Spitfire

Southwest Shifters 2

Spitfire Brady and Cade are already lovers, but each wolf-shifter has his mind set on making a certain she-wolf his mate. By the time the men realize they're meant to be a threesome, Ayala has made other plans. Ayala cares for her Lycan lovers, and she enjoys being submissive in the bedroom, but she wants more than a life taking care of two dominating wolves. Her Alpha sends her to Philadelphia to work with a Lycan doctor who runs the FIRM, a pack-funded research facility. Seduced by a lavish lifestyle and promises of a career, Ayala soon finds herself at the mercy of the unscrupulous scientist and longing for the life she left behind. Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Vampires/Werewolves Length: 24,162 words

SPITFIRE Southwest Shifters 2

Gale Stanley

MENAGE AMOUR

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

SPITFIRE Copyright © 2011 by Gale Stanley E-book ISBN: 1-61926-010-7 First E-book Publication: November 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 Spitfire by Gale Stanley from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

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

DEDICATION For Mom and Dad, thanks for always being there. I miss you both more than I can say. There’s no place like home!

SPITFIRE Southwest Shifters 2 GALE STANLEY Copyright © 2011

Chapter One Safe inside the car, Ayala stared at the dancing neon lights that spelled Silverado Saloon in red, white, and blue. Suddenly her plan didn’t seem so foolproof, and she had second thoughts. “You getting out?” Mr. Hopper’s raspy voice asked impatiently. After begging him, a neighbor she hardly knew, for the ride, she couldn’t very well ask him to turn around and take her home. She checked her hair in the rearview mirror, thanked him for the lift, and climbed out of the car. Outside the honky-tonk, a melting pot of humanity gathered. Cowboys, tourists, white-collar, blue-collar, every class of people was represented—except hers. Could she pass? New clothes and a kickass attitude didn’t change who she was inside. Maybe she should— Ayala turned in time to see Mr. Hopper take off with a squeal of tires and a spray of gravel. She watched the lights of his ancient station wagon disappear in the distance. It was too late to change her mind now, and her heart raced while her feral instincts told her to fight or flee. She tamped down the primal response to an unfamiliar situation. She was not in danger here. She hoped. Okay, showtime. Out of her element for sure, but damned if she would show it, she sauntered up to the door, hips swaying in skintight,

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faded jeans. Ignoring the appraising stares from the males catching a smoke in front of the building, she opened the door and walked in as if she owned the place. Like nothing she’d ever seen before, the gargantuan room overwhelmed her. She stepped into another world, an alien world gone wild, complete with a mechanical bull roped off to her right. Ayala turned to her left. A small cowboy band, set up next to a dance floor, played country western. If she had to dance, she’d be in big trouble. She could follow along to a slow number, but these people were twirling and twisting to the music like they’d been born hoofing. Nobody said she had to dance. She’d start with a drink and take it from there. A plan this complicated and important couldn’t be rushed. This was only a trial run, an audition to determine how well she could blend in with the human race. There were no obvious physical differences between Lycans and humans, but she’d lived a segregated life with her seriously antisocial wolf pack, and she had to be sure she could fit in outside their tiny hidden society. If her acting was believable, she’d put plan B into action. She’d always been a loyal and obedient member of the pack. All twenty-two years of her life had been spent playing it safe and trying to please everyone, and consequently not pleasing herself. She wanted to break away and take a shot at having a life of her own, but she would not put the pack in danger by revealing their existence. If she could pass for human, she’d feel safe leaving the old life behind. The goal was to look sexy and sinful, the complete opposite of her normal, boring self. What would the other shifters say if they could see her now in a sexy, red spandex halter that left nothing to the imagination and brown suede boots with high-stacked heels? She scanned the room from the corner of her eye, half expecting to see one of the men, or the Alpha himself, ready to drag her back to New Hope, the name they’d given their little community. Ha! No Hope was more like it. No hope for love, no hope for a life, and no hope for the

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future. She wanted more, and if all went well, she wouldn’t let anything or anyone stop her. Yeah, she was behaving with the intent to deceive, but so what? The Alpha always said humans were sly and deceitful, and she wanted to fit in. Encouraged by the appreciative looks on the male faces around her, she straightened her shoulders, thrust out her double Ds, and sashayed to the bar. A chorus of wolf whistles followed her across the room. Instead of being embarrassed by the attention, the audible sounds of approval spurred her on. Tonight was a test. If she passed, she’d have the proof she needed, validation that she could fit in with the humans and live life on her terms. Damn! She couldn’t get near the bar. With standing room only, the crowd was two deep, and everyone was jostling and jockeying for position. Five minutes passed, and she hadn’t moved. The Silverado was nothing but a big, old barn with a bar and a dance floor. She had no idea the western bar was so popular. Maybe she should have looked for a smaller place to try her wings. “Boy, this line is taking forever.” Was someone talking to her? She glanced to her left, then her right, but didn’t catch anyone’s eye. A hand tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned her head—and looked down. Well, that hadn’t taken long. Only here five minutes and already she’d captured the interest of one of the humans. Too bad he got shortchanged in the height department. She could rest her chin on the top of his head. “I’m going to muscle my way up to the bar. Can I buy you a drink?” Sorry, I’m not that thirsty. “Sorry, I’m waiting for my boyfriend.” Shorty looked disappointed and disappeared into the crowd. Ayala turned back to her destination. She could muscle her way through the mob easily, but a human woman would wait for a man to buy her a drink. She sighed and tried to look like a thirsty woman who needed a big old cowboy to come to her rescue and buy her a drink.

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Two hands landed heavily on her shoulders, and warm breath fanned her ear. She froze. They were human hands, not big old wolf paws, so she relaxed a little. “What’s a pretty little thing like you doing here all by yourself?” “Trying to get a beer.” Wow, she was better at this than she’d expected. “I can help you out with that.” The figure behind her lowered his hands to her hips and rolled his pelvis against her ass to let her know he had a hard on—as if she cared. She had all the sex she needed at home, and his equipment didn’t impress. Not much taller than her, the man practically rubbed noses with her when she turned her head. Were all human males short? She’d never felt big and awkward around the men in her pack. They all towered over her five-foot-nine-inch frame, and the submissive side of her wolf enjoyed being dominated by a six-and–a-half-foot Lycan male—in bed, anyway. Maybe her criteria were too selective and narrow. She’d set the bar too high, and she really had to stop comparing every man she met to Brady and Cade. It was time to forget some of her basic requirements and lower her expectations. These men were human, after all. She tried looking at him more objectively. The human’s stubbled jaw was a plus, but she’d never understood the need for a big, bushy moustache. Still, it might be interesting to find out what it felt like to have all that facial hair tickling the inside of her thighs. Whoa! Did she really intend to take her research that far? Why not? If she intended to live in the human world, she’d have to bed them. Her wolf would never live a celibate life. Moustache Man looked down at her rack and grinned. “One beer coming up. Wait right here, sugar.” He muscled his way through the crowd. Yuck! She hated being called sugar, but she took a step back and waited for Prince Charming to return

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“Here you go, sugar.” Moustache Man returned with two plastic cups full of foaming liquid and handed her one. “Let’s find a quiet corner where we can get acquainted.” She followed him to a quieter spot away from the bar and took a big swallow of her drink. Yuck! She’d asked for beer because she’d heard it was a social lubricant, something humans drank with gusto. Give me water any day. Not noticing her distaste, Moustache Man wiped foam from her mouth with his thumb. Double yuck! His scent, his taste, they didn’t excite her in the least. But that’s not why she was here. Her purpose was to learn how to fit in, and evidently she was doing a damn good job. Moustache Man took a swallow of his own beer. “I’m Carl. What’s your name?” Did she want to give this jerk her real name? No. “Annie.” “Why haven’t I seen you around here before, Annie?” “I just moved from the east coast. This is my first time out really.” “Well, then it’s my lucky night.” If that’s his sexiest smile, he’s in for a lot of heartache. “So you come here often?” Carl shrugged. “Once in a while, but I’m glad I decided to come tonight.” He downed his beer, took her almost empty cup, and put them both on a nearby table. “How about a dance?” Ayala shook her head. “I don’t dance.” “I’ll teach you. It’ll be fun.” Isn’t that why you’re here, to learn how to be human? A bit nervous, she flipped her long black hair over her shoulder and let him lead her to the dance floor. “Just watch for a minute.” She didn’t have much choice with him hanging onto her arm. The band started playing “Small Town Saturday Night,” and Carl’s head bobbed in time to the music. Couples stepped around the perimeter of the dance floor counterclockwise, quick, quick, slow, slow.

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“Okay, sugar, let’s blend in.” My plan exactly. And it didn’t really look all that hard. If he could do this, so could she. Carl put his right hand on her back. “Left hand on my shoulder, sugar.” He took her right hand with his left. “Look at me, not the floor.” They joined the couples circling the dance floor. Feeling the music, moving around the floor like everyone else, it gave her an emotional lift. She didn’t even mind when Carl’s hand made its way to her ass. Just when she started really enjoying herself, a big paw gripped her arm and yanked her off balance. She would have fallen, but that strong grip pulled her back against a hard chest. “Brady?” Fuck! Anger flared, and her nails bit into her palms as she tried to control it. The other dancers were eyeing them curiously, and Brady pulled her aside. Carl followed warily. He gave Brady a dirty look but kept his distance. “Who the hell are you?” “I should be asking you that question.” Brady snarled at Carl, his tight jaw and flaring nostrils evidence that the wolf-shifter was this close to separating the human from his skin. His long, powerful arm snaked out and grabbed Carl by the front of his shirt. The shifter pulled the human in close. “This is my fiancée. You got a problem with that? If I was you, I’d shut the fuck up and disappear.” A bouncer approached their little trio. “Everything okay here?” Carl put his arms up in surrender and backed off. “Sorry. She didn’t tell me she was engaged.” He glared at Ayala and disappeared into the crowd. “We’re leaving.” Brady told the bouncer. The big man eyed Brady’s bigger six-foot-six-inch frame, nodded, and walked off. Ayala had never been so angry in her life. “How dare you?” She sputtered. “I’m just looking out for you.” “Spying on me is more like it. I can take care of myself.”

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Brady looked her up and down. “In that getup? You’re lucky you didn’t get raped. You have no idea the trouble you can get into with a hairy slimeball like that.” “What makes you think it would be rape?” The shocked look on his face pleased her to no end. “You are not my father, my Alpha, or my mate. You have no right to tell me who I can talk to.” “Maybe I’m just a damn fool who’s worried about your safety. Let’s go.” Ayala put her hands on her hips. “I’m not ready to leave.” “I think you are.” Brady slipped an arm under her knees and scooped her up. He marched through the cheering patrons, and Ayala closed her eyes and ears to the hoots and catcalls, wanting to disappear into the floor. She waited until they were outside before she started pummeling his chest and screaming at him. “Put me down, you bastard.” Brady didn’t relinquish his hold, just carried her to the truck, muscled her inside the back seat, and set the childproof locks. Then he climbed upfront and turned on the ignition. “If you want to act like a child, I’ll treat you like one.” He pulled out of the parking lot, steam practically shooting from his ears. “Fuck you, Brady!” And thanks for proving my point. You won’t be going caveman on me much longer. Without a doubt, it was time to leave the pack.

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Chapter Two Ayala opened the door on the third knock. Brady stood there, a sheepish look on his face and a huge bouquet of spring flowers in his hand. They were an absolute carnival of colors, a mix of orange lilies, blue delphiniums, yellow germinis, purple asters, and lemon leaves, and she longed to bury her face in their fragrant beauty. Instead, she frowned at him and put her hands on her hips. “What’s this?” He held them out. “A peace offering.” She should probably slam the door in his face, but in her entire life, no one had ever given her flowers before, and for some idiotic reason she felt like crying. Taking the bouquet, she stepped aside so he could enter the house she shared with the other three she-wolves. “I’ll get a vase.” She turned away and marched into the kitchen before he could see her eyes misting and try to put his arms around her. If he did, it would be all over. She’d forgive him, melt into his embrace, and let him claim her heart as well as her body, and an emotional attachment was the last thing she wanted. Despite the fact she gave Brady a hard time, there were some things she truly loved about him. Physically, they were a perfect match. She would never find a human who would make her feel the way he did. But there was more to life than sex. If she stayed with her pack, she’d have to accept her Alpha’s orders and continue to take multiple mates in the hopes one of them would impregnate her and save their species from extinction. She refused to be treated like a bitch that was good for little more than breeding and satisfying the physical urges of the males. Living among humans wasn’t the life she

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had envisioned for herself, but at least she’d be able to do as she pleased instead of answering to a man. Ayala came back and looked for a spot to display the flowers. The little house was still in the midst of being renovated, and there were only a few pieces of furniture. She set them on a workbench that still held cans of paint and brushes. Brady’s arms circled her, and he nuzzled her hair. “Still mad at me?” “Yes,” she hissed. He dropped his arms and stepped back. “Do you want me to go? We can do this another day.” Not if I can help it. “No. The Alpha won’t be happy.” “Fuck the Alpha! He doesn’t have to know everything. Nobody’s carrying any pups anyway.” Ayala let out a little gasp, and her fingers flew to her open mouth. As far she knew, Brady had never disobeyed the Alpha or spoken one word against him. She turned and gave Brady a shaky smile. “You would do that for me?” “And a lot more.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “Say the word, and I’ll leave.” Her head said leave, but her body said stay. “No, it’s okay. Come upstairs.” Brady sighed and looked as if he might go anyway, but he followed her up the steps to her bedroom. She undressed quickly and without an ounce of self-consciousness. There was no false modesty among Lycans, who shed clothes and skin on a moment’s notice to unleash their inner beasts. Her people revered their bodies, both twolegged and four. Brady had seen her shape-shift countless times. There’d be no shifting now, just fucking, and that’s all she wanted, physical satisfaction. Brady knew her human body better than she did, and he could arouse every nerve ending to sexual frenzy. Coupling with Brady’s human body was not a hardship, at least not physically. If

