STORY EXCERPT

Maddox Collins lay in bed staring at the ceiling. He was waiting for Scout and Montana to fall asleep. The two men had been keeping him inside their home, away from the pack that hated him. He didn’t blame them. His actions had dictated this outcome. He’d crossed the line in a moment of jealous rage and attacked his best friend, Holden. Hell, he almost killed the man.

Bile rose to his throat, almost choking him, and Maddox sat up. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, placing his elbows on his thighs, and took a few deep breathes. Guilt and shame ate at him and he knew that he needed to leave New Orleans. He didn’t belong, not when he’d caused so much pain and damage to those around him.

Standing up, Maddox grabbed his backpack and slung it over both his shoulders. He tried not to make a noise as he tiptoed to the bedroom door. Pressing his ear against the door, he closed his eyes and listened, trying to locate any sounds. Silence. His heart hammered hard against his chest and nervous energy filled his stomach, making him slightly ill. Maddox gripped the knob and turned it slowly. He didn’t want Scout, his mate, to stop him from leaving. He didn’t deserve the compassion or forgiveness he saw in the other man’s eyes.

Stepping into the hallway, Maddox moved carefully over the carpeted floor. With the supernatural hearing of shifters he was scared that he’d get caught any second. Each step felt like a small victory until he finally reached the front door. He closed his eyes for a moment, forcing himself to not look back. It was hard to walk away this time. He wasn’t a kid, leaving New Orleans and heading for a private school in Europe. He was an adult leaving his fated mate.

Closing the front door behind him on a soft click, Maddox stepped off the porch and onto the thick grass. He walked quickly, putting as much distance as he could between Scout and himself. Each step was more difficult than the last. It felt as if he was dredging through thick mud. His wolf howled, whined, and begged for him to go back, but Maddox refused. He couldn’t look Scout in the eye, not after everything he’d done. The romance with Ranger and attacking Holden…those sins were too much to forgive. He didn’t deserve happiness.

The main pack house, also known as The Castle, came into view. Maddox stayed under the tree line, sticking to the dark shadows. Keeping his head down, hands shoved deep into his pockets, he kept his pace brisk. He didn’t know where he was going. Luckily, he had a college degree. He should be able to do something with it, even though he didn’t have any practical work experience.

“Where are you going, Maddie?” Ranger’s voice washed over him and Maddox jerked to a stop. Shit, I was so close. He used to love that voice, had for so many years.

He’d only been sixteen when he ran away with his two best friends, Holden and Blair. They’d left their old pack behind when the three were caught experimenting with each other at Blair’s house. That night, Blair had been beaten by his father and to save themselves, they ran. The three of them ended up in New Orleans, right outside the Silver Bullet club. Hungry and desperate, they dug through the trash, looking for food. That night, Gideon, the pack Alpha, welcomed them into his pack.

They’d been sent to Europe to attend private school only a couple of days later. The Beta of the pack, Sean Griffin, needed distance from his mate, Blair. Maddox went along, knowing that he himself had scented his own mate among the older, gorgeous wolves. At the time, Scout had been too intimidating and scary to confront, so he’d kept his mouth shut. Over time, he’d leaned on Ranger and fell in love, or at least he thought it was love. Now, he wasn’t so sure.

“Don’t.” He shook his head. He didn’t want Ranger calling him Maddie, baby, or love. Those pet names had been special at one time. “This turned into something so ugly.” He felt sick to his stomach, his eyes filling with tears. “I loved you. I didn’t want to come back here. I wanted to stay in Europe.”

Things would’ve been so different if they’d stayed behind. He wouldn’t have broken Scout’s heart and Holden never would’ve been injured. Maddox took the blame, carrying the burden of making the wrong decisions squarely on his shoulders.

“I made a mistake,” Ranger whispered.

ADULT EXCERPT

“Make me yours, Scout.” Those sweet words were music to his ears.

Sliding into bed, he covered Maddox’s body with his own. The first touch of naked skin on naked skin made him shudder with excitement. He lined up their bodies, everything touching…chests, hips, cocks, and legs. Scout slowly rocked his hips, sliding their shafts together. Oh, God, he feels so fucking good! The smooth glide of his cock against Maddox’s…he’d never felt anything so wonderful. A deep moan from Maddox told him that his mate was experiencing the same thing.

