Sheriff Found

Hiding Hounds 1

Sheriff Found Mates were the stuff of legends. But Toby Walker didn't think things could get much harder than they were. Sent out into the human world by his pack to find help, Toby is shocked to find that the legends might be true when he spots his mate. His only problem is that the sheriff thinks he's just a cute little Beagle pup and he's sick with whatever is killing his pack. Sheriff Randall Markins is shocked when a Beagle pup pees on his leg. He's even more astounded when he discovers the pup is a gorgeous man that says they've mated. Randall has already been through so much in his life and to discover that Toby has mated them without his permission might be more than he can handle. Can Toby convince Randall otherwise or is he doomed to live without his mate? And what about his dying pack? Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal, Shape-shifter Length: 37,091 words

SHERIFF FOUND Hiding Hounds 1

Joyee Flynn

EROTIC ROMANCE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000." If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance SHERIFF FOUND Copyright © 2011 by Joyee Flynn E-book ISBN: 1-61034-261-5 First E-book Publication: February 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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

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

DEDICATION To Steve: For being my best friend for way too many years and always supporting me no matter what I do. You're way too hot to look at like a brother even if you've always been like family to me. I still can't believe you know all my deepest secrets and still love me, but I'll be forever grateful you're in my life.

SHERIFF FOUND Hiding Hounds 1 JOYEE FLYNN Copyright © 2011

Chapter 1 “What the fuck?” Sheriff Randall Markins exclaimed as he felt the leg of his uniform pants getting wet. Looking down, he saw a small beagle lifting his leg and peeing on him. “Oh, come on now!” The pup simply looked up at him, smiling with his cute, little pink tongue hanging out. Randall tried not to laugh, instead giving the dog a stern look when he bent over to pick him up. “Who do you belong to, little guy?” he asked as he checked to see if the dog had tags. No such luck. He walked them over to his police cruiser, grumpy about the wet pants leg, and got in the SUV. Putting the dog on the passenger’s seat, Randall turned to buckle himself in. Only he found the beagle snuggled on his lap. “No, you have to sit in the other seat.” The dog whimpered as Randall moved him back again. He chuckled at the cute pup and started the cruiser. Seeing the dog claw at the closed window out of the corner of his eye, he took a chance and rolled down the window a bit. The pup immediately stuck his head out as Randall drove, ears flapping in the wind. It seemed a shame that he had to take such a cute dog to the pound. Minutes later, he pulled into the county pound and parked the car. The dog looked out the window at the building before turning his

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gaze back to Randall. He felt his heart melt at the puppy dog eyes staring at him. “Sorry, it’s the rules, little guy,” he said gently as he lifted the dog into his arms. “Your owners will come down and find you.” “Owners, my ass,” Randall swore he heard someone say. Looking around, he saw the parking lot was empty besides him and the beagle he was holding. Obviously, the dog hadn’t talked. Randall chuckled at the idea. His sex life was bad, but not bad enough to push him into crazy world yet. Glancing down at the pup in his arms, he got licked by a soft, wet tongue. “You really are the cutest pup I’ve ever seen,” Randall whispered as he scratched the dog behind the ears. He walked through the front door, and the lady at the front desk, who was talking on the phone, waved him through when he showed her his prize. The pup started whining and trying to get away when they went in the back. “It’s okay, little guy, we’re just going to see the doc.” Randall gasped when the little head and floppy ears managed to wiggle into his shirt between the buttons. The pup started licking and rubbing against his sparse chest hair at the top of his wifebeater. “Oh, you’re so going to keep him.” Dr. Cameron Dalton chuckled as he walked up toward them. “No way, we met by him peeing on my leg.” Randall snickered as he pulled the beagle back out of his shirt. “He doesn’t have any tags. Can you see if he’s got one of those digital ones embedded in him?” “Of course, Sheriff,” Cameron replied as he went to take the pup. They both jumped when the dog gave a loud growl. “Whoa, why didn’t you leash him and cage him?” “He’s been the sweetest pup I’ve ever seen until now,” Randall said, shocked at the dog’s reaction. Pulling him back, he held the dog tightly until he calmed down. “The doc is just going to scan you, pup. I’ll hang on to you the whole time, okay?” He was shocked when the dog gave a quick bark and licked him like he understood what Randall was saying. Looking up at the

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Sheriff, Cameron shrugged his shoulders and went to get the scanner. When he came back, Randall held the pup tightly as the vet ran the wand over the dog’s neck. “I got nothing, but I want to check his teeth,” Cameron said, setting the scanner aside. “When he growled, I saw something. I think he’s sick.” “All right, just stay calm, little buddy. The doc’s going to check you out,” Randall cooed as he held the dog up so his muzzle was facing Cameron. The doctor snapped on some latex gloves and reached for the dog’s mouth. Randall watched as the pup just about opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue for the doc. “Shit,” Cameron hissed as he pulled away from the dog. “We can’t keep him here. He’ll get every animal here sick.” “What’s wrong with him?” Randall asked, pulled the pup closer to his body. “Is he going to be okay?” “I don’t know,” Cameron answered, taking off his gloves. “He’s got parvo, Randall. It doesn’t seem to be either of the two most dangerous strains since he’s not lying in your arms like a wet noodle. But he’s going to need intensive and constant care for a few days, which we can’t give him here. If this spreads, we’re going to have to put all the animals down. I’m sorry.” “No,” Randall growled when Cameron went to take the pup from him. “Tell me what to do. I’ll take care of him. You can’t euthanize him.” “Sheriff, he’s already been vomiting blood,” the vet said gently. “Even if you help him, there’s no guarantee he’ll make it.” “I’ll take that chance, doc. I won’t just give up on him because he’s sick,” Randall stated firmly. He was a little shocked with himself that he was fighting so hard for the pup he’d just found. He had a feeling this dog had wiggled into more than just his shirt. “Please, Cameron? We’ve been friends for years. I’ve never asked you for anything, but I’m asking you now. Help me save him.”

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The doc was quiet for a few minutes, searching Randall’s face and then the pup’s when he gave a whimper. “All right, I’ll do what I can, but I can’t make you any promises.” “Fair enough,” Randall agreed. “What do we do?” “Right now, I’m going to give him a shot to help with the nausea and put in an IV,” Cameron explained as he grabbed fresh gloves. He kept talking as he walked around the exam room and grabbed supplies. Randall watched in awe as the doc filled IV bags with all types of other fluid combinations. “He’s going to need this IV constantly for a few days. Today’s Friday, so I’ll stop over Sunday to see his progression and what we do next.” “We’re going to make you all better, little guy,” Randall whispered in the pup’s ear. “We need to listen to what the doc says, and you be a good boy.” The pup whimpered as the doc gave him a shot in his neck, twisting Randall’s heart. Then Cameron inserted an IV port into the dog’s leg, taping it down. “When you get him home, hook up one of the bags. Take it out only when you’re not watching him or he’s got to go out, okay?” “You got it, doc,” Randall answered as he took the bag full of supplies. “We’ll see you Sunday.” “Call me if he gets worse. You have the number to my cell,” Cameron said, giving them a weak smile. “Parvo works fast, Randall. I just don’t want to get your hopes up.” “I know, but I have to try,” the Sheriff answered as he gave the doc a wave. Randall found himself chuckling as they made their way back out to his cruiser. Who would have thought finding a dog peeing on his leg earlier today would lead to all of this? Glancing down at the beagle, Randall realized he was glad he found the pup in time to try and help him. ****

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I loved the feeling of being held in my mate’s arms. Glancing around the house Randall had called home as we entered the front door I took it all in. It looked comfortable, every part of it carefully selected to fit my mate and everything in its place. “Let’s hit the bedroom so I can change out of my uniform before we get you set up, okay?” Randall said to me as we climbed the stairs. I waited until we were in his room and my mate set me on the bed before shifting to human form. “I like the way you look in your uniform,” I said quietly to Randall’s back. I almost laughed when the good Sheriff slowly turned around to face me like something out of a horror flick. “What—I mean, h–how?” Randall stuttered, his hands still at his necktie, frozen from when he was trying to take it off. “I’m a shape shifter,” I answered, knowing what Randall had been asking, even if he hadn’t found the words. “That’s not possible,” Randall whispered, taking a step back. “Would it be easier for you to have this conversation with a talking dog?” I chuckled, leaning back on the bed on my hands. “That was you I heard in the parking lot?” Randall asked, even if it was more a statement. “Do you really need me to answer that?” “Stop answering me with questions,” Randall snapped. I shrank back a bit, not liking that my mate seemed angry. Randall must have noticed the change in me, because he took several deep breaths before speaking again. “What’s your name?” “Toby, Toby Walker,” I answered softly. “I’m sorry. I’m not very good with outsiders. I don’t leave the pack very often, or ever, really.” “It’s okay, just give me a few minutes to digest this,” Randall replied, nodding. He closed his eyes as he took off his tie, as if he expected me to be a dog again when he opened them back up. When he did, I was careful not to have moved. “Can you shift back to a beagle? I need to see this.”

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“Sure,” I said with a shrug and focused on the change. The air around me vibrated, and moments later, I was back in beagle form again. “Holy fuck,” Randall gasped, walking toward me. He tentatively reached out a hand and rubbed my head. “I love when you touch me,” I said, getting a yelp from Randall in response. “Sorry, I thought you were okay with me talking in dog form.” “I’m a lot of things right now. None I would call okay.” Randall snickered as he moved to sit on the bed. I immediately climbed up on my mate’s lap, putting my front paws on the large man’s chest. I still couldn’t get over how lucky I was to be mated to such a stud. Randall had to be at least six-three and two hundred and fifty pounds of solid muscle. What called to me were his light green eyes that almost looked yellow in certain light. “Do I get to see you naked now?” I asked when the silence dragged out. “What? No!” Randall exclaimed and moved me from his lap. “I’m not into dogs, thanks.” “Oh, of course,” I replied, completely hurt as I hopped down off the bed. “I’ll wait for you downstairs then.” “Toby, wait,” Randall yelled after me as I raced from the room. But I didn’t stop until I was in the living room. I felt as if my heart had been ripped from my chest. Quickly shifting, I went to the bag the vet had given us and pulled out one of the IV bags. I plugged it into the IV port in my hand before hanging it up on the lamp by the sofa. I shifted back to a pup and snuggled on the couch. I started to get tired after the day’s excitement and started to drift off. Moments later, I was wide awake when Randall sat down on the couch next to me and started rubbing my stomach. “I didn’t mean to be so callous, Toby,” Randall said gently. “This is quite a shock to me. I need you to cut me some slack here.”

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“I get it,” I answered, my leg kicking out when Randall scratched my favorite spot. “Is it better if I don’t talk?” “No, I’ve got lots of questions,” Randall chuckled. “I’m simply trying to figure out where to start.” “How about why I’m sick?” “Okay, yeah, we can start there,” Randall answered, picking me up and holding me protectively. “Are you going to be all right? Can we help you?” “I don’t know, but I’m grateful you were so willing to try,” I said quietly. “My whole pack is sick. But parvo for us isn’t as bad as it is for real dogs since we’re really only part dog. Some of us left the pack in search of help and a cure.” “How did you guys get it?” “We don’t know,” I answered, rubbing my face against my mate’s chest. “People started getting sick, nothing big at first. We thought a stomach bug was going around the pack. But then people started getting worse. Friends and family started vomiting blood, losing babies, and a few even dying. That’s when we realized this was more than some bug.” “And so you left to find help?” Randall asked, rubbing his hands over my coat as if he’d done it every day for all our lives. “Yeah, I wasn’t expecting to find my mate. I thought they were just a myth.” I snickered. Then it hit me what I’d said. I put a paw over my face and turned my head away, waiting for Randall to freak out. “Um, did that have something to do with you peeing on me?” Randall asked, turning my muzzle back toward him. “I was going to ask you about that anyways. I mean, what the fuck, man?” “I’m sorry about that,” I whispered. “I couldn’t stop myself from marking you. It was instinct.” “Marking me?”

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“I marked you as mine. We’re bonded mates now,” I answered, completely excited. I stood back up on my back paws and licked Randall’s face. “We get to be together always.” “You mated me without even asking me?” Randall growled, pushing me off his lap. “What the fuck does that mean?” “I–I, it means,” I whimpered, scared I was going to get hit. I hopped off the couch but couldn’t go far as I was hooked up to the IV. When Randall moved toward me, looking completely pissed off, I did the unthinkable. I peed on the carpeting in fear. “Would you quit peeing everywhere?” Randall yelled and ran from the room. “You’re supposed to be part human, Toby.” “You scared me,” I whispered when Randall came back in the room with a bunch of paper towels. “I don’t do well with yelling. I’m sorry.” Randall just stared at me as if I’d grown a second head. After several moments, he burst out laughing, but it wasn’t a good laugh. I lay down on all fours, tucking my head under my paws as my mate laughed like a madman. “I brought home a beagle who’s really a man.” Randall laughed like a loon as he cleaned up the carpet. “Who’s a shape shifter that’s sick with a deadly dog virus and pees when he’s yelled at. Oh, and let’s not forget that he peed on me, which marks me as his mate. And now I’m bound to him for the rest of my life. Did I leave anything out, Toby?” Instead of answering, I whimpered as I tried to make myself a smaller target. “I’m not going to hurt you!” Randall growled at me. “I’m Sheriff, for god sakes!” “But you’re mad at me,” I cried. “And you’re scaring me.” “I’m not mad—well, yeah, I am, but I’m not sure if I am at you. Fuck,” Randall yelled as he left the room again. I couldn’t believe how my luck was turning. One minute, I leave my sick pack to find help and find my mate, too. My mate is loving and great, getting me

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the help I need. But when he finds out that I’m really a man, he freaks out, yelling, laughing, and going off the deep end. What next? Randall came back in the room, and I started whimpering again. I watched the large man sigh and walk toward me. I was leery when my mate knelt in front of me. “I’m sorry I yelled, okay?” Randall said quietly. “I need to sort all of this out, but I think I’m on information overload right now. So, let’s just focus on getting you better, and we can work the rest out as we go along. Sound fair?” “Will you still pet me?” I asked, dying to feel my mate touch me some more. “Yeah, come here, little guy,” Randall chuckled as he opened his arms for me. Immediately, I leaped into them and licked Randall’s face. “Do you have to stay in dog form right now?” “I think it’s better if I do when I’m getting the medicine,” I answered, not really sure. “I mean, that kinda makes sense to me.” “It’s a good point,” Randall replied as he sat back down on the couch with me. “I figured we had some things to also discuss, man to man.” “I can take my medicine later,” I said quietly. “No! The most important thing is getting you better,” Randall replied before leaning down and kissing the top of my head. I felt a thrill go down my spine at the feeling of my mate’s lips on my body, and I wanted so much more. “I’m sorry I mated you without asking you first,” I said, hoping I wasn’t pushing at Randall’s calm mood. “I didn’t really realize I was doing it until you shouted.” “I believe you, Toby,” Randall whispered, holding me tighter. “I need time to process. But no more making decisions without me or doing things without discussing them with me.” “I promise, Randall,” I replied, snuggling into my mate’s broad chest. It felt so right and comfortable that it didn’t take long for me to

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find sleep. The last thought I had before succumbing to sleep was that if mates were real and not a myth, what else was true?

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Chapter 2 Randall moaned as he felt a soft tongue lick along his neck and collarbone. The warm body lying on him made the experience that much better. Squeezing the ass he was holding on to with both hands, he felt himself get even harder. This is the best dream I’ve had in a while, Randall thought to himself as the small man moaned and rubbed his hard cock against Randall’s stomach. “I want in your firm little ass so bad it hurts.” Randall moaned, going with the dream even though it seemed more real than any erotic dream he’d remembered having. “Yes, my mate, I want you to take me,” Toby replied, nipping at his neck. That was when it hit Randall that this wasn’t a dream. “Fuck.” He gasped as he sat up and stared down at the man sprawled out on his body. Toby stared up at him, his soft, ear-length black hair hanging in his big, brown eyes. “I thought I was dreaming.” “You don’t really want me?” Toby asked softly as he started to shake. “I’m sorry. You were touching me, and it woke me up. I thought you’d decided to have sex with me.” “No, yes, I mean, no,” Randall answered as his heart broke when Toby’s eyes filled up with tears. The hot smaller man moved off of him and went to get off the bed. Randall reached out and grabbed him around the waist before Toby could escape. “Baby, wait, I’m sorry.” “You don’t have to be sorry for not wanting me,” Toby whispered, not looking at Randall. He sighed and pulled the gorgeous man back against his chest and onto his lap.

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“I do want you. I meant what I said,” Randall said as he kissed Toby’s neck. “I want your firm little ass so much it hurts. But yes, I thought I was dreaming. I didn’t realize I was touching you. So, no, I didn’t consciously make the decision to have sex with you.” “Will you make that decision now?” “Oh, god, baby, you’re killing me here.” Randall moaned as Toby moved his hot ass over his morning wood. “We still have a lot we need to talk about.” “Sex first, talking later,” Toby begged, looking up at him with the same big puppy dog eyes that Randall had seen in the beagle he’d saved. “Please, Randall? I need my mate to be inside me.” “I don’t know, Toby,” Randall whispered, trying to still his hips. Instead of stopping, Toby wiggled in his arms enough to turn around and straddle his lap. When he kept moving his hips and rubbing his cock against Randall’s, all responsible thought left his mind. “Fuck, I want you so bad, baby.” “Take me, then, Randall. I’m yours.” Toby whimpered, leaning forward to lick Randall’s lips. “Please, I want you so badly. Show me what sex is like.” “Wait, you’ve never had sex?” Randall asked gently as that though pulled him out of his lust-filled haze and he stopped Toby’s hips. “You’re a virgin?” “Is that bad?” Toby replied, turning the prettiest shade of pink that made Randall’s cock twitch. “I wanted to wait until I fell in love or met my mate. I figured it would be the first one since most of us thought mates were stuff of legends. But I wanted to give myself to the person I’d spend my life with.” “That’s hot, baby,” he groaned, rubbing his hands over Toby’s slim hips. “So, you’re saying I’m the only man who’s ever going to be in this sweet ass?” “Yes,” Toby answered as he looked down, not meeting Randall’s gaze. “I’m not sure I’ll be any good at it, but I promise to learn. Or you can teach me what you like, Randall. I’m smart. I swear I am.”

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“You’re killing me, Toby,” Randall said as the firm ass on his lap shifted. His cock moved between the cheeks of Toby’s butt as if knowing exactly where it wanted to go. “It’s not right to take your virginity until we’ve worked everything out.” “But it’s yours to take,” Toby replied, looking confused. “I’m your mate. My body and soul belong to you.” “Normally, people wait longer than a day, baby,” Randall said gently when Toby’s innocence shined through. It made him realize something he needed to ask. “How old are you?” “Twenty-two,” he answered, tilting his head to the side and studying Randall. “Does that matter to you?” “No, you’re legal, but you are kind of young,” Randall replied slowly, choosing his words carefully. “I mean, I’m twelve years older than you, Toby.” “Then that’s perfect. You’ll know how to keep me safe,” Toby said happily, once again reminding him of the excited pup he’d met. “Why would you need to be kept safe, baby?” “We’re not very respected in the shifter community,” Toby answered sadly. “I mean, there are strong were-wolves, tigers, bears, and all kinds of aggressive animals. There are even dog shifters of all types. But I’m a puppy shifter, Randall. Do you understand what that means?” “That you turn into a beagle,” he replied, feeling it wasn’t the answer Toby was talking about. He got a soft smile in response before Toby leaned forward and licked his lips. “Well, yes, but that’s not what I was getting at.” Toby giggled, and Randall bit his lip to keep the moan inside of him. The hot little twink in his arms just giggled, and Randall loved it. “Shifters take on a lot of the traits of their animals. Wolves are aggressive and growl a lot while cats can be more passive sometimes and purr. I’m a beagle puppy. I get excited easily, need lots of affection, will always want to be touched, and yes, pee on the carpeting when I’m scared.”

