 
# **Table of Contents**

Description

Title Page

Copyright

Also by the Author

Dedication

Author's Note

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Free Preview: Geek Chic (Bleacke Shifters 2)

Free Preview: Her Vampire Obsession

Free Preview: Governor

Free Preview: The Great Turning

About the Author

# **Description**

#

_[MF, paranormal romance, wolf shifters, Alpha heroine, geek hero, urban fantasy]_

_When girl meets geek, the fur's gonna fly._

Dewi Bleacke is a no-nonsense Prime Alpha wolf. As head Enforcer of the Targhee pack, she's in charge of Florida. Her assignment is to kill a dirtbag who sold his daughter. She doesn't expect to find her handsome, albeit geeky, soulmate in the process.

Dr. Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert lives a quiet, boring life. A professor at USF, he has no girlfriend, no car, and is a devout vegetarian. So when a mysterious woman with mocha eyes literally drags him out of his booth and then proceeds to have her way with him, it's not his average night out. When she follows their sexy interlude by abducting him after killing a man, he suspects life has just taken a drastically odd turn.

Now Dewi, her partner Beck, and her surrogate father Badger, have to educate her new "grazer" mate on the ways of the Targhee wolves. "Ken" does his best to fit in. But an old killer lurks in the shadows—the wolf who murdered Dewi's parents. Can she keep Ken safe, or will her mate prove to everyone that he's a lot more than just Dewi Bleacke's geek?
Bleacke's Geek

_Bleacke Shifters ~ Book 1_

Lesli Richardson

©2018

WWW.LESLIRICHARDSON.COM
**Bleacke's Geek  
Bleacke Shifters Book 1  
Copyright © 2018 by Lesli Richardson** **  
****  
** First E-book Publication: October, 2012  
Revised October, 2018

**ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.** This work may not be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means currently available or available in the future, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, for free or for sale, without express written permission from the publisher and author.

Distributing copies of this e-book to others is a violation of international copyright law and infringes the rights of the legal copyright holder. This e-book may not be shared, copied, sold, given away, offered as a contest prize, or otherwise distributed to anyone other than the original purchaser. Distributing this e-book as part of any collection, or with any type of resale permission, is also strictly forbidden and a violation of copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

This is my livelihood. PLEASE do NOT share, upload, or otherwise distribute this book. When people buy my books, it pays my bills. Please don't steal from me. If you want me to keep bringing you more stories, I need to be able to pay my bills. Thank you.

# **Also by the Author**

#

Please sign up for my author newsletter, where I post info about both my Lesli Richardson and Tymber Dalton pen names, and never miss a new release or update:

<https://tymberdalton.com/newsletter/>

**Writing as Lesli Richardson:**

**The Bleacke Shifter Series:**

1) _Bleacke's Geek_

2) _Geek Chic_

3) _A Bleacke Wind_

4) _Bleacke Spirit_

5) _A Bleacke Christmas_

6) _Geek-Speak_

7) _Bleacke Expectations_

**The Great Turning Series:**

1) _The Great Turning_

2) _The Great Turning: Into the Turn_

3) _The Great Turning: Future Ages_

**Governor Trilogy:**

1) _Governor_

2) _Lieutenant_

3) _Chief_

4) _Yes, Governor_

5) _Pet_ (Coming Soon)

__

**Determination Trilogy:**

(A standalone trilogy set in the same world as the Governor Trilogy.)

1) _Dignity_

2) _Diligence_

3) _Desire_

__

**Devastation Trilogy:**

(A standalone trilogy set in the same world as the Governor Trilogy.)

1) _Dirge_

2) _Solace_

3) _Release_

__

**Inequitable Trilogy:**

(A standalone trilogy set in the same world as the Governor Trilogy.)

1) _Indiscretion_

2) _Innocent_

3) _Incisive_

__

**Devout Trilogy:**

(A standalone trilogy set in the same world as the Governor Trilogy.)

1) _Sacred_

2) _Profane_

3) _Penance_

__

**Maxim Colonies:**

1) _Jailmates_

2) _Farborn_

3) _Saudade_

_Of Boardwalks and Bison_

_Cross Country Chaos_

_Poly_

_Her Vampire Obsession_ (Midnight Doms Series)

**Coming Soon:**

Deviant Trilogy

_How Many Times Do I Have to Say I'm Sorry?_

Lesli Richardson is better known by her more prolific Tymber Dalton pen name. Please check out her website for more info on all her titles under both her pen names, including full book and series listings, trivia, character information, and more.

<http://www.tymberdalton.com>

Honest reviews are greatly appreciated and can help boost a book's rankings on retail sites. Thank you!

# **Dedication**

#

To Hubby and Sir, my two favorite geeks.

# **Author's Note**

#

It is strongly recommended the books in the series be read in order.

The reading order is as follows:

  1. _Bleacke's Geek_
  2. _Geek Chic_
  3. _A Bleacke Wind_
  4. _Bleacke Spirit_
  5. _A Bleacke Christmas_
  6. _Geek-Speak_
  7. _Bleacke Expectations_

There will be more books in this series. Please click here to visit the series page on my website for the most up-to-date information.

# **Chapter One**

#

The parking lot of a crowded neighborhood sports pub in north Tampa, not too far from the University of South Florida, on a steamy, early June Saturday night.

Nothing unusual about that.

Leaning against her car, she patted her hip. Through her black, double-breasted oilskin coat she felt the comforting weight and profile of the nine-millimeter in its holster. The coat, a man's style that she'd had custom-tailored to better fit her, hung midway down her calves, the back split up to her ass, allowing her unimpeded mobility. Tonight she wore black jeans and an oversized black, button-up shirt, with a black tank top on under that, along with her black leather motorcycle boots.

Admittedly clichéd, but it hid blood well, if necessary.

Pushing away from her black Saleen S281, she strode toward the pub. Two college-aged guys standing outside the front door went slack-jawed and silent as they stared at her approach. She didn't need her special abilities to know what they thought as they watched her stalk across the wet parking lot. Coat billowing behind her, combined with steam rising from the tarmac, a smooth, silent gait that made it seem as if she floated, and a kick-ass car.

She could practically hear their erections rising.

Frat Boy One shifted position a little so he could crane his neck to look around her and get a better view of her ride.

"You walk within ten feet of it," she muttered, just loudly enough that they could hear as she passed them, "and I'll rip your balls off and have them deep-fried as my appetizer."

Both men immediately took a step out of her way, giving her a wide berth as she entered the pub.

As she'd expected, no one inside noticed her entrance. It was a busy Saturday night. The waitresses looked frazzled, while the puck drop of the Bolts-Blackhawks playoff game on TV held most of the patrons' attention.

Her intended mark sat in a far corner booth, with his back to the door while he shot the shit with three of his scumbag human friends.

_Good. He's not expecting it. Stupid fuck. How could you sell your fifteen-year-old daughter to a drug dealer and_ not _expect retribution from pack elders?_

It boggled her mind.

She preferred to not take him down inside the main dining room, especially since there were a few kids in the pub. At least not kill him in the open. Maybe if he got up to take a leak, then she could do it back in the bathroom.

One of the harried waitresses noticed her and waved her hand around the dining room. "Sit anywhere you want, hon. We'll be right with you."

She nodded. Crossing the dining room away from her mark, she slid onto an empty stool at the bar where she could see him. Jonathan "Jay-Jay" Peckingham, Junior.

_Pecker_ head _would be a better name for him._

He sat totally oblivious to her presence. Laughing with his friends, he stuffed his face full of fried cheese sticks, totally unaware he was consuming his last meal.

_Good. That means he'll be there for a while if they're only on the appetizers._

She ordered fried mushrooms and water and waited for her chance. While she watched, her mark and his friends killed a pitcher of beer and immediately ordered a refill.

The hockey game didn't interest her despite her love of the sport. Not tonight. Not even when the Bolts managed to score two back-to-back power play goals midway through the first period. She kept her focus on the men, although it would appear to anyone else that her attention was fixed on the TV across the bar.

Unfortunately, the call of nature strikes even pack Enforcers.

_I can check out the back, at least._

When the bartender walked past her seat at the bar, she left a twenty by her plate, reached out to touch his arm, and said, "I'll be right back. Little girls' room. Keep the change. Don't give away my seat."

He smiled, as much from the nearly fifteen dollar tip she left him as from the silent command she sent him to forget her face.

On her walk through the pub, she considered her options on how to best take out Peckingham with as little risk as possible to the other patrons. Deep in thought, the unexpected scent slammed into her as if she'd been sucker punched, stopping her in her tracks.

_No. Oh,_ hell _no. Not tonight!_

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to force her feet to move. Even when a waitress struggled to scooch past her, she didn't step aside.

_Forward_ , she commanded her feet.

She opened her eyes and scanned the room. Of their own volition, her feet turned her away from the back hallway where the bathrooms lay and to the left, into the other side of the pub's dining room.

_Please let him be married. Taken. Fuck, let him be gay!_

She had to take down Peckingham tonight. Those were her orders from the tippy-top of the Targhee pack food chain. Not that she needed orders, in this case. She was happy to take the fucker out. But considering an edict from the pack's Alpha had been issued, if she didn't, her hide could, literally, be on the line. Not that she had any intention of not following through with the edict.

In fact, she'd enjoy it. He was a dirtbag. She refused to allow another child to be put in harm's way by not taking the fucker out.

But if she didn't take care of claiming her mate _now_ she wouldn't be able to focus on her job.

Threading her way through the tables, she rounded a room divider where two more rows of booths and several tables were located. She came upon a slightly geeky-looking man sitting alone in a booth. He sat hunched over a laptop with his back to her, a stack of papers haphazardly sitting on the far side of a basket of fried mushrooms.

_Well, at least we have that in common. That's a start._

She stepped up to the table and stared down at him, waiting. Mr. Mystery Geek finally looked up when he noticed her standing there. No rings on his left hand, and what looked like a college class ring on his right. He wore wire-rimmed glasses that didn't hide his sweet, brown eyes. He kept his brown hair neatly styled, and his cheeks clean-shaven. Maybe one-eighty-five soaking wet, if he was lucky. She couldn't tell how tall he was, but judging from his torso length he likely stood a few inches taller than her.

_Thank the Goddess for that, at least._

When she didn't speak, he nervously said, "Um, may I help you?"

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

_Fuck._

Mate.

She had to claim him. _Now_. Otherwise, even if she didn't get herself killed trying to take out Peckerhead because she was distracted thinking about this guy, she would drive herself nearly mad trying to track him down again if the crowd bolted and cleared the pub.

_Decisions, decisions._

"Are you married?" she softly asked after she opened her eyes again.

"I beg your pardon?"

She fought the urge to bare her canines at him and take him right there. Her tongue flicked over the point of her right one as she felt the pleasant ache of it wanting to slide out. "I asked if you're married."

Looking obviously puzzled, he shook his head.

"Girlfriend?"

"No."

"Gay?"

That apparently motivated him to righteous indignation. "Look, just because I'm an academic and single doesn't mean I'm gay!"

She spotted his computer bag in the other seat. She grabbed it, scooped up his papers and slid them into it, then shut the lid on his laptop and dumped it in, too. When he tried to protest, she nailed him with her eyes and held a finger to her lips.

_"Silence."_

His eyes widened as he clearly heard and understood her silent command. Looking shocked, he slowly nodded.

Even more proof that he was meant to be her mate. They had an instant connection without her even laying a finger on him.

She dropped two twenties onto the table to take care of his order and anything else he might have coming from the kitchen. Then she slung his bag over her shoulder and grabbed his arm. When she pulled him out of his seat, it was like peeling fresh, wet newspaper off a windshield. No resistance whatsoever.

She looked up at him. She'd guessed right. _At least he's taller than me._ Not quite six feet tall, though.

_Jesus, Badger's going to laugh his ass off._

Stifling her aggravated moan, as well as her desire to claim him right there in the middle of the crowded dining room, she kept her fingers clamped around his wrist and led him toward the back. She had to have him.

_Right now._

* * * *

_This can't be happening._ When he'd felt the woman's presence by his table and looked up into her beautiful large, mocha-colored eyes, he wondered if she was pissed at him for taking her usual spot or something. She stood there just staring at him. A walking ball of intensity, heat shimmers seemed to radiate off her.

Now after answering her questions and watching her clear his stuff off the table, he found himself being dragged along behind her toward the back of the restaurant.

_Why am I not fighting this?_

He thought about it for a moment. _Wait, why the hell_ would _I fight this?_

It was almost like he could hear her muttering under her breath, even though it sounded in his brain and not in his ears against the noisy backdrop of patrons watching the hockey game. Not that he paid the game any attention. He hated violence of any kind, even sports.

But they served great fried mushrooms here.

_Okay, focus. Hot woman taking me somewhere._

When he hesitated at the ladies' restroom door, the mystery woman dragged him in behind her as if he didn't have several inches and at least fifty pounds on her.

_Jesus, how strong is she, anyway?_

She could give Buffy the Vampire Slayer a run for her money. Actually, he realized that description seemed to fit her, except she had glossy, dark auburn hair that beautifully accentuated her creamy skin.

* * * *

Thankfully the ladies' room was empty and had a separate large, accessible stall for patrons with disabilities. She shoved her mystery man into the stall ahead of her and locked them inside. After setting his bag down, she pulled his glasses off his face and carefully set them on the sink before she shrugged off her coat, kicked off her boots, and started working on her jeans.

"Pants down," she growled. "Now."

That seemed to break his spell. "What?"

"Down. _Now_. If I have to rip them off you it'll hurt like hell when I do. Not to mention I _will_ march you out of here half-naked when we're done. I'd rather not draw that much attention to us."

Apparently sensing he couldn't argue with her, he started working on his belt with trembling fingers.

Her jeans and panties already lay on top of her coat in a puddle of fabric. His khakis hadn't hit his knees yet when she reached over and yanked down his tighty whities.

"That's good enough." She grabbed him and kissed him deeply, now tasting him as well as smelling his scent.

No doubt about it. He was _hers_.

She yanked the collar of his blue knit shirt to the side to expose his left shoulder. He tried to offer token protest again but she kissed him, silencing him.

Not hung like a horse but plenty respectable enough, his cock stiffened when she wrapped her fingers around it. "Do _not_ drop me," she growled. That was all the warning she gave him before she hopped up, wrapped her legs around his hips, and sank his shaft inside her.

Explosions went off behind her closed eyelids, and that wasn't even an orgasm.

_Holy fuck!_

His obvious confusion immediately transformed to passion as nature and need took over. He grabbed her ass, holding her, then turned them around, bracing her against the sink as he thrust hard and fast. Maybe he didn't look like much on the surface, but he sure as hell knew what to do with the ample equipment the Goddess gave him.

"That's it, baby. Hard and fast," she managed to whisper before she felt her canines elongate and she sank her fangs into the flesh of his left shoulder.

With enough sense of mind to slap her palm over his mouth to muffle his scream, she kept her teeth buried in his flesh, savoring the taste of his blood over her tongue, sweet and sharp, warm and...

_Mine._

He came with her, her climax milking his from him as she licked his wound to stop the bleeding. It would completely heal in a few days, indelibly marking him as hers.

_At least he didn't drop me._

* * * *

__

He tried to regain his wits and realized that would be damn near impossible at this point. In the space of less than five minutes it seemed his life had totally shifted on its axis, wildly swinging from boring reality into something resembling _The Twilight Zone_. All he'd wanted was to grade papers and eat dinner, alone as usual, and at least feel like he was part of his surroundings.

He didn't have a lot of partners to compare the mystery lady to, but he'd never had an orgasm as powerful as the one he'd just experienced with this strange, beautiful woman. He came so hard it felt like his cock would explode.

_And what the_ hell _with the biting thing?_

Not that he'd ever had a woman practically rape him like this before. Okay, so not rape, he damn sure didn't mind what she was doing to him once he got into it. Maybe a half-foot shorter than his five-eleven, with straight, dark hair falling around her shoulders. A few light freckles dusted her cheeks over creamy skin. Her mocha eyes seemed to compel his obedience. And that throaty voice!

Reality intruded. He'd just had unprotected sex—albeit very hot and very good sex, the best of his life—with a perfect stranger.

In a bathroom.

A ladies' bathroom.

Her palm against his mouth felt hot. Unable to help himself, he flicked his tongue against her flesh. She tasted sweet, salty, exotic.

Something inside him wanted to curl up with her in a very large, very comfortable bed and hold her in his arms forever.

_Maybe those assholes in the Engineering department hired her to fuck me._ They'd been busting his balls enough lately about his lack of a love life. Except she felt dangerous in a totally sexy way. Really, that coat she wore made her look like an extra from some Quentin Tarantino movie.

Then again, it was the first sex he'd had with another person in three years. And she was really, _really_ hot.

_Maybe I shouldn't complain too much._

* * * *

She pulled her palm away from his mouth. When she put her feet down, she felt something she hadn't felt in...ever. Shaky, knees trembling.

He leaned against the wall. "What the fuck?" he whispered.

_Peckingham_.

"No time." She didn't have time to explain to this poor bastard what just happened. She needed to take out her mark and safely get her mate the hell out of there. There'd be plenty of time for pleasantries and snuggling and more fucking later.

_Much_ more fucking.

She reached for her panties and jeans and pulled them on. "Get dressed. _Now_."

He stood there, pants down around his ankles. "What?"

" _Pull_. Your. Pants. _Up_." She buckled her belt and had her boots and coat on and his laptop case slung over her shoulder again by the time he leaned over to reach for his clothes.

Leaning a little, she got a look at his pale ass. Tight, nice.

Lustful heat rolled through her core when she imagined leaving bite marks on his unblemished flesh.

_Later. At home_.

"Hurry up," she growled.

He straightened and turned away from her as he tucked himself in. "I'm sorry, but it's not every day I get raped at dinner by a perfect stranger."

Guilt flashed through her. She hadn't given him much of a choice. It wasn't his fault he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Under normal circumstances, she would have taken care of pleasantries first, like finding out his name and zodiac sign, before taking him to bed and claiming him. "You damn sure didn't fight me. I'm sorry, but I don't have time to explain. Later. At home."

"Who says I'm going home with you?" He finished putting himself back together, lips tightly pursed as he reseated his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "I appreciate you paying for my dinner, and...this, but frankly, I'd rather go home. Alone." He held out his hand, presumably for his laptop case. He wasn't a skinny toothpick, but she'd seen more muscles on a starved raccoon.

_Oh, my mate is so cute when he's angry._ She'd soon fuck that attitude out of him. She adjusted the bag on her shoulder. "Sorry." Her eyes narrowed. "You're coming home with me. You're going to follow me, and when I tell you, you're going to run like hell for my car."

Screw the earlier plan. She'd shoot the fucker in the booth and mojo a few patrons to swear they saw one of his buddies do it. She'd been to this pub before and knew they didn't have any security cameras in the dining room.

Her mate glared, but he couldn't resist her order.

She grabbed his still outstretched hand and dragged him out of the bathroom. Across the crowded restaurant, Peckingham sat in his booth, oblivious.

She leaned in and rumbled in her mate's ear. She really would have to ask him his name at some point. "Wait for me by the front door. When you hear the shot, run. I'll catch up with you."

"What shot? Run where?"

"Straight ahead. You'll see my car. Can't miss it. Go."

Casting a glance at her over his shoulder, he crossed the dining room and stopped at the door.

_Good_ , she didn't want to have to chase him down after making the kill.

That could lead to a very ugly accident. Or, at the minimum, public indecency.

At least she still had his laptop. She had a feeling he wouldn't try to run away without it.

She stopped beside a waitress, touched her shoulder, and sent her a thought. On her way across the room, out of Peckingham's direct line of sight, she repeated the action several times with patrons and waitresses alike. Then she walked up to his table.

The men were so drunk they didn't notice her at first.

"Jonathan Peckingham, Junior," she softly said.

That's when his eyes focused on her. Recognition and fear washed across his features. She drew her gun.

"As Head Enforcer of the Targhee pack, and by edict of the pack Alpha, this is for selling out your daughter, asswipe."

She put one hollow-point bullet squarely into his heart and another between his eyes into his brain, turning both to mush and ensuring his demise despite his wolf shifter bloodlines. He slumped back in the booth. Screams filled the restaurant as she calmly holstered the gun and turned from the booth. She'd expected at least one of his slimeball buddies to come after her, but they didn't, apparently in too much shock and too drunk to do anything but stare at their fallen comrade.

Across the room, the glass door was swinging shut after her mate. Several patrons spooked by the sound of the gunshot stampeded toward the door. Quick, smooth strides carried her across the dining room, through the throng, and out the door before she even had to reach out to push the door open again.

She spotted her mate halfway across the wet asphalt, frightened, running. Without missing a step she reached into her pocket and pulled out her key ring. In his path, her Saleen's lights blinked and the horn chirruped as the car unlocked.

He slid to a stop a few feet from the car as she strode up behind him and opened the passenger door.

"In."

When he hesitated, she grabbed his shoulder and pushed him into the seat and dropped his bag in his lap. "Buckle up." She closed the door and walked around the front end to slide behind the wheel.

When she turned the key, the engine smoothly roared to life. More patrons spilled out of the pub onto the sidewalk and into the parking lot as she pulled out and pointed the car toward I-75. A few sheriff's cars passed going the other way, lights and sirens blaring, heading toward the pub.

She smiled at him. "Another job well done."

* * * *

He felt like he could barely breathe. He sat there clutching his laptop bag and praying he'd wake up in a hospital after maybe slipping in the shower or something. When a line from _The Big Bang Theory_ came to mind, something about a lack of adhesive ducks, a frantic giggle escaped him.

_Or maybe I've died and this is a weird form of Hell?_

Okay, maybe not Hell. Not that he was religious, but he guessed eternal punishment probably didn't include scorching hot sex with a smokingly gorgeous stranger.

"My bike's back there," he lamely said. It was the only thing he could think to utter in his shock. "I need to get it."

She glanced in the rearview mirror as she took the I-75 northbound on-ramp. Then she looked at him. "Ah, I'm impressed. I wouldn't have taken you for a rider. That's good. We can ride together. What kind of bike? Harley? Or something fast and sporty, like a Ducati or a Hayabusa?"

"Schwinn."

She looked at him, her brow furrowed. "That's not a motorcycle."

He shook his head. "Oh, I'd never ride a motorcycle. Those things are dangerous. It's a bike, a twelve-speed. I prefer to take green transportation. I want to leave as small a carbon footprint as possible." He knew he was ridiculously babbling in his fear.

He didn't think he imagined her disgusted sigh as she turned back toward the road ahead of them.

"I told you to buckle up."

He wanted to argue, but something in her tone told him that might be a very, very bad idea.

Especially considering she'd just killed someone.

He carefully set his laptop bag on the floor between his feet and buckled his seat belt. "Where are we going?"

"Home. I told you that."

"You _told_ me? Sorry, I don't remember that. Would that be before or after you raped me?"

Maybe not the wisest thing to say, but self-preservation had never been his strong suit.

In the glow of the instrument panel, he saw her expression darken. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry. I didn't have time to explain."

"When are you planning on making time?"

"After we get home. I have to eat."

"I have a home, and it's in the other direction—"

He was thrown hard against the seat belt as she jammed on the brakes, the car sliding with a loud squeal of tires on the damp pavement. They came to a stop on the right-hand shoulder.

She turned to him. "Listen to me, and listen good. For the last time, you're coming home with _me_ , and it's now _your_ home, too. Do. You. Understand?"

Something about her eyes stole his strength. Not just their sweet, dark mocha color, but they compelled him, washing away all his will.

He felt himself nod.

She nodded back. "Good. We'll figure out how and when to get your stuff moved." She shifted the powerful car into gear and took off again, the force slamming him back in his seat. Apparently, she drove at only two speeds— _stop_ , and _oh, shit_.

He wanted to ask her name, or at the very least find out if she was going to kill him, too.

She spoke again, her tone sounding more gentle. "No, I'm not going to kill you. I will _not_ hurt you, I swear. I'm sorry you had to see that. I never expected to meet you tonight."

_Spooky_. As if she'd read his mind.

_Maybe I don't want to know her name._ Less chance of him identifying her so she wouldn't come after him. "So you can't let me go because I know what you did?"

She smiled. "Not exactly."

He liked her smile. _Jesus, I've lost my mind. I've been abducted by a hot sexy murderer, and in less than five minutes I'm already suffering Stockholm Syndrome._

She veered toward the Land O' Lakes exit. "I'm not a murderer. I'm a pack Enforcer. That fucker sold his fifteen-year-old daughter to his drug dealer to be a sex slave so he could pay off his debt." She timed it just right so she rolled through the intersection as the light turned green, veering hard to the right. "Asshole does something like that, he gets taken out. It's my job to do the taking."

"Isn't that something for the courts to decide? Why not turn him in to the police?"

She snorted. "Police have no business in pack business."

He didn't know what to make of that, so he kept his mouth shut.

# **Chapter Two**

#

He didn't recognize the music blaring on the car's stereo. A female rocker, the deep bass thump uncomfortably pounded through his body. His abductor apparently knew the songs by heart, tapping her hands on the wheel and singing along with the lyrics. She seemed perfectly at ease driving the fast car, which sailed over the asphalt like a screaming black demon.

They roared through the darkness along a nearly empty rural two-lane road. Best he could figure, they were now east of I-75 and heading eastward toward Zephyrhills. Then, barely slowing, she whipped the car off the road and to the left, onto an even smaller, darker, rural road. She pulled out a cell phone and dialed.

When the other party answered, she said, "Done. Almost home now." She glanced at him sitting in the passenger seat. "I've got a surprise for you." She ended the call. "I hope you're open-minded," she said to him.

Right now, he was barely right-minded. "What do you mean?"

She grinned. He didn't miss how there appeared to be something downright wolfish in her expression. "You've just entered a whole new world."

"If you start humming _The Twilight Zone_ theme, I'm jumping from the car."

He heard the locks click as she smiled again. "No, you're not. I can't let that happen."

He tried to summon manly strength and realized that whoever this woman was she had bigger balls than he did. "Why? Afraid I'll tell the cops?"

Shaking her head, she laughed again. "No, but I prefer you remain in one piece and uninjured."

"Get more ransom that way? I'll have you know I don't have any money. And I have no family to pay it anyway."

"Oh, puhleeze." She rolled her eyes. "Dude, I sooo don't need your money. Did you get a look at my car? It's a fucking _Saleen_. Paid _cash_ for it. Bought it brand new. Money is _not_ an issue." She snorted in what he took as amusement. "I sure as _hell_ don't need _yours_."

"Then what?" _Maybe if I keep her talking, she won't kill me._

"Quit with the 'I'm gonna die' business. You're _not_ going to die." The way she growled it made his jaw snap shut on the next snarky comment about to fall from his mouth.

He decided to sit back and shut up.

"Wise move," she muttered.

* * * *

She reached up to her visor and punched a button on a remote control. Then she veered into a driveway where a gate opened. Timing it just right, she barely slowed from her road speed and blasted through as it rolled open only inches wider than the car's width.

He looked behind them. In the glow from the taillights, he saw the gate closing.

The smoothly-paved asphalt driveway wound through thick stands of pine trees. He saw no signs of nearby houses.

"Nearly five hundred acres," she told him.

_That's freaky_.

"If you think me reading your mind is freaky, you ain't seen nothing yet, buddy."

He shut up again. A nervous lump grew in his throat as they continued through the darkness.

After rounding one last curve, they rolled into a huge clearing where a large, two-story house sat in the center. One bay of an attached four-car garage stood open, light spilling out onto the paved driveway. She smoothly pulled in as if she didn't need to aim, braking at the last moment.

Once the car shut off, only the sound of the garage door lowering and his pounding heart filled his ears.

"We're here," she announced.

He swallowed to form spit so he could speak. "I gathered."

The door locks clicked open and she climbed out. He sat there for a moment, eyes closed, almost afraid to look around. He flinched when she opened his door.

"Out."

Before he could grab his laptop case, she'd already picked it up, slung it over her shoulder, and headed toward a door he presumed led inside. He unbuckled his seat belt and followed her on shaky legs.

The door opened into a large kitchen. He stood, stunned, as he looked around. Wide expanses of spotless granite counters, stainless steel appliances, and what appeared to be custom-made cherry cabinets. Someone with a lot of money and very good taste had designed this kitchen.

After setting his laptop case on the counter, she shrugged off her coat and hung it on one of a row of hooks by the door they'd just entered, where other jackets and coats were hung.

Then he spotted the gun on her hip. In his earlier shock, he realized he hadn't actually seen it when they were in the bathroom. She'd undressed and dressed so quickly, he hadn't noticed.

She watched him as she drew it, did something to it, and removed both the magazine and a chambered round. Laying them on the counter, she asked, "You ever handle a gun before?"

He shook his head.

She pointed at him. " _Don't. Touch._ Not until after I have a chance to teach you."

A sudden compulsion to leave the weapon alone washed through him. He'd thought about maybe trying to grab it, use it to make her give him her phone so he could call for help.

Not that he'd ever _held_ a gun before, or even knew where he was to ask for the police to rescue him, but now he couldn't even think about touching it.

"Go ahead and try, if you think you can," she called over her shoulder at him as she walked across the kitchen to the large fridge.

Taking her up on it, he found if he tried to step forward with the intent of grabbing the gun, he couldn't.

She turned from the fridge with a carton of milk in her hand and a smile on her face. "You and I will get along just fine." Then she screamed, startling him. "Badger!"

He flinched, then flinched again as an answering roar rumbled from somewhere upstairs. "Hold yer britches, kiddo. I'm comin'."

He heard before he saw the large, squat man descend the stairs. His solid bulk seemed to make the whole house tremble as he grumbled under his breath all the way down to where they stood in the kitchen. His left eye was gone, the sunken lid crossed by a thick, gnarled, twisting scar that started above his eyebrow and descended nearly all the way to his chin.

A few inches shorter than him, but taller than the woman, the man looked him up and down. Wild, curly red hair liberally threaded with grey framed his stocky, grizzled face. His remaining eye, a bright crystalline blue, carefully looked him over with keen interest.

He spoke with a thick and distinctive Scottish brogue. "Eh, what's this? This yer surprise?"

"Promise not to laugh?" she asked.

"I make no such promise, Dewi." Well, at least he had a name to go by now. "Fess up."

She took another drink from the carton. "He's my mate," she mumbled.

"He's yer _what_?"

Her gaze fell to the floor as her face reddened. Seemed something could make her blush and crack her composure after all. "My mate," she softly repeated.

The older man looked stunned as he stared at him, then back to her. "Claimed and all?" he finally asked.

He couldn't stand them talking about him as if he wasn't there. "What's going on?" he asked, fully aware his voice bordered on a shrill, girlie shriek. "I'd like some answers!"

The man he assumed was named Badger pointed a finger at him. "Shut up. I'll deal with ye in a minute."

That boiled his blood. If he was going to die, he would show at least a little chutzpah before they took him out. Pulling himself up to his full height, he glared at them. "You two listen to me. I was minding my own business, eating dinner and working. Then I got abducted, raped, and forced to flee with a murderess. I deserve some answers!"

Badger stared at him before he burst out laughing and turned to her. "Ye already claimed him then, girlie?"

Her face turned a deeper shade of crimson as she nodded.

The man's laughter roared out of him as he held on to the counter for support. "Holy Goddess, ye picked yerself a fine one, didn't ye? And despite his scrawny looks, he does seem to have a right fine pair of bollocks hiding in there somewhere."

"Now listen here—"

"Shut up!" both of them ordered. His mouth clamped shut, although he suspected based on what he'd already experienced that it had more to do with her command than Badger's.

Badger scrubbed his face with his hand. "Well, what's his name, girlie? Or are we calling him 'Shut Up' fer life?"

Now beet red in the face, she mumbled, "We haven't got that far yet."

_"No thanks to you,"_ he thought, unable to voice it.

Her head snapped up as she glared at him. "I'm sorry you were at the right place at the wrong time, but would you rather me let a man who'd whore out his own daughter go free? Especially when he had three younger than her at home he planned to sell off, too? I had my orders."

He glared at her.

She shoved the carton of milk back in the fridge and growled, "Fine. Say whatever you want." She slammed the fridge door.

Badger cackled and turned back to him. "Well, laddie? What would ye have us call ye if 'Shut Up' ain't to yer fancy?"

He took a deep breath. "My name is Heathcliff."

Her eyes widened. "Fuck. Me. No way. Please, Goddess, tell me you're busting my balls."

"My mother loved _Wuthering Heights_. If you make a joke about the cartoon cat, I'll..." Well, he'd already seen her kill a guy. "I'll be really pissed off if you make a crack about the cat."

That amused Badger immensely. "Heathcliff? Oh, lassie, I can't wait fer the next pack Muster."

"Shut. Up," she growled at him.

Badger grinned. "Not quite. So what's yer full name, boyo? First, middle, and last."

He'd go out with at least a little dignity. He threw back his shoulders. "Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert. Doctor," he added, although that last part sounded a little lame, even to his ears.

She let out an audible groan and leaned over the counter, her head hung low. "Nooo." It almost sounded like a mournful howl.

Obviously delighted, Badger slapped her on the back with a pleased cackle. "Well, Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert, let me formally introduce ye to yer mate here, Dellis Tadewi Bleacke."

"Mate?"

Badger grinned. "Mate. Welcome to the Targhee pack, boyo."

"Pack?" He felt his mind close to shattering. He decided to focus on the one thing he could comprehend and deal with. "Wait a minute. Your name's Dellis, and you pick on _me_ for Heathcliff?"

Her head snapped up. "You _will_ call me Dewi. D-E-W-I."

"Well, you can call me Heathcliff."

"Oh, _fuck_ me, no _way_ in hell." She straightened and turned to face him. "McKenzie, huh? I'll call you Ken. I like Ken. I already have a cousin named Mac. No way in _hell_ am I introducing you to my family as Heathcliff."

Badger laughed again. "Peyton and Trent are gonna shit themselves."

She glared at the older man and jabbed a finger at him. "Don't you _dare_ call them!"

He held up his hands. "No, no. I'd rather see the shock on their faces at the next Muster. This'll be a scream."

"If you can tell me what I'm supposed to call you," Ken said, "why should I settle for Ken? Which I hate, by the way. And who says I'm staying here? And...what is this pack you keep talking about?" Maybe he shouldn't have asked that last question, but he was more than a little curious.

Badger looked at Dewi. "Ye get to do the honors, young lady. He's _yer_ mate."

She stared at him, those beautiful mocha eyes melting him. Despite the crazy situation he felt his cock stiffen in his pants. He shifted his position around the corner of the counter to conceal that fact.

Dewi's eyebrow twitched, revealing her apparent amusement. Somehow, he knew she realized why he'd moved. "I'm an Alpha wolf shifter," she said. "Targhee pack out of Idaho. I'm one of their Enforcers."

"She's a _Prime_ Alpha, actually," Badger chimed in. "Lone wolf. And not just one of their Enforcers. She's _Head_ Enforcer. She's too modest. Usually she don't take to others verra well. Count yerself lucky, boyo."

"I don't count myself lucky!" he yelled, near the end of his tether. "You people are crazy, and I want to go home!"

* * * *

Dewi sensed him drawing dangerously close to a mental breakdown. Despite her irritation and trying to wind herself down to settle her hunt instinct so she didn't accidentally hurt her new mate, she stepped closer to him. She hated how he flinched away at first.

"I'm _not_ going to hurt you," she said, forcing her voice to stay soft and gentle. She reached up with her right hand and palmed his cheek, her gaze never leaving his.

He let out a soft moan as his eyes dropped closed. He nuzzled her hand with his lips.

"See?" she said. "It's instinctive. We're mated."

"I don't understand any of this." He kissed her palm, setting off a flurry of desire in her core. She needed to quickly get some food in her—preferably really rare steak—and then she could take him upstairs and spend the night getting to know him better.

_Much better._

"You don't have to understand any of it. I'm a shape-shifter. Wolf pack. We're not just legend. I'm sorry about how this happened, but I couldn't let you get away when I found you."

"Wolves mate fer life," Badger chimed in. "When they find their mate, if the person's not already taken, they claim them. Especially a Prime Alpha like Dewi here."

She felt Ken's resistance—she refused to call him Heathcliff—drain from him as his lips traced across her palm. He grabbed her hand and held it pressed to his mouth so he could kiss and lick her flesh.

"Don't worry," she assured him. "We're going to spend the next couple of weeks right here getting to know each other. And I'll have plenty of time to tell you everything."

"I can't," he gasped without opening his eyes.

"What do you mean, you can't?"

"I've got to work." He finally opened his eyes. "I've got classes to teach Monday morning and papers I haven't graded yet."

Badger cackled. She shot him a dark look. "I think I'm gonna have to re-estimate him," Badger joked. "He's got an even bigger set on him than he looks."

"Shut up," she said.

"Oh, no ye don't, girlie," he teased. "Little Miss I-Don't-Need-A-Mate has found her match. Despite his looks, I have a feeling he's gonna teach ye a thing or two. Mebbe give ye a run fer yer money."

