STORY EXCERPT

Talon could hear it, the human’s elevated heartbeat, how his breathing noticeably changed. The smell of the human’s arousal and his own. His dick strained against the zipper of his jeans, and even Jody, who sat on a stool next to the human, looked up at him.

“Alpha,” Jody murmured.

“Don’t stop,” he said, noticing Jody had her hands over the human’s injured leg. 

The human quickly looked at Thalia. Talon guessed he probably considered her his only ally and said, “I can’t tell if he wants to kill me or—”

“I’d rather fuck you,” he finished. 

What the fuck was wrong with him? Talon couldn’t begin to understand the tangle of emotions brewing in his belly. It couldn’t be he was attracted to this man, a human, and yet ever since he entered the healer’s tent, he couldn’t stop looking at the pack’s prisoner.

Jody blushed and seemed more focused on healing the human’s leg. His sister crossed her arms and glared at him.

“Brother—” Thalia began.

“Thalia,” he interrupted her. “Help me understand why you’d spare this human’s life and bring him here, to sacred pack grounds.”

Talon used his authoritative tone, made sure she understood it was the Alpha she spoke to, not her brother.

“Hey, wait a moment. You all keep calling me ‘the human’ but I have a name. It’s Adam,” Adam stated, lifting his chin and daringly meeting his gaze.

Interesting. He flashed Adam a toothy smile, liking how Adam swallowed, looking unnerved. Talon didn’t know if this human lacked common sense, because few paranormals would dare stare him challengingly in the eye. Mercy didn’t exist in Talon’s dictionary. He wouldn’t be the Apex Alpha of the wolves if it did.

“Adam, let me handle the talking for the moment, okay?” Thalia asked in a gentle tone that surprised him. 

Thalia might reveal her soft side to fellow pack mates, but she always put on her emotionless mask when dealing with enemies or outsiders. What kind of magic did Adam wield, to be able to win his sister over so easily?

Thalia faced him and took a deep breath. “I saw him in one of my visions. He’s critical to the future of the Red Skinwalkers, to your future, brother.” 

* * * *

Talon narrowed his eyes, not missing the way Thalia phrased her words. She had made a clear distinction between the pack’s future and his own personal one. That troubled Talon on so many levels.

“What are you saying?” Talon changed his mind. “No, we’ll discuss this further in private.” 

Talon didn’t like discussing her abilities in front of Adam, a complete stranger. For all they knew, Adam might be a spy sent by the humans. Maybe he’d been intentionally left there by his fellow humans as bait, and yet, something felt off about this entire scenario. 

What if his sister hadn’t been there, and Fletcher ended up killing Adam? Did the human volunteer becoming a spy for his village, knowing the risks? 

Adam’s leg wound told Talon the human had been shot. Shifters didn’t use guns, not when they had natural weapons in the form of claws and teeth. Adam could have been truly left for dead by his own pack and yet—it could also all be an elaborate act for his pack to take pity and eventually trust Adam.

It certainly worked. Adam had already earned the protection of his sister. While Thalia didn’t hold any important official positions, the rest of the pack respected and relied on her ability to foresee future events.

Talon swore. He didn’t like this at all. “Tell me one thing, sister. Will this human betray us?”

Adam looked confused, glancing from Thalia, then back to him.

“This early, it’s hard to tell, but I can say this. Adam despises his own kind, even more than us, enough to never want to go back to the very people who wouldn’t hesitate to use him as bait for us monsters,” she answered.

Adam paled and gaped at her. “H-how did you know that?”

“Easy enough to deduce. One of my wolves told me your fellow hunters left you for dead,” he stated. That reason sounded believable enough, and even Thalia should know that it was wise not trusting this human completely.

Adam fisted his hands by his sides, not looking at anyone. His features twisted to hatred—not at them but probably at the humans who betrayed him. His distrust shifted a little, replaced by pity. Adam didn’t fit the description of a hunter, either. He lacked the muscles, and he bet Adam was no fighter.

Finally, Adam looked up. “What’s going to happen to me? Are you going to…” Adam paused, beginning to shake. 

For some reason, all Talon wanted to do was pull the frightened human in his arms. He merely told Adam the harsh truth, and part of him began to believe that Adam was no spy. Adam’s fear and his anger, they all seemed too real to be faked, and Talon was a master at detecting lies. 

“Are you going to torture information out of me?” Adam whispered, sounding grim.

“That won’t happen if you cooperate,” Thalia answered for him. 

He glowered at his sister. “Thalia, you’ll take full responsibility for him? Time will tell whether he’ll be useful to us or not.” 

He neared the bed. Jody must have sensed him approaching, because she backed away. Thalia bit her lip as he fisted Adam’s shirt and hauled him to his feet. Jody had done her magic and probably healed his leg by now. Their faces touched, and Talon couldn’t peel his gaze away from the tempting curve of Adam’s quivering lower lip. Talon wanted to claim that smart mouth, to find out what Adam tasted like. 

