Mr. Red Riding Hoode

Poconos Pack - 2

by

Dana Marie Bell

Dedication

To Mom, who developed knee problems and keeps stealing Dad’s mobility scooter (or so he says). I have an idea on how to fix that…

To Dad, who needs to check out that mobility scooter that looks like a motorcycle. Hell, I need to check that out. It looks badass. Can you see me at a romance convention, revving my engine? Heh.

And to Dusty, who still can’t believe he married into this crazy family. Be afraid. Our children carry their genes.

Chapter One

Steve stumbled through the doors of the Red Wolf Ski Lodge and Resort. He damn near whimpered in relief as the heat from the huge fireplace seeped through his red parka.

His balls were going to freeze off.

A ski resort in December? “What the hell was I thinking?”

He fought the urge to cup himself and rub the warmth back in. Shit. Little Steve might never come out to play again.

Still, if he had to come to the mountains in the winter, he couldn’t have picked a better place. It was beautiful. A huge wood and stone building, the Red Wolf Lodge was built like a mountain cabin on steroids. It was long and three stories high, with a vaulted roof you could barely see under the snow and a huge deck that ran all around the second story. And thanks to the changes Rick Lowell had instituted, it now boasted a full gym, a day spa, babysitting services, and even a small golf course. All of it sat on about three thousand acres, a third of which remained forested.

It was gorgeous, and if it were warmer out Steve would have enjoyed it a lot more.

Ben, the asshole, was laughing his ass off at him as he stood and shivered. It was cold in New York, sure, but these were the Pocono Mountains. There was shit like snow and ice, and not one female in a bikini anywhere in sight. “You could have gone to Bermuda.”

“Shit,” Steve snarled. He loved the dickhead like a brother, but some days he seriously thought about fratricide. “Someone took my timeshare in Florida.” And he’d had plans for Christmas in Disney. Plans involving a sweet blonde he’d been trying to get in bed for months.

Ben was lucky Steve loved him or he’d never have agreed to give that up.

Ben grimaced. “Someone had some serious ass to kiss, which is why someone gave you an entire month’s stay free at the lodge. At Christmas, I might add.”

“Bullshit,” he coughed into his fist. He was there as Ben’s best man, no matter what bribery Ben had promised Steve in exchange for the timeshare.

Steve couldn’t wait to watch his best friend finally marry the man of his dreams, even if it wasn’t legal yet in the grand state of Pennsylvania. Ben had gotten his special someone, and for that alone, Steve was willing to freeze his body parts off.

Hell, Ben Malone had loved Dave Maldonado for years. If it hadn’t been for the way Ben’s father had fucked with his head, he was certain Ben would have made his move the minute the kid turned eighteen. But a brutal, alcoholic father had made him wary, and he’d made some assumptions that cost him years with Dave. Now that Ben’s head was out of his ass, he and Dave were disgustingly happy together. Steve hadn’t ever seen his friend as content as he had been the last six months, and he’d grown up not far from the lodge. They’d gone to the same schools, but Dave had been a few years behind them. Steve had only known about Dave because of Dave’s obvious crush on Ben, and Ben’s reluctance to accept him.

Most of the kids from the Red Wolf Lodge had pretty much stuck to themselves back then, socializing in their own little groups. He barely remembered most of them, and then only to glance at. Ben had made an exception where Steve was concerned, causing all sorts of problems in his great love affair with Dave, who’d thought Ben had a thing for Steve.

Speaking of which… “Where’s Dave?” He thought about taking off the parka, but the door behind him opened once more, the cold breeze making him shiver. It might be warmer in the lodge, but until he was thoroughly melted he wasn’t giving up his favorite coat.

He glanced over at his friend and grinned. Yup. There it was. That huge, sappy smile that made Steve want to smile too. Ben deserved this, deserved to have the happiness he’d denied himself for far too long. “He’s working with Rick today. Something about a huge wedding disaster.”

Dave was the event coordinator for Red Wolf Lodge, while Ben was the money man. Rick Lowell was the owner, taking over for his grandfather when the old man retired. Rick had taken a place that had been slipping into obscurity and had turned it into a thriving business. He might never be as big as some of the other, more commercial places, but Red Wolf Lodge was becoming known for its good food, relaxed attitude and friendly, homey atmosphere.

Steve had loved the place the first time he set foot in it, back when it had been run by Rick Lowell’s grandfather. Ben had brought him up the mountain after school one day, and the lodge had wowed him from the very first.

His welcome had been less warm, and after that time Ben warned him that no one at the lodge could see them together. At first he’d thought it was because Ben was ashamed of him. Instead, he’d soon come to realize that Ben was ashamed of them. The only two people who knew about his friendship with Benny were Rick Lowell and David Maldonado, neither of whom spoke a word about his presence to any adult. In fact, Dave had probably saved his life when the adults came after Ben. Dave had held his tongue, sending the adults a different way, keeping Steve and Ben’s relationship a secret from the ones who would have hurt Ben for simply having a friend who wasn’t a part of the lodge.

As odd as it had been, he’d never really questioned it. It was just the way things were. The lodge people weren’t the friendliest, and everyone who grew up in the area was aware they didn’t care for outsiders. How old man Lowell had managed to hold on to the place for so long, no one knew. But now, with Rick in charge, it had become a thriving, friendly place Steve was happy to visit.

Ben deserved every happiness Steve could give him, if only for they way Ben had defied them all just to remain Steve’s best friend. Steve still felt bad that Dave had misunderstood his relationship with Ben all those years ago, though Dave had nothing to worry about. Steve definitely had a thing for the fairer sex, frequently and with gusto whenever he had a willing partner.

“I think they’re just hiding from Belle and Chela. The two of them have some idea about Christmas that they’re trying to avoid like the plague.”

He’d heard plenty about both women over the last six months. He grinned, checking around the lobby for the women Ben had described as Psycho Barbie and her sidekick, Señorita Lobito. He knew enough Spanish to know Ben called Graciela “Chela” Mendoza a little wolf. Both women had nicknames that made him almost terrified of meeting them. At the same time, it was clear Ben considered the women family from the fond way he spoke of them. “What kind of idea?”

“I’m not sure. I ran when I heard the word thong.”

Steve choked on a laugh. Okay, now he had to meet the woman brave enough to marry Rick Lowell.

Rick was good people in Steve’s book. If the man had come to him for a loan to work on the lodge, Steve wouldn’t have hesitated for even a second to give him whatever he asked for. The guy might look scary as hell, but there was a core of honor and strength in Rick Lowell that anyone who got to know him could see.

Steve took off his parka and picked up one of his bags, the one with his precious computer in it. He’d send someone else out into the cold for the rest. “When do I get to meet the infamous Belle?”

Ben grimaced, pointing to a tiny, exquisite blonde woman marching their way. “Right now.” She was leaning on a sturdy, utilitarian cane, her steps swift but careful. Her limp was noticeable, and Steve remembered Ben telling him that Belle had broken her hip saving a friend from a runaway car.

Ben took a step back from the blonde with the huge green eyes and pouty, Cupid’s-bow lips. “Hi, Belle.”

“Don’t hi me, you traitor.” The blonde stopped in front of them with a vacuous smile. Her head tilted to the side, sending waves of blonde curls over her shoulder. God, she really was like a miniature Barbie doll, complete with the rack and teeny waist. In the sweetest, most inane tone he’d ever heard, Belle asked, “Where’s Rick?”

Ben gulped, squaring his shoulders as if he were facing a firing squad rather than the world’s most fuckable doll. If Steve hadn’t known better, he’d have sworn the guy was ready to run for his life. “I refuse to answer on the grounds that I might be eviscerated.”

Belle’s perfectly shaped brows rose slowly. “Ben?”

“Yes?”

Steve looked sharply at his friend. Was his voice actually shaking?

She smiled sweetly. “Who are you more afraid of?”

Ben actually paled. “Rick and Dave are in the solarium.”

Belle patted Ben’s arm. “There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Ben whimpered.

The woman’s expression transformed from blonde bimbo to friendly and animated. The green eyes that turned on Steve were sharp, assessing. This woman was no bimbo, no matter what role she played. “Who’s your friend?”

Ben jolted. “Belle, this is Steven Hoode. Steve, this is Rick’s wife, Belle.”

Steve picked up Belle’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Charmed.”

Belle laughed, the sound low and wicked. “Oh, you’re a bad boy, aren’t you?”

Steve grinned. He’d never try and steal Rick’s girl, but God, she was a pretty one. Too bad Rick had gotten to her first. “Trust me, I’m a very good boy.”

She pulled her hand gently from his. “You’re going to be trouble.”

“Yup.”

Ben shook his head. “At least he’s honest about it.”

“Belle!”

Belle turned her head at the sound of her name. “Shit. Chela. I’m in trouble.” She waved airily, but her gazed remained on whoever had spoken. “Later, guys.”

Steve blinked. There was someone scarier than the woman who’d just terrorized Ben into throwing his boyfriend under the bus? This woman he had to meet. He glanced over to where Belle was headed to see…

He swallowed hard.

Whoa.

And he’d thought Belle was good-looking.

Little Steve uncurled from its fetal position to wave hello at the pretty brunette motioning Belle over. Dark, rich hair, the color of really good coffee, was pulled back into a ponytail, the tip of which brushed her shoulder blades. He couldn’t see what color her eyes were, but he was willing to bet they’d be the same rich brown as her hair. Her skin tone was warm, bronzed even in winter. Full, red-tinted lips were quirked up in a smile as she shook her head at the petite blonde headed her way. She was about the same height as Belle, her curves not as obvious, but there was something about her that drew his gaze.

“Here.”

Steve blinked at the tissue Ben held out. “What’s this for?”

“Your drool.”

Steve rolled his eyes, but he took the tissue. His nose was starting to run from the cold outside. “Who’s that?”

Ben crossed his arms over his chest as Steve blew his nose. “Graciela Mendoza, aka Señorita Lobito.”

“Graciela.” It was a name as pretty as its owner. He got a good look at her pert backside as she turned away with Belle, heading for the fireplace. Man, that woman filled out a pair of jeans like no one he’d ever seen before. That was Little Miss Wolf? “Tell me about her.”

Ben shook his head. “Steve.”

He put his arm around Ben’s shoulder. “Dude. You owe me.” He shivered from the cold as another group of skiers walked through the huge glass doors. “You so owe me.”

“She’s like a sister to me.”

“And you’re like a brother to me.”

Ben closed his eyes. “That just makes this wrong on so many levels.”

Steve chuckled, but his attention was still mostly on Graciela. The woman was waving her arms around as she talked to Belle, her expressions full of animation, her body moving to a beat only she could hear. He wanted that animation, that passion, turned in his direction.

He bet she’d be wild in bed.

“Are you listening to me?”

A quick glance in their direction proved him right. She did have dark eyes. “Nope.”

“Shit.”

“Aw, c’mon, Ben. Don’t you trust me with your sister?”

The look on Ben’s face was priceless. It was worth freezing his balls off just to see that.

Chela stole another look at the man laughing with Ben Malone, the Pack’s Marshal. “Who’s that?”

Belle tapped her cane on the floor. “Done lecturing me already?”

“You know you’re not supposed to scare people—”

“Chela.”

The whine was cute, but it wasn’t going to stop Graciela Mendoza from doing her duty to the Pack. “—in front of the straights.”

“Man. You guys take away all my fun.”

Chela tried desperately not to laugh. She was so glad Rick had mated Belle, making their Pack the first one with a Puma Luna. The woman was insane, tireless and utterly devoted to the well-being of Rick and the Pack, in that order.

Which was exactly the way Chela thought it should be. Your mate and children should come first, then your Pack. Too bad Rick’s grandfather hadn’t seen it that way. When his son and daughter-in-law died, he’d put the Pack first, choosing to isolate them from the outside world rather than live in a place that had stolen his son from him.

It had broken him, losing his child, but Rick had kept the man from completely losing his mind. While they’d been isolated, they hadn’t become some weird, furry cult, either. Richard Lowell was the best thing that had ever happened to the Poconos Pack, and she hoped he lived for a very long time.

She shivered as a warm laugh sounded, drawing her attention back to the blond man in the red coat standing so close to Ben that Dave would be jealous.

There wouldn’t be a need. Chela could sense that the man was fond of Ben, but in that “you’re my bro” sort of way, not the “I want to bend you over the nearest piece of furniture” way. She’d gotten a lot of experience recently with those particular emotions, thanks to the passion between not only the Alpha pair but also Ben and Dave.

“That’s Steven Hoode, Ben’s childhood friend. He’s Ben’s best man.”

That was Steve? The blond god with the bright eyes and sparkling laugh was the well-to-do architect Ben always bragged about?

She’d heard a lot about Ben’s friend, but no one had said he looked like that. His tousled hair was almost golden, his blue eyes bright with laughter. His shoulders were almost as broad as Ben’s. He wore a bright red, hooded coat that wasn’t anywhere near enough to keep him warm in the Poconos in winter. She’d have to direct him to the ski shop, where he could pick up something that wouldn’t cause that fine ass to freeze to death. He’d obviously dressed for the warmer winters they’d been having around this time of year, but the temperature had dropped in the last couple of days. He wasn’t the only guest who’d come with lighter gear than needed.

He was the hottest thing she’d ever seen walk through the lodge’s front doors, and that was saying something. She’d heard he’d grown up in the area, but she would have remembered someone that studlicious, wouldn’t she?

Then again, he was the same age as Ben, making him about five years older than her. He would have run around in a different crowd than she had. Add in the way the old Alpha had isolated them all and…

Whoa. The back view was just as good as the front.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Belle grinning. How someone so evil could look so innocent was beyond her. Chela held up her hands. “Oh, no. No, you don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Do whatever it is that put that look on your face.” Chela shuddered. She could only imagine what Belle might do knowing that Chela had finally shown an interest in someone. Chela had no real interest in any of the Pack men, and she’d been so busy since she’d become Omega that she hadn’t even looked at the opposite sex.

Ben’s friend might be seriously hot, but Belle was seriously crazy. Chela had more than enough crazy in her life, thank you very much. She didn’t need her Luna deciding she was going to help Chela get laid or something.

“So you don’t want me to introduce you?”

Her gaze drifted over to Steve and found he was watching her as well. Damn it. She did want to meet Mr. Hunky. “I didn’t say that.” But when Belle looked like that, trouble was sure to follow. She shrugged, hoping she didn’t look nearly as frightened as she was. “He has a nice laugh.”

Belle’s brows rose as she threaded her arm through Chela’s. As much as Belle denied it, the cold weather bothered her hip more than she wanted known. The inner circle had taken it upon themselves to always make sure their Luna appeared strong, even on days when she wasn’t. “Okay. C’mon, Ms. Mendoza. Let’s go meet Ben’s friend Steve.”

She swallowed hard, her heart suddenly racing. There was something wickedly decadent about him that had her wolf panting in expectation of what he’d do, how he’d move next. She needed to hear if his voice was as rich as his laugh, see if his hair was as soft as it seemed. His cheeks were still rosy from the cold, and his mouth was full, the lines around it more from laughter than frowns. This was a man you wanted to walk up to and lean on, one you hoped lived up to the promise of his appearance.

She allowed Belle to tug her toward Ben and Steve, wondering why she had such a fluttery feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was so nervous she thought she might throw up. She fought to keep her eyes from changing the closer she and Belle came to the man in the hooded red jacket.

Come on. He’s hot, but he’s not that hot.

A couple came in from the cold, laughing and shaking snow from their hair. The breeze that followed them blew past Ben and Steve, causing the blond to shiver dramatically.

The most delicious scent assaulted her senses, causing her wolf to whine in need. The scent was warm, musky and male, with a touch of cold and sunshine. She wanted to roll in that scent, be covered in it until she couldn’t tell where she began and he ended.

Sapphire-blue eyes locked on her, warming her from the inside out.

Chela came to a dead halt, stumbling only when Belle continued forward. She swallowed, hoping no one could tell how dizzy she’d suddenly become. “Belle?”

“Yes?”

She knew what this meant, what her future now held. She only hoped he’d be able to accept who she was and everything that went with it. “He’s my mate.”

Belle’s answering grin would have made the devil run and hide in fear. “I thought he might be.”

She shot Belle a look, part horrified, part resigned. “He’s human.”

“Yes, he is. Did I mention the Halle Curana, Emma, was human before she was mated by Max? Don’t worry. It will all work out just fine.”

For someone in pain, her Luna sure was strong. Belle literally dragged Chela across the lobby to where Ben stood with Steve, watching their progress. Ben looked ready to bolt, but Steve’s expression was full of mischief and a touch of heat that sent a wave of flame to her cheeks.

Belle smiled, waving vaguely between Steve and Chela. “Steve, let me introduce Graciela Mendoza to you. Chela, this is Ben’s friend Steven Hoode.”

Chela looked into the eyes of her mate and felt the world around her come to a halt. “Hi.”

When he lifted her hand to his lips she thought she might melt on the spot. “Hello to you too, Graciela.”

That roguish grin of his should have been registered as a lethal weapon. “You can call me Chela. Everyone does.”

One golden eyebrow flew upward. “I’m not everyone.”

She shook her head, taking in his scent. She wanted to purr like one of the cats did, curl up in his lap and let him pet her all over. She bet those big hands of his would feel absolutely marvelous. “No. You’re not.”

From the way he held her hand, maybe he knew it too.

Chapter Two

“Steve?”

