TWO MINUTES

A Seven Series Novel

Book 6

USA Today Bestselling Author

DANNIKA DARK

All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2015 Dannika Dark

No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author. You must not circulate this book in any format. Thank you for respecting the rights of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Edited by Victory Editing and Red Adept. Cover design by Dannika Dark. All stock purchased.

www.dannikadark.net

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Summary

After years of living abroad, Maizy returns home to the only family she’s ever known—a pack of wolves. When she confronts her childhood watchdog to see where they stand, his resentment leaves her uncertain about where she really belongs.

Behind Denver’s charming smile is a tragic past—one that’s made his wolf savage and unpredictable. Only Maizy has been able to tame that darkness, and when they’re reunited after many years apart, he no longer sees a child he once protected. She’s captivating and intelligent—a woman with the world at her fingertips and two suitors offering more than he ever could.

Torn between two worlds, Maizy must choose how her fairy tale ends. Tragedy, murder, passion, and imprisonment all collide with a heart-stopping twist.

Book 6

Also By Dannika Dark:

THE MAGERI SERIES

Sterling

Twist

Impulse

Gravity

Shine

NOVELLAS

Closer

THE SEVEN SERIES

Seven Years

Six Months

Five Weeks

Four Days

Three Hours

Two Minutes

Table Of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Two princes.

Two worlds.

And a fate sealed in two minutes.

Prologue

“What are you doing, kiddo?” Denver asked.

Melody’s head poked up from the front of the sofa, a mischievous smile accenting her expression. “Um, nothing?” she replied, her voice uncertain, arm wedged behind the seat.

Denver planted his fists on his hips, pretending to give her a scathing look. But he knew what she was searching for: money. While the pack had plenty of funds, they also taught their children the value of earning their keep. Melody was fourteen with a crazy sense of style and an addiction to clothes, and that hobby depleted her funds fairly quickly. She used to spend hours sewing by hand until Izzy finally broke down and bought her a sewing machine. When she was little, she’d often mismatched her clothes. But as she aged, the pack began to notice her talent—an ability to make something ordinary stand out. A couple of her friends from the neighboring packs had even paid her to design their jackets and customize their sneakers.

Melody pulled her arm free from the cushion and wiped crumbs off her wrist, the milky-green eyes she’d inherited from Jericho filled with guilt.

Denver paced forward and flattened his hands on the armrest of the sofa. “If you’re going to look for spare change, you need to dig deep. Aus likes hanging his legs over the edge, which means his ass is tucked against the armrest, not the center cushions.”

Everyone knew Austin always carried change in his pockets.

A smile beamed across her face, and she threaded her hair away from her eyes. Melody’s razor-cut hair reached her shoulders to give her an edgy look, similar to the way April sometimes styled hers except Mel’s was all one length. Sometimes she borrowed Jericho’s hair dye and lightened a few strands of her brown hair as he did.

“Learn from the master,” Denver said, pulling the cuff of his short sleeve over his shoulder and holding up his arm as if he were about to perform surgery. He reached deep into the crevice of the sofa—that realm where deep cleaning was nearly impossible—feeling all the grit and crumbly evidence that had accumulated during the past fifteen years of living in the Weston house. He snatched his hand back and put eighty-five cents in her palm—along with a dust bunny from hell. After a little more searching, he found a total of four dollars and fifty-two cents.

“What about the other side?” she suggested.

Denver performed the same maneuver, cramming his hands in godforsaken places that no hand was meant to go. He recovered some Skittles, a toothpick, a few candy wrappers, a broken crayon, and something butt-nasty that looked like an old piece of dried meat.

“Sweet! Thanks, Uncle Denver.” Melody counted out the additional coins he’d found.

“I don’t know how much you’re going to get with that.” He gave her a cursory glance before rooting his hand beneath the cushion.

She shrugged, and her custom-painted sneakers squeaked on the wood floor. “I don’t need that much. It’s just for accessories, and I can usually find something el cheapo in the craft store.”

After Melody flew out of the room, Denver straightened his back, fist tight around a small object. When he opened his fingers, he looked down at a tiny plastic princess in a pink dress. Melody had never liked dolls, and the twin boys sure didn’t. He turned the tiny toy between his fingers.

Naya sauntered in, little black hairs clinging to her white shorts. She cuddled her new five-month-old kitten against her neck and lavished him with kisses. “Want to pet the baby?”

Denver stepped back. “That thing ain’t normal. I thought after Sparkles died you weren’t going to get another cat.”

“Her name was Misha,” Naya said with annoyance. “And a five-year grieving period is sufficient. A pet isn’t a novelty. They don’t have anyone else to look out for them.” She wiggled her nose from the black hairs that were stuck to her lipstick.

Denver arched a brow and folded his arms. He didn’t feel one way or the other when it came to cats, but pets just weren’t the Shifter way. Still, couldn’t the woman have at least gotten a bulldog?

She approached him and held the cat out so that his jackrabbit legs were wide open. “Give Spartacus a kiss.”

Spartacus hung suspended in midair, staring at Denver. He was a scrawny little black cat with short hair, long legs, and a perpetually startled expression. His yellow eyes made him look like an alien, especially when his black pupils were dilated. It gave his eyes a hypnotic look that sucked you under their spell like Gollum’s ring. Spartacus also had a problem keeping his tongue in his mouth; it was always hanging out and off to one side.

“I’m not kissing your pussy.”

Naya rolled her eyes and kissed her kitty on the head. The poor cat looked like a mouse about to get eaten by a panther. “He’s special. Leave him alone. That’s why I gave him a butch name; he needed a boost to his ego.”

“He gives me the heebie-jeebies,” Denver said, putting distance between them. “And if he sneaks into the shower with me one more time, I’m going to put him on the front porch in a box with an adoption sign.”

“He’s a water baby,” she protested.

Water baby, my ass, he thought. Anyone dumb enough to leave the bathroom door open would find an unwelcome animal climbing into the tub with them—one with sharp claws. Last week, they’d heard a loud thud upstairs when Lexi was in the bathroom. Austin sprang into action and later said that when he broke into the bathroom, he’d found her sprawled out on the floor. At first he thought she’d slipped, but then he found out she’d flung herself to safety. Austin recounted Spartacus paddling around in the bathtub with a patch of bubbles on his head, looking like a deranged otter.

Naya had adopted him two weeks ago from the shelter, much to Wheeler’s dismay. That man abhorred cats, even though he’d mated one. She used to make him brush Misha, which was about as close as he got to the animal—even though that cat loved him for whatever godforsaken reason. After she died, Wheeler thought he was in the clear. It didn’t take long before Naya began pining for another one. She narrowed it down to a Persian and a short-haired black cat. Wheeler took one look at the Persian and fifteen years of cleaning up hairballs flashed before his eyes, so he lifted Spartacus from his cage and convinced Naya that ugly things need more love.

Jericho walked leisurely down the staircase, the chain looped around his jeans clinking. He had on a pair of dark sunglasses—his hair unkempt, ripped jeans, an unbuttoned shirt over his white tank top, and keys in hand. “Come on, Mel,” he shouted impatiently, turning at the bottom of the stairs and looking up. He twirled a wolf ring on his finger and leaned on the banister. “Time ain’t on your side,” he sang in his smoky voice.

Denver recognized the tune. “Shouldn’t that be is on your side?”

He glanced over his right shoulder. “The Stones didn’t have a daughter when they wrote that song.”

William Rush burst through the front door and paused before hanging up his keys. “Heading out?” he asked Jericho.

Denver chortled. “I think he’s going dress shopping with the offspring.”

Jericho twisted his lips in annoyance. “Mel wants to pick up some girly shit. If you’ve got a problem with me being a good dad, then speak your mind. You dig?”

William’s curly hair ruffled when a strong breeze drifted in behind him. “Maybe I should go with you.”

“I think I can handle it,” Jericho said.

William was the third-in-command, and he didn’t make pointless offers. “Mustn’t underestimate how easily a young girl can slip out of your sight. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Jericho made a sound that wavered between a groan and a sigh.

Two weeks ago, Izzy had taken the kids to the mall. She became distracted when the twin boys started peeking underneath a mannequin’s clothes, and by the time she finally got them to behave, Melody had vanished. Izzy searched the store but turned up nothing. When she called the pack, Reno and William showed up in less than ten minutes, then combed through every store in the mall from top to bottom. Reno found Melody in a small jewelry store, sitting on the floor and looking at stick-on designs. Melody argued that she was old enough to go out by herself, but Shifter packs were protective by nature and didn’t let their teenage girls wander off alone. Maybe it was her rebellious age or the influence of television and movies, but Melody was always pushing the limits. That was one reason the men in the pack were extremely watchful of her. Trevor had almost beaten up an eighteen-year-old boy when he caught the kid talking to Melody in the hallway of a movie theater.

“Yeah, on second thought, not a bad idea,” Jericho grumbled. “Mel!”

“Coming! Coming!” Melody tore down the stairs like a twister. “Hi, Uncle Will! Bye, Uncle Will!” When the door slammed behind her, the men burst out laughing.

“Just like her mother,” Jericho said with an amused shake of his head.

William lifted his keys. “I’ll drive.”

“Something wrong with the truck?” Jericho gave him a critical stare as he twirled his keys in a circle.

“Other than the fact you jump curbs when you park?” Denver asked. He patted Jericho on the shoulder and moved toward the stairs. “Go on, dickhead. I’ll keep an eye on the boys and give Izzy a break.” He snatched the cigarette from behind Jericho’s ear and licked it from one end to the other.

“Hey, what the fuck? That was my last one.”

“You shouldn’t smoke around her.”

Jericho snorted. “She can’t get cancer, asshat.”

“No, but do you want your baby girl smelling like a woman who hangs out at the bar?”

Jericho’s cheeks mottled with scarlet and he slammed the door on his way out.

Denver flicked the cigarette into a vase and jogged up the stairs. He could hear the boys slinging the balls around on his pool table in the game room. They were ten, or was it eleven? It was easy to lose track since they weren’t big on birthdays. As far as Denver was concerned, they were trouble years old.

The only birthdays they’d ever made a big deal about were Maizy’s. She used to love birthdays—even insisted on sharing hers with Denver.

He passed one of the closed doors in the hall and looked at it contemplatively. He gripped the knob, hesitating before going inside. Maizy’s bed was pushed against the wall to the left of the door, the window straight ahead. Pale lavender walls matched the bedspread that marked the time when Maizy’s love for all things pink had changed to purple. That was around the time she began shoving her toys under the bed and stuffing dolls in a cardboard box.

Denver set the tiny princess on the nightstand. He reflected on the nights she’d curl up beneath the covers and beg for him to read Peter Pan. He usually went over the top acting out the scenes just to get a laugh. As he sat there in the quiet room, he could still hear her faint giggles, as if the past had left residual traces of her memory.

After Maizy turned sixteen, her mother decided to send her to boarding school up north to further her education. It was also an opportunity for her to break away from the pack and spend time around humans. Lynn had temporarily moved up there to be close, but soon Maizy became more independent, so Lynn came back home. The pack went to see Maizy often, and she sometimes visited the house during her breaks. In later years, Denver always had something to do that kept him away from the house.

When she expressed an interest in studying abroad, Austin paid for her education in England. They had the money, and Maizy wanted to see the world. Lexi took it hard at first, but that quickly transformed to excitement after taking several long trips to Europe to spend weeks at a time with her little sister. Sometimes the pack joined her in small groups, but someone had to stay behind to guard the property. Denver was always that someone. He felt like one of her old toys left behind in the box with no place in her new life. Maizy didn’t need a watchdog anymore.

It had been four years since he’d last seen her—just a blink of an eye for a Shifter. Lexi scorned him for avoiding Maizy’s calls, but she didn’t understand. He’d never bonded with anyone as he had Maizy, and now that he was no longer her watchdog, that needed to end. Humans were fragile and grew old too quickly. Lynn had more grey hairs that she attempted to cover with blond dye, and April was already in her late thirties. Maizy was now around the same age as April had been when Denver first met her at Sweet Treats all those years ago.

Soon she’d find a husband, get married, have kids, and visit every other Thanksgiving.

It broke his goddamn heart.

“Hey, did Jericho leave already?” Izzy asked from the open doorway.

Denver cleared his throat and turned around. “Yeah. I’m keeping an eye on the boys if you want to get out of the house or go do something. Chick time. Feel free to get your bubble bath on.”

“They should be fine.”

He smirked and stopped in front of her. “Well then, let’s hope they don’t decide to finish the paint job they started on Austin’s tires.”

Her brows reached for her hairline, and Izzy lightly shook her head. “Hell’s bells, I’m so glad Austin didn’t see that.”

“Tires aren’t cheap, and you’re lucky he was out of town.”

She snorted and moved into the hall, pulling back her wavy red hair and tying it with a band. “Thanks for that, by the way. They can be a handful sometimes. Having not one but two alpha boys at the same time is a lot to take on. They’re always daring each other and neither wants to back down.” Her voice fell to a whisper as they moved in front of the game room and peered inside at the twins, who both had russet-colored hair. “It’s a shame they won’t end up in the same pack, but in a way, it’s a good thing. They’ll have an automatic alliance with each other.”

“They’re good kids.” And Denver meant it. Boys needed to get mischief out of their systems while still young so they’d learn right from wrong and wouldn’t grow up to become assholes.

“Don’t you have a date tonight?”

Denver grinned. “Sure do. Nadia.”

“Interesting name. Is she a gymnast too?”

“Damn, I hope so.” He hiked up his jeans and picked at a stain on his white shirt.

Izzy leaned on the doorjamb, her voice lyrical. “Nothing hotter than a girl who can do a backbend.”

“True that.”

She folded her arms. “I was kidding. Where did you meet her?”

“Naya set us up. Ain’t that a bag of nuts? Friend of a friend of a friend or something.”

Izzy touched him on the shoulder and regarded him with serious eyes. “Well, Naya does have good connections. It’s probably better for you to date outside the pool of piranhas at Howlers anyhow. Everyone knows they’re not your type.”

“Pffft. You don’t know my type.”

“Hmm,” she murmured, heading toward the stairs. “Sometimes I think you don’t either.”

“Women always think they know what a man wants,” he said in retaliation, realizing that’s exactly the kind of thing women loved to hear a man say out loud.

Why get involved with someone he didn’t feel an immediate connection to? He always managed to find something that turned him off. Maybe it was an unrealistic checklist no woman could match, but they were either too brassy, too conceited, too slutty, too loud, too controlling, or too fake.

Denver was an audacious flirt who enjoyed a good time. But most Shifter women were brutally selective and sought out the rough and dangerous men—like Austin. He’d been told he was too handsome for his own good and that no woman would ever feel protected with a man like him around. Maybe it was primal, but Shifter women looked for the big bad wolf. They believed the more dangerous the man, the more deadly his animal. Jericho had game because he was the rocker, Reno had game because he was the private investigator, but Denver was just a bartender with a sense of humor.

The only person who had ever loved him completely and unconditionally was a little human girl, and even she had left him in the end. Being her watchdog was the only thing in this damn world that had made him feel needed and important.

Maybe nice guys finish last after all.

Chapter 1

There’s something indescribably comforting about coming home, as if a stretch of land and old buildings can somehow wrap you in their familiar embrace. That’s exactly how I felt when I stepped outside the airport and the Texas sun warmed my shoulders like a mother’s touch and said, “Welcome back.” The feeling only intensified the closer I got to home.

“You from around here or just visiting?” the weathered-looking cab driver asked. He was an older man; in his fifties, if I had to guess. His taxi license said his name was Mike.

“I grew up here.”

“Ahh. Locally grown,” he said with a raspy chuckle. Mike tipped the tweed cap on his head and coughed a few times. “I’ve lived here for fifteen years.”

“Where are you originally from?”

“Detroit! Born and bred. Home of the best football team.”

“What brought you all the way to Austin?” I wondered how a man could move far away from home so late in life.

“Met a woman while on a cruise and we kept in touch. She lived here in Austin and said she’d never move because of her kids, so here I am.”

I broke off a piece of frayed string hanging from the end of my jean shorts. “You don’t miss home?”

“Sure I do,” he said in a boisterous voice. “But not enough to leave the love of my life. I was a single man without kids, and now I have a ready-made family. Home is where the heart is, right?”

After that, Mike let the conversation die, leaving that last sentiment floating around in my head. I’d never felt more at home than with the Weston pack, and yet at the same time, I didn’t belong. Going out into the world had made me realize that even more. I loved the pack and they’d visited often, but my mom always reminded me that my life would soon take a different course. She was older and had made the choice to live with them, but I was young and would eventually want to marry and have children. So I took advantage of traveling and became independent, knowing how fortunate I was. How many people get an opportunity like that in their life?

I hadn’t been home in more than three years, and even then I hadn’t been able to relax. Mom kept me on the go with shopping, and Lexi showed me around the two Sweet Treats locations so I could see all the changes since my last visit. Trevor played a few songs for me in the back of the store, and Austin took me out to dinner to ask about my studies, although eventually he grilled me on my dating situation. He wanted to ensure it was nonexistent. On my last night in town, we went to Howlers to watch Heat—Jericho’s band. Reno snuck me a beer even though I wasn’t quite twenty-one, but drinking was never a big deal to me so I politely sipped it before giving it to Wheeler. We had a good time and I even danced with someone I’d never met. The only thing that had been missing was Denver.

As soon as the cab pulled up the long driveway and I caught sight of the large house at the end, my knees began bouncing up and down with excitement. I hadn’t told anyone I was coming, and they definitely had no idea I was planning to come home for good.

“Thanks for the ride, Mike.”

“You take it easy,” he said with a friendly nod.

I grabbed my bag and hauled it out, dragging it behind me as I approached the house. Everything looked the same, but a little smaller somehow. The old horseshoe pit was still there, and it looked as though Austin had finally built a real garage in addition to the carport. Judging by the cars in the driveway, I could pretty much guess who was home. Mom had planted pink and white flowers around the base of the house, and the little flowers danced in the breeze.

I heard a clacking sound and glanced over my right shoulder toward the old oak tree out front. A wooden swing knocked against the trunk from a strong gust of wind, and wooden wind chimes that Austin had carved many years ago swung from another tree closer to the driveway.

I quietly ascended the steps in my sandals and surreptitiously snuck up to the front door. After I set my bag down, I touched the wooden sign next to the door, smiling and tracing my fingers over the letters: Weston. Memories of this place were etched in my mind and heart, and coming home seemed to breathe life into them—into me.

I drew in a deep breath and rapped my knuckles on the door instead of using the doorbell. After a few seconds, I knocked again.

“Can someone get that?” I heard Naya shout from a distance.

The sound of feet sliding on the floor grew nearer, and I tucked my fingers in my pockets.

When the door swung open, Denver filled the entranceway. My God, he looked exactly the same as I remembered. With humans, there were always subtle changes in age as time went by, but Shifters aged slowly, as if time had forgotten they were there.

He leaned his left arm on the doorjamb and crossed his bare feet at the ankles. A soft gust of wind ruffled his dark blond hair, which was in need of a trim. His indigo eyes brightened as he swung them down to my legs and then back up. I’d never had Denver look at me like that before, and a flutter of butterflies whirled around in my stomach.

“Hey there, honeypie.”

“Denver?”

“You’re early.” He waggled his brows. “I was just talking about you a minute ago. Naya said you were gorgeous, but that was an understatement.” His eyes skimmed down to my shorts and sandals. “Looks like you’re going for casual. I’m down with that. Let me go grab my wallet and we’ll head out.”

After he turned around and jogged up the stairs, I stood there with a befuddled expression. What the heck just happened?

I lifted my bag and hauled it through the open door. Home had a familiar smell—one I couldn’t describe. I took in a deep breath and smiled. When the door slammed behind me, Naya drifted into the room from the hallway up ahead.

Her eyes widened. “Oh, chickypoo! What are you doing here?” Before I could blink, she jogged over and squealed as she gave me a hug. “I’ve missed you so much!” Then she held me at arm’s length. “Let me get a look at you. I can’t believe how much you’ve changed just since the last time I saw you. Hot tamale!” she said with a sexy growl. “You’re a woman!”

I chuckled and looked down at myself. “You think? I guess I filled out since last July.”

“Your hair…” She touched the long wavy locks.

“The bangs weren’t really me, so I let them grow out. I think that’s why I look older.”

I’d grown out my blond hair and preferred the tousled look, keeping it parted in the middle and past my shoulders. My good friend Nora called it bedhead sexy. I just called it easy to manage and avoided curling irons, straighteners, and sometimes even a hairbrush. It was a little bohemian, but I was a no-fuss kind of girl.

My breath caught when I looked down.

Naya bent over and scooped up a black cat, although he looked as though he was at the last stages of kittenhood. “This is Spartacus. He’s the newest member of the Weston pack.”

“Uh…” He was a special one, all right. “What’s wrong with his tongue?”

She kissed him on his ear and Spartacus stared at me with wide eyes but made no attempt to scamper off. It was unnerving, as if he were staring into my soul. His pupils swelled into black orbs, making his eyes look like two gold rings.

“Isn’t he handsome?”

“Naya, you always had a heart of gold. What does Wheeler say about it?”

“Wheeler says whatever makes his woman happy is all that matters,” a voice boomed from behind. “Even if I have to put up with that little shithead.”

Wheeler strode up and wrapped his tatted arms around me. “Missed you, sweetheart. Damn, you look—”

“Grown?” I answered with a bright laugh. “I know. It’s the hair.”

“No,” he said, pinching his chin and looking me over. His eyes settled with irritation on my breasts and something dark flickered in his eyes. “You’re different. Have you been dating? I’m going to have a real problem if I hear about some—”

Naya pressed her palm on his chest. “The girl just walked in the door three seconds ago. Let’s not interrogate her over her love life.”

Wheeler bent down and lifted my bag, his voice falling to a harsh whisper. “I better not hear about a love life.”

Shifter women were brought up differently than humans, something I’d figured out while living on my own. Most Shifters—especially girls—didn’t begin dating until they went through their first change when they shifted into their animal, which usually occurred in late teens to early twenties. But I wasn’t a Shifter, and I suspected Wheeler was wondering if that meant I’d slept with men. Could he look at me and sense the absence of innocence?

Denver tromped down the stairs and his brows slanted at a confused angle when Wheeler walked past him with my bag.

Naya took my hand and held it, looking me over again. “Isn’t she all grown-up, Denver? Your little Maizy is—”

Denver’s wallet slipped from his hand and hit the floor, his eyes wide with surprise. My heart sped up a notch when I realized he hadn’t recognized me until just now. I wanted to dash into his arms, but the enigmatic look in his eyes gave me pause.

Naya let go of my hand, petting the cat she cradled beneath her right arm. “My, isn’t this interesting? You didn’t even recognize her?”

“I thought… You’re not Nadia,” he said, his voice faraway.

“Who’s Nadia?” I asked.

Naya’s brow arched and she gracefully set down Spartacus, who scrambled so fast toward the kitchen that he ran in place for about three seconds. “Nadia is a client of mine. I set them up on a blind date, and the only thing he knows about her is that she’s a blonde. She’s not coming by until later, Denver. I’ll go tell everyone the baby is here!” she said excitedly, taking off toward the kitchen.

Silence fell like a heavy snow.

“You’re… different,” was all he managed to say.

“It’s been a long time. Can I have a hug?”

Denver tilted his head as if to say he didn’t mind.

Why is he so standoffish? I thought.

I stood on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his strong shoulders, but he didn’t reciprocate. Deciding to break the ice, I lifted my feet off the ground. Either this would force him to hold me, or I was going to hang there like a complete idiot. I squealed a little when I thought I’d fall, but he stood up straight and encircled my waist with his arms.

Wow. I wasn’t prepared for that feeling either—his body against mine. I slid down to the floor and enjoyed that he was still taller than me.

“I missed you, Denny.”

He cleared his throat and stepped back. “You don’t need to call me that. Just Denver.”

“Why?”

He huffed out a quiet laugh. “You’re not a kid anymore, that’s why. I’ll uh… I’ll go tell everyone upstairs you’re here.”

Denver picked up his wallet and climbed the stairs. I hadn’t seen him in years and had imagined our reunion so many times in my head, but never had it gone like this. So cold. So distant. So unlike the Denny I loved.

Two boys with russet-colored hair jogged down the stairs, each with a matching smile on his face. “Hi, Maizy!”

“Oh my God! You’re kidding me!” I exclaimed. “You grew like little beanstalks! I just saw you last summer. What the heck happened?”

They laughed, eating up the compliments about how big they were getting and how old they looked. I gave them each a hug, which they accepted with reluctance since preteen boys like to pretend they want nothing to do with hugging anyone of the female persuasion. I mussed their hair and then reached in my purse.

I swear, I still couldn’t tell them apart.

I held my closed palm in front of them. “This is for Hendrix.”

The boy on the left eagerly reached out with his palm up, and I dropped a large chocolate coin in it.

“Imported chocolate. I know how much you like it.”

“Wow. Thanks!”

When I pulled out the other gift, Lennon already had his hand out. “Gum, right?”

“Not just any gum,” I said. “The kind with all that gooey liquid inside.”

“Cool—my favorite! I love this stuff and Mom never buys it.”

They appreciated the simpler things, which was nice since I didn’t have much money. I’d sold all my personal possessions to help pay for my plane ticket. While Austin had funded my schooling, I’d always been responsible for making my own spending money.

“Where’s Melody?”

“She went out shopping with Dad,” Hendrix said, already biting into his chocolate. He gave it a second glance and then wrapped up the rest. “I’m saving the other half for later.”

“Mom!” Lennon yelled, looking at the top of the stairs. “Company!”

I laughed and wandered through the room, feeling a pinch of nostalgia. A romance novel worn at the spine lay on a small table, a bookmark tucked inside. One of Jericho’s black guitar picks was on the floor by the leather chair.

When Naya returned, Lexi and Austin were following her.

Lexi’s eyes widened. “I thought you were kidding!” she gasped, gripping Naya’s arm. “Maizy? What are you doing here? Is something wrong?”

I shrugged and set my purse in the chair. “I missed home.”

She ran across the room and pulled me into a tight hug. “How long are you staying?”

“I don’t know,” I murmured in her hair. “How long do you want me?”

I felt her body sag and then her arms squeezed harder. Austin came up behind her and cupped my cheek.

“Missed you,” he said. “Your room’s been waiting for you.”

Lexi wouldn’t let go.

“You smell like outside,” I said, wrinkling my nose.

She laughed and stepped back. “Sorry. I was helping Austin dig up Mom’s flower bed in the back. A bunch of blue jays ate up her tomatoes a couple of years ago and she threw in the towel on a vegetable garden. We’re going to try it again, and Austin’s going to put up some kind of a mesh fence around it.” Lexi touched the wily hairs around the nape of her neck that had curled from the sweat. “Where’s your stuff?”

“Wheeler already took up my bag. I didn’t have much to bring.”

I’d never been a girl who accumulated things. I’m not sure why, but when I left England, I decided to stuff the things I really loved into a bag and give away the rest. Turns out the only things I kept were a few old letters, some clothes, and photographs. I had no idea what my plans were, but this was where I needed to be.

Chapter 2

The entire day felt like a carousel reunion. Jericho and William returned that afternoon with Melody, who was over the moon to see me. When my mom got the call from Lexi, she took the entire day off. In fact, I was willing to bet she’d canceled all her appointments with her clients for the full week. April and Trevor weren’t due home from work until later, Reno was doing PI work, and Izzy left at three to cover the last shift at the bakery.

It was just like old times with everyone coming and going. It was as if life had gone on without me, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

A knock sounded at my bedroom door and I peered down the length of my body. “Come in,” I said, a bit groggy.

The hinges squeaked as the door opened. “We need to fix that,” Lexi murmured. She closed the door behind her and sat next to me on the edge of the bed. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Jet lag.”

She nodded. “Sleep all day if you want. Not to pressure you or anything, but dinner is in two hours, and we’d love for you to join us. But if you’re too tired to socialize, we’ll understand. I’ll bring you up a tray.”

“I’ll come down.”

“Feel free to get your bunny-slipper fix on; you know how we embrace casual wear.” Lexi patted my hip and then stared at the table beside my bed. She lifted a small toy and turned it between her fingers. “I don’t remember seeing this in here before. Is this yours?”

I glanced at the tiny princess. “I thought I’d lost it a long time ago.”

She set it back on the table in a pool of warm tangerine sunlight that was filtering through the window. “Are you here to stay, or are you just passing through? I know you must have a lot of friends up north from high school.”

“I haven’t decided yet,” I said quietly. “My life is a little up in the air at the moment. I just wanted to come home and…”

“And what?”

“See if I still belonged, I guess.”

Lexi brushed my hair away from my shoulder. “You’ll always belong with family. Have you thought about what we discussed on my last trip? I mean… have you given it any thought?”

During Lexi’s visit last summer, she’d taken me out for a sisters’ day. We had lunch at a trendy café, strolled through a park, and then she sat me down to reveal a secret that shook me to my core.

Lexi revealed that the birthmark on my shoulder blade wasn’t just a random mark; Austin had seen one exactly like it before. The pattern was the unique shape of a spade, like on a playing card. Austin told Lexi he’d met a woman with the same exact mark who’d once been a human and then became a Chitah.

By choice.

Chitahs were born into their Breed, couldn’t have children with humans, and certainly couldn’t turn a human into one of them. Her story seemed impossible to believe until he saw the same identical mark on me. According to the old woman, I was a Potential. Born human and would die human, but something in my genetic makeup could alter my DNA if I had sex with someone who was Breed. Supposedly I’d absorb whatever magic it was that made them a Vampire, Mage, or what have you, and I’d become that. Forever. No takebacks. Very few Breeds could turn a human into one of them, but most could not. Somehow this little spade was a trump card and would allow me to play genetic roulette.

Lexi wanted to tell me sooner—afraid I’d accidentally sleep with someone who was Breed—but Austin had assured her he’d scouted the area and discovered I wasn’t living anywhere near Breed and that it wouldn’t pose a threat. He’d gone out of his way to locate the Breed district, and that made Lexi realize she couldn’t put off telling me any longer.

I wasn’t sure if she wanted me to become Breed or not, but I could see she was uncertain. Even now as she looked at me, her eyes were filled with caution. The family didn’t know, and Austin said he’d never heard of a Potential before meeting the old woman.

“Well?” she asked, nudging my hip.

“What do you want me to say?”

She groaned a little. “I don’t know, dammit. Something. You didn’t say anything about it when I told you, so I gave you time to think about it. You know I’d never lie to you, Maze. Not something like this. You had the right to know why we made you hide that mark all your life. I just didn’t think you were ready to handle that kind of news when you were a teenager—especially when we weren’t around. I was afraid you’d make an impulsive choice without thinking it through. But you still need to keep it hidden. You’re older, and it’s too risky to have someone recognize it. It’s a dark world we live in, and I worry about my little sis. I haven’t decided how I feel about it, but what about you?”

I pushed myself up and sat Indian style. “I guess I’m confused about how I’m supposed to react. Is it a lottery ticket or a curse? I’ve given it a lot of thought, but without any hard facts on what it means to be a Potential, I’m not sure how I feel. Does it always work? Are there certain Breeds it won’t work on? Will it last forever? Can I have kids? Has anyone ever died during the transition? Not only that, but I won’t sleep with a man just to become an immortal.”

A half smile curved up her face. “Wait a sec; hit rewind. What have you been keeping from me?”

“I’m twenty-three years old, Lexi. I’m not a nun. I just so happen to like privacy when it comes to my love life. Please don’t tell Mom I’ve misplaced my virginity,” I said with a smile.

Lexi snorted. “I’ll make a note not to bring it up when she serves the cheesecake. Austin might organize a search party to see if they can find it.”

I knitted my brows and looked down at my palms. “There’s just not enough information to go on. Part of me wants to believe it’s not possible, but I was raised by wolves, so I have no room in my life for denial.”

Her face paled. “That’s what scares me. Austin said he doesn’t know anything except what that old woman was babbling on about. But…”

“What?”

Lexi tucked her brown hair behind her ears. “There’s one other person who seems to know what you are. He recognized the mark when he accidentally saw it.”

“Who?”

We simultaneously turned our heads toward the door when a set of toenails clicked across the wood floor in the hall. Something scratched on the door and then we heard a low groan.

Lexi got up and slowly opened the door. A black nose poked through and she suddenly stepped back.

A grey-and-white wolf entered the room, his nose up in the air sniffing heavily. When he approached Lexi, she held out her palm. Then he turned his head toward me.

In a flash, Denver’s wolf launched onto the bed—tail wagging, groaning and whining, his tongue cleaning my neck and face.

“Wow, calm down. Whoa!”

I fell onto my back and the greeting became intense. Denver’s wolf was vicious, the kind that made your stomach twist into nervous knots when he looked at you. But despite his bad reputation, I adored him. He suddenly stilled, and as soon as I kissed his nose, he barked three times and began licking me again.

Naya appeared in the doorway. “Sorry. Denver must have gone out for a run before his date and his wolf smelled you. He kept scratching on the front door to get in and I thought something was wrong. When I opened the door, he tore through the house and up the stairs.”

“It’s okay,” Lexi said.

My fingers slipped through his silky fur and I hugged his neck. I hadn’t seen his wolf in more years than I’d last seen Denver. At least someone was glad to see me.

“I missed you too,” I said. “Your breath still stinks. Phew!”

After a few chuckles, I sat up and tried to calm him down. The second Wheeler peered in, Denver’s wolf positioned his body in front of mine, and a dangerous growl rolled in the back of his throat.

“Be chill,” Wheeler said. “Just seeing what the commotion was all about. No need to get your tail in a wag.”

“Same old Denver,” I said, tugging his ears.

***

I’d spent hours sleeping in my room with Denver’s wolf curled up beside me. Denver the man didn’t know what was going on because his consciousness was submerged, but I had a special bond with his wolf. The pack never let him in the house, and they kept the children away to be on the safe side. I knew Denver would never hurt a child, let alone his pack, but Austin’s decisions always centered on the safety of his family, no matter how tough or unfair his choices might have seemed. I respected him for that.

While covered in wolf hair, I didn’t smell like a dog. Shifters didn’t have the pungent smell of a regular dog or wild animal. In fact, they carried the same smell as in human form—subtle and yet unique to each person.

When I walked into the kitchen, I lingered by the doorway so I could take a mental picture of what I’d missed the most. The sun had gone down, but the room carried a warm glow from the lights near the stove, most especially all the little white lights that outlined the windows behind the table like something you’d see in a bistro.

I looked wistfully at the kids’ table on my right where the two boys were engrossed in a couple of comic books. A long wooden table stretched across the kitchen in front of a row of windows to the backyard. Austin always sat at the far end with Lexi on his immediate left. Then Jericho, Izzy, Naya, Wheeler, and William. There were plenty of open places to sit since it was a large table to accommodate a growing pack. To Austin’s right were Mom, Melody, Trevor, April, Reno, and usually Denver. Sometimes everyone would shift around depending on who was there for mealtime, but most of the time the pack stayed in their usual places.

“Denver went out for a run,” I said.

William patted his hand in the empty spot across from him. “Mustn’t linger by the door or the food will get eaten.”

“You should sit at the other end so we can see you,” Lexi suggested.

I stepped over the bench and smirked. “And have my back to the boys, who will probably toss peas in my hair? No thanks.”

They snickered mischievously and went back to reading.

“So you’re here for good?” Jericho asked, threading his long hair back.

“I loved living abroad, but I missed it here. We had a lot of the same fast-food places, but it’s just not the same. I never really fit in with the culture there. It wasn’t just the States I missed—it was Austin, Texas.”

Reno lined up his fork and knife and flicked his eyes up to mine. “You need to find a job.”

A few chuckles rose around the table.

Austin tore a piece of bread in half. “Slow down, Reno. She just got into town.”

Reno tapped his finger against the rim of his green plate. “Don’t matter. We all went off and did our own thing before coming back home, but you can’t sit around. A person needs to earn their keep, and that’s the deal. What skills did you learn in that school of yours?”

While I loved furthering my education, I didn’t know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I’d taken all the right courses for a career in writing, journalism, or even working for a publisher. The only thing I really loved doing was writing stories, but it didn’t seem as though there was a big market for fairy tales.

“I was thinking one of Naya’s old jobs as an exotic dancer might be open.”

Wheeler choked on his food, which began a fit of coughing.

“Maizy, that’s not funny,” my mom said, giving me a scolding look. “There’s no rush. Maybe after a nice vacation you can come work for me.”

Work for my mother? I loved the woman, but she got impatient when people didn’t obey her. “Maybe I’ll just take the summer off if that’s okay and then figure it out. If you guys don’t want me in the house because I don’t have a job—”

“Bullshit,” Trevor said tersely. “Everyone needs to quit riding the girl. She’s been gone for years. One day back in this house and you’re already scaring her off. Give her a break.”

My plate made it back to me after being passed around the table and everyone adding a little something to it.

“How do the English boys compare to Americans?” Izzy blurted out.

A few of the men glared at her and laughter erupted from Lexi, who then went into her Beaker laugh.

“Um, I haven’t really dated any American boys to compare, but if you want to set me up—”

“Hell no,” Reno cut in.

“Nonsense!” Naya said. “I have all the connections and I’ve started a dating service on the side.”

That came as a surprise. “Seriously?”

She nodded and twirled her finger around a curl of her dark hair. “Absolutely. I have all these clients, many of whom are single, and I have a good sense of matching personalities. Why not? I’ve already had three who went on to mate.”

“Out of how many?” Austin asked in a skeptical tone.

She waved her hand. “It doesn’t matter. It’s all in good fun, and it’s not like the Breed have dating services out there. Blind dates have a certain appeal. You never know what you might get.”

“Now that scares me,” Denver said from the doorway.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I glanced over my shoulder. He was leaning against the wall wearing a tight-fitting royal-blue shirt and a pair of jeans.

“Really? That’s what you’re going to wear tonight to make an impression?” April admonished him with a single glance. “At least put on a button-up over it and look like you’re trying.”

He folded his arms. “That’s false advertising.”

“So is makeup,” she said, “but you don’t seem to have any arguments about that.”

Denver twisted his mouth. “Actually I prefer au natural, but whatever. Plus this sorta matches my eyes. Chicks dig the whole matching thing.”

He pushed away from the wall and stepped over the bench to my left. Suddenly it felt awkward sitting beside him. I wasn’t a little girl anymore, and Denver wasn’t my watchdog. My heart thundered in my chest, making it hard to breathe.

When his arm accidentally brushed against mine as he reached for the rolls, butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I took a discreet breath and glanced over at him. When had Denver stopped being my best friend and become just a really hot guy?

“I’ve missed those dimples,” William said. “Adorable trait on a woman. Wouldn’t you agree, Denver?”

Denver silently pointed his fork at him, and William continued smiling while he sipped his soda.

“Let Auntie Naya take care of everything,” Naya continued, scrolling through her phone. “I have some nice boys in mind.”

Lynn set down her knife. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

Without looking up, Naya answered. “Don’t worry, mama. Humans only. I have all kinds of contacts.”

Hendrix and Lennon shrieked with laughter and we turned to see what was going on.

“Why is he wet?” April asked in a tone that implied she was afraid to know the answer.

Spartacus walked into the room, periodically stopping to shake his hind legs and spraying water all over the floor.

Austin sighed and leaned back, tossing his fork onto his plate. “All right. Who left the toilet seat open?”

I grimaced. “Sorry. I think that was me.”

Naya quickly got up and opened a drawer.

“Not one of my good dish towels!” Mom said in horror.

When Spartacus disappeared under the table, three of the men shot up from their seats.

“That thing better not rub on me,” Denver said. “I just put on my good jeans.”

When the doorbell rang, Naya straightened her back like an arrow. “That must be Nadia! I’ll get it.”

“Don’t bother,” Denver said, rushing behind her. “We’ll just skip introductions and head out. I don’t need the pack grilling…” Denver’s voice trailed off when they left the room.

Reno pulled the long bench away from the table so he could crawl under it. He emerged with his arms extended and the drippy feline at the end. The cat made a raspy meow and then stuck his tongue out.

“Holy smokes,” April said. “Don’t you dare come back in here, Reno.”

“Don’t worry, princess. As soon as I put him in the dryer, I’m going to take a bath in bleach.”

A few chuckles sounded and Lexi went to get some paper towels. “Welcome back, Maizy. Just another glamorous day in the life of the Weston pack.” She got on her knees and began wiping up the water spots.

William hadn’t moved from his seat and continued cutting his steak into tiny pieces. When he finished, he patted the palm of his hand against a bottle and put a few dollops of steak sauce on the edge of his plate. As he did that, he was looking up at me from beneath those wolfish brows, grinning. William had an unusual way of dressing—as if he’d bought clothes from two centuries ago at a thrift store. His shirt was baggy with strings that tied loosely across the chest. “I thought you’d be coming home from England with a ring on your finger.”

I smiled playfully and softened my voice. “None of them were good enough for me.”

His brows rose. “Indeed.”

“What about you? Anyone special?”

He took a bite of steak and smiled with his eyes. “Say, if you want to go out on the town this evening, I have the night free.”

William had gotten a job years ago as a consultant. He had such an amicable personality and a talent for resolving conflict that Packmasters began hiring him to give advice on interpack relationships where they were struggling. Sometimes disputes could be resolved easily by adjusting rank or changing responsibilities, while other times a packmate would have to leave. After a while, Packmasters wanted advice on how to deal with conflicting personalities within the house, or a difficult second-in-command.

“That sounds like fun, Will. Maybe we can get a group of us to go out.”

“Where would you like to go?” he asked.

Only one place felt like home. “Howlers.”

Chapter 3

The minute we walked into Howlers, Rosie dropped a tray and ran across the bar to give me a hug. “Oh, honey, I haven’t seen you in ages!”

Rosie had been waiting tables at Howlers for years and was like an extended part of the family.

I laughed and stepped back before she squeezed the life out of me. “I’m just glad there was nothing on your tray.”

She jutted her curvy hip to the side and looked me up and down. I was becoming self-conscious about all the appraisals I’d been receiving.

“Ay Dios mio! Look how you’ve grown!” She touched my wavy hair. “You should let me curl this.”

“You think?”

Izzy lightly slapped her hand. “No makeovers, Rosie. She’s beautiful just the way she is.”

Something I’d heard all my life living with the Weston pack. Even though I had a slightly crooked tooth on one side, even when I went through a growth spurt at age twelve and didn’t quite fill out like all the other girls, and even at fourteen when I got acne and didn’t want to leave my room. No matter what, I was always perfect in their eyes.

“What’ll you have?” Rosie asked. “Lemonade?”

“See if the bartender knows what a Moscow mule is.”

She giggled and pursed her red lips. “I’ll tell Frank. What if he doesn’t know?”

I shrugged since I wasn’t serious, but I knew how Rosie liked to challenge Frank’s knowledge of mixed drinks. “Just a beer is fine. I suppose I need a grown-up drink for my first night back in town.”

Mom and Trevor had offered to stay home and keep an eye on the kids, which was kind of nice. I loved hanging out with my mom, but not so much in a bar. Aside from that, it wasn’t her scene.

I turned around and watched Reno holding April in his arms—her feet dangling off the ground. He planted a kiss on her mouth and smiled with closed lips. She reached up and touched the crinkles around his eyes, kissing him back before he set her down.

April was more reserved than the other girls, a little shy around men, but always friendly and smiling. It seemed as if Reno loved her even more than I remembered growing up. Was that possible?

I sidled up to the barstool and took a seat.

“Game of darts. Who’s up?” Jericho called out, swaggering toward the game room.

Izzy raised her hand. “Ooo, me! I promise I’ll go easy on you this time.” She waggled her eyebrows before zipping ahead of him and looking over her shoulder.

Jericho pinched her behind. “Bring it on, Sexybelle.”

“A Moscow mule, huh?” Frank flashed me a look of irritation. The light caught the silver strips of hair on either side of his head, making him seem older than he actually was.

I pulled a bowl of peanuts in front of me and offered him an apologetic glance. “Beer is fine.”

He wagged his finger at me. “I’m going to look that up when I go home. Next time you come in, order it.”

I looked over my shoulder toward the back of the room, behind all the tables. Wheeler was racking up the balls at the pool table while Austin, Lexi, and Naya chalked their sticks. They were playing in teams, though I couldn’t tell if it was couples or men against women. A few men standing nearby caught sight of Austin’s tattoos and backed up a step. In the surrounding territories, those who didn’t know Packmasters by their faces knew them by their markings.

William stole the seat to my left and pulled the bowl of peanuts toward him. “It’s a good thing you traveled young. I’m sure it was difficult to be away, but it becomes harder to do the older you get.”

“Why is that?”

He licked the salt from his fingers. “Older things tend to grow roots.”

“Mom planted the idea in my head pretty young. It wasn’t easy to leave as a teen, but I guess at the time it seemed like a big adventure and a whole lot of freedom. I’m fortunate; I can’t thank her and the pack enough for paying for my education.”

William ate another handful of peanuts. “Life is an education, perhaps the most important one you’ll ever receive. Just look at my situation with how I came into this pack.”

“I was young when that happened with Ivy.”

“Indeed. But it worked out for the best. Caleb moved to second-in-command, and I found a pack much like the one I grew up in. Like you, I traveled young. Common for young wolves after going through their first change. It’s important for us to get out and experience life, because those experiences are going to come into play when we finally return home.”

“How so?”

William ate another peanut and then pushed the bowl away. “Austin was once a bounty hunter, and that groomed him for a leadership position. He learned patience, authority, independence, but also how not to lead a pack based on the lowlifes he caught. Same with Reno.”

I laughed and sipped the beer Frank had set down. “And Jericho with his music career?”

“I think it taught him who he didn’t want to be, what’s important in life, and who matters. We glean a little from our experiences—especially the blunders.”

“A valid argument, but I don’t think it applies to me. I didn’t have anything exciting happen while I was away.”

He turned to face the room, his elbows on the bar. “Maybe that was your lesson.”

Yeah, I learned how alone I felt in the world no matter where I was, but I didn’t tell William that. He probably already knew. Just sitting there in the bar, smelling different colognes and perfumes mingling, hearing an old Aerosmith song, and listening to the laughter of people I’d known all my life filled me with so many conflicting feelings. I didn’t have a father, and the only reason the pack had taken us in was because of Lexi. I’d never met my older brother, Wes, who died before I was born. I knew my pack had a sense of love and obligation to me, but my mom was right. What kind of life could I have living with them? I was a girl with one foot in the human world and the other in the Breed world, and neither one wanted me. What would happen if I met a nice human guy and brought him home to meet the Cole brothers? It was unavoidable that no matter whom I chose, I’d have to tell him my sister was a wolf. Grounds for divorce?

William snapped his fingers in front of my face. “You moved back home and you’re still a million miles away.”

I clutched his shoulder and rested my head on it. “I’m sorry. It’s just overwhelming to be back home.”

He kissed the top of my head. “If you need anyone to talk to…”

“Thanks.”

I could never confide in William. I loved him to bits and he gave sound advice, but we’d never been close like that. Not many girls want to confide their deepest and darkest secrets to their brother, and that’s what he was to me.

“Oh shit,” William murmured so low I barely heard him.

When I turned around, Denver was strutting in our direction with a gorgeous woman on his arm. Gorgeous was an understatement. She had stunning blond hair that put mine to shame—silky and floating on air. She smiled wide with her perfect teeth, and then my gaze traveled down to her black dress, which was nothing more than an outline of her body. It hugged every scandalous curve and showed off her long legs, which glowed as if they’d been rubbed with the most exotic oils known to mankind. She looked like one of my princess dolls come to life, her onyx teardrop necklace drawing attention to her perfectly shaped breasts.

Heads turned.

William jumped between us and I couldn’t see Denver anymore.

“Hey, Will. This is Nadia, my date. Nadia, this is William, my packmate.”

“How do you do,” she said in an elegant voice, accented in Russian.

Urgh! I just wanted to hurl peanuts at her. Even the perfume that wafted off her was sophisticated and refined.

“A pleasure,” William said politely as he bowed.

He not only bowed lower than normal but also stayed down longer than necessary for a greeting. When I glanced up, Denver was looking at me with the same startled expression as Spartacus, so I thumped William on the behind with a flick of my finger.

William sat back down. “Denver, I’ll let you finish introductions.” When he turned to drink his beer, I wanted to curl up and die.

Denver took a step closer to Nadia and curved his arm around her narrow waist. “Nadia, this is Maizy, my uh…”

“I believe… packmate is the word you’re searching for,” William offered.

Denver had failed to introduce William as the third-in-command, undoubtedly so no one would outshine him. I could sense it had rubbed William the wrong way.

Denver sliced a hot glare at him. “Maizy, this is Nadia Kaz… Kaizer—”

“Kozlov,” she corrected. Nadia assessed me, her gaze critical, and I didn’t appreciate it. “Are you a new addition to the pack, or are you on your way out soon? Let me know if you’re scouting for a pack. I happen to know a Packmaster in search of a good bitch.”

“Too bad you’re not available,” I muttered.

William made an abrupt sound, and beer dribbled down his chin and onto the bar.

“Would you repeat that?” she asked in a tone that told me she’d heard exactly what I said and was hoping to challenge it.

“If I were a parrot I might. But as it stands, I’m a human.”

Her eyes widened and she jerked her neck back. “You take in humans?” she asked Denver. “To live with your pack?”

Denver shrugged indifferently. “They’ve been with us for years.”

His eyes caught mine and our gazes became tangled—neither of us able to look away. My heart thumped against my chest and anger heated my veins. He was so dismissive, as though I was no better than the old leather sofa that’d been sitting around in our living room for years.

Nadia pinched his chin and steered the direction of his gaze. “Let’s go find a quiet place to talk.”

When they turned away, Nadia walked two steps ahead and shook her hips with each step, causing her ass to swing like the bells of Notre-Dame.

“She forgot to bring a leash for her date,” I growled.

William glanced over his shoulder. “Mustn’t let it bother you. Denver’s been dating for centuries, or haven’t you noticed?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were stirring the pot.”

A half smile curved up his cheek. “A good stew always needs stirring. Tell me about the men you’ve dated.”

“English men are different. They like to sing when they drink, and they seem a little more reserved than Americans, but maybe it’s just the crowd I hung out with.”

“Did they treat you well?”

I took another sip of my beer. “I guess. Everyone made me aware of my American accent. I got a lot of heat when I first moved there and was still using words like y’all or fixin’. I dropped some of those words from my vocabulary after a couple of years.”

“I noticed. People will always find a way to single you out because you’re different. Mustn’t let ’em get to you. Why don’t you mingle with the pack? I’m going to see if anyone is up for a game of darts.” William winked and strolled off with an air of confidence.

Meanwhile, I was fixin’ to order another beer.

***

After losing count of how many beers I’d ordered, it occurred to me how stressed out I’d become over the Denver situation.

Now, completely inebriated, I suddenly gained newfound confidence. The kind that had me staggering over to Denver’s table.

I’d never cared much about fashion. As a kid, I used to wear lots of princess dresses. But after hitting my teens, I realized how insignificant I was in the world of Breed. I had no friends my age, didn’t go to school, and therefore had no reason to dress up. Style just became something I associated with people who had someone to impress.

Nadia’s sable-brown eyes lowered to my frayed jean shorts, and I saw a familiar look on her face. The kind women give when they realize you’re not a threat to their game. I wanted her to say something bitchy so I could find a valid reason to hate her.

“Do join us,” she offered.

Denver suddenly scooted his chair to the left and put a few inches of air between them. “Where’s Lexi?” he asked, searching the room. “Why don’t you hang out with her?”

I gracefully sank into the chair and crossed my legs. “Because I’m no longer an adolescent who needs to be shooed away from the table when the grown-ups are talking. Why won’t you talk to me?”

“Maizy, I’m on a date, and your pupils are spinning like pinwheels. How many beers have you had?”

I pulled his beer toward me. “You never call me Maizy,” I murmured. “Why did you stop writing?”

Denver leaned forward and pulled his beer away from me. “I don’t think this is the time.”

“Well I do. I think this is the perfect time to address why I’ve been sending you handwritten letters since I was sixteen, and you decided five years ago to stop writing me back. Five years. Don’t you care about me anymore?”

“That’s bullshit. You’re the one who fucking left.”

“To go to school!”

“Plenty of schools here.”

I stood up, fueled by alcohol and crumbling inhibitions. “And you had plenty of opportunities to come see me. Every time I came home to visit, you were never around. I can’t believe you just cut me off like that. Oh God, what am I saying?” I covered my face.

“Why don’t you go home?” he said sullenly.

“Because I don’t know where home is.” Tears burned my eyes and I clenched my teeth, refusing to give in to my emotional outburst.

Nadia pulled out a silver compact and began checking the makeup she’d lacquered onto her face.

Something flickered in Denver’s expression—an emotion I couldn’t read. “I’m sorry about this, Nadia. Maybe I better drive you home.”

She stroked his bicep and gave it a squeeze. “Sounds perfect. We can just leave my car at your house and pick it up in the morning.”

My stomach lurched, and two words raced through my head: my Denver.

When a smile touched his lips, I lost it. “Someday I’m going to be dead and you’re going to regret the way you treated me.”

When I turned to walk off, he flew out of his seat and caught my arm. “Maizy, wait. Look, I’m sorry, but I’ve got a date here and this is just awkward as fuck. You show up unexpectedly and now you’re drunk. Since when did you start drinking?”

When I faced him, my anger broke into pieces. “I just wanted to talk to you. Without all the walls and the drama. You were more than my watchdog; you were my best friend. But what was I to you?”

Denver’s hand curled around the back of my neck and he pressed a soft kiss to my head. “Don’t cry.”

As I began to lean into him, Nadia wedged between us. “I hate to break up the reunion, but I think we better leave.”

When I stepped back, the distance created a magnetic pull. I felt it, but I was doubtful that Denver did.

“Go home, Maze. Sleep off some of that jet lag, and you’ll feel different about all this in the morning.”

Nadia led him away with a tug of his hand. Denver didn’t seem like the type of man a woman like her would go for. He liked to hang around the house, snack on junk food, play horseshoes, and sometimes jump in the lake. Naya couldn’t have paired two people who were more opposite.

But maybe opposites really do attract.

Chapter 4

Denver sat on the edge of Nadia’s white sofa, afraid of getting it dirty. His mind was reeling and had been since earlier that day when he’d first realized the beautiful woman standing in their foyer was Maizy.

Even though the pack had taken pictures on their visits to Europe, looking at the photos had been too difficult, so he usually gave them just a cursory glance. It was as if she’d blossomed into a woman overnight—hardly recognizable from the child he’d once known, outside of her dimples and light blue eyes. Those were the only familiar markers to him; everything else belonged to someone he didn’t know.

“Would you like something to eat?” Nadia called out from the kitchen. “I have a little lamb left over from last night.”

“Your name wouldn’t happen to be Mary, would it?”

“Pardon?”

Denver stared at a massive curio cabinet filled with expensive-looking figurines. “Chips, if you got any. Anything with cheese.”

A moment later, Nadia entered the living room with a small tray of cheese. Not just mild cheddar, but the gourmet shit, all sliced up. She set the silver tray on the coffee table and put her hands on her hips. “I don’t know why you took your shoes off.”

Denver glanced down at his white socks, realizing he had a hole in the toe. “Habit. Didn’t want to track any dirt on your floor.”

Without warning, she climbed onto Denver’s lap and pushed him back, straddling him. “Mmm, I like a dirty man,” she whispered against his ear before nibbling on the lobe. Her tongue did things that made a shiver creep down his spine.

Denver immediately grew hard.

“Slow down, honeypie. Don’t you want to watch TV or something?”

She giggled against his neck and her hot breath made him tense up. “I don’t own a television. Is that what you normally do on a date? No wonder…” Then her mouth began sucking the skin on his neck.

Denver pushed her off him. “No wonder what?”

Nadia wiped the lipstick that had smeared across her chin. “Naya told me that you come off as a player, but you don’t actually… play. Don’t worry. I like my men on the reserved side. No one wants a car that’s been driven by everyone in town.”

“What the hell gives you the impression I’m reserved?” Denver shook his head. He was anything but shy.

She walked her middle and index fingers up his leg. “Because I’m over here and you’re over there?”

“Maybe I like the game of seduction,” he said, which was a lie. Denver either got down to it or he didn’t at all. The assertive women were often the ones who turned him off, and usually he’d split before they made it to the bed. That seemed to go against the grain of male instinct among Shifters.

“I appreciate a man with high standards, and I’m sure that’s why you’re so selective.”

Nadia stood up in front of him and turned around, giving him a full view of her backside. Denver stretched his arms on either side of the sofa, watching with curiosity. She reached around and slowly unzipped her dress until it revealed the fine curve of her spine. With a soft whisper of the delicate fabric, it slipped off her shoulders and fell to the floor.

He should have stayed hard, but it was as if the direction of his blood had been thrown into reverse. When she turned around, she lowered her arms unabashedly, revealing her magnificent breasts and small, brown nipples. His eyes were drawn to her belly ring, and he wondered why a woman would want her navel pierced.

“Why don’t you touch me and we’ll do this nice and slow?”

He leaned forward, feeling skittish. “We barely know each other.”

She reached for his hand and placed it on her warm thigh. “This is all you need to know. We’re both too old to be playing cat and mouse.”

When she let go of his hand, he held it there as if it were glued. “Are you looking for a mate?”

Nadia leaned forward until her bare breasts brushed against his face. “I’m looking for a man who will pleasure me—a companion who will treat me like a lady.” Her fingers curled in his hair and…

All he could think about was Maizy. What the fuck? He just left her alone at the bar… drunk. Sure, she was with the pack, but the protective watchdog instinct had resurfaced tenfold since she’d walked back into his life. And here he was, sitting on a plush sofa with award-winning breasts mashed against his face, and the only thing he wanted to do was get his ass back to Howlers.

“Want me to keep the heels on or off?” she purred, beginning to climb aboard the Denver Express again. The only problem was the train wasn’t moving out of the station because it had run out of steam.

He gently pushed her back. “Wait a second.” He rose to his feet and looked down, unable to ignore all the nudity presented before him like a gift from the gods. “Look, you’re sexy as hell, but you’re a bag of nuts if you think I’m going to fuck you on that white sofa.”

She gripped his shirt. “Then let’s go to my bedroom.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“Do you appraise all your dates like a future bride? We had a stimulating conversation tonight. We get along, and you can’t deny it. Our personalities blend well, so who knows what will happen? I just want to see if the chemistry is there. Why drag this out for a week or a month when we can find out immediately if there’s passion between us?”

Her lips touched his and melted into a sensual kiss, one that awakened the man in him. His arms curved around her and felt the nakedness of her body. Need filled him—consumed him, as it had been so long since he’d last been with a woman.

“You were so eager at the bar,” she whispered. “Just give in. Stop thinking and do what your body wants. I need you inside me.”

He lifted her by the waist and headed toward the hall.

“Mmm, I love a wolf who takes charge in the bedroom.”

“We’re not there yet,” he said with an amused arch of his brow. When his phone rang, a curse flew past his lips.

“Ignore it.” She nibbled his ear and his pace slowed.

“Dammit, I can’t. It might be an emergency.” Denver let go and Nadia hopped to the floor, her brown eyes narrowing as she watched him pull his phone out. He checked the text message coming in and felt an unfamiliar knot tightening in his stomach.

Maizy: I’m going home with someone too.

Was she messing with his head? He gripped the back of Nadia’s neck and tugged her forward, planting a hard kiss on her mouth. One filled with all the passion he’d been restraining. She moaned beneath his lips, sending blood rushing to his…

Dammit.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Austin.

“Yeah?”

“Aus, it’s Denver. Is everyone home?”

Austin chuckled and turned down the radio, which was playing some Kings of Leon song. “Lexi and I bailed on everyone to go parking. Let me call you back, brother. I’m a little busy.” Before the line went dead, Denver heard the gentle tap of a car horn.

When Nadia tried to take his phone, he angled away from her.

Next try: William.

“Greetings, packmate,” William said peevishly. “Something I can help you with?”

“Is everyone still at the bar? Austin said he headed out already.”

“Everyone went home except for Maizy and Naya. Something about girl talk, and they banished all the men from their table.”

Before Denver knew it, he was pacing. Girl talk, his ass. Naya probably set her up with one of the men at the bar. Ever since she started her matchmaking service and had a few success stories, she’d gotten a little full of herself. Most of her clients were happy, so Denver thought he’d give it a whirl. Couldn’t hurt. At least, not by the looks of the nude woman leaning against the wall in front of him and playing with her nipples.

“Thought you were busy playing Russian roulette?” William asked. “Did you run out of bullets?”