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“I’m not a very affectionate person, Toby,” Randall said, feeling himself tense up at the idea of PDA. “I’m not a touchy-feely kind of guy.” “Then that’s why I’m your mate,” Toby replied, his face brightening up as if the lightbulb went off over his head. “My parents used to tell me when I was little that special people were mated to puppy shifters. That they were always people who’d had a lot of tragedy in their lives and needed the extra love and affection we tend to give to heal their hearts.” Randall grimaced as Toby pretty much hit it on the head. There were reasons from his past that made him as jaded as he was. But that didn’t mean the smaller man in his arms would be able to heal him. Did it? **** I was worried I’d stuck my foot in my mouth again when I saw how Randall reacted to what I said. He wanted me to be honest with him, but maybe reminding him of painful memories wasn’t the right way to go. “I’m sorry, Randall. I didn’t mean to upset you,” I whispered, feeling like an idiot. “I don’t always think before I speak. That memory just popped into my head, and you said you wanted me to be honest with you.” “I do, Toby. I always want you to be honest with me.” Randall sighed, still looking sad. “I need to know things like this and what’s on your mind.” “Like I want us to have sex now that we’ve talked?” I asked, completely excited that now we were getting to the sex. I moved my hips again in that way that made him moan before. “How do you want me my first time? Should I lie on my back or get on my hands and knees? Do you have a favorite position? I can start getting myself ready for you.”

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“Oh, fuck, baby.” He moaned as he rolled us over so I was on my back. Randall mashed his mouth down to mine, and I licked his lips. He did the same to me, and I opened my mouth for him. I whimpered at the pleasurable sensations running through my body as his tongue explored my mouth. Randall’s hands seemed to be everywhere all at once, and it was driving me crazy. “I can’t think of anything besides burying my cock into you, Toby.” “Then don’t,” I panted as I stared up into his eyes. “Take me, Randall. I want it. I want you. Please, my mate?” “Thank you, baby,” he said softly, rubbing his thumb over my cheek. I wasn’t sure what he was thanking me for, but I whimpered as he moved off of me and reached into the nightstand. Randall smiled at me as he held up a tube of lube as he crawled back to me. “I wasn’t leaving you, just getting what we need. But I need to ask about condoms. Do we need them? I know I’m clean.” “I can’t get or give STDs,” I replied proudly, knowing that no shifter could. “It’s something to do with our DNA.” “Well, that’s a bonus.” Randall chuckled as he moved between my legs and squirted some on his fingers. “Why were you thanking me, Randall?” I asked, not sure if my question would ruin the mood but needing to know what he’d meant. “I was saying thank you for being willing to give me your virginity,” he answered with a smile. I spread my legs wider for him as he got even closer to my body. “It’s a gift that you’re giving me, and I promise to cherish it.” “I’m just glad you want it and me,” I said, gasping when his fingers rubbed against my hole. “I like that. It feels so good.” “I promise to make this really good for you, Toby,” Randall whispered as he leaned forward and licked the head of my cock. He pushed a finger in at the same time, and I moaned at the good feelings it stirred in me along with the burning. “Your first time will hurt, but I promise it won’t last and will turn into pleasure.”

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“I trust you, Randall,” I panted as his finger stopped moving once it was all the way in me. After a few moments, he started moving it again as he kissed my dick once more. His finger rubbed something inside of me that sent so much pleasure up my body that before I’d even realized what was happening, I came. I cried out his name as my cock shot out ropes of my seed all over my stomach. Randall kept moving his finger and then pushed in another one as my climax was still going on. It seemed to start it all over again as he focused on that one spot in my body. Lights flashed behind my eyes as I tried to get more air into my lungs. Finally, when I started to come back down from my bliss, I lay there panting as he stared at me. I couldn’t tell what emotion he was feeling from the look on his face. But then it hit me, and I felt humiliated. “That wasn’t supposed to happen yet,” I whispered. I felt the tears burning my eyes as I backed away from him, his fingers slipping from my ass. “I’m so sorry I came so fast and couldn’t please you.” “Toby, baby,” he said gently as he reached for me. I shook my head and kept backing away, mortified that I’d failed my mate our first time together. My whole body shook as I reached the end of the bed, and I couldn’t see him through my tears. I shifted, leapt from the bed, and ran from the room. Hiding behind the side of the couch in the living room, I cried. Randall had to hate me, probably cursing the fact that he’d been stuck with a reject for a mate. “Toby, please, where are you, baby?” Randall called out as he ran into the living room and looked around. I didn’t want to risk his anger, so I moved until I was almost under the couch. “Baby, please talk to me. I’m not upset that you came. I plan on you coming a lot more today if you’ll talk to me.” I wasn’t sure what I should do as I watched my mate search the room for me. I couldn’t help but get horny at the sight of his naked body.

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“Toby, watching you come was one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said as he sat down on the chair opposite the sofa I was hiding by. “I’ve never been so hard in my life, baby. It was amazing to see you open up and come from my touch.” “Really?” I squeaked out before I’d even realized it. Randall’s head swung in my direction, and our eyes met. He smiled at me as he got off the chair and walked toward me. I watched him as he knelt in front of me, not touching me yet, but so our noses almost touched. “Really, Toby,” Randall whispered. “And I’d very much like to finish what we were doing if you’d shift back and let me. I wasn’t upset. I was just shocked at how beautiful the man in my bed was when he came. You didn’t do a damn thing wrong. It was one of the hottest moments in my life, baby.” “Okay,” I replied before licking his nose, getting a chuckle from him. Crawling back out from where I’d hidden, I shifted back as soon as I could. Randall sat up and opened his arms for me. Smiling widely, I straddled his lap and licked his neck. “You’re really sexy, Randall.” “I was just thinking the same thing about you, Toby,” he said firmly against my ear, causing me to shiver. Randall wrapped his arms around me, his hands under my ass as he stood up. I wrapped my legs around his hips as he carried me back into his bedroom. “You are the sexiest, hottest man I’ve ever had in my bed and in my arms.” “So, you’ll keep me?” I asked, completely excited as I felt myself get hard again. I realized after I’d said it how much it sounded like I was asking him to adopt me like a stray dog, but I didn’t care. I just wanted him to answer. He laid me back on the middle of his bed as he moved on top of me. As I stared up into his eyes, Randall stroked my cheek gently. “Yeah, baby, I’m keeping you,” he said with a smile. “We’ll figure the rest of this all out. I’m not sure how, but we will. All I do know is that you feel so right in my arms, Toby. I know that I want you more than anyone I’ve ever met in my entire life. And I know

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without a doubt that Toby the man is worming his way into my heart as the beagle puppy that peed on my leg did.” “I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you, too, Randall,” I whispered, feeling my heart sore at his words. “And I give you my heart, my mate. I want us to be together always.” “I’ll be careful with it, Toby,” Randall promised before kissing me again. Wow, could my mate kiss. I could live off of his kisses and touches. The fact that he’d make me come that hard was one hell of a bonus, though. I was so lost in our kissing that I’d missed the fact that somehow, he’d poured more lube on his fingers. It seemed I’d also not noticed that he pushed two fingers back inside of me until he hit that spot again. “Hurry, Randall, please,” I whimpered as I moved my hips against his hand. “I want you inside of me when I come this time.” “Just a little more, baby,” he said as he changed the way he touched me, wiggling his fingers back and forth instead of just rubbing that one spot. I kept my hands on his biceps as I stared up into his light green eyes as he took me to heaven. When he slid in a third finger, I arched my back and gasped. “Am I hurting you? I can go slower.” “Doesn’t hurt.” I moaned as I pushed my hips down on his hand. “Feels amazing, Randall.” “I want you to feel amazing during your first time,” Randall assured me, licking along my neck. “Your first time having sex should be amazing.” “It is,” I panted, wanting to say more but coherent words escaping my mind. “And we’ve not even gotten to the sex yet.” He chuckled as he pulled his fingers out of me. I groaned at the loss and almost empty feeling but got more excited when I saw what he’d be replacing them with. He pushed my legs up to my chest and placed my hands on my thighs. “Tell me if it hurts, and I’ll go slower, okay?”

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“Okay, Randall,” I answered, nodding so I wouldn’t drool at the sight of his massive cock lining up with my hole. I did give pause for a moment as to how his at least ten inches would fit inside of me, but I trusted my mate. When he pushed the first inch in, I held my breath at the burning I felt shooting through my body. “Breathe, baby, just breathe through the burn. It won’t last,” Randall said gently, and I did as he wanted. He worked another inch into me, moving his hips slowly so that each time he moved forward, I took more of his dick. “Almost there, Toby, and then it will be nothing but pleasure.” “It’s just a little burn,” I replied, trying to take that look of concern off his face. “It’s worth it to be with you.” “God, your ass is like heaven, so fucking tight.” He moaned as the last of him pushed into me. I was actually pretty proud of myself for being able to take someone that big my first time having sex. And Randall seemed to be enjoying it, so at least I was pleasing my mate. Randall kissed me passionately as he moved my legs to the side and then wrapped them around his hips. “This is better than I’d ever thought it would be,” I said, gasping as he pulled out of me before thrusting back into me gently. Randall smiled widely at my assessment, and I felt myself blush. “Not the right thing to say during sex?” “No, it’s perfect. It’s just most people wouldn’t be so open about what they were feeling during their first time with someone,” Randall answered, winking at me as he snapped his hips. I moaned loudly, loving the feeling of him inside of me. He’d been right. There was no more burning, only more pleasure than I’d ever felt in my life. I lifted my hips to meet his thrust, and Randall seemed to like that. He groaned as he started taking me faster. “That’s it, baby, just like that,” he grunted, and I was thrilled he liked it. I moved them faster as he did, wanting to make it as good for him as he was for me. “Oh, god, Toby. Fucking amazing, I’ve never felt anything like this.”

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“Me either,” I panted, not trying to make a joke and just being honest with him. “I love the way you feel inside me.” “I do, too, baby. Your sweet little ass is like heaven.” Randall moaned. He leaned back a little bit, and I had to slide my hands down his arms. But when he did, he hit that spot in me again, pegging it with each thrust. I’d heard about that sweet spot. I think all men did. But I’d never found it the few times I’d played with my own ass. “Come for me, Toby. I want to see my baby climax again from the pleasure I give him.” “Randall,” I cried out, my orgasm hitting me instantly as if my mate telling me to come flipped a switch inside of me. I filled the space between us with my seed as he grunted and then groaned. Seconds later, Randall roared out my name, and I felt his cock twitch in me before he filled my body with his release. “That was fucking amazing,” Randall panted several moments later when our climaxes were finished. He started to pull away from me, and I panicked. “No, please, don’t leave me yet,” I begged, leaning forward and wrapping my arms around his neck. “I want you inside of me a little longer, Randall.” “I wasn’t going to leave you, Toby,” he whispered in my ear as he wrapped his arms around me. “I was just going to pull out and roll us over so I didn’t crush you with my weight.” “You’re not crushing me,” I said, shaking my head. “I like the feeling of your strong body covering mine. I feel so safe and wanted.” “Okay, baby, I won’t move yet,” Randall replied, kissing my neck. And he didn’t. We lay there for several minutes before he rolled us over so I was lying on top of him. I buried my face in his neck and yawned, a wonderful tired feeling running through my body. “It’s okay. Get some rest, Toby. I’ll be right here when you wake up.” “Can we do this again after we nap?” I asked, wanting to feel this way again as soon as possible.

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“Let’s just see if you’re sore first,” he chuckled, hugging me tighter. I wasn’t sure what he meant about being sore. The burning had stopped in the first few minutes of us being together. But I trusted that my mate knew what was best for me. I smiled as I felt myself start to drift off. My mate had just made love to me and wanted to keep me. This was the happiest day of my life.

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Chapter 3 Randall woke up from their nap and glanced at the clock. They’d slept about an hour, and he figured that was long enough to keep his mate feeling secure that he wouldn’t leave Toby. My mate? Randall thought, the idea shaking him down to his very core. Since when was he the type of guy who used words like that? Hell, when had he ever cared enough about someone he screwed to tend to his needs? But as he looked down at the hot twink sprawled over his body, he knew Toby was different. That didn’t mean this was going to be easy. Randall had never really had a relationship, getting off with one night stands and chance encounters when he needed to. He’d never had anyone sleep over before, much less cuddled with them after sex. What did it mean that he wanted to do all that and more with Toby? Shaking his head and gently moving Toby off of him, he groaned at the dried cum stuck to them. He really should have at least gotten up and cleaned them up. But when Toby looked almost panicked that Randall was going to leave him, he couldn’t help but cave. Getting off the bed carefully so he didn’t wake his little man, Randall headed into the bathroom and started the tub. Toby would need a good soak after his first time. Just thinking about the mind-blowing sex they’d had started to get him hard again. He couldn’t get over how open and passionate Toby was with him. Randall was used to quick fucks with men who didn’t want him to know how much they’d liked it. Of course, he’d been the same way. It wasn’t like he’d taken the time to compliment them or

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tell them if they’d been good or not. But Toby—wow. Being with him was the closest he’d ever felt to pure bliss. Randall added a little bath salt to the tube, something he’d die if people found out he liked. He was Sheriff, for god’s sake. Talk about being an Alpha male. If people knew he had a thing for bath salts, much less long baths, he’d totally ruin his street cred. He didn’t care if Toby knew, though. He wanted the man to know everything about him. Randall just prayed it didn’t scare his little pup away. When the bath was ready, Randall went back into the bedroom and stared down at Toby for a moment. He really was just breathtaking. Toby couldn’t have been more than five-five and a hundred pounds dripping wet. That did worry Randall. He didn’t like the way Toby pushed being thin into too skinny with ribs showing. He wondered if that had anything to do with Toby being sick, but he would find out and fix it, fast. “Wake up, pup,” Randall whispered as he lifted Toby into his arms. “It’s time for you to have a nice, hot soak.” “Randall,” Toby said with a smile, snuggling up in his arms as his eyes fluttered opened. “You really were here when I woke up.” “I’m not the easiest man, Toby, and you’ll learn that quickly,” Randall replied gently but firmly. Toby needed to know right off the bat what he’d gotten himself into. Because Randall knew after the first time he’d watch Toby orgasm that he’d never let the gorgeous man with a big heart leave. “But I take my word very seriously. If I say I’ll do something, I will, baby.” “Okay,” Toby said brightly, leaning up to lick Randall’s mouth. It made Randall wonder what else his little pup could do with that tongue. God, had Toby even given head before? Randall’s cock twitched at the idea of being the only one Toby had been with like that. Since when was he all possessive like this? “How sore are you, baby?” he asked gently, focusing back on the man in his arms as he got them into the tub. It was larger than the average-sized tub since Randall was taller and liked taking baths. But

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it still wasn’t meant for two people. Toby would have to basically be on his lap, and that was just fine with Randall. He sat up in the tub, placing Toby between his legs, and laid him back against Randall’s chest. “My ass is a little tender, but shifters heal really fast,” Toby answered happily. “So, we can have sex really soon. Maybe after I take some more of my medicine?” “And we get you something to eat,” Randall said gently, trying to word what he wanted to say carefully. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Toby, because you know how sexy I think you are. But you’re really thin, baby. I’m worried about your health. We need to get you better and some meat on your bones, okay?” “I’ve lost like twenty pounds the last month,” Toby said softly as Randall reached for the soap and washcloth. He soaped it up really well before starting to wash his baby. Toby moaned and arched his back, tilting his long, thin neck for Randall. He instantly got hard as he took his time, exploring every inch of his man’s lithe body. “I love when you touch me, Randall.” “And I really love touching you, baby,” he replied with a growl of possession. “I’m having feelings about you, Toby, that I’ve never had before. I need you to be patient with me while I get use to that.” “What do you mean?” Toby asked, turning around so that he was lying face down against Randall’s body. He stared up at Randall, his eyes wide with curiosity. “I’m feeling very possessive of you, baby,” Randall whispered against Toby’s lips. “Like it thrills me that I’ve been the only one inside of you. I was wondering earlier if my cock would be the only one you’d ever suck. Y–you’re just mine, okay? I’m not sure what that means. But I know the idea of someone else seeing my baby naked makes me see red.” “That’s because I’m your puppy shifter,” Toby answered, licking his lips. “We’re very passive, almost submissive to our partners. And from what I’ve been told about when we find our true mates, they’re

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always very dominant. They want to take care of us and claim us. I like the idea of being yours. I’ll listen to you, Randall. I promise I will.” “I’m glad you feel that way,” he said firmly as a thrill raced through him at the idea of Toby submitting to him. “Because you’re right, baby. I’m a very dominant man. I want to know what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours, and I’d never do anything that wasn’t best for you, but I like my word to be the final one. Does that make sense?” “Of course,” Toby replied and then moaned loudly as Randall washed his ass. “If I’m good and listen, will we have sex often? I like the idea of giving you blow jobs. I’ve never done that. I’ve touched someone else once, and I’ve kissed a few people, but that’s it.” “Never again, Toby,” Randall growled loudly. Dropping the washcloth, he grabbed the small man’s upper arms and dragged him up until their noses were touching. “You are to never, ever kiss or touch anyone else again. Are we crystal clear on that? I will kill anyone who touches you.” “I don’t want anyone else,” Toby whimpered, shaking in Randall’s hold. “I would never cheat on my mate. I promise, Randall.” “Good,” he said firmly before relaxing his hold. Randall realized how callous he’d been in the way he handled his jealousy when Toby was still shaking in his arms. He sighed heavily, but when had he ever felt jealous before? Picking back up the washcloth, he made sure he was extra gentle with his small mate. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m not saying you would ever cheat on me. But this is what I was talking about. I’ve never been jealous before.” “S’okay, Randall,” Toby whispered and buried his face in Randall’s neck. “Part of me likes that you want me enough to get jealous. I just can’t help my reaction and fear. When someone’s mad, it normally means I’m going to get hit. But I didn’t shift and pee this time.”

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“Who’s hit you, Toby?” Randall asked, swallowing loudly to keep his anger in check at the idea of anyone hurting his baby. No one would fucking touch what was his ever again. “It’s a long story,” his little man said softly with a sniffle. “Can we finish getting clean first? I need some time to think about how I’m going to explain all this to you. Please don’t be mad. I just wasn’t planning on meeting my mate or anyone I’d have to talk about this with.” “Okay, baby,” he said, kissing Toby’s neck. Randall didn’t like to be kept waiting, but it was a reasonable request. It wasn’t like Toby was saying he wouldn’t tell Randall. He just needed time to get his thoughts together. “Let’s get cleaned up, feed my hungry pup, and the medicine going. But then we’ll talk about this, fair enough?” “Yes, very fair,” Toby answered as he sat up and reached for the shampoo. Randall watched his hot little mate as he seemed to be thinking so hard Randall could almost hear the wheels turning in his head. Toby lathered up Randall’s hair, taking time to rub his scalp well before doing his own. Pausing as they started to rinse, Toby cocked his head to the side and stared at Randall. “It’s okay that I asked for time like that, right? I mean, that wasn’t bad or disobeying you, was it?” “No, baby, that was just right the way you asked,” Randall said with a wide smile. He loved how easily Toby took everything in stride, wanting to make him as happy as he wanted to make Toby. “I’d be upset if you said no, you wouldn’t tell me, without a good reason, but needing some time to sort out your thoughts I understand. And while I might be dominant, Toby, I’m not your master. We’re mates, partners, okay? You don’t just have to do something because I say so. If it’s something you don’t want to do, you just need to talk to me.” “Okay, I like that,” Toby answered after a few moments as he rinsed his hair. “I know I’m somewhat submissive, but even though I’m a pup shifter, I don’t like the idea of being led around blindly. I

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mean, I have my own work and job that I love, you know? And I have things I need to do, too, not just follow you around all day. I like the idea of us being partners and not you being my owner.” “I’m glad, baby,” he said as they finished cleaning up. “I need to tell you one thing, though, Randall,” Toby said after a few minutes of silence as they got out of the tub. “And I hope this doesn’t upset you, but it takes me a little while to process things. I need time to bounce ideas around in my head before I know how I feel about them. Does that make sense?” “Yes, it does,” Randall answered with a nod, grabbing them each a towel. “I’m more the opposite. I decide things pretty much immediately. But I can see how other people don’t, and I’m okay with that. I just need to know when you need time to do that so I don’t just think you weren’t listening to me.” “I can do that!” Toby said excitedly, standing on his tiptoes to kiss Randall. “See, we’ll be good mates for each other. We can take care of each other and be loving partners!” “I’m glad you’re excited.” He chuckled as he leaned down to kiss his little pup again. “I want to know about this work you mentioned. What do you do for a living?” “I’m a graphic designer,” Toby answered as he smiled widely. “I have my own company and everything. I bring in lots of money for the pack, and it helps us survive in the mountains.” “Really?” Randall asked, feeling shocked. He couldn’t imagine the amount of time and patience it took to be a graphic designer. Watching Toby’s cute little bubble butt bounce as they walked out of the bathroom, Randall went to the dresser to get them clothes. Toby kept walking out of the room, and he stopped him. “We should get dressed.” “Why? We’re going to eat, and then I’m going to shift so I can take my medicine?” Toby asked, cocking his head as he looked up at Randall, confused. Randall felt himself get hard at the gesture, loving how curious his mate was. He leaned in close to Toby, making sure

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his hard-on was pressed up against his body as he whispered in his pup’s ear. “Because if I’m seeing your hot little body in front of me, all I want to eat is you, Toby.” “I’m okay with that,” Toby whimpered, shivering against Randall. “I like that you want me.” “But we need to focus right now, baby,” he said gently as he kissed Toby’s neck. “Personally, I’d like to explore this desire of yours to give your first blow job as soon as we’ve done what we need to.” “Randall,” Toby whined, reaching to stroke Randall’s cock, but he stopped him in time. “After we eat and you take your medicine, Toby,” Randall replied a little more firmly. “Getting you better is my main priority right now.” “You’re going to take such good care of me,” Toby stated with a big smile as he stepped away. Randall chuckled as he went and tossed his hot little man one of his flannel shirts. He pulled on some sweats as he watched Toby dress. A thrill went through him as he watched his man wear his shirt. “I’ll take good care of you, too, Randall. I promise. I work from home, so I’ll always have dinner ready for you, and I’ll wash your clothes and clean the house.” Randall stared at Toby as he excitedly listed everything he was willing to do to make him happy. But it struck him at the same time…Toby was going to be his housewife. Was that something he even wanted? And what did Toby want? “Toby,” he said carefully as they made their way to the kitchen. “You’re not my housewife, baby. Are those things you even like to do?” Toby cocked his head and stared at him for a few moments as Randall started making them oatmeal. He figured that was something healthy that wouldn’t be hard on Toby’s stomach if he was still sick.