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only he would stop trying to make more of their screwing. His sad face and puppy-dog eyes were wearing her down and lowering her resistance. She had to stay strong, enjoy the physical, and not let flowers sway her. If Brady wanted a submissive house slave, he would have to look elsewhere. Brady shut the door and leaned against it, staring at her as if she were the most beautiful woman on the planet. His golden gaze held hers as he pulled off his boots. His hands went to his belt buckle, his zipper, up to the buttons on his shirt. Ayala tried to hide her anticipation. She’d seen his body many times, but she never tired of looking at it. At last he stood completely naked, his long, thick cock already hard and slapping against his belly as he walked toward her. Why did he have to be so damn good-looking? The mattress dipped with his weight, and she shifted to the side. Brady sighed and put a big, warm palm on her thigh. “It doesn’t have to be like this.” “How can it be otherwise when we’re forced to have sex with partners we haven’t chosen?” He winced and took his hand away. “I would choose you regardless. You’re special to me.” Ayala lifted a brow. “I bet you say that to all the wolves.” A small smile lit his chiseled features. “No, only to you.” Ayala’s heart twisted, but she steeled it against him and sneered. “I might have to fuck you, but I don’t have to listen to your bullshit.” She tilted her head so her long, raven hair would hide the conflict of emotions on her face. Although she discouraged Brady with words, her face always betrayed her true feelings. “Let’s just get on with it.” Brady’s smile disappeared along with his erection. “If that’s what you want.” ****

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Sighing, Brady lay back and fisted his cock. She’d hurt him and his desire ebbed, but he knew he could stoke the fire again. One look at her body and his blood heated. She might not care for him the way he wanted, but her body responded to his as if she’d been made for him alone. The scent of her arousal filled his nostrils. Her breasts were flushed, the nipples already erect, and her pussy…God, he loved the way the lips puffed up, all shiny with her cream, wet and ready— for him. Smell and sight weren’t enough. He wanted to taste. Reaching out a hand, he stroked her wet pussy and pressed a finger between the folds, elated to hear her little gasp. Ayala focused on his hand as he brought his fingers back and slowly sucked each one. As soon as her taste exploded on his tongue, his dick stiffened, and he pumped his shaft slowly until the engorged head of his cock strained the boundaries of its foreskin. As if mesmerized by a snake charmer, Ayala watched his cockhead appear and disappear as he manipulated the loose skin back and forth. Ayala wanted him. There was no hiding it, even though she tried. She tried to set her face in a blank mask that he watched intently, trying to figure out what was going on behind it. Why did she resist showing him how much she needed and desired him? Her love and passion was everything he wanted, but she wouldn’t give it to him willingly. He promised himself that one day she would belong to him and there would be no secrets between them. The old traditions died with their people when they were massacred in the great fire. Multiple mates had not been unheard of in the old days, but the partners were loyal within the relationship. Now pack members were forced to take multiple partners, whether they had a committed relationship or not. Everything revolved around reproducing, and most times sex was devoid of emotion. But not with Ayala. His wolf ached to claim her as a true mate and mark her with its bite as well as its seed. Brady had spoken to the Alpha about this, and Alex had given him permission for a formal union, but the Alpha insisted Ayala would still have to breed with the others if Brady

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didn’t plant a cub in her womb. Brady longed to have a child with her, but what if it didn’t happen? Wolves were territorial creatures, and Brady knew it would kill him to let his soul mate fuck the other wolves, so he held back. Ayala didn’t seem interested in a permanent mate anyway. But even if a formal union wasn’t in the cards for them, they could still have a loving relationship. Unfortunately, Ayala seemed bent on denying him the affection he craved. “Well?” Ayala snapped. “Are you going to fuck me or not?” Anger narrowed his eyes. “I wouldn’t dare disobey Alex. Let’s get on with it.” For just a second, hurt glittered in her eyes, but it disappeared so quickly he might have been mistaken. His inner wolf howled with need, and he hardened his heart to match Ayala’s. Avoiding eye contact, he pushed the foreskin back to his balls until his shaft was completely smooth. “Suck me.” She crawled between his legs, and then a long tongue licked up the underside of his cock and swirled around the head. He couldn’t hold back a moan when the wet heat of her mouth covered him. **** Damn him for being so delicious. Ayala loved this, all of it, his scent, musky and masculine like the wolf he was, the salty-sweet tang of his pre-cum. Everything about Brady made her hungry for more physical contact. Her pussy throbbed and ached to be filled by him. But she could never let Brady know how much she wanted him. He might get the wrong idea. He might think she was interested in more than sex. And that was the furthest thing from her mind. She could not envision herself as the submissive bitch that every Lycan male wanted in his home and his bed, and although she loved submitting to Brady during sex, she refused to be subservient in any other way. A big world waited beyond the pack, and Ayala intended to find her place in it. She would not let anything or anyone hold her back—

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including cubs. A stupid, illogical part of her wished she could make lots of babies with Brady. Little boys who looked exactly like their father, with thick black hair, always a tad too long, and big, liquidgold eyes that sucked a woman into their depths. The other part of her didn’t want to bring a child into a world where he or she would have to hide their true identity all their life. She knew firsthand how it felt to live in fear of being hunted, caged, or worse, and she would not force that kind of existence on anyone else. Brady’s tug on her hair brought her back to the here and now. He wanted more, and sucking him off was one thing she didn’t mind doing. Ayala slid her mouth back up his cock, letting her teeth gently scrape his long length. “Fuck,” he gasped. “You’re killing me.” Encouraged, she soothed his tender flesh with her tongue then gently licked and sucked his sac. A low growl rumbled up from his chest, a sure sign that he was aroused. Ayala wrapped her fingers around the base of his shaft, stroking and sucking in tandem, humming as she used both mouth and hands. His hips bucked and incoherent animal sounds came out of his mouth. His excitement fueled her own. Her thighs were damp with her fluids, and she marveled at the effect he had on her. “Stop.” He growled and tugged her hair to pull her off his cock. “Ride me. I want to make a baby today.” That’s not going to happen. Refusing to leave anything to chance, she’d been taking birth control pills for years. So far she’d been lucky, but there were no guarantees. They were made for humans, not her. She needed to make a move soon before her luck ran out and she lost her chance at a new life. This might be the last time she and Brady were together. She wanted to make it good so she’d always remember how it was with them. Getting to her knees, she straddled him, impaling herself on his stiff rod in one downward motion. He lifted his hips, filling her so completely the breath caught in her throat.

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He grunted and dug his fingers into her hips as she started rocking back and forth. His breath heaved like a bellows, and the musky scent of their sex grew stronger. Brady reached up to play with her silver nipple rings, and his tugging went right to her core. She rubbed her swollen clit with a finger. “Uh, uh, that’s my job.” Brady growled hoarsely as he rolled them over, pinning her body beneath him. Bending down, he captured her mouth in a passionate kiss, nipping her lower lip as he backed away. She wrapped her legs around him as his sweat-slick body rose over her. Thrusting his cock deep, he gyrated in slow, provocative circles. Her breath came in pants, and she whimpered and arched as he ground his hips against hers. His rhythm was calculated to drive her crazy, and she moaned beneath him, pinching his nipples and pulling at the hair on his chest, letting him know she was close and he could unleash his inner beast. Brady increased his tempo, pounding into her relentlessly. She matched him thrust for thrust, and when he rubbed her hard, little clit, she reached her peak and let out a howl of pleasure. Brady growled out his own release and at last collapsed over her with a groan of pure male satisfaction. Still firmly inside her, he rolled them to the side and held her close for a cuddle. Having none of it, she struggled free, and ignoring his hurt look, she ran for the bathroom to hide until he left.

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Chapter Three If Ayala had to rate the sexiest men in the pack, the Alpha would be number three. With those intense eyes and a hard body that screamed edgy and erotic, he’d be number one on most lists, but Ayala would choose Brady or Cade over him any day. Her two Lycan lovers had inflamed her erotic fantasies for years and when she grew old enough to bed them, her dreams had come true. But when their wolfish, macho attitudes and possessive natures came out, she felt suffocated. Too bad she’d been cursed with a brain and a desire for independence. Brady and Cade would be better off choosing from among the other women, she-wolves who had been born to please men instead of themselves. So, she had no desire to become better acquainted with the Alpha’s perfect pecs and amazing abs. He was just too damn controlling. Not that he was interested. The Alpha’s sex life was a mystery. Maybe he didn’t even have one. No one really knew. But on a list of the most dangerous men in the pack, she would definitely put the Alpha in first place, no doubt about it. Ayala had heard all the stories about him, including his exploits as he led a group of shell-shocked youngsters halfway across the country, and how he’d kidnapped a she-wolf and her cubs from the Pennsylvania Wilds. The tales had probably been embellished through the years, but at least some of them were true. A man had to be strong and lethal to take charge of a pack. Alex had earned the respect of his people. The members of the pack, including Ayala, obeyed him out of admiration, and maybe just a little fear.

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Ayala wasn’t fearful today. She knew exactly what she wanted, and when she saw the Alpha today, she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Alex lived in the center of town in the largest of the buildings he’d purchased for the pack members. Only a few of the dilapidated old houses were still owned by their original occupants, old-timers who didn’t have the means to move on. New Hope had been on the verge of extinction before Alex stepped in. Ayala hadn’t been impressed with the area when she first saw it, but staying in the adobe dwellings they’d been living in since they first settled in New Mexico wasn’t an option. The area had become a popular tourist attraction, and the pack members were afraid to shift. The Alpha had chosen this old mining town because it was a pit stop that didn’t attract visitors and he liked the proximity of an abandoned mine shaft, said to be at least five hundred feet deep. He saw it as a future avenue for escape or hiding, something that would never have occurred to Ayala. It had been a good move in many ways. The original residents had accepted help from the pack, and in return they minded their own business. Like the others of her kind, Ayala was careful to shift and run in the surrounding woodlands, and if their neighbors suspected all was not as it seemed, they didn’t let on. The locals had actually become very protective of the new residents and discouraged tourists and outsiders—a win-win situation for all. Alex’s home had been a store in its previous life, with storage on the second floor and living quarters on the third. The first floor had been made into a community room with a small kitchen and bathroom. The front door was locked, but the door to his office on the second floor was accessible by a hinged fire escape he’d mounted on the side of the building. Ayala climbed up the steel gratings, knocked once, and entered the Alpha’s domain. She smiled at Alex sitting behind a massive, mahogany desk phenomenally cluttered with paperwork, laptop, and phone. He stood up immediately and beckoned her over.

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“Have a seat.” He gestured to a chair in front of his desk. “So, what do you think?” he asked, waving a hand at the files and bookshelves lining the walls as he sat down. “It’s a lot bigger than my old office, but it seems the more space I have, the more clutter I make. It’s taking me way too long to get organized.” Awestruck, Ayala glanced around politely. “It’s very nice.” The Alpha was truly amazing. Through the years he’d made sound investments, enabling him to buy up most of this old town as well as fund an addition to Philadelphia Hospital back east. One of their pack, Dr. Roy Granger, headed the facility. “Yes. Well, I’m sure you didn’t come here to look at my office. What’s on your mind, Ayala?” Beating around the bush would be pointless. Ayala sat up straighter in her chair, her spine rigid. She looked the Alpha right in the eye. “I want to go away for a while.” Well, she definitely had his attention now. Alex leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers under his chin. “Away? Why?” “I want to see someplace besides New Hope, maybe visit my birthplace.” “You want to see the Pine Barrens, visit New Jersey?” The furrow deepened between his eyes, and she rushed to sway him to her side. “Yes! I have no pictures. I can’t even remember my mother’s face. I need to see our home again.” “There’s nothing left there, Ayala. The fire destroyed everything.” “I just want to see it.” “It’s out of the question. It’s too dangerous.” A rush of disappoint filled her. She hadn’t wanted an argument. “The great fire was sixteen years ago. No one remembers it—or the rumors of wolves who could turn into people. I won’t shift, I promise.” She couldn’t keep the whiney tone from her voice. “I would never put the pack in danger. I just want my own life.”

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His mouth thinned with displeasure, and his voice turned harsh. “You don’t have a good life here? Don’t I provide everything you need?” She straightened in her seat, refusing to be intimidated. “I want to make my own choices.” The Alpha’s face softened a bit. “I know you haven’t been happy with my efforts to increase our population. You have an independent streak…” He seemed to consider his next words carefully. “But leaving is not the solution. I have some news that may change your mind. I haven’t told the pack yet, but I think you need to hear this.” Ayala doubted he could change her mind, but she was willing to listen, especially if he wanted to share important pack business. “Scheduled breeding with multiple partners hasn’t worked for us. I intend to do away with the practice. Two of our men formed a union with a human woman, and now they have a beautiful baby girl. I wasn’t pleased at first, but maybe our spirit God has shown us another way.” Ayala’s jaw dropped. She hadn’t expected this. Human mates were not unheard of. There were several mixed couples living in Pennsylvania as well, but surely the Alpha didn’t believe Kweo wanted them all to interbreed. “I don’t—” Alex held up a hand. “Hear me out.” He paused. “If there were more of our people, we might all find Lycan mates, but with so few of us left, the answer to our survival may be to merge and mate with trusted humans.” Un-fucking-believable! After all the years of proclaiming he would never entertain mixing of the species, he’d done a one-eighty. “So you see, you have other options. I hope you’ll choose a Lycan mate, but I won’t object if you choose a human.” “I don’t want a mate, Lycan or human. I want a life, a home, and a job in a place of my choosing.” Leaving might be a drastic solution, but she refused to trade her independence for comfort and safety. “What can I say to convince you it’s not a good idea?”

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“Nothing. You’re giving our people the freedom to mix with the humans, and that’s exactly what I want. My freedom to live among them.” “Freedom is a mixed blessing. Not all humans are your friends, and they can be dangerously cunning. They have drugs and traps you know nothing about.” He shook his head, and then his features softened. “I understand. I really do. You’ve been insulated by the pack all your life, and you want a chance to try your wings, but it’s impossible.” Sudden anger gave Ayala a bit of courage. “With all due respect, Alpha, I’m a grown woman, and you can’t stop me. I intend to go with or without your permission.” The only sign of the Alpha’s anger was the slight flare of his nostrils. “Don’t do anything so rash, Ayala. Give me some time to think about this, and then we’ll talk again.” **** Dr. Roy Granger stood by the window watching the doctors, patients, and visitors running for cover from the sudden downpour. People were using whatever they had on hand to protect themselves from the deluge. He would never understand humans. Why did they immediately resort to using handbags, newspapers, and briefcases as umbrellas? Some even had their shirts or lab coats pulled up to cover their heads. None of it seemed to be helping. Despite the name of the popular TV show, it wasn’t always sunny in Philadelphia. Humans should be more adaptable—like wolves. They were probably too worried about their hairstyles. “Your phone messages and the mail are on your desk…” The forceful drumming on the glass made it difficult to hear his administrative assistant, not that he was paying much attention anyway. He turned away from the gray, washed-out scene and faced her. “Thanks, Lucy. You’ve done enough. It’s Saturday. Go home.”