As much as Denver wanted to slide in a joke about two being aimed right at him, he kept a straight face. “Did you happen to notice when you left the bar that Maizy was tanked?”

“As I seem to recall, she’s an adult.”

Dickwad. William was egging him on for some demented reason. Then again, so was Maizy. Denver had always given Maizy his full attention, except at parties when he had to get his mingle on. Then her mood would switch into that of a jealous child who wasn’t the center of attention. Or at least, his attention. Maybe some habits never went away.

Nadia sauntered out of the hall and gave him a moment of privacy.

Denver lowered his voice and faced the wall. “Do me a favor and call Naya. Make sure they got home safely. I can’t believe you numbskulls left them at the bar to get drunk.”

William sighed. “Naya is a responsible woman who knows how to call a cab. Try not to be too concerned. Maizy’s not likely to attract trouble in the bar with Rosie around, even though she’s scintillating. Did you notice how her blue eyes carry a different luster than they used to? It’s as if someone threw glitter into the summer sky. I never thought a woman with dimples could be so… stunning. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Denver hung up.

Nadia reappeared—fully dressed—and handed Denver his shoes. “Let’s do this again when you’re not so distracted by pack drama.”

“After all this, you want to go out with me again.” It was a statement of disbelief more than a question.

“I love your boyish charm. Drive me back to your house so I can retrieve my car.” She turned around, revealing her flawless back. “Do me a favor and zip me up.”

“I can always bring the car by tomorrow.”

Nadia laughed quietly. “The night is young, and what would I do with myself sitting around the house with a plate of cheese and a bottle of wine? There’s a club I frequent when I want to unwind and have a good meal. Naya thought we might get along because we’re both night owls, and I’m looking for a different kind of man than the ones I’ve been unfortunate enough to date.”

Denver brushed her blond hair to the side and pulled her zipper all the way up, cringing when it got caught on the fabric. He was already going through his mental checklist, trying to find out what was wrong with Nadia. Why had she gotten naked with him so quickly? Maybe that wasn’t exactly a flaw, but she was about to go to the club without him. He obviously had no claim on her, but it made him wonder how much he could trust her.

It could have been a perfectly sexual evening, and now he was going home to face the firing squad of brotherly judgment. Coming home early was like getting on a bullhorn and announcing he hadn’t gotten laid, so he was going to have to be elusive about how their date had gone. Guys judged each other on that kind of shit; it just went with the territory.

Then his mind drifted to Maizy and that knot reappeared in his stomach. She better have gone home with Naya.

Chapter 5

Because I wasn’t a big drinker, my body didn’t know how to handle a pitcher of beer. When Naya realized I’d surpassed my limit, she called a cab. I might have been singing REO Speedwagon on the drive home, but I’d never confess to it. We were about halfway there when the driver stopped at a red light and the engine died.

“What do you think is wrong with it?” I asked Naya, pressing my face against the window to cool my cheek.

She peered between the seats, unable to see the driver because the hood was open. “I’ll give him five minutes to figure it out, and then I’m calling Wheeler. Let’s step outside for some fresh air. It’s too stuffy in here and smells like dirty underwear.”

“Smell that often?” I asked with a lazy smile.

Naya pinched my nose. “You’re cute when you’re drunk. A girl should let her hair down once in a while, but don’t make a habit of it. We’re so glad to have you home, chickypoo.”

Before I stepped out of the car, I kicked off my sandals and tossed them on the seat.

“I’ve got to call it in,” the man said gruffly. “Looks like it might be the battery. It’s going to be a long wait before we can get someone else out here.”

“That’s all right, darling,” Naya said. “I’m going to call someone to pick us up.” She let out a melodic sigh and strolled back to the car, sliding into the back to get her purse.

Just then, an expensive car glided past us and slowed down after the light. Since there wasn’t any traffic, they backed the car up and then pulled it ahead of ours on the corner. I sat on the curb, admiring the sky that stretched overhead like black velvet. It wasn’t easy to see the stars within the city because of all the lights and smog. A face suddenly eclipsed my view, one with a broad smile.

“It seems you’re having a bit of car trouble. May I offer my assistance?”

“Stranger danger,” I said in a tone that said no thanks.

Naya stepped out of the car with her purse and phone in hand. She glanced up at the man and smiled. “Well, it looks like we’ve been saved by a Prince.”

He gave a slight bow. “Naya James. It’s a pleasure to see you, although not under these unfortunate circumstances. I noticed this lovely young woman sitting on the side of the road.” He glanced at his watch. “At this time of night, I couldn’t in good conscience drive by, even if she is a human.”

“This is Maizy. Don’t you remember her?”

Prince looked down at me, and boy, was he blurry all the way up there. When he knelt down, I got a better look at him. His dark hair was pulled into a handsome ponytail, just as I’d always remembered. Prince had a regality about him that didn’t fit in with most of the Shifters I’d known. Maybe it had to do with old wealth. His eyes were two different colors, but in the dim light on the street, I couldn’t see them very well. Especially when my own were zooming in and out of focus.

“I know you,” I said, my grin widening.

He pursed his lips for a moment and tilted my chin up. “I remember those dimples. You must be the little one.”

“I’m not so little anymore.”

“My apologies for not having recognized you. I’m usually good with faces, but yours I haven’t seen in quite a long time. The little girl has grown into an enchanting young woman.” He briefly looked up at the cars speeding by. “This is quite a familiar situation. At least this time you’re not kicking me in the shin.”

Naya jutted her hip out and smiled naughtily. The wind ruffled some of her big curls, and she swept them away from her face. “This blasted thing will never be fixed, and Wheeler won’t be able to make it here for another fifteen minutes. Would you be able to offer us a ride?”

Prince stood up and towered over me. “I insist. Is she inebriated?”

They both stared down at me as if I were a bug beneath a microscope.

“Celebratory drinks,” Naya replied, a smile in her voice. I could tell she was enjoying my impaired condition far too much. “Maizy has returned home from her travels abroad. Drunk isn’t the word I’d use. Let’s just say she’s full of spirits.”

He reached out his hand. “Let me offer you a ride home. I would enjoy hearing about your travels.”

When I took his hand, he pulled me up, his grip strong. It suddenly made me aware of how I didn’t want to behave like a buffoon, so I carefully watched my words and tried not to slur them. Keeping my eyes open was a different story. They were getting heavy-lidded, and all I could think about was crashing in my bed.

“Thank you,” I said in a soft breath.

“Do you remember me?”

“You ask me that every time we meet. How could I forget?”

His finger slid down my cheek. “You are an intriguing creature. One without shoes,” he said, his gaze sliding down to my bare feet.

“Oh, they’re in the car. I can—” I squeaked when Prince suddenly bent down and lifted me into his arms.

Naya’s eyes widened and filled with all kinds of playful thoughts she kept from rolling off her tongue. Thank God. I held on to his neck as he carried me toward his car, a thin smile adding a curve to his mouth.

“My apologies, but in your condition, I can’t chance your taking a spill on the hard concrete.”

“Let me assure you, Prince, that I may be human, but it would take more than a tumble on the street to shatter me.”

I glared around his shoulder at Naya, who was following behind, swinging my shoes between her fingers with a catlike grin on her face. She winked and I gave her my best narrow-eyed scowl. One that cautioned her not to say anything, because everyone knew that Naya wasn’t a woman who liked to keep her mouth shut when mischief was on her mind.

“You really know how to sweep a girl off her feet,” she added.

I felt more than heard the deep rumble of laughter in Prince’s chest. His alpha aura wrapped around me like a cloak—an undeniable energy that made my hair stand on end and my pulse race a little faster.

Prince helped me into the passenger seat and buckled my seat belt. He smelled like expensive cologne, and I knew this because when he leaned down to latch the belt, my nose rubbed against the side of his neck.

“Wow. This is an elegant car,” I said, marveling over the interior. The seats were leather and the car smelled new.

He turned his head so our noses almost touched. “It’s just an Audi.”

“My pack drives nothing but muscle cars and pickup trucks, so this is a step up.”

Prince leaned back and slammed the door, then took a slow stroll around the front of the car. He was handsome, tall, and had a distinct European look about him I couldn’t place. While I knew he was an ancient, he didn’t look older than his late thirties or early forties at most.

Naya hopped into the back and leaned forward. “Honey, I’ve never seen him look at you that way.”

I snorted and glanced back at her. “I certainly hope not, considering I was a child.”

As soon as Prince got in the car and shut the door, Naya piped up. “I was just telling Maizy about the date I’m setting her up on.”

What the heck?

His eyes settled on mine and it made me shiver. “Is that so? Breed?” The look he flashed me was enigmatic—a look of concern I couldn’t decipher. Maybe it’s because I was drunk and he was afraid I’d get sick in his car.

“A woman like Maizy can have any man she desires,” Naya continued with a provocative purr.

I wanted to recline my seat back on her.

By the time we reached the house, my system was shutting down fast. I remembered only a few snippets of our conversation during the drive, which kind of scared me because I thought at one point I might have been singing REO Speedwagon again. Naya had carried most of the conversation, although about what I couldn’t remember.

“Are you feeling well?” Prince asked, brushing my hair back as he studied me beneath the interior light.

“I just need to lie down.” My stomach gurgled, my head spun, and a flush of heat touched my face.

When I shifted my gaze toward the house, I wanted to crawl in a hole. Denver was standing in the doorway—well, more like leaning against it. His date must have gone well since he wasn’t wearing a shirt and looked rested.

I pushed open my door and got out of the car.

Prince approached me with his arms extended. “Wait a moment. Let me help you inside.”

“Really, you’ve done more than enough.”

Ignoring me, he lifted me off the ground again. Only this time it didn’t feel so romantic. My stomach cramped up and I pressed my hot face against his shoulder. The world was spinning, and my head felt as if it weighed a ton. I’d always been a lightweight when it came to alcohol and never had the good sense to say no after the second drink.

“What the train wreck is going on here?” Denver’s voice was laced with irritation.

“She’s a little tipsy. Nothing to worry about,” Naya said.

Prince walked up the porch steps with ease. I could hear his feet hitting each step, but my eyes were closed and my hair covered my face. I think I also had my arm draped over his shoulder, but the world was spinning and the only thing I wanted to focus on was sleep.

I heard a door creak open. “Spartacus! Baby…”

“Hey, what about me?” Wheeler complained from inside, shortly followed by the sound of kissing and moaning. “That’s more like it,” he growled in a low voice.

“You can give her to me,” Denver said.

Prince’s grip tightened just a fraction. “Nonsense. Lead me to her bed.”

Denver’s voice thickened and lowered an octave. “I’m not letting you take her to bed.”

“It seems we have a standoff then. She’s in no condition to walk. Would you prefer that I lay her down in the grass so the mosquitoes can feast on her?”

“Give her to me.”

There were a few beats of silence before Prince spoke again. This time his tone was impatient and scornful. “I believe your watchdog duties have ended. She’s of age and no longer requires your protection.”

“Hell will also freeze over before I let you tuck her into bed. You may outrank me, but this is a respectable pack.”

“Let him,” Naya suggested from inside.

Fingers snapped. “Shut it.”

Wheeler cut in. “Watch how you talk to my woman.”

“Wait, wait,” I murmured. “Put me down before you start a pack war.”

I opened my eyes and looked up at Prince, noticing how smooth his shave was. Yet I could still see dark whiskers beneath the surface of his skin.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded lightly.

He drew in a deep breath and set me down. “Very well. Tomorrow I’ll call and check on your condition. Drink water and sleep well, little one.”

Prince bowed and turned away. I hadn’t noticed until that moment he was dressed in a nice grey suit, and that combined with the cologne and clean shave made me realize I must have interrupted his evening plans. Brilliant.

A wolf rushed up the porch and almost knocked me down.

“Hi, Trevor,” I said, letting his wolf lick my hands. He wagged his tail excitedly and then darted across the property until I couldn’t see him anymore. A moment later, a joyous howl filled the night air.

“Have fun?” Denver asked, tapping his fingers on the doorjamb.

“Actually, I had a memorable evening.”

“Sounds like it from your text.”

God, why did I send that?

I stumbled past him and my knees buckled. Denver hooked his arm around my waist and helped me stand up straight. He didn’t carry me like Prince, but let me lean on him while we went up the stairs.

Terrific end to my evening, I thought to myself.

Halfway up, I sat down on the steps and pressed my face against the cool wood of the banister. “Just leave me here. I’m a mess.”

Denver spoke, amusement in his voice. “You’re a mess all right.” He lifted my right arm and draped it over his shoulder as he leaned down to pull me up again. I groaned, wishing he’d disappear and leave me to my embarrassment. Then I thought about how I needed to get to bed before my mother or Austin found me in this condition. It wasn’t as if the pack hadn’t had their own moments while out at the bar, but I didn’t want them to get the wrong impression of the kind of person I’d become.

“I don’t like the way you smell,” I murmured, my face pressed against his chest.

“Oh yeah? And how’s that?”

“You smell perfumey—like dead flowers. It doesn’t smell like you.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

“You have a smell! You do,” I said, looking up at him and smiling. “It’s indescribable. I guess everyone has a scent, but Shifters are different.” I drew in a deep and very obvious breath. I didn’t mean to release a moan right after, but it kind of slipped out when my hand rested on his firm abs.

When we reached the top of the stairs, I resisted. “Wait, I need to stop a second. The earth is spinning like a top.”

He chuckled softly. “You’re a lightweight. I thought all they did in England was drink.”

I stepped away and leaned against the wall, feeling a flush of heat skate across my skin. “That wasn’t my crowd.”

“Yeah? And what was your crowd?” he asked, stepping closer. “Did you date any men?”

“I went out with a few guys.”

Denver moved even closer until our bodies were almost touching. “Did you do anything with those men?”

He was going into his protective stance; I’d seen it before.

“I’m not a Shifter.” Simple words that required no further explanation. I was human, so I didn’t have to wait around for my first change to have sex.

His jaw clenched and then he moved so close I could feel the heat of his body pressed against mine. Denver’s right hand curved around my neck, and I thought I felt his other hand on my hip, but I was dizzy and that might have been my imagination.

Unexpected feelings were surfacing. A swell of desire raced through me as I looked at the intensity in his blue eyes. Eyes that, unlike mine, were a rich indigo with an almost violet hue. A person could get lost in them. He looked to be in his late twenties, but the truth was that Denver was closer to the age of a human senior citizen. The only visible wrinkles were the creases that formed in his cheeks when he laughed really hard. He did have a couple of lines on his forehead, but only because he loved raising his eyebrows at people. When he caught me in his rapturous gaze, I saw nothing boyish or trivial about him.

Denver parted his soft lips, tempting me to kiss them. He must have been feeling it. God knows I was feeling it. When I stood on my tiptoes, it created a friction between our bodies like lightning. Denver drew in a light gasp, his pupils dilating.

My lips brushed against his—so warm and pliant—but fell short of a kiss. He curled his fingers behind my neck, lightly scratching my skin as if coaxing me to go further. That single gesture sent a flood of tingles throughout my body, and my mind scrambled. His left hand moved up to my rib cage, and when he tilted his head to the side, I knew this was it. Denver was going to brand me with his kiss.

I pushed him back and bolted down the hall toward the bathroom. I slid onto the floor and threw my head over the toilet, retching. When the first wave passed, the humiliation slowly began to settle in. Not only had I almost kissed Denver, but I’d almost thrown up on him.

Could this night get any worse?

With my head hung over the toilet, I began to cry. Tears slipped down my nose and blurred my vision.

The door closed behind me and fingers threaded through my hair, pulling it back. I threw up again—nothing but alcohol. My stomach tightened, and there was no worse feeling in the world than being vulnerable in front of someone.

Especially when that someone was Denver, who was sitting behind me and holding my hair back.

“I’m so mortified,” I said. “This isn’t me. Please don’t tell anyone about this, okay?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t say a thing. If those dickwads ask, I’ll just tell them you got food poisoning.”

“Thanks.” I spit into the toilet, and another wave of embarrassment went through me.

Denver stood up and turned on the faucet. He found a green towel and ran it under the running water, then knelt back down and wiped my face with it. “Better? That sometimes helps.” He dried the remnants of a tear from beneath my lashes and his brows knitted. “You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. We’ve all hugged the bowl a time or two.”

The cool towel felt blissful as he patted it around my neck. “I guess we’ve outgrown each other. I thought when I came back that things would be like they used to be, but maybe that’s not the way it goes. It’s like everyone here is frozen in time, and I’m the only one who’s changed. Leaving was the best and worst thing I ever did.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks and he wiped them away with the towel. “You need to quit all that leaking or you’re going to get rusty.”

I made a failed attempt to laugh.

“You don’t need me anymore. You haven’t needed a watchdog in years. Well, I take that back. You fucking needed a watchdog, but you were thousands of miles away. I didn’t like seeing you sent off; you were just a kid. But that’s how some humans live. Look, I don’t want to give you shit for it. You had a shot at a better education, and you deserved it more than anyone.”

“Why can’t life just be simpler than it is? I thought coming home would change things, but now I’m going to have to get a job in the human world. Pay taxes, find insurance, grow old,” I grumbled.

Denver pulled the toilet lid down and flushed. He pressed a kiss against my forehead and wadded up the towel in his hand. “Why don’t you crash and sleep in tomorrow? You’re probably still jet-lagged, so maybe going out drinking wasn’t the best plan.” When he stood up, he glanced over his shoulder and threw the towel angrily into the hamper. “Dammit.”

“What?”

Denver reached out of sight and the water shut off. When he turned around, he was holding a scrawny black cat that was dripping with water. “This cat is a bag of nuts. I think Naya needs to buy him an aquarium for Christmas.”

I laughed when the cat’s tongue slid out the side of his mouth. “I don’t know. He’s kind of growing on me.”

“Like a wart.” Denver turned him around and studied his face. “He looks like Gollum.”

I pulled myself up and watched the way Spartacus just stared at Denver with his ears flat against his head. I suddenly felt a connection to him as an outcast trying to figure out his place in a pack of wolves. “I used to want a kitten when I was little.”

Denver set the cat on the floor and cracked open the door. “Skedaddle!” Spartacus scrambled out of the room and left a wet streak on the floor. “Change your mind on the kitten? Feel free to take him if you get an apartment.”

“Would you like that?”

“I know Wheeler would.” Denver laughed and wiped his wet hands on his jeans.

“No, I mean my moving out and getting an apartment.”

He pulled in his bottom lip and his teeth scraped across it.

I curled my fingers around his arm. “Someday I hope you’ll talk to me again. I know it’s not the same between us and we both have to figure out where we fit in each other’s lives, but I’m ready to start over if that’s what it takes. I’m sure you have mixed feelings—I get it. You still have a picture in your head of a young girl. I’m sorry for the way I acted tonight, and hopefully I didn’t ruin your date with my idiotic message. I miss us, and I don’t like this weirdness that’s going on. Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’m here. But please don’t keep giving me the cold shoulder for the rest of my life, because it’s breaking my heart. I feel like I’m being punished for growing up.”

His eyes were downcast, sullen.

Before leaving the room, I glanced over my shoulder. “And Denny?”

The back of his neck bloomed red. “Yeah?”

“I miss you calling me Peanut.”

Chapter 6

A firestorm of emotions assailed Denver when Maizy admitted she missed it when he called her Peanut. Just hearing her call him Denny had shredded his heart.

Denver closed the bathroom door and sat on the edge of the tub. He tried to keep his shit together, but hot, angry tears blurred his vision. He propped his elbows on his knees and covered his face. Why the hell am I such a dickhead?

Maizy was older and would keep getting older. It would break his fucking heart to watch her grow old and die, and maybe that was the root of why he kept pushing her away. Reno was a brave man to love a human, but he didn’t know the pain of what it was like to lose someone he loved—to see a future erased by fate’s cruel hand.

Denver did. His brothers didn’t know about Cora.

Years ago when he lived on his own, Denver had met an amazing woman with short black hair and long lashes. She also had a child, but that didn’t matter to him. The father was an asshole who wasn’t ready to settle down with kids, so he’d given her an ultimatum to choose between the child and him. When Cora chose her son, he left and joined a pack in Canada.

Denver kept his growing feelings for Cora a secret. She was still raw from her past breakup and often spoke about how she didn’t think she could ever bring another man into her son’s life.

The first time he’d met her little boy, Nathan, was at a carnival. That kid loved to laugh, especially when he sat on Denver’s shoulders and matted cotton candy in his hair. Even though Denver was just a young wolf at the time, he began to imagine himself mated to Cora. Jesus, his brothers would have thought he’d lost his mind mating so young to a woman with a child, but that’s how deeply he felt about Cora and Nathan.

The bathroom door abruptly swung open and Trevor hurried toward the toilet.

“The fuck? I’m in here, bro,” Denver said from the edge of the bathtub.

Trevor jumped, but it was too late. He had already lowered the cannon and fired.

“Holy hell, you scared the bejesus out of me.” Tension melted away from Trevor’s voice. “We need another bathroom. Someone was in the downstairs guest. Plus I hate everyone hearing my business down there while they’re watching TV.”

Denver raked his fingers through his hair. “True that. If this keeps up, we’re going to have to start making reservations.”

The door opened to Denver’s right and William peered in. “Is this a party?”

Trevor’s eyes widened and he angled away. “Get the fuck out!”

“I heard voices; no need to get upset. I didn’t know you were doing something private in here,” William said, edging his way inside. He glanced down at Denver and winked, then folded his arms and lowered his chin. “Is that any way to speak to your third-in-command?”

After Trevor shook things off, he zipped up his pants and turned around. Poor wolf. They all had at least a decade on him, if not over a century. Despite his tan, his cheeks flamed as he washed his hands.

William rested his forearms on the sink and watched, his lips easing into a grin, which made Trevor even more uncomfortable. Especially when William reached over and pushed down on the soap dispenser. “Aren’t you going to flush?”

Denver laughed and stood up, patting William on the back. “I say we give him toothbrush duty for insubordination.”

Trevor turned off the water and a few droplets splashed on his white button-up shirt. “You two better be shitting me.”

Denver slipped out just as he heard William ask, “Does your wolf feel like going for a run? Mine needs to stretch his legs… if you want to join.”

Denver went to his bedroom and stripped out of his clothes, putting on his favorite sweatpants. He wandered into the game room, snatched a bag of cheese balls from behind the bar, and plopped down in the oversized beanbag chair. After snuggling his ass into a comfy position, he began tossing the balls up in the air and catching them in his mouth.

Jericho wandered in and lit up a cigarette. He sat on the barstool and twirled the silver lighter in a circle, watching Denver with a bored stare. “What’s wrong?”

“What makes you think something’s wrong?”

Another crunchy cheese ball bounced off Denver’s nose and rolled beneath the pool table.

“Because you suck at catching those when you’re pissed off. Something on your mind?” Jericho tucked the bear-claw necklace beneath his shirt and threaded his long hair away from his eyes, cigarette dangling from his mouth. Jericho always looked as if he was going to a gig because of his ripped jeans and tattered shirts. But without his signature leather cuffs, collar, chains, or eyeliner, it was just a regular day.

Denver licked the orange cheese dust off his fingers, his eyes transfixed on the ceiling. “What do you think of Maizy coming back home to stay?”

Jericho exhaled a long drag, and a concentrated cloud of smoke trailed to the ceiling.  “I know where you’re going with this. Yeah, I dig. If she were a Shifter, she’d be leaving the pack after her first change. That’s the custom. Only in this case, Maizy doesn’t have to do all that.”

“Why not?” Denver crunched on a cheese ball and used his teeth to scrape the dusty cheese off his thumb.

“That rule was put in place a long time ago by the Councils to prevent fighting within the pack. Ideally they want young pups to move directly to another pack, but we all know that most of us like to take a few years off to figure out who we are before settling down. It’s better that way anyhow. They didn’t want Shifters staying in the pack they grew up in because… let’s just say a young girl caught more than one guy’s eye; that kind of competition and jealousy could tear the house apart.”

“So what makes Maizy so different?”

“She doesn’t pose a threat because she can’t have kids with one of us, and no one here is going to mate with her anyhow. I mean, she’s a knockout and all, but half of us are mated, Trevor’s gay… I don’t know about William. He’s more of a father figure to her, but they seem to get along.”

Denver shot him a nasty glare.

Jericho chuckled. “What? I’m just stating the obvious.”

Just the suggestion of William pursuing Maizy left Denver unsettled. Suddenly every guy was becoming a threat; maybe it was just that territorial wolf inside him still trying to act as her watchdog.

Every muscle in Denver’s body locked when Maizy suddenly entered the room. She dragged her feet across the floor, eyes half-closed, her blond hair messy and sexy as hell. He loved the way it didn’t fall straight but had this natural wave to it. Maizy used to have a dark tan, but it didn’t look as if the sun spent much time in England. When she walked past him wearing only a T-shirt, he couldn’t take his eyes off her milky-white legs.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to go downstairs,” she murmured, going behind the bar and reaching into the fridge. After pulling out a chilled bottle of water, she sucked it down and then pressed the bottle against her neck. A droplet of water hung on her lower lip, but her eyes were closed and she was already heading out of the room again.

Denver set the bag of snacks to the side, his eyes glazed over, still focused on the hall.

“Ah, shit. You dirty dog,” Jericho said.

“What?”

“You like her.”

Denver smeared his finger across his sweats and left an orange stain. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Going camping?” Jericho pointed at Denver’s sweats. “’Cause it looks like you pitched a tent.”

Denver looked down, a full-blown erection pressing against his sweats. A flush of heat stung his cheeks and he cursed under his breath.

Jericho patted out the butt of his smoke and laughed. “Don’t worry, dickhead. Your secret’s safe with me.”

Denver hurled the bag at him and it exploded, scattering orange balls all over the floor. “Why don’t you get out of here and go make some more babies, Jerko.”

His brow arched. “Think I just might do that. Isabelle’s going into her heat cycle soon, and my woman loves me good when she’s in heat.” Denver could hear Jericho laughing all the way down the hall.

Bastard.

Denver felt his blood warm when he thought about the way Maizy had held that bottle of water to her neck. He’d never felt anything so primal in his life, and the glimpse he’d gotten of her red panties…

“I’ve seen that look before,” Naya said, sauntering into the room and grabbing some juice from the short fridge. Living in a pack meant never having privacy.

Still hard as granite, Denver turned over, lying on the beanbag in an incredibly awkward position.

When Naya spun around and held the juice to her lips, she spit some out with a quick laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

She wiped her chin and closed the fridge door. “Nothing, darling. I was suddenly reminded of when I first started seeing Wheeler. Literally,” she purred. “Maizy has become quite the popular girl in town. Several men at the bar were interested in getting to know her, and before you ask, they knew she was human.”

Which made Denver stir with jealousy. Some of the Breed thought humans were a curiosity—as if sleeping with one was a delicacy. Denver had never slept with a human before, but his curiosity had been piqued once or twice.

“Even Prince was taken by her.”

“That man has been nosing around in our shit for years. I don’t like it.”

“He’s helped us many times.”

Denver sat up. “It sure looked like he was trying to help himself earlier. She’s not a party favor, Naya. I don’t want you parading her around like shiny bait.”

She took a slow sip of her juice. “How did your date with Nadia go?”

He shifted on his side and propped his head in his hand. “She’s nice. Real classy.” He could hardly lie. Although assertive like most Shifter women were, Nadia was one of the most sophisticated women he’d ever gone out with.

“Nice.” Naya took another taste of her pineapple juice. “Nadia is independently wealthy, selective, and beautiful.”

“Then why is she still single?”

“People repeat history because they’re afraid to try something new. I hope you two give it a chance and see where things go.” Naya winked and left the room.

Denver got up and headed down the hall, stopping in front of Maizy’s room. His wolf was restless and wanted out, but not so he could run. He cracked the door open and saw her lying with her head at the foot of the bed. Her left arm was slung over the edge, and the water bottle had rolled out of her grip and across the floor. A dim night-light cast a soft glow in the room, creating shadows as he quietly crept inside and set the water within her reach. Maybe she wasn’t cold, but he still wrapped the purple blanket over her and covered her feet with a pillow.

Denver knelt down and tried to look at her, but her long wavy hair completely obscured her face. He didn’t want to mess with it and wake her.

She still smelled the same, only there was something different to her scent—a heady fragrance that caused his wolf to stir. Before he could resist, Denver involuntarily shifted. As soon as it happened, his wolf nuzzled her hair and then licked her arm. Maizy moaned and reached out, gripping a handful of his fur. Denver’s wolf had always liked it when she handled him that way. He could feel his wolf’s pride, his joy, and a deep-seated instinct to protect her. He drew in her scent and groaned as he nuzzled her once more before turning to face the door.

As Denver began to fade and his wolf took over, the last thing he heard was Maizy saying “Love you” as she stroked his face.

***

The next morning, I woke up with a stiff neck and nauseous tummy. I found a pair of sweatpants in a small pile next to my bed and remembered Denver’s wolf sleeping by my side. Having him there had been a comfort and made me realize his absence might have been the reason I’ve had trouble sleeping over the years.

My head was pounding when I crawled out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom. I wasn’t sure if it was a hangover or the fact my head had been literally hanging over the bed all night. I made all kinds of promises to never drink again.

When I reached the bathroom, the door was closed.

“Can you hurry up in there?” I knocked and pressed my ear against the door. Someone was gasping for breath. When I reached for the knob and jiggled it, I found it was locked. “Who’s in there?”

“It’s just me, Maizy. Go back to bed,” Lexi said.

Something was wrong. “Lexi, let me in. I want to know why it sounds like—”

The door swung open and Lexi looked at me with a tear-stained face. “Shh. Don’t let anyone hear you.”

“What’s wrong?” I pushed my way inside and locked the door behind me.

Then I noticed small droplets of blood—a stain on her thigh and on the toilet. I walked past her to look and grimaced when I realized what had happened.

Lexi sat on the floor, and I’d never seen her so distraught. I knelt down and blotted her face with a few folded sheets of toilet paper.

“We should call a Relic,” I said.

She shook her head. “It’s over. There’s nothing else to do.”

“Has this happened before?”

Lexi drew in a deep breath and wiped her nose. “Years ago—just after Naya and Wheeler got together—I had sex with Austin while I was in heat. I didn’t know I was pregnant until after I lost it. I told Austin, and we decided to keep it between us. After that, he kept putting off kids. He said we weren’t ready and the pack was too young, plus I had the business and maybe it wasn’t meant to be.”

I leaned around her to make sure no one was listening at the door, but I didn’t see any feet or shadows beneath the crack at the bottom. “Go on.”

She wiped her wet lashes and rubbed her eye. “A couple of years ago, I talked him into it. Having kids, that is. The sex is amazing when you’re in heat, but I really want to have a family with Austin. I got pregnant right away again. I started getting sick but kept it hidden from the pack because I wanted to make sure it would keep, you know? Anyhow, it happened in the morning. I woke up and… God, Austin saw the blood. So I went to a Relic, and she said maybe it had something to do with my first change happening so late. Maybe my body had repressed functionality or something. She told me that sometimes women lose their babies, but they keep trying and eventually one stays. It’s been devastating. Twice more it’s happened, and I can’t have the pack know what’s going on between us.”

“Why not? They should know what you’re going through.”

She shook her head adamantly. “This is our personal business, Maze. I’m afraid they might not see Austin as a competent alpha, even though it’s not his fault… it’s mine. We didn’t try to get pregnant this time. He tried to be cautious and pull out, but… God, I can’t talk about this with you.”

I smirked and brushed her hair away. “You’re my sister. We can talk about anything. I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for you to keep this a secret, but you need someone to confide in. Anytime you want to talk, or cry, or just yell at someone, come see me. Okay? Well, maybe not so much the yelling part.”

Lexi laughed quietly and patted my leg. “Thanks. Maybe after a while, but not today. I’m trusting you to keep this a secret, Maze. I don’t want Austin to worry. He told me once we shouldn’t have kids because he couldn’t stand the thought of losing me. I just feel like I’ve failed him as a mate.”

When the tears came, I held her. “Shhh. You haven’t failed him. Your body just needs more time, and maybe you need to find another Relic who specializes in this kind of thing.”

“Yeah.”

I let go and looked around the room. “Do you need to stay in here a little longer? I can tell everyone to use the guest bathroom downstairs. Unless they want to take a shower, and then they can just go play in the sprinklers with a bottle of dishwashing soap,” I said with a gentle smile. “I’ll tell them you’re in here taking a long bath and want privacy.”

“I’m pretty much done,” she said, sounding broken.

“I’ll come up later and check on you, okay? If you start feeling sick, or if something seems different than the other times, let me know. You’re a Shifter, but you’re not invincible.”

“Send Austin to the store, will you? I have a long list on the fridge of things I need around the house—just odds and ends. That’ll keep him busy most of the day. Otherwise he’s going to get suspicious if he sees me in bed all day.”

I stood up and poured water into a paper cup. “I’m so sorry, Lexi. I didn’t know any of this was going on. I’m trying to think if I’ve ever said anything stupid about you having babies…”

She stood up and tugged my long hair. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Maybe my coming home was too much excitement and—”

“Maizy, cut it out.” She gripped my arm firmly and then rested her head on my shoulder. “Your coming home is the best thing that’s happened since Spartacus learned how to use the litter box.”

We both laughed until tears came—the good kind. I handed her the tiny cup and she drank it to the bottom.

“You go out and do your thing, Maze. I’d rather be alone. If anyone asks, I’ll just tell them I ate something bad, which is easy to believe since Wheeler was the one who cooked breakfast this morning. Go shopping with Mom and get her out of the house before her psychic powers sense something is amiss.”

“Moms have that sixth sense, don’t they? I’m going to check on you in an hour, and if you’re okay, I’ll take her out shopping. I want you to go back to bed and keep the phone next to you. Call me or anyone in the house if you don’t—”

“Hey, I’ve been through this before. I know the drill,” she said, reassuring me. “Don’t worry about me. Life has tried to stomp me down more than once, and I just keep getting back up.”

“Something good will come out of this someday. Everyone here loves you, and that’s not going to change. Maybe I came back just in time. You haven’t even told Mom?”

She shook her head. “She’ll just worry. Someday you’ll find out there are things couples keep between themselves, and it’s not everyone’s business. You’re all grown-up, Maze,” she said, looking at me with her pale brown eyes. “I used to dread this day because it meant losing you. But I was an idiot.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because now I have more than just a little sister; I have a best friend. I know it wasn’t easy for you growing up without Wes—”

“Wait, why would you say that?”

“Because he was your real brother, and—”

“You’re my real sister,” I interrupted. My God, was that what Lexi had thought all this time? That I resented my life because she wasn’t related to me by blood? “I miss Wes because of the way you loved him. I’m sad I didn’t get to meet him, because that’s the kind of brother I’d want in my life. I used to be jealous you had that time together, but I don’t feel like that anymore. You needed him, and maybe that’s what he was put here for. You’re the only real big sister I have and could ever want. Don’t you get it?”

She shook her head and looked at me with pause. “What’s really bothering you, Maizy? You haven’t been the same since coming home. What don’t I get?”

My heart shredded to ribbons. Verbalizing my feelings wouldn’t match the gravity of how they weighed me down. “All those years, you always felt like the outsider in our family because you were adopted. But don’t you see? Now it’s me who doesn’t belong. I’m the one who doesn’t fit in with this picture. Mom always wanted me to live in the human world, and I feel like maybe that’s where the pack expects me to go. I don’t know where I belong. I don’t know who can love and accept the life I have right now. Breed men don’t usually date humans, and how many human men do you think would really be okay with all this? I mean, there’s a very real probability I’ll be asked to keep it secret, because he won’t be trusted among our kind. Maybe it’ll take years before that happens, and by then, I’ve deceived my husband.”

Lexi leaned against the sink and straightened her legs. “I find out yesterday my baby sis has had sex, and now you’re talking about getting married already. You always did want the fairy tale, but I never considered what your husband would think about your sister actually having a tail.”

A quiet laugh bubbled out and I stood next to her. We stayed like that for a while, bonding in a way we hadn’t before. Time had changed the both of us, and now we realized how perfectly we fit into each other’s lives as sisters.

“Your birthday is coming up,” she said quietly.

“I don’t feel like a party this year, Lexi. I really don’t. Let’s not make a thing of it anymore, okay?”

“If that’s what you want. Can we promise to say things to each other and keep secrets?” she asked, clutching my arm.

That was a big promise. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”

“Go,” she insisted. “I’ll shift in a minute and heal. I just need to be alone.”

After a quiet moment passed, I raised a question that had been on my mind since our talk. “Who else might know more about my mark?”

“There’s only one other person who knows about you, Maizy. He might know more than Austin does about Potentials.”

“Who’s that?”

She turned her head and studied me for a moment. “Prince.”

Chapter 7

After making sure Lexi was all right, I took my mother shopping that morning to keep her away from the house. I called Lexi twice to check on her, but she was adamant about needing alone time, which I completely understood. She assured me that after shifting, her body had fully healed. But she wasn’t emotionally ready to face the pack, so she stayed in bed for the remainder of the day. Austin was out buying everything from new stovetop covers to a wheelbarrow. He had plans to meet up with two local Packmasters that afternoon, so he would be tied up most of the day. Packmasters maintained relations to keep each other up to speed on recent news happening in the territory.

When I got home, I found her sleeping in a dark bedroom. Since everyone had either eaten already or was gone, Mom and I had a quiet lunch in the kitchen, talking about her garden. She made ham sandwiches, chips, pickles, and cheese on the side. Little moments like these were the ones I missed the most, the ones I’d savored when the pack had come to visit and we’d done nothing but hang around my flat.

Trevor tossed me the keys to his old hatchback. “You can drop me off later at work and zip around town in my flashy wheels if you want,” he said as we headed out to spend the day together.

“Maybe it’s time for a new car. You’ve had this thing forever.”

He laughed as we got in. “Wheeler and Austin are pretty handy with rebuilding engines and fixing up cars, so they’ve kept this running way past its expiration date. You looking to buy? I might be willing to part with it if you need some wheels.”

I rolled down the window and tied my long hair back. “I don’t have any money. A job comes first.”

“Why don’t you work at one of the stores? We could use the help.”

Dodging the question, I glanced at my legs. “Do you think I’m too pale to walk around in these shorts?”

“In Texas? Hell yeah,” he said with a snort. “You practically blinded me walking onto the porch.”

I playfully smacked his arm.

Trevor laughed in that wonderful way he was known for. “How about we grab a few paperbacks, some cold drinks, sandwich wraps, and head over to the lake? You can lay out, and we can catch up.”

“Sounds like fun, but I don’t have a bikini.”

“That’s what emergency funds are for.” Trevor threw the car into reverse. “Hold on to your panties!”

We swung by a used bookstore and collected a small bundle of books. Trevor browsed for a little while and chose a few for April, one of them having the worst romance cover I’d ever seen. He said it was a tradition they used to have on weekends to go out and find trashy romance novels. Our last stop was at Walmart so I could pick out a bikini while Trevor bought premade turkey sandwiches.

When we arrived at the lake, we spread out a blanket over a nice patch of green grass, then started soaking in the rays. He caught me up on pack news, and I gave Trevor the scoop about Europe. He’d visited three times and said he’d like to go again, this time to Italy. After the conversation died down, we chose a book from the stack and took turns reading it aloud.

Trevor rolled over and put on his sunglasses, his scratchy voice signifying he was all done reading for the day. I plucked a dandelion from the grass and blew a soft breath, sending the tiny white florets floating above me like weightless specks of cotton. A few billowy clouds floated overhead, stark white against the blue sky.

He eased up on his elbows and looked down at my bikini-clad body, which was finally picking up a nice color. “Damn, girl. If I were straight, I’d be a fool to ignore how stunning you turned out.”

I rolled onto my stomach and bent my knees, crossing my legs at the ankles. “You think? I wasn’t a big deal in England.”

“Hell, I just lost respect for an entire country in less than two seconds.”

I shooed away a bug and looked down at his toned body. Trevor wasn’t as big as some of the Weston boys, but he had a nice build. Not many men could pull off bangs, but Trevor styled his hair forward in layered chunks. It was the kind of look that made him stand out, especially combined with his style. Only now his hair was kind of sweaty and slicked back.

“Does April ever talk to you about stuff?” I asked.

He wrinkled his nose and watched a jogger run by. “What stuff?”

“Like how she fits in with the pack—how she feels being human and…”

“Mated to Reno?” He laughed softly and fell onto his back. “She wrestled with it in the beginning when they first got together. I’ll admit I thought he was an asshole when we first met.”

“That I believe.”

“Yeah, well, I had trust issues.”

“Had?”

Trevor elbowed me and smirked. “She doesn’t regret it for a minute, and neither does he. What choice does she have? It’s not like she can magically turn into a Shifter, and it would be dumb as hell to deny herself love because of it. Reno once said time moves at a crawl because he’s savoring every minute with her.”

“Wasn’t she afraid of the backlash?”

“I don’t know what kind of answer you’re looking for, Maizy. People make choices and do what’s best for them. You can’t live your life for someone else, and you can’t let someone else tell you how to live your life. People spend so much time judging the shit out of each other—it’s a waste of energy. So what if she’s mortal? She’s fucking happy, and April deserves to feel like a princess. She deserves the love she gets, and Reno’s one lucky bastard.”

“But it’s not forever.”

“Nothing is forever. Nothing. Death doesn’t discriminate. Time is no one’s friend—not even if you’re an immortal. And Shifters aren’t immortal. I could kick the can tomorrow and you might still be here another eighty years. Since when did you get so curious about April’s situation? That shit is solid. Even without all the passion, they’re best friends.”

“Oh, I know that. I’m just curious if she struggled with it. I’ve lived with humans for a long time, and returning to the pack… I don’t know. Suddenly I’m seeing things differently than I used to. I have questions I never thought to ask before.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and sat up. “I think an ant just bit me.” After staring at his fingers for a minute and scratching his neck, Trevor leaned back on his hands. “You fit.”

“Huh?” I rolled over so I could see him better.

“That’s what you want to know—how you mesh with our family. Every Shifter who comes into a pack is either chosen by the Packmaster or they come in as a mate. Now you want to know what your place is, right? You fit. Don’t even doubt it for a second, Maze. You’re one of us. You can’t escape,” he said with an evil laugh.

“Mom’s been trying to push me out for years.”

“Moms aren’t always right. I grew up in an abusive home, and I’ve never known what a functional relationship is about. I don’t know.” He rubbed his hand over the sweaty hair curling at the nape of his neck. “Figure out what you want while you’re still young—before it’s too late and you live your life in a pattern of rinse and repeat.”

“Trevor?” a voice boomed from behind us.

A big guy standing with two other men shaded his eyes and looked in our direction. His shaved head and black shirt made him look militant and out of place by the lake.

“Do you know him?” I asked, sitting up straight.

Trevor launched to his feet. “Stay here.”

I didn’t like his tone; it was a warning. I’d grown up with Shifters and knew a lot about the way they spoke and their body language.

The man branched away from his friends and approached Trevor with a menacing stride. They were out of earshot, and as they closed the distance between them, Trevor glanced back at me. So did the man, who cursed and shouted, but Trevor just waved his arm as if he were trying to brush him off. Then he held his middle finger in front of the man’s face.

I gasped when the man shoved him backward. He stalked toward Trevor, but Trevor didn’t take a swing. That was so unlike him! Trevor loved a fight, and I’d never seen him back down so submissively. The man shoved him again and then gripped his throat.

I launched to my feet, wanting to intervene. Since Trevor had cautioned me, that meant this guy was probably a Shifter. They were dangerous animals, and if they shifted, I could get killed. Trevor could heal; I couldn’t.

“Trevor!” I yelled out.

He raised his left hand and signaled me to stay back. I clenched my hands into fists and took a step forward. My heart pounded against my chest as adrenaline rocketed through my veins, compelling me to do something.

When Trevor knocked the man’s arm away, he got backhanded. The stranger hit him again and then kicked him over.

That was it. I was gone. Before I knew what was happening, I was running across the grass in their direction. “Leave him alone!” I shrieked, trying to attract the attention of people nearby. Maybe that would keep him from shifting. I stepped in front of Trevor, making myself into the most laughable, blond, bikini-clad shield there ever was.

“This isn’t your business,” he growled.

“Trevor is my packmate. Back off.”

“Or?”

“Do you have a Packmaster?”

He flinched. Of course he did.

I threw back my shoulders and lifted my eyes to his. “My Packmaster doesn’t like unprovoked assaults against his pack. He might seek compensation.”

“You can’t scare me with that bullshit. There’s no law against kicking some ass.”

“You’re right; there’s no law. But you and I both know that every Packmaster has the right to determine if he thinks someone has stepped over the line with his pack. While your Packmaster might turn away from this kind of thing, mine won’t. Austin Cole has a reputation in this area, and he looks after his pack. And doing this in front of humans?” I swept my arm toward a distant crowd of onlookers. “You could have made him shift, and then laws would have been broken.”

Trevor tugged on my arm as he stood up. “Come on, Maizy. Let’s go.”

A sardonic smile eased across the man’s face. “Maizy? So that’s the human runt.”

“Watch it, Aaron,” Trevor growled, wiping a blade of grass off his arm.

Aaron’s eyes narrowed. “You’re the one who better watch it. No one orders me around. This ain’t over.”

Trevor hurried me toward the blankets. “It’s over,” he shouted over his shoulder. “It’s so fucking over that they’re going to make it into a national holiday.”

I gripped his bicep and looked up at him with concern. “Who was that?”

“My ex.”

“Why did he hurt you?”

He huffed out a laugh. “I’ve been asking myself that for months.”

Trevor knelt down and collected our things, wrapping most of them inside the blanket. I hurriedly slipped on my shorts and T-shirt.

“Trevor, wait.” I pushed at his chest when he tried to walk away from me. “All these secrets need to stop. This family is full of them, and—”

“What the hell do you mean by that?”

I had to backtrack before I put my foot in my mouth. “How long has this been going on?”

He shrugged. “We were together five months, except he didn’t start showing his true colors until a month ago. It always starts with the verbal punches. Doesn’t take long before they brave a swing or two.”

“How does no one know about this?” I asked in disbelief.

“I’m good at keeping secrets; don’t you know that by now? I shift, Maizy. I shift and heal before going home with a black eye or a swollen lip. I’m an asshole magnet. If fate keeps throwing them at me, then maybe it’s all I deserve.”

I cupped my hands around his neck, which was still hot from the blistering sun. “You said April deserves to be happy, but why don’t you think the same about yourself? You’re amazing. And every time you give yourself away to someone like that, you’re chipping away at all that amazing. We can’t always see a person for who they really are in the beginning, but the only thing you should ever allow someone to break is your heart. Not your spirit and most certainly not your handsome face. Why did he approach you in the first place?”

Trevor began walking at a slow pace and I joined his side. “Because he doesn’t want it to be finished.”

“That’s his version of smoothing things over?”

“Pickings are slim in my dating pool, and he didn’t date around much, which is why he became too controlling. He didn’t want me going out, he was always accusing me of cheating… it was too much drama. I never fought back, so maybe he doesn’t think I have any fight left in me. But I’m so fucking tired of trying to please people and it never works out. I give and give and all they do is take. Worst of all? The best he could do on a night out was treat me to Burger King. That shit pisses me off. I like a good flame-broiled burger now and again, but maybe I’m dating the wrong gender. Everyone says the best guys are either gay or married, but that’s a load of bullcrap.”

“I’m guessing it’s not easy to find Shifters to date, especially wolves.”

He snorted and adjusted the blanket beneath his arm. “You got that right. It’s like a secret society. Sometimes I have to hang out with someone for a few weeks before I start to get that vibe. I get lucky now and again at the clubs with a few who are brazen enough to approach me, but they’re not all Shifters. I just don’t mesh well with other Breeds.”

“We’re telling the pack when we get home.”

Trevor tossed our stuff in the back of his car. “That’s not happening.”

I pulled open the door to let the hot air out. “It’s happening; like it or not. I’m sorry, Trevor. I love you too much to watch you get hurt. What if he tries that again and I’m not around? I want to make sure that everyone knows who’s after you.”

He sat in the car and turned the engine over. “Well, this should be interesting.”

***

The strange part about my return to Texas was that while initially I’d felt as though I was the only one in crisis mode, I realized the whole pack had their own toolbox full of issues. First Lexi and now Trevor. That’s the reality of growing up. Suddenly it wasn’t just about my problems anymore, and I needed to put others ahead of myself. Someone had to step in and fix the wrong—secrets they’d been keeping that threatened to tear the pack apart from the inside. That meant putting aside all my childish feelings of not belonging and doing some damage control.

“Family meeting,” I called out, kicking off my shoes in the hall by the front door and strolling toward the living room. “Anyone who doesn’t come down will get filled in by the next person who sees them. I want the whole house to hear the news.”

“What’s this about?” Lexi asked nervously.

I shook my head ever so slightly and closed my eyes to let her know it wasn’t about what had happened that morning in the bathroom.

Wheeler plopped down on the leather sofa and gave me a vacant stare.

When Melody entered the room, Izzy shooed her upstairs.

“Wait, I think she should hear this,” I said. “If you’re raising kids in this house, then we need to teach them core values.”

William stood in front of the window to my right. “Agreed.”

Izzy put her arm around Melody, and I noticed my mom and the twins weren’t home. Neither was April.

Austin took a seat in his leather chair and Reno leaned his hip against the side. Trevor looked like a spooked horse the way he hopped from one foot to the other with his hands tucked beneath his armpits. It was as if he wanted to get as close to the front door as possible in case he needed to run. I pulled him nearer to me and gave him a reassuring nod.

“I don’t know about this,” he said under his breath.

I stuffed my fingertips in the pocket of my jean shorts.

“Nice tan,” Denver said, pointing at my legs. “You missed a spot.”

Distracted, I glanced down and noticed a faded square on my right thigh that had come from falling asleep with a bookmark halfway on my leg. God, of all times for a silly distraction.

“Today I went to the lake with Trevor. We had a nice time together until a man showed up and punched him around.”

William moved ever so slightly.

I kept my eyes on Austin because the Packmaster would be the one to determine how his pack should respond to this.

Austin leaned forward. “What was the scuffle about?” He turned a sharp eye toward Trevor.

My stomach knotted when I realized Trevor wasn’t going to speak up. I knew about his past—the abusive pack who had raised him. But I couldn’t have imagined that the abuse was still going on, especially with the men in his life.

“Trevor just got out of an abusive relationship.”

The air left the room.

“Jesus,” Reno murmured.

It was a good thing April wasn’t there or she would have flipped. Trevor was like a brother to her, and I was certain he’d kept it hidden from her most of all.

“I don’t get it,” Austin said reluctantly. “How did this escape my attention?”

“It’s not the first time,” I said. “Trevor told me… he told me it’s been going on for years with other men.”

I could feel the energy rolling off William. Lexi covered her mouth, and Melody looked between everyone as if seeking her own reaction.

“It’s over,” Trevor said, one arm tucked around him and the other holding the back of his neck. “He just doesn’t want it to be over.”

“Who is… he?” William asked in thick words.

“A soon to be dead man,” Reno replied. “That’s who he is.”

“His name is Aaron,” I said before Trevor chickened out. “And I want everyone in the pack to know about him because Trevor needs our protection.”

“We have to do something,” Lexi said to Austin. “You know guys like that won’t give up.” They shared a private look, one I knew all about. The whole pack knew about her ex who had tried to take her life in a fit of despair and rage. He hadn’t been abusive, but the breakup triggered something violent in him.

Austin shook his head. “I’ll tell you one thing right now: nobody fucks with my pack. I’ll talk to his Packmaster and—”

“No, don’t,” Trevor quickly said. “That’ll just make it worse.”

“Worse than beating you?” William asked, pointing at Trevor’s bruised eye.

Trevor’s jaw slid forward. “Yeah. Worse. He’ll make it his personal mission to make my life hell. He’s just letting off steam right now. It’ll fizzle out and he’ll go away if I ignore him. They always do. It’s not like I stay in the relationships long when they start to go south, but sometimes it takes time to end it.”

I reached out to touch Trevor’s arm and he stepped out of reach, arms folded as he examined his oxfords. He was the kind of guy who liked to dress neatly—a pair of nice jeans, black leather shoes, and a button-up that conformed to his body. He had a signature style that never went out of fashion.

Denver sat up. “I say what comes around goes around, so how about we go make some of that come back around to him?” He snatched a piece of candy from a bowl by the TV and unwrapped it, popping a green mint into his mouth. “Some assholes need someone bigger to pick on them.”

Jericho snorted. “Well, you’re out then.”

“Shut it.”

“I’m the tallest one here,” Jericho said. “Maybe I need to take care of things.”

Reno cracked his knuckles. “I’m the biggest.”

As William walked by us with a scowl on his face, he said, “And I’m the baddest.”

“Will, don’t do anything stupid,” Austin shouted out as William left the house. “That’s an order! Dammit, Reno. Go follow him.”

Wheeler locked his hands behind his head. “And boom goes the dynamite.”

Reno took off, and moments later, we heard his motorcycle roaring down the driveway.

Trevor was trying to crawl back into his turtle shell, so I grabbed his hand and held it, whether he liked it or not. “I’ve been gone a long time, and I guess I’m seeing everything from a new perspective. So many things are starting to make sense, but this pack still needs a lot of work. I don’t mean to offend, Austin, but maybe that old saying about not being able to see the forest for the trees has some validity to it. You’re a family, and you need to pay attention to what’s going on with those around you.”

“Don’t you mean we?” Izzy asked.

“What did I say?”

“You said you’re a family. Aren’t you part of this family too?”

Before I could answer, Denver raised his voice. “Aaron what? William won’t get far without his last name or the pack he belongs to. I’m assuming he’s a wolf.”

Trevor grimaced. “William’s the one who introduced us.”

“Are you shitting me?” Izzy exclaimed. “Melody, go upstairs. Your mother is about to unleash a few words I’d rather you not hear for another decade.”

Melody snickered and looked relieved to escape the drama. The pack didn’t care one way or the other about cussing; they never had. It was just Izzy’s way of excusing her.

Trevor held up his hands. “Will didn’t know. He wouldn’t have set me up with someone like that intentionally. Hell, I didn’t know until the last month when he got pissed off after I went to a concert in Dallas.”

Austin rubbed his hands across his face several times. When he stopped, he touched the cleft on his chin and then steepled his fingers. “If Aaron contacts you again, I want to know about it. That means in person, on the phone, text, billboard… whatever. He’s not allowed to even say hello to you. I’m going to put out a warning to his Packmaster, and don’t worry, I’ll be discreet about your business.”

“Thanks. Sorry about all this,” Trevor said, dragging his gaze to the floor.

He started to shuffle toward the stairs when Wheeler launched off the sofa and followed behind him. He put his hands on Trevor’s shoulders and I heard him say, “Let’s go shoot a few games of pool, brother.”

Chapter 8

After the family meeting regarding Trevor’s ex, the pack settled down and returned to their usual routine. William still hadn’t come back. Reno had tailed him, but William had already put distance between them. Wheeler kept in contact with Reno because when a Packmaster gives his second-in-command orders, that beta wolf doesn’t want to let him down. Reno would stay out for as long as it took to find William, but Will wasn’t answering his phone.

Austin handed me the keys to the blue truck and told me to use it for as long as I wanted. There was someone I needed to pay a visit to, and it was a conversation I couldn’t stall any longer.

Lexi said Prince might know about Potentials. It wasn’t as though I had plans to date a nonhuman, but what scared me was what I didn’t know about the mark and what else it could mean. While I mostly kept it hidden, there were moments I didn’t think about it—like earlier at the park with Trevor. It was time to find out if this was something I really needed to be secretive about.

I knew the turnoff where Prince lived, but I’d never actually been to his house. He was one of the wealthiest Packmasters in the territory, and I’d heard plenty of stories about his land and was curious what it looked like. I laughed to myself because when I was a little girl, I used to imagine it looked like a glittering castle made of crystals.

When my truck turned onto a smoothly paved private road in the woods, I ducked beneath the visor with my mouth agape. “Whoa.”

Iron gates that towered fifteen or twenty feet high blocked the road. Columns bordered each side, and there was an intricate design at the top of the gate that looked prestigious, as if royalty lived there.

The guard wasn’t too pleased with my unannounced arrival. He was a stern-looking man with a blunt chin, shaved head, and camo pants. The kind of guy who might leap out of a military truck and crawl through the mud, pulling grenade pins with his teeth. He stood on the other side of the gate, arms folded.

I got out of the truck and approached him.

“That’s far enough,” he said gruffly. “State your business.”

“I’m here to see the General.”

No reaction. Doesn’t anyone have a sense of humor?

I shifted my gaze toward the lamps affixed to the columns, noticing stone wolves in a howling position atop each one. “I came to see Prince. He’s obviously not expecting me, but he knows who I am. Can you tell him it’s Maizy?”

He sniffed, flaring his nostrils. Then he took a step forward so his nose pushed between the bars on the gate. When he sniffed again, I stepped back.

“Are you a human?”

Shifters couldn’t smell humans—not that I knew of. Maybe some had special gifts I wasn’t aware of, but it’s possible that he’d sensed my energy was weak.

“Could you just relay the message?”

“What makes you think Prince would want to speak to a scrawny human?”

Scrawny? I glanced down. So maybe my legs were on the slender side, but I wasn’t by any means emaciated. “Call Prince. Tell him Maizy Knight is here to speak with him, and I won’t wait more than five minutes.” After storming back to the truck, I slammed the door and sat there watching the man make a call on his phone. The air inside the cab became stuffy, so I opened the window and fanned myself with a map I found in the glove compartment.

Three minutes later, a silver Audi raced toward the gate. The brakes screeched and the car lurched to a stop. Prince emerged and strode toward the guard, breathing as if he’d been running. I wondered if he ever dressed down in a pair of jeans and T-shirt. He had on a charcoal-grey suit and a black shirt with a wide V-neck beneath his unbuttoned jacket.

Oops. Maybe I interrupted a meeting.

When the gates opened, Prince waved me in. I started the engine and pulled up behind his Audi. As the gates began to close, I stepped out of the vehicle, leaving the keys in the ignition.

“My apologies for the wait.”

I slammed the door and then bumped it with my hip when it didn’t shut all the way. “No problem, but your guard could use some manners.”

Prince inched closer and lowered his voice. “Did he disrespect you?”

“I haven’t decided whether or not ‘scrawny’ properly fits my description. What do you think?” I said, half joking, anchoring my hands firmly to my hips.

A muscle twitched below his eye and he spun on his heel, stalking toward the guard.

Prince didn’t handle him roughly, but smoothed his hands down the lapels of the guard’s jacket. “Did you insult my guest?”

“I only—I—she just came in with an attitude and—”

When Prince drew in an audible breath, the man snapped his mouth shut and took a submissive position. Five seconds ticked by, then twenty. The guard didn’t move—his eyes looking at Prince’s leather shoes.

With a slow turn, Prince returned to my side and lightly touched my arm. His eyes scanned my body and unfortunately noticed the bead of sweat that trickled down my temple. “You can leave your vehicle here. I’ll drive you to the house and we’ll get you something cool to drink.”

“Thanks,” I said, my voice wavering. “I hope I didn’t cause any trouble with the guard. I’m sure he was just doing his job.”

Prince led me to his car and we got in. “If his job is to force you to sit in a hot car, then he’ll soon be unemployed.”

I sighed when the frosty air from the vents blew onto my face. “I’m just not used to the heat like I used to be. I’ve been away a long time and got a little spoiled, although I’m not a fan of rain.”

“Yes, they get far too much of it over there.”

We approached his mansion and I gasped, my eyes soaking in what compared to an English manor. “I heard it was big, but this is huge!”

Prince chuckled. “I’ve heard that a time or two.”

“I’m sure you have,” I said over my shoulder, although I wasn’t sure if he had meant the innuendo. I did, and I was a little disappointed when he didn’t return the playful banter. “This isn’t a mansion; it’s a castle in the woods. How is it that humans haven’t found this place?”

“I’m sure flying helicopters overhead might notice, but private property allows a man to build the kind of home that fits his personality.”

Three stories of personality. Stone archways across a long porch on the first level, a low wall below that since the house was on a hill, and a balcony on the second level. It had the appearance of a castle because of the steepled roof and the rounded columns of windows on either side. I was stunned. I’d seen Lorenzo’s home, and while it was contemporary on the outside, it didn’t equal half the size of Prince’s house.

“I feel like I’m going to a resort,” I said.

He parked the car on the right side of the house, inside a garage. “Should you want to stay the night, you’re more than welcome. There’s underground parking for your car.”

“While I’d be over the moon to stay at a place like this for the night, I’m just here to talk.”

A secretive smile touched his lips. “Come. I’ll show you to my private quarters and order refreshments.”