If she leaned in and kissed Ken's delicious lips, she would end up ripping his clothes off and fucking him right there on the kitchen floor despite Badger's presence. Instead, she captured his hand and gently squeezed before letting go. She was painfully aware of how fragile his fingers felt in her hand despite the fact that he was a man with a little substance to him.

"I have to eat dinner," she explained. "If I don't, we're going to have a serious problem. I'm sure you'll probably want something, too, since I interrupted yours." She stepped away even as Badger dove for the fridge and pulled out a couple of huge steaks from the ready supply he kept for her.

"How ye want yers, _Ken_?" he asked.

She didn't miss his sarcasm.

Ken blinked. "Um, no. No thank you. I'll just have a salad."

Her mouth watered at the sight of the steaks as Badger fired up the gas grill built into the stove top. He knew she needed to eat to help sate her urges after a hunt, especially when she made a kill.

"No, you have to eat," she said. "Trust me. You'll need more than salad for the night ahead of us."

He slid onto a stool in front of the counter. "No, thank you. I don't eat steaks."

She sensed Badger turn to look at him. "Well, what _do_ ye eat?" he asked.

"I don't eat meat."

"Ye _what_?" She winced as she heard the laughter threatening to break through Badger's voice again.

"I don't eat meat," Ken said. "I'm a lacto-ovo-vegetarian. I eat dairy and eggs. Every once in a while I'll eat fish and shellfish, but that's the only meat I eat."

She grimaced, her shoulders tensing. _Aaaand here it comes..._

Badger burst into howls of laughter that shook his whole body. "Let me get this straight. Yer a _vegetarian_?"

Ken nodded.

"Ye don't eat red meat?"

"No. Why?"

Badger turned to her. His grin split his ruined face from ear to ear. "Oh, Dewi, please, ye got to let me be there when ye break this to yer brothers. Their big, bad Prime Alpha baby sister is now mated to a _grazer_!"

* * * *

Ken watched as Badger scrounged a potato from the vegetable bin and tossed it in the microwave for him. Then Badger grabbed a notepad and pen and shoved them across the counter at him.

"Write me a list of what ye want me to buy at the store. Yer scrawny enough. Don't need ye starvin' to death on us."

"That's not necessary. If you'd please just take me home—"

"You're not going home," Dewi growled at him. "This _is_ your home."

He stared at her. Truth be told, as crazy as this whole mess was, he really didn't _want_ to go home, even though he didn't understand why that was.

"Best not to argue with her until she gets a bellyful," Badger warned him. "She's right feisty after a kill."

His stomach turned. _How the hell did I get mixed up in this, anyway?_ "Look, I promise I won't say anything to the cops if you'll please just let me go." Not that he wanted to go. Hell, just letting go of her hand nearly broke his heart.

Badger laughed while Dewi glowered. "I think he's gonna need a demonstration," Badger said. He winked at Ken. "Or a good hard fucking. From her, lad," he quickly added. "Not me. No offense, but I don't swing like that."

"I can't until after I eat," she said. Her voice had definitely deepened, developed a distinct undertone he'd swear sounded like a growl.

"I know, girlie," Badger assured her. "They're almost done."

"Just give me one. I don't care if it's raw."

"Oh, fine. Be that way." Badger used tongs to lift one of the two steaks off the grill and pass it to her. Ken watched, fascinated and slightly nauseated, as she stepped over to the sink and quickly proceeded to devour the meat with her bare hands. She'd pushed her sleeves up past her elbows. Bloody juices ran down her shapely forearms.

_I'd love to lick them clean for her._

He blinked, startled. Okay, gross for starters, but there went his cock again, throbbing as he thought about licking her entire body.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to regain control.

As she ripped into the meat, Ken realized she made contented _shnurfly_ noises he'd never heard another human make before. In just a few quick moments, she'd completely finished the meat and licked her hands and arms clean of juices before washing them in the sink.

When her eyes made contact with his, he _knew_. Whatever she was, she wasn't human. Not the kind of human he was familiar with.

He also knew he'd rather die than be separated from her.

Logic and reason tried to break through, pounding up a storm on a now-locked door somewhere deep inside his brain, but he refused to listen.

"Here's the other one, kiddo," Badger said, presenting it to her on a plate. "Try eating it like yer not a total barbarian, fer chrissake. Ye'll scare the poor lad more'n he already is. I raised ye better than that."

Without breaking eye contact with Ken, she unerringly grabbed a knife and fork from the counter, made fast work of slicing the rare meat, and forked the plate's contents into her mouth...

Wolfing it down proved the best description his brain could latch on to.

"What are you?" he whispered.

She softly burped and excused herself as she rinsed the plate and utensils before putting them in the dishwasher. Her expression had taken on a softer, sated tone.

"I told you—I'm a wolf shifter," she replied. "Most people think we're a myth. There are very few humans who know the truth about us. There's a lot more of us than you'd think. Here in the Tampa Bay area alone there are nearly a thousand of us, most either descended from or beholden to the Targhee pack. Although some others from other packs have filtered in over the years. That's why they sent me here, to keep order. Humans can't be dragged into pack business. We don't need the truth getting out."

She stepped around the counter. He turned on his stool to follow her movements.

"Don't let him hit the floor," she warned Badger as she shrugged off her shirt.

"What?" Ken asked.

Badger laughed as he stepped close. "She's worried ye might faint on us. Valid point, too. Don't feel like totin' ye to the emergency room to explain how ye got a concussion."

Indignant outrage returned. "I've never fainted in my entire life. I don't even faint at the sight of blood." God knew he'd seen a lot of it over the years. Especially his own, from beatings at the hands of his stepbrother.

Badger grimly nodded. "That's good to know. Chances are, ye'll see a lot of that over the years with her as yer mate." He tipped his chin in her direction. "Not yer own blood, mind ye, but others'."

Ken returned his attention to Dewi, who by this time had worked her way down to her bra and panties. _Holy crap, how'd she get undressed so fast?_ She showed no signs of embarrassment as she removed those and stood totally nude before them.

Beautiful, gorgeous. Not skinny, but firm, lean muscles and perfectly rounded curves in all the right places. His cock screamed to let him have another chance with her.

"Ready?" she asked, but Ken wasn't sure if she was talking to him or Badger. He nodded anyway.

Badger replied, "Aye."

As he watched she closed her eyes. Her lips moved although nothing came out. Suddenly, he was staring at a huge timber wolf with a grey face and silver coat with black highlights.

And Dewi's mocha eyes.

It felt like all the air exploded from his lungs.

# **Chapter Three**

#

Ken opened his eyes to find Badger leaning over him and smacking his cheeks. "Never fainted, aye? Well, there's a first time fer everything, I s'pose, lad. Seems to be yer night fer firsts."

He heard Dewi moving around somewhere outside his range of vision. From the feel of hard, cold tile under his back, he knew he lay on the floor.

"Is he okay?" she asked.

The concern in her tone made his heart leap.

"Yep. Don't worry, girlie. I didn't let him hit too hard."

He lifted his head and stared. Dewi had donned her overshirt and nothing else. She was buttoning it as she walked over to him and knelt at his side.

Looking mildly amused, she brushed the hair away from his face and helped him straighten his glasses. "Are you all right?"

He couldn't make his mouth work, so he just nodded.

She pulled him into a sitting position before helping him to his feet. He imagined he weighed nothing to her. "You need to eat your potato," she softly said.

His heart pounded. Still unable to make his vocal cords work, and unsure what he'd say if he could, he nodded again.

She smiled. "You'll be okay when the shock wears off. To answer your first question, no, you won't start doing that. Mates can't shift unless they're born shifters."

That had been his question, but he'd been unable to speak it.

He nodded.

She and Badger helped him back onto the stool. He watched as she gathered the rest of her clothes and carried them out to the garage. She left the door open and he saw her lay the pile of laundry on top of the washing machine. When she returned, Badger had set the now steaming potato in front of him, along with an assortment of butter, sour cream, and shredded cheese.

She leaned on the counter, her arms crossed in front of her. "You'd better eat before it gets cold."

He couldn't keep his eyes off her neckline, where he saw the plunge of her breasts, or from where her bare legs disappeared under the shirt's long hem, which hung halfway down her thighs.

"Lassie, he can't eat with ye standing there half nekkid," Badger chastised. "Poor boy's panting after ye. Go put on a robe or something." He set a glass of ice water in front of Ken.

With a wink to him, she walked out of the kitchen. Ken almost fell off his stool as he leaned to try to follow her progress. It was only Badger's strong hand grabbing his arm and hauling him upright that kept him from hitting the floor.

Again.

"Eat, lad. Ye sure I can't fix ye something else?"

"This'll be fine, thank you," he mumbled. He forced the potato down, barely tasting it as he tried to process what he'd just witnessed.

Dewi returned a few moments later, wearing a man's heavy, dark green velour robe that looked huge on her and nearly reached her ankles. She'd tamed her hair into a ponytail. "You look a little less pale," she teased in a gentle tone.

"I don't believe this is happening."

"There's nothing to believe. You saw." She sat on the stool next to him. "And I am sorry for how all this happened. Under normal circumstances, I would have struck up a conversation with you first. By the time dinner ended, we probably would have been planning to have pups. I was on a hunt with a job to do. I couldn't let my focus be stretched like that. Not without risking my life or yours. I needed to know I had you claimed, and I had to get you out of there safely."

His shoulder pleasantly throbbed where she'd bit him. "Claimed? What does that even mean?"

Although somewhere deep inside him, he _knew_.

And felt fine with it.

Propping one elbow on the counter, she rested her chin on her palm. "If I'd sat down at your table and started talking to you and invited you back to my place, would you have come? Honestly?"

He stared at her and finally nodded. _Hell, yes._ He'd be a moron to refuse.

His heart thumped as he stared at her. He loved her.

_Christ, what's_ wrong _with me?_

She smiled knowingly. "Nothing's wrong with you. You're my mate now. Believe me, the feeling's mutual. And again, I'm really sorry I had to do it like that. That absolutely wasn't my first choice." She sat up and stuck her hand out. "Dewi Bleacke. Pleased to meet you. I'm twenty-five. Born in Idaho, but I've lived here in Florida for thirteen years. Head Enforcer of the Targhee pack. Taurus."

"She's bullheaded, all right," Badger grumped.

Ken wiped his sweaty palm on his slacks before taking her hand. "Dr. Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert." He met her gaze as his grip tightened on her hand. He suspected she held back, that she could crush every bone in his body without breaking a sweat. "But you can call me Ken."

* * * *

Except for the fainting, she had to admit her mate took the news pretty well. Other than being a Virgo, a vegetarian, and his goofy damn name—and he earned bonus points for being a good sport about that—he wasn't a bad choice for a mate. Cute in a geeky, computer nerd kind of way. Totally apropos, considering he _was_ a computer nerd and taught computer science over at USF.

"So how old are you, and where are you from?" she asked.

He finished his potato. "I'm twenty-seven. I was raised here in Tampa."

"Ever been to Idaho?"

He shook his head. "Only been to Georgia. Up to Atlanta, for a conference once. I hate to fly, so I don't."

She fought the urge to groan. She had to travel to Idaho several times a year on pack business. She'd be damned if she'd drive all that way every time, yet the thought of forcing him to fly with her if he wasn't comfortable doing it didn't set well with her, either.

Leaving him behind wasn't an option. Not this soon after claiming him.

Badger interrupted. "Well, kiddies, I hate to break in and all, but I'm hitting the grocery store early in the morning. I promise I won't wake ye when I leave. Again, I ask ye, what do ye want me to buy, Ken, or ye'll get nothing but cream of mushroom soup and grilled cheese sandwiches fer a week."

Ken smiled. "I don't like anything spicy. As long as it's not meat or spicy, I'm cool with that."

Dewi noticed he'd given up his objections to staying. "Please tell me you like pizza."

He smiled. "Love pizza. I have several kick-ass recipes."

"Ah, he cooks." Badger laughed. "I think I like him."

"You already like him," she sniped.

"Yeah, but that don't mean I won't bust his bollocks every chance I get." He leaned against the opposite counter, his meaty arms so thick he could barely cross them over his chest, but he managed the pose. "That's my little girl there, Ken," he said, his tone turning low in warning, sounding growly, borderline snarly. "Ye break her heart, I'll break yer neck."

"You're her father?"

She laughed. "No, he thinks he is, though." Her tone and expression bore nothing but blatant affection for the older man. "He's sort of my uncle. Pack family relations can get pretty complicated."

"I'm the man who can make yer life hell or heaven," Badger warned. Then he smiled. "But I have a feeling yer gonna come running to me fer help quite a lot. At least, in the beginning." He yawned. "Listen, it's late, and way past me bedtime." He wagged a finger at her. "Don't be putting him in the hospital. Took ye damn long enough to find one."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Go to bed, Badger."

"So what is your real name?" Ken asked him.

He grinned. "Badger's me name. Badger Williams."

"Your parents _named_ you Badger?"

He laughed and pushed his bulk away from the counter. "No more than yers named ye Ken."

* * * *

Once alone with Dewi, Ken stared at her. "So what happens now?"

She gently reached for his glasses, removed them from his face, and put them on the counter. Then she leaned in and kissed him, her arms wrapping around him, enveloping him in a sultry heat. Not just from contact with her body, but radiating from her.

He pulled her to him and she crawled into his lap as they kissed. All the while his cock screamed for more action.

He sensed she was carefully constrained, holding back, even though he didn't know how or why he knew that. Probably out of fear she'd hurt him. His hands stroked her back as he kissed her slowly and sweetly.

She nuzzled her head against his shoulder as her hands played with his shirt collar. "I really am sorry," she softly said. "I never thought I'd find a mate. I damn sure never thought I'd stumble across you while on a job."

"Speaking of jobs, I do have one."

"You can quit."

"What if I don't want to quit?"

She sat back and looked at him. "Why would you want to work? I can take care of you."

Meeting her gaze, he realized she was serious. "I need to earn a living. I have bills to pay. Besides, you don't even know you're going to want me around in a week." He'd settle for that, at least, even though he knew it'd break his heart when she came to her senses and sent him packing.

He didn't understand why he felt like that, why he was in love with her. He decided not to think about the wolf stuff right then.

_But why would a beautiful woman like her be any different than any other woman in my life?_

"I told you, money isn't an issue. Consider your bills paid in full." Her fingers tangled in his hair and she pulled his mouth onto hers again. By the time she let him loose, she'd almost sucked the breath from his lungs. "Forever," she growled. "You're _mine_."

"I can't quit my job. Not in the middle of the semester."

He felt her mentally struggling not to overrule him, even though he didn't understand how he knew this. "How much longer till the end of the semester?"

"Four weeks."

He would have swore she growled. "Then give me a promise that after four weeks you'll quit. Please?"

He'd give her anything she wanted, if only he knew she really meant what she said.

He nodded. She jumped from his lap and grabbed his hand. "Come on."

No other choice than to follow her. He suspected she'd drag him if he didn't. Almost running, she pulled him up the stairs and to her bedroom, where she slammed the door shut behind them before turning to him. "This will all make more sense in the morning."

"Are you saying that for my benefit or yours?"

She backed him toward the large bed. "Yours. I already know what I want." She leapt at him, knocking him backward onto the bed where she landed on top of him, straddling him. "I want you. Only you."

He caught her wrists in his hands when she tried to pull his shirt loose from his pants. "You don't think this is moving a little fast?"

"This is how wolves do things."

"It's not how I do things."

He suspected the only reason she hadn't pulled free of his grasp was her fear of hurting him. That one thought seemed to pulse through whatever connection they now shared, nearly as strongly as her passion for him.

"Has your way been working for you?" she asked.

He didn't have a satisfactory answer for that and released her hands. As she tugged his shirt loose, she crawled down the bed and shrugged the robe off. She was naked underneath. As she raised his shirt, her lips explored every inch of real estate from his waistband north as she progressed, licking and gently nipping.

He laid back and closed his eyes as his cock once again strained against his briefs. _Jesus_ , he was nothing but one large erection at this point. Arguing with her would be pointless and possibly make her upset enough to stop the delicious things she was doing to him.

With minds of their own, his hands plunged into her hair, freeing it from the elastic band and gently fisting it. He enjoyed the silky feel of it feathering through his fingers, how it cascaded across his flesh, following her hot mouth and the sinful things she did on her way up his body.

When she reached his nipples, she nipped at the left one, drawing a sharp gasp of pleasure from him. He'd never felt anything like that before. His cock throbbed in response to her actions as she moved to the other and repeated it.

He helped her finish yanking his shirt off and couldn't resist pulling her mouth down to his for another round of hot kisses that left them both breathless. She tasted like sweet spices. He couldn't get enough of her.

She once again turned the full force of her mocha eyes on him. "You realize I'm the last woman you'll ever be with, right?"

"You said it was safe to forget the whole dying business."

She grinned, but this time it looked sweet and sultry, not wolfish and predatory. "I don't share _my_ man with anyone, silly." She poked him in the chest. " _You're_ my man."

"I hope that's not a one-way-street like the name thing, because I don't like to share either."

In response she kissed him. When he tentatively brushed his tongue across her lips they parted for him with a soft sigh. "I don't want to be shared," she whispered when she lifted her head. "So don't worry. You're the last man I'll ever be with."

She pushed herself up on strong arms and looked down his body to where she'd been grinding herself against the bulge of his cock. Thank god she had nailed him earlier, or just that friction alone would have had him shooting off in his pants.

"Can we ditch the talking for the rest of the night?" She looked up and met his gaze. "I'd rather feel your sweet cock inside me again."

Robbed of speech once more, he eagerly nodded. _Fuck it._ He'd obviously suffered a psychotic break and could sort it out in the morning, when reality had once again settled over his boring, pitiful existence.

"I do have a question, though," she admitted. "How many women have you been with?"

He felt his face redden. "Three."

One dark, elegant eyebrow arched. "Only three? Really?" No derision in her tone.

"Four, including you."

Another sultry smile curved her lips. "Any of them ever give you a blow job?"

He shook his head and her smile widened even further. "Oh, fuck me," she softly said. "That's great!"

That confused him. "You're happy about that?"

"Duh." She kissed him again. "That means I'm the only woman who's ever had her lips down there." She worked her way south again down his torso, until she reached his waist and started unfastening his belt. "This will be _so_ much fun."

He kicked his shoes off and raised his hips as she pulled his pants and briefs down and tossed them to the floor. His socks followed. She pushed his legs apart and knelt between his thighs. "Grab a pillow, sweetie. I want you to watch me."

He fumbled around behind him, grabbed one, and dragged it under his head. His member jutted up, rigid, engorged, ready.

Her eyes never left his as she lowered her mouth until just over the tip. Wrapping her fingers gently around his shaft, she blew over the head and flicked her tongue over it.

He moaned.

* * * *

_He's_ never _had a blow job?_

Thank the Goddess there was a world of stupid women out there. His body, nicely trim even if not heavily muscled, wasn't anything to be ashamed of. His shirt, at least one size too large, had hidden his form, as had his slacks. Not much chest hair, just a very light dusting across his pecs and a thin, dark treasure trail leading from his navel south to the soft nest of hair between his legs.

He had great legs, his thighs firm and nicely shaped, as was his ass.

_Ah, the bike riding._

That made sense. He did have a biker's trim, leanly lithe body. She'd been a little concerned about what he'd look like naked. Not that it'd make any difference to her, especially now. He was actually a refreshing change from Beck and his bulging biceps.

_And he's allll mine._

She flicked her tongue again and drew another soft moan from him. She couldn't stop herself from the comparisons. He even tasted better than Beck, tangy and sweet and salty all at the same time.

_Crap._ She'd have to call Beck in the morning and break the news to him.

_Thank the Goddess he'll understand. No more midnight drop-in booty calls for that wolf._

Pulling her mind back to her mate stretched out before her, she lightly swirled her tongue around his shaft and enjoyed his low, deep moan of pleasure. His gaze didn't leave her even as she slowly sucked his member between her lips, taking her time, enjoying every noise he made and the way his body trembled under hers.

She cupped his sac in her hand, softly stroking him, palming the warm, soft weight, her fingers playing with his hair. She loved everything about him.

Her eyes dropped closed as a low moan of her own escaped. Her heart belonged to him, totally. She'd never really, _truly_ believed the bonding bullshit before...until now. Never believed it'd ever happen to her.

Now, she _got_ it. She'd die for him, kill for him, love him until her life ended.

Passion took over. She eagerly worked his hot, slick shaft in her mouth, sucking every drop of precum out of him that she could and wanting more.

"I...I can't hold back," he gasped.

Without releasing his shaft, she reached up with her other hand and grabbed one of his hands and placed it on her head. She thought one word to him. " _Don't."_

His hips bucked in time with her movements as her head bobbed up and down over him. She felt his fingers tighten on her scalp even as his cock tensed and hardened, signaling his release.

When his sac tightened in her hand, she knew. She went deep, sucking hard, something inside her reveling in his loud gasp, followed by a cry as his seed filled her mouth and rolled over her tongue.

Even after he finished and lay there limp and panting, she stayed where she was, holding him in her mouth, not wanting to let go. When she finally lifted her head, his fingers had gone lax in her hair and his eyes were closed.

"Well?" she asked.

* * * *

"That was...holy crap, that was... _amazing_!" Better than amazing, it was fan-fucking-tastic. He forced his eyes open and looked at her to see an expression of wry amusement on her face.

"And I wasn't even being creative," she gently teased as she crawled up the bed to lie next to him. "Just imagine how good it would have felt if I'd done more."

He shook his head. "Nothing could have felt better than that."

"Oh, I'm sure there's lots of things we'll do over the next few centuries that will feel a lot better than that."

He didn't want to contemplate if that was a literal or figurative comment. He rolled on top of her and kissed her. "Time for me to return the favor."

She wore that amused expression again. "Ever gone down on a woman?"

"There's a first time for everything, isn't there?"

Her smile widened. "Maybe the first time, but definitely not the last time, if I have my way."

He slowly worked his way down her body. She felt smooth and warm under his hands. He stroked her skin, afraid he'd wake up from this wonderful dream. She wove her fingers through his hair and pulled his lips to one of her breasts. The sweet, happy moan he drew from her hardened him again. He cupped her breasts and spent long, slow, sweet minutes teasing her, from one side to the other, enjoying the way her nipples tightened under his tongue before he continued his southerly sojourn.

Except for a narrow, neatly trimmed landing strip of hair, her mound was completely bare. He licked her navel, her hands never leaving his head, her breathing growing more rapid the closer he approached to his intended target. Her sweet, musky scent of arousal made him want to fuck her right then and there.

She pulled her legs up, fully exposing herself to him and he let out a sharp cry as he dove for her. He had to taste her, the craving filling his soul. She let out a soft mewling sound as he slowly licked her. His tongue dipped inside her, a moan of his own tumbling from him as her sweet taste her filled him.

Wrapping his hands around her thighs, he settled in and assumed that her positive noises and the fact that she eagerly ground her hips against his face meant she enjoyed his ministrations. After a few minutes, she let out a loud cry as her back arched and her body tensed.

He didn't relent, flicking at her with his tongue as she rolled her head back and forth, moaning. Her entire body twisted under him until one last cry, louder than the rest, ripped through her and she went limp.

He lifted his mouth from her and kissed her left thigh, then her right, and smiled up at her. "How was that?"

* * * *

In disbelief, Dewi raised her head to look at him. "How was _that_?" She dropped her head to the bed again and laughed at his pleased expression. "Oh, fuck me, baby, that was great!"

He laughed. She loved his laugh. "I'm glad."

"No, I mean it. _Fuck_ me. Right _now_. I want you inside me."

He worked his way up the bed and she wrapped her arms around him. "Yes, ma'am."

She grinned as his hard shaft slid inside her pleasantly swollen pussy. "Smart ass." She kissed him, tasting herself on his lips, his mouth capturing her happy moan as he thrust hard and deeply inside her.

Every stroke he took sent her body rolling along another wave of blissful pleasure. Never before had anything ever felt this good.

_Not even—_

_No. I won't think about him tonight._

She'd have to deal with Beck soon enough. Tonight was about loving her mate with all her heart and soul.

Someone to finally claim as hers and hers alone.

Someone to love her.

Her alone.

Dewi nuzzled his neck as she struggled to hold back her climax. "Please, baby," she whispered. "Please come for me!"

* * * *

Ken dropped his head to her shoulder as his climax flowed through him. Maybe he'd been doing things wrong all these years, but whacking off had never, _ever_ felt this powerful. His three encounters with other women before Dewi damn sure never felt this good.

She cried out as he felt her muscles squeezing him inside her and he knew she'd reached her climax, too.

He froze, gasping for breath, terrified.

"What's wrong?" Even her voice had changed.

He shook his head, afraid to speak.

She caught his chin and made him look her in the eye. "What's wrong?" she asked again, gently.

"When do I have to go?"

"Go?"

He swallowed, his gut tight with worry. "Go. When will you make me leave?"

When she hugged him tightly, he sensed her holding back again for fear of hurting him. "Never. You're _never_ leaving me. Please stop thinking that."

* * * *

He captured Dewi's mouth in a fierce kiss that melted her body and apparently stiffened him again, from the feel of him growing hard inside her. He fucked her hard and fast, desperately, his fear that she didn't mean what she said washing off him in waves so powerful it made her heart ache for him.

First thing on her agenda would be proving to him she meant forever and healing his emotional scars.

Then she'd think about beating the crap out of whoever had hurt him.

Her mate.

They both experienced another explosive orgasm that left them gasping for air. Despite loving this, she hoped they settled down after a few days or they'd literally fuck each other to death at this rate.

He rolled onto his side, taking her with him. They lay in each other's arms with Dewi nestled against him. Eyes closed, she inhaled even as her fingers traced random patterns across his chest. "I love you," she whispered. "Forever. I promise."

"I love you, too, Dewi. I don't understand why or how, but I do." He nuzzled her hair. "I think Dellis Tadewi is a beautiful name. It's unique, like you."

She blushed. "It's a stupid name," she mumbled.

"No, it's not. It's unique. Something else we have in common. Unusual names."

She settled deeper into his embrace. His body felt as if it had been sculpted to perfectly fit hers. "True."

His fingers stroked her arm. She loved how natural it felt being with him, opening up to him, giving him her all, mind, body, soul...and her heart.

Something she'd never been able to give before.

"I have a feeling you have a lot more experience than I do in this area," he softly admitted. "I promise I'll do better."

She giggled. "You do much better, you'll make my brain explode. You're fantastic. How could any of those three women ever give you up? Not that I'm complaining." She gazed up into his face.

He shrugged a little as his expression darkened. She felt his pain again, sharp and keening. "One night each, and they said they'd call me later. None of them ever did."

She froze. "You mean you were only with them one time _each_?"

"Yeah."

Propping herself up on one arm, she gently turned his chin so he had to look at her. "You mean to tell me when we did it in the restaurant earlier, that was the fourth time, _ever_ , you'd been with a woman?"

He nodded.

She fought conflicting waves of indignant rage at wanting revenge on his behalf, which were immediately followed by joy that she was, for all practical considerations, the only woman of any importance he'd ever had a relationship with, much less made love to. And guilt for the fact that she had not only had several more lovers than he had, but a lot more experience.

Pushing those emotions away, she kissed him. "How long has it been since you've been with someone else?"

He reddened again. "Three years. I'm neg, if that's a worry."

"Oh, baby." She wanted to cry for him. She rested he head on his chest. "No, it's not a worry. That's not why I asked. That's not an issue for shifters." Waves of nervous worry and love washed off him.

Beck had never made her feel like this.

_No one_ had ever made her feel like this. "Hold me tight," she said. "I won't break."

His arms tentatively closed around her. "I understand if you'd rather me go home."

"Stop," she growled. "You _are_ home." He held a deep bubble of pain within him, predating her by years. "What do I have to say or do to convince you that I'm spending the rest of my life with you?"

At first, he didn't answer. After a few moments, he softly said, "Being here when I wake up in the morning's a good start."

# **Chapter Four**

#

_Holy crap!_

Ken stared at the ceiling and ruffled his hair with one hand.

His other arm was firmly curled around Dewi, who'd fallen asleep tightly clinging to his side. Asleep she looked beautiful, vulnerable...

Normal.

_Christ_. In the space of less than twelve hours his life had gone from boring loneliness to whacked out and lovestruck.

He reached over and brushed a few stray strands of hair from her face.

It didn't make any sense. It went against every logical cell in his body. She was fire and hurricanes and earthquakes and tornadoes and every freaking unpredictable natural disaster rolled into one sweet and gorgeously sexy body.

And he was...

Boring.

Predictable.

Logical.

Geeky.

He was also indisputably, irrevocably in love with her. And she was still here this morning, even in sleep clinging to him as if afraid he'd leave her.

_As if._

Sunlight peeked through the curtains, but from the color and length of the shadows it couldn't be very late. Maybe around seven.

His stomach grumbled and he needed coffee.

She stretched next to him and made a contented sound. " _Mmm_. Coffee."

He smiled. "You heard my thoughts?"

One mocha eye opened. "Oooh, yeah. I'm glad you like coffee. I'm a real bear in the morning before I've had my coffee."

"Is that literal bear or metaphorical one?"

She smiled and kissed him. "Metaphorical one. Badger won't even talk to me before I've got my hands on a cup. The only animal I shift into is a wolf."

He propped himself on one elbow. "How about I go down and make us some and bring it up?"

"Mmm. I like the sound of that." She stretched again with her arms over her head, lengthening her body and stirring interest between his legs. "Badger left a while ago," she said. "I heard the garage door go up. We've got the house to ourselves for at least another hour."

"Then I'll go down and get cracking on that coffee."

"Filters, coffee, and sugar are in the cabinet to the left of the fridge. Milk's in the fridge. Mugs are hanging over the sink. I take mine black. Use five scoops of grounds." She rolled onto her tummy and grabbed his pillow, pulling it to her. "I'll keep your side of the bed warm for you. Hurry back."

_Please don't let her come to her senses about me._

He leaned in and kissed her. "I'll hurry, I promise."

He'd die for her sweet smile. "Good."

On his way out of the room, he snagged her robe from where it had landed on the floor at the end of the bed. Huge on her, it fit him perfectly and he pulled it on as he took the stairs two at a time. A broad grin spread across his face as he descended to the kitchen. He belted the robe and whistled to himself as he found everything exactly where she said it'd be. The coffeemaker wasn't hard to figure out. In a few minutes, he had it gurgling and brewing.

Maybe it was because he stood there deep in thought that he didn't hear the door to the garage open. But when he found himself spun around and slammed against the fridge, back first, he didn't have time to scream as the breath rushed out of his lungs.

The huge man's blue eyes looked full of murderous rage as he easily pinned Ken to the fridge by his neck with one large hand.

"Who the _fuck_ are you?" the guy growled.

The stranger stood at least six inches taller than him and had probably a hundred pounds on him. Mostly muscle, from the looks of it.

Ineffectually clawing at the hand steadily choking off his air, Ken tried to scream for Dewi, to tell her to run, call the cops.

To come save him.

"Answer me!" the guy demanded, shaking him.

Answering him was impossible considering he couldn't even breathe. Lashing out, he managed to land a kick near the guy's groin, which got him to loosen his grip long enough that Ken could suck in a breath and let out a scream.

"Dewi!"

The guy recovered almost immediately and slammed him hard against the fridge again as Ken heard her racing down the stairs.

"Beck!" she barked as she rounded the corner. "Let him go!"

The hand around his neck immediately disappeared as the guy flew twenty feet across the kitchen, where he slammed into the opposite wall, rattling dishes in the cabinet as he made impact.

Ken thought, _Holy shit, she's fucking strong_ , but his knees gave way. He sank to the floor as he clutched his neck and gasped for air.

Dewi had grabbed his shirt and pulled it on as she ran downstairs. She knelt in front of him, her hands gentle on his throat as she examined him.

"Are you okay, baby?" she asked.

His fear immediately fled. Apparently she knew the asshole who'd just tried to kill him, and her concern was his own well being.

He managed a nod even as he coughed.

She helped him to his feet, still fussing over him before she finally convinced herself he was okay. She kissed him, her relief nearly palpable.

Then she turned on the guy, who'd picked himself up off the floor. She shoved him again, hard. "What the fuck, Beck? What the fuck's _wrong_ with you?"

Ken prayed she never got that angry with him.

The man held up his hands, warding her off. "Look, I show up and find a strange guy I've never seen before standing in your kitchen and wearing your robe, what the fuck am I supposed to think?"

Even though the guy had over a foot of height and at least a hundred and fifty pounds on her, he almost seemed scared of her.

"It's not _my_ fault you didn't call before you dropped by." She shoved him again, hard, driving him back against the wall. "If you'd hurt him, I would have had to fucking kill you!"

Confusion painted the man's face. "What?"

"He's my mate."

Disappointment fleetingly replaced confusion on the man's face before he schooled his expression into something appearing reasonably calm. "Ah. Sorry," he softly said. "I didn't know."

"I was going to call you today and tell you. It happened last night. I wasn't expecting you back in town today."

Ken watched the exchange, his fear displaced by curiosity. There was no mistaking this guy had the hots for Dewi. Obviously he was very familiar to her if he had access to the house. From the man's reaction, Ken suspected they had an intimate relationship.

_She dropped_ him _for_ me _?_

He tried to feel jealous and couldn't. It shocked him, happily, to realize he felt her devotion for him radiating from her. No matter what her previous relationship with this guy, she now only had eyes for Ken.

Dewi backed off and crossed her arms across her chest. Her voice gentled. "I'm sorry, Beck. You know how it works. It just happens."

"Yeah." He glanced at Ken. "I just always hoped it'd happen for us one day." Ken flinched as the guy walked over, hand extended. "Sorry I scared you, man. I didn't know. Hope I didn't hurt you. Dawson Beckett. Call me Beck."

Ken hesitated. After a glance at Dewi, who nodded, he shook hands with the guy. "Hea...Ken. Ken Ethelbert."

Dewi's amused smile behind Beck's back warmed Ken's heart. She walked over and hooked her arm through Ken's. "His name's Dr. Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert, but he's agreed Ken might be an easier name to go by."

Ken gave Beck credit for trying. The larger man's face twitched before an amused snort broke through. "Sorry. Badger meet him yet?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Last night. He went to the store this morning."

"I wondered. Truck's gone and the garage door's standing open." He leaned against the counter and didn't make eye contact with Ken. "Welcome to the family," he said to Ken.

Ken glanced down at Dewi, who stared up at him with an unmistakable expression of pride and love. "Thanks," he said.

Beck took a deep breath and gave him a forced smile. "Guess it's to the guest room for me from now on."

"Beck, you knew this might happen one day," Dewi said. "I faced the chance of it happening to you first. It's the way we are."

"I know, kiddo. It's all right."

Ken now realized Beck, while in great shape, was older than Dewi, even though he didn't look that much older. From the lines at the corners of Beck's eyes, Ken suspected the man was at least ten years older than her.

"Beck's my partner," she said. "Enforcer," she quickly added. "We've worked together for years."

"Not just worked together, I take it," Ken quietly said.

Dewi blushed, but Beck smiled, the expression looking genuine this time. "Damn, the guy's got balls."

"Why is everyone concerned with my testicles?"

Beck roared with laughter. "Now I _know_ you've met Badger. Well, it's like this. How much have you two talked about the shifter stuff?"

"Before or after I fainted last night?" he snarked.

_Might as well admit it now. Badger will probably spill the beans anyway._

Beck grinned. "Dewi, you know, I'm not exactly happy he gets to spend the rest of his life with you instead of me, but let me tell you something—I like him already."

Next to him, he felt her relief. "I'm glad," she said. "Does that mean you won't try to kill him again?"

Ken rubbed at his neck. He supposed he'd have to wear a dress shirt and a tie to work in the morning to hide the bruises that would surely appear.

"I promise I won't try to kill him again. Sheesh. I said I'm sorry. Anyway, back to the shifter stuff. It's like this. She's unique among the Targhee pack. Hell, she's unique among shifters, as far as we can tell. She's a Prime Alpha."

"We hadn't got that far in the explanations," she mumbled, still clinging to him. Ken shifted position so he could drape his arm around her shoulders. He loved the way she felt so perfect there, and how she slipped her arm around his waist as she cuddled closer to him.

Beck poured himself a cup of coffee. "Alphas aren't rare, but they're not very common. While there are dominant females, most aren't Alphas. Most Alphas are males. I'm an Alpha. Enforcers are, except for Dewi here, usually Alpha males, because they normally can't be back at the pack full-time anyway. Especially if they're related to the pack Alpha, and doubly especially if they're a Prime. Too much butting of heads. So they frequently get sent out to be Enforcers.

"But a _Prime_ Alpha is rare. Usually, the pack Alpha is a Prime. I don't know how to explain it to someone who didn't grow up in a pack."

When Ken nodded, Beck continued. "Prime Alpha females are unheard of. Until Dewi, we'd never had one, never even _heard_ of one in another pack. That's why she had to leave the pack when she was a kid. Her older brother, Peyton, would have ended up killing her."

Ken felt horrified. "What?"

