Three Mates, One Destiny

Spirit Wolves 4

Three Mates, One Destiny For seven years, Paulie focused only on finding a cure for the feral virus, with little time for personal relationships. All that changes when hunters Sebastian and Marcus come into his life. The attraction between them cannot be denied. They are his mates, but at the same time, they share a connection that humbles Paulie. He fears intruding in their relationship. He fears becoming the third wheel. Sebastian and Marcus have always been together, facing everything from prejudice to feral attacks as one being. But now, they find themselves in front of the most difficult battle of their lives—the battle to win their mate's heart and trust. As Sebastian and Marcus struggle to convince Paulie of their genuine affection, the danger of betrayal crowds around them. Can the three find their shared destiny or will their enemies defeat them? Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Vampires/Werewolves Length: 34,210 words

THREE MATES, ONE DESTINY Spirit Wolves 4

Scarlet Hyacinth

MENAGE AMOUR MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Amour ManLove

THREE MATES, ONE DESTINY Copyright © 2011 by Scarlet Hyacinth E-book ISBN: 1-61034-653-X First E-book Publication: August 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 Three Mates, One Destiny by Scarlet Hyacinth 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 Scarlet Hyacinth’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Hyacinth’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION For my parents. You may never read this dedication, but I appreciate everything you've done for me.

THREE MATES, ONE DESTINY Spirit Wolves 4 SCARLET HYACINTH Copyright © 2011

Prologue One hundred years before The cavernous halls of the Magistrate’s Den intimidated Marcus as he walked behind his parents. They’d come here to officially introduce Marcus into the pack and into their nation. At last, he’d reached his majority and the age when he’d be taught how to master his wolf. An odd buzzing noise filled his ears, drowning out the voices around him. His mother and father were speaking to someone, a man named Klaus, the Magistrate’s right-hand man. But Marcus couldn’t have focused on it if he wanted to. He felt too anxious, too afraid of what this day might bring. At last, they reached their destination. Two ornate doors opened to allow them inside a huge throne room. Spirit wolves from all over the world gathered here for the introduction of this year’s youngsters. Marcus scanned the crowd and his eyes fell on the Morrigans. Alice and Roland Morrigan were, as always, impeccably attired, their stances proud and stern. Marcus also spotted their son, Peter, standing by his mother's side and watching the ceremony with a bored

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expression. But a different figure made Marcus’s heart begin to beat faster. Sebastian Morrigan, his best friend and Roland’s illegitimate son, stood next to his father, as still as a statue. From the moment he’d first met Sebastian, Marcus had known the other wolf was his mate. They’d been inseparable as pups and shared every secret, every hurt and joy with each other. So far, however, they’d remained best friends, respecting the belief that a spirit wolf needed to reach maturity before he attempted mating. Apparently, young wolves sometimes confused feelings of lust and affection with the desire for a mate, but this phenomenon vanished once they were introduced to the pack and accepted their wolf completely. Tonight, Marcus would find out the truth, and he both feared it and wanted it. In his heart, he knew his first instinct had been correct, but a small voice always whispered in the back of his mind, sowing doubts, keeping him from reaching out to his friend. Marcus shook himself and focused on following his parents. The Magistrate, Wolfram Rozenstadt, sat on his throne and beckoned them forward with a wave. Other families with sons and daughters his age already stood there, waiting. As he walked, Marcus passed the Morrigans. Sebastian’s lips twitched in a small smile, and Marcus felt encouraged. His head became clearer, and he even heard his mother say his name to the Magistrate. Taking his cue, Marcus followed tradition and said what he’d been taught. “I come before my pack today to humbly submit to their judgment.” Marcus wouldn’t have called it a judgment, since no one had ever been refused, at least not to Marcus’s knowledge. Other families appeared and echoed the process, and then the parents retreated into the watching crowd. The young spirit wolves were left standing alone in front of the Magistrate. Marcus didn’t feel much different than when his parents had been by his side. On autopilot, Marcus knelt, just like he’d been

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taught. The others followed his example, and they remained like that, with their heads bowed, waiting for the Magistrate’s decision. Marcus sensed, rather than heard, Wolfram get up. The air in the room seemed to shift with the power the Magistrate exuded. He closed his eyes and focused on Sebastian’s presence to calm down. Still, the feel of the Magistrate’s hand in his hair startled him. Casual touches between spirit wolves weren’t uncommon, since they were tactile creatures, but Marcus always preferred to stick with Sebastian’s touch and no other’s. Wolfram’s voice seeped into his mind like a trickle of warm water. “It’s all right. I won’t harm you.” Marcus forced himself to accept it, and soon reality dwindled, and he found himself in a sort of void, a realm beyond all reality. The astral plane. Wolfram popped in next to him and smiled. “Hello, Marcus.” Marcus bowed again. “Greetings, My Lord.” Wolfram tsked. “None of that here. Just relax and ask me whatever question you want.” Marcus considered his ruler’s offer. He didn’t know what he wanted. He was too confused to even make any coherent inquiries. “Can’t you read my thoughts?” Wolfram chuckled. “I could, but I respect your privacy. Come, let me show you your wolf. You’ll feel better afterward.” A beautiful light emerged from somewhere ahead of them, and from it, a gray wolf. The animal padded in their direction and stopped in front of Marcus. Marcus had turned into his wolf before, but pups like him weren’t able to control their powers, so they mostly remained in human form until their coming of age. He knelt next to the animal and caressed the soft fur. With each passing second, he sensed a power grow inside him, until at last the wolf began to dissipate and its white cells passed into Marcus. He felt the spiritual connection with his beast click into

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place, and glee filled him at the knowledge that, from now on, he’d be united with his wolf. Marcus got up and looked at his leader, waiting to see what would happen now. Wolfram grinned at him. “Excellent job. I’ve seen few youngsters so in touch with their wolves.” Embarrassment rushed through Marcus at the praise. “Th–thank you, My Lord.” Wolfram just smiled again. The astral plane began to diminish around them, and Wolfram’s power propelled Marcus back into reality. When he opened his eyes, he’d been sent back to the throne room. Excitement filled Marcus. The heat of Sebastian’s eyes on him made him fidget with impatience. Now more than ever, he understood Sebastian was not only his best friend, but also his mate. He wanted to shout it to the world, to claim Sebastian as his and have the other wolf claim him. But he couldn’t, not yet. He needed to be patient, just a while longer. The beast inside him paced restlessly, aching to be with its mate. Still, Marcus waited. Wolfram passed him and went on to help the other youngsters. The ceremony took forever, and when at last, it ended, Marcus sent a prayer of thanks to the Spirit Mother. Much to his dismay, however, the second they were allowed to mingle, his family surrounded him, creating a barrier between him and Sebastian. “You did a good job, son,” his father, Ezekiel, said. “Now all we have to do is find you a mate.” Marcus bristled. “You don’t find me a mate, Father,” he shot back. “I will. The Spirit Mother will show me the way to my other half.” He refrained from saying that She’d already done so. His mother, Harriet, smiled tightly. “Of course, but that doesn’t mean we can’t nudge you along a bit.” Marcus didn’t trust their nudging, so he didn’t comment further. “We’ll see. I’ll be right back, all right?”

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He made his escape before they could say anything else. When he tried to find Sebastian again in the crowd, he spotted his mate in a darker corner with Peter. As always, the two seemed to be arguing. Marcus made his way there, eager to come to his best friend and mate’s defense. As he approached, he heard a few of the murmured insults. “Whatever mother says, you’ll always be the bastard son of a human whore.” Marcus saw Sebastian’s expression darken and knew he had to hurry or else his friend might cause a scene right then and there. Thankfully, he got there in time and placed himself between Sebastian and Peter. “Now, now, let’s not fight. This is a party. ” Peter sneered at him, but didn’t answer. Instead, he glared at his brother. “Consider yourself lucky. Your little friend won’t always be here to save you.” On that unpleasant note, Peter took off. Fortunately, Sebastian let him, even if Marcus could sense how hard it was for him. “Thanks,” Sebastian finally said. “I think I would have punched him or worse if you hadn’t intervened.” Marcus opened his mouth to answer, but didn’t get the chance. All of a sudden, Sebastian covered his mouth with his hand and pulled him deeper into the shadows. “Shh,” Sebastian whispered in his ear. “It’s Sophia.” Indeed, Marcus spotted his sister, Sophia, and her brood heading their way and her husband closely behind her. She passed them by without feeling them, and Marcus breathed a sigh of relief. “Come on,” he told his mate. “The coast is clear. Let’s go outside.” They made their way into the gardens. The couples hadn’t yet finished partying, and very few people were around. Marcus and Sebastian chose a secluded spot and sat down in the grass. “How do you feel?” Sebastian asked. “Everything okay? The wolf?” “I’m fine. It went great.” He grinned at his friend, thankful Sebastian had apparently forgotten about the unpleasant episode with

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his half brother. “The Magistrate praised me for accepting my wolf so easily.” Sebastian smiled back. “Excellent. I can’t wait to run with you.” The words brought back some of the doubts from before. He nodded and bit his lip in nervousness. Sebastian was only a few years older than him, which in spirit wolf terms meant next to nothing. And yet, Marcus felt so young, so very inexperienced. He didn’t know how to deal with these overwhelming emotions. “What’s the matter, Marcus?” Sebastian asked. “Are you all right?” Marcus took a deep breath and steeled himself. Perhaps he should wait a bit more to do this, but if he didn’t get his feelings out in the open, he’d die. “Fine. It’s just that… You’re my mate, Bastian.” For a few moments, Sebastian didn’t speak, and Marcus feared he would be denied. At last, Sebastian sighed and said, “I know. I’ve always known. But your parents will never agree. I’m an illegitimate son, and with a human no less. They can barely stand the sight of me.” Marcus acknowledged the truth of his mate’s words. He’d many times argued with his family about Sebastian. He’d tried to change his parents’ minds. It didn’t work, and, in the end, he’d just ignored their opinion and remained steadfast in his. “It doesn’t matter,” he told Sebastian. “I don’t care what they think.” Sebastian grimaced. “I’m going to be a hunter, Marcus. I signed up for it yesterday.” Marcus gaped at Sebastian in shock. “What? Why? When did you decide this? You’re far too young.” “I’ve been thinking about it for quite a while,” Sebastian replied. “If I make my family and the nation proud, perhaps your parents can accept me.” Marcus shook his head furiously. “No, Bastian. There’s no point in risking your life for something so trivial.”

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“It’s not just that,” Sebastian answered. “The problem with the ferals is becoming worse, and we’re short of men. I overheard my dad talking about it. I don’t want to disappoint him, or Alice.” This time, Marcus couldn’t come up with an argument. He knew his mate worshipped his family. Roland assumed responsibility for him even if Sebastian had been born to a human woman and not his wife. Even more strikingly, Alice accepted Sebastian, which meant a lot to Marcus’s friend, orphaned from his mother at birth. True enough, Sebastian had been conceived before Alice and Roland met, but her affection for her stepson didn’t dwindle even after Peter’s birth. Peter, however, caused Sebastian problems these days, as the night’s argument clearly showed. Marcus’s family didn’t help either. “All right,” Marcus said. “If you want to be a hunter so much, we’ll go together.” It was Sebastian’s turn to look shocked. “What? Marc, no… You can’t…” “We’ll go to the Magistrate and ask him to pair us up,” Marcus continued, undeterred. “He won’t be surprised. He knows we’re friends.” “But Marc…” This time, Marcus chose a more efficient way to shut his mate up. He pressed his lips to Sebastian’s in a kiss both hungry and hesitant— their first kiss. At first, Sebastian tensed, but then his arms went around Marcus’s neck, pulling him closer until their bodies were flush together. Hot arousal swept through Marcus when he felt Sebastian’s erection against his. He wanted to get rid of their clothing, to be skin to skin with his mate and bind them together for all time. The need to breathe forced them apart, and they broke the kiss. “Marc,” Sebastian whispered against Marcus’s lips. “I’ve waited for this for so long.” “Me, too,” Marcus replied. He rubbed against Sebastian, biting his lip as the friction between them drove shocks of pleasure through him. Sebastian groaned,

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echoing his motions. The clothes frustrated Marcus, and he could sense the same emotions coming from his mate. Indeed, Sebastian slipped his hand between them and undid both of their pants. Marcus wiggled a bit, giving his mate space to work. He’d experimented some by himself, but nothing prepared him for his mate’s first touch. When Sebastian’s warm fist wrapped around his cock, Marcus thought he’d died and gone to heaven. “Fuck, Bastian,” he panted out. “More.” Sebastian chuckled breathlessly, but didn’t speak. Soon, Marcus’s thought processes scrambled as well. Sebastian brought their cocks together, and the intimate contact almost short-circuited his brain cells. His body took over, knowing what to do in spite of Marcus’s inexperience in the bedroom. They thrust against each other, their own pre-cum slicking their dicks up and helping the glide. Marcus’s mind became a litany of his mate’s name, and his entire self focused on their bodies moving together. Pleasure sizzled over his every nerve, and his wolf howled inside him, loving each touch from Sebastian. But like Sebastian had said, they’d waited for this for too long. All too soon, Marcus sensed his orgasm approach. He tried to keep it in check, reluctant to let go of the moment. Sebastian’s low voice whispered in his ear, “It’s all right. Let go. Come for me, my mate.” Still, Marcus held on. He wanted more. He wanted to connect with Sebastian completely, to have his mate fuck him. Perhaps this wasn’t the best place for it, but he couldn’t find it himself to care. Sebastian must have understood his need. In a flash, he changed their positions, moving Marcus on all fours. Marcus trembled as his mate exposed his ass. He’d never been with anyone before, always waiting for the day when he could at last be claimed by Sebastian. Now, that day had finally come. Sebastian’s hands trembled a bit, and Marcus heard his mate take a deep breath. “I’ll make it so good for you, Marc. I promise.”

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Marcus didn’t have a doubt. He pushed his ass up, silently telling his mate he was ready. In truth, he didn’t know much about copulation, and he was pretty sure Sebastian didn’t fare any better, but he figured they would learn together. Sebastian separated his ass cheeks and for a few moments, Marcus didn’t even breathe, waiting to see what his mate would do. To his shock, he felt a wet tongue swipe over his crease. The sensations that burst through him were out of this world, forbidden, sinful, and oh-soamazing. Marcus had never heard of such a thing, even between men, but he could tell Sebastian enjoyed it as well, so he went with it. His mate’s tongue stabbed into his hole like a tiny cock, and Marcus bit his lip to prevent himself from crying out. He well remembered all the people who’d come here just to see him and the other youngsters be initiated in the pack. Strangely, the danger of discovery made it all even more exciting. His dick, already rock hard from the earlier frottage, begged for release. He was so close, so very close. “Please, Bastian,” he murmured. “In me.” He wanted to come with his mate deep inside him. Sebastian obeyed. His tongue vanished, and Marcus didn’t even have time to feel the loss. His mate positioned his cock at his opening and, in one single hard push, thrust inside. Marcus could not deny it hurt. Sebastian’s cock speared him, splitting him into two. His mate cursed and immediately stopped. “Sorry. I just… Sorry.” Sebastian started to move away, but Marcus refused to allow his mate’s escape. The initial shock of pain already dwindled into a pleasant burn. His dick, which had briefly gone limp, regained interest. “Bastian,” he whispered, “fuck me.” He probably didn’t even have to say it. Even if they hadn’t finalized their connection, they could still feel each other’s emotions to a certain extent—especially now that Marcus finally gained control of his abilities.

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Slowly, Sebastian pulled out and thrust back in. The motion jostled a spot inside Marcus that made ecstasy course through him. Against his will, he cried out. “Shh,” Sebastian said as he continued to move. “Wouldn’t want anyone to hear.” His voice sounded husky, but the teasing note was familiar. Marcus might have feared he’d lose Sebastian as a friend by gaining him as a mate, but this definitely proved him wrong. “Easy for you to say, B—” he shot back. When another thrust hit the same spot, his own moan cut off his reply. “Do that again.” Sebastian didn’t need more encouragement. He fucked Marcus with abandonment, unleashing the full extent of his passion. Marcus completely lost himself to the pleasure. At one point, he found the presence of mind to tear a bit of material from his shirt and muffle his cries with it. He could not have held back now to save his life. Sebastian’s lips traveled over his neck and a shock of pain passed through Marcus as his mate bit down into his skin. Their minds connected, the mate bond sealing through the claiming bite. For a few beautiful instants, Marcus sensed what Sebastian did and tasted his own blood in his mouth. The incredible sensations pushed Marcus over the edge, and he found his peak, sweeping away every doubt and leaving only happiness and ecstasy behind. By some miracle, he managed to preserve enough composure to keep himself from crying out. Moments later, Sebastian came as well, his seed hot against Marcus’s skin. They collapsed into the grass, exhausted, spent, but content. “Love you, my mate,” Sebastian said. “Love you right back, Bastian. Now stop being corny and help me mend my shirt.”

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Chapter One Present day In the darkness of the alley, Sebastian carefully trudged forward. He sensed the enemy ahead. He could scent the corruption, the unclean nature of its kind. It seemed more powerful than usual. Was there more than one, perhaps? Sebastian shrugged to himself, all the while keeping his guard up. He could take on more than a few ferals without chancing death, but he hadn’t survived so many decades by being reckless. He considered waiting for reinforcements, but decided against it. Marcus had just recovered from a severe injury, and Sebastian didn’t want to risk throwing his mate and partner into the game again. At last, he spotted a crouching figure on the ground. The wolf inside him growled, instantly identifying it as their target. Still, Sebastian hesitated. The figure was too small to be a feral. Could this be some sort of trap? He scanned the tops of the buildings around him, but he couldn’t detect anything else. The figure didn’t move, nor did it acknowledge his presence in any way. Odd. Sebastian had been careful in his approach, but ferals could sense a spirit wolf a mile away. This seemed more and more suspicious by the moment. Behind him, Sebastian felt Marcus approach. He signaled for his mate to stop and take a look up ahead. When he reached Sebastian, Marcus followed his advice. Sebastian could scent the tension and adrenaline on Marcus. Much to his dismay, it made him hard.

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Shaking away the distracting arousal, Sebastian focused on the figure once again. Trap or no trap, the feral needed to be caught. Marcus nodded at him and together, they lunged forward. Still, the feral did not move. A whimpering sound escaped it, and both Sebastian and Marcus faltered. What was this trickery? “Is anyone there?” a weak, male voice came. “Please, please help me.” Sebastian shared a look with Marcus. If this was the feral’s idea of a joke, he didn’t like it. He’d seen many spirit wolves fall prey to such wickedness and had no desire of becoming the next. But something in that voice urged him on. Even the wolf inside him became uncertain now, and Sebastian sniffed the air. The scent of blood and semen struck him almost instantly, and Sebastian recoiled. It had been camouflaged by the stench of feral, but now, it seemed so pungent Sebastian didn’t know how he could have missed it in the first place. Marcus must’ve smelled the same thing as he rushed forward with no caution whatsoever. Sebastian cursed and hastened after the other man. They’d both been taught to save innocents when they could, and this person, whoever he was, seemed to be the victim of a feral. Marcus knelt on the dirty pavement and wiped the grime off the stranger’s face. A pale, young face appeared from beyond the filth, the beautiful features marred by agony. He looked so quite young, and he’d suffered from the attack of a feral. “It’s okay,” Marcus whispered. “We’re here to help.” Marcus took off his jacket and wrapped it around the young man. “Tell me, what’s your name?” “Ross,” the victim answered weakly. “All right, Ross,” Marcus said. “We’ll take you to a hospital.” “I don’t have any money,” Ross somehow managed to say. Marcus predictably ignored him and took the boy in his arms. “It doesn’t matter,” Sebastian said. “We’ll take care of it. Don’t worry.”

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The pursuit for the ferals would have to wait. First, they needed to take care of the young man who’d somehow ended up a casualty of a war not his own. Since their appearance in the world, spirit wolves had established support bases in most of the large cities in the world. Chicago didn’t represent an exception. Even if it was quite a distance away from their home, they could still find a clinic here to take care of Ross. They headed out of the alley and toward their car. The sight of the vehicle reminded Sebastian of his frustration with Marcus. “You should have stayed here, Marcus,” he told the other spirit wolf. “I could’ve taken care of this myself.” “Well, I couldn’t know that if I didn’t come with you, right?” Marcus shot back. They glared at each other, and Sebastian looked away first. Sometimes, Marcus’s eyes saw far too much. Seeing Ross there, on the ground, covered in blood, reminded Sebastian of another day, when he had been the one to kneel next to Marcus’s bloody body. He’d thought Marcus would die for sure, but through some miracle, or rather, because of their leader’s help, the other man pulled through. The memories still lingered, though, forever at the forefront of Sebastian’s mind. Marcus was not only Sebastian’s partner and best friend, but also his mate, the other half of his soul. Sebastian had been against Marcus even coming back to work, but his mate insisted he couldn’t rest any longer, lest he go insane. Marcus’s soft voice reached out to him. “Bastian… I’m fine now, really I am. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.” Sebastian grunted, acknowledging the words without having a real reply for it. He needed to focus on their current task, not on his personal problems with Marcus. But as they left the alley, Sebastian realized his first impression had been both true and false. Even in the clear air, Ross smelled like feral, and his state seemed to be worsening.