He guided me through the breezeway toward a side entrance. I hoped that “private quarters” didn’t mean his bedroom, although what that must look like piqued my curiosity. I wondered if he had silk curtains around his canopy bed with gold slippers at the edge.

After a brief chat with a packmate, Prince escorted me to the third level of the house. The sun was beginning to settle below the tree line, and the surrounding woods basked in the golden light flooding through the windows of the third floor.

“This is breathtaking!” I rushed to the open balcony doors and stepped outside. I could feel a delicate breeze that wasn’t blocked by trees or buildings. “You can see everything,” I said in awe. “I bet this looks amazing during meteor showers.”

“Would you like to sit out here?” he asked from the open balcony door.

“No, we need to speak in private. I don’t want anyone to hear our conversation.”

“Very well.” Prince closed the doors and leisurely walked toward two brown leather chairs near a tall bookcase on the right. It had a gold area rug beneath it that I couldn’t stop admiring because of the elaborate patterns. Obviously not something he bought at Home Depot.

As he motioned for me to sit, a knock sounded at the door.

My eyes were eating up the décor. From the antique paintings on the walls to the dark wood floors, no expense had been spared. An array of beautiful flowers was on a table between the bookshelves—fresh flowers. I snapped off a piece of material dangling from the end of my jean shorts and suddenly found no place to put the piece of scrap. I peered over the armrest in search of a trash can.

“Here we are.” Prince rolled a cart to my left and handed me a cup of hot tea, complete with a saucer.

I dropped the string of material next to a plate of cookies and accepted the tea with fire stinging my cheeks.

Prince’s face softened, but he pretended as if he hadn’t seen what I’d done. “Would you like something more comfortable to wear?”

“No,” I said, sipping my tea. “I’m just going to unravel right here in your chair.”

He took a seat in front of me and flashed his eyes up to mine. “How did you find England?”

“Wet.”

He traced his finger over his eyebrow and drew my attention back to his eyes. His right one was a medium brown, while his left eye glittered like sapphire. “You have grown into a remarkable woman.”

When my teacup rattled against the saucer from my nerves, I set it down. “Kind words, but the compliments aren’t necessary. I feel like an eyesore in your house. I didn’t mean to show up underdressed, but I’m working on replenishing my wardrobe.”

Prince sipped his tea slowly and set it on the tray. “On the contrary, everything in this room pales against your radiant beauty.”

“If you’re trying to play a game of how many times you can make me blush, then you win. I came here to talk to you about something private—something you might know a little about.”

Prince widened his legs and placed his arms on the armrest of the chair in a casual manner, but I could see his apprehension.

“Can I have your confidence?”

He nodded. “Your secrets are safe with me. As a Packmaster, I give you my word.”

I scratched my collarbone and looked around.

Prince laughed quietly. “You have peculiar habits when nervous. Such a trembling little flower.”

“No, I think I got a mosquito bite at the lake earlier. I’m here to ask you about the mark on my shoulder. Do you know the one I speak of?”

He nodded slowly.

“Can you tell me anything about what it means?”

Prince laced his fingers together and crossed his legs. “I have lived more centuries than most. I age slowly because I come from a pure line of powerful Shifters. You might see a few strands of silver in my hair, but I will live twice as long as the average Shifter. I’ve seen a lot of Breeds; some who have gone extinct—at least to my knowledge—and others who have thrived in our evolving world. Yours is an interesting story that began from nothing but rumors. There’s a reason why witch hunts involved searching for marks on a human. In the early years, humans knew about Breed, but they knew little about what we could do with our gifts. So they made up fables, if not making us the demons within their own religion. Do you know what you’re called?”

“Lexi said a Potential.”

“Yes, that is the name our kind has given to you. Not because you’re one of us, but because you have the potential to become one of us. No one I’ve spoken to knows how Potentials began, but it’s speculated that long ago, an extinct Breed possibly mated with your kind.”

“I thought Breed couldn’t have children with humans?”

He smiled. “And you are correct. But we know little of every Breed that’s ever walked the earth, and there might have been some who could at one time. I suspect there are certain Relics who know such details, but they don’t make them public. Perhaps these Breeds passed on just enough of their genes to lay dormant throughout generations until something awakened the magic within them. There could be more of you than is known about, but most have no knowledge of what the mark looks like or what it means. Not everyone has heard the stories. There are many legends among our kind that have been forgotten; they’re no longer stories told by the campfire because modern life has provided many distractions. Packmasters are more likely to recognize your mark, or those who have been in contact with elders and paid attention to their stories.”

“Is it something I must keep hidden?”

He leaned forward, eyes still centered on mine. “Absolutely. It’s not the ninety percent of our kind that don’t know about the mark who matter, it’s the ten percent who do. For some, it might be in a spot easily hidden by clothing, or they never come into contact with Breed to be discovered. But don’t doubt for a moment that what you are is unique. There is magic locked within you.”

I hated where this was going. I glanced down at the small white mark on my leg where I’d had the tanning accident. “And what is the key?”

His eyebrows arched. “Any Breed male you choose, should you choose. You can remain human for the rest of your days, or become one of us. It’s not just limited to Shifters; you can select any Breed you wish. All it requires is sex with a partner.”

“I don’t see how that would make any—”

“Please,” he said, holding up his hand, “don’t make me go into explicit detail. It’s in the sperm. At least, that’s my assumption.”

“So if he wears a condom…”

Prince rose to his feet and huffed out a breath. “Would you like some biscotti?”

“Actually, I prefer to eat crumpets while talking about condoms.”

His cheeks flushed. “A lady shouldn’t use foul language.”

“The only thing foul in my vocabulary are insults.”

“And you don’t think condoms would insult me?” He handed me a napkin with a biscotti.

“If I called you a condomhead, maybe. But discussing the nature of sex is hardly insulting. Not in a direct and personal way.” I took a bite and immediately placed it back on the tray.

“I thought you preferred this kind of food in England,” he said, still towering by the tray.

“Actually, I ate a lot of crisps and soda. Sit down and tell me more. Have you ever met any Potentials? Are there any dangers to my health by not changing, or vice versa?”

“Slow down. Give me a moment to collect my thoughts.”

I wanted to sling him around by his ponytail until he spilled the beans. Instead, I tucked my hands beneath my legs and leaned forward, trying to feign patience, wishing I had a bag of Doritos.

“I have known one Potential in my life,” he began. “This was… maybe four centuries ago, if I’m not mistaken. I was captivated by her beauty, and I preferred the company of human women.”

“Why?”

He scratched his head and then smoothed his hair in that spot. “No risk of producing accidental children.”

I knitted my brows. “I never thought of a human woman as a form of birth control. Don’t you want kids?”

“When I choose to have children—if I choose—then it will come from a bride I have carefully selected. It’s important to keep my line pure, and I will not settle for less.”

“What happened to the Potential? Did you turn her?”

“No. I hadn’t courted her long enough before a Gemini entered the picture. They’re an old, rare Breed, and I don’t know if any women exist among their kind—none that I’ve ever seen. Naturally, she caught his eye, as did the tattoo of a spade on her left wrist. I didn’t know at that time what it meant, but he presumed I did and spoke freely in my presence. I didn’t believe his story, and because he was insistent on pursuing her, I didn’t feel she was worth the fight. Geminis are not a Breed to tangle with.”

I hadn’t heard anything about them. “What happened to her?”

“She changed, of course. I wouldn’t have believed it had someone not provoked her and drawn out the signature eye color of a Gemini. I could feel her energy had changed, and all from bedding that scoundrel.”

“Did she know that was going to happen to her?”

“Perhaps. Although a devious man relies on trickery to get what he wants. She wouldn’t have been able to survive on her own without him—the human world would have rejected if not killed her out of fear she was a demon. People were executed in those times without hesitation, often without a trial.”

I stood up and moved toward the windows. In the reflection, Prince watched me, but my eyes focused outside at the dimming light. My life suddenly felt like an hourglass with a decision placed at my feet. Do I live as I am, or do I make a choice to become something else? No matter which way I went, I could end up regretting that choice.

“You have much to consider, little one. You can live as you are, but you will always be at risk of someone taking that choice away from you. All it requires is one careless moment of not covering your mark. Someone could have noticed it ten years ago, and an immortal has patience. They wait until the fruit ripens on the vine.”

I whirled around and waved my arms. “Don’t talk about me like I’m a grape! Everyone seems to think it’s so terrible to be human, but the length of your life doesn’t guarantee a better quality of life. I’ve seen people who lived to thirty happier than some immortals as old as the pyramids. No one is squeezing this little grape.” I was stalking angrily toward the door when he shot up from his chair and caught my arm.

“Do not make decisions in haste. If you storm out the door, you will never hear the rest.”

I shook out of his grip. “The rest of what?”

Prince traced his finger along the slope of my cheek. “That I would like to invite you to my bed. Don’t you see, little one? If you draw from my magic to become a Shifter, the purity of my power will move into your eyes, your hair, your skin, your breasts, your sex. You will be the perfect mate I’ve been seeking all these years; the only one worthy of bearing my children.”

“Most men offer to take me out on a date before they suggest filling me up with babies.”

“If you have any further questions, my door is always open. You shouldn’t have any trouble at the gate from now on.”

From now on. He said that as if my visits were going to become a regular thing. Prince was handsome, sophisticated, and he sure smelled nice, but that was a lot to dump on a girl. It didn’t really hit me until I walked out that Prince had all but given me a marriage proposal.

***

After returning home early that evening, I curled up in the chair in our quiet study. William still hadn’t come back, and Trevor had left to meet up with April and break the news in person about our meeting. Worst of all, there I was giving everyone a lecture about keeping secrets while I was hiding the biggest one of all.

What Prince had confirmed about my genetics frightened me, excited me, and made me dizzy all at once. His proposal, offer, whatever it was, left me uncertain. I’d always dreamed of marrying a prince, but who knew that could be a reality? He was attractive, polite, powerful, wealthy, and protective—all qualities a woman might desire. But did he like me? I sensed he did, but I was also skeptical of his true intentions. He’d known about my mark since I was a child and mentioned how immortals had patience. Maybe he was talking about other men, but it made me wonder if he’d been waiting all these years for his little grape to ripen on the vine.

Someone knocked on the door and it pushed open. “Hey, chickypoo. Mind if I come in?”

“Hey, Naya.”

She closed the door and reached down to wipe something off her bare foot. “The boys forgot to finish their chores today and the wood floor in the living room is in a dreadful state. I’m going to have to wear socks if I want to maintain my pedicure around here. I miss wall-to-wall carpeting.”

I peered behind her and noticed Spartacus had shoved his entire front leg beneath the door. Naya casually strolled toward the white chair in front of me. Behind it was a bookshelf built into the wall, filled with cookbooks, car-repair manuals, novels, home decorating books, and encyclopedias. She crossed her legs and studied her red nails for a minute.

“So I found a nice boy,” she began.

“I’m not sure this is a good time to play the dating game.”

“Of course it’s a good time!” she exclaimed. “No better time. You need someone to take your mind off the pack and whatever else has you hiding in here. You’re young, and you should be out having fun with other people your age.”

“Who happen to be male?”

She smiled with her ruby-red lips. “Of course. I’ve always found those of the male persuasion to be a perfect distraction. A nice date is just the kind of diversion you need to get you out of this musty room. He’s a trusted human in our world, so you won’t have to worry about keeping secrets. Isn’t that fabulous?”

Actually, it was kind of nice to have that burden lifted. I hadn’t known many trusted humans within the Breed world, at least none my age.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Spartacus was sweeping his paw across the floor—claws extended.

Naya twisted her ankle in small circles, causing the silver chain to slither around her foot. “Saturday.”

“No good,” I quickly said.

Her thin brow arched, and she brushed back her brown curls of hair. “And why is that?”

I was almost scared to verbalize it. With everything going on, they had forgotten. “It’s my birthday, but I already told Lexi I don’t want any kind of party. I mean it. In fact, I’ve made plans.”

Which wasn’t a total lie. Denver was a creature of habit when it came to his work schedule. He’d go in early on Friday night and come home just after midnight, heading straight to bed. That meant he’d be up in the morning after a good night’s rest instead of sleeping past noon.

We’d celebrated our birthdays together since I was around eleven or so. I wanted to keep that tradition, and maybe spending some private time together would mend our relationship. I hoped to get past the stumbling block between us and figure out where I stood with him.

Naya pouted. “Are you sure? We’ve always celebrated your birthday. Instead of pizza, we could go out to that fancy—”

“No, really. I have plans.”

“Then you’ll have your date on Sunday. No arguments. Consider that my birthday present to you.”

I smothered a laugh. “Only you would give me a man for my birthday.”

The door swung open and we both turned to look. Spartacus flew into the room like a blaze of glory—eyes wide and his gangly legs scrambling across the slippery floor.

Denver poked his head in. “Your pussy was feeling left out.”

Naya stood up and put her fist on her hip. “You’re getting less funny.”

“Why don’t you put a bell on him? It’s spooky when he creeps up on me.”

I giggled and shifted to face him. “What are you so afraid of? He’s just a harmless cat.”

“Harmless? I guess you haven’t woken up at three in the morning with him standing on your chest and licking your eye.”

Naya lifted Spartacus and planted a kiss on his head. “He does that because he wants you to love him. And I can’t put a bell on him because he ate the last one.”

“Yeah, I still remember hearing the jingle when he went to the litter box. I thought Santa had come early this year.” Denver stepped farther inside, eating soup straight out of a can. It looked like noodles, and I shuddered that it was lukewarm.

Despite the hell they gave Naya about the cat, I could tell the pack thrived on the chaos that Spartacus brought into the house. It gave them something to talk and joke about—an initiation process most new pack members faced anyhow.

“So what are you two doing all shut up in here?” he asked around a mouthful of noodles.

My gaze dragged down to his spectacular abs. Denver was built like an athlete—toned and fit. When his eyes flashed toward mine, I quickly looked back at Naya.

Unfortunately, Naya had caught the direction of my gaze and a cunning smile touched the corners of her mouth. “Maizy and I were just talking about her date.”

A noodle fell from his lips and hit the floor. Spartacus scrambled out of Naya’s arms and began licking it up.

“Date?” he asked.

Satisfaction filled her expression and she patted him on the chest. Then her hand slid down to the ridges on his abdomen. “How do you stay so toned working in a bar? You’ve always had the best abs; wouldn’t you agree, Maizy?”

They both looked at me and I turned away. “Good night, Naya.”

Her mischievous chuckle filled the room as she walked out, Spartacus sashaying behind her with his chin high.

When Denver turned to leave, I stole another quick glance. When he suddenly looked back at me over his shoulder, I turned away and studied the books close to the ceiling. An awkward moment passed before he finally shut the door.

This was a strange game we were playing, and I didn’t even know what game it was, let alone the rules.

Chapter 9

Denver had diligently ignored his ringing phone all day, to the point where he’d shut it off. Calls at home were usually Frank trying to get him to swap out the afternoon shift at the bar, and Denver didn’t like being bugged on his time off. Working in the daytime was less chaotic, but he made more money during peak hours.

After Maizy came home that evening from wherever and they had that stilted conversation in the study, he’d grabbed his keys from the nail by the front door above the letter D. His shift was starting soon, and he wanted to get there early and play a few games of pool. Denver hopped in his beat-up yellow truck—a classic style from last century—and switched on his phone. The moment he did, it rang.

“The fuck?”

As soon as he hit the main road, he glanced at the messages and saw they were all from Will. Nothing but: level red.

He dialed the number. “’Sup?”

“Denver. I need you.” William’s voice was steady, low, and scary as hell. He rattled off an obscure location, so Denver turned the truck around and headed out that way.

The full moon frosted the treetops like icing and sent chills up Denver’s spine. It made his wolf want to howl—not in song, but a cry to his pack to confirm they were safe, something wolves instinctively did. When he turned off the main road after the mile marker William had given him, he slowed down before it killed the tires on his truck. The road was barely visible beneath sticks, rocks, and the underbrush of the woods. The undercarriage squeaked as he hit potholes and bounced around in the cab. Up ahead, his headlights reflected off William’s silver BMW.

Denver cursed when he caught sight of William standing in front of the truck with blood on his hands. He looked like a zombie from one of those post-apocalyptic horror movies. Except dressed better.

“What the train wreck…”

Denver got out and approached William, slowing down the closer he got. He’d never seen such a feral look in his eyes. “What are you doing out here, Will? What’s going on?”

“I’m fucked, that’s what’s going on.” William motioned to the left at a body of a nude man.

Denver hardened his gaze. “Is that who I think it is? You better sit the fuck down and tell me what happened.”

“I prefer to stand.”

Denver raked his hands through his hair and paced in a circle. “This is so fucked up that they’re going to have to redefine fucked up in the dictionary with your picture beside it. Did you have provocation to fight him? When the Council finds out, you’re going to have to face his Packmaster, and you know what that means.”

Councils enforced the laws within the Shifter community, but something like this would be the Packmaster’s call. He could ask for compensation in the form of money, packmates, land… or he might want an eye for an eye, in which case the Packmaster would fight William to the death. The odds would be in the alpha’s favor. He could also demand the higher authority review the case and sentence William to Breed jail.

William had on a black shirt with a round collar except at the front where it dipped into a sharp vee. One of the open flaps hung to the side. Denver noticed he didn’t have blood on his face or matted in his dark curls of hair.

William looked at the dried blood on his hands. “Aaron wasn’t a close friend, just an acquaintance. I thought he would hit it off with Trevor; I didn’t think he’d actually hit him. He’s no different than every other Shifter out there, except that he bats for the boys. How the hell was I supposed to know?” William’s jaw tightened and his lips pressed into a thin line.

Denver scratched his chin and raised his eyebrows. “So you brought him out to the woods and offed him? Real slick plan.”

“Not quite. I know where he lives, and he happens to be a bit of a homebody.”

“Happened. Past tense,” Denver bit out.

“I warned him to leave Trevor alone, but not before I took a few swings. I wanted him to know what it feels like to be on the receiving end. When he struck me in the face with a closed fist, I suddenly realized what he’d been putting Trevor through all this time, and I was the one responsible for it.” William’s voice rose into a near shout. “It was my fault!” he growled. “I would never put my pack in danger…” William’s voice cracked on the last word, and he folded his arms, staring pensively at the ground.

Denver kicked a clump of dirt at the body. “Why is he in human form?”

“He pulled a knife, stabbed me, and I shifted. My wolf wasn’t as lenient in his punishments. Aaron shifted and we went at it. He must have realized I was stronger and panicked. He shifted back and went for the knife again, but it was too late. My wolf went in for the kill.”

Denver threw back his head and released a frustrated growl. “I don’t know what to do, Will. Your best idea was to bring him out here in the middle of bumfuck nowhere?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve used my trunk for nefarious acts. I seem to have a little experience with hauling bodies.”

Denver pointed at him. “Now is not the time for jokes.”

“Indeed.”

“So you’ve been standing out here all day waiting for me to swing by? For what?”

William shrugged and dropped his arms to his sides. “I wanted to bury him at first, but then I realized someone’s wolf is going to sniff him up. This is unclaimed land, but you know how wolves roam across unmarked territory. My smell is all over him. That doesn’t go away for a long time.”

Denver threw up his hand and turned around. “I don’t even want to know how you know something like that.” Dirt crunched beneath his shoes as he headed back to the truck to grab his phone.

Man, this was all kinds of messed up. William was going to be in a world of hurt when Austin got wind of this.

“What are you doing?” William called out.

“Calling the cavalry.”

“Can we talk about it for a minute?”

Denver glared at him. “This is a hell of a predicament, Will. Not much to discuss.”

William was in panic mode. Entering the Weston pack had given him a second chance, and that was a big deal since he was a former second-in-command. He could have easily slid into another pack and regained that rank, but he’d felt it was his obligation to atone for his bad decisions. Plus, he fit right in and still had a leadership position of a different kind. This wouldn’t just dishonor him; it could mean his death.

Denver tucked the phone in his pocket. “I’m not burying a body. I’m not going to burn it, sink it in the lake, dice it up for dog food, or send him to a taxidermist so you can prop him in the window display at Macy’s. I’ll watch you, but I’m not participating.”

“What if I just disappear?”

Denver kicked more dirt at the body in a show of disgust. Dead or not, this asshole had hurt one of his packmates. “Then you’re running away from your problems like a chickenshit, and that reputation is a hell of a lot worse. Austin mentioned to me what pack Aaron belonged to. Have you ever met his Packmaster?”

William flexed his hands as if he were trying to repel the dried blood. “Years ago, at one of Enzo’s peace parties. He was a prick.”

“True that. He came into the bar once. Ordered all these complicated drinks for his party and didn’t even leave me a tip. Dickwad.”

“Think Austin will be upset?” William asked, humor softening the sharp edges of his voice.

Denver had to laugh. “What do you think? We had a feeling you’d rough him up a little, but no one told you to kill the bastard.”

“Some bastards need killing.”

“Amen.” Denver kicked another clump of dirt at the body. “Trevor might not take this so well.”

William tried in vain to rub the dried blood off his hands. “I considered that. He’ll undoubtedly never speak to me again, although he might share a few choice words over my gravesite. Say, do you think someone could plant some of those little white flowers around the tombstone?”

Denver pulled out his phone. “If the whole pack turns their back on you, then at least you’ve got me.”

William arched a brow. “Swell. I’ll have someone to bring me cheesy crackers to my jail cell. Who are you calling?”

“Wheeler. He’s good with this kind of thing. Dead bodies and stuff. If he says we tell Austin, then that’s what we do. I’ll switch off my headlights until he gets here; we don’t need a spotlight drawing unwanted attention. Since this is unclaimed territory, do me a favor and shift. I want you to piss a nice little boundary around us for some temporary privacy. That’ll stave off any curious wolves until we figure this out.”

“Got a canteen?”

***

Wheeler circled around the body, rubbing the short scruff of hair around his chin and mouth. “You know, when you called, I thought maybe this was going to be some camping shit. Tents, s’mores, fishing,” he said, glaring at William. “Nope. You had to up the ante and deliver me a corpse.”

William widened his stance and clasped his hands together, which drew Wheeler’s attention to the dried blood. Denver had switched on the headlights when Wheeler arrived so he could survey the damage.

Wheeler nodded at Will’s hands. “Why didn’t you wash that off?”

“Should I choose a stream that flows through Lorenzo’s territory or zip into a gas station up the road and frighten a few humans?”

“Denver, grab the jug of windshield wiper fluid out of my trunk,” Wheeler snapped.

Denver groaned and stalked toward the Camaro. He didn’t even look back when he heard Wheeler toss his keys at him; he just lifted his hand and caught them midair. He groaned loud enough to tune out the arguing from behind as he popped open the trunk. William was used to being the one in control, and this was one situation where he had to trust his pack to make the right decisions.

“That has chemicals in it,” William protested, eyeing the blue liquid sloshing around in the jug Denver held in his right hand.

Wheeler snatched the plastic canister from Denver. “And mayhap I don’t care. It’ll dilute your scent from the blood. You’re lucky I don’t still have a can of paint thinner back there.”

Wheeler flipped the cap off and slowly poured while William scrubbed away the dried blood. Denver realized this was going to be a long night, so he sent a text to Frank to cover his shift.

Wheeler threw the empty jug and it made a hollow sound when it hit the dirt. “Strip.”

“I can change when we get home.”

“Nothing personal, sweetheart. Strip out of those clothes that smell like a dead man.”

William reluctantly peeled off his shirt. Denver leaned against the front end of his truck and grinned at William’s sudden bashfulness.

“Are we burning them?” he asked, hopping on one foot and removing the leg of his pants that had tangled around his shoe.

Denver snorted. “Didn’t you learn anything from Smokey the Bear?”

“Get the trash bag out of my trunk,” Wheeler said, lifting the pile of clothes.

Denver frowned at his brother. “I didn’t come here to play gofer. And what the hell are you doing with trash bags in the trunk of your car?”

Wheeler stalked past him. “Hiding bloody clothes and disposing of bodies,” he grumbled.

William stood naked with his arms at his sides. Denver tried not to notice, and his gaze made an exaggerated detour to the left. The crickets were chirping, a garbage bag was rustling, and William was whistling a cheery little song.

“You seem to be taking this pretty calmly,” Denver noted.

“It changes things when someone has your back.”

“What, you didn’t think I’d show up?”

William tucked his hands beneath his arms. “Would have been nice if you’d answered your phone twelve hours ago. The mosquitoes have been a nightmare.”

“Don’t put this on me. You know I don’t like answering my phone when I’m at the house.”

“Ah, yes. Too busy playing video games.”

“Shut it.”

“When you two lovebirds are done quarreling, come help me with the body,” Wheeler said.

“Wait.” Denver hesitated, realizing if they hid the body and were caught, then their punishment wouldn’t be that much less severe than whatever William faced.

Wheeler stripped out of his shirt and tossed it on the hood of Denver’s truck. “Wait for what?”

“William marked the perimeter to keep the wolves out. We can just leave the body here.”

“He marked it, huh? Yeah, like that’ll last.” Wheeler slapped at a mosquito on his tatted arm. “We’re putting him in William’s trunk.”

“Wait a second,” William argued. “It’s bad enough I’ve got blood on the floorboard to clean, but I’ll never get the smell out.”

Wheeler laughed darkly. “I’ll take you to buy a Kia on Monday. I think your snazzy little ride has seen enough bodies in the trunk, don’t you? We’ll drive it to the human side of town and find a nice parking place for the evening. We’ll strip the plates and tags off, clean it out, and—”

“Leave it?” Denver wasn’t so sure he liked where this was headed.

Wheeler sliced him a glare. “We can’t take it home and we can’t leave it here, so that narrows down the options. Humans won’t pay any attention to an abandoned car. At least not for one night. Once we drop the bomb on Austin, we’ll follow his orders. If we have to return the dead asshole to his Packmaster, then so be it. If Austin wants to hire a cleaner and pretend like this never happened, then I’m more than okay with that.”

Denver kicked a chunk of dirt at the body. “So why not just leave the car here?”

“Everyone knows Will drives this sparkly piece of shit, that’s why. You got packs five miles up that way and ten that way. It’s a full moon, and the last thing we need is a spotlight on our oops.”

“Oops?” William asked.

Wheeler pointed at the corpse. “Yeah, oops.”

“Have fun driving,” Denver said with a muffled laugh.

“William isn’t taking the body into town,” Wheeler replied. “You are.”

Denver bristled at the idea of being trapped in a car with a corpse. Not that he was superstitious or believed in ghosts, but he’d seen enough horror movies that he began having visions of that thing crawling through the backseat and sucking his eyeballs out. “I object.”

“Overruled.” Wheeler circled around the corpse and put his hands on his knees, bending over for a closer look. “Will, drive my Camaro back home. I want you to shift as soon as you get there and roll around in the creek for a minute. Then go inside and take a shower. Grab a bottle of ammonia, head back out here and pour it all around this spot. It doesn’t matter if you can still see the blood; any wolves that come sniffing around will rely on their noses, so the chemicals will throw them off and keep them away. Now grab his feet.”

Once they crammed Aaron into the trunk, Wheeler wiped his sweaty brow. “After you clean up, put the empty container of ammonia back into my trunk with the lid closed. Don’t spill any of that shit in my car. Go home, and if we’re still not back, then just wait. Make sure Austin doesn’t go anywhere.”

“Easier said than done,” Denver added with a sly grin. “He’s the Packmaster. Like Will is going to order him to sit in his chair and watch Game of Thrones.”

Wheeler slammed the trunk lid closed and pointed his finger. Denver noticed a string looped around the end of it with a cardboard pine tree swinging below. “Just for your comedic attitude, I’m not putting the air freshener in there.”

Chapter 10

My internal clock still hadn’t adjusted to Texas time. It was after midnight and I was wide-awake, lounging on the leather sofa and indulging in a fantasy movie about a dragon breathing fire on unsuspecting villages. Melody had talked me into watching a dragon marathon, but it looked as though I had outlasted her. She was crashed on the sofa, her feet on my lap.

Mel had an interesting sense of style: black leggings with her jean shorts. I admired the handiwork on her sneakers. She was a talented girl with a bright future if she kept at it. Part of me envied the contribution she would one day bring to her pack. My mother was a professional interior designer, and Lexi was an amazing business owner and baker. It made me wonder why I hadn’t been born with any special talents. Unless eating two bags of Walkers shortbread cookies counted, in which case my talents were unmatched.

Just as the scaly dragon descended upon the frightened virgin, the front door swung open. I peered over the back of the sofa, listening to the rustle of shoes coming off and keys jingling to my right. Through the dark room, the television cast enough light that I could see their faces, and Austin wore a scowl on his.

“You are fucking kidding me,” he said, hanging his keys on a nail. “You left a luxury car in front of Walmart and thought it would be fine? What the hell is wrong with you?”

Denver bent over to pull off his sneakers. “I had to run in for some nail clippers, and Wheeler thought it might be a good place. It was there when we left it.”

Austin rubbed his face. “Yeah, well it ain’t there now.”

Wheeler came in, placed his foot on Denver’s ass, and gave him a shove.

Denver fell onto his stomach and his hand squeaked against the wood floor. “You’re a real a-hole.”

Wheeler closed the door and then stepped over him. My shoulder rubbed against the leather and made a flutter of sound.

Denver pushed himself up and then his eyes met mine. “Maizy’s awake.”

All three men looked up and their expressions altered. Toenails clicked on the floor from behind, and I turned to see William’s wolf standing in the hallway entrance with his ears perked up. He was a dirty-grey animal with black markings on his ears and muzzle. He wasn’t a particularly husky wolf, but he stood taller than some of the others. He also should have known better than to shift in the house, so something was going on.

“That figures,” Austin murmured. “I have a lot of work to do in the morning, so I don’t want anyone knocking on my door unless it’s dire.”

The men lowered their heads, acting curiously submissive.

Austin climbed those steps like an exhausted man ascending Mount Everest. “And don’t let him out!” he shouted.

William’s wolf kept his tail tucked between his legs and watched Wheeler follow behind Austin.

“What have you guys been up to?” I asked.

Denver tiredly rubbed his face, drifting toward the sofa and looking up at the TV. “Guy stuff. What are you watching?”

“We’re watching something with carnivorous dragons.”

“We?” He peered over the sofa at Melody. “Ah. I should have known the little booger would still be up. Why didn’t you take off her shoes?”

“I was looking at the patterns she sewed on the edges. Aren’t they amazing?”

“She needs to be in bed. Maybe Jericho doesn’t care if she stays up late because he’s a night owl, but midnight is my cutoff time.” He moved behind me and leaned over so his arms were on either side, encroaching on my personal space as if he were hugging me from behind. Denver’s cheek brushed against mine, and he began unraveling her shoelaces and tugged at the heels before tossing the shoes to the floor.

I drew in a shallow breath, my heart steadily racing. I could feel the whiskers along his throat and the flush of heat on his skin. When the second shoe hit the floor, he abruptly moved away, leaving a cool draft where he had once been. Denver sent warm tingles in places he shouldn’t have by mere proximity, and it left me unnerved.

He paced around the sofa and lifted Melody into his arms. Her head rolled to the side, and a mop of hair obscured her face. “Man, she’s really zonked out. I remember you used to fake being asleep just so I’d carry you upstairs.”

“I did not!”

Lie. I totally did.

Denver winked. “Whatever.”

While he headed upstairs, I dashed into the kitchen to grab some snacks. I’d forgotten how much I loved doing that as a teen—staying up late, sneaking food my mom usually didn’t allow me to eat. Of course, being an adult without restrictions made it less exciting. On the other hand, some of those snacks I hadn’t tasted in years, and I was about to indulge in a feast to remember.

I tiptoed back through the hall toward the sofa.

“Busted.”

The can of Pringles slipped from beneath my arm and clattered on the floor. “Thanks, Denver. Now I probably broke all the chips.”

“Maybe what you need is a conveyer belt from the kitchen to the sofa. How much food can you possibly eat?”

“That’s the pot calling the kettle black.” I lifted the can and plopped down next to him in front of the TV. “I see you found something to watch.”

“You can’t beat the classics.”

“Setting a record for how many times you can watch Dumb and Dumber?”

“Hey, is that Izzy’s cheese popcorn?” he asked. “She’ll murder you if she finds out you stole her craving food.”

“She’ll never know.” I twisted the bag open and popped a few pieces in my mouth. “I used to eat half her bag. Then I’d cook some popcorn, spray it with oil, season it with the fake cheese sprinkle, and mix it in the bag.”

His brows arched and he peeled off his shirt. “You conniving little sneak! Give me some of that.”

I laughed while he took a handful. “I guess now I can just go to the store and buy her more.” A kernel of popcorn fell on his chest and rested between the muscles in his abs. “Do you have to be shirtless to eat it?”

He crammed as many as he could into his mouth. “This is her laundry week. I’m not going to risk her finding cheese stains and kernel shells on my shirt.” A few pieces tumbled between his legs and he snatched them up and ate them anyway.

“So where did you go earlier tonight?” he asked, licking his finger.

The cheesy dust settled in the back of my throat and made me cough. I fidgeted with the cap on my soda bottle, but it was sealed too tight. “I could ask the same thing of you.”

“You could, but Austin was with us, and the Packmaster doesn’t like everyone knowing his shit.”

“Then maybe the same applies for me.”

He stopped chewing and angled his body in my direction. “You were with a Packmaster?”

I flashed Denver an irritated look but then got caught up in the contours of his cheekbones, the sparkle in his deep-blue eyes, the way his wavy blond hair never quite covered the scar on his forehead over his left eye. It’s the kind of imperfection you don’t usually notice on a charismatic guy like Denver because of his crazy-sexy smile.

Hmm. Since when did I start thinking of Denver’s smile as sexy?

“Are you going to answer me?” he asked.

“How did your date with the Russian go? I don’t mean to be rude, but I forgot her name.”

“Nadia. I guess it went all right. She’s probably way out of my league. Independent, assertive, wealthy, honest…”

“Beautiful.”

He licked his bottom lip and chewed on another piece of popcorn. “That too.”

“She sounds perfect.”

Perhaps it was the fact my knees were bouncing up and down, or maybe I squeezed my soda bottle too hard, but when I turned the cap, a hiss sounded and soda flowed all over my legs. I quickly lifted the bottle by the neck and set it on the floor. “Shoot. Now it’s going to be all sticky.” I sat back, licking my wet fingers.

Denver’s gaze drifted from my mouth downward. “You got some on your leg.”

His fingers slid over my skin as he wiped up the soda that had dribbled across my inner thigh. When he brought his hand to his mouth and licked off the sweet liquid, my heart almost stopped. His eyes hooded and the air became charged with a mixture of body heat and pheromones.

Denver leaned in close, his smoldering eyes dropping to my mouth. I caught his scent—musky and familiar.

We explored each other with our eyes in a way we hadn’t before, entering unfamiliar territory. I’d never noticed how perfect his mouth was—broad and slightly curved up at the edges, like a man keeping a secret.

I jumped when a heavy object slammed against the front door. My heart rocketed in my chest, and the sound of footfalls grew distant across the porch. Faster than I could track, Denver climbed over the couch and leapt to the floor. I followed close behind as he drew back the lacy curtain and peered out the window.

“Who is it?” I whispered.

The hinges on the door creaked as he opened it, and crumpled at his feet was a naked man. He had dried blood crusted around his neck and on his shaved head, and based on his awkward position and coloring, I was fairly certain he was deceased.

William’s wolf made a deep, guttural sound as he approached the door, his nostrils flaring as he took in the scent.

Denver stepped over the body and surveyed the property. “Son of a mother lover,” he hissed angrily. Then he silently mouthed a few additional obscenities.

Goose bumps rose on my arms and I drew back. “What’s going on?”

When William’s wolf tried to lurch forward, Denver caught him by the neck and hauled him back inside. I peered out the door and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary—just the cars parked along the driveway. Except William’s BMW was farther down than usual.

“Shut the door,” Denver said, his voice falling to a whisper.

Before I could move, Denver gripped my arm, pulled me back, and turned the deadbolt. “Run upstairs and tell Austin we have a level red.”

“Why don’t I just tell him we have a dead body at the front door?” I sauntered past him and hurried up the stairs. Men could be so silly with all their code words, especially when the rest of the house knew what they meant.

I reached the end of the hallway and lightly tapped on Lexi and Austin’s door. The sound of a light snore filled the room, so it was a surprise when Austin answered. He raised his right arm and leaned on the doorjamb.

“Is that Lexi making that racket?” I said with a short laugh.

He didn’t look amused, so I lowered my eyes and admired the talisman around his neck.

“She only snores when she’s been crying for hours. You know anything about that?”

“Denver’s downstairs with a level red.”

Austin didn’t bother to put on sweatpants… or any other article of clothing. He quietly closed the door and headed downstairs in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs. Granted, he had a nice tan, muscles, and could have been an underwear model, but I’d always looked at him like a father figure. So watching my dad run around in his underwear at this late hour wasn’t enjoyable.

I wrinkled my nose.

Austin’s voice quietly rose from the bottom of the stairs. “Maizy?”

“Yeah?” I whispered back.

“Get Wheeler down here. Tell him it’s a level red.”

Annoyed, I padded down the front hall until I reached Wheeler and Naya’s bedroom. I knocked lightly on the door and Wheeler answered, squinting at the light from the hall. Behind him, Naya was in bed, wearing one of those fancy eye masks with lace around the edges.

“Sorry if I woke you guys,” I whispered.

Wheeler cleared his throat and spoke at a normal volume. “She has her earplugs in. I’ve been keeping her up too many nights and she wants her beauty sleep.”

“Too much information. Austin sent me up here.”

“What’s the message?”

“Dead body at the front door.”

I whirled around and headed back down the stairs. Much to my dismay, Wheeler had also decided to forego putting on pants, and he was wearing even less than Austin. They were tight, red, and way too small to be practical. I shielded my eyes when he caught up with me.

“Can’t you guys put pants on?”

I’d forgotten what it was like living with a wolf pack. They didn’t have inhibitions. That didn’t mean they normally walked around the house naked, but after a shift, it wasn’t uncommon to see someone strolling upstairs to their room. When I was little, Wheeler used to hide his pants on the property to cover up his scars, but that changed after he mated with Naya. I’d been living in the human world too long, where women hid themselves if someone opened the door and they weren’t dressed.

Not the Cole brothers.

Just as I reached the bottom of the stairs, I caught sight of Austin going outside in a pair of black boots with the laces undone.

Denver snapped his fingers. “Back upstairs, Maizy.”

Well, that just irritated me. “I know you’re trying to protect me, but I’m not a dog you can snap your fingers at, so don’t do that again. What’s going on?”

“Someone’s fucking with our heads, that’s what’s going on,” he said, tucking his hands in his jean pockets.

“Has this pack always been full of secrets?”

“What secrets?”

“Grab his feet,” Austin whispered to Wheeler just outside the door. “We’re putting him back in Will’s trunk.”

I waved my hand. “Do I need to answer that question? Who is that?”

Denver watched them for a moment and turned away. “You don’t recognize him?”

That was a frightening question. I furrowed my brow and caught a glimpse of Wheeler moving out of sight while holding a pair of hairy ankles. “I just saw the back end. Should I have recognized him?”

“Aaron.”

My jaw hung lax. “The guy who… You mean that’s Trevor’s—”

“Yeah, that’s exactly who it is. You can’t say anything to the pack; not until Austin makes the decision on what happens next.”

I reclined my head back and covered my eyes. “I can’t believe this. They could arrest you!”

He threw up his arms. “Hey, I didn’t do it.”

A chill ran down my spine and my gaze darted to the window. It brought back memories of years ago when one of Ivy’s old packmates had come after her and battled our pack in a bar.

“Then who did? Are they still out there? What if they try to get inside?”

Without missing a beat, Denver stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. Tight. The kind of embrace a man gives you when he wants to become your security blanket.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he whispered, his lips pressed against my head.

Denver was tall enough that he could rest his chin on the top of my head. His strong arms encased me a little more when I leaned into him. Suddenly, I didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world. His steadfast heart was the only sound I heard, the only thing I felt, the only unwavering loyalty I’d ever known.

This is what I’d been missing all these years.

The door swung open and Denver swept me behind him so fast that I almost tripped.

“Why don’t you lift a finger and help a brother out? ’Preciate ya.” Wheeler shoved something into Denver’s arms and walked past us, an agitated look on his face.

Denver turned around, holding a toolbox. “What’s this for?”

“Just in case we have to roll the car into the lake, I don’t want to hear William whining about his tools,” Wheeler said, backing up. It kind of looked as though he was dressed with all the tattoos on his arms and back. He rubbed his hand over the black panther on his right pec. I tried not to notice the scars on his upper legs and hips. After Naya had come along, he no longer concealed the evidence of his dark past as a cage fighter. He’d even wear his reading glasses, which actually made him look charismatic and intelligent, even though the guys cracked a few jokes.

Austin came back inside and looked at his hands. “I need a shower.”

Wheeler gave a mirthless laugh. “If you need a shower, I need a decontamination hose.” He paused for a beat and folded his arms. “So what’s the plan, hoss?”

Austin checked the lock on the door. “Can’t do anything about it tonight. The body concerns me less than the motherfucker who put it on my front porch. Are you sure no one followed you?”

Denver and Wheeler looked between each other and shrugged.

“Wheeler?” a voice sang from upstairs.

“Shit,” Wheeler grumbled, noticing Naya had made it halfway down. “Go back to bed, kitty cat.” He crossed the room and stood at the foot of the stairs.

“I told you I wanted to sleep.”

“I’m not even near you! I thought you’d sleep a hell of a lot better without me tossing and turning.”

She planted her hands on her hips, and the hem of her lacy nightie seemed to float around her. “I need you in the bed. Your body heat is a narcotic.”

“I’ll remember that,” he growled, desire rumbling in his chest.

Naya wagged her finger at him. “Don’t start with the sexy voice. I have an important meeting with a client in the morning.”

He put his hands on the banister and leaned forward. “I love it when you get feisty, Miss Diva.”

While Wheeler was doing his best to seduce Naya, Spartacus had quietly snuck up like a living shadow behind him. Sparty reached up—as if stretching—and placed his paws on the back of Wheeler’s underwear.

“What the—” Wheeler turned his head and that’s when he made the fatal error of stepping up the staircase.

Spartacus dragged behind him, claws in the material of Wheeler’s underwear. In less than two seconds, Spartacus peeled the tight red shorts down to Wheeler’s ankles.

“I said not tonight!” Naya huffed, tromping back up the stairs, her hips swinging.

I covered my laugh.

“No one needs to see that,” Denver complained, grabbing the snacks from the sofa and heading toward the kitchen.

Wheeler cut him a sharp glare. “Would you rather I bend over and yank them up, sweetheart?” He stepped out of his underwear and hiked up the stairs after his mate.

Spartacus kneaded his paws against the red material of Wheeler’s underwear and then curled up in a ball. He glanced up at Austin and his tongue poked out to the side.

Austin kicked off his unlaced boots. “This is one exception where I’m all for giving that cat a bath.”

Chapter 11

Deciding I didn’t want to get involved with body disposal, I didn’t bring up the events of the previous night with the rest of the pack. When you’ve lived in the Breed world this long, these are exactly the kinds of occurrences that you can expect. Wars, territorial disputes, rogues, secrets, lies, conspiracies, dead bodies on your doorstep—it really was like something you’d see on TV. But we also had moments of normalcy when the boys would swing into town and grab a sack of burgers, or complain how long the line at the grocery store was, or April would find an injured animal and nurse it back to health. I loved every weird and average thing about this pack, this life, and especially my family.

I spent the day with Lexi so she wouldn’t go through her loss alone. She was in better spirits and already trying to put it behind her. I’d always known Lexi’s courage had something to do with her being a Shifter, but this wasn’t the kind of pain a woman could easily put away.

When Saturday morning rolled around, I dragged Denver out of the house.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” I said with a jaunty smile.

Since Jericho had taken off with the blue truck, Denver offered to drive. But this trip was a surprise, so I snatched the keys from his hand and hopped in the driver’s seat. I’d forgotten how stuffy his truck was without a good air conditioner, so we rolled down the windows. A gust of unforgiving wind blew my hair all over the place.

“Do you have something I can tie my hair with?” I asked.

He widened his legs and poked at a hole in his jeans. “Do I look like the kind of guy who keeps scrunchies in his truck?”

“A bandana? A rubber band? Rope?”

He quietly laughed and shook his head. Denver’s truck was old—really old. If it was an antique when I was a little girl, now it was an artifact. It had a long seat and he kept the inside in good condition. The steering wheel was large, and the whole thing squeaked and creaked whenever it hit a bump. There was no backseat, nor room to store anything beneath the seats.

“Pull over real quick,” he said.

After he got out, I snagged a stick of gum from the package sitting on the dash while he rummaged around in the back. The moment I bit into the gum, it crumbled into pieces that sprinkled on my lap and hand.

Denver got back in and stared at me. “What’s that?”

“How long has that gum been on the dash?”

He laughed, and it was low and evil. “You ate that?”

I brushed off my lap. “Don’t even tell me; I don’t want to know.” After spitting the pieces in my mouth out the window, I turned back around to find Denver holding a hat in front of me.

“Found this to keep your hair still.”

I turned the straw hat in my hands—it was shaped like a cowboy hat that curled on the sides. “Is this the one I gave you?”

He shrugged and picked at something on his skintight white T-shirt—the fabric cheap enough that I could see through it. “Comes in handy.”

“Is that all?” I said glumly, putting it on my head and turning back onto the road.

“No. It’s sentimental. I’ve always hated the damn thing, but I wear it a lot.”

That made me smile. I’d always known Denver hated that hat, but the fact that he wore it just for me meant so much.

“Looks good on you,” he said, resting his right arm on top of the door.

“I’m not keeping it.”

He barked out a laugh. “Did I say you could steal my hat? Where are we going?”

“Close your eyes.”

“I don’t like the sound of this.”

I reached over and grasped his arm. “Do you trust me?”

Denver immediately shut his eyes and leaned his head back. Things were going to change, starting today. After a short drive, I put the car into park and instructed him to keep his eyes closed while I got out. He didn’t raise any complaints, but I could tell the suspense was killing him. Denver wasn’t a guy who liked surprises.

I opened his door and took his arm, helping him out of the truck. “Okay, you can look now.”

Denver squinted and glanced around the parking lot. “What am I looking at?”

I tipped my head toward the building.

His eyes followed up to the sign. “Denny’s?”

The purse strap fell off my shoulder and I pulled it back up. “Yeah! They named a whole restaurant after you.”

“You’re funny.” He shut the door and stretched out his back.

“Plus, they let you eat free on your birthday.”

That snagged his attention. I gave a tight-lipped smile and held his hand, pulling him toward the door. Years ago, I’d made Denver get a new human identity that displayed his date of birth as being the same as mine. It was a silly thing to do, but he never wanted to tell me his real birthday, so I decided we were going to share a date. To amuse a little girl, he changed his fake ID.

We both ordered a grand slam—two of everything. Hot pancakes, sausages, crispy bacon, and eggs. I laughed when some of the women couldn’t stop admiring Denver. Shifters had a different aura about them you couldn’t put your finger on; they could sit in a restaurant and eat with humans and no one had a clue they were dining with wolves. But you could always sense something special about them, something magnetic that made it difficult to tear your eyes away.

Denver told a tall tale about a bar fight that had me laughing so hard tears were streaming down my face. He always did tell the best stories, and there was never a dull moment around Howlers.

He reached across the table and poked his finger into my cheek. “Always loved those dimples. Got any candy?”

I scowled. When I was too small to know better, Denver had convinced me I could hide small pieces of candy in my dimples if I just kept smiling.

“Why didn’t you ever write back to me?” I’d waited until we finished our meal before starting the long overdue conversation.

Denver nibbled on his last sausage and his gaze darted toward the window. “Just didn’t have anything to talk about. Same old same old.”

“You should have come to visit me. Everyone had so much fun, and it wasn’t the same without you.”

He shrugged. “Never liked flying. Plus if the plane went down, there’d be none of us left.”

I dipped my finger into my orange juice glass and flicked some at him. He grinned and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Remember when you used to write me letters? I missed them when you stopped. Everyone else used to just send me an e-mail or call, but I liked getting a handwritten letter in the mail. People don’t do that anymore, and it was special. I thought you should know that. Maybe nothing exciting was going on around here, but I loved reading the funny things you mentioned—like when Reno’s feet got stuck in the mud, or when the two boys had tied the pack together and made a dogsled.”

He chuckled. “That was funny as hell. Especially when Austin went outside and found out what was going on. The guys were just wagging their tails when they should have known better. It’s a submissive thing to do to a wolf, but they knew the boys were just funnin’ around. Then Austin made them shift.”

I pushed my plate to the left, laughing quietly. “I can imagine what that must have looked like.”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to scrub that one from my mind for as long as I live.”

“Sometimes I think I missed out on all the good memories.” I didn’t mention how I’d cried when Lexi had sent pictures of the family tubing on the Guadalupe River; the pack was making memories without me.

He leaned back and fished a peppermint out of his pocket, twisting the wrapper off and popping the candy into his mouth. Denver had a nice sparkle in his eyes, one that had dulled upon my return but was slowly coming back. It wasn’t just the way the light hit them, but the way he looked at me.

Denver leaned forward with his arms on the table. “So how was it living with humans?”

“Different. It’s hard to explain. They always have get-togethers, but not for the same reasons we do. Their bonds don’t seem as strong as a pack’s, but then again, I just hung around with friends. I don’t know what they’re like at home with their families.”

“No one shifting in the house and walking around naked. I could see how that’s different.”

“Maybe the shifting part.”

Denver’s brow arched into a scary angle. “Say again?”

The air tensed.

I unabashedly leaned forward and centered my eyes on his. “I’ve known human men.”

His cheeks were mottled with red—an angry shade I’d seen a few times in my life. It made the scar on his forehead stand out. Denver crunched on his candy and remained quiet.

I played with a couple of colorful woven bracelets on my arm. “I’ve been in two relationships, although neither was serious. Don’t look at me like that; I deserve to be loved.”

“Sex isn’t the only way a man can love you.”

“Says the man who’s always looking for a good time.”

He leaned forward, his shoulders stiffening. “Yeah, well, I’m not looking for love.”

I pulled my tousled hair back. “What the heck? You think that makes it better—having emotionless sex with women? Isn’t it more admirable that at least I tried to be in love with the men I slept with?”

He cleared his throat. “Tried?” Denver lifted a glass of water and swallowed a few gulps. I watched his Adam’s apple move up and down for a second before I answered.

“I cared about them, but I didn’t love them. Not the way you’re supposed to love someone you give yourself to. I thought I did in the beginning, but afterward I realized it wasn’t the kind of love…”

“What?”

I shifted in my seat and looked for the waitress.

Denver grew impatient and snapped his fingers to gain my attention. “Finish what you were going to say.”

This was awkward when I gave it too much thought. I swiped a small drop of syrup off the table with my finger and then wiped it on a napkin. I’d known Denver most of my life, but I’d never felt as though he was family. What if he made a joke about this, something that wasn’t funny to me? Denver had a tendency to deflect awkward situations with humor.

“It wasn’t the kind of love I’d always imagined.”

“Oh, that.”

I jerked my head back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He put his silverware on his plate and began arranging the table. “You’ve been reading fairy tales your whole life, watching all those human movies with unrealistic expectations.”

“I knew the movies weren’t real,” I protested.

He pulled out some bills for a tip. “Maybe so, but that kind of shit seeps in real deep. There’s no prince, there’s no fairy tale, there’s no perfect man who will sweep you off your feet and give you a happily ever after. There’s just the guy who’s good enough.”

I started laughing in disbelief. “You should start your own line of children’s books.”

“True that. Would Beauty have loved the Beast if he wasn’t loaded? Even if he’d never changed back, she was set for life.”

“She fell in love with his heart. The one he kept hidden and pretended he didn’t have. The one no one had ever touched. Sound familiar?” I got up and glanced around the restaurant until I saw a set of doors behind me. “I need to use the restroom before we head out.”

“Home?”

I smiled and circled my finger around the white spot on my leg. “Part two. The adventure has only just begun.”

“It better not involve bungee cords.”

***

When Maizy got up to leave, Denver actually leaned into the aisle to stare at her ass. He felt ashamed, especially when the elderly lady across the aisle cleared her throat and clucked her tongue at him.

He was a virile man and couldn’t ignore that Maizy had a sensational body. Long, slender legs, a swing in her step, a slight flare in her hips, flawless skin—except for the tanning mishap on her leg, and even that was kind of sexy because it drew his gaze to her thighs. It hadn’t escaped his attention that despite her petite frame, she’d inherited beautiful breasts. Maizy didn’t have the small cups that most women her size did, but a nice handful. Not too big either. Just right.

Hard not to notice in her V-necked brown summer blouse that tied in the back. All through breakfast he had a grand-slam view of her cleavage. Especially when the air conditioner kicked on and raised little goose bumps across her body. Texas restaurants loved to freeze out customers, and Denver was blissfully thankful.

Looking her in the eyes was no easy feat. She had a habit of drawing in her bottom lip and wetting it. And unlike his dark blue eyes, hers were radiant like a summer sky. Most of all, it was her infectious laugh that made her irresistible. Every time she flashed those dimples at him, it made his chest swell. He couldn’t get over how beautiful she’d become, and yet how down-to-earth she was. There was a comfort level between them that made it easy to fall into banter with her.

The second Maizy went into the bathroom, someone slid into her seat.

Prince gave him a critical gaze and lowered his voice. “I’ll make this brief. It’s come to my attention that you seem to have an affection for the human.”

Denver leaned on his forearms. “And what business is it of yours?”

“Let’s just say that you’re encroaching upon my territory.”

The hairs on the back of Denver’s neck rose. This alpha was staking his claim on Maizy? “You forget she’s my packmate, not free game.”

Prince tipped his head to the side. “Perhaps, but technically she’s human, so she belongs to no one’s pack.”

Denver lifted his chin. “Have you been following us? This doesn’t look like your kind of joint.”

Prince’s eyes lifted and he observed their surroundings. “Precisely. I would never bring a woman like Maizy to a classless, cheap establishment such as this.”

Denver waved his finger between them. “She’s the one who brought me, buddy.” Maybe that didn’t impress the alpha, because a smug look crossed Prince’s expression.

“It must be hard times indeed to have an unemployed woman pay for your breakfast.”

Asshole. “She didn’t buy my food. It was free.”

“Keep flapping your gums and it will only reaffirm what an unworthy man you are.”

Prince had an arrogance about him that came with age, but he’d never gone out of his way to be rude to one of them. It was as if he was trying to provoke Denver and get him to do something foolish. Denver wanted to flip the table over, but he wasn’t sure if it was bolted to the floor. Aside from that, Prince was a Packmaster, and there were rules about that kind of thing that could land Denver in hot water for attacking him.

Prince knew it too, and that’s why he kept a supreme look of satisfaction on his face. The same face Denver wanted to shove into a plate of half-eaten eggs and cover in maple syrup.

“What do you want?”

Prince peered over his shoulder at the bathroom door and stood up. “Walk with me to the exit.”

Denver set an empty glass on a few bills and followed Prince. They paused at the glass door with Prince leaning his right shoulder against the wall.

“I don’t know what relationship exists between you two, but we both know it’s not uncommon for watchdogs to mate with the ones they’re protecting. I’ve seen it. The relationship is unbreakable, and once the woman comes of age and begins dating, that old instinct kicks in. The one that tells you to fight for her, only I don’t see you fighting so hard, and I’m guessing it’s because she’s a human. I want you to keep your distance.”

“And what’s your sudden interest in a human? Looking for a pet? Well, it ain’t gonna happen.”

“She has always been a special child, and now she’s an exquisite woman. I can offer her more than your tip jar at Howlers. Why would you deny her that measure of security? Think about what kind of life she could have before you decide how greedy you want to be. I have an abundance of wealth and power, and who I choose to set my sights on is none of your affair.”

Denver leaned in. “What makes you think we’re not together?”

Prince’s features hardened, and Denver’s attention was drawn to his blue eye more than the brown. “Because I know the look of a man who covets. It’s not the same look as a man who already has the object of his desire in his possession. You’re never going to get her. She will never be yours.”

Denver leaned in tight. “She has always been mine,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Let this be a warning. If I find out you’ve put one finger on her, then I’ll see to it your pack is stripped down to nothing.” Prince disappeared out the door and Denver stepped back to let a young couple follow behind him.

Denver watched him cross the parking lot and get into his Audi. Prince had always done their pack a good turn, so Denver never had a reason to dislike him. He didn’t trust men who wore ponytails, but who was he to judge? He barely ran a comb through his own hair. Prince’s packmates boasted about how much they loved living under his rule. He was firm, and that’s the sort of leadership a decent pack respected.

He was still a prick with a ponytail.

Prince must have been the one Maizy had visited the other night. Denver wondered if she’d given him the impression that she was interested. And why the hell would an ancient like Prince want anything to do with a human? Probably just wanted her for a plaything. It disgusted Denver and he folded his arms as he watched the car speed off.

A hand slapped his shoulder and he spun around. “Jesus, Maizy. You scared the bacon out of me.”

“What’s wrong?”

He tried to ignore his thundering heart. “Nothing. Just anxious to get this show on the road so I can see what torment awaits me.”

Her eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled up at him. “Good. Follow me to the torture chamber!”

Chapter 12

“Stop yelling at me!”

When the car jerked to the right, Denver let go of the wheel. “Then stay on the right side of the road. We’re not in Europe anymore.”

“Sorry. It’s a habit. Maybe I need to get my license.”

Denver snatched the hat off my head and put it on his own. “If you can read a stop sign, then you’re good to go. Nobody needs to know how to parallel park. We can always make you up a fake ID if you’re worried about getting a ticket, but you know we have connections to get that ticket erased.”

Everyone in the Breed had fake human identities, but I wasn’t Breed. “No, I want to do things the legit way.”

“I don’t see why people have to get a license,” he grumbled. “You know how to drive. I taught you on the property when you were twelve.”

“I remember. Mom’s poor bird bath.”

“People shouldn’t put those things just anywhere,” he said, scooting down in his seat.

I took another right turn and headed down the back roads, away from the city. A squirrel darted in the road up ahead and did a zigzag before making up his mind to climb a tree. “I really missed Texas.”

Denver bent his legs and put his feet against the dash. “Yeah? What did you miss?”

“Crepe myrtles, mockingbirds, amazing sunsets, ice cream cones on a hot summer day in the back of a pickup truck, craft fairs, Breed music festivals, the Alamo Drafthouse, barbecue.”

“Not a fan of English barbecue?” he asked with a snort.

I gave him an amused look and took another wide turn.

Denver cleared his throat, his voice becoming textured and deep. Something about the heat and humidity in the South did that. It slowed things down a beat once you got away from air-conditioning. Your pace slowed, your way of talking changed, and life seemed to pass by as infinitely slow as the clouds drifting by overhead.

“This is starting to look familiar,” he said. “Are we going where I think we’re going?”

“It’s been a long time, but I wanted to see if I could remember how to get here. Lexi brought me here a couple of times before I left home, but I can’t really remember why. Something about digging on the property. Here it is!”

As soon as I turned off the engine, Denver sat up and put his hat on the dash. “Home sweet home. Do you remember when we lived here?”

Even though it was long ago and I’d been just a little girl, it was such a transitional time in my life that the memories of the house were crisp. “When Lexi brought me here, we didn’t go inside,” I said quietly.

“Why not?”

I listened to the sound of the engine clicking from the heat. “Because… I still remember what my father did.”

Denver’s knuckles turned white when he clenched his fists. “You don’t remember the Mage?”

“I remember a man grabbing me, but that didn’t seem as terrible as meeting my father and seeing him shoot Lexi.” I wiped a tear from my eye and a cool breeze swirled in the cab of the truck. “I think about that a lot. I knew how it affected me, but I can’t imagine how it must have made her feel. She grew up with him in her life.”

“Why do you want to come back here if all you have are bad memories?”

“This was your home, and you guys had all these great times here. It’s still your home, and I want to remember it for more than just one memory. That’s what’s kept me away for so long, but I need to put all that behind me and move on. I still remember you blowing bubbles with me in the atrium, and that silly apron you used to wear.”

“Silly?” He gave me a sideways glance and popped open the door. “I beg to differ. There’s nothing silly about a woman’s nude body.”

Denver wiped his brow with the back of his hand and we headed toward the front door. Dirt had blown onto the small porch, and he kicked a large stick into the yard. When he unlocked the door and we stepped inside, I was surprised to feel cool air.

“Aus doesn’t mind paying the electric bill. He says a house will fall apart if you ignore it. The heat house is fine for a retreat, but I know Reno and Jericho still like to come out here every so often to get away. Last summer Izzy and Jericho stayed here with the kids and did a whole cookout and camping thing. I think Reno just likes to come out here with April and get his freak on.”