"He couldn't have helped it," Beck said. "It's instinctive. When a Prime comes of age and matures, if they challenge the pack Alpha, there's a fight for control of the pack. Winner takes over. If you've got two grown men, they don't kill each other—most of the time. Especially if they're in the same family. The loser normally has enough sense of self-preservation, and love for the other one, to back down, submit, take a knee, and bare their throat. Usually, a Prime won't make a play for control until his twenties, at the earliest. Or instead of fighting, he'll leave and start his own pack. Especially if he's found a mate already."

Beck indicated Dewi. "But try pitting a thirty-five year-old man, a Prime Alpha in top physical condition, against an extremely hormonal twelve-year-old girl who is convinced she can kick that man's ass. A girl who refuses to back down unless she's _taken_ down. It's a recipe for disaster. If the loser doesn't submit, they're killed."

Shocked, Ken looked at her. "He would have _killed_ you? Your own _brother_?" The thought horrified him.

"Not willingly," she softly added. "I _was_ pretty cocky. Peyton didn't want to hurt me. Everyone knew if I did manage to kill him that I'd feel horrible about it after I calmed down. And I was way too young to even think about running the pack. That's why they sent me away. So I wouldn't challenge him."

Protective anger welled inside Ken. "Your own family sent you away when you were _twelve_?" That explained why she'd lived here in Florida for thirteen years.

She nodded. "Peyton named me Head Enforcer first. Made me stay away for two years before I could return to Idaho. Badger and Beck had to go back with me and swear I would stay in control. Peyton made me swear on _their_ lives that I would stay in control and wouldn't challenge him."

"What?"

She nodded and looked a little chagrinned. "Peyton knew I loved them and would do anything to protect them. They raised me. It was smart, on his part."

Beck grinned. "Let me tell you something about scrotum-shriveling terror, buddy. Me and Badger went through it, standing there with a pucker factor of about ninety-nine on a scale of one-to-ten, and praying she wouldn't go batshit and try to rip Peyton's throat out during her official appointment ceremony. They _literally_ held guns to our heads and would have killed us where we stood. No one breathed until she took a knee and bared her throat."

_What the hell have I gotten myself into?_

She held on to Ken. "No one will hurt you," she softly assured him. "You're my mate. Mates are protected. Especially human mates, because they're not as strong as shifters. Intentionally hurting someone's mate is an automatic death sentence."

"It's just that most of the time, the Alphas' mates are women," Beck said. Ken caught his teasing tone, meant playfully, not insulting.

Ken held her closer, more for his own comfort than hers. "How old are you?" he asked Beck.

"Forty-nine."

She rose up on her toes to give Ken a kiss. "I'll be right back. Little girls' room." She glared at Beck, but he held up his hands.

"Don't worry," Beck snarked. "He's safe."

Her expression softened. "Thank you." She headed out of the room.

Beck watched her leave. A moment later, Ken heard a door close somewhere past the dining room.

When Beck looked back at Ken, the man smiled again, this time in a knowing way.

"Dude," Beck softly said, "if your unasked question is if I banged a minor, no, I didn't. I held her at arm's length until she turned eighteen while I took my fair share of cold showers." He took a sip of coffee. "And _she_ approached _me_ , not the other way around. Before you still think I'm an asshole for doing that, keep in mind a twelve-year-old Prime Alpha wolf is the human equivalent of a twenty year-old human in many ways. An eighteen-year-old is usually ready to start a family. We have a life span of several hundred years or longer, if we don't get ourselves killed."

Ken decided to take the high road. "I'm sorry."

Beck waved him off. "No, it's okay. She's right, I should have called first. I flew in early from a job and headed straight here." He shrugged. "You want the truth? I envy you. But it's how things are done in our kind. If I'd found my mate before she found you, our positions would have been reversed." Ken didn't miss the brief sadness that flickered in his eyes. "I guess I always knew it wouldn't happen if we didn't feel it that first time. Doesn't keep a man from wanting it, though." He studied his coffee mug.

To take the pressure off Beck for a moment more than anything, Ken walked around the counter to get his glasses, where Dewi had placed them the evening before. When he put them on, the room went blurry.

"Holy shit."

Dewi, who'd been on her way back, dashed around the corner and into the kitchen, immediately tense, on alert. "What? What's wrong?"

He laughed and pulled his glasses off, examining them. "No, it's okay." He looked around the room and it struck him that, for the first time in as long as he could remember, everything appeared crystal clear to him without his glasses.

Glasses on, blurry. Off, clear.

"Damn." He looked at her. "My eyes are...working."

"What?"

He nodded and looked around. "I can see without my glasses. I mean, I could see without them before, but everything used to be blurry. I couldn't even read without them." He walked over to the canister of coffee still sitting on the counter and read the label without any hesitation. "I've worn glasses since grade school. This is incredible."

She smiled. "Perk of being mated to a Prime Alpha wolf," she teased.

"You knew this would happen?"

"No, but it's not unusual for mates to go through some subtle changes."

"Getting perfect eyesight back isn't exactly subtle." He turned to her and started to speak when Badger burst through the door to the garage, plastic bags in his arms.

He'd already started to scream, "Dew—" when he lumbered to a stop and looked at them. "Oh. I see ye already know Beck's here."

"Yeah," she said. "They met."

Beck stepped over and took some of the groceries from the older man. "Don't worry, I didn't hurt him. Just scared the crap out of him."

Badger breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good to know. I'd hate fer her to have to kill ye. Someone help me unload the truck and I'll get breakfast started since yer all standing around uninjured and being lazy and all."

Beck volunteered, leaving Ken and Dewi alone in the kitchen. She turned and wrapped her arms around him even as she seductively ground her hips against his. "Let's take our coffee upstairs and get a shower."

It amazed him how instinctive it felt letting his hands stroke her ass. And he loved the look of her wearing his shirt. "You don't want to take a shower," he teased. "You want to nail me _in_ the shower."

She grinned. "Guilty." This time, he caught a hint of playful wolf in the expression. "Who says you can't read my mind yet?"

* * * *

Ken didn't bother trying to resist her when she wanted to make love in the shower.

Hell, he didn't _want_ to resist her.

He took her against the shower wall as steam filled the bathroom. He tried to go slow and take his time, but she felt too damn good and begged him to fuck her hard and fast.

He obliged.

Somehow, he managed to hold his climax back until after he felt her release start. Then he let loose, moaning with her, his cheek pressed against her wet hair as water rained down on them. They stood there under the spray for a moment, motionless.

"You okay?" she asked.

He smiled. "Yeah. I'm okay." He kissed her, enjoying the way her body seemed to perfectly mold to the shape of his. They stood like that for a few minutes until she reluctantly stepped away after giving him another kiss. She grabbed her razor and gel and started shaving.

Watching her shave her legs fascinated him. She looked amused. "What?"

He knew he wore a goofy grin and didn't care. "I like watching you." How did he admit he'd never had this experience before? That he had never showered with a woman before.

Never had a blissful morning after to enjoy before.

Her bashful smile warmed his heart. He knelt, reached out, and stroked her now smooth leg. "I love everything about you. Even watching you do this. Does that sound stupid?"

"No, I think it's sweet." She looked at him. "I like it."

His fingers stroked her smooth flesh, over the rounded, hard bump of her ankle, up her calf. "I still can't believe you'd choose me over Beck," he admitted.

She finished her other leg and turned to him, pulled him to his feet, and wrapped her arms around him. "I chose you because you're the perfect mate for me. It's not how humans do things, but wolves don't need to get divorced, either the ones that spend their lives on four feet or the ones on two. We mate for life." She kissed him. "We mate when we've found the perfect person for us."

He couldn't resist running his hands down her back, over the dip between her hips and over to her shapely ass. "Give me some time to get used to the fact that you really do want me."

"For the rest of our lives, Heathcliff," she said with a smile.

"I don't know. I think Ken's growing on me."

She brushed her hand over his chin. "So's your beard." She reached out of the shower and grabbed a fresh disposable razor from the medicine cabinet. "Hold still."

He complied as she lathered his face and carefully shaved him without nicking him once. When she finished, he rinsed his face and she nuzzled her nose against his cheek. "Much better," she said.

"I could get used to being spoiled like this," he teased.

"I don't mind spoiling you like this."

She shut the water off and handed him a towel. After drying off, he had no choice but to wear his clothes from the night before. He reached his shirt first, which had ended up on the end of the bed, where she'd discarded it after returning to the bedroom. It still smelled a little like her even from her brief wearing. When he turned to reach for where his briefs and slacks had been, he saw her standing there, his briefs in her hand.

She grinned. "How about going commando for me?"

He felt his face redden. "I don't go commando." He reached for them but she held them behind her back.

"Please?" She pouted, sticking her bottom lip out.

"I've never gone commando before. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it." He hoped he wasn't whining.

"How about just for today. Please? You're not at work today."

"No, I'm not at work, but I have work to do. I've got a pile of papers to grade, because _someone_ interrupted me last night." He reached around her, but she leaned away from him. She was, he belatedly realized, still naked. As she leaned back and to the side, her breasts proved too tempting and he bent down to lick her left nipple.

She sighed in pleasure and nearly melted against him.

Despite an effort of will on the part of his body screaming to fuck her again, he managed to keep his wits about him, reached around her, and snagged his briefs from her hand.

"That's cheating," she said, obviously amused by his trickery.

"About the only way I'll get my way with you, isn't it?" He kissed her. "I have a feeling I'll spend most of my time 'yes dearing' you. Give me what few battles I can win against you, huh? Spare my pride?"

She kissed him again. "How about after breakfast you let Badger take you to your place so you can grab more clothes, get your bike, and then he'll bring you back here. I have to sit in on a conference call. Pack business. Otherwise, I'd take you myself. Then I'll let you use the office and I promise I'll behave myself so you can grade your papers."

He had a feeling there was more to her plan than just that. "And?"

"While you're grading papers, you'll go commando for me for the rest of the evening. Just around here. Please?"

Who was he trying to kid? He didn't want to leave. The thought of spending a night without her nearly ripped his heart from his chest. "I have to be at work at eight tomorrow morning. I can't ride my bike all that way."

She nodded. "I'll drive you myself. I promise. Every day."

"You don't mind driving me to work for the next four weeks?"

"Not in the least."

"I might have a heart attack the way you drive."

"Is it a deal?"

He kissed her, plunging his hand into her damp hair. "Of course it is. I have a feeling we won't get much sleep, though."

* * * *

By the time they'd returned downstairs, Beck and Badger had brought all the groceries in. Most were put away already, although a few bags of stuff still lay on the counter. From the bloated wad of empty plastic bags hanging on a cabinet knob, it looked like Badger had shopped for an army.

"What the hell did you buy?" she asked.

"I'm not used to feeding a grazer," Badger griped. "I'm used to feeding wolves. Wolves are easy to satisfy. Meat and coffee. As long as I keep those two things in stock, my throat stays intact. Well, and dark chocolate fer ye when yer especially bitchy," he teased.

She pulled a box out of one bag. "Fa-kin?"

He nodded toward Ken. "Fake bacon. Fer yer mate. If he likes it, I'll keep it in stock. The woman at the store said they sell a lot of it."

Ken fought the urge to laugh. He sensed Badger was making an uncharacteristically major effort for his benefit. Dewi caught his eye and winked.

He winked back. _Suspicion confirmed._ "Thanks, Badger," he said.

"Though, I can't blame ye if ye don't like it. We'll keep trying until we find something to yer tastes."

"Pancakes, scrambled eggs, cereal, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt—anything like that's fine with me. But I do appreciate it. I'll eat pretty much anything you cook except meat."

Badger hooked a thumb toward the fridge. "Stocked a whole farm's worth of fruit, veggies, and salad stuff fer ye, too. Couple of kinds of salad dressing. Cheese and yogurt."

Dewi hugged the man. "Thanks, Badger." She kissed his cheek.

He looked even gruffer, but puffed up just the same. "Gotta keep my girl happy. If yer boy there starves to death, I imagine ye wouldn't be verra happy."

# **Chapter Five**

#

Beck disappeared upstairs to a guest room to unpack. Dewi had asked Beck to stay because she had a lot of things she wanted his help to teach Ken. Ken also surmised that Dewi was especially protective of Ken and wanted Beck around to help her keep him safe.

He wasn't sure if he wanted to know why she worried about his safety.

Badger started cooking a huge breakfast feast and wouldn't let Ken help at all. "Naw, first morning in the family, I'll take it easy on ye," he said, amused. "But after today, ye pull yer own weight."

Dewi hovered around Ken, touching him, kissing him, and draping herself over him as he sat on a stool at the counter.

He didn't mind in the least. His brain had started to surrender to the fact that she really did appear to want him as much as he wanted her.

"Badger, he needs to go get his stuff and pick up his bike from the pub we were at last night. Can you take him after we eat? I've got that call. Since Beck's back, he needs to sit in on it."

It surprised Ken that he didn't feel the slightest bit jealous at the thought of Beck being alone with Dewi.

Badger nodded from his place by the stove. "Aye. I wondered if ye'd want me to take him." He glanced at Ken with a teasing expression. "I promise I won't let him run off."

Ken stared at Dewi and knew the adoration in her eyes matched his own expression. "No chance of me running off," he said. "I promise."

Dewi grinned.

He knew he'd kill to see her grin like that again.

* * * *

After a long, drawn out good-bye kiss where Dewi didn't want to let Ken go, Badger clucked impatiently. "Come on, girlie. Let him go. I'll bring him back safe and sound. Yer call begins in five minutes. Ye keep Peyton waiting, he'll want to rip a strip outta yer hide."

"He can try," she growled before nuzzling Ken's neck again.

He kissed her one last time before she let him gently push her away. "I don't want you getting in trouble," he said. "We'll be back soon. It won't take long. I promise."

She looked...well, like a lost puppy. "Hurry back."

"We will," Badger insisted. He'd left his truck parked outside and opened the passenger door. "Get in, ye lovestruck man."

Ken realized the thick stands of pine lining the drive actually comprised a tree farm. As they drove toward the main gate, Badger noticed his reaction. "Lots of privacy out here," he said. "No neighbors close by, and we've got a large place to begin with. Nearly five hundred acres."

Something still bothered him. "Where are her parents? Do they live in Idaho, too?"

Badger's expression darkened. "Dead. When she was just a wee, tiny pup, only six months old. Murdered. Bastard nearly killed her, too." As if anticipating Ken's next question, he continued. "By a rogue wolf, or somethin'. We don't know fer sure. There's some that thinks what Dewi went through is what triggered her Prime. She was a fighter from the beginning. In the hospital she fought to stay alive despite her injuries."

"How long have you been with her?"

"I raised her. Peyton and Trent were too busy to do it, what with losing their parents and running the pack. They asked me to step in. Not that they didn't love her, because they do. She's their baby sister, after all. But they knew her being a Prime Alpha would lead to special problems later."

"So you _are_ her father, then."

"I raised her, if that's what ye mean. In her heart, perhaps I am her father, but not by blood." He looked at Ken as he slowed for the gate to open. "Do ye know how long it's been since we've seen her smile, lad?"

Confused, Ken shook his head. She'd smiled a lot in the short time he'd known her.

"Until she met ye, the last time I saw her smile was before her parents were murdered. And she was only six months old when that happened. Like I said, just a wee, tiny pup." He returned his attention to the road. "I just wanted ye to know that. If ye have any doubts about how she feels about ye—don't."

* * * *

Yellow crime scene tape still blocked the entrance to the pub, but they didn't see any marked police cruisers. There were cars in the lot, the other businesses normally open on Sundays doing trade as usual.

Badger stopped the truck at the far end of the parking lot as his shrewd gaze scanned the area. "I don't think there's any cops around. Where's yer bike? Let's get this done quick."

Ken pointed at his bike, the only one chained to the rack three stores down from the pub. Badger pulled up next to it and got out with him, the older man still scanning the area.

The pub door opened. A man Ken suspected was a detective walked out and toward them.

Under his breath, Badger uttered a foreign oath Ken thought might be Gaelic. "Steady, lad," he muttered to Ken.

The detective walked up to them and flashed a badge. "Detective Berringer, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Is this your bike, sir?"

Ken nodded, resisting the urge to swallow nervously.

"Were you here at the pub last night?"

He nodded again, his heart racing.

"Were you alone or with someone?"

"Alone."

"A man was murdered here last night. Did you see anything?"

Badger reached out and touched Ken's arm, as if the news shocked him and he needed to hold on to steady himself. Then Ken heard the whisper of Badger's voice in his head, telling him what to say.

"I was already on my way out the door when I heard a loud bang," Ken said. "I didn't look back because everyone started running. I figured I'd better start running, too."

The detective nodded and whipped out a notepad. "What's your name, sir?"

"Ken." He winced as he felt Badger's amusement. "Dr. Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert. My...family calls me Ken." Strangely, he realized that didn't feel like a lie.

They _were_ his family now.

The cop shook his head, obviously wanting to laugh and only his professional demeanor holding him back. "Why did you leave your bike here, sir?"

More silent nudging from Badger. "I don't live far. When I heard people talking about it being a shooting, I decided to head home."

"You didn't see who shot the man?"

"No. I didn't know what was going on at first. I heard people behind me screaming about a gun."

The cop turned his attention to Badger after looking at Ken's ID and getting his information. "And you are?"

"Badger," he said with a grin. He released Ken's arm and offered his hand to shake with the cop. When he made contact, Ken noticed Badger's grip tightened and the cop's face went blank.

Badger's voice dropped to a low, growly tone. "Ye know he's got nothing to do with this."

The detective nodded, his voice sounding flat. "He's got nothing to do with this."

"Do ye have any leads?"

"Someone said they thought they saw a woman, but others swore one of his friends shot him."

"There wasn't a woman. They're mistaken. A woman wouldn't shoot him. It was one of Peckingham's friends. They're all scumbags anyway. Ye'll find the gun he used up on the roof where he threw it after the shooting, when he ran like a scalded cat."

The detective slowly nodded. "Up on the roof."

Badger nodded back. "Good man. Then all ye have to do is make that bastard, Dallas, break first. He'll agree he saw Kennings shoot him. Taylor will gang up on him, too. They planned it together."

The detective nodded again. "Okay."

"Say it back to me."

"Break Dallas first. Kennings shot him. Taylor will gang up on him, too. They planned it together."

"Good man." Badger released him. The detective stood there for a moment, his face blank, before he shook his head.

"Was there anything else, detective?" Badger asked.

He frowned. "No, thank you. You've both been very helpful."

Badger grinned. "Any time, detective." The detective turned and reached for a radio on his hip. They heard him calling for someone to get him roof access as he walked back into the pub.

Badger nudged Ken. "Let's make this quick, lad," he muttered.

Ken quickly unlocked his bike and Badger helped him load it in the truck's bed. "What gun?" Ken whispered. "On the roof?" Then he realized Dewi's gun, which had been on the counter when they went up to bed last night, had been missing that morning.

Badger nodded. "Aye. Ye didn't think I was at the grocery store all that time this morning, did ye?" He winked.

# **Chapter Six**

#

Back inside the truck, Ken gave Badger directions to his apartment.

"So, can all shifters do that?" Trying to deny everything he'd seen and felt would be a waste of time and energy. Best to just go with it and accept it unless something new cropped up.

The fact that a gorgeous woman was in love with him was already stretching the bounds of his credulity to start with, never mind the wolf stuff.

"Do what?" Badger asked.

"The mind control stuff."

Badger grinned. "Naw. Only Prime Alphas have the ability to do that."

"You're a Prime Alpha?"

Badger cackled. "I know I don't look like much now, lad, but I just celebrated my three hundred and tenth birthday this past January. I've seen a lot of miles on this body, as if ye couldn't tell that. Why do ye think they gave Dewi to me to care fer? No one else could've handled her except another Prime."

"Is Beck a Prime?"

"Him? Naw. He's more muscles than anything. Nice boy, but I knew she'd never have him as her mate. Primes never pick another Alpha. They need someone...eh, different."

Ken knew Badger hadn't meant any offense by his comment, but it still stung his pride. "You mean someone weaker."

Badger stopped for a red light. "Just because yer not an Alpha or a shifter don't mean yer weak. Yer already standing up to her. Ye've got a backbone on ye. And a right good pair of bollocks."

He laughed and drove forward when the light turned green again. "But two Alphas, especially if one's a Prime, that's a recipe fer murder, not marriage. It's not heard of. It's Beck's own fault if he got his hopes up."

* * * *

Belatedly, Ken prayed his stepbrother hadn't picked today to make one of his rare appearances. Usually, he went weeks, if not months, without seeing him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Badger's keen gaze as the shifter quickly scoped out the apartment complex. Not the best, but not the worst, either. Three blocks north of the northernmost boundary of the USF Tampa campus, he could bike to work and arrive in ten minutes, on a good day.

"If ye don't mind me asking, why don't ye drive? Ye showed the detective a driver's license."

Ken fumbled his key as he tried to unlock the door. "It's a long story."

"I'm up fer it."

He let him in and nervously scanned the apartment for any signs of Dave.

Apparently, nothing escaped Badger's keen powers of observation. "Missing someone?"

He hated that he felt his face turn red. "I'm hoping my brother isn't home."

"Ye live with yer brother?"

"No. He crashes here on occasion. The rare occasion."

Badger walked through the small living room, looking around at the sparse furnishings. "The rarer, the better, I take it?"

"You take it correctly."

Badger crossed his arms and turned to him. "Tell me. I need to know these things."

He didn't feel any mind control mojo from Badger. "He's in and out of jail. He's my stepbrother, not my real brother. He's five years older than me, and he bullied me from day one. I was seven and he was twelve when his father married my mom."

"So he's in or out of jail now?"

"Out, last time I heard. I haven't seen him in several weeks. He usually shows up here needing money and a place to stay when his latest girlfriend gets sick of him and kicks him out."

"Ah." Badger leaned against the counter. "I take it yer not fond of him. So why do ye put up with him?"

"Because I'm fond of keeping my teeth."

Badger surveyed the tiny apartment again. "Ye teach over at the university. How much ye making?"

"Fifty grand a year."

Badger arched an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah, I've bailed him out. So sue me, I'm a Virgo. Rescues-Are-Us. I learned my lesson a long time ago, but I'm still paying off the debt he's put me in. Every time I move, he still manages to find me."

"He won't find ye this time," Badger growled. "He steps foot on my property, he'll be singing soprano if I get me hooks into him. If Dewi doesn't tag him first, that is."

Ken's stomach rolled. "I don't like him, but I don't want him dead, either."

"Dead and disemboweled can be mutually exclusive." Badger's expression softened. "Go pack yer things. Take as much as ye can this trip. I'll get some boxes for ye this week so we can get ye moved proper. Money's no longer an issue for ye. They'll give ye a job doing something fer the pack, once yer up to it. Fer a lot more money than yer making now. Most likely with computers, since that's yer strength. Peyton's been wanting to update the network anyway."

"But I enjoy teaching."

Badger waved away his objection. "I'm sure Dewi will be able to persuade ye." He looked around again. "Not many pictures. Where's the rest of yer family?"

His face heated again. "I don't have any," he mumbled.

Badger turned and stared at him. "None?"

Ken shook his head.

"What about yer father? Yer mom and step-father?"

"My dad died when I was four. My step-father is doing life without parole in Starke."

"Starke? The state prison?"

Ken nodded.

"What'd he do?"

"He killed my mom the day after I graduated from high school. Got drunk, then beat her to death with his bare hands when she told him she was leaving him." He studied his hands. "She was waiting for me to graduate before she left him."

Badger's expression softened. "Oh. I see. I'm sorry, lad. No other family then?"

Ken shook his head. "Nope. Maybe some distant cousins somewhere, but none that I'm aware of."

Badger walked into the kitchen. Ken heard him rummaging around. Ken continued to his bedroom and surveyed things. There really wasn't much he wanted. His clothes, a few photo albums. His books, CDs, and DVDs were neatly arranged on second-hand shelves in the living room. This room held nothing more than his bed, closet, and a ratty yard-sale dresser.

Compared to the inviting warmth and comfort of Dewi's house, this felt like a slum, and he knew it.

Ken heard Badger muttering to himself in the kitchen while he grabbed a suitcase and started cramming as much as he could into it. As embarrassing as it would be, he emptied the closet and dumped dresser drawers out onto the bed so he could put everything into trash bags.

Who was he kidding? He didn't want to come back here to live. Ever.

Home was with Dewi.

He walked out to the kitchen to get the trash bags when he spotted Badger, head inside the fridge, and the counter covered with the fridge's contents.

"What are you doing?"

Badger turned. "I wanted to see what a grazer normally eats." He waved his hand at the counters. "Most of this is stuff I got, but I wanted to see if there was anything you might like that I didn't have." He started putting things back.

Ken fought the urge to laugh. This felt surreal, even by Salvador Dali standards. He found the box of garbage bags in a cabinet. "I'm kind of glad it's you and not her with me," he admitted. "I'd hate for her to see where I live."

Badger scowled. "Listen, ye could be a bum under a bridge and she'd still be snout over tail into it fer ye. She loves ye fer who ye are, not what ye have."

"Women usually want their boyfriends to at least be able to afford to buy them things. I've got nothing but a lot of debt. I can't even afford to take her out to dinner someplace nice."

Badger leaned against the counter. "Yer not getting it. She's not yer girlfriend. She's yer _mate_. Ye might as well propose to her and get it over with. Yer together till death do ye part."

He felt himself redden again. "I can't propose. I can't even afford a ring."

The other man's face lit up. "Ah! That's where I can help ye." He reached into his pocket and fished something out, then held his hand out to Ken. In his palm lay three rings—two wedding bands, a man's and a woman's, and a gorgeous engagement ring.

Ken didn't want to take them and fought against his prideful anger. "I don't need a handout."

"Dumbass. These were her parents' rings. Trent gave them to me after their parents died. By all rights, he should have taken them as the eldest. Or Peyton could have taken them. But they wanted Dewi to have something, even a small something, of their heritage. This is history. It's only right ye have them. We can have yer band sized, if need be."

Badger's rationale softened the sting. Ken carefully reached out and took them, examining the engagement ring. Several large diamonds swirled around a sapphire. He tried the man's wedding band on his left ring finger.

It fit perfectly.

Badger grinned and let out a loud, pleased cackle. "See? _Fate_. Charles Bleacke was nearly as big and beefy as Beck. The fact that his ring fits ye perfectly should be proof yer exactly where ye should be."

Ken couldn't argue with that logic.

He didn't want to, either.

* * * *

Badger helped him load his things into the truck. He grabbed his computer accessories, iPod charger, and other things he needed. He didn't have a cell phone.

Dave had taken his last one and lost it, and he couldn't afford another one. Besides, he didn't really need one, and Dave would only steal it from him if he had one.

An hour later, they were in the truck and on the road again. "So, back to the question I'd asked ye," Badger said. "Why don't ye drive?"

"Because Dave wrecked the last two cars I owned. I'm lucky he didn't kill anyone. I was underwater on the second car loan from the first one. Because he was drunk when he wrecked the second time, and because he didn't have a valid license and wasn't on my policy, my insurance wouldn't pay the gap coverage. I still owe two grand on the loan, which I'm paying off. In addition to the other twenty grand I'm paying off on debts he caused me."

He hated having to admit that, especially to Badger. Then again, maybe it was better admitting it to him than to Dewi.

Badger shook his head. "Jeezus," he muttered.

"So I've ridden a bike for the past three years. Dave's too lazy to ride a bike. He might steal it and pawn it, but I can replace a bike a lot easier than I can a car."

"So ye _can_ drive?"

"Yeah, but I've gotten so used to riding, I haven't actually driven a car in a couple of years."

"We'll take ye car shopping this week."

"That's okay. I don't mind riding my bike. I can't afford a car. No one will give me a loan anyway, because my credit's totally messed up. Not to mention insurance will be sky-high."

He snorted. "Laddie, where we live there isn't anything close enough within riding distance. And yer money's no good now that yer family anyway. How ye going to get to work if yer not driving?"

"Dewi said she'd drive me."

He scratched his chin. "Well, actually, she probably would be happier driving ye rather than letting ye out of her sight fer too long. I imagine she'll be particularly possessive of ye these next few weeks while ye get settled in as mates." He winked. "I'll need to break out me ear plugs. Otherwise, I won't be getting a wink of sleep with ye two going at it like a couple of crazed bunnies."

* * * *

Ken wasn't sure where he should take his stuff when they returned home. Dewi and Beck were nowhere to be seen.

"Take all yer clothes upstairs to yer bedroom," Badger said as he tossed him a garbage bag. "Dewi's room," he clarified. "It's both of ye's room now."

Ken carried it upstairs and started to toss the bag of clothes on the floor in the corner, intent on taking care of them later, when he realized half the dresser drawers stood ajar. When he investigated, he found them empty.

"I made room for you." He jumped, startled by Dewi's soft voice from the doorway. She wore a playful grin and walked across the bedroom to wrap her arms around him and kiss him. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too." He realized he had. In a bad, bad way. When he laid eyes on her, his heart started racing, throbbing, his body wanting to curl around hers and hold her forever.

And his cock hardened like forged steel.

He swallowed hard. "Finished with your call?"

She nodded. "All done."

Badger lobbed two bags through the doorway. "I'm not lookin'!" he called as he quickly turned and headed downstairs for another load.

She laughed but didn't pull her gaze from Ken's face. "Is there much more?"

"I brought all my clothes this time. I need boxes for a lot of the other stuff."

She planted a kiss on him, so deep and passionate he considered taking her to bed right then except Beck appeared in the doorway with another load and dropped it.

"The office is all yours whenever you're ready," Beck said. "We're finished with our conference call." He turned and left.

"I love you, Dewi," Ken whispered. "I don't know why this happened, but I'm glad it did. I hope you don't change your mind about me."

"Never," she assured him. Then she grabbed his hand. "Come on. I'll help you unload."

After they unloaded, she gave him a tour of the house. All he'd really seen of it so far was the garage, kitchen, her bedroom, which was the master bedroom, and her bathroom. Four bedrooms upstairs, each with its own bath. With some relief, Ken noted the bedrooms Badger and Beck occupied were the farthest from theirs.

Downstairs were the kitchen and breakfast areas, a large, formal dining room, a living room, the office, a workout room, a huge, comfortable family room where they watched TV, and an enclosed lanai that could be used as another outside room if the weather was right. A large hot tub sat off to the side, secluded behind several large potted palms that screened it from both the pool and the house. A small pool house completed the ensemble. The gigantic pool looked more like a serious training pool than one meant for family recreation.

"It's a fifty-meter pool," she said in answer to his unasked question. She pointed to the large backyard. "We've got trails all through the woods," she explained. "For running and training. And a shooting range. We keep that separate from the house. It's about a hundred yards that way." She pointed.

He noticed that, with the exception of the sound of her voice, the sound of the A/C handler running somewhere nearby, birds, and the gentle breeze through the surrounding pines, he heard...

Nothing.

No traffic.

How long since he'd been able to close his eyes and not hear something?

_Too damn long._

He did just that—closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and listened.

After a few moments, she laced her arm through his. "You look happy," she said.

He nodded. "I am. This is great."

"Peaceful."

"Yeah."

"Wait'll you see Idaho. Even better. Gorgeous mountains."

"I did mention I hate to fly, right?"

"Maybe I can convince you."

* * * *

Ken opened his eyes and looked at Dewi. Dewi loved his eyes, sweet and brown, giving and honest. What you saw was what you got.

"Can I help you grade your papers?" she asked.

"Thanks, but it's okay. It'll only take me a couple of hours."

"After dinner, we can take a swim."

She felt him tense. "Maybe just a dip in the hot tub," he countered.

"Please?"

"I'm not much into swimming."

"It's a heated pool. It won't be cold."

"That's okay."

There was more. " _Can_ you swim?"

"Define swim."

"You can't swim?"

He shook his head, his face turning red. "If by swimming you mean sinking to the bottom of the pool like a rock, sure. If by swimming you mean not drowning, then no, not so much."

She draped her arms around his neck. "I'll teach you." She bumped her hips against his, grinning when she felt his bulge stiffen in response. "We can even make love in the pool later, after everyone else is asleep."

"Ah. So that's your plan. I should have guessed."

"You're complaining because I want to make love to you in the pool?"

He smiled. "No. I'm still trying to accept the fact that you want to make love to me at all."

_I really need to work on his self-esteem._ "You go get your work done so we can play."

"By play you mean fuck like bunnies."

"How would _you_ define play?"

He kissed her, tentatively at first, then growing bolder. Her lips parted for him and she felt his confidence build as he explored and tasted. When he lifted his head, she fought the urge to drag him upstairs to bed. "That's a good start," he said.

She fixed him lunch. After, she helped him get settled in the office and pulled the door mostly shut with the promise not to distract him. If she couldn't spend the afternoon in bed with her mate, she could blow off steam working out. She changed into workout clothes and returned downstairs. She had Pink screaming in her earbuds as she abused the elliptical machine when a tap on her shoulder startled the hell out of her.

Beck stood there, his face an unreadable mask. She pulled out an earbud. "What's wrong?"

"Mind if I work out, too?"

"Why would I mind?" He didn't answer, and then she realized why he asked. Forever, regardless of how many times they'd made love, despite being nearly as close as soulmates in many ways, there would now be an invisible barrier between them.

"I don't mind," she softly said.

He nodded and started toward the weight bench. She reached out and touched his arm. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I will be." He smiled. "I know you wouldn't pick someone not good enough for you. All I care about is that you're happy." He looked down at his hands. "Are you happy with him?"

She was happy, but despite knowing it was nature that brought them to this point, she couldn't help feeling somewhat guilty. What she'd had with Beck she would have labeled love before last night. With Ken firmly embedded in her heart, the emotions she'd felt for Beck, she now realized, came nowhere close to love.

At least, not romantically. Love Beck? Yes, she still did.

As a friend and family, but not as a soulmate.

Not anymore.

"Yeah," she said. "I love him. I'm happy."

He smiled and nodded without looking up at her. "Good. That's all that matters." He walked over to the weight bench and started setting it up. Dewi popped her earbud back in, increased the resistance setting on the elliptical machine, and pushed herself even harder.

# **Chapter Seven**

#

Ken, as he was quickly becoming comfortable thinking of himself, shifted uncomfortably in the office chair. He'd removed his underwear as Dewi had asked and felt nearly naked despite his clothes.

It didn't help that every time he thought about her, or heard her somewhere outside the office, his cock thickened and stirred and wanted to go hunt her down and fuck her silly. Three hours later, he'd managed to get all his papers graded, hopefully accurately. He sat back, stretching in his chair.

Dewi softly tapped on the door and stuck her head in. "Done?"

He laughed. "How'd you know?"

A sweet grin creased her face. "I've been waiting."

"Reading my mind again?"

"Sort of." She stepped in and pushed the door closed behind her. He didn't miss that she locked it. "I didn't want to disturb you. I promised you I'd let you get your work done." She walked over and crawled into his lap, kissing him.

Ken fought the urge to groan as his hands roamed her body. _A drug._ That's what this felt like, an insatiable craving to be with her. Not even to be inside her, just to feel her flesh under his hands and have her close enough that her sweet scent filled his lungs.

After a few minutes, she stood and pushed his legs apart, a wicked smile on her face. "This is why I wanted you to go commando for me." Faster than any human could move, she dropped to her knees and had his pants unzipped and his cock in her mouth.

"Ohh... _jeezus_!" he moaned. His hands automatically settled on her head, his fingers buried in her hair as she went down on him. Fast and hard his climax hit, totally beyond his control as she made those sweet contented-sounding noises again while she swallowed him.

No strength in his body, all he could do was sit there, eyes closed, while she nuzzled his spent cock and he stroked her hair.

Her tongue flicked out and licked his sac. "Good?"

He let out a long, loud laugh. When had he ever laughed this hard and this much? "Sweetie, do you even need to ask?"

"Yeah."

It was her soft, nervous tone more than anything that forced him to open his eyes. Now he saw her worried expression as she sat there, her cheek pressed against his thigh, her eyes closed.

He grabbed her arm and dragged her back into his lap. "Dewi," he hoarsely said, "let me set you straight about something. I'm the one worried you'll come to your senses, not the other way around." He caressed her soft, creamy cheek, his thumb lightly brushing over the subtle spray of freckles below her eye. "I'm not going anywhere as long as you'll have me, baby. I swear it."

She threw her arms around him and buried her face against his chest. It felt better than right to hold her like that, to comfort her, reassure her.

"I've never felt like this before," she admitted, her voice muffled against his chest.

His fingers trailed along her arm. "Join the club. We'll figure it out as we go along. Together."

She snuggled even more tightly against him, as if trying to become one with him. "Together," she agreed.

* * * *

Ken offered to help cook dinner. Badger didn't turn him down. Dewi perched on one of the counter stools and watched the men cook. Badger focused on making meatballs for the three wolves and a vegetarian burger for Ken, while Ken threw together a salad and some mixed veggies for a side dish, as well as some garlic smashed potatoes.

Ken noticed someone was missing. "Where's Beck?" he asked in what he hoped came out as a casual tone.