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“I like cooking,” Toby answered finally. “I really like cooking, but I don’t like doing dishes. And I don’t want to be a housewife, Randall. I just figured it was a way to take good care of you. Because if you’re dominant, you won’t like that I make more money than you. So, I thought I’d make sure to take on the household chores. And I don’t like vacuuming. I really don’t like vacuuming. I think it’s the puppy in me. The noise hurts my ears, and I want to hide.” “Oh, it does, does it?” Randall chuckled, not having missed the comment about Toby making more money than he. That was something he’d have to think about. He knew he was Alpha enough that he’d want to provide for Toby, but he wouldn’t want to get in the way of the work that had his pup so excited. “Okay, I’ll do dishes if you cook and handle the vacuuming. I’m not a fan of laundry, but there’s a certain way I need my uniforms ironed.” “I like doing the laundry,” Toby answered, almost bouncing in his chair. “You can teach me how to iron the right way. I’m really smart. I swear I am.” “You’ve said that before, baby,” he said softly, not wanting to ruin Toby’s excitement. “Why would you keep saying that as if I think you’re not?” “Because I’m part puppy,” Toby whispered as he looked down at his hands. “I know I get excited and ramble, but I can’t help that. I’ve had people tell me it makes me sound stupid and like a little kid. I don’t want you to think I’m not smart or a child.” “Oh, sweetheart,” Randall gasped, hating the way Toby looked so lost at the idea. He turned on the teakettle and went to kneel in front of Toby’s chair, taking his face in his hands. “I don’t think you’re stupid, baby. And I wouldn’t have had such hot sex with you if you reminded me of a little kid. I’m not into that kind of shit. You’re right, you do sound like an excited puppy sometimes, but that’s what makes you so special. I love the way you brighten up and ramble when you’re happy.”

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“You do?” Toby sniffed, staring at him as if he was begging for what Randall said to be the truth. “I’ve laughed more since I’ve met you than I have in months, baby,” Randall admitted. And that fact hit him hard. It was absolutely true. He’d laughed and had more fun in one day with Toby than he could ever remember. “I think it’s amazing the way small things make you happy. That takes a person with a big heart to see the world that way.” “Thank you,” Toby whispered as a tear escaped from his eyes. He reached up and wiped it away before kissing his man’s sweet lips. Toby’s plump lips called to him, and he found himself wanting to kiss his pup often. “I really am smart. That’s part of why I’m not that good with people. I’ve got my head buried in a book or in work most of the time, so I don’t socialize often. But I have a master’s degree and everything. I can show you my IQ test if you don’t believe me.” “I do believe you, baby,” Randall answered, kissing him until Toby moaned and whimpered. That whimper was so incredibly sexy when it came from Toby that Randall promised to make his mate do it as often as possible. And he wanted to learn more about Toby, maybe help him get more confidence in himself. As he pulled back and stared at the bright eyes looking at his, Randall promised himself that he’d protect Toby even if it meant from his own doubts. It scared the shit out of him that he instantly wanted Toby and for the rest of his life, but they had time to get to know each other and for Randall to deal with that. He just hoped he didn’t let his past hurt the man who was worming his way into his heart. **** “What are you thinking about so hard?” I asked as the minutes dragged on and we stared at each other. The teakettle whistled, and we both jumped as if it broke the trance we were in.

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“I was just thinking about how you have your master’s already at twenty-two,” Randall answered, and I wasn’t sure I believed that’s really what he’d been thinking. I watched my mate move to take the kettle off the stove and pour water into the bowls he’d set out earlier. “I got my GED when I was sixteen,” I said, deciding to just go with what he said was on his mind. “Then I found out I was really good with computers and graphics. I found a part-time job working at doing some web designs that helped me pay for an online degree in computer technology. It took me a few years, but by then, I had a lot more work coming in to design websites. I started my own company and branched off from the people I worked for.” “So, you were how old when you got your bachelor’s?” Randall asked as he sat down at the table with our food. I smiled as my mate poured me a glass of juice and sprinkled my oatmeal with some sugar before doing the same to his own. “Nineteen,” I answered, smiling at him. “Then I found an online college that had a master’s program in graphic design. I got my master’s in less than two years, and by then, my company was doing so well that I had to hire a few guys in the pack to help with all the business I had. It also helped us buy what we needed to live in the mountains.” “So, you have employees?” Randall asked, his eyes going wide. I wasn’t sure if that was a good surprised or a bad one. “Yeah, a few of the younger guys help me as they’re getting their degrees, too,” I answered as I played with my oatmeal. Taking a deep breath, I glanced up at my big mate. “Are you mad?” “What—no!” he exclaimed and reached for my hand. “I think that’s amazing, Toby. I don’t know much about your life, but if you guys are living up in the mountains alone, you can’t have it easy. I mean, you got your GED at sixteen, and by twenty-two, you have your master’s and a company so successful you employ other people. That’s really fucking impressive, baby.”

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“Oh,” I sighed, relieved I’d not upset him. I blew on my oatmeal to cool it off as Randall started growling. Looking back at him with wide eyes, I had no clue what the strange look on his face meant. “Randall?” “When you do that with your lips, all I can think of is having them wrapped around my cock, baby,” Randall said softly, letting out another low growl. I felt a shiver run through me at the sound. “It makes me feel all possessive and want to mark you as mine.” “Like a collar?” I asked, scared that Randall might be like the other large shifters I’d heard about. While I hadn’t been beaten up or held captive like some of the people in our pack, I knew what could happen to us. “I don’t want to wear a collar, Randall. You said you weren’t my owner.” “No, not like a collar,” he answered slowly, looking confused with his eyebrows drawn together. “I’m not sure what I meant by wanting to mark you, actually. It’s just something I’ve been feeling, like I want anyone who sees you to know you’re mine.” “Well, when you figure it out, can you tell me?” I replied between mouthfuls of oatmeal. “Yeah, I can do that.” Randall chuckled, and we sat in silence for a few minutes as we finished eating. “Is the need to mark people a mate’s thing? I mean, is that how you guys show you’re together?” “I don’t know,” I answered honestly, trying to think back to the stories I’d heard about mating lore. “Our pack is kind of outcast from the rest of shifters.” “I think maybe it’s time we had that talk, Toby,” Randall said quietly as we finished up breakfast. I nodded my head and felt the tears burning my eyes. This wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have, because I wasn’t sure if Randall would still want me after it.

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Chapter 4 We finished cleaning up breakfast and the dishes before going into the living room. I took off Randall’s shirt, smelling it one more time before laying it on the chair. The way my mate smelled was awesome, like the woods with sweat and spices. I smiled at Randall, who was staring at me, then got down on all fours and shifted. “Come here, pup,” Randall chuckled as he hung a new IV bag onto the lamp next to the sofa. I jumped up in on his lap when he sat down, putting my front paws on his chest and licking his face. My mate gently hooked the IV into the needle in my paw as I stared into his gorgeous eyes. “I like your eyes, Randall,” I said softly as I wagged my tail. “They say a lot when you talk, and they’re really pretty.” “Thank you, baby,” he replied, rubbing his nose against mine. “Now, we were going to have a talk, remember?” “Will you promise me one thing first?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t get mad. Randall raised an eyebrow at me, but after a moment, he nodded his agreement. “Promise no matter what I tell you that you won’t get rid of me? I couldn’t deal with the idea that my past ruined our mating.” “I promise, Toby,” he said gently, scratching me behind the ears. “We all have a past, okay? I just need to know about yours so I understand more about you and being a shifter. My past isn’t all that great, but I wouldn’t think you’d leave me just because something bad happened to me, right?” “No, I’d never leave you, Randall,” I replied firmly, getting his point. He smiled at me as he probably figured out I put together what

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he was trying to tell me. “I grew up outside Los Angeles. My parents were part of a pack of dog shifters. It’s weird with any type of dog or cat shifters. My mom was a huge Great Dane, and my dad was an Irish setter, but they had me, who’s a beagle puppy.” “So, you won’t grow into a full-grown beagle one day?” He asked, tilting his head to the side as he kept scratching my ears. “It’s not like how humans have babies that grow up into adults?” “We’re like that on our human side, but not in our shifter DNA,” I answered, loving how smart my mate was to put the connection together. “We can be bigger or smaller animals depending on how big we are as humans. If I was a wolf shifter, I’d still be a smaller wolf when I shifted as opposed to someone your size.” “Okay, that makes sense,” Randall said with a nod. “There are different types of wolves in the wild. So, you’re saying if two wolf shifters have a baby, it could be any of those types?” “Yes, exactly,” I replied excitedly, glad he really cared enough to want to know all of this. “As you can imagine, there are lots of different types of dogs, and anyone can have any breed of shifter dog. But some of us are born as dog pups. My parents used to tell me that made me special, but I hated it growing up. I used to get beat up a lot and picked on constantly. Most packs have their own small town, normally, since we have trouble controlling our ability to shift until after puberty. I mean, we couldn’t go to a human school and suddenly turn into a dog or wolf.” “No, I could see where that would be bad.” He chuckled as he moved me to sit more comfortably on his lap. “So, the other dog shifters don’t like pup dog shifters?” “Sometimes, but normally, they think we’re a fluke of nature,” I answered, rolling onto my back so he could scratch my belly. Randall smiled down at me and did just that as my left leg kicked out. “There were only a couple of us in our pack, and the elders wanted to put us down. They said we were rejects that needed to be taken care of like

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wild animals. Needless to say, my parents freaked out and contacted the High Council of Shifters.” “That’s horrible, baby,” Randall whispered, cupping my cheek. I rubbed my face in his hand, loving how he touched me just as I needed. “You know you’re not a freak, right? I don’t think you’re a freak, Toby.” “I know you don’t,” I replied, trying to smile up at him as I let my tongue hang out to the side. It worked. Randall laughed as he kissed the top of my head. “The High Council got involved, which ended up pissing off our pack even more. My parents knew other dog shifters who were having the same problem with their loved ones and were working to start a pack of their own. I don’t know how everything happened. I was only seven at the time.” “That’s okay. I get the basic idea.” “All I remember was my dad pulling me out of bed one night,” I whispered, getting choked up at the memories. “He’d packed a couple of bags, and we got in the car and drove away. He was crying the whole time, and I kept asking where my mom was. I didn’t get why we were leaving her behind. “Finally, after we’d driven for a while, my dad told me that my mom had been killed. Dog shifters have a shared mental link where they can talk to their mates. My mom had overheard some of the elders as they decided to handle things themselves and kill the pup shifters. She got caught but was able to tell my dad before they killed her. He raced home, grabbed me, and we fled. I felt horrible for my dad. He had listened to my mom and saved me, knowing she was about to be killed instead of being able to rescue her.” “Oh, baby,” Randall said softly, rubbing his nose against mine. I wasn’t sure, but it looked like he had tears in his eyes. He moved away before I could really see. “That had to be so hard on you.” “My dad didn’t tell me all of it until later when I was a few years older and he was teaching me about mates,” I replied as I curled up against my mate’s stomach. “After we ran away, my dad met up with

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some others who were pup shifters or had pup shifter children. I guess they’d gotten High Council approval to have a secret pack, and they even gave them some land up in the Cascade Mountains.” “And that’s where you live now, right?” “I thought I got to live here with you now?” I asked, shaking in fear that he was getting rid of me. “You promised you wouldn’t make me leave, Randall.” “I’m not, Toby,” he answered gently, smiling down at me. “I meant that’s where you lived before we met. I want you here with me, baby, but isn’t all your stuff up there?” “Oh, yeah, sorry,” I replied with a whimper, feeling bad I doubted my mate. “I didn’t mean to think the worst of you.” “I know, baby,” Randall said, giving me a soft smile. “We’ve not known each other that long. It will take us a bit to trust each other and know what the other means sometimes.” “That’s a good point.” I smiled up at him, letting my tongue hang out as he chuckled. “So, that’s where you were living before we met,” Randall said, leading me back into my story. “What happens now? I mean, we’d have to get your stuff, at least.” “Yes, and I have to bring back medicine,” I replied, not having forgotten why I’d left in the first place. “I was one of the ones chosen to go out, find help for the pack, and bring back medicine. Mostly because I’m the only one in the pack who has a lot of money, but I share it with them.” “What do you mean by have a lot of money, Toby?” he asked slowly, eyeing me over. “And how much do you share with them?” “Well, I make really good money,” I answered, turning my head not to look at him anymore. I didn’t want to see if I upset him. “And there aren’t too many jobs available where we live. I mean, some of the pack make blankets and crafts that they sell, but we’re like one big family.”

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“That didn’t answer my question,” Randall said, and I could feel him get tense. “I’m not trying to be jerk or demanding, baby. But I think this is something I really need to know, don’t you?” “Well, how much do you have in your bank account?” I snipped at him, looking at him through narrowed eyes. “I told you that my work is in demand, that I even have my own employees, and I share with my pack. Why do you need a dollar amount?” “A little over twenty thousand last time I checked my savings,” Randall answered, narrowing his eyes at me. “And I’m not asking for an exact figure, but a rough estimate would be nice since you’re talking about living here with me. If you leave your pack and move here, do you think you can still have them as your employees from a distance? Or how would you share with your pack and help provide for them from Wenatchee?” “I’m sorry,” I whispered, moving on his lap so my front paws were on his chest again. “I’m really sorry, Randall. You’ve been nothing but nice to me and are helping me get better. I shouldn’t have been mean to you. It’s not an excuse, but I’ve had people push me to tell them. I share with the pack, but I’ve had a few come to me on the side wanting more. I’ve learned to try and keep my bank accounts to myself.” “It’s okay, baby,” he said with a nod. “I can see that from your perspective. I just wanted you to understand why I was asking. I don’t care if you have two dollars to your name, Toby. But it is something partners discuss with each other. And if we can figure out a way to buy this medicine for your pack, I’d need to know if you could pay for it or whatnot.” “No, I get it,” I replied, licking his chin. “I have around a quarter of a million in my savings account. I normally give about twenty-five percent of what I make to the pack leader to help out, plus what I pay my employees.”

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“Shit!” Randall gasped, looking at me with wide eyes. “How much do you make for each design, Toby? I mean, god, you’re twenty-two and have saved that much already?” “It depends on what the design is and how intricate,” I answered with a shrug. “Websites with twenty pages run about a thousand dollars for me to design. But then I do book covers, too, and those are normally a few hundred. I’ve done some designs and editing of movie trailers. Those bring in a lot of money, and I get to charge extra because they’re normally rush jobs. I also do a few calendar designs, but those are for free because they’re for charity.” “I think I also see a big part of something missing,” Randall said as he ran his hands over his face before staring at me. “You don’t pay taxes, do you, Toby?” “Sure I do,” I answered, tilting my neck as I eyed him over. “I pay tax every time I buy something. One of the guys in the pack is really good with numbers and does my income taxes every year. He’s great with deductions too.” “Oh, sorry,” he replied, his cheeks heating up. “I thought maybe if you lived in a secret pack up in the mountains that you wouldn’t want the government to know where you are and all.” “No, they know we’re there.” I giggled, licking him again so he didn’t feel bad. “It’s privately owned land that we pay taxes on and everything. They think it’s just a couple of families that work together in a kind of small town of our own. It’s not like they know we’re shifters. We only hide from other shifter packs. The High Council won’t tell anyone where we’re at.” “Okay, so we’ve got all that covered,” Randall said with a yawn, looking tired. “Now, let’s go back to how it will affect your pack if you move here. And how we’re going to get your stuff and the medicine your pack needs.” I sat back down, staring up at him as I thought. After a few moments, I finally had an idea.

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“Isn’t that doctor your friend? Can’t he help us?” I asked excitedly, wagging my tail. “I’m not sure how Cameron would react to all of this, Toby,” he answered, reaching to scratch me behind the ears. “He’s a good man and been my friend for years, but are you willing to trust your secret like that?” “My pack is sick, Randall,” I whispered, feeling the tears form again. “We’ve had to bury a few members already. If we don’t get help soon, others will die, and I can’t let that happen. My dad died after I hit puberty. I think he died of a broken heart after losing my mom but made sure to stick around until he knew I’d be okay. The pack is my family. They helped me deal with losing him and raised me. I can’t let them down.” “Okay, we’ll talk to Cameron when he comes over tomorrow to check up on you,” Randall said after a few moments. “I’m not sure what his reaction will be, so you need to be ready for that. But he’s a good guy with a kind heart. I think he’d want to help.” “So, what am I going to do about my employees and helping the pack after the medicine?” “I’m not sure, baby. I think that depends on you.” “What do you mean?” I asked, confused as to how that was my decision. “Depends on me how?” “Well,” Randall said, pausing to lick his lips. “I’m Sheriff here, Toby. People depend on me, and I help keep them safe. It sounds like you do the same with your pack, and that makes me think that one of us will have to give that up. I really can’t see any other way around that, can you?” “I didn’t think of that,” I gasped, feeling like a jerk. “I was so excited about finding my mate and getting better that I didn’t think about how living here with you could hurt the pack.” “Yeah, I’m seeing that now,” he replied as he stroked my head lovingly.