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Sebastian scanned what little he could see of Ross’s skin, until at last, his eyes fell on the young man’s shoulder. An ugly bite lay there, hidden under the grime. It looked infected, and Sebastian knew it would only get worse from there. “Ah, fuck,” he and Marcus said at the same time. Marcus hastened the pace even as he tried to get Ross’s attention. “Ross, listen to me. Can you hear me?” Ross moaned, but cracked his eyes open. “What? Yes, I can hear you.” “Okay, good. Can you tell us what happened? It’s very important that you do.” For a few seconds, Ross didn’t speak. When he finally did, the words came out in bursts, weak and almost incoherent. “A man… He said he’d give me money. I didn’t want to, but I was hungry, so hungry.” Sebastian cursed under his breath. He hated having to make Ross relive the experience, but they needed to know what they could expect. “We came here. I agreed to…with my mouth…” Tears streamed down Ross’s cheeks now, and his body trembled. “I can’t… I’m sorry. I can’t.” “It’s all right, Ross,” Marcus said. “Don’t think about it anymore. You’ve said enough.” Sebastian nodded at his friend. They’d have to wait until Ross recovered a bit to figure out who’d done this. Hopefully, then, they would manage to piece together what Ross hadn’t told them. **** Anger swelled inside Marcus, hot and bright. Ross had been bitten by a feral. Marcus himself suffered from a serious injury after such an attack, and he knew how horrible it could be. The wounds had threatened his life, in spite of his spirit wolf nature. The advanced

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healing abilities helped him heal in the end, but Ross didn’t have such luck. How much had this human suffered at the hands of the ferals? Would Ross even be able to survive? Marcus didn’t smell death on him, but his state would only deteriorate from this point on. Many of the humans bitten by ferals didn’t live through the infection. And even if Ross did manage to defeat the physical wounds, his ordeal would cause him to turn into one of the things that hurt him in the first place. For Marcus and Sebastian, the issue represented a humongous problem. They were hunters. They killed ferals, weeding the savage beasts out, ensuring they didn’t pollute their kin even more. What would they do now, with this feral offspring in their grasp? Together with his mate, Marcus entered the car. Sebastian got behind the wheel, while Marcus took the backseat with Ross. The young man lost consciousness, and Marcus knew they needed to find medical attention as soon as possible, or there might not be anything left to save. But where could they go? Their clinics would not receive a feral. In fact, if they even considered bringing Ross there, the other spirit wolves would just kill Ross and be done with it. Hell, he and Sebastian should have done it. Even doubting went against their rules. The letter of the law clearly instructed them to show no mercy to the ferals. All those who didn’t agree would be punished. But Ross was so damned young. He didn’t deserve this. “This is so fucked up,” Sebastian growled. “We can’t let him die.” Marcus nodded, his mate’s emotions blending with his own. He knew his near death put a great strain on the other man, and he seemed a step away from snapping. Marcus feared for him, and for this reason, he’d come with Sebastian, managing to convince the Magistrate to reinstate him as a hunter. He and Sebastian had been together forever, ever since they’d been pups. For Marcus, Sebastian meant more than his own family. Unfortunately, it was Marcus’s kin who kept him from revealing their

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mating to the spirit wolf society. So much time had passed, and yet his parents refused to accept Sebastian among them. Marcus wouldn’t have cared, except Sebastian decided to lay low and keep their mating to themselves. At first, it hurt, but then Marcus understood it was no one’s business but theirs. Their leader, Wolfram Rozenstadt, probably suspected, and Marcus might have to tell him soon. But other than that, he didn’t care about what other people thought of him. On occasion, his and Sebastian’s opinions clashed, but this time, Marcus couldn’t agree more. They couldn’t abandon Ross to his fate. As they considered their options, Marcus’s cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He retrieved it and stared at the display in disbelief. Why would the Magistrate be calling them? Marcus only had Wolfram’s number because of the incident in Trier, the mission to watch over Wolfram’s mates which led him to be injured. He’d never once used it, and he wouldn’t have dared to do so now. Hesitantly, Marcus took the call. “Hello, My Lord,” he greeted the Magistrate. “Greetings, Marcus. I’ll get right to the point. You’ve found a young man bitten by a feral.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. Marcus froze, not knowing what to say or do. Sure, he’d been aware of his leader’s powers, but he’d never witnessed its direct results before. For crying out loud, they’d only just run into Ross five minutes ago. “Y–Yes, My Lord.” “You will take him to the Hart compound. Doctor Andrew Blunt will be waiting there for you. Now go to the airport. I will make arrangements for an aircraft to be at your disposal.” Marcus couldn’t help but be awed. His leader always went out of his way to try and help every injured human. He understood and appreciated Wolfram’s concern. After all, they all bore the blame for each and every human death. In the end, the ferals originated from spirit wolves, twisting the pure nature of their original race into

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something entirely different. If anything, he felt thankful Wolfram understood and supported them. “Thank you, My Lord,” he told The Magistrate. “We will go there at once.” “Contact me once you land at the Hart compound. Good-bye.” Wolfram ended the connection, and Marcus was left staring at the cell phone in disbelief. The revving of the engine snapped him out of his daze. “I guess we’re heading toward the airport then,” Sebastian said. Marcus put his cell phone back in his pocket. “Go. We need to hurry.” As Sebastian drove off, Marcus held onto Ross’s feverish body, caressing the human’s hair. He desperately hoped they’d reach the Hart compound in time and Doctor Blunt would be able to help them. If not, Marcus himself might be forced to kill Ross. **** Paulie chewed on the pencil end as he took in the information in the book in front of him. Data formed a picture in his head, making him see beyond the boundaries of his current possibilities. Chemistry and medicine had always been his passion, particularly on the veterinarian branch. He’d been blessed with a father very gifted in science who mentored him in everything he needed to know. More so, in the past years, he’d seen and done things other scholars could have only dreamed of. Seven years back, his dad, Drew, met Trent Hart and Valerius D’Averam. It turned out the two of them were spirit wolves and Drew’s mates. Paulie ended up living at the Hart compound, with his dad. At one point, he’d begun to think of Trent and Valerius as two more fathers. It was a strange existence to say the least, but Paulie had no complaints. He loved studying the feral virus that caused so much

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damage among the spirit wolves and ached to find a cure for it. Here, he’d also found a family and friends who cared about him. But in the past month or so, Paulie had begun to feel restless. He couldn’t explain it, but often times, he found his mind wandering. Where, he himself didn’t know, but it bothered him. He no longer managed to focus on his job. So many people depended on him and his father, and he was letting them all down. They’d come up with a serum that helped ferals fight the virus, but the battle wasn’t over. The Magistrate ordered testing it on feral prisoners, something both Paulie and his dad hated. The serum seemed to be working, but the side effects weren’t encouraging. The treated men started to have suicidal tendencies, and some became insane beyond their feral nature. Paulie suspected they couldn’t withstand the memory of what they’d done during the time they’d been sick. Paulie couldn’t help them with their memories, and it broke his heart to hear their tortured screams. He snapped out of his musings when he heard the door open. Drew came in. The moment Paulie saw him, he knew something had happened. To most people, Drew looked perpetually unruffled, but Paulie could see beyond the façade. He noticed the hurt and dismay Drew felt whenever they failed to help someone. Lately, it appeared more and more due to their combined inability to aid the treated ferals. “What happened?” Paulie asked his dad. “Did someone get hurt downstairs?” Downstairs represented their code word for the area holding the ferals prisoners. Much to Paulie’s surprise, Drew shook his head. “We’ve received word from Wolfram. Sebastian Morrigan and Marcus Deacon found an injured human. He’s been bitten.” Paulie’s eyes widened and he shot to his feet. “You can’t mean… Dad, the serum isn’t ready! You saw the side effects. We can’t use it as treatment, not yet.” “I know that,” Drew replied bitingly. “Don’t panic. Wolfram left it up to us if we use it or not. But you know the situation as well as I

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do. Once a human is infected, he or she doesn’t have much chance of fighting the virus.” Paulie gave his father an apologetic look. It wasn’t his dad’s fault for any of this. They were both trying their best. It just seemed that the only cure for the virus lay in the bond between three mates. No matter what Paulie and Drew attempted, they simply couldn’t replicate it in the lab. “Sorry, Dad,” Paulie said. “I’m a bit edgy. We’ll see what happens when they bring him in.” He paused, recalling the names his father had mentioned. “Sebastian and Marcus? Are they those guys you met at the Magistrate’s mating celebration?” Drew nodded. “Marcus is a nice guy, among the few who didn’t treat me like crap. I don’t know what to think about Sebastian. He was a bit standoffish. At any rate, it doesn’t matter. You’ll meet them yourself soon enough.” Paulie couldn’t help but feel nervous. Even if he’d gotten used to the world of the spirit wolves, he remained painfully shy and preferred sticking to his test tubes rather than going out to meet people. The staff at the compound no longer made him uncomfortable, but once in a while, they received a visitor, and Paulie’s comfortable cocoon was shattered. In truth, he’d gotten better at it as of late, and he couldn’t explain the sudden increase in anxiety. “You all right, kiddo?” his dad asked. Paulie nodded. “Fine. Don’t worry about it.” It was probably just the stress getting to him. Drew didn’t look very convinced, but he let it go. “Come on. Let’s prepare the equipment for when the patient comes.” He frowned and squinted at Paulie. “Wait… Is that a gray hair?” The abrupt change in topic took Paulie by surprise. Before he could figure out what was going on, his father crossed the room and invaded his personal space. Drew passed his hand through Paulie’s hair and cursed. “It is. You’re getting gray hair.”

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Paulie recovered from his shock and pushed Drew away. “Dad, stop making such a fuss for nothing.” Predictably, Drew ignored him. “No, you’ve been working far too hard. You’re going to get some sleep. I don’t want you to come down with something.” Paulie didn’t even bother to protest, or to point out gray hair could easily appear for hereditary causes, not just because of old age. His dad had become impossibly protective in the past few years, and Paulie suspected the cause. In seven years, Drew hadn’t aged a day. He looked the same as the moment he’d been infected with the feral virus. Back then, the double bite from Valerius and Trent saved Drew, but at the same time, changed his DNA. Now, Drew’s life expectancy had extended, while Paulie remained a normal human, doomed to wither away and die. These days, the smallest thing—a cough or the appearance of a gray hair—could trigger a small panic attack from Drew. So Paulie allowed his father to push him out of the lab and take him to his room. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to get some sleep. Drew could take care of the preparations by himself, and Paulie would be more useful to Drew well rested, when the patient actually arrived.

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Chapter Two Through the speed of the promised helicopter, Marcus, Sebastian, and Ross reached the Maine compound of the Hart family faster than expected. As they approached their destination, a sort of weird apprehension filled Sebastian. At first, he thought it could be due to the imminent clash with Andrew Blunt. Sebastian met the man at the Magistrate’s mating ceremony. He’d been still out of sorts due to Marcus’s injury, and his rudeness insulted the human doctor. But he’d never once faltered in the face of someone else’s anger, and he had no reason to do so now. Soon, his chest began to ache and his mind swam with confusion and something akin to longing. At one point, Sebastian realized Marcus could feel it, as well, and not only through their mate bond. He tried to focus on Ross and the urgency of saving the injured human, but the closer they got, the more intense the feeling became. He’d only experienced something similar once, when he’d first met Marcus. Even now, his entire being screamed “mate,” and the wolf within howled, demanding to be let out to find their destiny. Sebastian wouldn’t have considered it possible to feel such a thing again, but he’d seen three matings involving three people so far. He might have a third mate, as well. Of course, the helicopter traveled faster than Sebastian could— even in shifted form—and the knowledge, and Marcus’s presence, kept him from jumping outside from a height that could have very well broken every bone in his body. He almost missed the moment they landed, the anxiety and impatience overwhelming his senses.

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Realizing his lapse, he took a few moments to calm down then opened the helicopter door and went out. Sebastian helped Marcus carry Ross. The condition of the poor human had deteriorated greatly, and Sebastian could already see the venom taking control of Ross’s mind. It drove away some of his own selfish need, and he reacquired his control. Outside, Andrew Blunt and his mates were waiting for them. “Come on,” Andrew said without preamble. “Let’s take him inside.” Sebastian nodded and rushed after the human doctor. His instincts told him his mate was somewhere inside the compound, but he kept them in check, knowing he needed to help Ross now. Andrew led them into a well-guarded clinic that boasted every piece of medical technology in existence, and some Sebastian hadn’t even known about. It seemed to be better equipped than the Magistrate’s. This surprised Sebastian, but gave him hope for Ross’s future. Marcus, Sebastian, and Andrew entered a room that looked like an examination area of sorts, while Valerius and Trent stopped in front of the door. The doctor indicated for them to place Ross on the bed. In swift, efficient motions, he put on surgical gloves and analyzed Ross’s wound. “How long ago did he receive the bite?” he asked in a neutral tone. “We’re not sure. A few hours ago,” Sebastian replied. “As far as we could tell, he’s a homeless boy,” Marcus added. “Well, that explains it. The infection is spreading rapidly,” the doctor explained. “His immune system is weakened by lack of proper nutrition. Did he tell you his name?” “Ross.” “All right. We’ll begin treating him at once.” As Andrew spoke, the feeling of need that never left burst through Sebastian once again. The door burst open and a young blond man rushed inside. “What’s going on, Dad? How is he?”

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“Not so good,” Andrew replied. He glanced at Marcus and Sebastian. “Gentlemen, this is my son, Paul. He will be assisting me with the treatment of the patient. Now, I’m going to have to ask you to wait outside.” The doctor’s words barely registered. Sebastian could only focus on Paul Blunt, his other mate. Marcus seemed just as flabbergasted. For Paul’s part, the young man stared at them for a few moments, his beautiful blue eyes wide. Then, he looked away and turned all his attention to Ross. Andrew Blunt cleared his throat. “Gentlemen…” Sebastian snapped out of his daze. “Right. We’ll be outside. Let us know of any change.” Together with Marcus, Sebastian left the examination room. Trent and Valerius were in the same place, waiting at the door. There were soldiers stationed at each end of the corridor, but the distance allowed them some privacy. Sebastian had never been close to the two men, especially Valerius who, as a Judiciary, went way beyond anything Sebastian could ever accomplish. But for whatever reason, they seemed more approachable now. “Drew and Paulie are excellent doctors,” Trent offered. “If anyone can help Ross, it’s them.” Sebastian didn’t know what to say to that, so he just nodded and leaned against the wall. After a short silence, Valerius piped in. “I’m not sure you know this, but you two could have bitten him and it would’ve healed the virus.” Sebastian blinked in confusion. How would their bite help? “The three-way mate bond can heal anything,” Valerius finished. Realization dawned, and heat flooded Sebastian’s face as he figured out he and Marcus must have been broadcasting their emotions all over the place. “It’s not like that,” he said weakly. “Ross is not our mate.” Valerius frowned. “Oh? But Marcus and you are, right?” He shook his head and lifted his hand. “No, never mind. It’s none of my business.”

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Sebastian shared a look with Marcus. Given that their mate was Andrew Blunt’s son, he’d also become Valerius and Trent’s child. Consequently, the situation involved them a lot. But Sebastian couldn’t tell them, not yet. He needed to have a chat with Marcus first. Before he could flee, Valerius’s expression shifted, becoming unreadable, yet somehow ominous. “Wait… I know what I sensed. If the boy is not your mate, who is?” Realization dawned and the other man seemed to get even more troubled. “Paulie,” Valerius and Trent said at the same time. Sebastian didn’t have the heart to deny it, even if the two spirit wolves didn’t look too thrilled. He just nodded and waited to see what Valerius and Trent would say. He might just be excessively apprehensive, but Sebastian wanted everything to work out with Paulie. Even a hundred years after he’d become Marcus’s mate, Harriet and Ezekiel Deacon still treated him like something they scraped off their shoes. They’d never accepted his union with their son. For this reason, Sebastian had chosen to keep everything a secret. At the same time, he knew Marcus suffered because of the way the Deacons acted with them. He didn’t want the story to repeat itself. “Well, first, I’ll congratulate you,” Trent said, although his voice didn’t sound too gleeful. “Thank you,” Marcus replied. “It’s really the last thing we expected to find when we came here.” Valerius gave them both a serious look. “We won’t stand in your way, of course. But you must remember, he is very young. He’s had a few years to get used to life amidst spirit wolves, but I’m not sure he’s ready for a mating.” Sebastian hated the insinuation that they’d do something to harm their human mate. Before he could offer a scathing reply, Marcus intervened. “We don’t plan to jump into anything. Besides, this

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conversation is quite inappropriate. We have to talk to him first. It’s what he wants that matters.” Marcus was right. Paulie didn’t belong to their kind, so Sebastian couldn’t figure out how the young man would react to this news. For Sebastian’s part, he didn’t want to rush into things either. He’d spent so many years with Marcus that the other man had become almost like an extension of him. He didn’t know how a third would fit in. The thought made him remember his own family situation. He decided to give his father a call after he spoke to Marcus. It wouldn’t hurt to get another opinion on this, and Roland always gave him good advice. The reverberations of silent footsteps alerted them to a new presence, and the four men ended the conversation. Mr. and Mrs. Hart appeared down the corridor, flanked by a group of soldiers. Sebastian had already noticed the heavy security in the compound, and he felt satisfied his young mate had been well cared for. Marion and Grant Hart stopped in front of them and smiled. Their daughter, Amy, joined her parents. “Welcome to our home, Sebastian, Marcus,” Marion greeted them. “It’s very nice to see you,” Grant continued. Amy offered them a small smile. “I wish your visit could’ve had a more pleasant reason.” “Hello, Mr. Hart, Mrs. Hart,” Marcus replied. “Believe us, we’d have liked the same.” The spirit wolves engaged them in a conversation that mainly rotated around Ross. Marcus and Sebastian repeated what they’d said before and received more words of comfort in turn. “Perhaps you should get some rest,” Amy suggested. “I think this might take a while.” Sebastian shook his head. He couldn’t imagine the thought of leaving the door. First of all, he felt responsible for the human they’d brought here. At the same time, he ached to be as close as possible to his second mate.

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“Thank you, but no,” he said. “We’ll wait.” “Very well,” Marion said. “We’ll prepare rooms for you.” She hesitated and continued, “Would you like separate quarters or just one?” Sebastian began to feel irritated. Was everyone on the Hart compound so nosy? He forced himself to smile, while Marcus replied, “One, Mrs. Hart. We appreciate it.” She didn’t look in any way bothered by this, not that Sebastian expected her to be. Few spirit wolves treated Sebastian differently because of his birth mother. The Harts always struck him as kind and loving people, unlike Marcus’s family. Still, Sebastian felt relieved when the group left at last, and only Trent and Valerius stayed behind. None of them made any attempt for further conversation. They just waited there, outside the examination room, their ears peeled for any sign of what was going on inside. At one point, they began to hear light moans coming from inside. Andrew opened the door and ushered Trent and Valerius inside. When Sebastian offered to help as well, Andrew shook his head. “It’s better if you just wait,” he replied. “Trent and Valerius have done this before. Don’t worry. We’ll do our best to save him.” Logically, Sebastian understood that. Besides, he didn’t know if he could be useful at all with all the thoughts passing through his mind. It was very strange to feel so lost and ill-prepared. The only moment comparable had been when Marcus suffered from his lifethreatening injury. This time, however, confusion replaced remorse, and only the sense of helplessness remained. “You could go to the waiting room,” Drew continued. “It’s not far, and you’d be more comfortable.” “Thank you, but no,” Marcus replied. “We’ll stay here.” The door closed once again, leaving Marcus and Sebastian alone. As soon as he considered it safe, Sebastian began to speak. “He is our mate, isn’t he?” Marcus nodded. “What are we going to do, Bastian?”

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“We’ll talk to him, see what he thinks,” Sebastian replied. “He needs to know.” Marcus looked thoughtful. “He probably already suspects. I could see it in his eyes when he came in.” Sebastian wouldn’t be surprised. Paulie had seen his father mate two spirit wolves. He was bound to understand what it implied. He sighed. “Well, for now, we can only wait and hope.” He’d never once relied on mere hope, but the situation was out of his hands. He’d need to be calm if he wanted to make something out of this. **** The patient’s condition worsened more and more. Paulie and his father did everything they could to boost Ross’s immune system and help him fight the virus, but in the end, their efforts proved to be futile. Their only hope remained the serum, the experimental drug they were so reluctant to use. There was another problem Paulie feared. The virus had two strains, one that affected spirit wolves who lost control of their beast, the other infecting bitten humans. A few suppositions led them to think cured humans ended up like Linden and Drew, upgraded somehow, whereas cured spirit wolves returned to their original state. But that was hardly the issue, since they didn’t have a cure. So far, he and his father had figured out the expected results of the serum on feral spirit wolves. They’d never used it on humans before, and for all they knew, they might do more harm than good. When Ross began to stir, Drew summoned Trent and Valerius inside to help them secure the patient. Through the crack of the door, Paulie caught a brief glimpse of the two men who’d brought Ross in, Sebastian and Marcus. He didn’t know what he’d expected of them, but it certainly wasn’t what happened. He felt overcome by a sensation of warmth that engulfed his whole body and a heavy

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pressure in his chest. He managed to focus on Ross only because he acknowledged the importance of helping the young man. His heart trembled at the thought they’d have to use the serum, fearful at what consequences it might be. Nevertheless, he kept a tight grip on his professional demeanor and retrieved the serum from the receptacle they kept it in. His hands remained steady as he filled a syringe with the liquid. He sanitized a spot on Ross’s hand and prepared himself to administer the drug, when his father shook his head. “Let me.” Paulie sighed to himself. He knew his dad trusted him, but at the same time, Drew didn’t want him to feel bad if anything went amiss. Unwilling to begin a debate on parental protectiveness, Paulie obediently handed the syringe to his dad. After all, Drew was the experienced human doctor, not him. Ross cracked his eyes open, and Paulie could already see the feral insanity lingering in their depths. Trent and Valerius took position by the bed, guarding them, just in case Ross managed to break the bindings they’d immobilized him with. Paulie hoped it wouldn’t be necessary. If the serum worked, it would keep the disease in check. Calmly, Drew administered the drug to Ross. Ross began to struggle, and then the fight drained out of him, replaced by painfullooking muscle spasms. Drew cursed, and Paulie’s heart fell. They’d failed. Ross would die. They rushed to find any medicine that could stabilize Ross’s condition, but before they could do so, Ross went limp. Drew checked Ross’s vital signs. When he looked at Paulie, his eyes held not a small amount of relief. “His pulse is steady and strong. It might have worked yet.” Indeed, in the next hours, Ross’s fever dwindled and his general state improved. Paulie began to hope they’d taken the right decision. Of course, they wouldn’t know for sure until the patient woke up, but at least the situation seemed to show some promise.