Dewi tipped her head toward the back sliders. "He went out to the gun range to empty a few boxes of ammo."

Ken felt a little ill for more than one reason and tried to act nonchalant.

Dewi smiled. "Don't worry. He's not practicing to empty them into _you_."

Ken forced a smile. "I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about how he's feeling."

Badger apparently couldn't stifle his snort of amusement, even though he tried to disguise it as a cough.

Dewi made a noise at Badger that almost sounded like a growl. "What is _your_ problem?"

Badger snickered as he shook his head. "Sorry, lass. I'm not used to having someone sensitive around who's worried about others' feelings, is all."

"What is _that_ supposed to mean?" she indignantly asked.

He turned, poking a pudgy finger at her in the air. "Listen to me, Dewi. I couldn't love ye more if ye were me own flesh and blood. But do ye _not_ remember second grade?"

Dewi blushed and looked down at the counter. "Yes," she mumbled.

That piqued Ken's interest. "What? What happened?"

When it was obvious that Dewi didn't want to say, Badger piped up again. "I made her wear a dress to school for picture day. I got a call from the principal's office a couple hours later. She'd beaten up a boy who'd told her she looked nice."

Ken tried to process that. "Was he picking on her?"

Badger shook his head. "No. He was genuinely complimenting her. The teacher even told him it was a nice thing to say." He snorted. "Then Little Miss Princess here beat the crap outta him."

Dewi looked like she wanted to crawl under the counter. "I was only seven, for crying out loud," she mumbled. "And I didn't hurt him. Much."

"Yeah, but it also ensured boys stayed away from her fer the rest of grade school. And most of the girls, too." He turned back to the stove. "I had to send her to a two-week charm school when she was ten to teach her to act like a lady."

"I hated every minute of it," she grumbled.

"Well, ye ran around like a wild heathen half the time. I needed someone to help tame ye."

Dewi looked so miserable that Ken couldn't help but laugh as he walked over to her and hugged her. "I take it you passed charm school?"

"I had to," she grumbled. "Badger threatened to make me wear skirts and dresses all the time unless I did."

"And to her, that was a fate nearly worse than death," Badger said with a snicker.

* * * *

Beck returned to the house a few minutes later.

"There ye are," Badger said. "Dinner's almost ready."

"Okay, thanks." Beck said a quick hello to everyone before stepping into the kitchen, leaning past Badger, and putting what looked like a gun case into one of the cabinets. "I'll be right back," he said. He went upstairs, presumably to his room.

Ken looked at Dewi. She probably didn't need their nifty new mindreading skills to know what he was thinking.

"It's a nine millimeter," she said as she climbed off the stool and walked around the counter. She opened the cabinet and withdrew what did, in fact, turn out to be a gun case. In a practiced move, she popped the magazine, cycled the round out of the chamber, and then presented it butt-first to Ken to hold.

"It's okay," she said with a smile. "I want you to hold it. See how it feels in your hand. It's probably the first gun I'll teach you on."

He felt a little nauseous, but he took the gun from her and held it like she told him to. After a moment, she took it back. "I know you don't like guns, but you need to learn how to handle one. For my peace of mind, if nothing else."

She reloaded the gun and returned it to the case, and the case to its hiding place in the cabinet, behind a couple of boxes of macaroni and cheese. "But remember, don't go touching any gun unless I've told you it's okay."

He threw her a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am."

Badger had himself a belly laugh. "He's gonna keep ye in line, I can see it now," he teased.

Beck returned to the kitchen. "What's so funny?"

Ken studied the man's expression. It looked like Beck would rather be somewhere, maybe anywhere else, but that it wasn't anything personal. The shifter wore a practiced, perfectly schooled look on his face. Anyone else probably wouldn't notice anything wrong, but Ken sensed that maybe his intuition and powers of observation had gotten a lupine boost the same way his vision had.

Badger hooked a thumb over his shoulder in Ken's direction. "Our newest pack member, there. Believe it or not, lad, I think she's met her match."

Beck smirked. "Well, if you can hold your own with her, more power to you, buddy," he said to Ken.

The four of them sat and ate in relative silence once the food was dished out. Ken watched the three shifters eat, engrossed by the sight. They...well, they wolfed down their food. Not rudely, but intently, each one bent over their plate and shoveling it in relatively fast.

Finally, Dewi glanced at him, then sat up. "What's wrong? You've hardly touched your food."

He shook his head. "Nothing's wrong. I was just...fascinated."

Badger looked up. "Sorry, lad." He sat up and wiped a drop of sauce from his chin. "We're pretty intent on our food."

"So I see." He picked up his fork again. "I didn't mean to be rude, it's just..." He felt his face go hot and red as he realized what he'd been about to say.

_I don't often get to eat with others._

He started eating. Dewi reached over and touched his arm. He looked up and met her gaze.

"We're your family now," she gently said. "You're one of us."

Badger and Beck both nodded. Badger said, "Yer part of the pack now, lad. Ye'll never be alone again, if ye don't wanna be."

Beck added, "And we take care of our own."

Ken knew if he started crying they'd probably humor him, but he really didn't want the additional hit to his ego. He sniffled it back. "Thanks. I appreciate it. It's...just going to take some getting used to."

Dewi smiled. "The wolf thing?"

"No. The family thing."

* * * *

Ken gave Beck credit for trying to draw him into their circle. Badger must have filled Beck in a little about his history at some point, because the shifter seemed to steer clear of certain topics. Ken could swear he mentally felt Beck stepping around conversational minefields.

"So, what drew you into teaching computer science?" Beck asked.

Ah, a subject he didn't mind talking about. "My mom got me my first computer when I was in junior high. I was hooked. I wasn't good at sports and didn't have much interest in them anyway, but I was good at computers and programming."

"How long have you been teaching?" Dewi asked.

"Full time? For three years. But I was an assistant prof and grad student teacher before that."

The conversation rambled back and forth between them all. He asked Dewi about what she did, but she seemed reluctant to give him any gory details that she apparently felt might upset him.

He gave them all a lot of credit for trying to make him feel like one of the family. For the first time in years, he truly did feel like he was totally accepted and wanted.

He offered to help with the dishes, but Badger shooed him and Dewi out of the kitchen. "Go play, ye two," he said with a grin. "Beck'll help me."

Dewi didn't give Ken a chance to object. She grabbed his hand and led him out the back sliders onto the lanai.

She wrapped her arms around him, smiling up at him. "Playtime."

* * * *

Dewi could stare up at him for hours and never get bored. She wanted to memorize every hair on his head, stay wrapped forever in his arms.

She knew she'd have some words to eat next time she saw Trent and Peyton. She remembered ragging on her two older brothers about their mates, picking on them in evil little sister fashion for their moony eyes and the way they practically drooled over their women.

Badger had warned her that one day, she, too, would understand.

Now, she did.

"What do you have in mind for playtime?" Ken asked. "Or should I be afraid to ask?"

She giggled. "Don't worry. I won't hurt you. Although I don't promise not to bite."

He smiled. It bothered her that worry lines drew small creases in his face. He shouldn't have anything to worry about ever again. She wanted to fill his days and nights with so much happiness that those lines disappeared forever.

"I don't think I stand a chance against you regardless," he said.

She took him by the hand and led him outside and across the backyard. Late in the day, they still had about forty minutes of good light left, not that darkness was a problem for her eyes. "I want to show you something."

He looked a little ill. "The shooting range?"

"No, something else. I really think you'll like it."

Without hesitation she threaded her way though pine needle-covered paths she had committed to memory. Ten minutes later, they emerged in a small clearing.

His eyes widened. "Wow. This is neat."

She wrapped her arms around him from behind as he stared the small spring-fed pool approximately twenty yards across. A stream softly bubbled away from it, curving out of sight into the woods.

"I love it here. It's one of the reasons Badger picked this property. There was a small stream on the compound, back in Idaho, where I used to go to sit and think or to just be by myself." She sat, gently tugging on his hand to urge him to join her.

He made himself comfortable on the grass and she laid down, resting her head in his lap so she could look up into his brown eyes. "I'm sorry this is all so overwhelming for you."

He stroked her hair. His every motion felt tentative, as if he feared she'd bolt from him. "It's okay. I'm starting to get a handle on it. I think."

She laced her fingers through his and brought his hand to her mouth. Slowly, she ran her lips up and down each of his fingers before she clasped her other hand over his and held it to her heart. "I'm yours," she softly said. " _Only_ yours, for the rest of our lives."

* * * *

Ken wanted to believe it. "I think that's the part I'm still struggling with." He smiled down at her. "What does that say about me that I can come to grips with the wolf stuff faster than I can the fact that a beautiful woman is in love with me?"

"I think it says I'm glad you only had stupid women in your life before me."

"Can I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything."

"Last night in the pub, you asked me if I was married or single. Why did that matter?"

"Because if you weren't single, no matter what I felt for you, I would have walked away."

"And if I was gay?"

She shrugged. "If you were single and interested, I would have had to think about it." She nibbled on his hand, making his cock hard again. "If you were totally _not_ interested, I would have made myself walk away."

Who was he kidding? Just having her within ten feet of him made his cock hard.

"Well, lucky for both of us I was straight and single."

She crooked a finger at him, motioning him to lean in. He did, and she slipped her hand around the back of his neck, her fingers twining in his hair. She pulled his lips down to hers and kissed him.

Instinct took over. He rolled her out of his lap, onto the grass, and stretched out on top of her as he kissed her. She softly moaned into his mouth as her arms encircled him. He braced himself on his arms, trying not to crush her under him, until she pulled him down, their bodies tightly pressed together.

He felt the world disappear around them. His universe ended outside the circle of her arms. And he wanted to fuck her.

Hard and fast and furiously.

Ken sat up, his gaze never leaving hers. He unfastened her jeans and smiled as she tilted her hips, allowing him to yank her jeans and underwear down after she kicked off her sneakers.

He pulled his shirt over his head without unbuttoning it all the way. After kicking off his shoes, he shed his slacks, enjoying the sultry smile that creased her face when he stood towering over her, naked.

Something took over, an urgent desire even stronger than normal to be inside her, to own her. He reached down and caught her by the wrist, then flipped her over onto her stomach as he dropped to his knees behind her. She pushed up onto all fours and cast a look over her shoulder.

"Please take me," she whispered.

His cock already felt like it would explode. Instinct stronger and more raw than lust or primal need took over. He grabbed her hips and sank his cock home deep inside her, enjoying the way she threw her head back and let out a happy sound that almost sounded like a growl.

"Yes!" she gasped.

He dug his fingers into her hips to hold her in place. Hard and fast, the sound of his flesh slapping against hers filled the clearing, their panting breath, her soft, mewling sounds of pleasure. Then he felt her explosion, and the feeling of his own body responding, answering as his release burst from him.

The force of it robbed all strength from his legs. He fell forward onto her, gasping for air, his face buried in her hair at the base of her neck. She reached back, found his hand, and laced her fingers through his.

Nothing had ever felt so good. It seemed that every time she made him come, it was harder and better than the previous time.

"I think I'm going to have bruises on my hips," she playfully teased.

He immediately felt bad. "I'm sorry, I—"

"No, don't be sorry." She tipped her head back, a sated smile curling her beautiful lips. "I like it."

Their eyes met and he felt his cock go hard inside her. _Jeezus!_ He'd never gotten this hard this fast before.

Hell, he'd never _been_ this hard before.

He sat up, pulling her back onto her knees, his fingers wrapped around her hips even more tightly than before. She wiggled her butt against him, urging him on.

"You want it hard, baby?" he asked her. Who was this person possessing his soul? He'd never felt like this before.

"Yes!" she begged.

Deliberately, he took long, hard, strokes, as deep as he could, feeling his member sliding all the way inside her slick muscles. He withdrew slowly, making her whine and beg for it before slamming home.

When she begged for him to go faster, he slowed down, making her plead with him. "Don't tease me," she begged.

Darkness settled in the woods around them. He felt a new darkness of his own deep within him. "You'll take what I give you," he said, the words spilling from him as if he had no conscious will.

Her whole body undulated beneath him as she dropped her shoulders to the ground, her fingers digging into the grass as she squirmed in his hands.

He felt a surge of power roll through him. She was his, _all_ his, and he had her at his mercy.

He kept up his teasing pace despite her impassioned pleas. Sometimes he'd speed up just enough to make her cry out with pleasure as a smaller orgasm rolled through her before he slowed down again, forcing his own release to build to epic proportions.

When he knew he couldn't hold back anymore, he reached down and grabbed her hair, pulling her head back. "Who do you belong to?"

"You!"

His hips shot forward, pistoning his cock deep inside her. "Who's your mate?" _What the hell is wrong with me?_

"You!" she cried out again as he felt a huge climax take her.

That finished him. He released her hair and dug his fingers into the flesh of her hips as he fucked her, rocking her body with the force of his thrusts. When his orgasm hit, he cried out her name before collapsing on top of her, his body limp.

Silence descended around them as he felt his brain return to sanity.

_What the fuck did I just do?_ Would she ever forgive him?

When she shifted position beneath him, he pushed himself up and off of her so she could move. He expected her to run, or at the very least call him a slew of nasty names.

Instead, she turned over beneath him, grabbed him, and pulled him down on top of her. Her lips found his and she deeply kissed him.

He rolled them to their sides as she snuggled even more tightly in his arms, as if trying to become one with him.

In the dim light, he made out her sated smile. "I...I'm sorry, Dewi."

Her eyes popped open. "What?"

"I'm sorry I got so rough. I don't know what the hell came over me."

She giggled, softly at first until it finally rolled out of her as full belly laughs, her peals of amusement bouncing off the trees around them.

"What?" he asked.

She kissed him again, deeply, passionately. "I loved every second of it," she whispered. Then she nipped his ear lobe. " _Never_ be afraid to take what's rightfully yours. I'm your mate, and you're mine."

* * * *

Dewi wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

_What was that saying? Oh, yeah._

_Bless his heart._

That set her off on another giggle fit. She pressed her body against his, enjoying the scent of their lovemaking mixed with the green scent of the grass and pine needles crushed beneath them.

"You're okay?" he asked.

She licked the base of his throat, enjoying the sweet and salty taste of his flesh. "I've never been better in my entire life," she honestly replied.

It was full dark, the sky completely black and dotted with stars, when they stirred from their stupor. She handed him his clothes before reaching for her own.

"You're really okay?" he tentatively asked.

She grabbed him and hugged him tightly to her. She loved the way he fit in her arms. "Absolutely. I've never been happier." She deeply inhaled, loving how her scent and his mingled together.

When they were both dressed, she took him by the hand and led him back to the house. They didn't see Badger or Beck, and she sensed they were in their rooms. Ken followed her upstairs to their room and to the bathroom, where she started the shower.

She kissed him. "Let's get cleaned up and go to bed. I know you've got to get to work in the morning."

But Dewi found she couldn't help herself. By the time they were naked under the warm water, she dropped to her knees, took him into her mouth, and quickly drew yet another orgasm out of him.

He leaned against the wall as he recovered, with his arms draped over her shoulders, her ear pressed against his stomach. "I love you, baby," he whispered.

She smiled. "I love you, too." She had fully intended on letting him get to sleep, but she didn't fight him off when later in bed he rolled her onto her back and dove between her legs, using his mouth and tongue to bring her to another stellar climax.

Finally sated for the night, they both dropped into a dreamless sleep while clinging to each other.

# **Chapter Eight**

#

Monday morning, Ken managed to grab breakfast and a shower without Dewi molesting him or tempting him to molest her. He'd also guessed right about needing a tie. While faint, purplish bruises ringed his neck where Beck had grabbed him yesterday morning.

It didn't take him long to find a tie in his stuff. While he stood in front of the mirror and tied it, Dewi wrapped her arms around his waist from behind and peeked over his shoulder.

"You look nice."

He shrugged. "Nothing much. Just jeans and a shirt. It's how I always dress for work."

She turned him around and finished adjusting his tie for him. "You look good," she insisted. She stood on tiptoe to kiss him. "I like it."

When his cock tried to stiffen in his jeans, he struggled to keep it under control. "Not nearly as exciting as what you do. Bring plenty to do with you. Or even a pillow." She'd insisted she'd spend the day there, with him.

"Why?"

"You'll be bored to tears, I'm sure. Probably fall asleep."

Her hands slid lower, down to his ass, slipping inside his back pockets and pulling him against her.

Typical, he lost the fight against his body. His cock once again hardened almost immediately.

She noticed and smiled. "I bet I can keep you awake. Sit in back of the class and distract you."

He laughed. "Oh, no. The last thing I need to do is try to teach with a hard-on. I'll be distracted enough as it is just knowing you're there."

She pouted as she did a sensuous little bump and grind against him. "Aw, you're no fun."

He kissed her. "That's not what you were saying last night." He managed to pry himself away from her. "We need to get going. I don't want to be late."

"I'll be ready in a minute." She still wore an adorable little pout.

"You can molest me tonight, babe," he teased. "Not that I could stop you even if I wanted to. And believe me, I don't want to stop you."

He grabbed his laptop and papers and headed downstairs with a smile on his face. It was only as he poured himself a travel mug of coffee that he realized he'd left his glasses upstairs on the dresser.

_Not that I'll need them._

So much had happened in just the past couple of days, it still blew his mind. He couldn't understand why him, and definitely not why her, but he wouldn't question that part of the equation.

He loved her.

He thought about the rings safely nestled in his pocket. She wanted him. God only knew why, but she did.

She joined him a moment later. "Ready?"

He nodded. When she started to reach for his laptop case, before he thought about what he was doing he made an _uh-uh_ noise that stayed her hand in mid-air.

Then he realized what he did. Before he could start apologizing, she laughed and kissed him. "Yes, sir," she teasingly said.

He swallowed hard. "Sorry. I don't know why I did that."

She reached up and slung her arms around his neck. "I do." She rose up on her toes and kissed him. "And you don't know how much I enjoy it."

Leaving him not only confused, but flustered and horny, she shot a smile over her shoulder and headed out to the garage where he heard the big door roll up.

_Oh. Right. Work._

He grabbed his stuff, juggling the mug of hot coffee, his papers, and his laptop case, and headed after her.

* * * *

Dewi's driving scared him as much, if not more, in broad daylight as it had Saturday night. With her eyes concealed behind mirrored sunglasses, she shot through traffic as if it stood still around her. She had to get a parking permit when they reached the campus, then she followed his directions until they were parked in the staff lot outside his building.

She got out of the car, slung a worn backpack over one shoulder, and waited for him while he once again juggled everything. "You don't have to go in with me," he said.

"Why?" He loved her playful smirk. "Afraid I'll hurt someone for getting too close to you?"

"No. I'm afraid you'll have time to rethink taking on a loser like me."

Before he realized what happened, she'd grabbed him by the tie and hauled him down to her eye level.

"Listen to me," she growled.

He listened.

"Don't you _ever_ put yourself down like that again, okay? You're _mine_ , and I love you, and I don't give a shit what your life was like or what others thought of you before I met you. I love you just the way you are, and I think you're perfect." Then she kissed him, nearly driving him out of his mind right then.

_Okay, so much for not teaching with a hard-on._ He wouldn't have a choice in the matter.

She released his tie and smoothed his shirt. With a playful smile, she held her hand out, motioning for him to lead the way. "After you."

"Um, uh huh."

She followed him into the building. In the lobby, they had to wait for the elevator. He thought he was avoiding the inevitable until John Scoggins and Pete Smith walked up.

"Hey, Ethelbert," John said, both men obviously staring at Dewi.

Ken felt shocked when he had to beat back the sudden urge to deck John and Pete for how they were looking at Dewi. "Hey."

Pete cleared his throat. "Um, hi," he said to Dewi.

Standing behind Ken, she slipped her arms around his waist and laid her cheek against his back. "Hi," she said in a sweetly seductive tone.

Both men's jaws dropped.

"You, uh, look different today, Ethelbert," John said.

Ken thought fast. "No glasses."

"Oh. Oh, yeah."

The door to the elevator opened. Ken stepped in, Dewi smoothly following him and keeping him between her and the two men, who were now obviously trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Part of him felt amused, because he knew damn well she could kick the other two men's asses.

Part of him felt proud to know she was his.

And an even bigger part of him still wanted to pound the crap out of the two men for staring at her the way they were. She wore jeans, a tank top, and a long-sleeved chambray shirt over the tank top, unbuttoned down the front with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. She wasn't dressed in a seductive way.

But she was a seductive woman, just her very aura enough to make Ken want to fuck her right there, audience or not.

When the elevator door slid closed, John, whose office was only three doors down from Ken's, finally said it. "So, who is she?" he asked. "Want to introduce us?"

"This is Dewi Bleacke." Ken had just enough sense to edit himself before he said the wrong word. "She's my...girlfriend."

She peeked out from behind Ken and smiled. "Hiya."

He could have dropped to all fours and started barking like a dog and they wouldn't have looked more shocked.

The two men stood there as the elevator door opened on their floor. Ken, shadowed by Dewi, stepped out. He turned to look at them with no small measure of satisfaction. "You guys going somewhere else, or to your offices?"

"Um, oh. Yeah," Pete said, awaking from his stupor. Both men stepped out, but didn't follow. They stood there watching Ken and Dewi walk down the hall and around the corner.

"That was fun," Dewi said with an evil smile.

Ken couldn't help but laugh as he stopped in front of his office. "Yeah, loads." He handed her his coffee as he dug his keys out of his pocket and unlocked his office door. He wasn't tenured, so his office space consisted of little more than an oversized closet, with barely enough room for his desk, his office chair, a chair in front of his desk, and a wall of bookshelves. At least he had a window. Well, half of a window, which extended into the office next door.

Dewi dropped into the chair in front of his desk. "When's your first class?"

He glanced at the clock. "Nine." That was almost thirty minutes away. He set his computer and papers on his desk. "My last class ends at noon, but I have three scheduled student conferences this afternoon. I'll be able to leave here by four." He sat. "Are you sure you want to hang out here all day? You could come back at lunch time and we could go eat somewhere."

She sat the backpack on the floor next to her chair. "Nope. I'm fine." She smiled up at him. "Want to get rid of me?"

"No. Want to keep you from being bored out of your mind."

"Don't worry about me. I brought stuff to do." She patted her backpack. "I'm all set."

"I'm not sure I can focus knowing you'll be waiting here for me."

She grinned. "And you only have four more weeks of this. So when do you tell them you're quitting?"

"Do I have to think about that today?"

She leaned forward in her chair, a sensual smile on her face. "Just think about it, being able to lay in bed every morning with me until you're ready to get up. Or until I get you up." Her gaze pointedly dropped to his crotch before returning to his eyes.

His cock jumped inside his jeans, throbbing, screaming for him to lay her over his desk and fuck her silly right there. He was about to reply when someone knocked on his open door. He looked up to see two more of his colleagues, Jason Cranston and Mark Perry, standing there and staring at Dewi.

"Um, hey, Ethelbert," Mark said. "How was your weekend?"

Before he could answer, Dewi turned and sweetly smiled. "He got himself a hot girlfriend and spent it getting laid. Any questions?"

Ken swallowed hard.

Both men stood there looking stunned. Jason finally shook his head. "Um, no. Cool. See you later."

She laughed as they left. Then she leaned back and pushed the office door shut. "That should start tongues wagging."

"That's what I'm afraid of. I'm not used to being the center of attention."

She held up four fingers and wiggled them at him. "Four more weeks."

"I know. You won't let me forget either, will you?"

She grinned. " _Hell_ no."

He finally made it out of his office to class, but not until Dewi had given him a soul-melting kiss that hardened his cock. He tried to adjust his jeans, gave up, and nearly walked out without his papers. Dewi's playful laughter followed him out the door and down the hall to his classroom.

* * * *

Ken's first class didn't end soon enough for his liking. He willed the clock to move faster, and had nearly thirty minutes until his next class after the first one ended. He opened his office door to find Dewi still sitting in the chair in front of his desk, her feet propped up on his desk and a small laptop open in her lap. She looked up at him. He slammed the door closed behind him and locked it. She barely had time to set the computer on the desk before he was on her. He yanked her up out of the chair and planted his lips on hers with happy moan that she echoed.

He bent her backward over the desk, his hands fumbling with her jeans until she had to help. She pushed them and her underwear down her hips and he dropped to his knees. With another happy moan, he buried his face between her legs. She grabbed his head and held on as he quickly brought her to an orgasm she was barely able to keep quiet through.

When he knew she'd finished, he pulled her to the edge of the desk and flipped her over onto her stomach. He shoved his own jeans down to his knees and sank his cock home inside her with a happy moan.

"Yesss!" she softly hissed, pushing back against him.

He slapped her on the ass. "Hold still, baby." Part of him felt horrified that he'd done that, but she wiggled beneath him, obviously happy. He grabbed her hips and fucked her, hard and fierce. Her soft, barely muffled mews of pleasure as she came again only fired his own need. As hard as he could, he slammed his cock deep inside her until he exploded with a relieved moan of his own.

Before he could recover, she pushed up off the desk, dropped to her knees in front of him, and sucked his softening cock into her mouth with a satisfied grunt.

"Oh, baby!" he whispered.

She quickly got him hard again, deep throating him when he came and swallowing every drop.

That took his knees out from under him. He collapsed into the chair with Dewi's head in his lap, her body practically wrapped around his legs.

He stroked her hair. Her eyes dropped closed as a contented smile curved her beautiful lips.

"I could sit here all day," she whispered.

"Me, too."

She giggled. "No you can't. You have a class."

He smiled and closed his eyes. "Not just yet I don't."

They sat there in that position until a few minutes before his class started. Dewi stood, stretched, then crawled into his lap and kissed him. "I love you," she whispered, her eyes searching his face.

He smiled and cupped her cheek with his hand, his thumb caressing the spray of freckles under her left eye. "I love you too, Dewi."

They both stood and he pulled himself together. He had just enough time to hit the bathroom and freshen up before heading to class. He noticed a few odd looks from some of the female students, but as he stepped behind the podium he surreptitiously checked his zipper.

_Nope, it's up._

He couldn't figure it out. Come to think of it, a few of the female students in his first class had given him odd looks, too.

After class ended, he was gathering his things when one of the students approached him, Brenda Stillings.

"Dr. Ethelbert?"

"Yes?" He looked up. Oh, yes, he remembered her, even if he couldn't name most of his students. Hell, he'd masturbated to fantasies of her triple-D breasts and tight clothes plenty of times.

The irony wasn't lost upon him that he now thought Dewi was countless times more beautiful than this girl.

"Do you have time for a student conference this afternoon? I'm having a...problem with something."

"Sure." He checked his schedule. "Two-thirty okay?"

She eagerly nodded. "Wonderful." She smiled and waggled her fingers at him. "See you then!" Then she bounced out of the room.

Consternation set in. _What is up with her?_ She was a B student. Didn't seem to have any unusual troubles with the class. She'd never asked to have a conference with him before.

He shrugged and headed back to Dewi. He had ten minutes before his next class, so that only gave them time to snuggle and kiss a little.

He'd nearly forgotten about the exchange with Brenda by the time lunch rolled around. He'd had another steamy encounter with Dewi between classes that left them both panting and sweaty and sprawled over his desk. They headed out to Dewi's car.

Ken didn't miss how Mark and Jason rushed across the parking lot to catch up with them.

"Hey, Ethelbert!" Mark called out. "Want to grab lunch?"

He didn't bother trying to conceal his skeptical look. While on pleasant terms with the men, this was the first time they'd ever sought him out for lunch.

But before Ken could answer, Dewi handled it for him. "Sure, boys. Hop in. Backseat. Ken gets shotgun."

The men stopped short beside the Saleen, their shock visible. Ken grinned as he opened the passenger door and tipped the seat forward.

"Sure, _boys_ ," he echoed, already tuned in to Dewi's gleeful mischievousness. "Hop in."

Mark and Jason exchanged a puzzled look before Mark climbed in first, followed by Jason.

Ken sent a questioning look to Dewi, but she just grinned at him from behind her sunglasses. "Buckle up, everyone," she cheerfully said before the engine roared to life.

Ken suspected Mark and Jason had planned some sort of Spanish Inquisition type of interrogation, minus the torture. But Dewi's driving left them less than willing to speak as she blasted out of the parking lot, tires squealing as she headed south toward Fowler Avenue.

"Panera Bread all right with everyone?" she cheerfully asked before cutting around two cars and whipping the wheel hard to the right to slide through the stale yellow light and make the turn onto Fowler.

Mark nodded. "Um, sure. Fine with us." He reached out and grabbed the back of Dewi's seat to steady himself.

Jason started to ask something when she slammed on the brakes and slid to a stop at a red light, throwing the two men hard against their seat belts. Used to this, Ken had already braced himself. He couldn't help but laugh over the slightly green quality of the men's expressions.

"Great car, isn't it?" Ken commented. "It's a Saleen, if you didn't know." Not that Ken knew a Saleen from a Celica, but he could parrot with the best of them.

Dewi threw him a pleased grin before taking off again in a squeal of tires when the light changed to green.

"Yeah, great car," Jason said, reaching out to steady himself against Mark when she swerved around a slow car in the left lane.

The two men seemed more than grateful to climb out of the car when they pulled into the restaurant's parking lot five minutes later. Dewi hooked her arm through Ken's. "Let's go eat, shall we?"

If it wasn't for the sadistic satisfaction Ken got watching the never-ending surprise on his two colleagues' faces, he would have felt uncomfortable over the way Dewi insisted on draping herself all over him.

It didn't matter that the discomfort would have been fleeting, and he wouldn't have minded her doing it in the least, but he enjoyed the bonus of Mark and Jason's obvious curiosity.

They'd received their meals and took a seat at a table when Jason finally asked the question Ken knew had to be on the men's minds.

"How, exactly, did the two of you meet?"

Before Ken could answer, Dewi took over. "Saturday night, we were both watching the Bolts game at a sports pub." She looked at Ken with unmistakable love and adoration in her eyes. "Love at first sight."

Ken nearly choked on his iced tea as he laughed. She hadn't lied at all. Just...omitted.

A _lot_.

Like the practically anonymous sex in the ladies' room before she shot the guy.

She leaned in and kissed him. "Isn't that right, baby?"

He smiled and stroked her chin. "That's right."

Mark tipped his head to the side as he studied them. "Riiight. Okay, what's the _real_ story? I know Ethelbert here hates hockey."

Dewi flashed a brilliant smile at him. "I know. I was explaining the game to Ken." She rubbed noses with him. "And we both love fried mushrooms."

"Ken?" Mark and Jason parroted. "Since when," Jason asked, "do you go by Ken? You've been Heath or Ethelbert as long as I've known you."

Ken shrugged while Dewi took over once again. "I'm not about to go around calling my boyfriend by his last name. And when he told me his middle name was McKenzie, I asked if I could call him Ken." She looked at Mark and Jason. "That is, when he's not fucking my brains out and I'm calling him 'oh, God'."

That finished Ken off. He did a spit-take, managing to get the rest of his tea back into his cup without spraying it all over the table. "Honey," he said, his voice strained, "I don't think they want to hear about our sex life."

The looks on Mark and Jason's faces said otherwise.

Dewi giggled as she ran her fingers through Ken's hair. "Sorry, baby. You know I'm pretty uninhibited." She shrugged. "You know how it is," she said to the other two men. "I found me a keeper, and I'm not letting him go."

Mark and Jason appeared stunned into silence.

Ken couldn't blame them.

When they all stepped outside to the parking lot, Ken thought Jason and Mark might decline a ride back to campus and opt to walk. They reluctantly climbed in, however, and Dewi blasted out of the parking lot.

Back on campus, Ken stood next to Dewi and chuckled as he watched his two shell-shocked colleagues return to the building. "I think you taught them to mind their curiosity," Ken said.

She grinned. "Darn. I was hoping they'd want to go to lunch with us tomorrow. That was fun."

He laughed as he slung an arm around her shoulder and walked with her to the building. "You're what I believe is called deliciously evil."

"Yep. I've been called worse, though." She snuggled more tightly against him and slipped one of her hands into his back pocket as they walked.

# **Chapter Nine**

#

Ken didn't have any other classes to teach that day, but he had a ton of papers to grade, as well as the three—make that four—student conferences. Dewi curled up in the other chair across from him while he tried to work.

Tried being the operative word. Her presence proved more than distracting.

After five minutes, he gave up and looked at her. "I can't work with you sitting there."

She grinned. "Why not?"

"Little Miss Innocent, are you? Because—" He closed his mouth as he spotted John Scoggins and Pete Smith slowly cruising past his open door.

He stood, rounded his desk, and shut the door. When he spoke again, he lowered his voice. "Because I can't stop thinking about fucking your brains out. That's why."

Her playful, wolfish grin grew wider. "And that's a bad thing?"

"Yes. When I'm trying to grade papers, it's a very bad thing."

She stood and wrapped her arms around him. "Then hand in your resignation this afternoon. We can spend the next few weeks in bed."

Despite his cock hardening at the thought and his balls agreeing wholeheartedly, he nixed the suggestion. "I don't want to just up and quit. I worked hard to get where I am. I have a reputation to consider, believe it or not. I've always prided myself on being conscientious, a hard worker. Upping and quitting like that is neither of those things. Yes, the idea of spending a couple of weeks in bed with you is wonderful, but I think I'd end up in the hospital if we did that. Or in a coffin. I didn't know you could fuck yourself to death, but I'm really beginning to think we could."

Dewi rested her head against his shoulder. "I understand," she grumbled. "Doesn't mean I don't wish I could change your mind."

He laughed. "It won't be that long." He started to say something else when someone knocked on his door. After untangling himself from Dewi's arms, he turned and opened the door again.

Two female students from his first class of the morning, a blonde and a brunette, stood there.

"Hi, Dr. Ethelbert," they said in unison. After briefly glaring at each other, the brunette continued. "Um, do you have a minute?"

He sensed Dewi standing close behind him, tensing, a nearly inaudible growl rolling from deep within her gut.

"What is it?" he asked without asking them into his office. He noticed the blonde scowled when she spotted Dewi standing behind him.

"We, ah, have a couple of quick questions about the class this morning."

He crossed his arms in front of him. _None shall pass._ "Okay, shoot."

_Come to think of it, I hope Dewi isn't armed._

The two coeds stared at him for a moment with blank looks on their faces. "What?" the blonde asked.

He hoped they didn't hear his disgusted sigh. He knew Dewi had, because her fingers crept around his waist, her arms slowly encircling him. "What were your questions?" he asked.

The blonde had apparently taken over the talking as the brunette stood there staring at him. "Um, can we come in?"

"Sorry, no. I'm extremely busy and already have four conferences today. If you wanted to schedule a conference for tomorrow afternoon, we can do that." He lifted his heel and gently tamped Dewi on the top of her foot when he felt her territorial rumble start against his back, where her cheek was now pressed.

_"Down, girl. Don't eat the students."_

Her rumble turned into a silent chuckle, the feel of her shaking as she tried to keep quiet vibrating through his back.

The brunette found her voice. "We can't come in now?" Her plaintive tone struck him the wrong way, although he felt Dewi had settled down behind him.

"Sorry. But I believe I have two o'clock open tomorrow, if you'd like to schedule a conference then."

The brunette looked like she wanted to burst into tears. He wished he could remember their names, but he had so many students he frequently couldn't put a face to a name, especially if he had no one-on-one contact with them. "Our sorority is having a party tonight. Could you come?"

He tamped Dewi's foot again as he felt her tense behind him. "Look, Miss..."

The brunette finally realized he wanted her name, apparently wounding her pride even more. "Jackson. Amber Jackson."

"Miss Jackson, I do not fraternize with students, especially those taking my classes. I'm sorry. It's a very strict rule I adhere to, not to mention the university frowns upon it."

"But we're a sorority, not a fraternity," the blonde chirruped.

Behind him, Dewi didn't bother holding back her gales of laughter any longer.

He soldiered on, undeterred. "And even if I could see students socially, I still wouldn't, because I'm in a committed relationship. If you have a question, I'll be happy to answer it or schedule a conference. Otherwise, I have a lot of work to do."

Both girls' faces fell. "Never mind," the brunette said, turning on her heel and nearly bolting down the hall.

The blonde, realizing she was alone, turned and followed.

With a sigh of relief, he closed the door and leaned against it.

Dewi wore a broad, beaming grin. She draped her arms around his neck. "Committed relationship, huh?"

He pulled her to him. "Very. To an incredibly sexy, not to mention territorial woman."

"You can say that again. To the territorial, I mean."

"But you are very sexy."

It looked like she was struggling not to blush. He lowered his mouth to hers for a kiss that, once again, hardened him. Unfortunately, he knew he didn't have time for a quickie and would have to tough it out until he could get Dewi home.

He'd wanted to wait for a more romantic time but he couldn't help himself. "I'm hoping you'll want to marry me."

Her mocha eyes widened as she let out a soft gasp.

He released her, dug into his pocket for the engagement ring, and dropped to one knee with her left hand in his. "Badger gave me these rings. He said they belonged to your parents. And, honestly, I can't afford anything but a Walmart ring." He slipped it onto her ring finger.