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“What are we going to do?” I asked softly, feeling myself shake at the idea of abandoning my pack or leaving Randall. I wasn’t a fan of either option. But I couldn’t just ask my mate to leave his home and job and move up to the mountains with the pack. “I don’t know, baby,” Randall answered, giving me a weak smile. “We’ll have to see how everything goes with getting you better and help first. Then we’ll have to have a serious talk about what comes next, okay?” “I don’t want to lose you,” I whimpered as the tears fell. “You make me happy already, and I want to be with you, Randall.” “I want to be with you, pup,” he said firmly as he picked me up and brought me onto his chest. I nuzzled his neck as he rubbed my back. “I won’t let you go now that I’ve found you, Toby. We’ll figure something out. I’m not sure yet, but I promise we’ll be together no matter how we work through this.” “I trust you, my mate,” I replied, laying my head on his shoulder. And I did. Randall had done everything he’d said he would so far, and now wasn’t the time to lose faith in that. We fell silent then, lost in our own thoughts. I felt myself start to drift off as the conversations and issues we’d touched on weighed on me. **** I woke up a while later to Randall’s soft snoring. It seemed we both ended up taking a nap on the sofa. Glancing over at my IV, I saw that the bag was empty now. I carefully got down off my mate’s broad chest and then shifted back to human form. Carefully, I detached the IV line from my hand and folded the port back under the tape so it wasn’t in the way. It was meant for a puppy, so it’s not like it was big on my hand. I sat down next to Randall as I stared at him. He was such a good person. I knew he said he had issues in his past that weren’t good, but

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he was so gentle and loving toward me. They couldn’t have been that bad if he knew how to treat a mate well, could they? I wasn’t sure, but I also didn’t want to think about anything else bad with the other issues we had to deal with. Instead, I wanted what Randall had promised we could do after I ate and took my medicine. Moving between his legs as I knelt on the floor, I rubbed my face over his sweatpants-covered groin. He groaned in his sleep as his head fell back on his shoulders. Smiling as I looked over his firm body, I felt lucky that I’d been mated to someone as hot as Randall. He was perfect. Everything about him was gorgeous, from his muscular pecs and round, flat nipples to the lines of his toned abs. I pulled down his sweatpants and kissed the head of his cock like he’d done to me. Randall gasped and reached down to run his hand through my hair. Taking that as a sign that he liked it, I leaned forward and licked the length of his dick. “Toby,” he moaned loudly, still not having opened his eyes or looked down at me. I wrapped my lips around the head of his cock, rubbing my tongue over the slit. His hand tightened in my hair, and he guided my head down. Some of his pre-cum leaked out and flowed over my taste buds. The taste of him was even more amazing than his scent. I groaned as I took more of him into my mouth, needing to taste all of him. “Oh, fuck, baby, this is one hell of a wake-up,” Randall said as he rubbed my neck with his thumb as his fingers twirled in my hair. Glancing up at him, I saw he was looking at me with a big smile. “You look even better with my cock in your mouth than I’d imagined, Toby.” I smiled widely at his words, loving that he was happy that I wanted to give him head. I moaned like I’d seen people do on the Internet and took as much of him into me as I could before I felt like I was choking.

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“Not so much, baby. Take it slow your first time,” he said gently as his other hand moved to cup my cheek. “It’s been a long time since anyone’s given me a blow job. I won’t last long. I mostly like the upand-down suction on the head of my dick. You don’t have to worry about trying to deep throat me, okay?” I made a noise that was supposed to be an “okay,” but it came out more like a grunt of acknowledgement. Pulling back up, I did as Randall wanted, running my tongue around the head of his massive cock before taking it in my mouth more. “Oh, fuck, that’s perfect, baby.” Randall moaned as his fingers tightened in my hair. “Reach down and play with my sac, baby. Yeah, just like that, Toby.” I ran my fingers under it as I slid my thumb the other way. His were so much bigger than mine that I could barely fit them in my hand. I squeezed and massaged them the way I’d seen done as I kept sucking on him. Then I reached up with my other hand and rubbed my fingers over his nipple. Randall really liked that, because he moved his hips when I did it, shoving his cock farther into my mouth. “Fuck, baby, your mouth is amazing. That wicked little tongue is so goddamn soft,” he said and then gasped when I pinched his nipple. “Oh, god, squeeze my sac harder, baby.” I did, and his balls drew up toward his body, and I knew what was coming soon. It made me want to make him come more than I wanted air. Doubling my efforts, I was soon rewarded when Randall went stiff before shouting my name. His cock twitched and then shot his seed in my mouth. I swallowed as fast as I could. Moaning at the salty but yet sweet taste of it as it ran over my tongue, I was rock hard. A little leaked out of the side of my mouth as Randall finished coming. Pulling off of his softening cock, I let go of his nipple and balls as I licked him completely clean. When I was done, I rested my head on his thigh as we both tried to catch our breaths. Randall reached down and picked me up under my arms as he pulled me up against his chest.

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“Fuck, baby, where did you learn to do that if you’ve never given a blow job before?” Randall asked in between kissing my neck, and I felt my cheeks heat up when I didn’t want to tell him the answer. “The Internet,” I mumbled against his shoulder. “What was that, Toby?” “The Internet,” I answered louder this time. Randall froze under me for a moment before bursting out in laughter. “Has my baby been watching porn on his computer?” Randall asked in between bouts of laughter. I felt my face burning even more as I went to move off of his lap. He held me to him as he lifted my chin up so I had to look at him. “There’s nothing wrong with being curious, Toby. You just surprised me, that’s all. That was the best blow job I’ve ever gotten, so whatever you’ve been watching taught you well.” “Really?” I replied, getting excited that I’d given him a good orgasm. “Really, pup.” He moaned in my ear before kissing me passionately. “What else have you watched on that computer of yours?” “You won’t get mad?” I asked, staring into his eyes. When he smiled and wiggled his eyebrows, I couldn’t help but giggle. “Some of the videos I really liked and want to try. Others were kind of creepy, and I so don’t want to ever do those things.” “Which were creepy?” he asked, tilting his neck as he stared at me. “I want to hear those first before we get into everything you want to try.” “Well, I didn’t like the ones where people were wearing the leather outfits and masks,” I answered honestly, feeling relaxed about the topic now. “There were ones where guys were peeing all over each other and in each other’s mouths. I know I peed on you to mark you, but that was different, that was all instinct. I don’t want us to do that sexually.”

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“I don’t like any of that either,” Randall said firmly with a nod. “What else didn’t you like?” “I didn’t like when the guys were really old with guys my age,” I replied after I thought about it for a minute. “And there were some where the guy had his whole hand and arm in another guy, which scared me. Oh, and the ones that seemed like they were beating up the other guy. I liked the spanking ones, but not when they brought out whips and stuff.” “You liked the spanking ones, Toby?” he asked me with a raised eyebrow. I swallowed loudly before nodding. “That’s so fucking hot, baby.” “Really?” I squeaked, surprised he felt that way. “Oh, yeah,” he groaned, leaning over to nip my neck then shoulder. “I love the idea of spanking your firm little ass before I fucked you. The idea of making your hot bubble butt all red from my hand is getting me hard again.” “You like my butt?” I asked, glancing at it over my shoulder. “I never realized it, but you’re right I kind of have a bubble butt.” “I love watching it bounce as you walk, baby,” he whispered in my ear as he squeezed my ass. “I love the way it feels in my hands. It’s the perfect size for me to palm it and play with.” “I love when you play with my butt,” I whimpered as my dick got so hard I could pound nails. “What else did you like that you want to try with me, Toby?”

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Chapter 5 Randall smiled as his hot little man’s cheeks got even redder at his question. He was shocked to his core when Toby admitted that he’d learned how to give head by watching porn. But as he sat there and listened to what Toby didn’t like or want to do, Randall was glad that they agreed on those things. None of what Toby didn’t like Randall was into. Now, he just wanted to know if the things Randall was into Toby wanted to try. The spanking was a good start, but there was one kink that he liked above all else. He sent up a silent prayer that it made his baby’s list. “I liked where they sucked each other off at the same time,” Toby answered shyly. Randall smiled at the prospect of doing sixty-nine with the hot twink in his arms. “And I have a list of all the positions I saw that I want to try. But I really liked the passionate ones where someone got pushed down on a table or bent over a chair and fucked like their life depended on it.” “So, you like the idea of a little rough playing?” Randall asked, thrilled that Toby got hot at the idea of carnal, sweaty sex. “Oh, yeah,” Toby moaned, rubbing his cock against Randall’s stomach as he squeezed the firm ass in his hands again. “And I liked the toys. Can we try toys, Randall? I have a list of the ones I want to use with you, too.” “I have got to see these lists,” he chuckled, nipping Toby’s lower lip. “I think we can play with any toy you want, baby. As long as they’re not the type to give you pain or hurt you.”

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“No, not any of those,” Toby replied shaking his head. “I liked the ones that vibrate and some of the dildos. I think it would be so hot if you played with a dildo in my ass while I sucked on your cock.” “Fuck, baby,” Randall gasped as his dick took interest in the conversation. “Who knew someone so innocent could be so dirty minded?” “Is that bad?” Toby asked warily. Randall smiled and shook his head as he thrust his now-hard cock up against Toby’s. “No, baby, I really liked the ideas you have.” “Promise you won’t laugh at the one I like most?” “I promise, Toby,” he answered gently, cupping the shy man’s cheek. “I have some fantasies of my own, baby. I’d never laugh at yours. I think it’s great that you’re being so open and honest with me.” Toby searched his eyes for a moment before looking down at his chest. “I like the ones with handcuffs. I really liked them, Randall. Is that okay? I mean, is it bad that I want to try being tied down?” Without saying a word, Randall was on his feet as he threw Toby over his shoulder. He pulled his pants back up enough so he could move and raced into the bedroom. Randall knew without a doubt that he’d never ever let Toby get away from him now. His little mate was into his favorite kink. Tossing a wide-eyed Toby onto the bed, Randall reached over and opened the bottom drawer of his nightstand. “I can’t tell if you’re happy or mad at what I said,” Toby said softly as he pulled his knees to his chest. “You didn’t answer me.” “Does this answer your question?” Randall purred as he held up padded wrist restraints that hooked up to the headboard. Toby smiled widely as he looked at Randall with lust in his eyes. After staring at the restraints for a moment, his little man nodded furiously. “You really are perfect for me, Toby.” “I am?” Toby panted as Randall knelt on the bed with the restraints and a bottle of lube. He nodded as he crawled toward the object of his desire.

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“Your favorite videos, the ones you really want to try, are exactly my favorite fantasy,” Randall said as he stalked his prey. “What are the odds of that, Toby? I think that makes you a perfect fit for me in bed, don’t you?” “Yes,” Toby hissed as Randall moved him up the bed and put his body between Toby’s legs. “Can we try it, Randall?” “Try and stop me, baby,” Randall chuckled as he looped the ties through the headboard. “We can definitely play with tying you down. But if you get nervous or don’t like it, just say so, and we’ll stop, okay?” “Okay,” Toby squeaked, and his innocence hit Randall again. He took a deep breath to calm down before dropping the restraints and moving so he was on top of Toby, bracing his weight on his forearms. “Why don’t we wait on restraining you, baby?” he asked gently, staring into the wide eyes of his mate. Randall brushed back the hair from Toby’s head as he gave him a soft kiss. “You’ve only had sex once. I don’t think you’re quite ready for being tied down.” “I–I don’t think so either,” Toby stuttered, trying to turn his head away from Randall. He wasn’t having any of that. Turning Toby’s head back toward him, Randall smiled reassuringly at his hot little twink. “I didn’t mean to push you, baby,” Randall said as he peppered Toby’s face with kisses. “I got so excited at the idea of you wanting to try my favorite fantasy I was thinking with my other head instead of the one with a brain. We’ve got all the time in the world to play with different ideas and try new things, but not until you’re ready, okay?” “You’re the best mate ever,” Toby whispered as he wrapped his arms around Randall’s neck. He kissed Randall with such passion that he moaned at the feeling of Toby’s plump lips on his. “I really do want to have you tie me down, Randall. I think I need to work up to that. I’m really glad you’re not upset.” “Never, baby,” he said as he ran his hands down Toby’s back. “I don’t ever want you to do anything you’re not ready for. I want you to

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feel comfortable with what we do before you’re ready to try new things.” “Everything’s new with you,” Toby replied as his cheeks heated up again. “I mean, I want you to feel secure and confident in our sex life before we bring toys or restraints into our bed.” “Thank you, Randall,” Toby said as he wrapped his whole body around Randall. He hugged his little pup back, loving the feeling of the smaller man in his arms. **** Randall let go of me then and sat back on his heels. I stared up at him, not really sure what was going on, but followed his lead when he patted my hip. Rolling over, he moved me to be on my hands and knees. “Are we having sex again?” I asked, wiggling my ass inadvertently in excitement. “First, I’m going to return the favor,” he answered. Before I could ask what he meant, Randall grabbed the cheeks of my ass and pulled them apart. I felt his tongue swipe over my hole, and I thought I was going to come right then from the intense pleasure shooting throughout my body. Whimpering for more, I lowered my shoulders to the bed and presented my ass to him like a gift. “Look at this pretty, pink, tight hole just begging for my cock,” Randall said in between licks, driving me insane with need. “We need to get it ready for me, baby.” I let out another moan as he shoved his tongue in me, riding out the sensations as he teased me. My body was on such overload I just lay there and made every pleasurable noise known to man as he continued. Minutes later, Randall had finished eating my ass and had three fingers inside of me.

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“Do you want me, baby?” Randall purred as he pulled out his fingers. “Yes, please,” I whined, needing that full feeling again. “Fuck me, Randall.” “Such a dirty little mouth. I fucking love it,” he said as I felt the head of his cock push against my hole. Randall grabbed onto my hips and thrust forward. I cried out in bliss as I took half of him into me. “Whose ass is this, Toby?” “My ass,” I answered, glancing at him over my shoulder, completely confused. When I saw the feral look on his face as he raised an eyebrow at me, I caught on to his meaning. “Your ass, Randall. My ass belongs to you, my mate.” “Good answer, baby,” he grunted and shoved the rest of himself into me. It was different this time. I didn’t know if it was because of the position or the need I saw on his face. But whatever it was, I enjoyed it as much as last time. Randall pulled out of me slowly before pushing right back into me hard. “So perfect, Toby, your ass was made for my cock.” “I’m only yours, my mate,” I panted, wanting more of something. I needed more right then, and my big strong man knew exactly what it was. He started pounding into my ass, and I cried out and moaned like a grateful man. “No one else will ever be in this tight hole, right, baby?” “Only you, Randall,” I answered, grabbing onto the bedding to try and stop my body sliding forward. Pushing back my hips to meet his thrusts, I groaned at the feeling of our balls slapping together. “Harder, Randall. Take your pup like you want to. I give you myself and my ass.” “Oh, fuck, Toby,” Randall growled as his grip on my hips tightened. “All mine, you’re all mine, baby.” “Yes,” I hissed, loving how desperate he sounded. He thrust into me harder than I would have thought possible, and I wanted even more. “Faster, my big, strong man! Give me everything you have.”

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“As my mate wants,” he replied, picking up the pace. I cried out as my orgasm shot through me. “That’s it, baby. Come for me, Toby. I want to see you scream in pleasure.” It wasn’t hard to give him what he wanted as my cock exploded, shooting my seed under us. I screamed as I threw my head back and Randall thrust against my sweet spot. Lights flashed behind my eyes as I rode out the pleasure my mate was giving me. “Toby!” Randall roared as he came. I relished in the feeling of his seed, his body’s essence filling me up. He kept pumping his cock into me, filling my hole up. When we had both finished our orgasms, my body began to shake from the exertion. I collapsed onto the bed, groaning as my now-cooling cum was all over my stomach. Randall followed me down, smashing me with his weight. I didn’t care. I loved the feeling of his larger body surrounding mine. “Stay a little longer,” I said to him as he went to roll off of me. Instead, he rolled us to our sides, which still kept his cock inside of me. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck. “I liked the sex that way, too.” “I’m so very glad you did,” Randall chuckled as he nibbled on my ear. “Because I did, too, and I want to repeat it often. I love when you submit to me that way and ask for more.” “It’s how I feel,” I replied, wrapping my arms over his. “And I’ll be glad to do that again anytime my mate needs it.” “Such a selfless act,” he snickered, and I smiled as well. After a while longer, we got up and showered together, kissing often. Then Randall made sure to feed me and helped me take more of my medicine. It was one of the best days of my life.

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Chapter 6 The next morning we got up, ate, and took the last IV bag of my medicine before the doctor was supposed to come over. Just as the bag emptied, the doorbell rang. Randall gave me a quick kiss of encouragement after I’d shifted back to human form. He waited until I had his shirt back on before letting Cameron into the room. “Dr. Cameron Dalton, I’d like you to meet Toby Walker,” Randall said with a smile. The doctor looked at me and then at Randall before saying hello. “So, where’s the beagle?” Cameron asked, looking at Randall. “Don’t you want to ask why Toby’s here?” Randall asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Randall, I’ve know you’re gay for years,” Cameron chuckled, gesturing at me. “He’s younger than I’d expected of someone you’d take to your bed. I mean, he barely looks legal, but I’m sure he’s a great piece of ass and all. Just let me check up on the puppy, and I’ll be out of your hair.” “Toby, I think it’s time to show the good doc what I was trying to say,” Randall replied with a growl. He was staring daggers at his friend, who stood there with a smirk. I knew what my mate was doing, and while I didn’t like being referred to as a piece of ass, it wasn’t right. Shrugging my shoulders, I knelt down and shifted. Randall’s too-big-for-me flannel shirt covered my small puppy form completely. “Hi again, doc,” I said as I stuck my head back out of the shirt. Cameron’s eyes went wide as he looked from me to Randall.

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“H–he just turned into a dog,” Cameron stuttered as his face paled. “Yes, he did.” Randall chuckled, crossing his arms over his broad chest as he winked at me. “He’s a cute little pup, don’t you think?” “It—I mean, he—talked,” Cameron replied before his eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped to the floor. Randall started laughing as I rolled my eyes. “That wasn’t very nice, Randall,” I said firmly as I looked up at him. “We need his help.” “I know, baby,” he replied as he walked over and lifted me into his arms. “You’re right it wasn’t nice, but neither was calling you a great piece of ass.” “I know, but I’m you’re great piece of ass, at least.” I giggled as I shifted back into his arms. He grunted at the almost hundred-pound difference in my body now. I smiled up at him, wiggling my eyebrows as I lay over his arms. Feeling a little evil myself, I licked my lips as I started rubbing my hands down my naked body. “Behave, pup. Otherwise, doc will wake up to see me buried balls deep in your ass,” he said, growling afterward just for measure. “Cameron’s gay, too. He’s probably just jealous that I have someone as hot as my little mate. But I don’t think it’d be nice to tease him with our sex life.” “I appreciate that,” Cameron said, groaning as he came back round. In a flash Randall, had his shirt up from off the floor and draped over me. “No one sees you naked but me, baby,” he said by way of explanation as he kissed me. The doc stood up slowly and plopped down in one of Randall’s recliners as he stared at us. “Did you know he was a shape shifter when you brought him into the pound?” Cameron asked after several minutes. “Had no clue.” Randall chuckled as he sat us down on the sofa opposite Cameron. “I brought home a pup and went to change out of

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my uniform. Toby shifted and started talking to me. I just about passed out myself.” “There’s really no easy way to tell someone,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat up. “I’m sorry we handled it like this, Cameron. I think you pissed my mate off when you called me a piece of ass.” “Yeah, not my finest moment,” Cameron replied as he ran his hands over his face. “I was being a shit because Randall knows I used to have a thing for him, and then he’s showing off the cute twink he’s bedding.” “I–I didn’t know you liked me,” Randall stuttered, going stiff under me. “You never told me, Cameron.” “Oh, my god, Randall,” the doc exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. “You are so fucking dense! How many times did I ask you out to dinner or go get a drink?” “I thought you were just trying to be my friend.” “Yeah, your naked friend.” Cameron snickered but then waved a hand at us. “It’s in the past. I’m happy that you found your—did you just say ‘mate’?” “Caught that, did ya?” I giggled, squirming in Randall’s lap. “Yes, shifters have mates that destiny chooses for us. We’re instantly drawn to each other and feel the pull to claim them. Wolves bite their mates and leave a mating mark, but I’m a pup shifter. I peed on Randall to mark him as mine so other shifters will smell him as taken.” “I didn’t know it would change my scent,” Randall said, and I wasn’t sure how he took the news. Glancing over my shoulder at him, I saw he was smiling at me. “My baby got all possessive and claimed me.” “I guess I did,” I replied, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. “You’re the one who wants me to walk around with a sign that I’m yours.” “Focus here, guys,” Cameron said, pulling us out of our banter. “Okay, so you’re a pup shape shifter. How are you sick with parvo?”

