them all here, but the one thing that kept argument at bay among them was the real danger from outside. “Your threat is our threat.” Grandfather Deklin spoke formally. The important part of the meeting was now ready to begin since the patriarch had indicated his agreement with Hunt. Everyone settled down. “Dr. Laurenstein, you are the one perhaps in the most danger because you’re not were and have no pack to stand for you.” Hunt turned to Ruth directly. “You gave us aid and I’m going to see to your protection.” Ruth nodded. “Thank you.” Screw Hunt. I’ll take care of you. “You may not be aware of what the Hollin pack is like. It’s led by an Alpha named Diogenes Hollin.” “That’s an unusual name.” Ruth’s formal voice sounded soft in the hushed, charged room. There was something odd in her tone. “Dio is—” Ruth’s face changed. She jumped to her feet, her hands grabbing for the conference table. “Dio?” She swayed forward. Arlin was the one who got there first, catching her before she crashed. ***** “Who is Dio to you?” She came to, appreciating the darkened bedroom and resenting Arlin’s harsh tone. “I don’t know.”

She didn’t know anything, not even how she had ended up in a strange room with two men looming over her. “That’s not an acceptable answer.” Arlin’s fist clenched and unclenched. “You’re terrified of him.” “Perhaps I’m more terrified of you.” She tried to retreat into that warm, dark, unconscious state again but it was too late. And too cowardly. She was simply going to have to deal with this as she had everything else during this insane twenty-four hours. “I’m not angry at you. There’s no need to be afraid of me.” Arlin’s voice was still rough. He’d completely forgotten to be civilized. She could almost see the were rising to the surface. It was ridiculous but his ferocity calmed her because suddenly she realized he wasn’t angry at her but for her. “Are you sure?” Ruth almost smiled. “You could’ve fooled me.” “Leave her alone, boy.” She knew that voice too. Dunne. The one she’d taken care of. The reason she’d been launched into this craziness. No, that wasn’t fair. He hadn’t asked to be shot. And she had been asked if she was willing to help. What she did after that was up to her. Dunne looked and sounded healthy and very alive now. Healing him was exactly what she needed to do. She’d never regret that. “Ruth.” Arlin sat next to her on the bed, picked up her hand, and stroked it. God help her. She wondered if he could feel her pulse begin to hammer. “Ruth. You don’t ever have to be afraid of me. It’s the bastards who scared you who should worry.” She wanted someone to be angry. Ferociously angry. Someone to hold her hand gently. “You don’t know why I’m afraid.” “Tell me. Let us help.” “I don’t…remember.” Ruth tried to fight the paralysis of fear. She didn’t remember. Not really. “I was very young. Before my new parents took me, I think. The memory is all jumbled.” There was a long, charged silence. Ruth took a deep breath. Arlin kept his grip on her hand, letting her squeeze back in return. “It’s all right, Ruth.” All right. It’s all right. How many times had she told herself that and never believed the words? But a hand holding hers helped. It helped more than she had ever imagined when she was alone and trying to move beyond the nightmares. “I remember hiding. And screams. And when I stopped hiding because it was quiet, I found blood. My parents were gone. I couldn’t find them. Or was that a nightmare? My adopted parents, the parents I remember, kept telling me it was.” She remembered a man standing in front of her, telling her to be quiet or she’d die next. He’d grabbed at her and she’d run, too afraid to talk. Or was that the other time it happened? “And Dio?” Arlin asked. “I remember someone screaming that name.” “Not Dios?” Dunne asked. “My birth mother didn’t speak Spanish. She was the one who scream—who said it.” It wasn’t so hard, in the half-dazed state she was in, to tell them. “Dio doesn’t sound the same anyhow. I thought she said ‘Die—oh!’ Over and over.” “What would Dio want with a non-were’s family?” Dunne muttered to Arlin, but Ruth heard. “There’s too much trouble going down that road.” Why indeed? It was another question to add to the others she’d carried with her. “I’m feeling more sure that Ruth is were,” Arlin said. “It sounds like a were raid. Grandfather Deklin barely survived the same thing when he was a kid.” She’d felt right with the room full of weres. She could tell the tension bubbling underneath, but she’d liked them. Felt comfortable with them. Was that normal? Ruth shook her head. She couldn’t ignore Arlin’s words. She couldn’t accept them, either. “No. No. I’m not one of you.” She forced herself not to shriek the words in hysteria. “Leave me alone. I’ve told you what I remember. Let me sleep.” It had been hard to say even this much. It would be harder to tell them what had happened later, what had happened when she wasn’t a child and protected by a child’s memory of events.

She would. She had to. After she slept. She’d be strong enough then. Ruth turned her face away from the two men in the room and shut her eyes. Something wet and rough slid against her cheek. She almost opened her eyes before she decided it might be better to ignore him. But…had Arlin licked her? What else felt like that but a were tongue? Oh my God. She loved the feel of his tongue wherever he put it. “You’re safe, Ruth. I promise.” His words rumbled through her head. He had whispered them, right? She thought she had heard…something…but she wasn’t sure he had spoken. “Come on, kid. Time to leave. You need to calm down and get your head straight about what happens next. She’s safe enough. Hunt will make sure no one gets in this suite without permission.” Dunne’s voice whispered, even farther away. She was sure he spoke those words out loud even though she was already drifting further into exhaustion. “I’m calm.” A lady is always calm. But this time those words hadn’t been directed toward her. Dunne was talking to Arlin. Arlin wasn’t a lady. And never calm. “You’re twisted like a corkscrew about the girl. Come on. I have just the thing to help.” “Does it have something to do with being twisted with a cock screw?” “If you get really lucky and only if you stop trying to make bad jokes.” But Arlin liked women! There was a small scuffling sound and then a body hit the wall. Through half-opened eyes, she saw Dunne pin Arlin to the wall, using his height and weight to keep him there. He leaned into the younger man, panting a little. Then Arlin twisted and he ran his face against Dunne’s neck. There was the slightest breath of what might have been a growl. Dunne turned his head away and Arlin bit into the sinews of Dunne’s neck. Like a dog—or a wolf—would to show dominance. Ruth’s breath caught. Dunne grunted, but not in protest. He waited until Arlin had finished before he straightened himself up again. Arlin pushed Dunne away and smiled, a slow, showing all his teeth kind of smile, full of promise. The two men laughed, very softly, as they left the room. Well. Obviously Arlin didn’t confine himself to women. Oh. My. God. Ruth’s eyes had gone wide open, staring at the ceiling, as she tried to make sense of what had been shown plainly in front of her. She’d fallen into a world where she was a complete alien. This was an utter reversal of the code of conduct she’d known was the right way. This time was even worse than after she’d been orphaned and tried to understand her new parents’ household rules. She didn’t think she could take another upheaval of her life yet again, no matter how surprisingly enticing a were lifestyle was proving to be. Enticing? That treacherous, warm “in heat” feeling was sliding over her at the thought of Arlin and Dunne. Dunne and Arlin. She’d like to watch. To touch. To be touched. And then, as if more thought was too much, she fell into sleep.

Chapter Four Arlin danced on one foot as he tried to shuck his shoes and his pants at the same time. Dunne leaned against the wall, laughing, as he dropped his shirt to the floor. “Miss me?” Dunne rubbed his hand against his hair, letting it stick up with the handling, then bent down to pull lube out of his shirt pocket. “Fuck, yeah.” Arlin wasn’t going to add out loud, “I missed all of you.” He didn’t have to. Dunne’s grin showed he’d heard Arlin’s thoughts. “They all say that. But they really just miss me.” Dunne slapped Arlin’s unprotected ass as the younger man balanced himself, freeing the last of his foot from his shoe. Arlin threw himself backward on the bed. “Ready when you are. By the way, why a whole new room? What’s wrong with your suite? Or mine?” “Talk later.” Dunne pinned him down, full weight pressing against him, and Arlin gasped for air. “Fuck now.” Arlin slid his legs up, spread over Dunne’s shoulders. Dunne leaned forward and buried his face against Arlin’s hair, growling as his lubed cock pushed against Arlin’s ass. “You shouldn’t have been gone so long, boy.” “Shut up and do it, like you said.” Dunne’s response was to push the first few inches of his cock inside Arlin’s ass. Arlin sucked in his breath at the initial sting. Damn, it was good. And damn, he’d missed it too much. Then Arlin forgot everything else but the sharp, slick pleasure of Dunne sliding in slow and deep. Inching out enough to make Arlin squirm. Sliding back in. He’d say it felt good to let go, to let the sensations build the way Dunne knew how to do, but he wasn’t sure the tension starting to ratchet up inside him was exactly letting go. It was more like the knots inside were being slowly, expertly, tightened and then burned away. Don’t think, either. Just feel. Dunne snarled once and slammed Arlin’s shoulders on the bed, pumping his cock hard inside. Their bodies slammed roughly together. Silently, except for the thud of the bed, the slap of skin against skin, the occasional gasp. Arlin obeyed the voice in his head and let go. Dunne was going to see to it that he did. Arlin fell into a ferociously hot, tight, dark place that squeezed him tighter and burned hotter until, without another sound other than the harsh cry of release torn out of him, he shot cum up onto Dunne’s wet chest. Dunne jolted hard against him and shuddered. Arlin sank against the bed, his body a happy mush. God, he’d needed that release. Needed to have uncomplicated, hot sex. “Nice. Real nice, boy.” Dunne let his full weight rest against Arlin for a moment and Arlin coughed. “Push off, Dunne, you ox.” “Watch your mouth if you want me around.” Dunne rolled away anyhow. “My feelings could get hurt.” Arlin looked up at Dunne, smiling with sudden, real affection. Dunne was big and solid and knew what he’d wanted. What they’d both wanted. “So?” “So?” “So why this room?” “Never saw anyone so single-minded unless it was Hunt. Don’t know how I manage to stand either of you.” Dunne stretched his arms out. “Although you both have pretty asses.” Arlin sat up and rested his head on his knees for a moment, catching his breath. Dunne knew how to work pretty asses hard. “Are you avoiding the question?” “Some. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that much.” Dunne glanced over at Arlin. “You aren’t going to let go of it, though, are you?” “Not likely, no.” “All right then. I didn’t want us to be filmed.” “What?”