She opened the door of their cabin, his scent filling her senses with its warmth. He was in her home, his scent mingling with hers, his shoes resting by the front door. She shivered, hard, at the knowledge that her mate was finally hers.

She could hardly wait to pounce on him.

The snap of wood in the fireplace distracted her for a moment. It was night outside, the fire a welcome warmth as the snow fell in the darkness. She took off her jacket, hanging it in the closet before toeing off her own boots.

She tiptoed toward the bedroom, where her mate’s scent was strongest. If he was asleep she didn’t want to disturb him.

He lifted his gaze from the book he’d been reading. He held out his arms, his expression warm, welcoming. “Graciela.”

She smiled, fully aware that if Belle could see her expression, Chela would never hear the end of it. She loved that Steve called her Graciela. Only her family called her that, and even if her parents didn’t get along, she knew deep in her bones that all three of them adored her. A rare mating even among wolves, her father had two female mates. Neither woman was mated to the other, however, and when they’d tried living together it had been a disaster. After much discussion, some of it at volume, her father had chosen to live with his second mate and visit his first, Chela’s mother, on a monthly basis. It was an arrangement that surprisingly suited everyone involved, including Chela.

She could hear that adoration in his voice, knew he felt the same toward her as her father felt toward his mates. She’d craved that more than she’d realized, that neediness to be near her one special person. It thrilled her to know that Steve felt the same pull.

She crawled onto the bed and into his arms, snuggling as close as she could. She didn’t even realize how cold she’d been until his arms were wrapped around her. “Hi.”

He buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. “Hi.”

“Belle’s been keeping me busy.” And wasn’t that the truth. Belle was insane when it came to running Lowell’s, the restaurant she managed at the Lodge. While Chela adored working for her, there were times when she wished Belle had a full-time assistant instead of one very tired Omega. They’d discussed hiring someone Dave and Belle could share, and rumor had it Dave even had a friend who was willing to take the position.

The fact that the Beta laughed like a lunatic whenever he said it, however, had Chela worried. Apparently Charlie and Belle were a lot alike, a thought that both intrigued and terrified the Omega.

“Not too busy for me, I hope.”

She turned her attention back to her mate and cupped his cheek. “Never too busy for you, amorcito.”

He shivered. “No?”

She kissed him, eager for the taste of her mate. “Nope.”

He rolled them until he was over her, cradled between her thighs. “Want to show me how much you missed me?”

Chela grinned and pulled him down for another kiss. And another. God, she could kiss this man all day and consider it time well spent.

She shifted, arching her back so that he could raise her shirt over her head, tossing it somewhere on the floor. His own shirt soon joined it as he continued to kiss her. He was touching her all over, long strokes that left her skin sensitized. If she were a cat she’d be purring as he petted her sides before burying his hands in her hair.

The kiss turned more heated, more passionate as the heat between them erupted. Slow, lazy kisses turned devouring. He sat them both up, pulling her into his lap, her legs wrapped around him. Her bra joined their shirts, her hard nipples dragging through the soft hair on his chest.

She’d always liked her men smooth before, but Steve’s chest, with its light pelt of golden hair, mesmerized her. She dragged her fingers through it, using her nails on his nipples, smiling through the kiss when he hissed in pleasure.

She rubbed against him, the hard length of him tempting her even through both their jeans. She wanted them naked, needed him inside her in the worst way.

He pulled on her hair until she arched and bared her neck to him. He bit down, his human teeth dull, vaguely unsatisfying. She almost demanded the mating bite, wanting to feel his teeth slide beneath her skin, claiming her, but this wasn’t the time.

When he fucked her, she’d demand it. Only then.

He pushed her back down on the mattress, her skin mourning the loss of his, but not for long. Steve began massaging her breasts, paying special attention to her nipples. He tugged and pulled, rubbing his palms over the tips until she was squirming beneath him.

He watched her with the same ferocity a tiger showed its prey. “Fuck, you’re so beautiful.”

She arched a brow at him, smiling when he laughed.

He pulled back and began yanking off her jeans, licking his lips as her pussy was exposed to his view. “Oh, sweetheart. You know I love it when you go commando.”

She grinned. “I was hoping to be a late lunch.”

“Good thing, because I’m starving.”

Chela shivered as Steve ran his hand down her chest and over her stomach, petting her once more.

His thumb brushed against her clit, driving her insane with butterfly soft touches. “I guess it’s a good thing I skipped lunch.”

“Mm-hm.” Chela moaned as he kissed her inner thigh. The slight sting of teeth surprised her as he sucked up a mark, his blue eyes darkening as he watched her.

Chela quivered under his gaze. It wasn’t the mating mark, but it was a start. God, she craved the bite, needed it, was even willing to take it there if that was what he wanted.

Then all thought fled. He finally licked her pussy, marks forgotten in the wet heat of his tongue. He held her thighs apart, keeping her spread for him as he lapped at her. He slid his tongue over her clit with rhythmic strokes and she bucked against him, the pleasure building as he slid his fingers inside her, letting her feel the stretch.

Her thighs quivering, she came, crying out her pleasure as her whole body shook for him.

He kissed her once more, the tang of her climax flavoring it, before sliding his cock into her.

He hadn’t even taken off his jeans. The rough material brushed against her legs with every stroke, his ass and cock the only things bared as he plunged inside her over and over again. She held on to the edge of the bed as he rode her. The sound of the headboard banging against the back wall grew louder and louder as he took her.

They were gasping, moaning into each other’s mouths as he kept kissing her and fucking her. She’d wrapped her legs around his, wanting the feel of cloth against as much of her skin as possible.

When he tilted his head she struck, her fangs sinking deep into his neck right where it joined his shoulder. He did the same to her, and the orgasm that roared over her when he claimed her blinded her. The feel of his pleasure as her Omega gifts took over made her whole body seize with ecstasy.

He roared, his head thrown back, his blue eyes wolf-gold, his fangs tipped with her blood, and poured himself into her.

It was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.

Steve stretched, groaning as every muscle in his body complained because he was no longer under the nice, warm covers. He’d dreamed of rolling around on pristine white sheets with a certain brown-eyed girl all night long on that king-size sleigh bed. He’d woken twice to finish himself off, the urge to find Graciela and fuck her until she screamed so strong he’d almost left his room to stalk the poor girl.

Strangely enough, he’d never slept so well. He felt rested, ready to face the day.

More importantly, he was ready to find his brown-eyed girl and see if reality could ever match up to dreams.

He scratched his chest and opened the brown curtains. The entire room was a study in beige and brown, with dark wooden beams and dark-stained wood around the window. But instead of going kitschy, like he’d seen in other ski resorts, Rick had gone classic, with sturdy, dark wood furniture, warm tan walls and golden light that made the entire room feel more like a home than a hotel. There was even a gas fireplace surrounded with fieldstone right across from the bed.

Of course, there was also a television in a cabinet that doubled as a dresser, a small desk with a coffeemaker, and all the other amenities of a standard hotel room. But the room itself was lush, a place he wouldn’t mind calling home for a month. If the rest of the rooms were anything like this, no wonder Red Wolf Lodge was developing a reputation as a quiet retreat from the city.

He made his way to the bathroom, nodding approval at what he found there. The fixtures might have been bright white and chrome, but the tile beneath his feet was the same tone as the fieldstone around the fireplace, and the walls were a darker shade of taupe than the bedroom.

He brushed his teeth and showered quickly, eager to check out the restaurant’s breakfast buffet. If it matched the quality of the room, he’d be recommending this place to all his friends despite the cold.

He chuckled quietly to himself. Ben had been shocked that he wanted to use his free month during Christmas, but Steve and his accomplice had secret plans for his best friend’s wedding. Ben wasn’t going to know what hit him by the time he was done.

He toweled off and began to get dressed, grinning as he thought about the surprise he’d brought for his friend. It was going to be a very merry Christmas, at least for Benjamin Malone.

His cell phone rang, the private tone he used for his friends and family. He snatched the phone off the side table, pretty sure he knew who was on the other end. “Hello?”

“Good morning, sunshine!”

Steve grinned as that cheerful voice echoed over the line. It was his partner in crime. “Hello, Charlie.”

“So. Everything in place yet?”

“Not yet, but it’s getting there.” He almost dropped the phone as he struggled to do up his jeans with one hand. “Besides, I just got here yesterday.”

She sniffed dismissively. “I’d have stuff done by now.”

“Because you’re Supergirl.”

“Yup.”

He chuckled. The first time he met Charlene Lowe, the woman had marched past his secretary and into his office. Slamming the door shut behind her, she’d smiled at him sweetly and asked the one question guaranteed to make him tell his secretary to cancel the call to security.

“Have you ever banged Ben Malone?”

He was pretty sure if he’d said yes, he’d be in a New Jersey landfill in tiny little pieces. Charlie Lowe was just as protective of Dave as he was of Ben. After a moment of startled silence he’d laughed so hard he’d started crying. Instead of dying that day, he’d made friends with the blonde whirlwind, agreeing to her plan to surprise Ben and Dave but adding his own little Ben-induced tweaks that had her laughing maniacally.

Ben and Dave had no idea what was coming their way. He couldn’t wait. It was almost too bad the men had put the kibosh on any bachelor parties. Oh, the plans he and Charlie had been forced to abandon.

It would have been sweet.

“When do you think you’ll get here?” He picked up his shirt. “Hold that thought.” He pulled it on over his head, aware she was speaking but unable to hear her through the material of his sweater. “Damn it, Charlie. What part of ‘hold it’ don’t you get?”

“The part where I stop talking. Anyway, I have an interview with Belle Lowell for a position at the lodge in two weeks, so I’ll be up the day before that. We can meet for lunch and go over our evil plans.”

He sat on the edge of the bed and started pulling on his socks as she did her best evil genius impression. “An interview with Belle Lowell?” He started laughing. He could picture the two blondes working together. By the time they were done, the lodge would either run like a well-oiled machine or collapse under a metric shit-ton of estrogen and fury.

“Hey, now. I have it on good authority she and I will get along like gas and fire.”

He paused, his knee bent, rolled sock in hand. “That’s a good thing?”

“It depends on your point of view, I suppose. How do you feel about arson?”

He rolled his eyes and finished putting on his socks. “I like this place, so let’s try and leave it uncrispy, okay?” He tugged on his boots and stood, reaching for his red coat. He put it on while Charlie nattered about their surprise for Ben and Dave, the plans they’d already made behind the men’s backs. He made all the appropriate, precaffeine noises, letting her know he was listening even though she was going over things it was too late to change.

By the time she was done he had the beginnings of a headache. It had taken her half an hour to go over everything, and now he was not only decaffeinated but starving. “So I’ll see you in two weeks.”

“And I’ll be bringing that stuff we talked about.”

“Good. See you then.” He hung up after saying good-bye to his coconspirator, eager to head into the main part of the lodge and find some food. He glanced out the window at the snow, smiling at the sight of white covering the dark branches. They’d put him on the second floor, a pair of double doors leading to a private balcony that overlooked the pristine landscape. The slopes used by the Red Wolf Lodge were beyond the tree line, obscured from sight. He left the room with an eager step, ready for his first cup of coffee and some really good food. He nodded good morning to some other guests as he stepped into the elevator.

One woman in particular would normally have caught his eye. She was shooting him some serious come-hither looks out of deep golden eyes. Her blonde hair was caught up in a ponytail, and her red sweater showed off her assets nicely. She was a beautifully packaged gift of willing female, just the kind of snow bunny he’d hoped he’d find when he came up here to relax and unwind.

He wasn’t tempted in the slightest.

Huh. Now wasn’t that interesting.

He waited for the woman and her friends to get off the elevator, making a point of watching her hips sway as she walked away and toward the lobby. She had a truly mouthwatering backside that should have had him sitting up and begging.

Nothing. Not even a twitch of interest.

What the fuck? He stared down at his pants for a second in shock and almost wound up going back up the elevator. He stepped out into the hallway, ready for a good cup of coffee and possibly some therapist bills. He wasn’t a man-whore by any means, but he’d never had a problem showing interest in a pretty girl before. Especially one who was showing interest in him first.

Maybe he just needed some caffeine?

“Morning, Chela.”

Oh, now his body decided to show some interest. Just the sound of that name had his cock perking right up, ready to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” in three-part harmony.

“Good morning, Ted.”

The cheerful affection in her tone had him scowling. He peeked around the corner to find Graciela standing there in a deep blue sweater, tight black jeans and snow boots, paperwork clutched to her chest. Her dark brown hair was loose around her shoulders, tumbling down her back in loose, soft curls. She stared up at a tall, black-haired man with smiling brown eyes, one who stood far too close to her for Steve’s peace of mind. The two of them were huddled in a corner, speaking softly, obviously unwilling to interrupt any of the guests with their chatter.

When the man spoke, Steve’s assumptions were confirmed. They were talking business. This Ted person must work with Graciela. “Is that the paperwork for the Cheong wedding?”

Graciela shook her head. “Nope. Pack stuff.”

Steve blinked. Pack stuff? Pack what? Was she going somewhere? He hoped not. He had every intention of getting to know her much better before his vacation was over.

Ted seemed to understand the cryptic statement, because he didn’t even question it. “Ready for the meeting tonight?”

She shuddered. “I wish Rick would listen to Belle and start having some of the Pack meetings indoors. Think about it. We could have snacks!”

Steve, confused as hell, tried to keep from being seen. What were they talking about? Pack meetings? Outdoors?

Something strange was going on around here.

Ted chuckled. “Can you imagine the looks on the guests’ faces when the fur began to fly?” He shook his head. “Nah. I’m pretty sure Rick’s going to keep those sort of meetings outdoors where they belong.”

Fur beginning to fly? Had he stumbled into a nudist colony? Maybe they were like the Polar Bear Club and liked being outside freezing their nuts off. He’d seen a few people wearing fur-lined jackets. Maybe they were members.

At least they wouldn’t be diving into a frozen pond or something. He was pretty sure Ben, at least, would object to that. Ben had always been sensible.

Graciela made the cutest face, like a kid who’d been told she had to eat her broccoli before she got the candy bar. “Pooh. Oh well. It was a…” She frowned, glancing around them and sniffing. Steve ducked back into the hallway, hoping he hadn’t been caught eavesdropping like a naughty little boy.

“Chela?”

He glanced back around the corner, unable to help himself. The expression on her face was one of warning. What were they really talking about? It was as if she wanted Ted to shut up, but all they’d been talking about was business, right? “I have to get the paperwork to Dave.” The forced cheer told him he’d been busted, but for some reason she wasn’t giving him away.

“Are you all right?” Ted’s tone was more suspicious than concerned. Damn.

Steve made his way back to where the corridor met their little corner of the lobby, determined to bull his way through this if it killed him. He strode right over to the two and picked up Graciela’s hand. “Good morning, Graciela.”

The flush on her cheeks was almost worth the embarrassment of being caught.

Almost.

“Who are you?”

The overprotective inflection in Ted’s voice didn’t sit well with Steve. Neither did the glare the other man was throwing his way. Steve would give him some slack, if only because he was trying to protect Graciela. Steve would examine why he was reacting this way later, when he was less embarrassed over eavesdropping like a sixth grader. “Steven Hoode. And you are?”

The man’s brows rose, his gaze darting to Graciela, who nodded firmly. “Ah.” The man took a step back, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Teodoro Pedroza. I work with Ben.” There was something, a menacing flicker that disappeared almost before Steve really acknowledged it was there, in the other man’s gaze. “Welcome to the Poconos, Mr. Hoode.”

“Ted.”

The warning in Graciela’s voice was clear, the command unmistakable. She took a step forward, placing herself solidly by Steve’s side. She was ordering her friend to back off in no uncertain terms.

To his credit, the man did so, but not before shooting Steve a look that told him clear as day that Graciela was loved and protected. The look he turned on Graciela only hammered the point home. It was full of brotherly affection that had Steve reassessing the relationship between the two. “See you tonight, Chela?”

“Tonight, Ted.”

Ted sauntered off, Steve watching him to see if he’d come back. Steve didn’t want the other man hovering when he asked Graciela on a date.

Steve maneuvered Graciela more firmly into the corner. “I gather dinner isn’t an option then?”

Those huge brown eyes blinked up at him in surprise. They were framed by the thickest black lashes he’d ever seen. “You want to have dinner with me?”

Dinner with her, and then her for dessert. “Yes.”

She bit her lip, her cheeks flushing delightfully. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you want to eat with me? I’m crushed.” He gave her his best pout, pleased when she laughed. It lit her whole face up, taking her from merely pretty to stunning.

“Tomorrow night works better for me.”

He smiled, thrilled he’d gotten a yes out of her so easily. “Tomorrow it is, then.”

She took a reluctant step back, the look on her face full of regret and pleasure. “I have to go.”

He understood how she felt. He didn’t want her to go either, but she had to work, while he was on vacation. If their roles were reversed he’d hope she wouldn’t resent his business for pulling his attention away from her. “Go. I’ll catch you later.”

“I hope so.” She looked startled for a moment, as if she hadn’t meant to say that out loud. She cleared her throat before straightening her shoulders. “’Bye, Steve. Enjoy the breakfast buffet. The coffee is to die for, and I’m betting you’ll love the apple turnovers.”

God, she was adorable. “Thank you. Have a good day, Graciela.”

He watched her walk away, her stride businesslike rather than seductive, and wondered why he had the urge to follow wherever she led him.