It was a perfect fit.

He looked up at her. "I'm not as strong as Beck. And I have a feeling your family is going to chew me up and spit me out when I finally meet them. But I've never felt like this about anyone in my life and the thought of not waking up with you in my life every day rips my heart out. If I lose you, life would really, really suck. Will you marry me?"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she flung her arms around his neck, nearly knocking him over as he stood. He heard her gasp, "Yes," before she burst into tears.

He held her, stroked her back. "Please tell me those are happy tears."

She started laughing as she leaned her head back to stare into his eyes. "Very happy."

"Okay, so can I ask a favor?"

She nodded.

" _Please_ don't eat my students. That wouldn't look good on a resume."

She burst out laughing and buried her head against his shoulder.

* * * *

Brenda Stillings showed up ten minutes early for her conference. Ken kept his office door open. Dewi stood just outside in the hall, ostensibly checking her email on her iPhone. But he knew her ears were carefully attuned to every sound in the office.

He hadn't missed how Dewi's nose wrinkled as the coed walked into his office, as if testing the air for the girl's intentions.

Which, unfortunately, were soon made very clear.

Brenda started off asking a very basic question about programming syntax in something he'd covered early in the semester. That confused him, because they were well past that part of the curriculum.

Brenda leaned forward in her chair, showing several extra buttons on her blouse were now undone.

And she wasn't wearing a bra.

He leaned back and tried not to lose his train of thought as he finished answering her question. "Was that all?"

"No. Actually, I had another question." She tried to look him directly in the eye, but he kept his gaze firmly fixed on the open doorway behind her, where he could see Dewi's leg propped up against the frame as she leaned against the wall.

Brenda dropped her voice. "I was wondering if you could come over for dinner toni—"

"I'm sorry," Dewi said from the doorway without entering. "We can't come over for dinner tonight, but that's so sweet of you to invite us. We have an appointment with the florist to go over arrangements for our wedding. Would tomorrow work for you, hon?"

Brenda immediately sat back in her seat, red in the face. Without another word, she bolted from the chair, out of the office, and down the hall.

Dewi stepped into the doorway, staring after her. "Let us know what night would work best for you!" she called out.

"We have an appointment with the florist, huh?"

She shrugged. "I work fast." Ken sat back and laughed as she returned her attention to him. "Still sure you want to wait four weeks?"

"Not if this shit keeps up."

She grinned, showing teeth. "Hey, I didn't growl at her."

" _That_ time."

"I consider it personal growth." Her brow furrowed. "How many more girls want to see you today?"

"My other three conferences are guys."

"Oh." She smiled. "Safe for me to go grab a coffee downstairs?"

"I think so."

She walked in, leaned over the desk, and kissed him. "I'll be right back."

"I hope so."

She grabbed his tie and pulled him in for another kiss. "Don't worry. I'm not about to let you go, either."

"Good."

"Do you want anything?"

He grinned. "Nothing that you can bring me from a vending machine."

He was talking with his next student when Dewi returned. She stood outside the door again, but Ken sensed how relaxed she was this time. When they finished and the student left, Dewi returned to the office and smoothly slid into the chair on the other side of the desk.

"Better?" he asked.

She nodded as she sipped her coffee. He didn't understand her subtle shift in demeanor, a cloud darkening her features. "Sorry."

"What for?"

She shrugged. "I should be better than petty jealousy. And this isn't because of anything you've done." She stared at the ring on her hand as a wistful smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Curiosity piqued, he leaned forward. "What's going on?" He suspected this was far deeper than mere territoriality on her part.

"You're all mine," she mumbled as she picked at the edge of the plastic lid on her cup. "I've never had someone who was all mine before."

"But you said..." He stopped to think. She'd had partners before him. "I don't understand."

She took a deep breath and let it out. So softly he almost couldn't hear her, she said, "No one's ever been _mine_ before. I knew they weren't permanent relationships. I never..." She shrugged, then her head snapped up just before his next appointment appeared in the doorway.

Silently cursing the timing, Ken spoke to him. "Be right with you." Before he could say anything else to Dewi, she was up and out of the chair, brushing past the guy and heading out of sight down the hall.

"Come on in," he said, waving the student in.

# **Chapter Ten**

#

Ken wasn't merely exhausted by the time four o'clock rolled around that afternoon, he felt relieved. Relieved that the day was over, that he could go home with Dewi and relax, and that Dewi hadn't mauled any of his female students for making passes at him.

_Yet._

Although admittedly it had been a particularly odd day.

He noticed the tense set to Dewi's jaw as she cranked the car. He wanted to revisit what they'd started to talk about in his office, but hadn't yet had time to finish discussing. "You okay?"

"Do women always throw themselves at you like that?" she grumbled.

The undeniably growly tone of her voice made him want to laugh. He reached over and patted her on the thigh. "No. This was a weird damn day. I've never had a student hit on me before, much less three of them in one day. I don't understand it."

He felt her muscles relax a little under his hand. She leaned over and kissed him. "I'm sorry. I'll tone it down tomorrow."

"I don't know. I kind of liked it."

"Liked what?"

"Having my own guard dog."

"Wolf." But she smiled.

"Whatever." He ran his hand through her hair, gently twisting the ends around his fingers. His voice softened. "Seriously, that normally doesn't happen. Please don't be jealous. I only have eyes for you."

"I know. I trust you." She scowled. "I just don't trust those horny little tramps throwing themselves at you."

"That was...weird." He sat back in his seat. "Completely weird. I don't understand it. It's like everyone went crazy today."

"No, it's because you're mated to me now." She shifted into reverse and backed out of the parking space.

"That doesn't make sense."

"Love rarely does." She cranked up the radio and began to sing to it, obviously not wanting to continue the discussion.

_I'll have to revisit that topic later._

* * * *

"When are you going to let me teach you how to swim?" Dewi asked as Ken changed out of his jeans and dress shirt into a pair of shorts.

"We've only been home ten minutes and I have work to do. Can we talk about drowning me later?"

She sat on the bed, a delicious smirk on her face. "I won't drown you. I promise."

"I don't even like tub baths."

"Bet you've never had a naked swimming instructor."

"You're right. I haven't." He pulled on a T-shirt. "Doesn't mean I'm going to be a good student. Can't we skip swimming?"

"Come on, you'll like it."

"I'm just not a swimmer, okay?"

She studied him for a moment, her brow furrowing. "What's going on?" she finally asked.

He felt his face redden but he turned from her, grabbing his dirty clothes from the floor and sticking them in the hamper just inside the bathroom door. "Nothing," he mumbled.

He didn't want to admit why he was afraid of the water. How Dave liked to "play" with him at the pool at their house growing up, holding him under until Ken thought he'd drown, just to let him up to catch his breath before doing it to him again. All the while, Dave laughing like a loon, thinking it was the funniest thing in the world.

He jumped when he felt Dewi's arms encircle him from behind. "You sure you're not part cat?" he quipped as he turned in her embrace.

He didn't read pity on her face, but he wasn't sure her concerned expression was much better. "Please," she softly said. "Tell me."

He closed his eyes. "Can we do this later?"

She rested her head against his chest as she pulled his arms more tightly around her. "Okay. But one of these days, I want to hear the story."

He buried his face in her hair. On the one hand, she made him feel nearly superhuman, like he could do anything with her love to strengthen him.

On the other hand, in her presence he felt even more emasculated than usual. Here was a woman who could, literally, singlehandedly rip his throat out. And the most rebellious thing he'd ever done in his life was jaywalk.

_Well, that and have anonymous sex in a ladies' bathroom with Dewi._

"Okay," he agreed. "Just not right now." He had a thought. "I'll tell you about it if you finish telling me what else you were going to say in my office this afternoon. Deal?"

She stiffened slightly, but she nodded.

* * * *

Ken finished grading papers just as Badger bellowed that dinner was ready. He'd made a vegetable lasagna for dinner, with roasted chicken on the side for the shifters.

Ken felt touched at the trouble Badger was going through on his behalf. "This is delicious," he told Badger. "Thank you."

The older man gruffly waved away the compliment, but Ken didn't miss how he also seemed to puff up a little at the praise.

"Oh, Dewi," Badger said. "We got a call today from Tayla Barrons."

Dewi let out a groan. "What now?"

"She's worried about Kendra. She can't get her on the phone, and Kendra's husband won't let Tayla talk to her."

"Shit."

Ken had to ask. "What?"

"Tayla is a Targhee packmate," Dewi explained. "Half human herself, and she doesn't shift. She married a human, Don, who died in Iraq not long after Tayla gave birth. Their daughter, Kendra, is part shifter, but she doesn't shift either. She doesn't know anything about that part of her heritage. Tayla decided not to tell her, since she'll likely never shift. Well, Kendra married some dirtbag last year. Tayla thinks he's been abusing Kendra, but Kendra won't leave him or press charges."

"It's worse," Badger added. "Tayla thinks Kendra's pregnant."

Dewi closed her eyes. "Crap."

"I don't understand," Ken said.

Dewi turned to him. "As a pack Enforcer, my job is basically equivalent to a Wild West marshal. I keep the peace between shifters, enforce pack laws, settle shifter disputes, and protect humans from shifters when necessary. I also step in when there are cases like this."

"Why not call the law?"

"Because obviously Kendra won't, or can't, call the law. And she's part of the Targhee pack by birth. She's my responsibility, even if she doesn't know anything about that part of her lineage."

For the first time, Ken allowed himself to really think about the shooting Saturday night. "You said that guy you killed—"

"Peckingham."

"Yeah. He was selling his daughters?"

She nodded and took a swallow of iced tea. "Total asshole."

"Why would he do that?"

"Because shifter or not, some people are just born to be asswipe douchecanoes. He was one of them. His wife, Alexis, got in touch with me Saturday morning, in a panic."

"She's a shifter?"

"No, she's a human, but she's got shifter heritage. I had to step in once before, when he decided to go heavy-handed on Alexis a year or so ago after he got drunk one night. He found out I don't hit like a girl. I gave him everything he gave his wife, along with hefty interest, in terms of a beating. He couldn't walk for a week."

Beck looked grim. "I told you then to just take him out."

"I couldn't. Alexis wouldn't petition the pack for it." Dewi tapped the table. "This gave me cause."

Beck shook his head. "Doesn't matter. He was a dick. I would have taken him out if you'd have let me."

"Yeah, and then Peyton would have been crawling up my ass about it and—"

"So," Ken said, interrupting, "this guy, Peckingham. His wife is human, but knew he was a shifter?"

"Yes," Dewi said. "And any time there are children involved in the issue, that overrides anything and allows me to act without needing a pack edict. This time, I didn't need that. Before I went after the guy, I called Peyton as a matter of courtesy and told him what Peckingham did and was planning on doing. Peyton issued an immediate edict over the phone to permanently take him out."

"What about due process?"

She put her fork down and stared at the table for a moment. When she next spoke, she didn't look at him. Her voice sounded quiet and tired. "His daughter didn't get any. I tracked her down at the dealer's house Saturday afternoon. Fortunately, she hadn't been raped yet, but she was absolutely terrified. I took her home, gave Alexis money to fly herself and all four girls out to Idaho immediately, and drove them to the airport myself. The pack will take care of them and get them resettled. Then I came home, changed clothes, picked up a throwaway gun, and went after the fucker. He and his buddies go to the same place every Saturday. And now you know, as they say, the rest of the story."

She stood and left the room.

Ken felt horrible and started to go after her, but both Badger and Beck waved him back down.

"Don't, son," Badger said. "She needs a few minutes to get her wits about her. She'll be a'right in a minute. Ye have to understand, she's pretty high-strung in some ways. It's what makes her a good Enforcer. She cares. She doesn't let power go to her head. She always remembers her job is first and foremost to protect innocents."

"I feel like I hurt her feelings."

"Ye didn't," Badger assured him. "Trust me, she's fine." He winked at Ken. "And good work."

"Huh?"

Badger tapped his left thumb and ring finger together but didn't say anything else. Instead, he went back to eating.

Sure enough, Dewi returned a few minutes later. She leaned in and kissed Ken before retaking her seat. "I'll call Tayla back after dinner," she told Badger. "See what's up."

* * * *

Ken was going to leave Dewi alone for the call, but she invited him to join her and Beck in the office. With the phone in speaker mode, she called Tayla Barrons. Ken found himself holding his breath as he waited to hear the call connect.

The woman who answered sounded scared, her voice tentative and uncertain. "Hello?"

"Tayla Barrons? This is Dewi Bleacke. Badger gave me your message." Ken didn't miss how Dewi's voice now sounded commanding, calm, sure.

If he was in trouble, it was the kind of voice that would convince him the cavalry had arrived in overwhelming numbers and was kicking butt and taking names.

The woman let out a relieved sob and began crying. "Thank you! I'm sorry I bothered you, but I can't find her. I'm worried something's happened to her..."

During the call, Dewi took notes on a legal pad, doing her best to comfort the distraught mother and reassure her that she'd do everything in her power to find her daughter. After the nearly hour-long conversation ended, Dewi sat back and tossed her pen onto the legal pad. She'd agreed to go down to Ft. Myers the next day, where Tayla and Kendra lived. Meanwhile, Dewi had charged Tayla with compiling as much information as she could on her son-in-law, including names, addresses, and phone numbers of friends and family, current and former employers, and anything else she could come up with.

Beck wore a grim expression. "Want me to go?"

"No, I need to do it. I met Kendra when she married the jerk. I didn't have cause to warn him off her then.

Recognition washed over Beck's face. "That's the wedding where they—"

"Yep. That's the one. They make the Honey Boo Boo crew look like prim and proper royalty."

Ken wasn't sure what they were talking about. "Huh?"

Dewi stood and stretched. "The highlight of the wedding, which was held at the groom's brother's house near Lake Okeechobee, was an illegal alligator hunt. The bride was resplendent in denim cut-offs and a tank top, while the groom wore a plaid button-up shirt with the sleeves ripped off and a ratty pair of jeans."

"I'm guessing Tayla wasn't pleased," he observed.

"Not in the least. She begged me to convince her daughter to call off the wedding, but like I said, I had no cause. The girl was nineteen, not a minor. I saw no sign of abuse, although the mother of the groom was wearing an inordinate amount of pancake concealer behind gigantic sunglasses and a floppy hat."

Apparently, Dewi wasn't in a mood to try to get Ken interested in swimming after the phone call. They said their goodnights to Beck and headed upstairs to the bedroom.

He sensed the tension in her, the anxiety.

The worry.

"If you want to go down to Ft. Myers tonight, I understand." He didn't relish the thought of sleeping alone, but it was for a good cause.

She wrapped her arms around him, relaxing in his embrace. "No," she mumbled against his chest, "it wouldn't do any good. I need the information from Tayla first. I can't go knocking on human doors in the middle of the night when I have no clue where Kendra is."

He rubbed his hands up and down her spine, feeling her relax even more under his touch. "Can I do anything else to make you feel better?"

"I thought you'd never ask." Her hand cupped the nape of his neck. She pulled him down for another kiss, deep, slow, passionate. When his cock stiffened in his shorts, she rubbed herself against him, the friction adding delicious torture to their embrace.

A deep sense of peace flowed through him, a sense of belonging he'd never felt before. Accompanied by a protective urge to make her feel better, to take her mind off the concern he'd felt in her ever since she'd ended the phone call.

He backed her toward the bed, nibbling across her jaw, his passion growing, swelling, along with hers. He closed his eyes and licked at the side of her neck, tasting the salt on her flesh at the hollow of her throat, nuzzling along the top of her shoulder where...

Insatiable, unstoppable need took him—instinctive, deep, and overpowering. He peeled his lips back from his teeth and bit down on her shoulder, hard.

Her pleasured gasps turned into a screech of shock that immediately had him releasing her even as she twisted out of his arms. When he looked at her, she had a hand clapped to her shoulder, her eyes wide, pupils so large her mocha eyes looked black.

And her canines had lengthened. "Fuck! You bit me!"

"I...I thought you—"

"Shit!" This came out as a growl as she bolted for the door and threw it open. "Beck!" she bellowed. She leaned against the doorframe, slowly sliding down it as her hands balled up into fists.

Something was happening to her, different than the first time she showed him how she turned into a wolf. He took a step toward her and she warded him back. "No!"

That definitely sounded like a growl.

Beck, followed by Badger, pounded up the stairs. "What happened?" Beck asked, looking down at her.

"Hit me!" she ordered.

Beck looked as confused as Ken felt. "What?"

She grabbed his arm and hauled herself to her feet. Now Ken could definitely tell something was wrong. It looked like her ears were elongating along with her teeth. "Hit me, goddammit!" Her voice now sounded even growlier. "He bit me. Fucking punch me and knock me the fuck out!"

Beck's confusion transformed to alarmed shock. "Shit!"

Before Ken could stop him, Beck hauled off and cold-cocked Dewi, knocking her out with a sickening _crack_ as his fist made contact with her jaw, and another as her head rocked back and struck the doorframe. Beck caught her before she hit the floor. Scooping her into his arms, he carried her over to the bed and gently laid her there.

"What the fuck?" Ken screamed at him, shoving him out of the way to kneel next to her on the bed. "Why'd you do that?"

Badger looked grim as he stepped into the room. "Aye, he had to, lad. She mighta ripped yer throat out had he not."

Ken blinked. He stared at Dewi, who looked normal now despite being unconscious, then back to Badger. " _What_?"

Beck had stepped back away from the bed, a grim expression on his face as he flexed and shook the fist he'd hit her with. "You triggered her Prime Alpha," he said. "Accidentally, but she was afraid what she might do, that she might hurt you. I guess you two haven't talked about that yet, huh?"

Ken dumbly shook his head.

Badger let out a sigh. "I really should've had a talk with her when she brought ye home and reminded her of all this. She knows these things, but ye two haven't had much talkin' time, I suppose." He sat on the other corner of the bed. "She's a _Prime_ Alpha, lad. We told ye this. There are certain things ye just don't do to a Prime Alpha. Marking them is one of them. Ye got a little nibbly on her shoulder, didn't ye?"

Ken felt his face heat. "Yeah. I thought she liked that from the way she bit me the other night."

He left out the part about how a _need_ to bite her had taken him over.

"Christ." Beck scrubbed his face with his hands. "A non-Alpha shifter, if you, a human, did that to them, it wouldn't trigger them. An Alpha, unless they're ready for it and expecting it, it might or might not trigger them. But a Prime Alpha willingly submits to no one. Especially not to their mate. Their first overwhelming instinct is to take control back, firmly, and re-establish their pack order."

Badger took over. "If ye were a shifter, it wouldn't matter so much because she wouldn't have worried about hurting ye. But yer a human. She must have felt it coming strong and not been able to control it."

"Hurt me?" He looked down at her lax face. Beautiful. Hauntingly so. He couldn't ever imagine her wanting to hurt him.

_And if she did, I'd gladly let her._

"She knew Beck here was strong enough to knock her out and short-circuit the reaction," Badger said. "She should be okay when she comes to. She's had worse."

Beck stepped into their bathroom for a moment and returned with a wet washcloth. Ken didn't miss how Beck handed it to him instead of approaching her himself.

Ken gently swabbed at her face. Beck's fist had left a red mark on her jaw, and when Ken probed the back of her scalp he felt a goose egg rising there. But he suspected come morning she wouldn't even have a bruise or a bump.

If he'd taken a punch like that, it would have killed him or put him in the hospital.

He laid the cloth on her forehead and picked up one of her hands, gently stroking it.

Badger stood and turned to leave, clapping Beck on the shoulder as he did. "Ye did good, lad. Stay here until she comes to, make sure she's back to herself." He cast one last look at Ken. "And keep yer teeth to yerself until she explains everything to ye."

"I didn't know!"

"I know, lad," he said, waving his objections down. "I'm not blaming ye. It's her fault fer not telling ye. Just be careful in the future." He left. Somewhere down the hall, Ken heard a bedroom door open and close.

Beck crossed his arms over his chest but kept his gaze on the floor. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing to me?"

The large man's gaze briefly drifted to Dewi before settling on the floor again. "For being the third wheel."

# **Chapter Eleven**

#

Dewi awoke a few minutes later with a groan. Ken wanted to hover over her, but he noticed how Beck moved closer to the bed, on alert and ready to jump in again to protect Ken from her if necessary.

She sat up with Ken's help, one hand holding the washcloth to her face. With a sheepish glance at Beck, she said, "Thanks."

Beck nodded. Her voice had returned to normal. None of the growling, threatening undertone remained.

"Want me to hang around, or are you okay?" Beck asked.

"I'm okay." Her eyes widened as she looked at Ken and started checking him. "Are you okay?"

He grabbed her hands and kissed them. "I'm okay."

That's when she burst into tears and threw her arms around him.

From behind her, Beck nodded to him with a grim expression before showing himself out and quietly shutting the bedroom door behind him.

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed, over and over against his shirt. "I could have hurt you. I'm so sorry."

* * * *

Dewi's panicked worry crumbled into relief as Ken gathered her into his arms, cradling her, his chin lightly rubbing the top of her head.

"Shh, it's okay. I'm fine. No harm. Are _you_ okay? He hit you pretty damn hard."

"I'm okay," she softly said, slowly calming.

They sat like that for several minutes as she collected herself. She didn't want to move, afraid she'd awaken to find she really had hurt him. The stupid thing was that part of her had _wanted_ to feel his teeth sink into her flesh, to mark her.

Someone to take care of _her_ for a change, someone she could let go to.

But that was silly, because Ken was a human, not a wolf. It was her _job_ to protect him. That's what she did. Enforcers protected people. Then her Prime Alpha had roared out of its cage, unstoppable. She'd panicked, unable to even think about trying to rein it in and instead screaming for Beck to come save her.

_Well, to come save Ken._

She clutched his arm as she listened to his heart beating under her ear, strong and steady. Yes, her jaw hurt, and so did the back of her head, but those would be fine by morning.

Her mate was safe. That's all she cared about.

_I owe Beck an apology._

She never thought about her Prime like that before. It had never come up like that before, only when she was in a fight. _I need better control._

She wanted to feel Ken inside her, right then. To prove to herself that he was alive and well. But when she reached up to pull his face down to hers for a kiss, he caught her hands and kissed her fingers again.

"Let's talk first," he said.

She took a deep breath and nodded.

"How about explaining to me what just happened. Badger told me a little."

She felt her face redden. Yes, she should have had this talk with him early on, but they'd been too busy...

_Well, okay, so I wanted to fuck his brains out instead of talk._

"I'm a Prime Alpha. That means there are a lot of things that I can do well that even other shifters can't do. My senses are stronger. _I_ am stronger. But it also comes with some other issues. I don't ever want to hurt you. I'd never forgive myself." She palmed his cheek. "I'd rather kill myself than hurt you."

"So what else should I know so I don't trigger you again?"

"That's the big one. I mean, yeah, I like you using your teeth on me. But I wasn't ready for it." She frowned. "And I felt something right before you did."

"Like what?"

"I don't know." Now that she tried to think of it, the events were hazy and unclear in her mind. Whether an effect of dropping down into Prime Alpha, or because of Beck cold-cocking her, she didn't know. It had almost felt like a wave of dominant energy from Ken had pulsed through her.

"It doesn't matter," she said. "And if someone tried to hurt you, I'd likely drop into Prime mode, too, to protect you."

"So no biting?"

She smiled. "Maybe some light nipping." She pulled her shirt off and pointed to her left breast. "Like, maybe there?"

He smiled and freed her breast from her bra cup. When he grazed his teeth across her nipple, electric fire raced through her.

But not her Prime.

She let herself relax and enjoy it. "Yeesss," she softly hissed as her clit pulsed. "Like that."

He rolled them over so she lay on her back on the bed. He eagerly set to work, the sweet, wet heat of his mouth and lips driving her need higher and harder than anyone else ever had.

She reached up and unfastened his shorts before pushing them down his hips. She found his stiff cock and wrapped her fingers around it, enjoying the way his moan vibrated through her nipple.

Unable to take it, she turned around on the bed and latched on to his cock. With her arms wrapped around his hips, she urged him to roll on top of her.

A quick study, he did, burying his face between her thighs.

She closed her eyes and let the first of several orgasms roll through her. It'd never felt this good with anyone else before.

_Ever._

She felt him holding back, not wanting to come too soon. She slicked her tongue down his shaft and sucked, hard, even as one last climax washed through her.

She was rewarded with the taste of his juices in her mouth. Letting out a happy growl she swallowed, loving how his entire body relaxed as she gave him pleasure.

Pleasure no one else had given him before her.

After a moment, his body went lax and he flopped onto his back. "I don't know about you," he said, "but I'm ready for sleep."

She turned around and snuggled tightly against him. "Me, too."

* * * *

Dewi lay awake long after Ken had slipped into a deep, satisfied sleep. Only then did she allow herself to close her eyes and relax.

Sleep did not come easy. When it did, the old, familiar dream returned.

Dream? Or perhaps nightmarish memory. Either way, it was always the same. The world around her looked blurry, sounds muffled as if through a tunnel. The feel of someone picking her up, accompanied by their nasty scent, which always made her want to throw up. A voice saying things she didn't understand. A different man and woman, begging, pleading. Then the sensation of sailing through the air just to crash land. Her head hurt, not from the blow Beck had given her in real life hours earlier, but from something else.

_Evil._

And as the sounds once again started and broke through the fuzziness, the woman crying out in pain even as a rhythmic slapping noise started, Dewi awoke with a choked scream strangled in the back of her throat.

As she took several deep breaths and tried to still her pulse, she looked to see Ken still deeply and peacefully asleep next to her.

She did the only thing she could do when one of these nightmares ruined her sleep for the night. Despite the clock reading 1:18 a.m., she carefully climbed out of bed, changed into workout clothes, and headed downstairs.

* * * *

Tuesday morning, Ken awoke before the alarm to the feel of Dewi's lips wrapped around his cock. After lifting his head to look down at her, he plunged his fingers into her hair and worked his hips in time with her mouth. When she palmed his sac, he felt his orgasm roll out of him, exploding through him like a runaway freight train.

After she'd sucked every last drop from him, she rested her cheek against his thigh. "Good morning," she softly said.

He laughed. "Good morning, baby. Come up here and let me take care of you."

"Uh-uh." She placed a light kiss on his cock before sitting up. "I can wait. That was me trying to make it up to you for last night."

He sat up and caught her arm before she could get away. Pulling her back to him, he kissed her. "You don't need to make anything up to me. It's okay. It was weird and scary at the time, but everything in my life since I've met you has been either weird, scary, or both. I'm kind of getting used to it."

She offered him a sad smile and kissed him again. "I'm going to take you to work this morning. I doubt I'll be back in time to get you this afternoon. Badger said he'll come pick you up."

"You don't need to make him do that."

"I'm not making him. He offered. I'd feel better if you'd let him."

He sensed her concern for him. She'd scared herself last night and wanted to make sure nothing happened to him.

Giving in, he nodded. "Okay. But only if you kiss me."

That drew a smile from her. She leaned in and kissed him, long and sweetly, before sitting back. "Coffee's almost ready. I'll make you breakfast while you're in the shower."

He faked a pout. "Aww, you're not going to take a shower with me?"

She shook her head as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "I took one earlier after I worked out."

He'd never felt her get out of bed. He also belatedly realized she was already fully dressed. "When did you do that?"

She shrugged and looked down at the bed. "I couldn't sleep."

Capturing her hand again, he laced his fingers through hers. "Talk to me, Dewi."

She shook her head. "Not now. Later. After I get back. Right now, I need to get my head on straight. I've got a job to do." She gently squeezed his hand before untangling herself and standing. "Plus, I don't want to make you late for work. I'll bring up your coffee and get your breakfast ready. After I take you to work, I have to come back here and do a couple of things before I head south."

He didn't have to be a rocket scientist to tell she still felt guilty over what happened the night before. As he stepped into the shower and stood under the spray, he went over the previous night's events again. He still didn't understand exactly why he'd bit her. It'd been an overwhelming urge, and one that frightened him a little in its intensity. What if it happened again and he couldn't stop himself?

_What the hell is wrong with me?_

He never considered himself some caveman who'd want to drag his woman to bed. He'd always envisioned one day having a partner in life, someone to be his equal, to share all things with. And yet on the heels of that came the delicious mental image of wrapping her hair around his fist and using that handhold to force her onto his knees to suck him off.

He pressed his forehead against the cool tile and turned the water temp colder to try to wilt the woody that suddenly sprang up at that thought, so hard it throbbed, painful, demanding attention.

Then again, he figured Dewi could probably lift him with one arm, now that he knew about her wolf side. If she didn't want him doing something to her, she likely wouldn't let it happen.

As his libido settled down to a slow simmer once again, he finished his shower. Before this, he'd always been a man of numbers, of science, so to speak. Facts and figures, algorithms and programming code. Although he'd happily played _Dungeons & Dragons_ when he was younger, he never believed in fanciful creatures.

He especially never believed he'd ever be mated to one.

Hell, just believing he now had a scorching hot fiancée was already stretching the bounds of his brain.

* * * *

Dewi wore her sunglasses for the drive to campus, which meant Ken couldn't study her expression. He suspected that was the whole point since the sun was behind them for much of the drive. Now growing used to her driving, he forced himself to relax as she smoothly changed lanes and negotiated the traffic. She stopped in front of the building to let him out.

He leaned over and kissed her. "Be careful today."

"I will. I really need to get you a cell phone. I don't like not being in contact with you."

"I'll pick up one of those cheap pre-paid ones," he mumbled.

She removed her glasses and met his gaze with her mocha eyes. "I want to buy a nice one for you. I can afford it. My money is your money. Please don't start with some macho bullshit about wanting to pay for stuff. So you have debt because of your asshole step-brother. Big deal."

He felt his face redden. "Badger told you?"

She arched an eyebrow at him. "Yeah. And I don't care if you're broke or rich. I didn't fall in love with you for that. I fell in love with you because we were meant to be together." She pulled him in for another kiss. "Please humor me."

He sensed it meant a lot to her. "Okay, fine."

He'd kill for her pleased smile. "Cool. I'll get you one. Love you."

"Love you, too." With more than a simple wistful pang, he climbed out of her car, gathered his things, and headed inside.

Jason and Mark awaited him in the lobby. "Dude," Jason said, "where the _hell_ did you meet a hottie like her?"

"And does she have a sister?" Mark added.

Ken kept his gaze firmly fixed on the elevator doors. He was afraid if he didn't, he'd want to take a swing at both men.

Dewi apparently wasn't the only one having trouble controlling her more violent urges.

"Have a little respect," Ken said. "She's my fiancée, not just my girlfriend."

" _What_?" both men chimed in unison.

"Yeah. I proposed yesterday, and she accepted."

When the door slid open he stepped in, flanked by the other two men.

"What the hell?" Mark said. "You just met her."

Ken felt his jaw clench. "What business is it of yours?" He punched the button for his floor.

"Whoa," Jason said. "Chill. It's just you aren't exactly the dating kind."

He found himself in Jason's face, staring down at him. "You don't know _anything_ about me." The growl rolling out of him scared him. "You don't know a _damn_ thing about me except you think I'm some sort of joke. Well grow the fuck up. I _do_ have a life."

Fortunately, the doors opened onto his floor. He rushed out, breathing heavy and trying to stifle the urge to go back and punch both of them.

Not just for what they'd said, but for what he'd felt from them.

Lust. They both thought Dewi was hot as hell and wanted a crack at her.

And they were jealous of Ken for landing someone of her caliber.

His hand shook and he dropped his keys three times before he got his office door opened and stepped inside, locking it behind him.

_What the fuck?_

He put everything down and stared at his hands. As if possessing a will of their own, they clenched and unclenched. The feel of making a fist resonated through him.

_It'd be so easy to storm down the hall and—_

_No!_

He forced himself to sit behind his desk for five minutes with his hands flat on his desk while he took deep, cleansing breaths, afraid to move until the urge to spill their blood had completely passed.

_What the hell's wrong with me?_

He'd definitely be having a talk with Badger on the ride home.

* * * *

"So, what's on yer mind?" Badger asked by way of greeting as Ken climbed into the man's truck that afternoon.

"What?"

"What did ye want to talk about." He tapped his temple. "I'm a Prime, don't ye forget. Mebbe I can't read yer mind exactly, but I can tell yer thinking something."

"Oh." Ken let out a laugh. "Yeah, I do want to talk to you." He related what happened that morning with Mark and Jason while Badger negotiated his way off the campus and toward I-75. "What does it mean?"

Badger shrugged. "Honestly? I haven't a clue."

"That's not much help."

"I dunno what ye want me to tell ye, boyo. We're in uncharted territory. I told ye, a Prime Alpha female is unheard of. The only counsel I have fer ye is to keep the lines of communication open, to Dewi and to me and Beck."

"I doubt Beck wants to talk to me about my relationship with Dewi."

"Eh, don't be so sure of that. He loves her, don't forget. And they are still partners. Regardless what his feelings are on the fact that he wasn't meant to be her mate, he knows the first priority is to the pack and to her mate. Yer part of the pack, lad, not just her mate. Just like there's no way he wouldn't have done what she asked last night."

Ken settled back in his seat. "Yeah, but if he hadn't, I would have been out of her life."

"Ye could've been dead, and he would've hated himself fer it later. Especially if Dewi had killed herself after the fact. And I don't doubt she would've." His expression darkened. "Wouldn't be the first time a wolf took that path in her family. She loves ye fierce and deep. Ye need to get that through yer thick head."

They rode in silence for a few minutes. "Good work on proposing, by the by," Badger said.

"Thanks," Ken mumbled. "I appreciate you not rubbing Beck's face in it at dinner."

"Eh, he'll be fine. He'll find his one now that he has a reason to go looking. Besides, it doesn't matter if ye marry her or not. That's a formality. Yer mated to her. That's all that counts with our kind."

"I just wish I could do better for her."

Badger patted him on the shoulder. "We all have to start somewhere. Ye love her fiercely. No one could ask for more. Everything else is just gravy, as they say."

* * * *

Ken graded papers in the office later that afternoon. Unfortunately, Dewi called around six to let them know she wouldn't be home after all.

"I'm sorry," she said, sounding forlorn. "I'm still tracking down leads. Tayla invited me to stay here with her. One of his buddies is out of town and will be back later tonight. I'm going to talk to him and then get out of here early tomorrow morning so I can be there to take you to work."

"It's okay. You don't have to worry about it."

"I want to," she said. "I don't want to be away from you this long."

He didn't want her to be away that long, either, but he knew what she had to do was important. "It's okay. People are depending on you. I understand." He hesitated. "Maybe I'll even let you try to teach me how to swim tomorrow night."

He heard a smile creep into her voice. "Really?"

"Yeah. Hell, I know you won't let me drown."

"Oh, sweetie, thank you." She already sounded a little less despondent. "I promise I'll go slow and make it fun."

"I'm sure you'll make it fun, all right." He suspected there would be a lot of sexy positive reinforcement used on her part. "You did mention something about a naked swimming instructor."

She giggled. "Yes. Yes, I did. Whatever it takes."

"I'll hold you to it. And to something else, too."

Another giggle. He loved hearing that sound from her. He especially loved being the reason she made the sound in the first place. "Promise?" she asked.

"Absolutely."

She sighed. "I need to get off here and run down some more leads. I love you."

"Love you too, baby." He hung up the phone feeling a little sad. It would suck sleeping alone in their bed, but he supposed there would be times in their life it couldn't be helped. When he thought about the possibility that Tayla Barrons' daughter was being abused, his gut clenched. No one had helped his mom. He didn't even know how bad the abuse had been because she did her best to hide it from him.

Not that he could have kicked his step-father's ass anyway.

If Dewi could help prevent another statistic, he certainly could sleep alone for the night. Not like he wasn't used to it.

Only now it seemed infinitely more lonely without Dewi there beside him.

# **Chapter Twelve**

#

Wednesday morning, Ken knew which shirt he wanted to wear but couldn't find it. Apparently, Dewi had washed and rearranged all of his clothes for him on Tuesday morning after dropping him off at work. Not that he minded the care, but she didn't know his system.

Then again, before he'd met Dewi, his system had consisted of _need to wash now_ , _wearable around the house_ , _only worn once so it doesn't stink yet_ , and _clean_.

Her system of organizing them by color was admittedly better.

He trailed through some of her shirts, the men's shirts she favored that hung loosely over her frame, big enough he could easily wear them, many even larger than that. He pulled one out and checked the tag. Sure enough, it was his size.

Curious, he thought back. Everything she wore, with the exception of the tank tops and jeans, were big on her. Her bathrobe, her shirts, the men's shirts.

He kept looking and found only three dresses, two of them black, generic wedding-funeral kinds of practical, and a dark grey one.

Once his mind hooked onto the thought, it wouldn't let go. In the pictures of her he'd seen around the house, she always wore something baggy, form-hiding. Well, okay, she wore shorts and work-out clothes, and she obviously had no problems with body image as far as shucking her clothes to shift into a wolf. And she brimmed with easy self-confidence.