“I’m not sure I am. I never looked too hard. But Hunt has a habit of checking on people that way.” “I know there are cameras all over the casino to make sure nothing happens but… Shit. That’s not what you mean. You mean they’re all over.” Arlin blinked. “The fucker is more of a control freak than I thought.” “There’s the control thing, for sure. But he likes watching. Always has.” Arlin scowled. “He watches Tala too?” “Definitely Tala.” Dunne looked troubled. “I figure she knows by now. There isn’t much she doesn’t know about all of us.” “That’s…that’s…” “That’s Hunt.” “Maybe Ruth is right about us.” “Maybe she is. What does she think?” “She thinks we’re perverted. She doesn’t say that, but I can feel it. She keeps holding back, waiting for us to do something wrong.” Dunne laughed. “We are perverted, Arlin. By non-were standards, anyhow. But my bet is that she’s interested anyhow. Are you sure she’s were now?” “Not sure at all. She’s mixed-up about what she is and how she feels but of course Dio got to her family, Dunne. That’s enough to give anyone a fear of us and what we can do.” “True enough.” Dunne moved into the bathroom and turned on the faucet. Through the splashes of water, he asked, “You really ready to try to fix that, Arlin? Seems like you’re already in enough of a tangle between me, Tala, and Hunt.” “I don’t know.” The afterglow of sex was already fading. Feeling good after sex only worked for so long. “She needs someone to take care of her. I’m what she’s got, at least for now.” “Be careful she doesn’t get you both in trouble and the rest of us too. She doesn’t understand us yet and she’s scared. She’s a gutsy woman but you can smell the fear on her. You had the advantage of growing up in a strong pack and knowing what being were is.” Dunne came out of the bathroom with a towel. “Not knowing what to do could get us all hurt.” “I can be careful.” “No, you can’t, but I meant her. She doesn’t know a damn thing.” “I said I’d take care of her, Dunne. Are you trying to insult me? Say I can’t do that?” “Wouldn’t dream of it, boy.” “Stop calling me a boy—” Almost on cue, the pager in Dunne’s shirt squawked. He scowled. “I’m not on duty. That means…” He dived for his discarded shirt. That means trouble. Arlin jumped out of the bed and began to pull his pants on. “It’s Ruth.” Dunne’s face set into grimness. “Let’s go.” Arlin was already out the door. Jesus God, Ruth wouldn’t be able to handle one of Dio’s goons. Why the hell had he left her? Her door was locked, of course, but he heard screams. It was a wonder everyone in the resort couldn’t hear. Hell, at this point he wouldn’t mind having some non-weres come to run interference. But they’d be too late. God damn it. “Where is the fucking key, Dunne?” He kicked at the door. “Wait a goddamn second…” Dunne fumbled at the door. Bang! That had to be a gun. Arlin was pretty sure his heart stopped right then. The door swung open and they fell in, crowding each other at the entrance like an old comic movie, just in time to see Ruth standing, legs apart to brace herself, with her face set in concentration, and holding a revolver. Her hands began to shake and she lowered the weapon, letting it face the floor. “I think…” She cleared her throat and tried again. “I think I got him.” ***** “What the hell are we going to do with this?” Dunne prodded the wolf’s body with his boot.

“I don’t recognize him.” Hunt stood, hands in his suit pockets. “He was never one of mine.” “At least this one is were. If he’s using some of us then Dio is starting to take his attacks seriously.” Arlin edged closer to Ruth, who was sitting ramrod straight on the chair, not looking at the dead were below them. “Nice shot, Ruth, for a beginner.” “I know how to shoot. I guess no one else knew that.” “We all do now. Fortunately no one in the casino heard.” Arlin looked at her clenched jaw and tightly gripped fingers. She was tense but controlled. That was his girl. He wasn’t sure what was hiding under that control. She was fighting to stay calm. He wanted to be there when her real emotions broke free. “I learned how to a few years back.” She turned her head away. “Maybe he should go out to the desert. No one would notice dead wolf bones there.” “Yeah. Arlin, give me some help here.” Dunne gripped the motionless legs. “Where the hell is the new guy?” “We can introduce Lupe to dead bodies once he gets more used to us.” Dunne grunted as he lifted his end. “When you men get back, we need to talk.” Hunt looked hard at Ruth. “This isn’t directed at us, the way I thought. It’s her that they want.” “Dio first attacked her family when she was practically still a baby. That’s one long wait to get someone.” Arlin knew Hunt was right but had to object anyhow, just on principle. He didn’t like the look on Ruth’s face as she thought over Hunt’s words. Hang on a little longer, baby, then we can be together to pick up the pieces. “Dio can wait for what he wants. And he’s tried before.” Ruth swallowed. “The other time was maybe seven years ago.” There was dark in her eyes. Dark and danger. Wolf dangerous. Maybe she wasn’t going to fall apart. Maybe something else was about to happen once she let go. “A hand here, Arlin,” Dunne called. “Dio might not swoop down until we’re back but no need to drag things out.” “Right.” Arlin forced his gaze away from Ruth and picked up his half. “Your truck?” “I guess. Let’s get a trash can. Guests might wonder if they see us carrying this out.” “Ruth.” Arlin paused a moment more. “Yes?” “I’m coming back as soon as I can. Just…just wait for me.” As the two of them left, Hunt glanced over at Ruth. “Now is the time to talk if you don’t want them as an audience. Arlin is a little too close to you if this is something really bad. I don’t want him to go off in a bloodlust rage.” “Is that what weres do when things get bad?” Ruth paused and tried to smile. “Never mind. You’d know better than I. And I doubt you said that to make conversation. All right. Yes, it’s bad.” Bloodlust rage. She’d felt it when she shot. No more fear. Just rage. She’d held on long enough to use a revolver rather than go after the attacking animal with her teeth and nails. She’d wanted to tear into her enemy. To kill him with her own hands. She’d never felt like that before. Crazy. Dangerous. Powerful. God. There was a whole world of emotions she could be living. And she’d been afraid all this time to allow herself to feel them. If that was what being were was like, it had felt right. She had felt right, no longer denying there was danger and fear and wildness in her. That she could let it out on someone else. Hunt waited, arms folded, obviously uninterested in anything but information. Ruth swallowed, got a better grip on those jumbled emotions inside, and said, “About seven years ago, Dio found me again. After I’d been adopted, I suspect he lost track of me. After all, I had a different name and lived in a totally different state. One of his men found me first. I was stupid. Very stupid. I thought his follower was interested in me. That he wanted me. I thought I cared about him.” “And he didn’t care for you?”

“Three weeks after we met, I let him into my dorm room. The rest of his pack followed. And they raped me. At the very end I think—I’m almost sure—some of them Changed.” She hadn’t known what they were then. All this time she’d thought she’d gone a little crazy when she imagined wolf bodies pressed against her… Could she have been more terrified if she’d known it was true? Ruth glanced at the weapon still sitting on her lap. “I’m glad I killed this one.” She met Hunt’s look without flinching. “You’re brave but you’re in more danger than I thought.” The Alpha leaned forward and took her hands in his. “And my pack is going to protect you. You saved one of mine. Our lives for yours.” “I don’t want any more lives lost for mine.” Ruth blinked. Of course not. That’s what she should feel. “Not even those with ugly lives.” But what she really wanted surged up inside. No one should be killed. Not unless she took those lives. One by one. They’d taken her life away long ago, hadn’t they? Her life had been stunted ever since they attacked her— making her afraid to be with others as she ran from shadows, changing phone numbers and door locks constantly. Everything had been destroyed by Dio and his minions. They deserved what she’d do to them. “I can’t promise that.” Ruth shut her eyes, trying for the right, empty words again. “Then what can I do to make sure it doesn’t happen?” “I’m not sure, but I’ll find out. In the meantime you need to get away from here. They know where you are.” “I can do that.” “Not alone. Who do you want—Dunne or Arlin?” Ruth flushed. “Neither.” “To go with you, I mean.” Hunt gave a half smile. “I can’t spare them both but either of them make a fine bodyguard.” “I’m not risking anyone—” “Which?” He was implacable. She should pick Dunne. He’d keep her safe and—No. She wasn’t safe and she never would be. If she had to live with danger, she might as well do what she wanted. “Arlin. I want Arlin.” Being close to death clarified what you wanted in life. Arlin was at the top of her list. Arlin, for as long as she could have him. Arlin, with his wicked smile and clever hands. Arlin, who was young but already knew so much more about everything she needed to know. He wanted to protect her. She knew that. But she wanted something beyond that. No more lady’s behavior. No more trying to lie to herself. She wanted to be alive—no more fear, no more hiding. Being alive was frothing inside her, a feeling better than anything she’d ever experienced. She wanted to hold onto it, to hold onto what she was when she felt it. Arlin made her feel alive too. Hunt smiled again. “Then you’ll have to ask. Arlin isn’t mine to command, but he’ll do it for you.” “I will.” Ruth would ask him for more than that. “I assume you have plans for us both?” “Plans to keep you away from Dio, yes.” Hunt leaned forward. “I have a small place in the middle of Nevada that no one would ever think to search. You two can go there for a few weeks. Until we’ve tracked Dio down and taken care of the problem.” ***** The large omega sidled into the room as Ruth stared out the window. Even though he was quiet, amazingly quiet, she jumped a little. “Sorry, ma’am.” He froze in place. “I’m not going to bite.” Ruth thought about what she’d been thinking and feeling and realized she might not have entirely reassured him. She rather liked biting. “No, ma’am. Tala—Mrs. Tala—asked me to look on you. To see if you were all right.” “That was nice of her.” “Maybe you’d like to get the blood off your clothes?” He held up a sponge. Ruth cut off a surprised snort of laughter. “Are you used to doing things like that for your pack? Lupe, right?

That’s your name?” “Yes, ma’am. I’m new. The Boss took me in a few days ago. I’m not… I’ve been on my own up to now so it’s taking some getting used to. But I’m happy to do whatever you ask of me.” Ruth tilted her head to one side to study him. Despite his huge size he was still a kid, probably almost as young as Arlin. Lupe had clearly lived a rougher life than Arlin. A small scar lay under one eye. A bruise was fading from his cheek. “You can’t know less about being were than I do,” she said. If I am were, I’m lost. As it is, I’m afraid I’ll make a mistake among so many. “I dunno, ma’am. Mostly being a lone wolf meant I got into fights and had to run, even if I won. It’s dangerous, not being in a pack.” “I got in a fight too, and I won. But your boss wants me to run.” Ruth took the sponge from him and began to dab at her shirt. “He said he’ll protect me. That seems to mean poor Arlin is stuck guarding me.” “Mr. Arlin is a very lucky man.” Lupe said it solemnly. Ruth looked up into the large omega’s dark eyes and patted his chin. “That’s very kind of you, Lupe.” The kid blushed. “It’s the truth.” Maybe I’m very lucky too. ***** Arlin said he’d take care of Ruth. Of course. If anyone else had offered to take Ruth away, he’d be forced to stop them. Even Dunne would have been a dead man. Ruth was staring at him while Hunt told him just how to protect her, a long, considering stare that made his hands itch to touch her and effectively stopped his dark thoughts about submitting to Hunt’s orders. A few weeks away with Ruth. Hmmm. “Say good-bye to Tala for us.” Arlin wasn’t going to risk seeing her and confessing what his plans were. “We’re gone.” Ruth didn’t say anything. She kept assessing him as he held his hand out to her. She didn’t need the help—she was steady and apparently no longer afraid or upset—but he liked to touch her. He intended to touch her a lot while they were away. He wanted to see if those feelings he sensed under her calm surface could come alive. She could tell him no. He wasn’t Dio. He’d accept a no. But he was going to see if he could make sure she said yes. Yes. He pulled her up out of her seat and she let herself rest again that thin, muscled body for a moment. It felt so good that she was tempted to stay there longer. But they had an audience. Having a public display in front of Hunt in his own office wasn’t right. Besides, she wanted to be sure. Very sure. She placed her glasses more firmly on her nose as she looked up at him. Taking a better look didn’t change her mind. It just made her mouth water. She touched his mouth gently and then forced her hand away. “I’m ready to go.” Hot lust swept over her just from touching his skin. She didn’t want to be gentle or wait any more. She leaned a little closer, helpless to stop, and nipped his chin. Hard. Arlin’s smile bared his teeth. “So am I. Past ready.”