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By evening, Paulie could safely say the serum had worked. Ross even opened his eyes at one point, and although he didn’t regain consciousness fully, he no longer looked gripped by the feral insanity. At one point, Drew declared the situation safe enough for Paulie to go and get some sleep. This time, Paulie did protest, but his dad eventually convinced him. There was no sense in them both watching over a sleeping patient. The worst had passed, and if Drew needed assistance, he’d get another of the clinic medics. Drew’s protectiveness began to get on Paulie’s nerves. After all, how much could a healthy twenty–two-year-old sleep? Still, perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check on their downstairs patients while his dad watched over Ross. Not to mention that he wanted to see Sebastian and Marcus. The thought made him strangely excited, and he didn’t even know why. He remembered the time his dad hooked up with Valerius and Trent. Could the two hunters be his mates? Paulie shook himself. He’d only caught a fleeting glimpse of the men. For all he knew, his excitement could be caused by his need to help Ross. “Hey, kiddo,” Trent said, “take care, you hear?” Valerius just gave him a penetrating look, and Paulie could see the concern behind it. Drew seemed puzzled by the exchange, so Paulie fled before his father could demand an explanation. He left the examination room and froze in his tracks when he saw Sebastian and Marcus waiting in front of it. He realized in dismay he didn’t even know which was which. “Hello,” one of them, a gorgeous blond, said. “We haven’t been officially introduced. I’m Marcus Deacon, and this is my mate, Sebastian Morrigan.” Marcus’s voice sounded like silk caressing Paulie’s skin. He didn’t know how he managed to keep enough coherence and reply, “I’m Paulie. I mean, Paul Blunt. It’s nice to meet you.” “It is,” the second hunter—Sebastian—replied. “How is Ross?”

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The serious topic gave Paulie the ability to recover. “He seems to be doing better. We won’t know for sure until he wakes.” Sebastian nodded. “If you’re not too busy, could we maybe have a word with you, someplace private?” Paulie’s heart began to beat faster. “Certainly. There’s a waiting room somewhere around here. We could go there.” “That’s fine,” Marcus replied. “Lead the way.” Paulie obeyed, his mind swimming with the possible outcomes of this conversation. What did they want to tell him? What would he reply? God, had his dad been so confused seven years back? He walked on autopilot, unable to say a single word. The silence stretching between them held an underlying current of sensual energy. Paulie could feel their gazes on him, hot and insistent. His legs began to tremble and almost gave out. He had no idea how he even managed to reach the waiting room without swooning or anything just as embarrassing. They chose a comfortable couch and sat down, Marcus and Sebastian next to each other, and Paulie facing them on a chair. “So… What did you want to talk to me about? Like I said, I can’t tell you more about Ross’s condition just yet.” He was playing dumb, and judging by the expression of the two spirit wolves, they knew it as well. Even so, they didn’t seem upset with him, just slightly confused and troubled. “We appreciate you helping Ross, but he isn’t what we intended to speak of,” Marcus said. When he hesitated, Sebastian continued, “You are our mate. I believe you know it, or at least suspect it.” Paulie looked away, Sebastian’s dark gaze intimidating him. He licked his dry lips and replied, “I suspected it, yes.” He didn’t recognize his own, barely audible voice. To his surprise, Marcus moved off the couch and knelt at Paulie’s feet. His large hand took Paulie’s smaller one. “Look, I know this is hard,” he whispered. “We’re not pushing you into anything. Take your time, think about what you want. We don’t want to rush you.”

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Paulie looked at the two men once again. They were so close to each other and looked so very comfortable. They didn’t make any particularly intimate gestures, as if restraining themselves from outright displays of affection, but Paulie sensed the connection between them nevertheless. It made sense, of course. If he was their mate, it meant the two of them were together as well. Paulie began to feel uncomfortable. He didn’t know how relationships between spirit wolves worked, but in those he was familiar with, the three mates had met at the same time. True enough, Dan bonded with Linden in his past life, but he didn’t think their situation compared to this one. If his suspicions were correct, he’d basically be the proverbial third wheel to a relationship that had lasted more than his entire lifetime. He retracted his hands from Marcus’s hold. “Just out of curiosity, how long have the two of you been together?” Marcus seemed even more puzzled, and Paulie felt a pang of remorse. He squashed it viciously when Sebastian answered, “One hundred years, give or take.” “Then, what do you need me for?” Paulie shot back. “You’ve been just fine without me until now.” He expected them to deny it, to argue with him. Hell, he wanted them to. But neither of the men did. They shared a look Paulie couldn’t quite understand, and then Marcus got up. “That’s right,” he said. “We have. But so were Trent and Valerius before meeting your father.” “It’s not the same,” Paulie answered. “They were single. They didn’t know each other.” “Why does it matter?” Sebastian asked. “Why does it bother you?” His black eyes speared Paulie, and he forgot what he was going to say. He didn’t think he could deal with such an earth-shattering realization. He’d never asked for this. Hell, he’d never even had the

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time to experiment with people his age and race before he’d been thrust into this odd, supernatural world. Not that he regretted it. Of course he didn’t. He’d always led a successful existence from a professional point of view, and he’d had plenty of opportunities to explore his sexuality. The thought of doing it with Sebastian and Marcus made him lose track of his thoughts. Paulie had to shift on the couch to cover his crotch and his nowstraining erection. He caught the sight of an echoing passion in Sebastian and Marcus’s eyes, but the men didn’t do anything about it. Paulie took a deep breath and struggled to focus. Lust wasn’t very conducive to finding a solution for this predicament. As much as he might’ve wanted to touch them, the circumstances made them offlimits. After all, how did one go about starting a relationship from scratch, all the while knowing the person in question would remain by one’s side, no matter what? It seemed so humbling. Nothing he ever did would matter because, in the end, destiny would have its way. How did others deal with three-way bonds, when Paulie could barely wrap his mind around the concept? In seven years, he’d seen the affection between Trent, Valerius, and his father, and still he didn’t manage to understand it. Paulie tried to think about the situation logically. He was acting like a petulant child, and he knew it. “I’m sorry,” he told Sebastian. “I just have to think about this. It’s very unexpected, and I’m not sure I can grasp how it works.” “It works however we—that is you, me, and Bastian—want it to,” Marcus replied gently. “There are no rules. We make them, according to what we’re comfortable with.” Paulie felt a little better at that, but apprehension lingered within him. Wasn’t mating like a compulsion? Would Sebastian and Marcus be forced to bond with him even if they clearly shared something beautiful together? And what about him? Where did he stand in all this?

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“Maybe we could spend some time together?” he suggested. That way, he’d get to know these two men and figure out how he really felt. His entire being begged to be by their side, but for all he knew, it could just be lust. There was plenty of that going on. Another time, he might have gone for it, just to experience the pleasure he knew he’d feel if he accepted them. But matings were a serious business. They meant a lifelong commitment, and as much as it pained him to admit it, he doubted Sebastian and Marcus. He doubted himself, and his knowledge of this. He didn’t want to become an intruder in an already established relationship. It might lead the two men to one day resent him, and that would be worse than staying away. They’d have to take it slow to make sure this could work out. To his relief, the two spirit wolves smiled and nodded. “I couldn’t agree more,” Marcus said. “I’d love to get to know you better.” “Me, too,” Sebastian offered simply. Paulie began to feel a bit better at their agreement. Even so, he knew he could use a few moments alone to think about things. Besides, he still needed to check on the ferals. Work didn’t wait for his personal dilemmas to be solved. “Okay then,” he answered. “See you in a bit? I still have some work to do.” “Sure, Paulie.” Marcus smiled kindly. “Take your time. We’ll be in the main house.” They said their good-byes, and before they left, the two men pressed chaste pecks on Paulie’s cheeks. In spite of the total innocence of the two kisses, Paulie’s face burned as he watched them go. He shook himself and focused on what he needed to do. An elevator took him to the underground level. On the way, a number of soldiers checked his security pass—something Paulie now accepted with ease. This area of the clinic looked like something out of a highsecurity prison. Not a single thing had been neglected. The doctors

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who came and went were supervised at all times, not to mention the imprisoned ferals. It was a very difficult life for the prisoners, and something Paulie would have liked to change. At the same time, his honest desire to help seemed to hit a brick wall in front of the outright refusal to cooperate of the men he wanted to heal. It saddened and frustrated Paulie that he couldn’t find a middle ground. It occurred to him Sebastian and Marcus had been instrumental in the capture of these men. In fact, if Paulie remembered correctly, Marcus suffered a serious injury that almost killed him during the same battle. The thought sobered him and made him remember these were, after all, dangerous men. Perhaps they’d committed those misdeeds while in a state of insanity, but their current state didn’t show a real desire to be healed. Paulie understood the reason behind this. While under the serum’s effect, the ferals remembered and processed everything they’d done, and couldn’t deal with it. Essentially, this brought them to a stalemate. Paulie took the examination checklist from the main offices and advanced toward the so-called cell block. The patients received comfortable sleeping quarters and were given good nourishment and clean clothing. At the same time, every object in the large rooms showed a design created to prevent any chance of escape. Several considerations had been taken into account when furnishing the cells in order to avoid any unpleasant consequences, like the prisoner hurting himself. The only thing that could harm them in the area was the silver on the bars, and the guards always stayed around to prevent the prisoners from even getting close. When he reached the cells, Paulie immediately noticed the strained silence. No one was moving, not a single prisoner saying or doing anything. The guard ahead shook his head. “We’ve had no trouble, Doctor Blunt.”

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Paulie offered the man a small smile. It still made him feel a bit awkward that these age-old warriors would treat him with such respect. “Doctor Blunt is my dad. I told you to call me Paul.” “Yes, Doctor Blunt,” the soldier replied without missing a beat. Deciding to choose his battles, Paulie focused on the patients. “Anything else of note?” “Patient Number Three seemed restless, nothing out of the ordinary, but still…” Paulie made a mental note to pay close attention to the third patient. “Thank you. Follow me. I’ll check on them now.” They swept through the cells, with Paulie analyzing the prisoners and several guards watching his back. At last, they reached Patient Number Three. Like the others, he didn’t move when they opened the barred door, nor did he move when Paulie stepped closer. Paulie expected this final visit to go as smoothly as the others. He couldn’t have been more mistaken. The moment Paulie touched his patient, the feral snarled and grabbed his arm. The soldiers shot forward, releasing Paulie from the prisoner’s grip. The feral shifted into his wolf form, growling at them. Several of the spirit wolves began to do so as well, obviously intending to attack the prisoner. More guards were approaching, the commotion drawing everyone in the direction of the third cell. The prisoner must have realized he didn’t have much time at his disposal. What little reason he had left made him back away slowly. Paulie couldn’t have said how the next thing happened. It all went on so fast, and at the same time, as if in slow motion. One moment, he was trying to soothe the out-of-control feral, the next, he watched the prisoner jump with all his might against the hard walls, effectively mashing his head into the rocks. It all lasted maybe two seconds, during which the feral had the time to hit the wall a couple of times. Brains flew all over the place, splattering onto Paulie’s face and clothes. Before the group of soldiers could do anything, the wolf lay dead, his skull shattered by the strength of the impact.

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Everything stilled. For a few moments, Paulie couldn’t even breathe. Like an automaton, he reached for his face and wiped the blood from his cheek. He didn’t know how he managed not to break right there and then. He simply went into doctor mode and wondered what the fuck had gone wrong. How could they mess up so completely? They’d kept the ferals bound in the beginning, but it proved to be counterproductive for their psyches, so they’d taken a chance and allowed them the limited freedom of using the entire cell. It looked like they’d made a serious mistake. “Get my father,” he said when he thought he could speak without bursting into tears. “And bind the other two. We don’t want the same thing to happen.” His orders were immediately obeyed. Paulie’s heart hurt at the sight of the wolf, but he knew he couldn’t give up. He needed to take a sample from the body and find out what led the feral to commit such an act. Had something in particular been the catalyst or simply an accumulated sense of despair? They needed to find out, to prevent any further deaths. He remembered his dad’s words about keeping professionalism at all times. “One day, you’ll lose a patient, Paulie,” Drew had once said. “It’s unavoidable. But when that day comes, you have to find the strength to continue because of all the other people who need you.” And so, Paulie proceeded to take a small sample from the wolf’s body. In the back of his mind, he sensed a warmth closing in, something that prevented him from losing it. He heard their dim voices crying out to him just as he finished his gruesome task. “Paulie!” Sebastian said. “Paulie!” They must’ve been stopped from entering the underground level of the clinic, but somehow bypassed the guards shortly after. They came closer, and Paulie found himself swept into a comforting embrace. Sebastian pulled him close, while Marcus caressed his hair. “Are you all right, gorgeous?” Sebastian whispered.

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Paulie nodded and bit his lip hard. He didn’t think he could explain. If he started speaking, he would burst into tears. He just knew it. His father’s strong voice sounded behind him. “What happened here?” Drew asked. “One of the ferals snapped, Doctor Blunt,” a guard replied. “We couldn’t prevent him from killing himself.” “I see,” Drew said. “Did you bind the others down?” “Yes, Doctor,” the same soldier answered. Paulie registered all this as if through a dream. He felt his father kneel by his side. “Paulie, can you hear me?” Drew inquired. “Sure,” Paulie somehow managed to reply. “Why wouldn’t I?” His father didn’t answer. However, Valerius who must have come with Drew, said, “Sebastian, Marcus, take Paulie to his room. We’ll talk to you later.” Paulie couldn’t be bothered to protest, not even when Sebastian took him in his arms, carrying him like he would a woman or a child. If Drew had any protests over this decision, he didn’t say it. Instead, Paulie heard him begin to give orders to deal with the situation left behind by the feral’s death. At one point, Sebastian asked him the direction of his room, but Paulie couldn’t focus enough to figure it out. His mind wondered to what he could have done differently, how he could have prevented this from happening. He berated himself for his incompetence, for his stupidity. If Drew had gone to check on the ferals instead of him, this never would have happened. Through the haze of his mind, Paulie took in the moment they reached an unfamiliar room. Sebastian first took him to a bathroom, where he removed the bloody clothing off Paulie. After washing him up, the two men wiped him dry and wrapped him in a thick robe. Afterwards, Sebastian placed him on a large queen-size bed. The sheets smelled like Paulie’s two mates—comforting, warm. Paulie

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couldn’t come up with any better idea than to just close his eyes and fall asleep here, in Sebastian and Marcus’s room. The two men lay down by his side, sandwiching him between their hard, muscled bodies. It was quite ironic something that should have been the fulfillment of a sexual fantasy ended up just a source of comfort, but to Paulie, it meant more than any sensual exploration he might have desired. “You can cry, gorgeous,” Marcus whispered in his ear. “You don’t have to be ashamed of your pain.” And Paulie did cry. He sobbed his heart out, for the dead prisoner, for himself and his father, for each and every person they hadn’t been able to help, for Ross who might one day end up with his brains splattered on the walls. All the while, the two hunters held him, soothing him with soft, loving murmurs. Through all the pain, Paulie found a certainty. For whatever reason, Sebastian and Marcus did want him. Perhaps he couldn’t understand it yet, but he’d do his best to accomplish it.

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Chapter Three A knock sounded at the door of the room Marcus and Sebastian shared. Marcus gently broke away from his mate, paying close attention so that he would not wake Paulie. The young human had finally gone to sleep, after exhausting himself crying. Marcus would have done anything to turn back time and keep Paulie from seeing the horrible death of the feral. At this point, the only thing he and Sebastian could do was to support Paulie and comfort him. He’d have ignored anyone who dared to disturb them, but his senses revealed the identity of their visitor. Marcus slipped through the room, cracked the door open, and stepped into the hallway. Doctor Andrew Blunt stood in front of him, as usual flanked by one of his mates—in this case, Trent. “Is my son here?” the doctor asked, frowning. Andrew spoke calmly, even if Marcus knew he must be feeling quite worried. “He is here. He’s sleeping.” After a short pause, he decided to point out the elephant in the room. He and Sebastian had intended to talk to Andrew anyway, just not in these circumstances. “He’s our mate.” “Valerius and Trent told me,” Andrew answered. “I can’t say I don’t approve, but I’m not very happy about it either. He doesn’t have a lot of experience with relationships. I tore him out of normal life by bringing him here.” This time, Andrew no longer disguised his emotions, and Marcus could tell the real concern and remorse the doctor felt because of Paulie. “He’ll only be more vulnerable after this unfortunate fiasco with the feral.”

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“Valerius and I believe your presence might help,” Trent said. “But please take into account what we mentioned.” “Of course,” Marcus answered. “You don’t even have to say it.” Andrew smiled tightly. “I appreciate it. Get him to rest as much as you can. He works far too much.” With that final piece of advice, the doctor and Trent said their good-byes and took off. Marcus breathed a sigh of relief. This conversation had gone much better than he’d expected. As he entered the room again, he met Sebastian’s gaze. “I suppose that went much better than it did with your parents,” the other man said. “It could hardly go worse,” Marcus whispered back, his tone measured so as not to wake Paulie up. The attempt at humor failed for both of them. The situation didn’t warrant it. Marcus joined his two mates on the bed once again. He didn’t think he’d get any sleep, but their proximity would suffice. **** Paulie awoke with a choked cry. He couldn’t remember exactly what he’d dreamt, but he knew it involved lots of blood and gore. To his surprise, he found himself wrapped in a strong embrace. The memory flashed back through his mind. He recalled going to check in on the feral, then having the man kill himself in front of him. He remembered the two hunters carrying him away and bringing him here, to their room. He’d cried in front of them. Worse, he’d abandoned his duty as a doctor. “Shhh,” Marcus whispered in his ear. “Calm down. It’s all right. You’re safe.” Paulie shuddered, the other man’s voice scrambling his thoughts. He shook himself and tried to break free. “I appreciate the help, but I have to get back.”

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Warm lips brushed against his cheek, Sebastian’s breath mingling with his. “No, you don’t, gorgeous,” Sebastian whispered. “You need to rest some more.” “I’m fine,” Paulie protested weakly, doing his best to avoid the other man’s gaze. “Are you sure? Do you think you’re over it?” Marcus sounded skeptical. “Don’t force yourself. In the end, you won’t be able to help if you’re not feeling yourself.” Paulie begrudgingly agreed with Marcus. Still, he couldn’t just stay here and laze around while others needed him. As if guessing his thoughts, Sebastian forced their eyes to meet. “Sometimes, everyone needs a break,” he murmured. “That’s what we’re here for, to support you. So relax.” Paulie couldn’t hold on to his desire to return to work. He was only human, and a healthy young man. Being squeezed between two hunks represented a dream come true for his libido. Perhaps taking a moment wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all. Once he took the decision, casting away his misgivings turned out to be quite easy. As if of their own accord, his hands traveled over Sebastian’s chest, the feel of the hard muscles under his fingertips arousing the most basic instincts within him. His cock, already halfhard simply from the two hunters’ proximity, went rigid in a mere instant. The scent of his two mates enveloped him, and Paulie couldn’t remember why he’d even hesitated. He was so close to them he could feel a hard dick next to the crease off his ass, and another nudging his thigh. Rubbing his ass against Marcus, he reached between him and Sebastian, intending to touch his mate’s cock. Sebastian stopped him. “Don’t,” Sebastian said huskily. “You’re not ready.” Paulie would have protested, except he remembered his own reaction earlier, and that brought different, more gruesome memories back. “No,” Marcus whispered. “Don’t think. Just let us take care of you.”