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“We don’t know,” I answered as I started to shake. “I come from a small pack of pup shifters that live in the mountains. People started getting sick, and we thought it was just some bug going around, one that could actually affect shifters. We can’t get STDs or colds or the flu, so it’s rare we get sick. Then it got bad, a few lost the children they were carrying, and a couple even died. A few of us left to find help. I found Randall.” “Okay, so you’ve been taking the meds I gave Randall?” Cameron asked, and I nodded. “How are you feeling? Are you still vomiting?” “Only once,” I answered. “No,” Randall replied at the same time. When my answer sunk in, he turned me in his lap so I was looking at him. “You threw up? When? I didn’t know about this?” “It’s was only once, and there was no blood anymore.” I shrugged, not having realized I should have told him. “Sorry, I didn’t think to tell you. It was the first night I was here, and you were sleeping.” “I understand, but from now on, I need to know if something happens, Toby. What if you got worse, and I had to call the doc? He would have asked me, and I would have told him the wrong thing.” “Sorry, Randall,” I said, looking down at my hands. “Nothing to be sorry for, baby,” he said, kissing my temple. “I just wanted you to understand why I feel you should tell me.” “How many people are in your pack, Toby?” Cameron asked as he rubbed his chin, his eyebrows scrunched together. “I’d have to do blood work on you to see what strain you have and if the meds have been helping. It would probably be a good idea for me to test the water and whatnot at the source of the outbreak. Otherwise, I could get everyone better, and they’d just reinfect themselves.” “So, you’ll help us?” I asked excitedly. “We have fifty-three members in our pack, and you can take as much blood as you need, but we’re not allowed to bring non-pack members to our home.

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Though I’m sure Alpha Ed will make the exception since you’ll be coming to help and give everyone medicine.” “Slow down, baby.” Randall chuckled as he kissed my neck. “Cameron’s head is still probably reeling from his newfound view on the world. I know it took me a while.” “No, I can deal with that part later,” Cameron said, shaking his head. “If there are fifty-three people out there with parvo and they’ve gotten to the point that Toby was, that’s the focus. I don’t know shifter DNA, but parvo can kill a real dog in a couple of days, Randall. We can’t fuck around with this. Not to upset Toby, but you’ve been here for days already. There could be dozens more that have died.” “Really?” I gasped, shaking as my eyes filled up with tears. “I didn’t know, I swear.” “It’s okay, Toby,” the doc said more gently. “You couldn’t have known, but now you do, and we need to get what we need as quickly as we can.” “I have money,” I replied, nodding as I tried to keep my emotions under control. “I’d need a computer, and I can wire it to you or however you want. I just don’t have my wallet since we decided to head out as pups and hope that we got treated that way.” “Let’s do this,” Cameron started to say but then stopped for a few moments before continuing. “No, actually, let’s go down to the pound. We can get some tests going, draw some blood, and I have Internet there. We can put in a rush order for the medicine we’ll need, and that way, you can just put in your account information as payment. I have to be the one to order it since I have to give them my veterinary license number.” “Thank you, Cameron,” Randall said as he stood up with me in his arms. “You didn’t even have to think twice about it before you decided to help, did you?”

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“No, I didn’t.” Cameron shrugged. “I took an oath. And while I’m not a human doctor, I’m a vet, the end goal is to help when we can. If I can help without doing anything to risk my license, I will.” “You’re a good man, doc,” I said, smiling at him. “Yeah, yeah, let’s just hope I get a cute little mate one day, too.” He chuckled as we headed for the door. **** Randall rubbed his cheek against his little pup. They’d decided it was better to keep Toby in beagle form than three adult men walking into the pound on a Sunday morning. Plus, Cameron had to draw blood from Toby in pup form to run the tests they needed. It ended up Toby was afraid of needles, whimpering as Cameron did his thing. When it was all over, Toby told the doc his bank account number and information to pay for the medicine. Once they were done, Randall took his little mate home and gave him some TLC after Toby shifted. He made sure to be extra gentle with everything that was on Toby’s shoulders. When he was close, he reached down and stroked his mate’s cock, staring into Toby’s big, brown eyes the entire time as Randall watched him come. Moments later, he fell into his own climax. “I love you, Randall,” Toby said after a little while. Randall felt his heart plummet into his stomach at the declaration, never having heard the words before. “Baby, you can’t love me already. It’s too soon,” he replied, gently reaching to cup Toby’s cheek. Toby turned away from him as if he’d been slapped and moved up the bed. “You’re confusing sex with love, Toby.” He groaned as his cock slipped out of his mate’s hole as thoughts raced through his mind. Without saying a word, Toby climbed off the bed and left the room as Randall watched in horror. Well, he just fucked that up majorly!

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**** As soon as I was in the living room, I let the tears fall I’d been holding back so I didn’t cry like a baby in front of Randall. My heart hurt at my mate’s response to what I’d said. How could he have said that to me? I wasn’t an idiot. I knew what was in my own heart. I put up a new IV bag on the lamp and plugged it into my hand. It was hard, considering my tears were blurring my vision. Then I shifted, moved over to my spot under the edge of the sofa, and lay down in defeat. “Toby? Baby, look, I’m sorry, okay?” Randall said as he came out of the room and came over to my hiding spot. He must have taken a moment to pull some shorts on, because he wasn’t naked any longer. I watched as he knelt down so he could see me as he reached out to touch me. “Don’t,” I whispered, turning my head away from him so I didn’t have to cry in front of him. “I don’t want to talk to you right now, Randall. Please leave me alone.” “Baby, please talk to me. I need to know what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours.” “I told you what was in it, and you broke my heart,” I snapped at him but still not turning toward him. “Go away, Randall. I can’t be around you, and I need my medicine, so I can’t go anywhere else.” “Fine, if that’s the way you want to be.” Randall growled as he got to his feet and stormed out of the room. I cried the entire time I took my medicine, trying to gather my thoughts. It took me about an hour to realize what I needed to say to my mate, but I had to wait a little longer until the IV bag was empty. When it was, I shifted back and disconnected myself before walking back into the bedroom. “I’m not a child, Randall, and I resent you treating me like one,” I said, holding up a hand when he went to say something. He snapped

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his mouth shut but didn’t look happy about it. “I wasn’t confusing my feelings while you made love to me. I realized that I loved you earlier at Cameron’s office when you again took such good care of me. That’s what love is, and that’s how I feel about you. You may not understand it, but it’s wrong for you to think you know what I’m feeling and thinking more than I do.” “Toby, that was just sex,” Randall replied as he rubbed his hands over his face. Again, I felt as I’d been slapped, looking away from him. “Yes, I care for you and want to take care of you. But that’s not the same as being in love with someone. That takes time we’ve not had to really know who you’re falling for. And sex is great, but it can be emotional and clouds things. We care about each other and have had sex, Toby. That’s it.” I nodded in acknowledgement at what he said, turned around, and left the room again. He wasn’t listening to me or his own heart. Whatever had happened in my mate’s past had left him so jaded that I wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to see what was right in front of him. Before Cameron had come over, Randall had shown me where his laptop was and how to connect to the Internet. Getting it out of its case, I plugged it in, booted it up, and started to get lost in my work. After a while, Randall came back into the living room and leaned down to kiss me. I wasn’t trying to be childish or piss him off, but the idea of him touching me felt wrong. When I Turned my head away from him, Randall got the idea and stopped moving in to kiss me. He sighed heavily and walked away. It took me a few hours this time to think of how I wanted to handle this situation and process what had happened. A little before I knew we’d be starting dinner, I’d made up my mind. I heard Randall in the bathroom and slipped into his room to grab the lube off the nightstand. Then I walked into the dining room and hopped up on the table. I pulled up my legs up so my feet were flat on the table as I poured some lube on my fingers. Stretching myself out, I bit my lip to

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keep me from moaning at the feeling of my ass being played with. When the stage was set, I made sure the lube was right there by the edge of the table. “Randall, I need my mate,” I moaned loudly as I started to stroke my cock. I made sure that I’d be facing the doorway he’d walk through with my prepared hole on display. Groaning again, I called out for him. “Randall?” “What is it, Toby?” He called out from the living room. A moment later, he walked into the dining room and skidded to a halt when he saw me. “Fuck, baby!” “Yes, please,” I hissed, moving my hips up as I stroked my dick faster. Randall watched me for a moment before almost ripping off his shorts as he moved toward me. “Take me, Randall. Shove that big cock into my already stretched-out ass.” “Gladly,” Randall growled as he uncapped the lube and poured some slick on his cock. He tossed the bottle back on the table as he rubbed it into his dick. As Randall eye me over, I let out another moan as I pulled on my cock harder, getting a gasp from my mate for my efforts. He moved between my legs, pulling me off the table a bit so my ass was hanging off, and pulled my legs up over his arms. “I want it hard and fast, Randall,” I begged as I lay back on the table. That’s all it took to snap his control and stop his questioning looks. He thrust into me hard, bottoming out inside of me as I cried out. Randall grabbed my hips as he started pounding into me, glancing between my cock bouncing against my stomach and my face. “So fucking hot,” he grunted as he fucked me as I’d asked. I let myself get swept away in the feeling of him being inside of me. “I’ll never look at this table the same way again.” “Harder, Randall,” I begged, reaching for my leaking dick again. He growled as I stroked myself in time with his thrusts. “Fuck me as hard as you can, Randall.”

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His nostrils flared with desire at my words, and I knew he was getting close when his thrusts became erratic. Running my other hand over my chest as he watched, I pinched my left nipple hard so he’d see it. That was all it took for me to come. I screamed out his name as I shot ropes of pearly-white cum all over my stomach and chest. Seconds later, Randall roared out above me as he pulled me toward him as hard as he thrust into me. I moaned at the feeling of him losing it like that, loving when he filled me up with his seed. We both lay there panting for a few minutes as he lowered my legs down and leaned over to brace himself on the table. Once we both caught our breaths, Randall leaned over to kiss me, but I put my hands on his chest to stop him. “This was sex, Randall,” I said as I ran my hands over his muscular pecs. “This was just sex and fucking. It was hot and hard and carnal and exactly the definition of great sex.” “Toby.” He sighed, but I kept talking anyways. “What happened in your bed earlier after we were done at the vets was not the same thing as this,” I said firmly, not backing down. “That was gentle and tender and making love to your mate when we needed to feel each other. There is a difference, and I’m sorry you couldn’t see that, but I hope this helps prove it to you. I wanted you to understand the difference so you don’t confuse them anymore.” “Toby,” Randall whispered as he quickly looked up at the ceiling but not before I saw the tear escape his eyes. “I can’t do this, baby.” “You can, but if you need time, that’s fine,” I said gently as I sat up and reached to cup his cheek. “I don’t know what’s happened to you, Randall. I may be young and innocent in your eyes, and that’s fine. I accept that. But I know the difference between sex and making love to your mate. Don’t ever tell me I don’t again. It’s insulting to me and our partnership. And you might not be able to deal with how I feel, but it is how I feel. I love you, Randall.” “No one’s ever said that to me before,” he replied softly as he looked back down at me. I saw the tears streaming down his cheeks,

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and it broke my heart to hear him say it. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, baby. I really am. But I’ve never heard those words before, and I didn’t know how to deal with them. I’m sorry I handled it badly.” “I know you are, Randall,” I said as I pulled his head down to mine and kissed his tears away. “Did I make my point?” “Yeah, baby, I hear you loud and clear,” he whispered against my lips before kissing me again. I wrapped myself around my mate, knowing he needed the comfort and closeness only a mate could provide. He stood up with me wrapped around him and walked us through the living room, into his bedroom, and then stopped when we got in the bathroom, kissing me the entire way. Randall reached over and turned on the shower for us. Stepping in the shower, his cock still in my ass, he gently leaned me against the tiles. Tears were still falling down his cheeks as he started to pull out of me and then thrust right back in gently. “I love you, Randall,” I said over and over again as he took me. I knew he wasn’t ready to say it back, probably wouldn’t be for a long time. But he needed to hear it so it might to start sinking in that he was finally loved. Randall never took his eyes off mine as we made love in the shower. The tears never stopped either until after we’d climaxed together. “Thank you, baby,” he whispered in my ear, hugging me tightly as the water ran over our intertwined bodies. “Thank you for loving me, Toby.”

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Chapter 7 As Randall woke the next morning, he smiled down at the man he was falling for. Toby lay on the side of him, half sprawled over Randall’s body. He couldn’t believe this smart, sexy, wonderful man loved him. How the fuck had that happened? After they’d made love in the shower, they’d ordered pizza and spent the night laughing and talking. When it was finally time for bed, Randall had decided it was time for Toby to have some control in their sex life. Randall had been in awe as he watched his hot mate ride his cock with perfect abandonment. He’d covered Toby’s hands on his chest as the smaller man moved his hips. He’d been so into watching Toby’s passionate face, drinking in everything about him, that Randall had been side swiped by his orgasm. They cried out as they climaxed together, Toby slumping down over him when they were done. Randall had smiled that his little mate had fallen asleep with his cock still in Toby. After making sure his baby was comfortable, he’d gotten up to get a towel and cleaned them up. And then he did something that still confused him. He’d stayed up for hours simply watching Toby sleep while he thought about how lucky he was to have found his mate. Toby truly was part pup, kicking his legs out as if running on all fours in his dreams as he made the cutest noises. Randall had smiled and rolled Toby over on his side when he’d started to whimper, spooning against the smaller man’s back. He’d never felt more complete in his entire life and was scared shitless that he’d screw this up.

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“Good morning, baby,” he said softly when Toby’s eyelashes fluttered as he woke up. “How did you sleep?” “You snore.” Toby giggled, hugging Randall. “Did you know that?” “No, I didn’t, actually.” Randall chuckled as he tilted his neck to kiss Toby’s lips. “You make pup noises and try to run in your sleep. Did you know that?” “Yeah, it’s a typical dog shifter thing,” Toby answered as he moved to straddle Randall’s hips. “Do we have time for me to ride you again? I told you how much fun I had doing that, right, Randall?” “Yes, you did, baby,” he groaned, his morning wood begging to go into Toby’s tight hole. “But no, we don’t have time. I’m sorry. I wanted you to get as much rest as possible before we go.” “We can still do it another time, though, right?” “Oh, yeah, Toby,” Randall growled as he thrust his hips up. “It was fucking hot to watch my baby ride my cock. I plan on us doing that a lot.” “Can we play in the truck on the drive?” Toby whimpered as he moved his hips so their hard-ons rubbed against each other. They’d decided yesterday that they were going to pick up the supplies Cameron had ordered from a medical supply company in Spokane instead of waiting for it to be shipped out. It would also help keep the whispers down as to why the doc was getting a huge order of meds in. They’d have a two-and-a-half-hour drive each way, but it would be worth it to get the pack what they needed. Toby had also ordered some wholesale goods that they could load up in Randall’s truck and take up in the mountains as well. And then they would be able to move Toby’s belongings with the truck back down to his house. “I don’t think I could focus on driving if you distracted me, baby.” He chuckled as he rolled them over so Toby was laid out beneath him. “You’re just too damn tempting, my mate. I could be persuaded to make a stop at a rest station along the way if we get our asses in gear now.”

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“Okay, I can do that,” Toby answered excitedly as he gave Randall a quick kiss and they got off the bed. “Thank you for taking the week off, Randall.” “I had the vacation time saved, and not much happens in a small town like Wenatchee,” he shrugged. Randall had called his Deputy last night and informed him that he’d had something personal come up and needed the entire week off. He’d made sure to say that if it ended up being longer, he’d let them know. “But we need to handle this as soon as possible.” “I agree, but I’m still grateful,” Toby replied as he smiled widely at Randall. “How grateful?” Randall growled as he lunged for his mate. Toby giggled and raced to the bathroom before Randall could catch him. “Very, but you said we need to get going.” He laughed as they washed up. Randall had found Toby presentable clothes he could wear, even if they hung off his smaller frame. He felt a thrill go through him at the site of his mate being clothed by his belongings. Pushing the need to be buried balls deep in his mate, Randall packed a bag and got ready. Ten minutes later, they were in his truck, driving to Spokane after having stopped at a drive-thru to get coffee and breakfast. Toby had downloaded most of his work on Randall’s laptop the night before when they’d discussed making the long drive. He’d laughed at how guilty his little mate had looked that he couldn’t take turns driving since Toby didn’t have a license. Randall assured him that he liked the idea of getting some of his thoughts together on the five-hour round trip. Toby needed to meet his deadlines or it would look bad for his company, so it really worked out for the best. After they were done eating and making a game plan for the day, Toby got silent as he typed away on Randall’s laptop. Enjoying the Washington scenery, Randall sifted through memories of his own past, realizing it was time to tell Toby. Spending

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the next hour thinking about where to start, Randall decided it needed to be from the beginning. He just wasn’t sure how the hell he told someone he wanted to keep in his life forever how fucked-up a childhood he had. There wasn’t one, he decided, biting the bullet. “I went into foster care when I was five after my drug-addict mother killed my abusive, cheating, alcoholic father,” Randall blurted out finally. The silence was deafening in the truck as the moments ticked by. He finally turned to look at Toby, who had tears in his eyes as he watched Randall. **** I couldn’t get over the shock of what Randall had just admitted to me. We’d been driving in silence for a while as I’d been working. Then suddenly, he dropped a bomb so big I was stunned to silence. The tears still formed in my eyes at the pain my mate must have suffered. “Your mom killed your dad?” I whispered after I realized Randall was waiting for me to say something. “What do you remember? I mean, you were only five, right?” “I remember him being drunk and beating her a lot, and I always hid in my room,” Randall answered, nodding his head. I wanted him to look at me as we talked, but then I understood that not looking at me as he drove and talked was easier for him. “I remember sitting on a needle once, but I don’t remember ever hearing what drugs she took. But she used to go crazy sometimes, and I think even then I understood she was high.” “I’m so sorry, Randall,” I said gently as I closed the laptop and put it on the floor before undoing my seatbelt. Slowly so I didn’t startle him, I scooted along the bench seat and wrapped his right arm around my shoulders, leaning into him. “How did she kill him?” “They were fighting one night, and I heard this loud sound. I mean, my ears hurt from it,” Randall replied, looking lost and in pain

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from remembering. “I’d never heard a gunshot before, but then everything went quiet. I waited a bit before going to see what had happened. I walked into the living room and saw my dad dead on the floor, blood everywhere. “My mom was just sitting there smiling at his dead body while smoking a cigarette. She turned to me and said, ‘I killed his cheating fucking ass. We won’t have to deal with his shit anymore.’ After she passed out, I called 911 and told them what had happened. They told me to get out of the house and hide at the neighbors’.” “What happened after that?” I asked when he went silent, rubbing my hand on his thigh in an attempt to comfort him. “I went into the system,” he answered, and I saw tears building in his eyes as well. “I had a couple of nice temporary foster homes before they found me a permanent one. T–they weren’t so nice, Toby. I don’t think you should know this.” “If you’re not ready to tell me, Randall, I’ll understand this,” I said gently but firmly. “But don’t shield me from your past. Let me share it with you. You know all about my troubles, and telling you has been good for me. I will love you no matter what you tell me, but I think it’s time you told someone. Because I’m pretty sure you’ve never talked about this before, have you?” “No, never,” he whispered, and I leaned up to kiss his cheek. “Then I think it’s past time you shared the burden, don’t you?” “Okay,” he sighed after a few moments, turning his head to kiss me first. “My foster parents had two older children of their own and then me. They were a great family from the outside, but they treated me like a slave instead of a child. They lied and told the social workers that they were homeschooling me, but in reality, they had me working all day. I’m sure they also didn’t want people to ever find the bruises.” “They beat you?” I gasped. When I saw Randall nod, I turned in the seat so I could put my hand on his chest as well, trying to give him any strength I had.

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“Yeah, they beat me a lot,” Randall admitted, holding me tighter to him. “And I’m not just talking about spankings or slapping me with a belt, baby. There were days I couldn’t even move because I’d been punched in the face so hard for not having dinner ready in time or they didn’t like the job I’d done waxing the floors. One of their kids freaked out when they saw my face, threatening to call the police if they did it again.” “Did that help?” “They stopped hitting me in the face, but no, not really,” Randall sighed, turning to kiss the top of my head. “It started to get worse after their kids left for college. I was about eleven then, I think. If they got mad at me for whatever reason, I wouldn’t get fed for days, and I'd be locked in the basement. When they started calling me paycheck instead of Randall, I didn’t know what they meant until I was older. That’s all I was to them, a government paycheck that helped subsidize their income. “The older I got, the more they expected me to do until I kept breaking down from exhaustion and lack of nutrients. Then I’d get locked back in the cold basement with some bread until they decided I could work again. I was fourteen when the authorities finally figured it out. They’d gotten a report of someone having overheard one of my foster parents having a conversation and what they were doing to me. “We ended up getting a surprise inspection, and they found me in the basement in the winter with no blanket or anything. I think I was wearing an old T-shirt of one of their kids. They never gave me anything but ratty hand-me-downs, but at least sometimes I got pants. I wasn’t awake when it happened. I’d passed out from exhaustion again and woke up in the hospital days later.” “Can I ask you something without sounding like an ass?” I said, needing one part filled in to connect the dots. When Randall nodded, I took a deep breath and just went with it. “If you were that malnourished for so long, how the hell did you grow up to be so big and gorgeous?”