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“I don’t mind staying if you need me, Roy.” The tone of her voice implied she was offering more than her secretarial skills. “No. I’ll be tied up all day. I have a lot of data to analyze. You go on and enjoy the rest of your weekend.” Lucy’s disappointment was obvious. The woman was becoming tiresome. He was beginning to wonder why he’d hooked up with the redheaded bitch in the first place, aside from the obvious—big boobs and a mouth made for sucking cock. It didn’t seem worth it anymore. “I can bring you dinner later.” Suddenly he felt the vibration of the cell phone in the pocket of his lab coat. Only one person had the number, his Alpha, and he wanted privacy when he spoke to Alex. “I won’t have time for dinner.” A few blow jobs and some sack-time and these human females thought they owned you. Roy made a mental note to put some distance between them. Much as he hated the thought of bringing a stranger into his office, if Lucy insisted on stalking him, he’d have to fire her. “I’ll see you on Monday.” He watched the sway of her ass as she sashayed out the door. Too bad, I’ll definitely miss that body. Alex had already disconnected. Roy headed for his private research lab in the subbasement, intending to call him back from there. He owed everything he had to the Alpha. It had been Alex who found him when he was an undergraduate, putting himself through school however he could, a nice way of saying he was whoring himself. The pack was constantly on the lookout for others like themselves, and Alex had seen a news report about wolf sightings in Boston. That was back in his youth when Roy wasn’t as careful about shifting. Alex himself had come to lure Roy to New Mexico with promises of funding his education. The Alpha didn’t need to make promises. Roy was smitten and would have followed him anywhere, but Alex had kept his word. Roy had several degrees including a PhD, his specialty being evolutionary genetics and gene regulation.

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Now he had his own research facility, an addition to Philadelphia Hospital funded by Alex. Under the guise of helping humanity, Roy ran his own private research in the bowels of the building. He loved his work, but he loved Alex, too, and it frustrated him to be separated from him. But they each had their own responsibilities, and they saw each other on rare occasions. Maybe this call meant a visit from his lover. He hoped so. Just hearing Alex’s voice made his cock fill and his blood heat. The man had a deep, baritone rumble that was sexy as hell. Roy leaned back in his chair and rubbed his crotch, bolting upright when he heard the purpose of the call. Alex was sending him a she-wolf, a woman with an independent streak. He expected Roy to give her a job and keep her out of trouble. No problem. This was the break Roy had been waiting for. By the end of their conversation, all the arrangements were in place. He'd been less than forthcoming with Alex and he regretted it, but it couldn't be helped. He wasn't ready to divulge any information about his studies, not until he had positive results. Ayala’s desire to move to Philadelphia couldn’t have come at a better time. Roy’s research had reached a critical point, and he needed to move on to testing Lycan subjects. Unlike Canis lupus, Lycans were born with the capability to reproduce during any season, but according to Roy’s findings, his species’ human genetics had changed over the last fifteen years. Although the Lycan sex drive had remained strong, their natural mating season had shrunk to once a year, like ordinary gray wolves. He could find no clear-cut reason. Perhaps the change in location and climate had affected testosterone and hormone levels. Or maybe the predominantly male wolf pack had reacted to the scarcity of bitches. Finding real answers was a challenge, especially with his Alpha’s hard-ass attitude. Over the years, Roy had been running his tests longdistance because Alex wouldn’t let the pack members, especially the women, stay in the city for any length of time. Biological samples

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were shipped by plane, but a flight took approximately four hours, and transporting specimens had become more difficult with all the new security precautions. Despite the obstacles, Roy had still come up with a treatment for the symptoms. In theory, his drugs would increase the number of eggs, while triggering and strengthening ovulation. Putting the females in heat would trigger the male mating instinct, but to insure success, he’d created a drug to stimulate testosterone and increase the sperm count. Desperate to try out his cure, he had started his trials on a pair of ordinary gray wolves he kept locked up in the subbasement. Finding the wolves had been near impossible. There were no wild wolves to be found in Pennsylvania, so he had to raid a wildlife refuge to get his pair. When the animals woke from an anesthetic-induced sleep, they weren’t happy to find themselves in cages. More sedatives rendered them docile enough for proper dosing. It would only be for a short time. If all went well, he would put them in the same cage and let them enjoy each other. February was normal mating season for gray wolves. This was June. If his drugs worked, the season wouldn’t matter. Roy checked his watch, three a.m., optimum timing. He wouldn’t be missed. One more dose remained in the seven-day regimen, and then it would be time to introduce his alpha pair. Groggy and easily handled, both wolves received their injections without incident. He carried the female into the room next door and put her in the male’s cage. They should be fully awake within the hour. Roy left the room to make some notes on their charts. Only gone fifteen minutes, he returned and stood at the door, ecstatic to see his test subjects eager to mate. The male wolf mounted the female from behind, and his thrusting pelvis indicated that ejaculation would soon take place. The pair became tied when the male's knot swelled inside the female's vagina and the animals were physically inseparable for thirty minutes.

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Yes! Roy pumped his fist in excitement. The test couldn’t have worked out better. The new drug appeared to be successful beyond his wildest expectations. In three weeks he would do an ultrasound and hopefully confirm a pregnancy. And best of all, he would soon have a Lycan bitch to try his drugs on. Ayala was a sexy little minx. Fucking her would be no hardship at all. In three weeks he’d have Ayala eating out of his hand, and he’d start her on the drugs. Hell, why wait three weeks? He didn’t need a confirmed gray wolf pregnancy before dosing Ayala and himself. As soon as she agreed to participate in his research, he would give her the first dose. Stepping up her heat would make it much easier to lure her into his bed. Hopefully, she’d be carrying his child in no time. His only interests were positive results, survival of his species, and Alex’s approval. He had no desire to play father, but the pup would be the bitch’s responsibility, not his.

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Chapter Four “Nice job.” Ayala screamed, and the paintbrush flew out of her hand, splattering paint like a handmade Rorschach Test. Cade stepped up on the porch to retrieve the brush, and she slapped his hand away. “Just leave it! And don’t sneak up on me like that. I don’t appreciate it.” Shit. The only person who could pussyfoot around a wolf was another wolf. Cade gave her his best innocent look. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” “I’m not scared.” She picked up the paintbrush and held it in her hand like a weapon. “You just startled me.” Damn him. He looked sexy as hell in a black muscle shirt and tight cutoff jeans that did nothing to hide the impressive bulge at his crotch. His hair wasn’t as dark as Brady’s, more like auburn with gold highlights, and his eyes looked more green than gold in the sunlight, but for sure he'd taken a dip in the deep end of the attractive gene pool. She looked him up and down. From tanned, chiseled features to muscular legs, the man was eye candy for sure. If she looked at him too long, she’d be licking him like an all-day sucker. “What can I do for you, Cade?” He gave her a lopsided grin. Damn, wrong question. “Why are you here, Cade?” “I just want to talk.” Ayala narrowed her eyes and gave him a look that said you’re full of it. “Can’t you see I’m busy?” It would help if she could say it like she meant it, but in truth, she was just killing time until she spoke to

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the Alpha again. If she didn’t keep busy, she’d go crazy waiting around to hear his verdict. “I can do that for you.” He reached out for the brush, and she took a step back. “I don’t need a man to do my work for me.” She stood there with a hand on her cocked hip. Damn him. He had that effect on her, the same one Brady did. The one that made her panties damp and her nipples go all hard. Shit! From the looks of things, he had no intention of leaving. Cade sighed. “I didn’t mean it like that. Hell, you can probably do a better job of it than I can.” Ayala blinked then gave in. “All right.” She handed him another brush and pointed to a window on the other side of the front door. “Just the frame, not the glass.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m not stupid.” No, you’re not. The man was smart and sly as a fox. He knew which buttons to push, the ones that would turn her into a quivering mass of Jell–O. And that’s why you’re not getting near me. She moved the can of paint so they could both reach it and went back to work. They worked quietly for a while but it was impossible to forget that Cade was only a few feet away when his scent overrode the smell of paint, and lust overrode her common sense. Finally, Cade put his brush down and stepped back to admire his work. “What do you think?” Resigned to the fact that little work would get done today, Ayala moved in for a closer look. She had to admit, he’d done a decent job. “Not bad.” “That’s all you can say?” Before she knew what happened Cade was boxing her in. Her back was against the wall, and his palms were planted on either side of her. “What do you want me to say?” She growled at him.

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“Fuck me, Cade.” He nuzzled her and whispered in her ear. “That’s what I want you to say.” “Damn—” He lowered his head and kissed her, effectively halting any more talk. Ayala couldn’t help it. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Cade lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He pressed her back against the wall, and she ground her pussy against his growing bulge. A little growl rumbled up from his chest. “Say it.” Ayala wanted him but she couldn't force herself to say the words, so she shook her head back and forth. He kissed her cheek, her jaw, her neck, slipped a hand under her T-shirt and tugged a nipple ring. Fuck! The damn ring was an easy on-off switch, and he could work it like a pro. She might as well be an interactive doll. “Ohh, Cade.” “Say it.” He pinched her nipple. “Say it, baby.” “Fuck me, damn you.” Cade laughed. “Not quite the emotional response I was looking for, but I’ll take it.” He carried her inside and set her on the only piece of furniture in the living room, a worktable cluttered with brushes, cans of paint, and tools. He looked around the unfinished room. “You could use a man’s touch around here.” He was probably right, but Ayala wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She and the three women who shared the house were doing the renovations themselves. “We’re doing okay, thank you.” “Sure you don’t need me for anything?” Grinning wickedly, he grabbed the hem of her T-shirt and pulled it over her head. Her ample breasts spilled into his hands, swollen and aching for his touch. Ignoring the silver rings for the moment, he rubbed circles around her cinnamon-colored nipples with his thumbs until the tips puckered with her desire. Even though she expected it, she couldn’t help gasping when he sucked one tender bud into the wet warmth of his mouth, tongued the

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ring, and drew her nipple taut. Rational thought fled when he started sucking. Each pull at her breast went straight to her core. Wanting more, she pushed her tingling flesh against his mouth while he caressed her other breast, rubbing and rolling the nipple between his fingers. She moaned with frustration when he stopped. “Lift up,” he muttered hoarsely. Suddenly she realized they were in the living room where anyone could walk in and catch them, and she looked around anxiously. “It’s okay, baby,” he assured her. “We have time. I saw your housemates at the community room talking to the Alpha about the ceremony tomorrow.” Ayala put her hands behind her, palms flat on the table, and lifted her hips so Cade could pull her shorts off. He buried his face in her lap, nuzzling her neatly trimmed bush, inhaling her. His breath warmed her thighs, exciting her as he brushed his lips over her slit. A warm, wet tongue lapped at her cream, making her moan. Cade lifted his head and planted a blistering kiss on her mouth. She tasted herself on his lips and another rush of moisture coated her thighs as she kissed him back. Her nails scored his flesh as she ran her hands down his back to the waistband of his jeans. Breathless, she fumbled with the zipper of his cutoffs, loving the shudder that ran through him when she unzipped them and slipped her hand inside to release his cock. “Touch me, baby,” he groaned. She stroked his shaft, using her thumb to spread pre-cum over the engorged head. Groaning with pleasure, he shoved his jeans over his hips as she scooted to the edge of the table. “Please…” “Please, what,” he said firmly. If he needed to hear her beg, so be it. She was too far gone to care. “Please fuck me, Cade.” Ayala brought her heels up on the table, spreading her legs wide.