Chapter Five The others were gone. She hadn’t thought beyond that. A wisp of the old Ruth wondered if she could go ahead with what she’d wanted now that she and Arlin were alone. Could anyone be shameless enough to actually do all the dark, dirty things she imagined in her head? Then Arlin’s mouth was on her neck, his hands on her breasts, his cock almost inside her pussy. He growled as if he would savage her as he tore at her clothes. But then, wasn’t that exactly what she wanted? Oh God. It was. Exactly what she wanted. The scared Ruth disappeared, burned away. She leaned back to offer her neck, the way she’d seen Dunne offer not long ago. His teeth closed over her, not gently, but not savagely, either. Just…strong. Perfectly right. She shivered and shut her eyes. “I don’t care if anyone looks.” His words made no sense and she opened her eyes again. She didn’t see anyone but them in the room. “What?” “I don’t care. Do you?” “Someone else watching? I-I should care. Shouldn’t I? I don’t understand but no. I just want you.” She needed him. Needed him to bite her and to hold her and to fuck her. Nothing else mattered. She didn’t care if it was just them or they were in a crowd. She wouldn’t mind showing others how well they could fuck. The old Ruth would care. This new one just wanted Arlin in her as soon as possible. He moved them both to her bed. She expected him to put her down but he only made it to the edge before stopping. “Good.” He braced himself, pulled her up and, as she wrapped her legs around his hips, poised his cock to enter her. “I’ll be careful. Slow.” He pushed in a quarter of an inch, met resistance and slid back. She breathed hard through her nose as he whispered the next words against her cheek. “So careful, baby. For as long as we’re together on this trip.” “You can start off careful. I don’t know if you have to stay that way for long.” He reached down and brushed against her pussy with his fingers. Just the barest of touches, his cock still firmly against her. She jolted at the shock. The hot, frightening, wonderful shock. “Not yet. But soon.” He licked the pulse of her throat, down the collarbone, nipping and licking. “You smell so ready. But not…yet.” “Why not?” She twisted against him, tried to force his cock against her even while she dangled in the air, inches from the bed. “I want you dying for me first.” She felt the leak of his precum on her thighs, felt the wetness in her own pussy. “I’m dying now, Arlin. Please?” “Mmmm.” He gave her nipple the lightest of pinches. “So tight. Everything about you is tight. I don’t want to hurt you, Ruth.” “I may hurt you if you don’t hurry.” She realized she meant it. She wanted to howl. She could feel the itch of something—something she didn’t know under her skin. Only Arlin could take care of how she felt right now. “Baby…” His voice changed. His eyes narrowed. It was his wolf-on-the-hunt look. “I think we need to change positions. You can handle doggy-style?” “Yes. Anything.” “Anything? You sure?” “Anything if you finally take me. Damn it.” If he laughed she’d kill him. Maybe she’d fuck him first and then kill him but she’d… He didn’t laugh. Instead he slid her against his own hot body as he placed her on the bed and climbed after her. “It will be deep.” “Yes. Please, yes.” It was right to be there on all fours with him behind her. Natural to have him lean over her and get ready to mount her. She whined.

Whined? She felt different. Not the worried female who wasn’t sure she could handle sex and, thank God, not remotely the one who had once been forced. She was wild and…her skin prickled again. Arlin was saying something, gruff and low, that she didn’t understand, didn’t need to understand. She was moving, dancing toward something new and amazing, something she had no words for. He plunged hard and deep into her, care forgotten and unneeded. His cock was big and stretched her. There was more—a knot that bound them together, unable to leave each other. It hurt. No. No, it didn’t. She lifted her head up and howled. The rest was a blur of motion and hot pressing of flesh, of itch and scratching the itch. And joy. Somewhere deep inside was joy. The emotion burst inside her, leaving her trembling and wanting more. And there was more. She wasn’t sure how long they were tied together, how long Arlin came inside her, over and over. She knew that she was shaking and exhausted when it was over and he moved away. And she was smiling. This was what she’d wanted. That and the arm Arlin hooked around her as they lay together on the sheets, their bodies warming against each other. His arm was heavy on her, securing her. She ran a finger down that arm. His touch, the sex and after the sex, had been so different. She took a deep breath, deliberately not remembering how bad anything like intimacy had been before. She’d focus on what was good now. Arlin’s touch, Arlin’s cock…Arlin had been very good indeed. She was good now too. “So, Miss Wolf. How did you like it?” “I’m not…” She stopped the automatic denial and thought about what she’d felt and what she hadn’t. The odd thoughts that had flickered through her brain and the stranger sensations through her body. “That wasn’t just good sex, was it?” Two wolves in a Las Vegas hotel suite. It sounded mad. It sounded right. “It was very good sex. Good were sex.” His tongue swiped against her back. “Damn, you are tasty. I could make a meal out of you.” He nipped at her skin and she hoped he wasn’t being literal. She batted at his mouth to make him stop, for once needing answers from him more than sex. “I-I was were?” “Yes. Sort of.” “Sort of?” She didn’t even have a chance to absorb the yes part of his answer before she realized he’d said there was something new wrong with her. She stiffened, waiting to hear what it was. “I think you’re like some in my pack. Were enough but not fully were. That would also explain why you haven’t figured it out for so long. After all, you’re a smart woman, you’re not altogether comfortable with non-weres and you’re attracted to wolves. You should have caught on before this. Something blocked you.” Were enough. What did that mean? “I studied wolf behavior in college and, yes, I find wolf behavior interesting. It’s sensible for them to be in a hierarchy and… All right. Maybe I’m not as smart as you think. I never really thought about why I was interested. Or why I was so different. Oh my God. Now I even understand why sometimes small dogs cringe when I enter the office.” She laughed. It was as if a door had opened and she was going to finally be allowed out. Where would “out” lead? She stopped laughing. She wasn’t afraid to find out now. She kissed Arlin hard before she kissed him more slowly, thoroughly. When they were done, she drew back and saw Arlin breathing fast. Ruth smiled. Some might say that Arlin had turned the key to her door. He cleared his throat. “You change. Not the way I do. Your nonwere is still a little closer to the surface after the Change than most weres would be. Most of us fully change. You still look more human than wolf.” She glanced at the mirror. She still looked the same. “I don’t understand.” But she would. She would research until she did. Ruth bit off a smile. Research? She’d live it. She’d finally know what she’d tried so long to ignore and hide, what she’d been ashamed of because others had shamed her. She wasn’t her adoptive family’s daughter any longer, desperate to fit in with what they wanted. She wasn’t anyone’s but her own. Or maybe—a little—she was Arlin’s.

Arlin didn’t mind her animal side. At all. He was more than ready to help her explore her wildness. She could be safe and edgy if he mated with her. No. Oh God, no. She’d studied wolf behavior. She couldn’t want Arlin claiming her. Because wolves didn’t claim for a little bit when they mated. It was possession or nothing. And now that Arlin and everyone else would know she was were… She dressed rapidly, feeling less were by the minute. “Arlin—” “We can talk. Later. We’re going now.” He stood up and stretched. “Yes. Of course. That was the plan.” “There will be a few changes to the plan en route.” Arlin picked up her suitcase. “What changes?” Ruth followed him. “We’re not going where Hunt thinks we are, for one.” Arlin lowered his voice and kept moving down the hall. “Why not?” “It’s a trust thing. I don’t.” He glanced over at her. “Don’t worry. We only have to wait it out for a little while until Dio is taken care of.” She could accept that since she didn’t trust easily either. The warm, loose feeling in her made her want to trust Arlin, though. At least for a few days. A few days with Arlin wasn’t being claimed, right? It was exciting. A chance to find out more about what she really was like. “Actually right now, I can agree with almost anything you want. Maybe we need to have sex more often,” she said out loud. Arlin looked down at her and his wolf grin showed. “Maybe we do. And there’s no maybe that we will.” ***** “This is our hiding place?” Ruth stared around and then at Arlin. “Who would think of us being here?” “Indeed.” She shook her head. “We’re still in Vegas.” “But not near the Strip. If we’re not there, we might as well be invisible. As long as you stop using that cell phone of yours to check on your clinic. That was fine while everyone knew you were with Hunt’s pack. Now it’s not.” “I’m sorry but I still have a business to run…” “Relax.” Arlin picked up the brochure near the television and read aloud: “‘Welcome to our quiet resort, designed for families to relax. You’re close to nature but not too far from the bright lights. Whatever you want, it’s all here.’” He grinned at her, daring her to object. She really should have but he did have a great smile. “You’re here. That’s what I want.” “My shy introvert seems to have discovered her crazy side.” Arlin sat on the bed and patted his lap. “Come here.” His? She wasn’t his. At least not any more than he was hers. A devilish twist of possession and lust swirled up inside her. Where had that come from? It was as if once she let her emotions out, they were all determined to show themselves. The hell with rationalizing what she felt. She’d show him just who owned whom. She set her glasses down with a click. She wasn’t going to be introverted now. She pulled off her shirt and smiled at Arlin. He smiled back, waiting for her, lounging back on the chair. No, she didn’t feel shy or inhibited or anything but eager. There was pleasure when she sat and let herself squirm against him. She caught her lip in her top teeth, trying not to show how good it felt. His smile deepened. He knew all those desperately good feelings he created in her. There was no point at all in hiding it. Instead she leaned forward and took his bottom lip between her teeth. Why not bite him instead? She wanted to. “I want you to teach me, Arlin. Everything.” This time I won’t be were. I’ll be me. I hope that’s enough.

“You always were, baby,” Arlin said to her. “Were is as much a part of you as the earnest vet is. You always will be both.” He knew. There couldn’t be any games with him. Apparently he could literally read her mind. Should she be worried? Angry? She wasn’t sure. She didn’t have room right now for those emotions. She let a short breath out through her nose, no longer able to fight the clawing of desire through her body. Becoming were was frightening. Once you knew, it changed what you wanted, how you wanted, all in a few hours. Old fears were gone, replaced by new, crazy desires. But right now it didn’t matter. Who she was. Who he was. His cock mattered. His cock and his slow, encouraging smile as she tried out her seduction. “Do you want to argue or do something else?” She unsnapped his jeans. “I like arguing with you, actually, when you get all starchy and prim. Makes me want to screw all the proper out of you. But I like the something else even more.” He unbuttoned the top of her pants. His fingers were warm as they touched her skin, tracing a pattern against her belly. “Good.” She hitched her legs up around his waist and began to unbutton his shirt next. “You’re enjoying yourself, aren’t you?” She stopped and let the wave of giddiness hit her. If sudden lust meant she was enjoying herself, then she definitely was. “Yes, I am. I have a boy toy, and I’m not afraid to use him.” Her voice was husky. It was starting to become difficult to speak. She pulled the shirt away from his shoulders and arms. Oh, God, yes. That much closer to what she wanted. His naked body. “You have a great chest.” “You too.” He leaned forward and sucked at one nipple through her bra. The pull of need made her dig her hands into his arms. “A first-class chest.” She shut her eyes. Oh God, that did feel good. The pucker of her nipple rubbed against the lace of her bra, making her squirm with a discomfort that tickled her nerves and sent a burst of heat to her clitoris. He removed her bra and pants while her eyes were shut, stroking her skin while he did. She smiled. He could be sneaky. The slow buildup to the inevitable conclusion was as exciting as the fast sex they’d had before. She could make this pleasure last a long time with a little self-control. She didn’t have much control left. But a long time at sex sounded wonderful. “We have time now. Plenty of time to enjoy.” She managed to speak through the pleasure hazing her brain. “Why do you know what I’m thinking? How do you know?” “I’m not sure.” Arlin hesitated, and she could have smacked herself for spoiling the mood. “I would have said once it’s because we’re mates. But I thought that was a once-in-a-lifetime thing and I’ve been able to read other were thoughts before this.” She didn’t want to feel jealous. She didn’t want to ask. “Tala’s?” “Not just Tala’s.” Not just Tala? Arlin pulled away from her to shuck off his own jeans. “You don’t really want to know, do you?” She looked down at him. She didn’t want to stop and think. His cock jumped a little when she rubbed her pussy against it. “No.” Not right now. But someday I will. He leaned forward and pulled her close to him. She pushed her fingers into his hair and looked down into those intent eyes. “What happened with others doesn’t matter, Ruth.” With one easy motion, he moved her onto his cock. She wiggled and she saw sweat bead above his lip. With a push, she fit herself over him. His chest rose and fell, reaching for air. “What you’re doing now, that matters.” She could do that to him. Make him sweat. Make him gasp. Make him as needy as he made her. Wonderful. “I’d like to do everything. Everything there is to do with you.” She shifted, adjusting to his cock inside her. “I have a lot to catch up on. Weres have lots and lots of sex. All kinds of sex. I want it.”