“I need you so bad,” he murmured.

“Take me, please. Shit.” He groaned, his muscles tensing. “I’m not going to last long.”

Scout moved down his mate’s body, grabbed his hips and guided him over onto his hands and knees. He ran his palms up and down the man’s back, feeling his muscles tense and relax. He gripped Maddox’s ass cheeks, pulling them apart before lowering his head. Maddox gasped, letting loose a string of curse words before his tongue even touched the man’s hole. Scout grinned and chuckled before he licked along Maddox’s cleft and over the wrinkled skin of his hole.

“Oh, my God!” he shouted, spreading his legs wider. “Don’t stop…don’t stop…don’t stop.”

Maddox rocked his hips, offering himself, and Scout doubled his efforts. He licked, chewed, and sucked his mate’s entrance before stiffening his tongue and piercing Maddox’s opening. The younger wolf howled, the sounds of his pleasure filling the room. Scout worked his tongue in and out, bathing Maddox’s entrance. Sliding one hand down, he palmed Maddox’s balls and the man rolled his hips, moaning.

“Fuck! I need more…more…more.” Maddox dropped his head to the bed, pushing his ass back at Scout.

Giving Maddox what he wanted, Scout rolled his balls while pushing a finger in beside his tongue. When he slid a second digit into Maddox, he curled his fingers and pressed against the man’s gland. Maddox let out a deep groan, his body shaking slightly. Rocking back against Scout’s face, the younger wolf rode his fingers.

“More,” Maddox panted. “Please, I need your cock.”

“Anything you want,” Scout told him, kissing each ass cheek.

He needed lube. Fuck. Scout jumped off the bed, grabbed the drawer handle on the bedside table, and pulled it open. He grabbed a tube, sighing in relief. Pouring a generous amount onto his fingers, he coated his hard shaft before climbing back on the bed. He moved back into position behind his mate and coated the man’s channel. Scout slid two fingers in, coating his internal walls, before adding a third digit, making sure he was ready. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt his mate.

“Now…damn it…I can’t wait anymore.” Maddox groaned.

Scout eased his fingers free, using the remaining lube to coat his straining erection. He aligned his cock head with Maddox’s hole. He added a little pressure, pushing forward. The head of his erection popped into the hot, tight, moist perfection of Maddox’s body. His mate stiffened beneath him, and he stopped immediately. He stroked his hands up Maddox’s back, massaging his shoulders, trying to soothe him. Leaning over him, he covered Maddox’s back and placed gentle kisses along his neck.

He whispered, “I won’t move until you’re ready.”

“I’m ready,” Maddox panted. “You feel amazing. Love the way you feel inside me.”

“Oh, baby, I love being inside you,” Scout told him. This was his dream come true.

Scout reached under Maddox and gripped his cock. He stroked him as he nuzzled the man’s neck, inhaling the sweet smell of arousal. He pulled back slowly before pushing back in, setting an easy rhythm while jacking his mate. He needed more, the slow movements…Fuck! I need more.

Leaning back, he gripped Maddox’s hips and quickened his pace. Scout thrust forward, sinking his length into his mate’s ass. His balls slapped against Maddox’s ass and he shuddered, feeling the tight hold of his mate’s body. Throwing his head back, he groaned. So fucking good.

“Maddox, you feel so fucking good, baby.” He moaned, losing control, pounding harder and faster.

“Oh, fuck, yeah. Harder! Faster!” Maddox moved under him, pumping his hips and shaking his gorgeous ass.

Smiling, Scout obeyed once more. He was close to the edge and wanted to come deep inside his mate. He wanted to spill his seed as he bit into the man’s neck, marking him. Adjusting his angle, he swiveled his hips and thrust into his mate deeper…faster…harder. Maddox groaned as Scout set up a punishing rhythm, pegging his prostate over and over.

“Close…so close…gonna.” Maddox leaned his head sideways, exposing his neck, and his teeth automatically lengthened just staring at the unblemished skin. “Bite. Mark. Claim.”

Scout didn’t need to be told twice. He covered his mate and sank his dick deep one more time just as he plunged his fangs into the man’s shoulder. The rich taste of Maddox filled his mouth, and Scout moaned.