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Randall glanced down at me and then back at the road several times before busting out laughing. He hugged me tighter to his side as he kissed my left temple. “Oh, baby, you really are something,” he said as his laughter died down. “I spent seven months in the hospital as they got me better from the exhaustion and beatings. I have some pretty nasty scars on my back from wounds that had healed badly or were infected that they had to reopen and clean out.” “I’ll make sure to kiss them all better later,” I replied firmly, trying to make him understand that his scars didn’t matter to me. That he mattered to me. I think he got the message loud and clear because he kissed me again. “There was this policeman, Officer Stanaszek, who had been called in when the social workers found me,” Randall said, continuing the story. “He came to visit me all the time in the hospital and actually taught me how to read. I idolized him. I mean, he was the man who rescued me in my eyes. He’s the reason I became a cop. I wanted to help people when I grew up like he had helped me.” “I think that’s very honorable, Randall,” I replied, feeling pride for my mate doing something so noble after all the shit he’d been through. “I lived in a boy’s group home after I got out of the hospital until I turned eighteen. Officer Stanaszek still came to see me every week and even paid for a tutor to help me get my GED before I left the home. And then he helped me get a scholarship to college and make it through the LA Police Academy after that. When I’d completed it, I became a beat cop working under him.” “Do you still talk to him?” “No, he’s dead,” Randall answered quietly. “I was a little older than you when I got a call for backup saying the commanding officer was on the scene, and I knew it was him. When I got there, I walked straight into a firefight between him and a corrupt cop who had been busting drug dealers and then selling the product. I ran to help him,

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firing my gun for the first time, but I didn’t get there in time. I saw him get shot through the heart before I ended up taking a bullet in the shoulder.” “Oh, Randall,” I whispered, heartbroken that the only person who had loved him and been there for him died in front of his eyes. “After that, I decided to take a job as a Deputy in a smaller town, and Wenatchee was hiring. Then I worked hard and got elected Sheriff after the old one retired.” “Pull over, my mate,” I said gently. He glanced down at me as I nodded for him to please listen to me. Randall didn’t say anything as he put on his signal and pulled off on the side of the highway. The second he had the truck in park, I unfastened his seatbelt and straddled his lap, taking his face into my hands. “I hope you know that Officer Stanaszek loved you even if he might not have ever said it. It sounds like he adopted you as his little brother, Randall.” “I failed him,” Randall whispered as he leaned his forehead against mine. “The one time he needed me, and I let him down.” “I don’t see it like that at all,” I said, peppering his face with kisses. “You would have been there to help him if you’d known sooner. Instead, you got called in at the end of it and couldn’t get to him in time. That’s not your fault, my mate.” “Thank you, baby,” he replied, wrapping his big arms around me tightly. “Thank you for saying that and wanting to comfort me. Thank you for listening and not thinking less of me after what I’ve told you.” “If anything, I love you even more now, Randall,” I said gently as I leaned back and stared into his eyes. “You’re a wonderful, caring man even after everything you’ve been through. It takes a strong person to not crumble under tragedy, and you’ve had a lot of it. Thank you for having the courage to open up to me and trusting me.” “I–I need to feel you, Toby,” Randall stuttered, looking lost and confused as his wide eyes searched my face. His cheeks heated with embarrassment, and I guessed he was either thinking it was the wrong

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time to touch me or he’d never admitted to needing anyone before. Either way, I knew exactly how to take care of my mate. “I always need you, Randall,” I said against his lips as I opened the buttons of his shirt. He kissed me passionately, thrusting his tongue deep in my mouth as he held my head to his. I gasped at the feelings of need rolling off of him and hitting me in waves. That was a new trick that we’d have to discuss later. I wasn’t sure what the hell it meant, but I went with it. “Toby, oh, god, Toby,” he moaned as I licked his collarbone as I pulled off his shirt. Leaning back for just a second, I yanked off my own shirt before latching my mouth on his neck and sucking hard. “So good, baby. I need my mate.” “I’ve got you, Randall,” I said firmly as I went to work on pulling off his shorts that looked like pants on me. His hands immediately grabbed my naked ass as I unzipped his fly and pulled out his hard cock. “I love you, Randall. I’ll always love you, my mate.” “You cannot ever leave me, baby, promise me,” Randall ordered before kissing me fiercely. “I’d die if I lost you now that I’ve found you.” “I promise,” I replied gently as he turned us in the truck so I was spread out on the large bench seat under him. “I won’t ever leave you, Randall. Mating is for life with shifters, and there’s no one else I’d rather be with than you.” “Thank god,” he whispered into my neck, his whole body shivering under my hands as I felt his tears falling onto my shoulder. “You’re mine now, baby. You can’t ever be with anyone else. I belong to you, and you’re all mine.” “Only you, Randall,” I said again, trying desperately to comfort him. Glancing to the floor, I reached over and pulled the bottle of lube out of the laptop case where I’d snuck it when Randall had been busy. I slipped it into his hand, and he lifted his head enough to look down at me. “Make love to me, my mate. Take the comfort you need from me.”

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“I–I, you know…I, you, Toby,” he replied, his voice shaking, and I knew it was his way of trying to say he loved me. “I know, Randall. I love you, too,” I said, smiling up at him as I spread my legs wider for him. “Show me. Show me how much you love me and need me.” “I do, so much,” he replied as he went to open the bottle of slick as I wiped away his tears. I moaned as his lubed fingers rubbed and pushed against my hole, begging him with my eyes to hurry. He pushed one finger into me as he stared into my eyes. “I want to be everything you need, Toby. I just don’t know how to, okay? Please don’t ever leave me because I fuck up, like not believing you when you said you loved me.” “I won’t, Randall. I promise,” I said before kissing him. There was so much emotion in that kiss that I felt as if I was in heaven instead of Randall’s truck pulled off on the side of the highway. He pushed in a second finger, rushing as fast as he could to get me ready. “I–I need to see you come, baby. I need to know I please you,” Randall demanded, stumbling over his words as he rubbed over my sweet spot. I nodded, unable to form words as I panted and stared at him with the lust I was feeling. It happened when he slid in a third finger and focused on my prostate. “I love you,” I cried out as my cock erupted between us. I grabbed his head and kept my eyes on him as I rode out my orgasm. Right in front of my eyes, I saw the shadows of his past leave him as he focused on the present instead. “That’s it, baby,” he said softly, not letting up his efforts even as my orgasm started to ebb. “I want all of you, Toby. I need to see you happy and filled with desire for me.” “I love you, Randall,” I panted, knowing he needed to keep hearing it right then. “I need you inside me, my mate.” “Thank you,” Randall replied, moving so his cock was pushing against my hole. He looked up at me as he grabbed my hips, and I nodded that I was ready. Thrusting forward as he pulled me toward

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him, his cock was seated all the way inside me in one shot. I gasped at the instant sensations and feelings I was getting from him. “Do you feel that?” I asked, not wanting to break the spell of our coupling but needing to know if he did, too. “It’s like I feel your love for me as if it was a tangible thing I could grasp.” He panted, staring at me with wide eyes. “I can almost see into your heart, Toby. You want to take care of me and give me all the love I never had.” “I do, Randall.” “Are you feeling my emotions?” he asked, staring down at me. “Yes,” I hissed as his cock twitched inside of me. “I feel your desire to please me and love me even through your fears. You want to mark me as yours so no one will ever take me from you.” “Exactly,” Randall groaned as he started to move his hips. “I need you so bad, Toby. This isn’t going to be slow.” “Take what you need from me, my mate,” I said, and he did it. He started thrusting into me hard, growling as he stared down at me with desire. And then suddenly, his hands and lips were everywhere. His need and desire for me to be his slammed into me the harder he pounded into my ass. I saw images of Randall wanting his name tattooed on my body so if anyone caught a glimpse of me naked, they’d know I was claimed. “Mine, you’re all mine, and you can’t leave me,” Randall said over and over again in between grunts as he slammed into me hard and fast. I arched my back and moved one foot over the steering wheel so he could push deeper into me. My mate growled his approval as he thrust harder into me, almost trying to mark me from the inside. “Randall,” I gasped as I saw what he needed, moving my arms over my head. His eyes flew up from my face to my hands as he moved his own to cover them. I met each of his thrusts as they became erratic when he got close as he pinned me down. It was almost as if he wanted my submission to him as a form of admittance

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that I was his. I gave it willingly, knowing in my heart that that there would never be anyone but Randall for me. “So close, I’m so close, baby,” Randall moaned before kissing me. That was all I needed to hear. I let go, letting my climax hit me hard as his mouth swallowed my scream. Randall didn’t stop or slow down his hips as he kept pushing in and out of me. It took my orgasm to new heights, feeling his pleasure wrap around mine that we were joined together as one. “Come inside of me, Randall,” I whimpered in between waves of my climax. “Fill me up with your seed.” “Oh, fuck,” he cried out, his cock twitching before erupting in my hole. “Toby!” I moaned loudly, moving my hips against his as I felt his cum shoot inside of me. His eyes never left mine as we cried out together, intertwining his fingers in mine as he thrust with each pulse of his orgasm. I felt his relief that I still wanted him after what he’d told me and the burden starting to lift off his shoulders from keeping it inside all these years. “I’ve got you, Randall. I’m not going anywhere,” I said softly as he collapsed on me, completely spent. He gasped for breath as he realized his own feelings I’d felt moments before. And then he surprised me like never before. Randall wrapped his body around mine, still hard inside of me, and cried. Not just a few tears falling from his cheeks, but actually crying as we held each other. “I’m here, Randall. I love you so much, and I’ll never leave you.” “I love you, too, Toby,” he whispered when he started to calm back down. I felt a thrill go through me and him at his declaration. Mine because he’d been able to really tell me how he felt and his because he never thought he’d ever feel this way for anyone, much less be able to say it. “Don’t ever leave me, baby.” “I won’t. I swear it to you,” I said firmly, kissing the side of his neck.

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And then right there on the side of the road, my mate took me again. This time, it was gentle as he told me he loved me over and over again. After my third climax in the space of less than half an hour, I passed out partially from the pleasure but mostly from the intensity of the emotions I’d felt from my mate. Randall really did need me more than he needed air, and I knew I would do anything not to fail him.

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Chapter 8 I woke with a groan when I felt Randall squeeze my ass. I’d been lying down on the seat with my head in his lap. Glancing up, I saw him smile as he groped me again. I pushed my ass back in his hands as I reached over to stroke his cock through his jeans. “Behave, pup.” Randall snickered as he pushed my hand away. “It’s time to feed my mate.” “How much longer until we get to Spokane?” I asked, sitting up and stretching my back. “Been there and on the way home already,” Randall said with a wink. “We should be back in Wenatchee in a half an hour.” “I slept through all of it?” I replied, looking at him with wide eyes. He glanced at me with a smile and nodded. “Randall, I’m so sorry! Why didn’t you wake me up so I could help?” “Toby, you need to rest,” he answered gently, taking my hand. “You have to remember how sick you were just a few days ago, baby. Your body is still healing and needs to recuperate. It wasn’t a big deal. I picked up the meds with no problem after I showed them my badge and they confirmed Cameron sent me. The coolers are in the back seat. I verified the information you wrote down for me with the wholesale food people, and they helped me load it up.” “Thank you,” I said quietly, squeezing his hand as my heart warmed at how sweet he was being. “I guess I was kind of tired.” “Well, I’ve been a bastard, really.” Randall chuckled as I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “You were so sick that you were throwing up blood, Toby. And here I am shoving my cock in you every chance I get.”

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“But I like your cock in my ass,” I whimpered as I leaned over to lick his chin. “You can’t stop that, Randall. It has healing effects of its own.” “Oh, it does, does it?” He snickered as he took an exit off the highway. “My cum is magical?” “No, I doubt that.” I giggled as he pointed to some burger joint, and I nodded. “Sex releases endorphins and other chemicals that help an immune system. Plus, a happy pup is a healthy pup, and sex with you makes me very, very happy.” “Okay, then,” Randall replied before laughing loudly. He pulled into the drive-thru, and we both ordered lunch. We drove around, Randall paying as he passed me the food, and a few minutes later, we were back on the highway. “I think we should get tattoos,” I said after a few minutes of silence as we ate. I saw Randall go stiff as he swallowed loudly. “Yes, I saw it in your head, but I like the idea. I really do, Randall.” “You’d do that for me, baby?” “I’d do anything for you, my mate,” I answered firmly as I popped some fries in my mouth. “Plus, I really think it’s hot. I mean, you’d get one, too, saying that you were mine.” “What would you want to get?” he asked me slowly, giving me a sideways look. “Honestly? I’ve got some ideas, but I’d rather surprise you,” I answered with a shrug. “I think we should go to the tattoo parlor and each get one, not letting the other see until later.” “I like it,” Randall said a few moments later with a wide smile. “It’s like the bride and groom not seeing what the other is wearing until they see each other at the altar. I think it’s a great idea, baby.” “Well then, it’s settled,” I replied, feeling excited that he liked my idea. We drove the rest of the way, chatting about my work, mostly, as he asked a few questions about the pack here and there. The next thing I knew, we were pulling into the parking lot of the pound. We hopped out of the truck and went inside looking for Cameron.

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“The doctor had an emergency brought in,” the lady at the front desk said, eyeing me over. “Dog hit by a car. He said if you came by, Sheriff, to tell you that he’ll be done in about an hour, and then you can leave. He also said to tell you that he got someone to cover for the week. Not that I know what that means.” “Thanks,” Randall replied, and I hadn’t missed the way the woman sounded annoyed that she didn’t know what was going on. As we walked back out of the building and to the truck, Randall leaned in to whisper in my ear. “That woman is the town’s biggest gossip. Everyone here probably knows that Cameron took off the week and is going somewhere with me. She probably thinks it’s some couples cruise or something juicy she’ll blab about.” “Well that’s better than her knowing the truth.” I giggled as we got back in the truck. I held Randall’s hand as we left, smiling at our next stop. How did I know my mate would go directly to a tattoo parlor now that we had some time to kill? “Guess you really did like the idea.” “Very much, baby,” he replied, leaning over to kiss me quickly. “And I already know what I’m going to get.” “Good,” I said as we walked into the place, feeling confident we would work out just fine together as mates. I mean, if he was willing to permanently mark his body for me, Randall wasn’t going to get scared and run away from our relationship. **** Randall had finished getting his tattoo done first. He was dying to sneak over and see what his little mate was getting done but knew Toby wouldn’t like that. Instead, he sat on a chair in front of the shop, impatiently tapping his foot. “All done.” Toby giggled as he walked out from the back. Randall jumped up and hugged him, feeling relaxed again now that he could see his baby. “Did yours hurt?”

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“Nope, how about yours?” Randall asked, smiling down at his gorgeous mate. “A little.” Toby shrugged as they went to the counter and paid. Randall was surprised when Toby’s was so much more than his. What had he gotten? “Tonight. We’ll show each other tonight after we handle what we need to.” “You’re killing me.” Randall groaned desperately as they walked out of the shop. He was jumping at the bit to know what Toby had picked. But even more, he wanted to show his little mate the beagle pup he’d had tattooed over his heart with Toby’s name above it. Randall knew from the moment they’d agreed to get them that that was what he wanted to show Toby he was his. And since Toby was in his heart, loving him as Randall loved him, it seemed fitting. “I promise you’ll live,” Toby replied as they drove over to the pound. Cameron was leaning against his truck in the parking lot, waving when he saw them. They got out to greet Randall’s longtime friend, and it hit him again—how had he missed that Cameron had ever liked him? “Hey, I left the message saying I’d be ready an hour ago. What took you guys so long?” Cameron asked, eyeing them over. “We got tattoos,” Toby answered excitedly, just about wagging his tail even in human form. “Oh? Of what?” Cameron asked with a chuckle as he glanced between the two of them. “We can’t tell you yet.” Randall snickered as he pulled out the coolers. “We’re going to unveil them to each other tonight. You can see them tomorrow.” “How mysterious.” Cameron chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows at them. They all had a good laugh before heading out. The doc was going to follow them in his own truck that he’d loaded with extra medical supplies just in case. Toby had warned them that they’d need the four-wheel drive of a large pickup truck to make it up there.

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After an hour drive, the road Toby had them turn off on was more of a trail than anything. Toby hadn’t been kidding. They wouldn’t ever have made it if Randall and Cameron hadn’t had big engine trucks to handle it. Randall glanced at Toby, who’d gone quiet next to him as he threw the truck into four-wheel drive as the trail turned into an even smaller dirt path that was inclining rapidly. “It’s going to be fine, baby,” Randall said, wanting to hold his mate’s hand to comfort him but knowing he should keep both hands on the wheel for this kind of terrain. “I hope so. We’re not supposed to bring outsiders on pack land,” Toby whispered. Randall could feel the fear coming off of his mate’s emotions. But he just didn’t know if Toby was scared about how sick everyone could have gotten in a couple of days or something else. **** I was shaking in my seat as we got the first glimpse of the small village the pack had. The drive hadn’t been easy, and I kept gripping on to the handrail the truck had. It wasn’t that Randall’s driving was bad. I’d just never driven up the trail before. I’d only made the trip out of pack lands a couple of times and always walked it, normally in pup form. “You can pull up over there,” I said, pointing to where there was a gap in the semicircle of houses. There weren’t many, not even two dozen. But then again, we weren’t a big pack. There was the first row that all faced toward the town center where people hung out or traded if they needed. Sometimes, Alpha Ed would gather everyone if he had an announcement. Then there was a second row that had been added after the original forming of the pack as we got more members in need of sanctuary. “Which one’s your house?” Randall asked, and I pointed to the nicer one on the end of the first row. It was also one of the larger

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houses, and I could feel Randall’s confusion as he pulled up and shut off the truck. “My dad helped build and refurbish the houses when we moved here.” I explained, remembering helping my dad as he taught me what he’d known about fixing and building. “He used to do construction and general handyman work for our old pack. It was the one thing that seemed to give him some form of peace after my mom died. He taught me a lot even though I rarely do anything besides my own work. But I used to love watching him. He really did love helping people.” “Then I know where you get that from now,” Randall replied with a soft smile as he leaned in to kiss me. I smiled at him, knowing it was a weak attempt since we could tell what the other one was feeling now, but I had to try. We got out of the truck just as Cameron did, looking around with his mouth hanging open. “Toby Walker, get your ass over here, boy,” Alpha Ed yelled, completely pissed off, and I started to shake. I wasn’t good with people yelling, especially when it was at me. “Alpha Ed, I brought help,” I said as I ran over to him and dropped to one knee, showing the formal respect one gives an Alpha. “I met my mate, claimed him, and he brought me to his friend, who’s a veterinarian. I’m feeling much better, and Dr. Dalton helped us get medicine for the whole pack. He said he needed to come to run tests and figure out what’s doing this so we don’t all get sick again after he makes us better.” “No outsiders, Toby,” Alpha Ed growled as he shook with anger. “What fucking part of that is confusing to you?” “You sent us out to get help, Alpha Ed,” I replied with a whimper. “I brought help. And Randall is my mate. That makes him pack now, doesn’t it?” “You’re fucking lying, Toby. I never sent you out to get help,” the Alpha shouted, and I looked up then in confusion. I cringed as I saw

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Alpha Ed pull back his arm to hit me. Before he could, Randall grabbed the Alpha’s arm. “Touch my mate and I will fucking end you. Are we clear?” Randall asked so forcefully with such rage coming off of him in waves that I shivered. “Now, Alpha Ed, what did you mean that you didn’t send out for help?” “I never told anyone to seek help,” the Alpha replied as he pulled his arm away from Randall. I’d never realized that Alpha Ed really wasn’t that much larger than I was until I saw him next to my mate. He had always seemed larger than life to me before. It was obvious that the Alpha was scared of Randall as my mate stood there and stared daggers at him. “I don’t believe in modern medicine. If a pack member isn’t strong enough to survive this, then they deserve to die.” “What?” I gasped, jumping to my feet. “How could you let your own pack die when we could be helped? And if you didn’t give the order for me to go, who did?” “I did, Toby,” Grady Fletcher said as he stepped forward out of the crowd we were drawing. “I’m very sorry to have misled you, my friend. But as you can see, my father wouldn’t have done anything to save our pack.” “I understand,” I replied, smiling at my buddy. Grady wasn’t very involved in the leadership of the pack even though he was second in command after his father. It was nice to see he was standing up when it was needed. I felt Randall move to my side and wrap an arm around my shoulders protectively. “You ordered Toby to go get help?” Alpha Ed growled at his son, narrowing his eyes at Grady. “You’re not the fucking Alpha here, boy.” “I realize that, father,” Grady answered as he stared right back at his father in anger. “But left up to you, the pack would have died. And while you might think it’s the natural order of things, I think it’s bullshit.”