She looked at Arlin. He was so young. A decade younger than she was. But then she’d missed out on the chance of any real intimacy, any sex at all, for almost a decade. He already knew more than she did about that. “You didn’t like the idea of were sex once.” Arlin’s voice was low, and he pushed up, muscles flexing as he did. The fullness of him, sliding into her, was like nothing else she’d ever experienced. She could bite him over and over. Just sink into his skin and feast. “I didn’t want to like that idea.” She moved with him, letting the friction and heat flow through them both. “But I thought about it. About you with other weres. With other men. I saw you and Dunne.” “Did you?” “I didn’t want to admit it at first, but I-I liked it.” She fought the sudden need to orgasm as the thoughts of the two of them weaved in and out of her head. But the thoughts were what let her say the words she was thinking out loud. “I want to be with you both next time.” There was a long silence. Could Arlin’s cock get bigger, stiffer? “The two of us fucking each other and you watching? Seeing me fill up Dunne’s ass? Seeing him suck me off? Or the three of us fucking each other, stuffing your pussy and your ass, and none of us able to watch or even think because it’s so…damned…hot…” His voice, growled low in her ear, sent her tightening up and then over into the climax that she was starting to both expect and crave with him. She wanted him and Dunne. Or, even if she wasn’t entirely sure she did, this was something he wanted. He’d had something like it with Tala. Very likely with Tala and Dunne and Hunt together. Ruth focused on his face, tight with lust, and then she needed, with all her heart, to give him everything he could desire. More than everything, more than he’d ever had before or could ever expect to have. He’d have thought it was a fantasy a few days before. A fantasy that he could get that glazed, hot look in her eyes from dirty talk. And from working his cock into that tight, wet cunt. He pressed his finger on her clit and stared at her as she shut her eyes and moaned. He wanted to catch every second of Ruth this way. Her hair, always bound up, had slipped free, a stream of blonde moonlight shimmering over him. She wasn’t worried, wasn’t prim, wasn’t anything but his, clearly showing her light and promise. Moon woman. She was turning more were by the hour. And she was getting more turned on by the minute. Weres did their best during moonlight. She was responding to him, matching what he wanted, sending back heat and stoking them both up higher, up to someplace where it was hard to breathe, to think, to… God. He threw his head back as he came. As she milked him, wanting all of his cum. As she cried out too, slippery and sated. Later, much later, she said, in a soft voice, “I think I need to try both ways with you and Dunne.” Even though he was exhausted, sudden lust and need hit him all over again with her words. He tightened his hold on her butt even though his eyes refused to open. “You may kill me, but it’ll be worth it, Dr. Laurenstein.”

Chapter Six “Hello.” She stared at the man in front of her. He looked relaxed, his hands in his pockets. She didn’t know if he was really that carefree or not. She knew she wasn’t. Nerves and curiosity danced through her. Agreeing to a ménage while having sex was different from actually seeing your potential third when you weren’t having sex. When you were dressed and, presumably, sane. “Nice to see you, doc.” Doc. That was all she should be to Dunne. The doctor who had healed him. The temporary lover of Dunne’s friend. He shouldn’t be a potential third in that temporary coupling. A ménage in a motel room. He’d arrived within an hour after Arlin called. So he must want this. Or did he just want Arlin? Or… He looked into her eyes and she saw heat in his. Why did she keep trying to lie to herself? Doctor and patient wasn’t going to be all they would be. Her own nerves danced faster, fast enough to make her breath catch. “Just nice?” Dunne’s smile showed a hint of his canines. She recognized his hunting smile. It was a lot like Arlin’s. “That remains to be seen.” Arlin moved behind her. He put his hand on her shoulder and let it stay there, the weight and heat of his palm imprinting itself on her skin. She knew what that meant too. He was showing possession. Why did that make her relax? But with Arlin’s touch to steady her, when Dunne moved toward her, she took a half step toward the older were. He brushed his fingers against her hair, moved his fingers down to where Arlin’s hand was and gripped it. The two hands held her steady while she looked up at Dunne. “I want to know.” The tightness in her throat reminded her she was scared. The wetness in her pussy reminded her that she was curious and hungry. She wanted to know what had made the two of them so exciting and if the same magic could happen to her. She wanted to be thoroughly were. Dunne’s smile was gentle and the fear eased. “I want you to know. So does he.” He nodded toward Arlin. She couldn’t see Arlin’s face, but his hand was enough for now. She relaxed against his body and cocked her head. “Then…shouldn’t we start?” Arlin laughed behind her as he teased one of her nipples. “How about you let Arlin and I start this?” Dunne asked her, very gently. He took one finger and traced it from her cheekbone to her jawline. She smiled, even while her knees shook. “As long as I get to finish it with both of you.” Arlin leaned over to brush his lips against Dunne’s throat, squeezing her tightly between the hardness of the two male bodies. Dunne’s hands gripped her even while his lips turned to meet Arlin’s mouth. The two men kissed, all heat and teeth and ferocity, stripping each other down as they did. She ground herself against them, wanting to feel their masculine muscle and strength. Her hands reached out and back, touching Arlin’s cock. It jumped under her hand. “Take it out, honey.” His voice was eager and sexy and gentle, all at the same time. She turned and cupped the hardness in her hands while she realized what she’d tried not to let herself know ever since they met. She wanted this cock, this intensity to be hers. Just hers. She wanted to be his. Could there a worse time to realize she was in love with someone? His cock jumped under her touch as she gripped it hard, maybe a little too hard. Ruth let out a small sigh of a laugh and bent to kiss it, her tongue brushing the slit that was already spilling drops of precum. She rested her cheek against the shaft for a moment before straightening up just to feel his cock jump yet again. Arlin. Oh God, Arlin. What was she doing here like this? He could see she was nervous as she stood again, but the nerves were from anticipation more than fear. She turned her head up to look at him, and his heart twisted.

She trusted him. And hell, he trusted her. What more trust could a man have than letting a woman… Her hand moved over his cock, squeezing him where he wanted her to. She smiled, suddenly wicked. There wasn’t enough air to suck into his lungs. Not with Dunne’s cock hard against both his leg and Ruth’s. Not with her fist gripping his cock. He was afraid he might come right then, with her hand tight over him. But it was too soon, and he’d miss what happened next. And he didn’t want to miss anything. Ruth and Dunne were kissing now, deep and slow, Ruth’s body gliding against his as they did. Dunne and she had gradually taken her clothes off. God, they were both so beautiful. Flicks of want and curiosity and still more want lashed at Arlin. Dunne looked at him, a love bite showing on his lip. “What do you want, kid?” Without even trying to second-guess his answer, Arlin put his hand over Ruth’s wet pubic hair. Soft and dripping and female. His fingers twitched, desperate to plunge inside. “Mine.” His voice deepened. Possessiveness burst through his body and swelled his cock. Anything else you can try, but not here. Ruth leaned up against him, making it even easier to push two fingers inside the tight, wet heat of her. “Fine.” Dunne turned her around, so she faced Arlin, body fitting to body. “There’s plenty more besides that.” Dunne moved, gently, tentatively against her ass cheeks. Beyond a gasp and widened eyes, Ruth didn’t resist. “Are you all right?” Arlin asked. “Yes.” She gulped the word out, gripping his shoulders. “Please. Arlin, please.” He couldn’t resist that word. Not when Ruth hummed it against his neck. Not when he could hear it in his head. Not when he felt it in his cock as he slid inside her or when he felt Dunne’s cock inside her ass. Please. Yes. Please. Her legs scissored helplessly against him as he pulled her up close. Dunne gave a soft huff of effort and she shivered. Yes. She was full of him now, full of him and Dunne together, as they moved in short, harsh bursts, pushing her between them. Ruth leaned her head against his shoulder and moved with them, her breasts slipping against his chest, her back arching up into Dunne. Arlin stared into Dunne’s eyes. They were almost blank, as Dunne focused on sensation, his eyelids drooping half-shut with enjoyment. But Arlin suddenly could see everything, focus on each gasp and shift with a magnified attention that somehow changed the speed of what they were doing into slow motion. There, Dunne’s mouth tightened as he withdrew. There, Ruth’s hips bumped hard against his. And there, his cock pushed harder into her, brushing against her swollen clit before filling her. And she was with him, squeezing him tighter than he’d ever been held. His body screamed at him to come, come now, that it would be better than he’d ever had before. He resisted, still staring at the profile of the woman who was clinging to him, wanting to see more of her as she lost herself in the two men servicing her. “Arlin!” she wailed. As the demand in his balls began to build, more than ready to fill her, Arlin vaguely realized he was shaking like someone cold—or hot with fever. Too late to think now. Sensation swamped him, sinking him into something too big to understand as he came. Dunne straightened and touched Ruth’s shoulder. She smiled but then they both looked at Arlin. “Your turn,” Dunne said to him as Dunne pulled his pants on. “Getting some java now. Thanks, sweetie.” He squeezed Ruth’s shoulder again and left the two of them alone. She made a low, shaky sound that wasn’t quite a sigh as she sat down but said nothing. Arlin tried not to scowl. He sat down on the bed next to her. “So?” “So.” Ruth cleared her throat. What was she thinking? “Was it too rough?”