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They removed the robe off his body, leaving him naked and exposed on the bed. It was the first time he’d ever been naked in front of anyone, but beyond the physical nudity, Paulie felt bared— emotionally. It seemed as if the two men could read his every thought. In a strange way, it both embarrassed and relieved him. Sebastian pressed his lips to his, and the moment their lips came into contact, shocks went through Paulie’s body, almost like he’d touched an outlet with a wet hand, but somehow still incredibly pleasant. The flicks of energy made every inch of skin beg for his mates’ touch. He forced his mind to focus just on the here and now and with each second that passed, he found it got easier and easier. Sebastian’s tongue licked across the seam of his lips and Paulie gladly granted entrance. He didn’t know much about kisses—he’d only kissed a handful of people in his life—but Sebastian’s blew his mind. His mate’s tongue massaged Paulie’s, ravaging his mouth, taking no prisoners. All the while, Marcus swept his hands over Paulie’s body, reaching in front of him to tweak his nipples. Paulie moaned into Sebastian’s mouth at the touch. He wanted more, skin on skin, without the barrier his mates’ clothes presented. But the two spirit wolves seemed determined to drive him crazy. When Sebastian moved away, they shifted him so that he lay on his back on the bed. It was Marcus’s turn to kiss him. Unlike Sebastian, Marcus coaxed gently, the lip-lock a sensual seduction, rather than a raw, carnal conquest. He wrapped his arms around Marcus’s neck and surrendered to the delicious exploration. For a few moments, Paulie lost track of Sebastian. He only realized where the other man had gone when wet heat surrounded his shaft. Sebastian took him with no problem whatsoever, sucking him in greedy motions. He bobbed his head up and down Paulie’s shaft, and to his embarrassment, Paulie felt his orgasm approach. He’d never experienced such a thing in his life and as much as he wanted to prolong the moment, he simply couldn’t hold on.

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As the kiss between him and Marcus broke, Paulie let out a choked sound. Just when he thought he would come, Sebastian grabbed the base of his dick, effectively stopping his orgasm. Marcus’s tongue went to play with the lobe of his ear, while Sebastian’s mouth continued to torture him. Over and over, their touches drove him wild, Marcus’s clever hands arousing every nerve in his body and Sebastian’s suction short-circuiting his every brain cell. At last, Sebastian released his tight hold on Paulie’s balls. “Come,” Marcus whispered in his ear. And Paulie did come, harder than he ever had in his life. His climax exploded out of him in a rush of ecstasy that left him limp and boneless. He didn’t know how long he floated in the cloud of pleasure, but when he recovered, he realized he hadn’t done anything to bring pleasure to his mates. “What about you?” he managed to ask. Sebastian smiled at him. “There’s plenty of time for that.” Marcus pressed a kiss to his temple. “Now go to sleep, gorgeous. You’re safe.” Paulie couldn’t bring himself to say anything else. He relaxed, and this time, when he fell asleep, no nightmares came to him. **** A while later, Sebastian stole out of the bedroom, snatching his cell phone as he did so. He knew what he felt, but not how to act. It had been so much easier with Marcus. The two of them grew up together and the only difficulties with their mating appeared because of Marcus’s parents. Not so, now. Paulie’s dad seemed to agree, albeit half-heartedly, but Paulie himself was very young and confused. Well, twenty-two was not all that young in human years, but still, the difference between the human’s age and Sebastian and Marcus’s boggled the mind. As such, Sebastian needed a piece of advice.

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He speed dialed his father, who answered on the second ring. “Hello, son,” Roland greeted him. “Is something the matter?” Even if he loved his family very much, Sebastian kept his calls to the bare minimum. He’d just visited them, so Roland must be very surprised. “Hello, Father. No, nothing’s wrong. I just… I found my mate.” A long pause followed. “A second mate, other than Marcus,” Roland said. Sebastian nodded, even if his father couldn’t see him. “He is human. His name is Paul Blunt. You met his father, Andrew, at the Magistrate’s party.” “The doctor? Well, you certainly chose an interesting family to mate into.” Roland chuckled, and then his voice turned kind. “I’m happy for you. Cherish him like you do with Marcus.” “It’s just a bit hard. Paulie doesn’t understand it completely. I think he feels like the third wheel. I’m not sure what to do.” “Just give him time. He’ll come around.” Roland sighed and his voice turned sorrowful. “I never told you this, Sebastian, but your mother was my mate. Unfortunately, she died before I could figure out a solution for us to be together.” Sebastian’s breath caught. He’d never expected his father to say such a thing. “Does Alice know?” “Of course,” Roland replied. “Just like you have two mates, so did I, and Alice should’ve created a bond with your mother as well. But we have hope still. After all, Caesar D’Averam did come back from beyond, didn’t he?” Indeed, he had. Sebastian suspected other spirit wolves must’ve reincarnated as well, not just Caesar, but only The Magistrate figured it out, seeing the two separate lives together. In general, reincarnated souls registered some trouble in remembering their past lives, although they could do so with some help. Truth be told, the whole thing brought Sebastian hope that he might one day get to meet his

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mother. She might be human, but her bond with Roland would help her find her way back to them. Apparently, Roland agreed. “But now, there is a chance, Sebastian. If what The Magistrate says is correct, the three of you can be together. Go for it. Just tread gently.” Sebastian thanked his father and sent his regards to Alice and Peter. His stepbrother might not like him much, but they shared the same blood. Besides, in spite of the rivalry between them, they needed to be civil to each other, for the sake of their parents. Sebastian cut the connection and returned to the room and their bed. For a while, he watched his two mates sleep, smiling to himself when he realized Marcus was merely pretending. He mused over his father’s words, all the while caressing Paulie’s hair. Eventually, the low, relaxing sound of his mates’ breaths lulled him into sleep as well.

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Chapter Four Paulie woke up still cuddled in Sebastian and Marcus’s embrace. He stole a look outside and noticed the sun just peeking over the clouds. His face flushed when he realized he must have spent the entire night with the two men. He shook his head at his own weakness and inability to decide. Just yesterday, he’d told himself he would not jump into anything. He wanted to see if they truly matched as a couple—God, did three people even make a couple?—and if he didn’t disturb the balance between Sebastian and Marcus. True enough, they’d comforted him in his time of need. He unwillingly shuddered as images of the day before flashed through his mind. God, how could he have allowed that to happen? The two spirit wolves seemed to sense his turmoil as they stirred from their slumber. “Paulie?” Sebastian asked. “Is everything all right?” Paulie took a deep breath, focusing to calm down. “Everything is fine. I just need to go to my room for a bit to…” He scrambled for some explanation, for some reason reluctant to tell them the truth. “To clean up,” he finished lamely. He could feel their eyes on him and knew they didn’t believe him. “Okay, babe,” Marcus said quietly. “Would you like us to take you there so that you don’t run into anyone on the way?” For the first time, Paulie turned to look at the two men and offered them a weak smile. “I’d like that.” As promised, Marcus and Sebastian wrapped him back in a thick robe and sped him to his room. Paulie waved them away and

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promised to meet up with them later. As they left, he closed the door to his room and collapsed against the floor. Paulie didn’t want to run away. He didn’t want to hide, but just leaning on others wouldn’t help either. God, he felt so very torn up inside, so confused and frightened. He recalled their touches the night before. It had been amazing, but at the same time, focused all on him. What did that mean? He really might spoil Sebastian and Marcus’s relationship. No, he refused to do it. He already cared about them, and getting in the way of their love for each other was folly. The robe he wore smelled like Sebastian engulfing him in his mate’s scent and providing undesired comfort. Paulie tore it off. He couldn’t do this, not now. How long would it take for another patient to kill himself because of Paulie’s inability to compose himself? Paulie couldn’t afford to have a mental breakdown—more than he already did. His dad was right. His patients needed him. Marcus and Sebastian didn’t. Therefore, his love life would have to wait. Paulie hastened to the bathroom and turned on the shower. He rushed to wash every inch of his body, but the ghost of his mates’ touches still lingered, chastising him for his choice. “You’re still running away, Paulie,” a voice inside him said. “You’re running away from them.” Pushing the voice aside, Paulie finished his preparations and dressed in one of his doctor’s outfits. He would not let this thing defeat him. With his mind still wrapped around what happened “downstairs,” he could not even think of romance. Finally done, Paulie left his room and headed toward the lab. It was early, so his dad hadn’t gotten there yet. The guards greeted him with slight apprehension, but Paulie somehow found the strength to give them all moderately reassuring replies. He’d thought he’d managed to put up quite a good show, at least until his father showed up. “Paulie? What’s going on? The guards told me you were here and acting strangely.”

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Paulie blinked at his father, all the while mentally cursing spirit wolf abilities. “Nothing’s going on,” he replied. “I came to work.” His dad shook his head. “No. Absolutely not. You’re going back to bed, and that’s final.” Paulie gaped. His father seemed to be getting more and more overbearing by the second. Did Sebastian and Marcus’s make it so? By now, Drew surely knew about it. Either way, his dad had no right to give him orders like this. “Dad, you’re overreacting!” he shot back. “Stop it and let me speak for a minute.” His dad took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m listening.” “Look, Dad, you can’t protect me forever. I appreciate your concern, but I’ll never get over it if I cower in my room.” “What about your mates? What do they think? Did you even tell them you’ll be here?” Paulie shrugged, affecting a nonchalance he did not feel. “They’ll find out soon enough.” His Dad’s expression softened. “Okay, kiddo. I can understand how you feel. There’s no rush. Mating is a very important thing, and you have to be sure you’re ready for it.” Paulie sighed. “Right now, I’m not.” His dad squeezed his shoulder and offered him a comforting smile. “Give it time. Okay, let’s get some work done.” **** Outside the door of the lab, Marcus listened to the conversation between father and son. Sebastian was by his side, having also come to find Paulie. Marcus knew they shouldn’t be eavesdropping, and he’d never intended to, but the subject matter had drawn his attention, and he’d been unable to control his urge. Marcus shared a look with Sebastian. They’d known Paulie felt reticent to bond with them, but they’d underestimated the problem.

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Marcus wasn’t even sure if what they’d done the night before didn’t complicate things further. Marcus sighed to himself and gestured for Sebastian to follow him out of the clinic. For the moment, they needed to give Paulie space. As they left their mate to his work, Sebastian spoke at last. “Do you have any ideas?” “Not one,” Marcus replied. He truly was stumped. Sebastian gave him a glum look. “All we can do then is wait, and be there for him, even if he doesn’t want us to see his pain.” **** And wait they did. They waited that entire day, hoping Paulie would come to them. When the young human didn’t, they hoped to see him at dinner, but both Paulie and Andrew skipped it, claiming they were still working. It might have been true, but it made Sebastian very frustrated. Waiting wasn’t good enough. At this rate, their mating would never be completed. Sebastian understood patience, as well as the strong points of “baby steps,” but he also knew some things could not be left alone to solve themselves. Therefore, the next morning, before Paulie could run off to his lab, Marcus and Sebastian gave him a surprise visit, intercepting him when Paulie left his room. It was a testament to the barriers Paulie intended to keep between them that the young human didn’t even sense them coming. “Hi,” Sebastian said. “Hello, Paulie,” Marcus greeted him in turn. Paulie stared at them with wide eyes. “Uh, hi. What are you guys doing here?” “We came to talk,” Sebastian replied. “A moment of your time?” Paulie looked away from them. “I have work to do,” he grumbled.

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Sebastian frowned at his mate. “What happened to I’m willing to try? You don’t seem so willing now. In fact, you’re doing your best to avoid us.” “I’m not avoiding you,” Paulie protested. “I just want to help my patients.” He seemed frustrated. “Why can’t you understand that?” “We understand it fine, Paulie,” Marcus answered, “but you must also understand that if you refuse to get to know us, this will never work. We want to help, to be by your side, but you simply don’t want to let us in.” Paulie threw his hands up in apparent exasperation. “So what do you expect me to do? Swoon into your arms while there are people dying?” The hostility in Paulie’s tone drove all the wind out of Sebastian’s sails. “Look, Paulie. We don’t want to force you. We truly can understand your dedication for your work.” Even to his own ears, he sounded disheartened. Thankfully, Marcus intervened. “Tell you what. Let’s start slow. Go on. Go to the lab, but first take our phone numbers.” Paulie looked as puzzled as Sebastian felt, but obeyed. They exchanged cell phone numbers, and then Marcus explained, “Whenever you feel like talking, even to just to say hi, we’re a call away.” He smiled gently. “Sometimes, it’s easier to speak to someone who’s not there with you.” Paulie seemed to like the idea, and Sebastian mentally thanked The Spirit Mother for giving him Marcus. “All right,” Paulie said. “I’ll do that.” He began to walk away, while Sebastian and Marcus remained in front of his door. All of a sudden, he turned and retraced his steps. He pressed brief, chaste pecks on their cheeks and whispered, “I’m sorry. I’ll try harder. I promise.” With that, he was gone. For a few moments, Sebastian stared at the spot where Paulie had been last, idly considering the option of

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following after his mate and fucking all hesitation out of him. It wouldn’t work, of course, but his cock would very much enjoy it. Marcus chuckled at him. “I know. It’s not easy.” Sebastian arched his brow at his mate. “What can we do? He’s just…” “I could help you with that.” Marcus gave him a sly look and licked his lips. The sight of Marcus’s tongue peeking out of his mouth made Sebastian even harder than before. Marcus took his silence as agreement. He pushed Sebastian against the wall and knelt at his feet. In a few rushed instants, he unzipped Sebastian’s trousers and released Sebastian’s dick from its confines. As Marcus’s fist engulfed Sebastian’s cock, Paulie’s image popped in his head, both arousing and sobering. He realized he wanted to share this moment with Paulie, and having their relationship strained didn’t represent a very good turn-on. Marcus seemed to share his opinion. “Another time, maybe,” he said as he got up. “After we solve things with Paulie,” Sebastian added. Perhaps he was being overly confident, but he couldn’t stand the thought of not having both his mates by his side. His wolf mate nodded. “At any rate, I believe it went quite well, didn’t it?” “I think so, too. Now, we just have to wait and see.” **** A short while after his departure from his room, Paulie felt it, a shocking arousal that seemed altogether out of place taking into account the circumstances. He’d actually begun to ruminate over Sebastian and Marcus’s words, and now, he realized his mates must be having sex—without him. It strangely disheartened him. God, he

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was so confused. He wanted them to be close to each other, right? Then, how could he be jealous? It made no sense. In an odd development, the sensations stopped just instants after they began. Paulie was confused and made a mental note to ask his mates later. For now, he needed to get some work done—specifically, to check on his recovering patient. Out of the three remaining ferals in the clinic, Ross was the most puzzling one. He seemed to have taken the serum better than the others, although his state remained delicate and he needed supervision around the clock. For this purpose, Paulie and his dad enlisted several of the other medics’ aid. With so much to do, it was difficult for any of them to stand around and essentially play nurse, but it couldn’t be helped, not if they wanted to keep their remaining patients alive. Perhaps when Ross showed improvement, this state of things would change. Paulie reached Ross’s room, cracked the door open, and slipped inside. The medic who’d been watching over the young man met him halfway. “How is he doing?” Paulie asked. “Has he said anything?” The spirit wolf shook his head. “Nothing that makes sense. He hasn’t woken up so far.” As if to contradict the medic’s words, a moan sounded from the bed, interrupting the conversation. Both Paulie and his spirit wolf counterpart rushed to the bed. They checked Ross’s vital signs and made sure the young man wasn’t seizing again. Instead, Ross cracked his eyes open. “What? Where am I?” “You’re in a hospital,” Paulie replied. Ross tried to reach for his forehead, but couldn’t. His limbs had been bound to the bed to prevent him from hurting himself if he seized again. His eyes widened in panic. “What’s going on?” he croaked out. “Who are you people?” “Doctors,” the spirit wolf medic replied. “How do you feel?”

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Ross ignored the question, straining against the bindings. “Please, just let me go.” Paulie shared a look with the spirit wolf. They couldn’t dare to risk it just yet. “Once you’re better, we’ll do that. Your illness made your limbs move, and we’re afraid you’ll accidentally be injured.” Ross looked skeptical, but finally nodded. “Okay. All right. If you’re going to release me afterward.” He didn’t seem happy about it, but he was struggling to accept the explanation, something Paulie found a bit odd. If he were in Ross’s place, he’d have cursed and spat at his captors until they let him go. Musing over this dilemma, he asked Ross, “Do you remember what happened to you?” The young man blinked in confusion. “I… I’m not sure.” He squinted, as if thinking very hard. “I don’t remember anything,” he finally said. “Oh, God… I just know my name, and that’s it.” Their patient seemed to be hyperventilating now, so Paulie decided more questions would have to wait. Gently, he wrapped Ross in an embrace. They were most likely around the same age, and yet, so very different. Paulie’s heart hurt for Ross. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “We’ll help you.” Ross didn’t answer, the tension in his body betraying his disbelief. “Get some sleep,” Paulie said. “It will help.” The spirit wolf doctor injected a sedative into Ross’s perfusion. Soon, their patient fell asleep. “Go on,” the other man told Paulie. “I’ll call you if something else happens.” Paulie thanked his colleague and left the room, going over Ross’s words. Could the serum cause amnesia? If so, why? He needed to consult it with his dad. Predictably, he found Drew in the lab. “Hi, Dad,” he said. “Guess what? Ross woke up.” Drew immediately looked up from the viral cultures he was studying. “Why didn’t you call me?”

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Paulie rolled his eyes at his dad. “There was no time. He was exhausted and shaken, so we sedated him. I may specialize in animals, Dad, but you’ve taught me a lot, remember?” His dad laughed. “You’re right. When am I going to remember you’re not a kid? So did he say anything?” “Not much. According to him, he doesn’t remember anything.” Drew looked surprised. “Amnesia? Well, that’s something I didn’t expect. We need to examine this as soon as possible.” He seemed to be considering options. “He’ll be frail, now, but I’ll drop by briefly, regardless, maybe take another DNA sample. Then when he wakes up, we can have another talk.” As his dad left, Paulie remained alone and took over the lab operations. It was lonely work, and something he enjoyed as a rule. Even so, Paulie found himself wishing for the presence of two certain men. He remembered Marcus’s words and the cell phone burned in his pocket. Just hearing their voices would be perfect. After all, what would it hurt? It was only a tiny call. Paulie didn’t have to say anything he didn’t want to, and he could hang up at any moment. It would be rude, and he’d never do it, of course, but that was beside the point. Without another moment of hesitation, Paulie retrieved his phone and chose Marcus’s number at random from his contact list. He dialed and waited for his mate to reply. Marcus picked up on the second ring. “Hi, Paulie,” he said. “What are you up to?” “Work,” Paulie replied. “Ross woke up.” “Great!” Marcus answered, and Paulie could hear the genuine pleasure in his voice. “Poor kid. We couldn’t believe a feral would do such a thing to him. Did he say anything?” “No,” Paulie said. “It seems he can’t remember. Maybe you guys can come visit once he’s better.” He paused, deciding to change the topic off Ross. “What about you? What are you doing?”

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“We decided to meet up with Trent and Ash, catch up on hunter business,” Marcus answered. His tone changed, becoming softer, warmer. “I’m glad you decided to call.” Paulie smiled. “So am I, Marcus. So am I.” **** That night, Paulie returned to his room feeling a bit better. He’d actually gone to dinner and decided to get a decent night’s sleep, unlike the day before, when he’d caught maybe three hours of slumber—more of a dead faint of exhaustion, actually. He still hadn’t gone downstairs, and the mere thought of it gave him the shivers. But perhaps, if he waited a few more days, he could handle it. After washing up and pulling on his pajamas, Paulie slipped under the blanket and closed his eyes. No sooner had he fallen asleep than the nightmare started. He was back in the cell with Patient Number Three. He stood there watching the feral, smiling. Only this time, his patient cowered in front of his touch. “It’s okay,” Dream-Paulie said. “We’ll help you.” The same words he’d told Ross—and just like that, Patient Number Three morphed into the young feral. In fact, his form blurred to and fro, from Ross to Number Three. Dream-Paulie approached the feral. Moving in a flash, he grabbed the other man and tossed his body against the wall. He did it again and again, until his brains leaked out, and dead eyes stared at him accusingly. “You killed me,” Patient Number Three said in Ross’s voice. “It’s your fault.” Paulie screamed, trying to tear himself away from the hold of the dream. It didn’t work. The feral’s gaze kept him prisoner and hypnotized. The other man’s hands began to move, grabbing Paulie and threatening to crash his head against the wall.

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But before the feral could achieve his purpose, a powerful force stopped it. He was torn out of his nightmare and back into reality. “Hush,” Sebastian whispered. “You’re all right.” Paulie burst into tears. He’d thought he could be strong and push the pain away. He’d thought he could be a doctor and help people. He’d failed. Oh, God, he’d failed so abysmally. Sebastian placed him on the bed and just like two nights back, Paulie ended up sandwiched between his mates. “Now you listen to me,” Sebastian said. “We understand how you feel. I had nightmares for weeks after my first kill, and so did Marcus. But that’s why we’re here, to help each other out. Okay?” Paulie nodded. He could not think of any better idea than borrowing his mates’ strength. “Okay.” “We’ll just hold you,” Marcus murmured. “How does that sound?” Paulie didn’t reply. He just closed his eyes, knowing his mates would understand his agreement. When he fell asleep again, no nightmares reemerged.

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Chapter Five After the second night together, Paulie warmed up to them. His smiles came rarely, something unusual according to what Marcus found out from others. The experience with the dead feral hurt Paulie a lot, but Marcus hoped that, in time, his mate would get over the trauma. They didn’t have sex, nor did they venture beyond what they did the day of the feral’s death, but the few stolen kisses Sebastian and Marcus managed made all the difference in the world. It also seemed to help that Ross recovered from his injury. Ross represented a mystery for the few people at the base who’d met him. Sometimes, he seemed shy, almost frail, like a porcelain doll about to crack. Other times, he turned suspicious and cold toward them. Doctor Blunt was studying the hypothesis that the serum might have affected Ross’s psyche after all. Paulie seemed encouraged when Ross didn’t show the same signs of suicidal mania the ferals did, but his state remained delicate. Marcus himself felt responsible for the young man they’d brought here. Thankfully, the Harts extended an invitation for Marcus and Sebastian to stay at the compound for as long as they needed. A week after their arrival at the compound, Paulie led him and Sebastian to see Ross. This would be the first time they’d seen the boy since coming here. So far, Andrew and Paulie had been reluctant to allow visitors, but Ross showed improvement now, and they hoped to gradually introduce the young man to other people. Marcus and Sebastian were perfect for the job, since, after all, they’d saved him from the feral.