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“Your opinion doesn’t matter,” the Alpha said as he went to hit his son. “Don’t even think about it,” Randall growled, stopping the Alpha in his tracks. “Enough with the threats and hitting. What’s done is done. Now, let us help your people.” “You can’t come onto my land and boss me around,” Alpha Ed shouted but took a step back as Randall moved on the man. “I don’t want my people to have this medicine.” “Then they will die, Alpha,” Cameron said, drawing everyone’s attention to him. “I’ve tested Toby’s blood. He’s getting better, but his shifter DNA has parvo. It’s a very deadly disease that dogs can get. And while I believe your human DNA slows it down, eventually, it will kill everyone here, including you.” “Go home, father,” Grady said softly as he put his hand on his father’s shoulder. It confused me as to what was going on. Grady seemed almost sad instead of angry anymore. “If you don’t want this, then go home and don’t watch. But it will happen.” “I want them off my land,” Alpha Ed said as he shrugged off Grady’s hand. “And you and what army is going to force us?” Randall asked as he crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow. “I’m Sheriff of Wenatchee, Alpha. We can bring back the authorities and handle it that way if you prefer. But I don’t see anyone here who’s capable of even stopping us from doing whatever we want.” I stared at Randall like he’d grown a second head. What the fuck was he talking about? Then I saw he was reaching behind him for my hand as I realized there wasn’t anything coming from him that would make me think he was going to hurt anyone. Trusting my mate, I stepped forward and took his hand. He gave mine a squeeze as he waited for the Alpha to reply. Instead, the man turned on his heel and stormed back to his house.

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“You wouldn’t really bring the authorities up here, would you, Randall?” I asked when the Alpha was out of earshot. “I know you won’t hurt anyone, but I don’t get what just happened.” “Your mate just drew a line in the sand my father wasn’t willing to cross,” Grady chuckled as he moved toward us. He hugged me before extending his hand to my mate. “Congratulations on your mating. Toby is a good friend and a wonderful person. You’re very lucky.” “I am,” Randall said as he shook Grady’s hand, giving me a wink. “I’m Randall Markins, Sheriff of Wenatchee. This is Dr. Cameron Dalton, the town’s vet and a good friend of mine.” “Welcome, both of you, and I thank you for coming to help,” Grady said as he turned to shake Cameron’s hand as well before looking at me. “Toby, I wonder if we might have a word in private.” “Sure, Grady,” I replied as we started to walk to my house before I turned and waved Randall to come with us. “Should we unload first, pup?” Randall asked me with a smile. “I’m thinking it might not be wise to leave everything in the bed of the trucks with a pissed-off Alpha running around.” “My mate is so smart,” I pretended to whisper to Grady so Randall could still hear. We shared a laugh, and Grady called over a few of the guys to help unload what we’d brought. “What the fuck?” Cameron shouted as he went to pull one of the coolers out of the cab of his truck. Randall and I shared a glance before bursting out laughing at the doc’s look of disbelief at the pup that’d lifted a leg and peed on him. “Why am I getting peed on?” “Remember you said you wanted a little mate of your own, Cameron?” Randall chuckled as he pointed at the pup when the doc looked at him, confused. “One just claimed you, my friend.” “Seriously?” Cameron exclaimed as he glanced between the pup and Randall. I was giggling so hard along with Grady because we knew who the pup claiming the doc was. And damn, was Cameron going to have his hands full.

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“That’s how Toby claimed me,” Randall answered as he leaned over to kiss me. I looked back up in time to see our friend Quaid shift into human form and leap into Cameron’s arms. “I’m Quaid,” he announced as he started to rub his naked body against the doc’s. “You’re so fucking hot.” “Umm, thanks,” Cameron replied as he held on to Quaid, who’d wrapped his arms and legs around the doc. “I think we should have sex now,” Quaid said before kissing Cameron, who let out a loud moan. I saw Randall’s mouth drop as I grabbed another box and headed into my house, laughing all the way. “I didn’t get that kind of hello when we met, baby,” Randall whispered in my ear moments later when he joined us. Grady and I shared another laugh as I tried to calm down and explain it to my mate. “You know the expression horndog?” I asked Randall, waiting until he nodded to continue. “That would be Quaid. We actually call him that, Randall. He’s the horniest person in the pack and has fucked or been fucked by anyone willing.” “And he’s an exhibitionist,” Grady chuckled as we moved to sit down. My house wasn’t as nice as Randall’s, but it wasn’t much smaller. However, my house did have a fireplace, which I loved to spend time in front of. “I hope your friend likes a lot of sex and to fuck in public, because Quaid is always horny.” “I have no idea,” Randall replied as he pulled me onto his lap. “I hope you don’t take after Quaid, baby.” “Well, I’m not into an audience.” I giggled as I moved my ass back against Randall’s groin. “But I am turning into to quite the horndog myself since I’ve met you.” “That I’m okay with.” Randall growled in my ear playfully before turning back to Grady. “So, what do you need Toby’s help with?” “Your mate is very smart, my friend.” Grady chuckled, and I just looked between the two of them in disbelief. What could I do to help

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Grady? And how did Randall know that was what Grady wanted from me?

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Chapter 9 Randall chuckled as his mate glanced over his shoulder at him in confusion. He could also feel it coming off of Toby in waves— he was still a little disturbed by this new discovery of being able to share emotions. “I’ll explain in a minute, but first, I have a few questions for Toby about your mating,” Grady said as he leaned back in Toby’s recliner and stared at them. “How much did your father tell you about finding your mate, Toby?” “Not much, just the basics of how pup shifters got special mates who needed lots of love and affection that we’re inclined to give,” Toby answered with a shrug. “I mean, I knew from instinct when I smelled Randall that he was my mate, and I ended up peeing on him before I knew what was happening. I just had to, you know?” “Did you know the shit my dad’s been teaching the pack about mates being a myth is bullshit?” Grady asked, and Randall was intrigued as to where this was going. He’d seen power struggles before, though not in a shifter pack, but this is what it seemed to smell like. “I knew my dad believed in them. My mom was his mate,” Toby answered sadly, and Randall hugged his little mate. “I just figured with what Alpha Ed was saying that pup shifters don’t have mates. That just dog shifters do like my parents were.” “A few weeks ago, I looked through my dad’s library when people started to get sick, hoping I could find answers,” Grady said as he leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. “I found a book the High Council gives to every pack explaining what each type of

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shifter can expect from their mates. My father obviously knew about this, and when I asked him, he said he was doing what was best for the pack. That if people knew, they could have mates out there that they’d want to leave the pack for and risk people finding out we were here.” “I guess that makes sense in a way,” Toby replied slowly as if mulling it over. “It just seems wrong to lie about something so important. I mean, why not just tell us his concerns? It’s not like we don’t listen to Alpha Ed.” “I agree,” Grady nodded, glancing between the two of them. “Are you feeling each other’s emotions? Did you know about that?” “Yes, it started today.” Toby giggled as he ran his hands over Randall’s arms. “And no, I didn’t know about it. It kind of came out of nowhere for me. It happened right before Randall said he loved me for the first time.” “The book I found says it happens after both mates accept and believe in their mating,” he explained gently. “What about the mating link? Can you speak in each other’s minds?” “No,” Randall answered, shocked at the idea. “Yes, I knew,” Toby answered at the same time, looking over his shoulder at Randall. “No, we’ve not been doing it yet.” “Why didn’t you tell me, baby?” “Would you really have been ready to handle it before now?” Toby asked in his mind, causing him to gasp. “That’s why I didn’t say anything yet, Randall. I’m sorry. I was going to tell you, but you’ve already had so much to take in and process. It’s hard to know what won’t send someone into overload.” “I understand, my pup,” Randall replied as he kissed Toby’s neck. He wasn’t mad, just shocked and a little shaken at the idea of being able to talk mentally. “Randall, have you noticed your strength increasing since you felt the emotional bond?” Grady asked as he looked over Randall.

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“Not really. I mean, the boxes felt a little lighter than when I loaded them up,” he answered slowly, his eyebrows scrunching together. “But then again, they weren’t all that heavy.” “According to the mating manual, as it was called, you need to prepare for that,” Grady said, rubbing his hands over his face. “This is something we should all know, not figure out as we go along and scare the shit out of ourselves. According to the book, a pup shifter’s mate will become almost twenty times stronger than they were originally after the mating bond is completed. Meaning after you accepted it. It starts when Toby claimed you, but until you acknowledge it, the process doesn’t begin.” “I’m sorry, you want to run that by me again?” Randall asked, his mouth hanging open. “You’re saying I’m going to get twenty times stronger? How? When?” “I don’t know how. I’ve not had a chance to read the rest of my father’s library,” Grady admitted, shaking his head. “And yes, it says you will become the ultimate protector of your pup mate. It can take weeks, but when your DNA has been altered from your mating, you will be able to take on any shifter to protect Toby if he needs it. The book said you’d become stronger than a bear or tiger shifter.” “Holy shit,” Toby gasped, his eyes wide as he glanced back at Randall. “I didn’t know that. I swear.” “I believe you, baby.” Randall chuckled at the confusion and fear coming off of his mate. “I can feel your emotions now, remember?” “Right, sorry,” Toby replied, seeming to calm down again. “I wanted to bring that to your attention now that I know you’re mated before moving on,” Grady said as he rubbed his hands over his thigh in a nervous gesture. “Remember I asked you a few months ago how much money you gave to my father to help with the pack? I wanted to know how much you were making and where it went.” “I remember,” Toby answered softly, going stiff on Randall’s lap. “I don’t want to talk about this, Grady.”

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“Toby, I’m not asking you because I want money from you.” Grady sighed as he flopped back in the chair. “I tried to tell you this back then, but you shut me down. Have I ever come to you to talk about money or my father before, Toby? This is important, or I wouldn’t be sitting here or risk sending you out to get help.” “You think your father’s not using everything Toby gives him on the pack,” Randall said, connecting the dots before Toby did. “Do you have the records of what your father is spending on the pack?” “Yes, I found them a little while back and came to talk to Toby,” Grady answered with a nod. “I need to know what’s going on here because things aren’t matching up. My father didn’t use to believe in Darwinism and that ‘only the strong survive’ shit. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be Alpha of a secret refuge pack for pup shifters. I think he’s going senile and maybe even fallen off his rocker a bit since my mother died the year before last.” “Why didn’t you just tell me that?” Toby asked, sounding sad. “I would have told you, Grady, if I’d known. But you were just hinting around about the amounts I make and give to people, and that’s what everyone does when they want money from me. And I just shut everyone down because I think I give enough to help and it’s not fair that people put me in that position.” “I agree, my friend,” Grady said as he got off the chair and went to kneel in front of Toby, resting his hands over his. “I’m not trying to upset you, Toby. We’ve been friends for a long time, but he’s my father. I didn’t want to throw around accusations until I knew more of what was going on.” “And now, with us getting sick and Alpha Ed not doing anything about it, you know something’s wrong, just not what yet.” “Yeah, pretty much sums it up.” Grady sighed as he sat back on his heels. “Even when I figure it out, I’m not a fan of the next step either. I don’t want to have to take leadership of the pack from him, but I will if it means what’s best for us.”

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“Grady,” Toby whispered, shaking with fear on Randall’s lap. “A fight for pack leadership is a fight to the death.” “Not if I get him to step down, and if I’m right about what he’s been doing with pack funds, he’d have to,” Grady replied as Randall took all this in. He hugged Toby against his chest as he knew what they had to do. Randall made sure Toby felt comforted when he figured it out next. “Will you help me, Toby? I need to know everything, and I need your help to take over the pack peacefully.” “But we came to bring medicine, supplies, and pack my things so I can move in with Randall,” Toby said with a sniffle, and Randall could feel the intense grief coming from his mate. “Besides, even if we were staying, how could I help except to give you the copies of what I’ve paid to the pack?” “Toby, you’re the pack’s main source of income,” Grady answered gently, glancing up at Randall, who nodded to go on. “If you tell everyone what you’ve been giving to my father versus what he’s been spending on the pack, they will agree to the change in leadership. We shouldn’t have to survive on what a few members are able to make. We need to be working on getting everyone their own source of income and teaching people what’s really out there in the world. “Your mate brought up a really good point to my father, Toby. If we had people come in here, we’d be powerless to do anything more than shift and scatter. I mean, it’s great that you got the cell and cable tower put in. It’s helped everyone a lot. But if something happened, who would we ever call for help?” “I–I don’t know,” Toby stuttered, twisting in Randall’s lap so he could look at his mate, too. “Help me, Randall, please? I’m a graphic designer. I don’t know about how a pack should be run or protected!” “I know you don’t, baby, but I do,” he answered as he rubbed his hands over Toby’s arms before focusing on Grady. “I agree with what you’re saying, Grady. There need to be changes made. But if you take over leadership, how would you fix the security problem?”

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“I don’t know yet,” Grady admitted, eyeing Randall over. “But I have a feeling you do, Sheriff, and I’d be grateful for any wisdom you’d like to give me.” “Is Grady a good man, Toby? Do you trust him and that he has the pack’s best interest at heart?” “Without a doubt,” Toby answered, looking up at him. “Grady’s not power hungry or ever gotten involved when things ran smoothly. He risked his own father’s wrath and his Alpha’s ability to punish him for going around him to get us help. That’s a big deal in our world, Randall.” “First, we’d need to figure out what you’re father’s been up to, Grady,” Randall said, having already come up with a plan. “Then we need to establish a new leadership while Toby and I work on moving up here.” “What?” Toby gasped, turning around to straddle Randall’s lap as he stared up at his mate. “I thought we were living with you?” “Baby, we talked about the fact that both of us have jobs and roles in our communities that helped people,” Randall said gently as he cupped Toby’s cheek in his hand. “Wenatchee can vote in another Sheriff. I’ve a couple of Deputies that are more than capable to handle the job. But your pack needs you, maybe even needs both of us, Toby. My home is with you now, and your family needs you. That makes this the place we need to be.” “I love you so much,” Toby whispered as his eyes filled up with tears. Leaning forward, Randall kissed his little mate gently. “Thank you, Randall.” “I second that thank you,” Grady said, looking years younger suddenly. “I want to change things so we’re not so reliant on Toby and can find other means of income. But as things are right now, we wouldn’t survive without him.” “I see that now,” Randall replied before kissing Toby again. “Then if we do this, I want you to name me as your pack enforcer, or whatever the title is for pack law enforcement. Don’t take this the

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wrong way, but none of you guys are all that scary. You’re father was immediately afraid of me, and that doesn’t bode well for the survival of your pack. Plus, I know how to protect people and keep them safe.” “Done,” Grady said without hesitation as he smiled at Randall. “I appreciate that you’d be willing to take that role on. Everything about you screams authority and that you’re not to be fucked with.” “Plus, he’s just hot.” Toby giggled as he licked Randall’s chin. “Glad you think so, baby.” Randall chuckled before thinking of something else. “But I am just one man, Grady. We need to talk to your council about either getting people from other shifter packs loaned out for security up here or permanent placement of some sorts. If it ever comes down to it, you need a few people who can fight off other shifters.” “I agree,” Grady replied with a nod. “After I figure out what’s been going on, I’ll need to contact them anyways and explain the change in leadership. Once that’s settled, we can figure out how to get some other shifters up here that won’t care that we’re pup shifters or try to take advantage of our more passive nature.” “Then we have a plan,” Randall said, feeling better about the situation at hand. “You figure out what Alpha Ed’s been up to while we work with Cameron on healing the pack. Then we’ll go from there.” **** I kept glancing over at my mate as Randall helped Cameron set up my living room as his own makeshift clinic. Grady had come back with a list for them of everyone in the pack so they didn’t end up treating someone twice and could make sure everyone got what they needed. He’d also brought me what he’d found of the pack accounts. I felt like such an ass when I found out my friend was right. Alpha Ed wasn’t using even half of the money I’d been giving him on the

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pack. As we worked through ideas and what the pack’s immediate needs were, I looked at Randall again. “I can feel your fear, baby,” Randall said gently through my mind as he stared at me from the other room. “Us moving here is the right thing to do, and I’m not going to change my mind or resent you. I think we can be very happy here and help make your pack thrive. I told you when we first met—I’m not the type of person who needs a while to make decisions.” “I love you, Randall.” “I know you do, Toby. And that’s why I don’t mind giving up my position as Sheriff to move up here with your pack, your family. There are capable people that can replace me as Sheriff, but your pack would be lost without you. And your company would suffer if you lost your employees because you moved down the mountain with me.” “Toby?” Grady said as he glanced between me and Randall. “Is being mated really as wonderful as it sounds? I know you love Randall, but I think I just need to hear it.” “He’s more than I could have ever hoped for,” I replied with a nod, still staring at my mate. “I would do anything for Randall.” “As it seems he would for you, my friend,” Grady replied with a smile. “I’m truly happy for you. Maybe one day, I’ll get to find my mate as well, or at least it’s something I hope for.” “You will,” I said, knowing Grady deserved to be as happy as I was with Randall. “What else do you need from me?” “Nothing. This gives me what I need to approach the council,” Grady answered as he collected the papers. “I’m sorry you were used like this, Toby. It’s not right. I hope we can start coming up with plans to make our members self-sufficient.” “I have some ideas on services we can trade to get protection,” I said brightly, excited that I’d thought of them while waiting for Grady. “For one, now that we have a real mode of transportation with Randall’s truck, we need to start selling goods down in town. Mrs. Boyd and some of the women make those awesome quilts that could

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be sold for a bundle. We can set up a PO Box and start an Internet business for it. I can have Quaid and my other guys set it up really fast.” “I like it. What else you got?” Grady asked with a smile as I got up to get us some drinks. “I’d like the webcam businesses to be shut down. I don’t like members of our pack feeling they need to show themselves naked and jacking off to have money of their own. I mean, I know Quaid likes the attention, but others do it to survive. They need to be focusing on their education with those computers you got, not pimping themselves out.” “I didn’t know that was going on,” I replied, completely shocked as my eyes went wide. “How did I not know this?” “Because you’ve always got your head in your work, Toby,” Grady snickered. “Hell, Slade’s got his webcam set up in a spare room that pack members take turns with so they can all get some money. There are men and women of the pack that let people watch them touch themselves, use toys, give oral sex, and even fuck. They get paid per minute per user watching if they go into a private live chat.” “That’s horrible,” Randall said as he moved up behind me. His strong arms wrapped around me as I leaned against the kitchen counter. “I get what you’re saying about Quaid wanting to do it, and to each his or her own. But feeling that they have to because there’s not another alternative isn’t right.” “I didn’t know,” I whispered, shaking in my mate’s arms. How had I not seen this? Had I really been so selfish about my own work to not know my own pack were selling themselves because they were so desperate for money? “Stop feeling guilty, Toby,” Randall said gently as he pulled me over to one of the chairs. I sat down on his lap as he ran his hands over my arms in comfort. “You didn’t know, and what’s done is done. Now, we focus on fixing what’s broken and making things better, okay?”

