STORY EXCERPT

Streaks of blood and fur still covered parts of the ground from the other challenges, telling Joey he didn’t belong here. He reminded himself that while he might not be trained in combat, he protected his sister well enough.

Lance appeared on the other end of the circle, barefoot and only wearing jeans. He sucked in a breath. Lance looked bigger, having gained more muscle than the last time Joey spotted him. Old rake marks and scars marred his upper body. Where the Black Claw pack tattoo used to be on Lance’s left shoulder had been replaced with a new pack tattoo, the grinning wolf of Devil Hills.

Lance wore his dark gold hair short now, as opposed to the shoulder length he favored before. Those brilliant jade irises burned with bright hatred, though, and the intensity in them unsettled Joey. The Beta of the Devil Hills wolf pack carried the scent of aggression with him, along with wood and pine, the same smell as these woods.

Only a fool would want to cross this man, but all Joey could think about was how he wanted to climb Lance like a tree, to reacquaint himself with Lance’s body. For Lance to take his lips, remind him who he belonged to.

“I have to hand it to you, little wolf. You have the guts to show your face in front of me after all these years,” Lance said, words accompanied with a growl.

Just like that, the delusion he conjured about how their reunion would go disappeared. The Lance he’d known had always been in control. The stranger in front of him looked ready to rip his throat out. So many unsaid words stood between them.

I missed you.

I kept thinking of you all these years.

I wish I had the guts to approach you earlier.

“It’s good to see you, too,” he said, nearly choking on his words.

Lance narrowed his gaze. “You want a piece of me, little wolf? Then a piece you’ll have.”

Then the Beta dropped his pants, and before Joey could admire the massive cock between Lance’s legs, the Beta shifted. He swore and began fumbling for his clothes. The crowd started to make bets against him. Joey hardly heard them. In seconds, Lance’s gold pelted wolf tore from his skin. Joey finally kicked off his shoes and reached for his beast.

Shit. He should have listened to Freida. Of course the years would have changed Lance. He couldn’t see anything of the man he once knew. Rumors said the Beta of the Devil Hills pack was collected, the voice of reason, and yet all he’d seen was white-hot anger from Lance.

Fur covered his chest and shoulders. Bones shifted and organs rearranged themselves. Then it struck Joey that Lance didn’t go after him immediately despite completing the shift first. Relief washed over him, but it was momentary. Once he hit all four paws, Lance went for him, fangs flashing and murder in his eyes.

****

Joey dodged, or tried to, but for a big bastard, Lance moved incredibly fast. He’d nearly forgotten what a formidable warrior Lance could be. Lance pounced on him, making Joey taste the dirt. They tangled on the ground, but the fight ended as soon as it could start. Lance was bigger, stronger. The Beta landed Joey flat on his back, fangs on his throat.

Shock reverberated through him as Lance scraped his teeth against his fur, drawing blood. A warning, Joey realized. Fur receded and every bone in his body froze as Lance traded forms. Even in human form, the Beta of the Devil Hills pack was lethal.

Joey stared at Lance’s muscular frame, remembering the last time they’d been together, Lance had been incredibly gentle in bed. During that rare intimate moment, Joey had allowed himself to let all his guards down, to give into what his heart was telling him. He’s the one. Ours. That was what his wolf told him the night Lance took him to bed.

The image of the past shattered. Joey chose to leave the Black Claws pack house with Freida, considered returning several times but never had the guts to even do that. By the time he heard Lance was alive and had become the Beta of the Devil Hills pack, he could have found his way to Lance right away. Instead, he waited, too cowardly to act until it was too late.

Lance curled one hand around his throat, squeezing but not choking him, bringing Joey back to harsh reality.

Then the Beta snarled into his face. Looking into Lance’s fully amber eyes, he realized what a fool he’d been. Werewolves changed eye color when intense emotions rode them. To him, Lance had always seemed put together, incapable of losing his temper, but years could change a man. I did this to him.

“Don’t kill him, Lance. Please!”

Joey craned his head, terrified as Freida nearly bolted into the challenge circle, but Ariel pushed at her legs, snarling at her in warning because a dominant wolf in the throes of bloodlust sometimes only saw his opponent.

“You brought your sister here?” Lance asked him, shaking his head, pupils more blue than yellow now. Joey couldn’t stand the judgement in Lance’s eyes, wanted to explain himself. It was no use, though, because Lance didn’t look like he’d listen. “You’re not a warrior, little wolf, only a skilled liar. Get out of my lands.”

ADULT EXCERPT

He nipped and sucked at Joey’s lower lip, continued leaving a trail down the side of Joey’s jaw, the side of his neck. Lance put his lips against where shoulder flowed to neck, bit hard enough to leave a bruise but not draw blood, not yet. He intended to enjoy his little wolf much longer.

“Tell me,” Lance murmured, tracing Joey’s flat nipple with his tongue, before leaving a small bite on it. Joey moaned. “How many other men have you been with?”

“No one.”