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Ross had been moved into a room at the same level with the examination area. Since the suicide of the feral, the guard increased even more, and one couldn’t go twenty paces without running into soldiers armed to the teeth. From what he’d heard, Ross was being watched with particular diligence. For this reason, it surprised Marcus greatly to see the entire corridor that led to Ross’s room empty of guards. Paulie immediately panicked and ran forward. Sebastian hastened after him. For about half a second, Marcus considered going to get reinforcements, but decided against it. His instincts told him it would be better to deal with this themselves. He followed after his mates and found them standing in the open doorway of the room. Paulie’s face was very red, and he looked everywhere else but at the two men standing half naked in front of them. Marcus just smiled in amusement. Now, the absence of the guards made perfect sense. Clay Hart, the youngest son of their hosts, glowered at them. “What? Can’t you tell you’re intruding on a private moment?” Ross hid behind Clay, apparently in shy mode. At last, Paulie found his voice. “Clay, it’s nice to see you. I thought you were visiting the Magistrate.” Clay didn’t look at all pleased by the comment. “I came back a little while ago.” Marcus arched a brow. He’d heard rumors over a supposed liaison between Clay and the Magistrate’s right hand man, Klaus. Judging by Clay’s ill mood, he’d guess that relationship was going nowhere, fast. Ross’s appearance would cause even more difficulties, but it didn’t concern Marcus, or his mates. Obviously of the same mind, Paulie entered the room, now in full doctor mode. “Welcome back, then. I’m afraid Ross is still in a delicate condition, so I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” Clay’s expression turned alarmed. “Delicate condition? What? I didn’t hear anything about that.”

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“Did you even take the time to ask him his name?” Sebastian grumbled. As amusing as the entire situation seemed, Sebastian had a point. Ross couldn’t be trusted to make any important decisions. True enough, a mating could heal his emotional instability, but at the same time, it could create further complications. Clay needed to tread lightly here, even more than Marcus and Sebastian. “You must know he was bitten by a feral,” Paulie answered. The blood drained out of Clay’s face. Apparently, he hadn’t known. Marcus guessed Clay might have been overwhelmed by the moment and missed the scent of the virus on Ross. Clay was, after all, very young by spirit wolf standards, just barely initiated in their pack life some ten years back. It wouldn’t be surprising for him to miss something like this. Clay backed off from Ross, having probably grasped the seriousness of the situation. Ross reached out for him. “No!” he said. “Don’t go. These people are crazy. They’re holding me captive, doing strange things to me. You have to help me. Please, I’ll do anything you want.” Clay looked like he’d been slapped. Paulie’s authoritative voice broke the awkward silence. “Don’t say such things, Ross. I’ve told you many times we just want to help. Clay, step outside with me, please.” Clay obeyed silently, and Sebastian followed him out, while Marcus remained to watch over Ross. “I remember you,” Ross said. “You brought me here.” He scowled, and then the despair that previously graced his features vanished, turning into an angry sneer. “What? Didn’t I suck your cock well enough? Is that why you brought me here, to be pumped full of shit?” Marcus didn’t answer. For whatever reason, the memories seemed to have mixed up in Ross’s head, and he now confused Marcus with whoever hurt him. Even though he knew himself to be innocent, the

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weight of Ross’s hatred almost brought him to his knees, and he felt more than relieved when the door opened once again. In spite of his ugly words earlier, Ross didn’t protest being examined by Paulie or receiving another shot from the serum. Marcus thanked the Spirit Mother for that much. Whether Ross knew it or not, saving him had become a priority for Paulie. Of course, Clay’s appearance represented an added factor that might make things difficult for Paulie. With everything going on, Marcus couldn’t help a small tinge of selfishness. He wanted to reach out and take his mate into his arms, just like Clay did with Ross. It just seemed like lately, they were worrying so much about others and not enough about themselves. He didn’t know if Paulie deliberately chose to do this, or if his genuine altruism made him focus on other things except their mating. What he did know was that he needed more. For crying out loud, Marcus and Sebastian chose not to fuck either. It was quite strenuous after a century of a rich and fulfilling sex life. Once Paulie finished with his check, they left the room. The guards had returned, probably ordered back to their post by Sebastian. Now, Marcus spotted his mate talking in a low voice with Clay. Even from this distance, his ears caught threads of the conversation. “A double bite could heal Ross,” Sebastian said. “Think about it.” Clay didn’t answer, but an expression of decision graced his strong, elegant features. Marcus wondered what he intended to do. Could Klaus Fleischer be the third mate of this union? No, impossible. Had it been so, he and Clay would have hooked up ages ago, back when Clay first appeared in front of the Magistrate. In fact, many years Marcus thought Klaus to be Wolfram’s mate. Even if his suspicion proved to be incorrect, the fact remained Klaus and Clay just recently attempted a liaison, something that seemed to have failed. Whatever the case, Marcus hoped not to have to get involved in it. He had enough on his hands with his own mating, and as much as

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he’d have liked to help, Ross and Clay would probably not appreciate it. At last, the conversation ended, and after a final, longing look toward Ross’s room, Clay left the clinic. Sebastian joined Marcus and Paulie. “This is certainly unexpected. I’m not sure what to believe.” Paulie sighed. “Neither am I. For the moment, I gave Ross a sedative. I’ll have to talk to Dad and the Harts to figure out what to do next.” Of course. Now that Ross was Clay’s mate, he’d become an unofficial member of the Hart family. Marcus felt an incoming headache. “Let’s just get the conversation with my dad over with, and then we’ll see what our next step should be,” Paulie finished. He called another spirit wolf doctor to watch over Ross, and then they headed toward the main area of the clinic. Just as they reached the main level, Marcus noticed a strange agitation in the people around him. Andrew Blunt was nowhere to be seen, and a flurry of activity engulfed all the doctors of the compound. They stopped one of the medics, but the man didn’t know to tell them what was going on. He just followed orders, which in this case meant preparing a heavy dispatch of field doctors ready to leave as soon as possible. This automatically translated into an attack. The ferals must have struck somewhere nearby, and the Harts had been called upon to help. Much to Marcus’s dismay, Paulie immediately became implicated in the process, readying himself to depart as well. Marcus knew Paulie was an excellent medic, but being a field doctor also required military training and a tough physique. Paulie was much too young for something like that. In such situations, the ferals could be expected to launch a second attack, and the staff needed to be able to fend for themselves.

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At last, Andrew Blunt showed up. “You’re not going,” he said without preamble. He wore special equipment, and he obviously intended to join the expedition. “Why?” Paulie answered. “It’s too dangerous. You can get hurt.” “So can you,” Paulie shot back. “Why the double standard?” Andrew frowned at his son. “Don’t pout. It doesn’t suit you. And I won’t begin to list the reasons of the difference. “ When Paulie continued to glare, Andrew sighed and elaborated. “Look, Paulie, I’ve been in situations like this before. I’ve seen injured on-site and treated sick people in underdeveloped countries in my youth. Not to mention that my mating gives me a resilience you don’t have. I don’t doubt your abilities, but you’ve only worked in a lab so far. You’re not ready.” “How am I ever going to be ready if you just cling to the idea of forever keeping me locked up in this compound?” Andrew looked torn. “Please understand, Paulie. I can’t risk your life in this. Tell you what, after this expedition, we can start some heavy military exercise.” Andrew shared a look with Marcus. The man seemed to say, “Mate him. Keep him safe.” With obvious reluctance, Paulie agreed. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll just help you get ready then. But I’ll hold you to your promise.” Andrew nodded and smiled at his son. “Thanks.” The commotion continued for a while longer, and during this time, Marcus watched in silence as the doctors—including Andrew and Paulie—wrapped up the preparations. At one point, Sebastian left, returning shortly after, all geared up for departure. “I’ll go with them,” he whispered. “You stay with Paulie.” Marcus arched a brow. It was just like Sebastian to be protective and practical at the same time. Marcus wanted to kick Sebastian at the realization that the other man used Paulie to keep him from service. He’d have protested, but the situation didn’t allow him to. He trusted

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his mate to get by. Perhaps, there wouldn’t even be a battle and the ferals would not attack a second time. He sensed the moment Paulie realized Sebastian would leave without either of them. “You can’t be serious,” Paulie cried. “If it’s so dangerous, how can you go alone?” “I’m not going alone.” Sebastian smiled gently. “There will be dozens of soldiers there. You need Marcus more.” “I’m not a child,” Paulie fumed. Marcus could understand his mate, especially taking into account the previous exchange with Andrew. “Besides,” Paulie continued to rant, “isn’t that the entire point of me staying behind? I’m supposedly safe here, aren’t I?” That was, the point, yes, and truth be told, Marcus had scanned the compound inside and out in the past days. Not even a fly could get in without being detected, something for which he felt very thankful. At the same time, he couldn’t help but be torn. Choosing between two mates was not something he’d ever expected to be forced into. Marcus recalled the way the ferals had been more organized and took his decision. Paulie would be safe here. Sebastian needed him. Reason told him Sebastian would be going into a dangerous situation, and therefore needed him much more. He looked between his two mates and sighed. “Fine, but you stay in your room and don’t go anywhere without a guard next to you.” Paulie offered him a slight smile. “I promise. You stick together and watch each other’s backs.” It was a useless piece of advice, since Sebastian and Marcus had been fighting together for a century now. They’d only ever suffered a defeat with the dangerous feral Joseph, but Marcus didn’t blame himself or his mate for that one. Joseph had even given their leader a run for his money. Sebastian looked a bit doubtful, but eventually agreed. A half an hour later, Marcus and Sebastian kissed their mate good-bye and boarded one of the prepared helicopters. As the aircraft took off, they

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watched Paulie get smaller and smaller, until finally he disappeared altogether. In front of them, Andrew Blunt looked troubled. “It’s all right, babe,” Trent said. “He’ll be fine.” “I know. I just hate leaving him.” So did Marcus. He couldn’t wait for this mission to be over. Once they came back, they’d get Paulie to see how they felt for him, no matter what. **** It was strangely disconcerting to be without his family and mates. His father and adoptive dads had gone on the expedition to check out the aftermath of the attack, taking Sebastian and Marcus with them. The Harts stayed behind, as well as Ashton, Dan, and Linden. Still, Paulie felt lonely and quite bereft. He’d have gone in search of Linden, since he got along great with the other man, but he couldn’t intrude in Linden’s time with his mates. He also enjoyed spending time with Amy, but today, the idea didn’t make him too enthusiastic. Instead, he decided to get some more work done. Many of the doctors had left, so the laboratory section of the clinic remained quite barren. Only the guards and Paulie remained here, with a skeleton staff manning the main hospital, just in case something happened while the others were away. Deep in thought, Paulie went to the lab and buried himself in research. At one point, he felt heavy exhaustion weigh on him, and he considered going to get some sleep. He wouldn’t even have to leave the lab. The offices held a comfortable couch he could use. No! What was he thinking? How could he possibly rest when his mates and parents were out there, facing God knew what dangers? Paulie berated himself for his weakness and went to wash his face. He clung to his need for his loved ones and continued with his work. On occasion, he lost his concentration, a feeling of deep anxiety coursing

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through him. He couldn’t identify the source, so he blamed it on paranoia and forced himself to focus. He was busy studying one of the viral cultures when he smelled the smoke. Immediately, alarm coursed through him. All of the information they’d gathered on the feral virus—seven years’ worth of research—were stored here. A fire would be disastrous. Paulie was pretty sure his dad must’ve made off-site backups of part of it someplace, but the latest results wouldn’t have been stored anywhere. Even more importantly, they still had patients here. The two ferals and Ross remained trapped in this section of the hospital. Without a moment’s hesitation, Paulie rushed out of the lab and into the hallway. The smell of smoke became even more pungent. It seemed to be coming from the upper level, where the patient rooms were located. At the same time, the corridor now appeared to be completely deserted. It couldn’t be. The clinic had top-notch security, including smoke alarms, cameras, and sensors, not to mention all the guards. What in the world was going on? He hastened toward the stairs, and at the end of the corridor, found the alarm button. He pressed it then found the fire extinguisher. After cracking the glass and retrieving the item, he went up to the next level. As he progressed, the heat increased and the air became thicker and noxious. In the main corridor at the second level, flames licked over the walls, scorching everything in their path. The way still seemed clear to Ross’s room. He still had time. A shadowed figure emerged from the corridor, and to Paulie’s surprise, he realized it was Ross. At first, glee filled him at the knowledge his patient seemed unharmed. But then, Paulie caught sight of Ross’s expression—or rather, the lack of it. Ross could have very well been a robot and showed more emotion. Paulie recalled his patient’s instability, and wondered how in the world Ross managed to leave the room in the first place. He didn’t have much time to contemplate this. Without a single word, Ross charged forward. In a flash, he reached Paulie, and they

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came crashing down. The momentum of Ross’s motion sent them rolling down the stairs, dislodging Ross’s fragile grip on Paulie. Paulie took advantage of the moment to get up and scan the area for anything he could use to incapacitate his crazed patient. He didn’t want to hurt Ross, but the other man wouldn’t have the same scruples. Paulie had been in a life-and-death situation before, but back then, during the attack on the Hart compound, he’d always hidden behind someone. He was never alone. In fact, for seven years, Paulie could count the moments he went without an escort on one hand. The only time he ever spent in private was in his room. It figured that at the exact moment when a patient attacked him, no one would be around. He recalled the fire extinguisher. He’d dropped it when Ross jumped him, but it now lay just a few inches away from him. It would certainly be heavy enough to cause a fair amount of damage. Paulie lunged toward his final hope, and he managed to grab it just a second before Ross grabbed him. They fought, with Paulie using the extinguisher both as a shield and a weapon. However, Ross seemed completely immune to pain, and it didn’t help that Paulie was loath to strike too hard. Even if Ross had become, for all accounts, feral, Paulie couldn’t be sure to what extent the other man might be able to heal injuries. The doctor in him protested, but he found strength in his desire to survive, and find all the other patients and retrieve the priceless research on the virus. Still, in spite of his efforts, Ross unsurprisingly won. Paulie lost his grip on the fire extinguisher, and it went rolling away, leaving him defenseless against Ross’s attack. Ross’s hands went around his throat, squeezing the air out of his lungs, choking him in an iron-like vise. Paulie’s vision began to grow dim. He uselessly clawed at Ross’s arms, but his strength waned with each passing second. Just when he thought he’d surely be killed, a part of his mind registered the sound of a gunshot. It seemed distant, but it couldn’t have been so. Ross’s hold on him loosened, and Paulie was invaded by a sense of encouragement. He began to struggle once again. At first, Ross didn’t

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let go, but then, another gunshot echoed around them, and Ross hesitated. Paulie caught the moment and pushed away from his attacker. As soon as he freed himself, he took greedy gulps of air, coughing and struggling to breathe. It didn’t help the smoke traveled down to the lower level by now, and at this point, he inhaled the fumes. Oddly, his arms and wrists hurt, too. Perhaps he’d hit them in the struggle with Ross. A comforting, familiar voice reached out to him. “Come on, Paulie,” Linden said. “We have to get out of here.” Paulie managed to focus his mind a bit. He registered Ash and Dan picking up an injured and bloody Ross. At the same time, he took in the increasingly dangerous fire. “The patients,” he croaked out. “The research.” “We sent people to get the ferals out,” Linden said. “But the offices have already gone up in flames. We can still get to the lab, if you—” An explosion shook the building, interrupting Linden’s words. With a cry, Paulie realized it came from the direction of the laboratory. “It’s too late,” Ash shouted over the noise. He picked Paulie up and draped him over his shoulder. “Go, go.” They rushed outside, and before Paulie knew it, they’d reached safety and fresh air, a good distance away from the burning building. He breathed in deeply, having a distant thought that one never appreciated oxygen until he was deprived of it. Mixed feelings swamped Paulie, gratitude that he’d even been rescued, and heartbreak for all the information they’d lost. He couldn’t pinpoint the exact cause of his blurry vision. It could’ve been an effect of the smoke hurting his eyes, or simply the pain of the wasted effort. Paulie shook himself and focused on practical considerations. They could rebuild the clinic and redo the data files. As far as he could tell, there were no casualties, but he needed to be sure.

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“What’s going on? Why weren’t the guards at the post? Is everyone okay?” “I’m not sure what happened,” Dan said. “We were reading over some reports, when all of the sudden we had this overwhelming urge to…uhh…” Ash cleared his throat, and Paulie grasped the meaning of Dan’s words. It wasn’t unusual for wolf mates to want constant sexual contact, but at the same time, their race was trained in discipline and absolute control. They wouldn’t go off to fuck in such circumstances. “Anyway,” Ash continued, “Linden sensed something was wrong and dragged us off to get you.” “It seemed everyone ended up in similar states, distracted in one way or another,” Dan added. “Thankfully, no one received any significant injuries. Some fell asleep, others started fighting or were in our situation. Another remembered disabling the alarms. In the end, we managed to break them out of the trance.” Paulie’s eyes widened. “But if the alarms were off, we could very well be under attack now and not know it.” Ashton nodded glumly. “We’re scouting the entire perimeter now.” Paulie stared at the burning clinic in the distance. Ash had taken them away from the area, most likely to keep them safe from any potential blast or viral spread. Some spirit wolves were fighting to control the fire, but with all the volatile chemicals and substances in there, it would be difficult. “I think whoever engineered this got what he wanted,” he said. The serum had been destroyed, along with everything else. It wouldn’t hurt to check the area, of course, but in his heart, Paulie knew the attack here was over. “He’s right,” Linden said, confirming his suspicion. “I’ve been having these ominous premonitions for the past few days. They’re still there, but they’re focused on something else.” Linden paused, as if struggling for words. “I couldn’t figure it out before, but I think Ross was sent here by someone.”

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Paulie’s eyes widened. He’d have thought Ross’s mental instability caused the attack inside the clinic, but he trusted Linden. This must be all a part of a greater plan. Fucking hell. Were Sebastian and Marcus heading into a trap? His mates, his family, they were all in danger. No wonder he’d felt anxious back in the lab. Paulie cursed and knelt next to Ross. The man’s injury didn’t seem very severe. He’d been shot in the shoulder and the leg. A brief look told Paulie the bullets had gone clean through. They would heal in no time. Of course, humanitarian sentiments abandoned Paulie. Ross had betrayed them all. He’d been sent here for the specific purpose of destroying them from within. Somehow, Sebastian and Marcus unknowingly brought a treacherous viper here. “Look at me,” he told Ross, gripping the other man’s arm. “Look at me. What’s going to happen with the others? Who sent you?” Ross’s expression looked as cold and hard as an iceberg. He said one word, “Blood.” A storm of red engulfed Paulie. He let go of Ross’s arm and staggered back, his entire vision filled with memories of the horrible moment of the feral’s suicide. He could feel the blood splattering on his face, taste it in his mouth, smell it all around him. It almost seemed more intense than he remembered it. A heavy slap brought him back to reality. “Snap out of it,” Linden said. “It’s not real.” Ross chuckled. “Of course it’s real. Things are always as real as you believe them to be. Isn’t that right, Linden?” Their gazes fixed together, as if fighting a silent battle. Linden looked away first, panting hard. “He did all this,” he said. “I’m not sure who sent him, but he did it.” Ross got up, now looking completely calm. Dan and Ash stepped forward, only to freeze in their tracks. In that moment, Paulie began to understand. Ross’s power to manipulate had dissipated through the compound, and it distributed to each person without grabbing too strong a hold. But now that Ross didn’t bother to control everyone, he

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could focus his power on each individual. It made sense. Otherwise, Ross would have never bothered to attack him physically in the clinic, and he’d have never gotten caught by Dan and Ash in the first place. They needed more people. Linden could apparently fight him on a mental level, but not without losing. Paulie called out, drawing the attention of several patrolling guards. In less than a minute, they were surrounded. Ross didn’t have time to make his escape. “There’s nowhere you can go,” Paulie said. “Just surrender now.” “Don’t you people ever get tired of spouting clichés?” Ross gave Paulie a look of sheer disdain. “You’re safe now,” he said in a mocking tone. “You’re going to be fine. We just want to help. There’s nowhere you can go.” Yes, Paulie said all that during the past week or so, but he’d meant everything in those words. Clichés were common for a reason—they applied to many situations in real life. Clearly, Ross didn’t understand that. Paulie wondered if anything they’d seen of Ross held any truth. Could he ever rely on Ross to tell them anything about his mission and boss? They only had one choice, to take Ross down and imprison him. They couldn’t chance any further delays. The Harts needed to contact the group sent to investigate the supposed attack, if they hadn’t done so already. This way, they might be able to prevent a catastrophe. But Ross’s power flowed freely over them now. They were all in a circle, close to him, and all reluctant to take charge. An unexpected arrival changed the course of events. The crowd of guards parted to let Clay pass. “Ross, why are you doing this? You’re my mate. We are your family. Why are you hurting us?” Ross laughed. “Do you still believe that? Surely you realize it was all a lie. You wanted a mate of your own so badly you fell for it. Poor little Clay.” Amy’s slender figured appeared behind her brother. “Clay, what’s going on?” Her eyes widened when she saw Ross. “Oh my God…”