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Cade moved between her thighs until the head of his cock nudged her swollen folds. He leaned his forehead against hers, and she spread her labia so his swollen, purple head disappeared inside her. She sucked in a harsh breath. “More.” Cade pushed a little deeper. Their groans mingled, and his breathing got heavier. He slid inside slowly until he filled her completely and then gathered her close. “Oh, God,” she moaned, squirming and grinding against him. Cade captured her lips and kissed her deeply as he started moving. In and out, his long length invaded her body, slowly picking up speed as she urged him on. Guttural sounds and the heady scent of their sex filled the room. Cade’s thrusts became harder, each one sending her over the edge a little farther. **** Cade wanted to make this last for her. He wanted to make her feel so good she would never want anyone else. It might be stupid. Ayala never gave any indication she wanted him as anything more than a bedmate, but he couldn’t help the way he felt. When they were together like this, he couldn’t think clearly. He could only feel, and his control slipped away as his wolf took over. His muscles bunched as his thrusts became more animalistic. His frenzied reflection in the glass behind them mirrored the passion he was feeling. The image disappeared, replaced by sparks of light as his climax approached. Suddenly Ayala threw back her head and howled as strong, grasping spasms milked the release from his cock. Feeling her powerful orgasm filled him with satisfaction, and his own harsh growl melded with hers as he filled her with his seed. Your body belongs to me now, even if it’s just for a little while. They stayed locked together for long minutes until their breathing calmed. Finally, his depleted cock slipped from her body. Ayala

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struggled to get out of his embrace, but loath to let her go, he tightened his hold on her. She licked her swollen lips, and he saw where his stubble had reddened the skin on her neck and face. It pleased him to see his marks on her, and he decided he wanted something more permanent on her flesh, his bite mark, a sign of claiming. Ayala looked at him from narrowed eyes. “Cade, let me go. We can’t stay like this.” He released her reluctantly, and she stood. “You have to leave.” Cade bent to retrieve their discarded clothes. “Let’s shower first, and then I’ll go.” Ayala sighed but nodded agreement, and he followed her upstairs. Cade stepped into the stall first and adjusted the water. When the temperature was just right, he moved back and made room for Ayala. She stepped under the spray and leaned her head back, letting the water run over her body and soak her hair. A shower caddy hung from the spout, and she reached toward it for the shampoo. Cade beat her to it. “Let me do that.” He massaged the lavender-scented shampoo into her long hair, loving the way the silky strands slipped through his fingers. “Mmmm,” she mumbled. “Feels good.” “To me, too.” He rinsed her hair and turned her so she faced the wall. Grabbing a bar of soap, he started at her shoulders and worked his way down. When he reached her firm ass, he felt himself getting hard again, but he continued down her delicious body, washing her thighs, her calves, her feet. Then he stood and pulled her back against his chest, his erection nudging her ass as he soaped her breasts and rolled her nipples. Ayala whimpered, spread her legs, and wiggled back against the hard rod between her cheeks. Cade slid a soap-slick hand over her belly and lower. His fingers traced her slit, massaging the tender folds. He felt her legs tremble, and he kept a tight hold on her with

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one arm around her waist. Nipping her lobe, he whispered in her ear. “Tell me what you want, baby. My cock or my tongue.” In answer, she turned in his arms and her mouth covered his hungrily, her tongue stabbing at his lips. His mouth opened, inviting her in, and her tongue sought his. “Okay, sweetheart,” he murmured against her lips as he pressed her back against the tiles and maneuvered her hips so the spray hit her soapy cunt. She gasped as the warm water pulsated against her clit. “Oh, God. Cade, that feels so good.” She gripped his arms hard enough to leave imprints. “Better than my tongue?” he murmured. “No. I want your mouth on me.” Whimpering, she tried to push him down. Cade got to his knees, the water pouring over his back, and nipped the inside of her thigh. Ayala moaned and pulled on his hair, guiding him to where she wanted him most. “Wait,” he groaned hoarsely. Tugging on her wet curls, he separated her labia and licked along her cleft. Looking up, he caught her heavy-lidded gaze. “Is that what you want, baby?” “Oh, God, yes,” she hissed. Grasping her ass, he drew her closer and lapped at her, carefully avoiding her clit peeking out of its hood. Her little mewling noises drove him crazy, and he plunged his tongue inside her, exploring and tasting. God, he would never get enough of her. Her fingers tugged at his hair, her hips rocked against him. She was close. He started using his tongue in earnest, plunging it inside her folds, teasing circles around her clit. She moaned and begged for release. He flicked his tongue over her hot button, and she shattered, clutching his shoulders and convulsing against his face in a series of shuddering spasms. He scooped her up and carried her out of the shower. Grabbing a fluffy, white towel from a hook on the wall, he wrapped it around her and sat on the toilet, Ayala on his lap. She snuggled into his arms. “You didn’t come.”

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He rubbed her back with the towel. “There’s always next time.” “The women will be back soon—” “I didn’t mean now.” He paused, wondering the best way to say what was on his mind—a claiming and a formal union. He wasn’t very good with pretty words and flowery speeches and Ayala never gave him a chance to try. “Ayala, I’ve been thinking about us and—” Ayala struggled off his lap and wrapped the towel around her. “I think I hear someone at the door. You better go.” She ran out of the bathroom and across the hall into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. His jaw dropped. Shit! Oh, well, there’d be time later.

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Chapter Five The baby let out a piercing wail, startling everyone at the mating ceremony. All eyes turned to watch the infant struggle in its mother’s arms, little plum-sized fists waving in the air. Amid the laughter of the others, only Ayala frowned. If anyone had asked the she-wolf why she was so annoyed, she really couldn’t say. She didn’t want a child of her own. Not really. Maybe it was because the child was a halfbreed. She still couldn’t believe the Alpha had accepted the human woman, Janis, and her half-human, half-Lycan baby into the pack. The woman had mated Noah and Wade, two wolf-shifters who had been Ayala’s bed partners many times in the past. Not that she wanted either man for herself, she just thought they deserved better. But the goofy expressions on the men’s faces told a different story. The two Lycans seemed blissfully happy and totally smitten with their human wife and hybrid baby. And Ayala didn’t understand Janis at all. Weren’t human women supposed to be more independent than Lycan females? She’d always thought so, yet Janis had given up a career and her own apartment in the city and tied herself to two dominating men. Well, Ayala would be more than happy to take her place in the free world, even if it meant hiding among humans. And now there was to be another mating. The Alpha had arranged a ceremony for not only Gage, Tanner, and the she-wolf, Kate, but Kate’s human boyfriend as well. Unbelievable! At least Shiloh Ford would only be around when he wasn’t traveling with the rodeo. The community room had been cleaned, the tables set with white cloths and colorful Indian pottery. Handmade dream catchers hung

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from the ceiling and floated over the guests. And the smell of barbeque wafted in from outside. The Alpha smiled indulgently. It had been a long time since the pack had heard a baby’s cries. Wade juggled the infant in his arms, and the baby’s cries ceased. Everyone turned their attention to the Alpha. Alex nodded to the foursome waiting for his signal, and they approached. The barefoot bride fairly floated in a sleeveless, floorlength white dress. Her long, black hair flowed loose over her shoulders, and she wore dream catcher earrings with colorful feathers. The grooms looked very handsome in their white pants and loose, white shirts with red grosgrain ribbons. Flashbulbs went off in a frenzy of picture taking, and a jolt of jealousy speared Ayala. If this mating produced children, at least the offspring would have family pictures to jog their memories. She had nothing. Everything had been lost with the massacre of their people in the Pine Barrens. New traditions and new pictures were all any of them had. Ayala and the other three unmated Lycan women came forward and wrapped the bride and her grooms in blue blankets, representing weakness, sorrow, and failure. The Alpha blessed their union, and the quad shed the blue blankets and were enveloped in white, representing happiness, fulfillment, and peace. After the ceremony, there was much hugging and kissing, and Ayala joined the other women outside to carry in platters of chicken, steaks, and ribs. Electronic music played, and the alcohol flowed endlessly. She picked at a plate of food and tried to decide if she could leave without seeming impolite. **** Brady stared at Ayala, picturing her standing by his side in a long white dress, smiling up at him, promising to love, honor, and obey him for the rest of their days. Cade elbowed him and brought him back to present day reality. Brady frowned when he noticed his friend

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eyeing Ayala with interest, and he couldn’t help the little growl that escaped. Cade gave him a funny look, and he turned away. Cade wasn’t the only man studying Ayala, and it was damn hard not to be jealous. Earlier today the Alpha had announced there would be no more mating schedules. The men were free to find mates without the worry of sharing their attentions. Ayala was beautiful and a skilled bed partner, and any one of the men, Cade included, would mate her in a heartbeat. He didn’t intend to give them the chance. Ayala belonged to him, and he intended to press her for a commitment. He started across the room to ask for a dance. Cade got to her first. He whispered a few words in her ear and led her to out to the dance floor for a slow number. Cade held her a little too tightly for Brady’s liking. Fuck! Next time he’d move faster. A few turns around the floor, and he’d cut in. Cade was a good dancer. The bastard. They floated closer, and Brady got ready to make his move. He took a few steps toward them and— The Alpha stepped up to the dancing couple, and Alex tapped Cade on the shoulder. “Excuse me, you can’t keep this beautiful woman all to yourself.” Cade released his hold on Ayala, but instead of taking her in his arms, the Alpha led her outside. What’s that all about? Brady caught Cade’s eye, and his friend walked over to join him. “What’s going on?” Cade shrugged. “Don’t know. I was just about to make my move and wham, bam, Alex steps in and sweeps her away.” “Move? What move?” Cade leaned in a little closer. “Don’t say anything, okay? I don’t want anyone to know yet. I want to surprise her.” Brady nodded, tightlipped. Cade’s eyes sparkled with an intensity Brady had never seen before. Damn it to hell! His best friend wanted his woman. Why hadn’t he made his move sooner?

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Cade was practically bouncing on his toes. “Now that Alex has loosened up and started thinking rationally, I’m going to take Ayala for my mate.” Brady’s heart stopped. “How do you know she wants a mate?” “They all want a mate, a home, cubs. I’ll take good care of her, give her everything she needs.” Brady wanted to punch the smug expression off Cade’s face. “You’re crazy. She’ll never say yes.” Cade narrowed his eyes. “How do you know?” Brady shrugged his shoulders. “I know her, how she thinks.” “And I think you’re full of shit.” Brady got up in Cade’s face until they were nose to nose. “Is that right?” Cade shoved him away, and without a second thought, Brady hauled off and swung at his face, landing a solid punch. Cade shook his head, and bloody snot flew from his nose. Furious, he started swearing and came back with a vengeance. He had just enough time to blacken Brady’s eye before the other men came running and hustled them out the door. They stood outside glaring at each other. Cade spit at his feet. “You want her, admit it.” “Maybe I do. We have something special.” “The fuck you say!” Cade unleashed his jealousy on a nearby garbage can and kicked it to the curb. “Why don’t we let her choose? When she comes back, we’ll talk to her together.” Brady didn’t like the idea, but what choice did he have? If she really wanted Cade, she’d turn down his offer anyway. They might as well cut to the chase, and they would, as soon as she came back. **** Who says wolves can’t fly? Ayala had a seat on cloud nine. When the Alpha asked to speak to her in private, and escorted her up to his

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office, she feared he was going to rain on her parade. Instead, he’d offered to help her if she still wanted to leave. She did. More than ever. Both Cade and Brady had looked at her with serious intent in their eyes, and she had no intention of tying herself to either one of them. The Alpha’s proposal wasn’t without restrictions, but she could deal because it included a one-way ticket to the big city. There was a job waiting for her at the Foundation for Infertility and Reproductive Medicine, the pack-funded facility in Philadelphia. Dr. Roy Granger himself, the head of the FIRM, would be training her. Her Alpha’s words rang in her ears. Roy is one of us. While you are in Philadelphia, I want you to regard him as your Alpha. He’ll keep you safe. Ayala promised Alex she would do as he asked, but she had no intention of going from one Alpha to another. Once she stepped foot in the city, all bets were off. Filled with excitement, she didn’t return to the party. Instead, she went back home to start packing. Dressed in an old, baggy T-shirt and cutoff jeans, she started going through her closet, only packing wasn’t as much fun as she thought it would be. The entire contents of her closet and dresser were strewn over the bed and floor. The open suitcase on her bed remained empty. Nothing in her wardrobe would be appropriate in the city. Jeans and sneaks were okay here, but they would never work in Philadelphia. She would buy new clothes as soon as she settled in. At the sound of a sharp rap, she threw open the door, surprised to see both Brady and Cade standing there. “You left so quickly, we were worried—” Brady looked beyond her and his face went dark. “What’s going on?” Ayala flipped her hair in annoyance and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m cleaning out my closet.” Brady raised a brow. “Looks like a little more than spring cleaning.” “What do you want?” she snapped.

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“Sorry.” Brady cleared his throat. “Look, can we come in? I… we just want to talk for a few minutes.” “I’m a little busy—” “Please,” Cade added. Amazing how one little word can have so much sway over a person. Ayala sighed and stepped aside to let them enter. Their bruised faces didn’t go unnoticed. It must have happened after she left the ceremony, but she refused to bring it up and prolong their visit. Hoping to get this over quickly, she didn’t ask them to sit either. Ayala remained standing as well. “So what’s this all about?” **** Brady looked at Cade. “I—” Cade looked back at Brady. “We—” They both started laughing, and then Cade spoke up. “I want to claim you as my mate in a formal union.” Her jaw dropped in surprise. “I can’t marry you.” “Ha!” Brady gave a hoot of excitement. He knew she wanted him over Cade. “I want you to be my mate.” Ayala turned to Brady. “I can’t marry either of you.” She hesitated as if looking for the right words. “I care for both of you. I couldn’t possibly choose one over the other.” “Mate us both,” Brady blurted out. Cade narrowed his eyes at Brady, sending him a look that said what the fuck is wrong with you? Brady glared right back at him. Maybe Cade didn’t like the idea of sharing her. If that was true, he’d better get over it real quick. They were here to convince Ayala to choose one of them as her mate, and she just admitted she couldn’t choose. A triad was the only answer. Never before had Brady thought about bringing Cade into the picture, but as soon as the words left his mouth he knew it was the right solution for them. Hell it was more than right, it was perfect. He

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and Cade had been together since they were kids, orphaned and trying to survive in a world where everything had been taken from them with the strike of a match. Through the years they had become so close a physical relationship was inevitable. They were good together and they’d be good for Ayala as well. Taking mates meant security. She’d never want for a thing and in exchange she would take care of them and hopefully bear their cubs. They wouldn’t be the first to have such an arrangement. Wade and Noah were happy with their relationship. He and Cade could make it work, too. He knew they could. “Cade and I will take good care of you.” He looked over at Cade, who nodded reluctantly. “I would do anything for you, Ayala,” Cade said softly. “I know Brady would, too.” Ayala’s fingers were splayed out in a fan against her breastbone. She looked from one to the other. “You’re really serious about this?” “Damn right,” Cade answered. “I wanted to talk to you about a mating the other day and then at the party, but you didn’t give me a chance. Maybe that was for the best because now we can work this out between the three of us. ” “I don’t know what to say.” “Say yes,” Brady told her. “No.” She shook her head. “I don’t want a relationship.” Well, fuck me! Am I hearing right? Brady couldn’t believe his ears. Lycan women were passionate and hot blooded. They all wanted mates who would take care of them and protect them. Didn’t they?