I glanced at an empty row of nails to the right of the door. It seemed empty and depressing. I kicked off my shoes in the corner. “It’s smaller than I remember.”

He patted me playfully on the head. “You’re bigger, Peanut.”

When Denver strolled toward the glass door, I released my breath. He hadn’t noticed he’d just called me by my old nickname, but the familiarity made my heart clench.

He slid open the door to the atrium and stomped on some of the tall weeds. The grass had died, and all that remained were patches of dirt and wild plants. I saw an empty bottle of bubbles next to the glass and stepped back. I hadn’t been ready for the emotions. As I looked around, the memories of my father faded and were replaced by other images. Ben and Wheeler, before the drama that tore them apart. I remembered how big and menacing Reno seemed, but he had always made sure the pack was nice to me.

The next thing I knew, I was standing in the middle of the empty living room. Just a few pieces of furniture remained, and it looked a shambles, like something that had once been loved and was left behind.

“Hey,” Denver said, coming back inside. “This all you want to see?”

“Maybe I’ll save the bedrooms for next time.”

“Good idea. I don’t feel like explaining why Reno has hooks in the ceiling.”

I cupped my arms and turned around, staring at the ratty maroon recliner. The air in the room stilled, and memories crept back of right before we began staying with the Weston pack. My father had forced his way into my mom’s house. I couldn’t remember what he’d argued with her about—only that the next thing I knew, we were in his car.

“What are you thinking?” Denver asked. His voice was quiet, and I felt the air shift as he moved close behind me.

“My father dumped me off on the side of the highway.”

Denver put his hands on my shoulders. When I didn’t say anything, he turned me around. “You remember all that?”

I nodded, staring at his stubbly chin. “He threw me out of the car because I was crying and wanted to go home. Then I stood on the edge of the ditch, cars speeding by. I still remember how terrified I was—suddenly no one was there to protect me.”

Before I knew it, Denver had pulled me into his arms. His right arm curved around the back of my head, and I felt his heart thundering against his chest. A feeling swept over me, something I’d never felt before, but it filled me with a need to pull myself closer against him.

“Maizy, look at me,” he said in a firm voice. Denver captured my face in his hands and looked down at me with resolute eyes. “No one’s ever going to treat you like that again, you hear me? No one. Don’t let a lowlife define your worth.”

His smell tangled in my thoughts with the way he touched my skin, the tender way he caressed my cheek with his fingers, and the invitation in his eyes. The one he didn’t speak of; the one he couldn’t hide.

I slipped my hands around his waist and he sucked in a sharp breath. “Kiss me.”

“I can’t,” he whispered back.

“But you were going to the other night until I almost got sick.”

A smile hovered on his lips. “Divine intervention.”

“Don’t you like me, Denny?”

He shifted his stance. “I’ve never looked at you like that before.”

My voice fell to a whisper. “Then look at me like that.” I rose on my tiptoes until our faces were close. “Don’t make me beg for something you want too. Give me a good memory in this house, Denny. Kiss me the way you would if you loved me.”

His hands slipped behind my neck and his mouth crushed against mine. Warmth. Wetness. Desire. Eagerness. He kissed me hard—ours lips parting and tongues intimately discovering each other. I flattened my hands against his sides, up his strong chest, and then over his broad shoulders.

Someone moaned. Was it me?

Or was it him?

Denver delivered a smoldering kiss that would set the bar high for future suitors. It was demanding and experienced. His lips melted against mine, slowing down and searing into my memory. My legs trembled, and my body ached for him to hold me again. His fingers slipped into my hair, tickling me with soft strokes.

Just when I thought it was dying down, Denver moved in for the kill. This time he moaned audibly. Passion stirred as his body seemed to harden and warm all at once, and images flashed in my mind of us doing things in that room—naughty things. I stood on his feet to get as close as I could.

When he dragged his mouth away and rested his cheek against mine, I curved my arms around his back and put my feet on the floor. We could have pressed on, but Denver embracing me right after was more intimate than the kiss itself. Feeling his chest move with breath, his body warm me with heat, and his muscles tense as they held me tight, filled me with a sense of belonging.

“Is this wrong?” he whispered against my ear.

“Does it feel wrong?”

“No. But maybe I need someone to tell me it is.”

“Why?”

Denver moved back, but I held on. “Wanting something and deserving something aren’t the same. You deserve the best.”

I didn’t want to ruin it. Everything in me screamed for an argument—to accuse him of shunning me for the past several years and find out why he continued to push me away, even after the kiss. But I’d never felt anything so pure with a man, and I knew if I opened my mouth and argued his point that I would tarnish the moment and create another bad memory in that house.

“Let’s not say anything regretful on my birthday,” I said with a smile in my voice. “We still haven’t gotten to part three.”

His chest rocked with laughter and he raked his fingers through his hair, a look of embarrassment on his face. “I’m afraid to ask. It just gets weirder and weirder.”

“Did you bring your swim trunks?”

His brows knitted. “Odds are slim to none.”

I brushed past him toward the hallway. “Then be afraid. Be very afraid.”

***

Not too far from the old house was a wide creek. I’d never walked there from the house, but the pack had talked a dozen times about it, so I had a good idea of where it was located. When I was younger, we used to drive out there for a swim. Unlike the muddy, shallow waters of the creek by our current home, this one was deep, wide, and perfect for a summer day.

Each time I veered off course, Denver would steer me in the right direction. As soon as we arrived, I stripped out of my shorts and shirt and dove right in. I’d prepared by putting on my purple bikini that morning, but Denver looked a little apprehensive from his position on a flat rock.

“What’s the matter? Since when are Shifters shy?” I teased, moving toward the center. A shiver ran up my spine from the delicious feel of the chilly water.

Not one to be challenged, Denver stripped out of his T-shirt and unzipped his jeans. My eyes wandered down to his chest, defined abs, and warm tan. When he stripped out of his pants, I dunked my face low enough in the water to hide my smile. Gracious, he really did have nice legs. With him standing before me like that, I noticed every line of muscle from his biceps to the V-cut that led into his briefs, which were white with a low waist and black waistband. For a second I hoped he might strip out of them, but Denver leapt off the rock and grabbed his knees, doing a cannonball.

He hit the water with an explosive crash, and I paddled backward. “You’re crazy!”

He shook his head like a dog, sending a spray of water around him. “That’s brisk. Why didn’t you tell me it’s thirty degrees in here?” He swam a few strokes in my direction. “I seem to recall I wasn’t the only one who liked jumping in and making a splash.”

I tried floating on my back, but my stomach kept sinking. Denver came up next to me and I felt his hand below my back, pushing me up.

“Do you remember me teaching you this?” he asked. “You were scared I’d let go and you’d drown.”

“It didn’t help you kept telling me there were holes I could fall into and end up in China. I panicked when you let go.” I closed my eyes, the sun warming my face.

“I may have let go,” he continued, “but I was always there in case you needed me. You were a headstrong little brat.” Denver splashed me in the face with a few drops of water.

After a moment, I put my legs down and swam around him. “I hope I wasn’t a brat. I know you guys didn’t sign up for having me in the house.”

“Any bratty behavior I take full credit for,” he said proudly.

We circled each other, and it seemed as if Denver’s blue eyes were on fire. The sunlight made his pupils small, so all I saw was the brilliant, deep hue. His hair was slicked back, and he’d never looked so handsome.

I smiled nostalgically, watching a dragonfly land on the water before flying off. “Remember how you used to throw me? I bet I’m too heavy now.”

His mouth disappeared beneath the water and his right eyebrow arched. Anticipating his mischief, I swam away, but it was too late. Denver corralled me in the shallow end, and before I could escape, he gripped my waist and launched me over his head.

I was screaming before I even hit the water. The greatest part about living in Breed territory was that most of the land was untouched by humans, so we had complete privacy. When established packs needed more land in their territory, they put in a request with the Council. Land was often bought up in large parcels so that when Shifters or other Breeds wanted to settle, they could do so away from humans. Every so often you’d run across a human living in Breed territory, but as soon as their land went up for sale, the Council would grab it. Usually these were people who had been living there for years. Sometimes the Council would get impatient and make them a big offer.

When I came up for air, I shouted, “I think I saw your watch down there!”

Denver dove underwater in my direction. When I circled around to find him, I gasped in fear. A dark wolf the color of midnight stood on the edge of the bank, his yellow eyes fixed on me. I swam backward to the opposite side. As I turned to get out, a grey wolf approached, standing on the edge of the rock, growling.

“One of these days I’m going to find that damn watch I lost down there. Mickey Mouse is a collector’s item.”

“Denver…”

“Probably doesn’t work anyhow, but I hate losing shit.”

“Denver!”

He opened his eyes and slicked his hair back. That’s when he saw the two wolves flanking us. “Maizy, get behind me. Now.”

“Who are they? Does someone live in this territory?”

“No. Stay right next to me.” He started moving up the stream, but one of the wolves walked alongside us.

“Maybe they’re not aggressive,” I suggested.

“Goddammit,” he muttered. “My phone is in the truck.”

I gripped his shoulder and whispered, “They won’t come in here, will they?”

He flicked his eyes between the two wolves. “No. I have a feeling I know who they belong to.”

I moved behind Denver and pressed myself against his back. “Well, I sure hope they’re not good friends of the body you guys got rid of.”

“Hmm,” he muttered. “I hadn’t thought of that. I’m pretty sure they’d look more pissed. Their stance isn’t aggressive.”

“Who sent them here?”

Denver spit out some water. “Prince,” he said with disgust.

That took me by surprise. “Prince? Why would you say that?”

He circled around and put distance between us. “Who did you meet up with the other night?”

Guilt must have crossed my expression. “But why would he send his pack? That makes no sense.”

Denver set his stony eyes on mine. “To guard what he thinks is his.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I moved away from him.

“What are you doing messing around with a Packmaster?”

I splashed him in the face with a wave of my hand and swam closer to the edge.

“Maizy, get back here.”

“Screw you,” I said angrily. “If these wolves wanted to kill us, they would have jumped in and done so.” Curiosity was one thing, but his judgmental tone was another. “What do you care who I see in my free time?”

He swam toward me, but by then I was dragging my heavy body onto the rock. The black wolf sat down and watched me as I stood up.

“Dammit, Maizy! Get back here,” he growled.

“If you want to shrivel up like a prune, then be my guest and sit in there all day. I’m going home.” I yanked on my clothes, tying my shirt around the back of my neck before slipping on my sneakers.

Denver crawled onto the rock and approached the wolf, who began growling low in his throat. When he bared his teeth, I intervened.

“Don’t even think about it,” I snapped, staring him straight in the eyes. The wolf submitted to my voice and backed off from his aggressive standoff with Denver. I might have been mad at Denver, but not enough to put him in danger.

“What’s gotten into you?”

I grabbed the truck keys. “I grew up with wolves. You think I don’t know how to behave around your kind?”

He pulled up his pants and left the shirt on the ground. “My kind? What the hell do you mean by that? Since when do you talk about Shifters in such an uppity tone?”

I spun around. “Uppity? I’m human, you’re not. What’s uppity about pointing out the truth? No matter how you slice it, I’m an outsider in your world.”

“Lately you are. You didn’t used to be.”

“I’m not the only one who’s changed. Since when did you guys start hiding bodies?”

“You know as well as I do that Shifter life is complicated, and sometimes a Packmaster has to do some unsavory shit to keep his pack in good standing. Dirt needs to be swept under the rug, and believe me, that asshole was dirt. His Packmaster isn’t the kind of man you want to owe.”

I shook my head, my hair still dripping with water. “Who we were is no longer who we are.”

His cheeks were red from either the sun or his temper. “Maybe you’re the only one who changed. It’s the same family, Maizy. You’re just seeing it with new eyes. Maybe if you hadn’t gone away, you wouldn’t be standing here trying to figure out why we’re too dysfunctional for you to be a part of.”

I turned around and neared the truck, twigs breaking beneath my steps. “You keep trying to blame me for leaving. I had to live in the human world to figure out who I was.”

“Figure it out yet?” he asked sarcastically from behind.

“When did you become so mean?”

“Mean?” Denver laughed and skipped ahead of me. “I haven’t changed, honeypie. You used to think I was funny.”

I still did, but maybe not so much on serious matters when I wanted answers. I just needed time to figure out where I fit, because I felt like a puzzle piece trying to slide into the wrong picture.

When we reached the clearing where the truck was parked, I confronted him. “Prince made me an offer.”

He stepped back. “For what?”

“What do you think? What kind of offers do Packmasters make to young women?”

Denver’s jaw jutted forward and his eyes skated to the side. “I guess a guy like him has a lot to offer if being his bitch is your thing.”

“Who said I was going to be anyone’s bitch?”

He exhaled sharply through his nose. “Guess you got the happily ever after you were always looking for. What the hell did you bring me out here for?” He stormed past me and headed for the truck.

“How can you just walk away so easily?” I shouted.

“What do you want me to do?”

I grabbed his wrist and he half turned. “Fight for me! Your wolf is willing to fight for me. Why aren’t you? If you don’t, you’re going to lose me, and I don’t know if that even matters because I don’t know if you wanted me in the first place. I have my whole life ahead of me, but there are some things that you can’t expect to stay the same. Sometimes you make choices in life, and sometimes life makes choices for you. Which is it going to be?”

He opened his mouth as if to speak and then fled. Maybe I’d gone a little overboard. I’d just gotten into town, and now I was expecting the man to declare his undying devotion for me? I’d been a fool to assume Denver felt the same for me as I did him. Not all love given is meant to be returned.

As soon as Denver approached the truck, he turned around, his eyes wide.

I slowed my pace. “What’s wrong?”

His brow arched high and he locked his fingers behind his head. “Looks like we have a passenger.”

Confused, I walked around him and peered into the truck bed. “Oh my God. Is that—”

“Aaron.” Denver leaned against the truck, resting his elbows on the open window of the driver’s side door. “This reminds me of that old song about the farmer who tried to kill his cat, but it kept coming back the next day.”

I slapped his arm. “This isn’t the time for jokes.”

“Well, they thought he was a goner, but the cat came back.”

I walked away and squinted up at the trees, listening to the cry of a red-tailed hawk. After he flew off, I peeked at the body and wrinkled my nose. Aaron was in the same position as before since rigor mortis had set in. “Why is he covered in dirt?”

“We buried him in a human cemetery. Austin figured no packs would accidentally find him there. Plus, it was kind of appropriate. He had a nice spot beneath a tree.”

“Well who dug him up?”

He motioned his head at the wolves. “Ask them.”

The black wolf at the edge of the woods took a seat and looked between us.

“You think Prince had something to do with this? What are you not telling me, Denver? Prince wouldn’t want any part of this. What are we going to do?”

He pushed away from the truck and used his fingers to comb back his semi-dry hair. “I’m on the fence between calling Austin and burying this asshole in one of the sand pits at the golf course.”

Chapter 13

After Denver called home and delivered the news about the body returning, Austin and William showed up in separate cars. William took me back home, and Austin stayed behind. As we drove off, I looked back and saw Austin kicking the tire on Denver’s truck.

I’d come to realize that no matter how much you tried to convince your family not to do anything for your birthday, someone was always going to do something special anyway. Lexi had baked an amazing sheet cake that was half chocolate and half white. She didn’t just spread canned icing on it either, but made fresh buttercream icing. The kids had helped decorate it with sprinkles of colorful candy—some of them arranged in the shape of smiley faces. There was enough to feed an army, or the Weston pack. Mom had a few gifts for me, including new clothes. We always disagreed where fashion was concerned, but my cutoff shorts must have been wearing her patience thin. She preferred me in blue since it matched my eyes and happened to be her favorite color, so of course there were two blouses that were more her style than mine.

After two scoops of strawberry ice cream, I played a game of checkers with Hendrix. It was becoming easier to differentiate the two since they each had their own unique personality and way of speaking. When Wheeler saw Lennon looking on, he took him outside for a game of horseshoes. Wheeler knew what it was like to grow up as a twin, so he intervened whenever the boys would get competitive.

Although I’d gone to bed early that evening, I found it impossible to fall asleep in my old room. One of the springs in the box mattress squeaked when I rolled over, as if no one had lain on the bed since I’d left. The sound of footsteps moved up and down the hall—a sound I hadn’t been used to in years. I heard Lexi stop Austin in the hallway outside my door, asking where he’d been. They had a brief argument before the passionate kissing began. They were two headstrong individuals who never went to bed angry. After their bedroom door shut, I wrapped my purple blanket around me and headed downstairs.

“Is anyone using the heat house?” I asked.

Izzy laughed from her spot on the sofa where she was painting her toenails. “No, but if there’s something you want to tell us, I’m all ears.”

The heat house was adjoined to the main house by a windowless hallway. It reminded me of a hotel with the dim track lighting overhead. Once I reached the room, I didn’t bother turning on the lights. I headed straight for the bed, my blanket still wrapped around me.

I tossed and turned, thinking about Prince’s offer. I kept seeing his multicolored eyes, feeling the power behind them as he gazed upon me. In a flash, those eyes changed to Denver’s. I remembered the way he’d kissed me in the old house, the feel of his rough hands around my neck and his masculine smell. While I’d grown up with Shifters, I wasn’t sure if what I felt for him was right or wrong. It felt right, but would the others see it as wrong? Denver had been my crush for more years than I could remember. I’d thought our separation would make me realize the feelings I had for him weren’t real and that I liked him because of how he protected me as no other man had, before or since.

But coming back home had only intensified all those old feelings, and they’d blossomed into something new and unfamiliar. I knew that was dangerous, especially if he didn’t feel the same. The last thing I wanted to do was create friction within the pack, so I decided the next evening I was going to have fun on my date and keep an open mind. I had faith that Naya would choose a man who wouldn’t be unkind or hurt me, because she loved me too much to set me up with a clown.

When I woke up the next morning, Denver’s wolf was sleeping outside my door. Our quarrel had nothing to do with his wolf, so I bent down and gave him a nice scratch behind the ears before eating breakfast.

Or lunch. Apparently without clocks or lights, my body had finally caught up on the rest I’d been craving for the past week. I had on my new clothes—white shorts and a purple cotton shirt that fell off the shoulder.

“Where are you off to?” Austin asked when I grabbed the keys hanging from the nail.

“I haven’t seen Ivy in a long time. I was going to head over there for a little while. I’m sure she’s already heard I’m back in town and it would be rude not to pay her a visit.”

Austin leaned on the wall, staring at the row of keys. “I think we might have to get you your own nail soon.”

“I’d need a car first, and that could be a while since I don’t have a job. One thing at a time.”

“Mel!” he shouted.

“Yeah?” a voice sang from upstairs.

“Maizy’s heading out to the Church pack.”

“Awesome! I’ll be right down!” Melody shouted.

Austin chuckled. “Tell Jericho!” Then he lowered his voice. “She’s always looking for a reason to have a sleepover with Hope.”

I hadn’t seen Hope in years. She was Lorenzo and Ivy’s little girl and close to the same age as Melody. “Doesn’t Hope stay over here sometimes?”

Austin turned his mouth to the side. “Church doesn’t think this is a suitable environment for his daughter.”

I laughed. “I see nothing has changed between you two. But I can see his point, especially given the body count. What’s been going on with that?”

He shook his head. “Denver thinks Prince is the one returning it to sender, but that doesn’t make any sense.”

“Did you ask?”

He huffed out a laugh. “I’m not about to accuse one of the most influential Packmasters in the territory of dumping a body on my porch. If it’s not him, he’ll be offended. It’s important to keep pack relations. That’s one reason I’d rather not return Aaron to his Packmaster. He’s a dangerous man. This isn’t about right or wrong; it’s about protecting my pack, and I’ll do whatever it takes to watch out for my family.”

“I know. It’s just a culture shock to go from living with humans back to Shifters. I know the rules and ways of life on both sides, so it’s hard for me to decide what’s right and wrong.”

Austin shook his head. “I lived in the human world too, Maizy. When it comes to pack life, there’s no right or wrong when protecting your family. You do whatever it takes.” He patted me on the head and then swaggered off.

“I’m ready!” Melody was dragging a long duffel bag with patchwork on it behind her.

“You’re ready for boot camp by the looks of it.”

She jumped from the step to the main floor and grinned. “We like to trade clothes. Plus I’m teaching Hope to sew in exchange for her teaching me how to make jewelry. Have you seen what she can do? It’s awesome.”

I chuckled softly and opened the door for her. “You two should go into business together someday.”

She brushed back her razor-cut hair and flashed me a smile. “That’s the plan!”

As I turned to leave the house, I noticed Spartacus buried in the pile of shoes in the corner, two golden orbs staring up at me. “Bye, Sparty.”

He poked out his pink tongue and began purring.

***

When we arrived at Lorenzo and Ivy’s home, we were greeted by Caleb, their second-in-command. He bowed graciously to Melody and she laughed, doing a silly curtsy in her black leggings and blue shorts.

“You have grown up before my eyes,” Ivy said, giving me a warm hug at the door.

Lorenzo stood behind her and smiled, inclining his head. Ivy finally let go and brushed her hands through my hair, giving me a detailed inspection.

“Such beautiful hair,” she said, admiring the gentle wave.

How strange to return home and find I was the only one who’d changed. The kids had grown, but everyone else had stayed exactly the same. She still wore her hair in a braid, had the warmest skin color and loveliest shade of brown eyes. So beautiful—especially now that I was old enough to appreciate a woman’s natural beauty. Ivy appeared to be my age but was one of the wisest women I knew.

“Melody, you shouldn’t be carrying that,” Lorenzo scolded, taking her heavy duffel bag. He lifted it as if it weighed nothing.

“It’s Mel,” she said. “Everyone calls me Mel.”

His brows angled in a disapproving slash. “That’s a male’s name. Did Cole come up with that?”

“No, Mr. Church. Where’s Hope?”

Caleb laughed, which made him look endearing. He had the face of an angel and blond curls all over his head. “I ask myself that every day,” he said, returning to the sitting room with some of the pack. They waved at me and I waved back.

Ivy closed the door just as a wolf scurried in. She swatted him on the nose and he wagged his tail at her before tearing up the stairs.

“Lorenzo, I’ve told you before I don’t like the wolves in the house unless it’s behind closed doors.”

He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “I’ll take care of it, sweet Ivy.” Lorenzo stalked up the stairs and a young girl passed him on her way down.

“Oh my gosh, look how she’s grown,” I said to Ivy.

Hope had all the loveliness of her mother and the power of her father behind those brown eyes. Her hair was elegant, long, and silky. She hadn’t turned fourteen yet, but something about her was regal and more mature than Melody. While Melody had on mismatched clothes that were colorful and creative, Hope was more reserved in blue jeans and a brown bohemian shirt. She had the longest lashes—the kind every woman envied.

“Hi, Miss Maizy.”

I reached in my purse and pulled out a small piece of jewelry. “I brought this for you.” I handed her a stretchy bracelet with blue beads.

“Thanks! This is really pretty,” she said, immediately putting it on.

“I got one too,” Melody said. “See?” Hers was pink, and I’d given her first choice of the two. “Your dad took my bag up. I brought over some clothes for you to look through.”

Hope’s eyes brightened. “Is it okay, Mother?”

Ivy smiled. “You two go upstairs and have fun.”

The girls flew toward the back of the living room and up the staircase like a hurricane.

“Like peas in a pod,” Ivy remarked.

“You think?”

She walked toward the right with her cane, and I admired the Native American paintings, sculptures, and the overall warm feel of the house.

“Of course. Melody just wears her creativity on her sleeve, but they’re both artists and have much in common. Lorenzo is so protective of Hope that it’s impossible for me to get him to budge on certain matters.” She closed the door and I took a seat in a cozy brown chair by a window. “I think it would be good for Hope to spend time with the Weston pack, but she’s a daddy’s girl, and he’s afraid they’ll corrupt her.”

I laughed. “I turned out okay. Despite their rowdy behavior, their pack is probably no different than yours.”

She sat across from me. “You and I both know this, but headstrong Packmasters like Lorenzo aren’t as easy to convince. But I did manage over the years to get him to yield on certain matters. This has always been his room,” she said, motioning her hand toward a wooden chair on the opposite wall. “He wanted to sit like a king on a throne with his guests on the floor before him. I insisted on these chairs. It’s better to be on equal ground when speaking with your peers.”

I kicked off my flip-flops and pulled my legs up.

“What troubles you?” Ivy played with the bottom of her braid and worry filled her eyes.

“Can I speak to you in confidence? I love my mom, but some things I can’t talk to her about. I don’t want to burden Lexi with this because she’s going through something right now.”

“Should I be concerned?”

I shook my head. “No, but you always have good advice. I just need someone to listen who won’t judge.”

She shifted to her right side. “You don’t even have to ask for such things. If you don’t want my opinion, then I’ll just listen as a friend.”

Boy, did I need her opinion. “Don’t hold back, Ivy. I really want an unbiased view of all this.”

Her brows slightly arched. “This sounds important. I’m listening.”

Nerves balled up in my stomach and I wrapped my arms around my legs, peering at her over my knees. “So I’m having adjustment issues since coming home.”

“Understandable.”

“And… Denver is a big part of that.”

A knowing smile touched her lips. “I knew this day was coming.”

That struck me as a surprise and I pulled my tangled hair away from my shoulders. “What do you mean?”

“Mind if I’m honest?”

I shook my head.

Ivy drew in a shallow breath and watched a tiny ladybug crawling on the outside window. “Watchdogs are imperative to a pack when there are children, young adults, or women who need protection. You know this, of course. Austin acted as your father, but his duties as a Packmaster prevented him from keeping guard over you as well as spending the time needed to give positive reinforcement of a male figure in your life.”

I laughed quietly. “I had a lot of male figures in my life.”

“Yes, but packs believe that young children should form a strong bond with one male figure, and that’s usually their father. In your case, you didn’t have one. A watchdog is an honorable position, and despite the jokes between the brothers, Denver has earned their respect because of what he’s done. A watchdog is there every step of the way as the person they’re protecting begins to look for a job, move to another pack, or even date. Sometimes single women in a pack who are young and vulnerable need someone to look out for them. Denver is in a tricky situation because he was put in charge of a human child.”

“How does that make it any different?”

“Well, not so different at the time,” she said. “But he’s always known your life would lead in a different direction. You wouldn’t grow up to mate another Shifter or move to another pack where he’d have some input on your decision. In fact, you’ll keep growing up until you’ve aged—at least that’s the way he sees it, and that must be frightening for him. He was made to protect you, and now he’ll have no control over sickness, accidents, age, and all the things that plague humans. You might choose to leave us to be with your own. But…”

“But what?”

Ivy tugged on her earlobe and then leaned in. “Your situation is unique because of your schooling. Your mother loved you enough to give you the finest education so that you had options once you reached adulthood. That severed Denver’s role, and for him, it feels unfinished. He feels unworthy, cast aside, and I would imagine hurt. It’s nothing of your doing, but it’s like starting a game and your partner walking away before it’s over.”

“What if his partner comes back and wants to finish the game, but he doesn’t?”

Ivy’s face softened. She had lovely Native American features and such a graceful presence. “Is there something else I should know?”

I swallowed hard. Oh my God, I could barely admit this to myself, let alone feel the wrath of judgment from someone I knew. Out with it. “I think I love Denver. I’ve always loved him, but this feels different. Every minute I spend with him it becomes more pronounced—even painful.”

“And you think this is wrong.”

I shrugged. “Maybe. A pack is family and…”

“A pack behaves as a family, but they aren’t,” she said firmly. “Not entirely. Only a few are related by blood. It’s not uncommon for romance to blossom among single packmates of no blood relation. It’s also not as rare as you think for this to happen between a watchdog and his grown companion. They have an unshakable bond, and once maturity settles in, they begin to see each other in a new light. I’m certain you never saw Denver as a father figure,” she said with a pressed smile.

“God no.” I snorted. “He was always more of a best friend than anything. But what if my feelings are mixed up? Maybe I haven’t dated enough men to know the difference. He doesn’t feel this way about me, Ivy. He stopped writing, stopped wanting to see me. That means something.”

She huffed out a laugh and turned the cane leaning against the wall so the silver wolf’s head was facing me. “As to be expected. Left behind, stripped of his duties, and bereft of your adoration; put yourself in his shoes. He thinks his actions will save himself the pain of watching you age, regardless of how he may feel about you. Not everyone has Reno’s courage to take in a mortal with a shorter lifespan. But Reno’s lived a long and difficult life, so he understands the value of risking pain for love. Denver is not so seasoned.”

“Do you think what we have is real, or will chasing love ruin our friendship? I don’t want to tear up the pack, Ivy.”

“I can’t say,” she said, her gaze sincere. “Only you can figure that out. I’ve admired you two for as long as I’ve known you. I’ve never been able to shield my eyes from the possibility that it could develop into something more when you were older. Your personalities have always been compatible, and there’s a foundation of love and respect between you to grow on. In a way, reuniting after a long separation was ideal. You’ve had a chance to discover who you are in this world without his influence.”

“Prince has also shown an interest.” I put my feet on the ground and slipped on my shoes. “He made me an offer.”

Her mouth widened with surprise. “Prince?” Ivy touched her contoured cheek and looked out the window. “That I didn’t see coming. Do you care for him?”

“He’s got it all, but I barely know him. I feel… connected to him somehow because he was the one who rescued me all those years ago. Maybe indebted is a better word. I can’t imagine what might have happened to me if he hadn’t stopped and brought me home. I’ve always looked up to Prince, and in some ways, I had a crush on him too. Maybe all these childhood crushes are what’s getting me in trouble,” I said, throwing my hands in the air and standing up. “My heart is all over the place. The man I want doesn’t want me, and the man I’m uncertain about is offering me a place in his palace.”

“Maybe you should choose neither,” she suggested.

I walked behind my chair and leaned over the cushy back. “Naya’s setting me up on a date tonight, so maybe I’ll just see how number three works out. He’s human.”

Ivy rose to her feet and stood next to me, brushing my hair behind my ear. “Little Maizy, all grown up. So many choices, but the only one that matters is here,” she said, placing her hand over my heart. “You have to do what’s right for you, no matter what your reasoning is. Love, security, belonging—these will be your choices, and sometimes they’re not all neatly wrapped up into one man. If you make the right decision, those missing qualities will bloom in your relationship. But don’t expect the fairy tale. You need to take control of your life and follow your instincts.”

“I’m torn. I want so much to live in this world, but I can’t. The Weston pack is great, but they’re expecting me to keep with tradition and move on. That’s what packs do. Part of me wishes I could live with another pack, but that’s unrealistic. On the other hand, I’ve never felt completely normal living in the human world either.”

“What do you want?”

I paused for a moment. “To know what I want.”

She brushed her hand down my hair. “No one has a crystal ball. We don’t always make the right choices, but life is here to teach us, so be a good student. Mistakes are the only way we learn. No one says you have to choose between these men; you can choose to be alone and travel the world. Do what’s in your heart. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to walk in your shoes between two worlds. For Lynn it was a choice to live among us, but you weren’t given another option, and only now are you faced with deciding where you belong. Maybe that depends on what ‘belonging’ means to you.”

“I’m so afraid of making the wrong choice and it having consequences that affect others.”

Ivy smiled and stepped back, holding my hands. “All decisions we make affect others, good or bad. Everything in nature touches and affects its surroundings. Do you remember the time one of the squirrels kept stealing the batting from the seat cushions on the porch?”

“How can I forget? Lexi got rid of the chairs.”

“Yes, and the poor squirrel had nothing to keep his nest warm. Lexi’s choice to save her chairs and take away the material for a nest could have meant the squirrel and her babies not surviving. Squirrels plant acorns and other nuts, which in turn become new trees.”

“I never thought about it like that. I think they turned out fine. As I remember, they stole Mom’s American flags from the yard and used those instead.”

Ivy chuckled and lifted her eyes to the ceiling. “I remember. That was the squirrel’s way of choosing his fate.”

“And also showing a little national pride.”

We both laughed and headed toward the door.

“Thanks, Ivy. For listening. It’s given me a lot to think about. Coming home opened a big can of emotions that I wasn’t expecting, and I’ve also got something else on my mind I can’t discuss with anyone, not even you.”

“Are you sure?” She touched my shoulder and stopped me from gripping the doorknob. “You can tell me anything, Maizy.”

I thought about the mark on my back. “No, this is one thing I can’t share. At least not yet.”

Chapter 14

“Are you nervous?” Naya asked, adjusting my tresses, which she’d spent the past hour using the curling iron on.

“I’m not sure yet, but I’ll let you know when I pass out or throw up. This is my first blind date.”

Naya laughed naughtily and looked me up and down. “You should wear dresses more often. It does wonders for your figure.”

I glanced down at the white dress Naya had lent me. It felt more like second skin. Naya called it her peekaboo dress because of the keyhole style in the middle that showed off a little of my cleavage.

“I guess I can’t go out for barbecue in this dress. I’m going to be paranoid all night about getting a stain on it.”

She squeaked and clasped her hands together. “I just adored dressing you up as a little girl, and now we get to share clothes. Hot tamale, you look absolutely stunning.”

“You don’t think I need more makeup?” I glanced in the mirror at my minimal makeover.

“No need to impose my style on you, so the less makeup the better. I put just a little shimmer on your eyelids to make them sparkle, but when you have all this going on, there’s no need to go over the top,” she purred.

I touched the end of my dress just above my knee and tried to pull it down.

“No, no, honey. Wrong direction! Come on, I can’t wait for the men to see you!”

Oh God. The men.

“I’ve never dressed like this before in front of them.”

“Don’t be silly. You’ve worn dresses lots of times.”

I met her gaze. “Not sexy dresses. My mom is going to flip out.”

A rogue grin touched her lips. “The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“What does that mean?”

She approached the door. “Your mama has a date too.”

“What?” I gasped. “Who?”

“Maybe you two should double. She was about to slip out of the house to meet him, but he called and asked for me to stall her so he can meet her here. She has no idea!”

“Why?” My heart raced anxiously. My mother had never dated in all the years I’d known her. After my father, she’d sworn off men and said she was too old to start all over again.

Naya shrugged, playing with her hoop earring. “I guess he wants to formally introduce himself to the pack.”

“Is he aware my mother is sixty?”

Naya summoned a smile. “Your mother is a beautiful, intelligent woman and has a lot to offer a man. She looks just as young as I could only dream to look at her age. When will you figure out that relationships aren’t just about passion?”

All I ever saw in this house was passion. “Then what are they about? Enlighten me.”

“Companionship. Trust. Friendship. Laughter. That’s what puts the passion into a relationship. Physical chemistry isn’t just about sex; it’s about the way someone looks at you, the way they touch you when they whisper your name. Darling, if there’s one thing I’ve learned with Wheeler, it’s that I love the way he calls me kitty cat. I adore his dry sense of humor and the way he pretends to hate Spartacus when I’ve caught them cuddling together.”

Before I could argue, she took my hand and led me downstairs. Just as we neared the bottom, the doorbell rang.

I froze.

While the women were sitting in the living room, all the men in the pack were on alert and ready to kick ass. Austin had taken off his shirt—his tattoos and muscles prominent. Flanking him were Wheeler, Trevor, William, Reno, and Jericho. Their eyes were locked on the front door like a target. Naya approached it, eager to answer.

I hurried down the stairs. “Reno, could you at least put your gun away?”

He glanced down at the holster strapped across his shoulder and grunted. He never wore the gun in the house. Just then, all eyes drifted my way.

And widened.

Wheeler was the first one to speak. “Naya, take her back upstairs and put her in real clothes. Joke’s over. ’Preciate ya.”

She chuckled and leaned against the door. “Those are her real clothes. Now let’s just see about her date!” she said gleefully.

When the door swung open, an older man was balancing on one leg and picking a piece of dirt off his boot. I couldn’t see his face because of a hat he wore on his head—not quite a cowboy hat, but something I’d seen Aussie men wear. When he stood up, the air left the room.

“Well, I didn’t expect such a warm greeting,” he said in a Southern, burly drawl. After a few chuckles, he took off his hat and used it to dust off his pants.

The men looked at me and then back to him. Austin took a step forward and his muscles were tensing up all over as if he were a predator ready to strike.

I hovered near the bottom steps, confused why Naya would set me up on a blind date with someone so much older. The man with cloudy eyes looked up at me and smiled. His wavy hair was a long mix of silver and brown. His jaw was covered in whiskers like a man who thought razors were optional.

“You can’t be little Maizy,” he said.

“And you better not be her date,” Reno growled.

I glanced over my left shoulder and noticed Denver standing at the back of the room in the hallway.

April hopped off the couch and tugged at the drawstring on her sweats. “Maddox, what are you doing here?”

The click of heels against a wood floor sounded from behind me and I turned around to see my mom descending the stairs in a dark pair of slacks and a maroon blouse with loose sleeves. What hadn’t escaped my attention was the fact she was wearing a sparkly necklace and diamond earrings. When she caught sight of everyone, she froze like a statue.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Maddox said, giving her a familiar wink. “I know it’s not what we discussed, but I think if we’re going to keep this up, then maybe we need to do it proper. I’m too old to be sneaking around.”

Lexi’s eyes were wide as she approached the stairs from the living room. “Mom?” Then she laughed in disbelief. “You and Maddox Cane?”

“Always did think she was the purtiest gal I’d ever laid eyes on,” he said admiringly, leaning his left shoulder against the doorjamb. “Stole my breath the first time we met. Wasn’t until last year when I decided maybe it was time for a little redecorating advice. Plus I can hardly turn away a woman who cooks a mean pot roast.”

Flabbergasted would have been an understatement. It was the first time I’d ever seen the pack tongue-tied. Most of them seemed familiar with Maddox, but I didn’t recognize him.

My mom gripped the banister and looked ready to run back upstairs. A blush touched her cheeks, and her eyes were shining as if she was about to cry. I didn’t want my mom to feel embarrassed for getting on with her life and having fun. And how awful it must have been to keep her happiness a secret.

“Mom, I think it’s great,” I said. “I wish you had told me earlier and we could have talked about it.”

By then, it was too late. A tear glistened on her lashes. “Now my mascara is ruined.” She descended the stairs and kissed my cheek. “I’m so sorry; I didn’t want to confuse or hurt you girls.”

“We’re not kids anymore. And your being happy wouldn’t hurt me in the least.”

I turned around when I heard a growl. Austin stepped up and approached Maddox with menace in his eyes. “You better treat her like a queen. If I hear you put one finger on her or showed her disrespect, I’m coming after you.”

Maddox chuckled and walked past him. “Don’t worry, Cole. We keep good company together. She’s a fine woman.” He winked at me. “Charmed to meet you, Maizy.”

On the upside, my mother’s surprise visitor took all the attention away from my sexy dress.

After they left the house, Lexi folded her arms and turned around. “Wow, I never saw that coming. Did you, April? Maddox used to come over to talk to you, and I noticed how he flirted with my mom, but I thought he was just messing around.”

April shrugged, and a slip of straight blond hair fell in front of her nose. “I didn’t have a clue. Don’t worry, Lexi. I’ve known Maddox for years and he’s a good guy, despite his reputation. He looked after me, and he really cares about spending quality time with someone.”

“Is he a Shifter?” I asked.

“He sure is.” Lexi sighed and put her hands on her hips.

“Not a wolf,” Reno grumbled.

A laugh burst out of Lexi. “Like that makes a difference with my mom. I don’t know how that’s going to work out, or for how long, but if it makes her happy, then I’m all for it. So I don’t want any of you giving her a hard time about it.”

Naya winked at me, and that’s when I realized the little vixen had known about my mom and Maddox all along. I bet she was the one who had given their relationship a nudge.

Wheeler plopped down in a chair. Seconds later, Spartacus jumped on top of his head and curled up. Based on Wheeler’s indifferent reaction, it didn’t look as though it was the first time the kitten had done it. Either that or having a paw with five sharp claws across his eyelid gave Wheeler second thoughts about throwing him off.

William laughed and leaned against the wall. “If you want to know the truth, Maizy’s date couldn’t be as bad as a wildcat like Maddox. Wouldn’t you agree?”

For whatever reason, they didn’t hold Maddox in high regard, and I’m sure if it had been me going out with him instead of my mom, they would have barricaded the door. He was far too seasoned of a Shifter to be tangled up with a young human; that would only raise suspicion of his true motives.

Which made me think about Prince, who probably exceeded Maddox’s age by centuries, even though he looked younger.

I sat on the steps, suddenly petrified my pack was going to beat up my date. The tension in the room was sharp, and it cut against my nerves like a serrated knife.

A knock sounded at the door and my heart leapt against my chest.

Naya wagged her finger at the men. “Behave yourselves. This is a client of mine, and I don’t want you scaring him away with all your territorial growling.”

“That’ll depend on how well he behaves,” Wheeler said, lifting the cat off his head and putting him on the floor. Spartacus sat down and lifted his hind leg in the air.

Naya gave Wheeler a pointed stare before opening the door. I peered through the slats in the banister at a young man who had a confident gaze despite the testosterone flinging around the foyer.

“Thomas, we were just expecting you.” Naya greeted him warmly. “Come inside.”

A board squeaked from the back of the room and Denver stepped out of the shadows. His knuckles were white, but luckily he kept his hands at his sides.

Naya led my date to the bottom of the steps. He was handsome—thick eyebrows, deep-set brown eyes, and nice lips. He had a brooding expression that was strangely attractive, like a detective or someone who worked in a mysterious profession. I suddenly felt overdressed when I glanced at his jeans and black button-up shirt.

“Maizy, I’d like you to meet Thomas O’Dell. He’s brilliant with computers. Thomas, this is Maizy… Cole. Educated, beautiful, and just moved to town.”

I thought it was interesting that Naya had introduced me as a Cole. While my mother had washed her hands of my father a long time ago, she’d never dropped her married name of Knight, and neither had I.

Thomas reached for my hand and I offered it to him. Instead of kissing it—which would have been completely awkward with a dozen eyes on us—he bowed and touched his forehead to it. It was a peculiar gesture for a human, but he was clearly learned in the customs of the Breed world.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Naya told me a lot about you, but I can already see she was holding back.”

Austin cleared his throat and stepped forward. “And I’m Austin Cole, her Packmaster.”

Thomas stood erect and lowered his eyes. Since it wasn’t customary for Breed to shake hands, he bowed his head and said, “It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”

Lexi snorted and nudged his arm. “Sir.”

Austin slid his jaw to the side and then widened his stance. “I want you two in a public place at all times. No parking in a private location. You’re paying for all the expenses, and I want her back before midnight. Scratch that; you have her back by ten sharp.”

Jericho glanced at an imaginary watch on his wrist and laughed. “Why not make it by eight? That’ll give ’em enough time to buy some gas and a Slurpee.”

Izzy pinched his side, and he curled his arm around her, kissing the top of her head.

Austin balked a bit before reluctantly stepping back. Thomas reached out and took my hand, pulling me to my feet. Then his eyes slid down like magnets, his gaze attaching to the keyhole in my dress.

Denver wedged himself between us. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Denver.” His voice tight, his body practically vibrating with tension.

Denver had on his black work shirt with the Howlers logo on the left breast, so he must have been waiting to meet my date before going in.

“Thomas,” my date replied smoothly. Denver wasn’t the Packmaster, so Thomas didn’t hesitate to look him directly in the eye. It made me a little nervous, so I stepped aside to see what was going on between them.

Denver had an inch on Thomas, and he used it to his full advantage as he stood tall and glared down his nose at him. “I’m her watchdog.”

A few surprised murmurs sounded in the room.

Thomas pursed his lips for a moment. “Isn’t she a little old for one of those?”

I thought I heard a low growl resonating from Denver’s chest, but I couldn’t be sure.

“Maybe you should chaperone,” Wheeler suggested. I couldn’t tell if he was kidding or serious since he had a dry sense of humor.

“No one is chaperoning anyone,” I said, gripping Thomas’s arm. “We’ll be back early, and I’ll call you to let you know when I’m coming home.”

When Thomas put his arm around me, I broke eye contact with Denver and headed toward the door. Naya patted my cheek and smiled. “Have fun, girly.”

“Wait!” April shouted, jogging toward me. “You forgot your—”

April stumbled and Reno caught her, but my purse went flying toward me and hit the floor, spilling out all the contents.

Including a tampon.

Kill me now.

All the men seemed to involuntarily turn around, brows arched, grimacing, some rubbing the back of their neck. April’s cheeks turned bright red and she covered her mouth in horror. I quickly shoved everything into my purse, praying Thomas had never seen a tampon before. I wasn’t sure if ignoring it was the better option, or if I should bother explaining to everyone that I’d ended my period last week.

Naya tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Maybe the white dress wasn’t such a good idea.”

In many ways, I was thankful I hadn’t grown up as a teen in this house. When Thomas went out the door, I slapped the tampon in Naya’s hand and glared at the pack. “I won’t be needing this tonight.”

A few chuckles sounded when I slammed the door behind me on my way out.

***

Thomas spent good money on me at a Breed restaurant. When the waiter led us to a booth in the back, Thomas insisted on a table in the middle of the room. Trusted humans were often hidden in the back, but Thomas was having none of it. I liked that about him.

I’d never heard anyone talk so much, especially about himself. He loved computers to an obsessive degree and invited me to his house to show me his workstation. I sensed he didn’t get out much, or at least interact with the opposite sex. He was well versed in how to behave around different Breeds and made sure not to talk about them in a public setting. Vampires could hear exceptionally well, and he remained on his best behavior to make sure he didn’t inadvertently instigate anything while on our date.

Thomas was polite and easy to talk to, and I suppose that’s why Naya thought we’d hit it off. Three things I loved about Thomas were his intelligence, manners, and ability to listen to my travel stories without falling asleep. What I didn’t like about him was that he drove too fast, talked too much about computers, and had a peculiar habit that slowly grated on my nerves over the course of the evening. He’d put his finger on the tip of his straw to trap his tea, then he’d put the opposite end in his mouth and take his finger off the tip to release the drink. At first I thought he was doing it because he was nervous, but then I realized it was the only way he was drinking his tea. I became so fixated whenever he did it that I couldn’t pay attention to what he was talking about.

Still, it was just a first date. No one’s perfect, and we had a connection. Maybe it was nothing more than the fact we were both humans living in the Breed world, but that commonality made it easier to like him.

I’d ordered warm cookies from the menu, which I happened to know had been prepared that morning by Lexi. She had contracts with several establishments in town, and I knew this to be one of them. It had been years since I’d tasted a snickerdoodle.

Thomas’s phone went off and he looked at the message. “Sorry, I have to take this. Naya hooked me up with some new clients, and this one has a bunch of complicated requests, so it could be a few minutes. Are you okay if I just…” He grimaced.

I waved my hand. “It’s no big deal. I’m not going anywhere,” I said with a flirtatious smile.

He brushed his fingers over mine. “Be right back.”

After Thomas left, I broke off small pieces of my cookie and tried to resist cramming the entire thing in my mouth and ordering ten more. I suddenly became cognizant of the stares I was getting from nearby customers who were able to sense I wasn’t Breed. How had I never noticed the looks of disgust these people must have been giving me my whole life? I guess as a kid I didn’t understand such things. Now I did, and it pissed me off. Sometimes I heard the ancients talking about how they resented living in secret. Not everyone felt the same way, but enough of them did that it made me feel like an outcast. I began to appreciate what my mother and April undoubtedly put up with.

“It’s a shame to see such radiance neglected.”

I looked up at Prince and dusted sugar off my fingers. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

He smiled enigmatically, and it almost appeared that he had short hair because of how tight he had it pulled back. Prince wore a dark suit with a white shirt unbuttoned at the top. He admired a gold watch on his wrist and then motioned toward the chair beside me. “Would you mind if I shared your company for a moment?”

“Please do. Would you like some of my cookie?”

His nose wrinkled when he looked at my messy plate of crumbs, but he politely reached over and broke off a piece from the untouched end.

“Lexi makes these,” I said proudly.

He chewed his bite and then wiped his hands on a napkin. “I’m familiar with her endeavors. Her bakery has gained a respectable following. Tell me, do you share the same interests? A woman should not be troubled with such matters of finance.”

“Ah,” I said. “You come from the Old World, but haven’t left behind those old-fashioned beliefs.”

“And you judge too quickly,” he replied, touching my hand in a graceful gesture. “A woman should contribute to the pack—the family. She is a nurturer, a fighter, and a teacher. Why sacrifice those things so she can spend hours away from home earning money? The duties within the pack are of greater importance than finances. A strong pack can survive without money. Wolves hunt and live off the land, keeping our bodies fed. What women have to teach us is invaluable.”

“A woman’s mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

Prince had graceful hands for a man. They weren’t rough like Denver’s, but manicured and oiled. It made me want to examine my fingernails to make sure he wasn’t stroking a hot mess.

I felt every brush of his finger, every caress of his words. “Your eyes sparkle like jewels.”

Heat prickled my cheeks. “It’s the makeup. Naya helped me get ready.”

He smiled seductively, never removing his eyes from mine. That must have been a Herculean effort considering the dress I had on. “And how is your escort treating you this evening? Is he a man worthy of your time and affection?”

“Thomas is kind and I’ve enjoyed my dinner with him. He’s human, like me,” I added, curious about Prince’s reaction.

It didn’t seem to take him by surprise. “Comfort food has a tendency to make a man feel full and complete, but it doesn’t offer him the same flavor and experience as fine cuisine.”

I pulled my hand away. “Are your men following me?”

Prince snapped his fingers and the waiter rushed over. He leaned in and spoke in a quiet voice so I couldn’t hear. When the waiter hustled off, Prince crossed his legs and leaned on his right arm. “To answer your question about my men: I’ve made my intentions with you known, and I cannot in good conscience worry about your safety when I have the ability to protect you.”

Since Austin was never going to ask Prince about the body, I felt confident this was something I could discreetly bring up and put to rest. Leaning forward, I lowered my voice. “Have you been making… deliveries of an unwanted item?”

His brows curved in a devious slant, and his finger traced the outline of his thin lips. “I find Cole’s actions very curious.”

“And justified. It’s a matter for the Weston pack to handle, so you can stop playing the role of the United States Postal Service and quit returning our package.”

He chuckled and sat back. “Very well then. But might I suggest that the golf course was not an ideal location.”

Denver was going to get a kick in the pants for that one.

“Would you still be pursuing me if it weren’t for my unique situation?”

Prince studied the features of my face before his eyes flicked up. “I’ll let you resume your evening. Do consider trying something outside of comfort food.”

He gracefully turned and moved out of sight.

“Wow, sorry about that,” Thomas apologized, setting his phone on the table. “It’s a whole security-system thing I’ll tell you about later. So, are you done with dessert?”

Just then, the waiter appeared and placed a white dish in front of me, decorated with mint leaves and drops of red liquid. In the center of the plate was a perfectly round chocolate mousse garnished with raspberries and slivers of chocolate that made the plate look like a work of art.

“That’s quite a dish,” Thomas remarked.

I smiled. “Yes. It is.”

After dessert, Thomas held my hand like a gentleman and walked me to his car. The brisk evening air made me shiver. I began to wonder if I was setting my expectations too high. So what if he had a few quirks and geeked out over video games and microprocessors? Maybe I needed to try harder to find the connection between us, but all through the evening, another man had been on my mind.

“What is it with guys and classic cars?” I asked.

He patted his dash. “What’s the matter? Don’t like my Mustang? She’s got a little age on her, but she’s classy.”

I laughed. “Sounds like my mom.”

“Does she also live in your pack?”

I rolled up the window when my hair began circling around. “Yes, but she left before you knocked on the door, so I couldn’t introduce you.”

“Ah,” he said, pinching his chin. “So she was the old lady I saw getting in the car with Grizzly Adams.”

I twisted my mouth to the side. I’d forgotten how rude humans could be compared to Shifters when speaking about women. Not to say they talked about us like saints, but none of the pack would have called my mother an old lady.

“I want to take you somewhere,” he said surreptitiously.

“That’s not a good idea. Everyone’s expecting me home. Plus you promised Austin there wouldn’t be any detours.”

“Who’s to know? I’m a man, and you’re a woman.” He jerked the wheel to the left and put his foot on the gas.

“Slow down!”

“I want to show you how fast this baby can go.”

My nerves tangled up as the road moved beneath us like an out-of-control conveyer belt. “That’s really impressive, but I just ate and you’re going to make me sick.”

The car slowed down to normal speed. “Fine. Naya told me to show you a good time, and that’s what I intend to do.”

“Well,” I said with a laugh, “she didn’t quite mean it that way.”

He pursed his lips. “Hmm. Neither did I. Look, it’s nothing devious. There’s a nice spot by the lake I like to go to when I want to kick back and relax. I have beer and sparklers in the trunk, along with two lawn chairs. The beer’s in a cooler, so hopefully it’s still cold. What kind of guy would I be if I took you home on a nice night like this? Austin is a happening place. I want to take you out again, so impressions are everything.”

“You do?” Thomas had a sweet side to him, and it felt good to be noticed.

“Yeah, I do.” He gripped my hand and kissed the top. “We’ll do a little moonlight dancing, and then I’ll drive you home to get skewered by your Packmaster.”

I suppressed a grin. “Austin isn’t so bad.”

“Really?” he said in an exaggerated manner. “I felt like the little pig whose wolf was about to blow my house in. Does he normally walk around without a shirt? Jesus, sometimes I wonder why I date Breed girls.”

I touched the ends of my hair. “I’m human.”

“I know that,” he said, turning the wheel. “But we’re living in their world, so that kind of makes us one of them. It’s not easy to find a girl my age, not unless I date the girls in the human world. That’s a pain. They can’t meet my friends, hang out at my bars, and the only way I can tell them about the Breed world is if I decide to get serious and marry them. That’s too many hoops to jump through.”

“I’m beginning to understand. How did a guy like you get mixed up in this world?”

He shrugged. “I worked on a computer for a Mage. He was freaking out because he thought he’d killed the hard drive. I’m not sure how he found me, but in quiet circles I’ve got a reputation as one of the best. He actually flew all the way down from Cognito to have me look at it.”

“That’s nuts.”

“Tell me about it.” Thomas laughed. “He ran into some old enemy who was also a Mage. That guy must have tailed us home, because the next thing I knew, he was pounding his fist on my front door. They went outside and I watched them flashing around. I’d never seen anything like it. After that, he offered me a job if I kept my mouth shut. Said I could make good money in their world, but also laid out a tiny threat that if I betrayed them, he’d have a Vampire scrub my memory to the point where I’d be singing nursery rhymes in my nappies.”

I laughed. “This is a weird world.”

“Yeah, but it pays well.”

He watched me unzip my purse and pull out my phone. “Let me just give Lexi a call and tell her what’s going on. She’s Austin’s mate, but she’s also my big sis.”

“Uh, just don’t tell them where we’re going.”

“Why not?” The phone began ringing.

Thomas grinned nervously. “I don’t want ten wolves showing up to tear me to pieces?”

“Point taken. Hi, Lexi?”

“Hey, Maizy!” she exclaimed on the phone. “How’s your super sexy date?”

“Um, it’s going well.” I wasn’t sure if Thomas could hear her, so I switched to my right ear. “I’m going to be a little late. We’re making a detour, but don’t tell Austin.”

“Lips are sealed. So, is he nice? Naya really adores him and she’s hoping you’ll hit it off. Do you like him?”

I smiled at Thomas and he watched me with curiosity. “That remains to be seen. Tell Mom I love—”

When I glanced up the road, a deer crossed in front of the car and stopped, its eyes shining like two diamonds. In a split second, my world turned upside down and I screamed before I could finish my sentence.

Chapter 15

“Two pitchers for table seven!” Rosie shouted.

Howlers was slammed, and Denver was trying his best to keep his mind on orders instead of filling his mind with what that lowlife was doing with Maizy. It wasn’t hard to stay distracted with all the noise. Jericho’s band, Heat, had just finished up their last song. Izzy had left the kids at home so she could come up to Howlers and hang out.

Man, how Denver envied the chemistry between those two. He wiped down the bar and watched Jericho set his guitar on the stand and jump off the stage to take Izzy into his arms. Girls still loved him because he was unattainable, and Jericho didn’t give a damn about hiding his love for Izzy before, during, or after a show. The passion between those two was like a slow-burning fever.

Jericho eased onto the barstool and nibbled on her neck until she squealed and pulled away.

“What’ll it be?” Denver said coolly.

“How about a little Devil’s Eye?” Her green eyes danced with mischief. That was the house special made with magic—not a drink he recommended, because it made people do some dumb shit.

“Isabelle…” Jericho gave her a punishing glance.

She leaned toward him and licked her lips. “It’s gravy. The kids are at home and we have the night out. You’re driving, so there’s no reason why I can’t be a bad girl.”

Jericho’s pupils dilated as he looked at her with hungry eyes. “Whatever you want, Sexybelle.”

Denver began to mix the red drink and looked over his shoulder at Jericho. “What about you, dickhead? Coconut water with a pink straw?”

Jericho flicked a peanut at him. “What did you think of Maizy tonight? Holy shit, that was some dress Naya picked out for her date.”

Denver slid the drink in front of Izzy and leaned on the bar. “I’m surprised Naya didn’t put pasties on her nipples.”

“Thank the fuck she picked out one of her conservative dresses.”

Izzy almost spit out her drink laughing. “There wasn’t anything conservative about that slit down the front.”

Jericho grinned at Denver. “I’ll have a beer. Yeah, she’s at that ripe age of twenty-licious. Right, Denny?”

He bristled and pulled a longneck from the fridge. Nobody called him that except for Maizy. Jericho was busting his balls after catching Denver with an erection while Maizy was in the room.

Denver played it cool and set the drink in front of Jericho, an artificial smile easing across his stony expression. “I hardly noticed.”

“Strange,” Jericho remarked, taking a short sip. “I haven’t heard you refer to yourself as her watchdog for years… until tonight.”

“Just doing my job and putting a scare into him like the rest of the pack.”

Denver didn’t like the smug grin widening on Jericho’s face, so he bent over and pulled out a bag of soft peppermints for the customers.

Jericho set his bottle down and bobbed his head to the music. “Can’t say he looked too scared. You might need to brush up on your scary face.”

“Brother, you better pray you never see my scary face,” Denver said. He glanced at Izzy and noticed the drink working its magic. The rims of her eyes were red, and she had a faraway look. Devil’s Eye had a different effect on everyone, but it usually made people impulsive. Given her amorous behavior moments before, that was probably going to work out in Jericho’s favor.

Izzy was smooching on Jericho when her phone rang.

Denver swaggered over to a lovely young woman signaling him for another beer. As he turned around, he caught sight of Izzy shifting in the middle of the bar.

“Jericho!” he shouted, running back over. “Get her out of here. Goddammit, I knew I shouldn’t have given her that drink.”

Jericho looked down at Izzy’s wolf, who was snapping and growling, out of control. “One minute she’s on the phone and the next she shifted. What the fuck?”

Denver picked up her phone and held it to his ear. “Hello?”

All he heard was unintelligible screaming.

“Who is this?” he said loudly.

“Jericho?”

“No, this is Denver.”

Silence, more crying. It was Lexi. Adrenaline rushed through his veins like racing fuel, causing his heart to speed up and his face to flush. Jericho struggled to get ahold of Izzy’s wolf, who’d almost attacked a man walking by.

“Lexi, what’s wrong?”

“It’s Maizy. Oh God… She was in an accident. I heard the whole thing.”

Everyone has that moment in life that changes them. It happens instantly, like a switch turning off. The world becomes dark, cold, and intangible, surrounding you with a blanket of dread that threatens to suffocate your desire to live. It’s the phone call you never want to get, but you always know in the back of your head it’s coming for you… someday.

He gripped the phone tightly. “Where?”

Suddenly Austin was on the phone. “Prince called. She’s being rushed to the hospital on Fifteenth. Get everyone up there. Now.”

The second the line went dead, Denver leapt over the bar and ran toward the door. “Izzy!” he shouted in the most powerful voice he could summon. While he wasn’t an alpha, she heeded his call and went tearing out the door ahead of him. Rosie shouted for him, but his mind was in another place—one that didn’t give explanations.

“What the hell’s going on?” Jericho yelled out.

When Denver reached the truck, he realized he didn’t have his keys. “Goddammit! Give me your keys,” he snarled, wresting them away from Jericho.

He ran toward the blue truck and skidded when Jericho pulled the back of his shirt, causing one of the sleeves to rip. Denver spun around and struck Jericho in the eye. “Maizy’s hurt! Get Izzy in the truck or I’m leaving you behind.”

“Shit. She doesn’t have her clothes,” he said, hauling her into the front cab.

The engine roared as Denver hauled ass out of the parking lot. “Fuck clothes.”