“Don’t lie to me. I won’t get mad.” Releasing Joey’s wrists, he went down on his mate. Lance used his tongue to trace Joey’s veined length, paying attention to Joey’s cockhead. He liked how Joey squirmed above him and pleas slipped from Joey’s lips.

“Please,” Joey uttered.

“Answer the question.”

“It’s true. I swear. Freida and I spent so much time running, there was no time for romance.”

Lance knew Joey told the truth and that made him smile. “Good, because after I fuck you senseless, there won’t be any other man but me.”

“Possessive bastard,” Joey whispered, crying out when Lance opened his mouth and began taking his prick in.

Lance bobbed his head up and down several times. He reached for Joey’s balls, applying slight pressure to them. Knowing Joey was on the verge of coming, he pulled his mouth away. Lance’s own shaft curved upwards, and he’d go insane if he didn’t bury himself inside Joey’s sweet ass soon. Patience, he told his wolf. Joey was finally within their grasp, but he wanted both of them to enjoy this moment.

“Why did you do that?” Joey demanded, looking flustered.

“Beg me and maybe I’ll be nice to you, little wolf,” Lance said.

* * * *

“W-what?” Joey blurted, barely able to string a coherent thought, especially with Lance looking at his dick like candy.

God, but he’d imagined Lance going down on him, rewarding him in his fantasies, but never actually thought to experience it in reality. Dominant shifters usually took and seldom gave, but Lance had been a generous lover, he remembered.

Beg me, Lance had told him.

Blushing, Joey murmured, “Please.”

“What exactly are you begging me for, little wolf?”

“Your dick in me.” Joey knew he probably looked like a human tomato by now, but he wanted nothing more than to feel Lance buried balls deep inside him, reminding him who he belonged to.

“Good answer, but I changed my mind. I don’t want to take you here, out in the open. I want you in my den, my bed.”

Joey’s heart raced at those words. A dominant shifter’s personal space was their private sanctuary, and by inviting him to his home, Lance was telling Joey he wasn’t just a stranger. Lance shifted back to wolf. In a daze, Joey did the same. He couldn’t recall much of the run, but he did remember sensing other Devil Hills wolves. They were never in his line of sight, but he knew they were there.

Then he remembered the Devil Hills pack chose that clearing for a reason, because they refused to allow outsiders into the heart of their territory. Yet Lance was risking plenty, the wrath of his Alpha and pack, by bringing Joey here. He followed Lance past a few trees. The ground under his paws turned even, a rough dirt road, he realized, following the trail which led to a modest-looking single floor cabin.

His wolf was a mess of emotions inside of him. Somehow, looking at Lance’s cabin resonated deep within him. Joey didn’t realize he hadn’t moved from his spot in front of the porch until Lance called out to him.

“Aren’t you coming in, little wolf?” Lance asked, leaning by the doorway.

Joey shifted forms and took a few seconds to stare at Lance, completely naked and gorgeous, his tanned muscles gleaming slightly with sweat. Lance had a warrior’s body, riddled with old scars and rake marks. Joey wanted nothing better than to run his hands down that tempting hard flesh. God. It was natural he’d have doubts. How could a man like Lance want a nobody like him?

“What’s wrong?” Lance asked, eliminating the distance between them.

“Still wondering what you’re doing with someone like me,” he said, because while they were in the water, Joey made a silent promise to himself to always be truthful with his mate.

“Clearly, you don’t see what I do.” Lance gripped his arm, tugged him close for another scorching kiss which left his dick happy.

“What’s that?” he whispered, allowing Lance to pull him inside.

“My fucking amazing and brave mate.”

“What? I’m not brave.”

“You are. You’ve protected your sister all your life, but you can stop running and worrying. I’ll always watch your back, and I’ll rip out the throat of any fucker who comes near you or Freida,” Lance said with a growl.

“I’ve ran before. I’m not proud of my actions but I know this time I’m here to stay,” Joey whispered. “You’re home, Lance.”

They didn’t make it past the living room, because Lance claimed his mouth again, running his big and callused hands down Joey’s slender body. He moaned when Lance gave his ass a squeeze.

“Mine,” Lance said, voice harsh, pupils a circle of gold.

The hunger in the Beta’s eyes erased all of Joey’s doubts.

“Yours,” he whispered, still not completely believing this was happening, but he wanted to feel Lance inside him now. “Fuck me.”

“Hands and knees,” Lance ordered, helping him to position. “Wait here.”

The Beta disappeared inside a door and returned with lube in hand. Joey lowered himself to the hardwood floor, chest pressed against the woods as he thrust his ass in offering to his mate. Lance chuckled, the sound deep and sexy.

“Fuck, Joey. Look at you. So perfect and all mine.” Lance ran his hand down his back, his ass. The Beta nudged his legs wider, and he was glad Lance couldn’t see his face. Like this, Lance had a perfect view of his exposed balls and tormented dick.

Lance uncapped the lube moments later, drizzled a generous amount inside his hole, and slid one slick finger inside him. He moaned as Lance added a second, then a third, widening him for access.

“Please,” he repeated. “I want you.”

“Soon, baby. I’ll ride you so hard, you’ll only be able to think about me the next day.”