“No. You two were…sweet.” “Sweet?” “Hot too. Hot and sweet.” Ruth’s smile looked more amused now. “It was a wonderful experience.” She sounded like the prim little veterinarian he’d first met, not like his partner in a threesome. “But?” “What do you mean, Arlin?” “I’m hearing a but in there.” “No.” Ruth shook her head. “I enjoyed it.” They looked at each other. “Arlin?” Here it came. What she was thinking. At last. “Is this the way you’re supposed to feel about sex when you’re a were? I did like it. I could see it happening again. Dunne is a good man and the two of you are so, so good together. But”—there the word was!—“I don’t think I made the same connection I did with you and me. Did I do it wrong? Maybe it should have been Dunne with you, not me.” I made it wrong for you. That was his first thought and he wanted to slap himself for screwing up. She feels a connection with me. Just me. That was his second thought and the weird mix of pride and terror stunned him. The third thought came a few seconds after the first two. Shit. What the hell have I gotten us into? Arlin tried to answer her question. “Sometimes we just have sex to have some. No connection needed.” “I know it wasn’t that way with you and Dunne and…and Tala, though. I liked what we did but it wasn’t…” She waved her hand, a little helplessly. Or even how he’d felt with Hunt, but she didn’t need to know that. She was right. There were no words for sex where the connection clicked. He might spend the rest of his life comparing sex before and after their foursome. But God…the really frightening thing was that Ruth could stand up to any comparison. Just Ruth and him on their own. Jesus. He wasn’t ready for this. He’d stepped into Ruth’s life because she smelled sexy and she needed help and he was asshole enough to think he could breeze in and take care of her, to have sex with her, without consequences. Of course that fantasy was too good to be true. She needed more. She deserved more. Dunne had tried to warn him when he said someone would get hurt. Hell, everyone had tried to warn him. They’d been right. His own gut ached. “I wanted… I thought…I could be like Tala.” Her head went down, like a whipped pup. God. He didn’t want her to feel ashamed. Or lacking. His own emotions were spinning his brain around. If he reassured her the way he wanted to, he was going to start making her think he wanted more than just sex from her. If he did that, he had to be sure. “No. It was more…important…than that with them. But it doesn’t have to be. All sex is good. Weres like sex.” “The rest of your pack is like that? Just having sex with anyone and enjoying it?” “I don’t know. I’ve heard rumors but that was before I was born. Everyone toned down considerably once they got settled.” Arlin smiled. “Tala and I are still considered the babies. We don’t hear everything. Sometimes we have to make good guesses.” “I feel stupid for asking but sometimes it’s too new and too overwhelming. I don’t get what I should be doing or feeling.” Ruth was looking up at him, once again keeping everything too controlled, too careful. “You’re not stupid, Ruth. You don’t need me to explain.” Sudden panic tightened his throat. He’d wanted to protect her, but he’d fucked up. He wasn’t the one she needed to guide her. She was still too fragile, too new to this. He was too young and stupid and goddamn randy to really help. Hell, he’d already made her feel wrong. He knew, down deep, too many people had made her feel wrong already. “I’ll take you to visit my mother or Leila. You can watch them. Talk about it.” She’d learn about being were with a pack. About mating. He wouldn’t have to be there. “Without you?” No, Ruth wasn’t stupid. “I’m only saying you don’t need me to show you everything.”

“Right.” “Baby…” Arlin had to say it. “I love being with you. But don’t count on me for too much. Please. I know you have high expectations. I don’t think… I’m not… Listen, I’m everyone’s backup boy, the one they’d use in an emergency. Not anyone’s first choice.” He stopped himself from babbling and kept his mouth shut, something he should have done several minutes back. “I don’t understand you but I’m tired. Two weres at once can take it out of anyone.” Ruth didn’t sound angry and she should. He was the one who was fucking things up. “Please go away. I’m going to nap a little.” She sounded alone when she said it. Damn it. That wasn’t what he wanted either. But what could he offer her? Why hadn’t he thought before he started after her? “All right, Ruth. Rest.” ***** “Some tough guy you are. Look at you with that fancy espresso.” Dunne shrugged. They both knew he liked his caffeine. “Do you know what you’re doing, kid?” Dunne stretched out on the chair outside the hotel, cowboy hat down on his face. Arlin braced himself for…for something. “I’ve got a good idea of what I did, yeah. Never heard you complain before.” “Funny boy. With her. Ruth. The lady inside our hotel room.” “No complaints there, either.” Arlin ducked the halfhearted swipe and then stopped smirking. “I’d say I don’t know, but I’m not a fool, Dunne. It’s already getting more serious than I’d planned.” “Does she know?” “Yes. Maybe.” Arlin frowned now. “She probably knows it’s more than a fling, but I don’t know how much she understands. This is all new to her.” “She seemed to like what she’s learned so far.” “She’s were. No doubt about that now. And she’s never had good sex before. Even non-weres appreciate the hell out of that. No wonder she’s getting a little attached to my cock.” “Arlin. Don’t try that bullshit on me or you.” Arlin ran his hands through his hair. “All right. Whatever she does or doesn’t know about were mates, I’ve been raised right. I know what it’s supposed to mean when an unattached Alpha-to-be meets a breeding female. Our packs have been lucky and all the Alphas I know have mated, really mated, as soon as they found a woman. Each one of them had as close to a romantic ending as any were can get.” Dunne snorted. Arlin kept going. “But I’ll bet there are plenty of Alphas who have grabbed whatever opportunity to breed there was, whether the were liked the partner or not. I don’t want to go that route.” “So you’re grabbing an opportunity?” “I grabbed Ruth.” “For keeps?” Arlin swallowed. Did he want her for sex or forever? No matter how he wanted her, would she be happy with what he chose? “Arlin, for keeps?” What if he chose her and things went wrong? The two of them looked at each other. Dunne pinched the bridge of his nose while he waited, as if a headache was starting. “Dunne, it’s not that easy. Either way I go, there are big problems.” “It’s called life. So which way do you want to go?” “If I had my pick, I’d be back to being a teenager again, lusting and fooling around with Tala, waiting for the big, golden future that I’m supposed to have.” I’m still a teenager. I don’t want all this yet.

“That’s not one of the choices.” Dunne hesitated this time. “By the way, are you trying to get Ruth pregnant?” “What?” “Didn’t notice any condoms on you.” “Shit.” Arlin stared at Dunne. Weres can’t breed with non-weres. “It’s never been an issue before.” But that rule didn’t hold here. “I guess I was thinking with the were head and not the smart head.” Dunne snorted. “Assuming you have a smart head, kid, use it now. You may have already gotten her pregnant. That limits your choices right there.” “Damn. What a fuckup. I’m an idiot. Why do you put up with me anyhow, Dunne?” Arlin wasn’t even sure how he felt about the possibility besides stunned. “I put up with you because I like you.” “Huh. But you stay with Hunt.” “I love him.” Dunne shrugged. “You trying to lead me astray, Arlin?” “Naw.” That would be too permanent. Too much like starting his own pack. “You seem to have way too much sense to stick with him.” “Hunt and I… You wouldn’t understand it because you don’t have that bond yet. Not all Alphas mate just with breeding females, you know.” Dunne smiled at Arlin, but there was sadness in the smile. “Once you do, it doesn’t matter what your partner does. You stick.” “I know.” That was what scared him. Maybe that answered his question. If he wasn’t sure he wanted to stick, the bond wasn’t there. Or was he too scared to see there was? Everyone seemed to expect him to make all his big decisions right now. Suddenly he realized Dunne wasn’t talking to him anymore. “Son of a damn bitch.” Dunne raised his head. “Trouble.” Arlin shut up and concentrated, head up, the way Dunne was. He could smell it now too. Were scent. Unfamiliar were. Dunne turned and pulled open the door. The two of them barreled inside, headed for what strange weres would be after. Ruth. Arlin pulled the key card out, barking, “Arlin” before he pushed his way in to where she was. She had her back to the corner and her lips were curled in a snarl. That was his Ruth. She wasn’t fragile and she definitely wasn’t afraid—she was ready to fight. She was all were now when danger threatened. They all stared at the curtainless window. Out there. The threat was out there. “Ruth? You’re all right?” “Fine. But I’m getting tired of this.” He could see she was trembling but he wasn’t sure if it was fear or anger. The howl that came near to the window was close—too close—as the threat turned into an attack. Arlin whirled toward the cry when the window shattered. Shards flew at them. He pushed Ruth aside in time. One jagged edge cut his cheek. He readied himself to spring as he wiped a trickle of liquid from his face. First blood to the outsider. How the hell had the weres found them? Arlin glanced at Dunne, his own teeth bared in a snarl. And then he knew exactly how it had happened. The bastard. As soon as they fought their way out of this, Arlin was going to kill him. ***** “You told them, you fucker. Who she was, where she was.” Hunt stepped back as Arlin sprang, the Alpha catching Arlin in his arms and immobilizing him. “Steady, pup. You’re not quite up to my fighting weight yet.” Arlin growled in his face. “Pup, my ass. I’ll kill you for telling them all that. Don’t try to lie. I told Dunne where we were. Only Dunne. I know him and I know you. You were the one.” “I knew you’d take care of whatever they sent. Or, if you couldn’t handle it, I would. She wasn’t to be harmed.” Arlin looked at the bloodstains on his shirt and growled again. Yes, they’d taken care of it. But… “What if she had been? Or Tala?” Arlin’s fists clenched. “Dunne was hurt. Jesus, you condoned what happened to

Dunne when he was left to die?” Something ugly passed over Hunt’s face before he flattened all emotion out. “No. I didn’t condone anything. Everyone involved with hurting Dunne paid. I let Dio live then, and he knew I did, so he could fear what I plan to do later for repayment. But he reminded me of his existence when he tried that little game and I used him.” Hunt’s smile was fierce. “If she’d been hurt, then the game would have ended.” “Some fucking game. Why would you do all this? To make me jump?” “You flatter yourself. You don’t mean that much to me. Although I do recall you asking—no, begging—me to keep you away from Tala and the rest of us because what we had was too tempting. Didn’t I do a good job keeping you away?” Oh yeah. He could never forget that conversation no matter how much he tried. After the best sex of his life up to then, when he’d been ready to throw his whole life away for the chance to stay with them—he’d always remember. Arlin grimly ignored the bait. Hunt wasn’t going to make him lose sight of what happened. “Not me then. What does mean something to you—Tala. You did all this to get me away from Tala.” Arlin began to circle the other Alpha, eyes narrowed. “You’d risk so much just for that?” He wondered what Hunt would be willing to admit to. The Alpha wasn’t used to explaining himself. “I have no problem risking you. I knew you could take care of yourself and your little half were too.” Hunt frowned. “It was a gamble. But that’s what I do. I needed to be sure of my mate.” “So you lied to us and sent killers after Ruth just to be sure of your wife? To keep me away from her?” Jesus. No wonder Hunt didn’t want to admit it. That was more insecurity than any were would want to confess. Arlin saw the slightest tinge of red flushing Hunt’s face. “There isn’t… I’d do anything for Tala.” He swallowed. “Even things I’m not proud about admitting. And it worked. I knew if the two of you were together long enough, and especially if you needed to protect her, you’d stick to your little half were like a tick burrowing into skin.” “Lovely. And Dio trying to kill us didn’t bother you after all the promises you made to save Ruth?” “I know Dio. I didn’t think it would be much of a problem. But I underestimated how badly he wanted her.” “And Tala. You underestimated her. Did you think she’d never find out?” “She won’t know.” Hunt looked at him. “You won’t tell her because then Ruth will know. And if she does, she’ll never be sure how much you were in on the deception from the start. She’s not a trusting woman.” “Ruth trusts me!” “Now. Now that she believes you’ve risked everything for her. But if she wonders if it was all a lie…” He already had refused to claim her the way a self-respecting Alpha should. The way any female were should expect. What if she started to doubt him? “You bastard.” “I never claimed to be a good man. I’m merely a good Alpha and, like all good Alphas, I keep what’s mine. Tala is mine. All mine. Or she will be if you stay away long enough.” I’m not a good man. I may not even be the best one for Tala. But I’m damned if I’d let you just take her from me. I may not be the best, but I need her the most. Love her… Arlin knew Hunt would kick himself later for letting his inner thoughts escape. The wall shut down but it was too late. “He may have helped fuck her, but you haven’t let Dunne and Tala try to breed, have you?” Hunt stared at him without a word but Arlin knew how to get his own back. “And you never will. You can’t let yourself.” “What I do within my pack is my own concern.” “So you’ll have no heirs?” “I have an heir now if Dunne survives me and Tala.” “He’s about your age, isn’t he?” “More or less.” Hunt scowled down at the floor. “There is another likely heir.” “Who?” “You.” Hunt looked up. “Tala first, of course. But she’ll decide who will help her rule a pack when I’m gone. She’d pick you if you push it.” He thinks I’ll win despite all his little games. He thinks I want to win. “You don’t have me. Or Ruth. You barely have a pack at all right now.” “I have time to change who is in my pack.” “It doesn’t matter who you take on or don’t. You can’t share. The problem will stay the same as long as you live.”