Who the hell cared about modesty when his Maizy was hurt? Jesus, she needed him. All Denver could hear was the blood rushing in his ears, creating a rhythmic sound like a banging drum.

Jericho had somehow managed to get Izzy to shift in the truck. She was hysterical, and he stripped off his shirt and slipped it over her head to give her something to wear.

“Maizy… Maizy…” Her voice was wrought with pain, tears streaming down her face.

That severed Denver from reality. The wails of a woman, the urgency of Austin’s voice, the need for the entire family to be there, and most of all… Maizy’s mortality.

Jericho made calls on his phone, talking in a low voice and spreading the news fast. Each time he retold the story to a new packmate, Denver would step on the gas harder and run another light.

They pulled up to the emergency room entrance and Denver leapt out without shutting the engine off. His legs propelled him forward, as if operating on batteries, and he charged through the doors and into the emergency room.

Austin rose up from a chair and gripped his shoulders. “Lynn was the first one here because she was close. She’s in there with Lexi talking to the doctors. Nothing you can do, so sit down.”

Ropes of muscle tightened as Denver pushed toward the doors. “I need to be in there,” he bit out.

“Wheeler!” Austin bellowed.

Wheeler rushed him from behind and hooked his arms under Denver’s, pulling him back.

“It’s gonna take hell to hold me down.” Denver managed to push his way past Austin, even with Wheeler restraining him.

Someone behind a window was yelling at them, a baby was crying across the room, and Reno stepped in and gripped Denver by the neck.

Austin cradled his head and stared him down, throwing every ounce of raw alpha power into his voice. “Submit, Denver. Not here. I can’t have you going in and upsetting everyone; you could do more harm than good. Let the doctors take care of her. I don’t want one second of their time wasted because you’re going ballistic.”

“I need an update right this goddamn second, Aus. Get Lexi or someone out here to tell me what’s happening.”

Was he shouting? Was he growling? He didn’t even know. Denver’s thoughts clouded with anger, his heart pounded against his rib cage like a hammer, and a pain he hadn’t felt in decades constricted his chest and expelled the air from his lungs.

After a few moments, Lexi came out of the emergency room, her expression solemn. Austin cradled her close, offering his strength. They moved to an empty area of the room to speak privately.

“She has a head injury,” Lexi began, tears spilling past her lashes. “They’re inducing a coma.”

“What the hell for?” Austin snapped.

William collapsed in one of the vacant chairs, his face as pale as a ghost.

Lexi wiped her tangled hair away from her wet cheeks, her voice scratchy and weak. “They want to control the swelling and do more tests. The neurologist is talking to my mom.”

Denver wandered away from the group, his eyes downcast. He didn’t want to hear the rest. One more word and he was going to shut down all the way… or shift. He’d always been prepared to hear bad news about one of his brothers. After all, they’d done some stupid shit in their lives, like Jericho fighting a black bear by himself, or Reno on his many dangerous assignments as a PI. But not Maizy; never Maizy. It was too soon.

Images raced through his mind of little Maizy holding on to his neck and him telling her that he would always protect her.

“Even if I die?” she’d once asked.

“You’re not going to die, Peanut. Don’t be silly.”

All those years flashed before his eyes—all the time lost when she’d gone away to find herself. He could have visited her, but he hadn’t. He could have written to her, but he’d stopped. She came back home to reconnect, and yet he still kept pushing her away. Now he stood close to losing her forever.

Denver slammed his fist into the wall.

“Sir! I need you to take a seat or I’m calling security,” a woman called out.

Reno wrapped his arms around him and pushed him against the wall, his raspy voice calming Denver from behind. “There’s nothing you can do that’s gonna make this go away, and the more shit you throw around, the greater your chances are of getting locked up. I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you. Maizy needs her pack, and if this doesn’t end well, then you need to be there for Lynn and Lexi. Pull your shit together. We all care about her; we’re all hurting.”

Denver’s knees gave out when he heard Naya sobbing. He fell to the ground and pressed his forehead against the wall, overcome with anguish. He was on the brink of losing the most precious thing that had ever walked into his life.

***

Denver waited until the news came back that Maizy had been admitted to a room in the intensive care unit. The doctors were going to monitor her closely and run more tests in the morning once they got her stabilized. Lynn still had on her slacks and dressy blouse, but she’d taken off her jewelry in preparation of staying the night. Maddox was the one who’d driven her to the hospital after she got the call. He stayed a short while but hadn’t felt there was anything he could do since the pack had come together. After midnight, he headed home.

Each of them received a visitor pass, and the pack branched apart to find a quiet spot to relax. When the staff initially denied the pack entrance, Austin made a call to the Council. Whether the Council had an insider working there or hired a Vampire to charm the humans was unknown, but they made it happen, and the pack was granted full access. They began visiting Maizy in groups of two.

Denver decided not to go in because of how altered their expressions were when they came out. He stood guard in the hall, compelled to make certain no one got near her room who didn’t belong to the pack or have on hospital clothes. Watchdog instinct was kicking into full gear.

After the pack had visited her and Lynn walked out with the nurse, Lexi reached through the door and yanked him inside. Denver flinched when he caught sight of all the tubes taped to Maizy’s mouth, and he backed away.

“Where are you going!” she hissed.

He shook his head. “I can’t look at her like that.”

Lexi gripped his wrist. “She needs you. I don’t have a whole lot of faith in all the meds they’re giving her, and this family has the best medicine that’s out there. Love, loyalty, and support.”

“I can’t do it,” he said, his voice broken as he shook his head. The enormity of the pain swelling in his chest was beyond comprehension, and the only way to stop it from overtaking him was to shut down.

Lexi rubbed her eyes, red from crying and dark circles forming beneath them. She had tried putting her hair into a sloppy ponytail, but strands of it were hanging askew. “Denver, if anyone can pull her through this, it’s you. She’s always had a special bond with you and…” Her voice broke and she cleared her throat, blowing out a heavy breath. “Maybe it’ll help. Maybe she’ll hear your voice in the darkness and fight harder.”

Denver pressed his lips into a mulish line.

“You’re so stubborn! Did you care about her when you acted as her watchdog, or were you just doing a job?”

“I did everything I could to protect her, but I can’t protect her from life! She’s the one who went away.”

“My mother sent her away! I wasn’t any more thrilled about it than you were, but we can’t go back in time and change things. I’m sorry if that cut your duties short, but dammit, you keep looking for someone to blame. She got a chance at a better life—a chance to see the world.”

“The world?” he said incredulously. “Her whole world was right here!” He opened his arms wide. “Was her family not good enough?”

Lexi shoved at his chest. “Why won’t you hold her? That’s all I’m asking!”

“Because I’m afraid if I hold her, I’ll never let go!” His shout fell into fractured words that ripped open a dam of pain—the kind only love can bring.

He loved her, goddammit. Love. Not the kind of devotion a watchdog gives the person they’re caring for, not the love of a packmate. It was the kind of love that could break a man. Every moment since her return, it had become obvious to Denver that he loved her hard. He loved her in a way that terrified him because of what it would mean.

Losing her.

He should have sent Thomas home and made his claim, but he hadn’t. He’d let Maizy walk right out that door, and that’s why he was standing in this hospital facing the reality of losing the only person who defined him as a man.

Lexi wrapped her arms around him. “I can’t bear to see you cry. Please just make her better somehow.”

Was he crying? Denver snapped back to reality and realized with embarrassment that his face was wet. He lifted his T-shirt and wiped it dry. “You and your mom should get some rest. You’ll need to be thinking clearly when they run more tests tomorrow. I’ll watch over her.”

Lexi nodded. Sleep deprivation would do no one any good when faced with so many important decisions. He didn’t know if there was a sleeping facility in or near the building. Hell, maybe Austin had managed to get them their own room. The Breed had ways of getting what they needed in the human world, so it wasn’t worth dwelling on.

When she left the room, Denver dragged his eyes to the bed. Once he stopped focusing on the machines keeping her alive, his instincts took over. Maizy was barely recognizable with the bandage around her head. He walked to the right side of the bed and tried to find a way to touch her. She’d never looked so fragile.

He leaned over and stroked her cheek with his fingertips. She felt cold to the touch. “I’m right here, Peanut. I’m going to stay with you all night. I want you to rest and let us do all the work, you hear me? Nothing you need to worry about. The pack is all here, and Reno’s already complaining about the cafeteria being closed. That man needs his own machine,” he said with a smile. “Things are going to change when you wake up and get out of here. Between us, I mean. Maybe I screwed it up already, but I’m a stubborn man who never takes things as seriously as I should. You know that.”

As much as he wanted to crawl in that bed with her, there was no room. She needed the space; she needed the medicine and even the air going in through the tubes.

He dragged a chair to the edge of the bed and touched her delicate fingers. There were a few cuts on them, and he wondered what had happened in the car. Did she see it coming? Was it the passenger window she hit her head on or something that penetrated the windshield? Jesus.

He leaned in close, his voice soothing. “Remember that Peter Pan book you always had me read to you? That line about dying being an awfully big adventure is a load of bullshit. Just so you know. If you want to know why I’ve been such a jackass, maybe it can relate to a line in that book. The one about not saying good-bye, because good-bye means going away, and going away means forgetting. When you went away, I thought that meant you wanted to forget me like one of those old dolls in your room. I felt like part of your past and not your future.”

Denver continued stroking her slender fingers, images flashing in his mind of her swimming around him in the creek. Blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight, the way her dimples ensnared his attention when she laughed. She was so full of life, so eager to reconnect with him. Why couldn’t he have seen that? He was so fixated on their past and future that he’d ignored the present.

He stood up and stroked her cheek above the tape that secured her ventilator. Maybe somehow she’d feel his presence.

“You remember what you said when we went swimming? You asked why I wasn’t willing to fight for you. I’m going to make you a deal. I’ve had a lot of noise in my head, but now I’m thinking clearly. I’ve always been ready to fight for you, but I didn’t get what you were saying. Not until now. I’ll fight for you. You hear me? I’ll fight to the death, but you have to make me the same promise. I need you to fight. Don’t let go as quickly as I did earlier. I should have pushed that asshole right out the door and sent him on his way, but I didn’t. You’re mine, Peanut. You’ve always been mine. Maybe I don’t deserve you now, but I’ll still fight for you.”

He blocked out the machines that beeped and hissed all around him with their discordant rhythm. It wasn’t likely she could hear him since she was so deeply sedated. But he held on to a thread of hope that the comfort and familiarity of his voice would give her strength.

“Heal.” His voice broke as soon as he spoke the word. “Heal.”

After a few minutes, a voice cut through the silence. “Sir, do you have authorization to be in here? The only person I have down is Lynn Knight.”

Denver glanced up at the nurse in the doorway, who quickly turned around when a man caught her arm. He spoke in low words, and Denver rose from his chair to get a better view of the Vampire entrancing the nurse in the hall. Vamps were easy to spot because of their black eyes.

When the nurse walked off, Denver caught up with him. “Did the Council send you?”

The Vampire shrugged. “I was hired by a man who’s protecting his—”

“Prince?” Denver clenched his fists and stepped forward. “Tell him to quit putting his claim where it doesn’t belong.”

The Vampire tilted his head. “It was Prince’s men who were following the girl and able to get her here so fast. And you are?” He scraped Denver from head to toe with an irreverent gaze.

“Your nightmare if you don’t get the fuck off this floor.”

“Careful who you threaten, Shifter. The next nurse on duty won’t know who you are, and without my help, you’ll find yourself escorted off the premises.”

“Go tell your master I want to talk to him. If I see you again, I’m shoving a big stick in your chest. Skulk in the supply closet, but get away from this door.”

The Vamp’s expression soured. Prince must have been paying him well, because he didn’t retaliate.

After the Vampire went out the exit, Denver stalked down the hall until he caught sight of Naya.

She rushed up, eyes wide with worry. “Is she okay?”

“Where is everyone?”

“They’re rotating shifts to keep an eye on the house, so William has the first one. I’m not sure where Austin took Lexi and her mama, but he wanted them to get rest. How is she?”

“Still sedated.” Denver stuffed his hands in his pockets and felt strength coming over him—the kind that intensified with each passing moment. “I want you to go back to the house and pick up something for me.”

“What?”

“Books. Grab some books from Maizy’s room—her favorites.”

Naya knitted her brows and cocked her head to the side.

“Bring me her books, Naya. I’m going to read to her.”

Chapter 16

“How much sleep did you get last night?” Austin asked from the foot of Maizy’s bed.

Denver stared at him from his cheap vinyl chair, unblinking.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. I need you out. Prince flew in some big-shot neurologist, and he’s not happy about keeping her sedated. I don’t know if that’s good or bad news, but I want everyone in the pack to walk around outside and stretch their legs. Get some food in your stomach, and I’ll call you when there’s news. That’s not a request.” Austin hauled Denver out of the chair and led him to the door. “I’m not kidding about sleep. You’re no good to me like this. Go outside and find a patch of grass beneath a tree and relax. Reno is in the cafeteria with Lexi and Lynn, trying to make them eat.”

Denver found himself gripping the rail of her bed. He knew Austin was right, but every second was crucial, and something could happen if he left.

Austin seized his jaw and gave him a pensive stare. “I’ll call you if her condition changes. You’ve got my word. Trevor didn’t like the grub downstairs, so he’s heading out to pick up breakfast for anyone who doesn’t want to eat that hospital shit. Jericho put in a request for donuts, so there’ll be some of those if you’re hungry.” Austin patted Denver’s shoulder and led him toward the door.

“Who’s staying here with her?” Denver looked back at Maizy as if she might have woken up while he had his back to her.

“Izzy. That drink she had last night knocked her out, so she’s well rested,” Austin said with a soft chuckle. “Jericho went home to grab some clothes since the staff doesn’t seem to like him walking around shirtless and her without pants. He’s also picking up a few personal items for anyone who’s staying up here. Toothbrushes, razors, stuff like that. I guess we’re playing it by ear.”

They moved down the hall toward the elevators.

Denver rubbed his eyes, the bright lights in the hallway causing him to squint. “What happened to the guy she was with?”

A quiet moment passed until the elevator doors opened. Austin hit the button and looked at him gravely. “Thomas died. He didn’t have any family, but he’s done a good service for the Breed and his funeral expenses are paid for. Unlike Maizy, he wasn’t wearing a seat belt. They’re not sure what happened, only that the car veered off the road and hit a cluster of trees. From what I heard, all the windows were shattered and the car was tilted on two tires. It’s a good thing she didn’t break her neck, because she must have been whipped around good in there.”

Jesus, it was too much to visualize. Denver rubbed his face as if he could erase the mental images.

“I’d prefer if everyone went home for a few hours and shifted,” Austin said as the doors opened. They walked past two women and crossed the open room. “All that pent-up stress isn’t good for your wolf. If you run into anyone, spread the word. And tell them to turn on their phones. I tried to get ahold of Trevor when he left and he didn’t answer. I don’t see a need for anyone to go to work, but if that helps them cope with this, then fine. We’ve got enough going on up here.”

Denver glanced at the dark circles under Austin’s eyes. “Maybe you should take your own advice.”

“Yeah,” he said, arching his back as he stretched. “As soon as we talk with this new doctor, that’s the plan. Unless something changes. Lexi’s taking this hard.”

“What about Lynn?”

Austin shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s a stronger woman than I gave her credit for, and maybe that’s because she’s already lost a child. She’s holding it together, but I think she’s mentally preparing for the worst.”

“Why is Prince so involved?”

“If his men hadn’t been tailing them, Maizy might still be out there. I’d like to know what his men were doing behind them, but I’ve got too much on my plate right now.” They lingered by the main doors. “I owe Prince. For everything he’s doing for her now, I owe him. That’s not a position I like to be in, but it is what it is.”

That’s not a position Denver wanted the pack to be in either. Especially since he already knew Prince had an agenda.

He stepped outside and took a breath of clean air. The sun heated his face and arms. Somehow it felt real, and all the madness of what he’d endured in the past ten hours melted off his skin. It lifted and amplified the unpleasant smell of the hospital, and he wrinkled his nose.

Austin jingled the change in his pocket. “The body showed up again.”

Denver huffed out a laugh. “Now where?”

“Our front porch sitting in one of our chairs.”

“Ah, shit. The kids…”

They crossed a street and headed for some trees. “They’re fine. April dropped the kids off with Ivy to keep as long as we need.” He glanced up and squinted at the bright sky. “This time there was a note with the body.”

Denver paused beneath a tree and leaned against the trunk. “Let me guess. Return to rightful owner?”

“That about covers it. Said it’s the last time it’ll be returned. I don’t need anyone holding this shit over my head, so I have no choice.” He stared at the hospital building, stroking his bottom lip with his index finger. “I’m going to visit Aaron’s Packmaster and work it out. Maizy’s our priority right now, and I don’t have time to be hauling bodies around the city.” Austin tugged a leaf off the tree branch above and twirled it between his fingers.

“True that. Prince is the one returning to sender, just in case you’re interested.”

Austin’s crystal-blue eyes studied the leaf before he let it fall to the grass. “You sure about that?”

Denver had never been more sure of anything in his life. “He wants Maizy. He made a private claim on her.”

Austin’s biceps flexed when he took his hands out of his pockets. “He didn’t make that claim to me.”

“No, but he did to Maizy. He pointed out she’s human and doesn’t technically have to follow the same rules.”

Austin turned around, eyes alert and scoping out the street.

“I’m going to challenge him if he holds his favors against us,” Denver said.

Despite being outside, Denver felt the energy pulsing off Austin when he turned around and steamrolled him with his hardened gaze.

Austin pointed his finger. “We have enough going on right now. Don’t do anything stupid. I’ve got too many messes to clean up, and I’m running out of brooms.”

Denver shook his head with cool confidence. “Too late, Aus. I’ve made up my mind, and this is one thing you have no say in. If Prince wants her, he’s going to have to come through me. He can fly in all the surgeons he wants, but he’s not holding that shit over her. I don’t want her to feel obligated to pay our debts.”

“She’s not even conscious.”

Denver stepped forward, anger locked in a tight cage. “She will wake up, and when she does, I’m putting my claim on her.”

Austin’s jaw slid to the left and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Dammit,” he whispered. “You sure?”

“Never been more sure about anything in my life. The decision is still hers, but you need to know where I stand.”

Austin folded his arms and kicked at the grass. “Maybe you should just wait until she wakes up. Prince isn’t someone you mess with. If he doesn’t agree to a challenge, then you can’t provoke it. That could mean incarceration, at the very least.”

Denver widened his stance. “A challenge for claim isn’t to the death. The only thing he stands to lose is his pride.”

“I’ve subdued your wolf, and he’s not an animal who knows how to back down. Do you think you can keep him from tearing out Prince’s jugular? That’s dangerous ground, brother.”

“So is accepting every handout he gives you. Do you think we can’t afford to buy our own neuro-whatever? Quit accepting his help. Men like him don’t pass favors out for free. He’s holding Aaron over you, and this is going to get ugly if we don’t get our shit together.”

“Think I don’t know that? Running a pack is more than just brawn; it’s a tricky game of moving chess pieces around and making alliances.”

“Just giving you a heads-up. I’m not asking your permission to challenge him, but I need to know you’ll have my back if it comes to that.”

Austin gripped the back of Denver’s neck. “If you had sprung this revelation on me two days ago, I would have had a problem with it. I’ve always looked at Maizy like a daughter, and I can’t say I blame any man for falling in love with her. But you and I need to have a private talk later. If you’re going to pursue Maizy, then there’s something I need to talk to you about. Now isn’t the time. We need to focus on keeping this pack together and getting her well.”

Just then, Austin received a text.

Denver’s heart galloped as he watched Austin check his phone. “What is it?”

“Lexi’s with the doc. He’s ordering another test. Damn, things are moving along. I need to haul that body off the property. William said if I didn’t make it back in the next few hours, he’d return it to the Packmaster himself.”

“I smell bullshit.” Denver snorted and kicked off his shoes. His feet were starting to toast in his sneakers; he’d always been a fan of flip-flops or just going barefoot. “I’ll drive back to the property and make sure Will doesn’t shirk his duties. He’s going to clean up his own mess, so don’t worry about it.” He ran his fingers through his messy hair. “Besides, I need to shift for a while and run off some energy. Call me if anything changes. I don’t care what it is; I want to know about it.”

“What do you want me to tell the pack? I mean, have you talked to Maizy about…” Austin shook his head. “And she’s not even conscious.”

Denver reached down and picked up his shoes. “No need to get on a bullhorn and make a speech, but if anyone asks, tell them I’m her watchdog for life.”

***

By the time Denver made it home, William had moved the body into the trunk of his car—this time wrapped in a bag to contain the smell. Wheeler had hitched a ride home with Denver so he could watch the property while William and Denver returned the body to its rightful owner.

In the meantime, Denver’s wolf wanted out. If Denver kept him caged any longer, he might impulsively shift in the hospital and traumatize a few nurses. Stress and anger triggered that in his wolf, especially when it came to Maizy. Denver had to put his head down when the nurses had come in to draw blood. He knew they were helping, but that fierce protective instinct made it impossible to watch anyone prod her and poke her with needles.

The afternoon sun shone bright—not a cloud in the sky. It wasn’t the dark hue of blue that summer often brings, but washed-out and lackluster. Denver shifted into his wolf, which resembled a grey-and-white Alaskan sled dog. He had a thick pelt and a keen nose. Not exactly the fiercest-looking animal, but that had often worked to his advantage.

Denver savored the world through his wolf’s eyes. The layers of scents floating on the air, the cool grass beneath his paws, the sharp sound of birds chirping, and leaves rustling within the woods beneath the tread of an animal’s feet.

“Mustn’t wander far,” William yelled from the porch. “If Austin calls, I don’t want to hunt you down.” Denver had just entered his shift and still understood William’s words, so he communicated the message to his wolf.

Denver barked once and ran as hard as his legs would allow. Damn, it felt good to just run. A rabbit caught his eye and his wolf came to a halt, tongue hanging out as he panted heavy breaths. Naya’s cat had once gotten out just as Denver shifted, and while he was concerned Spartacus might end up as an offering at the foot of the door that evening, his wolf had left him alone. Wolves had a strong sense of family. That cat, on the other hand, hadn’t been as confident. Wheeler had to climb a tree to get him down.

After a minute or two, Denver succumbed to his wolf so he could mentally sleep. Because they were two spirits inhabiting the same space, it was daunting to have both minds operating at once. How the alphas did it was beyond him. Wolves were primal creatures, whereas the human side of a Shifter relied on logic and reason. Too much inner conflict and the wolf might grow resentful of the human, becoming more aggressive. There had to be harmony between both halves, and respect.

Denver’s wolf sensed his distress—after all, they were two spirits inhabiting the same body, linked by emotions. The world blurred around him the faster his wolf ran, and Denver slipped into a peaceful sleep.

Hours later, Denver woke up from his shift in the back of William’s BMW. It smelled like death, and the stereo was playing “Bad Moon Rising” by CCR.

“You have a twisted sense of humor,” Denver grumbled.

William flung a pile of clothes at him. “Let’s get this over with. You were out for a long time, and now we’re running late. Reno’s coming by to switch out with Wheeler and guard the property tonight. I’m guessing one of us will have tomorrow’s shift.”

Denver sniffed his armpit. “I need a shower.”

William glanced at him in the rearview mirror, black sunglasses shielding his eyes. “Indeed.”

Denver sat up and put on his pants. “How did you get my wolf in here?”

“He’s an inquisitive chap. Apparently the smell of a rotting corpse piqued his curiosity.”

God… Denver felt miles better. He rubbed the last bit of exhaustion off his face and cracked his neck. “Did you bring me any shoes?”

William snapped his fingers. “Knew I forgot something.”

“You’re an ass.”

“An ass with class. I thought you didn’t like shoes?”

“I don’t mind them so much on hot asphalt. But thanks anyway.” Denver climbed into the front seat, pulling down the rest of his shirt. “Your car smells like a biohazard dump.”

William’s large curls blew back in the breeze from the open window, and his lip curled. Everyone knew the BMW was his pride and joy, despite its track record for body hauls.

Denver made a quick call to Austin to check on Maizy. He didn’t understand half the mumbo jumbo regarding the tests; the only part that caught his attention was the plan to step her down out of the induced coma. Hearing that lit a fire in Denver to get this unsavory task over with. Technically, William had acted in self-defense as any wolf would, but it was never a good idea to get on a Packmaster’s bad side, particularly a royal dick like Bromus.

“What the fuck kind of name is Bromus?” Denver murmured to himself.

“I think it’s a plant,” William replied. “Or a weed.”

Denver put his arm on the armrest. “Only you would know something like that. Now I remember why I hate playing Trivial Pursuit with you.”

William pulled into a dirt driveway that circled the front of the house. “Books are your friends. I’m guessing by the beer cans sitting on top of the tree stump and the couple having intercourse on the porch that there aren’t any books in this house.”

“True that.”

Denver looked at the property on his right and wrinkled his nose at the repugnant lifestyle. Aaron came from a redneck pack, if there was such a thing. Based on the cars and size of the house, he guessed there were no more than ten packmates. The house resembled an old barn, only someone had added a porch to the front. Denver lifted his visor and glanced at a mess of poison oak growing up the trees straight ahead from where William parked.

“Men who live like this are dangerous,” William said in a low voice as he rolled up their windows. “Careful what you say. We’re just here to deliver the body and a message. Austin will arrange a meeting with Bromus to decide how they want to resolve this.”

“Think he’ll serve us some freshly squeezed lemonade?”

William shut off the engine and gave Denver a death glare. “Don’t start anything. Guys like this want you to cross the line. Look at this dump; he’d love nothing more than to have a powerful pack owe him. We may already owe them for Aaron; that’s to be decided between him and Austin. Try not to kick up any dirt and pee on his territorial lines.”

Denver opened his door and mumbled, “The lawn could use some watering.”

“What’s your business with the Bromus pack?” a man shouted from the left side of the property. It looked as though he’d been working underneath a car from his ruddy complexion and sweat-stained shirt. His hands were greasy, and his black hair was slicked back with sweat and oil. He wiped his hands on his white tank top and left more dirty smears.

William took a dominant position, hands resting at his sides. “We’re here to see Bromus on behalf of Austin Cole, Packmaster of the Weston pack.”

The man took a few steps forward, wiping the sweat from his face with his dirty forearm. He glanced at the couple who were still going at it on the floor of the porch. “Ricky, run inside and tell Bromus we have company.”

Denver shivered with disgust.

“Ricky!”

“Goddammit!” The man rose to his feet and pulled up his pants as he went into the house.

William lowered his voice so only Denver could hear him. “The mechanic must be the second-in-command. Watch him.”

The woman on the porch stood up, blond hair looking as neatly combed as a Barbie doll’s after tumbling in the dryer. She tugged down her brown skirt and smiled at them, showing off her broken tooth. If Denver so much as saw a banjo on the property, he was going to leave William’s ass behind.

The mechanic looked at her and snapped his fingers. “Lucky, get in the house.”

Denver chortled and murmured to William, “Lucky? That’s a bold assumption. I’m not sure which of those two was the luckiest… or unluckiest.”

William elbowed him in the ribs.

Bromus stepped outside, thumbs tucked beneath his blue suspenders as he gave them a stretch. He resembled a construction worker without the hard hat. Maybe it was the thick mustache and broad chest, or maybe it was the fact he was wearing a rugged pair of tan boots that clomped on the ground as he slowly ambled across the dirt yard in their direction.

“Well, well. So you’re from Cole’s pack. That’s a real nice ride you got there,” he said, admiring William’s silver BMW. “I’ve always wanted one of those.”

“This may work out in your favor,” Denver murmured to his packmate.

William ignored him and stepped forward to signal he was the man to talk to. “Austin Cole sent us to speak with you privately. This isn’t a matter for your entire pack to be involved in.”

“My beta stays right where he is. Everyone else is inside.” Bromus drew nearer until he no longer had to shout.

Denver kept a close eye on the mechanic, who was flanking them on their left.

“Very well,” William said. “We haven’t heard any word that you’re missing a packmate, but we know it to be true.”

Bromus furrowed his brow. “You mean Aaron? Yeah, people come and go around here,” he said with an indifferent shrug. “Wasn’t worth reporting.”

“Austin extends his condolences as there was an unfortunate accident.” William signaled for Denver to pop the trunk.

When he did, Bromus walked around and wrinkled his nose, looking down at the bag. “That him?” His eyes rose to meet theirs. “Should I be concerned he’s in a bag and smells days old?”

“Should I be concerned he knows what a body smells like that’s days old?” Denver whispered from behind William.

“At this time, we can’t provide you any details. Austin will reach out to arrange a meeting. He would have come himself, but there was a pack emergency that required his immediate attention.”

“Ah, yes. I heard about blondie. Word spreads fast. Sounds messy. Hope you have the good sense to not put her in a garbage bag and bring her home in the trunk of a car when she kicks the can.” He sneered at the Weston pack’s misfortune.

When Denver took a step forward, William widened his arms and corralled him. If that bastard said one more word about Maizy, Denver was going to crush his face.

William sensed this and blocked his view. “Any questions you have, Austin will be the one to answer. We’re here for delivery only.”

Bromus rubbed his jaw and looked at the bag. “In lieu of flowers, how about I just take your car?”

“Uh,” William sputtered.

Denver shoved at his back. Will wasn’t going to be able to clean out that trunk funk with a fucking blowtorch.

“Actually, I’ve been in the market for a new car, so uh… we extend our condolences. Just let me grab a few things from inside.”

While William dug beneath the seats and in the glove compartment, Denver sized up the mechanic, watching him lift the body from the trunk and toss it by a pile of chopped wood.

Bromus ignored the body and spoke to his second. “Strip out the lining and clean it good.”

“What about Aaron?”

“I need to see what condition he’s in, but let me eat my lunch first. Take him out back.” It seemed as though every breath Bromus drew in from his nose was audible. He folded his arms and looked at the two men closely. “Did either of you have something to do with this?”

Denver stepped in front of William. “We’re not here to kiss your ass. You’ve got the body, you’ve got our car, and you have Austin’s word he’ll be in touch.”

Bromus narrowed his dark eyes. “I don’t like the way you’re talking to me.”

Denver bristled. “Yeah? And I don’t like the way you came into my bar and didn’t leave a tip. You don’t make people work their asses off for free. Maybe you’re used to that around here with your bunnies humping on the porch, but the only way a Packmaster earns my respect is by how he shows respect to others of a lower rank. So fuck your feelings, bro. Take the car and the free cologne that goes with it. We’re outta here.”

Denver gripped William by the collar and hauled him toward the road.

“I’ll be sure to talk to your Packmaster about your attitude!” Bromus shouted at them from a distance.

Denver raised his middle finger in the air. “Suck it.”

“Say, that was smooth,” William said with a sarcastic bite. “Trying to get us off on the right foot after delivering one of his deceased packmates?”

“Bro, we gave him a fucking BMW and he’s going to give us shit? He knows better than that. Our Packmaster sent the message, so questioning us is an attempt to defy Austin. He thinks I offended him? If I’d stayed any longer, I would have insulted his entire fucking ancestry. Anyhow, what are you bitching about? I’m the one who has to walk home barefoot on hot asphalt.”

“Indeed.” William slipped out of his thin jacket and draped it over his shoulder, holding it with his index finger. “I have a feeling we’ll be seeing him again.”

Denver didn’t know what to say to that because it was probably true. Bromus could challenge William to the death, throw him in Breed jail, or go to the Council and demand money or land from Austin as compensation. Most Packmasters worked out their problems without the Council, but Bromus was the type who would put it on record just to make Austin look bad. That would depend on the facts of the death, which in this case could be perceived as self-defense, but it sure didn’t help their case that they tried burying the body numerous times. Denver didn’t know if Austin was going to tell Bromus the truth regarding that, but it made a flutter of nervous butterflies dance around in his stomach.

Denver stripped out of his shirt and pulled it over his head like a turban.

After a few minutes, William adjusted his sunglasses and finally spoke. “Austin called while your wolf was running the property. He mentioned something about you and Maizy.”

“Yeah? What did he say?”

“You love that girl, don’t you?”

A wistful smile played on Denver’s lips. “What do you think about it?”

William put his left arm around Denver. “I think it’s been a long time in the making. I wasn’t so sure after you stopped visiting her, but I figured her surprise return would knock some sense into your thick skull.”

“You don’t think the pack will have an issue with it since…”

“Since you watched her as a child?” William huffed out a laugh. “This isn’t the human world. You were her watchdog, not her brother, and that’s a position unlike any other. Maybe the reason a guy like you took the job so eagerly is because you’ve always sensed she was the one. Ever think of that?”

Denver shoved him away. “Cut it out with the life-mate shit.”

William brushed back his brown hair. “If there are soul mates, what makes you think the universe would create them at the same time? I think the fates have a sense of humor, and that’s why some never find their other half. Spaced apart by either distance or time. Can’t have our destiny on a silver platter, now can we?”

“She’s human,” Denver reminded him.

“I’ve got a few years on me and I’ve seen some unexplainable things. Before you got the call at the bar that Maizy was in trouble, did you feel… off?”

Denver considered the question. “I felt edgy.”

“I won’t be making any jokes about you two henceforth,” William promised. “I know the pack has gotten in a few jabs, but it’s only because they don’t know where you stand.” William’s shoes crunched on the asphalt and the two spaced apart as Denver walked off the road to give his feet some relief. “So, have you figured out where you stand?”

“I stand by this pack, and I know where else I’d like to stand. Guess it’s up to her when she wakes up if she even wants me beside her.”

William chuckled softly. “Women are fickle creatures. Don’t expect it to be that easy. If you care for her, give her the time she needs. She’ll resent any man who pressures her into something, no matter how much she cares for him.”

Denver reached down and tossed a pebble at William. “Since when did you become Dr. Love?”

“I can’t say I’ve been as fortunate as some, but I’m observant enough to watch the dance. Perhaps I’m patiently waiting myself.”

“Hmm. I don’t recall seeing you go out with anyone, unless you’re hung up on some old lover who’s mated. If so, time to move on, Will.”

William remained uncharacteristically quiet.

Fifteen minutes later, Denver was working up a sweat. While he’d built up a nice tan, his feet were taking a beating on the rough terrain. When a few female motorists passed by, Denver thought his charming smile and firm abs might snag their attention. But all they did was honk as they drove away.

“I’d kill for a bottle of water,” William complained.

Denver glared up at him. “I’d kill for your shoes.”

William’s phone played the A-Team ringtone and he pulled it out of his pocket. Denver slowed his stride when Will stopped and faced the woods. “How long?”

It must have been Austin.

“Had to leave the car, so…” William scratched his temple and glanced around. “It’ll take us another hour or more to get back to the house before we can head over.”

Denver approached William and gripped his arm. “What is it?”

William’s eyes were brimming with worry. “Maizy’s coming out of the coma.”

Without warning, Denver shifted and his wolf ran full speed up the road.

Chapter 17

“Maizy, can you squeeze my hand?”

Through moments of lucidity, voices had been asking me to squeeze their hand and say something. They were loud and persistent. They also liked shining a bright light in my eyes. If I had the energy, I’d sock them in the face. Why couldn’t they just leave me alone? I was so tired… so confused.

“Everything’s looking good,” a man said. “Her blood pressure’s down and we’ve controlled the swelling. She’s responsive, so we’ll just keep a close eye on things.” There was a murmur of voices. “I didn’t see anything concerning on the scans, but we’re not out of the woods yet. We won’t know the extent of damage until she wakes up. She could have cognitive problems, memory loss—”

“Memory loss?” I heard my mother say.

“It’s not uncommon after a traumatic head injury,” he continued. “We’ll keep a close eye on her vitals and see where we are tomorrow. Sometimes once the patient wakes up, the recovery accelerates.”

“Can we talk to her?” I heard Lexi ask.

“A familiar voice is what she needs right now. Based on everything I see, it looks good. Real good. I take it she comes from a strong family of fighters.”

“You got that right,” Austin chimed in.

“So she’s off the ventilator for good?” my mom asked.

“They induced her to control the situation, but in cases of head trauma, I don’t advocate for this kind of treatment for long periods of time except in extreme instances. It’s done to decrease intracranial pressure, but only as a last-ditch effort. Lowering her body temperature helped, and we’ll carefully monitor her. She’s breathing on her own; she’s more responsive with every passing minute. If you want my honest opinion, I think she’s a very lucky woman. I’ll be back in this evening, and we’ll see how it’s looking.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” my mom said, and a door closed. “At least they moved her to a nicer room.”

What kind of dream was this? I tried peering through my lashes again, but everyone appeared blurry. My head hurt, my lip hurt, and…

“How is the little one?” a smooth voice inquired, one that belonged to Prince.

“I need to make some calls,” my mom said. “I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes.”

“May I sit with her privately?” Prince asked.

A throat cleared. “I’ll be paying you for the cost of the doctor,” Austin said. “That’s not negotiable. I won’t be in your debt for this one.”

“Where lies your concern, Cole?”

“I think we both know exactly where my concern lies.”

Just as soon as words were spoken, they were lost from my mind. Suddenly the idea of slipping into darkness frightened me because I realized this wasn’t a dream. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I needed to collect my thoughts, as hazy as they were. Yet my ability to speak and move was impaired. I felt drugged, exhausted, confused, and God… my head hurt.

“Just for a minute,” Austin said. “Come on, Ladybug. Let’s get you something to eat.”

“Austin, I should stay with her. What if she wakes up and we’re not here?”

Austin chuckled. “Half the pack is up here. She won’t be alone. Naya called from the lobby and she’s on her way up.”

“Good,” Lexi said in a breath. “Maizy loves her Auntie Naya. Maybe hearing her voice will help.”

I wanted to smile when I heard Lexi say Auntie Naya. In my youth, I was formal in how I addressed everyone. Miss Ivy and Mister Wheeler—no one went by just their first name except for Denver. He was always my Denny for as long as I could remember.

“Maizy, can you hear me?” Prince asked.

A warm hand smoothed over my arm. My throat was dry and sore; all I could think about was how I wanted a sip of water.

“I’ve got the best doctors taking care of you, and the prognosis looks good. It could have gone another way, so I hope you consider my offer more seriously. I still want you as my mate, and it deeply concerns me that you’re still mortal.”

Some of this was beginning to make sense. I was remembering bits and pieces from different time periods. A memory flashed in my head of Lexi covering my mark when I was a little girl, another of wolves running across an open field, a glimpse of Denver’s smiling face, and then Prince’s warm, multicolored eyes gazing down at me. The same eyes from many years ago when I was a child—headlights drawing my attention to them as he knelt down.

“Are you lost, little girl?” he’d asked me.

Am I? I’m so lost, I thought to myself.

“I’m a generous man,” Prince continued. “You have nothing to fear by accepting my offer. No one could take better care of you.” His hand continued stroking my arm. “You’re far too lovely to die so soon, and there’s so much you could offer me in return. It’s a great honor to be a Shifter, and a part of me will always be in you.”

“Who gave you permission to come in here?” a stern voice growled from a distance.

Prince’s hand drew away. “Your Packmaster.”

I’d never heard Denver’s voice sound so dangerous. “Get out.”

Prince’s steps thudded across the floor, and his voice grew distant. “Careful how you speak to me, wolf. She’s alive because of my generosity.”

Alive?

I fought to open my eyes. The sounds, the smells, the sensations—I realized I was in a hospital. But why? Their words buzzed around me like busy bees, and a swarm of conversation rose and fell in volume and intensity. Now that I was becoming more lucid, I worked harder to pay attention.

Soon it was quiet again and the door closed.

A warm hand smoothed over my arm. This one felt different. Rougher. “Hey, Peanut. They told me you’re ready to Hula-Hoop on roller skates.”

That made me want to smile.

“You scared the hell out of me, you know that? Thank God you had the good sense to wear your seat belt.”

Seat belt. A nightmarish scene crept into my head, and the only way to escape was to open my eyes.

It was hard to keep them open, but then I saw Denver smiling down at me. Denver had a contagious smile, the kind that made you want to reciprocate. I’d always found a sense of humor in a man insanely attractive, but I’d never met anyone else who could make me smile just from giving me a look.

“Hey, beautiful. You’re awake. Think you can listen to me talk for a little while? Feel free to tell me to shut it. Hold on while I get a chair.”

Metal scraped on the floor, and as he turned around to scoot toward the bed, I wondered why he wasn’t wearing a shirt. He noticed the direction of my gaze.

“Yeah, I know. I was walking outside with William and shifted when I heard the good news. I actually got in my truck and drove naked to pick him up. Thank the fuck he didn’t throw my pants in a tree or you might be getting more than you bargained for. Ahhh, I see a smile.” He leaned in. “Man, they said you were looking good, but bow-chicka-wa-wa.”

This time I made a noise and felt myself laughing.

***

I drifted in and out of consciousness while Denver read me my favorite childhood books. I’m not sure where he got the idea from, but it was soothing and made me think of home. It helped me to remember and pull myself out of this nebulous state of mind I was trapped in. At one point, he suggested reading one of April’s steamy romance novels, but he kept on, and hearing those familiar books helped stitch together the fragments of my life. I still couldn’t remember how I wound up in the hospital.

A doctor and several nurses came in, continuously checking my vitals and asking me to do things. Mom couldn’t stop kissing my cheeks, and Naya painted my toenails, much to the dismay of Wheeler, who grumbled about how peculiar women were in times of crisis.

All the visits began to take their toll, and I must have slept off and on for hours.

When I awoke, the sky outside the windows was no longer painted blue, but an inky black. The lights within the room reflected on the glass. It was a modest room with a television in the cabinet straight ahead, a whiteboard on my right with the name of my nurse, and machines with tubes leading into my arms surrounding my bed.

Denver was asleep in a chair to my left, head back, mouth open, and his right arm hanging over the edge. Someone must have brought him a change of clothes, because he was wearing a pair of cargo shorts and a faded blue Pac-Man shirt. Except he’d written the letter K just after Pac. Same old Denny.

When I lifted my head to see what he was holding, I noticed the straw hat I’d given him balancing on the crook of his finger. I tried to push myself up.

Denver’s eyes flew open and he launched out of his chair, pinning my shoulders against the bed. “Don’t move around.”

“I need to sit up. I’m not comfortable.”

“Let me adjust the bed; it lifts.”

“No, I need to scoot up.”

“All right,” he whispered, curling his arms beneath me. “If it hurts, let me know.” Denver gently lifted me until I was repositioned.

“Better,” I breathed.

While he adjusted the bed, I reached behind my neck to fix my hair that was tugging in the back.

“Lean forward a little,” he said. Denver pulled all my loose hair away and brought it over my shoulder. “They took the bandage off and didn’t do a good job of fixing all that. Looks like a rat’s nest back there. We might have to call an exterminator.”

I smirked. “You could use a comb yourself.”

His brow arched. “That’s the longest sentence you’ve made yet. Want to watch some TV? They had Crocodile Hunter reruns on earlier.”

“No,” I grumbled. “My throat’s dry.”

Just as soon as the words left my mouth, Denver was on the move. He returned with a paper cup and held the back of my head while I took a drink.

“They’re keeping you watered like a flower with all these drips.” He set the cup on a table and pulled the railing down on the left side. “They said you’re a miracle, but I already knew that.”

I reached up and took his hand, curling my weak fingers around his. When his lip trembled, he looked away and pretended to study something on the wall behind me.

“How come you never mated?” I asked.

He smiled ruefully and let go of my hand. “Maybe I’ll save that fun story for another day.”

“That better be a promise,” I said hoarsely.

The door opened and Naya swooped in, holding an oversized purse… with a head poking out. I blinked and peered down at wide, yellow eyes.

“There’s someone here to see you,” she sang.

“You did not bring that furball up here,” Denver complained. “It’s probably carrying a disease.”

“He’s not diseased.” She shot him an icy glare. “Spartacus is part of the family, and he wanted to see Maizy. Animals are therapeutic.”

“You’re deranged.”

Naya looked at him impassively. “And you have more whiskers on your face than Spartacus has on his.”

Denver folded his arms and his nostrils flared. “To be continued.”

I smiled, looking between them. The banter settled me and made it easy to forget my surroundings.

Naya waved a hand and set the purse on the bed by my feet. “Humans have such silly rules. If you really want to follow the rule about no animals, then you better get the entire pack to leave.”

That time I let out a snort.

“Well, someone’s feeling better,” she said. “You look healthier every time I see you. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about a thing. We’re not going to let you consume the vile food they serve downstairs. Izzy went home to make dinner for the pack—something we won’t have to heat up. I think I heard her mention cold pasta salad, and there’s a fridge down the hall.”

Denver closed the drapes. “That probably has piss or blood in containers.”

Naya unzipped her purse and Spartacus poked a scrawny leg out, sniffing his surroundings. I wasn’t sure what the protocol was, but when you’re dealing with Shifters, anything goes.

“I thought he would cheer you up. I never liked how cold and drab hospitals are. Humans don’t seem to understand that medicine isn’t everything. Say hi to Maizy,” she said, stroking his back.

I had to admit, I got a little nervous when he walked toward me. Naya made sure the cat didn’t walk on me, and when he reached my face and completed his sniff test, he said, “Meow?”

“If the doctor walks in, he’s going to toss the cat in tomorrow’s meat loaf,” Denver remarked. “You’re a bag of nuts.”

After petting Sparty on the head, I lifted my gaze to Naya. “How do I look?”

Her face went catatonic and she looked at Denver.

He approached the edge of my bed and grinned. “Like a million bucks. Do you want me to ask the doctor if you can eat something now? Are you hungry? I can always run to a deli and grab some sandwiches. That’s healthy, right?”

The charade had to end. “I want a mirror.”

“No,” Naya said calmly. “Rest and a good meal is what you want.”

“Don’t make me scream, because I will.”

She pressed her lips into a thin line, and Spartacus escaped to the floor. Naya fished in her purse and pulled out a large silver compact. “Honey, it looks worse than it really is.”

No one wants to hear those words when they’re in the hospital.

I gasped. It didn’t even look like me. My forehead was swollen and discolored with a cut on the right side that had been stitched up. Dark circles beneath my eyes dulled their usual shine. My upper lip had a deep cut with a stitch or two, but that’s something I’d felt and been prepared for. At least I hadn’t lost any of my teeth, and that seemed like such a superficial thing to be grateful for.

“Nothing’s broken, thank God,” Naya said. “Everything else on you looks good, except you have some bruising from the seat belt.”

“Seat belt,” I murmured, dropping my hand and letting the mirror fall on my lap. “A car accident?”

They looked at each other again. They must have assumed I remembered everything. Naya worried her lip and set her silver bag on the chair. “Maybe I should get Lexi.”

Wheeler stepped into the room.

Denver walked toward the foot of the bed and anchored his fists on his waist. “Do you know what your woman has been up to?”

Wheeler smirked and took a small stick of jerky from his mouth. “I bet I can guess by the cat climbing up the drapes.”

Spartacus was utilizing every claw to get as close as he could to the ceiling.

“Should I bring the kids up?” Wheeler asked.

“No,” I quickly replied. “I don’t want them to see me. Not like this.” When I realized I was speaking quietly, I wondered if they could hear me.

“The babies are fine where they are. Ivy’s showing them a good time and letting them ride horses.” Naya kissed Wheeler on the mouth and snatched the beef jerky from his hand, tossing it into a plastic container.

“How’s she doing?” he murmured against her lips, his arms encircling her waist.

“See for yourself.”

After Wheeler managed to pry his lips from hers, he strolled to the right side of the bed. While he always had a short beard around his mouth, it looked as though he hadn’t shaved in a day or so. Whiskers were going rogue all over his face and jaw, but it suited him in a pleasant way. My eyes drifted to the tattoos on his arms and I admired the images.

I briefly smiled when he lifted my chin with the crook of his finger.

“That all the dimple you got for me?” He bent down close enough for me to hear his whisper. “Glad to have you back from the land of the lost.”

“That beef jerky is an addiction. I can smell it on your breath.”

He turned his mouth to the side and stood up. “I’m down to one bag a day,” he said jokingly before his expression turned grave. “Damn shame about Thomas.”

Naya grabbed his shirt and yanked him toward the door.

I eased up on my elbows. “What about Thomas?”

Wheeler cursed beneath his breath as Naya went out the door with him.

Denver handed me my water and I knocked it out of his hand.

“What happened? And don’t change the subject.”

He shook his head. “I don’t want to upset you. It might make things worse.”

“Lying is worse.”

Austin came into the room, swearing under his breath. “Who brought the damn cat?” He looked at Spartacus briefly before easing up beside me. “Hey, princess. You look better.”

Denver folded his arms and lowered his head. “She wants to know what happened.”

Austin nodded and bent down, his thick arms folded over the railing, his eyes resolute. “You were in a car accident. Do you remember anything?”

“Tell me more.” Maybe hearing him talk about it would jostle a memory.

He watched me for a moment with blue eyes so pale they resembled tinted crystal. They stood out against his dark brown hair and brows, making them the most striking feature about him. “It happened on a long stretch of road near the lake.”

“The lake,” I parroted. “He was going to take me to look at the lake. He had lawn chairs.”

“Your car was in the ditch and hit some trees. Thomas… Thomas was ejected from the car.”

The horror. A cold emptiness embraced me as I realized the world had lost a wonderful person. I’d known him only briefly, but it was tragic. A tear escaped from the corner of my eye, and Austin quickly wiped it away.

“Old cars don’t have air bags,” he said. “But you were a smart girl to have your seat belt on. Some of Prince’s men were tailing you—it’s how you made it here as fast as you did.”

I rubbed my cheek with my left hand. “I remember a deer. I was on the phone and barely had time to see it. Why don’t they run? It just stood there looking at us, and then the car jerked to the right. An explosion of sound… and pain. Then silence. That’s all I can remember. I’m so sorry.”

“What the hell for? It was an accident. We’re up here because we don’t leave our pack behind. I’d rather pull you out of here and call a Relic, but the doctors seem to have a grasp on what they’re doing. I’m still calling a Relic.”

“How’s my mom?”

“Tough as nails. This dug up old memories—bad ones. I was there when they told her about Wes and it was… Well, no woman should have to lose a child. I guess you were out of it when she was in here. Lexi went to find her now that you’re more awake; she’ll be here in a minute.”

“I want to walk.”

Denver belted out a laugh. “There’s no stopping this one.”

Austin brushed his rough hand over my cheek. “You know what? If you want to walk, then I think you can. You’re a Cole, so that means you can do any damn thing you set your mind to. I need to take care of some business tonight, but I’ll be back in the morning, and we’ll walk.”

Austin pressed a featherlight kiss between my eyes and went to the drapes, grabbing ahold of Spartacus. The poor thing clung to the curtain and meowed a complaint. Austin finally got him free and dropped him in Naya’s purse. Spartacus poked his head out just as Austin zipped the bag halfway up and pulled the silver strap over his shoulder.

I couldn’t help but laugh. No matter how bad things were, I had the resilience of my pack to draw from.

I was going to be okay.

Chapter 18

Three weeks later, I’d made a full recovery. The first few days in the hospital were the most concerning since coming out of a coma isn’t something a person does with a snap of the fingers. But after doctors got everything under control, my willpower did the rest. Or maybe it was the home cooking the pack brought to my room and Austin helping me to walk soon after I’d asked him. Denver read to me, only I put in a request for magazines and a newspaper. He lifted me into a chair by the window so we could play cards, and his mere presence boosted my spirits. When everyone else had gone home, back to work, or left the room to get some sleep, Denny was there.

After a week of recovery in the hospital, I was released. The stitches came out seven days later and left only a few scars. When I found out where they had buried Thomas, Naya drove me out to put flowers on his grave. I didn’t really know the guy, but Naya was having a difficult time coping with his unexpected death. She told me some great stories about him before we left, and it felt good to know we hadn’t been his only visitors. Someone had left a chess piece on his grave marker.

My mom took care of me, and for her that meant fussing over the temperature of the house and making me eat nutritious foods like turnips and spinach. Of course I didn’t starve completely. Naya had baked her famous chicken spaghetti, Denver barbecued, and Lexi baked croissants and bread until I thought I would pop.

I leaned on the porch railing and glanced down at my legs. “Do you think I’ve put on weight? My shorts seem a little tight.”

Denver’s cheeks flushed a little when he looked me over. “Do you see me complaining?”

He’d been acting different since the accident. Attentive, his old self, and yet… not. He acted as though he had a secret—a look in his eyes I caught now and again. As if I didn’t have butterflies to begin with around Denver, now I felt as if I were caught in a hurricane full of them every time he gave me that look. My blood would heat, my knees would weaken, and my heart would constrict.

I was certain it was nothing more than the ancient cavewoman in my DNA responding to a male who provided for and protected me. Someone who cared for me when I was at my most vulnerable. Maybe that explained the same feeling Prince triggered.

But no, it wasn’t the same.

I leaned against the porch rail and watched the sun dip behind a dark cloud. “Smells like rain.”

He leaned next to me and his elbow brushed against mine. “All I smell is you.”

“And what do I smell like?”

Denver slowly licked his lips. “Let’s take a walk.”

I followed behind him down the steps, and when I reached the bottom one, he put his hands beneath my arms and lifted me into the air. Denver turned to the side and slowly set me down—the friction between our bodies awakening something primal within me. Before he noticed my reaction, I headed toward the tree swing.

“I can’t believe you kept it up all this time,” I said, taking a seat.

Denver slowly pushed me, and the wind blew back my tousled hair.

“Melody was never into it, but the boys used to mess around on it a lot,” he said. “Especially when they figured out how to climb the rope to get into the branches.”

I leaned back, looking at him upside down. The swing didn’t move much, but it swayed enough to make me feel like a feather in the wind.

“Do you miss England?”

“Sometimes,” I admitted. “Why do you keep looking at your watch?” I sat up straight and skidded to a stop. “And why are you even wearing a watch?”

“Maybe I’m trying to style it up.”

I smirked. “With a tank top?”

Which, by the way, looked scrumptious on him. I couldn’t understand why women always hit on the bad boys in our pack, which was almost everyone. Shifter women often had a specific taste in men that confounded me.

Denver walked around the swing and gripped the ropes, his biceps tightening. “How’s your head?”

“Empty.”

“Sounds about right.”

“Yours?” I asked.

“Thinking about laser tag and nachos tomorrow.”

“Sounds about right.”

A cloud floated overhead and crossed the property like a giant shadow on the run. I couldn’t see much through the tree branches, but the blue sky was beginning to vanish.

Denver held out his hand. “Come with me? I didn’t have the swing in mind.”

I furrowed my brow. “Why are you acting funny?”

“I’m always funny; it’s not an act.”

I took his hand and stood up. “That I know.”

He tugged me toward the high grass on the side of the house. When he kept looking back at me over his shoulder, that’s when a knot formed in my stomach.

“This grass is making my legs itch,” I complained.

“Do you want me to throw you over my shoulder and carry you?”

I kind of did. “No. I can walk.”

The grass became taller and denser. It led to a line of trees with a shallow creek farther left. My mom had always kept this area off-limits, fearing I’d get bit by a snake. She was probably just saying that. I began scanning the ground, looking twice at every twig.

“How am I going to pay Austin back?” I asked.

“For what?”

“The hospital bills. I’m not insured, and Mom gives most of her money to the pack.”

“Yeah, and that money is for the pack, which you’re a part of, if I remember correctly. It’s not just for bills. It’s a resource for emergencies. I think your knocking your melon around qualifies.”

The slope was steep and I slowed my pace, carefully making my way down until the house was out of sight. A giant maple tree stood out among all the other trees. In autumn, it was one of the few trees on the property that changed colors. Below it, a giant blue blanket was stretched across the ground with a cooler beside it.

I halted in my tracks. “What is all that?”

“What’s it look like, Peanut? We’re gonna have a picnic.”

“Who…”

He tapped his watch. “I had it delivered.”

Wasn’t he full of surprises? “This almost feels like a date,” I said, giving him a nudge. “And who is your sneaky delivery person?”

He moved his finger across his lips, imitating sealing a zipper shut.

I kicked off my shoes at the edge of the blanket and sat down, staring at the oversized cooler.

“Sorry, we’re all out of picnic baskets,” he said, taking off his flip-flops. “What do you feel like eating? We’ve got cold chicken, potato salad—minus the forks, remind me to kill him—chips… Let’s see…”

I brushed some stickers and weeds from my socks and then took them off.

“…watermelon, Lexi’s pudding. That better not be her last stash or Austin will have my head.”

“Watermelon. I’m in the mood for something sweet.”

He pulled out the two wedges and unwrapped the plastic. “I’ve never been about saving dessert for last. Whoever came up with that rule is a glutton for punishment. Here.”

When he handed me the juicy slice, I immediately bit into it. This was absolute perfection. The weather had been uncooperative the past week with temperatures shooting near one hundred degrees. The lack of wind made it feel like hell, but today we had a soft breeze. Still, that ice-cold watermelon hit the spot.

“Why don’t you ever buy the seedless ones?” I asked.

Juice ran down his chin and he licked it away. “They’re genetically modified. Humans need to leave shit alone. I get mine from a local farmer.”

“I don’t think a man who eats cheese out of a spray can should worry about mutant fruit.”

He studied me while enjoying several juicy bites, then asked, “Why are you so quiet today?”

“I have a lot on my mind.”

He spit out a black seed. “Care to share?”

“You first.” I took another bite and watched him closely.

A butterfly landed on his head and I smiled when he didn’t notice it. “Share what?”

“In the hospital, I asked why you hadn’t mated. You said another day. Today is another day.”

I’d never seen him lose color so fast. He set down his slice of melon and wiped his sticky fingers on his jeans. Denver bent his left leg at the knee and draped his arm over it, picking at an invisible spot on the blanket. “It’s not a happy story.”

“Denny, you’re the one who makes everyone laugh, but there’s more to you than that. We all have a past, and yours is one I don’t know anything about. This,” I said, waving my hand between us, “is the kind of relationship I want to build between us. Something truthful. I won’t judge, I promise. Is it because there are no girls in this town like Nadia? Is she the kind of woman you want?”

God, please say no. I’d die if Denver was secretly attracted to rich, gorgeous women with stunning hair, impeccable taste in clothes, an accent… I mentally sighed. I was screwed.

“Nobody wants to hear this. Look, I made this nice picnic and you’re going to ruin it by—”

“Talking?” My voice rose. “By getting to know a part of you I’ve never seen?” I angrily stood up, ready to leave. “My life is complicated, and I gather yours is too. But you never showed me that side of your life because I was just a child. I’m a woman now.”

“Think I don’t know that?” he said, equally upset. “And soon you’ll get older and die. Think that’s easy for me to sit around and watch? Think it’s easy for me to get closer to you, knowing that someday I’ll have to let you go?”

“Then I’ll just make it easy for you and go!” I turned, but not before he snared my wrist.

“Wait. Don’t take off.” His eyes wouldn’t connect with mine.

“You’re one of the most important people in my life, but this has to evolve or it can never be.”

Thunder rumbled in the distance and his grip loosened. “Sit down.”

As I sat, a gust of wind blew my hair in front of my face. Denver reached out and smoothed it back, scooting a little closer.

“Years ago, before I moved back home, I met Cora.”

The leaves rustled in the trees above, and the temperature seemed to drop a degree.

Denver twirled a fallen leaf between two fingers. “I was learning to bartend, and she walked in one night and sat at the bar. I think she was trying to meet someone, but she was too shy and spent the whole night talking to me. She had this really crazy laugh that caught my attention. She’d snort at the end; silliest damn thing I ever heard. We clicked right away and became friends.”

“Why just friends?”

He twirled the leaf by the stem and let it fall to the blanket. “I was too young to get mated, so we stayed friendly. Then I found out she had a little boy.” He huffed out a soft laugh, his eyes sparkling. “Nathan was three. He was real proud of that, told everyone he was three, except he pronounced it as tree. Cora told me about her ex—said he was a jerk. He didn’t want the kid and gave her an ultimatum.”

“What kind?”

“He wanted her to dump the kid and move with him to another pack. She had a few drinks one night and told me the whole story.”

“Did you love her?”

He sighed. “Yeah. Maybe I was just a young, stupid wolf, but I thought about taking her and Nathan in. I didn’t have a pack; I could barely support myself, so it was a dumb idea. She needed someone who could take care of her.”

“What happened?”

Denver was normally talkative, outgoing, and relaxed. But he became closed off—from the subdued way in which he spoke to his body language. He pulled up his knees and wrapped his arms around them, one hand holding the other wrist.

Something wet touched my cheek and I wiped it away.

“One night, I got a call. She was hysterical. Said her ex came back and was threatening to burn the house down. He was kicking on her door and wouldn’t go away. She was a rogue who’d moved to another state, so no one was there to protect her. I couldn’t get there fast enough,” he said, shaking his head.