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“Okay,” I answered with a nod, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I know some of the men make furniture. That would be another thing we could sell in town. We’d have to work with a few of the shops in Wenatchee. But there are goods the pack makes that they could start selling.” “And that’s also why I wanted to talk to you about keeping my house,” Randall said as he nuzzled my neck. “I think there’s going to start being a lot more back and forth. It also makes sense that there can be some form of home base down there or a place we can sneak away to if we want some times alone, away from the pack.” “My mate is so smart,” I replied, leaning to lick along his jaw line. “Behave, pup,” Randall growled playfully as he nipped my lower lip. I felt myself get hard with the attention he was giving me. He was as well, and I wiggled my hips on his lap to let him know I noticed. “Quaid!” Cameron exclaimed, drawing our attention to them. My friend was humping the doc’s leg, naked, of course. “Does everyone have to see your assets constantly?” “I was horny and got myself ready for you,” Quaid pouted as he turned to show Cameron his ass. The doc started cussing up a storm as he lifted his mate and threw Quaid over his shoulder. “I’ll be back,” Cameron said as he raced toward the door with his prize. The three of us shared a look before laughing so hard we cried. “Oh, god, Cameron is getting just what he deserves with that one.” Randall sighed as he hugged me. “I’m happy for them if Quaid doesn’t drive Cameron up the wall.” “He will,” Grady replied, looking sad as he stared at me. “You know there’s a lot more to Quaid than anyone knows, right? I mean, you ever wonder why he’s always bending over or getting on his knees for everyone?” “No, I just know he was cool when I said no to his advances,” I answered, trying to think about what I knew of our friend. “I mean, it seems he uses sex sometimes to get what he wants from people.”

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“Not what he wants, Toby,” Grady said quietly. “Do you remember that time you shifted and peed on the carpeting in our house when my dad was yelling at you?” “Yeah, not one of my finer moments,” I groaned. “Everyone was teasing me for months.” “You were busy with being embarrassed, but I noticed Quaid and my dad were missing from the room shortly after that,” Grady replied as he fidgeted with his hands. “I’m pretty sure Quaid was giving my dad a blow job to calm him down and defuse the situation. I think that’s how Quaid deals with anger around him. He uses sex as a distraction.” “Why would he do that? I mean, Alpha Ed wasn’t even upset with him.” “I’m not sure I know the answer to that. I just know there’s more to our horndog friend than he tells us.” Grady sighed as he leaned back in his chair. “I think there’s something he’s been keeping from all of us about his past. I’ve tried to get him to talk about it, but the next thing I know, we were naked and fucking like animals. Quaid doesn’t seem to be able to deal with conflict. I just don’t know why.” “Maybe finding Cameron will be just what he needs, then,” I replied as Grady nodded. I wasn’t sure what Grady was talking about, but I trusted him to be more astute with the goings-on of the pack than I was. But then again, I seemed to have missed a lot most of the time.

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Chapter 10 “I’m waiting for you, Toby,” Randall called out from the bedroom a few hours later after everyone had finally cleared out. Cameron had come back about twenty minutes later with a smile on his face as he spent the afternoon and early evening testing and treating members of the pack. He’d also taken samples of the water, soil, and the few crops we could grow up here. Once that was all done, he’d agreed to run down the mountain tomorrow and start testing the samples while working on securing more supplies. It seemed the good doc would be moving up here with his mate. I raced from the kitchen into the bedroom at my mate’s announcement, skidding in my tracks as I got there and saw my mate laid out on my bed like an offering. Not one to turn down such a present, I sauntered over to the bed, climbed up, and straddled his hips. “I think it’s time to show each other, don’t you, baby?” Randall asked, wiggling his eyebrows at me. I leaned forward and kissed him gently. “I’ll go first, okay?” “I’d like that, Randall,” I said, vibrating with excitement at finally getting to see his tattoo. I watched as he pulled off his shirt, my mouth watering as I took in his strong, muscular form before stopping at the bandage over his chest. “You got it on your chest?” “Yeah, I wanted you over my heart,” Randall replied as he pulled off the protective bandage the tattoo guys told us we needed. “Randall,” I gasped, tears in my eyes as I saw his tattoo. Glancing up at him, he smiled and nodded at me, giving me permission to touch it. I traced my fingers over the beagle pup he’d gotten. It was about

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the size of my palm with my name written in cursive over it. “It’s amazing, Randall.” “I wanted you to know you’d always be in and on my heart, Toby,” he said as he reached up to cup my cheek. “I love you so much, baby. I wanted you to see how you’ve touched my once-frozen heart and thawed it.” “I don’t want to show you mine anymore,” I cried out, shaking with grief at the mistake I’d made. Before I could even realize it, I’d shifted right there on his lap. When I tried to jump off my mate, he grabbed in time and sat up. Randall stared down at me in confusion as he rubbed his nose against mine. “Talk to me, my mate,” Randall whispered gently as he stroked my fur. “I know something is very wrong. You’re as upset as if someone you loved just died, but I don’t know why.” “Y–you got the most loving, sweetest, wonderfully caring tattoo anyone could ever have,” I rambled, stumbling over my words. “And I got something that I thought you would think is sexy and hot and would help make me seem less childish and innocent in your eyes.” “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, baby,” Randall replied after a moment. “You got what you thought I would like best as I did you. One isn’t better than the other. I was hard inside until I met you, Toby. I needed you to see how you’ve changed my heart and my life. You needed to show me another side of you, I think. I won’t know until I see what you got, though.” “Yours is so thoughtful and motivated by love,” I whimpered, still crying. “Mine’s about lust and trying to be sexy.” “Toby, I love you,” Randall said as he set me down on his lap. “Please show me what you got for me, my mate. I can’t answer any of this or help you feel better if I don’t know what you got. Please, baby? Shift back for me and let me see what you got.” “You’re going to be disappointed,” I whispered in defeat as I shifted back on his lap. The bandage, along with my clothes, had all

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fallen off when I’d shifted the first time, so now I was sitting there naked on his lap. “Where is it? I don’t see anything?” Randall asked, and I could feel the confusion coming off of him as he searched my body. Without saying a word, I turned around and leaned forward so he could see my tattoo. I’d gotten Randall’s in three-inch-tall letters on my lower back with an intricate vine coming down from the R and the S that ran over the top of each cheek of my ass. I thought getting a tramp stamp with his name that ran down toward my ass made it very clear whom I belonged to, but after seeing Randall’s loving gesture, I felt horrible. I heard my mate’s gasp, and the tears started to fall again. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered as I went to get off of him. He grasped my hips and let out a low growl. I’d been so busy with my sadness and feelings of inadequacy I’d missed the lust and delight racing through my mate. I turned to look at him over my shoulder. “Randall?” “I’m so fucking hard right now I think I’m going to burst just from seeing this,” Randall said as he traced the letters on my back. “This is truly the sweetest, hottest, sexiest, and most goddamn beautiful tattoo I’ve ever seen, Toby.” “It is?” I squeaked in shock as he kept staring at it. “But yours is so full of love and touched my heart. How can you like this?” “Because it’s what I needed, baby,” Randall answered as he finally glanced away from the tattoo and up at me. “And it is so full of love, Toby. I can’t think of any other person that would ever get their partner’s name tattooed above their ass like this. You needed to know that you’re in my heart and that I love you as much as you love me. I needed to feel that I’ve claimed you as you did me. You thought of my need for everyone to know that you’re mine and got a huge tattoo on your body to declare it.” “I saw your thoughts before about me wearing a sign that I was yours always,” I replied as I tuned into his feelings more than my

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doubt. My mate was tickled pink at what I’d done. I guessed maybe it was just as loving to Randall as his tattoo was to me. “I figured this was even better. Like you said, if anyone catches a glimpse of me naked or even without a shirt, they’ll know I’m yours.” “I love it, baby. I love you, Toby,” he whispered as he moved me forward to get on my hands and knees. I stared at him over my shoulder as he moved out from under me and knelt behind me. Randall winked at me as he leaned down and started to trace the letters with his tongue. I gasped as the intense pleasure running through my body as my arms almost gave out. “You were right though, baby. It’s really fucking sexy.” “I’m glad you think so,” I whimpered as Randall took his time and explored it thoroughly. “You’re really not upset?” “Toby, you can feel what I’m feeling, sweetheart,” he said gently as he stopped and looked up at my eyes. “I love it, baby. I feel the exact same way about your tattoo that you got for your mate as you do about the one I got. We just need to add sexy, delicious, hot, and a total turn-on to the list of things I feel about what you did.” “Okay,” I replied, feeling relaxed now that I knew I didn’t ruin this moment for him. I’d wanted so desperately to please Randall, and now that my fears were gone, I could simply enjoy what he was doing. I pushed my ass back toward him, and he chuckled at my silent offering. “You know what would make this hotter?” he asked, and I shook my head as I glanced back at him. “If you let me get your firm little ass red with my hand.” “Yes, please,” I panted as I nodded like a bobblehead doll. The idea got me so excited my cock started leaking. “Are you sure you’re ready for that, Toby?” Randall asked gently as he ran his hand over the cheeks of my ass. “We can wait if you want to.” “No, I want it,” I whimpered, pushing my ass back even farther into his hands. “And I want the handcuffs.”

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“Oh, fuck,” he groaned as he rolled off the bed. I watched him with intense lust as he reached into his bag and pulled out the handcuffs and lube. “I want my mate to strip me.” “Gladly,” I said with wide eyes. I moved over to him, kneeling on the edge of the bed as I undid his jeans. Taking my time to drive Randall wild, I slowly pushed them down his hips as I squeezed his ass. Then I climbed off the bed and worked them and his boxer briefs down his firm body. As he stepped out of his clothes, I leaned forward and licked the head of his cock, getting a loud moan from my mate. “On your hands and knees, baby,” Randall ordered as he pointed to the headboard. I smiled at him as I did as he’d asked, loving the feeling of his naked body behind me. He leaned over me and clicked the handcuffs around my right wrist before linking them through the cast-iron bed frame. I panted and whimpered as he moved my left arm up and secured that wrist as well. “Tell me if it gets to be too much, okay?” “I promise, Randall,” I said and then kissed him. As he moved back to kneel behind me, I pulled on the handcuffs, testing out my mobility. I gasped and grabbed onto the headboard as well when he started massaging my ass. “I love my baby’s bubble butt,” he growled before smacking my ass. “Oh, look at how it jiggles for me. That’s so fucking hot, Toby.” “More,” I begged, sticking my ass in the air for him. Randall slapped each cheek several times before rubbing the sting away. I gasped as the slight burn radiated into extreme pleasure that shot up my sac. “Please, Randall, I need more.” “I know what my baby needs,” Randall hissed as he spanked me harder. I moaned as the intensity of my mate’s desire hit me. He loved what he was doing, and he loved me. Randall wanted to give me pleasure I’d never experienced before and take me to new heights. I also felt his carnal, possessive need to see his handprints on my ass. Gasping when I felt the cold lube he poured over my ass, it drove my

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lust to a higher level. It was such a contrast from the heat his spanking me left that my body started shaking. “Spank me, my big mate,” I whimpered as he rubbed his fingers over my hole. Randall growled again as he smacked my ass several times as he pushed in a finger. “Randall, I–I’m there.” “Come for me, baby,” he ordered firmly as he slapped me harder as his finger narrowed in on that one spot. I screamed out his name as I came so hard I felt like I was going to pass out. Randall shoved in a second finger roughly as he kept spanking me. Every wave of my orgasm, I screamed louder as it got more intense instead of easing down. “Randall?” I cried out, almost scared at how explosive my climax was and not knowing how to get a grip on it. “I got you, Toby. Just ride out the pleasure,” Randall said as he leaned over and licked my neck. He also had his fingers going into me deeper as his hips brushed against my sensitive ass. “I won’t let you go, baby.” “Oh, sweet hell,” I moaned as he pushed in a third finger and the burning shot throughout my ass. It seemed to set me off all over again as my cock kept shooting stream after stream of my seed on the bed. Part of my brain couldn’t get over the fact that I’d had that much cum in my balls. The other part told me to shut up and just enjoy it. “I didn’t know my pup could have multiple orgasms,” Randall cooed as he ran his hand down my back and squeezed my ass. I screamed as another wave hit me and I felt my body go slack. Randall moved quickly to undo the handcuffs before I ended up popping out a shoulder from the pressure of my body pulling my arms down. As soon as I was free, he gently laid me on my back a few feet over on the bed so I wasn’t lying in my own spunk. “W–we’re so,” I started to say between pants, swallowing loudly as I tried to get my body under control. If I’d had more blood to my brain, I would have just talked through our mental link right off the

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bat. “We’re so doing that often, Randall. I want to feel that again. It was awesome!” “I’m so glad you liked it, my mate.” Randall chuckled as he moved between my legs and pulled them over his arms. “Do you need more time to recover, baby?” “No, pound your huge cock in my ass,” I begged as I spread my legs wide. “One time with spanking and handcuffs and you’re talking dirty to me.” Randall chuckled as he lined up his cock. “I’ve created a monster.” “Maybe you should punish me.” I snickered then cried out as he slammed all the way into me in one thrust. “I feel so full, Randall. Fuck me into the bed.” “I’d love to,” Randall panted as he pulled out slowly before starting to pound into my ass. “Oh, god, baby, you feel so good. After playing around and watching you scream like that, I’m not sure once will be enough. Do you want me to just keep fucking you until you pass out?” “Yes,” I hissed as I stroked my hardening cock. Randall stared down at what I was doing, his nostrils flaring with desire as he started to fuck me like a man possessed. I straightened my legs and spread them wider as his grasp on my hips tightened. “Harder, Randall, I need you deeper in me.” “Oh, fuck, baby,” he grunted as he slammed into me as fast as he could. “Shit, I am getting stronger. You have to tell me if I’m going too hard, Toby.” “Never, never too hard,” I moaned as he changed the angle and started hitting my prostate with each thrust in. I couldn’t get enough breath for words then, so instead, I tried sending images over our mental link. I showed him exactly what I wanted from him. “Jesus, that’s hot,” Randall gasped and then did as I’d shown him. Leaning over, he wrapped his arms under my shoulders for leverage as he basically folded me in half. His lips came down on mine hard as

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he thrust into me with renewed vigor. “You’re so fucking amazing, Toby. I’m never going to get enough of you or how you make me feel.” “I hope you don’t.” I snickered, loving that we could talk to each other while kissing. Then I saw in his mind what he wanted to push him over the edge. Lowering my legs, I planted my feet on the bed and thrust my hips up hard to meet his. “Like that, my mate?” “Fuck, yes, baby, so close,” he grunted as he spoke in my mind. I sent him some of the kinkiest and dirtiest images I could think of having seen on the Internet but with us doing it instead. Randall’s eyes went wide before he threw back his head and roared out his release. “I love this part.” I gasped, letting him see how much it thrilled me to have his seed in my body. It was as if I couldn’t tell where he stopped and I started when he climaxed inside of me. He was still riding out his bliss as he sent me the idea of putting a butt plug into my hole to keep his cum inside of me. Randall liked the idea that I’d not only be ready for him at a moment’s notice but that we’d both know that there was a piece of him inside of me as I worked all day. “I’ll order one tomorrow,” I whispered as I stared up into his eyes. Randall groaned as he slowed his hips as his orgasm subsided and looked down at me with a wide smile on his lips as he caught his breath. I felt his excitement that he was still rock hard and would get to fuck me all over again. “Dirty, dirty, Sheriff.” “Yeah, but I’m your dirty Sheriff, and you fucking love it!” “I do.” I just about purred as I pulled his head down to mine. It was actually funny, considering all the pup noises I made on a regular basis, that I’d finally made a cat sound. “Just as much as I love you, Randall.” “I love you, too, baby,” he said, giving me a quick kiss as he pulled out of me. I looked at him, completely confused since I thought

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I was going to get fucked again, but he smiled and wiggled his eyebrows at me. “I know where else I want to christen in this house.” “Okay.” I giggled as he lifted me into his arms. We were both fast learning how to use our new mental abilities as I felt Randall shielding what he wanted from me so it was a surprise. He walked us out of the bedroom and set me on my feet in the hallway by the living room that had the staircase going upstairs to the spare bedrooms I used as offices. “Grab onto the railings, Toby,” Randall growled loudly as he turned my body to face the stairs. I saw then that he wanted me to need to hold myself up on the railings as he pounded into my ass. Smiling at him over my shoulder, I did as he wanted. “I love this. It’s like asking for what you want without fear of being rejected.” “I’d never reject you, Randall,” I said firmly as I pursed my lips, signaling I wanted a kiss. He did and then stared at me. “I–I’m glad, but I didn’t know, you know?” Randall stuttered as his cheeks heated up. “I mean, I’m just saying it’s less chance of you saying no.” “Really, Randall?” I giggled as he looked confused. “I can barely talk from screaming so loudly at the multiple orgasms you just gave me, and you’re seriously standing there doubting your abilities? I enjoyed it just as much as you did, my mate.” “I’m glad.” He sighed with contentment. And I could feel his need to be reassured that he pleased me in every aspect of our lives while making sure I got what I needed sexually from him. “And I’ll always want more,” I said, letting the need show in my voice as I pushed my ass against his groin. Randall moaned as he grabbed my hips as I held onto the staircase railings so tightly my knuckles were turning white. “Now, fuck your pup until I can’t walk for days and you have to carry me everywhere.” “Yes, my mate.” “Oh, shit, yeah, slam that cock into me,” I gasped in our mental link as he pulled one cheek of my ass to the side and lined up his

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cock. Randall groaned as he did as I wanted, thrusting into me so hard that I did indeed need the railings to hold myself up. I cried out as he fucked me with such intensity the railings creaked from the force of it. He started to worry that it was too much for my body, and I yelled at him in our minds. “Stop thinking so much and fuck me!” “Yes, my passive mate.” Randall snickered as he dug his fingers into my hips as his smacked against my sensitive ass. It felt so good it was almost like he was spanking me all over again. I started pushing back, meeting his thrusts as hard as I could so that my ass felt the slap. “Damn, baby. You really did like the spanking.” “I like everything you do to me and with me,” I replied as he leaned over, reached down, and stroked my cock. Screaming out when he ran his finger over the leaking slit, my orgasm hit me like a bus. Randall jacked me off faster as his hips picked up the pace. Lights flashed behind my eyes as I shot my load all over the wall. “So fucking hot,” Randall grunted as he kept thrusting into me. “I can’t believe you got this tattoo, baby. It drives me insane with need just looking at it even when I’m already buried in your tight little ass.” “Good,” I panted, not having any further available air to say more. I let my mate feel my intense pleasure at filling him with lust for me, and that was all it took for Randall. He stiffened up before roaring out his release as he pounded harder into my hole. I moaned as he came inside of me after I’d already been filled by him once. “Oh, damn,” he moaned as I sent him images showing how it felt for his seed to be leaking back out of my hole and down my ass. I fucking loved it. It was if he was marking me in his own way as my body overflowed with the proof of his desire for me. “I do desire you, baby.” “I know. I just wanted to show you.” I panted as we both tried to catch our breaths. We slumped to the floor, and Randall sat back with me on his lap, his cock still inside of me. “I wanted you to know how happy I am that I found my Sheriff.”

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“I am, too, baby. I am, too,” he whispered against my neck, and I felt his love for me. We sat there wrapped around each other for a while after we were done, simply listening to what was in the other’s heart. And I couldn’t have been more thrilled at what I felt.

THE END WWW.JOYEEFLYNN.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joyee Flynn grew up in Chicago living in the same house all her life until she left for college. She loves to get lost in fantasy that only books could bring. She kept writing, short stories, romance, mystical, and of course adding in hot cowboys any chance she could. Her wide interest in reading was reflected in her writings. Currently Joyee lives with her dog, Marius, named after a vampire from Ann Rice’s Interview with the Vampire series. She dreams of one day living out in Montana, enough land to have a few horses, and find a couple of cowboys of her own. A lover of men, Joyee’s all about them in any form in her books. Vampire, werewolf, military, doesn’t matter at all as long as they are hot, hard, and sex fiends!

Also by Joyee Flynn Ménage Amour: North American Dragon 1: Dragon Mine Ménage Amour: North American Dragon 2: Dragon Ours Siren Classic: Marius Brothers 1: Micah Siren Classic: Marius Brother 2: Remus Siren Classic: Marius Brothers 3: Stefan Ménage Amour: The O’Hagan Way 1: A Dillon Sandwich Ménage Amour: Purrfect Mates 1: Here Kitty, Kitty Ménage Amour: Purrfect Mates 2: My Little Kitty

Also by Stormy Glenn and Joyee Flynn Ménage Amour: Delta Wolf 1: Chameleon Wolf Ménage Amour: Delta Wolf 2: Mating Games Ménage Amour: Delta Wolf 3: Blood Lust

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com