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Chapter Six Trying to let the men down easy had backfired. Instead of being put off, they’d suggested a triad. Truth be told, the idea of a ménage a trois made her wolf sit up and beg. It gave her pause for all of thirty seconds. What the hell am I thinking? Brady and Cade wanted more than just an occasional threesome. They wanted to leash her. Being under the thumb of one wolf was bad enough. Two would be unbearable. If they wanted unconditional obedience and unfailing nurturance, they were barking up the wrong tree. How could she make them understand that she didn’t want to take care of a man, or men, and be taken care of in return? She needed to be her own person, not an extension of some testosterone-fueled, overprotective wolf. “I’m leaving here.” She winced at the expression in their eyes. “I want to see some of the world outside the pack, get a job—” “A job?” Brady looked at her like she had an extra head on her shoulders. “You have a job here.” She glared at him. “Sex slave doesn’t qualify.” “The Alpha will never let you go,” Cade stated firmly. “That’s what you think.” She huffed. “He’s already given me his blessing.” “Son of a bitch.” Brady started pacing furiously. “He’s letting you go off by yourself?” “Where?” Cade asked. “It’s too dangerous. I’ll go with you.” Ayala rolled her eyes at his oh-so-wolfish attitude. Why do they all prefer women who are useless? Is it an ego thing? “I’m perfectly

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capable of taking care of myself. Besides, I have a job and a place to stay waiting for me in Philadelphia. I’ll be fine.” Cade stood in front of her. He lifted her chin with a finger. “You really want to leave?” “Yes.” She felt Brady at her back, his hard erection pressed against her ass. Lycan men thought they could solve everything with sex. Brady cupped her breasts and squeezed. They meant to sway her to their will by fucking her. It wouldn’t work. Of course she wanted them. Four hands, two mouths, and two hard cocks ready and willing to pleasure her was her ultimate fantasy. Even more exciting was the thought of seeing these two hot men pleasure each other. Already her pussy throbbed, and her shorts were damp at the thought of having both of them in her bed. Her Lycan genes screamed, “go for it,” but just because her extremely sexual nature was inherent in every bit of her genetic makeup didn’t mean she needed or wanted a permanent relationship. She would enjoy them now, but when it came time to leave, she’d have no problem saying good-bye. Cade’s eyes burned into hers, but instead of the kiss she expected, his mouth sought Brady’s over her shoulder ,and the two men shared a deep kiss that both surprised and thrilled her. Everyone knew the men engaged in sex with each other, but she’d never witnessed it for herself, and the sight of their open mouths and searching tongues took her arousal up another notch. When the men finally broke apart, Cade pinned her with dark, lust-filled eyes and a thrill of anticipation raised goose bumps on her flesh. Brady pressed closer, pushing her into Cade and she let out a needy whimper. “Do you want us, sweetheart?” Brady murmured against her hair. “Both of us?” “Yes,” she hissed. There was no denying it. They could smell arousal all over her.

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Brady grabbed the hem of her T-shirt and pulled it over her head while Cade unzipped her shorts and shoved them over her hips. Having two gorgeous men undress her was sexier than she thought possible. In one fluid movement, Brady scooped her up and set her on the bed, and then he and Cade removed their own clothes and tossed them on the floor. The mattress dipped as both men climbed on the bed, Brady on her right side, Cade on her left. A moment of doubt cast a shadow over her pleasure when she saw the predatory looks on their faces. Then two heads bent over her, each man sucking a nipple into the wet heat of his mouth and she forgot everything else. Ayala cried out and arched her back as they tongued her nipple rings and took possession of her full, achy breasts. Cade released her breast with a soft pop and lifted his head. Tenderly, he traced his fingers over her lips, her jaw, her cheek. He let out an audible sigh, and his lips parted, but whatever he was about to say was lost as Brady came up for air, and claimed her mouth. They shared a wild, hungry kiss as Cade settled between her thighs and spread them. A rough, sandpaper tongue swiped her cleft in one long stroke. She gasped against Brady’s lips and squirmed against Cade’s mouth, trying for more contact. Groaning, Cade separated her labia with his thumbs and plunged his tongue deep inside her cunt. “Fuck!” Brady bolted up, a hand over his mouth. “What the fuck did you do to her? She bit me!” Brady stuck out a bloody tongue. Cade looked up, all innocent, his face covered in her cream. “Let me kiss it and make it better.” He reached up, grasped Brady’s neck, and pulled his head down, sucking on his tongue long after it was necessary to stop the flow of blood. They were hot as hell. She could get off watching them fuck each other, but what fun would that be? “Hey.” She pulled on Cade’s hair. “Did you forget someone?”

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The men broke apart laughing, and Cade climbed up her body and rolled them onto their sides. “I didn’t forget anyone. Did you, Brady?” “Hell no.” Brady snuggled up behind her, his cock nestled in the crease of her ass. Oh my God. She’d never been so hot before. An intense current sizzled between the three of them and desire slammed into her hard. Cade’s eyes bored into her. “You can’t deny we have something good between us.” Her breath caught in her throat at the flare of lust in his eyes. He was right, she couldn’t deny it. Being sandwiched between them was heaven, but it wasn’t enough for a happily ever after. There was more to a relationship than being compatible in the sack and they would never understand that. Cade sighed. “Are you ready for us, baby? Because once we start there’s no going back.” She nodded, more than ready, and his hand slid over her hip and around the back of her thigh to pull her leg up. His cockhead nudged her slick mound then slipped inside her vagina. She gasped, and her hips bucked at the delicious sensation. Her eyes opened wide when Brady’s fingers spread the cheeks of her ass and slathered something cold between them. His callused finger pressed against her hole, and she let out a throaty moan as it slid past resistant muscle. Brady added a second finger to stretch her, then withdrew them and guided his cock to her ass. “Are you ready for me, sweetheart?” he whispered in her ear. “So ready. Please…” Groaning, he pushed inside slowly, and Ayala let out a long breath at the burn of his intrusion. Brady stilled, letting her get used to his girth. Reaching around, he fondled her breast, rolling a tight nipple between his fingers. “So tight, so hot, so fucking good…” “More, Brady.” She loved the feeling of being so completely filled by them.

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Behind her, he growled and started moving. Cade picked up his rhythm, and their tandem thrusting woke some wild passion she never knew she had and set her on fire. Cade’s kisses and Brady’s hands on her breasts worked her body into a frenzy, and the scent of their male musk intoxicated her. Her climax was tantalizingly close. “Please, please, please.” She moaned, and Brady skimmed a hand over her belly and lower to rub her swollen clit above Cade’s thick, plunging cock. The men increased their tempo, and she came hard, with rippling waves and shimmering spasms that milked orgasms first from Cade, then Brady. Ayala trembled between them as they filled her with their releases. Sated and spent, it seemed no one wanted to move. Ayala was struck by how good they were together. The three of them complimented each other so perfectly, and for a moment, she wished things could be different. Knowing they couldn’t, she kept her eyes closed so Cade couldn’t read anything into her expression. This was only about the sex, and she didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. “Sweetheart?” Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and forced her features into a blank mask. Cade’s eyes were troubled. “Ayala,” he whispered. “I don’t want this to be our good-bye.” He put her off balance. They both did. They made her secondguess her choices. It would be so easy, so safe, to stay, but she’d end up resenting them and making them as unhappy as she would be. Brady pulled her closer and nuzzled her hair. “Don’t leave, sweetheart. We’ll give you whatever you need.” Their words were enticing, and her sex-clouded mind left her vulnerable. Erecting her barriers was a real struggle. She set her features in a mask of indifference, hoping they wouldn’t see through her pretense. “You’re ours,” Brady said, and he pulled her a little tighter against his hard chest. “Brady’s right,” Cade added. “You belong to us now.”

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They were absolutely the right words to bring her back to reality. “What makes you think I want to belong to anyone?” “Isn’t that what all Lycan women want?” “Not this one.” She struggled to get out of their grasp, and reluctantly the men relinquished their hold. Brady sat up, then Cade, confusion written all over their faces. “You’ll want for nothing.” They spoke practically in unison. “And all I have to do in return is obey, submit, and serve.” She spat. “No thanks. Nothing’s changed. I’m leaving for Philadelphia tomorrow. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to finish packing.”

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Chapter Seven The glass doors slid shut behind Ayala, cutting off the warm outside air. She cringed, clutching her carry-on bag and ticket to her chest. Everyone in the crowded airport seemed to know exactly where to go—except her. Thank God the Alpha…I mean Alex insisted on coming with me. He helped her decipher the ticket and check her baggage. So much for independence. Finally the line started forming to board, and it was time to say good-bye to Alex. “Thank you for coming with me. I’d still be wandering around if not for you.” He studied her with a grave expression on his face. “You don’t have to go, you know. You can still change your mind.” The Alpha had a knack for reading people, but he must have misinterpreted her fear of flying for something else. “I want this. I’m not changing my mind.” “Okay then, have a safe trip. Call me.” “I’ll be fine, really.” “I know, and I just want to hear how you’re doing.” His eyes were so serious. “Humor me.” “Promise.” She gave him an impulsive hug and got in line. When she looked back, he was gone. Then she was actually boarding an airplane and everything else paled in comparison. It was all so surreal, as if it were happening to someone else. Claustrophobia hit as she walked down the narrow aisle inside the plane. People putting bags in the overhead compartments blocked her way, and she had to force herself not to shove them aside and rush past. At last she found her seat and buckled in. She listened to the

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emergency instructions as if her life depended on them and prayed it wouldn’t. Then she closed the shutter on the small porthole window and tried to relax. A man slid into the seat next to her and smiled wanly. He looked even more nervous than she felt. Beads of sweat gathered on his pale face, and he gripped the armrests hard enough to turn his knuckles white. His fear rubbed off on her, and she leaned back in the seat, closed her eyes, and didn’t open them until the plane landed. The airport in Philadelphia was bigger and busier than the one she departed from. Constantly craning her neck to read the signs, she shuffled along with the crowds, claiming her luggage and searching for the exit area where Roy Granger would be meeting her. She recognized the Lycan doctor immediately, a dark-haired man with golden eyes, who stood head and shoulders above everyone else and smelled like wolf. Ayala stared at him from across the room. Their eyes locked—and held. He smiled and walked toward her. She was glad she’d worn nice slacks and a blouse instead of jeans because he looked so handsome in his khakis, dress shirt, and tie. When he took her hand, she felt a tingle down to her toes. “Ayala, how are you? You look beautiful.” “I’m fine, Dr. Granger—” “Please call me Roy.” He grabbed her bags and led her to his car outside. “You must be exhausted and starved. I thought we’d stop and decompress before heading into town. There’s a small, quiet restaurant nearby, and they have great food. **** Roy waited until Ayala slid into the booth before he took a seat opposite her. She admired the crystal chandeliers, white linen, and shining silver. Flickering candles on the table cast shadows on Roy’s chiseled features, making him look mysterious and sexy.

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“Is this okay?” he asked her. “It’s beautiful,” she said in a breathy voice. “I’ve never been in such an elegant restaurant.” Brady had taken her to a diner in Silver City once, and she’d had such a good time he promised to take her out more often, but of course he never did. A waiter approached on noiseless shoes, and Roy ordered a bottle of wine. “So tell me, Ayala, why isn’t a beautiful woman like you dining at fancy restaurants more often?” “Uh…I, uh. Well, the Alpha doesn’t like us to mingle too much with the humans.” “And yet he allowed Janis to move in with the pack.” “Yes, he’s changed in some ways. He’s not as, ah—” “The word is overbearing. Alex acts more like an overprotective father than an Alpha.” He reached over the table and took Ayala’s hand. “It’s a crime. You should be going out every night of the week. We’ll have to do something about that.” Their server arrived with the wine, and Roy released her hand. He looked at the label and nodded his okay. The waiter pulled the cork and poured a small taste into Roy’s glass. Ayala watched, fascinated, as he swirled it, sniffed it, nodded, and smiled. The waiter filled Ayala’s glass, then Roy’s. Roy held up his glass. “I’d like to make a toast.” He stared into her eyes. “To the start of your new life.” “I’ll drink to that.” She touched her glass to his and took a sip. Ayala relaxed. It felt good to hear her thoughts echoed by someone as smart and sophisticated as Roy. The doctor said all the right things. If only Brady and Cade understood her the way he did…She sighed, determined to put the old life behind and enjoy herself. The food was excellent, perfectly done filet mignon with glazed mushrooms, baked potatoes, and crusty bread. Roy put her at ease with stories about the city and the historical sites he planned on showing her. He was incredibly charming and attentive, and she ate it up. The time flew. They finished the wine, and she let out a yawn.

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“You’re exhausted, and here I am going on about the Liberty Bell.” Roy asked for the check. “We should get going.” “I am tired, and I really want to see my apartment and unpack.” Roy stood and waited for her. “Actually you’ll be staying with me.” Ayala looked at him in surprise. “The Alpha said you would find me an apartment.” “And I did. Or I thought I did, but it won’t be available until the end of the month.” “Oh. What about a hotel? I don’t want to put you out.” “You’re not. I have a very large condo near the FIRM. It has two bedrooms, and you’re welcome to use one of them as long as you like. I’ll give you a key, and you can come and go as you please.” This was not part of the plan. She wanted to be on her own. Still, Roy was so understanding, nothing like the Alpha or Brady and Cade. And she would have her own key. How bad could it be? **** A public square separated Roy’s condo from the FIRM. The small park provided an oasis in the midst of the urban jungle. Evidently, the homeless thought so, too. A few ragged figures were sleeping on the stone benches. Ayala walked through the greenery and felt grounded among the trees, manicured flowerbeds, and well-tended grass. The big city would take some getting used to. An empty bench by a water fountain offered a temporary reprieve, and she took it. Not because she was nervous, she just wanted to take everything in. It was, after all, the first day of the rest of her life. Smartly dressed business people, joggers, and dog-walkers fired her imagination. As much as she hated the humans for destroying her family, she also envied them their freedom and exciting lives. Soon she would have what they did, a career and a purpose to her life.

