STORY EXCERPT

“So why do you hate Denver?” Edric asked again.

“It’s always going to be the seventy people who saw me lose my virginity in a cold ceremony. They think I’m a freak because we still don’t have answers as to why I grew over a foot besides some old writings in the archives about when a person knows their mate is in need or some stupid shit,” I answered before tossing down my drink again.

Wow. Mojitos were not meant to be chugged, but apparently I was planning to all night. I chuckled as I wondered how much booze we’d all drank already with how high our tolerance was. I glanced at Sampson and opened my shield so he could see my thoughts.

“I’ve made eleven pitchers. We don’t have much mint left up here. I’ll see if Asher has more,” he answered before setting a full pitcher down by me and leaving.

“Well that answers that question,” I chuckled, refilling my glass. “And I’m getting answers.” I stood and headed to the stairs, not able to take the stress my friend was under. When I got to the top I saw the Alphas and Betas were about in the same depressed and wounded mood we all were downstairs.

“Babe, what’s up?” Jared asked me as I walked in his direction, but I wasn’t coming for him. I quickly emptied my drink and handed him the glass to hold for me. Then I focused on Taylor.

“Don’t get involved in this, Tristan,” he warned me. “My thoughts are my own and you have no right to them.”

“You’re absolutely right,” I agreed and leaned in closer. “But since you’re a fucking coward and won’t tell your mates what’s going on I won’t stand by and do nothing when he’s dying inside. I’d butt in to stop a fight and I’ll butt in now.”

“Don’t—” he growled and went to push me away but I was faster and had powers. I held him still as I moved my hands to his head.

“No, you haven’t cheated but you really want to,” I mumbled as I searched his memories. “What’s the guy’s name?” Then I saw it in his mind. “Gabe, okay. So you miss the spark and have been considering Gabe because he’d be new and exciting again.”

“Let me go,” Taylor snarled, sounding funny because he couldn’t move his lips. I did what he wanted, getting the answers I needed.

“Carson, don’t do this,” Ian pleaded and seconds later I saw my friend’s blond head come up the stairs.

“He’s not cheating,” I informed him when he got closer.

“No, but I saw what you did,” he whispered before glancing at Taylor and Declan. “I release you from our contract. Wesley already said he’d nullify it when we get back so the bond will be broken without hurting any of us.” Then he turned to Ian. “I love you and I’m sorry this hurts you but I can’t stay with them when this is how they feel. I won’t live like this. I’ll find another way or run.”

“No, I won’t accept this,” Declan growled as he jumped to his feet. “I made a mistake and spoke out of anger to my mate about something that was upsetting me. I’m sorry you walked in on it but the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. I love you. I’m sorry I assumed the worst about what was going on but we can fix this. We can talk this out.”

“And coddle me some more?” he shouted as he teetered a bit. I moved over to him and wrapped my arm around him. “You never wanted to lead and I’m tired of living with the pressure from your decision to do it to save me. You hover constantly to the point I can’t take a bath without you checking on me and then you bitch I need to be coddled. Fuck and you.”

“We check on you in the bathtub because you tried to commit suicide in it once!” Declan shouted. “We’re scared that with the way you feel emotions and they affect you that it will send you into a depression spiral before we know what’s going on again and then it will be too late.”

“You should do that because you care, not because you think you have to coddle me. And Taylor just wants to fuck someone else, so I’m done. I’m not being the problem in the relationship anymore. You both hate leading a pack, so I release you.”

“You hate it too?” Declan asked Taylor.

“More than I can put into words,” Taylor drawled. “But I love all of you so I stay. And I don’t want to cheat. That’s not what this is about at all but I’m not having this conversation drunk and in front of everyone. We can discuss this later after we all calm down.”

“No, I shouldn’t have to have a conversation calmly with you after this all went down,” Carson cried as I rubbed his back. “You should have come to us before it went down like this. You’re only addressing it now because you got caught.” He glanced up at me with tears running down his cheeks. “Tell them the truth, Tristan. Don’t wait and let it fester. You see how keeping quiet and not being open is like acid to a mating.”

“I got him,” Ian said as Carson turned away and I went to help him. The Beta and my friend looked back at Declan and Taylor. “I love you both. I always have but I go with Carson because I don’t think either of you really deserve the love we have for you after this.”

I felt tears burn in my eyes as I watched my friend’s mating get blown to shit. Carson and Ian headed downstairs as I felt three presences I knew well move closer to me.

“We need to talk, baby,” Jared said quietly. “All of us, alone.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“You okay?” Rhyce asked me as he set down his note pad and pen. He’d gotten the job of inventory out here since he didn’t know what anything was, like me, he could write down what everyone else said.

“Fine,” I answered, licking my lips. I didn’t know what it was but something about tapping into this much power always left me with a side effect… I got so fucking hard and horny. “Just sit down and rest for a bit, Dewey. I’m going to walk off the aftereffects with Rhyce.”

“Okay. Have fun,” he panted as he leaned against Percy. “That was awesome. We cleaned the whole garage in five minutes.”

“It was very impressive, babe,” Percy agreed with a chuckle. I took Rhyce’s hand and dragged him outside with me. Once we were away from the garage I pushed him up against a thick tree that hid us.

“What the—” he started to ask but I mashed my mouth down to his. I felt powerful and alive and I wanted a piece of my man right that second.

“Going to fuck you, Rhyce,” I growled as I yanked his shorts down and fisted his cock. “Any objections?”

“No, none at all,” he panted as I sucked up a bruise on his neck. “Except we don’t have any slick.”

“Yes, we do. Dewey slipped me the tube he had with him when he saw what I wanted to do to you in my head when we were done. I guess his men jumped him after breakfast demanding sandy sex so he had some on him,” I explained as I got it out of my pocket. I spun my mate around and growled at the sight of his firm, muscular ass. I quickly opened it up and slicked up my fingers. “Hang on to the tree because I’m not going to be able to hold back and I don’t want you hurt.”

“Love you too,” he cried out as I pushed two fingers into his ass. “Fuck, you are horny.”

“For you,” I moaned as my wolf rode me hard after calling that much energy up. “Rhyce, I need it. I have to, please.”

“Like before?” he asked as he tilted his neck and looked at me. “What is it about when you try new things that you have to bite me again?”

“It’s power and my wolf likes it,” I answered as I pushed in a third finger and kept stretching him as quickly as I could. “But he can’t use power like I can and wants to leave his mark. I’m not really sure. I just need to fuck and bite after a rush like that.”

“Then do it. I’m ready, Tristan,” Rhyce moaned as I fucked him with my fingers faster. “Shit! It’s so hot when you go feral like this.”

“Glad you like it.” I growled my approval when he whimpered at the loss of my fingers after I pulled them out. I used the slick on my cock, just pulling down the front of my swim trunks, and then pushed into his ass. Rhyce went to lean over because the angle was so tight and I bet it burned. “Don’t you dare move!” I slapped his ass hard and bit his shoulder gently.

“Yes, Tristan, whatever you want,” he moaned like a slut and stayed where I wanted him. That’s what I was talking about! I worked my cock into him as fast as I could without hurting him and then moved his feet farther apart. I stopped biting him and sucked up another bruise on his shoulder.

“You know what I want, Rhyce.” I started slamming into his hole, smiling when he screamed my name. I loved the sound of my men letting me know how much pleasure I gave them. His ass kept sucking me right back in every time I pulled out, as if pissed I wasn’t keeping his hole full the entire time.

“Tristan, please,” Rhyce begged about ten minutes later, constantly pounding my cock inside of him. “Please, babe. I can’t hold out anymore.”

“Fine but we’re going twice,” I warned him.