ADULT EXCERPT

“I just need to know,” Adam began. Talon could hear Adam’s racing heart beats as he closed in, eliminating any distance between them. Adam swallowed. “Is this a one-time kind of thing? I mean, I don’t mind. I know you’re the Apex Alpha of all the wolves, and I’m just a human, but I rather you set things straight at the start than—”

Adam talked too much, he decided. Talon silenced him with another kiss. He knew by taking Adam to bed, he’d be the talk of the pack, but he was Alpha for a reason. Justine and his sister wouldn’t tattle, but plenty of pack mates had seen him and Adam walking together. Let his wolves talk. He couldn’t deny himself any longer. Talon needed to have Adam or he’d go insane.

Adam gripped his shoulders and responded. Talon slipped his hands down the hem of Adam’s shirt, finally touching warm skin. His cock felt like a steel pipe between his legs. Talon didn’t want any clothes. They got in the way of them touching. One jerk and Adam’s shirt tore. He pulled away from the kiss, then licked his lips at the sight of Adam’s smooth, slightly sun-tanned skin. 

“That was my only shirt,” Adam told him, fire in his eyes. 

Seeing that look only made him hard. He always knew that, despite being human, Adam wasn’t fragile or weak. Adam was a survivor, even when his fellow humans literally tossed him to the wolves. Another captive would have caved, foolishly run away, or perished, but not Adam.

“Not a problem. I’ll get you another.”

He nudged Adam toward the bed and gave him a little shove. Adam’s ass landed on the edge of the bed.

“Pants off,” he ordered.

Adam’s fingers trembled as he tugged his pants, followed by his underwear, until he looked up at Talon, completely nude. He couldn’t wait to put his hands and mouth to that tempting slender body of Adam’s, to mark him up so everyone would know that Adam belonged exclusively to him. 

Talon ripped off his shirt and discarded the rest of his clothes.

Every instinct told Talon he’d regret what he was about to ask next, but Adam wasn’t his prisoner. “I won’t ask you again, Adam. Last chance. Do you want this, my cock inside you?”

* * * *

Adam stared. He couldn’t help himself. The Apex Alpha looked like he was carved out of solid rock, every inch of him made up of muscle, old scars, rake marks. Talon had the body of a warrior, and he seemed too terribly pale in comparison. The look on the Alpha’s face, though, was that of open hunger.

He noticed Talon had the same tribal tattoo the other pack members carried on his left shoulder, that of a red wolf, with its head thrown back, baring long fangs. The tattoo was a way to distract himself from the rest of Talon down there. He sucked in a breath as he moved his gaze to the package between Talon’s legs.

Talon was hung like a horse, his dick upright, thick and beautiful, already leaking pre-cum. Adam’s own prick curved upwards, and he wondered what it would feel like to have Talon pounding that impressive length inside his tiny hole.

“I expect an answer.”

Oh right. Talon asked him a question. “It’s hard to focus,” Adam admitted. “You’re like. Wow. No, no. I’m not walking away from what’s right in front of me. I can’t.”

The way Adam was drawn to Talon should have scared him senseless, but he didn’t care anymore. He had nothing to lose. Gareth and the others probably told Sam he died in the line of duty. 

Refusing Talon no longer seemed to exist in his dictionary. Adam would let this frightening, savage Apex Alpha do what he wanted with him, and he’d probably enjoy every second of it. 

“You’re something, too, Adam. Scoot up.” Talon climbed on top of him. 

Adam began to reach out, to touch those hard planes of muscle, but Talon gripped his wrists, a wicked smirk on his mouth. Adam’s pulse raced as Talon grabbed something from the table next to the bed—a belt—and looped the leather around his wrists, then attached it to the headboard. 

Fear and excitement intermingled into a confusing mess. 

“I plan to take my time enjoying you, ravishing this sweet body of yours,” Talon said with a growl. 

The Alpha took his mouth again, at the same time running his hands down the length of his body. Adam always looked in the mirror and seeing his slender body never being able to bulk up always filled him with disappointment. Talon, meanwhile, took his time, worshiping every inch of his skin. 

He thought a man like Talon wouldn’t be patient, but God. Talon kissed, sucked and licked, seemingly taking his time memorizing every inch of him. Adam never thought sex could ever feel this good, this amazing. Talon closed one mouth over his nipple, all the while keeping his golden gaze trained on him. It was intense, and yet he leaned close, all too aware of Talon’s big dick leaving smears of pre-cum over his belly. 

“Tell me, do you want to come?” Talon asked, closing one hand over his prick. Right there and then, Adam nearly unloaded his cum.