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Ross seemed to find this funny. “Hello, little girl. It’s nice to see you again. Now run along and play with your foolish brother. Leave this up to the grown-ups.” Paulie could see the heartbreak in Clay’s eyes and the young wolf’s sorrow broke Ash out of his trance. He shifted to his animal form and lunged at Ross. The other man’s entire power shifted and focused on Ash, but in his anger, Ash seemed untouchable. Ash didn’t take kindly to seeing his little brother being toyed with and his sister mocked. And yet, in spite of Ross’s words and actions, Clay shouted for his brother to stop. It had the opposite effect. All the guards followed after Ash, immobilizing Ross. Clay looked like he wanted to jump in Ross’s defense, but Amy held him back, shaking her head. Before Ross’s figure disappeared in the scuffle, Paulie thought he glimpsed a small flash of remorse in his eyes, but it was gone before he knew it. Finally, the agitation cleared and Ash returned, carrying Ross’s limp body. “I’m going to store this piece of shit somewhere he can’t hurt anyone,” he said. “Ash, wait,” Clay said weakly. Ash ignored him, and stalked away, followed by a respectable number of guards. Clay and Amy rushed after them. “Where’s this attack supposed to be?” “A few miles away from Portland,” Dan answered. He checked his watch and turned a little pale. “They should have reported in by now.” Paulie nodded. With Ross unwilling to cooperate, they’d have to find information in a different way. No matter. They’d follow the trails of their loved ones. Surely, they’d manage to come up with something. Together with Linden and Dan, they set out to organize a search party. Technically speaking, it was still too soon for them to worry about the troops they’d sent to Portland, but with what had happened

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here, they needed to take into account every option, including the worst ones. Ash returned, sans Ross on his back. “Where did you leave him?” Paulie asked. He didn’t have to elaborate on who he was referring to. “I put him in one of the cells,” Ash answered. “I have the only key, so he can’t try anything funny while we’re not here.” “But what if something happens?” Linden protested. “What if there’s another fire?” “I guess we’ll just have to take that chance,” Ash replied. Paulie did feel a bit apprehensive, but between focusing on Ross and saving his family, he chose his family. Just as he thought this, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Ross emerged in his mind. “The Grand Canyon. Hurry. You don’t have much time.” At first, Paulie thought he was just hearing things. Then, he noticed the expression on Linden’s face. “Did you hear it, too?” he asked. Linden nodded silently, while Dan gave them both a quizzical look. “Hear what?” “Ross,” Linden replied. “He said we should go to the Grand Canyon.” Ash scoffed. “As if we can trust scum like that.” “It’s a lead, at least,” Linden shot back. “We can’t afford to disregard it.” Paulie shared a look with his friend. He had a feeling Ross was telling them the truth, for whatever obscure reason. Ash glanced toward Paulie. “What do you think?” Paulie would have been surprised Ash included him in this decision-making process, except he understood the reasoning behind it. Essentially, Paulie had the most to lose in this. While everyone here would be heartbroken would something happen to the squad, Paulie would be left without his fathers and his mates. But no, it wouldn’t come to it. He’d find his loved ones in time.

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Taking a deep breath, he took his decision. “I say we go to the Grand Canyon.” For a few moments, Ash didn’t speak. He stole a look at the house, his expression thoughtful. When he turned toward Paulie again, he said, “Very well. Let’s hope you’re right.”

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Chapter Six Sebastian cracked his eyes open to utter and complete darkness. Even with his advanced sight, he couldn’t see a damn thing. It wasn’t the blackness of a cell, but one comparable to a tomb. Was he dead? He didn’t think so. His body hurt too much. He remembered boarding the helicopter that would take him to the site of the attack. He’d been talking about Paulie with Marcus. Then, he’d heard something, and after that, everything turned black. Marcus! Where was Marcus? Panicking, Sebastian tried to move and realized he couldn’t. Unsurprisingly, he seemed tied down, bound by heavy cuffs. Judging by the way his wrists burned, the shackles must’ve been made out of silver. Someone had taken him prisoner, but who? Sebastian took a deep breath and focused on calming down. He needed to keep a cool head. He could still sense his connection with Marcus, and this meant Marcus remained alive. Marcus must be unconscious because his spirit seemed a bit dim, not in pain, but still distant. Sebastian could work with that, as long as he managed to get out of here. He needed a plan. But with this terrible darkness, he couldn’t even tell if his prison had any weaknesses at all. He strained against the cuffs, uselessly trying to break them. The silver hurt his wrists, and still, he could not free himself. He didn’t know how long he continued to do so, but at one point, he collapsed against the wall, exhausted. In that moment, Sebastian felt it, the terror, the anger, the shock, and misery. It didn’t come from him, or Marcus. The feelings

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swamping him originated from Paulie. For a few minutes, Sebastian dared to hope Paulie merely figured out the investigating crew had been attacked, but the dim spark vanished when he experienced physical pain through their connection. He sensed the moment Marcus regained consciousness, his alarm flooding their connection. Because they’d claimed each other, Sebastian could feel Marcus stronger than he did Paulie. Even so, the bond with the young human already seemed quite strong. Sebastian began to have trouble breathing, and he realized someone was trying to choke the life out of Paulie. Savage panic coursed through him, and he pulled at the chains holding him with a strength he didn’t know he had. His arms hurt like a son of a bitch, and still the manacles held. But the wall behind them yielded, and Sebastian found himself falling forward, his wrists still encased in heavy silver, while rock flew all around him. At the same time, he began to breathe a bit easier. At first, he felt confused, but then a sense of relief filled him. Somehow, Sebastian knew Paulie had narrowly escaped being killed by his attacker. Still, that didn’t mean they were safe. Whoever engineered this— because it was clearly a well-crafted plan—could very well attack Paulie again. Not to mention Sebastian himself, his mate, and all the others who’d been in the brigade. Ignoring the burn of the silver, Sebastian made his way to the cracked wall and stole a look through. He noticed a very distant light, barely there, but casting away some of the acute darkness regardless. He didn’t have to think too much about it. Putting the force of his fear and desire to be with his loved ones, Sebastian began to work at the wall, struggling to make a hole big enough for him to slip through. The process sent rumbling noises through the silent blackness, and as much as Sebastian tried to keep the sound as low as possible, it didn’t surprise him when he heard footsteps approach. Sebastian didn’t even try to hide. He’d already figured out he had nowhere to go, and his efforts would just be useless, especially with the heavy

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chains dragging him down. At least this way, he’d find out who’d imprisoned him. He already suspected the identity of his captor. Who else could it be but Joseph? The ferals had never been organized before Joseph showed up, and no one he knew of could have an interest in keeping them prisoner. The seconds seemed to turn into hours as he waited, but it couldn’t have been long afterward that two silhouettes shrouded the dim light. “Well, well,” a male voice said. “Looks like someone’s awoken in a bad mood.” Sebastian frowned. He didn’t recognize the voice, but judging by the tone, he’d have guessed this person must be a high-ranking officer in this group. More importantly, his visitors didn’t smell like feral. They were pure, one hundred percent human. How could this be? “Even in this gloom, I can see you’re confused.” The man laughed at his own joke. His tone changed as he addressed his companion. “Bring us some light.” The second human somehow came up with a huge lantern. A few moments later, pale, yellow light sent eerie rays through the darkness. Sebastian could at last spot the faces of his jailors. There was nothing particularly wicked about them. Had Sebastian walked by them on the street, he’d have disregarded them as just average folk. “Come closer,” the first man said. He was a stocky individual dressed in an expensive suit. With his gray hair and fashionable glasses, he looked more like an elderly business man than an evil genius bent on destroying lives and nations. The second man reminded Sebastian of a fitness program host. He had those perfect good looks and amused demeanor, as if they weren’t in a dank, horrible prison, but on a Hollywood set. Sebastian immediately labeled him as hired muscle. Sebastian couldn’t see much of them, but at this point he felt more confused than ever. If they’d wanted to kill him, they’d have done so already. In fact, they could get rid of him by abandoning him here. Even if he did manage to find a way out, he suspected this place was

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underground, and everything would be specifically engineered to keep him from escaping. For this reason, he complied with the request and took a step forward. “Ah, there’s a good lad,” the old man said. “Now, I’d be much obliged if you’ll be just as obedient and remain in your appointed cell.” Sebastian couldn’t help but laugh. “You have got to be kidding me. Is this some sort of joke? What in the world do you even want with us?” The man smiled enigmatically. “You don’t need to know.” The grating sound of rock moving drew Sebastian’s attention. He glanced behind him and realized a hidden door lay somewhere beyond the rock. Of course, he couldn’t take advantage of this discovery. Guards flooded his little cell. Weakened by the silver and his efforts to escape the manacles, Sebastian was no match for the overwhelming number. They didn’t even fight fairly. Instead, they shot odd lassoes at him, trapping him in thick nets of silver thread. Sebastian tried to struggle, but he couldn’t do anything about it. The guards dragged him off, tied up and helpless, while the two enigmatic men followed. Convinced of their superiority of strength, Sebastian temporarily yielded and waited to see where they’d take him. They half-dragged, half-carried him up some stairs, until at last Sebastian glimpsed light. His eyes hurt after being so long in the darkness, but he got used to it with a fair amount of ease. At the same time, he sensed Marcus’s presence growing closer. The humans must’ve brought Marcus to wherever they were taking Sebastian. Finally, raised voices reached his hearing. “You’re mad. I’m not doing it,” a man said. Sebastian recognized him as Andrew Blunt. “Oh, I think you will,” a woman answered. “After all, you don’t want us to harm your precious mates.”

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Sebastian didn’t know who she was, so he put her in the uncategorized human section, along with the older man. The guards carrying him at last reached their destination, the area the voices came from. Judging by all the equipment, it seemed to be a lab of sorts. They dumped Sebastian on the floor. In an instant, Sebastian’s eyes fixed on Marcus, similarly bound at the other side of the room. Valerius and Trent were also there, unconscious, but breathing. Andrew Blunt seemed unharmed and was the only one standing, facing an elderly human woman. “You wouldn’t dare,” he snarled at her. She arched a brow at him. “Why not? Isn’t it only fair?” “Besides,” the older man said from behind Sebastian, “didn’t you take someone even more valuable from us?” It seemed obvious Andrew knew these people. When he looked closer, Sebastian thought he detected something familiar about them, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. The answer came from the next exchange. “Do you think Paula would appreciate this?” Andrew asked. “What do you even expect to gain?” “Our daughter is dead,” the man replied blandly. “But we still have our nephew. You’re going to give Paulie back, or else.” Sebastian had the feeling he’d ended up in a movie where he’d missed the first half hour and he was just now beginning to understand. Through some bizarre twist of fate, his jailors were sort of related to him. They must be Paulie’s grandparents, on his mother’s side. Paulie had told them a bit about his past. His mother died giving him birth, and he’d never gotten along with his grandparents, Judith and Chad. He’d left them behind when Andrew introduced him to the world of the spirit wolves. Apparently, the two somehow found out about it and intended to exact revenge.

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“Paulie is not an object, Chad,” Andrew shot back. “He goes where he wants to, and he stays with me because he so desires.” Chad’s face twisted in a grimace that belied his harmless appearance. He punched Andrew, and the doctor recoiled at the force of the blow. Instantly, Trent and Valerius awoke. “What the fuck?” Trent groaned. “Drew?” “I’m fine,” Drew answered. “Don’t worry about me.” Valerius’s deep eyes scanned the room, and recognition dawned on his face. “You have got to be kidding me.” Sebastian would have laughed, since he’d said the exact same thing moments earlier. Still, he couldn’t understand. The Judiciaries took great precautions to ensure the existence of their nation remained a secret. No human would have been able to do such a thing without being aided. There was more here than two insane grandparents wanting their grandson back. His suspicion proved to be correct. “Now, do what we told you to and take the sample from those two,” the woman said. She pointed at him and Marcus. So their role here would be that of test subject. Just fucking great. Paulie’s grandparents might not be evil geniuses, but they certainly took on the role of mad scientist. There wasn’t much they could do about it, not with everyone imprisoned under the silver nettings and weakened by the attack. Not even Andrew—the only one who kept his freedom of movement— would be able to get away with all the soldiers swamping the lab. “Leave Marcus alone,” he gritted out. “He’s injured. He can’t help you. Just take it from me.” Marcus began to protest. “Bastian…” The woman’s laughter interrupted him. “I think not. We have a different quarrel with you. Intending to corrupt our nephew with your perversion? I don’t think so.” Well, fuck. Andrew must’ve mentioned Paulie being a mate for Sebastian and Marcus. Apparently, the doctor wasn’t as smart as everyone credited him to be.

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But Andrew looked as surprised and dismayed as Sebastian felt. Someone else must’ve told the men. One of the guards? He doubted it. No one on the compound knew for a fact the three of them were bonded. The soldiers who guarded the clinic might have figured it out from Sebastian and Marcus’s behavior, but none of them had come on this expedition. Still, what other option could there be? Shaking himself, Sebastian focused on the matter at hand. So, he wouldn’t manage to convince the humans to back off. It wouldn’t hurt to find out what they wanted to do in the first place. As if guessing Sebastian’s thoughts, Andrew began to speak once again, this time in a calmer tone, appealing to the rational part in the humans. “That may well be, Judith, but the fact remains your plain is just plain foolhardy. You cannot control a mix between human and spirit wolf DNA. It’s impossible.” “Don’t you always say nothing is impossible?” Chad answered. “How many times did you claim that while you struggled to create your famous serum?” A niggling suspicion irked on Sebastian’s brain. He now doubted the guards told the humans anything. In fact, he suspected something much more sinister was going on. After all, no guard would have made such a comment about Andrew’s habits of conversation. For this reason, Sebastian wasn’t surprised when he felt another spirit wolf’s presence, something far too familiar for his comfort. He didn’t know why he hadn’t felt it before, perhaps because of his exhaustion and futile anger. He could definitely do so now, and he growled low as he identified it. Marcus gave him a glum look, and Sebastian knew his mate also made the connection. Sebastian desperately wished for it to be a mistake, but it was too much to ask for. His half brother, Peter, stepped into the room, smiling when his gaze fell on Sebastian’s trapped form. “Hello there, Sebastian,” he said cheerfully. “Fancy seeing you here.”

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“You bastard,” Sebastian growled. “How can you do this to our family? How can you betray them like this?” Peter grimaced at him, as if he’d seen something that disgusted him. “Au contraire, brother,” he spat. “You’re the bastard. Literally. And it’s high time I got rid of you, and your meddling mate.” “Do you hear yourself?” Sebastian shot back. “You’re not in freaking Scooby Doo. Someone will figure you out, even if you do get rid of us.” Peter shrugged. “Whatever. Believe what you like if it makes you feel better. It doesn’t matter.” He looked toward Andrew. “Come on, Doctor Blunt. Get a move on. I just might wipe your memory and allow you to live.” **** Paulie fidgeted, the increasing feeling of discomfort and anger beginning to get to him. The decision had been taken, but by the time they reached Arizona, he was essentially jumping out of his skin. They were supposed to meet reinforcements coming from the Magistrate’s Den here. Everything seemed one hundred percent organized, but each passing second scraped over Paulie’s brain like nails on a blackboard. They landed a few miles away from the canyon so as not to alert whoever might be here. Paulie’s heart thundered in fear Ross might have deceived them. Not that they had much choice now. After careful consideration, they’d decided to fly to the Grand Canyon with a slight detour. They’d found the debris of the helicopters sent to investigate, but nothing else, neither bodies nor clues. The attack in itself seemed bogus, which meant there must be a traitor in the ranks of the spirit wolves. He only hoped the compound wouldn’t be raided while they were away. True enough, they’d left a considerable force behind, relying on the people the Magistrate would send, but nothing was certain at this point.

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Night had already fallen when they headed toward Eagle Point, a gorgeous rock formation considered sacred by the some of the natives, where they’d meet up with the other team. At all times, they did their best to remain stealthy. It was very difficult, with the wide open space all around them. Paulie placed his trust in the darkness shrouding them, although he knew spirit wolves could see a great distance away. He prayed to God and to the Spirit Mother his mates revered to protect his loved ones. He didn’t know what he’d do if he lost either of them. In front of him, Ashton seemed as tense as a bowstring, advancing slowly so as not to disturb a single rock. Paulie had some trouble keeping up, but he forced himself to focus and copy Ash’s motions. Finally, they reached the meeting spot. Paulie breathed a sigh of relief when he realized their reinforcements already waited for them there. The Magistrate himself had come. Did he feel guilty for not seeing this coming? Perhaps. Paulie would never fully understand Wolfram. “There are no ferals here,” Wolfram said. “We sent scouts ahead. Mostly, we’re up against humans.” “Humans?” Paulie repeated in a whisper. The word sounded strange in his mouth, since, after all, he belonged to the same race. “But how?” “We have a few enemies who’ve joined forces,” a brunet sitting by Wolfram explained. “We’d have never thought to even look for them here if your intruder hadn’t confessed. But never mind that now. We should go in, carefully.” Through his night vision goggles, Paulie caught sight of Ash nodding. “I agree. We have to take them out as quickly as possible.” Something in the Magistrate’s voice and demeanor made Paulie feel even more apprehensive. He wanted to ask, but the squad set into motion, so he shut his mouth and decided to simply follow in silence. He’d been brought along after much insistence. The last thing he wanted was to become a burden.

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They crawled onto the rocky ground, the harshness of the terrain making Paulie feel thankful for his protective gear. All of a sudden, the squad came to a halt. Ash pointed ahead, and Paulie spotted a group of armed men watching over the canyon, shielded by a rocky outcropping. The spirit wolves charged forward like a silent killing machine and took the guards down. Truth be told, Paulie had no idea if the humans even died, but he couldn’t focus on that now. He’d have to deal with his own priorities first. After making sure the coast was clear, the group proceeded to the next step of the mission. Strong ropes went around the rocks and helped them descend into the deep canyon. Apparently, their people were being held somewhere underground. From this point, their operation became more and more difficult. The rift seemed even more strongly guarded than the top, and the spirit wolves had significant trouble in getting rid of the humans in silence. After what seemed like forever, they reached a carefully disguised cave. With the guards incapacitated—the wolves did indeed avoid killing the humans—they snuck inside. To Paulie’s shock, his eyes fell on something that looked like a warehouse dug into the very heart of the mountain. The hideout held vehicles, weaponry, and an iron staircase revealed the existence of both a superior level, and an underground one. “They must be below,” Ash said. Logic agreed with Ash’s assessment, but Paulie’s heart led him in a different direction. He could feel the pull of his mates coming from the second level. It was dim, since their bond remained unfinished. For all he knew, it could be something else entirely. But Paulie followed his instinct and replied, “No. They’re upstairs.” He hesitated then amended, “At least Sebastian and Marcus are.” He didn’t know about everyone else.

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The Magistrate nodded. “We split into two groups. Paulie, you come with me upstairs. Ashton, you lead the others at the lower level.” “Yes, My Lord.” No other words were spoken. Ash led his assigned men underground, while Wolfram did the same, heading up the staircase. At first, they didn’t find anything interesting, other than a couple of guards the spirit wolves took care of with their customary ease. A few minutes into their search, Wolfram’s steps became more certain. “Voices up ahead,” he explained. “Hurry.” As they approached, the concentration of guards increased. Much to Paulie’s dismay one of them managed to sound the alarm before being dealt with. At this point, the spirit wolves rushed forward with no regard for stealth. By some miracle, one of them grabbed Paulie, flashing forward with supernatural speed. The man dropped Paulie at the entrance of a room that bore a striking resemblance to a mad scientist lab. The spirit wolves burst inside, and the human soldiers, now alerted, fought back. In a strange development, a large enemy force pooled here, so Paulie found in dismay the humans actually succeeded in pushing the wolves back. Obviously noticing his men’s predicament, Wolfram intervened, his power sweeping over the room, confusing their foes. To Paulie, time seemed to stand still and everything moved in slow motion, like in a dream or a movie from a DVD that didn’t work right. He didn’t know if any of the others felt it, but the spirit wolves were clearly boosted by their leader’s assistance. Still, in spite of the effect of Wolfram’s abilities, he saw something—or rather, someone—that both perplexed and horrified him. With all the people struggling against one another, Paulie hadn’t originally spotted his loved ones. He did now. Marcus, Sebastian, Trent and Valerius were tied up in something that looked like silver nets. They were fighting against their bindings, but whatever held

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them must be very strong because they didn’t succeed. Paulie caught sight of blood against Sebastian’s wrists, heavy manacles encasing the wounded flesh. Paulie now understood the ache around his wrists— which persisted even hours after Ross’s attack—originated from his mates. Marcus was facing Paulie, unlike Sebastian, and his expression seemed a mix between relief, horror, and hope. At the same time, Paulie saw his dad struggling to keep three people at bay and away from the four spirit wolves. He almost looked like a lion tamer, holding a chair which he swung left and right, trying to push his enemies back. Paulie didn’t know the younger of the three, but when the man in question turned into a wolf, Paulie surmised he must be a feral or perhaps the spirit wolf traitor who caused them so much trouble. Under Paulie’s terrified eyes, he snapped his jaws at Drew, but Paulie's dad managed to hold him off. Paulie tried to force himself to move, but he was frozen. From this angle, he was pretty much away from the battle, but he saw everything clearly, and he acknowledged the identity of the two other persons present with a heavy heart. An elderly woman and man were by the wolf’s side, and the man seemed to be trying to reach for Drew as well. One thing was certain. Paulie’s grandparents had aged gracefully, and they didn’t seem all that different from the moment Paulie last spoke to them, more than seven years back—neither physically, nor in their hatred for Drew. It was very strange to see them again. They belonged to a life he’d left behind, an existence when he hadn’t been aware of the existence of the supernatural, during which he ignored so many interesting, vital things. Looking back, Paulie felt more time had passed, and a distant thought made him realize the true extent of the change they’d agreed to when accepting the world of the spirit wolves. But more importantly, Paulie could not understand how Chad and Judith even found out about this world. He knew for a fact Valerius

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had taken care of forging his and his dad’s death certificates. Hell, they even had tombs in the small town they’d lived in, Tennington. So how could his grandparents stumble onto the truth? Someone must’ve told them, but who? With horrified eyes, he watched his grandmother retrieve a small pistol. Drew waved the chair at her, sending the weapon flying, but in that brief moment, the unknown spirit wolf found an opening and jumped on Paulie’s dad. As they fell, Judith struggled to recover her weapon. Paulie didn’t know what happened next. His mind went in a different space, something that defied all fear and weakness. He only knew his family and his mates were in danger, and he needed to do something to stop them. His muscles unfroze and he rushed through the crowd, ducking and dodging the fighters. Several times, he was an inch away from being trampled, but somehow, he managed to reach his loved ones. He crashed straight into Judith just as she was retrieving her weapon and pointing it at Sebastian. His momentum sent them both to the floor. The gun went off, and Paulie panicked, thinking he’d been too late. He looked back at his mates and adoptive fathers. He was almost afraid to see what had become of his dad. After all, what could he do against a spirit wolf? Nothing. A grunt to his left drew his attention. Paulie nervously looked in that direction, half believing he’d see his dad’s bloody corpse. Instead, he saw Drew push the still form of a wolf’s body off him. Paulie took in the red on the animal’s coat and remembered the gunshot. The bullet must have hit the floor and bounced off straight into the wolf. Of course, they weren’t out of the woods yet. Judith got up and smoothed the wrinkles off her impeccable skirt, as if she were at a cocktail party, not in the middle of battle. Fuck, she’d just tried to kill someone and looked annoyed that Paulie made her miss.