Arlin looked at him and half-smiled. “I understand.” He understood and he resented understanding because it was interfering with his desire for justice. It was as if Hunt’s thoughts were channeled into his head, even though Hunt was carefully not letting him hear them. But Arlin knew. Because it had been bad with Tala when they’d all been together, but he knew he’d kill anyone who really touched Ruth. He was still having a problem keeping teeth and claws off Hunt for allowing Ruth to be put in danger. “Call Dio off. I don’t know what arrangement you two have made, but stop it. That is, if he doesn’t try to kill us all since he figures you’re going to do the same for him.” Arlin tried to let the rage dissipate and knew he couldn’t. Not when he remembered Dio’s were leaping toward Ruth. “Bottom line, I don’t care what happens to you or me, or what Ruth thinks. I want her safe before everything else. I’ll tell her what is going on. I’ll tell all the packs, if I have to.” “Hunt, you asshole lunatic, you never had to do this. Why did you ever think there was still a competition once Tala picked you?” “Listen, you little prick…” Hunt’s expression changed at the same moment the hair on the back of Arlin’s neck rose. “Not fucking again.” Arlin realized that was his voice, harsh with renewed adrenaline and anger. Idiot. In his blind rage to get Hunt he’d left a clear trail to where he and Ruth were headed. And Ruth was still a target. “Shut up.” Hunt knocked him down just before the distinctive sound of a bullet hitting flesh made Hunt gasp and then stagger. He fell on his knees to the floor and then, slowly collapsed onto the boards. At that second, before he could figure out whether Hunt was still breathing, moments before Dunne burst in, minutes before Dunne called Ruth and Tala, Arlin had a lifetime to wonder whether he loved or hated Hunt. The man who had almost got them all killed was willing to die for him. ***** “Tala! Ruth! Jesus.” Dunne was on his knees trying to stop the flow of blood seeping from Hunt’s shoulder when Arlin finally was able to focus again. “Arlin, find out what the hell is keeping them.” Where were they? Arlin staggered into the hallway. The smell of were was there…and the smell of more blood. Fuck. He couldn’t Change. Not here where anyone might see him. But someone already had. Several someones. Arlin followed the scent, running as fast as his non-were form would allow, cursing to himself at the hindrance. He heard screams as he got near the kitchen. Christ. Arlin skidded into the busy room and saw the terrified faces of the staff. Yeah. Weres had been this way. He ran outside and slammed the door. There in the blocked-off alleyway was what he’d been looking for and dreading he’d find. A male, in the process of Changing to non-were, was guarding himself from two weres. Tala. Ruth. “Stop!” Arlin wasn’t sure who he was yelling at and cursed again when he realized he didn’t have a weapon. The almost non-were did. He was scrambling for a rifle. Shit, the rifle that he’d likely used on Hunt. Dio. The man had already transformed enough for Arlin to see his face. He’d made it his business to know what Dio looked like once he knew. Dio was screaming directly at the two female weres who were almost on top of him. “I killed him and I’ll kill you too! I said I would get rid of your whole pack when they threw me out and I will—” Arlin took several steps forward. “Leave it. He’s theirs.” A voice behind him, remarkably calm, told him. “Who the fuck…” Arlin readied himself for another threat when he realized it was the new omega of Hunt’s. “He’ll kill them.” “I don’t think so. They said to stand back. And they deserve”—one of the females sprang for Dio’s throat and he stumbled back, the rifle firing wide—“the kill.” Ruth. He knew Tala in were form but the other were had to be Ruth. She was no longer not-quite-were when she shifted. Her lush fur covered her completely now and her leg muscles were strong enough to carry her right to Dio’s face. And when her teeth cut into flesh, there was nothing but were left.

Tala whined anxiously as Ruth took the man down but she wasn’t needed. “We’re done now, ladies.” Arlin hoped they would come back from their bloodlust enough to hear him. “He’s dead.” ***** “Arlin. Boy, look at me!” “Leave him alone, Dunne. He’s exhausted.” Ruth’s voice was low and concerned. He was beyond exhausted. There was nothing left in him. All his rage and adrenaline and confusion had burned him out. “I’ll leave him alone when his job is done.” Dunne sounded determined. “Kid, I’m going to have to slap you if you don’t open your eyes.” “Wouldn’t try it, old man.” Arlin forced himself to look at the older were. “What?” “Tala.” He thought he heard Ruth make a soft sound behind them but he didn’t have the energy to look at her too. “What?” “She’s worse than you are. Ever since she realized Hunt’s been shot, she’s holed up in their bedroom. We can’t stay here forever.” “At least we need to get Hunt to my clinic. It’s not perfect but it has more medical equipment than the hotel.” Ruth pushed at his shoulder. “We can’t get through to Tala and she’s the boss now. She needs to be boss. I can help, but not without her.” Dunne didn’t try to hide his unhappiness. “I’ll try.” Arlin made a huge effort and got to his feet. He had a pretty good idea how she felt, though. If he’d been Tala, he wouldn’t let him in the door. He’d sit and try to keep all the screaming in his head quiet. ***** She sat in Hunt’s study, huddled in a chair, staring at the images filling the room. Sound, sometimes muffled, sometimes too loud, was the background noise. But on the multiple television and computer screens were photos and videos of her. Arlin stared up, as wordless as she was. Dunne had said he was going to show her what Hunt had kept stored all these years. His personal record of Tala’s life before she met her mate. “He said he kept watch over me for years. I didn’t know he meant this. It’s…it’s so much. I didn’t know.” Tala hugged her knees to her chest, rocking back and forth. Everything. It looked like Hunt knew every damn thing about her. And probably about him too, since he had always been with Tala. “You need to leave here, sweetie. Dunne sent me to get you out.” Arlin wanted to hold her, but she had turned her face from him, locked tight in her own misery. Instead he sat down next to her on a sofa, keeping his distance. “This isn’t doing you or anyone any good.” He’d lost her. Lost the connection between them. All he could feel was the blackness of Tala’s loss. The woman in front of him, shut down and grieving, wasn’t his Tala. Maybe she was Hunt’s. Or maybe she was lost somewhere, left all on her own. “Tala. We need you to make some decisions.” He tried again. “What?” “You’re in charge. Ruth needs to know what to do for Hunt.” “Fix him.” She said the words without passion or hope. He was losing her again. “She can try to find some medicine and get a tetanus booster into him if you say it’s all right. He’s open to all kinds of infection right now. He told us once not to do it. But he can’t tell us what to do now. You can.” “Oh.” She blinked, as if to focus. “If it helps him, give him the shot.” “Is that your firm decision? You know what happened to him—” “It’s all right. If he’d been made sterile from it before, another won’t hurt him now.” Tala almost smiled and then

the almost-smile drifted away. “But he was wrong. I’m pregnant.” “I’ll tell—Shit, Tala!” “I guess if you need boosters, a tetanus shot can stop being effective for both tetanus and sterility at some point. Anyhow, he wasn’t sterile a few weeks ago and I am pregnant.” She shut her eyes again. “But he didn’t know. I hadn’t told him.” Arlin bit his tongue rather than ask why. She told him anyhow. “Because it’s so early. Because I wasn’t sure if he’d believe it was his. Because I wanted more time with him focused on me. Because. Because. None of that matters now. Now that he may never know.” “He’s in a coma, sweetie. That’s not wonderful but he’s not dead. Ruth says there’s a good chance he’ll come out of it.” “I don’t feel him anymore. I don’t feel him inside. He seems gone to me. I don’t know what to do. Our bond isn’t there.” Tala took a deep breath. “Am I being weak, Arlin?” “I don’t know. It’s not wrong to be afraid, Tala. But you’re Alpha. You’re the only Alpha in your pack right now who can make these decisions. You have to act like you’re not afraid.” “I don’t feel like an Alpha. Help me, Arlin. I’ve never felt this powerless in my life. Please. I think I can do it, but I need you to help.” “Baby—” “Something. You need to do something.” Tala swallowed. “God, I’m disgusting. I want you to take over for me, take care of me.” He could understand that. Sometimes he and Tala mirrored each other too much. If Tala was weak, so was he. Neither of them wanted to make decisions. But right now he could fake strength for her, force her to choose. “Tala, no, you don’t want me to do that. You belong to Hunt. He belongs to you. None of the rest of it matters.” She began to cry. “I’m so wrong. Everything is wrong. Punish me, Arlin. Master me. Do something to stop me from feeling this way. We were so close before I met Hunt. We could have been bonded. Should have been.” She crawled onto his lap, facedown. “Hurt me. Give me pain. Please. Stop what I’m feeling now.” Jesus God. Arlin stared down at her, her skirt hiked up, sobbing against his hip. Of course he was getting hard. How could he help but get hard? Her fingers clawed into his thighs. “Do it, Arlin.” He’d smacked her ass often enough as a joke—maybe a little more than a joke. This was different. Tala was different. Something was broken in her, something that needed pain to bring it out. “Did you and Hunt ever…?” “Yes. Sort of. Sometimes, just for fun. God, I should have let him spank me for real. I’m weak, Arlin. I thought I was strong but I’m not.” If he did it, what would she be like then? What would they be like afterward? She ground her crotch against his lap, deliberately moving against his hardening cock. He could almost see the reddening of her ass under his hand. Could hear the little cries of pained submission. They both knew that had been one of his favorite fantasies back in school. Tala—the confident, assertive Tala—would have never let him play out that fantasy. The sudden blare of the video that had played, unheeded on the wide-screen TV, cut into silence and made them jump. There they were on-screen. “What do I get, Tala?” The younger, so much younger Arlin of a few months ago, had already shoved his fingers inside her and backed her against the wall before he asked the question. “What…do you want?” She jerked against him as he worked his hand against her. “What you want.” He said it through gritted teeth, the two of them grinding against each other. The alarm on her watch sounded. Eighteen. She’d been about to turn eighteen. But the two of them, locked together, didn’t even notice the sound. “Tala?” He moved his hand up into her again, showing her with his fingers what they both wanted him to do with his cock. She gasped and they both moaned, clutching each other as she rode his hand. The watch buzzed again. Time was up. Eighteen. Time for her to be mated to another were.