_So why not dress the part of the sexy woman she is?_

He finally located the shirt he wanted, put it on, and buttoned it, still deep in thought.

The knock on the bedroom door startled him. When he stuck his head out of the closet, he saw Beck standing there.

The shifter didn't look comfortable or happy. "Dewi called a while ago. She's running late. She asked me to take you to work."

"Is she okay?"

"Oh, yeah, she's fine. Wreck on I-75 held her up. She's still down around Venice." His gaze skipped over Ken before he looked away. "I'm ready to leave whenever you are."

Guilt washed through him. "Listen, I don't mind driving myself. I'm sure Badger will loan me...something."

"Badger's not here. He left to run errands. And everything else here is a stick shift. Except for Dewi's motorcycle."

"Um, okay." Ken had never driven a stick before.

Beck snorted. "You ever drive a stick shift before?"

Ken tried for bravado. "How hard can it be?"

Beck snorted again. He sounded even more like a wolf than Dewi when he did that. "Dewi's mate or not, I don't think you want to deal with Badger if you burn out the clutch in one of the cars. Seriously, I don't mind driving you."

Knowing that arguing would only rub salt in Beck's wounds, Ken nodded. "Give me five. I'll meet you in the kitchen."

With a nod, Beck left.

Maybe that was his answer. He could talk to Beck on the ride in to work, find out more about Dewi that way.

No expression seeped through Beck's mirrored sunglasses. Ken snuck glances at him from the passenger seat.

"Just say it," he said, startling Ken.

"Say what?"

"Whatever it is on your mind that you're dying to say and haven't said yet."

"It's more a question."

"Fine. Ask." They pulled through the front gate and onto the road. It was a comfort that Beck appeared more at ease driving within the posted speed limits than Dewi.

"What's with Dewi and the baggy clothes?"

Beck flinched before he looked at him. "What?"

"Come on, you can't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about. The oversized shirts, the baggy tees, like she's hiding her body."

"She wears jeans and stuff."

"You've known her all her life."

Ken waited Beck out. Beck's jaw tensed and clenched, working, nervous. Before they reached I-75, he looked at Ken. "How much has she told you about her parents?"

"All I know is what you guys told me last weekend. Badger told me they were murdered. We haven't done much talking about it since then." It was hard to talk when you were too busy fucking.

Beck waited until he merged with traffic on I-75 to continue. "Whoever the fucker was that killed her parents, he's still out there. He had to be a shifter. No way a human could have got the jump on Charlie like that. Fucker kept them alive for a while. Tortured him and Chelsea."

Ken felt his gut roll. "How do you know that?"

"Because we found Charlie tied up. And Chelsea had been raped before he killed her. The killer made Charlie watch while he raped her. Probably told them he'd kill Dewi if they fought him. Our best guess is that he killed her and hurt Dewi before killing Charlie."

Ken swallowed back the bile. "Does she know that?" he whispered.

Beck slowly nodded. "Some of it. Not all of it. She's never asked for the details, and we never volunteered them. But I know she must have picked up some of it from our thoughts, you know?"

"Did whoever killed them..." He couldn't make himself ask it.

He didn't have to. Beck shook his head. "No, she wasn't molested, but her skull was fractured, like he'd kicked her, or threw her. Bruises all over her body like she'd been beaten. We found her under the couch, crying. We don't know if he meant to let her live, or thought she wouldn't live, or maybe he forgot about her in his hurry to get out of there. If she'd been a human baby, the injuries would have killed her."

His voice sounded ragged. "Peyton, Trent, and I went over to check on them and we...found them. Charlie and Chelsea were late getting to a pack dinner that he'd ordered, and they weren't answering their phone." Ken heard his audible sigh. "We went looking for them."

Once Ken's nausea over the revelation abated a little, he was back to being confused. "What does that have to do with her wearing baggy clothes most of the time?"

"I told you that a twelve-year-old Prime Alpha wolf is a lot like a twenty-year-old human, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, a six-month-old wolf shifter baby mentally ages much more rapidly than a human. It's the wolf in them. She was old enough to have some memories of the attack, even though she doesn't know who it was."

_Nope, back to queasy._ "You think she witnessed her mother's rape, and the murder of her parents, and maybe she has memories of it?"

Beck changed lanes. "I'd be willing to bet money on it. But she's always refused to talk about it and Peyton and Trent didn't want to force her." He glanced at Ken. "You know why I'm not trying to rip your head off?"

"You're scared of Dewi killing you?"

Beck laughed. "Besides that."

Ken shook his head.

"She was a gorgeous baby. Smiling and laughing and cooing from when she was a week old." His expression darkened. "Until _that_ day."

Badger's words Sunday morning came back to Ken, but he let Beck continue without interruption.

"I can sit here and honestly say yes, I love her. And while I wish like hell it was me she was mated to, you've done something that I never managed to do, even though I tried every day of her life since _that_ day. I don't give a damn that I'm a shifter and you're not. You managed to do it, and for that I can never hate you. Envy, yes. Hate? Never."

Ken had to ask. "What did I do?"

Beck changed lanes for their exit. "You've made her smile." He glanced at Ken. "More importantly, you make her laugh. You make her _happy_. And this is the first time in her life we've ever seen her genuinely happy since her parents were murdered."

* * * *

Ken made it through his day without unusual aggravation, although he received three more requests for teacher conferences from female students he'd barely spoken two words to during the entire semester.

_Odd._

He decided not to mention that to Dewi and prayed she wouldn't want to sit in on Thursday. He closed his office door and decided to grade papers while awaiting Dewi's arrival to take him home.

_Home._ It hadn't taken long for him to think of Dewi's house as home. Or of Dewi, Badger, and yes, even Beck, as family. That's probably why when he heard the knock on his office door nearly an hour later he called, "Come in," without thinking.

When he looked up, the smile shriveled on his lips.

"Hello, Cliffie." In the doorway stood his step-brother, Dave. "What? Ain't you happy to see me?"

"What do you want?"

He snapped his fingers at Ken and held out his palm. "I need the key to your place. Where the fuck you been? You ain't been home in a couple of days."

He wanted to deck the bastard, but Dave had six inches and at least fifty pounds on him. "I'm moving."

"Oh. Huh." He stepped forward and plopped down in the chair across from Ken's desk. "Then I guess I'll wait until you're ready to go and follow you to your new place." He grinned. "Damn women, so fucking fickle. She said I have to be out today. Stupid cunt can't take a fucking joke."

"You're not going home with me."

Dave's smile faded. "Cliffie, we're family. Where else am I gonna stay but with my baby brother?" A dark look Ken knew all too well clouded Dave's expression. "Don't make me get tough with you."

That was Dave's code for "beating the shit out of you."

"Fuck you."

Dave leaned forward. "Now you look here," he softly said. "You don't want to fuck with me. Remember what happened the last time you told me no?"

"No," Dewi's voice spoke from the doorway. Dave's head swiveled to look at her. "Why don't you tell _me_?" She pushed the door all the way open and stepped inside.

Ken immediately stood. "Dewi, it's okay."

Her gaze never left Dave's face. "Who the _fuck_ are you?" she asked. "And why the _fuck_ are you here?"

Dave stood and grinned, looking back and forth from Dewi to Ken. "Son of a bitch, you landed yourself some pussy. Nice looking pussy, too. Congratulations. I thought you was a fag." His smile faded. "Honey, you and me are gonna get along fine if you just—"

His voice transformed into something between a grunt and a squeal of pain as Dewi, in one fluid movement nearly too fast to see, kicked the office door closed with her foot, grabbed Dave's crotch with one hand and his throat with the other, and then slammed him onto the floor.

She planted one knee in his diaphragm. "Let _me_ tell _you_ something," she said in a low, growly tone. " _No_ _one_ calls me honey but that man over there." She tipped her head toward Ken. "And I am anything _but_ a pussy. A bitch? Oh, absolutely. Let me tell you something else, asshole. I don't take kindly to threats."

Dewi twisted her hand between his legs and he let out another ineffectual squeak, which she choked off with the hand around his throat. "I _damn_ sure won't tolerate any threats against him. Oh, and another thing," she said with a cheerful smile. "If I ever see your fucking face again, I _will_ kill you."

She leaned in closer, only inches separating their noses. "If you don't think I mean it, just try me. I'd love to see what you'd look like with your throat ripped out and your blood in a nice, large pool around your ugly-ass head."

She stood, picking Dave up with the same two handholds she'd used to put him on the floor—throat and balls. Then she slammed him against the wall next to the office door. "Do we have an understanding?" she asked.

Gasping for breath and turning an ugly shade of purple, he nodded.

"Good." She released his balls but kept the grip on his throat. With her free hand, she opened the office door and flung him through the doorway. He slammed, back first, into the concrete block wall on the other side of the hall.

She closed the door behind him and leaned against it with a bright smile. "Ready to go home?"

Ken stared at her, his mouth gaping. The whole confrontation had lasted less than thirty seconds, if that, but it had felt like slow motion.

Outside in the hallway, he heard Dave coughing and gasping for air.

"Um..."

She shrugged, the smile not slipping from her face. "He picked the absolute wrong day to fuck with my mate. Not that there's _ever_ a good day for anyone to fuck with you, but I'm not in the best of moods to be charitable. I'm assuming that's your step-brother?"

Ken nodded.

"I wasn't very impressed with him. I'm guessing he's not going to be on our wedding invitation list?"

Ken shook his head vigorously.

"Good. Ready to go?" she asked again.

"Um, yeah. Let me get my stuff together."

She hadn't even broken a sweat. The man who had been the bane of his existence since Ken was seven years old had literally just been thrown out of his office by the throat.

He started giggling, the sound rolling out of him in a near hysterical way. Unable to stand, he collapsed into his office chair as full blown belly laughs took over.

Amused, Dewi stood with her back against the office door, watching him until he finally got it out of his system. "You okay?" she asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. Sorry." He shook his head. "You did what I've dreamed of doing for years."

"Grabbing him by the balls?"

He laughed. "Well, throwing him out of my life."

She rounded the desk and climbed into his lap. She wrapped her arms around him. "I love you," she softly said. "I only want you to be happy. Asswipes like that, we don't need in our life."

"I couldn't agree more." He kissed her, and for a moment all thoughts of Dave being thrown out disappeared as his world shrank down to nothing but the taste and feel of Dewi's lips on his.

"Did I hear him call you 'Cliffie'?" she asked when they came up for air.

His face reddened as he nodded.

She ran her fingers through his hair. "I like Ken better."

"So do I." Come to think of it, he really had grown to like Ken.

Especially since Dewi had been the one to dub him that.

* * * *

Later that night, following dinner and after she'd nearly fucked Ken into exhaustion, he decided to press the issue.

He laced his fingers through hers. "I want to talk," he said.

Her body tensed against his. "About what?" Even her tone sounded guarded.

"About your parents. About your whole family. About wolves and...everything."

"That's a pretty broad discussion."

He didn't want to press her too hard, yet sensed if he didn't press she might not talk about it at all.

He opted to try the path of least resistance. "Your dad was the pack Alpha?"

He sensed her relax a little. "Yeah," she softly said. "He was a Prime. My mom's father was the pack Alpha before him. He was a Prime, too. He handed the pack over to Dad when he and Mom got married."

"I thought you said someone had to fight for it?"

She shook her head. "No. Not if the Alpha is ready to step down. My mom was the youngest of their children. They didn't have any sons. Her three older sisters didn't marry Alphas. One married a human instead of a shifter. My grandfather didn't want anyone else having the pack, so he handed it over to my dad."

"Why did he want to step down?"

"Because my grandmother was killed in an accident three months before my mom and dad got married. Logging truck lost its load going around a curve on a mountain. She was driving the car behind it."

He shuddered. "I'm sorry."

She shrugged. "I never met either of them. He died a year or so after Peyton was born. Car accident. Went off the side of a mountain and into a river. They never found his body."

"Yikes."

"Nobody told me this, but I kind of felt it from others. A lot of people think maybe he killed himself. That he was just hanging on until he knew my parents had a Prime Alpha heir to take over the pack."

"Oh."

"He was nearly four hundred years old. I guess he'd had enough."

# **Chapter Thirteen**

#

Thursday afternoon, when Dewi arrived to pick up Ken, he immediately sensed her tension.

"What's going on?" he asked when she walked in his office door.

"I need to run you home. Badger and Beck are going to meet me over in Brandon. We found the guy's cousin, and I think he knows where Kendra is. Or, at least he knows where her husband is."

"Then let's go to Brandon." He grabbed his stuff.

"No. I don't want to put you at risk."

He arched an eyebrow at her. "We're wasting time arguing. I'll sit in the car, I promise. I'm not one of those 'too stupid to live' characters from a book or movie who can't stay put and stay out of trouble." He was already heading toward the office door with his things.

"No, seriously, I'll take you home first—"

"Dewi," he barked, "I'm _not_ in a mood for this." He regretted his tone and immediately softened it. "Look, my mom died because no one helped her. I'm not about to let someone else possibly die. You taking me home might be the difference between finding her alive or not."

She pressed her lips together, thinking, then finally nodded. She leaned in for a kiss. "I'm sorry. You're right." She let out a sigh. "I'm overprotective. I can't help it."

He pulled her in for a better kiss, longer, sweeter. "I know. But like I said, let me have the battles I know I can win, okay?"

With afternoon traffic, they reached Brandon thirty minutes later. They found Badger and Beck parked in Badger's truck in the shade at a public park three blocks from the guy's trailer. The neighborhood was run-down and well past having seen better days. Beck had already scouted their target and discovered the guy was in fact home.

With Dewi following, they drove to the guy's trailer and parked with Badger's truck blocking the guy's shitty old rusted Pontiac Sunbird so he couldn't leave. The trailer looked ancient, the white paint turned grey by mildew in places, with a decided cant to one end. One of the windows had been repaired with cardboard duct-taped in place. A portion of a ratty, blue tarp on the roof flapped in the breeze on the other end. There wasn't a yard to speak of, except for dirt, Spanish needles, and more than a few fire ant mounds.

Ken sat in Dewi's car and watched as Beck quickly walked around the back side of the trailer while Dewi and Badger climbed the three rickety metal steps to knock on the front door.

A guy answered after the third knock. Dewi pushed the door in and Badger followed close behind. He watched as Beck circled around from the other end of the trailer and joined them inside.

Twenty minutes later, the three of them emerged, hurrying to their vehicles. As Dewi jumped into her car, she handed her iPhone and a piece of paper to Ken. "Can you pull that address up for me on the map?" He felt a tense, nervous aura surrounding her.

"Sure." He started working on it as they drove off. "Did you find out anything?"

"Yeah. Fucker's staying with another cousin in Plant City." She nodded to the paper in his hand. "That's where we're going."

With Badger and Beck closely following, Ken gave her directions to the address on the paper. "How do you know he won't call the guy and warn him?"

She gave him a wolfish grin. "Because unless he can chew his way through duct tape, he's not going anywhere anytime soon. I told him if he didn't give us good info he could figure out how to get himself free. And if he gave us good info, one of us would come back and free him after we found Kendra safe and sound. And we destroyed his phone."

"Did he know if she was okay?"

Her grin turned grim again. "She's alive, last he knows. Whether or not she's okay is debatable."

Dewi didn't volunteer any clarification, and Ken didn't ask.

The old concrete-block house looked like it had been built maybe in the 1950s and sat alone on the far side of a strawberry field, with I-4 as its backyard to the north. The house's paint had either been worn or blasted off, leaving the mottled grey blocks exposed to the elements.

A few scrawny chickens pecked in the dirt and weeds in the yard near three apparently disabled cars around which high weeds had grown. A rusted-out Chevy pick-up sat parked near the front door. Due to a lack of weeds growing under it, Ken guessed it ran. Tattered white curtains, stained tan by nicotine fumes, blocked any view through the large window next to the front door. Towels, sheets, newspapers, and even aluminum foil were used to seal off the other visible windows.

She slid the car to a stop and shut it off, but left the keys in the ignition. "Lock the doors behind me." As she stepped out, she drew a pistol from a holster under the long-sleeved shirt she wore over her tank top.

Badger and Beck hurried up to walk with her, their guns also drawn.

A hard, cold lump formed in the pit of Ken's stomach as he reached over and locked the doors before sliding farther down in his seat. He felt helpless.

Badger and Beck circled around back while Dewi stood to the side of the front door and pounded on it. "Kendra Barrons. Open the door. Now."

He noticed she didn't identify herself, or try to claim she was a cop.

After she knocked again, Ken spotted movement in one of the smaller windows at the front of the house. He guessed from the size and placement that it was likely a bathroom window. Someone inside pulled at what looked like newspaper covering it, then they pressed their palm against the opaque glass.

Ken knocked on the inside of the windshield to get Dewi's attention. She focused on him, a sharp look of warning in her eyes. But when she looked where he pointed and spotted the hand before it disappeared from the window, she let out a yell to Beck and Badger before kicking in the front door.

From the way it crumpled under her booted foot, he assumed it gave way due to her strength. She disappeared inside.

When he heard gunshots seconds later, he cringed, but felt Dewi was okay. He peeked up over the dashboard, relieved when he saw Beck emerge from the house moments later. In his arms he carried a young woman who looked like she'd had the crap beaten out of her. Her face bruised and swollen, she clung to Beck's neck as he took her to Badger's truck.

He didn't miss the fact that her dirty, bare feet had been bound with yellow rope around the ankles, and her wrists looked bloody and abraded, like she had recently worked them free.

Ken started to move to get out, but Beck saw him. "No, stay there."

Another volley of gunfire ripped through the air, but Beck didn't duck. He got the truck door open and carefully laid her inside before closing the door and running for the house again.

A minute later, Beck, Badger, and Dewi emerged from the house. Dewi bypassed the car door and walked around to the trunk. When he heard her knock on the deck lid, he knew what she meant. He leaned over her seat and found the trunk release latch.

She opened it, found what she was looking for, then slammed it shut again and headed back inside. After a minute, smoke billowed from the front door opening. Dewi emerged, met his gaze, and nodded to him.

Ken unlocked the car doors and climbed out, feeling shaky on his feet. "Is she okay?"

"She will be," she said as she walked over to the truck, where Beck had untied the sobbing woman's legs and Badger was trying to check her over for injuries.

Dewi reached past Badger and gently palmed the battered woman's cheeks. The woman, whom he assumed was Kendra, immediately calmed. Her eyes grew wide, her face blank like when Badger had talked to the detective outside the pub.

"Your mother is coming to get you," Dewi softly said. "You will go with her. After your husband beat you up, you ran away and called her."

Kendra nodded. "I called her."

"Events are fuzzy after that," Dewi said, even as behind them pops and crackles grew in the fire.

"Events are fuzzy."

"He threatened to kill you. He was involved in making and selling drugs."

"Drugs. He made and sold drugs."

"You heard he was supposed to do a drug deal today. He beat you up because you told him you didn't want him doing that."

"I didn't want him doing that."

"He was alive when you left."

"Alive..."

Dewi looked up at Badger. "Get her out of here. Now. Call Collins and have him meet you somewhere to check her out. Tell him it's on our tab. Then call her mother and turn her over to her."

Badger looked worried. "All right, but I'll have Beck go with ye—"

" _Now_!" she roared, making the two shifter men lean away from her.

Beck held up a hand. "Dewi, what about—"

"I'll take care of it. She needs help _now_. _Go_!"

Dewi headed for her car, Ken on her heels.

"Dewi, what's wrong?"

She didn't answer, just pointed at the passenger door. Without another word he climbed in and barely had time to get his seat belt fastened before they roared out of the driveway. Behind them, Badger and Beck climbed into the truck to follow as smoke poured from the house.

From the tense set of her jaw, he knew something terrible was wrong, but didn't want to interrupt whatever process of self-control he sensed her struggling with.

They turned toward Plant City. He noticed Badger and Beck turned the opposite way, heading toward I-4. After several minutes, Dewi pulled into the parking lot of a Publix grocery store and she parked in the shade far from the store's entrance and away from other cars.

Jamming a hand into the pocket of her jeans, she pulled out several twenties and shoved them at him.

"Meat," she croaked, her eyes closed and forehead now resting on the steering wheel. " _Red_ meat. Beef. _Not_ ground. I don't care which cuts. Several pounds."

He thought about asking for clarification, but their first night together came to mind and he understood what she needed. He bolted for the store's entrance and snagged a hand basket from the storage rack by the front door.

_Meat...beef...not ground._ He raced to the meat coolers at the back of the store, his eyes flying over the selections of beef. Badger had fixed her two huge-looking steaks Saturday night, but there was a line of people waiting for service at the meat counter, where the more prime cuts and steaks were displayed in a large case.

From the cooler he scooped into his basket two London broils, a couple of roasts, and all four flank steaks that were on display. As he ran down an aisle toward the registers, he did an about-face and found the picnic aisle.

He made it back to the car in less than ten minutes and found Dewi sitting with her door open, her feet on the ground, and her eyes closed. He dropped to his knees in front of her and ripped open one of the London broil packages, putting the meat into her hands.

Her eyes flew open as she tore into it, her gaze looking glazed with something he couldn't quite determine, whether rage or pleasure or struggling to maintain self-control, he didn't know. By the time she devoured that one in less than a minute, juices dripped from her arms onto the asphalt below and he had the other London broil unwrapped and ready for her.

As he watched, both fascinated and sickened at the way she ripped into them with her teeth and bare hands, he noticed how she once again made the shnurfling noises she had Saturday night.

She worked her way through one of the roasts and a flank steak before she let out a long burp and focused her gaze on him.

Back to his sweet Dewi.

He wanted to grab her and fuck her brains out right there in the middle of the parking lot. Swallowing back that urge, he instead asked, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, letting out a sigh. Then she caught sight of her hands and lower arms, which were covered in gore and blood from the meat. "Crap. I look like an escapee from a grindhouse movie."

"It's okay." He opened another grocery bag and pulled out a container of wet cleaning wipes. He handed her several of them, and a gallon jug of water, which she used to finish rinsing off her hands. Then a few paper towels from the roll he'd purchased.

And a bottle of cold iced tea from a cooler at the register.

She looked at the tea before meeting his gaze. This was all his Dewi, the sweet and sexy woman he knew he would gladly spend the rest of his life buying meat for when she needed it. "Thank you," she said, a tear sliding down her cheek as she swallowed half of the bottle's contents in several gulps.

He brushed the tear away. "What's wrong?" he quietly asked. "Is it what happened back there?"

She looked away and shook her head.

Capturing her chin, he tilted her face so she had to look at him and he planted a long, deep kiss on her lips. "Tell me," he said.

She threw her arms around him, her face pressed against his stomach. "You shouldn't have to deal with me like that. You don't even like meat. And here you are taking care of me." She let out a half-laugh, half-snort. "You even thought to get stuff so I could clean up."

He stroked her hair. "But I _love_ you. I don't know if I could butcher a cow for you, but yeah, I'll make your London broil runs if that's what I need to do to take care of you." She laughed and looked up at him. "You ready to tell me what happened in the house?" he asked.

With her face firmly pressed against him again and his hands stroking her hair, she did. Kendra had been tied up in the bathroom. Her husband and his cousin were running a meth lab out of the house. He had dragged her up there against her will after he found out she was pregnant. That's when he started beating her.

When she said she wanted to leave him, he threatened to kill Tayla if she did. Both the husband and cousin, as well as another guy inside, had been armed.

Come to think of it, he realized Dewi's holster had been empty when she got in the car, as had Badger's and Beck's.

"Where do you get the guns?" he said.

"Peyton and Trent have a source. We buy them directly through a guy at a factory who's a shifter. They're bootlegged and have fake serial numbers on them. Untraceable. So when we need to, we wipe them clean and leave them."

"Like Badger did with your gun from the pub?"

"Yeah." She let out a deep sigh and sat back to look up at him. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For dragging you into all of this."

The sight of the battered woman's face haunted him. Pulling Dewi to him again, he said, "I'm _not_ sorry. You saved her life and took out a couple of scumbags in the process. I'm proud of you. And I'm proud to be yours."

* * * *

She helped him clean up the mess left from her impromptu gorging and they headed back to the house. He made her join him in the shower, where he made slow, languid love to her, turning her around and pinning her against the shower wall as he entered her from behind and fucked her until she'd come twice for him.

He laced his fingers through hers and let his own release follow. As he caught his breath he kissed the back of her neck. A week ago, he would have run screaming in terror from the events he'd seen today.

Tonight all he wanted to do was love the stress from her soul.

He ordered her to bed to watch TV and went downstairs to heat leftovers for them for dinner. By the time he returned, she was curled around his pillow and softly snoring.

Carefully, so he didn't disturb her, he climbed into bed with her and ate his warmed-over vegetable lasagna while watching the news. When he heard Badger and Beck return a little before eleven, he went downstairs to talk with them.

Badger cautiously eyed him. "Ye all right, lad? No chunks outta yer hide?" Beck tried, and failed, to contain his amused snort.

"I'm fine. She's asleep upstairs."

"I'm not surprised. It was vicious."

"She told me what happened, but I'm guessing she left out some parts."

Beck patted him on the shoulder. "You don't want to know. Trust me."

"How's Kendra?"

Beck pulled a beer from the fridge and twisted the cap off it. "She'll be okay. Looks like the baby will make it, too. Her mother met us and took her home to Ft. Myers." He glanced at the time and walked over to the small undercounter TV. Picking up the remote, he tuned the channel to the Tampa NBC affiliate.

They gathered around and watched the eleven o'clock lead story about a meth house in Plant City going up in flames. Inside, investigators found the bodies of three men. From the looks of it they suspected a drug deal gone wrong. The spokesman for the sheriff's office said the gunshots likely triggered the chemicals and fumes to catch fire.

Badger let out a sigh. "Eh, good riddance to three bags of shite." He waved his hand at the TV. "Yer welcome, State of Florida, fer savin' ye the court and prison costs."

Beck went and pulled another beer from the fridge and handed it to Badger. "Thanks, lad."

Beck grabbed another bottle and held it up to Ken.

At first, he considered refusing it. Then he said, "What the hell. Might as well." As the three of them stood there, Beck held his beer up first, followed by Badger. Ken realized what they intended, and they clinked their bottles together in an unspoken toast.

# **Chapter Fourteen**

#

Dewi slept through the night. She stayed tightly curled against Ken's side, as if afraid he'd leave her.

_Not likely._

He didn't care what it took, he'd do anything for her to take care of her, to help her, to not be a burden to her. When he awoke before the alarm Friday morning, she was already staring at him.

He gave her a smile. "Hi, beautiful."

She offered him a tentative smile in return. "Hi."

"They did a story on the house last night. Meth lab drug deal gone really, really wrong."

"That's what I made it look like," she quietly replied.

He kissed her, waiting until he had her undivided attention to look at her again. "I'm _not_ scared of you. Not after Beck had to slug you, not after seeing you set a house on fire, not after watching you devour half a cow's worth of meat."

Her smile widened a little, so he pressed forward. "Yeah, this is weird and freaky. I'm sure I'm going to have plenty of 'oh, shit' moments along the way. But I'm willing to do it all because you are the prize."

She snuggled tightly against him. "Sorry I didn't get to teach you how to swim last night."

"That's okay. I think I'm going to need a lot more than just one night to learn."

"Your step-brother did something to you, didn't he?"

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Yeah."

"Okay." She left it at that

She drove him to work that morning. Fridays were a half day for him, and she wore a beaming grin as she walked into his office that afternoon.

"What are you up to?" he asked after kissing her in greeting. It wasn't just the wolfish smile, but he felt it, a pleased aura that told him she had something up her sleeve.

She handed him a small paper shopping bag with a Verizon logo printed on it. "Here's the first thing," she said.

He pulled out a new iPhone. "Thank you, sweetheart. I love it." He kissed her, enjoying how he felt her joy multiply when he graciously accepted the gift.

He wouldn't fight her on this. It made her happy to do things for him. He wouldn't begrudge her that, even if it made him uncomfortable in the process.

"And what else have you planned, my wily wolf?" he asked.

"We're going shopping."

"Car shopping?"

She nodded. "Yep!"

"There better be fried mushrooms waiting for me at the end."

She giggled. "As many as you want."

They went to a Honda dealership not far from the campus and she gave him free run of the lot. She only had one stipulation.

"I want you to buy something you like. It's your car."

When he veered toward the compact cars, she tried again. "I don't want you in a tiny car," she said. "They're not safe."

"They're economical."

"It's a Honda, not a Hummer." She pointed toward the SUVs. "How about one of those?"

He warily eyed them, but let the salesman talk him through several models. After test driving a few, he decided on a blue CRV, which got good gas mileage and made Dewi happy because it wasn't a small vehicle.

She hugged him as the salesman drew up the paperwork. "Thank you," she said.

Joy practically radiated from her. Despite the hit to his ego, it was worth feeling how happy she was that he accepted this gift.

He kissed the top of her head. "Thank _you_ , baby," he said.

She looked up at him with a beaming smile that hardened his cock and nearly broke his heart from its pure, unadulterated joy.

No one had ever looked at him like that before. As he nuzzled her neck, he realized he'd easily commit murder to make her this happy.

That thought both frightened and thrilled him.

He tried thinking his next words to her, not wanting any of the nearby staff or customers to hear him.

_"I can't wait to get it home and christen it by fucking you in it."_

Her eyes fluttered closed as a soft whine escaped her. She clutched at his arm as if the strength had suddenly left her legs. "Would you like that, baby?" he breathed in her ear.

"Uh-huh!"

They had a late lunch first, going to a small Italian restaurant between the campus and home. A pizza with meat on only half of it, and two orders of fried mushrooms.

"See?" he said as he drenched one of them in ranch dressing. "We can share some common foods."

She smiled from across the table. "You do realize diet has nothing to do with how I feel about you, right?"

"I'm glad. Otherwise, I have a feeling you'd get bored with me pretty fast."

* * * *

Dewi reached across the table and took his hand. "One of these days, I'm going to convince you that nothing you say or do is going to change my mind over how I feel about you. I love you, and you're mine for the rest of my life. Just like I'm yours."

She didn't miss how he glanced down at the table as a flit of a frown crossed his handsome face. She forced herself not to compel him to speak his mind. She didn't want to abuse their connection like that. Not ever.

When he finally met her gaze again, he took a deep breath. "That might take a while. I've had a lot of years of practice at self-loathing. Not to mention being loathed."

"You know, I have a woodchipper at the house. I wouldn't have any problem running the guy through it."

That finally earned her a laugh. "No, I'd be willing to bet he doesn't bother me again after the lesson you taught him. You're the first person I've ever seen stand up to him like that."

"His father sounds like a real winner, siring a bastard like him."

She regretted saying it as soon as it left her lips. His expression darkened, bad memories no doubt coming to mind. "Yeah," he quietly said. "He's an asshole. Hopefully he'll die in prison."

"What happened to Dave's mother?"

Ken shrugged. "I was told she left him. I never met her or even saw evidence she was still alive. Whether his story's true and she did leave, or Dave's father had something to do with her permanently disappearing, I don't know and really don't care." He popped another mushroom into his mouth. "Can we move on to happier topics?"

"Yeah. Of course."

* * * *

Ken followed Dewi home. He was happy to see Badger and Beck were both gone. When he didn't get out of his car and left it running, she stuck her head out of the garage to see about the delay.

He crooked a finger at her in a come hither gesture.

She grinned and practically ran over to the car, jumping into the passenger side.

"Did you forget?" he asked.

"No, but I wasn't sure if you were serious."

He grabbed her and kissed her. "Absolutely I was serious." She let out a soft moan of pleasure as he fisted a hand in her hair and kissed her deeply, plunging his tongue into her mouth and giving her a preview of what he had in store.

He lifted his mouth briefly from hers. "Put your seat back," he said before kissing her again.

She fumbled for the seat lever, then both of them crashed backward as he fell on top of her. "Found it," she said, giggling.

"So I see." He pushed her shirt up, happy to find she'd gone without a bra. He cupped both her breasts with his hands and used his mouth to work back and forth between her nipples, teasing her with his lips and teeth, gently grazing them and coaxing sweet moans from her.

"Get your pants off," he hoarsely said, unable to take the throbbing between his legs any longer. He pushed up with his arms, holding himself off her. When she'd kicked off her shoes, jeans, and panties, he managed to get his jeans unfastened and pushed far enough down she could free his cock.

"Good girl," he said as she drew her legs up, giving him easier access. With her lining him up with her pussy, he plunged home and held still for a moment to enjoy it. Staring down into her sweet eyes, he felt himself lost. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Now please, fuck me!"

He grinned. "Absolutely." He started slow, afraid he'd pop too soon if he moved any faster. He watched her face, the way her bottom lip caught under her teeth, the way a beautiful pink flush covered her neck and chest, the way the small whines escaped her every time his cock brushed against her clit.

She grabbed his hips and held on, her fingers digging in a little and adding a pleasant bite to the sensation. That feeling came over him again, as if another person had stepped inside his brain. "Look at you, bad girl, getting fucked in the front seat of my car. You like this, don't you?"

Something changed, softened in her gaze, a soft gasp escaping her. "Yes!"

He wanted to fuck her hard and fast and forced himself to hold back. "You're _my_ good girl though, aren't you? Doing what I asked."

A soft cry escaped her, and he'd swear she just had a little orgasm. "Yes!"

"Are you going to come hard for me like this?" The last part he had to force through gritted teeth in his attempt to hold back the climax wanting to explode inside him.

Her back arched as she cried out. "Yes!"

"Good girl!" As he fucked her hard and fast, letting go and enjoying the way his balls drew up as his release wound tight inside him, she dug her fingers in and let out another cry as he felt her muscles squeezing him.

_Hell, that was three for her!_

He dug deep and didn't stop, waiting until he felt one more tremor wash through her before finally giving in and burying his cock deep inside her.

She wrapped her arms and legs around him, softly sobbing against his shoulder. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes."

It was tricky, but he managed to flip them over in the passenger seat and lie there with her cradled against his chest. He gently stroked her back and let her hair brush through his fingers as she shivered against his chest. "Are you okay?" he softly asked.

She nodded, letting out a little sniffle. "Oh, hell yes."

He laughed. "Okay. Just making sure. You sort of scared me there for a second."

When she looked up at him he saw she had been crying. She gave him a beautiful smile that, had he not already been irretrievably in love with her, would have finished him off. "Happy tears. I promise."

* * * *

After dinner, Dewi received a phone call on her cell from Trent. She stepped out onto the lanai to talk to him. When she returned a few minutes later, she didn't look upset but she didn't look pleased, either.

"What's wrong?" Ken asked as she returned to the table.

"Just an update on Alexis Peckingham and her daughters," she said.

"Are they okay?"

"Yeah, but the oldest is having a hard time, understandably." She took a sip of iced tea. "The younger three didn't understand why they had to leave. Alexis finally told them drug dealers killed their father and she worried they were at risk, too. The oldest daughter agreed her sisters didn't need to know the full truth. None of them had been told about their wolf heritage, which now they have been. Despite being only half wolf, the oldest is showing signs of shifting ability."

"Will she be okay?" Ken asked.

"Aye," Badger said. "With the strength of the pack to help them. Might have a long road ahead, but they'll be okay."

"Does the oldest girl know what really happened to Peckingham?" Ken asked before he could clamp down on the question.

Dewi looked grim as she nodded. "When I rescued her, she begged me to kill him so he couldn't do the same to her little sisters."

Badger shook his head "Fecking bastard wasn't worth the hide, that's fer damn sure."

"The police tracked them down to Idaho," Dewi continued. "Asked Alexis why she decided to pack up and leave all of a sudden the afternoon before her husband was murdered. Trent and Peyton helped her through that. She told some of the truth, that she knew her husband was involved with drug dealers, and she wanted to protect their daughters."

"Did they buy it?" Ken asked.

"Yes, thank goodness. Peyton's a Prime and made them believe it. Fortunately, Jonathan Peckingham's younger brother is a good man. He also spoke to the police and told them it wasn't his brother's first brush with bad elements. He's also helping Alexis and the girls get back on their feet. They're staying with him and his mate for the foreseeable future."

"When is she coming back for their stuff?" Beck asked.

"Trent's sending me their keys. Asked me to grab some things from their house to ship out there."

"I'll do it," Beck offered.

"Why don't we all help?" Badger said. "We can pack their whole house fer them. Mebbe Trent can send someone from Idaho to drive the truck back."

"I've never known you to be so...volunteering," Dewi quipped.

Badger shrugged. "Eh, what can I say? Time has softened me." His expression darkened. "And I wish I'd been the one to take him out meself."

"I'll call him back after dinner."

Ken hoped Dewi would forget about the swim lesson, but no such luck. After dinner and following another call to her brother, she cornered Ken in their bedroom. "Ready for your first swim lesson?"

"Not really, but do I have a choice?"

She tried a little pouty lip. "Please?"

"Oh, come on. Fight fair."

"Do you have a swimsuit?"

"Yes, I do have one of those. I used the hot tub at my apartment complex a few times. And I like going to the beach. Not that I've been in a while, because I haven't had a car."

Her eyes widened. "Ooh! I know a beautiful beach down in Sarasota County we can go to."