He grinned. He might not have gotten the dinner date he’d hoped for tonight, but if Graciela was going to be dancing naked in the woods, Steven Hoode was going to be there.

Chapter Three

Oh, God. Who in the hell had given Belle and Dave helium? The two of them were sucking on balloons and singing the Chipmunks’ Christmas song at the top of their lungs. The big, bad Alpha was laughing so hard he couldn’t get the Pack meeting started, while the rest of the Pack looked on indulgently.

Of course, to absolutely no one’s surprise, the Luna had taken on the role of Alvin.

Chela could feel the Pack, the affection they held for both their Luna and their Beta as the two sang their hearts out in the squeakiest voices she’d ever heard. She wouldn’t be surprised if some of the bolder members got Belle a crap-ton of Hula-Hoops for Christmas. Dave consistently found ways to make the Alpha pair seem more accessible to the rest of the Pack, even if that meant he stood out in the snow, sucking down helium like it was chocolate-coated Ben.

Speaking of the Marshal, he wasn’t watching his mate and their Luna make idiots out of themselves. Nope. He was staring at Chela with the oddest expression on his face. “What?”

“Steve is your mate?”

She sighed. She should have known. “Belle told Rick, Rick told Dave, Dave told you?”

He blinked. “Uh. Something like that.” He eyed her warily. “So. Is he or isn’t he?”

“He is.”

He sighed happily. “Thank fuck. I’ve been trying to convince Rick to make him Pack, but he keeps turning me down. There’s no way he can deny a mating, though.”

“So you’re okay with me mating your friend?”

Ben grinned. “More than. For one thing, it will get rid of that stupid jealousy Dave still has for the man.”

Chela frowned. “I haven’t felt any jealousy from Dave in months.”

“Really?”

The relief in his voice was unmistakable. “Nope. He’s good. He knows you love him.” She wouldn’t tell Ben how, for the first couple of months after they mated, she and Dave had had long talks about Ben. She’d had to reassure the Beta more than once that Ben adored the ground Dave walked on. There wasn’t anything Ben wouldn’t do to make Dave happy.

“So. About Steve.”

Almost anything, anyway. Ben’s best friend was off-limits, but at least she’d managed to convince Dave that the candle flame of affection Ben felt for Steve was nothing to the bonfire of his love for Dave. “What about him?”

“We’ll need to let Rick know officially that he’s your mate.”

Ugh. Sometimes Chela agreed with the Luna when it came to Wolf traditions. Some of the Pack’s more formal practices drove her nuts. For instance, Dave’s sister Gina would never have been able to abuse Chela if they’d been a Puma Pride rather than a Wolf Pack. Gina would have been given the boot well before the Luna put in an appearance. But because there hadn’t been a Luna, Rick had held off. Tradition stated it was the Luna who dealt punishments to the female members of the Pack. In her absence it was the alpha female who ruled the Pack’s women, who meted out punishment and determined their place in the Pack hierarchy.

Unfortunately, Gina had been alpha female, the strongest female they had. Rick had been forced by Pack laws and traditions not to interfere in how she ran the females. Unless Gina did serious damage to the lesser females, there was nothing he could do until he had a Luna, his fated mate.

Then he’d met Belle, and all bets were off. Gina, infuriated that her place in the Pack would not only be usurped, but by a cat, had gone off the deep end. She’d begun seriously abusing the weaker females, tried to take Belle’s place through Pack law and challenge, and finally been forced from the Pack when Belle won the challenge and her right to be Luna. And winning hadn’t been without cost. Chela eyed the cane Belle leaned on, knowing the cold would be seeping into her Luna’s hip and making it ache.

If Ben’s grimace was anything to go by, this Pack meeting would be short and sweet as soon as he alerted Rick to Belle’s pain.

You’d never know that Belle was in pain from the enthusiastic way she belted out, “I still want a Hula-Hoop!”

Dave and Belle had their arms around each other, swaying in time to the music only they could hear. Ben’s reluctant grin was echoed by Rick’s as the Alpha took the helium away from Dave. “Enough, you two. We have a Pack meeting to conduct.”

Belle and Dave looked at each other and made faces, echoing, “Aw, man.”

“You take away all our fun.” Dave pouted.

“Yeah, meanie-head.” Belle sniffed.

It might have had some impact in their normal voices. Instead, it sent some of the Pack further into hysterics.

Rick just shook his head at the two goofballs and turned back to the Pack. Some of the meeting would be conducted through the bond the Alpha had with them as he spoke directly into their minds. In deference to his Puma Luna, however, the truly important declarations would be spoken aloud. While Rick could hear Belle in his mind, Belle could not hear him.

Her reaction when she found out had been priceless. Rick still winced whenever he heard that flea and tick jingle. A simple MP3 player set to max volume and some headphones had made the Luna’s point quite well, and Rick had changed Pack protocol to accommodate the Luna, who couldn’t hear him in her head.

“My Pack.” Chela felt her Alpha’s regard envelope her, his protection wrapping around her like a father’s arms. It was one of the many ways an Alpha strengthened his connection to his Pack. The ability also gave the Pack an advantage during battle as the Alpha could direct them even from a distance and while in wolf form. “The lodge is doing well, and our Pack is doing well.” Rick went over some numbers that had some of the members gasping in happy surprise. “In light of this, the end-of-year bonuses I had hoped to give you will definitely be coming through.”

Some of the married members of the Pack exchanged happy glances. While the lodge had been struggling, times had been hard, but within two years of Rick taking over it was back in the black. No one could be prouder of their Alpha than she was. She, more than anyone except perhaps Belle, knew how Rick worried and fretted over things. As the Omega, it was Chela’s job to ensure that everyone from the Alpha down to the smallest pup was taken care of on an emotional level.

Rick nodded at the happy expressions on the faces of his Pack. He might look stoic on the outside, but on the inside he was dancing like a happy puppy. “Now it’s time to discuss the important Pack issues.”

“I have one.” Ben stepped forward, his emotions all over the place.

“Speak.”

“Our Omega has found her mate.”

Chela hid her wince as every member of the Pack turned their gazes on her.

Rick knew, of course, but until he gave his official blessing the Pack might not accept her mate, an outsider, the way they’d accepted Ben and Dave’s mating. As both were already members of the Pack they hadn’t needed Rick or the Pack’s approval, although Chela could have told them they had it. Rick could override the Pack if he felt Steve would ultimately benefit them, but he might not be willing to risk the Pack’s displeasure. They could make his life a living hell if they decided he’d stepped over the line.

It was a fine dance an Alpha stepped with his Pack, one Chela was glad she didn’t have to deal with.

Rick would go the formal route for Steve, a man he’d once denied Pack status. The Pack had been far too unstable to introduce a new, human member when Ben had asked, but it would work against Steve in this instance. Ben had understood why Steve had been refused, but the rest of the Pack would only know that he’d been denied. It could lead to all sorts of problems if the Pack felt he’d been denied due to, say, an unstable personality like the one Ben’s father had suffered from. They could try and force Chela not to mate him, or worse, not to bite him.

They would lose, but they could try.

She was proven right when the Alpha spoke. “State his name and whether he is Pack.”

Chela straightened her shoulders. Here we go. Thanks to Ben blurting out about her mating to the Pack, she’d had no time to inform Rick privately. She just prayed Belle had said something to the Alpha. Rick hated surprises. “Steven Hoode. He is human, from New York, and our Marshal’s best friend.”

The Pack grumbled a bit at that. While human mates were not unheard of, she could sense that not all of them were happy at the thought of adding another mouth to feed or another soul to house.

“Why should the Pack accept him?”

“I can answer that.” Ben stepped forward, glancing toward Dave for a moment before smiling at the rest of the Pack.

Chela gulped. If the Pack refused to hear Ben’s reasons she’d be forced to either give up her mate or leave the Pack.

Really, there was no option. Her Pack was no longer her top priority. The blond with the smiling blue eyes was.

Ben stared Rick straight in the eye, a gesture that could be viewed by some as a challenge. “Steve is a good man who shielded me more than once when my father came after me.”

The Pack’s grumbles stilled. Rick had made clear Ben’s past while Ben had chased his mate to Disney World to claim him. They all knew now how Ben had been abused by his father and neglected by the previous Alpha. That Steven had shielded Ben from his father’s rage spoke well of him. A recommendation such as this would go a long way toward getting Steve accepted as an Omega’s mate. His compassion, fearlessness and loyalty would ease many of their fears.

Rick nodded. “Anyone else?”

Surprisingly, Dave stepped forward. “He enabled Ben to come after me when he could have denied Ben the use of his timeshare. He gave selflessly to a friend in need.”

Selflessly might not have been entirely accurate. He’d bargained for rooms at the lodge in exchange, but he’d given up the warmth of Orlando for the cold of the Poconos. Chela had seen the way he shivered. That was not a man who was fond of snow.

“Anyone else?”

No one else stepped forward, so she did. She gathered her courage, the part of her that Belle had helped strengthen, and squared her shoulders. “He’s mine.”

The entire Pack turned to face her, almost causing her to panic. Too often she’d been under a Pack member’s scrutiny only to have someone strike out at her.

Belle had definitively put a stop to that, standing at her side and showing her exactly who Chela was meant to be.

She tilted her chin, allowing her power to flow through her. She would claim her mate, with the blessing of the Pack, or without it. “Steven Hoode is my mate, and I will fight for him with every breath in me.”

Slowly, one by one, the Pack lifted their faces to the moonless night and howled their approval. Rick was last, giving the Alpha’s blessing.

Only the Luna held back, her gaze amused as the Wolves howled. When they were done, they all turned toward her, waiting.

For Chela, Belle’s approval meant everything.

The Luna gave it in her own unique way, the screaming cry of a Puma rending the silent night as Belle gave her blessing to Chela’s mating.

Rick grinned. “Then I declare this meeting adjourned. Shift, and let’s run.”

The Pack shifted, ready to run into the night, play in the snow. Chela embraced her wolf, fur sprouting along her body. There was no blinding flash of light, no sound of crunching, grinding bones. It was more like watching water flow through the person, moving them, bending them, blending them with their animal in a liquid haze of a dream until the man was gone and only the wolf remained. Anyone looking on from the outside would assume the feeling was wet or slimy, but it wasn’t. It was airy and tingled in her palms. It was sensual and innocent in a way a non-shifter could never understand.

Then the wind shifted, and the most alluring scent drifted across her senses. She turned in place, already knowing how the Pack would react to the intruder in their midst.

She just hoped she got to him before any serious damage was done. They might not physically harm him, but they could do a hell of a lot of damage to a mating that hadn’t even taken place yet.

She just hoped she got the chance to explain things to him before he ran all the way to Abu Dhabi.

Steve bolted through the woods, only one word pounding in his brain over and over again.

Werewolves.

Je-sus.

Leave it to him to go on vacation in the one place that was chock-full of Team Jacob.

He could hear them baying behind him, hunting him. If he could get to his car, he’d be safe. He’d take off, pretend he never even came here. He could have Ben ship his laptop back to him, right?

Right?

Shit.

Ben had changed into one of them too, and worse, the son of a bitch knew where he lived.

Moscow sounded pretty good. No one would think to look for him there. Except he hated borscht. And the cold.

He was going to miss the hell out of his computer.

Dark shapes streaked past him. Oh, God. They were going to circle him. Circle him and take him down like a wounded deer. His coat had seemed dark enough for the moonless night, but who knew what wolves could see?

Did it look like blood?

Fuuuuck.

Wait. No fuck. No fucking whatsoever.

Graciela had called him her mate, right before she turned fuzzy.

Mate.

He had to let them know he really wasn’t into furries. Or pony play.

Would that be wolf play?

Ew.

Lights in the distance caught his attention. He didn’t think the werewolves would want to ick out their guests by feasting on his gory remains in front of them.

This was what he got for wanting to see a pretty girl get naked. He was never going to look at naked girls again.

She’d been awfully pretty, though—

A howl rent the night air, and Steve shuddered.

I’m dog food.

He stumbled into the open, his breath coming in freezing pants, his legs numb from the knees down from plowing through the snow. There. The car park. If he could just get to…

Shit, fuck and damn.

Ben was leaning against his car, buck naked. The hood was up, and his ex-best friend was holding something that looked suspiciously like wires. Ben held up his hands, his expression wary. “It’s okay, Steve.”

Steve didn’t even hesitate. He veered off, heading for the front doors of the lodge. If he could get inside, maybe he could call for help. The National Guard would know how to deal with this, right?

Did they even have silver bullets?

Fuuuck.

He was almost to the door before he realized Dave was there, the huge man’s arms crossed over his chest. The floodlights outside lit the grin on his face, making his teeth gleam. Apparently he ran faster than Ben, because he was wearing unbuttoned jeans. At least he wasn’t rubbing his bare ass up against the glass.

Ben’s naked ass had been on his car.

Ew.

Wait. Were those fangs in Dave’s mouth?

Steve wasn’t hanging around to find out. He booked it for one of the other doors leading into the lodge.

Before he got three steps, a small wolf stepped in his path. Steve instinctively veered away, unwilling to get his ass bitten for stepping on its tail. He slid on some ice, going down on said ass with a grunt.

The wolf settled itself down, laying its muzzle on its paws with a soft whine.

Steve sat there, his butt sore even through the padding of his coat, and stared.

The wolf wagged its tail, a pup ready to play. Tag, maybe?

He had a sudden vision of himself as the rope in a tug-of-war game.

Steve almost hyperventilated and tried to booty-scoot away. “Uh. Nice puppy.”

He could almost swear the wolf rolled its eyes.

Steve continued to butt-walk backward until he hit something that felt suspiciously like legs. He looked up and got an eyeful of a part of Rick Lowell he never wanted to see again. “Ugh.”

Rick rolled his eyes and crouched down next to him. “No one is going to hurt you.”

Steve might have felt better about that if Rick hadn’t wrapped a massive paw around the back of his neck. “So you’ll kill me quick?”

Rick sighed, the sound full of exasperation. “See that little wolf over there?”

“You mean the one with its butt up in the air?”

The little wolf looked ready to pounce on him. Was this the pack alpha or something?

“That’s Chela.”

He blinked, then shook his head and blinked again. “She’s your alpha?”

Rick started to laugh. “No. I’m alpha.”

That, at least, made sense. Rick had presence, that special something that made other people sit up and take notice even when he wasn’t speaking.

“Hey, Stevie.” Ben settled on the cold, hard ground next to him. “You okay?”

Steve shot him a disbelieving look. “What do you think, asshole?” He blinked in shock. Was he seriously baiting a wolf? “Forget I said that.”

Ben bit his lip. The son of a bitch was this close to laughing while Steve was still debating whether or not he was terrified enough to pee his pants. “If I told you that you’re safe, would you believe me?”

“Dude. You’re Team Jacob.”

He recognized that laugh. Dave had joined them and now crouched behind Ben, who’d begun to shiver. “You’re a Jacob fan?”

Ben glared at his lover. “You aren’t?”

“Nope.”

“You like that emo vampire?”

“I’m more Team Winchester. Those boys are hot.” Dave grinned and winked at Steve, obviously trying to reassure him that all this was nothing more than a bad dream brought on by bad oysters or something. After all, everyone was naked.

Except usually it was Steve who was naked in those kinds of nightmares. “Can I go now?”

Ben grimaced. “We…kinda tore a part out of your car.”

“I don’t think you’ll be leaving for a while.” Why the fuck did Dave have to look so smug?

“Listen to me.” There was something about Rick’s voice that had Steve snapping to attention. “You know what we are now.”

Yeah. That was why Steve was considering a lifetime trip to Moscow.

“We are the Poconos Pack, Wolves who have been in this area for centuries. I am their Alpha, their leader. Ben is our Marshal, our enforcer if you will. The Pack’s physical well-being is in his hands. Dave is my Beta, my second-in-command, and Ben’s mate.”

Mate. That was the word Graciela had used just before she’d…

He swallowed hard. He wasn’t ready to think about that yet. His gaze drifted over to the little wolf who was suddenly a lot closer than she’d been a moment before. He could just make out the gleam of her golden eyes as she settled down in front of him, much as she had when she’d first run out in front of him. Only this time her gaze kept darting between himself and Rick.

Oh God. It really was Graciela.

“Ted is the Marshal’s Second. He acts as Ben’s Beta, if you will, enforcing the law and helping to see to the Pack’s well-being. He has as much say as the Beta, Marshal and Omega in how the Pack is run.”

“And Graciela?” His voice sounded gravelly and loud as hell.

“She’s the Pack Omega.”

Something in him tightened at that. Even he knew that in wolf packs the omega was the one who got to eat last, the one who got beat up on when the other members needed to work out their aggressions. He didn’t like that.

He wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t like it one little bit.

Rick must have felt the way he stiffened, because he continued in a quieter tone. “Chela is a treasured member of the Pack. The Omega sees to the emotional needs of the Pack, ensuring that it remains happy and healthy on a mental scale. She works closely with Ben to see to it that everyone has what they need, and if they find problems, they bring them either to me or Dave.”

“Congratulations! You’re her mate.”

Ben sighed, but his gaze never left Steve’s face. “Goddamn it, Dave. Can we give him a second to breathe?”

Steve nodded, then pulled up his hood. Breathing was good. He figured it would give him a few more minutes of life before they found his frozen corpse somewhere in the woods, because this had to be one of those life-and-death hallucinations he’d read about.