Still shaking, she stared up at him and shook her head, dazed. “Arlin?” “The answer is nothing. I want nothing.” “Don’t lie. You’re so hot for me I can almost see the smoke.” “I want nothing you can give me.” He was still hard, but Arlin pulled away, his mouth set grimly. She hesitated, her face still soft from satisfaction, and then asked, hesitantly, “Why not, Arlin?” “Because what you can give me now isn’t enough.” He began to fasten his jeans. The two of them stared up at the replay of what they’d been before Hunt. Before Dunne and Ruth and Dio and near-death. Not enough. It wasn’t enough even then. Arlin bent his head and kissed her ass. Then he smacked it once, lightly, the sound making Tala jump. “Go take care of your business, baby. If you need me—temporarily—I’ll be there for you.” “Fucker.” Tala’s cheeks were flushed, but she pulled her skirts down. “I suppose I have to go talk to your new bit —woman now. I bet you wouldn’t have said no if she wasn’t around.” Ruth. She kept going, even when she was afraid. He wanted to protect her but she was strong. Stronger than he’d thought back when he’d swaggered into her life, ready to save it. “That is something we’ll never know. Because she is.” Arlin flicked her nose lightly with a nail. “Love you, cousin.” He finally had his own answer. “Yeah. Whatever.” Tala paused. “Love you too. Asshole.” She pushed her hair back and stood up.

Chapter Seven Ruth checked the vital signs before her and sighed. She heard the door open and then close behind her. “He’s stable. But maybe…” Ruth looked at the monitor again. “You probably need a human doctor. I don’t have any tetanus boosters since animals don’t get them and I don’t really have the facilities for—” “Even if I do get a human doctor, he still needs you.” Tala’s face was composed as she looked at her husband. “We don’t know how to deal with this. A non-were doctor wouldn’t either.” How did she stay calm? Ruth tried to make her understand the problems. “We can’t keep quiet about what’s happened to him. Someone will talk even if they say it was just a wolf attack. There will be questions about why you don’t have him in a hospital or under the care of a physician. I don’t think I can keep him in my clinic for much longer before someone finds out.” “Let them talk. I don’t care if they think his bitch trophy wife is trying to kill him. As long as we can keep him alive, that’s what matters.” “He’s not hemorrhaging anymore. That’s good. I’m not sure how much more Dunne had left to give. But I’m not qualified to—” “We’re all depending on you, Ruth. Again.” Tala gripped her hands. “I may ask for even more. You’re right about the talk. We can’t afford to let outside packs know that Hunt is weakened. I might need to move him to Dek and Leila’s ranch. Leila is very, very good at tending to were injuries and illnesses and no one would mess with us there. We’d need you there, though. I don’t know for how long.” Arlin had wanted to exile her to his family. Keep her away from him. But if she was needed there, what else could she do? “I’ll never make partner now. I’m sorry. I mean, Tala, I’ll do whatever I can for as long as I can. But—” “But?” “You’re acting like we’re friends.” “Are we enemies?” “No. I don’t think so. I’m not your enemy, anyhow. And I’d always agree to help. But—” “Not enemies but rivals, then?” “Yes.” Ruth wondered if she was being stupid to stake her claim against the lifelong bond Tala and Arlin had. But there was something she and Arlin had too, even if she’d lied to herself about how important that something was to her. Tala kept her grip on Ruth’s hands. “Maybe we used to be. Sort of. And you figured a were would be a dog in the manger, right?” “I was figuring on some kind of quarrel. Fight. Maybe it sounds stupid, but I thought we might have to fight.” “Mano a mano?” Tala’s teeth showed. “Bet I could take you.” Female wolves were as willing to fight for mates as males were. At least Ruth knew she was. Ruth stared back at her, not even trying to smile. “Maybe you could. But I wouldn’t make it easy.” Tala laughed. “You took down the piece of shit that hurt Hunt. You’re a tougher were than you act when you’re not changed.” Ruth thought about the horrible joy of chasing and catching her prey. It had felt right. Were right. And now, even back in non-were form, she wasn’t sorry. “Yes. I am tough.” Tala studied her. Ruth knew she looked like her usual veterinarian self—her hair tidied up and out of her way, dressed in a sterile office jacket, glasses on her nose. She liked that self too, liked being the quiet self that she was used to. What did Tala see? Someone who was a match for her despite the quiet? Better yet, someone who was a match for Arlin? “If I didn’t take you down for killing him before I got a chance to, I certainly wouldn’t over you capturing Arlin.” Tala sounded so sure, so easy making that assertion. But there was something underneath that tone… For God’s sake, she was questioning someone who had a husband lying in a coma next to them.

“Tala, excuse me for saying that.” “You can say anything to me as long as you keep my husband with me.” Tala blinked and turned toward Hunt, lying unnaturally still in the bed. “You might want to talk to Arlin about calling dibs on him, though, because I don’t think he knows you—Oh, my God!” Ruth froze. Mentally cataloging the possible responses to an emergency, she stepped to Tala’s elbow. “Oh.” Hunt’s eyes were open and he was staring intently at his wife. Ruth stepped back, wishing she wasn’t there, knowing she needed to stay. Just in case. They weren’t saying anything out loud. But Ruth could see the intensity in Tala and Hunt’s faces. She could almost hear words buzzing between them. Let it be good news. Please, let it be good. “Hunt?” Tala’s voice was a half whisper. She touched his face. Then she began to cry. Ruth hesitated, torn between friend and doctor. “What is it?” Tala’s head was bowed over the bed, her hands stroking Hunt’s arm. Slowly Hunt’s hand opened to clasp Tala’s. The two of them stayed there, hand in hand, while Ruth blinked her eyes. “He’s back. He’s here. Oh God. Get Dunne. He needs to know.” Ruth headed out the door. All that couple needed right now was each other. Just like she needed Arlin. The two weres sat in her reception area, drinking coffee, looking grim, and probably scaring away any of her customers. Come to think of it, the room was unusually quiet for a regular office day. “Dunne. Quickly.” Dunne’s face went white. “It’s all right.” Ruth almost pushed him. “Just go.” Dunne almost fell over his feet as he ran for the hallway. “What is…?” Arlin stopped. “It’s all right, I think.” Ruth took a deep breath. What might be good for everyone else could mean something bad for Arlin. “Hunt seems to be conscious.” The smile on Arlin’s face as he jumped up couldn’t be fake. That must mean he couldn’t be too eager to get rid of Hunt and try to claim Tala. That didn’t mean he wanted to claim her instead. Since he was running to Hunt’s side right now, the odds were good he wanted his old foursome back. That didn’t mean she couldn’t beat the odds, of course. She was smart and Arlin liked sex with her and if she pushed things the right way… Whatever happened, she had to try. She followed the crowd. There they were. Tala twined around Hunt on the right, Dunne propping him up on the left. And Arlin standing at the foot of the bed, staring at the Alpha below him. A unit. One single unit, without her. But Arlin held out a hand to her without looking away and Ruth realized she was headed right for him, needing that hand to grip her close. This one. She wanted just this one. Please. But Arlin didn’t look at her, didn’t do anything but hang on as if he needed her to help him stand up. Well, hell. He could use the wall for that. Ruth left again. “Are you going to be stupid? She wants you. You want her.” He was tired. So tired. Almost as tired as the voice in his head, the one that belonged to Hunt. When Ruth slipped away, it was like the only thing that was keeping him steady was gone. He needed to do something about Ruth. Ruth knew she should go back in and see to Hunt. Instead she stood in the hall outside, trying to gulp in air. There didn’t seem to be enough air in the world to get her lungs working properly.

“Ma’am?” She looked up into the worried dark eyes of Hunt’s omega. She tried to smile and realized, to her horror, that her lips were trembling. “Are you all right?” His voice deepened. “F-fine.” She rubbed her arms, trying to hold herself together. “Hunt is better, I think. He needs his family.” “He has plenty of us there. I think you need someone more right now. I’m here, if…if you want.” “I’m terrible at this.” Ruth stopped rubbing and found her hands in Lupe’s large paws. “I don’t know what to do or how to act. I’m supposed to be were but I don’t do what weres are supposed to do.” “What do you mean?” “I’m too prissy and too fearful, or then I go berserk and kill. And…and…” She hesitated, faintly appalled at what she felt compelled to say next. “And?” “I must suck at sex.” “You’re shitting me.” They both blinked and then Lupe blushed. “I’m sorry. I know that’s not what I should say but…you must be shitting me.” “Well, I didn’t like my one and only threesome. I mean I liked it but I could do without another. Other weres seem fine with it.” He gave her a crooked smile. “Maybe you need more practice. No one as sexy as you could suck at that. Unless you mean some other kind of sucking.” Ruth stared up at the omega. Well. Weres, no matter what their rank in a pack, had no shyness about sex. Not even Lupe. Why was she discounting Lupe? He was very masculine. Very physically powerful. And he was staring at her with so much heat that she was forgetting that she wasn’t quite up to were standards. “Th-thank you. But Arlin doesn’t think so.” “I can’t believe that. But if you were right, then Arlin is a shithead.” Somehow, without her figuring out how, she was locked against Lupe and he was kissing her with a hot, devouring intensity. Or was she the one clinging to him and demanding still more? “What the hell are you doing?” Arlin’s voice was ice. Lupe let her go, then shoved her behind him. “Out of my way.” Arlin didn’t even look at the omega. “Ruth. I’m talking to you. What do you think you’re doing?” “Him.” Ruth pointed at Lupe. “I believe I was thinking about doing him. I want him, Arlin.” “He fucking dies.” Arlin’s hand was around the omega’s throat. Lupe was twice as big as Arlin but he stood, gasping, not resisting as Arlin squeezed. “Stop it, Arlin! He’s not going to fight back.” Ruth tugged at his hand. When that didn’t work, she gave one sharp kick to his shin. “I’m not going to have my mate picking a damned omega over me.” Arlin let go, reluctantly, and Lupe bent forward, gasping for air. “I’m not going to have you pick anyone over me.” His mate? “I’d be…honored…to be her…pick…” Lupe took another gulp of air and managed to finish. “I don’t think that’s what she meant though. A pity.” “You idiot.” Ruth kissed Arlin hard on the lips and stepped back. “I want Lupe to be part of our pack.” “You don’t have to lip-lock an omega to make him a pack member.” Arlin’s eyes were still narrow. “I did that because I like him.” Ruth’s chin went up. “Don’t do that to every were you like or there won’t be many left.” Arlin paused. “Wait. Take someone from Hunt’s precious pack? Hmmm.” “Don’t give me orders.” Ruth paused. “Wait. So you’ll consider it?” She put her hand on Lupe’s chest and ignored the faint growl Arlin gave. “I think he’d be happier with us, Arlin.” “Us?” Arlin began to smile. “You mean there is an us?” As if she had been the one to hesitate before. Well, maybe she had. But no more than he, and she had more reason. “He likes me too. A lot. I think that was what was wrong with using Dunne. He already belongs to someone else. But Lupe could belong to us, if we asked.”