My heart broke when I saw the pain glittering in his eyes. He covered them with his palms and grimaced.

I touched his knee. “Tell me the rest.”

“The house was on fire. I ran… Then someone knocked me down. I shoved him off to get inside, but the heat was too intense. I couldn’t get the door open. When I turned, I saw a man holding a bloody knife in his hand.”

I covered my mouth.

“He killed her and burned the house to hide the evidence. Goddammit, I wish I had a time machine,” he spat angrily. “He took a swipe at my head with the knife and cut me deep. Everyone thinks my wolf is loco, but they’ve never seen the real me.”

“What did you do?”

“I killed him with my bare hands. Finished him off with the same knife he’d used on Cora, and God help me if he used it on that little boy.”

Denver broke down and I wrapped my arms around his neck. I knew it wasn’t easy for Shifters to be vulnerable, and Denver wasn’t a guy who liked a pity party. This man was in pain, and someone needed to show him compassion.

“Why would he do something like that?”

His voice cracked, barely audible. “Because he was evil.”

“So that’s why you’ve been pushing women away your whole life. You’re afraid of losing them. You can’t live that way. Have you told the pack? Does Austin know?”

He shook his head. “What good does it do to dig up the past?”

I kissed his ear. “Maybe it’ll help people understand you better.”

“She never knew how I felt about her. Maybe if I’d loved her, she wouldn’t have died. Maybe I would have been there; things might have been different.” Then he laughed softly. “She probably didn’t feel the same anyhow, but I’ll never know.”

I threaded my fingers through his hair, still holding him. When Denver lowered his knees, I straddled his lap and held him tight. Held him like a person needed to be held when they were racked with emotional pain.

“It doesn’t matter if she loved you or not, Denny. You loved her.”

Jesus, nobody deserved to die that way. Her ex sounded like a lunatic—probably a man that couldn’t have been stopped. No wonder he’d never told anyone this story; his confession could mean his going to Breed jail.

“She told me they were still legally mated and he felt entitled to her. I’ll never know why he flipped out, what she said to him. The fire wiped out all evidence, and that meant he would walk. I couldn’t let that happen.”

He nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck and pressed his hands against my back. The air charged with electricity as thunder rolled once more. His hands swept down beneath my short top and then back up so that his fingers were tickling across my bare skin.

My body hummed with desire, but I stayed still, uncertain what Denver’s intentions were. His breath heated my neck, and then I felt a petal-soft kiss. I circled my fingertips around the nape of his neck before sliding my hands to his upper back. Denver had never held me like this before.

Not like this.

My heart was thumping wildly, and a few tiny drops of warm rain touched my arms. I’d never felt so aroused. Ever. I was going to burst if he didn’t make a move to show me this was more than just a momentary lapse of reason.

Denver’s hands found their way to my midriff, and my breath hitched. Then he smoothed them around to my back again. The friction made me tremble, and I knew he was hesitant about going further.

“Touch me,” I whispered against his ear, nibbling on the lobe.

He released a ragged breath. “Are you sure?”

I was sure if he didn’t do something about this, I was going to explode. “Yes.”

He moaned at that word and moved his hands to the front again, exploring the satin material of my bra. I arched beneath his palms, and the warm wind blew my hair back. I reached behind me, unlatched my bra, and pulled it out through a sleeve.

Denver looked at me with heavy-lidded eyes and a subtle grin. “That’s always fascinated me.”

“What?”

“How a woman can undress herself without looking.”

I laughed and realized that was what I loved about Denver. I didn’t want to choose between the funny man and the sexy man; I wanted both. He settled his deep-blue eyes on mine and lifted my shirt. I raised my arms, allowing him to strip it off.

A raindrop landed on my breast and Denver licked it away. That sparked the fire that set my body aflame. The moment he drew in my nipple and rolled the other between his thumb and index finger, I forgot every other man I’d ever been with. Thunder crashed—louder this time. I tugged at his white tank top and he raised his arms, allowing me to remove it. The moment his hot skin pressed against mine in a brief embrace, nothing else existed. I held his tight biceps as he moved down and drew in each nipple, sucking and tugging until sharp desire raced through me like lightning.

I rose up on my knees. Denver slowly unlatched the button on my shorts and pulled down the zipper. I gasped when his mouth kissed below my navel, traveling lower to the edge of my panties.

“Lie down,” he growled.

It was hard to pull away from his raw heat, but I managed to shove my watermelon out of the way and into the grass. He hovered over me like a predator, and I saw his wolf spirit watching me through his indigo eyes. Denver slowly pulled my shorts and panties down, tossing them to the side.

Without hesitation, he removed his own pants.

“Anyone ever told you how sexy you are?” I asked stupidly. I’m sure he hears it all the time, I thought.

He answered me with a kiss to my knee, then my inner leg. I moaned as he stretched his arms forward and cupped my breasts, laving his way up to the apex of my thighs. Just when he was a centimeter away, he crawled over me with a hungry look—a fierce look—his tongue lazily dragging over my breasts.

I’d never had a man look at me like that before. Most looked at me with urgency, but he looked at me with confidence, like a man who was about to torture me with pleasure. The other men I’d been with hadn’t subscribed to the theory of seducing a woman.

Then again, they weren’t Denver.

“Turn over,” he commanded.

Just hearing those words sent a rush of need between my legs that gripped me relentlessly. Shifters preferred it from behind—this I knew. I’d never been with a Shifter before and didn’t realize how strong their energy became—how potent.

The moment I turned onto my stomach, a low growl rose in his chest. A shiver danced through me when his rough hand cupped my ass and moved up the curve of my back. He pressed a kiss at the base of my spine, and I whimpered when his tongue licked all the way up to the middle of my back. Denver brushed my hair away, and I splayed my hands in front of me, lifting my hips.

“Don’t do that,” he said in a raspy voice. “Not yet.” Easy for him to say. His kisses moved around tortuously and then stopped near my right shoulder blade. His finger circled around. “What’s this? I’ve never noticed this before.”

My mark. Suddenly it dawned on me what could happen, and I wondered if I should tell him. I decided against it because it would lead to conversation, and that meant taking us out of the moment. I wanted us to be intimate because he desired me and nothing more. No ulterior motives. No fears. No hopes. Just our bodies coming together the way they were meant to be.

“It’s just a birthmark.”

“Looks like a spade,” he said playfully. “That means rebirth, you know.”

I grinned and turned my head to the side. “Did you learn that in Vegas?”

He kissed it once more and dragged his mouth to my shoulder. “Ben used to read a lot on the history behind playing cards and symbols. I don’t know; it just stuck in my head.”

I felt a couple of raindrops touch my back, and Denver must have noticed them because he licked them up slowly. The earth had never felt more significant beneath me. Then he settled his weight on top of me and kissed the back of my neck.

Sucking.

Nipping.

God, it was sexy feeling him almost naked against my back. I lifted my hips and he sucked in a sharp breath, rocking against me so I could feel the swell of his arousal, as hard as a diamond.

The trees rattled overhead as the rain began to fall, making tapping sounds against the leaves. When Denver moved off me, I heard him stripping out of his briefs. My entire body became wet with the light rain. We had absolute privacy since no one in the pack ever ventured on this side of the property unless they were in wolf form.

“Damn, you should see yourself,” he whispered. “I’m taking a mental picture of this. So beautiful.”

I turned over and locked eyes with him as I rose to my knees. The rain had dampened his hair, and I ran my fingers through it and drew his mouth to mine. I tasted rain, so I deepened the kiss to get more of him.

He gripped my waist, fingers digging in as he kissed me with intensity. When our tongues danced, he moved his hands up, gliding over my wet breasts.

“I need you,” I whispered.

I love you, I thought.

“I need you too,” he said with more conviction than I had anticipated, his arms encasing me. “Tell me if I’m too rough; I don’t want to hurt you.”

I feverishly kissed his neck. “You could never hurt me.”

In a swift move, Denver tossed me on my back. He lifted my left leg and his shaft rested heavily against my core. Needing. Wanting. Hesitating.

The rain covered us. Joined us. Washed us clean of all our doubts, sins, and pain. It put a lustrous shine on his body, and he looked down at me—water dripping from the ends of his messy hair, scar prominent on his forehead, lips still swollen with my kiss. We were two connected souls discovering ourselves anew.

He slid deep and I gasped, locking my hands around his neck. His eyes told me a thousand secrets, branding me with a look I’d never forget.

A gust of wind skated across my skin, causing my nipples to tighten. The friction of them rubbing against his chest as we made love was seismic. I lightly bit his shoulder, and he kissed my neck in the most slow and erotic manner imaginable.

“You’re so damn wet,” he moaned. “Christ.” The primal sound in his throat penetrated my mind, his hips crashing against mine as our slick bodies rocked against one another.

I fisted his hair and cried out. He was hitting every sensitive spot, and I was about to lose control.

“Turn over,” he growled, flipping me on to my stomach. He lifted my hips until I was on all fours. Denver slid in so slowly that I felt every inch of him until his hips were flush against me. His fingertips bit into my skin, and he thrust even deeper until we were more connected than two people could possibly be.

With a demanding tempo, he pounded against me faster and faster, thunder crashing around us as if to mask his shouts.

“Don’t stop,” I hissed. He filled me perfectly, and I found myself driving against him as his hands loosened and stroked my back.

“That’s it,” he said. “Just like that.” Then he pulled my wet hair into a ponytail, giving him something to grip.

The rain began to taper off just as my legs started trembling. I couldn’t hold myself up any longer as pleasure ripped through me.

As if sensing it, Denver turned me onto my back and held my wrists. His tongue circled around a nipple and he lifted his eyes to mine. “I can’t decide which way feels better. I think I’ll try them all.”

I feasted upon the visual of Denver taking me. We had become the storm, and he crashed against me. The world spun as I thought about the first time his eyes traveled down my body and looked at me with lust on the day I came home.

Denver let go of my wrists and anchored his hands on the blanket.

My teeth nipped his shoulder and I stretched my legs out and hooked them over the back of his calves. Heat pooled low in my body and I surrendered to him completely.

“I’m coming,” he announced. His left hand had come off the blanket and was in the mud. “I’m coming,” he kept repeating, driving faster. He put his forearm in the mud and groaned.

I reached for the edge of the blanket but instead found mud. So I held on to his chest and shoulders, spreading a streak of mud across his heart.

He growled and looked at me with dark hunger. Denver leaned on his right arm and then stroked my breast, a faint smile touching his lips as he spread mud across my skin.

Our skin was slick from rain and slid against each other in the most sensual way, awakening every nerve ending I didn’t know I had.

I gripped a fistful of his hair and cried out his name. As I did, I involuntarily arched my back and slammed my eyes shut.

A loud crack of thunder sounded and Denver roared, his body stiffening, every muscle hardening like granite. It felt as if the world had ruptured—split wide open from the joining of our bodies.

Out of breath, we looked at each other and rocked with laughter. Denver’s cheeks were flushed, and I didn’t even care that my hair was a tangled, wet mess. He slid next to me and kissed my temple, stroking his hand up and down my thigh. Denver made me feel as though I belonged to him, and I liked that feeling.

As my heart continued to race, I cuddled close beneath him. He propped himself up on his left elbow and angled his body in such a way as to shield me from the remaining drops of rain that sporadically fell.

“That was…” He bit his lip, staring down at my muddy breast.

“Yeah, it was,” I agreed. Heavenly. Rapturous. Something I was going to remember for the rest of my life. This moment, this place, lying beneath him.

“I think I just screwed myself over,” he said. “I’ll never be able to top that.”

I wiped my face and smiled. “I’m willing to let you try.”

He stole a playful kiss. “I just bet. Ready for some of that chicken?”

I furrowed my brow. “We’re all wet. And dirty. And naked.”

“Best time for chicken,” he said, waggling his brows.

“I thought I’d feel different,” I murmured.

“What?”

I flattened my hand on his chest, and a feeling of dread suddenly washed over me. “Denver, there’s something I need to tell you.”

His eyes softened. “What’s that?”

“I…” Nausea tickled my stomach. Then fear again. I reactively curled my arms against my chest.

“Maizy, what’s wrong?” He brushed his thumb across my forehead. “Are you cold? We’ll go back inside and I’ll run you a hot bath.”

All I could do was shake my head, and I began moving into the fetal position.

“Maizy, you’re scaring me. Did I hurt you? Is it your head?” He jumped up and pulled on his jeans. “This was a mistake. I should have never brought you here,” he said to himself.

A sharp cry poured out of my mouth, and I looked at him with stunned eyes. It felt as if a hot knife had speared my womb from the inside. Oh God, something was happening to me. I began writhing, and Denver struggled to hold me still as I growled and grunted beneath him like an animal.

“Hold on; I got you,” he said, pulling me into his arms.

We were running. My body jostled in his iron grip as the grass below us broke beneath the tread of his feet. He struggled for breath while powering up a hill.

I stretched my body and almost fell from his arms. God, the pain is immense!

“Austin!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. “Level red!”

Chapter 19

Denver charged up the porch steps, exploding into action from a burst of adrenaline. He opened the door with a forceful kick, Maizy’s screams ringing in his ears.

He’d glanced at his watch before bringing her back, just in case time was of the essence. It had all happened so quickly.

“What the hell?” Wheeler boomed, noticing Maizy’s eyes rolling in the back of her head. “Austin!”

Denver held her, uncertain of what to do—where to put her. Lynn wasn’t home, and he wondered if maybe she’d know what was wrong.

Wheeler leaned in real tight and spoke, his voice low and dangerous. “You want to tell me why she’s naked? Maybe you should put her down so I can hit you in the face.”

“What’s happening?” Lexi shouted while running down the stairs.

He was shaking, and not because he was cold or tired from carrying her.

“Oh my God. Maizy!” Lexi rushed to her and Denver instinctively curved away. “What’s wrong with her?”

“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be here screaming for help,” he said.

“What was she doing? Did she fall? Is it her head? Should we call a Relic or a doctor?”

Reno took hold of Lexi. “Calm down. Let’s keep our heads clear.”

Wheeler folded his arms and narrowed his eyes. “So, what happened?”

“Where are her clothes?” Lexi blurted out. Understanding touched her face and her eyes widened. “Did you— Oh, no! Austin!”

Austin ran down the stairs in a pair of sweats that were soaked with water from the shower he must have jumped out of. “Let me see her.” Austin pulled Maizy’s eyelids back and she screamed. It sent a shiver of alarm straight down Denver’s spine.

Suddenly, she went limp in his arms. “Maizy, wake up!” He knelt down, placing her on the floor.

Reno shook out a blanket and covered her up. “We need an ambulance.”

Austin centered his eyes on Denver. “Did you two have sex?”

Denver nodded. No sense in lying about the obvious.

Austin shifted his gaze toward Lexi. “It’s happening.”

What the hell kind of statement was that? Denver shoved at Austin’s shoulder. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know, but I think we’re about to find out.”

“She was fine,” Denver protested. “I would never hurt her.”

“What do we do?” Lexi asked in a hurried breath.

Denver’s voice rose to a shout. “Will someone tell me what the hell you’re talking about?”

Maizy released a whimper and it stripped his attention away from the pack.

“Hey, I’m here. It’s okay.” He soothed her, brushing a stubborn strand of hair away from her cheek.

“Maizy isn’t a human,” Austin announced.

The packmates stepped back in unison. William flashed his eyes at Denver and then back at Maizy. William was the one who’d helped Denver set up the picnic, although Denver hadn’t planned for it to go that far.

“What do you mean she’s not human? If this is some kind of elaborate joke for all the shit I’ve pulled, then fuck you.”

Austin shook his head. “We kept it a secret; it was to protect her. What I’m about to tell you needs to stay between us. She’s what some call a Potential—born a human, but marked. The first Breed she lies with is what she will become. Permanently. Looks like you get the honors,” Austin said with disdain.

William covered his mouth. “I’ve heard of them. I thought they were a myth.”

“How long has it been?” Austin asked.

Denver looked at his watch. “Two minutes.”

Maizy’s eyes snapped open and she flew up. Just as soon as the blanket fell away, a transformation took shape, one they were all too familiar with. Right before their eyes, Maizy shifted into a magnificent wolf.

“Holy shit!” Trevor exclaimed.

Wheeler stared down at the wolf, nonplussed. “And the plot thickens.”

Denver didn’t know if Maizy was still alert in there, but he looked her straight in the eyes. “Maizy, stay calm and let your wolf take over. I know it feels weird, but don’t fight her. I got you. I’m not going to let anything happen. I need you to trust me.”

Meanwhile, he was facing the reality that her newly born wolf hadn’t met him yet and could tear off his face if she wanted. But like all Shifters’ animals, she sensed Denver was someone important to Maizy. She showed off a few of her sharp fangs and did a little growling, but Denver faced her, unafraid.

“Damn if she isn’t a blonde,” Reno said in astonishment.

Maizy’s fur was the palest shade of honey he’d ever seen, and each strand of fur changed to pure white at the root. She whined, ears low and looking around with uncertain eyes.

The pack knew how to behave around an unfamiliar wolf, and they slowly backed up. Except for Austin.

He sighed and approached her, energy rolling off him. “Looks like we have another packmate.” Austin held out his hand for her to smell and she took a cautious sniff, still growling deep in her chest. He squatted and held her head in his hands. Denver shuddered when he felt Austin throwing off his alpha power—so immense that the surge of it made the pack instinctively submit with their eyes and body language.

Including Maizy. She bowed down on the floor and crawled toward him. He patted her head before looking back at Lexi. “You’re going to be the one to tell your mom. I’m not explaining this one.”

Lexi shook her head, still in shock. “I just… I can’t believe it’s really true.” A smile briefly touched her lips and she bent down, letting Maizy smell her.

Denver scooted back and leaned against the wall, mud crusting on his arm. He rubbed at it, noticing how ashen his skin coloring seemed. One minute he was in the arms of the most amazing woman, and the next he was rushing to save her life.

“She’s a wolf,” he said under his breath. Denver swallowed thickly. “Did she know?”

“Yeah,” Austin said, standing up. “Lexi told her last year. I don’t know how she felt about it; we haven’t had a chance to talk with everything going on these last few weeks.”

Maizy’s wolf especially liked Lexi. Her tail was wagging like crazy as she turned in circles excitedly.

“She knew,” Denver breathed.

Jericho knelt beside him and patted his shoulder. “I should kick your ass, but this is some wild shit. Isabelle is going to flip out. I mean this is abso-fucking-epic!” Jericho stood up excitedly and clapped his hands once, letting out a sharp howl. “Looks like we have another wolf in the pack!”

“How is this possible?” Denver stood up and pulled Austin to the side. “Is this a joke?”

“No, the real joke is you sneaking off like a couple of love-struck puppies and having sex without declaring your intentions to the pack.”

“Don’t even try to pull that sanctimonious bullshit. This isn’t Little House on the Prairie. I don’t owe anyone an explanation, and I sure as hell don’t need to ask your permission to sleep with a woman.”

“Maizy’s human, and she doesn’t follow the same rules as the rest of us.”

“Human?” Denver laughed. “You knew this whole time she was different—that she could become one of us.”

“But until she made that choice, she was only human. She’s like a daughter to me,” Austin ground out through clenched teeth. “Maybe I feel entitled to know who she’s running off naked with.”

“I already told you what’s what between us. You had plenty of time to fill me in on this.”

Austin stepped forward. “And that conversation would have happened if you’d been clearer on those intentions after she left the hospital. You’ve been acting aloof these past weeks, so I thought you changed your mind.”

“Whoa, whoa,” Reno said, defusing the situation. “One crisis at a time. If you don’t let her wolf outside, she’s going to mark the house. How ’bout that?”

They both turned to see Maizy’s wolf sniffing the floor and moving into a squatting position.

“No!” Lexi shrieked. “Austin, we can’t let her outside alone, but if she stays in this house, she’s going to piss all over everything!”

The men chuckled, and Jericho collapsed into a chair. He tugged at the bear-claw necklace around his neck. “You said she was marked?”

Austin turned around to address him. “A birthmark we’ve kept covered.”

The spade, Denver thought.

“It’s too dangerous for the wrong person to notice it,” Austin continued. “She still needs to keep it covered. There’s a lot of false information floating around, and Maizy will need our protection. We’ll break the news as everyone comes home. I don’t want this leaking out until I figure out the best way to handle it. I’ll be outside showing her the territory.” Austin patted his leg. “Come on, girl. Let’s check out the property.”

William glared at Reno. “I guess this means our trip to the dealership has been postponed.”

Reno straightened his shirt, tucking it in tighter. “Deal with it.”

“Say, can I borrow your car, Denver?”

Denver waved his hand for Will to take the keys and get out. He was too stunned to know how to react. Maizy, a wolf? All this time she wasn’t even human? A poisonous idea nestled in a dark place in his mind—maybe she’d used him as a free ticket. Becoming Breed was a tempting offer for a mortal, and maybe that’s why she kept trying to push their relationship to a new level. She needed him in order to change; she needed someone gullible.

Reno put his arm around Denver and coaxed him toward the study. “Let’s me and you have a talk.”

When the door closed, Denver realized he hadn’t even buttoned his jeans. He took a seat in the chair, staring at his bare feet.

Reno sat across from him and pulled at the stretchy fabric of his long sleeve. “I’m not gonna ask about what’s personal between you two, but I can’t say it comes as a surprise. I noticed the way you clocked her every move whenever she walked into the room, and you’ve taken real good care of her these last weeks, little brother. I couldn’t be prouder you’ve finally pulled out of whatever funk you were in since the day she moved out. But I ain’t gonna church it up for you. If you fuck with her head, then we’re having words.”

“I put my claim on her with Austin weeks ago, but I didn’t want to spook her after the accident. She needed to get better. That’s what today was about. I was going to tell her how I felt, but…” Denver wrung his hands, his eyes downcast. “Now I don’t know.”

Reno’s voice lowered. “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

Denver snapped his gaze up, his voice layered with anger. “I don’t know what I’m dealing with now. I don’t know if she feels the same or if I was just the vehicle to semi-immortality. Now that she’s a Shifter, she has other options. Better options. One of those options being Prince, who’s already made her an offer. Before it was creepy because she was a human and the best he could get away with is making her his pet. But now? Now that’s a viable option. How many women do you know who would turn an alpha like him down? Maybe that’s what she deserves, and I’m being selfish. I don’t know.”

Reno pinched his stubbly chin, deep in thought. “Maizy wouldn’t do something like that, would she?”

Denver snorted. “She’s a bright girl. Probably smarter than all of us dumbasses put together. I bet she was afraid to pick just anyone to sleep with, because he might want to control her—like having a sense of entitlement. I’m a safe bet because she can’t mate with someone in her own pack.”

“There was never a chance in hell any of us would have considered mating with her. She might be a Shifter now, but we’ve always seen her as a human. Hell, half of us are already mated. You don’t have any competition. I don’t see why it would be a problem for her to stay.”

Denver slid his bare foot underneath him as he sat forward. “Because she’ll want more. She’s seen the world, bro. She’s also going to figure out she can’t live in the human world anymore and will have to choose a pack. Think about it,” he said, holding his hands wide. “If you were a young, intelligent woman, would you choose to live here? Or would you make a clean break for one of the most powerful Packmasters in the territory? One I know for a fact she feels something for because she’s always had that look in her eyes whenever he came around.”

Jealousy locked its jaws on Denver like a steel trap.

“Maybe you gotta win her over. Maybe you gotta be the better man. It ain’t about money.”

“I want her, Reno. I’d fucking die to protect her. But that’s not what I’m talking about. The choice is hers.”

“It’s always been hers, even when she was human. You got a lot to learn about women, brother. I’m guessing you thought you had a better chance with her then. Am I right?”

Denver slunk down in his chair. Reno had a point. A guy like Denver was a pretty good catch for a human. But now she was a wolf, and a girl like Maizy had the world in the palm of her hand. His thoughts shifted to Prince. Somehow that asshole had known about her mark and what she had the potential to become.

“Don’t give up so fast,” Reno suggested. “Let’s just deal with it one day at a time. Austin has enough on his mind with Bromus. Because of Maizy’s accident, he delayed their meeting. I don’t think the phone conversation went so well, and I’m willing to bet Bromus is going to tattle to the Council and make Austin look bad. The little bastard is trying to see if he can blackmail us first—holding the Council over our head so we’ll repeatedly give him what he wants. Well, I’m not a milking cow, and he’s not squeezing my titties.”

Denver stood up and strode out of the room. “I have to get ready for work.”

“Whoa,” Jericho said, snatching his arm when he walked past him in the living room. “I think you need to call in and take the night off. Once Maizy shifts back, you need to have a talk with her. If you head off to the bar, that’s going to look really shitty.”

“He’s right,” Reno agreed.

The men turned toward the front door when something scraped against it. Wheeler gripped the handle. “This better not be another body.” He cracked the door and their eyes lowered to see a scrawny, wet cat strut inside. “Nice you could make it to the party,” Wheeler said.

Naya descended the stairs, rubbing her eyes. It looked as though she’d been wearing her earplugs again and had missed out on all the action. She yawned and stretched her arms, looking between all the men.

“Spartacus! Mama was looking everywhere.”

“Looks like your pussy’s all wet again,” Jericho said with a laugh. “And dirty.”

She lifted the cat. “You’re getting less funny.”

Spartacus shook his hind leg and rainwater sprayed on the floor.

“Keep him upstairs,” Wheeler said. “Lock him in the bathroom. We have a new guest in the house—another wolf.”

Her eyes widened. “A wolf? Who?”

Wheeler smirked and gave her a wink. “You’ll see, kitty cat.”

Chapter 20

When I came out of my shift, I had a blanket draped around my shoulders. First I recognized the empty fireplace, and then I saw Lexi handing me a pair of baggy jeans and a soft T-shirt. I took them and glanced over my left shoulder. Austin had his back to me, and it looked as though he’d evacuated the house so we’d have privacy.

“Do you remember anything?” Lexi asked.

I couldn’t help but notice the exuberant smile on her face. “Where’s Mom?”

“She’s not answering her phone, so I’m betting she’s out with Maddox. Austin decided not to tell anyone over the phone. This is big news, and we’re not sure how to handle it. You still have the mark on your shoulder.” She tapped her fingers on the arm of the chair. “I say we lie and tell the other packs she was a Shifter the whole time,” Lexi said, looking up at Austin. “We could just tell them we pretended she was human because my mother adopted her, or to keep others away. Hell, people will believe anything if you’re convincing enough. Her energy was always weak; no one can disprove it. Not if she shifts in front of them. They might think she’s just a weakling.”

I sat on the edge of the fireplace and bent my knees. “What happened with Denver wasn’t planned, and I’m embarrassed by the way everyone found out.”

Austin remained standing, his arms folded. “Did you realize you were making an important choice, or did it slip your mind?”

Was that contempt in his voice?

“I knew,” I admitted. “Ever since Lexi told me, I haven’t been with a man. I was scared. I should have told Denver before we started, but I was afraid it would ruin everything.”

“Were you using him to become one of us?” he asked, not pulling any punches.

“Austin!” Lexi hissed.

I launched to my feet and tried to walk past him. “I don’t have to answer that!”

He snared my upper arm. “I’m asking politely, but just remember you’re a Shifter now. I’ve always made exceptions where you were concerned because you were human. But as of this afternoon, you’re now a wolf who lives in my pack. You’ll respect me as your Packmaster and will be treated the same as every other wolf or panther in this house. It doesn’t change how I feel about you, but it does change what I expect from you. I want you to be honest, or this could blow up in my face.”

“I can’t believe you’d ask me something like that,” I snapped. There was no quelling my anger; it bubbled to the surface and was about to explode all over my Packmaster. And that would be bad, because I knew deep down that Austin was right. His job was to protect his family and keep the pack together, and that meant sometimes he had to ask hard questions and make tough decisions.

“Austin, she just went through her first shift,” Lexi said in a calm voice. “Can’t we talk about this later?”

“No, Ladybug. The pack’s going to have questions, and I need to know how to answer them.”

I looked around. “Where’s Denver?”

A thin veil of light stretched through the house, signaling the sun was reaching for the horizon. It seemed unusually quiet. The kids had gone to Lorenzo’s that morning to go horseback riding and stay for the night. I cupped my elbows and leaned against the back of the sofa in the living room area.

“I sent everyone outside while you shifted.” He peeled off his dirty shirt and wadded it up in his hands. “Everything went real smooth. We still need to introduce your wolf to the pack before I bring out my wolf, that way I can get a better sense of her personality around the others. But I ran with you.” He poked his finger in his ear and scratched. “Your wolf likes running in the creek, but she did real good listening to my orders. Except for when she caught sight of a jackrabbit.”

I smirked, wishing I could remember some of it. But thinking about how confusing it was when I’d first shifted—the push and pull going on within my head—it was probably for the best that I didn’t.

“Hungry for anything in particular?” Lexi asked with a crooked smile, flexing her bare foot against the floor.

Shifters had cravings when they shifted back to human form; it was just an odd fact. Izzy craved cheese popcorn, Lexi was all about the chocolate pudding, and Reno loved bacon. Everyone had their thing, and it was always stocked in the house.

“Now I understand what you guys always go on about,” I said, holding my stomach. “It’s not intolerable, just persistent.”

Lexi suddenly rushed forward and hugged me tight. “You know what this means? I’m not going to lose you,” she said softly. “I still get to be your big sister.”

“You would have always been my big sister, even when I got old and wrinkly,” I said matter-of-factly.

She laughed and stepped back, tears shining in her eyes. “Yeah, but now if you get hurt, you can shift to heal. You’re not as fragile as you were before.”

Except for my heart. “Can I speak to Denver before I see everyone? Alone?”

When they headed outside, I caught a glimpse of the pack. Trevor was sitting on top of the porch railing, and April poked her head into view to steal a glimpse.

Denver strolled in, kicking the door shut behind him with his heel. He’d put on a shirt but I could tell he hadn’t showered since there was still mud on his arm. He stopped a couple of feet short of me. “How are you feeling?”

“Discombobulated.”

A smile touched his lips. “Sounds about right.”

“I’m sorry.”

He folded his arms and the air between us changed. “You can’t keep putting me through that.”

“It’s not like I turn into a Shifter every day.”

“This isn’t funny!” he said, his voice rising. “I thought you were dying. How could you make me go through that again?”

“I didn’t know,” I said tersely.

His eyes narrowed. “You knew.”

I shoved at his chest. “I didn’t know it was going to hurt. No one warned me; no one told me anything except for what the end result would be.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I tried. But it happened too fast.”

He stepped forward, reducing the space between us. “That’s not what I mean. You’ve known all along.”

“I had to keep it a secret. Last year Lexi told me the story about Austin meeting a Chitah who was once a Potential. He didn’t find out much from her except the story about how she chose to become a Chitah. Austin wanted to protect me from people who might recognize the mark, so I had to keep it hidden.”

“You came back home and decided to fix our problems, all while keeping your own secrets. Do you want a truthful relationship between us? Isn’t that what you said earlier before we… before?”

“Yes.”

His lips curled in. “But you weren’t truthful with me. Why of all people couldn’t you have trusted the one man sworn to protect your life?”

“You’ve always said you were willing to die for me, but that’s not what I want, Denny. I want a man who will live for me. Someone who’s not just willing to protect my life, but my heart.” My lip quivered, pain constricting my chest. He was pushing me away again.

“You mean Prince? Was I just a means to make the transition easier so you could finally have your happily ever after?”

“Don’t do that,” I said, pointing my finger. “This hasn’t been easy for me. How do you think I felt knowing that my life has been a lie—that I’m not really a human? That scared me into not having sex with anyone.”

He covered his ears. “I don’t want to hear about you having sex with other men.”

I tugged one of his arms down. “Don’t be such a prude. You’re just going to have to get used to the fact that I had a life without you.”

His voice lowered and sent goose bumps over my arms. “What do you mean by that?”

“You could have been a constant in my world, but you chose to exclude yourself. I had to live my life. You pushed women away because of Cora, but why did you have to push me away? You were my watchdog… my best friend. All those letters I sent you—why didn’t you write back? Why didn’t you care enough to ask how I was doing?”

At that point, I was certain everyone outside could hear our conversation. But it didn’t matter anymore.

I took his face in my hands. “Please, talk to me.”

“When you were about eleven, you got sick. Scared the hell out of me. That’s when it hit me that you weren’t always going to be around. I didn’t want to lose you,” he rasped.

“But you did. You pushed me away. You abandoned me.”

“I didn’t want to watch you get old; I didn’t want to watch you die. It would have destroyed me. Then you had the car accident, and I almost lost you. You’ve always been too fragile for me to hold.”

All I wanted was for him to touch me, to kiss me, to take me in his arms. I gravitated toward him, leaning forward, remembering what it felt like to have his mouth on me, to claw my nails into his tan shoulders, to see his biceps thicken with every thrust. I hadn’t even been able to enjoy the afterglow of our lovemaking.

When he stepped closer, there was no more distance between us—not in inches, miles, or years. His fingers splayed across my hips, and a shiver danced through me when he looked at me with a fervent gaze. His mouth brushed against mine—barely touching.

I placed my hand over his heart. “Remember when I told you I wanted to be an explorer? You said there was nothing left to discover—that it’s all been found,” I said against his lips. “You were wrong, Denny. I want to discover your heart. No one has ever explored it, and I want to be the first.”

His tongue forced its way into my mouth, and I moaned. Denver lifted me up, and my legs locked around his waist while he kissed me hard. He held me as if I weighed nothing, but made me feel as if I meant everything.

“Mine,” he whispered, kissing my jaw and then neck. “You’re mine.”

“Always,” I breathed.

We twisted around each other in an embrace. When applause erupted, we both turned to the front windows. Just outside, the pack was peering in. Trevor gave us a thumbs-up, and someone whistled.

I laughed against his neck. “I guess we can’t keep this a secret.”

Denver looked up at me. “A secret is something you keep out of fear or shame. I don’t have that with you, Peanut. You’re my girl, and that’s the way it is. I’m going to hire a guy to fly a plane overhead with a banner.”

I ran my fingers through his wavy, disheveled hair. “You could just buy some TV time and run a commercial.”

His brow arched. “Not a bad idea.”

“Do you think your wolf will like mine?”

He set me on the back of the sofa and rested his hands on my waist. “He’s only known you as a human. Let’s take it slow.”

Denver was afraid his wolf would hurt mine, though he wouldn’t admit to it.

The front door opened and I heard footsteps. Denver kissed the corner of my mouth and stepped back, allowing the pack to greet the new wolf in the house.

“I’m going to kill Reno for not calling me sooner. I’m so happy for you,” April whispered as she gave me a hug.

“I guess this means I won’t be growing old alongside you.”

“Jeez, I meant about Denver,” she said with a one-sided grin. “You two are perfect together, like you were made from the same cookie batter.”

I snorted and stepped back to let the men kiss my forehead and attempt to conceal their know-it-all grins. I wondered what my mom was going to say about all this. She’d already been through the same with Lexi, but this was different because Lexi wasn’t her natural daughter. My mom had always had a different dream for me—one where I lived in the human world and had an ordinary life with a husband, a job, and children. Would this disappoint her? Would she think less of me because I’d chosen to become Breed?

Austin went over the rules and let them know about my mark and the importance of keeping it hidden. Sometimes urban legends existed for a reason, and he didn’t want any outsiders getting too close to me. He’d heard rumors about labs experimenting on Breeds, and Potentials would be hunted down. Denver was right about secrets, and this is one I decided to keep out of fear.

“We’ll do introductions later,” Austin said. “Let’s give her time to get comfortable in her new skin. I want everyone to keep quiet about this; now get back to what you were doing.”

Jericho glanced at his watch. “I need to head out. Denver, you want a lift to Howlers? William still hasn’t come back with your truck.”

Denver eased up beside me and wrapped his arm around my waist. “Tell Frank I’m taking the night off to be with my girl.”

I blushed madly, and I knew it from the heat touching my cheeks to the look on Lexi’s face when she caught sight of it.

“Somehow I thought this was going to be a lot harder for you all to accept,” I said.

Wheeler collapsed in a chair and put his feet on the coffee table, crossing them at the ankle. “I didn’t think Denver would ever come around, sorry bastard that he is, but it was pretty damn obvious something was brewing by the way you two have been checking each other out the past couple of weeks,” he said with a dark chuckle.

Spartacus leapt on the back of his chair and proceeded to knead Wheeler’s scalp.

After Jericho took off, a few of them wandered into the kitchen to get dinner started.

“You okay?” Denver asked in all seriousness. His fingers hooked in the belt loops of my jeans, anchoring me in place.

I glanced up at him. “Do you think someone will come after me because of my mark?”

A muscle twitched in his cheek. “Let them try. They’ll have to get through me first, and no one is getting past me.”

He said it with conviction, and I didn’t doubt him for a second. I felt safe in his arms—protected.

As I always had.

Chapter 21

“Aye Dios mio.” Rosie held her cheeks and looked at me, dumbfounded. “All this time I thought you were a little human!”

I shrugged. “Everyone just assumed that because of my mom; it’s a long story,” I lied.

She jutted her hip to the side and planted a fist on it. Rosie was curvy with short curls of dark hair, someone I’d always admired because of her no-nonsense personality. “Well, it looks like I’m going to have to keep these boys away from you. Sometimes the older ones can smell a newly changed wolf, especially alphas. You just let me know if any of them bother you,” she said, wagging her finger.

It had been only a day since my first change, but the girls wanted to take me out for celebratory drinks. Denver had the night off, so it gave me uninterrupted time to spend with them. Everyone came, including Ivy, who was enjoying a soda along with Izzy, our designated driver.

“How did your mother accept the news?” Ivy asked quietly.

I pushed my beer bottle aside, having taken only a small sip. “Shock at first. Austin’s not much of a prankster, so it took a few minutes for it to sink in. She had to sit down, and all I could do was curl up beside her. I thought she was going to cry, but she was unbelievably supportive. She said Lexi and I would always have each other, and she wouldn’t want it any other way. But she still wants me to get a job and find a husband,” I said with a short laugh.

Lexi raised her beer. “Cheers to my mom, who will never give up the dream of grandchildren.”

“Maybe you and Austin should make her dreams come true,” Izzy suggested in a theatrical voice.

“When’s your next baby?” April asked Izzy, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

Izzy held up her hands. “Hell’s bells, I’ve got my hands full with two rambunctious alphas. I need a break for a couple of decades before I do that again.”

Lexi nursed her beer, her eyes staring vacantly at the table.

I scooted my chair closer and put my hand on top of hers beneath the table. “Lexi has too much going on right now to worry about kids. Sweet Treats is booming, and I’m trying to talk her into expanding to another store.”

April choked on her beer and set it down. The bottle nearly tipped until she snatched the base. “Who’s going to run it? My hands are full at the candy store!”

“Don’t panic,” Lexi said, holding up her hands. “It’s just an idea I’m tossing around. We can’t spare anyone else in the pack, so I’d have to hire an outsider. I was thinking about Rosie, but don’t say anything to her about it.”

Izzy leaned forward, eyes wide. “That would be perfect! Rosie is wasting her time in a place like this. She could totally manage a store on her own, and she’s already experienced with hiring, firing, and reviewing inventory. Jake really leans on her for a lot of stuff.”

Lexi nibbled her lip, clearly excited to have support on the idea. “Mum’s the word. I don’t want her to think I’m plotting her future when I haven’t even asked if she’d be interested. I’m still not sure how much she makes here compared to what I’d pay her, not to mention she might not like the atmosphere. It’s laid-back.”

Izzy rubbed at the scar on her wrist. “Trust me, laid-back is a good thing. We’re busy in the store, but it’s a breath of fresh air to not have a slobbering drunk calling you a whore when you don’t bring their beer fast enough. I have yet to meet an upset customer—except for that woman who insisted there was a hair in her cake and wanted a year’s supply of free food. The hair was blond. We don’t have any blondes working in the bakery. Bitch.” Izzy pursed her lips and then gracefully sat back. “Hiring Trevor was the best decision you ever made. Our customers love him. I’m so used to working with bitches with attitudes, so it’s nice to actually look forward to going to work around people who aren’t acting like vultures for tips. Rosie would fit right in running a shop like ours.”

I watched Izzy touch her scar again. “Does it bother you to have that?” I asked bluntly, abruptly shifting the topic.

Her smile withered. “No. Once in a while I get a jackass who wants to point it out, like I’m flawed, but you have to ignore that kind of thing.” Her eyes skated up to my lip and forehead.

The cut on my head had healed pretty well, and since my hair naturally fell over it, people didn’t seem to notice. But the indentation on my lip couldn’t be ignored. Lipstick would conceal it fairly well, but I rarely wore makeup.

“I really don’t care what I look like,” I said. “But if people are going to treat me differently because of one stupid scar—”

“You have nothing to be concerned about,” Ivy said, touching the tip of her cane, which rested against the table. “Most Shifters don’t care about such small things since we can scar as children; it’s other Breeds who are more preoccupied with perfection. Scars are a testament to your bravery, not a symbol of weakness or inferiority.”

“I could have lost a leg or fractured my face. Would I have accepted Denny’s claim had my injuries been worse?”

“Denying him would have meant turning away from the love of your life,” she said.

“Who’s to say he would have even wanted me?”

Ivy smiled knowingly. “The true test of a man’s love is whether or not he can love you because of your flaws, not despite them.”

“A scar isn’t a flaw,” Lexi said, eating a giant nacho chip dripping with processed cheese. “That’s what you call character. They’re sexy as hell on a man, so I don’t see why it should be any different for a woman. I think scars make a person more interesting because it says they’re a little tougher than the rest of us. Although—no offense, Naya—I’d rather not see all of Wheeler’s scars when he’s parading around in that skimpy underwear you keep buying him. Boxer shorts I can deal with, but there’s barely enough material to make an eye patch. Some things are just not meant to be seen.”

Naya twirled a lock of hair around her finger when we giggled. “I think he’s sexier undressed,” she said with a purr. “Scars, tattoos—the whole package. And yes, ladies, it’s a big package.”

Lexi rolled her eyes. “Yeah, we’ve all seen that package. But would you mind telling him to put on pants before digging in the fridge while I’m eating breakfast? If I see much more than I already have, we might end up being legally married in some states.”

“Speaking of,” Naya said with a wink. “Have you talked Austin into a traditional wedding?”

“That’ll be the day,” April blurted out. “She’s been putting that bug in his ear for ages.”

Naya frowned at Lexi. “Don’t give me your bitchy face. It’s a legitimate question.”

“I’m not a human anymore,” Lexi said with an indifferent shrug.

I poked her arm. “So? You grew up human, and how much fun would that be to have a real wedding? I don’t see why he would be against it. We’d have an excuse to have a huge party at the house. All you have to do is suggest beer kegs and classic rock and I bet he’ll be all for it.”

Naya studied her black nail polish. “Lexi wants it to be his idea, and I agree. A woman shouldn’t have to pressure a man into romance or else the gesture doesn’t mean anything.”

“That’s true,” Lexi said. “Anyhow, Austin will never be able to top blowing up my car.” After a sip of her drink, she gave me a cursory glance. “Here’s some awkward news. Nadia has been calling the house. It’s been going on for weeks.”

My brows popped up. “Did you tell her about us?” Suddenly I felt territorial about Denver, something I’d never experienced. It must have been my wolf, because I wrestled with a primal urge to locate Nadia’s car and destroy it.

Lexi licked the cheese from her finger. “Yep. She knows all about you two and apparently doesn’t give a shit.”

“In all fairness, darling,” Naya began, “Denver and Maizy aren’t mated. Shifters believe anyone who isn’t mated is pursuable. Nadia isn’t a bad person; I would never fix anyone in our pack up with a heartless toad.”

“Well, she needs to stop calling because it’s pissing me off,” Lexi snapped. “Denver’s been ignoring her calls, so now she’s taken it upon herself to call the house. I can’t put her on call block because she finds ways to get around it. Don’t be surprised if she starts calling you,” Lexi said, giving me a tilt of her head.

I shrugged. “Let her. Maybe she has more to offer Denny, but she’ll have to fight me for him,” I said with a conniving smile.

Lexi wrapped her fingers around her beer bottle. “Don’t even entertain the idea she has more to offer. Nobody outshines my baby sister, no matter how wealthy she is. Plus, Denver will take a bribe of Pringles over a new car any day.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, breaking into a laugh.

She sat up tall. “Denver is a man with unique priorities, and nobody knows that better than you.”

I clinked my bottle against hers and set it back down. A waitress rushed past our table with a tray of burgers, and the flavorful aroma made my mouth water.

“So what’s your craving?” April asked. “Reno’s so funny. He acts like his craving is no big deal, but he’s grumpy if he doesn’t get his bacon after a shift.”

“Promise not to laugh?”

Who was I kidding? They were going to laugh.

Everyone put on their best honesty face and held up their hands in a solemn promise.

I uncrossed my legs and played with the hem of my white skirt. “I haven’t told Denver yet. He hasn’t asked, but…”

“Well, go on,” Lexi said, bubbling with anticipation.

“Cheese puffs. Either the round balls or the long puffs. Classy, huh? Denver will probably get a huge kick out of it since it’s one of his favorite snacks.”

Izzy opened her mouth and laughed. “I can’t say a thing about it since I’ll take a man down for a bag of popcorn. What is it with us and junk food? Lexi has the pudding thing, and Naya won’t even tell us.” Then she gave Naya a sly look. “I bet it’s beef jerky and she’s too embarrassed to admit it.”

Naya merely splayed her fingers in front of her face and admired her manicure.

Izzy sipped her soda and laughed quietly. “Ivy’s the only one around here with a semi-healthy craving. At least you can put cream cheese on celery.”

Ivy stroked her hand down her braid and smiled warmly. “Yes, but I prefer it straight out of the container.”

April poked out her tongue in horror. “What does Lorenzo like?”

“Honey. Although he swears by the gods it’s really me he craves,” she said with a blush on her cheeks.

Lexi took a sip of beer. “That’s what they all say. There’s no denying that men get amorous after their shift.”

April snorted and feathered her hair away from her face. “Reno likes spooning.”

“At least he doesn’t bring dead animals to your bed,” Izzy said with a snort.

This was a new aspect of Shifters I was learning about—the inside scoop on what it was like to be mated to one.

Mated. My gosh, was I considering that? I wondered if I should wait, or how the whole thing worked. Would I be allowed to stay in the house? Would Denver be able to commit? Did I need more time?

Now I sat at the table as one of the women in our pack, seeing each of them in a new light. How gorgeous April was, still keeping her hair cropped and trendy, still picking out wild colors for her nail polish. Reno adored her and had even built a giant bookshelf on one side of their bedroom. She was still as clumsy as ever, but it was endearing because it was just a part of who she was. Izzy was still the fiery redhead of the pack, but she also had a calmer side that kept Jericho anchored. Naya was a shameless flirt, but her intentions were in the right place. Lexi would always be my beautiful sister who looked opposite me with long brown hair, brown eyes, and high cheekbones. I used to want to be just like her when I grew up, someone who was easygoing but yet not afraid to speak her mind. In many ways, those traits had rubbed off on me.

Through changed eyes, these women were now extraordinary to me. Even Ivy, who was part of our extended family. I’d always liked Lorenzo, despite his brutish ways. He protected those close to him and adored his family. He and Ivy were a different kind of couple than Lexi and Austin, but still balanced.

I wondered how I balanced with Denver—if we complemented each other in a way that would impress others. Or maybe we were just the comic relief in the pack.

“Earth to Maizy,” Lexi chanted.

“Sorry. I’m having adjustment problems.”

Izzy arched a brow. “Just wait until you meet our wolves.”

Naya waved a waitress over. “Can’t be any worse than when my panther met the pack.”

Izzy continued with one of those you had to be there stories. “Jericho’s wolf is obedient to Austin, but he’s also fearless. At least until Naya shifted. He went ballistic—barking and growling at her. Austin had to intervene and talk him down. When Jericho’s wolf realized she was a new member of the pack, he peed on the floor.” Izzy laughed so hard she began coughing, then took a quick sip of soda to clear her throat. “My poor man. He knew attacking her would jeopardize his rank with Austin.”

Panthers are a natural enemy to wolves, and it amazed me how easily the pack had accepted Naya’s animal. “What about Denver’s wolf?”

Their faces were stricken with unpleasant memories.

“Well,” Lexi began, wringing her hands under the table. “Denver was another story.”

Naya played with a thin gold chain around her neck. “Darling, you have nothing to worry about. Denver and I tangled for a little bit, but neither of us took it too far.”

“He fought you?” I asked in horror. I’d never been able to attend one of those things because the animals sometimes got out of control.

She pursed her red lips. “We have no control over our animal’s behavior. They worked it out. Wheeler was there, and the pack trusts him. Between him and Austin, they got it under control. I can’t say we get along famously,” she said, waving her hand, “but then again, Denver’s wolf isn’t much of a social butterfly.”

It made me think about how Denver had pushed people away his whole life. Had those feelings somehow influenced his wolf, or were some wolves just naturally more aggressive? Denver ran with the pack, but he often went off on his own.

Ivy rubbed my back. “You needn’t worry. He’ll know who you are. He’s always known, and it won’t matter what form you take. I have no doubt his wolf will hunt for you.”

That was a habit mated wolves did if their other half was in wolf form. Jericho’s was the exception as he occasionally brought in a rabbit to Izzy. She’d wrinkle her nose and kiss his muzzle, but it was a pretty gruesome thing to wake up to at the foot of the bed. Sometimes the animals were still alive, and on three occasions, April had been able to save them. That was about the time they began imposing the rule about wolves in the house, but Jericho’s still managed to find a way to get inside. The Cole brothers were to blame for that; they thought it was hilarious to see him trot up the stairs with a dead animal in his mouth, ready to woo his woman.

“I hope you have an appetite. Hot and tasty! At least, that’s what my mate tells me,” Rosie said with a giggle. She rolled a cart near the table and proceeded to set our plates down, each filled with a mega burger, onion rings, and a jalapeño on the side.

“You are a goddess.” Lexi admired her perfectly cooked burger.

Rosie put her hands behind her head and circled her hips. “That’s what the mister tells me every morning.”

“After?” Izzy said with a smirk as she gobbled up an onion ring.

Rosie winked and turned around. “Before. That’s how we get to the after.”

***

Our night out was amazingly fun. I’d always loved going to Howlers as a kid, including the few occasions I’d come home to visit. But now I was experiencing things from a whole new perspective—as a female Shifter.

I had to admit, it was pretty badass. I didn’t have any special powers outside of shifting, but I could suddenly sense who was Breed and who wasn’t. I had instincts I hadn’t before, and knowledge that my inner animal would protect me in all situations, as I would her. My wolf gave me vibes about certain people, and I wasn’t sure if it had to do with their tone, body language, or even a scent I couldn’t smell but she could.

A burly Shifter recognized Izzy from when she used to tend bar. He was blatantly hitting on her, even though everyone knew she was mated to Jericho. She entertained him for a short while, but as soon as he got too friendly, she cut him off and we moved to a booth.

Ivy was a different story. Men were intimidated by her regal demeanor, not to mention everyone this side of Austin, Texas, knew she was mated to Lorenzo Church—one of the most feared Packmasters in the territory.

A few beers later, Lexi decided to hit the dance floor and dragged April with her.

“Will you just look at that!” Naya exclaimed. “Those jealous little devils.”

Izzy peered over her shoulder. “Super. Girls’ night out just turned into wolves gone wild.”

The Weston pack strolled through the door like a testosterone parade, looking as dangerous and hot as any Shifter pack could. Wheeler eased up to the bar and slanted his eyes in our direction before ordering a drink. Jericho mingled with a small group of women standing by a pillar, and Austin leaned against the bar on his elbows, pretending he didn’t see us.

“Spies,” Lexi hissed as she returned to the table. “They just couldn’t keep away. Afraid the Weston girls were going to stir up trouble.”

Naya chuckled. “I thought that was our mission for the evening. Darling, just sit back and pretend you don’t see them. They can hardly help themselves. They’re staking claim.”

Ivy smiled and cocked an eyebrow. “I’m fortunate I don’t have to worry about such wolfish behavior from my mate.”

April peered around Lexi. “Think again. Look who just walked in the door.”

A gust of wind blew Lorenzo’s long hair forward as the door closed behind him. He had on a shirt with a wide collar and a beaded choker circled his neck. The jukebox played an old tune by Fleetwood Mac because Lexi had locked in the next hour with her music, and we’d been listening to Mumford & Sons for the past half hour.

“Not only are they all here,” Naya said discreetly, “but look at how they sexed themselves up for us. Unless I’ve had too many beers, it looks like Wheeler put a comb to his hair. Mmm, and he’s wearing my favorite sleeveless shirt—the one that’s so tight I can see the lines in his abs.”

“Now that you mention it, Austin’s wearing those jeans that make his ass look hot, and he’s doing his lean,” Lexi said. “They’re baiting us!”

April played with her earring. “They’re trying to attract women so we’ll get jealous and run over to them. They’ve probably been creating ridiculous fantasies about how all the men up here are seducing us while they’re at home watching reruns of True Blood.”

Naya dabbed perfume on her wrists. “It’s a game of seduction.”

Lexi glared over her shoulder again. “Their game of seduction is going to turn into Game of Thrones. They’re going to start a fight.”

“Maybe that’s what they want,” I suggested. “Since when have the men in our pack ever been able to control that instinct? They want to fight for us.”

I glanced back wistfully and saw no sign of Denver. Perhaps in the human world this would seem like an act of immaturity, but among Shifters, there was a dance involved when it came to mated couples. The women were just as guilty of accidentally showing up at the bar when the men declared a night out. Not often, since boys’ night out usually involved laser tag or paintball. But on the few occasions they’d go to a club or bar, I vividly remember the women putting on their sexiest dresses and heading out the door.

Lexi stood up and slowly peeled off her light sweater to the tune of “The Chain” just as the lyrics kicked in. She draped it over her chair and flipped her hair back, then strategically turned around, just enough to give Austin her body profile, and pulled her tight tank top low to show cleavage. A chilly draft formed goose pimples on her body in every place where a man would desire them.

“You are a bad girl,” Naya purred approvingly.

Lexi leaned on the table, displaying her finest asset—one no red-blooded Shifter could ignore.

Especially the dark-haired man directly behind her who rose from his chair as if he were a marionette doll. “Can I buy you a beer?”

Austin shifted his glance toward our table, and his blue eyes went glacial. Like Wheeler, he also had on a sleeveless black shirt. Only, Austin’s tattoos wrapped around his shoulders and upper arms in a tribal pattern. His biceps flexed, and his jaw tensed.

I had a feeling Lexi was watching him from the corner of her eye over her shoulder, because she slowly turned around to face the man behind her. “I’ve already got a drink, but thanks for asking. Didn’t mean to give you the wrong idea; the music is loud and I was just bending over to hear my friend,” she said matter-of-factly.

Austin couldn’t hear what she was saying, but that didn’t matter. Howlers wasn’t just serving Austin beer and hamburgers tonight, but also a reminder of how desirable his mate was to other men. Despite the rogue Shifter hitting on her, Austin’s eyes were all over Lexi’s body—owning it with every heated glance. An amorous look crossed his expression, and I could tell he was itching to step in and intervene. Instead, he played it cool and started up a conversation with Reno.

While April was minding her business in the far end of the booth, Reno looked ready to lay any man to waste who so much as breathed in her vicinity. She was a woman in her prime who looked confident in her skin, and that was an attractive quality to a Shifter. Lots of them were curious about humans, and her shirt sliding off her bare shoulder was helping that along. Men couldn’t help but notice her big hazel eyes, and Reno couldn’t help but notice those men noticing her.

I sensed the perfect storm brewing.

“This should be uneventful,” Ivy remarked. “Lorenzo has never been a jealous man; he trusts me implicitly.”

Naya reached across the table and touched her hand. “Darling, this isn’t about trust. This is about men wanting to show off their peacock feathers. Let them strut around and do their dance until their feathers ruffle; it’ll just make for a steamy end to our evening.”

Ivy looked across the room at Lorenzo and blushed. I found it endearing that a woman could blush after having had children, but Lorenzo was the only one who could put color on her cheeks.

“Sure you don’t want that beer? Maybe something sweet, like a scoop of ice cream,” the man said to Lexi in a growly voice.

Lexi backed up against the table because he was suddenly invading her space. “No. I’m not interested.”

“You heard the lady,” Austin barked from across the bar.

The hair on my neck stood on end.

Austin must have read her lips. No was the only word he needed to understand when it came to his woman. He pushed off the bar and stalked toward the table, his fists clenched. Lexi tensed and gripped the table behind her, panic in her eyes. Meanwhile, Naya laced her fingers together and rested her chin on them, grinning from ear to ear.

The man turned to face Austin. “What business is it of yours?”

“Maybe you’re not the kind of man a woman like her wants,” Austin said.

Now, while Austin could have ended the game by stating Lexi was his mate, he interestingly chose not to. So in effect, these became two men on equal ground vying for the attention of one woman. Austin didn’t want to claim his mate; he wanted to win her.

The man with the jet-black hair folded his arms. “She turned her back to me and bent over. Doesn’t matter what she said.”

“Then why don’t we just ask the lady who she thinks is the better man,” Austin suggested with an arch of his brow.

When Lexi grinned, he looked a little nervous. You never could tell what my sister was going to say or do.

“I don’t know,” she said, looking between them. “You two look like strong, confident men.”

The Shifter wet his lower lip, ravaging her body with his gaze. Austin flicked a glance his way, uncertainty in his eyes.

“Take off your shirts,” Lexi blurted out.

I covered my face with my hands and stifled a laugh. By the time I opened my eyes, the two men had stripped out of their shirts, displaying a visual feast of abs and rock-hard muscles. Lexi’s suitor had bulging arms, but he didn’t hold a candle to Austin’s well-proportioned torso and washboard stomach.

She tapped her finger against her mouth and looked at the stranger. “I’m a dessert kind of girl. What kind of sweet would you buy me?”

He pursed his lips in thought. “Hot-fudge sundae with cherries.”

“Mmm. And you?” she asked Austin.

He smiled wolfishly and reached around to his back pocket, pulling out a round sucker. He removed the wrapper and tucked the stick in the waistband of his jeans, right below his navel.

“I think we have a winner,” Naya said with a chuckle.

Lexi curled into Austin and wrapped her arms around him. “A man after my own heart.”

When they began to kiss intimately, the shirtless stranger realized they were mated and strolled back to his table in defeat.

“You want a lick?” I heard Austin murmur.

“Maybe later,” Lexi whispered as they walked off.

Each of the women at my table had their eyes on their own man, wondering how their game would end.

“I’m going to step outside for some fresh air. You three behave yourselves. No bar fights,” I said, laughing to myself.

When I scooted out of my seat and crossed the room, I glanced back and noticed a man stealing the spot next to Ivy. As I happened to be walking by Lorenzo, I heard him curse under his breath and mutter something about declaring war.

My ears were ringing from the music, so it was a relief to stroll outside where it was blissfully quiet and the dark sky stretched overhead like a velvet cloak. Howlers had a couple of beat-up chairs and a bench on the long porch just outside the door. But my butt was sore from sitting all night and I decided to stretch my legs in the open area in front of the parking lot.

The great thing about the Breed side of town was that you didn’t have to worry about muggers. Since Howlers was primarily a Shifter bar, we didn’t get many of the other Breeds hanging around like the more popular clubs. Howlers had always been a second home to me.

Before, I was the American girl living in England who never quite fit in. Now I was home and blended in like one of the spices in my mom’s famous stew. I couldn’t imagine belonging anywhere else.

The main door opened and from it poured music, laughter, and two women in a hurry. I watched them climb into a black sedan and speed off. I was beginning to wonder how I was going to get home with all the mates having showed up. They were probably going to want private time together. Just as I turned to go back inside, a man startled me so severely that I clutched my heart.

“Evening.”

I blew out a breath. “You scared me. I didn’t hear anyone else come out.”

The man who had managed to creep up without a sound was blocking my view of the bar. He was stocky with a thick mustache. I glanced down and wondered how hot his feet must have been in those tan work boots.

A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I haven’t seen you around these parts.”

“I’m with the Weston pack.” The best response around Shifters was to announce which pack you were in so they wouldn’t waste time trying to recruit.

I sensed his alpha energy, and a shiver skated down my spine.

A stick broke in the shadows to my right and snagged my attention. One of the shadows moved toward us, and when the lamplight illuminated Denver’s face, all I saw was wrath.

He stepped between us and curved his left arm in front of me, holding it there like a shield.

“Well, well,” the man said. “If it isn’t the delivery boy.”

I gripped Denver’s arm. “I thought you were at home?” I whispered.

He turned his head toward me but didn’t take his eyes off the man. “I got bored.”