It was the only thing that made sense, really. He’d die, they’d find a Stevecicle, and they’d send flowers, the end. He closed his eyes and prayed his ass would stop hurting.

He should have gone to Bermuda.

Chela glared at Dave and snarled as her mate passed out.

“What?”

She chuffed at him. This was why she didn’t let her Packmates deal with the straights.

Chapter Four

“Go away, Ben!”

Chela shook her head as Steve bellowed at Ben through the closed doors. Because of his severe freak-out, they’d decided to move him to one of the employee cabins until they could get him to calm down.

Instead, he’d gone ape-shit, locking himself inside the cabin and refusing to come out at all, even with bribes of steak. Hell, Dave had stood under his window and sung “Kumbaya” for hours, scaring away birds and causing the rest of the Pack to hide in the lodge, hands over their ears, until he gave up.

Steve had done absolutely nothing, and that had scared Ben more than he was willing to admit.

Chela rolled her eyes. She could already feel that, after three days of Ben’s begging and Dave’s laughing, the fear was slowly turning into annoyance. Rick had stayed out of it, allowing the men who knew Steve best to get him past his fears, but she was pretty sure the Alpha wouldn’t stay out of it for much longer. He wanted this resolved and his Pack back to normal.

Most of all, he wanted Dave to promise never to sing again.

Ever.

Chela, however, was done waiting. She wanted her mate, and damn if she wasn’t going to get him.

Chela leaned up against the side of the cabin, wishing she could just walk through the door and greet her mate the way she wanted to. If she could bite him, he’d feel the mating pull and all of this would be just a weird memory. “Give me his cell phone number.”

Ben sighed. “He’s refusing to answer.”

“You think I’m going to call him?” Chela gave him her best Belle look, enjoying the all-over shudder that ran over him.

“Shit. Here. Just don’t do anything I’ll regret.”

Chela put the number in her phone and immediately began typing. She hit send with a grin.

“What the fuck?”

The confusion they heard through the door had Ben giving her the evil eye. “What did you do?”

She shrugged and started typing again, hitting send when Ben tried to look over her shoulder. “Nuffing.”

“Chel.”

“Trust me.”

She could already feel the amusement warring with the fear and annoyance in the man behind the locked door. Chela bit her lip to hide her smile and sent another picture.

Bless you, Belle. This was the best idea ever. It had taken her a few hours to gather all the images and quotes and load them on her phone, but she was willing to bet this would be what broke the ice with her frightened mate.

The amusement was fading. Time to send the next picture.

When Ben saw what she was sending Steve, he started to chuckle. “Droopy Dog? Really?”

She typed out the quick message in her best Droopy. Hello, all you happy people. You know what? I’m the hero.

She could almost hear the snicker, but he didn’t respond, so she sent him another cartoon dog. This one was just a simple GIF of a puppy wagging its tail, with the message, Please come out to play with me?

The response was swift and decisive. No.

She sent him Marvin the Martian and his green dog, K9. Aw, c’mon. How can you resist that face?

His amusement spiked, but he still sent her No.

This time she sent him the Grinch and Max. You’re mean.

No! But she could almost hear him laughing.

Odie accompanied her next message, drooling all over the place. I promise, I’m harmless.

No answer. She dug up Peg from Lady and the Tramp for her next message.

If he’s a tramp,

he’s a good one,

and I wish that I

could travel his way.

She waited a moment, but all she sensed was confusion. Damn. For a moment she’d forgotten. He didn’t feel the mating pull yet. She should have saved that one.

She dug out the next image, one of Courage the Cowardly Dog. Something fishy is going on, or my name is Aloysius… And it’s not.

Snickers answered that one, making her smile. Her mate had the best laugh.

“Where did you get all these?”

She’d forgotten Ben was still looking over her shoulder. “Which, the pics or the quotes?”

“Both.”

“Belle.”

“Ah. Yeah.”

She grinned. So far it seemed to be working. At least Steve was talking to her, even if it was to say no.

The next message from him was followed by a swift dash of fear. You’re a werewolf. Ben’s a werewolf. That’s not something you get over with cutesy text messages.

She typed back, I know, but…

She sighed and sent him a GIF of a little boy hugging his dog.

Silence. Not even his emotions bled through.

The next message she sent was Blue from Blue’s Clues. Isn’t it time to get out of the Thinking Chair?

That got a reaction. She’d been afraid he’d somehow snuck out of the cabin despite Ben and Chela sniffing for traces of him, his emotions were that quiet.

No. But she could sense he was wavering. By proving she was goofy, she was making herself human again. She needed him to see her as human first, wolf second, even if that wasn’t always true.

If you came out, we could finally go to dinner. A picture of Lady and the Tramp eating spaghetti followed her text.

Silence again, but this time she felt more amusement than anything else. When her cell phone dinged, she looked at the image and broke into laughter.

He’d sent her Snuffles, from Quick Draw McGraw, pointing toward his open mouth to beg for a dog biscuit.

Just you, though. No one else.

She didn’t need to even think about her response. Yes. Hell to the yes. Have her mate all to herself over food? That was a no-brainer. What would you like to eat? I can have someone bring something over, or we can meet in Lowell’s.

The answer was swift. We’ll eat here. I’m not sure I want to head into the lodge right now.

Well. That suited her plans down to a T. She had every intention of giving him the mating bite tonight, changing him into one of them and marking him as hers for the rest of eternity. From the way Ben shivered as she grinned, it was probably a good thing Steve couldn’t see her expression. She typed quickly, knowing she had to head back to the lodge and start on her plans for the evening.

Works for me.

Steve flinched at the knock on the door. Sure, he’d agreed to dinner with Graciela, but part of him was still wondering if running wasn’t the better option.

Of course, with his luck, he’d become dinner. He’d seen the movies, read the novels. They’d kill him to keep their secret safe.

No matter how cute the girl was, he still wasn’t sure it was worth it.

“Steve?”

He stared at the door, his heart pounding. He’d agreed to this, said yes against his better judgment, and now she was here.

There was a fucking werewolf at his door.

A cute one, but still.

“Steve? I have steaks.”

He huffed out a breath. She sounded wary, like someone who was trying to gentle a frightened kitten.

He didn’t want to be that kitten. He wanted his life back.

He went up to the door and opened it, determined to face her once and for all. “I’m not sure about this.”

She stared up at him, her gaze full of sorrow. “I swear, I won’t hurt you.” She was twisting a bit of ski jacket between her gloved fingers. Her dark hair was back in a bouncy ponytail, making her eyes seem huge.

Shit. It was hard to be frightened of someone wearing bright pink plaid and looking like he’d kicked her puppy.

She nodded toward a cart loaded with covered plates and a bottle of wine. “Food?”

He glanced behind her, making sure she was alone. Pfft. As if a freakin’ werewolf couldn’t hide from me. “You promise you’re alone?”

She nodded solemnly. “I give you my word as Omega.”

That declaration had weight to it, her voice more serious than anything he’d heard from her yet. “Okay.”

The smile he got as reward was stunning. He opened the door wider so she could start carting in the food. “You need help?”

Another unbearably sweet smile that pulled at his heart. God, she was so sweet he wanted to cuddle her. “Nope. I’ve got it.” She looked down, her expression turning puzzled. “I thought you hated the cold?”

“Yeah, I’m not fond of it. Why?”

“You’re barefoot.”

“And?”

She went back out for the second plate. “Aren’t your feet cold?”

He shrugged. “I prefer to be barefoot indoors. Always have, ever since I was a kid.” It was the first thing he did when he got home after a long day at the office. The shoes got kicked off, the socks thrown in the hamper, rain or shine, hot or cold. She wasn’t the first person who’d commented on it, and she probably wouldn’t be the last.

She just shook her head, carting in the last of the food before closing the door. She took off the bright pink ski jacket and hung it next to his red coat.

He ignored how right they looked next to each other, the calm certainty that her coat was right where it belonged.

She’d worn a pair of jeans that should be illegal, the way they hugged her curves. The sweater was a warm cinnamon shade that made her skin glow. And, unlike a lot of the women Steve had dated in New York, she’d kept the makeup to a minimum, wearing just enough to make her eyes sparkle and her lips look wet and inviting.

He hoped he’d be able to keep his desire under control, but as she bent over, setting the table, those jeans stretched across her ass like an invitation to sin.

Werewolf, Steve. Were. Wolf.

Her shy smile as she set the table had his inner voice whimpering. He cleared his throat. “So. The wolf thing.” She grimaced, the smile disappearing, and he almost let it drop.

Almost.

“Yeah. I’ve always been a Wolf.” He could hear her emphasis on the word wolf, and wondered at it. “I was born this way.”

He shuffled his feet. Part of him wanted to get closer, to see if she smelled as sweet as she looked. The other part wanted to remain by the door in case she went all The Howling on his ass. “So all wolves are born?”

She shook her head, looking around the kitchen until she spotted what she wanted. “Nope.” She tucked an uncovered plate into the microwave, her fingers flying over the buttons. “A Wolf can be made, but most in this Pack were born.”

“Oh.” He wasn’t quite sure what to say to that. “Ben’s been one forever, then.” Once the true fear had worn off, he’d felt betrayed. He understood, but that didn’t make the feeling go away. This was a huge secret, but it was one he would have been willing to keep for his best friend.

She stared at him for a moment, ignoring the microwave when it beeped. “Ben couldn’t tell you. The Alpha wouldn’t allow it.”

He scowled. “And Ben always does what his Alpha says?”

Her brows rose. “You’ve met our Alpha? Rick Lowell? Big, scary-ass dude with long red hair and a scar on his cheek?”

Okay. She had a point. “But what about when we were kids? Why didn’t he tell me then?” Hell, he never would have been able to keep something like that a secret, especially from Ben.

She shrugged. “We’re taught from an early age to hide what we are from humans. I mean, would you want to wind up in an underground government laboratory, being vivisected?”

“That shit doesn’t really happen,” he scoffed.

She stayed silent, her gaze on him weary.

“Seriously?”

She nodded. “It happened once, a long time ago, but in the private sector.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah. Let’s just say that some very useful drugs on the market today weren’t found by accident and leave it at that.”

He took a step into the room as she took one plate out of the microwave and set the other in. “So you guys really do heal super-fast?”

She shook her head. “Nope. That’s all a myth. The legends all say that, but the truth is we’re just people. We scar, we get diseases, we get broken bones that don’t magically get better when we shift shape. We’re a little bit stronger, a little bit more resistant, and our senses are sharper than a normal human’s, but that’s about it.”

“And you get fuzzy around the full moon.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Myth. We can run in our Wolf form whenever we want.”

“Silver bullets?”

“Myth. Regular bullets work just fine, thanks.”

“Wolf’s bane?”

“Ugh. Myth. That shit’s poisonous to everyone.”

“Drinking water out of an animal print to change you into a wolf?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Ew.”

“Wearing a belt of wolf skin under a full moon?”

“Where did you read this stuff?”

He felt his skin flush and just knew he was blushing. He’d had a lot of time in the last few days to surf the Internet. “Wikipedia.”

She giggled. “Well, stop. The only way to change someone is to bite them. We release a special enzyme that mutates the DNA of the bitee.”

“Sounds painful.”

“I understand it can be, under the wrong circumstances. Most people are changed with the mating bite, and I understand that’s…” She smiled, the expression sultry. “Fun.”

He cleared his throat again. He didn’t want to think of her and fun right now, not when he was still vaguely wigged out. “Are you guys allergic to chocolate, like real canines?”

She lifted her brows and the lid on the one plate she hadn’t stuck in the microwave. Instead of the salad he half expected, there was a rich, decadent-looking Black Forest cherry cake. “Human, remember? We’re people who shift into animals, not animals who shift into humans.”

“Are any of the myths true?”

She set the warmed-up plates on the kitchen table, the smell of the meat and potatoes filling the small cabin. “We see well in the dark, better than a human does, but only when we shift our eyes to our wolf’s.”

He took a step closer, drawn by the easy way she spoke and the hunger that gnawed at his belly. Since he’d holed up in the cabin, he’d been living off granola bars and bottled water. “What about the whole man-wolf thing? Is that real?”

She shook her head. “Nope. Tigers do that.”

“T-tigers?” There were more of them?

Graciela didn’t seem to notice his unease. “Yup. The rest of us just turn into animals.” She finished getting all the food prepared while she spoke. “There are Wolves, and Pumas and Tigers, and lots of other shifters out there, each with a unique gift. And the one who rules over us all is the Leo.”

“Who?”

“The Leo.” She took a seat, her hands on the table where he could clearly see them. It was obvious she was doing her best to make sure he was as comfortable as possible with her presence. “He rules over all shifter kind. He’s always a Lion, and he runs the Senate, the ruling body of shifters. He’s the only white Lion shifter, and he has the ability to order even an Alpha like Rick around. So when that white Lion is born, they park his ass on the throne and pray he’s not a complete cabrón.”

He gulped and sat down at the table with less grace than he’d planned. “I thought I heard a mountain lion the other night.”

She nodded. “Remember Belle? She’s a Puma. There’s a town a few hours away that’s run by Pumas, and it has a college campus nearby. Several different types of shifters go there, as it’s one of the few campuses in an area that’s shifter-run in the United States.”

“How many of you are there?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure. That’s not one of my jobs, you know? But probably more than you’d believe, less than you fear. We’re just people, Steve, trying to live our lives like everyone else.”

“No, I meant how many different kinds? Wererabbits? Weresharks?” He shivered. “Weredinosaurs?”

She picked up her knife and fork, gesturing for him to do the same. He did, trying to ignore how badly his hands were shaking again. At least he didn’t think he was in danger of passing out this time. “Well, there are Wolves and Pumas, Foxes, Bears—”

“Bears? Like, grizzlies?”

“And black, and kodiak, and Kermode. Yup.”

He wasn’t certain he wanted to hear any more, but he got the feeling he’d need to. Now that he knew about Ben and the rest of them, he had to know. “And?”

“Lions, Tigers—” He felt himself sway a bit in his seat, “—Cheetahs, Coyotes. There are a lot of us, but we all seem to be predators of one kind or another, and always mammals.”

“So no werebunnies.”

“Nope.” She tilted her head and smiled. “Unless they’re Bear bunnies.”

“Do I want to know?”

She took a bite of steak and moaned. “One of the Pack members living in Halle is mated to a Bear whose nickname is Bunny.” She shrugged. “So. Werebunny.”

He actually laughed a bit at that, but he was feeling overwhelmed. He took a bite of steak, hoping to distract himself.

It worked. He moaned at the flavor that burst across his tongue. “Oh my God. I think I’m in love.”

She growled, the sound inhuman. Wolfish.

He carefully put the knife and fork down. “Or maybe not.”

She winced. “Sorry, sorry. It’s just… You’re my mate, and I don’t like hearing you say you love someone else.” She shrugged, blushing darkly. “Or something.”

He blinked. “Mate.” He’d heard that term before, and been way too wigged out to think about it much. And he’d had enough girlfriends to understand what that term meant.

She bit her lip and nodded. “Mate.”

The next thing he knew, his head was between his knees and Graciela was begging him to breathe.

Chapter Five

Okay. So maybe this wasn’t going quite the way she’d hoped it would. She’d planned on answering all his questions, yes, but she had hoped she wouldn’t terrify him.

Again.

Damn it.

Why had he followed them the other night? The man should have stayed inside and sipped hot cocoa laced with Tia Maria or something; anything but see something he wasn’t quite ready for.

Gah. What a mess.

“Steve?”

He looked up at her, his face pale, his eyes wild. “Mate?”

She nodded. “We know the moment we hear your voice, get a whiff of your scent. It’s…” She breathed deep, his musky scent wrapping around her like a warm cloak. “It’s delicious.”

He shuddered, the ever-present hint of fear spiking again. “I’m gamey. And stringy. And have I mentioned I taste like ass?”

She bit her lip, trying to hold back her laugh. “Tasted a lot of asses, have you?”

The color came flooding back into his face, embarrassment pouring off him in waves that nearly made her dizzy. “That’s more Ben’s kink.”

Her laugh broke free, and she could feel his delight, his happiness. He liked making her laugh, and the knowledge gave her hope. “If it makes you feel any better, Ben and Dave are mates.”

That quickly his pleasure disappeared. “I feel like I’m in a dream, and I can’t decide if it’s a nightmare or a comedy.”

She schooled her features as best she could. “Definitely comedy. Think Keystone Cops.”

The small smile she received wasn’t what she’d hoped for, but she’d take it. “I could see Dave wearing one of those stupid-looking domed hats.”

“And Ben falling all over himself and everyone else.”

“And Rick yelling at all of them?”

She nodded and helped him up. That little dose of silliness had gotten him over at least some of the fear, and he no longer looked ready to pass out at any second. “The food’s getting cold.” Above all else, the urge to take care of her mate was strong.

“Yeah.” He picked up the knife and fork and eyed her warily. “Are you going to get pissed if I moan?”

She shook her head, trying to appear small and unthreatening. She even hunched in her seat a little. “No.”

He sighed and took a bite, but some of his enjoyment seemed to have disappeared. “You don’t have to be afraid of me.”

She sat up straight. “Not you, your reactions. I don’t want you to be scared of me.” Not now, not ever. She’d defend Steven Hoode with her very life. She bit her lip and hoped she wasn’t about to push his boundaries too hard. “I could prove that we’re mates.”

“How?”