He tried and failed to keep the frown off his face. "You won't make me swim, right? I don't mind wading."

"No, I won't make you swim." She slipped her hands around his waist. "At the beach, that is. Tonight you start learning how to swim." She kissed the tip of his nose. "Otherwise, we'll have to put up one of those kiddie-proof fences around the pool to keep you out."

He laughed at her playful grin. "All right, all right. Let me get changed and I'll meet you downstairs."

She actually wore a one-piece suit for the start of his lesson. He frowned. "I thought you promised me a naked instructor?"

"I did, but later. As a reward. I want you to learn how to swim."

She led him down the steps into the pool, which at its deepest wasn't more than five feet deep. "First, you need to get comfortable feeling water on your face."

"You're not going to hold me under, are you?"

"No. Why would I do that?"

"Never mind," he grumbled.

He felt dark fury building inside her. "Is that what that asshole did to you?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Let's get this over with."

He could tell she did want to talk about it, but she let it drop. "I want you to close your eyes, hold your breath, and sink below the water for a couple of seconds."

"Why?"

"Because I want you to learn not to panic when you're under water. Half the battle is learning how not to panic."

Reluctantly, he did, pinching his nose closed and waiting until the water was nearly to his eyes before closing them.

Almost immediately he felt fear closing in as his pulse spiked. He shot up out of the water, gasping for air.

When he looked, Dewi still stood a few feet away, watching with concern on her face but not making an attempt to approach him. "You okay?"

He shook his head. "Why do I have to do this?"

He suspected she barely kept from rolling her eyes. "You have to learn not to panic," she gently insisted. "Try it again. We can't go any farther until you learn this."

It took the better part of an hour, but he finally got to the point where he could sink below the water and patiently wait there until he felt the need to take a breath without remembering the feel of Dave's fingers cruelly digging into his scalp and holding him there.

"Good. Now you need to learn to float. For this part, you have to trust me. I won't let you sink."

He nervously nodded. She gently coaxed him to lean back in the water as she kept one arm securely under his shoulders, and the other under his waist. At first he wanted to grab her, certain he was going to sink. But after twenty minutes of her patient coaxing, he realized he was able to float on the water if he relaxed his body and kept his breathing steady. He still felt her arms, waiting, under him, there to keep him from sinking.

By the time they finished another hour later, he was floating unassisted and letting her gently tow him around one end of the pool by his shoulders.

At some point, Badger and Beck must have gone to bed because the lights in the house had been turned off. Dewi kissed him and smiled. "Wait here." She climbed out, went over to a set of switches near the sliding glass doors that led to the dining room, and turned off the lanai and pool lights.

When she returned to the steps, she smiled down at him as she shucked her bathing suit. "Ready for the reward part of our session?"

He attempted to scramble out of his bathing suit right there and fell over into the water. It wasn't until he popped to the surface again sans bathing suit, which he lobbed onto the pool deck, that he realized he hadn't panicked when he went under.

"Hey! Did you see that?"

She nodded as she descended the steps and walked over to him. She draped her arms around his neck. "Yes, I did. I'm very proud of you."

Something warm and hot swelled inside him. Not even passion or lust, which were present aplenty, but something more. Something deeper. Something unfamiliar.

How long had it been since someone had told him they were proud of him? _Well, besides Dewi._

He pulled her to him, kissing her. The feel of her warm flesh against his hardened his cock. She wrapped her legs around his waist and wiggled, positioning herself perfectly. He grabbed her hips and sank home, swallowing her moans of pleasure.

Buoyed by the warm water, he gently fucked her like that, letting his release slowly build inside him even as he felt her muscles contract around him through one orgasm, then another. Only after he brought her to a third climax did he let go himself, thrusting harder and faster until his release rolled through him and he sank home one last time deep inside her.

They ended up on the steps, still clinging together. She looked up at him with a sated smile. "So how do you like swimming?"

He shrugged. "I could get used to it, I guess." He grinned.

# **Chapter Fifteen**

#

Saturday morning, Ken nervously followed Dewi along the path through the pines. She carried a heavily laden cloth grocery bag slung over one shoulder, and a plastic case he assumed held guns.

"Are you sure I really need to learn how to shoot?" He'd never fired a gun before. Not even in a video game.

"Yes. I want you to be able to defend yourself. Once you can confidently handle a gun, I want you to take a class and get your concealed weapons permit."

That stopped him in his tracks. "What?"

When she realized he wasn't following her anymore she turned around. "What?"

"What'd you say?"

"What? You mean about getting your carry permit?"

"I'm going to have to carry a gun?"

She walked back to him. "No, I'm not going to require you carry a gun all the time. But there might be times I need to know you're safe and I will ask you to please carry one for my peace of mind. I can't do my job if I'm always worried about your safety. Please? Not to mention there might be times Beck or I need you to bring us something, and you might not legally be able to do that unless you have a permit. All right?"

He stared into her mocha eyes. It wasn't all right, because he hated guns. Hated violence.

Yet he thought about the sight of her in the Publix parking lot, about wanting to fuck her brains out right then and there.

_I'd do anything for her to make her happy._ He sighed. "Okay."

She brightly smiled. "Thank you." She rose onto her toes and kissed him before turning to continue their trek. "Besides, I'm going to teach you more than just shooting."

"Like what?" he asked as he set off after her.

"Bowhunting, kni—"

"I don't hunt."

When she stopped again and turned, he realized he'd said it harsher than he'd meant to.

"Archery, then. I wasn't going to make you shoot an animal."

"Oh. Okay." He thought about it and nodded. "Actually, I wouldn't mind that. Archery, I mean. Not actual hunting. There's a sort of gracefulness to archery."

She brightly smiled. "Good."

"What was that other thing you'd started to say?"

"Knife fighting."

His good feeling blew away like a leaf in a stiff wind. "Say what?"

She motioned for him to follow her. "We won't use real knives, don't worry. Not for training and sparring. I want you to know how to defend yourself." She looked over her shoulder at him. "In as many ways as necessary. If you saw a child being attacked, would you stand by and let it happen?" She faced forward again.

But not before he'd caught the slight hitch in her throat. "Dewi," he said.

She stopped, but didn't turn. He caught up with her and slipped an arm around her waist, feeling her tension, her worry.

Her fear that something might happen to him because of who she was, and she might not be there to protect him.

He kissed the side of her neck. "Please stop envisioning all the bad things that might possibly happen and think about the good things." When he felt her stiffen, as if to rebut, he added, "Yes, I'll let you teach me whatever you want. And I'll do my best to learn it because I love you and I know that me knowing those things'll make you happy. But you have to let me be who I am."

She turned to look up at him. He didn't miss the brightness in her eyes that she tried to blink away. "I never thought I'd feel like this about someone. The thought of losing you rips my damn heart out. I just want to make sure you're going to be here for a long, long time."

He nuzzled his nose against hers. "I will be. I promise."

The small gun range was made up of a concrete-block shelter where two shooters could stand and fire at the same time, separated by a concrete partition. While open to the air on the sides, the entire range was covered by roof made of sheet metal. The far end of the range was a reinforced bunker of concrete, sandbags, and a large mound of dirt.

She set the grocery bag on the ground and the plastic case on the ledge in one of the shooting bays, where she opened it. Inside lay two handguns.

"These are nine millimeters," she explained as she took one out. "And yes, for the purpose of our lesson today, you have my permission to handle them." She ejected the magazine and a chambered round before she handed the weapon to him, grip first. "First rule of handling guns—always treat them as if they are loaded, even if you know they aren't. Second rule—you never point a gun at something or someone you don't intend to shoot."

He smirked. "What about the ground?"

She rolled her eyes at him, but gave him a smile. "You know what I mean. I hope."

"Yes, I know what you mean." He didn't like the feel of the gun's weight in his hand any more than he had the other day in the kitchen when she handed him one.

She went over the parts of the gun with him and showed him how to load it. Then she opened a storage bin under the ledge and withdrew a paper target with an outline of a human on it, two pairs of shooting glasses, and two sets of shooting muffs.

She hung the target over a piece of cardboard dangling from the overhead pulley system, and hit a switch on the partition to run it ten yards down the range. "Put the glasses and muffs on. Always use those for target practice." She donned hers.

When she had put her shooting muffs on, she took the gun back from him. "Stand to my left," she said. "The shells will eject to the right." She immediately took aim and he flinched with each shot as she emptied the magazine into the target. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of gunpowder and hot shell casings.

"That was loud," he said,

She smiled. "It usually is."

He looked down the range. The target now sported large holes where the head and heart should be.

She ejected the magazine and laid the gun on the ledge. "These guns hold seventeen rounds standard." She reached into the grocery bag and withdrew a box of ammo. She showed him how to load the magazine and then she stood behind him while he held the empty gun in his hand and sighted down it toward the target.

"I've never shot one of these before. I mentioned that, right?"

"I know," she gently said. "It's all right. I don't expect you to become a perfect shot. I just want you to be able to safely use one if you ever need to."

She showed him how to stand, how to hold it, how to close one eye and line up the sights. "You'll want to flinch at first when you shoot. That's normal. You'll need to learn how to balance keeping a firm grip on the gun while staying limber enough not to let it jerk your arms around."

"That sounds hard."

"It's not. Not after you get used to it."

She made him load the gun and jack a round into the chamber. Then, after he took a few deep breaths in a futile attempt to relax, he squeezed the trigger. The shock of the recoil, combined with the noise, made the gun jerk in his hands.

"Shit!"

There were no new holes anywhere on the target.

"It's okay," she said gently. "Tell me what you think you did wrong."

"I picked up a gun," he muttered. Then he had another thought. "So where do you buy your silver bullets from?"

Her brow furrowed. "Huh?"

"Isn't that what you had to shoot that guy with?"

She laughed. "That's Hollywood myth. Shifters are tough, but we're not impervious to injury. I put one between his eyes into his brain, and another into his heart. If you ever want to kill a shifter, go for the head first, if you have a clear shot. It's easy to miss the heart, or the head, but at least if you're aiming for the bridge of his nose, or his eyeball, you've got a chance of taking him down with one shot." She smirked. "Unless, of course, you've got a sharp sword in your hand. Then just take his head right off."

He hoped he didn't look ill. "No silver bullets, huh?" He hoped she didn't realize he was just stalling for time.

Her smirk curved into a full-on smile. "Nope. Hollow-points. More effective and a lot cheaper. Well, we're not using them for practice. These are regular rounds."

She stepped behind him with the length of her body pressed against his and distracting him. She slid her hands down his arms and covered his hands with hers. "Try again," she said. "Don't think about the gun. Think about the target. And think about how every time you hit the target, that's an extra minute I'll spend going down on you later."

Now his cock stiffened in his pants. "That's playing dirty."

"I'll play it however I have to for you to relax and try to enjoy this."

He let out a snort, but he tried again. This time, a small notch appeared at the lower right corner of the target.

"Hey!" He looked closely. "I hit it!"

"Yes, you did. And yes, that counts. I don't care where you hit the target, just that you hit it."

By the time he'd emptied the magazine, he'd put twelve more rounds into the target. Only two of those had hit anywhere inside the outline of the human, but he felt like he'd accomplished something.

She took the gun back and reloaded the magazine. After retrieving the target, she hung a new one and ran it down the range.

"Try again," she said with a seductive smile. "At this rate, you might have me on my knees for an hour."

His cock, which had grown moderately soft, immediately sprang to life again. "Maybe I'll have you on your knees right here and now," he growled.

A wicked grin curled her lips as her eyes narrowed. "Hit that target with all seventeen rounds, and I'll drop to my knees for you right now."

His breath caught at her sultry tone of voice. Turning, he grabbed the gun and, without thinking, emptied it.

She stood beside him and counted. Five of the hits had landed inside the outline, but there were a total of seventeen holes in the target.

She took the gun from him and set it on the ledge. After glancing up at him she dropped to her knees, put her muffs and glasses on the ground, and tugged his zipper down.

He fell against the concrete partition with a moan and plunged his fingers into her hair as she worked his cock free of his briefs and jeans. He had just enough time to realize she made the same content _shnurfly_ noise she did when chowing down on raw meat before she swallowed his cock to the root.

"Ah!" He closed his eyes as she dug her fingers into the back of his thighs and held on while he took over and fucked her mouth. She flicked her tongue against the underside of the head as he withdrew on every stroke, keeping her lips tightly sealed around his shaft.

It didn't take long for him to feel his climax building in his balls. "Get ready," he groaned.

She made that happy sound again and held on even more tightly as his release exploded from him. She stayed with him, sucking every last drop out of him, refusing to let go even as his grip on her head loosened and he wondered if his knees would give out.

When she finally sat back on her heels and looked up at him with a playful smile, his instant worries that he'd been too rough vanished.

" _That_ ," she said, "is something we should do more often. And no, you weren't too rough with me. If you haven't guessed yet, I kind of like it rough some of the time."

Ken let out a laugh as he tried to catch his breath. "I don't think I can survive going another round like that right now."

She carefully tucked him back into his jeans and tugged the zipper up before standing and kissing him. "That's okay. I think that's enough shooting for today. I want to always end these lessons on a happy note for you."

"Don't you mean a happy finish?"

She wolfishly grinned. "That too."

* * * *

As they walked back to the house, she asked, "Do you feel like another swimming lesson this afternoon?"

He started to say no, then thought about it. If he could tackle shooting, swimming should be easy. "Sure. Why not?"

She cast a glance at him over her shoulder. "Badger and Beck won't be back until late this afternoon."

Despite the fantastic blow job she'd just given him, his cock stirred again. "Then I suggest that once we get back to the house your clothes should disappear, don't you think?"

He blinked. _What the fuck did I just say?_

But she laughed. "You betcha."

* * * *

Sunday morning, Beck and Badger went to the Peckinghams' house to pack up their belongings in preparation for loading them into a moving truck.

Ken stood next to Dewi's motorcycle in the garage and stared down at it. She'd just pulled the dust cover off it. "Do we have to take the motorcycle?" he asked.

"It's like riding a bike."

He swallowed hard. "No, it's not. A bike can only go as fast as you pedal it."

She tried a little pouty lip. "You won't ride with me?"

"I'd rather start with short trips down the driveway and back. Dewi, I love you, but honestly? I'm still getting used to how you drive a car. I'll need three changes of shorts just to make it down to the beach if we're on a motorcycle. Please?"

"Okay." She slowly put the cover back on.

He pulled her to him, kissing her roughly, waiting until he felt her begin to melt against him. "How about I drive? We'll take my car. You've done all the driving. Let me be the guy for a while."

She laughed and looked up at him. "Okay. Point taken."

"Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, my bowels, and my clean pair of briefs."

Two hours later, they were standing on the beautiful white sugar sand of Blind Pass Beach on Manasota Key in Englewood. He watched as Dewi stood there with her face turned into the gentle breeze blowing in off the Gulf, eyes closed as she took deep, long breaths.

"Isn't it great?" she asked.

"What's that?"

"The salty sea air." She opened her eyes and looked at him. "I love the ocean. I come down here every chance I get."

"Can I ask a dumb question?"

She slipped her arms around his waist. "There aren't any dumb questions."

"Why not go to a beach in Tampa? Or St. Pete?"

"You don't get this. The ones on Tampa Bay, they smell like the bay. Mucky, mixed with diesel and gas and stuff that washes into the bay from the storm drains." She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "This is sweet, pure, salty sea air. Not to mention it's not crowded like up there. And look how clean the sand is."

He had to admit, for a beach this beautiful, there were a surprisingly small number of people scattered around. In the parking lot sat maybe twenty cars besides theirs.

They walked north up the beach, holding hands. "I wouldn't mind a house down here one day," she said.

"Why not move?"

She let out one of those cute, wolfish snorts. "No room right now. I need land. I need to be able to not worry about looking over my shoulder all the time." He didn't miss the dark cloud that flitted through her mind and across her expression.

"What do you mean by that?"

She shrugged. "I make enemies. I told you that. So does Beck. We need the ability to train. And most of the pack is located up in the Tampa area. That'd be a hike, driving that every day."

"True."

She stopped and bent over to pick something up. She straightened, a smile on her face as she dropped it into his palm.

"What is it?" He examined the tiny, black, triangular item.

"Shark's tooth." She bent over again and picked up another one. "This area is world-renowned for them."

An image flashed through Ken's mind, of Dewi bending over to pick up a shark's tooth, then offering it to a young child. A little girl with her mother's beautiful mocha eyes and his hair.

He shook it off to find Dewi staring up at him, curiosity visible even behind her sunglasses. "You all right?"

He smiled. "Better than I've ever been in my life."

# **Chapter Sixteen**

#

Dewi received a call from Peyton Sunday evening before dinner. When she emerged from the office and returned to the family room where the men were watching TV, Ken felt her irritation.

"What's wrong?"

"Peyton wants me to take on at least one other Enforcer for our area. Preferably two. His words, not mine."

"Did he say why?" Beck asked.

She plopped down onto the couch next to Ken. "He said he's worried about me being too stressed out."

Ken didn't understand why she would feel aggravated over that. "What's the problem?"

Beck and Badger both laughed, which earned them a glare from Dewi.

"She's a fairly independent wolf, if ye haven't guessed yet," Badger observed. "She doesn't take kindly to others. Usually. Yerself excluded."

"I don't need help," she grumped.

Beck laughed. "Dewi, it's the three of us covering a lot of territory. This is a pretty big state. The closest help we have is Aaron up in Charleston."

"I can be on the east coast in a couple of hours. And Atlanta is only six hours away."

"Not the point," Beck countered. "Peyton's right. We do need an extra pair of hands, at the very least. Considering how many shifters are here now, we could use three or four more."

"Well, you'll get your wish. He's sending six candidates down for me to interview."

"Ye mean to put through the wringer?" Badger snarked.

She shot him another evil look. "One of them volunteered to drive the moving truck back for the Peckinghams."

"Good. Saves me the trouble," Badger said.

"I thought you were feeling helpful?" Dewi asked.

Badger shrugged. "That only goes so far. So when do the victims...eh, candidates arrive?"

She stuck her tongue out at him. "The first one gets here Tuesday afternoon, the rest sometime Wednesday. They're supposed to call me when they get to Tampa and set up an appointment to meet with me."

"Do they know they're gonna get their bloody arses kicked?" Badger asked.

Ken didn't understand that question. "What?"

Beck explained. "Dewi has a bad reputation of being particularly hard on Enforcer candidates."

"I still don't get it."

"If they can't come close to holding their own against her," Beck said, "then they don't make the cut."

"Hey," she protested. "I go _easy_ on them."

Beck snorted. "Bullshit. If you don't like a guy, you body-slam him, threaten to neuter him with your bare hands, and send him packing. Out of the past fifty or so guys you've interviewed for Peyton and Trent, you've only allowed _five_ to be confirmed."

"Well, it's not my fault they were wusses."

"They weren't wusses. They just weren't Primes. Not everyone's going to be a Prime."

"I know that. I'm not stupid."

Badger wanted in on this. "No, yer not stupid, yer just plain stubborn, lass."

She blew a raspberry at him. "I have very high standards."

"You have impossible standards," Beck corrected. "Not everyone fights as well as you. Few people fight as well as you. Doesn't mean they can't kick most other people's asses."

"As Head Enforcer, I have an example to set. If I don't, what does that say about me?"

Badger chimed in again. "That mebbe, fer once, yer being reasonable?"

"Don't you have dinner to cook?" Dewi shot back.

"Aye. But this is fun, too."

Sensing her growing frustration at Beck and Badger, Ken stood and held out his hand for hers. "How about a swim lesson before dinner?"

She looked up at him, one eyebrow deliciously arched. "You? Want a swim lesson? Now?"

"Didn't say I wanted it." He waggled his fingers at her, encouraging her to take his hand.

She finally did, standing to follow him up to the bedroom.

"You aren't exactly subtle sometimes, are you?" she snarked as she changed into her swimsuit.

"No. But you really should cut them some slack."

She whirled on him. " _Them_? Why? They wouldn't hesitate to nail me to the wall."

"That's just it." He smoothed his hands down his arms to soothe her. "This isn't some 'get Dewi barefoot and pregnant' conspiracy they have going on. They're concerned about you. And so am I. You can only go balls-out for so long before you burn out. They know you're too good at what you do to see that happen."

When she stuck her lower lip out a little in thought, he knew she was taking his words to heart. Then she leaned in for a hug. "Thank you," she said in a tiny voice.

He kissed the top of her head. "For what?"

"For helping balance my life."

* * * *

Dewi was proud of Ken for surviving his third swimming lesson. Now fairly comfortable with floating on his back, she'd progressed to teaching him how to doggy paddle.

"I don't know if this is ironic or humiliating," Ken quipped as they finished.

"What?"

"Seriously? Doggy paddle? You don't get that?"

She smiled. "Ah. No, not humiliating. You've got to start somewhere. Not like you're wearing a cone of shame or anything."

They grabbed a quick, sex-free shower and made it downstairs in time for Badger to bellow dinner was ready. As they took their seats, Dewi noticed once again Badger had taken Ken's needs into consideration. A large salad with plenty of fixings, three different vegetables, and a side dish of pasta with pesto sauce accompanied the rare steaks the shifters eagerly tucked into.

"This looks delicious," Ken said.

Badger offered him a perfunctory nod that couldn't disguise the pleased smile he wore.

After dinner, Dewi couldn't stand it. She tackled Ken onto their bed as soon as they closed their bedroom door behind them.

"Ready for dessert?" she asked.

He surprised her by rolling her onto her back. "You have no idea, baby." She helped him rid her of her shorts. She had to pull a pillow over her face to muffle the happy moan she let out when he shouldered his way between her legs and swiped his tongue along her clit.

He brought her to three screaming orgasms before he finally let her push him away. "You're going to kill me," she gasped.

He sat up and yanked his shirt off. "But what a way to go." He shoved his shorts off and knelt between her legs. His cock stood out rigid and ready. When she tried to sit up so she could suck it, he pushed her back down onto the bed. "Where do you think you're going?" he teased.

"I want to suck you."

"No, baby. I'm too ready. I'm dying to fuck you right now." He fell onto her, kissing her and unerringly striking his target.

As his cock slid home, making her happily moan, she realized again sex with Beck had never felt this fantastic, this right. Good, sure, but this was...

_Heaven_.

She nibbled on his earlobe. "Fuck me hard, baby."

That had the desired effect. His happy moan reminded her of a sexy growl as his hips slammed into her, quickly driving her into another climax that had her muffling her cries against his shoulder.

"That's what I love to hear," he said before taking a few more hard thrusts. She felt his cock pulsing, filling her as they fell into a sweaty heap on the bed.

She closed her eyes with a smile as she stroked his back and kept her legs tightly wrapped around him.

After a few minutes, he mumbled against her neck. "Can I ask a stupid question?"

"I thought we already established there are no stupid questions."

He lifted his head. "How do you not get pregnant?"

"It's not the right time of the month. Female wolves can tell."

"Oh. That's handy."

"Yeah."

He rolled to his side, snuggling her tightly against him. She felt a tendril of apprehension run through him. "Do you want kids?" he asked.

She kissed his shoulder. "I'd like to have pups one day. If you want them. Doesn't have to be right this minute, though."

After a few minutes, he spoke again. "You know, I never thought I'd ever have kids."

"Why?"

He kissed the top of her head. "I never thought I'd find someone to love."

# **Chapter Seventeen**

#

Monday morning, Ken had to admit he enjoyed driving his new SUV to work. He wanted to stop by his old apartment after work to check his mail and get some more things. Plus he needed to empty the fridge. Badger had picked him up a batch of moving boxes and tape, which were in the back of the SUV.

During the day, he spoke to Dewi a couple of times on his new phone, which he had to admit rocked. The iPhone was a lot better than the cheap-ass phones he'd had before.

And as he climbed into his vehicle at the end of the day, he sat for a moment and enjoyed the new-car smell, along with the faint scent of Dewi.

He drove to his apartment complex with a smile on his face. And he stopped by the office to give them notice that he'd be moved out by the first and to arrange to get his deposit back.

It wasn't until he unlocked his apartment door and stepped inside that his mood faltered.

A bad feeling coalesced at the base of his spine.

Shaking it off, he brought the boxes and tape inside and locked the door behind him. He headed for the kitchen first. He'd empty out the fridge and dump the stuff in the complex's Dumpsters when he left.

But the bad feeling wouldn't go away.

Putting his plans to empty the fridge on hold, he headed back to the bedroom. He thought everything looked as he'd left it. He didn't remember leaving stuff on the floor, though. He thought he'd left it all on the bed.

_Whatever._

In the bathroom, one of the towels had fallen on the floor. He picked it up and hung it over the shower curtain rod.

The creepy feeling built even though he was alone in the apartment. Back in the kitchen, he started dumping everything from the fridge and freezer. Everything from yogurt to leftovers, and even the two-liter bottle of Pepsi that he didn't remember buying went into garbage bags. He set them in the foyer by the front door.

He started gathering other things, packing his books, CDs, and DVDs from the living room. He had a box reserved for photo albums and pictures of his mom and dad. As he started to put one picture of her in the box, he wistfully smiled.

"I think you would have liked her, Mom," he said as he gently set the picture in the box. He didn't really remember much about his father.

As far as his step-father was concerned, Ken wanted nothing more than to forget him.

Ken was lost in thought when he felt the air move behind him. He turned and nearly screamed at the sight of Dave standing there.

"Where's your piece of ass, huh?" He advanced on Ken, flexing his fists. "Don't have your girl here to fight your battles for ya now."

"Get out of here," Ken ordered, rage building and replacing the nasty tingle at the base of his spine.

"Naw, you said you don't need it. I'll move in. You're gonna pay for it, though." He grabbed Ken by the shirt and pulled him close. "You're gonna pay for it in more ways than one."

One second, Ken was standing there looking up into Dave's ugly mug.

The next, he felt pain blossom from his left fist, which he'd planted squarely in the center of Dave's face.

Dave released him with a pained howl. Without thinking, Ken's right foot shot out, catching the larger man squarely in the nuts.

Dave fell to the floor, clutching his groin and writhing in pain. Ken kicked him again, and again, pulling up short when he sickeningly realized he was coming close to beating the man to death and even more surprised to find out he _reeaally_ wanted to do just that.

Ken stood over him, straddling him, and grabbed Dave by his shirt. "Listen, you stupid fucking piece of shit, and listen good. Dewi was nice to you the other day. I could easily slit your fucking throat right now and leave you in here to rot and no one would miss your slimy ass."

He bashed Dave's head back against the carpeted floor, getting another _oof_ out of him, but no recognizable words. "So I'm going to drag your fucking ass outside my front door, and when I come out, if you're not gone, I'm going to fucking drag you back inside, dismember you in my bathtub after cutting your tongue out so you can't scream, and start by chopping off your fingers, toes, and dick while you're still alive. Try me."

He dropped down with his right knee firmly planted on Dave's chest, unable to believe the words were coming from his mouth. "Do you understand me?"

"You fucking—"

"Wrong answer." He rained vicious punches onto Dave's head, until the other man was sobbing and ineffectively trying to ward off the attack with his hands.

Ken felt a wave of blind rage wash over him as he remembered how Dave had called Dewi a pussy. "You get your fucking ass out of my apartment _right_ now, or you're dead."

Half crawling, half stumbling, Dave managed to make it to the front door. Ken opened it and planted his foot on the larger man's ass, kicking him out, literally.

Then he slammed the door shut behind him and locked it.

His body trembled, the shakes overwhelming him as he leaned against the door for support, then slid down it. He alternated between crying and laughing for a good twenty minutes, sure the cops would show up any second, but they never did.

When he finally got himself under control he realized how badly everything hurt, especially his fists from punching the bane of his existence. He stumbled into the kitchen and held his hands under cold running water, wanting the feel of Dave's blood completely washed away.

It wasn't until he felt something approaching normal again that he made his way back to the bedroom.

The window stood open, the screen on the ground outside.

_Fuck. Me._

He closed and locked it, as well as the other one in the bedroom, and followed suit with the ones in the living room. Since he'd never opened the windows, he could only guess Dave had left himself with a ready way to get in on one of his previous visits.

_Which also explains how Dave knew I hadn't been home in several days._

He wanted out, and he wanted out now. After looking through the front door's viewfinder and not seeing Dave, he grabbed the box of pictures and opened the door. He shuffled the two garbage bags out and locked the door behind him.

Looking around, he didn't see Dave lurking anywhere.

He'd snagged a parking spot right in front of his door and quickly got the box and garbage bags loaded. After dumping the trash, he swung past his mailbox and emptied it, too. Nervously looking in the rearview mirror, he sped out of the parking lot.

Dewi ran out to meet him as he pulled into the yard at the house. Her beaming grin faded as she got a better look at him. And as he stepped out of the SUV, Dewi frantically began checking him over for injuries.

"What happened? Are you okay?" She sounded close to hysterics.

"What?"

"You were in a fight. What happened?"

He grabbed her hands to still them and held them to his chest. "How can you tell that?"

"I can smell the blood. And it's not your blood. Are you okay?"

_Of course she can smell it._ He closed his eyes and leaned against the driver's door. With her pulled close and his forehead touching hers, he thought the events to her and hoped she could understand because he wasn't sure he could retell it.

Hell, he wasn't sure he even knew what the fuck had happened.

As the story unwound in his mind, she pressed closer and tighter to him. Freeing her hands, she wrapped her arms around him, holding him.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," she said, her voice sounding sad.

"It's okay," he finally said. "I kicked his ass. Not sure how, but I did."

"I'm so proud of you."

He let out a gruff laugh. "Yeah, it was like an episode of _When Geeks Go Agro_."

"It's all fun and games until someone ends up in a cone of shame."

He looked at her, confused.

"Sorry. Wolf joke." Her expression turned sad again. "I should have given him an order to leave you alone the other day, but I was caught by surprise when I got there. I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "No, don't be. I'd rather you not go messing around in his mind anyway. He's an asshole."

She growled. "If he shows up again can I kill him?"

"No. Scare him, yes. Kill him, no."

She stuck her lower lip out in a pout. "You're no fun."

She got him and his stuff inside and ushered him up to their bedroom. There, she helped him undress and pulled him into the shower with her.

" _I_ wanted to kill him," he said. "I didn't tell you this before, but the other morning at work, Mark and Jason were waiting and rode the elevator up with me. I wanted to punch them for talking about you. I could tell what they were thinking. And today...today it's like what I wanted to give to them I gave to Dave. In spades."

"Not like he didn't deserve it."

"Yeah, but I'm better than that. I _should_ be better than that."

"We all have our weaknesses." She pressed a tender kiss to his lips. " _You_ are _my_ weakness."

* * * *

After dinner, she asked about the box while they sat curled up together watching TV in the family room. He'd left it in the corner by the doorway, where no one would accidentally trip over it.

"It's some photo albums and pictures. Only thing I really have left of my parents."

She sat up. "Oh! May I look?"

He shrugged. "Sure."

She brought the box back to the sofa and opened it, taking out the pictures and albums he'd packed earlier. "Is that your mom?" she asked as she pointed to one picture.

"Yeah."

"She was beautiful."

He nodded. "I thought so. She always looked sad. I just wish she'd left the asshole sooner. I feel guilty she waited until I graduated to try to get away." He didn't want to talk about her death, but Dewi looked up at him and he sensed she wanted to hear it all. "The coroner said in the autopsy that she had a lot of old injuries that had healed. Like cracked ribs, fractured arm. Even several broken fingers."

He felt her protective fury grow on his behalf. "I'm sorry. You said he's in jail?"

"Doing life. He also killed a guy while inside, and that time got added onto his sentence. He won't be eligible for parole for at least another thirty years, which is, in essence for him, life."

"Good." She stood and went over to one of the bookcases and removed a photo album. Carrying it back to the sofa, she settled next to Ken again. She paged to the middle of the album first, which turned out to be the end of the pictures. One of the last pictures was a shot of a woman and a man holding a tiny infant girl decked out in a ruffled pink dress. The little girl wore a chubby grin, while the parents positively beamed with pride.

She reached out and touched the picture. When she spoke she sounded quiet, sad. "Badger said there was never a doubt for strangers if I was a girl or not. Mom always dressed me in the girliest things she could. This was the last picture taken of them. They were killed a week later."

He put his arm around her shoulder and snugged her securely against his side. Pressing a kiss to her temple, he said, "You were a beautiful baby. I should have known."

He felt a brief flash of pleasure ripple through her at his words. "Badger said I never would hold still for dresses for him when I was little. Said I fought him when he tried to dress me in anything but pants or boy clothes."

"But you were a baby."

She shrugged as she paged back through the album toward the front. "It wasn't until I was older and he could order me into skirts and dresses that I would unwillingly wear them." She stopped at a picture of her mom and dad with Trent and Peyton. Her mom looked very pregnant, and she was opening a present wrapped in pink baby shower paper. The boys were watching her open the present. "That was taken a week before I was born."

She turned to the beginning of the album. There were pictures of both her parents in their younger years. Then she stopped at what looked like a picture of a family picnic. In the background, standing and seated at tables, were dozens of people. In the foreground stood her mom and dad looking like they were in their early twenties, flanked by two couples Dewi identified as her grandparents on both sides.

"This was taken at the Muster where my mom's parents announced Mom and Dad had mated and were getting married." Most everyone looked like they were smiling or happy, except for a guy caught mid-scowl in the background. "It was a really big deal."

"What exactly is a Muster, anyway?"

"It's what we call our gatherings. It's like a family reunion, business meeting, and way for wolves to meet each other. Sometimes it's only from one pack, and sometimes people from other packs are invited if they're friends or family by marriage."

"Did your parents grow up together in the same pack?"

"No. My dad was born in Scotland. He and Badger knew each other for years and are distant cousins. They came over to America together, to Idaho. One of Badger's sisters married my mom's sister's brother-in-law. That doubly made him family and welcomed. Everyone told me Badger was the only one who could help Mom and Dad control Peyton and Trent when they were younger."

Ken was still trying to work out what that would technically make Badger in relation to Dewi.

She looked up at him with a playful smile when she sensed his confusion. "I know, right?"

"So that's why you just call Badger an uncle?"

"Yeah. I'm not sure what he is, except that he's family and I love him."

"How'd he lose the eye?"

"He doesn't like to talk about it."

"I gathered."

"It happened while he was still in Scotland. Before he and my dad moved to the States." She closed the album and walked it back to the bookcase. "I don't know all the details, and he doesn't like to talk about it. But it had to do with him trying to protect his mate from a couple of vicious rogue wolves from a rival pack."

"Oh."

She returned to the sofa. "Rogues are something we don't really need to worry about now. It's not like in the old days."

"Did he?" he asked.

He didn't have to clarify what he meant. She sadly shook her head. "He's never taken another mate, either."

# **Chapter Eighteen**

#

Tuesday morning, it took a lot of talking for Ken to convince Dewi he didn't need her to babysit him at work. "Look, if the guy's stupid enough to show up again, he deserves whatever I give him."

Her expression darkened. "I don't like it. Please don't go to your apartment again. Not alone. What if he brings some scumbag friend of his back with him? Wait until one of us can go with you."

She had a point. It might have been sheer luck that he'd been able to take down Dave. Taking down some of Dave's asshole buddies might be harder. "All right, I'll concede to that. Happy?"

She frowned. "No, but I don't want to be a bitch and order you to let me go with you to work today."

"Thank you. That means a lot to me." He pulled her close and kissed her, enjoying the way she relaxed into his embrace, her curves fitting him perfectly.

She looked like she wanted to pout. "You'd better get going before I drag you back to bed."

"What time is your first Enforcer candidate arriving?"

"He's coming by late this afternoon at five. Guy named Palmer." She gave Ken a final kiss good-bye and walked him out to his CRV. "So, do you really like it?"

He grinned, pulled her to him, and kissed her deeply. He didn't let her go until he felt her swaying a little on her feet. "I love it almost as much as I love you."

Her broad grin made his heart twist in a pleasant way. He loved that he could make her feel that good.

"Drive safely."

"I will. I have you to come home to."

Ken struggled to maintain his concentration throughout the day. He started locking his office door whenever he was in there, and three more female students made less than subtle advances toward him.

By four o'clock, he was ready to give his notice right then, but decided to hold off.

_Less than three weeks. I can make it that long._

As he drove home, he couldn't think about anything but getting Dewi alone for a little while and decompressing.

"Crap." He remembered the Enforcer candidate arriving that afternoon.

Well, maybe he could watch, at least spend a little time with Dewi that way.

She greeted Ken in the kitchen with a kiss when he arrived home at a quarter till five. "How was work?"

He smiled down at her, not missing the nervous tone in her voice. "Nobody tried to kiss or kill me today."

"Oh, good."

"Where's Badger and Beck?"

"They'll be back soon. They're getting the truck loaded for Alexis Peckingham and driving it here."

"Ah. And your, eh, victim?"

She smiled. "Smartass. I told him to stop at the gate and ring when he gets here so I can let him in."

"Mind if I watch?"

Dewi cocked her head as she looked at him. "No, I don't mind. But why?"

He shrugged. "I'd like to see what you do. You know, besides scaring the crap out of people." He winked, making her laugh.