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“Now, Paulie, see what you made me do,” she said in a berating tone, looking down at his still prone form. “You shouldn’t treat your grandmother like that. What’s your brute of a father been teaching you?” She didn’t seem surprised at seeing him, and neither did Chad. “Well, he’s here now,” the man said. “Don’t worry. You can come live with us after all this is over.” Paulie gaped at them. Either they weren’t serious, or they didn’t realize their own situation. He stole a look around and saw the human force begin to retreat. Chad and Judith couldn’t possibly be thinking they’d win this fight. Of course, judging by their behavior, it would be safe to say they’d lost their ability to reason at some point during these years. Still, it might take a while until the wolves managed to come to their aid. When she picked up the gun, Paulie decided to go with it and stall. “Sorry,” he gritted out as he got up. “It’s just that this whole thing is very unexpected. Besides, even if all these people here have their flaws, I can’t help but be fond of them.” Judith made a sound of understanding. “Of course,” she said. “You were always such a good child. It’s not your fault. Now come along. We should get out of here.” So, they did realize. As Chad smiled at him, Paulie found himself in quite a predicament. The presence of the gun effectively tied his hands, and he couldn’t do anything to spite them. He nodded and did his best to smile back. “Sure.” Chad extended his hand, gesturing him forward. Paulie obeyed, but at the last moment, he faked tripping over his own feet. Chad let out a low curse and knelt next to Paulie. Paulie clutched his uninjured ankle, moaning theatrically. “I think I twisted it.” “Never mind,” Chad said. “We’ll carry you.” Paulie yelped when Chad lifted him and draped him over his shoulder. What the fuck? He might be slim, but a seventy-year old shouldn’t have the strength to lift him, let alone carry him.

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He heard his father call out in protest. As far as he could tell, Andrew had been injured, but not severely. This was beginning to turn into one of those ridiculous films that never made any sense. For fuck’s sake, the spirit wolves were just a few feet away. Couldn’t someone, anyone, give them a hand? As if summoned by Paulie’s thought, Wolfram snatched him from Chad’s grip. Before the two humans could say anything, the Magistrate immobilized them, with two subdued blows. Even if Wolfram obviously held his strength back, the humans fell, dazed. The Magistrate put Paulie down and removed the net off Marcus, throwing it around the humans. Next, he retrieved the one on Sebastian and checked the vital signs on the unknown wolf. The stranger must’ve been alive because Wolfram tossed the silver netting on him. After freeing Valerius and Trent as well, Wolfram focused on the ongoing battle. Everything happened in the blink of an eye, so fast Paulie didn’t even get to thank the spirit wolf leader. A small thread of amusement went through him when he realized his own heroic endeavor must’ve lasted a minute or so. No wonder the wolves took their time. The flow of time seemed so much slower when you were terrified for the life of your loved ones. Still, he wondered why Wolfram couldn’t just wipe the floor with all these people. They were just humans, after all. They couldn’t compare with the Magistrate’s power. On shaky legs, Paulie went to check on his father, who was closest to him. By the time Paulie reached him, Andrew already struggled to his feet. He gave Paulie a tight smile. “I’m fine. Or I will be.” Valerius and Trent joined them, looking pale and exhausted. “His shoulder,” Valerius explained. “He hit it when Peter jumped him.” Paulie’s heart hurt at the knowledge of his dad’s pain, but Andrew just grinned and nodded. “Go on. I’ll be okay.” Sebastian and Marcus also approached, and Paulie took his dad’s offer and allowed his three fathers a moment of privacy. He hugged

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the two hunters, paying close attention so as not to accidentally hurt them. A low cry and a snap made him break away from the embrace in alarm. Andrew looked pale and sweaty, and Paulie understood one of his adoptive dads must have set the dislocated shoulder back in place. He winced, knowing it must’ve hurt like a son of a bitch. It would have been better if they’d waited a bit and gotten Andrew to a medical facility, where Paulie could give him some painkillers. But these days, Andrew healed faster than humanly possible, so his injury might have worsened had urgent measures not been taken. The doctor in Paulie told him Andrew would be all right. Other than the injuries around their wrists, Marcus and Sebastian seemed pretty much okay, too. They’d gotten here just in time. Still, Paulie needed to get those cuffs off. The silver could cause severe damage if the situation wasn’t dealt with. “We need the key,” Sebastian said, probably realizing Paulie’s dilemma. “We tried to break them, but it’s no use.” Paulie headed to his grandparents’ sides. He didn’t even bother to ask. They were much too dazed and wouldn’t cooperate anyway. He found a long silver key in his grandfather’s shirt pocket. With a victorious “aha,” he rushed back to his mates. One turn of the key in the manacle locks, and the heavy shackles fell. After freeing Sebastian and Marcus, Paulie did the same with his two spirit wolf fathers. Just as Trent discarded his chains, Ash burst into the room, followed by the other half of their squad. Faced with a renewed threat, the humans stopped fighting and yielded the battle. And not a moment too soon because at this point, Paulie felt exhausted, physically and emotionally. He just wanted to go home and fall asleep in his mates’ arms. Better yet, he wanted to be claimed by them, so no one would ever be able to separate them again. If he’d learned anything out of this fiasco, it must’ve been that, indeed, people didn’t know what they had until they lost it.

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However, even after the battle ended, there was still a lot to be done. Wolfram gathered all the formerly imprisoned spirit wolves in a circle, Drew and the treasonous bastard included. Paulie watched in silence as white light began to glow from Wolfram and into the injured soldiers. Power sizzled through the air, surrounding them with hot energy. Paulie was hypnotized by the sight and stared at it until his eyes hurt from the brightness. He looked away, gazing around him through his eyelids. For a few seconds, the world seemed to turn into something better, less glum. Paulie’s spirits lifted, and his fatigue drained out of him. When he cracked his eyes open, he noticed in shock the injuries had disappeared off all the soldiers. Even Drew looked better, although he still seemed a bit weak. Wolfram, however, didn’t fare so well. The Magistrate tried to put on a brave front, but Paulie could see his utter exhaustion. No wonder Wolfram hadn’t used his power in battle. He meant to do so for healing his people. Still, Paulie didn’t mention it, nor did he offer his help. The brunet from before appeared at Wolfram’s side, flanking the Magistrate, shielding him from prying eyes. Paulie surmised he must be Wolfram’s spirit wolf mate, Dietrich. Perhaps Paulie would now get to know the man, and their other mate, Fritz. His dad had refused to take him to the mating ceremony, claiming it would be too strenuous and stressful for him. Paulie understood the motivation behind it— humans were still quite poorly seen in spirit wolf society. At the same time, though, Paulie had decided to take charge of his life. He would no longer allow his dad’s concern to rule him, no matter how justified it might be. Sebastian and Marcus made their way to Paulie once again. “We’re arranging for a transport for you, your dad, and the other doctors,” Marcus said. “You should go back and wait for us at the compound.” Paulie shook his head. “Wait? But why?”

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“There’s still a lot to do,” Sebastian replied. “The prisoners have to be taken in for questioning. It won’t be…pleasant.” Marcus sighed. “Remember the man…wolf who jumped your dad?” Paulie nodded. How could he forget? “That’s Peter, Bastian’s half brother.” Shock coursed through Paulie. He now understood what Wolfram’s mate meant about different enemies joining forces. He recalled Sebastian telling him about his family, how his mother had died upon giving him birth and he’d been raised by his dad, with a kind step-mother and a younger step-brother. It reminded Paulie a lot of his own experience and made him empathize with Sebastian. However, Paulie never had a brother, and perhaps he should be happy for it. This Peter brought a whole new meaning to the idea of sibling rivalry. “I’ll have to go talk to my parents,” Sebastian said. “I can’t even imagine how they’ll take this.” He stole a look toward the now-healed Peter. The man lay tied up in the same silver nets previously used on Sebastian and Marcus, glaring at them. “He survived today, yes, but he’ll receive a severe punishment for this transgression.” Paulie struggled to offer his mate a smile. “If it helps, I’ll be by your side when you tell them.” Sebastian gave him an unreadable look and hugged him. “It does help,” he whispered. “Thank you.”

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Chapter Seven A few hours later, the transport carrying the first batch of prisoners landed at the Magistrate’s Den. Andrew, Trent, and Valerius chose to go to the Hart compound instead, intending to retrieve Ross. Sebastian had been shocked to find out the young human they’d brought in caused such mayhem at the clinic. He’d seen the sorrow in Paulie’s eyes as he recounted the tale. Ross had destroyed the entire research database at the compound, and broken Clay’s heart in the process. According to Andrew, a large portion of the files were backed up at the Den, and the rest of it could be recovered with some work. Even so, the damage had been quite severe, and more so taking into account the attack on the field doctor squad. Sebastian didn’t know what would happen to Ross and Peter now. Their fates were in the Magistrate’s hands. At the same time, Andrew’s departure left Paulie in charge of the unpleasant task of handling the check-up on the prisoners. Everyone had noticed something peculiar about Paulie’s grandparents, well, beyond the homicidal mania even. They seemed far too strong for humans well in their eighties. While Wolfram had dealt with them easily enough, it didn’t make the issue any less important. Wolfram himself led Sebastian to the cells of the Magistrate’s Den. Clean and comfortable, the imprisonment facilities were at the same time escape-proof. The only way to break free would be ending one’s life, and neither of the prisoners they would see today held the courage and despair necessary for that sort of thing. Still, Paulie shuddered, and Sebastian wished they could have done things differently. But his mate deserved to know what would

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happen to his grandparents. No matter what, they were related by blood, and blood bonds didn’t disappear just like that. Sebastian understood Paulie perfectly. After all, his own brother waited in one of these cells. As it turned out, Wolfram forwent seeing Peter. “We will talk to him once your parents arrive,” he explained. Sebastian grimaced. As was necessary, he’d contacted his family. The conversation went as well as could be imagined in the circumstances. Roland and Alice didn’t blame Sebastian for anything. They were due to arrive any moment now. At last, they reached the section of the prisons holding Judith and Chad captive. They were well guarded, but other than that, quite comfortable. Wolfram allowed them neighboring cells, but his mercy didn’t go beyond that. After all, the two humans did try to separate mates and kill a good number of spirit wolves. Sebastian and his companions did nothing to disguise their approach, and Chad heard them coming. The human abandoned the crossword puzzle he’d been focusing on and rushed to the bars. “Finally! I thought you’d forgotten us here.” Judith did the same as her husband and zeroed in straight on Paulie. “Paulie! Tell them to let us go. This is a mistake. We didn’t mean any harm.” Sebastian almost snorted, but refrained from doing so. Paulie might not be very close to his grandparents, but this situation hurt him nonetheless. Paulie sighed, and Sebastian wrapped an arm around his mate, offering silent comfort. “It’s not a mistake,” Paulie said. “Dad almost died because of you.” Judith rolled her eyes. “Your father, right. Why do you value him so much? I’ll never understand.” “So what if we roughed him up a little?” Chad added. “There’s no harm in that.”

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Paulie took a deep breath then offered his grandparents a fake smile. “Right.” He took a few steps forward and stood right in front of Judith and Chad’s cells. Quickly, he snatched a bit of hair from each of his grandparents. “Hey!” Chad protested. “What are you doing, young man?” “Research,” Paulie replied. He backed away from the cells. “For the record, if you’d actually cared about me as a kid, we’d have never left you behind.” Something changed in Judith’s eyes. “You were the only thing we had left of our daughter, and you chose her killer over us. How did you think that would make us feel?” Andrew Blunt was hardly a killer. Paula Turner had died while giving birth to her son, something Sebastian learned from Paulie himself. No one could be blamed for such a thing, especially not the best friend who’d just wanted to fulfill Paula’s desire to have a child. “There was never any choice involved,” Paulie replied. “I love Dad. I could’ve given you the same love, if you’d just wanted it.” Thankfully, the Magistrate intervened before things could get even more awkward. “Paulie, if you’d let me, I need to ask your grandparents a few questions. Go ahead and finish what you have to do. A guard will see you out.” Paulie offered Wolfram a grateful look. “Certainly, My Lord.” He then turned toward Sebastian and Marcus. “Come on. Let’s go.” One of the spirit wolf soldiers led them to the clinic of the Magistrate’s Den. There were some raised eyebrows when Paulie asked for private time in a lab, but the staff knew about the Blunts and had seen Paulie with the Magistrate. They gave Paulie everything he needed without too much fuss. Sebastian pecked his mate on the cheek. “We’ll wait outside, okay? Wouldn’t want to interrupt your research.” “No, stay,” Paulie replied. “I don’t mind.”

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So, Sebastian and Marcus stayed. They kept quiet as they watched their mate work. Sebastian found himself hypnotized simply by Paulie’s efficient, knowledgeable motions. He focused on keeping his arousal in check so as not to disturb Paulie, and he must have succeeded. Paulie managed to finish his analysis with no incident. “Well, I have to say I am extremely puzzled. The feral virus seems to be present in their bloodstream, but it’s being activated bit by bit. I’ve never seen anything like this before.” “Back at the Grand Canyon, they were talking about a mix between the two DNAs, some sort of plan,” Marcus answered. “It must have something to do with that. I guess the Magistrate will get to the bottom of things.” Indeed, just instants later, Sebastian felt his leader approach. Wolfram knocked at the door, and Paulie bid him to enter. “What did you find?” Wolfram asked in place of a greeting. “They’re infected, but it’s a very strange strain. It seems to take control over the body gradually.” Wolfram looked glum. “This confirms it then. Nicely done, Doctor Blunt. Come. We still have a lot to do.” **** Marcus, Sebastian, Paulie, and Wolfram met up in the throne room with Dietrich, Fritz, and Wolfram’s second in command, Klaus. “It seems word of the attack is getting out,” Dietrich said. “We can expect more and more people to flood the Den by tomorrow.” Wolfram seemed thoughtful. “We can’t reveal the extent of it just yet. It will only cause panic.” Marcus completely agreed with Wolfram, but he didn’t know how Wolfram would manage to keep Peter’s punishment under wraps. For there would be a punishment, no doubt about it. He didn’t get the chance to muse over it for much longer. A spirit wolf guard knocked, and, at the Magistrate’s urging, entered the

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throne room. “My Lord,” he said, “the Morrigans and the Deacons are here.” Wolfram sat on his throne and nodded. “Let them in.” The moment Marcus saw them enter the throne room together, he groaned. This didn’t bode well. Bringing the two families together was something out of a Shakespearian play. The Deacons looked down upon Sebastian because of his human blood, and by extension, rejected the family who loved him. Naturally, the Morrigans didn’t have a positive reaction to this. Still, Marcus made no comment. He needed to wait and see what the Magistrate would say. But he found comfort in the presence of his two mates. Having both Sebastian and Paulie there made all the difference in the world. When the doors opened, Wolfram gestured for the new arrivals to approach. “Welcome, my friends,” he said. “I do wish your visit could have been in better circumstances.” Both families bowed in front of The Magistrate, greeting him as custom required. With the formalities out of the way, Alice Morrigan stepped forward. “My Lord, is it true? Did my son really…?” Her voice broke, and Marcus wanted to shoot Peter all over again for causing his parents this pain. “I’m afraid so,” Wolfram replied. “But there must be some mistake,” Alice protested. “My son would not betray our people.” Wolfram offered her a sad smile. “I assure you the matter is being looked into with utmost care. For the moment, we are bringing someone else in, but until then, we will be ask Peter and those present here a few questions.” He looked toward Roland. “This might take a while. Perhaps Mrs. Morrigan would like to go lie down?” Marcus knew the reply before she even said it. “No, My Lord,” she replied. “Let me stay. It’s the only way I can wrap my head around it.” “Very well,” Wolfram answered. He turned to Marcus’s parents. “I assume Mr. and Mrs. Deacon wish to stay as well.”

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Ezekiel nodded. “This concerns our son. We cannot ever think of leaving.” Wolfram didn’t answer. He just directed a guard to bring Peter in. A few instants later, Sebastian’s half brother entered the room, flanked by a significant number of guards. He winced when he saw his parents standing there, but didn’t speak. “Peter Morrigan,” Wolfram began. “I assume you know why you’ve been brought here. You’ve been accused of treason. Your forces attacked and crashed five helicopters bearing spirit wolves yesterday. You yourself attempted to kill Andrew Blunt and plotted to do the same with Sebastian Morrigan and Marcus Deacon. Do you have anything to say for yourself?” Alice had gone very pale. Apparently, Sebastian had not told his parents everything. Peter stood up straight, facing his ruler with fearlessness. “I merely wanted Sebastian and that mate of his out of the way. The human got into the cross-fire. I didn’t intend to hurt anyone else.” “Then why the attack at the Hart compound?” Wolfram asked. Peter gave him a blank look. “I’m sorry? What attack?” He seemed genuinely confused, and Marcus didn’t smell a lie on him. At this point, lying would be useless, since the Magistrate could see into their minds if he so desired. Wolfram frowned and got up off his throne. He crossed the throne room until he stood in front of Peter. “I will ask you again. What do you know of the attack on the Hart compound?” With the Magistrate in his personal space, Peter seemed to lose his nerve. “I’m s–sorry,” he stammered. “I don’t know anything about that. Although…” “Yes?” Wolfram prodded. Peter gulped, obviously reluctant to speak. Wolfram didn’t give him any choice, his power filling the entire room. “There was a man,” Peter said at last, “a feral.”