She watched him take another bite, enjoying his reluctant shiver of pleasure. Her mate was a sensual creature. She’d enjoy feeding him in the future. “If I give you the mating bite, you’d feel the pull.”

His eyes went wide. “Bite?”

She nodded.

“Um. If you bite me, will I change into…?” He waved at her, and she understood.

“Yes.”

“And if I’m not your mate?”

He was remarkably patient, her mate. He only tapped his foot as she rolled on the floor, laughing her ass off. He didn’t once yell at her to get up or anything.

She wiped a tear away from her eye as she took her seat once more. “Trust me. We’re mates.”

Thank God amusement seemed to be taking over from the fear. Apparently he found her funny. “And this bite will prove it?”

“Yup.”

“And your Alpha approved this.”

“He already accepted you. You’re one of us now, a protected member of the Pack.” Mate or not, the moment Rick had howled his recognition, Steve had been theirs. Rick would eviscerate anyone who tried to harm him without a second thought.

“So…one of you would be biting me anyway to change me.”

Oh, he was bright once he got over his fear. She liked that, even if some of his questions made her want to laugh. Silver bullets? Really? “Ben would probably do it, since he’s the one who first petitioned for you to become a member.”

He blinked, his expression utterly horrified. “I’m not his mate too, am I?”

Again, all he did was tap his foot while she laughed hysterically.

“I’m glad you think this is funny. No, really. Seeing Ben’s hairy, naked ass the other night wasn’t traumatizing enough, now you have to tell me he could bite me and make me crave cock.” He gagged, making her laugh harder. “No offense to Ben or Dave, but I really like boobs. They’re soft, and squishy, and the owner makes such interesting noises when you—”

“Steven!” He’d cupped his hands in front of his chest, his fingers flexing, and she couldn’t stop laughing.

“What? This is important. The last thing I want to do is look at Rick and think mmm, redhead.”

Steven Hoode was going to be the death of her. “No, silly. Even if Ben changed you, he can’t mate you. The enzyme for mating only releases with the person who is our mate. No one else. You can’t force someone to mate.”

“So if I said no?”

She winced. Ouch. The last thing she wanted to hear was that he was thinking of denying her. “I would walk away, and Rick or Ben would bite you.” She’d die inside a little every day until she went feral, but she would give him what he needed.

His eyes narrowed. “So you’re saying that either way I’m going to wind up wolfing out.”

She nodded. She didn’t want to lie to him, not about something as important as this. “Rick accepted you. It’s inevitable. The only thing that isn’t is our mating.”

He contemplated her for a moment, and she just knew he was turning everything over in his head. “Will it hurt?”

“The bite, you mean?”

“No. Wolfing out.”

She smiled. That was an easy question to answer. “It’s more like flowing into something new. It’s…indescribable. There’s no screaming agony, no crunching of bones. Just a pleasant tingle.”

That seemed to ease Steve. “Anything else I should know?”

“You’d be under Rick, subject to his commands, like every other Wolf in the Pack.”

“I figured. Anything else?”

“Ah.” She tugged on the end of her ponytail. “There’s a mild side effect of the mating bite.”

He sagged. “I knew it.”

“You’ll get so horny you’ll be blind with it.”

He cleared his throat and sat up straight again. “So…I’ll jump anything that moves and hump it like a dog.”

Chela growled. “No. You’ll only hump me.”

“If Ben bites me?”

“That bite would be different. It’s only a changing bite, not a mating bite.” She shrugged. “It will hurt, but you won’t wind up chock-full of lust either.” And if that was the route he wanted to go, she’d allow it. He’d feel the pull once his wolf woke up, and they’d be mated later rather than sooner.

Now that the mate dreams had started, she didn’t think she’d be able to keep away from him. She just prayed he didn’t want Ben to change him, that he accepted she was the one who was going to give him the bite. So she played her last card and hoped it worked. “Do you want Ben kissing your neck?”

The way his eyes went wide would have made her laugh again if this weren’t the moment she’d been waiting for. She held her breath, praying with everything in her that Steve chose her.

He stared down at his half-eaten steak, his expression grim. His emotions were all over the place, making her dizzy. But when they finally settled down, when his blue eyes finally met hers again, she nearly sagged in relief. He’d made his decision.

Steven nodded once. “If you’re telling me the truth, then I’d rather you bite me.”

Chela stood. She could barely keep the smile off her face. “You won’t regret this.”

He grimaced. “There’s a lot of questions I still have, but…” He sighed. “Ben has never once hurt me. I have to trust in that, if nothing else.”

That wasn’t exactly what she’d hoped to hear, but she’d take it. She’d work on winning his heart after he’d accepted the bite.

She was patient.

She opened her mouth so he could watch her fangs grow in. She wanted him a part of this, to see everything that was about to happen. Her eyes changed, going over to her wolf’s. Her vision changed as she lost the red-green spectrum. His red shirt now appeared to be deep mustard yellow, but his blue eyes darkened, sharpened. His blond hair appeared lighter, almost white.

He looked ethereal yet strong, a fairy warrior come to life just for her.

“Holy shit. What big teeth you have, Grandma.”

She wasn’t fooled. The sight of her fangs had made him fearful again. “This won’t hurt, I swear.”

“You can say that, but you aren’t the one facing the fangs.”

She tried for humor once more. She shook her head and tsked. “Just because you’re a virgin…”

He glared at her. “I am not.”

She put her hand on her chest and fluttered her lashes. “Oh, it’s so big. I… I don’t think it will fit.”

“I hate you right now.”

Except she knew he didn’t. She could feel it, the uneasiness, but there was no hatred. Hatred burned, was acrid against her senses. Even when his fear had been at its highest point she hadn’t felt that. “At worst, it might sting a little, like getting a shot.”

“Have I mentioned I hate needles?” He stood, towering over her. “Just…” He sighed, his emotions all over the place again, a jumble of nerves and fear and desire making her head spin. “Let’s get this over with, okay?”

“You’re so romantic.” She tugged on his shirt, pulling him down so she could reach his neck. “I promise I’ll be gentle, you virgin, you.”

His laugh had a bite of hysteria to it, but she didn’t give him time to think. She brushed her lips against his skin, the scent of him overwhelming. She wrapped her arms around his waist, her teeth scraping against his skin. Before he could protest, she sank her fangs into him, her joy nearly overwhelming as she released the mating enzyme.

He was hers, and soon, she would be his.

Whatever the fuck she’d just done to him, she needed to bottle it, because she’d make a fortune. Heat raced through him, his cock turning so hard he was afraid if he moved it might simply snap off from being confined by his jeans.

And not even that image did anything to dampen the desire to rip Graciela’s clothes off and fuck her until she walked funny.

He needed. He’d never needed anything the way he did Graciela. He had to make her squirm, make her want as much as he did. If he didn’t get her out of her clothes and on his cock in the next two seconds, he might just explode in a shower of lust-filled goo.

He was tugging at her shirt before her teeth left his skin, desperate to feel her golden skin against his, test the weight of her breasts against his palms.

She licked his neck, right where she’d bitten him, and he nearly dropped to his knees. He shuddered, the feel of her tongue on that mark making him crazy with want.

This was the result of the mating bite? This unwavering need to sink inside her, make her scream his name? The urge to come and come and come inside her until they didn’t know where she ended and he began?

Hell. He should have said yes immediately.

He couldn’t wait any longer. He tugged her head back by her ponytail, devouring her mouth with all the savagery of a starving man. Clothes flew off as he pushed and pulled, hauled and yanked until she was naked, barely breaking the hungry kisses long enough to remove her shirt.

She whimpered as he picked her up and carted her off to the bedroom, his hands tight on her firm, naked ass. And it was a fine ass too. Nicely rounded in all the right places. It fit his hands perfectly.

She fit his hands perfectly. Part of him was terrified by that. A small, miniscule part that he promptly stomped on with all his might.

The larger part of him wanted to know if she was a moaner or a screamer. He intended to find out.

She wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck. She was driving him crazy, her mouth busy on that fucking bite she’d given him, making him nearly drop her as pleasure raced through him.

In record time he had her flat on her back on the bed, her legs over his forearms, her body spread for his viewing pleasure. The only problem was he couldn’t get enough of her mouth, of the way she tasted on his tongue. Pulling away to stare at his prize was just too much. He greedily sipped at her lips, drugging himself on her flavor, embedding it into his very soul.

Eventually he’d want to taste her pussy, see if she was as sweet there, but for now he simply couldn’t make himself leave her lips.

“Please.” She was tugging on his biceps, begging him, her breasts pressing against his chest as she arched into him, tempting him. His cock nudged her opening, startling him with how wet she already was. Her scent filled the air, warm woman and need captivating his senses.

But instead of plunging into her, he bent to her breasts, taking one hard nipple in his mouth for a good, long suck that had her gasping under him. God, she tasted good here too, golden and warm as honey. She whimpered, her hands scrabbling against his skin, scoring it with her nails.

She’d drawn blood, and for just a second he worried about wolf claws. When he glanced out of the corner of his eye, all he saw were the same pretty hands, the same short, clean nails with their deep pink polish.

“Steven. Please!” She arched against him, an aching cry falling from her lips, her body shuddering as he continued to suckle her.

Something settled inside him. That was what he’d needed, to feel her shudder in pleasure, to…to come for him.

He could fuck her now, take her, make her his.

But not yet. That shuddering, sweet cry had given him more satisfaction than fucking any of his former girlfriends had. He needed to hear it one more time before he finally took her.

Oh. My. God. Where had this man been all her life?

His tongue lapped at her pussy, tasting her, teasing her. It was all she could do just to hold on to the bedsheets, praying she didn’t lose her mind.

He was good, better than any man she’d ever been with. Not that that was saying much. Chela was willing to bet he’d had far more partners than she’d ever had. Handsome, rich and a magic tongue?

She needed to stop thinking about that or she’d wind up in New York, hunting down some hoes.

“Oh. Steve.” He’d hit that spot, the one very few of her partners had found on their own, the one that made her want to buck and scream. His fingers entered her, fucking her gently as he continued to lap her clit in just the right spot.

She whined, chasing the orgasm that wanted to devour her. She couldn’t wait until Steve’s fangs grew in. He’d bite her, claim her, mark her—

The orgasm took her by surprise, ripping through her with all the force of a tsunami. She shuddered, moaning, her mate’s touch gentling as her body rode the wave.

He licked his lips, shooting her a hot look before bending to her thigh. He bit, sucking up a human mark that would fade in a few days.

But his mark would be on her, and somehow she understood that, when the time came, he’d bite her there for real.

“Steve.” She was getting restless, needed to feel him inside her. That final joining, his body to hers, would cement their mating. “Fuck me. Please.”

He snarled, and for just a moment she could see the Wolf peeking out at her. She grinned. She’d known he’d be strong, that his Wolf would want out sooner rather than later.

And when his Wolf came out, it would come with a vengeance. He’d hunt her down, mark her, bind them together for eternity.

Chela could hardly wait.

Steve kissed Graciela again, plunging into her moist depths with tongue and cock. Her wet heat wrapped around his cock and he moaned. God, she was tight, and wet, and moving under him in the best possible ways.

She growled, that inhuman sound she’d made earlier, but instead of terrifying him, this time it made him want to fuck her harder. He began nibbling at the side of her neck, inordinately pleased when she moaned and moved for him. Her head tilted to the side, granting him access to whatever part of her neck he wanted.

He used his teeth, scraping along her tight skin.

She gasped, coming for him again, tightening around his cock in a rhythm as old as time. The sensation nearly drove him over the edge as well, but he wanted to make this last, so he slowed down, allowed her to catch her breath.

When she began tugging on his hair he moved faster, giving her what she wanted, what they both had to have. She began speaking in Spanish, broken words he didn’t understand. Her dark eyes were golden brown from desire, her pupils dilating as she spasmed around him one last time.

When she sank her fangs into him again he shuddered, pouring into her as he came so hard he saw stars. Everything went dark as ecstasy took over, blinding him to everything but her.

He panted, staring down at the woman who’d just flipped his world-view upside down. “Shit.”

Graciela licked her lips, tempting him into another kiss, one he took with enthusiasm even as his mind reeled.

He’d been bitten by the wolf, and he couldn’t have been happier.

Chapter Six

“I’m Pack? For real?” Shit. That was a lot easier than he’d thought it would be. “No ceremony or anything?”

Ben nodded and passed the peanuts to his lover, Dave. “Yup. I thought Graciela explained all this? Rick accepted you even before she marked you. It’s a done deal, bro.”

He reached up and ran his fingers over the bite Graciela had left on his skin. Marked. He was marked. Who knew his life would be changed so dramatically simply because he decided to help out a friend?

Dave held up his glass in a toast. “Congratulations.” His expression turned evil. “As the Beta I get to boss you around now.” His evil laugh would have done Dr. Horrible proud.

They were sitting in the near-empty bar of the Red Wolf Lodge at about three o’clock in the morning, way past the time the bar usually closed. They’d snuck in here after the lodge settled down for the night, eager for some alone time.

It was three weeks till Christmas, and Steve had every intention of spending them here with his buddy and his partner.

Oh, and his newly discovered mate.

Mate. He chuckled into his tequila. He had a mate. A cute one, with the sweetest smile and the most iron will he’d ever met. She’d given him his space when he needed it, jollied him out of his fear and let him make the ultimate decision on whether or not to accept her bite.

Where the hell had she been all his life? Shit. He should have come to the lodge sooner.

He resisted the urge to reach up and feel the mark again. Just the soft brush of his fingers was enough to send heat straight to his cock. When Graciela touched it…

When his little Wolf touched him there, it was magic. He grinned, sipping the very smooth Patrón he’d stolen from behind the bar. Damn, they stocked the good shit.

He ached to go back to his—no, their cabin, slip between the sheets and cuddle her close, to hell with tequila and male bonding.

“Would we do that?”

He’d missed something in the conversation, but he wasn’t sure what. However, he did know that Dave couldn’t look innocent if you stuck a halo over his head and declared him the offspring of Archangel Michael, and that’s exactly what he was trying to do. Steve shook his head sadly. “Yes, you would.”

Dave pouted. “Dude. That hurts. Deep down, where it counts.”

Ben rolled his eyes at his goofy lover. “Look, I wouldn’t be telling you this at all if it weren’t for Chela.”

“Graciela?” Steve sat up straighter. If this involved Graciela, then he wanted to know everything they had to tell him. He had to pay attention and stop mooning over…well, Graciela. “What about her?”

The two men exchanged glances Steven couldn’t read, which shocked him. He was an expert at reading the expressions of others, of using them to gauge how far and hard he should push in a deal.

Ben and Dave exchanged a quick glance, and then Dave nodded. “Chela hasn’t had the best of times until recently.”

Ben nodded. “Yeah. She was abused by our previous alpha female, Gina.”

Something inside Steve growled, startling him. It wasn’t enough to throw him off what Ben had said, though. “What do you mean, abused?”

Dave ran his fingers through his hair, messing up the golden brown strands. “My sister was alpha female before Belle got here.”

“And she thought, since Belle was a Puma, she would remain alpha female despite the fact that Rick had declared Belle his Luna, his co-ruler, if you will.”

“Which meant Gina was out of a job, unless Belle proved to be too weak to rule a pack of Wolves.” Dave grimaced. “But Belle is friends with the Alpha, Curana, Beta and Beta female of the Halle Puma Pride, so she knew she’d have to come in and be the Luna in every sense of the word.”

“Which she did, in almost every way, except Gina found a way around it. Or so she thought.”

Steve held up his hand. “This is all very nice, but what does that have to do with Graciela being abused?”

“Gina thought Graciela was weak. Because of that, she…” Dave sighed. “She was alpha female. There wasn’t anything we could do to stop her.”

Ben leaned forward, cradling his drink between his hands. “Alpha females rule all the females unless an acknowledged Luna is present. That means what Gina said went, period. Unless it was proved she was being excessively abusive to the women under her command, Rick’s hands were tied.”

“So it was okay to be a little abusive? Is that what you’re telling me?” Oh, Steve did not like where this was going.

“As alpha female she was the one responsible for rewarding, and punishing, the females. So yes, in a way, it was considered okay. It was one of the reasons Rick wanted to bring Belle here. We needed a Luna, a female strong enough to stand up to Gina and force her to back down, to obey protocol, not just the letter of the law.”

“You’re losing the puny human, guys.”

“Gina beat the living hell out of Chela on a regular basis, okay?” Dave grunted when Ben elbowed him in the side. “What?”

“I thought Rick said Omegas were protected members of the Pack?” Steve was horrified. Who would beat up someone as sweet as Graciela?

And why would the strong woman he’d met, who’d forced him to face his fears with unwavering joy, allow it? Graciela was far from weak. She’d proven that more than once.

“She wasn’t Omega at the time.” Ben frowned. “Or rather, she was, but she hadn’t come into her power yet. It took the Luna to bring it out in her, and now—”

“Chela worships the ground Belle walks on.”

“Thank fuck you got Belle’s approval, Steve, or your ass would bounce as she tossed you down the mountain.”

“I’m not very bouncy, guys.”

They both looked at him with dead-serious expressions. “No, dude. That’s how hard Belle would have thrown you.”

Ben tried to fake-cough into his fist, but Steve heard the puny human loud and clear.

“So Graciela was abused and Belle saved her.” He still wasn’t sure what they were getting at, but he understood he had to take care with Graciela.

They exchanged another look. “Graciela would do anything for Belle.”