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Although Roy had told her to take a few days for herself, she was anxious to start living her new life. When she had insisted on coming to the FIRM, Roy told her he liked to be in his office early and he’d offered to send his assistant to accompany Ayala, but she declined. She could certainly make it through a park on her own. She had a wolf’s instincts after all. She hoped Roy wasn’t going to turn out to be as overprotective as Alex. Ayala came out of the park and waited by the traffic light. Outside the park was a whole, new world, not all of it pleasant. The sound of car horns assaulted her ears, and her sensitive nose balked at the toxic fumes of car exhaust. Suddenly homesickness hit with the force of a punch in the gut. From desert to rugged mountains to deep canyons, New Mexico offered her people solitude and escape. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice the light had turned green. Annoyed pedestrians jostled her as they rushed to cross the street. Startled, Ayala moved along with the crowd until they’d crossed the wide boulevard and she was standing at a brick and wrought iron fence surrounding a quadrangle of four large buildings. Even if there hadn’t been a sign proclaiming the Foundation for Infertility and Reproductive Medicine in big, black letters, she’d have no trouble identifying the correct building. The FIRM may have been designed to blend in with the adjacent buildings, but the modern façade and materials contrasted with the original structures in the complex. Dozens of people passed through the iron gates, walked up to various doors, and stepped inside. Some were smartly dressed, some were wearing jeans, and some had white lab coats thrown over their street clothes, but they all had one thing in common—they were human. In her khaki slacks and white blouse, Ayala blended in. Only she knew how unique she really was. Upon reflection, the Alpha had been right to send her here. She didn’t feel quite so alone knowing there was at least one other person like her in Philadelphia. Roy had all the qualities she admired in a man. He was handsome, educated, and he didn’t seem at all controlling. Not that she was falling for him,

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not even close, but he was someone she could trust. Knowing he waited inside the building made all the difference. Time to start her new life. The glass doors slid shut behind her, blocking out the street noise. Her flats barely made a sound on the tiled floor of the reception area, but Roy looked up immediately, smiled broadly, and beckoned her over. Of course he scented her as soon as she walked in. He might look different, so professional in his lab coat, but he was still wolf. “This is Lucy, my administrative assistant. Lucy, this is Ayala. I’ll be training her personally.” The tall, curvy redhead standing next to him was not at all friendly. Ms. Sourpuss looked Ayala up and down disdainfully as if she were an inferior rival, and her lips twitched in a fake smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Perhaps Lucy was surprised that Ayala would report directly to Roy. Tough. Get used to it, Lucy. There’s a new girl in town. **** Roy smiled at the little spitfire sitting across the desk from him. Alex had said Ayala was more hellcat than wolf. If that were true, he would enjoy taming her. She looked good in her clothes, and she would look even better out of them. Planting his seed inside her would not be a hardship. Oddly enough, Alex had sent Ayala to him at just the right time. Besides his need for a research subject, his taste for human flesh had all but disappeared. Sick of his redheaded lover, he craved a wolf in his bed, and if he couldn’t have Alex, he would make do with Ayala. As soon as he’d laid eyes on the little bitch, he wanted to fuck her, but it wouldn’t do to rush things. He’d take it slow and seduce her. He didn’t want her crying to Alex about the big bad wolf in the city. He’d already fucked up once in the Alpha’s eyes. He’d dated Janis Outlaw when she lived in Philadelphia and managed her brothers’

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apartment building. The first time he stepped foot in her apartment he’d seen a picture of her twin brothers and their wife, Sable. Sable looked like a she-wolf, and he’d contacted Alex immediately. The Alpha had sent Noah and Wade to Black Wolf Gorge, and they had confirmed his suspicions. Roy had ordered the two Lycans to kidnap Sable and her twin infant boys. Janis and the rest of her family came to their rescue. Those idiots Noah and Wade decided Janis was their mate, and Alex suddenly developed a conscience. Now the human female was living with the pack and had borne a half-breed daughter. The Alpha had blamed himself, not Roy, for the kidnapping, but Roy didn’t want to make waves again. He needed Alex’s financial backing and his approval. He was in love with him, had been since the day Alex found him in Boston. So he intended to handle this little bitch very carefully. Before long she’d be eating out of his hand and begging to be part of his research. “What’s my position here?” Ayala asked. On your knees, sucking me off. “Anything and everything. Unfortunately I’ve decided to let Lucy go. She’s been an excellent assistant, but she’s not one of us, and I need someone I can trust implicitly by my side. Someone I can confide in. Someone who knows our people intimately and can assist in my research. That someone is you, Ayala.” Her lips parted, and he imagined his tongue thrusting between them. Ayala’s eyes opened wide. “I’m flattered, Roy. I hope I can be everything you need.” “There’s not a doubt in my mind.” His mouth twitched in a wry smile. “You’re exactly what I need.” He stood up and came around his desk. “You’ve seen everything, the private offices and consultation rooms and the main laboratory upstairs, but now I want to show you my private lab.” She followed him through a door on the right that opened to a hallway and the other areas of Roy’s suite: two exam rooms, a conference room, and a bathroom. He stopped in front of a private

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elevator at the end of the hallway. “This will take us down to my lab where the real research goes on.” **** Inside, Ayala cringed. She hated confined spaces. If the doors didn’t open in the next five seconds, she might turn tail and run. “Can we take the stairs, Roy?” “Sorry, this is the only way down. Too many access points make it easy for intruders to get in.” He studied her with a curious intensity. “Only one other person knows about this lab, and that’s Alex.” “I won’t tell anyone. You have my word.” She stared at her smudged reflection in the metal doors. Wolf eyes stared back at her, slanted, amber, and predatory. What the hell was she scared of? Roy took a ring of keys from his pocket and used one to unlock the door. Then he stood aside so Ayala could enter first. He was counting on her. She lifted her chin, resolved not to show an ounce of discomfort. The doors slid shut behind them like the jaws of a metal monster. Ayala had to give Roy some credit for looking so at ease in this airless death trap. He pressed a button, and the car started to move down. She lifted her head to watch the number display, but there was none. As if she weren’t claustrophobic enough. She clutched the metal handrail as the elevator lurched to a stop, and the doors opened to a small vestibule. “There are patient rooms through there.” Roy pointed to a hall on the right then led her straight ahead to the laboratory. Ayala wrinkled her nose at the scent of bleach and antiseptic. Her gaze swiveled over file cabinets and a desk with computers and other equipment. Security cameras were mounted on the walls. The large area was divided into smaller sections by counters and cubicle walls. Everywhere she looked she saw equipment, microscopes, racks of vials and beakers, syringes, and much more she had no idea what they were.

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It was all Greek to her, but Roy assured her he would teach her everything she needed to know. They ended up in an exam room and she tried not to let on how intimidated she really felt. “If you want to change into scrubs, that’s fine. Or you can wear a lab coat over your clothes.” Roy opened a closet, took out a white coat, and held it out so she could slip her arms into it. Twirling in front of a mirror, she admired her reflection. She smiled up at Roy. He smiled back. “You look like you belong here.”

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Chapter Eight Lying on a paper-covered exam table, with her feet in metal stirrups and her legs spread, was a new and unwelcome experience for Ayala. She had no false modesty, but this was an awkward position to be in if she wasn’t here having sex. When Roy enlisted her help with his research and told her there would be medical procedures, she had no idea they’d be so invasive. Through the years their Alpha had collected samples of blood and other bodily fluids to be sent to Philadelphia for testing. Ayala had assumed this would be more of the same. Roy had shocked her the first time he told her to get undressed and climb up on the table. Lycans rarely got examined. Their kind didn’t get sick. She’d never been poked and prodded so much. Roy had explained that medical research always involved clinical drug trials. Without them, the humans wouldn’t have discovered the cures for many of their diseases. He told her that people fought over the chance to be test subjects. When he took her medical history, she had to admit she’d been taking birth control pills. He’d been furious, telling her she was harming her body and possibly destroying any chance of getting pregnant in the future. At first she became angry, but after thinking about it, she changed her mind. He was the doctor after all. She handed them over and promised not to put anything into her body unless he okayed it. But now doubts were beginning to creep into her head. Hopefully, it would all be worth it one day. Roy had promised to fund her education. She could study to be a real nurse, or even a doctor. Then

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she’d be able to understand the true value of Roy’s work, and they would be real partners. She would have the life and career she always wanted and make a real contribution to her people at the same time. It was her dream. “Everything looks good.” Ayala forced a smile and pushed against the stirrups to straighten her knees and slide back on the table. Roy watched her like a hawk. It made her uncomfortable. “Roll over.” Ayala sighed and did as she was told, pillowing her head on her arms and steeling herself for the prick of the hypodermic. “Good girl.” Roy massaged her ass where he’d injected the drugs. He’d told her it helped to disperse the drug and minimize discomfort, but there was no minimizing what she was feeling today. Warmth spread from the injection site to the surrounding tissue until her entire pelvic region throbbed and burned. The liquid heat Roy dispensed flowed like lava through her veins and warmed her extremities. Her sensitive skin flushed pink and prickled with sensations unlike anything she had ever experienced before. A surge of pure animal lust made her cunt weep to be filled, and she ground her throbbing pussy against the table. The friction of stiff paper against her heated clit didn’t offer enough relief, and she squirmed under Roy’s touch. “What’s wrong, Ayala?” “I don’t know,” she whimpered. “I feel…different.” “Tell me.” Roy grabbed her chart from an instrument table and made a note. “Describe everything you feel.” She couldn’t bring herself to tell him how suddenly aroused she was. “Don’t be shy. It’s important to our research that I know everything.” “Oh, God…” Her breathing got heavier as she wiggled her hips against the paper. “Roy, I…I’m burning up.”

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“Turn over, Ayala.” She couldn’t bring herself to move and lose the pressure of the table on her heightened nerve center. Roy gripped her roughly and rolled her onto her back. Her hands went immediately to her sore, swollen breasts, and she couldn’t contain a moan as she rubbed the distended nipples. Her skin flushed redder as her arousal went up another notch. “What did you do to me?” Ayala whimpered. Roy ignored the question, instead reaching between her legs to examine her throbbing pussy. She jerked at his touch. “Keep still,” he snapped. “Or I’ll restrain you.” Surprised, Ayala stilled immediately and looked up at him. He’d never spoken to her like that before. Something had gone wrong, and he must be worried about her. Alarm bells went off, and her body broke out in a cold sheen of sweat as she anxiously endured his examination. He spoke to himself, as if she were no more worthy of attention than a lab rat. “Labia extremely red and swollen, clitoris is prominent.” His fingers slid inside her, and he licked his lips. “Excellent. There are internal changes such as the shape of the vagina and the position of the uterus.” He cleaned his hands with a towel and added some notes to his clipboard. Ayala tried again. “What’s wrong with me?” A broad smile lit his face. “There’s nothing wrong with you. This is all good. You’re in heat.” Good? “Heat?” She looked up in shock. “When will it stop?” “One more dose tomorrow and then on to phase two. I promise you’ll feel much better at that stage.” Thank God! There was an antidote, some remedy that would return her body to normal. “What’s phase two?” One hand slid over her belly to her cunt, and she trapped it between her thighs, trying to relieve the continuous ache.

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“That’s when we make history. You and me, Ayala, partners in every way.” A tingle of apprehension ran up her spine. “I don’t know, Roy,” she moaned. “I can’t do this for another hour, let alone a day.” “Do what you’re doing, Ayala.” His eyes glittered. “Masturbate. It’ll help.” Oh God. What had she gotten herself into? Roy’s drugs made her crave a man’s touch, a hard cock flooding her with cum. She couldn’t take much more. All-consuming need sparked every nerve ending. Her fingers, slick with her fluids, slipped inside her soaked pussy, and she shivered as her walls contracted around them. It wasn’t enough. Right now, she wanted, no, desperately needed Brady and Cade filling the empty void inside her. Her womb tightened at the thought. Her clit throbbed, wanting attention. Breathing hard, her fingers danced on the hard engorged button. Her own touch felt good, but Brady could make it feel so much better. She wanted his hot, wet mouth on her pussy, his tongue stroking her clit as Cade suckled her breasts. She panted like a dog, remembering the pleasure of having them both inside her at once. Her fingers moved faster. A moan escaped from her throat as she stoked an internal fire that threatened to combust and turn her to ash. So intense…So primal…She howled as her orgasm came in a wild explosion of overwhelming contractions. When her body stilled, she sprawled, completely spent. Somehow, she would get through the next few days, and then Roy would give her an antidote and she could get on with her life. **** Ayala woke during the night, feverish and achy with a feral need that made her wolf fierce and edgy. For a minute she didn’t know where she was, and then she remembered Roy carrying her through the dark labyrinth of the subbasement and putting her to bed in one of

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the small cell-like patient rooms. She’d been so exhausted, and the thought of covering her hypersensitive skin with clothes and going back to the condo was unbearable. She couldn’t even tolerate a sheet over her body. When Roy suggested she spend the night here, she had agreed. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the narrow bed. Priority number one was finding a toilet. Stumbling as she stood, she took a minute to let the dizziness pass, then, still naked, padded down the hall to the bathroom. The flesh between her thighs was rubbed raw but already healing and throbbing for more attention. Once outside the bathroom, she leaned back against the wall and stroked her pussy, trying to tamp down a growing arousal. Her vivid imagination supplied a soundtrack of Brady’s growls. Suddenly she froze. The growls were real, not just her imagination, and she followed them across the small elevator foyer to a locked door on the other side. There were wolves in there. She could hear them, smell them. She wanted to see them. She’d seen keys in the exam room, and she ran back there to look. They were still there. A key ring sat on top of Roy’s clipboard. It held enough keys for the entire facility. Hoping one of them would unlock the mysterious room, she grabbed them and headed back. She almost dropped the keys as she tried one after the other. The growls got louder the longer she stood there. Finally, a key inserted and turned. Ayala threw open the door, and her jaw dropped. A large, steel cage with two mating wolves filled most of the room. The male looked up at Ayala and snarled before going back to his crazed humping. Understanding broke through Ayala’s confusion and her heart pounded against her ribs. A clipboard hung on the wall, and Ayala took it down with shaky hands. Most of the medical jargon was gibberish to her, but one thing stood out, a page that charted seven doses of a drug. Ayala let out a long moan. Oh my God, phase two is impregnation.