“If you’d let me make a suggestion, ma’am…sir?” Lupe’s mouth didn’t even hint at a smile, but Ruth could tell there was a laugh somewhere, hidden away. “Perhaps you could check first with my current Alphas? I believe they do owe you, ma’am.” ***** “He wants a hamburger. Rare as you can make it. And I’ll have my usual sandwich.” Ruth clicked her glasses down on the table after she handed back the menu and smiled at him. Her smile was tentative but he relaxed when he saw it. “You need some protein,” she said. “And coffee.” And you. They ate without talking. No voice in his head. No chatter. Just Ruth’s presence there, anchoring him. “So.” Ruth cleared her throat. “Mmmm?” He smiled at her. Just looking at her relaxed him. And she still smelled like tangy sex. That was a little less relaxing but still worth a smile. “What expectations do you think I have of you?” “Wha—” He sat up straight, suddenly alert. “The ones that you can’t meet. I was so crushed when you made that little speech, I didn’t think hard enough about what you were really saying. But now I want to know about those expectations you think you aren’t fulfilling.” Ruth wiped her mouth with her napkin and tilted her head. “Not sex, I hope. I think you meet expectations there. Of course I have limited experience, but you seem to be doing just fine.” Arlin sputtered, trying to finish that last swallow of coffee without choking. Damn Ruth. She’d ambushed him and amused him all at the same time. “No. That’s not it. I-I’m probably too young for you.” “Are you sure you aren’t telling me that I’m too old for you? In some cultures”—Ruth hesitated—“I could be old enough to be your mother.” Arlin stared at her before he hid his head in his hands and let his shoulders shake with suppressed emotion. He managed a muffled, “No.” “And in some cultures, if you had been my son, I could have drowned you at birth.” She held her hands together so she didn’t smack him. She hadn’t gotten quite that bold in public yet. “No, it’s definitely not that.” Arlin stopped laughing long enough to look up at her. Heat flared up between them again. She believed him. She had to. She must realize no one could look at her that way and think she wasn’t—she was — “Well, then?” He glanced around and saw the few customers in the shop were completely indifferent to anything but their food. He ran his hand over his hair and got ready for the most important conversation of his life. “You deserve better than an eighteen-year-old were who hasn’t done anything on his own in his life.” “You protected me on your own.” “I called for help when things got bad.” “When we needed it. Very sensible of you too. I tend to lose all my reason when I get angry so it’s good that you don’t.” She smiled. “I led Dio’s men straight to Hunt and left you to fight them.” “I don’t think this has anything to do with my expectations, Arlin.” “I don’t know if I can protect you the way you should be. I don’t know if I—” “If you…?” “Can be your mate. If I’m worthy.” “What?” Ruth stared at him as if he’d lost the ability to speak English. “That probably didn’t come out right.” “Who told you I wanted a mate or that you’re not worthy?” Ruth began to scowl. “Wait. Before I screw this up again.” Arlin held out a hand and then fumbled with his cell phone. “I have a call to make first.”

She stared at him, looking half-exasperated, half-confused, as he speed dialed. “Dad? I have something important to tell you.” “Yes, Arlin?” Nothing threw his father. He was usually focused, intense, almost grim. “I believe I’m bringing home my mate this week.” Arlin swallowed. “Ruth?” “Yeah. She’s too good for me, you know.” “Then she’s the right one. Your mother has always been too good for me.” Lowell’s voice warmed. His mom— even if he was talking about her—was the only thing that could melt that icy intensity. “Glad you finally made up your mind. I wondered.” “I know sometimes it didn’t look like it would be Ruth—” “You’re not the only one to get confused when there’s more than one female were in the area.” “Give me that.” His mother’s voice cut in. “Your hound dog father means that he was willing to jump any were female he saw back in his youth. Fortunately there aren’t many of them to see.” “He did?” That was another story that had been kept from him. Arlin tried and failed to imagine his father with anyone but his mother. “Until he picked me up at a bar, of course.” “Lin, you can stop now.” His father raised his voice to be heard. “Good luck, boy. Now that you’re sure. You’ll do fine.” “I believe I am.” Arlin clicked the phone off and looked at Ruth. “My father says that someone too good for me is the type I should pick. I’m taking you, Ruth.” Ruth’s face had changed from annoyed confusion to a very odd expression. “Where?” Arlin blinked. “Were?” “No. Where are you taking me?” Ruth said aloud. “That’s not—” He heard Ruth’s laugh in his head. She knew damned well what he meant. “I’ll take you in the bathroom right here and now if you aren’t careful. I’m not playing right now.” Shit. He shouldn’t have said that. Suddenly the images of the two of them tangled up—he wasn’t sure if he was thinking it or she was or they both were—were in his head. And God, she smelled so tasty. She ran one nail down the seam of his jeans and let it rest where his balls were starting to pull back, desperate to come. “Ruth?” “Are you sure? Mostly I’m pretty much the way I’ve always been despite everything that’s happened in the past few weeks. I’m reserved. I dress sensibly. I do my work and I like it. I don’t ask others for anything because I can do it for myself. I’m fine with that. Most of the time. The only time I’m not that way is when I’m were or when I have sex with you. And I’m very fine with that too. All I expect of you, Arlin, is that you keep trying to make me feel as good as I always do with you.” She played with the buttons of his pants, and the pounding in his balls grew harder and more insistent. Lupe walked into the café, scanning the crowd. When he saw them, he began to walk their way. Hell. He was not going to let some omega watch him get fondled in a restaurant. Apparently Ruth wasn’t either. She threw money down for the meal, and gave him a slow, hot stare. Hell, he’d follow her anywhere. Take her anywhere too. “About Tala.” Arlin talked fast before Lupe got close enough to hear. Now, while they were hot but not boiling over. “She figures into this, but not the way you might think. Tala was meant for someone else. I wasn’t anyone’s. I wasn’t good enough. Too young. Too aimless. If I wasn’t good enough for Tala, how could I be good enough for you?” “Well, if you think that you are stupid. You’re not—how did you put it?—my backup for anything. You’re the only one I would want in my bed or my life forever. You belong to me now.” Ruth kept her finger brushing against him. Her voice turned teasing. “You may not be smart, but you are sort of sexy, so I’m willing to give you a try.” He pulled her up to her feet. “I’ll do my best, old lady. Let’s try not to scare anyone before we’re done.” “I packed everything as soon as Mrs. Tala agreed…” Lupe paused and looked at them both. “What?” “Come on, then. It’s time for some pack bonding.” “Here?” Lupe’s voice rose. If Arlin wasn’t mistaken, so did Lupe’s cock.

“What do you mean?” Ruth asked. Arlin took a closer look at Lupe’s pants. Shit. Since it appeared he was going to have a pack, he might do a lot worse than having Lupe in it. The omega looked big all over. “Yeah, Lupe, right here. And you’ll love it, Ruth. Once you get over the shock.” ***** Considering that they were locked in the women’s bathroom—Arlin could be so literal—with her ass against the sink and her heels closed around his waist, Ruth expected something much rougher. But Arlin surprised her yet again. It wouldn’t have mattered how they did it, because once he said he was taking her, with that look in his eyes, she was lost. But Arlin was claiming her slowly, his mouth gentle, his strokes slow, so slow, that she slid even further into that mix of lust and love only Arlin could give. And now there was Lupe. They’d started with him as the appetizer. When she’d unbuttoned his pants, he’d looked at her as if his knees were barely holding him up. She stroked the cock under her hands, testing. Arlin spit into his hand before his fingers probed Lupe’s asshole. Lupe moaned. “I haven’t had sex in weeks. You’re gonna kill me if you do that, sir, because I really want to hang on until… Oh, God. Yeah, give me a minute. Please.” If Arlin wasn’t going to wait for foreplay, Ruth wouldn’t either. She squeezed Lupe’s cock. Lupe moaned again, already beyond speech. She traced the precum already leaking from his cock, slid her finger against his slit. He cupped his balls, whether to hold his release in or let it out she wasn’t sure, and moaned again. “Quiet,” Arlin ordered. Lupe panted, keeping his eyes on Ruth. Then he jerked as Arlin found what he was looking for. Ruth licked her lips as she traced the vein that was throbbing against her hand. “That looks so…tasty,” she whispered. Lupe’s eyes went wide right before his face contorted. “Oh holy shit!” He shot into her hand, a thick stream of cum, his teeth biting hard into his lip to keep from crying out. They looked down. “I can do better. I swear. I-I didn’t expect you to do that.” Lupe cleared his throat. “Either of you.” “Next time.” Arlin stepped from behind him. And then Arlin had been inside her, giving her everything. His face was intent and serious, staring at her. Under that look she suddenly felt like she was the most beautiful and desirable woman in the world. Because that was what she saw reflected in his expression. But he was the one who was desirable. His body, that beautiful, long, lean body, was holding her tightly and his cock was hitting exactly the places that made her squirm. She clamped her mouth tight, trying not to whimper. Trying not to say— “I love you.” He said the words out loud that she hadn’t. She opened her eyes and looked into his. So warm. He kissed her and then licked his lips at the taste. And she came. Done. And, as easily as that, he came after her, shuddering and clutching her body, pulling out in time for his own cum to spurt out over her. “I’m yours. As much as you’re mine, love.” He kissed her. “Always, anyplace, anywhere.” “I guess so, seeing as we’re here.” She looked around her at the less-than-romantic setting and decided it didn’t matter where. He was right. They belonged. Arlin took her hand, touched her clit apparently to make sure even more white shocks jittered through her system while he bent his head to lick her hand and what lay there. “Come here, you.” He didn’t look at Lupe as he spoke but Lupe was there in a split second, licking her hand as well. “What are you doing?” “Bonding. We’re a pack now. Taste.” He lifted her hand to her mouth and she swirled the salty flavor around her

mouth, savoring the three of them on her own tongue. “Yes.” Ruth sighed it out. “Absolutely yes.” Lupe spoke up. “Perfect.” She patted Lupe on the cheek just to watch him blush with delight. Threesomes where the men were bonded to her showed a great deal of promise. Arlin peeked out into the hall and slid his hand in hers to tug her back into the restaurant. Lupe trotted behind, the warmth of his hand against her back. She prayed no one had looked at them too closely. They knew her here and she was obviously part of a trio. A well-fucked trio. “Now you’re embarrassed. I like that. You’re all wrapped up tight for me to untie.” He looked at her. “My parents are going to enjoy you.” She was an idiot to blush. This was what she’d wanted ever since she met Arlin, down to being the center of two men’s attention. “We’re going home to meet the family again?” “Yeah. And take care of Hunt until he’s ready to take charge. Do the usual backup. I don’t know what I’ll do after that. Let you be a vet while I figure it out, I suppose.” He bent over to kiss her, hard. “I love you. I think I forgot to say that.” Arlin’s smile was wide and cheeky. “No worries. I already figured that out too. Besides, I can fuck the words out of you if I need to.” “Mr. Romance you aren’t.” “Weres don’t do romance well. I told you.” “I’ll survive.”

Treva Harte Treva Harte lives near a city with many, many attorneys. Thanks to Loose Id and her writing, she is now able to be a recovering attorney and spends her time writing, editing, raising adolescents, taking care of an elderly mother, and dealing with a hyperactive husband (he says he's just very energetic.) She is also co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of the e-publishing company Loose Id. She and her husband both like writing in whatever time they have left, so they often fight over—sorry, since he is still a practicing attorney they NEGOTIATE—keyboard time. No wonder Treva’s particular brand of sensual romance is a bit offbeat and usually mixed with fantasy.