“Like roll-around-in-chocolate-pudding-naked anything?”

Ben blinked. “Um…”

Steve hid his grin. “Naked olive-oil wrestling?”

“Dude.” Dave gagged.

“How about—”

“NO!”

Both men shouted so loud his ears rang.

“Gah. Stop trying to gross out the gay men, would ya?” Dave shuddered and finished his cola. Ben had given Dave the stink-eye when the man went to grab a beer, and Dave had backed down without a sound. The vicious migraines he’d been experiencing for years were aggravated by alcohol, so Ben’s reaction made perfect sense to Steve.

Steve was having tequila shots. Hell, he wasn’t fucking Ben. He could drink whatever he wanted. And after the recent furry revelations, he’d needed a little alcoholic haze over everything.

Especially the snarly voice in his head that told him to hunt down this Gina person and rip her goddamn throat out.

With his teeth.

He took another swig of tequila, hoping to drown the voice out. Unfortunately the alcohol wasn’t having the effect he’d hoped it would.

“Steve?”

“Hmm?”

“You might want to lay off the booze, man.”

He eyed Dave blearily. Damn, that was some fine tequila. “Why’s that?”

“You’re growling.”

He picked up his glass, surprised when it was empty. See? This was why he didn’t drink. His glass always wound up empty. “Oh.” He laughed, afraid it sounded more like a giggle than anything. “Cool.”

The two men exchanged a look. “You’re happy that you’re growling?” Ben sounded surprised. “It means you’re turning.”

“Your fangs are showing too.” Dave was grinning as he put his arm on the back of Ben’s chair.

He poured another shot into his glass and raised it. “The better to protect you with, my dear.”

Chela was on cloud nine. She had her mate, she had her home, she was Omega of her Pack, and her life was damn near perfect. She was disgustingly cheery this morning, a fact Belle had pointed out with that vapid smile that had more than one grown man running from the room in total, abject fear.

But not Chela. Not today. No, today she was going to stay disgustingly cheerful no matter how much her Luna snarled. She’d been living with her mate for over a week, and things were blissfully happy between them. They talked, they laughed, and she’d even caught signs that his Wolf was beginning to emerge. Not much was going to get her down today.

Besides, Belle was happy for her. She could feel it, like bubbles in champagne. She’d have to check with Ben, see if Belle’s bad hip was bothering her again today.

Belle was the one who’d talked Rick into installing a heated pool and spa somewhere in the lodge. The exercises the Luna did eased her pain greatly, but even so, Ben had told her that Belle was always in some pain, that it never ended. Unfortunately, the doctor she’d been seeing, Jamie Howard, had lost his mate to a rogue shifter, nearly dying himself. Only the intervention of one of the local Bears had saved him, and rumor had it that the good doctor hadn’t thanked him for it.

Chela couldn’t imagine losing Steve, and she’d only known him for two weeks. The thought of losing him and surviving? She shuddered. It would be like trying to survive without your soul. She prayed that something happened before Dr. Howard lost himself to his emotional pain, or not even Rick would be able to stop him.

Steve was somewhere in the lodge, his scent faint but present. She grinned, hoping she’d be able to meet him for lunch. She had plans for Christmas for both of them, plans she wanted to hint around. She was hoping he liked what she had come up with, or she’d have to figure out how to live in New York.

No respectable Wolf wanted to live in New York. It was run by Coyotes.

Chela shuddered.

She scrunched up her nose at the thought of the New York Coyote Alpha and his relationship with Rick. The two had become friends, even going so far as to grant each other unlimited access to each other’s territory, but still.

Coyotes.

She followed the faint scent of her mate, the tantalizing odor becoming stronger and stronger as she approached Lowell’s restaurant. Damn it. He must be eating already. She peeked inside, hoping to join him.

Her heart skipped a beat. Her mate was there, all right.

And he wasn’t alone.

The blonde with him was curvy, with bright blue eyes and a smile that would send strong men to their knees. She was laughing at something Steve had said, her head back, the throaty sound causing more than one male gaze to flitter her way. For a split second, Chela imagined taking that wealth of blonde hair and holding on to it while she cut her damn head off and played soccer with it.

Then she did the smart thing and opened her senses, using her Omega power to see how her mate felt about the blonde.

Affection was the first emotion to assault her, and she nearly cried out in pain until she realized that the affection was similar to what he felt around Ben and, to a lesser extent, Dave. This woman was close to him, yes, but not a lover. The woman’s emotions filled her as well, the closeness a friendly one rather than romantic. This woman was no rival.

Chela could breathe again.

She sauntered toward the table, determined to be introduced to the young woman having lunch with her mate.

A whiff of something strange, something shifter, caught her attention. It wasn’t long before she realized it came from the laughing blonde. What was that? She hadn’t scented it before, but they’d been really isolated before Rick came. Dave had even taken online college courses rather than attended college the way he’d hoped to.

There was something vaguely feline about that scent. Cheetah, maybe? It wasn’t Puma, the only really feline scent she was familiar with, but it had the same warm undertones that the Luna scent did.

“Graciela.” She stopped trying to figure out what the scent was, only to find she’d reached her mate’s table. He was smiling up at her with warmth she hadn’t dared hope to see before the mating instincts kicked in. He stood, offering her a short, sweet kiss and taking hold of her hand. “How has your day been?”

She smiled. “Pretty good. Better, now that I found you.”

His answering smile was almost as happy as she was certain hers was. Her cheeks felt hot, but inside she was dancing with glee. “You want to join us? We haven’t ordered yet. Charlie just arrived.”

The blonde wiggled her fingers hello. “Charlene Lowe, but everyone calls me Charlie.”

Chela stilled. Lowe? Smelling like a feline? Oh, shit. She wondered if Rick was aware a feline Lowe was in his restaurant. “Um. Hi.”

Charlie rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Please don’t do that. It’s why I told Dave not to tell anyone who I was until I after got here.”

Steve looked back and forth between them, the bubbly happiness he’d felt the moment he spotted her disappearing. “What’s going on?”

Chela took a seat with a sigh. “Lowe is the family name of the…” She glanced around the restaurant at the humans eating their meals. “The CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Foundation.”

The shifter Senate ran a legal corporation headed by the Leo, the ruler of the American shifters. It was a charitable organization that was mostly concerned with the conservation of endangered species. They only accepted donations from shifters, so they didn’t fall under public scrutiny. The Wildlife Conservation Foundation did a lot of good, helping to repopulate the wolves in Yellowstone National Park and giving the big cats born in the United States a safe environment to live in. She’d heard that there were more tigers living in the United States than any other place in the world, and the WCF helped to take care of them.

Wariness spiked through Charlie, but her gaze was remarkably bland. “He’s my brother.”

“Oh.” Chela felt faint. She was sitting at the table with the sister of the Leo himself. She’d pictured playing soccer with the woman’s severed head.

She was so dead it wasn’t even funny.

“He’s a pain in my ass.”

Steve chuckled. He had no idea who he was sitting across from, but Chela would make sure he found out as soon as it was safe to do so. “Do tell.”

“He thinks that because he runs a huge corporation he gets to tell me what to do.” Charlie sniffed disdainfully. “As if.”

Chela tried to relax, but the fact that the Leo could show up looking for his errant sister had her shaking in her shoes. “Why are you here?”

Charlie actually sagged in her seat. “I’m here to visit Dave, get a job—”

Oh shit.

“—and be just a normal, everyday girl, preferably in that order.”

That was good, because Chela didn’t think she could treat the fucking sister of the fucking Leo like an ordinary girl.

Charlie eyed her. “Relax, little puppy. I don’t bite.” She winked. “Much.”

“Graciela? What’s wrong?”

Steve’s concern was ratcheting up by the minute, as well as a low, simmering protectiveness that soothed her, let her feel safe. She leaned toward her mate and whispered in his ear, softer than she would have if he had still been fully human. “Her brother is the Leo, the ruler of all the shifters.”

He sat back and blinked blandly at Charlie. “Oh. That must suck monkey balls.”

Charlie nearly spewed out the sip of water she’d just taken. “Oh, I like you.”

“Not too much,” Chela muttered. Sister of the Leo or not, she’d still rip her head off if Charlie made a move toward Chela’s mate.

Charlie’s brows rose. “He’s a bow-wow? I didn’t smell anything.” She stared at Steve for a moment, her gaze turning sly. “Oh. You’re so new you still squeak.” She grinned at Chela. “Mates?”

Chela nodded.

“Congratulations.”

Steve’s brows were practically in his hairline. “Bow-wow?”

Charlie made a sound remarkably like Blue from Blue’s Clues, and both Steve and Chela laughed.

“What job are you here for?” Chela was feeling more and more comfortable around the Lion, even more so when she felt the good humor in the feline.

“I heard Dave and someone named Belle need a second-in-command to help with the event planning.” She flipped her blonde hair behind her shoulder. “Partying is my thing.”

Chela bit her lip. “You haven’t met Belle yet, have you?”

The spike of unease told her the Lion wasn’t nearly as calm about all this as she appeared. She genuinely wanted to be here, wanted the assistant’s position. Odd, when among their kind she was considered almost royalty. “Not yet.” She dropped the party-girl persona. “Any advice?”

“Be yourself. Belle will see through bullshit faster than Superman through a brick wall. Trust me. Belle doesn’t mind someone who likes to play, but when she’s talking business you’d better be on the ball.” Belle ran a tight ship in the restaurant, and its reputation had grown as a result.

“That’s what Dave said when I told him I wanted to apply.” Charlie grinned. “We’ve been friends for years.”

“You think it’s a good idea to work with friends?” Steve’s tone wasn’t judgmental, merely curious.

Charlie tilted her head, a slight frown on her forehead. Chela could sense her confusion. Lions might not live in Packs, but they did live in Prides, and the dynamics were similar. Charlie would have an even easier time fitting in than Steve would. “You don’t?”

“Packs are family, Steve.” Chela kept her voice low. No one but Pack should hear what she was saying now. Most shifters did their best to speak about the shifter world in business terms, something the humans around them wouldn’t think twice about. But Steve was still so new he might not understand unless it was stated bluntly. “We’re friends, brothers, sisters, annoying older cousins who steal your dresses and stretch out the ass so you can’t wear it anymore, then ask for it as a cheap gift.”

Steve patted her hand. “That makes things much clearer. Thanks.”

She smiled and kissed his cheek. “You’re welcome, dear.”

Chapter Seven

Steve was damn near hyperventilating as he stared at himself in the mirror.

Right into his golden-brown eyes.

Steve’s eyes were blue, not brown. Perfectly normal, human, blue eyes.

Not golden-brown wolf eyes.

Fuck. He wasn’t ready yet. Couldn’t the stupid change wait a day or two? Or four?

“Graciela?” He cleared his throat as the raspy squeak left his mouth. “Graciela!”

“Hmm?”

Oh, God. That sleepy rumble had him nearly stumbling back to the bed. She’d moved him into her cabin right after the mating bite, informing him that now they were mated he needed to be close to her. He’d be changing soon, she said, and…

And…

He whimpered as he looked down at his hands.

He had fur between his fingers.

“Graciela!”

He heard her fall out of bed. “Steve?”

“I’m fuckin’ furry!”

She stumbled to a halt in the bathroom doorway, taking in his appearance quickly. A sexy, satisfied grin flitted across her face as she leaned against the doorjamb.

He snarled at her. “You don’t have to look so happy about it.” He knew, intellectually, that he was going to become…like her, but he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. It was only two days until Ben and Dave’s wedding, three until Christmas, and here he was, all fuzzified and freaked out.

“Get naked.”

He blinked. “Now?” She wanted to make love now?

She laughed, her whole face lighting up. “Perv. No. If you change in your clothes, it can hurt you. You’ll get all tangled up as your limbs change and you go down on all fours.” She waggled her brows. “And you know how much I love you on all fours.”

He rolled his eyes and turned back to the mirror, jumping as he realized he had fangs. He pulled back his upper lip, staring at the white, pointy teeth that looked so foreign in his mouth. “I’m too old to be Teen Wolf.”

She snickered, pulling off the nightshirt she’d thrown on before falling asleep in his arms the night before. Underneath, she was gloriously naked, nearly distracting him from the fact that fur was beginning to sprout on his arms. “You’re going to be golden, amorcito.” She stroked her hand over his T-shirt, his muscles bunching involuntarily under her fingertips. “We need to get you outside.”

“Naked.”

“Yup.”

“In the snow.”

Her grin was pure evil. “Yup.”

“I hate you so much right now.” Steve tore the T-shirt over his head with a frustrated growl.

“Get naked, amorcito. Trust me, it will be worth it.” Then his—girlfriend? Mate? Possible love of his life?—sauntered out of the bathroom, wiggling her hips like a siren luring her prey.

His pants practically flew off as the creature inside him urged him to go after her.

The wolf wanted her too.

“Come on, amorcito. I’m waiting.”

That seductive, slightly accented purr was enough to spur him on. The woman was going to be the death of him. He darted after her, following her laughter out the front door of the cabin—

“COLD!”

He was back inside the cabin before he could blink, shivering and wondering if this was the last he’d ever see of Little Steve, who was pretty pissed at him right about then. And Graciela, naked and glorious, was laughing her very fine ass off at him.

“It’s not funny!”

“You…” She laughed again, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to catch her breath. “Your feet didn’t even touch the ground.”

He shivered as a particularly vicious breeze blew through the door. “I have not, nor have I ever wished to, join the Polar Bear Club.”

She wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye. “Your fur will keep you warm, I swear.”

“Yeah, well, I ain’t furry yet.” His teeth started to chatter, which felt really fucking odd with fangs.

“Do yourself a favor. Relax and let the change flow over you. It’s coming, whether you like it or not.”

Wonderful. He winced as he caught a glimpse of more fur sprouting on his arms.

Graciela grinned. “There you go. Don’t fight it, amorcito. God, you’re going to be a beautiful wolf, all golden and red.”

He grunted, the sensations rocking through him almost too much to bear.

“Close your eyes and scent the wind. Can you smell that? The new snow, the other Wolves, all waiting for you to run with them.”

He could. He smelled exactly what she described. “There’s a Lion, isn’t there?” The scent, familiar yet different from the others, was…Charlie?

“Yes, you’re right. You’re smelling Charlie.”

She sounded delighted, but he still couldn’t believe this was happening to him.

“Our Pack is waiting. Change, amorcito. Change, and let’s run together.”

He didn’t even feel the freezing cold anymore as his skin rippled, flowing over muscle and bone. Electricity danced along nerve endings that were abruptly in different places. His paws hit the wooden deck with a thump as he fell to all fours, his ears twitching as he caught the sound of other Wolves running for Graciela’s cabin.

He ran out the door to put himself between her and danger, snarling as the first Wolf approached.

No one would lay a paw on his mate.

Then a massive red wolf approached, growling, his teeth bared. Steve instinctively lowered his own head, bowing before the Alpha Wolf and baring his throat.

The Alpha knocked him on his side and Steve whimpered, wondering if this was how it would all end.

The Alpha’s teeth were at his throat, the sharp fangs digging in until he could feel them through coat and undercoat. Steve held perfectly still, instinctively giving in to his Alpha, his human half reminding him that Rick Lowell wouldn’t hurt him without good reason.

Snarling at the Alpha Wolf might be good reason.

The Alpha held him pinned only by his throat for a few moments before releasing him. With a quick swipe of his tongue across Steve’s muzzle, he signified his approval, and the Wolf in Steven danced with joy. He’d been accepted into the Pack, and the full meaning of that flowed over him as his Alpha spoke to him in his mind for the first time.

“C’mon, pup. Let’s run.”

Steven followed the rest of his Pack into the woods behind Graciela’s cabin, his mate right by his side.

“You did it!” Chela leapt into Steve’s arms, giggling like mad. Her mate had run with the Pack, had been accepted by all of them. After their run they’d scampered back to their cabin, not changing until they were inside.

There was only one thing that could make her happier.

He grabbed hold of her ass, his blue eyes slowly turning golden brown. “You’re naked.”

She returned the favor, squeezing the firm globes. “So are you.”

His eyes shut for a moment. “I have the strangest urge to bite you.”

Chela moaned. “Oh fuck, please do.”

When his eyes opened, they’d turned completely, his Wolf close to the surface. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Chela licked the mark she’d left on his neck, smiling when he shivered. The mark would forever be a hot spot. “Trust me. You won’t hurt me.”

He buried his face in her neck and breathed deep. “You smell so good.”

“Mm-hm.” At this rate they wouldn’t make it to the bedroom. She’d drag him down to the floor and—

Oh. Oh, fuck.

Chela cried out as Steve bit her, marking her as his. The orgasm ripped through her, shattered her before his touch brought her back together, forever his.

She snarled, aware her own eyes had changed as the colors around her changed, went golden. Before she could do anything more than growl, Steve had her up against the wall.

She whimpered as her mate went wild, sucking and licking at the bite mark on her neck until she screamed for something, anything to make her come. The broken Spanish she’d been reduced to only seemed to spur him on as he sucked up another mark right on top of the mating one.

But he didn’t sink his fangs into her again, didn’t grant her that last little bit that would shove her over the edge. Instead, he tugged on her, twisting until they were both on the floor, his head between her thighs and his cock nudging her lips. She took him in, the salty flavor of her mate exploding on her tongue.

He groaned and began returning the favor, licking and sucking on her clit until she finally, finally tumbled over the edge. She shook under him, barely coherent enough to keep sucking on him, letting him feel her moans on his engorged flesh.