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**** Brady woke dizzy and disoriented. His dream had been so real, he expected to look over and see Ayala sleeping next to him, her darktipped breasts rising and falling with every breath as she slept. Her legs parted and her sweet cunt wet and ready for him. God, he wanted to be inside her, hearing her panting moans as he fucked her. He’d wanted her before, but now that he knew she was gone, the want had turned into an obsession. He thought about her all the time, during the day when he worked construction for Alex and at night as soon as he closed his eyes. She visited him in erotic dreams that woke him with wet spots on the sheets. Ever since he’d blurted out his proposal for a triad, the idea had taken root in his mind and grown. Ayala was special. Whenever he felt lonely or unhappy, just seeing her lightened his mood. When she wasn’t around, he missed her and couldn’t wait to see her again. They’d all lost their families. Had he somehow ruined their chance to start a new one? Guilt filled his gut with an unrelenting weight and unanswered questions plagued him. Did she leave because of him? Did he drive her away? He lay back on the pillow and threw an arm over his face. He was so lost in his thoughts it took a few seconds to register Cade’s presence in his room. He uncovered his eyes and saw his housemate’s green-gold eyes glittering in the dark. “I couldn’t sleep either.” Cade approached the side of his bed. “Want some company?” “Yeah.” Brady slid over to make room for his friend and lover. Cade sat on the edge of the bed, a feral smile on his face. He trailed his fingers over Brady’s muscular thigh to the dark curls surrounding his half-flaccid penis and cupped Brady’s balls, squeezing lightly.

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Goose bumps rose on Brady’s flesh, and his cock filled. Cade’s big, warm hand stroked his shaft to full arousal then left him wanting and growling in protest. “You sound a little needy, big guy,” Cade murmured. He rubbed a thumb over an already tight nipple then fisted his own cock. “So am I. Want to fuck you.” Brady drew in a harsh breath. “Yeah, I want that, too.” He lay back and drew up his knees. “Fuck me. Hard.” Cade snatched the lube from the nightstand and knelt between Brady’s thighs. He warmed some lube in his palms and stroked it over his cock. Then leaning over for a kiss, he circled Brady’s entrance and slid a finger past the tight ring of muscle. Brady shuddered and lifted his hips. “More.” A second finger joined the first, and Cade stretched him in preparation for the hard fucking he wanted. “Don’t baby me, Cade,” Brady murmured. “I’m not a fucking virgin.” Cade laughed. “My man is in a hurry.” Removing his fingers, he leaned over for a quick kiss and then shifted position. He pressed the engorged head of his cock to Brady’s slick hole and slid home in one hard thrust, burying himself balls deep. Brady let out a grunt, then a groan of pleasure at the sensation of being filled. Sometimes even a wolf wanted to be dominated, and Cade was the man to do it. He relaxed, and Cade pulled out until only the head of his cock remained inside Brady’s ass. “More,” Brady begged. Cade thrust in a steady rhythm, pounding Brady into the mattress. “Like this?” he grunted, fisting Brady’s cock and pumping. “Fuck, yes!” Cade understood him better than any woman ever had. They knew each other so well, instinctively understood what the other needed. They were good together. ****

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Cade loved watching Brady’s face when he fucked him. His lover couldn’t hold back a thing. Every emotion showed on his face. He let his feelings out, too. It was great to feel free and trusting enough to show your feelings. He couldn’t do it when he was with Ayala. She always held a part of herself back and made it pretty clear that aside from his climax, she didn’t care what he was feeling. Brady’s muscles clamped around his cock, and Cade pulled in a lungful of air. “You feel so damn good. And you look fucking amazing, all slicked up with sweat and pre-cum.” If his dick wasn’t already committed to an orgasm that was barreling down on him like a runaway freight train, he’d stop to lick every inch of his lover’s sculpted body. Brady grunted out a laugh. “I bet you say that to all the guys.” “Nope, just you.” It was no lie. He and Brady had something special between them. “You look pretty pleased with yourself.” “Hey, who doesn’t like to get told they’re wanted?” Cade scoffed at him. “Like you never hear that.” “I don’t.” “I’ll make sure you hear it more often.” Cade’s balls tightened, and an electric spark ran up his spine. “Fuck, I’m gonna come,” he groaned. Distantly, he heard Brady growl his name and explode in a burst of wet heat between them. Cade thrust inside him one more time and let go with his own release. He rode out the hot bursts of pleasure, unwilling to let them end. Finally he collapsed next to Brady in a mindless heap. Spent and sated, they lay side by side. **** Brady grabbed his cell phone and left Cade snoring. Thank God he had Cade, but he still missed Ayala, and he couldn’t wait another

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day to talk to her. He went downstairs and called Roy’s number. New Mexico was two hours behind Philadelphia, so even though it was only five a.m. here, it was seven there, and Roy always got an early start. A woman answered. “Hello.” For a second he wasn’t sure he had the right number. “Is this Roy Granger’s office?” “Yes.” Not very professional. “I’d like to talk to him.” “So would I,” she drawled sarcastically. A tingle of apprehension ran along Brady’s spine. “Can I leave a message?” “No. I don’t work here anymore and I’m not getting paid to take messages. In fact, I’m packing up my stuff as we speak, but if you want to know where you can find him...” The irritating voice paused long enough to let the words sink in. “I’d bet money that right now Dr. Granger is probably fucking his new assistant.” Slam! A long furious growl rumbled up from Brady’s chest. Son of a bitch. If that motherfucker put a hand on Ayala, I’ll kill him. He took the stairs two at a time, ran into the bedroom, and shook Cade. Cade rolled over and yawned. “What’s up?” “Get the fuck up. We’re flying to Philadelphia today.”

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Chapter Nine Ayala sat against the headboard, her arms wrapped around her knees, arousal and panic battling for control of her body. Right now she felt like a cornered animal, and her wolf didn’t like it one bit. Any threat primed her wolf for fighting or fleeing. As soon as she had opened that door, her inner beast knew it couldn’t fight two animals in a cage, but it had picked up on her stress, and the urge to escape took over. She’d run straight to the elevator and tried every key. None of them worked. Out of options, she had no choice but to wait for Roy. Only the scalpel under her pillow made her feel safer. Unfortunately fear and anxiety did nothing to tamp down her arousal. There was only one remedy for being in heat, and she’d use the knife on herself before she let Roy touch her. He’d lied to her, used her, and she couldn’t get past that. How could she have been so stupid? Instead of seeing through his elegant façade, she’d let education and smooth talk blind her to what should have been painfully obvious. The man cared nothing for her as person. She was merely a means to the end. The hours passed in a series of changing emotions, mostly negative. Exhausted, she teetered on the edge of a meltdown. One minute, ready to yell…the next, yawn. She opened her eyes and bolted up on the bed. Apparently she’d fallen asleep. How the hell had that happened? Roy watched her intently from a hardback chair across the room. Her hand snaked under the pillow for the knife. It was gone.

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“Looking for this?” Roy held the knife up then slammed it so hard into the bureau that the blade broke. “Now, why would you need a scalpel under your pillow?” “How—” “My keys had been moved. A scalpel was missing. I’ve never had trouble putting two and two together.” He stood, and she instinctively moved back on the bed. “So how are you feeling?” he asked, as if nothing had happened. She stared in disbelief. The man was a robot, completely devoid of feelings. “Do you really care?” she spat at him. His brows drew together. “Of course I care. Your body is going through changes, and you’re frightened. It’s perfectly understandable, but I’m going to be with you every step of the way.” He sat down on the edge of the bed but didn’t touch her. “You have no idea how important you are to this research. And you’re the only one here I can trust with the real nature of my work.” Bullshit! He hadn’t told her the whole story, just that she’d be trying a new drug and undergoing tests—all for the good of her people. Hot tears threatened to spill. He’d promised to fund her education so she could have a career and be independent, and she bought the whole thing hook, line, and sinker. God, she’d been so stupid. “Believe me, Ayala. I want this to be over as much as you do.” He stood and held out a hand. “Let’s go to the exam room so I can run some tests and give you the last injection.” She shook her head adamantly. “There will be no more injections.” “Don’t play games, Ayala. We have to finish the regimen in order to achieve the best possible outcome. I know you’re uncomfortable, but this will be over soon.” “It’s over now!” Single-minded determination kicked in, and she thrust out her chin. “I saw your lab rats breeding in some kind of mating frenzy. Is that what you have planned for me?”

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Roy’s face darkened. “You had no right to disturb my test subjects.” “I had every right,” she screamed at him. “You tricked me, made promises you never intended to keep. Told me my participation involved testing. I won’t be bred like some animal.” “I never said what the experiment entailed. You filled in the blanks with whatever you wanted.” “You’re as bad as Alex, making up your own rules and trying to breed me with some stranger.” “It’s not like that. We’re hardly strangers. I’ll always take care of you and our child.” Her eyes went wide. “You?” He smiled at her as if she were a small child. “Do you know any other Lycans around here?” “I came here to start a new life and a career. I don’t want to raise a child.” “Nor do I. Think of the big picture. After our hard work comes to a successful conclusion, our people will be able to reproduce again. The viability of the drugs is my only concern. After the birth, the child will be sent to the pack to be raised with our kind and you can continue working here.” “You would do that, give up your baby? I could never let someone else raise my child.” He frowned, and his tone went sharp with impatience. “You’re free to go back with the baby and raise it yourself. I will, of course, provide for it financially.” “No! You don’t understand. I want to make my own choices, and I don’t choose this.” Roy gave up all pretense of pleasantness. “There’s no choosing here, Ayala.” He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. “My work is too important, and I can’t allow you to ruin it.” She pounded on his back as he carried her to the exam room, but in her weakened state she was no match for him. In a matter of

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minutes, her wrists were bound with duct tape and her body bent over the exam table. Anger ripped through her, and she bucked back wildly against his heavy body. “You won’t get away with this.” She growled at him. “I’ll go to the Alpha. I’ll tell him everything.” Roy laughed at her. “It will be too late. I’m going to speed this up a little. By the time you talk to Alex, our mating will be a done deal, and if all goes as planned, he will be so thrilled with the outcome, he won’t care how it came about.” **** Cade felt as though they’d lost an entire day, and indeed they had. It had been early morning when Brady called the FIRM. He and Cade had stormed the Alpha’s office half-dressed, and a big blowout had taken place. Alex saw no reason for them to fly off to Philadelphia halfcocked. He reasoned that if Ayala wanted to fuck Roy, it was their business, no one else’s. They didn’t see it that way. Brady felt sure Ayala was in trouble, and Cade agreed. The Alpha tried to calm them down and offered to call Ayala. Voice mail answered Roy’s number at the FIRM, and a recorded message informed Alex that Dr. Roy Granger would return the call as soon as possible. Alex tried Roy’s cell phone next, and it went immediately to voice mail. Brady and Cade were forced to sit through breakfast with the Alpha while they waited for a call that never came. After several hours, Alex had to concede something was off. Roy always answered his private cell. Knowing how upset he and Brady were, Alex would not let them go to Philadelphia without him. Besides, Alex had funded the building. He knew the layout, and he had a set of keys. If an experiment had gone bad, and someone had been hurt, he could get

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around the building faster. No one could argue with that reasoning, and Alex had booked three seats on a red-eye flight. Now in the wee hours of the morning, they were in a slow-moving taxi headed to Roy’s condo. If Cade thought he could get away with it, he’d shift and find his way on four paws. The taxi pulled up to an ultramodern, towering high-rise. Cade had to admit even he was impressed. He and Brady couldn’t offer Ayala anything near as grand. Security let Alex pass without a problem, and Cade was glad he’d come with them. It was a silent elevator ride to the twenty-fifth floor. Brady raised a brow when Alex pulled out a set of keys. It didn’t surprise Cade. Roy and Alex had been lovers, probably still were on their infrequent visits back and forth. Inside, the modern furnishings screamed money, and the walls of windows offered stunning views of the waking city. Roy’s lifestyle was a far cry from theirs in New Hope. If this was the life Ayala envisioned for herself then he and Brady would have no choice but to let her go. There were no signs of life, but they checked the bedrooms anyway. Cade and Brady shared an unhappy look when they found Ayala’s clothes in one of them. Alex knew the way to the FIRM, a short walk through a park, and that was where they headed. **** “Feel good?” Roy asked, grinding his rampant erection against Ayala’s ass. She tried to push him away, but she couldn’t budge him, and his cock grew at the contact. “You pervert. Raping women turns you on?” “Hardly. It’s usually the other way around.” He chuckled. “I’ve been taking something, too. Not the same drug, of course. My interest is triggered by your heat, and I’m more than ready to take you.”

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“I’d rather fuck one of your gray wolves,” she spat. Roy let out a gruff laugh. “That can be arranged but right now, just do your duty for the pack. One last dose and your fertility will be at an optimum level for impregnation.” He covered her with his body and reached between her thighs to cup her mound. “Hmm, so wet for me, Ayala. I can hardly wait to get my dick inside your sweet cunt.” She envisioned herself shifting, lunging at Roy and tearing his throat out with her canines. It made a pretty picture. How would he like to fuck her wolf? Unfortunately, he might like it just fine. He could shift, too, and fuck her just as easily on four feet as on two. “This could have been fun, but as long as the job gets done, I really don’t care.” He wound tape around her ankles and laid her on the exam table. “I’m going to inject the last dose, give the drugs an hour to move through your system, and then we’ll get to phase two.” He winked. “I’ll take good care of you when the time comes.” She moaned, unable to stop the terrifying thoughts going through her head. Oh, God. She saw herself in a cage, just another animal in Roy’s zoo. He made a few notes, and suddenly his pen stopped moving. She heard it the same time he did. There was someone else down here. She let out a bloodcurdling scream and heard footsteps pounding toward them. “Shut the fuck up.” Roy reached in one of the metal cabinets and pulled out a handgun, raised it, ready to fire, but Brady came barreling through the door, slammed into Roy, and knocked the gun out of his hand. He slammed a fist into Roy’s face just as Cade came through the door and flew to Ayala’s side. Gathering her into his arms, Cade crooned. “Are you all right, baby?” Ayala buried her face in his chest and started crying. Cade spat in Roy’s direction. “Kill the son of a bitch, Brady.” He swept instruments aside on the counter and found a scissors to cut the duct tape binding Ayala.