“Lover’s quarrel?” the man asked. He gave me a penetrating stare, enough to make Denver stand even closer to me.

“I think you need to turn your eyes away, Bromus. She’s in the Weston pack.”

“Looks like an unclaimed bitch to me. Just reached her first change, didn’t she? I can always smell it. Word is she doesn’t have a mate. I think I know exactly how Austin can settle what’s between us.”

“Maizy, go inside,” Denver said, his voice low and dangerous.

Bromus flicked his hand in a quick wave and a man just outside the main door stood up from his chair. “Maizy’s a real pretty name. I take it you think she’s yours.”

“We’re not afraid to take this to the Council.”

The man stepped forward and his lips peeled back. “I want her.”

Denver radiated heat, growling each word through clenched teeth. “You can’t have her.”

“You took one of my men and still owe me a breathing body. Think again what I’m entitled to.”

“You can’t trade me against my will,” I spat out.

“She’s right,” Denver said. “The laws won’t support you on this.”

Bromus smirked. “Laws? I think I can be persuasive enough. Packmasters prefer to settle disputes outside of the Council, otherwise it makes us look pretty damn incompetent.”

“That’s a big word for an uneducated dickhead like you. Don’t come at our pack in dark corners like a big pussy.”

I tried to hide my snort but Bromus caught it.

“I’ll give you something to laugh about,” he snapped. “Seems like you’re a little cocky because you just went through the change. That kind of back talk doesn’t go on under my roof. I know just how to keep a bitch in her place, and keeping her mouth shut isn’t so hard as long as my cock is in it.”

I barely had time to form a cohesive thought. I knew only one thing: Denver was about to commit murder.

Chapter 22

“You just insulted the wrong woman!” Denver roared. He slammed his fist into the Packmaster’s face, and I grimaced at the bone-crunching sound it made.

Bromus bared his teeth and swung back. Denver barely flinched, and a feeling of dread took over as the two men circled around each other.

“Denver, stop!” I shouted. “Let it go.”

“The hell I’ll let it go.” He kept throwing punches until Bromus spat blood.

Knowing a Packmaster would never harm a woman, I ran forward and wedged myself between them.

“Don’t let him use this against us.” I pushed at Denver’s chest, which felt like granite against my palms.

“Looks like the Weston boys can’t control their bitches. Here, let me.”

Bromus grabbed a handful of my hair and jerked me out of the way. I fell on my butt, stunned that a Packmaster would have put his hands on me like that.

Denver’s eyes blazed with something so hellish that I shuddered. In a fluid movement too fast to track, he shifted into his wolf. Bromus responded, shifting into a solid black alpha.

They lunged, snarling and snapping. White fangs gleamed beneath the moonlight as they rose to their hind legs.

I scooted away from them, unable to breathe. My muscles clenched as my wolf fought to get out, sensing a packmate who needed her. Oh God, I was going to shift. This was all too new; I didn’t know how to control it.

“Austin!” I screamed. “Austin!”

The wolves drew blood, growling and widening their jaws.

With no time to waste, I sprang to my feet and ran toward the door. But Bromus’s packmate blocked me from entering.

I shoved at him and he laughed, pushing me back.

“Austin!” I screamed again.

“No one can save your pup now,” the man said in thick, menacing words. “No wolf has ever insulted Bromus and lived to tell about it.”

Impervious to his threats, I ran up the steps and ducked beneath his arm. He snatched me by the waist, so I elbowed him in the back.

“Fuck!”

I wriggled free and then shoved him so hard that he fell backward into the parking lot. I wasn’t raised to fear or obey anyone.

As I hurried inside, I scanned the crowd with wide eyes. I didn’t see Austin, but Reno caught sight of me. He was the kind of guy who was always watching the front door and aware of his surroundings. He rose to his feet the second he saw my frantic condition.

Austin, I mouthed.

He pulled out his phone and sent a quick text. Within seconds, Austin flew into sight from a crowded area and rushed toward the door. He gripped my arms. “Reno said level red. What is it?”

“Hurry!”

I ran out the door, and when Bromus’s man tried to grab my arm, Reno severed the contact with a series of maneuvers while Austin rushed past them to see the commotion.

“Who the fuck is that?” Austin shouted. No doubt he could sense the wolf was an alpha. The question was whether or not he was rogue or a Packmaster.

“Bromus,” I replied. “We have to stop them!”

A yelp sounded and Denver locked his jaws on the wolf’s neck, thrashing until Bromus’s wolf lay still below him. Austin charged toward them and grabbed Denver’s hind legs. “Submit!”

A Packmaster wasn’t stupid enough to grab a wolf by the head who had blood in his mouth.

Denver growled low as he defied Austin’s orders.

“Submit!” Austin pulled him so hard that he dragged him back a foot. Denver’s jaws were still locked onto the alpha. “Reno, get over here, goddammit!”

But Reno was busy subduing the second man.

I jogged closer and Austin held out his hand to warn me to keep my distance. Ignoring him, I crossed into Denver’s line of view and knelt down. “Denny?”

His eyes flicked up and he tugged on the wolf’s throat even more. Blood covered his mouth, staining the snow-white part of his face.

“Please, Denny. Let him go.” I reached forward and brushed my hand over his muzzle.

“Maizy, get away from him!” Austin shouted. “He’s got blood in his mouth.”

Denver’s wolf snarled in response, his eyes rolling back as if trying to look behind him.

I brushed my hand over his head, seeing the recognition in his eyes. “Come out of there, Denny. I want to go home.” When tears hovered on my lashes, Denver’s wolf relaxed his jaws and stepped forward, pressing his body against mine. I hugged him hard and wept against his neck.

“He’s dead,” Austin said. “Fuck. We have to call this one in.”

“This is problematic,” Reno said gruffly. “Let me call William first.”

“I saw it all!” the other man shouted, his nose bloody. He was on his knees and slowly rose to his feet, raising an accusing finger. “He attacked my Packmaster. You’re going down for this!”

“I’m going to snap your head off if you don’t shut up. How ’bout that?” Reno put the man in a headlock and gave him a hard shake. “Now sit down and keep your trap shut.”

I leaned back and gave Denver’s wolf a grievous stare. “Why did you have to do it? Now they’re going to take you away.”

Austin knelt down beside us. “What happened?”

“The Packmaster threatened to blackmail you.”

“Did he put his hands on you?”

I had to think for a moment. Everything was racing in my head. “He pulled my hair.”

“What made Denver shift?”

I looked down at the wolf and stroked his face. “Bromus said some vulgar things about what he wanted to do to me. Denver lost control.”

Austin cursed under his breath and covered his face with one hand. “I knew Bromus was going to be a problem. I offered him a hefty settlement and he said he’d think about it, but I knew that was a line of bullshit. Look, when the Council sends someone out, don’t talk to him unless I’m present. Don’t answer any questions. Do you understand?”

I nodded.

“Good. Maybe they’ll be lenient because of the threats and attempts at blackmail, but I don’t know. Denver killed a Packmaster. Do you realize how serious that is?”

I knew by the tone of his voice. The Bromus pack was now disbanded, so it was more than just a life lost. The Council would have to either find a replacement alpha to take the role or else the packmates would be on their own. Anyone who killed a Packmaster could be sentenced to death. I didn’t know if the laws had exceptions since I’d never heard of anyone committing the crime.

Austin softly stroked Denver’s ear and said, “Shift.”

In a quick motion, the wolf changed form and became a man. Denver blinked a few times and looked between us. When he saw our grave expressions, he turned around and stared at the wolf’s lifeless body.

After a pregnant pause, he spat on the wolf. Then he gave Austin a cursory glance. “You wouldn’t happen to know of a place nearby that makes fried hush puppies, would you?”

Austin smacked him in the head. Denver’s shift craving was deep-fried hush puppies. Now wasn’t the time for jokes, but that’s just how he dealt with things.

“So now what?” Denver asked. “Should I run?”

Austin shook his head. “You need to face the Council. If you don’t own up to your actions in this life, they’ll catch up with you in another. I thought you were learning to be less impulsive.”

Denver tipped his head to the side. “And tell me what you would have done to a man who threatened to put his cock in Lexi’s mouth to keep her quiet?”

Austin went rigid.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” He stood up and found his jeans, yanking them on. “I don’t make apologies for defending my woman. Ever. So let’s just clear the air on that one. I have no control over my wolf, Aus. Not where Maizy’s concerned. Fuck Bromus and any man who lays down a threat on my woman.”

“Maybe you can tell them you’re my watchdog,” I suggested.

He flashed me an amused glance. “You’re too old. It would never fly. Plus you’re my girl, right?”

“Then protecting the honor of your girl?”

Austin stood up and dusted the dirt off his jeans. “Unless you’re his mate, he doesn’t have special rights. He only has the right of a packmate to protect you, and your life wasn’t in mortal danger.”

“So if he’d assaulted me, then that would be okay because my life wasn’t in danger?” I argued, standing up to face him.

“That’s not what I meant.”

My eyes traveled downward and I watched Denver threading his hands through his dirty-blond hair. He cursed under his breath as the reality was settling in that his wolf had gone too far.

I leaned toward Austin and lowered my voice. “Why can’t we just go to England? They’ll never think to look there.”

“If he flees, they’ll report it to the higher authority and a bounty will be put on his head—dead or alive. Don’t forget that I used to be a bounty hunter. There’s no ocean too big to travel where a cash reward is concerned. They pay well, and they don’t give a damn if he comes back breathing or not. Do you want to live your life on the run, afraid you’ll wake up one morning and find a bounty hunter at your door with a Glock and an itchy trigger finger?”

A burst of music and laughter flooded into the parking lot when the door swung open. Lexi and Lorenzo surveyed the scene before Lexi turned back inside.

“Seems like you’ve run into a little trouble, Cole,” Lorenzo said with cool confidence as he headed in our direction.

“Laugh it up, Church,” Austin grumbled. “I’m sure you’re enjoying this.”

Lorenzo nudged the wolf’s body with the toe of his shoe and his brows lowered. “Bromus is lucky to have lasted this long. Two seasons ago, I almost took him down myself for stealing off my land.”

Austin folded his arms. “Think we can build a case against him? Combine other complaints in the territory?”

Lorenzo stroked his chin thoughtfully. “We could always hide the body.”

Austin and Denver simultaneously gave each other a passing glance.

“That’s not an option,” Austin said.

“You’re fucking dead!” Bromus’s packmate growled.

Lorenzo pivoted on his heel and approached the man. “Is there something you wish to say?”

The man’s eyes widened. Clearly he knew who Lorenzo Church was and what kind of reputation preceded him.

“You may release him,” Lorenzo said to Reno, who still had him in a headlock. “I think he’ll sit quietly. Won’t you?”

Reno released his grip and the man immediately sat on the ground, hiding his face and mumbling to himself.

Austin rubbed the back of his neck, surveying the scene. “Church, you can take off. No need for you to get mixed up in this.”

“Respectfully, I prefer to stay,” Lorenzo replied. “Should they have questions about his character, I have no problem discussing our prior altercation. Perhaps that will bode well in your favor, but maybe not.”

“You’d do that?” I asked.

Lorenzo slanted his dark eyes toward Austin. “It’s in my best interest to not see my alliances broken apart. What happens to you has an indirect impact on my—”

I brushed past him. “It wouldn’t hurt to admit you cared.” Without a word, I wrapped my arms around Denver and he held me close.

“That’s a curious pairing,” Lorenzo murmured from behind me. “And since when is the little human a Shifter? You and I must talk privately when you settle these matters.”

“Agreed,” Austin said reluctantly. “For now, don’t mention it to anyone. One crisis at a time.”

***

After two members of the Council had arrived, the questioning began. Jake, the manager of Howlers, temporarily shut down the bar to give the Council privacy. Izzy drove April and Lexi home since she was the designated driver. Austin ordered Reno and Denver to stay behind, and the other men went home with their mates.

Denver sat on the tailgate of his yellow truck, talking to a Councilman. I kept my distance, watching them closely while trying to listen to the older Councilman as he continued to question me.

“That all Bromus said to you?” Turner asked me. He had a silver beard and reminded me of a celebrity from classic movies I’d seen, except with a Southern accent. “You know, I remember when you were a little squirt about this high.” He held his hand below his waist. “Never thought you’d grow up to get tangled up in such a mess.” He scratched at his white whiskers and waited for an answer.

“Denver was protecting me,” I repeated for the millionth time. “He’s been my watchdog for years, and you can’t expect him to just stop what comes natural. Bromus threatened me.”

“But we don’t have laws about verbal threats and hair-pulling, now do we?” He shifted his stance. “We do have laws about killing a man for it. I’m a straight shooter, except when I’ve been drinking.” He cackled a little and then coughed in his hand. “Sorry, I have bad timing when it comes to humor. I don’t see anything that stands in his favor. If he resists, we’ll have to call a Regulator, and that won’t look good for him. Let’s hope he goes willingly.”

“Goes where?”

He thinned his lips and glanced back at Denver. “Breed jail. No way around it. Had it been any other Shifter, maybe. But he took down a Packmaster. There aren’t as many alphas as you might think, and packs survive because of alphas who step up to be Packmasters. We have to keep order or we’ll end up with a bunch of wandering Shifters turning rogue. Packs not only offer protection, they keep Shifters busy with jobs and family. Keeps them out of trouble.”

I gripped his arm. “Please. Isn’t there anything you can do?” My voice trembled, and hope faded with each passing minute.

He patted my hand. “Sorry, honey. I need to have a chat with your Packmaster.”

When he joined Austin, I hustled to the truck where Denver was. A cool breeze chilled my arms and I shivered. I’d worn a pretty dress made of a soft green material that went halfway to my knees. It was sleeveless and didn’t provide enough of a barrier between me and the cool night air.

“Mix the hot sauce in with the red sauce,” Denver said, finishing a thought.

The man scratched his ear. “Why not hot peppers on top?”

Denver snorted. “You don’t get an even distribution on the pizza. So every other bite, your mouth is on fire. Mix it in the sauce and you can control the heat.”

I glared at Denver, in complete disbelief. “I thought he was questioning you.”

He smirked. “He is, honeypie. The interrogation is over, and we’re hungry.”

“So you’re going to order a pizza?”

He laughed and seized my wrists. “Come here, Peanut.” He tugged me forward and wrapped his arms around me. “You’re cold,” he murmured against my hair. “You should have told me you were cold and I would have kept you warm.”

I melted against him, relishing the heat from his chest, feeling his heart beating against my ear.

“You two should think about mating,” the man suggested, lowering his voice. “If they seek the death penalty, they might be lenient if you have a mate to care for.”

My knees weakened and Denver held me up. “Give us a minute,” he growled at the man, his words resonating in his chest and vibrating against my ear.

I wept, a tear slipping down my nose. “It isn’t fair.”

“It’s the law,” he said, soothing me.

But that wasn’t what I meant. It wasn’t fair to fall in love only to have it ripped away. I’d finally come back home and figured out what I wanted, and now everything was falling apart all around me.

“Shhh. Don’t cry,” he whispered. “Someday you’ll find a man who treats you like a princess—someone who deserves you. You’ll forget all about Denny. You don’t want a guy who likes to walk around barefoot and eat food out of a can, do you?”

I laughed through my tears. “How can you make a joke at a time like this?”

He let go and threaded my hair back. “Because that’s what I do best. It’s the only way I get to see those pretty dimples. Smile for me, Maizy. I want to remember you that way, not crying.”

My lip quivered. “I can’t. Nothing’s funny.”

“Did I ever tell you about the time I went out with Wheeler and got trashed? I woke up with a tattoo of Donald Duck on my ass. And I’m not talking about a little one,” he said, holding his fingers six inches apart. “It covered my entire left cheek. I ran stark naked down the hall, ready to toss him out the window. By then, half the house had seen it.”

A smile touched my lips.

“So they all started talking to me in that Donald Duck voice. I ran outside and shifted, I was so pissed off.”

“It wasn’t sealed with liquid fire, was it?”

“Amen. That was the last time I went out drinking with Wheeler alone.”

“Why? Sounds like you need to get a little revenge. He’s due for another tattoo; maybe a sexy pose of Hello Kitty?”

When a laugh burst out of his mouth, it made me join in.

“There they are,” he said, pressing my dimples with his thumbs. “I don’t want you to worry about a damn thing. Austin’s gonna look after you. Maybe they’ll let me have a few personal things from home. If so, I want you to be the one who packs my bag. You know the stuff I like, my favorite clothes, that kind of thing. Don’t let Jerko be in charge of that. Promise?”

I reached up and traced my finger along the scar on his forehead. Then I outlined his ear, as if memorizing everything about him through touch. His hair had always been a darker shade of blond than mine—attractive on a man—with rich coloring at the roots. His eyes were deeper, and it’s as if everything about him was darker than I was by a degree, even his wounded heart.

“Time to head out,” the older Councilman announced. “You ’bout ready?”

Austin approached and I stepped out of the way. He cupped his hands around Denver’s neck and spoke, his voice steady. “You hang in there. I’m going to find a way out of this. You’re my brother, and I don’t leave my pack behind. Just behave yourself and don’t make it any harder for me.”

Denver huffed out an emotionless laugh, his eyes vacant. “Don’t worry about me, Aus. Just keep an eye on Maizy. She needs someone to look out for her. Promise me.”

“You got my word.” Austin ruffled up his hair and stepped back. “Come on.”

Austin held a private conversation with Denver as they walked to the car. The two Councilmen followed behind at a distance, giving the Packmaster a chance to advise his packmate.

It was the first time I’d ever truly felt alone. Even with all the miles spaced between me and my family during my formative years, I’d always felt the connection to home. There was a security in knowing that no matter what I was doing, time stood still for the Weston pack and they were carrying on as usual. The only other time I’d felt an absence was when Ben left. He wasn’t in a good place to be part of a pack and needed to get his life together before he could mend old wounds. But Denver, he was the heart of the family. At least, he always was to me.

Before Denver got in the car, he looked back and pointed at his cheeks with his index fingers. I smiled for him. I smiled so he could always remember me this way, no matter what happened. I smiled because I’d loved him my entire life, realizing how that love could blossom into something wondrous. But as the car drove into the black night, carrying my heart away, my smile withered.

Chapter 23

The next morning, I slept in with the bedroom door closed.

A knock sounded and I blinked at the wall. I’d been staring at it for the past half hour, trying to find images in the tiny raised patterns, in a futile attempt to distract myself from the fact Denver was in jail.

“Hey,” Melody said, closing the door behind her. “I just wanted to see if you were feeling okay.” She sat down behind me and I could hear her playing with the beads on her elastic bracelet. “Everyone’s worried about you, but they don’t want to come up here and bug you.”

I smiled. “So you took one for the team?”

“Am I bugging you?”

I rolled over on my left side to face her. “No, Mel. You’re not bugging me.”

Her razor-cut hair touched her shoulder and I reached up to feel it.

“Think I need to dye it?” she asked. “My mom said she doesn’t care, but I’m not allowed to get tattoos or pierce anything. Usually I just lighten a few strands, but I’m thinking of blue.”

“I think you could make any color in the rainbow work. No matter what you do to decorate yourself, you’re a natural beauty, Mel. I hope you know that.”

She shrugged. “Did you bring any sneakers? If you want, I can customize them. No charge.”

I smiled wide and rubbed my eyes. Mel was doing what any fourteen-year-old would do to make someone feel better. Distraction. “They’re in the closet. And charge me. I may not be able to pay you right away, but maybe we can do a trade.”

“Bartering? Awesome!” She hopped off the bed and flung open the closet door with the vigor of someone who knew exactly what they wanted. “You have a few things in here that I bet don’t fit you anymore,” she suggested delicately.

I put my feet on the floor and yawned. “I guess my mom saved some of that stuff after all. Go ahead and pick something out and it’s all yours.”

“I know exactly what I want,” she said, leading me to believe she’d memorized the entire wardrobe I’d left behind, waiting for the day it could be hers. “Is this okay?” She held up a long black scarf with a few strands of silver woven in. “I think I could do something really neat with it.”

“All yours,” I said, feeling sullen. My eyes were swollen from crying, and I hated that morning-after feeling. It was what I imagined going through a funeral was like—something I’d never had to experience since I’d grown up with Shifters.

“You sure liked fairy tales,” she said absently. “Lots of princess stuff in here. Do you believe in all that?” Melody closed the door and wrapped the scarf around her neck three times.

“Not so much,” I admitted. “Not all endings are happy.”

She turned her mouth to the side. “Yeah. You gotta save yourself. It seems kind of dumb to think you’re going to be rescued by a prince from all your woes.” She dramatically put the back of her hand across her forehead and batted her eyelashes before leaving the room.

Something she said clicked. I leapt out of bed and slipped on my jean shorts, then pulled on an old T-shirt. It was one Denver had given me with a blond-haired cartoon boy on the front. It used to say Dennis the Menace, but Denver had crossed out Dennis and wrote Denny with a permanent black marker.

I put on a pair of flip-flops and hurried to the bathroom to brush my teeth and get myself together. Within five minutes, someone was already knocking on the door.

“I gotta go!” they shouted. “My pipe’s about to burst.”

I swung the door open and William blushed.

“Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to be so vulgar. Take your time.”

“I’m done. She’s all yours.” I raced around him toward the stairs.

“Where are you off to?” he asked, his voice growing distant as I hurried down the stairs.

“Holy shit. It sounds like a horse race with all that clippity-clopping,” Trevor yelled out with a chuckle. He peered at me from the back of the leather sofa, his hair mostly obscuring his eyes. “What’s the emergency? Austin told us to stay put until he got back from the jail.”

I held the keys to Denver’s truck in my hand and searched the room for my purse. I remembered tossing it in the chair when I’d returned home the night before.

No time.

“Hey, wait a second.” Trevor flew off the couch and stalked toward me with frightening speed. He slammed his palm against the front door and leaned on it. “Didn’t you hear me?”

“Trev, I need to see someone, and I don’t have time to wait for Austin’s permission.”

“That’s how it works in a pack, Maze. When the Packmaster gives the orders, you obey them. He’s not your dad, and this isn’t a dorm where you can sneak out and go to a party. Insubordination can get you kicked out.”

I laughed. “Do you think I care? If it means saving Denver, I don’t give a flip if Austin bans me from the state of Texas. Now move out of my way.”

“What’s going on in here?” Wheeler asked from the hall that led to the kitchen.

“See?” I said quietly to Trevor. “Now the whole house is going to intervene. You can’t control my life.”

“I’m not controlling it; I’m saving it.”

He brushed his bangs away from his face and looked down at me. He didn’t stand as tall as most of the other men in the house, but he’d always seemed tall to me. He had the kind of face and sexy lips that women often fantasized about. But nothing was handsome about the way he was scrutinizing me with pity.

Trevor averted his eyes. “I’ve gotten enough people in trouble. Can’t you see this is my fault?”

Wheeler eased up beside us. “Lovers’ quarrel?” But his eyes were on the keys in my hand.

“Trevor, this isn’t a blame game,” I said. “You spoke up for yourself, but this doesn’t have anything to do with you anymore. Bromus threatened me.”

“Yeah, and that shit pisses me off. But don’t you get it? He wouldn’t have said a word to you had it not been for Aaron. And all that’s because of me.”

Wheeler sighed audibly. “When you two ladies are done with the self-reproach, I’d like to get this show on the road.”

I glanced up at him in surprise.

Wheeler winked with a straight face, rogue whiskers shadowing his jaw. “That’s right. If you want to go out, then we’re not going to stop you. But under the circumstances, we’ve got a pissed-off pack hot on our ass. Austin would be hella pissed if something happened to you because we let you go alone. Denver’s not here to protect you, so that sorta leaves us misfits to do the job.”

“I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.”

Wheeler put his arm around me and reached to open the door. “Sweetheart, I was born in trouble.”

I drove Denver’s old yellow truck, and Wheeler rode shotgun. Once we reached the main road, he called Reno to let him know what we were up to. I could hear Reno shouting through the phone, but Wheeler would have been in more trouble had he not called at all. When I asked why he was going along with this, he said sometimes you’ve got to break rules where love is concerned. If I believed there was something I could do to help Denver, then he was on board with the plan.

When we reached the gates of Prince’s mansion, I poked my head out the window and scalded the guard with my gaze. The gates immediately opened and he lowered his eyes submissively as we passed. It made me wonder about the kind of power Prince had over his pack, and that was a frightening thought.

“You’re going to have to stay in the truck,” I said. “He’s not going to let you inside.”

Wheeler rubbed his tattooed arm as if brushing off a chill. “Hate to break the news, but I’m your bestie today.”

I glanced at his attire. “You look like you’re going on a mission to assassinate people.”

“Something wrong with all black?”

“Why didn’t you just wear the white shirt and jeans you had on?”

He smirked and scratched the bristles of his short beard. “I like to dress appropriate for the occasion.”

“My funeral?”

I opened the door and we got out. This time I parked up front and not at the side of the house as before. Prince wasn’t expecting me, and I had a feeling the guard hadn’t called him to announce my visit.

Wheeler stared at the door, specifically the brass knocker depicting a fierce wolf with a ring between his sharp teeth. “Mayhap we should stay outside.”

“Why?”

“You lose the upper hand when you enter a man’s home.”

I pushed the doorbell. “Do you guys just sit around making up these ridiculous rules? Like changing into those black jeans and boots? I’m surprised you didn’t borrow Reno’s gun.”

His brow arched. “The thought crossed my mind.”

When the door opened, Wheeler suddenly stepped in front of me.

“I don’t know you,” the man in the pinstripe suit and a fedora said. He might have passed for a gangster if it weren’t for the fact he looked fifty.

Wheeler folded his arms. “Looks like you also don’t know we’re in the twenty-first century. Where’s your liege?”

“My what?”

I stepped into view. “Is Prince here? Tell him it’s Maizy. He knows who I am.”

He gave me a skeptical appraisal. Maybe Prince didn’t entertain many women who wore cutoff jean shorts and flip-flops, but I’d been in too much of a hurry to dwell on my attire. The man’s eyes were transfixed on my lavender toenails, which April had painted for our night out. They had little adhesive sparkles on them.

Wheeler inched forward. “I think you need to take your beady little eyes off my packmate and get your boss before I show you a close-up of what the bottom of my boot looks like. ’Preciate ya.”

When he turned away, I nudged Wheeler. “Why do you have to be so rude?”

He curved his arm around me. “That’s not rude, sweetheart. You’ve been away too damn long. We don’t live by all the niceties that humans do. Everyone is a potential threat, and most people are a potential dick.”

I peered up at him. “That’s a lovely outlook on the world.”

“Just the facts.”

Prince approached with a quick stride from the rotunda in the center of the house. “I apologize for my delay,” he said in a hurried breath. “I wasn’t made aware of your arrival; I should have been notified you were on the property.” He inclined his head at Wheeler. “Can I offer you a drink?”

“No,” I said, nervously tugging at the strings hanging from the end of my shorts. He probably thought I wore the same clothes every day when I actually had three pairs of shorts that looked alike. It made me wish I had put on something nicer for this meeting. “I need to speak to you alone.”

This wasn’t a man who lounged around his house in his sweatpants. Prince probably wore silk pajamas to bed and dressed before dawn. I’d caught him off guard, so he didn’t have a suit jacket on, only a dark grey button-up with matching slacks and a black belt. His silk shirt had two buttons undone at the top, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone.

“Would your friend prefer to wait out here?”

A muscle clenched in Wheeler’s jaw. “Her friend is standing right here, so why don’t you ask him yourself?”

Prince didn’t apologize. “There are comfortable chairs in here, or I can have someone show you to the kitchen.”

Wolves liked to offer each other food as a show of hospitality. I respectfully didn’t answer for Wheeler.

After a brief pause, Wheeler glanced around the room. “Think I’ll hang out in here while you talk. I’m curious what life is like for those who live high on the hog.”

I wanted to do a facepalm, but I maintained my composure and followed Prince. His hair was shiny and pulled into a ponytail. It made me wonder what it looked like free and loose around his shoulders. Did he pull it back so people could see his regal features and handsome jawline? It certainly brought all the attention to his face, but it seemed like such an odd thing for a man in his position to wear. I expected rebellious men like Jericho to have long hair—not wealthy, prominent Packmasters who were older than dirt.

My shoes slapped against his marble floor, echoing through the house.

“We’ll have privacy in here,” he said, opening a door.

The first thing that hit me was the pleasant aroma. It was something I’d noticed before, but Prince had different scents in every room. Sometimes it was just the smell of wood, but I’d picked up a strong fragrance of roses on my last visit. This room smelled of another familiar flower I couldn’t place, and I kept drawing in deep breaths.

He smiled while closing the door, as if realizing what I was doing. This room was dramatically different than the last I’d been in. It dripped money.

“You spare no expense,” I said in a soft breath.

The paneled walls were white and the ceiling high. Track lighting ran along the outer edges, and hanging from the center was a beautiful crystal chandelier. The marble floor was gold in color, and a tremendous white rug covered the center of the room.

Prince strolled ahead of me toward one of the gold tables along the outer edge. They were antique with intricate designs on the top and front. Even the candelabrum was a golden hue. My mind wanted to say brass, but with his money, anything was possible.

I heard the sound of clinking glass and liquid pouring.

“Have a seat,” he said with his back to me.

It didn’t seem like a suggestion, so I slipped out of my shoes and sat on the gold couch. My fingers stroked the soft fabric, wondering how much he’d spent on this room alone.

Prince turned around with two glasses in his hand. “It’s the best spring water you can find,” he said, handing me a short glass.

I took a sip and found it had no taste. “Thanks.”

Instead of sitting in one of the chairs across from me, he sat next to me. I scooted to the right to set my drink on the wooden tabletop and noticed there were no coasters.

“It won’t stain,” he promised. “Tell me what brings you here. This is an unexpected visit, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t pleased to see you.”

I turned toward him and pulled my left leg up on the sofa a little. “Have you heard about Denver?”

He rubbed the side of his nose. “That was an unfortunate incident.”

“Were your men there?”

Prince lifted his glass, took a drink, and then twisted around to set it on the table behind him. Then he scooted closer so there was little distance left between us. “My men were assigned to guard you, not your packmates. They didn’t feel you were in any physical danger.”

My jaw slackened. “So they just let it happen?”

He stretched his right arm along the back of the couch. “Had they intervened, how would that have reflected on me? The Council would have questioned why I had my men following you, and they might have hurt your packmate, or even the Packmaster. I prefer to keep my hands clean from dirty affairs.”

“Look, I came to you for a reason.”

His sapphire eye glittered. The lighting in the room reminded me of the kind they used in jewelry stores that made all the facets in jewels sparkle.

“Have you come to a decision on my offer? This isn’t a business negotiation, Maizy. I want to be your lover, your mate, and the father of our children.”

My stomach knotted. That wasn’t the direction I was hoping the conversation would go. “It’s not about that. I need your advice—your help. Denver’s in jail and I don’t know what the Council will decide. You’re an experienced Packmaster and probably have a good idea what’s going to happen. How can we free him? Denver was protecting my honor. Bromus threatened me sexually.”

Prince flinched and sat up straight, his eye twitching. “I was not told this.”

“Maybe your men were out of earshot. Whether he was serious or not, Denver didn’t hesitate to act on the threat. It’s my understanding Bromus has been troublesome for other Packmasters. I thought you might have some dirt on him that would help our case.”

“I don’t deal directly with men of his low caliber. His reputation preceded him.”

I reached out and clasped his hand. This unexpected gesture startled him, and for the first time, Prince had color in his cheeks. “I know you’re a good man. Anyone who pulls over on a busy highway to help a little girl has to have a good heart. Maybe now you have motives for your actions, but back then, you couldn’t have had a motive for helping a human. I’m asking you to search your heart. Denver has always been my protector, and last night was no different. It would be a sin for a man like him to be locked up for this crime, and you know it.”

“A sentencing is not what he’s facing, little one.”

“I’m aware of that.”

He lifted his hand out of my grasp and swept my hair away from my face. “There are ways I can help you.”

“I’m aware of that too. And that’s why I asked you to search your heart.”

His eyes narrowed slightly and he pulled back. “Are you testing me?”

I was uncertain how to respond. Admitting I had no interest in mating with him could murder any chance of him helping me. But if he cared for me—even just a little bit—then I didn’t want to hurt him either. Prince was an admirable man whom I wished no harm upon.

After a thoughtful pause, I gave him an answer. “Every man at some point in his life needs to be tested so he can find out if he’s a righteous man or an indifferent one.”

His nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath. Prince’s stare penetrated me, and I averted my eyes to the floor. “I have nothing to gain by helping your pack.”

“You’ll gain my respect.”

His brow quirked. “I thought I already had that.”

“Please help. I’m not good at verbal games. You’ve always had a good relationship with us. Austin respects you immensely.”

“And I’ve always come to your aid,” he countered. “Far more times than necessary.”

“Has Austin repaid you?”

He tipped his head to the side. “Austin has cleared his debts with me through favors.”

“Then you can’t hold that over us.”

“And if this had happened to one of my packmates, how quickly would your Packmaster volunteer to assist?”

“Austin would help you in a heartbeat. You’re one of the few men in this territory he looks to for advice. It’s not easy for me to come here asking for help when Austin doesn’t know about it. This is between you and me. I’m not asking on behalf of our pack. Denver is my best friend—”

“Is that all he is to you?” His face hardened momentarily. “Don’t think as I sit here that I’m unaware you’ve gone through your first change. It was him, wasn’t it?”

I worried my lip. It had slipped my mind that he’d be able to sense I was a newly changed wolf, and maybe that’s why he was toying with me.

Prince softened his features and held my hand. “Despite the decision you’ve made, which cannot be undone, I can still sense your power is strong. I consulted with a Relic and he suggested your blood is pure because you’re a Potential. I assumed the amount of power you’d receive would come from the man you bedded, but it has nothing to do with who made you. Your power is not filtered down through generations. My Relic is familiar with Potentials and assured me you would be a suitable mate. You will outlive your family.”

He’d consulted a Relic to see if I’d be a suitable mate? I shook my head. “Don’t talk about my life span and people I love dying when I’m already facing losing one.”

“You shouldn’t invest your energy in a man who will likely perish before your time.”

“I might outlive you,” I snapped back.

Prince chuckled. “But you will have our children to care for.”

My shoulders sagged. “Your Relic has no proof of that anyhow. It’s all speculation.”

He scooted closer and held both my hands. “You must decide how your fairy tale will end, little one. With a love that could be fleeting and hurt you in the end, or with a man who will give you your heart’s desire. Agree to be my mate and you will never want for anything. You’ll still have your family; I will not deny that to you. But you’ll have wealth, security, power, and…”

“And?”

“Me. I will be a devoted mate, attentive to your needs. Not just superficially, but sexually.”

“And love?”

He sighed. “I’ve heard that comes with time. I’ve also heard it fades. Why risk mating someone for love when you could lose that feeling? Then what are you left with if they cannot provide for you?”

I pulled my hands back and hugged my midsection. “Love is more than making sure I’ll have a place to live or the finest silks. Love is doing things without being asked. Will you sit on the steps at sunset and talk to me? Will you make me laugh? Will you read to me when I’m not feeling well? Will you hold my hand and tell me secrets? When I was in the hospital, you didn’t do any of those things. You could have sat by my side and kept me company. All you did was make me an offer.”

His lips thinned. “Is that all I did?” His voice rose and he stood up. “You seem to have amnesia, otherwise you might recall I hired one of the best neurologists in the world, not to mention the Vampire who made sure the staff was attentive to your every need. Is saving you not caring for you? Perhaps I show my affection in ways you can’t appreciate.”

“I appreciate what you did for me more than you’ll ever know,” I replied, standing beside him. I stepped back so I didn’t have to look up so high. “But that’s something that can be repaid. Please, Prince. Don’t make me beg. Don’t make me stand here and cry in front of you—cry for Denver’s life. You’re the only one I know who can help—the only one who might be able to sway the Council.”

Prince tucked his hands in his pockets. “You are not a meek woman. Why must you behave so?”

I kept my emotions bottled or I’d never be able to negotiate. “What can you do for me? What will you do for me?”

“Is there nothing I can say that will persuade you to reconsider my offer? Even if it means freeing your packmate?”

I couldn’t. It would ruin whatever chance I had with Denver, even if I broke it off with Prince later. My pack would never respect me, and I wouldn’t respect myself. But this was Denver’s life!

Prince raised his head to look up at the chandelier. “I do not wish to place you in a position where you are emotionally conflicted. I have no desire to cause you grief. I will speak to the higher authority on behalf of the Weston pack, but I can provide no testimony against the deceased.”

“Will that be enough to free him?” I asked hopefully.

Prince removed his hands from his pockets and strolled toward a Renaissance painting on the wall. “If the Council agrees to drop charges, the higher authority will still be under obligation to punish the guilty. However…” He turned around and looked at me thoughtfully. “Without the Council to press the matter, the higher authority can be swayed with money. They receive funding from private parties but often don’t have enough to expand their facilities, increase security, or hire more Regulators.”

“You would do that? Pay for his release?”

Prince wasn’t good at concealing his amusement, because his eyes changed shape and sparkled with humor. “I didn’t say that, little one. That would not be a wise investment. My own pack will always take priority over everything else. But if members of the higher authority are willing to arrange his release in exchange for money, then it will be up to your pack to meet their demands. That is the best I can offer.” He approached me slowly and cupped his hands around my upper arms. “Don’t choose this option. You will never be able to afford what they ask. This is not hope I’m giving you, only an alternative. My offer remains, and I will be a patient man. After all, I’ve waited centuries to finally meet you.”

“But I’m not your destiny.”

He caressed my cheek with the back of his knuckles. “My dear, we are all each other’s destinies. Every person you meet in your life is your destiny. We alter the course of every life we touch, whether we realize it or not.”

“Then alter the course of Denver’s life.”

“I had a ring made for you—a special ring. It waits for you, as do I.”

I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I said nothing at all.

“May I kiss you? It’s my only hope you’ll change your mind.”

“Over a kiss?”

Prince abruptly leaned down and kissed me on the mouth, lips slightly parted. He was a gentle kisser with soft lips and tenderness. But I felt nothing. He could have been the perfect man, but he wasn’t perfect for me. Sleeping Beauty awoke from a kiss, and that’s how a person should feel when they are kissed by their true love. Awake. Alive. Sparks igniting across your body and making it impossible to think about anyone else.

I leaned back and he stopped, standing upright and studying me so intently that I couldn’t hold his gaze. I should have slapped him, but I knew he’d done it with honorable intentions. It was a last-ditch effort to woo a woman he coveted—one whose heart belonged to another. Maybe after that kiss, he’d come to the same conclusion I had—that we weren’t right for each other. But then I wondered if it even mattered to him.

After a quiet moment, Prince placed the flat of his hand on my lower back and escorted me into the main room. He bowed slightly and walked away. Wheeler asked what we’d talked about, but I didn’t respond. I didn’t want him to form an opinion about Prince making me an offer. In fact, my silence bothered him so much during the drive home that he forced the truck off the road.

Wheeler let the tailgate down, and we both sat on the edge. He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a slender package. “Gum?”

I took it mechanically, discarding the paper and watching the wind carry it down the side of the road. I folded the stick into my mouth and began chewing.

Wheeler snapped a small bubble and laced his fingers together. “I’ve known you since you were in pigtails and dreaming about unicorns. Maybe I wasn’t the nicest guy with kids, but I had issues back then. I’d never spent much time around little girls, so all that glitter nail polish and pink just made me want to crawl into a fetal position with a bottle of whiskey.”

I smiled wistfully, remembering those days. “I like this better,” I said, bumping my shoulder against his. “I have great memories with this family, but I had so many misgivings as a child. I wasn’t sure you’d want me back when I grew up, because—”

“Because your piece of shit father didn’t?” He wrapped his arm around me. “You have to screw up big-time to get booted out of this family.” He sighed against my hair. “Please tell me you’re not considering anything that would get you kicked out.”

“How much money does Austin have in the pack funds? You do all the finances for everyone, so I know you know.”

“Why would you ask something like that?”

I moved away so I could look at him. My eyes watered from the bright sun and I squinted. “Because we might be able to pay to get him out, but I don’t know how much money we have.”

“Austin has liquid assets, but he’s also made investments.”

“What kind of investments?”

Wheeler rubbed the side of his face, staring up at a passing car. “The two Sweet Treats locations, loans, and some other property. He’d do anything for Denver, but that’s a lot to consider. Selling everything we own.”

“We could start over.”

He barked out a laugh. “That’ll be rich. Moving back in the old house. Real cozy. That ain’t where your head should be at. I’ve heard of money exchanges for prisoners. If they allow it, which I doubt, then it’ll be substantial. Something Austin can’t afford. We’re a new pack, Maizy. We’re doing real good, but not that good. He’ll work something out.”

“But what if he doesn’t?”

Wheeler jumped down and spit out his gum. A hawk flew overhead and distracted us both for a moment with its piercing cry. “Then maybe we bust his ass out.”

Wheeler would be the one to do it, but nobody could get near a Breed jail, and we both knew that.

When I put my hands on the bed of the truck, the metal had already heated up from the sun. “Do you think Denver will ever…?” Suddenly I felt strange discussing my love life with Wheeler.

He stepped close to give me some shade. “He’d die for you.”

“I know he loves me. I just don’t know if he’s willing to be my permanent life mate. He’s never been the kind of guy to settle down. How do I know what we have is something that will grow—that will last?”

Wheeler wiped his forehead with the palm of his hand and stared at a squirrel racing up a tree. “That’s something I can’t answer. Only Denver can give you the answer to your questions. Sounds like you’re looking for something more than what he’s already given you—proof that he loves you. Am I right?”

I shrugged. Sex confused things, and so did being connected with someone for so many years. Maybe knowing the truth about where our future was headed would help me make the right decision.

Wheeler gripped my hand and pulled me down so he could lift the tailgate. After he slammed it shut, we got in the truck, and he let the engine run for a minute while the air conditioner cooled things down. “I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe it’s something you just feel in your heart, like I did with Naya. No matter how difficult that woman can be or how many times she snaps at me, I know she loves me unconditionally. Did you ever think maybe Denver has his own doubts about your feelings? Tell you what. I’ll give Austin a call and tell him what’s up so he can get us on the list.”

“What list?”

He put the truck in gear. “Let’s take a trip to jail.”

Chapter 24

I’d heard stories about Breed jails. In big cities, they were often built in desolate areas of town, protected by Vampires and other Breeds. If a human got too close, a Vampire would scrub their memory of the place. I’d never been to the one in Austin, and because we had a lot of land down south, this one was located on the outskirts of the city.

“What’s with all the warning signs?” I asked as Wheeler continued down the dirt road. We passed a second one that cautioned about venomous snakes in the area.

Wheeler chuckled darkly. “Most humans are scared of snakes.”

“News flash. I’m a Shifter and I’m scared of snakes.”

“For a couple of years they had a warning sign about rabies, but someone called the city and it was a mess. Sometimes humans ignore property lines and go snooping—mostly teenagers. Last year they planted poison oak around the outer perimeters.”

“Don’t they have guards?”

“Yep. But the guards have to lie low until someone gets close enough to capture. Can’t have them getting away or they might make up some shit about Bigfoot or military secrets going on out here. The higher authority spent a lot of money digging steep trenches and planting vines to make it impassable. Unless someone wants a broken leg and itchy ass, they’re probably not going to wander in too deep.”

“Why are they so concerned about someone creeping around the woods when they have a road leading all the way in?”

He laughed and switched off the radio. “Sometimes you get a hunter coming in from the north side; not everyone sees the only road leading in. Most people don’t walk down dirt roads that lead deep into the woods, but they sure don’t mind creeping around in the woods to get a closer look. Anyhow, if they get close enough to reach the first gate, the guard will scrub their memory and send them on their merry way.”

The first checkpoint was a rusty gate no higher than the front end of the truck. When the guard called in to verify our names, he simply lifted the gate and walked it open. He didn’t dress like a guard but looked more like a country bumpkin in his plaid shirt and dirty jeans. After we passed, he resumed sitting on one of the posts, puffing away on his cigarette.

“Were you serious about breaking Denver—”

With alarming speed, Wheeler snapped his arm out and covered my mouth with his hand. “Let’s talk more when we get past the next Vampire guard.”

I’d seen Vampires but hadn’t personally known any. Wheeler was reminding me that Vampires had impeccable hearing, and if he chose to listen in on our conversation, he might suspect we were about to perform the impossible task of breaking Denver out. Wheeler might have half been joking when he’d suggested it, but I’d quietly been considering how far blood brothers would go for one another. Austin had a responsibility as a Packmaster, but Denver was his blood, and I knew he wasn’t going to give up without a fight.

Which scared me. Saving one of their own could cost them everything, including their freedom.

When we reached the facility, there was nothing to see except a small cabin.

“Are you sure we’re at the right place?”

Wheeler scraped his teeth against his bottom lip. “Stick close to me. I never did trust the law.”

I smirked and opened my door. “Funny you should say that since Naya has a thing for men in uniform.”

“She gets plenty of that in the bedroom.”

I held up my hand. “Too much information.”

Wheeler spoke with the man standing at the door while I lingered on the wooden steps, soaking in my rustic surroundings. The only logical place to keep the jail was underground, and it was spooky to think some of the most notorious criminals were down there. When a spider crawled past my hand, I snapped my arm back from the wood beam and joined Wheeler’s side.

He kept his arm around me until we were inside. An older guard got up from the table and slid a panel back in the knotty pine wall behind him.

And then we were inside an elevator, traveling down.

I gripped Wheeler’s hand, and if he couldn’t tell I was nervous from my silence, he sure could from my sweaty palm. “Has anyone ever gotten stuck in here?”

The guard laughed and leaned against the wall, pulling a small plastic container of breath mints from his shirt pocket. “Do you really want to know?”

The elevator slowed to a stop. When the doors opened, a cold blast of air made me shiver. I cupped my elbows and cringed as a few heads turned at the sound of my flip-flops smacking against the polished white floor. The jail was plain and sterile—no pictures or color on the walls. Just a few desks and several rooms with glass windows that looked like personal offices… or holding tanks.

When we reached the end of the short hall, the guard passed us off to a woman at a desk. She was slightly overweight and had her light brown hair pulled into a massive bun. After we signed a document, they searched us. They didn’t seem concerned with things like Wheeler’s keys or the pen in my purse. I guess they were looking for other types of contraband, such as stunners that could incapacitate a Mage.

“Come this way,” the guard said in a husky voice.

After moving through two doors that required a security-badge swipe, we entered a narrow hall with a door on either end. She opened the one on the right.

Inside, a man looked away from a security monitor and stood up. “Have they been searched?”

She glared at him. “Do I look like I sit around scratching my ass all day?”

“You certainly were last Thursday.”

“Bite me, Robert.” With a quick spin, she turned around and left the room.

Robert looked in his forties, but you could never tell a Breed’s true age. “Stay in the center; some of them might have shifted to animal form. We keep the panthers chained, but not the rest.”

I shuddered.

Wheeler grumbled a few obscenities as we headed down a long hall with cells on the left and right. Wheeler popped his knuckles a few times and looked uncomfortable as he flicked a glance inside each room. The guard stopped when we reached the last cell on the right.

“I’ll be in the room if you need me. Just yell or wave at the security camera in the corner.”

When he turned away, I gripped the bars and looked into the dark cell. “Denver?”

He was sprawled out on a mattress with a pillow over the back of his head. He tossed it to the floor and rubbed his eyes, struggling to sit up. “Huh?” It took a moment for him to recognize his surroundings, but when he saw us, he scrambled out of the bed and rushed to the bars, gripping them.

“How are they treating you in here?” Wheeler asked.

“Peach cobbler and ice cream every hour on the hour,” he said sarcastically.

I pointed at his jeans with the frayed ends. “I see they let you keep your clothes.”

He smirked. “Yeah, they have prison gear, but as it stands, they’re all out. Something about the order getting lost. Then another guard said not to bother rushing it.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Because if I’m put to death, what the hell does it matter what I’m wearing?”

I grimaced and looked away, resting my cheek against my arm. I felt his hand cover mine around the bars and he began chatting to Wheeler.

“I talked with Aus. He doesn’t think he can get me out, and he’s pissed.”

“Yeah, but he’s not pissed at you,” Wheeler said on a sigh.

I stared at the floor, my hair obscuring my face. I listened to their conversation, unable to join in. I hadn’t realized how hard it would be to see him here.

“The grub here sucks,” Denver joked. “You need to bring me some Doritos.”

“If I bring ’em, then I’ll have to buy enough for all your buddies on the cell block.”

“True that.”

They laughed.

“Can you give us a minute, bro?” Denver asked.

It sounded as though Wheeler patted him on the shoulder, and then I listened to his footsteps grow distant as he walked to the far end of the hall.

“Look at me,” Denver urged. “Please?”

I didn’t want him to see me crying.

“Come on, Peanut. You didn’t come all this way to admire the floor, did you?”

I snorted out a laugh and looked up. Denver reached through the bars and studiously wiped my cheeks. I sniffed and dried my face with the sleeve of my T-shirt. Denver watched, pressing his forehead against the bars.

“This is my fault,” I said.

“Really? So you pushed me into Bromus and beat me until my wolf came out and killed him?”

I gripped the bars. “Don’t make jokes. It’s hard for me to be serious when you do that.”

He smirked. “Making jokes is what I do best.”

“Do you think Austin can settle with Bromus’s pack and have them talk to the Council on our behalf?”

He twisted his mouth in deep consideration. “I got a look at his pack, and they may not give a rat’s ass that Bromus is six feet under, but the Council does. They don’t like wolves rising up against Packmasters. It sets an example. If you kill all the alphas, you’re left with chaos. A pack won’t survive without one, no matter how strong the leader. Plus, without an alpha Packmaster, they’re not official. The Council will consider them rogues, and they won’t be able to buy any Breed land. His pack can tell the Council they don’t care, but it won’t make a difference.”

“Why couldn’t you just walk away?”

He smiled ruefully. “I’ll never walk away where you’re concerned. Look, I’ve always wanted the best for you. So if you want to hook up with Prince, then you do whatever makes you happy. I still think he’s a fucker, but—”

“What if giving myself to him would set you free?”

His jaw set. “Don’t even think about it.”

I hadn’t really entertained the thought, but part of me wanted to know what Denver would think. “Then stop planning my future as if you’re not going to be in it,” I said angrily.

Denver shifted his stance and reached high to hold the bars. His biceps were taut, straining from the weight of his body as he sagged. His eyes traveled down until his chest rocked with quiet laughter. “I can’t believe you kept that old thing.”

“It’s my Denny the Menace shirt. Vintage.” I pulled it out so he could see it better. “It’s funnier when someone gets the joke. I used to wear it a lot when I was away. It’s the last thing you gave me.”

He pressed his face against his arm and sighed heavily. “It shouldn’t be this damn hard.”

“Wheeler thinks we can bust you out.”

This time he really laughed, letting go of the bars and holding his knees until the laughter died in the back of his throat. Denver stood up and paced around the room like a caged animal. He finally turned to face me, arms outstretched. “Let’s hear the master plan. Two feet of concrete on both sides, and you saw all the security. Guards on every level, not to mention the elevator they’ll shut down if someone gets loose in the facility.”

“What if I talked to the higher authority?”

“Let it go!” he roared.

“Keep it the fuck down, I’m trying to read,” a man yelled from down the hall.

Denver surged forward, gripping the bars to my right and shoving his face between the gap. “You shut the fuck up. I have visitors, so stuff some cotton balls in your ears and give it a rest.”

I stepped in front of Denver’s line of vision and covered his hands with mine. We looked at each other for a long time, the way people do when they don’t know if they’ll see each other again.

“Don’t get mad at me for trying,” I said. Why couldn’t he understand that my devotion to him ran just as deep as his did to me, and I’d do anything where he was concerned?

“It probably wouldn’t have worked out between us,” he said disparagingly. “Don’t go around blaming yourself for any of this. Got it? You’re better than that. I can’t make this shitstorm go away, but don’t let it ruin your life. You stay with Austin’s pack… unless of course you get mated. You’re educated, so I want you to do something with that. Maybe a degree doesn’t mean as much in the Breed world, but you know a lot of things we don’t because of that education. I read some of those stories you used to write me when you were a teen. Did I ever tell you how talented you are? Maybe you can do some of that. A lot of businesses are getting on the net, so I could see you writing up all their stuff. You have a way with words. Not like me. I’ve lived half my life with my foot in my mouth.”

He smiled boyishly and my chest constricted.

“Don’t do this,” I whispered.

“Do what?”

“Give up! Say good-bye. Why are you pushing me away?”

He stepped back and shifted his gaze to the floor. “It’s easier this way.”

“Don’t shut down on me because you’re afraid of getting hurt.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” he stressed.

Did he really want me to do the same thing he’d done for the past eight years? His solution for avoiding pain was avoiding the source. On top of that, he was pushing me toward someone else, thinking that would save me from the pain of losing him.

“Come here.”

“No, I’m pretty tired,” he said, sitting on the mattress. “I think it’s time you go.”

“That’s it? This is how it ends?”

He rubbed his face in his hands. “Can you pack a bag for me? You know the clothes I like. They won’t allow shoes with laces. Isn’t that some bullshit? Either they’re afraid we’ll strangle a guard with a shoelace or they think these grandpa shoes will keep us from running long distances since they’ll fall off. I prefer to be barefoot. But maybe some socks would be good. Gets kind of chilly.”

When he stopped talking, the silence took over. It wrapped around me like a promise of the empty years to come. I waited—hoping he’d come to his senses and hold me in his arms. But he didn’t.

***

As soon as Denver heard the door at the end of the hall shut, he released a ragged breath. A monster was gripping his heart and wouldn’t let go. He hadn’t expected her to show up, and his wolf went into watchdog mode. This time he wasn’t protecting her from others, but himself.

“Fuck. Why the hell did I have to be such a dick?” he whispered.

“Because you are?” a voice replied.

He glanced up at Wheeler leaning against the bars. “Shut it. I thought you left.”

“I don’t miss this life one bit,” Wheeler murmured, running his hand along one of the bars. “Not a day goes by I don’t think about it. I know what you’re feeling in there. Like nothing’s gonna save you. Maybe there’s no out, but what the fuck was that with Maizy? If you can’t save yourself, at least save her.”

“That’s what I was trying to do,” he said in a tight voice.

“Ah.” Wheeler nodded with derision. “Nothing gives a girl hope like telling her to go fuck another guy.”

Denver stood up. “And what would you have done? Let Naya sit around with hope that doesn’t exist so she can blame herself? Maizy deserves love more than anyone, and she’ll never move on if she doesn’t let me go. It burns me to even let the words come out of my mouth, but not as much as the thought of her living alone and never settling with a mate. It’s the last thing I can do to protect her—to make sure she’s looked after when I’m gone.” He leaned against the wall and folded his arms.

“Was it necessary to kill Bromus?”

Denver rubbed his face. “I can’t hold my wolf back when my emotions skid out of control.”

“Is that her watchdog talking, or someone else? Your wolf never came out before when someone called Maizy a name.”

Denver stewed on it for a minute. Wheeler was right. That was a wholly new emotion Denver hadn’t experienced before. “What good does any of it do me now?”

Wheeler stroked his short beard and gripped the bar with his other hand. “Mayhap you get out, and then there you are… alone.”

Denver smiled. He could hardly help it. “I heard about your great escape idea. That’ll work.”

Wheeler’s gaze floated to the ceiling. “They don’t usually execute inmates in the jail. I’m not sure where the higher authority gathers for their rulings, but I’m positive it ain’t down here.”

“Your point?”

Wheeler stretched out his arm, flexing his muscle and leaning dramatically to the left. “Just so happens I know a thing or two about weak points.”

“Swell idea. Then we all end up with a bounty on our heads. Look, just take her home and don’t do anything stupid.”

“Saving a brother isn’t stupid,” Wheeler said on a harsh breath.

Denver approached the bars. “At the cost of everything? Yeah, it is. The pack is doing well right now: land, family, children, stability, income. Not a bad egg in the bunch, except Ben, but I figure he’ll come around someday. Whatever you’re scheming, just forget it. Even if it worked, we’d have nowhere to go, unless you like living in Bolivia.”

He smirked. “Reno knows a guy with a safe house.”

“Will you stop!”

It was too much. Running scared? Denver would never be able to walk with his head high. Living in shame would be worse than dying with dignity.

Wheeler strolled toward the exit. “Just thought you’d want out to win your girl. We just got back from seeing Prince.”

Denver surged forward and reached through the bars, snatching Wheeler’s shirt before he moved out of range. “What about?”

Wheeler peered over his shoulder and gave him a dark look. “Couldn’t say. I was forced to sit in a prissy room with chairs dipped in gold.”

“Fuck,” Denver breathed. “Don’t let her do anything stupid on my account.”

“I don’t let her do anything. She’s a grown woman. And right now, I’m guessing she has a decision she doesn’t want to talk about. Then again, I’m not exactly the first person women run to with all their secrets. So maybe you need to quit planning your death and give that girl a little hope. Even if things don’t work out…” A muscle tensed in his jaw and anger flashed in his eyes. “If things don’t work out, it’ll hurt her worse to think you didn’t give a damn, no matter whose bed she winds up in.”

Denver’s throat dried up when Wheeler’s footsteps faded down the hall. He gripped the bars, wanting to call out for Maizy. He needed to hold her and smell the sunshine in her hair. He needed to feel her heartbeat.

Denver knew what it was like to go through life thinking he’d lost “the one.” He didn’t want to put Maizy through the same hell.

Even though in his heart, he knew she truly was the one.

Chapter 25

As soon as we got home from the Breed jail, I went straight to my room and locked the door.

“Please, sweetie. Just open the door,” my mom called out from the hallway.

I was steaming mad, and people who are mad are like rattlesnakes: better left alone. Why did he have to be so stubborn? Maybe I was pushing too hard and he didn’t share the same emotions. He still hadn’t told me he loved me, and that’s a big deal for a girl to hear.

I set my bare feet on the floor and leaned forward, my long wavy hair creating a veil around my face. My mind wouldn’t shut off—exhausting me with theories. I wasn’t ready to face the pack. I didn’t like the silence when I’d enter a room, the calm, the pressed lips and downcast eyes.

“Maizy, if you need to talk, you know I’m here for you.”

“I love you, Mom. I just need to be alone for a little while.”

I heard the sound of something brushing against the door—probably her face or hand. “We all feel the same, sweetie. Everything will work out.”

Moms firmly believed that; it was in their unwritten handbook. No matter how terrible the situation, their job was always to reassure their children that everything would be fine. But would it?

A few minutes later, I couldn’t sit still any longer. I stormed across the hall to Denver’s room. Austin was planning to go up to the jail later, and Denver had asked me to pack him some clothes.

“You want a bag, I’ll give you a bag,” I mumbled angrily.

I searched beneath Denver’s bed, pulling out a candy wrapper, an old video game, and a small travel bag. I guess he didn’t travel much because it was a cheap thing like what you’d take to the gym.

Avoiding the drawers with his sacred shirts, I went for the two drawers at the bottom where he had always retired clothes that no longer fit or had a funny memory tied to them. I found a pair of jeans four sizes too small and some underwear with an elephant trunk in the front that someone must have given him as a gag gift.

“You’ll be the hit of cell block A,” I said with an evil smile.

Not much was going to fit in the bag, so I needed to find the worst of the worst. I began removing shirts from his closet by the armful. I hurled them across the room and unleashed my rage.

“I hate you!” I screamed, tears stinging my eyes. “Why couldn’t you have just walked away?” Hangers clacked against the floor and shirts littered the room.

I grabbed the pink one in the back with a unicorn—one Trevor had made him wear to a bowling alley on a dare.

I fell to my knees and wiped away the tears, angrily stuffing the pink shirt in the bag. Determined to find a pair of socks with holes, I pulled out bags and tossed them over my shoulder when all I found were old baseball hats and coupons for a barbecue place in town from twelve years ago.

A shoebox caught my attention, so I slid it out and sat back. Maybe he’d have a silly pair of striped socks from a Halloween party I could include with his ensemble. When I lifted the lid and looked inside, I knitted my brows.

My trembling hand lifted a stack of letters—my letters. The ones I’d sent, even after he quit mailing me back.

“You kept them,” I whispered. They were organized by postmark, and in a matter of seconds I watched my handwriting mature from a hurried cursive to one that was elegant and relaxed. My anger withered, replaced with every shining moment I’d spent with Denver—then and now. I heaved a sigh and reached in the box, scooping up the last of the loose envelopes.

But there was more.

I set them down and found a bundle wrapped with a rubber band, hidden below a sheet of blank paper. As I pulled the band away, my heart raced and I could scarcely breathe. Each envelope was addressed to me from Denver. These were letters he’d written—letters he’d never sent.