“More.” Steve rolled them to their sides, groaning when his cock slipped from between her lips. “More, Graciela.”

She licked the tip of his cock.

“Please.” He followed up on that pleading demand by lifting her leg and sucking her clit back into his mouth and humming.

Chela damn near came again. Who knew a man could give a woman a hummer?

She took him back into her mouth, savoring the feel of him throbbing on her tongue, her lips wrapped tight around him. He thrust into her mouth, careful even now, when he was damn near feral, not to hurt her.

Soon it wasn’t enough to taste him, to feel his tongue on her. She needed him inside her, to feel her mate pounding into her again. She pulled free of his grasp, ignoring his disappointed sigh.

She had plans.

She tugged until he rolled over onto his back, straddling his hips with a wicked grin. “Aw, amorcito. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this.” She reached between her legs and stroked his cock.

When he grinned, she knew his wolf had almost complete control. His fangs were fully extended, his eyes glowing. “I’ve got this.”

Before she knew it he’d flipped them, pushing her onto her stomach and lifting her ass into the air. She whimpered as he blanketed her, his chin resting right on the mating mark, his cock half inside her. “Good?”

She opened her senses, allowing his arousal to wash over her. “Fuck me.”

“My pleasure.”

The twin sensations almost undid her. The feel of him sliding into her, the thickness of him spreading her wide and the slick heat of her own pussy clamping down on him filled her. She cried out as he began a punishing rhythm, pounding into her with a ferocity that would have frightened her if she hadn’t been inside his head.

Steve was desperate to make her come, to feel her clamping down around him, to know he’d brought her pleasure. He wanted her to howl, to bare her fangs at him, to scream his name so that every fucking hairy asshole out there knew Graciela Mendoza was fucking taken.

The fact that she was doing just that would have freaked him the hell out a month ago. Now, he found it so hot there was no way he wouldn’t blow soon. First, he had to make her come.

Had. To. His wolf demanded it, and Steve was more than willing to comply.

He could fucking feel her in his head, riding their shared pleasure. She was using her powers, opening herself up to what they were doing together. While part of him mourned that he would never share that with her, the other part, the part desperate to make her scream, gloried in it. She’d know exactly how it felt to slide into her wet heat, the sheer joy of her clamping around him. She’d share in the glory of taking her in a way no other woman ever could.

Steve was hooked. One taste of her golden skin and he’d known, that first time, he’d never get away. Now, he couldn’t even imagine wanting to. Who would want to give this up?

She cried out, her hands sliding on the floor, forcing her shoulders down to the ground. It changed the angle, made her even tighter. Steve swore, holding back his orgasm by his fingernails and a prayer.

He followed her down, pressing until her chest was flat on the floor before shifting slightly. He grabbed hold of her hips as he continued to pound into her.

When her fingers started scrabbling on the hardwood floors, he knew she was close. “Come, baby. Come for me.”

The first wave of her orgasm triggered his own, sending him over the edge into dark ecstasy. He choked out a cry, the pleasure almost tipping over into pain as the orgasm rushed through him. He poured himself into her, gasping as the pleasure went on and on.

Graciela keened, the sound almost a howl, her pussy a tight, wet vise gripping him hard. When he leaned over and licked the mark he’d left on her neck, she shuddered, more ripples from her wet heat sending shockwaves through his system.

At the end they were both panting, gasping, covered in sweat and utterly spent. He collapsed next to her and cuddled her close, not caring that they were still on the cold, unforgiving floor. When she practically draped herself on top of him, he purred with pleasure. The feel of her skin sliding against his, slick and smelling of the two of them, damn near made him hard again. “So.”

She stroked her fingers through his chest hairs, her leg sliding up until her knee rested just below his balls. “So?”

“I think I could get used to this dog shit.”

She giggled, and it was one of the most beautiful sounds she’d ever heard. “Dog shit?” She wrinkled her nose. “Ew.”

“Yeah.” He tried to hide his grin, fully aware that she was still somehow in his head, reading his emotions. “We need to do this in the woods.”

She lifted her head from his chest, her smile lighting her whole face. “The woods?”

He tried to keep his expression innocent, knowing he failed. “That’s where dog shit happens, right?”

“Ugh. Knock it off with that shit.” She rested her head against his chest again as he chuckled. “You’re not that cute, Mr. Hoode.”

“Yes, I am.” He puffed out his chest, losing it when she giggled again. God, when was the last time he’d felt so comfortable around a woman? Any of the ones he’d known before would have taken his head off for daring to make that kind of joke.

Graciela not only laughed, she played along.

Her laughter faded away as she resumed stroking his chest hair. “We have some decisions to make.”

He nodded. “Like whether or not the Flyers will beat the Rangers in the next game?”

“The Flyers are going to rip them a new asshole, but that’s beside the point.”

He shuddered. “That’s it. We’re through.” He stroked her back lazily, making no move to stand up. He tsked. “Mated to a Flyers fan. Now I know the Mayans were right when they said the world was going to end. They just got the date wrong.”

She tilted her chin until she was gazing up at him. “How do you feel about living here?”

He shrugged. He’d known, the moment he was told he was Pack, that odds were good if he survived, he’d be making the mountains his home again. Hell, his parents would probably be thrilled. They still owned a craft store about twenty minutes away. Part of him would miss New York, but he could visit anytime he wished. He’d keep his condo there and just bring Graciela with him. “I’d love to.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Liar. You hate the cold.”

His heart pounding, he pulled her up until he could kiss her nose. “Yeah, but I love you more.”

The sweet smile that graced her face was more than worth the snow.

Epilogue

“What have you done?” Graciela was giggling like a little girl. It was the cutest thing Steve had seen in a long time. Even better was the cleavage on the dark red, V-neck dress she wore. The dress hugged her curves and showcased her golden skin to perfection. The gold, strappy heels were the sexiest things he’d seen in years. He had every intention of taking her home after the reception and fucking her while she wore nothing but those pretty little heels.

He wanted to rip the eyes out of any male who glanced her way, even the mated ones. Maybe she’d be willing to dress Amish when they were in public?

“Me?” He held his hand to his chest, doing his best to look innocent.

Rick stood next to Graciela, shaking his head in disbelief. “I never would have believed it.” He sipped his champagne and turned to the petite blonde tucked under his arm. “My Luna?”

“My Alpha?” Belle arched a brow at her mate.

“Did you have anything to do with this?”

“Pfft. If I had, do you think I would tell you?”

Graciela giggled again.

Ted clapped Steven on the shoulder, hard enough to stagger him. “Holy shit, Hoode, how the hell did you convince him to do that?”

Steve stared at the dance floor, where Dave was currently dancing with his new husband, Ben. The man was shaking his booty left and right, the hot-pink tulle tutu swaying around his hips as Ben laughed his ass off. “I can be very persuasive when I want to be.”

“Meaning he got me to nag Dave until he agreed.” Charlie sauntered up, the blonde looking utterly regal in the black, feminine tux she’d insisted on wearing as Dave’s best woman. She eyed the couple on the dance floor, completely ignoring the Wolf who’d gone quiet and still next to her. “Not that I had to nag much. I basically showed him the tulle, he snagged it, end of story.”

Ted was staring at Charlie like a starving man would eye a cheese plate. “But why pink?”

She shrugged. “I like pink.” She pointed toward Ben as the others laughed. “Why is Ben wearing that T-shirt under his tux?”

This time Steve was the one who snickered. Ben’s T-shirt declared him to be Dave’s trophy wife, the dark brown shirt matching his eyes exactly. “He loves that thing.”

“He wears it to Pack meetings all the time.” Belle shrugged. “Something to do with holding on to hope, he said.”

“No, I know about that. I was in Disney World with them. Why is he wearing it today?”

“I think he wore it for Dave.” Ben would do anything for Dave, even wear something that was totally humiliating. Strangely enough, now that Steven had gone through the change, he scented both Ben and Dave on that shirt. He had to wonder what that meant.

Then he had to mentally scrub his brain as images flew fast, furious and…ew. Not how he wanted to picture his best friend, thank you very much, no matter how happy he was with his lover.

“I think my favorite is the wedding cake topper.”

Charlie held up her hand. “That one was my idea.”

Belle was grinning as she looked over at the cake table. “I love that you got one with one groom dragging the other to the altar. But what happened to the one they’d picked out?”

“It got turned into a chew toy by a really large cat. Poor thing didn’t last very long.” She winked at Belle. “They just don’t make things like they used to.”

The rest of the Pack slowly joined Ben and Dave on the dance floor of the Red Wolf Lodge’s banquet hall. The theme, winter wonderland, had been the one thing Ben had insisted upon. Steve had to admit, it was pretty nice. White Christmas lights dotted everything, twining around the columns and the ceiling. White, crystal-encrusted branches had been turned into tall centerpieces. The colors were ice blue and white, even down to the lighting. It was like stepping into Jack Frost’s ballroom, and the moment Dave had seen it, his face had lit up. Apparently none of the Pack had allowed him to see it before the wedding, so it had been a complete surprise, despite the fact that he was the event coordinator and was usually in and out of these rooms on a daily basis.

Graciela leaned around him to smile at Charlie. “Congratulations on your new job, by the way.”

“Thanks. Now if I can pry my boss’s head out of his husband’s ass, we might actually get some work done.” Charlie winked. She’d landed the job after her interview with Belle, and Rick had welcomed her into the lodge. While he hadn’t accepted her into the Pack, she’d agreed to live by his rules until such time as she either quit or mated in.

From the looks she and Ted kept exchanging, he had the feeling she’d be accepted into the Pack before too much longer. Hell, he doubted they’d wait much longer than the end of the reception.

Even better, neither Rick nor Belle had made the connection with the Leo until after they’d hired her. Dave had gleefully informed them of whom they’d brought into their home the day after they accepted her.

Rick and Belle had surprised him. They’d shrugged, basically said, “And?”, then proceeded to treat the Lion like any other new employee, down to making sure she had her own tiny cabin in the back of the lodge and growling when she didn’t show her throat quickly enough to suit the Alpha pair. From what he’d seen, Belle was thrilled to have another big cat roaming the Poconos. He’d seen the two women whispering over clipboards together, Graciela right at their sides, plotting whatever the hell made them look like…

Well, kind of scary, now that he really thought about it.

“Oh, God.” Charlie started laughing. “Dave, you nut.”

Steve looked out on the dance floor and shook his head. Dave had picked Ben up and slung the slightly smaller man over his shoulder in a manly display that would have looked a lot better without the hot-pink tutu. “Geez, guys.”

Belle cupped her hands around her mouth. “Get a room!”

Dave’s head whipped around at the sound of his Luna’s voice. “What do you think I’m doing?”

Ben’s expression was resigned. “We’re playing rock-paper-scissors when we get home, asshole.”

Dave’s grin turned lascivious. “And you will go down again. Literally.” He laughed as Ben swatted his ass, carrying his new husband out of the banquet hall and into the night.

Graciela tugged on his arm. “What do you think, Mr. Hoode? Should we stick around and dance, or…?”

He grinned, allowing his fangs to show. This was a shifter-only event, which was good, because he hadn’t gotten complete control of his shift yet. If the way everything around him had gone yellow and blue was anything to go by, his eyes had shifted too. He’d thought all animals were completely color-blind, so he was happy to find out that they had some color vision.

“My, Mr. Hoode. What big eyes you have.” Graciela batted her lashes at him as she slowly backed away from him.

He laughed, snagging her around the waist before she could get very far from him. “All the better to see you with.”

Her gaze landed on his mouth. “And what a big mouth you have.”

His brows rose. “Like I haven’t heard that one before.”

She smacked him on the arm. “You’re supposed to play along.”

“Honey, in this game, you’re the big bad wolf.”

She glared up at him. “And you are?”

He waggled his brows. “Hoping to get eaten.”

Those around them erupted into laughter as Steven pulled his laughing mate into his arms and kissed the ever-loving breath out of her.

About the Author

Dana Marie Bell wrote her first short story when she was thirteen years old. She attended the High School for Creative and Performing Arts for creative writing. When her parents moved out of the city and placed her in a Catholic high school for her senior year, she tried desperately to escape, but the nuns held fast. She’s now a USA Today best-selling author.

Dana lives with her soul mate and husband, Dusty, their two maniacal children, an evil ice-cream-stealing cat and a bull terrier that thinks it’s a Pekinese. She also suffers from a rare inflammatory arthritis and can be seen walking with a cane or tooling around in her mobility scooter. Her condition was the inspiration for Belle’s hip injury in Steel Beauty.

You can learn more about Dana at www.danamariebell.com and danamariebell.blogspot.com

Look for these titles by Dana Marie Bell

Now Available:

Halle Pumas

The Wallflower

Sweet Dreams

Cat of a Different Color

Steel Beauty

Only In My Dreams

Halle Shifters

Bear Necessities

Cynful

The Gray Court

Dare to Believe

Noble Blood

Artistic Vision

The Hob

Heart’s Desire

Shadow of the Wolf

Hecate’s Own

Poconos Pack

Finding Forgiveness

Mr. Red Riding Hoode

True Destiny

Very Much Alive

Eye of the Beholder

Howl for Me

Morgan’s Fate

Coming Soon:

Halle Shifters

Bear Naked

Heart’s Desire

The Wizard King

Robin Goodfellow has met his match.

The Hob

© 2013 Dana Marie Bell

The Gray Court, Book 4

When the Black Queen kidnaps one of the White Queen’s nephews, Robin Goodfellow is sent to ensure that the young prince safely returns to the bosom of his family. True to his role as Oberon’s Hobgoblin, he is ready for anything…except meeting his truebond, the very delicious, very human Michaela Exton.

Michaela has dreamed about a flame-haired rogue named Robin Goodfellow since she was a little girl, but everyone knows Puck doesn’t really exist. In real life, it’s a dark-eyed man named Ringo who makes her heart beat faster.

She is closer to her dream man than she thinks, and nobody knows it better than Robin, who wears the guise of Ringo. But there’s competition for her love in the form of Lord Raven, who holds a secret that will rock the foundation of Robin’s world. As a Black Court delegate does the unthinkable, leaving an enraged, grief-stricken Robin hanging onto his humanity by a thread, only Michaela has the power to bring him back from the killing edge—if she survives.

Warning: This book contains explicit sex, graphic language, Robin Goodfellow and… Really. Do I need to say any more?

Enjoy the following excerpt for The Hob:

“Hell and damnation. The man is becoming a master cock blocker.”

Robin Goodfellow strode briskly down the marble encased corridor, his boot heels clacking on the dark hardwood beneath his feet. Being summoned by his king mid-seduction was becoming more and more common. If Robin got interrupted one more time his balls were going to fall off from lack of use.

Not that they hadn’t been emptied recently. They had. Just not into a willing woman.

Whatever was going on, why he was having the most erotic dreams of a dark-haired lovely, Robin didn’t know, but he was willing to bet it had something to do with the sculpture Shane Joloun Dunne, a hybrid with the power to see the future, had created. It graced Robin’s private chambers, a taunting reminder that his bondmate was out there somewhere, waiting for him.

Ever since he’d placed it on his mantelpiece, he’d been dreaming of her. Dreaming and spending into his sheets.

Today, for the first time in months, he’d seduced someone, if only to get some damned relief. And even that was to be denied him as he answered his king’s summons.

He paused briefly at the door to the library, captivated by the sight of a dark head of hair with a rooster-like ruff peeking over the edge of his black leather wingchair. Why she insisted on wearing her headbands that way he didn’t know. Was it a sea nymph thing?

The moment she saw him she growled.

He bowed deeply, amused that such a homely face hid the heart of a lioness. “Lady Cassandra, how do you fare this fine day?”

Cassie grumbled and glared at him. She’d been with him for two months and had learned his ways. Surprisingly, like the Blackthorns and Dunnes, once she became used to him she was unafraid of him. “I thought he wasn’t going to come here!”

It was a shame, really, that she did not belong to him. Robin could see past the too-long, almost homely face to the sweet, determined strength she bore like a badge of honor. Her hissed indignation as she sank lower into her seat had him chuckling in earnest.

“I swear, Robin, if he sees me I’m doomed.” Bright turquoise eyes dominated her face, paler than usual.

“Hide then, if you must, but if you asked for sanctuary it would be granted.” Robin would give his word, if need be, and tie her to his house. Not a thing he did lightly, but since she’d saved a dear friend of his Robin owed her.

The Hob always paid his debts.

She shot him a look so full of sorrow he tensed. “No. It wouldn’t.” She sank down in the chair. “I’ll just stay here, if you don’t mind.”

One day he would get her to tell him what was wrong, but he’d learned not to push. To hear a siren sing her sorrow was to have even the staunchest heart break in half. “Not at all. Shall I shut the door?”

He could barely see the negative shake of her head over the top of the chair. “No, but thanks anyway.”

“As you wish.” Robin left the room, puzzled once more by the mystery of his guest. She intrigued him in a way that few did, and he found himself loathe to leave her side, even at the behest of his king. He hated to admit it, but the woman’s dry wit and glowing smile had grown on him in the two months since she arrived, but Shane, acting as the Child of Dunne, had declared that Cassie was not to be his. Therefore, Robin was free to do as he wished despite her presence in his home, hence the pretty dryad who had just left his bed and home.

He’d served his lord for more centuries than he cared to count, and would continue to do so for centuries more, despite untimely interruptions and uncomfortably tight leather pants.