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A gasp escaped Alice as her son spoke. “A feral,” Wolfram repeated. “Who? How did you meet him?” “He came to me. He said he would help me with…with what I said before,” Peter replied hesitantly. “I never found out his name, but he reminded me… Well, he reminded me of your mate, My Lord.” Silence filled the room. So Joseph was behind it all. Wolfram didn’t look surprised. “I see. And you jumped at the chance of revenge without caring about anything else.” “What else could I do?” He glanced toward the Deacons. “No one would help me, not even them.” It was Marcus’s turn to be horrified. Surely his parents couldn’t have considered such horrifying thoughts. But Peter had no reason to lie, not when faced with the Magistrate. The blood drained out of Ezekiel and Harriet’s faces. It now seemed obvious they’d come here to cover their own asses, not because of their concern for Marcus. Marcus felt sick to his stomach. Paulie’s hand gripped Marcus’s palm, and Sebastian’s strong arm steadied him. “It’s all right,” Sebastian said. “This isn’t anything new.” Marcus nodded, already feeling a bit better. His parents deserved a punishment as well, but they’d get away with it. They hadn’t actually done anything, so the most they could be accused of was being awful parents and back-stabbing bastards. Wolfram frowned at them. “Had I been notified ahead of time, this whole thing could have been avoided. But I’ll deal with them another time. For the moment, we’re done here.” He ordered the guards to take Peter away. Once the door closed behind the departing soldiers, Wolfram directed his attention toward the two spirit wolf families. “I need you to go for the moment. Rooms have been prepared for you. Wait there. You will be summoned again.” The Deacons and the Morrigans silently obeyed. Marcus halfexpected to be told to leave as well, but Wolfram stopped him with a gaze. Once the coast was clear, the Magistrate began to speak. “I trust everyone here implicitly. You’ve all been in one way or another

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involved in this story. Peter is telling the truth. Joseph is behind this. I’ve already discussed this with Paul’s grandparents.” Marcus sensed his mate’s anxiety skyrocket. “And?” Paulie prodded. Marcus admitted he felt curious as well—although that was lightly putting it. Paulie’s analysis of his grandparents’ DNA puzzled him, and Marcus also wanted to know why they hadn’t been killed. It would have been so easy. The helicopters had been attacked by powerful weaponry, but the hits had been designed to take the aircrafts down and allow the passengers to escape. Of course, Marcus felt thankful for this. Otherwise, he might have died in the crash, and Sebastian as well. But that didn’t make him disregard the details regarding the sinister nature of Judith and Chad’s plan. Joseph’s involvement had come as somewhat of a surprise, although Marcus supposed he should have guessed the feral would be involved in this. “It would seem,” Wolfram continued, “that somehow, Joseph convinced your grandparents to invest in the creation of a second serum, to stabilize the combination between spirit wolf and human DNA. What they intend is to build an army of ferals, all under Joseph’s control. As far as I can tell, Joseph didn’t have the necessary financial resources, but it wasn’t difficult for him to convince your grandparents, especially once they found out the truth about you.” “That’s why they needed Doctor Blunt.” Sebastian cursed. “So now what do we do?” “Joseph has the advantage,” Klaus replied. “He can bring the war to us, so to speak. We have to find him, as soon as possible, but until we do, we need to strengthen the defenses of each and every spirit wolf property.” “I’m convinced Ross might be able to give us some assistance,” Wolfram said. “The Spirit Mother always guides our steps to the right people.” Marcus might have believed that, if the next moment, Wolfram’s cell didn’t ring. Wolfram looked surprised, but took the call. Since at

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this point Marcus realized Wolfram’s phone rarely rang for good reasons, he was not surprised when the caller, who turned out to be Ash, told Wolfram, “I’m sorry, My Lord, but Ross seems to have escaped, and Clay’s gone with him.” **** The next day, Wolfram assigned them to go to the Hart compound and look into Ross’s escape. Sebastian’s heart felt heavy in his chest at leaving his family in such an uncertain situation, but The Magistrate promised to keep him posted and let him know of his decision. Sebastian hoped Wolfram would be lenient. Joseph had clearly taken advantage of Peter’s hatred. Without the feral’s intervention, Peter would have never acted on his own. That didn’t make Peter’s crime any less severe, but Sebastian hoped it would decrease his half brother’s punishment. By the time they reached the compound, Ash already had the entire area combed and thoroughly searched, with no luck. He met them when they left the helicopter that brought them here. “Welcome home,” he told them. “I wish I could give you better news, but we haven’t found a trace of where they might have gone. Clay knows these forests even better than I do. They’re probably miles away by now.” Sebastian clapped Ash on the shoulder. “Get some rest. You need it.” He understood how the other hunter felt. Their situations might be very different, but they were both worried for their brothers. Ash smiled weakly at him and led them into the house. They met up with Linden and Trent, who greeted them with as much enthusiasm as was possible in such circumstances. The entire house seemed to have been emptied of energy. And when Sebastian at last ran into Grant and Marion Hart, he had a flashback of his own

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heartbroken parents. Things like this should never happen. Families shouldn’t be torn apart. He understood why Clay acted the way he did. If Clay thought Ross was his mate, he’d do anything to keep the other man safe. Of course, it remained a dilemma whether this was actually true or not. According to what Sebastian had been told, Ross could control the actions of others, but the secret behind this ability had yet to be revealed. Amy also puzzled him. She didn’t speak much, and satisfied herself with the occasional monosyllabic comment. At the same time, Sebastian couldn’t help but feel she might know something they didn’t. She and Clay had always been very close to each other. After an exhausting day, filled with questions without an answer, Marcus and Sebastian retreated to their room. To Sebastian’s surprise and excitement, Paulie joined them. With everything that happened, they still hadn’t managed to claim Paulie. Sebastian’s first instinct urged him to do so as soon as they reached the Magistrate’s Den and could find a safe, secluded spot. But it was hardly appropriate to have sex when Peter faced a serious punishment, so they’d refrained from it. Now, however, Sebastian couldn’t think of any reason to deny himself, or his mates. As much as he cared about his brother—or perhaps because of it—he needed the contact, the comfort. He plopped on the bed and petted the spot next to him, gesturing for Paulie to come closer. Marcus chuckled lightly as he took off his shirt. “This has promise. Come on, Paulie, go ahead.” Paulie approached the bed. “I know that I hesitated before,” he whispered as he sat, “but I don’t want to waste a single moment. I don’t want to lose you.” Sebastian cupped Paulie’s cheek. “You don’t have to do this before you’re ready.” The young human smiled. “I’d say I was born ready, but that’s not the case.” His expression sobered. “I understand now. I always used to wonder how my dad could accept Trent and Valerius so easily. I

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guess he knew some things are not meant to be explained, but to be cherished and enjoyed.” Sebastian couldn’t have said it better himself. The mate bond defied all statements of logic. In life, some things simply were and did not need more overthinking. Gently, so as not to scare Paulie, Sebastian pressed his mouth to the young human’s. This time, Paulie didn’t tense at all. He parted his lips with sweet surrender, giving Sebastian access. Paulie tasted even better than he remembered, and as their tongues entwined, Sebastian pulled Paulie closer into his lap. The feel of Paulie’s pert ass against him made his cock throb with desperate desire. The bed shifted with Marcus’s weight as their mate joined them. Sebastian felt Marcus behind him, and his excitement increased even further. His good intentions went out the window, and he pushed Paulie down on the bed, loving the dazed expression on the human’s face. The motion broke their kiss, but Sebastian quickly fixed the situation. He covered his mate’s body with his larger bulk and crushed their lips together once more. Now, the kiss turned furious, passionate, ravaging, Sebastian greedy for more and unable to get enough. He knew he should take things slower. This would technically be their first time together, and it needed to be special. Besides, Paulie didn’t have a lot of sexual experience, and he might shy away from them again. Sebastian knew all this, yes, but he couldn’t stop himself. He just wanted to claim his mate so badly, to cement their bond for all time. The wolf inside him howled, demanding to be released. Somehow, Sebastian managed to keep it in check, but never once stopped his assault on Paulie. He tore at the young human’s clothes, getting rid of them in a few brusque motions. Panting, he stopped their kiss, allowing himself a few moments to gaze upon the gorgeous expanse of Paulie’s body.

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He’d seen Paulie naked before, the one time they’d been together, when he’d given his mate a blow job. That day, Sebastian and Marcus intended to comfort their mate in his moment of need. Anything else would have meant taking advantage of Paulie. Things were different now. Even if the fear of being separated still lingered, there was more to it than that. Sebastian sensed the genuine passion, decision, and desire coming from both Marcus and Paulie. His two mates wanted the same thing he did. Sebastian pulled Paulie up and changed positions on the bed. Paulie ended up straddling Sebastian, with his back to Marcus, while Sebastian leaned against the head board and faced both his mates. Marcus grinned at him over Paulie’s shoulder. “Thank you, my dear Sebastian. So generous of you to share.” From his angle, Sebastian couldn’t see everything his wolf mate did, at least not physically, but it didn’t matter. He saw it in his mind, through Marcus, and felt it through Paulie. Marcus’s hands traveled from Paulie’s shoulders over the young man’s back. Paulie shuddered, his pleasure and excitement reaching Sebastian as well. Marcus’s clever fingers reached Paulie’s lower regions and caressed the upper edge of the human’s crease. The position didn’t allow for adequate access, so Paulie lowered his body over Sebastian’s. The new situation brought their faces close once more and exposed Paulie’s ass to Marcus’s ministrations. Sebastian couldn’t stop himself. He pulled Paulie in for another kiss, distantly acknowledging Marcus’s chuckle. “I think I would be jealous if I didn’t have this all to myself.” As he spoke, he caressed Paulie’s ass, and the ghostly feel of skin contact made Sebastian groan into Paulie’s mouth. Marcus’s skillful touches vanished, but returned moments afterward. A slick finger rubbed against Paulie’s hole. As the digit entered their human mate, Sebastian continued to kiss Paulie, needing more, wanting more. The indirect touch didn’t satisfy him. He hadn’t

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claimed Paulie, so the sensations and emotions came muted, not as powerful as they could be. Marcus skillfully prepared Paulie then gripped the human’s hips and lifted him away with no effort at all. Sebastian noted Marcus had at some point removed his clothing and took advantage of the opportunity to strip as well. As he did so, Marcus kissed Paulie, the meeting of mouths slow and gentle, a promise to unleash the genuine passion Marcus hid behind his calm façade. Paulie’s legs went around Marcus’s waist as they kissed. Sebastian watched with greedy eyes as his wolf mate’s cock nudged against Paulie’s naked ass. Marcus broke the kiss and looked over Paulie’s shoulder. As always, they understood each other. Sebastian grinned at his mate. “Go ahead,” he growled. “Fuck him. You want that, don’t you, gorgeous? You want Marcus to fuck your ass.” “Yes,” Paulie replied breathlessly, arching his back, a picture of wanton need. “God, yes. Please.” Marcus positioned Paulie over his cock. “Gently now,” he whispered. “Don’t rush.” Sebastian crawled at his mates’ sides, knowing the impetuousness of youth might push Paulie into hurting himself. “Lean on me.” He helped Paulie push down against Marcus’s cock, holding the young human in check when Paulie would have impaled himself in one single motion. “Bastian,” Paulie cried, “please, let me…” But Sebastian didn’t relent, and neither did Marcus. It took everything inside Sebastian to keep to the threads of his patience. He sensed the tight grip of Paulie’s ass around Marcus’s cock, and he knew he’d have never been able to hold back like his wolf mate did. At last, Paulie was fully impaled on Marcus’s dick. Sebastian licked the sweat off Paulie’s shoulder and murmured, “Okay now. Ride him, gorgeous. At your own rhythm.” He released Paulie and let him set the pace. Almost instantly, Paulie let loose. He was poetry in motion, sex and sin incarnate. His

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body accepted Marcus’s cock with little resistance, and the sight of it nearly made Sebastian come on the spot. In a flash, Marcus flipped Paulie over on all fours, and thrust back inside. Paulie cried out, but he didn’t lose his balance. He looked up at Sebastian with lust-filled blue eyes. “Please…” Sebastian didn’t need to be asked twice. His dick demanded release, preferably within one of his mates. Without hesitation, he rubbed his cock against Paulie’s lips, groaning as his human’s pink tongue came out to lick at the leaking tip. Sebastian allowed his mate to experiment for a few moments, but with each teasing lick, the need escalated even more. But one thrust from Marcus made Paulie gasp and lose his focus. Marcus had allowed Paulie to get used to the new position, but with the renewed rhythm, Paulie proved to be unable to tease Sebastian further. He parted his lips, and Sebastian took the invitation. He pushed inside the wet cavern, threading his fingers through Paulie’s sweaty locks. Sexual energy arched between them. As he fucked Paulie’s mouth, Sebastian felt like he’d died and gone to heaven. He simply let go, reveling in the way Paulie took him deep. With each of Marcus’s thrusts inside their mate, Paulie moaned, sending vibrations of ecstasy through Sebastian. The rhythm between them became a symphony of carnal fulfillment. Together, they chased their orgasms. Sebastian was so close, and he could feel the pleasure soar inside his mates as well. He just needed one more thing to make the moment perfect. His fangs descended, and he ached to sink them in Paulie’s flesh. He felt an echoing desire inside Marcus. In their current position, they couldn’t fulfill it, but they could change that. ****

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Paulie was speared in two by his mates’ cocks. He’d never have thought he could experience so much bliss in his life. Any moment now, his brain would short-circuit and he’d die out of sensual overload. Sebastian’s taste on his tongue made his head spin like ambrosia. Marcus’s dick stretched him to the extent of pain, the burn and the feeling of complete fullness driving him closer and closer to orgasm. He didn’t even have to touch himself. He could feel his climax there, just within his reach. And then, out of the blue, his mates vanished. Sebastian’s cock left Paulie’s mouth and Marcus’s abandoned his ass. A feeling of emptiness and abandonment assaulted Paulie and he moaned in protest. If not for the fact that he could still feel them there, so close to him, he’d have thought everything had only been a wonderful dream. He didn’t have time to wonder about the reason of his mates’ sudden actions. Marcus lifted him up with striking ease and tossed him to Sebastian. Dazed, Paulie recovered when Sebastian fat prick filled him in one single thrust. The pain and the pleasure choked him. He scrambled for some sort of anchor, and clung to Sebastian’s shoulders, distantly hearing his own voice beg and plead. And then, just when Paulie thought it could not get any better, his mates proved him wrong. A shock of sweet agony coursed through him when Marcus’s fangs pierced the sensitive skin of his throat. The amazing ecstasy that followed made Paulie lose track of all reality. An explosive climax swept over him and a sense of wildness invaded him, awakening a deep passion within. Another bite, Sebastian’s this time, tamed it, turning it into something else entirely. For a few moments, he forgot his very identity. He didn’t exist beyond this moment. Space and time vanished as the bond with his mates cemented, tying their destinies together for all time. He could see them in his mind, so handsome, so brave, so loving, and he didn’t know what he’d done to deserve the gift of their overwhelming affection.

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In the end, the whys and the hows didn’t matter. Paulie accepted them wholeheartedly, and opened his mind and soul to their bond. Throughout it all, the pleasure guided him. Renewed bliss burst through him as his two mates found their peak as well, and in that beautiful moment, Paulie didn’t know where one ended and the other began. He didn’t know how long he floated in the perfect aftermath of the orgasm, but when he at last recovered, he found himself sandwiched between Marcus and Sebastian. This position was quickly becoming a personal favorite, and he allowed himself to enjoy the combined scents of man, sweat, and sex. At one point during his dazed unconsciousness, his mates must have wiped him down, and he didn’t even have to move to clean up. No one spoke, the silence comfortable and sweet, and Paulie smiled to himself. They might not be in a perfect situation. Hell, they had so much trouble coming their way it should have scared him. But Paulie felt no fear. He just knew that from now on, no one would be able to tear them apart. They’d deal with the rest, together.

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Epilogue A few weeks later Marcus analyzed the blueprints in his hand and looked over the skeleton of the building in front of him. The construction of the new clinic at the Hart compound was going quite well. They were actually ahead of schedule, which surprised Marcus, given that the people here needed to work on strengthening their defense perimeter at the same time. Many spirit wolf families piped in to help. They all knew the importance of the clinic, and of Andrew Blunt’s research and studies. Even Fritz, Wolfram’s human mate, came to lend a hand. The man had worked in construction prior to his bonding with the Magistrate and turned out to be an invaluable resource. Still, nothing could ever be perfect. These days, Sebastian spent a lot of time away from the compound and with his parents. The Morrigans had great difficulty in accepting the fate Peter chose for himself. The Magistrate eventually decided on incarceration for an indefinite period for Peter, as well as Paulie’s grandparents. As cozy as the accommodation might be, the fact remained that Peter would be imprisoned. Judith and Chad might not live long enough to truly appreciate the severity of this punishment. For a spirit wolf, it was much worse. They needed to be free, to let their beast run and hunt. For Peter, that life would be over now. Marcus’s family narrowly escaped the same punishment, being exiled to their own domains instead. It didn’t worry Marcus too much. His sister, Sophie would take care of them if need be.

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The familiar feel of his human mate drove him out of his thoughts. “He’ll be back soon,” Paulie whispered. “You’ll see.” Marcus sighed and put the blueprints back in the pocket of his jacket. He gripped Paulie’s hand and kissed it. “I know. It’s very difficult.” Paulie’s warm arms went around his waist. “This damn thing won’t last forever. We’ll find Joseph, and then we can be together, always.” Marcus hoped so. He’d never been away from Sebastian for so long and so often before. It didn’t help that Sebastian’s anxiety plagued him even from the distance. Their parting hurt Sebastian as much as it hurt Marcus and Paulie. He trusted that once the hospital was complete and the safety measures fully in place, he and Paulie could join Sebastian on his visits. All of a sudden, a deep warmth began to fill Marcus. He broke away from Paulie and they shared a knowing look. “Sebastian’s coming,” Paulie said. Marcus’s gloomy mood didn’t vanish completely, but he still felt relieved “Come on. Let’s meet him.” After what seemed like forever, Sebastian’s Jeep pulled in and stopped in front of Marcus and Paulie. Sebastian got out, his expression a mix of relief, joy, and disgruntlement. Immediately, Marcus knew Sebastian’s anxiety held a deeper cause than just their separation. “What happened?” he and Paulie asked at the same time. Sebastian smiled weakly. “I’ll tell you later.” He gave them both a telling look, and Marcus understood the information Sebastian found out needed to be kept away from indiscreet ears. Several more people came out to meet Sebastian. “Hello, my boy,” Grant Hart said. “How are your parents?” “As well as can be expected,” Sebastian replied.

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Grant nodded in understanding. The man seemed to have aged in the past few weeks. Clay’s disappearance had hit him hard, especially when coupled with the attack on his family and compound. “Come on inside,” Marion said. “You’re probably exhausted.” As always, Amy smiled silently. These days, her mind always seemed on something else. Marcus wondered if her parents questioned her about Clay’s whereabouts. Perhaps she might know something. But Marcus refrained from making any comments. If she did have a secret, it wasn’t his place to draw it out of her. A while later, they escaped the clutches of the Harts and managed to take a breather in their room. Fortunately, Ash and the others were busy on the construction site, so they reached their destination without being noticed. “Now can you tell us what’s wrong?” Paulie asked as soon as the door closed. “We received notice a feral and two spirit wolves have been spotted in Ireland. Unfortunately, by the time our troops got there, they were already long gone.” Paulie looked both concerned and hopeful. “You think it might be Ross?” “Perhaps,” Sebastian replied, “although the presence of the second wolf confuses and worries me.” Marcus agreed. The idea that more traitors might appear concerned him, too. “At any rate,” Sebastian continued, “we can’t let Marion and Grant know. It will only hurt them. I will talk to Ash tonight. The Magistrate is already assembling a troop to scout the area better. If Ross is there, they’ll find him.” “And when that happens, he’ll need our help,” Paulie answered. Sebastian nodded. “Clay might be holding the virus back with his bite for the moment, but it won’t work for long. It might very well make things worse.”

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Scarlet Hyacinth

Thankfully, Paulie and Andrew had been able to prepare a new batch of the serum in the Magistrate’s Den labs, but beyond that, nothing was certain. Ross’s powers, Clay’s involvement, and the appearance of this third spirit wolf complicated everything. But then, Paulie smiled, his expression so warm it reached out to every corner of Marcus’s heart. “It will be all right,” he told them. “You’ll see.” The words might have seemed pointless, but the tension drained out of Sebastian and Marcus. When Marcus looked into Paulie’s eyes, he truly believed everything would be fine. How could he not? In Paulie’s blue gaze, he saw light, love, his own and Sebastian’s emotions reflected, and so much hope for the future. If anyone could help the spirit wolves, it was Paulie and his dad. For his part, Marcus never expected to feel for someone the same thing he did for Sebastian, and this affection, a miracle in itself, gave him the belief the Spirit Mother watched over them. And Marcus would do anything to protect this miracle, his mates, his lovers, and his hope.

THE END WWW.SCARLETHYACINTH.WEBS.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR A native Romanian, Scarlet was born in 1986 and grew up an avid fan of Karl May and Jules Verne, reading fantasy stories and adventure. Later, when she was out of fantasy stories to read, she delved into her mother’s collection of books, and of course, stumbled onto romance. As a writer though, Scarlet Hyacinth was born one sunny summer day, when a dear friend of hers—the same friend who introduced her to GLBT fiction—proposed they start writing a story of their own. As it turns out, the two friends never did finish that particular story, but Scarlet discovered she had a knack for writing and ended up starting to write individually. And so, between working on her dissertation, studying for exams, and reading yaoi manga, she started writing the Kaldor Saga. Along the way, Scarlet met a lot of wonderful people who supported her, and in the end, she found her story a home, and in the process, fulfilled a beautiful dream.

Also by Scarlet Hyacinth Siren Classic ManLove: Kaldor Saga 1: Enraptured Siren Classic ManLove: Kaldor Saga 2: Over the Edge Siren Classic ManLove: Kaldor Saga 3: Destinies in Darkness, Part 1 Siren Classic ManLove: Kaldor Saga 3: Destinies in Darkness, Part 2 Siren Classic ManLove: Kaldor Saga 4: Mending Shattered Souls Ménage Amour ManLove: The Three Horsemen of the Black Forest Siren Allure ManLove: Truth and Deception Siren Classic ManLove: Sequel to Truth and Deception: Reborn Siren Classic ManLove: Deadly Mates 1: Moon’s Sweet Poison Siren Classic ManLove: Deadly Mates 2: Wings of Moonlight Ménage Amour ManLove: Deadly Mates 3: Spell of the Predator’s Moon Ménage Amour ManLove: Deadly Mates 4: Dragon’s Bloodmoon Ménage Amour ManLove: Fire of the Four Seasons Ménage Amour ManLove: Spirit Wolves 1: A Mate Beyond Their Reach Ménage Amour ManLove: Spirit Wolves 2: Mates in Life and Death Ménage Amour ManLove: Spirit Wolves 3: Two Mates for a Magistrate

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