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It looked like Brady intended to follow Cade’s order, but before he could land another punch, a snarling, black wolf walked through the door, and everyone froze. The pack rarely saw the Alpha in his wolf form. Glowing, yellow eyes pinned Roy, and the snarling Alpha bared his canines in a challenge. Roy stood stock-still. “I won’t fight you, Alex,” he said softly. “Kill me if you want. I won’t pick up a hand against you.” The wolf’s body contorted, black fur receded into flesh, and his muzzle shrunk. The transformation was over in seconds, and the Alpha stood, hands on hips. “What have you done, Roy?” “My research is at a crucial point. I needed a Lycan female to try it on.” Brady growled and made a move toward Roy, but Alex put a hand up. “Will she be all right?” Roy nodded. “I put her into an extreme heat, but without the last shot it’ll wear off shortly. It won’t come back unless I start the regimen again.” “You’ll have to come through me to get near her. There’s no way in hell she’s taking anything again,” Cade yelled. Alex quieted him with a look. “You and Brady take care of Ayala.” The Alpha tilted his head toward the door. “I want to talk to Roy alone.” Cade carried her to the little bedroom and set her down. He and Brady stood there looking at her. An awkward silence followed. She wrapped herself in the sheet, drew her knees up, and rocked back and forth. She’d never been so glad to see anyone in her life, but she didn’t know what to say. These men really cared about her, and it was worth so much more than a career and a fancy house. But, a little voice whispered in her head, Lycan men don’t know when to stop. They’ll smother you with their protectiveness and controlling personalities. She wanted to cry. Why were their lives so complicated?

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Chapter Ten Ayala was shocked when the taxi pulled up to the fanciest and most expensive hotel in the downtown area. Brady and Cade whisked her inside and walked her through the mirrored and marble-floored lobby to the front desk where Brady requested a room. The clerk tapped a few keys on his computer. “The only suite available has a king-size bed.” “We’ll take it,” Cade responded enthusiastically. The desk clerk raised his brows. “How long will you be staying?” Brady slid a credit card across the counter. “One night.” Ayala’s face flamed as Brady accepted the key card and pulled her toward the elevator. “He probably thinks I’m a hooker,” she complained. Brady scowled in the clerk’s direction. “Who cares what he thinks? Tomorrow we’ll be out of here and on our way back to New Hope.” Ayala didn’t miss the look that passed between the men, but she ignored it. There’d be time enough to talk about the future when they were alone. Right now she enjoyed the feeling of safety that Brady and Cade provided. With the men flanking her, even riding in the elevator didn’t seem so scary. The doors slid open and the men led her to room seventy-four. Brady slid the keycard into the slot and Cade swept her off her feet. He carried her inside as if they were on their honeymoon. Her eyes went wide as she took in the elegant period furniture and beautiful paintings that graced the walls in the living room. “This is beautiful but you shouldn’t have spent so much money.”

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“Only the best for our girl,” Brady replied. “Our flight leaves tomorrow afternoon and—” “We can talk about that later.” Cade set her down and tilted her chin so she looked into his eyes. “How do you feel, sweetheart?” She knew what he meant. Embarrassed, she bit her lip. “A little less…uh, anxious.” “A hot soak and some rest and you’ll be good as new.” Brady disappeared and in a few minutes she heard water running. Cade led her into a huge, marble bathroom. Brady was on his knees adjusting the jets in a whirlpool tub. He looked up at her and smiled. “Your bath awaits, milady.” Ayala blinked back tears. The men were being so sweet and she really didn’t deserve all their attention. Cade kissed her cheek. “Come on, let’s get these clothes off.” He and Brady helped her into the tub and she sank under the warm water. “Mmm.” Ayala’s eyelids fluttered closed and some of the tension left her body. She could get used to this. When she opened her eyes, the men were gone. She kept her gaze on the door, expecting it to open any minute. Finally, she had to concede that they weren’t coming back. This was totally unexpected. Most men would try to take advantage of her present condition and offer their help. Maybe she’d misread them. Or maybe they were just tired of being rejected and gave up on her. She couldn’t blame them. Sighing she tried out the fragrant soaps and shampoos and then let her eyes drift shut again. **** Brady lay on his side with his head propped on a hand and watched Ayala sleep. On the other side of her prone body, Cade was in pretty much the same position. They’d both been up for the last thirty minutes, but they didn’t want to wake Ayala, she needed her rest. Poor baby, she’d fallen asleep in the bath and remained asleep while they dried her and tucked her in.

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He and Cade had talked far into the night. Seeing what Ayala had gone through in order to gain independence made them see things in a new light. Their world had changed. Even the Alpha had made adjustments. But not him and Cade, oh no, they had expected Ayala to put aside her own needs and revolve her life around theirs. No wonder she left them. If she gave them another chance they wouldn’t screw it up this time. Cade caught his eye and made a gesture with his head. He understood immediately. Keeping still was no easy feat for a hotblooded wolf with a morning woody that just wouldn’t quit. The two men got off the bed and moved almost soundlessly into the bathroom. The door had hardly closed when Cade dropped to his knees and wrapped his lips around the head of Brady’s stiff cock. Brady groaned at the wet heat that swallowed his length and his legs trembled. So fucking horny, he couldn’t hold back and he started thrusting in and out. Cade’s strong suction on his prick felt so damn good he didn’t even hear the door open. He froze when two feminine arms came around him and soft lips brushed his nape. “Why didn’t you wait for me,” Ayala murmured against his back. Brady’s erection went soft. Cade released him and stood. His cock was flaccid as well. “You needed the rest, sweetheart, but it’s near impossible to look at your body without getting a hard on.” “Besides,” Brady added. “We would never take advantage of you while you’re under the influence of that bastard’s drugs.” Ayala looked from one to the other. “What if the drug wore off?” **** Sometime during the night, Ayala had woken alone in the bed feeling more like herself than she had in days. Filled with relief, she’d fallen back asleep, only to wake disappointed when she found herself alone once again. Now that she felt ready to talk about a life with Brady and Cade, they didn’t want her, but giving up easily was not

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part of her personality, so she’d gone looking for them. What she saw turned her on more than any drug ever could. Watching Cade suck Brady’s cock made her wet with desire for them. Sometimes a wolf wanted primal, feral, hard fucking. It was what Ayala wanted now, to submit, to let Brady and Cade take her every way possible, to let them make her feel wanted, instead of used. But afterward would they expect her to come home and be the submissive bitch every shifter wanted? She couldn’t do it. Her human nature wanted love, a relationship built on equality and respect. Was that even possible for a Lycan male? Brady and Cade stood there staring at her as if they had no idea what to do or say. Typical. Guess I’ll have to take things into my own hands. She reached out for them, but they grabbed her hands before she could touch them. Brady sighed heavily. “Is this what you really want, Ayala?” Embarrassed, she looked from one to the other, opened her mouth, then shut it. Cade snatched her up, carried her into the bedroom and sat with her on his lap. Brady followed, his eyes shooting sparks at Cade, but she threw her arms around Cade’s neck and, with a sigh of pleasure, buried her face against the hard planes of his chest. He chuckled and held her tight. “I know what my girl wants.” “I guess you know her better than I do,” Brady said softly. He turned away. “Brady,” Ayala called him back. She needed him, needed both of them. Brady joined them on the bed, took her hand, and kissed it. “I can’t offer you what you have here, but I wish you would come home, Ayala.” Part of her wanted to tell him just how much she wanted to go home with him. The other part reminded her that she would be going back to play a role she didn’t want. “New Hope isn’t the city, not by a long shot, but we could build you a bigger house,” Brady’s voice was full of uncertainty.

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Cade nuzzled her hair. “Things will be different, babe. I promise.” Yeah, unfortunately she knew all about promises. When men got what they wanted, promises went out the window. “Different? How different?” “You can get a job.” Ayala narrowed her eyes at him. “As what? Your housekeeper?” Cade’s mouth tightened. “No. You can do anything you set your mind on.” “And you could handle me going out to work?” Cade nodded. “I want you to do whatever makes you happy.’ “As long as you take care of us, too,” Brady blurted out. “Hah! You can take care of yourself, Brady.” “Sure I can, but what fun is that?” He grinned at her. “So are you interested, or not?” “I might be.” She snuggled into Cade’s embrace. “If the pay is right.” “Oh, it’s right, baby,” Cade murmured. It wasn’t everything she wanted, but it was a start. “And you really think this can work?” “We can make it work. I know we can.” Cade looked at Brady. “I’ll give it everything I got, sweetheart,” Brady said sincerely. Ayala swallowed over the lump in her throat. “I guess I could try, too. It’s not as if we have to love each other to live together. Right?” Cade winced, and raw hurt glittered in Brady’s golden gaze. He brushed his knuckles over her jaw. “I’m hoping we’ll make you so happy you’ll love us back.” “Maybe someday you’ll let us into your heart,” Cade whispered. They looked at her with such tenderness, they made her heart ache. She gave them a sad, little smile. “You never told me how you felt, either of you,” she said reproachfully. Brady frowned. “I thought you knew.” “A girl has to hear it,” she said softly. “I’m not so good with words,” Brady admitted.

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“And you always acted like you didn’t want to hear that kind of talk,” Cade told her. “There were plenty of times I almost came out with it, but you shut down or ran away from me.” Ayala’s heart twisted. Say it. Damn you, tell them how you feel. “I do love you, Cade. And I love you, too, Brady. I think I always have.” Brady leaned over and planted a soft kiss on her lips. “I love you, Ayala.” “My turn.” Cade put a finger to her chin and turned her head back to him. “I love you, Ayala.” “Oh, Cade, I want you,” she whimpered. “I want you both.” “I know, sweetheart, we want you too.” Cade shifted her in his arms so her back was against his chest. His big callused palms cupped her breasts as he played with her nipple rings. Each tug went straight to her pussy, increasing the aching throb between her legs. She let out a needy moan, and Cade spread her legs with his muscular thighs. Brady got to his knees, and his rough tongue found its way home and lapped at her cream while Ayala grabbed his hair, pulling him closer. Brady spread her open with his thumbs, licking her slick folds, then penetrating her with his tongue. Her hips bucked, and Cade held her legs wide while Brady sucked on her swollen clit, bringing her to a glorious peak. When he raised his head, his face, covered with her juices, held an expression of total male satisfaction. Then he kissed her soundly so she could taste herself on his lips. So good, but she wanted more, wanted to be filled completely by her men. Brady climbed back on the bed and coaxed her from Cade’s arms. He laid back, bringing her with him so she straddled his hips. She stared wordlessly at his prick, ramrod straight and begging for attention. Her fingers closed around it, and she pumped, milking precum from the purple head. Licking her lips, she bent for a taste, circling the flared helmet with her tongue. “Fuck,” Brady groaned. “Ride me, sweetheart. I need to be inside you.”

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“God, yes,” she hissed. “Want you so bad.” She got to her knees and sank over him, impaling herself on his length. They both groaned in pleasure, and she leaned in to lick and nip at Brady’s nipples, lifting her ass in an invitation that Cade readily accepted. He crawled between Brady’s legs and covered Ayala’s back, close enough that his cock settled between her cheeks. She loved the feel of him behind her, his warm breath on her shoulder and his lean, hard muscle fitting against her softer form as if they were made for each other. “Oh, my God,” she groaned. “Fuck me, Cade.” “Damn, I want to, baby, but I don’t have any lube.” She moaned and arched back against him. “It’s okay, I’m so wet…” Cade growled and reached under her to stroke her soaked pussy where she and Brady were joined together. She rewarded him with a flood of liquid that coated his hand, and he used his slick fingers to lubricate her hole, inserting one past the tight muscle. She badly wanted him inside her, and she wasn’t above begging. “Please, Cade, fill me. I want your cock.” “Fuck!” He growled and removed his finger, and then his cockhead nudged her entrance and pushed inside. She let out a wail, and he stilled. Ayala was not a woman who waited passively for her pleasure. She thrust her hips between Cade’s body and Brady’s, encouraging them to move. Cade anchored her with an arm around her waist, licking her back, her shoulder, her neck, while he eased deeper inside her. He nipped at her flesh and reached between her and Brady to circle her hard, little clit then rub it. “Feels so good…” She ground her aching nub into his fingers. “More, fuck me, Cade.” Cade started moving in long, determined strokes, pounding her into Brady, who growled and met Cade’s lunges as best he could. The wild, erotic scent of their sex tickled her nose and turned her insides to molten heat.

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Guttural sounds came from her throat as her lovers stepped up the pace. Cade rode her hard, driving her to the edge. Her mind emptied of everything except the two men filling her and the delicious friction their long, thick shafts stirred inside her. Tension coiled at the base of her spine and she was swept up in a fusion of ecstasy and emotion. Her release came suddenly without warning, and her howls seemed to set off the men. She felt their orgasms as intensely as she felt her own. Cade collapsed over her back, pressing her against Brady’s chest, and the sound of their ragged breaths filled the room. A few minutes passed, and Cade rolled to the side, bringing her with him. She lay tightly spooned between them and Brady pulled the sheet over their sweat-soaked bodies. The urgency gone, it was heaven to feel sated and relaxed, and she closed her eyes in drowsy pleasure. “Mine,” Cade and Brady whispered in unison and Ayala echoed the sentiment, loving this new feeling of connection and belonging. **** Cade stowed their bags in the overhead compartment, and they buckled up. Only three of them were returning to New Hope. The Alpha had delivered Ayala’s clothes to the hotel and informed them that he was staying in Philadelphia for an indefinite period. He wanted Roy’s private lab shut down and he intended to oversee the project himself. Brady and Cade had argued for a more physical punishment but the Alpha disagreed. Roy’s research was so much a part of who he was that losing it would be tantamount to torture. Ayala agreed. She knew Roy would be devastated. She just hoped that the Alpha would be able to help Roy put his education and skill to better use. Totally relaxed, she settled back in her seat. There was no fear on this flight. Even a plane ride felt safer when she was flanked by her men. Brady had the window seat, Cade sat to her right, and they each

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held a hand as if afraid she’d disappear if they let go. Fat chance. She was going home. Home–what a beautiful word. There was no place like it and she couldn’t wait to get back and start her new life as the strong, independent woman she was meant to be, and maybe, if she was really lucky, a mother.

THE END HTTP://GALESTANLEY.NET/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born and raised in the City of Brotherly Love, Gale cut her teeth on True Story magazines swiped from her mother’s collection and read undercover by flashlight. Her choice of reading material inspired a lifelong love of romance and the desire to write her own stories. Now she has the best job in the world. She can be anything she wants, but she doesn't mind living vicariously through the smokin’ hot alphas and strong heroines she loves to write about. Her books sizzle, but at the heart of each story is a romance and each one is written with love.

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

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com