Still, having his fun interrupted had done nothing for his temper, something that showed in the formal bow and razor sharp grin he greeted his liege with at the front door.

He ignored the brief, indrawn breath behind him as he escorted Oberon past his library to his study. Cassie would disappear soon enough, eager to hide from the High King. Why she feared Oberon so was part of the mystery that surrounded her. Once more, he found himself intrigued, but he had little time to figure out the vagaries of the sea nymph. If Oberon had come to Robin rather than summoning him to the Gray Palace, the situation was not only dire but required the utmost discretion.

Robin closed the door, certain that Cassie would not dare eavesdrop on Robin and the High King. As to the dryad in his bedchamber, she was long gone, having used the portal therein for just such emergencies. Only Robin could activate that particular portal; not even Oberon could enter his bedchamber without an invitation.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence, my lord?” Robin swept his long auburn hair behind him with an almost effeminate gesture, one that wouldn’t fool Oberon for a second. Anyone daft enough to think that the Hob was weak would get what they deserved, and Oberon had never been a dimwit.

“I need someone I trust to go to Philadelphia.” Oberon’s waist-length silver hair gleamed in the reflected moonlight coming in through the huge wall of windows that showcased the rugged, snow-covered Rocky Mountains. He’d chosen a truly inhospitable place to put his Gray Palace, and had allowed Robin to build his home beside it. Robin loved it, loved the view of the mountains and the lake, the freedom to run as he wished, when he wished, as did several of his people.

“You need me to check out those rumors we’ve been hearing?” Robin accepted the glass of cognac Oberon handed him. He swirled the glass in his hand slowly, warming the amber liquid. They’d made themselves at home in each other’s places far too long for him to be offended that Oberon had gotten into his liquor. Robin watched his liege through his lashes, observing the nearly imperceptible movements of frustration and annoyance that anyone not closely associated with his king would have missed.

“Titannia is up to something.” Oberon faced the windows once more, and Robin hid a wince at his arctic tone. Oberon had adored his ex-wife, been devastated when she’d betrayed him. Her duplicity had cost him, emotionally and politically. He’d lost a piece of himself when the gods severed their bond, and he was darker for the loss. “Gloriana’s nephew has been taken.”

Well. Titannia had certainly upped the ante this time. “Shall I retrieve him, sire?”

“No. Not yet. For one, we don’t know where she’s stashed him.”

Robin prayed she had not taken the boy to the Black Court, but chance would be a fine thing. Titannia would do anything to achieve power, even take a naive, innocent boy and twist him into her own image. Whoever she had been before the betrayal, she was undeniably evil now. Her pact with the demon had whittled away at her until Robin doubted she had anything left of her soul.

When Titannia betrayed Oberon it caused a rift in the Fae realm that would never be healed. Titannia, now the Dark Queen, ruled what had become known as the Unseelie, or Black Court. Gloriana, the White Queen, ruled over the Seelie, or White Court. By decree of the gods themselves, Oberon ruled over both Courts as the High King of the Gray Court, the final arbiter of justice when Titannia and Gloriana could no longer contain their hatred of one another. Oberon’s task was to see to it that all-out war did not erupt between the kingdoms and ensure the safety of Fae-kind everywhere by maintaining the Seeming. The gods had decreed it; indeed, the gods were the only thing that had stayed Oberon’s (and thus Robin’s) hand at his faithless wife’s throat. Their bond had still been in place, and though it had hurt Robin grievously, he had thought it would be better that Oberon die than Titannia live. Oberon had agreed, but had been spared the loss of his life at the price of Titannia’s.

Both lived, and only one suffered for it.

Still, Titannia sought to overcome the decree handed down by the gods, turning this way and that to try and unseat both Oberon and Gloriana. This, the kidnapping of one of Gloriana’s royal house, was but the latest move in a never-ending chess game that Robin was growing weary of. Perhaps Oberon would allow him to change the rules.

He’d always been fond of backgammon.

“Find out what Titannia is up to, but do not attempt to extract the boy unless all other hope is lost. Delegates have been sent to negotiate his release, arbitrated by one of our own.” Oberon finally turned around. Robin wasn’t surprised to see his king’s eyes had turned silver-gray, almost white. They only changed that way when he discussed the Black Queen. “The negotiations cannot be interrupted for any reason. Titannia must return Gloriana’s nephew before the next full moon or we’ll have full-out war.”

“I can retrieve the boy.” Robin laughed. “It would be fun.” He shot his liege a wicked glance.

Oberon sighed. “If it becomes necessary, yes. For now, I’d prefer to use diplomacy to achieve the same result.”

“And Gloriana would owe you one?”

Oberon raised a weary eyebrow, his eyes returning to their normal, stormy gray. “I don’t really care one way or the other, Robin. Just see to it the boy is returned, preferably unharmed.”

Robin bowed his normal, mocking bow. “Do we know who holds the boy?”

“No one is sure. That is another reason I need you there. Find out where the boy is being held, and by whom. If necessary we will retrieve him ourselves.”

Robin shook his head. “What does she think to gain by this?”

The stormy gray eyes turned silver once more. “I have no idea, but she won’t succeed.”

Robin took a sip of his cognac, thinking. “I can easily infiltrate the Black Court contingent if it’s large enough. If she’s decided to send only a few delegates, then things become…trickier.”

“I leave it all in your capable hands.” Oberon turned once more to the windows of Robin’s study.

Robin interpreted this as a dismissal and began backing out of the room. Oberon would leave when he was ready, and welcome he was to the little warmth Robin had to offer.

After all, had it not been for Oberon, Robin would not exist.

“One more thing, Robin.”

Robin halted at the soft tone of Oberon’s voice. When Oberon spoke that way, all listened with respect, even Puck.

“You’ll have assistance with this assignment.”

Robin was certain he’d misheard. “My liege, I work alone. I always have.”

“Not this time.”

Oberon’s back remained turned to him, but Robin could hear the faint smile in the king’s voice. “All the times, my king.” Even when he assisted his Blades, Robin worked alone.

“Do not defy me in this, Hobgoblin.”

Robin sighed. When the king called him that, he was displeased, a state of affairs Robin actively avoided. “May I ask why, my liege?” He was careful to keep his voice neutral.

Oberon waved his hand.

The chair, the white-on-white chair that Robin hadn’t even noticed was there, shifted slightly, shocking him. The chair stood and stretched, its arms elongating, its legs growing, until before him stood one of the shape-shifting pookas. The pooka smiled at Robin, his shimmering, golden eyes with their horizontal, slit–shaped pupils watchful in his narrow, aristocratic face. He wasn’t much taller than Robin’s five foot ten inches, and he was graced with a fall of blond hair that would make a Sidhe lady weep. Ridged gray horns curled up from his forehead and blended into his hair. This one must be a master shifter indeed, to hide itself from me. He saw at once why such a talented shifter would be useful in his upcoming mission. If the delegation were smaller than hoped, who would notice one more chair? And if the pooka could fool the Hob, he could more than likely fool the Black Court idiots Titannia would be sending.

Then again, Robin had not been expecting a spy in his own study. The Black Court delegation would be on their guard for tricks, especially if they knew Robin would be there. And how could they not? He was Oberon’s Blade.

“This is Lord Kael Oren. He will be coming with you. He is a cousin of the missing Prince Evan.”

Oh, this should be fun! Not. Robin smiled at the other man. He remembered the scandal following Prince Edmond Yate’s mating of a pooka commoner. The White Court had been utterly appalled that one of Gloriana’s brothers had lowered himself so, forcing Gloriana to raise the girl’s family to the peerage. Prince Edmond had told them all to go pound sand and declared that he was abdicating any right to the throne of the White Court to be with the woman the gods had declared was his.

Robin had sent them a lovely mating gift.

Robin bowed, graceful yet mocking, and saw his bow returned, mimicked nearly perfectly.

“Lord Robin.” The pooka’s tenor voice was soft and filled with amusement. He met Robin’s gaze dead on, with only a slight twinge of fear, quickly masked.

Robin grinned, intrigued. Maybe the boy has potential after all. Robin was always on the lookout for potential Blades, men and women of integrity who guarded Oberon and did his will. This one could be a recruit, if he proved himself capable.

He turned his attention back to Oberon, one eyebrow cocked, the grin still lingering on his face.

Oberon merely shook his head. They knew each other well. Oberon would know how Robin would react to Kael. “If the prince is no longer with us, I expect you to dispense justice.”

The green glow in Robin’s eyes was swiftly hidden by his long lashes as he bowed to his king and friend. “Yes, my liege.” He ignored Lord Kael’s swiftly hidden shiver of unease.

This had the potential to be fun.

Taking her captive could prove his innocence…or make her a target.

Savage Revenge

© 2013 Shelli Stevens

Savage, Book 3

Agent and Alpha Nathan Larson has fled his pack, his agency and Washington State on a life-or-death mission to prove himself innocent of a savage massacre he’s pretty sure he didn’t commit.

So far he’s covered his tracks, but it’s only a matter of time. He needs a place to hunker down under the radar, and he intends to make it happen. No matter who becomes collateral damage.

Sage Christensen knows every shifter in this small California town, and the darkly attractive, brooding alpha attempting to flirt with her stands out like a flea on a white cat. She quickly realizes she was right to be wary when he follows her home and holds her captive.

Despite her refusal to be a compliant victim, she can’t deny their chemistry. Or the gut instinct that maybe he really is innocent. But with the trail of dead women growing longer, Sage begins to wonder if it was a mistake to trust her safety, her body—and her heart—to a man who has no idea how deep his dark side is buried.

Warning: This book has an Alpha male on the run, and a quirky novelist destined to be his captive. There will be bloodshed, lovemaking, and excitement aplenty.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Savage Revenge:

Sage had the door open, with one foot out, before he reached her and snagged her around the waist.

“Son of a bitch,” he roared. “How in the hell did you get free?”

He lifted her back into the house and slammed the door.

She was apparently done being complacent, though. She squirmed, kicked and hit before he finally had to drop her to try and get a better grip.

But it wasn’t that easy, because in an instant she had scurried away and grabbed any kind of makeshift weapon she could get her hands on.

He ducked from the remote control that flew at his head and lunged toward her. He missed.

“How did you get yourself untied?” he roared.

“You seriously underestimate me.” She darted past him, throwing a small lamp at him in the process.

It clipped his shoulder before crashing to the floor. “Clearly.”

A growl of fury erupted past his lips as he threw himself at her full speed.

He took her down linebacker style, rolling them both on the hardwood floors.

“Get off me.”

She slapped at his shoulders, trying to free herself, and he caught her wrists in one hand to get her under control.

Her expression morphed from frustration to pain, and her sharp cry had his anger vanishing. Had he hurt her? He hadn’t realized his grasp was that tight.

A quick scan of her body, though, and he dropped her wrists from his grasp after seeing the raw, red cuts there.

“Jesus, woman, what the hell did you do to yourself?”

She winced and gently cradled one wrist. “I cut them while freeing myself.”

He leaned down and slid an arm around her waist, helping her to her feet. “You mind filling me in on how you even got free?”

“I rolled myself off the bed and cut the rope on the metal frame. There’s a sharp corner that I’ve cut my foot on more than once while climbing into bed.”

Smart girl. “So when I found you on the floor and scooped you back up, you were probably already halfway through your ropes?”

“Pretty much.”

He grunted and steered her toward the kitchen. “You’re bleeding.”

“I’m a shifter—it’ll stop fast.”

“Still, it wouldn’t hurt you to wash the cuts. That frame might be rusty and why risk any slowed healing?”

“Does it matter? I have a feeling you wouldn’t mind seeing me suffer.”

Christ. This again. “It’s not my intent to hurt you, Sage. I can’t stress that enough.”

“Then what is your intent?”

“I just need a place to lay low. To figure out a few things.” He turned on the sink and gently pulled her wrists under the water. “And you’re going to help me with that.”

She winced as he added soap over her raw but already healing wrists. “Not exactly willing here.”

Their heads were close and he was suddenly all too aware of her as a female. The wrist he held was delicate and soft, and the scent of her shampoo mixed with the citrus soap he was using to wash her wounds.

“It would be a little weird if you were,” he finally agreed.

Her gaze lifted to meet his. Searching. “Are you really a P.I.A. agent?”

“Yes. And not just an agent. I’m also the commander of my unit.”

She shook her head, her breathing not quite as steady now. Was it from the information he’d just divulged, or their proximity?

“You sound as if you should be one of the good guys. What did you do?”

He was a good guy. Or so he’d used to think. He shrugged, not quite ready to answer that. Not quite sure he could.

So he changed the subject instead.

“This could’ve been so much easier on both of us, Sage. At the bar last night I was trying to make you fall for me. Trying to gain your trust so you’d willingly take me home.”

“I’m sorry I was so uncooperative.” Her sarcasm ran rampant. “And I don’t take men home.”

When he glanced up at her, her gaze had slid to his mouth.

Interesting. Maybe she was a more aware of him than she cared to admit. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips and everything primal inside him responded.

He turned off the sink and maneuvered her against it, straddling her legs with his own.

“Well I guarantee you if I’d been the one kissing you outside instead of your pretty musician, you would’ve taken me home.”

She swallowed hard and met his gaze once more. The amount of defiance there was outweighed by excitement.

“For a criminal, you’re awfully full of yourself. It would take more than a kiss for me to have brought you home.”

“Careful, Sage,” he warned softly and leaned in closer. His breath mingled with hers. “Because that almost sounds like a challenge.”

He heard it then. The slow thud of her heart that had become a pounding thunder. She didn’t reply to his statement, and the wolf within him rose to the surface in an instant.

Was he right? Was she as physically drawn to him right now as he was to her?

Maybe he was going about this wrong. Maybe if he tried to seduce her mind—her heart—he’d have her cooperation. She’d stop trying to escape and break his skull in.

Or maybe, you just want to charter the inside of her mouth with your tongue.

Whatever it was, the primitive side of him was far too close to the surface to be denied now.

He lowered his head and lightly touched his lips to hers—waited for her to pull away. She was so soft. Wonderfully sweet.

She didn’t move, though her shoulders tensed. A moment later she gave a stiff shrug. “See? That did noth—”

He didn’t let her finish that thought before he’d crushed his mouth on hers again. Not gentle this time, but with the sole intent to explore that amazing mouth deeper. To conquer and take.

She whimpered in shock before he effortlessly pierced her compressed lips with his tongue, determined to taste the soft warmth inside.

For a moment, she tried to push him away, her hands shoving against his bare shoulders, but as he gentled his kiss—switched his intent from conquer to seduce—she grew pliant in his arms.

As he flicked his tongue against hers in teasing, gentle strokes, she began to answer back. The hands that had tried to push him away a moment ago now kneaded and stroked the bare skin of his shoulders.

The control that he always prided himself on—that had been so tightly wound—began to unravel. His thoughts grew hazy, and for a moment he couldn’t be sure who was actually in control. Who was seducing who.

He reached down and caught her ass, lifting her easily onto the edge of the sink and stepping between her thighs.

Her legs wrapped around him and the intimate heat of her body cradled the now rock-hard flesh of his dick.

Christ, he was losing it, but he couldn’t stop.

The shifter inside him was near the surface and riding the rush. If the basic human male’s instincts were to eat, fight and fuck, then the shifter male’s instincts for those were twice as strong. Nathan had managed to scratch eating off the list, but the other two were long overdue. There was adrenaline running through his blood, and fighting Sage wasn’t remotely an option.

But maybe fucking her was.

Delving his hands into the damp curls of her hair, he tugged her head back and pulled his mouth from hers.

He trailed slow kisses down her jawline. Exploring. Tasting. Feeling her heart beating in the pulse beneath his tongue.

“Nate…” she whispered, sounding almost drugged, and making no move to stop him now. “Is…oh…is Nate really your name?”

“Nate. Nathan. Larson. Sir. I get them all.” How was she still able to talk? Maybe this was a good time to try and get information out of her. “You’re a writer?”

While waiting for her to answer, he teased the wildly beating pulse in her neck again with is tongue.

“Oh…yes.” She made a soft, fluttery sigh. “Romance novels.”

Nice. He hid a smile but was all too aware of the curve of a full breast that was just inches from his chin. The need touch it—to taste it—was so fierce and blatant he felt like a horny teenager.

But even as he moved his hand to touch her, he flashed back to last night and the way the musician had groped her. The way she’d flinched and drawn back.

Slow down, asshole. Remember, this is about seduction to gain her cooperation, not about getting your rocks off.

He trailed his kisses lower, to the curve of her breast above the sleeveless cotton dress. Then he paused. Waited to see how she’d react. If she’d push him away, freeze up or…

The whimper she made was husky and needy, and her back arched just slightly to lift her breast higher toward his lips.

It was the only invitation he needed to tug down the dress and thick fabric of her bra and bare her to him. Her breast spilled free, so milky white and full. The strawberry-colored tip was already hardened.

Shit. If he’d had even the slightest bit of control left before, it had just disappeared.

Content

Mr. Red Riding Hoode
Poconos Pack - 2
by
Dana Marie Bell

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Epilogue

About the Author

Look for these titles by Dana Marie Bell

Robin Goodfellow has met his match. The Hob © 2013 Dana Marie Bell The Gray Court, Book 4

Taking her captive could prove his innocence…or make her a target. Savage Revenge © 2013 Shelli Stevens Savage, Book 3