I opened one.

Peanut,

I guess you’re growing up, huh? Eighteen already. I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you and all you’ve done. I’ve always been the bonehead working in a bar, but you’ll do something good with your life someday. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to England with the pack. Jake couldn’t find anyone to fill in, and I need a job. Sorry this is short, but I included some money inside. People always say not to spend it in one place, but fuck that. Go nuts. Do something fun.

Denny

The envelope was empty because Lexi had given me the cash herself on his behalf. Some of the pack had flown over for my birthday that year. We had an amazing dinner, but Denver’s absence had hollowed me out. Maybe he thought I’d grown out of him as I did my toys, but he didn’t realize he was the one thing in my life I didn’t want to stuff in the closet of my past. I needed him like I needed air. It’s the main reason I’d returned home; my heart needed to know if I’d lost him.

I thumbed through the letters until I reached the last one.

Maizy,

I know I’ve been a dick about not seeing you on your short visits. Something always seems to come up. Tonight I heard the pack was going to Howlers, so I came back to town early from my trip. You had your hair in a braid. Ivy must have had something to do with that. I can’t get over how much you’ve changed. You’re all grown up now. You’re probably wondering where I was, right? Guilt, pride, all that macho stuff that makes us the weaker species. I sat at a table in the back and watched you from across the room, hearing your infectious laugh. Each time I wanted to get up—what kept me glued to my chair was the thought of you hating me.

I fucked up our relationship. I should have been there for you, even though you were in another country. I should have answered your calls, but maybe I was afraid of hearing how great your life was without me. Now it’s too late to fix all that. I don’t have a place in your world anymore. So I watched you for an hour. When I imagined going up to you, the fantasy ended with you crying or throwing a drink in my face. If you want to know the truth, I was more afraid you wouldn’t care. You looked so damned happy that it didn’t seem like you missed my presence anyhow.

I don’t blame you. But I’m writing this letter because something changed tonight. I saw you for the first time as a woman, and the old Peanut went away. Something about you draws people in, like magic. So when that idiot asked you to dance, it felt like someone had punched me in the gut.

I didn’t realize until that moment that I love you. Not the way I once did, but the way I could if I hadn’t screwed it all up. Now I know why I stepped in to be your watchdog from the beginning and why I’ve felt lost without you all these years. You’re my soul mate. Maybe I’ve had too much to drink tonight and I’m rambling. I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. You’re a human, I’m a Shifter, and it would never work out.

But I wanted you to know that I love you, and I’ve always loved you. I hope one day you can forgive me.

Denver

I set the paper on the floor and stared at it, crestfallen.

“He’s been hiding those for years,” William said from the doorway behind me. “Doesn’t think I know about them, but a few years ago, he went on vacation and one of the boys found the box. They were too young to read.”

William entered the room and closed the door behind him. He sat on the edge of the bed to my right and laced his fingers together. “Maybe that’s why I gave him a gentle push and set up the picnic.”

“But if he loves me, why couldn’t he tell me?”

“Men are stubborn pricks. I suppose he was afraid you wouldn’t love him back, or that his love wouldn’t be enough.”

I curled my left leg beneath me and leaned against the wall so I could face William. “Do you believe in soul mates?”

A grin tugged the corner of his mouth. “I’ve been witness to a lot of things in my life, and soul mates are the one thing I absolutely believe in, even if I don’t always recognize it when it happens. Only with Shifters, we call them life mates. I would have never imagined Ivy and Lorenzo were fated. Maybe it’s not always meant to work out. Perhaps life intrudes and changes each in a way the other can’t accept.”

“Why would God create soul mates that can never be together?”

He ran his hands through his curly hair. “I suppose the fates have little to do with the choices we make. You can’t blame Denver for choosing to stand up for you, even at the price he’s paying.”

“He didn’t have to make that choice.”

“Indeed.” William stood up and played with the strings that tied the front of his shirt. “Don’t judge a man by his flaws when it’s his character that matters. We all make mistakes. Love is irrational.”

“I love him, Will, but he’s pushing me away.”

William opened the door and glanced over his shoulder before leaving. “Then pull. The ever-faithful watchdog is still trying to protect you from getting hurt. You may not have him for long, but hold on to him for as long as you can.”

***

I spent the afternoon curled up on the sofa next to my mom. We watched comedies because her hope was that laughing would snap me out of my funk. Lexi was baking up a storm—something she often did when stressed out. Reno decided to take a month off from his job and spend it with the pack. He relaxed in one of the oversized leather chairs, April in his lap. The mood was somber and the house empty without Denver’s boisterous laugh. Sunshine trickled in through the sheer curtains like rivers of gold.

Reno swept April’s hair behind her ear and kissed her tenderly. It forced me to look away. Please, God, take Denver out of my life if you have to, but don’t take him out of this world.

The front door slammed and Austin hung up his keys.

Reno lifted his eyes to attention. “Any news?”

Austin flipped a baseball hat into a chair and kicked off his shoes. “Is this everyone?”

“Lexi’s in the kitchen,” Reno said. “William’s asleep on the floor; everyone else is at work.”

My mom bent down to the rug and shook William’s shoulder. He rose up with heavy-lidded eyes and a mop of brown curls everywhere. William didn’t have tight curly hair, but those large curls that were attractive on a man as long as he didn’t grow them out past his shoulders or something crazy. He often joked about how he’d tried it once and ended up looking like Captain Hook.

Austin cleared his throat and sat in the chair to my right. William took a position at his side, hands clasped in front.

“What’s going on?” Lexi asked from the hall.

Austin smirked when he saw his mate covered in flour. There was a white handprint on her bare leg and a streak of dust across her brow. “Come here, Ladybug.”

She sauntered across the room and stood in front of him. Austin pulled her into his lap even though she was protesting about the mess it would make. She pinched his nose and left a white dot.

After getting settled, Austin wiped his nose. “I had a long talk with the Council this morning. They’re not budging. They think releasing a wolf who rose up against a Packmaster will set a precedent.”

“They wouldn’t accept the watchdog claim?” Reno asked in disbelief.

Austin shook his head.

“He was in wolf form,” Reno growled. “If he’d committed the crime as a man, they’d have a case. We can’t control our animals.”

Austin patted Lexi’s leg once. “I know this. You know this. And they sure as hell know this. In order to drop charges, they need more evidence against Bromus.”

Reno shifted in his chair. “What about Church? He mentioned something about having problems with him.”

“Not enough. They want either an additional complaint or something substantial. Have you heard anything in your circle?”

When Reno didn’t reply, I scooted to the right side of the sofa and clutched a pillow. Wheeler was still gone, and that made me uneasy.

The silence was cutting.

“I want to go see him tonight,” I said. “He asked me to bring his bag.”

Austin spoke without looking at me directly. “I’ll drive you. I need to talk with a member of the higher authority and see if I can get them to budge. It’s going over the Council’s head, but so be it.”

When the silence descended upon the room again, Lexi got up and crawled across the floor, fooling with the radio. She found a classic rock channel and turned the volume low. “Maze, do you remember when we brought Trevor into the pack?” She let out a bright laugh and looked around nostalgically. “I can still hear you giggling when Denver started shaking his butt to some old disco song.”

“I remember. You guys hung the banners everywhere and I thought it was a party.”

Austin and Reno shared a private look that had me curious. Were they working out a plan? William caught it too. His dark brows furrowed and he crossed his arms.

Austin lifted his hip when his phone went off. “Hello? Yeah, this is he. Okay…”

As he drifted toward the front of the house, my mom got off the couch. “Lexi, did you need help in the kitchen?”

Lexi glanced over her shoulder. “I was just flouring the counters so I can knead the dough.”

“I can do that for you.”

April smiled. “Looks like you could knead the dough on Lexi. She probably has more flour on her than the countertops do.”

There was a pregnant pause—the kind that was expectant of a Denver wisecrack that never came.

“We got news,” Austin said. He seemed out of breath, his face flushed.

Reno patted April’s leg and she got up so Reno could stand.

“The Council dropped charges.”

“What?” I exclaimed with a gasp. Before I knew it, I too was standing.

Austin took a deep breath and rubbed his chin. “I don’t know why; it couldn’t have been our talk. A rep from the higher authority is supposed to call me back any minute,” he said, staring at his phone.

I worried my lip and paced in a circle. The music suddenly made it seem as if we were in a waiting room, and waiting rooms made me nervous.

When his phone rang, everyone held their breath. “This is Austin Cole. … Of course.”

I shadowed him as he turned away and held the back of his neck with his other hand. April murmured something to Reno and he replied, but all I was doing was trying to tap into my nonexistent super-hearing abilities so I could find out what was being said on the other end of the call.

Austin looked down at the wood floor. “I was planning on coming up there tonight. Can we talk more about the—” He frowned. “No, I understand.”

The tone of his voice had layers of emotions, and butterflies turned in my stomach.

“Is there someone else I can speak to on the matter? … No, that’s not my intention. I’m assuming you’re pressed with more important matters, and— … Yeah, I understand.”

Austin pressed his thumb on a button and threw the phone across the room. I jumped when it smashed against the wall and broke apart on the floor.

“What’s going on?” Mom asked, rushing into the room.

Austin raked his hands through his hair, cursing below his breath. I’d rarely seen him so angry, and when he collected his temper, he leaned forward and placed his hands on the back of the leather couch. “The higher authority won’t release him without payment.”

“How much?” I asked.

“Five million.”

The air left the room.

William headed toward the front window. “We don’t have that kind of money. Even if we sold the shops and the house, it wouldn’t be enough. We’d have to sell it all.”

“I thought the business was doing well,” I said. “And everyone has a job.”

Austin shook his head. “A lot of the money goes back into the business, but it gives us a steady paycheck—a dependable one. We’ve put a lot of money into your school and your living abroad, and it costs a lot to feed and clothe a pack. I’ve negotiated some loans to build relations with smaller packs, but I can’t get that money back right away. I just don’t have five million in cash to hand over. Fuck! Where the hell is Wheeler?”

“I just bought a new Jaguar,” William said bleakly. “I can sell it back, but I won’t get as much as I paid.”

“I have some money saved up,” Lynn volunteered. “It’s just twenty thousand, but I don’t need it. I have a job and I’ll be drawing social security in a few years. Maybe if we all pool our money together, it’ll be enough.”

The truth was splashed on everyone’s face; they didn’t have that kind of money. They enjoyed taking vacations and donating to charity. Sometimes they made frivolous purchases, and peace parties always depleted money in the account. I knew Wheeler was helping Austin make safe investments for future generations as the pack grew in size, but clearly that money wasn’t accessible.

Lexi looked around the house. “Do we have anything in here we can hock? Something of value? An antique?”

April tapped her fingernail against her teeth. “What about Naya’s purses and clothes? She has a lot of designer stuff in there.”

“Worth five mil?” William asked.

“What about the house?” Lexi suggested. “We fixed it up real nice.”

“I paid six hundred thousand for it.” Austin stood up and moved around the sofa toward his chair. “This house won’t sell for that much—not to a pack. Nobody wants to move down the road from Church. It’s still not enough.”

My mom looked at her hand. “Maybe I can sell some of my jewelry. I don’t have much worth anything, but I have a couple of diamonds.”

I sucked in a sharp breath as a memory jostled in my head. “What did you just say?”

“Well, I tucked away a few rings for you girls when you got older. One is a ruby and the other—”

“Diamonds,” I breathed.

Lexi gave me a funny look. “What’s wrong, Maizy?”

Did I dream it? I suddenly remembered having a mint tin filled with diamonds when I was little. I didn’t recall much except that I wanted to make them my treasures. “Oh my God!”

I nearly knocked Lexi down when I ran past her and up the stairs. When I hit the hallway, my feet squeaked against the floor as I slowed down and flung my bedroom door open. It hit the wall with a thud, and I stood motionless.

“Jesus, Maizy. What the hell?” Lexi put her hand on my back, panting and out of breath. “Are you okay?”

I paced toward the sparkling wand mounted on the left wall near the window. When I lifted it, a shimmer of prisms scattered across the room.

“Lexi, remember when I was little how I believed that this wand was magical?”

She snorted. “Yeah, you used to carry it everywhere. Sometimes you’d thump someone over the head with it.”

I turned around and held it in my hands, lifting my eyes to meet hers. “Years ago, you used to take me to the old house to dig for diamonds. Well, here they are. I glued them to my wand.”

Her jaw dropped and eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? I almost threw that thing in the trash!” She shrieked, racing forward and taking it from my hand. “Oh. My. God. I never looked at them; I thought they were just fake stones. Jesus, I threw several away that had fallen off!” Her eyes widened. “These are big diamonds, Maizy.”

My smile was infectious, and we looked at each other—a slow, hysterical flutter of laughter beginning to rise.

“What’s going on up here?” Austin asked from the door.

Lexi let out her Beaker laugh and whirled around, holding the wand like a fairy. “Austin, I hereby grant you one wish. Anything you want. What will it be?”

“Quit messing around. We have serious—”

“Austin Cole, answer my question. What is the one thing you want more than anything?”

He stared at her with a conflicted look, but finally said, “Denver home.”

She sauntered toward him and tapped him on the forehead. “Your wish is granted. Remember the diamonds my father stole? Voilà!” She turned the stick between her fingers and Austin stared at it.

“Holy fucking Christ. Are you telling me—”

“Exactly. There’s got to be enough here. Can we use them without getting in trouble?”

He chewed on his lip for a minute. “No one will question where we got them, and if they do, we’re in the clear. The crime took place years ago from a criminal who’s now dead. Let me see it.”

She held it at arm’s reach. “No, sir. Go downstairs and bring me a giant plastic bag. I don’t want to lose any of these. Call Wheeler or Naya and see if they know someone who can give us a quick appraisal.”

“I’m on it,” Reno said. I hadn’t even noticed him by the door, and I listened to his boots stomp down the hall.

“Hopefully they’re real,” Austin said. “I’m thinking the higher authority gave me an unrealistic number, knowing we’d never be able to match it. I hope they don’t back out of this when I walk in with the cash.”

Lexi smirked. “Make them a money bouquet.”

He shook his head, giving her an intimate look. “Be right back with the bag.”

When Austin left the room, it felt as though a weight had been lifted off me. I could breathe again. I sat on the bed and felt my head pounding with the nasty side effect of adrenaline.

“Why didn’t you mention this before?” she asked, a little line forming between her brows.

“I just put it out of my mind, I guess. Over the years I assumed it was something I’d imagined. What would a little girl be doing with diamonds? I was wrapped up in a world of pretend and stopped thinking about it. But when Mom mentioned diamonds, it made me remember something I’d forgotten.”

“What?”

I looked down at the wand she held at her side. “Dad slapped me. Did I ever tell you that?”

Her mouth opened. “No.”

“From what I remember, it wasn’t very hard. But it startled me. It’s when we were in the car and he was trying to get me to stop crying. They were arguing up front or something—I remember a lot of shouting. Anyhow, I’m not sure where I found them, but I thought they were candy. I’d forgotten the act of actually stealing the diamonds, so without that memory, it never seemed believable I’d have something like that in my possession. Kids play pretend all the time, and you grow up wondering how much of it was real and how much was made up.”

Lexi lifted the wand and looked at it. “There were supposed to be fifty million dollars’ worth, but this… I don’t know.”

I looked guiltily at her. “That’s all I took. If it’s not all there, I might have thrown some away or lost them. It was a long time ago, Lexi. I really can’t remember all the details.”

“All this time I thought you buried them. I even borrowed a metal detector once and spent three hours in the backyard of the old house, hoping you buried them in something metal. I wish you’d told me.”

“I guess I was afraid someone would take them away. They were my treasures. I found glue for the wand that was so strong that I’d glued two of my fingers together. I haven’t thought about that in years. I guess the diamonds made the wand seem more magical. I didn’t know back then the value of those things—not really. They were just pretty.” I swept my hair behind my shoulders and looked up at her. “I’m so sorry I never told you. I was a rotten kid.”

She stared at the place in the wall where the wand once sat. “It’s a good thing I’m sentimental. I almost threw it away with some of your dolls when you were twelve, but Mom talked me out of it. She said you might have a little girl someday you’d want to give it to. I was going through your room once when you were about to turn eighteen. Mom relented and we’d decided to give away some of your toys to charity after you’d given her permission. I had so many good memories of you with that wand, and I couldn’t bring myself to throw it out. Denver almost talked me into it.”

I laughed noisily. “That figures. He would have sealed his own fate.”

Lexi sat next to me and bumped her shoulder against mine. “Even without them, we would have figured something out, Maze.”

“Yeah, Wheeler was planning a prison break.”

“I would have sold the shops. That’s how much my family means to me. I’d do it for any one of you. We would have figured it out. This just made it a hell of a lot easier.”

“Now you’re starting to sound like Mom.”

She smiled wistfully. “Maybe it’s good practice for someday.”

Chapter 26

On his way to the jail later that evening, Austin called everyone in the pack to give them an update on Denver’s situation. We still weren’t in the clear yet since we didn’t know for certain if the higher authority would accept our payment. It was then that Austin learned Wheeler and Jericho had devised a solid plan to break their little brother out of jail. Austin recited a colorful collection of profanities in the Dodge Challenger before hanging up on them.

“Get your asses home,” Austin growled in the phone. “I’ll call you when we know more.”

A shiver skated up my spine as I looked through the dark windshield. “Where are the diamonds?”

He turned onto the dirt road, and boy, did it look spooky with only our headlights guiding the way. “You know how Lexi took the stones and drove out to meet Naya?”

“Yeah?”

“She knows a guy. Turns out he’s also an acquaintance of Wheeler’s, so that was good enough for me to trust him. He appraised the stones and made an offer.”

“What was it?”

Austin flashed his eyes at me. “As many times as you carried that wand around and left it at a restaurant, it might make you sick to know. I’m not concerned about making a profit, and because he offered a hell of a lot more than what the higher authority is asking, I accepted it without a counteroffer.”

“Did you bring it with you?”

He sniffed and we hit another bump. “It’s not safe to travel with that kind of money. It’s in a safe place, and if they accept, they’ll send a Regulator to collect the money.”

His motor rumbled as we slowed to a stop. The Vampire at the gate briefly questioned him before allowing us to pass. His black eyes shone in the headlamps, watching me as he pulled the gate open. When I drew in a nervous breath, he smiled and his fangs descended.

“Austin?”

“Yeah,” he said in a distant voice.

I thought about all the stories Lexi had told me about growing up together—how protective Austin was of her. She used to think he was hotheaded when he’d beat up strangers for making lewd remarks to her, but then she’d explained it was what made Shifters different. They had an instinctive nature to protect what they loved, and they were willing to fight for it. Reason and logic went out the window and bowed down to primal instinct.

“When Lexi asked you to make a wish, you hesitated.”

He cleared his throat. “I thought she was going to tell me something.”

Then it hit me. He thought Lexi was pregnant. I remembered the look of hope and fear in his eyes. Deciding not to broach a topic that was probably the root of what tested their relationship, I touched his arm.

“I’m beginning to see that no relationship is perfect. It’s all a struggle. She loves you more than anything.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he said, barely audible.

I withdrew my hand. Austin would be ashamed if he found out Lexi had told someone else about their personal struggles. “The only thing a woman needs to know in this world is that they’re enough.”

“Is Denver enough?” He slowed the car down near the shack. “He’s just a bartender with a middle rank in the pack. You’ll probably never see him in a suit, and he couldn’t offer you the money another Shifter could. I know you got an offer from Prince, and I would respect that choice.”

I unbuckled my seat belt. “Would you respect my choice if I chose Denver? Could I still live in your pack?”

“Let’s just take it one step at a time. Denver’s all over the place with women; I’ve never seen him show any signs he wants to settle. I’m not saying that to hurt you, I just don’t want you to get your hopes up.”

I smiled and opened my door. “I’m so glad nobody ever gave Lexi advice like that when she met you.”

He chuckled and switched off the engine.

Once we made it underground, a guard led us in a different direction than the last time. Austin went into a room while I sat in a chair that was bolted to the linoleum floor just outside. Ten minutes later, a formidable man stalked toward me from the hall straight ahead. He had a powerful stride, a broad chest, and long brown hair that was thick and wavy. He looked like one of those wrestlers on TV. He briefly glanced at his watch and then flicked his eyes down at me before entering the room and slamming the door. I pressed my ear to the wall, but they must have soundproofed it.

I stared at the white floor for what seemed like hours, my stomach twisting into knots. When the door suddenly opened, I sat at attention and held my breath.

The wrestler walked at a brisk pace down the hall and turned the corner out of sight. This was maddening! I stood up and faced the door, my arms crossed, rocking on my heels, ready to bust through it.

Austin emerged and ran a hand through his brown hair, messing it up.

“Well?” I asked, holding my breath.

He slowly licked his lips and then a smirk touched the corner of his mouth. “It’s done. He accepted the offer.”

I flew forward and hugged him.

“They weren’t expecting us to actually come up with the money, so it wasn’t without resistance,” he murmured against my hair.

Heat radiated off Austin and I stepped back.

“Sorry. I run hot.”

I shook my head. “So that’s it? Denver’s free?”

We moved down the hall at a slow pace, Austin a step ahead. “I had a feeling he was going to turn down our offer, so I gave it all to him. Everything we earned from the diamonds now belongs to the higher authority. They’re going to make some kind of official statement with evidence to prove Bromus was an unstable Packmaster. To keep his pack happy, I agreed to work with the Council in relocating them.”

“Not in our pack!”

“Fuck no. But my hands are dirty, so I need to clean things up and make sure everyone’s happy. If none of the local packs take them in, I may have to barter with them.”

“Reno knows some people out of state, doesn’t he?”

Austin put his hand between my shoulders and led me to the elevators. “Good point. I’ll see if that’s an option, but let’s worry about that later. Right now, the only thing on my mind is setting my brother free.”

When the elevator reached the floor above, we stepped out and a guard escorted us down a hallway with large windows that allowed me to peek into the rooms. He swiped his card key and I listened to the mechanical sound of the door unlocking. I hung back while he went inside.

Through the window, I saw Denver emerge from the right side of the room. The guard removed the shackles from his hands and feet, and I wanted to leap out of my skin with excitement. What kept me cemented in place was the memory of everything he’d said to me earlier in his cell.

When Denver stepped out of the room, Austin gave him a tight hug and patted his back several times.

“We’re going home,” Austin said.

Denver held on, his hands clenched into tight fists and his eyes squeezed shut. I’d never seen the two embrace like that.

Realizing his man card was about to be revoked, Denver stepped back and cleared his throat. “How?”

Austin stepped aside and motioned toward me. “You can thank Maizy.”

Denver blanched and took a step back, his lips pressed tight. The look he delivered was crushing as he swung around and stormed down the hall.

“Hold up,” Austin yelled out as they neared the elevators up ahead.

“No, I’m not holding up. I’m outta here,” Denver said, throwing up his hand. With each stride he took, we grew farther apart. “I can’t believe you let her do that!”

My feet still rooted in place, I watched as Denver disappeared into the elevator.

“Will you wait?” Austin slammed his hand against one of the buttons.

“She’s not riding in here with me.”

Austin looked in my direction as I approached. “I’ll talk to him. Take the next elevator up. We’ll be waiting up top.”

So just like that, they left me in the hall of an underground prison. It was almost laughable.

Almost.

“I can’t believe this!” I shouted. I beat my fists on the elevator doors, hoping they could hear me. “You’re the biggest jackass, Denver Cole!”

A chuckle sounded to my left and I glanced over my shoulder.

One of the guards sized me up. “My mate says that to me all the time. It must be love,” he sang, walking into an office across from me.

“Idiot,” I murmured, tapping my foot on the floor and waiting for the elevator. I could hear the electric whine as it slowed down.

When the doors parted, a hand reached out and snatched my wrist, yanking me inside. I gasped and almost tripped until I landed in someone’s arms.

Denver’s arms.

The doors closed and his mouth was on mine. “I’m sorry,” he said between kisses. The heat of arousal engulfed me when his mouth slowly dragged down to my neck and his hands curved around my ass.

Suddenly his right hand slammed against a button and the elevator quietly stopped. He dropped to his knees and began undoing my shorts.

My fingers gripped his hair. “Wait. The alarms…”

His molten gaze traveled up the length of my body. “They don’t use alarms. It makes the prisoners think something’s up.”

“How do you know?”

I gasped when he tugged down my shorts and pressed a hot kiss below my navel. “I checked with the guard up top. He said we’ll have all the privacy we want.”

When my panties slid down, his fingers disappeared between my legs, stroking my sex. I prayed there was enough air in the elevator, because I was sucking it all up with each heavy breath.

His strokes were skilled, as if he wanted to collect each gasp and gentle word that fell from my lips.

Denver rose to his feet and delivered a salacious kiss while he pleasured me. His coarse whiskers rubbed against my skin, and every rough and smooth part of his body ignited my senses. Then he broke the kiss, heated breaths warming my cheek.

“I need to claim you. Right here. Right now.”

I swallowed thickly, lost in a fog of naughty thoughts. “You want to fuck me in the elevator?”

His body moved against mine. “Don’t say it like that unless you’ll let me,”

he said, lips next to my ear, voice rough with need.

I shuddered when he pulled his fingers away and looked at me with invitation in his eyes.

“Are there cameras in here?” I asked.

A smile crossed his expression. “If there are, it won’t matter in a minute.”

“Why?”

My heart leapt in my chest when the lights went out and submersed us in darkness.

“They conserve energy when the elevators are inactive,” he whispered while unzipping his pants. “Standing up or lying down?”

I smiled, moving my lips to his ear. “In and out.”

He groaned, and then I felt the hard press of him at my core. His hesitation made me tremble with need. We were on the verge of doing something very wicked in a prison elevator.

It excited me. Made me want to find an alarm button just so people would know what we were about to do.

“We’ve got less than four minutes before it starts moving again,” he said, urgency in his voice.

I lifted my leg and locked it around his. “Then you better get moving.”

His restraint was killing me.

“It won’t be romantic like the first time. It’s a craving I can’t fight, and I’ve never felt this kind of need for another woman. If we do this, it’ll be rough, hard, and fast. I need to claim you, and that means fucking you right here.”

I ground against him, arching my back and on the brink of expiring. “If you keep talking to me like that, I’m going to come.”

He penetrated deep, and the heat of him burned like a brand. There was no time to savor the moment. With an urgent rock of his hips, Denver gripped my right thigh and found my mouth. Our tongues twined, and the cold wall pressed against my back. I grew wetter with every thrust, every needful kiss.

I nibbled on his lip and dug my nails into his shoulders. He was lean muscle, the kind most women preferred over the men who looked as if they were on steroids. Strong hands, strong arms, full of boundless energy.

Denver released a growl, low and possessive. “Say something.”

“Why?”

He nibbled my lip. “So I know it’s you I’m claiming.”

He couldn’t see me, and as sexy as this was, I knew how he felt. I wanted to see his fervent gaze and admire the shades of blond in his hair while my hand fisted it.

What does he want me to say? “I don’t want to sound like a bimbo in a cheesy porn flick.”

“Three minutes,” he breathed.

“Are you counting in your head?” I asked in horror.

“Don’t break my concentration.”

I wanted to laugh, and I did. Probably the worst time you could choose to laugh, and yet the energy shifted in that room. The sexual tension swelled into something hot and untamable. Denver lifted my other leg and I gripped his shoulders.

Sweat touched my brow as our motions began rubbing me in just the right places. “Denny, don’t make me come in here.”

“Christ, I can’t stop.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck since my back was rubbing against the wall.

“One minute left,” I whispered, trying not to laugh. “Hurry. Seven… six… five…” I clenched my legs against him and began to ride out a wave, feeling the urgency of time that was not on our side.

Any minute.

Any second.

The lights would come on. The elevator would move. The doors would open. They could catch us.

The friction of our bodies sent a surge of energy rippling through me like lightning, one that moved with such ferocity that I began to see small specks of light piercing through the darkness. When I came, every muscle in my body locked. I gasped and my cry reverberated against the walls.

Denver’s thrusts were animalistic, and I finally understood what it meant to give in to the primal nature of being a Shifter. A moan rose in my throat and Denver buried himself deep.

I rocked my hips and he released an anguished sound, his body shuddering through a powerful climax. Out of breath, I collapsed in his arms, limp and completely spent.

All that existed was our heavy breathing and racing hearts. It was exquisitely sweet to be in his arms that way as we tumbled back into reality. Nothing could have taken me out of that moment.

Until the lights switched on.

“Shit!” He lowered me to the floor and made an agonized grunt when he pulled out, cursing under his breath while he yanked up his pants.

I was in full-blown panic mode. “My shorts!”

The elevator continued its ascension, rising higher just like my heart in search of my throat.

Denver grabbed my jean shorts and held them out for me to step into. With a quick tug, he pulled them up and situated his shirt.

I glanced down in horror at my black panties. Denver caught the direction of my gaze and bent over to snatch them up.

The door opened and my eyes went wide. Austin turned around and I swallowed hard, trying to maintain cool composure even though I was covered in sex sweat.

One of the guards lifted a cup of coffee in his hand and grinned. “Looks like someone used the Stop button.”

Denver sprang to his feet and stuffed my panties into his back pocket before anyone noticed.

I casually blew a strand of hair away from my flushed cheeks. “Well, I’m ready to go home,” I said, my voice breathy.

Denver stretched out his arm and cracked his neck. “Yeah, I could go for some barbecue. Prison food almost killed me.”

Austin darkened his gaze at Denver. “Is that what you were talking to the guard about? The button to stop the elevator? Get your ass in the car.”

He smacked the back of Denver’s head when we passed him and gave me a scolding glance. I smiled and hunched my shoulders—as if ashamed—but didn’t feel a shred of remorse. Austin was one to talk. I remembered many a night when he’d come home late with Lexi and I’d see him outside washing the hood of his car beneath the moonlight. Maybe I didn’t know what was going on back then, but I put the pieces together in later years.

Denver wrapped his arm around me and looked back at Austin. “Don’t act like you and Lexi don’t get it on every chance you get. Remember last month at the movies? We all know your trip to the concession stand was for more than just a snack.”

“Get outside,” Austin grumbled as we walked out the door.

“Whatever, Aus. All I’m saying is someone got their popcorn buttered that night.”

I covered my mouth and laughed, leaning against Denver. His humor was what I loved best about him.

He kissed the top of my head and peered down at me with a subdued smile.

“Did you really think I would have mated Prince to set you free?” I asked.

Denver slowed down until Austin passed us. A few frogs were croaking in the distance—a sound I hadn’t heard in a long time. “I didn’t give you enough credit. I thought you’d make a stupid choice to save me.”

“Well, if we hadn’t found the diamonds, I might have participated in the most elaborate prison break in the history of prison breaks.”

“In those sexy shorts? If you tell me you’re packing a Colt .45, then I might have to marry you like they do on television.”

“Denver…” I stopped and pulled him to face me. “I love you. Maybe I shouldn’t be the one saying it first—or even at all—without knowing if you feel the same way about me. But that’s how I feel. I’m over the moon about you, and I can’t imagine going on another day in my life alone. I feel more than passion when I’m with you—I feel alive.”

He stepped forward and cupped my face. “Look here, Peanut. All that bullshit about you moving on was so I wouldn’t have to worry about you locking yourself in a room for the rest of your life, thinking I was the best you could do. It’s pretty obvious I don’t stack up to guys like Prince, but I am devoted to you, protective of you, fascinated by you, and deeply, deeply in love with you.”

“Why didn’t you say all that before?”

“Because I’m a man, and we fail miserably at romance.”

His mouth reverently touched my lips.

When the car horn blared behind him, he gave Austin the finger.

“If we can’t stay in the pack,” he continued, “then I make a decent living as a bartender. It’ll take time to find a new pack, but I’ll take care of us while you look for work.”

“I don’t think we have to worry about Austin kicking us out.”

His brow arched. “I killed a Packmaster. He forked over millions of dollars to the higher authority—who now have his name on a naughty record somewhere—and while he was releasing me from prison, you and I had sex in the elevator. That might be grounds for dismissal.”

I gripped his hand and led him toward the car. “Come on, Denny. Face the firing squad like a man.”

“That’s what my warden said.”

I slapped his butt playfully and he growled with approval, pulling me tight against him. He opened the back so I could get in and then scooted next to me.

“Don’t you want to sit up front?” I asked in a quiet voice.

Austin tilted the rearview mirror, making it obvious he didn’t want any hanky-panky going on in the backseat of his Challenger.

Considering my panties were in Denver’s back pocket and it was a long drive home, I wasn’t sure if that was possible.

But content and in the arms of the man I hoped to spend the rest of my life with—if he’d only ask—I curled up in Denver’s embrace and listened to him tell us his amusing spin on his adventures in prison.

Chapter 27

After returning home from Breed jail, we stayed up with the family for hours, eating and drinking in celebration. After midnight, I fell asleep and Denver carried me up to bed.

His bed.

But we didn’t sleep together—at least, not in human form. I woke up to a long tongue cleaning my face. Denver’s wolf had sat next to the bed through the entire night, guarding me.

Needless to say, I was on edge when I went downstairs and saw the Cole brothers lined up near the front door, quiet and watching my descent.

“We’re going to introduce you to the pack,” Austin announced.

“Now?” I briefly wondered how fast I could run back upstairs and lock myself in the bathroom.

He cracked a few knuckles and looked at Denver’s wolf, who had trotted down the stairs and was sitting beside me. “Starting with him. I have no doubt you’ll get along with the rest of these meatheads, but Denver’s the one I’m concerned about. I’ve asked everyone to supervise in case something goes wrong. Males aren’t normally aggressive toward female wolves, but Denver’s never been normal.”

Jericho snorted. “You can say that again.” His attention snapped away for a moment. “Isabelle, stay upstairs. We’ll call you down when it’s your turn.”

Austin looked up at her. “I don’t want to spook her wolf with too many people watching.”

Izzy leaned over the railing. “Can’t I just watch from here?”

When Austin put his hands on his hips, that was her answer, and she hurried out of sight.

Denver nudged my hand and I scratched his ear.

“What if we tear up your house?” I asked.

Reno chuckled in his raspy way. “I’d be more worried about you two getting it on.”

Wheeler grimaced. “That’s not something I want to see. There’s not enough therapy to erase a visual like that from my mind.”

Trevor elbowed him in the ribs. “Denver’s wolf didn’t kill me.”

Wheeler put his arm around Trevor’s shoulder. “Remind me to tell you the story about how your wolf almost mounted him.”

Trevor’s eyes went wide in horror. “Shut up, you lying bastard.”

Wheeler chuckled darkly and shook his head, strolling next to Austin. The men in the house loved riling each other up, and half the time you didn’t know if they were joking or serious.

“Hell no,” Austin said, snapping his fingers and pointing at the same time. “Someone get the damn cat out of here.”

Spartacus looked like a statue mounted on the living room floor, his tail straight and slightly bent at the tip. His eyes were wide, as they always were, like golden orbs. When Wheeler stalked in his direction, the only thing that moved was his pink tongue poking out, as if he were doing it deliberately.

“Come on, Sparty. Time for you to hang out in the study.”

Jericho murmured, “Sparty?”

I shrugged. “Sorry. I think I accidentally gave him that nickname. Naya doesn’t care for it, and maybe that’s why it stuck with Wheeler.”

The door shut to one of the rooms and Wheeler resumed his position. They were forming a semicircle, as if cornering us in the sitting room. The only place we’d have to retreat was upstairs.

I glanced up worriedly.

“Spooked wolves will never run upstairs. Instinct tells them to stay at the lowest level,” Austin said reassuringly. “Anytime you’re ready. It’s just going to be a quick shift, so if you start to feel yourself slipping, I want you to shift back. Don’t worry if you can’t, but I’d rather not make you.”

I knelt down beside Denver and he lapped at my jaw, happily wagging his tail. I was too scared to create distance between us. My wolf hadn’t met another Shifter wolf, and I wasn’t sure what her reaction would be. But she might be spooked with all these men staring at her and decide to attack.

“Don’t bite me, okay?” I whispered, stroking his soft ears. He had the most beautiful blue eyes against his grey-and-white coat—trusting eyes. Maybe everyone else thought they were crazy eyes, but I’d never once been afraid of his wolf.

Austin widened his stance. “Call to her. She’ll listen.”

“Wait a second.” I sat back with my legs beneath me and looked up at them. “I’m not going to shift back naked in front of you guys.”

The men exchanged glances, eyes sparkling with laughter.

“They’ll turn around. Won’t you, boys?” Austin threw them a frosty glare.

William went over to the closet and pulled out one of his long black jackets. He had a peculiar style that seemed Old World.

“M’lady,” he offered, handing me the jacket.

I crumpled it beside me and took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing.”

Denver released a whine, sensing something was going to happen. I’d never really called to my wolf, but I’d heard Lexi talk about it. I mentally called out to her and she rushed over me like water. That’s what it felt like to shift—like I was going down a waterslide. Our souls connected, and it was indescribable.

I peered through my wolf eyes, feeling her rising panic. Her toenails clicked against the wood floor as she stepped off my pile of clothes. Denver’s wolf stood up and lifted his head, boring his eyes into mine. It was like being a passenger in a car I couldn’t control. The pack murmured around me, but their words were foreign unless I concentrated hard enough to make sense of them. Everything I experienced was through my wolf—smells, sounds, even the raw instinct coursing through her veins.

Right now, she was gearing up for a fight, and that’s when I knew she wasn’t a runner. She would be a good addition to the pack with her strong will and courageous heart.

More murmurs, and the pack moved into sight. Austin looked a little blurry from the left corner. I caught a few words he was saying, but I understood him better through his body language, scent, and tone. He wanted me to stay calm.

The light dimmed, and I was slowly fading to allow my wolf complete control. My heart thumped wildly and the metallic taste of adrenaline coated my tongue. Denver locked his jaws around my muzzle. Gently. Then my wolf did the same and wagged her tail. He licked her mouth and made high-pitched whines combined with barks, and in return, she nuzzled beneath his jaw as if they were old friends.

A wave of alpha power rippled through me when Austin drew near and got down on his hands and knees. Denver stepped between us, but Austin ignored his aggressive stance. He spoke a single word, and with that word, I shifted back to human form.

His eyes were immediately closed, even though my long hair more than concealed everything. The pack had already turned their backs, so I lifted the coat and put it on, all while trying to push Denver’s excited wolf away. He wouldn’t stop licking my face.

“Okay. Enough,” I said with a laugh. “You need a breath mint!”

“Abso-fucking-amazing,” Jericho said, hiking up his ripped black jeans, which were in dire need of a belt. “Told ya she wouldn’t pee on him.”

Trevor punched him in the arm and they all turned around.

“What are you guys talking about?” I asked.

Austin opened his eyes. “Ignore them. Looks like you’re going to fit right in.” He gripped Denver by the scruff of the neck, patting him and showing his approval. “You have a good wolf, Maizy. She understands the hierarchy without any guidance, but she also doesn’t show fear. Skittish wolves are unpredictable in battle.”

“Do I have to keep shifting for everyone?” I asked. Shifting was an exhausting process if done repeatedly.

“Nah.” Austin stood up and stuffed his hands in his pockets, jingling some coins around. “Wheeler, take Denver outside. If you guys shift in front of him, he’s gonna rip your heads off. I want Trevor, Jericho, and William going at once. This’ll be nothing more than a quick meet-and-greet,” Austin said, turning to face me again. “I just have to make sure everyone knows their rank and we don’t have any conflict. After that, Wheeler and Reno shift together. Then we’ll call the girls down. Once you shift back, I’ll have Jericho run into town and pick up some barbecue.”

Jericho plucked a cigarette from behind his ear and bit the tip. “I’ll go on the condition you order ribs instead of chicken this time.”

Austin shot him a frosty glare. “Lexi likes the chicken.”

“And Lexi got the chicken last time. Can’t you order her a separate plate?”

“It’s cheaper to have it catered and order by the pound,” he bit out.

I got up off the floor and tucked the coat tightly against me. “Can we argue about dinner later and get this show on the road?”

Austin strolled to the door with Wheeler and called Denver’s wolf.

“Oh, and Austin?” I said.

He glanced over his shoulder while pushing Denver out. “Yeah?”

“Can you order coleslaw?”

“That all?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

I dodged his glance and looked around. “And uh, maybe swing by the store for some cheese puffs.”

***

After Austin introduced my wolf to the pack, we spent the entire day celebrating Denver’s return. Everyone took off work, and Lexi had her part-time staff fill in at both store locations. Jericho canceled a jam session with his band, and Naya even turned off her phone so her clients couldn’t reach her.

Once introductions were out of the way, I took a shower and put on a pair of jeans and a strapless shirt with an elastic top. It was the color of a faded rose and one of my favorites. I wanted to look nice for Denver and ran some gel through my long hair, giving it a tousled look that didn’t make me look like a hippie. Lexi let me borrow some lip gloss, blush, and nude eye shadow that shimmered.

Now that I was fixed up, the only problem was that Denver hadn’t shifted back. He trotted behind me all the way to the kitchen where we gathered to eat lunch.

“Can’t you make him shift?” I asked Austin for the second time. “I thought he wasn’t allowed in the house.”

“I think it’s adorable,” Melody said, licking barbecue sauce from her finger.

Austin scraped his teeth on another rib and cleaned it to the bone. “His wolf seems okay as long as you’re around,” he said around a mouthful of meat. “I don’t have a problem with it. It’s his party, so I’ll let him do whatever the hell he wants.”

“Well, if he chews up another one of my books, I’ll put him out myself,” April said.

The kitchen table looked like something out of the Middle Ages with the abundance of meat on display. We had a bounty of homemade rolls and bread from Lexi having baked the day before.

Denver’s wolf groaned and licked his lips again.

I tapped his nose where he sat behind my bench. “No. You don’t get anything unless you shift back.” I looked across the table at William. “Our first day back and he won’t even spend it with me.”

William’s brown eyes warmed. “Maybe his wolf missed you. It’s been years. Denver chose to be away from you, but his wolf didn’t.”

Izzy laughed and dropped her fork. “Wave a bag of Cheetos in front of him. I bet that’ll snap him out of it.”

“Mom, who are you texting?” Lexi reached across the table and snatched the phone. “This is family time,” she said in a teasing voice. “How many times do you get on me about—”

“Give me that! Alexia Talulah—”

“Okay! All right! Just don’t call me that,” she said, handing the phone back. Lexi never had liked her middle name. She said kids used to tease her, but Austin seemed to adore it.

Reno licked the prongs of his fork. “I bet that’s Maddox. I think we need to have a sit-down with him and find out what’s what.”

Lynn leaned around and gave him her nasty “mom” glare. “I’m a grown woman. I don’t need anyone’s approval.”

“I don’t know, Lynn. Human or not, you’re still in our pack. Maddox Cane—”

“Is a nice man who likes to keep me company.”

“He’s also hundreds of years old,” Jericho pointed out.

“So?” Lynn protested. “That probably makes us close to the same age then.”

Everyone laughed, and the twins got up from their table.

Izzy had a smear of sauce on her arm she was trying to wipe off. “Hold up, kiddos. Did you finish your plates?”

“Yep!” they both chirped. Lennon inched nearer to the open doorway. “Can we go out to the fort now?”

“Fort?” I asked William.

Jericho grabbed Izzy’s arm and licked the sauce off. She jerked it away and almost knocked over a glass of tea.

“Go on,” she said.

The boys turned around like two cyclones and stampeded into the hallway.

“No running in the house!” Izzy shouted. “Hell’s bells. Those two are a handful. We built a fort out back for them last year just up the hill. They like to get up there and play pack war.”

I set down my roll, deciding I couldn’t eat another bite. “What’s that?”

Wheeler smeared his own roll across the plate, sopping up the leftover barbecue sauce. “It’s a game young pups play. They hear all the stories about a coming war from the adults and act it out. The Shifter’s version of cowboys and Indians.”

Denver nuzzled against my right side and I put my arm around his neck, stroking his ears. “Do you really think there’ll be a war?”

The men looked between one another and Austin licked his thumb. “There’s always a possibility. There’s not as much land up north, and a lot of those packs haven’t done well. The Councils regulate the packs to make sure it’s kept under control. Not everyone up there has the money to buy land. We got lucky because our parents lived here a while and built up a solid reputation, even though they weren’t in a pack. I still had to jump through some hoops to get this place.”

Reno sat back and put his hand on April’s thigh. “Most of the rumors don’t have anything to do with the established packs up north. It’s the rogues we have to worry about. Some formed their own packs without an alpha, and then you always have panthers who feel entitled.”

Naya waved her fork. “It’s not just panthers, Reno. I heard a story about a den of lions who started something in East Texas. They tried to quietly wipe out surrounding packs and take over the entire territory.”

“What about the Council?” I asked.

Austin flicked his eyes around the room. “The Council keeps order, but they’re only a handful of men. A den of lions they could probably handle, but if something bigger came down… Christ. Let’s not bring up this merry topic over dinner. My stomach’s already churning.”

“So is mine, but I think it’s because of the beans,” Melody said with a dramatic groan. “I’m going upstairs.”

“Mel, take the boys’ dishes to the sink for me,” Izzy said. “Next time I’m putting them on dishwashing duty for leaving their plates behind.”

Melody smirked triumphantly. “Good.”

“Hope everyone saved room for pie,” Lexi said in a singsong voice.

The room was thunderstruck.

“Hold up. You didn’t say anything about pie,” Reno said. “Goddammit. I wouldn’t have eaten that last rib if I’d known there was pie.”

William pushed his plate forward with a smile. “Pie indeed. Blackberry?”

Lexi stood up with a look of mischief. “This is a celebration for Denver. Do you think I’d just bake a blackberry?”

“Fuck me. Did you bake cherry?” Wheeler asked, dropping his rib on his plate. “You haven’t made that in three years.”

“You’ll see,” she sang.

They watched her carefully, knowing how quickly one pie disappeared in a house full of Shifters. As full as they were, if she so much as whipped a pie out, those men would have turned into hungry jackals. Lexi didn’t bake pies often, but when she did, they were gone within minutes. And cherry pie was not only Denver’s favorite, but also one she baked so infrequently that whenever she did, fights ensued.

“I’ll give you some pie,” Naya whispered in Wheeler’s ear.

Melody scuttled out of the room, turning the corner just as the doorbell rang.

Denver’s wolf growled, letting the sound settle in his throat like a continual thought.

“This was supposed to be a family day,” Austin complained.

The twins raced through the room after having changed into some dirty jeans and sneakers. When I saw Denver’s straw hat on Hendrix’s head, I snatched it off as he ran by and flew out the back door. It was too sentimental to let it get destroyed in an imaginary pack war.

Jericho rubbed his face. “Don’t look at me. I rescheduled Saturday with the band. They know better than to show up here uninvited.”

“Mom, this lady wants to talk to Denver,” Melody called out from the hall.

Nadia entered the room with a graceful step. Her white slacks accentuated her long legs all the way down to her heels. Not many women had the courage to wear all-white pants. Her white blazer was tailored to fit and set off the red shirt beneath. Nadia’s blond hair draped down her shoulders like silk—the kind of hair that men dreamed about running their fingers through. She looked as if she’d just stepped out of a shampoo commercial; all she needed was her own portable fan to blow it around. As she looked about the room, she moistened her ruby-red lips with a sweep of her tongue.

“He’s been avoiding my calls,” she said in lightly accented words. “I’m not a woman who likes to be ignored.”

Naya shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Nadia, we weren’t expecting you. Um…”

Denver’s wolf sniffed in her direction and continued nuzzling against me. After Nadia’s gaze traveled around the room, through the process of elimination she figured out which one was Denver.

“There you are.” After admiring his wolf, she looked up at the Packmaster. “Can we speak privately?” It was a silent request for him to force Denver to shift.

Austin leaned back in his chair with a wide grin. “If you can get him to change, he’s all yours.”

A few of the men hopped up from the table and milled around the kitchen near the counter, searching for the hidden location of the pies.

“I’m sorry, but Denver won’t be interested in speaking with you,” I said.

Her brow arched. “Is that so? I think a man should speak for himself. Don’t you?”

“Indeed,” William muttered.

I kicked him under the table.

Nadia approached Denver with her palm up so he could smell her. I saw recognition in his eyes as he leaned forward and made a peculiar sound.

“Let’s go outside,” she said soothingly to him.

Suddenly I didn’t like the way she was talking to him. A fierce sense of possession swept over me, and I felt like doing something irrational. It was a good thing there wasn’t a chocolate pie on the table.

When her hand stroked his muzzle, I snatched her wrist and steered it away. “Don’t you put your paws on him.”

“Mee-yow,” one of the men razzed from across the room. Probably Jericho, because Izzy tossed a peppermint across the room at him.

“I don’t think you know who you’re talking to,” she said.

I stood up and almost tripped when I stepped over the bench. “And I don’t think you know who you’re talking to. Denver is mine. Claimed.”

“Mated?”

I glanced down at him and rubbed his ear. “Maybe soon, but it’s exclusive. This is one fight you won’t win, and you need to ask yourself how much you’re willing to fight, because I’m willing to go all the way.”

She sighed dramatically. “Why must it be so difficult to find a man who will worship me?”

Trevor breathed out a laugh, and when April flicked his ear, he put his head on the table. His body rocked with quiet laughter until he released a loud snort.

William’s eyes danced with humor as he rose from the table with his empty plate. “I think it’s time to look for some pie.”

I turned back to Nadia. I didn’t care if she had on designer clothes, expensive jewels, imported perfume, manicured nails, diamond earrings, salon hair… Okay. Maybe it bothered me a little bit. “I don’t mean to be a bitch, but this wolf is telling you to back off because Denver is off-limits. That means no more calling his phone, my phone, the house phone, or any phone within a twenty-mile radius of our territory.”

Someone whistled, surprised, and the room fell silent.

There was a pregnant pause before she spoke again. “Wouldn’t you rather see him with someone who can give him a better life than this?”

I blinked in surprise. “You would want him to leave his pack?”

“Of course!” she said with a laugh. “I’m independently wealthy because I don’t have to give a portion of my money to a pack. The only way I’d consider joining one is if I mated the Packmaster, but most of the alphas I’ve met around here are aggressive pigs.”

Austin cleared his throat and stood up, giving her a pointed stare.

She lifted a shoulder innocently. “Just an observation. Not all women want to be treated like a conquest. Some want to be treated like a queen.”

“Well, you picked the wrong wolf if you think Denver is submissive enough to worship you,” I said.

She smiled knowingly. “I sensed he had a good heart, and that’s a most attractive quality. For that I can overlook his appalling sense of style and inappropriate humor.”

“Really?” I asked. “Because that’s what I love best about him.”

Nadia patted her small clutch against her hip. “I need someone to offer me a ride.”

“How the hell did you get here?” Austin asked.

“Taxi. My plan was to have Denver drive me home, but apparently he’s been leashed.”

Austin snapped his fingers. “Reno.”

Everyone chuckled because that meant Nadia would have to ride on the back of his Triumph motorcycle.

April wasn’t smiling. “I have plans with Reno,” she said possessively, clearly not wanting this woman to be sitting against her mate’s back and holding on tight.

Austin glanced at Wheeler and Jericho.

“Don’t look at me,” Jericho said. “I’m not going anywhere or I’ll miss out on pie.”

The doorbell rang and pulled everyone’s attention away.

“Jesus Christ,” Austin murmured, stepping away from the table and leaving the room.

An awkward moment passed as Denver licked my hand while Nadia watched with mild curiosity.

Denver suddenly spun around and bared his fangs, his feral growl penetrating through the room.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to reach for him. He stepped closer to Nadia and that’s when my heart picked up speed.

“Back away slowly,” I said to her.

She smiled and stood close to the counters. “It’s not me he’s growling at, darling.”

Prince entered the room with Austin. Denver’s wolf lunged, but not before I grabbed ahold of his neck. The force yanked me forward and I lost my balance before rolling onto my back. So there I was, staring up at Prince’s crotch with Denver straddling me.

“I heard about the fortunate turn of events,” he said, looking down at me. At this angle, I couldn’t help but admire the high sheen on his dark slacks.

I pushed at Denver’s chest, but he didn’t budge. This seemed to annoy Prince, who leaned forward and said, “Submit.”

Denver’s wolf peeled back his lips and licked his teeth with his tongue, growling so fiercely it vibrated against my chest.

“Denny, that’s enough.” I wriggled from beneath him until I could stand up.

“You weren’t saying much of that back in the prison from what I heard,” Wheeler noted with a rolling chuckle. Naya winked at him in approval.

I felt my face flush when I looked up at Prince. “Thanks,” I said quietly, acknowledging his help with Denver’s situation.

He gave a short nod and a look of regret. “I wish you much happiness, little one. I came to speak with Austin, but I also wanted to return something that’s yours.” He reached in his pant pocket and pulled out a closed fist. When he held it in front of me and opened his fingers, a large diamond sparkled in his palm.

“What’s this?”

“You once asked me to return it to you someday. Take it. I have no use for such things.”

Despite losing out to Denver, he was still thoughtful enough to return something that was mine. My heart saddened to think he might have once put the stone in a setting.

I pinched the diamond between my fingers and smiled wistfully at him. “You’ll find her someday,” I said under my breath so no one could hear.

I moved away from him and handed Austin the diamond. “For the pack,” I said. “Hopefully this makes up for everything.”

Austin gave me a quizzical stare. “You sure you don’t want this for yourself?”

He meant a ring, and I shook my head. Austin placed his hand on top of my head and smiled, the small cleft in his chin deepening.

Prince’s visit wasn’t going over well with Denver. His wolf grew restless and backed up near the table. He knew better than to attack a Packmaster, but I could tell he was itching to.

Prince appraised him with superiority in his eyes. “He’s not much of an impressive wolf.”

Just as soon as the words left his mouth, Denver shifted back into human form. William slid the hat across the table and Denver set it on his head.

I couldn’t help but laugh, because he most certainly was an impressive wolf. He didn’t seem to have a clue what was going on but kept his cool and folded his arms when he caught sight of our guest.

Prince failed to conceal his smile when he stepped to the side and revealed Nadia standing behind him. He seemed aware of her presence, although he hadn’t looked at her.

Denver snatched the hat off his head and held it in front of his crotch. “Nadia,” he said, eyes darting around.

She tilted her head to the side and made a dramatic sigh. I smiled wickedly, having my answer that she hadn’t seen him naked until now. Denver was a sight to behold, and she must have felt a twinge of regret.

“I suppose if no one here will offer me a ride, I’ll just call myself a cab,” she huffed.

Prince turned and laid eyes on her for the first time. They shared similar European features, except his hair was dark and hers light. He bowed his head and introduced himself. “I’m Prince.”

A grin touched the corner of her mouth. “Nadia Kozlov.”

Familiarity sparked in his eyes. “Would you be of any relation to Alexei?”

She elegantly inclined her head. “He’s my father.”

Prince stepped back. “The Packmaster Alexei?”

Nadia fished in her clutch and retrieved her phone. “The very one. Please excuse me; I have to call a yellow abomination on wheels to take me home.”

He touched her wrist. “Allow me to escort you. I would be honored, daughter of Alexei Kozlov. Your father and I go back a long time.”

You’d think she was a princess the way he was talking to her.

“I’ll accept your offer,” she said indifferently. “My father has many friends, and I don’t remember you. I’m curious to hear about your connection.”

“It was long before your time.”

Nadia took his arm and strutted out the door in her noisy heels. I didn’t hate the woman, and it wouldn’t be a complete sin if those two were a perfect match. Hmm, I wonder if Naya can give that a nudge.

A pair of jeans flew across the room and smacked Denver in the face.

“Put those on,” my mom said, coming out of the laundry room. “This isn’t a nudist colony.”

While Denver yanked on his jeans, I noticed the men searching the cabinets. Jericho popped open the microwave and Reno peered into the oven.

“What the hell are you all looking for?” Denver asked, putting the hat on his head.

Wheeler felt around on top of the fridge. “Lexi baked pies.”

Lexi sauntered across the room with a satisfied look on her face. “Don’t bother looking. You’ll never find them. We’re going to play games and then we’ll have coffee and pie. It’s too early for dessert.”

Clearly the men couldn’t live with the idea someone else might find the pies first, even if they were stuffed. If there were an equivalent of a Weston pack Easter egg hunt, this would be it.

Denver looped his finger around my jeans and tugged me to his side. “You still want a ring on your finger, Peanut?”

“Not really.”

He pursed his lips, disapproving. “Maybe we’ll go get you one of those candy rings at the store.”

“Maybe we should get some ice cream for the pie instead.”

“Can’t have pie without ice cream,” Denver agreed. He bent over and threw me over his shoulder, patting my rear end. “Back in a bit.”

“Bring chocolate!” Lexi shouted.

My hair swished as he moved down the hall. “I’m too heavy!” I protested.

“Peanut, you’ll never be too heavy for me to carry.”

“There aren’t any elevators at the grocery store, are there?”

Denver set me down and kissed the corner of my mouth. “You’ll be in real trouble if there are. I don’t think I’m ever going to look at an elevator the same again.” He pulled his keys off the nail above the letter D. “You still like strawberry?”

I kissed his soft mouth slowly, taking my time to enjoy the moments between us that shone brighter than those diamonds. “My all-time favorite.”

“By the way, I found the bag you packed me for jail. I see how much you love me. The unicorn shirt? That’s a low blow. I’m gonna have to think twice about that candy ring.”

I kissed his chin. “I never wanted a ring, Denny. The only thing I want wrapped around my finger is you.”

His indigo eyes glittered. “Is that so? Well, at least I have a nice outfit already picked out for our mating ceremony,” he said with a wink.

“If that’s your way of asking me, you’re going to have to do way better than that.”

When I slipped on my shoes and opened the door, Denver dangled the keys in front of his face.

“Hold up. These aren’t mine,” he said. “Will!”

William strolled across the room, hands clasped behind his back. “No need to wake the dead.”

“You put your keys on the wrong nail. Where are mine?”

“Those are yours.”

Denver laughed and twirled the key ring on his finger. “These are the keys to a Jaguar, not my truck.”

“Indeed. But I’m going to make a bold assumption that you two will be mated soon, so consider this my gift. I’d certainly feel better knowing she’ll be in a car with airbags, especially after all that’s happened. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Denver looked down at the keys and closed his fingers around them.

I blew a kiss to sweet William. Denver loved his truck, but even with my newfound ability to heal, he’d still want to protect me in every conceivable way. After all, he was and would always be my watchdog.

“Thanks, man,” Denver said with gratitude. “I owe you.”

I rushed down the porch steps to beat Denver to the car while he put on his flip-flops. He came tearing after me, and I screamed with excitement as we neared the car. I spun around as he slowed to a determined pace. He didn’t need sunglasses on this sunny day because the straw hat shaded his face.

“I love that you kept the hat,” I said with a wide smile.

Denver pinned me to the car door and kissed my forehead. “I lied to you.”

My stomach dropped, and I brushed a loose lock of hair away from my face. Suddenly the car was hot against my skin, and I leaned forward. “Lied about what?”

His hands anchored around my waist. “I said making jokes is what I do best, but that’s not true. Loving you is what I do best. I just wish I could have been your Prince Charming.”

My heart melted like chocolate in the sun. No love could ever compare to what I felt between us—something eternal and life altering. The way I kissed him was slow, every stroke filled with passion and adoration. I wanted him to feel through my touch what I felt in my heart.

I placed my mouth to his ear as he wrapped his arms around me. “You were always my fairy tale.”

Denver lifted me off the ground and nibbled against my neck until I shrieked with laughter. “Come on, Peanut. Let’s go get you a strawberry cone.”

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A personal note from Dannika:

If you enjoyed this book and want to see more, please take a moment to show your support by leaving a review on the product page where your purchase was made. Your reviews are important and help readers discover these books!

THE MAGERI SERIES is an exciting urban fantasy romance following the journey of a young woman's claim to immortality, and her own identity. Dark, unique, passionate, and full of unpredictable twists, the Mageri series provides an original spin to an old concept.

THE SEVEN SERIES is a paranormal romance that portrays Shifters living in secret in the modern world. A blend of humor, heartwarming romance, drama, and real-life issues. This series is for those who believe in family, second chances, and finding that person who completes you. Cliffhanger-free.

Note: All my fantasy stories are written in the same universe. Same Breeds, same rules, and may contain character crossovers/appearances.

Sometimes ordinary people are destined for extraordinary lives.

More books by Dannika Dark

Books by Dannika Dark:

THE MAGERI SERIES

Sterling

Twist

Impulse

Gravity

Shine

NOVELLAS

Closer

THE SEVEN SERIES

Seven Years

Six Months

Five Weeks

Four Days

Three Hours

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