"Sure." She waved him over to the back sliders where she pointed at the backyard. "See that car track there?"

Ken spotted the break in the trees. "Yeah?"

"I need to put the guy through his paces first. We'll end up in the clearing we went to that night. With the pond?"

He nodded.

"Just follow that track. It'll take you straight there."

"Why the car track?"

"We take the mower back there and mow the clearing. I'd rather haul it in the truck than ride it all the way back there."

"Can I drive?" He had to admit he wanted a chance to take the CRV off-road, even though it was a fairly tame track.

And maybe he could talk Dewi into another steamy make-out session in it when she was finished with the candidate.

She grinned. "Of course you can."

* * * *

The guy, Drake Palmer, called Dewi exactly at five o'clock. "Well, he's on time, at least," she said when she hung up. "That's a point in his favor." She let him through the gate and Ken walked outside with her to wait on the front porch.

"Have you ever met this guy before?"

"Nope. Peyton said he's from a pack over in Oregon."

The guy drove a rental car and parked in front of the house. A little beefier than Beck, he had dark brown hair and brown eyes.

Ken couldn't shake the feeling that he looked familiar, although he couldn't place him. He also didn't like the hard gleam in the man's eye when he shook hands with Dewi. Then she introduced him. "And this is my mate, Ken."

Ken didn't like shaking hands with the guy. He felt a tickle at the back of his neck.

"You joining us today, Ken?" Palmer asked.

"Later," he said. "I have some work to do first."

Dewi gave Ken a quick peck on the lips. "Give us about an hour before you meet us. We'll be done by then. If we're not there, just wait."

"Okay." He grabbed her and placed another kiss on her, this one deep and strong. He glanced at Palmer out of the corner of his eye to make sure the guy got the message.

_She's_ mine _._

He was sure Palmer's gaze narrowed a little as Ken released Dewi. Before she could notice his irritation, Ken turned and quickly headed into the house.

He closed the front door behind him and leaned against it while he tried to slow his pulse.

_What the fuck?_

* * * *

"Territorial for a human, isn't he?"

Dewi wrinkled her nose and fought the urge to send the guy packing right then and there. She'd promised Peyton that she would run a full evaluation on every candidate regardless of her first impression of them. Her first impression had been good. But that had been before she'd actually set eyes on Palmer.

Her second impression was that he was a jerk.

However, she was a wolf of her word. "Yes. Extremely. Just the way I like him." She strode across the yard toward one of the paths without looking back. "Come on. This way."

She also didn't like the way the guy smelled. He had an odd funk about him that, for once, she thought could use a goodly dose of aftershave, even though most wolves rarely wore any perfume due to their sensitive noses.

The guy _reeked_. Not BO, but...something.

She pushed it out of her mind and focused on the job at hand.

* * * *

Ken tried to focus on his work and couldn't. Something about Palmer had set him on edge in an uncomfortable way. It reminded him too much of the feeling he'd got at the apartment before Dave surprised him.

Knowing he was thirty minutes early, and that he wouldn't get a damn thing done anyway, he headed for his car to go find the clearing and wait. He drove around the house and aimed for the track. Easily finding it, he followed it into the shade provided by the thick stands of pine trees growing on either side.

The sensation at the nape of his neck had now spread down his back to the base of his spine. He didn't know what was wrong, but he'd feel a whole lot better when Palmer was gone. He also didn't know if he got to have a say in who Dewi picked to be an Enforcer, but he wouldn't hesitate to toss his two cents into the pot.

He didn't want Palmer anywhere around Dewi.

* * * *

Dewi put Palmer through his paces. Despite his technical skills being top-notch, she still didn't like him.

Worse, she didn't trust him. The fact that he seemed older than he'd told her he was didn't help matters any. She also suspected he was a Prime, although she hadn't come right out and asked him yet. If he wasn't, and she turned him down after asking that, he might go to Peyton and claim she was discriminating against him for that.

Peyton had never overruled her on an Enforcer decision, but there was always a first time. As pack Alpha, he did have the right to do it.

"One last test," she said as they finished at the gun range. "Tracking. On two feet, not on four," she added for clarification. "Five-minute head start." She pulled five blue poker chips from the pocket of her jeans. "And I'll leave these along the path. You have to come in within ten minutes of my arrival, and carrying all five of these. Otherwise, you fail the test."

He smirked. "How do you know I won't cheat?"

"I don't. But an honest wolf wouldn't even ask me that. Plus, I have that." She turned and pointed to a surveillance camera mounted high on a pine tree. "I can play the video back and look to see how long you waited." She offered up a smirk of her own. "Wouldn't want you claiming I falsely accused you of cheating." She took off to the south, sticking to the grass and deep pine needles to the side of the paths to help conceal her tracks. After one minute, she took one of the chips, rubbed it between her hands for scent marking, and lobbed it off the trail.

It landed twenty feet away on the grass between two pine trees. It would be visible from the trail to a wolf on the lookout, but if he wasn't paying attention, he'd have to walk back to find it.

With a grin of her own, she took off again, sure she'd just secured an easy way to flunk the smarmy wolf out of the running.

* * * *

Ken shut off the CRV and stepped out, closing the door behind him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the clean and sweet, albeit muggy air.

_Quiet._

It was hard to believe he'd known Dewi a little over a week, and yet it felt like she'd been in his life since the beginning of time.

_I never realized just how lonely I was before._

It saddened him a little to think that.

Then again, he'd never be lonely again. He'd even come to like Badger and Beck and looked forward to meeting Trent and Peyton, although Badger snickered every time he mentioned the next pack Muster.

He walked over to the edge of the pond. He understood why Dewi loved this place so much. A smile curled his lips as he thought about the night he made love to her there in the grass.

As his cock stiffened at the pleasant thought, he had another.

_We'll definitely be doing that a lot here._

His head popped up at a sound, and he turned around. "Dewi?"

Nothing. Even the occasional bird song had ceased.

With the creepy feeling suddenly overwhelming, he headed back toward the CRV. Another noise made him turn and he let out a soft scream as he found Palmer standing right behind him, grinning down at him with an evil gleam in his eye.

"Fucking human. You _never_ mark your territory to a Prime. Didn't she tell you that?" Before Ken could react, Palmer picked him up and launched him through the air.

He assumed the hard, metal thing he hit, accompanied by the sound of several bones cracking, was his car. As he slid to the ground with a jarring thud, pain drove the breath out of his lungs.

* * * *

Dewi froze in her tracks. She wasn't more than fifty yards from the clearing, and she heard no sign of Palmer closing in behind her. But she'd just heard...something.

She still had one poker chip. _Fuck it._ She flung it off the path and broke into a run toward the clearing.

With a little relief, she entered the clearing and saw Ken's CRV parked on the other end. That relief shattered as her senses went into screaming overdrive. And that's when she picked up the labored sound of his breathing. As she closed in she spotted him lying on the ground on the far side, the driver's side.

"Ken!" She ran over to him and when she tried to help him sit up, he let out a groan of pain. "What the hell happened? Are you okay?" Red hot rage, quickly growing white with fury, began to cloud her vision. "Who did this to you?"

His eyes fluttered open before focusing behind her and growing wide. "Palmer...behind you."

She had the gun drawn from her back holster as she stood and turned. Then the full weight of the man slammed into her, driving her hard against the side of the SUV and making her lose her gun.

The last conscious thought she had before her Prime flared and took over was that there was no doubt in her mind the guy was a Prime.

And that he was going to die right there, if it was the last thing she did.

* * * *

Ken finally caught his breath as the red haze over his vision slowly dissipated. Pain ravaged his body. He'd never hurt so badly for so long in his life. Every breath was a jaw-grinding struggle not to pass out from the agony.

_Ribs_ , _probably broken. Leg most likely broken._

Dewi and Palmer battled their way across the clearing for what felt like hours but was probably no more than several minutes. Fortunately Ken lay on his side facing them, because he wasn't sure he could make his body move to turn over to watch.

Palmer had a foot on Dewi in height, not to mention over one hundred pounds. Unlike Beck he was a Prime, and every bit as strong as Dewi.

They were, unfortunately, nearly evenly matched.

Rage painted her features with an unnatural fury that would have scared Ken into shitting his pants had it been directed at him.

Palmer wore a wolfish grin and tossed taunts and punches at her. "I'm doing you a favor, Bleacke. You don't want his runt pups mucking up the Targhee pack's gene pool, do you? Not that you're going to live long enough to have any. I should have finished you off that night in front of that bitch. I screwed up killing her before I killed you. I always regretted that. I wanted her to die suffering as much as possible after what she did to me."

Dewi responded with vicious snarls and growls, her fury pushing her into Prime Alpha and well past the point of rational thought. Ken knew from the sweat beaded on her face and darkening her shirt how tired she was, the strain of battle, on top of her worry about him, spreading her stamina thin.

Ken grabbed the front driver's tire and forced his body to move. That's when he spotted Dewi's gun, where she'd dropped it after being body-slammed by Palmer. It had landed under the car.

A nine millimeter, like the one she'd taught him how to shoot.

When he tried to reach for it, will fled his body. Dewi's admonishment to never touch a gun unless she was working with him and had given him permission robbed his arm of strength.

_Fuck!_

He couldn't call out to her, mentally or verbally, to lift the ban. It would distract her, not that he thought he could pull a yell out of his lungs loud enough for her to hear anyway.

He stared at the gun, willing it to him, unable to reach for it.

That's when he heard the sickening _thud_.

Straining his neck, he looked and saw Palmer stalking toward Dewi, where she'd landed at the base of a pine tree after he'd flung her into it from across the clearing. She struggled to pull herself to her feet, but he could tell her tank ran on fumes.

Palmer licked his lips like he was about to rip into a steak dinner as she limply collapsed to the ground again. "I'm going to enjoy this, Dewi," he growled. "I'm going to fuck your brains out right in front of your pathetic human mate so he has to watch. Then I'll kill him before I kill you, so you get to see it. Just like I did to your mother and father before I killed them both. How's that sound?"

He grabbed her by her hair and started dragging her away from the tree and across the grass. "Too bad you were too young to appreciate it. And I was interrupted before I could finish with you."

White-hot rage washed through Ken.

_Fucker's touching_ my _mate!_

Ken's hand shot out for the gun, his pain suddenly gone as he rolled free of the vehicle and onto his stomach again. Firmly gripping the gun in both hands like she'd shown him, and with his elbows braced on the ground, he flipped the safety off and barked, "Palmer!"

The shifter's head snapped up. He grinned, showing canines. "Ah, you're not quite as wimpy as I tho—"

Ken fired, a blast of pain ricocheting from his finger, up his arm, and straight into his brain as he pulled the trigger.

His world went black.

# **Chapter Nineteen**

#

Ken came to to find Badger kneeling over him and gently slapping his cheeks, a worried look on the old shifter's face, his one blue eye intently gazing down at him. "Eh, boyo. Ye still with us?"

"Didn't we already do this once before?" He'd meant to make it sound snarky, but he realized he could barely breathe and it came out little more than a whisper. The pain had returned with a vengeance. He licked his lips and tried to make more noise. "Dewi?"

Badger nodded. "I think she's all right, lad. Beck's checking her over." He glanced at the gun laying near Ken. "Ye shot him?"

Ken nodded. "Please tell me I didn't hit her."

Badger laughed. "Hit _her_? Lad, ye blew the back of his fecking head right the bloody hell off! Ye put it clean through his left eyeball. Couldn't have done better meself if I'd tried. One shot, too. We heard it and came running."

He didn't care how it looked. He laid his head back and sobbed with relief despite the additional pain it caused him.

Then he heard her voice, weak and trembling and calling his name. He opened his eyes and spotted Beck helping her walk with his arm around her, supporting her as she made her way to him.

Unlike with Palmer, Ken felt no rage at the sight of Beck's hands on his mate. He knew Beck wouldn't hurt her. Beck loved her, but he would respect her...and him.

"Watch his ribs, lass," Badger warned. "I think he's having trouble breathing right. And his right leg's probably broke."

She fell to her knees next to him, crying, reaching for him and laying her head on his shoulder.

He managed to put one hand on her and pat her back. "I love you, baby," he whispered. "You did good."

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry he hurt you."

He tried to stroke her back, but moving his arm that much hurt. "It's okay. I got him. I took care of him for you. It's okay."

"What?" That was Beck.

Ken realized trying to keep his eyes open hurt too much. He let them fall closed and enjoyed the feel of Dewi's back under his hand, the comforting scent of her there with him.

Badger spoke. "Yep. He shot the bloody bastard. Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert just killed hisself his first Prime Alpha wolf."

Dewi's body tensed. "What?" He felt her palm caress his cheek. " _You_ shot him?"

He didn't open his eyes. "Yeah." He coughed, then moaned because it hurt like fucking hell. "Right through the eye. Just like you taught me."

When none of them spoke, he finally forced an eye open again to see why. Dewi looked stunned.

"What?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

"How?" she asked. " _How_ did you do it?"

He found her hand and laced his fingers through hers, then brought it to his lips so he could kiss it despite it hurting his ribs to move. "No fucking way was I letting that bastard hurt _my_ mate."

"But there's no way in hell you should have been able to touch that gun, much less fire it."

Beck snorted. "Told you he's got a serious set of balls on him."

Ken barked out a soft laugh. "I really wish you'd quit obsessing over my testicles." Another coughing fit set off pain in his ribs, and before he could recover, the blackness took him.

* * * *

Ken opened his eyes to more blackness. For a moment he panicked, afraid maybe he'd died or something. Then he got a lungful of Dewi's comforting scent somewhere close by and the sound of her breathing. His ribs didn't hurt so badly, neither did his leg, and he realized he lay naked in a very comfortable bed.

Correction, _their_ bed. He could tell from the scents in the room that it was their bedroom.

He relaxed as he felt the mattress dip next to him and Dewi's cool hand smoothed his brow. "Baby?" she whispered. "You awake?"

"Yeah."

She snapped a bedside lamp on and he blinked against the sudden light. He shifted position a little and realized without having to lift his head to look that his ribs had been bandaged and his right leg put in a cast while he was passed out. The pain had eased, but from the way his brain felt foggy, he suspected that was due to better living through chemistry.

"What time is it?" He closed his eyes again. Ugly bruises had blossomed on Dew's beautiful cheekbones. He knew within a day or two they'd be gone, but the sight of her injuries made his heart hurt.

A pinchy pull in his right arm made him realize he had an IV. "It's almost three in the morning. We had our doctor come take care of you. He says your ribs are cracked, and he wants you to take it easy for a week or so. Leg might be in a cast for a few weeks."

"And the IV?"

"Yeah. We can take it out in the morning. He wanted to make sure you had fluids and antibiotics and painkillers and stuff."

"No cone?" He cracked an eye open briefly to watch her expression.

She looked at him questioningly for a moment before she got the joke and laughed. "No, no cone of shame for you."

With his right hand he groped for hers. She reached for him and he pulled her down to him for a kiss. "I love you so much, Dewi. I can't lose you."

Her lips pressed against his, and despite his pain he reached across with his left hand and fisted it in her hair, holding on tight and keeping her in place as he ravaged her bruised mouth with his lips.

_"Mine,"_ he thought to her. _"You're all_ mine _."_

He wanted to be rough, wanted to own her.

Wanted to claim her.

She melted against him as a soft moan escaped her. _"Yes!"_

With his hand still firmly buried in her hair, he pulled her up so he could nuzzle the crook of her neck, along her left shoulder. She would taste so good, the salty sweetness of her skin, but he wanted more.

He wanted blood.

_Her_ blood.

His teeth grazed her flesh. She practically undulated against him as much as she dared in his injured state. "My mate," he growled against her flesh.

"Yes!" she gasped.

The urge became too great. Despite the risk he drew his lips back and sank his teeth into her shoulder, hard, immediately feeling her flesh give way and tasting her sweet blood.

She let out a sharp, squealing cry as she clung to him while he licked her flesh, trying to soothe the mark and feeling sanity quickly flooding back to his brain even as he wanted to growl over how good she felt and tasted.

_Fuck it._ He did growl, almost a purr. And while his body still hurt like hell, his cock throbbed, wishing he could fuck her right then and there.

His growl made her giggle but she didn't move, waiting until the wound finally sealed as his lips feathered over her flesh.

Belatedly, Ken's reason returned to him and he released her. "You okay?"

As liquid as syrup, she snuggled against him. He heard the smile in her voice. "I'm fine." Her tone had taken on an almost little girl quality.

"I won't get my throat ripped out for that?"

Her fingers appeared on his abs first, lightly stroking up to where the bandage wrapped his torso. "Never."

"What does this mean?"

Her cheek felt soft against the crook of his shoulder, where she was now firmly nestled under his arm. "You're a human mate with no shifter blood, as far as we can tell. But you disobeyed a direct command from me, your Prime Alpha mate, when I was in danger. You didn't just kill another shifter, you killed a Prime Alpha shifter. Palmer should have been able to freeze you in your tracks with a thought when he was beating you, and you defied him, too."

"What does that have to do with me keeping my larynx?"

"Don't you understand? For some reason, you're strong."

"I've got big balls, in Badger-speak."

"Yeah. Real big. Saturn-sized."

"The car or the planet?"

She caught his teasing tone and kissed him. "The planet." Her fingers resumed their comforting strokes along his flesh. "You saved me when I couldn't protect you. I needed you to..."

"Claim you?"

"Yeah."

"And this is good?"

"This is very good." He felt her slip into a relieved sleep next to him. As he lay there stroking her hair, he realized he felt okay being "just" a mate. The subtle pinch to his pride that he'd felt since meeting her, worse than normal, was gone.

He'd saved her. He'd saved _his_ mate.

So what if she normally saved his ass? When the chips were down, he now knew if he had to, he could keep her safe, too.

* * * *

The next morning, Dewi was downstairs on the phone, calling Ken's work for him to tell them he'd been in an accident. While she was doing that, Beck walked into the bedroom, carrying a laptop.

"How you feeling?" Beck asked.

Ken nodded. "Like crap warmed over."

Beck smiled and dragged a chair over to the bed. "Can you figure out how to get into this?"

Ken reached for it. "Forget your password?"

Beck slowly shook his head. "Found it in the fucker's car. His real name was Walter Endquist. Got that from his wallet."

"Oh." Ken powered it up and a password screen appeared. He tried a few things. "Can you grab my laptop and the case from the office?"

"Sure." He returned a few minutes later with them. Ken pulled a jump drive from his laptop bag, downloaded a program onto the jump drive, then put the jump drive into Endquist's laptop and booted it into bios. From there, he was able to get into Windows and reboot the computer.

"Bingo." He reset the admin password and then handed the laptop back to Beck. "There you go."

Beck wouldn't take it. "You're the computer expert. What can you tell us about him?"

Ken frowned, but started with the easiest, the most recently visited places and files.

Pictures.

He let out a cry and had to clap a hand to his mouth, as well as close his eyes, as he tried to shove the laptop back at Beck.

Unfortunately, the images of the man and woman...and a young infant—girl, if the pink onesie was a clue—horrified him. The man bound. The woman, bound and stripped from the waist down.

The baby with fresh bruises and injuries.

And then the man and woman...dead, their throats slit and eyes wide open and lifelessly staring at the camera.

Ken kept his eyes squeezed tightly shut and prayed Dewi didn't come upstairs. He felt Beck take the laptop from him and heard the man's sharp intake of breath, followed by the lid of the laptop being slammed shut.

"What's the password?" Beck hoarsely asked.

Ken had to swallow back the bile in his throat. "1-2-3-4. I kept it easy."

"Thanks."

"Was that—"

"Yeah."

"Shit." When he felt he could open his eyes, he looked at Beck. The shifter had gone pale. As Ken looked at Beck's hands, he saw the large man trembling. "Don't tell her," Ken begged. " _Please_. And don't fucking show her."

Beck shook his head. "No. She won't see them. I promise." He rose and quickly bolted from the room. Ken heard Beck's bedroom door open, then shut again a moment later. Beck returned, still looking as sick as Ken felt.

"Come on. Let's get you up," Beck said.

"Why?"

"Because we need an excuse to tell Dewi when she gets up here in about one minute why you look sick. Pain will make a man look sick." He helped Ken out of bed and mostly carried him to the bathroom, where he deposited him on the toilet. " _Capisce_?"

Ken nodded as he struggled to yank his shorts down. " _Capisce_."

* * * *

Later that afternoon, before dinner and while Dewi was working out downstairs, Badger and Beck were Ken-sitting. Ken wanted to talk with the two men. Beck looked only slightly less ill than he had earlier. Badger had gone stone-faced.

Ken sensed lethally deep anger bubbling inside the older shifter.

"You showed him?" Ken asked Beck.

Badger nodded. "Aye. I saw." He let out a breath. "I wish I could run the bloody bastard through the woodchipper a second time. Alive."

"Feet first," Beck added in a growl. "And slowly."

As much as Ken opposed violence, in this case, he couldn't agree more. "Only if I got to help."

Badger let out a snort. "Yer good folk, Ken," he said. "Right good folk."

* * * *

Somehow, they kept it from her...or she pretended not to know. Either way, Beck, Ken, and Badger were happy not to have to discuss the pictures with her.

Ken spent the next two days in bed, moving as far as the bathroom, and only then with help. And he decided to email his resignation to his department head, much to Dewi's joy and relief. Beck went with Dewi to help clean out Ken's office.

When the doctor returned to check on Ken, he proclaimed his healing well ahead of schedule, probably due to his shifter mate status.

Ken cast a questioning glance at Dewi. "Dr. Collins is one of us," she explained.

Four days after the showdown, Ken carefully made his way downstairs to the lanai to sit at the table. Dewi left him alone to go make him lunch.

"Hey." Beck stood at the sliders leading to the living room. "Want some company?"

Ken nodded. "Sure."

Beck walked over and sat at the table. He'd mostly been scarce the past few days. "Glad to see you up and about."

Ken wanted this long-overdue task handled. "I'm sorry, Beck."

He looked confused. "For what?"

"I know it's nature, or fate, or whatever. But I'm still sorry. I feel like I swooped in and shoved you aside."

Beck smiled. For the first time since the morning they met in the kitchen, Beck's expression didn't look forced or sad. "Let me tell you something." He glanced at the sliders to make sure Dewi hadn't returned. Leaning forward, he lowered his voice. "I don't know if I could have done half as well as you did out there. Endquist could have easily kicked my ass. I damn sure don't know if I could have overridden a Prime Alpha mate's order." His smile broadened. "In other words, I'm saying that I don't know if it'd been me there with her instead of you, if I could have saved her."

Ken didn't know what to make of that and didn't know how to respond.

Beck continued. "So believe me when I say despite missing what I had with her, it would hurt me a hell of a lot worse if she'd died. I'll trade watching her be in love with you over standing beside her coffin every damn time. I'll always love her, but she's not my mate." He tapped the table with a finger. "That means somewhere out there is a woman meant to be _my_ mate."

Beck extended his hand. "You're a damn good man, and I'm glad she found you. Even more, I'm glad I can call you my friend. More importantly, I'm proud you're in my pack."

Stunned, Ken took his hand and shook. Beck gripped it firmly, but with none of his previous restraint, where he'd deliberately held back to not hurt him.

Beck wasn't afraid he'd hurt him now.

"I mean," Beck continued after releasing his hand and sitting back, "I understand in a fair one-on-one against a shifter that you might get your ass kicked. But in all honesty, if I had to choose a partner to take into a fight with me? If I couldn't take Dewi or Badger, I'd take you."

That shocked Ken. "Me? Why me?"

"You're loyal and have a huge heart. Maybe you're not the strongest guy or the most skilled fighter. But damn, anyone who can do what you did out there, that's the kind of person you want watching your back. I trust you with her, and I'd trust you to back me up." He picked at his fingernails. "I also trust you to keep her safe." He glanced at Ken.

"I'm the first to admit I'll get my ass kicked."

"Stop. Life's kicked your ass and you've let it. Look at Dewi. Most people who see her see a woman. Only people with fighting skills see her for who she truly is—a weapon. I'll be honest, when I first met you and found out who you were, I thought holy shit, I'm going to spend the rest of my life having to be this geek's bodyguard when Dewi's not around."

Ken reddened, back to feeling that familiar sting to his pride. "Gee, thanks."

Beck's expression tightened. "You're _family_. You're one of the pack. You're a mate. One thing you haven't seemed to process yet is we protect mates, male or female. And someone like Dewi, she makes enemies. Unfortunately, so do I." He pointed at Ken. "And let me tell you something. When I finally do find Mrs. Right-For-Me, I expect you to help protect her, too. You're not just a mate. You're a male."

"You'd trust me to help keep someone safe?"

Beck rolled his eyes. "For a smart guy, sometimes you act really dumb. What do you think I've been saying? I respect you, man." He offered up his fist to Ken.

Ken stared for a brief moment, confused, then realized what he wanted. Ken bumped fists with him. "Thanks, man."

Beck grinned. "We're sooo going to have to de-geekify you a little. Otherwise, Peyton and Trent are going to chew you up and spit you out at the next Muster."

# **Chapter Twenty**

#

After eating lunch, Dewi brought Ken his pain medicine and was about to help him back to bed so he could nap when the doorbell rang.

Beck and Dewi tensed and stared at each other. Badger was out running errands.

"Who the fuck is _that_?" Beck growled, immediately on alert.

"I don't know."

She started to rise when Beck held out a staying hand. "Stay here." He drew a gun from his shoulder holster, which Ken hadn't failed to notice he wore a lot since the showdown, and handed it to Dewi. "I'll be right back."

He detoured right, presumably through the kitchen to grab the gun hidden there. After a moment, he returned, his face unreadable.

"You two need to come inside."

"Who is it?" Dewi asked.

He stood in the doorway and waved them in. "It's not bad. Come on. You want some help?"

She shook her head and Beck reached for the gun to take it back. She helped Ken to his feet and handed him the crutches, then hovered like a nervous mother bird as he slowly made his way inside, following Beck to the formal living room.

A man stood on the far side of the room, his back to them as he studied some pictures hanging on the wall there.

Dewi looked startled as she gasped. "Peyton?"

The man turned. Ken immediately saw the family resemblance. Her older brother, like Beck, looked older than Dewi, but he didn't look nearly as old as Ken knew he truly was. The color and shape of their eyes were identical, and they had the same hair color.

"Hey, Dewster," he said.

She raced across the room and threw herself into his arms, hugging him, happily crying as he held her.

Beck and Ken exchanged a glance. Ken hoped this was good.

When her brother set her on her feet, he wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I received an interesting call from Badger yesterday morning. He informed me it might be a good idea if I come out here and pay my respects to you...and your new mate."

Ken didn't miss Beck's amused smirk. He also sensed it was because this was something big and unprecedented, and not another shot at his geekyness.

As if Peyton normally didn't do things like this. Or, maybe, _never_ did things like this.

Beck leaned in close and whispered, "I'll explain later."

Ken nodded.

Dewi led Peyton over to where Beck still stood next to Ken. Peyton's glance quickly swept Ken before he extended his hand and shook with him. "Peyton Bleacke. Targhee pack Alpha, and Dewi's older brother."

Dewi slipped her arm around Ken's waist. Her voice sounded subdued, submissive, and she dipped her head, her gaze pointed downward. "Sir, may I present my claimed mate, Dr. Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert."

"Call me Ken," he snarked.

Peyton either had a lot more control than everyone else, or maybe Badger had already forewarned him, but the pack Alpha didn't so much as smirk. "Welcome to the Targhee pack. It's an honor and a privilege to meet you, Sir," Peyton said.

Dewi and Beck both gasped.

Ken couldn't help it. "Okay, _now_ what?"

That's when Peyton's formality eased. He smiled, warm and friendly. "I'm sure they'll explain later. For now, it was a long, crappy flight. I'd like to drop my bag in the guest room, use the john, and if the Dewster would please make me one of her delicious appletinis, I'd really appreciate it."

She squealed in joy as she threw her arms around him and hugged him again. "How long are you staying?"

"A week, at least. We've got a lot to talk about. Where do you want me?"

"Upstairs, turn left, second to last bedroom." She hurried off to the kitchen.

Beck stepped forward. "Where's your bag, Sir, and I'll take it up for you."

Peyton waved him off. "Can it, Beck. We're not in Idaho. I'll get my own damn bag." He smiled at Ken again. "I'm looking forward to getting to know the human male who's not only earned Badger's respect, but apparently managed to mark my Prime Alpha sister without getting his throat ripped out."

Ken flushed deep red. _Is there nothing_ not _shared between these people?_

Apparently there was, because Beck looked startled. Peyton arched an eyebrow at him. "How could you have missed that, Beck? She presented her mate to me as a beta would, not as an Alpha, and damn sure not as a Prime. And she freaking called me Sir. She's _never_ called me Sir before. Not even at her appointment ceremony. That night I was so happy to settle for not having to fight her or kill the two of you for her losing control that I let it slide. Hardly anyone noticed it because they saw her as my baby sister, not as a Prime Alpha."

Peyton looked back to Ken. "The man who's got the balls to make my sister submit to him, especially when he's just a human, is definitely someone I'm glad is a member of this pack."

Ken laughed. "Again with my balls!"

* * * *

Beck helped Ken into the family room, to the more comfortable couch there, and pulled the coffee table close so he could prop his leg up on it.

Beck kept his voice low and spoke fast. "Man you have _no_ clue how big this is. The pack's Prime Alpha does _not_ come to you, you come to him. He _damn_ sure never comes to pay respects to a shifter _and_ their mate. And he absolutely freaking _never_ calls a mate Sir. He never calls human males Sir. The only man he's ever called Sir was their father."

Despite the painkillers starting to get more than a secure foothold on his system, Ken realized this was both a good and an unprecedented thing. "So it's safe to say I'm not going to be treated like the bad family secret?"

Beck looked shocked. " _Hell_ no! I have a feeling the next time you're in Idaho, he's going to order everyone there to put in an appearance for a dinner in your honor." He hesitated. "Okay, I have to ask this. I'm sorry, and I promise I won't ever get this personal again. But what the fuck? Last time you bit her, she nearly killed you. When did that happen?"

His face had to be a deep shade of purple by that point. "I don't know," he mumbled. "The other night, after I killed Endquist." Those last three words were ones he still had trouble reconciling in his mind, even though in his heart he felt no guilt or remorse for doing it. "It...just happened. I felt like I had to do it, and I did it."

He stared, shocked. "Dude. That's...incredible."

"I didn't know it would be such a source of fascination," he muttered.

"No, you're not getting it. Human mates do _not_ mark. _Ever_. They especially don't mark Prime Alphas. You saw what happened the first time."

Ken shrugged.

Beck sat on the coffee table and made Ken look at him. "Get this through your geek head once and for all. The only people who think of you as dogshit are the ones who are dogshit, like your stupid step-brother. And him, I'd be willing to bet if you ever run into him again, he'll probably shit his pants trying to get away from you after you cleaned his clock the last time." He patted Ken on the shoulder before going to see if Dewi needed help.

Peyton returned before Beck or Dewi. Ken felt a little nervous, but not afraid.

Peyton sensed it and offered him a smile. "Overwhelmed?"

Ken nodded.

The Alpha dropped into a chair on the other side of the coffee table. Not as bulky as Beck, Ken still sensed the power waiting to uncoil within the shifter, like a visible aura around him, similar to the one that surrounded Dewi. This was a man who, if Ken approached him on a sidewalk, Ken would still step out of the way even if there was plenty of room and he had the right of way.

"Badger tells me you're good with computers."

Ken nodded. "Yeah."

"Good. I've needed someone trustworthy to help me revamp the way we do things. Until now, I was hesitant to do it. Didn't want to bring in an outsider, for obvious reasons. I didn't have anyone within the pack with the skills whom I trusted enough to do it."

"Good to have a family geek, huh?"

Peyton smiled. "If you're trying to bait me into making a comment about you not being what I'd expect, let me set you straight. No, you're not what I would have expected. However, I have a baby sister whom I love more than my own life and would die for. I was forced to send her away so I wouldn't be faced with the prospect of killing her, or two men I consider close family. I've dealt with a lot of unexpecteds in my life."

"I've got a few words for you about that, too. Sending her away."

Peyton nodded. "I'm sure you do, since you don't understand pack ways. It was send her away, or be forced to worry about killing her. I would have _had_ to kill her, because had she beat me, she would have ended up pack Alpha."

"And that's a bad thing...why?"

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped. "Because we suspected whoever killed our parents, since we didn't know it was Endquist at the time, would have killed Dewi like he killed our parents. And then challenged my brother, Trent, for the position. Trent would have been next in line as the oldest. And considering he's not a Prime, there are Primes out there, like Endquist, who would have loved a chance to try to take over the Targhee pack. They could have easily done it, too, and nothing we could have done would have stopped them at that point."

The picture suddenly cleared in Ken's mind. "You thought it was a hostile takeover attempt."

Peyton nodded. "Exactly. Now you see the full story as to why we did what we did. We had surmised much of it, but the missing piece was Endquist. He was the unknown quantity. Everyone thought Trent would take over the pack automatically, since he was the eldest. He ceded to me because he knew I was a Prime and he wasn't. We knew someone didn't pick our parents as a random target of a violent crime. Two shapeshifters, one a Prime Alpha? _Please_. No human would have stood a chance against them in a fair fight. We knew it had to be an Alpha attacker at the very least, if not a Prime. We thought he wanted Trent in control as a weak link in the chain. Me taking over changed that, and no one expected it. In front of everyone that night, Trent took a knee and offered his throat to me, declaring me pack Alpha."

Ken leaned back, much of his previous animosity toward Peyton now gone. "Does she know all that?"

He shook his head. "She will, once we finish talking about all of this. I never wanted her to know. I didn't want her to try to go out and seek revenge and get herself killed. She's my baby sister, and I love her, Ken. May I call you Ken?"

He smiled. "Ken's fine. I'm getting used to it."

* * * *

Dewi, followed by Beck, returned with Peyton's drink, ending their ability to talk freely. Ken wanted to talk with Peyton about the things Endquist had said during the fight, but they'd have to wait.

Dewi settled on the couch, next to Ken and with her arm hooked through his.

"So why are you here?" Beck asked from the other chair. "This is unexpected."

Peyton sipped his appletini and smiled at Dewi. "This is really good, sis. Thanks."

She nodded, but didn't reply.

Peyton took a moment to compose his thoughts before addressing them. "I already told Ken a little of the story, but before I go into that, I need to hear what happened with Endquist. Badger wouldn't tell me the details over the phone."

Beck told most of the story, with Dewi filling in the finer points, and Ken adding what had happened before Dewi arrived in the clearing. When they finished, Peyton slowly nodded then smiled at Ken again. "No wonder Badger wanted me here before I heard the whole story. Damn."

"He did damn good," Dewi said, staring at Ken with adoration. "I'm proud of him."

"I'm sure you are. Rightfully so." He leaned back in his chair. "It's also why I think it's time the pack expands."

Dewi and Beck both spoke. "What?"

"There are more shifters here in the Tampa Bay region than ever. Idaho and Florida are far enough apart that Florida should have more than just an Enforcer presence. I think it's time there be an expanded pack."

"But...who would run it?" she asked.

He laughed. "You, kiddo. Prime Alpha."

She frowned. "I don't know if I'm up for that."

"Oh, you're up for it, all right. Just to clarify, I'd still be head pack Alpha. The only one you'd answer to is me." He smirked and pointed at Ken. "Well, and him, of course, but that has nothing to do with the pack. You need the ability to make decisions locally, not just carry out edicts and judgments. That means a pack council presence. I'm going to announce it at the next Muster."

She looked stunned. "I...I don't know what to say."

"There's nothing _to_ say. It's going to happen, and you're going to be the pack Alpha here. There's no way in hell Trent will want to leave Idaho with his kids in high school. And with Beck as your second, and with Ken and Badger behind you, it'll set my mind at ease to know you have the power to keep the peace."

Badger returned, storming in through the garage door and hollering, "Who the bloody hell blocked the driveway? It's gonna rain, and I ain't washin' my truck again this week!"

Beck laughed, stood, and held out his hands for Peyton's rental car keys. "I'll move it."

Peyton was digging them out when Badger appeared in the doorway, his face changing when he spotted the pack Alpha seated in their family room. "Oh! Sorry, Sir. Didn't know it was ye."

"It's all right. I figured you'd be expecting me after our little chat yesterday."

Badger scratched his chin. "To be honest, Sir, I didn't expect ye to show up here. I figured ye'd still make them come out to Idaho. I just wanted my point laid out clear as a church bell, so ye'd know why I was harping on ye about it."

Beck went to move the car. "Well," Peyton said, "I'm here. And once you and Beck get back from moving cars and putting away groceries, we'll get down to talking."

"Yes, Sir."

"Badger?"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Dump the Sir, please? At least while I'm here?"

"Yes, Si—Peyton."

Dewi also jumped up to help. When Ken was alone with him once more, Peyton smiled. "I would like to ask you a favor," Peyton said. "I want to make it clear it's a favor I'm asking, and not an order I'm giving."

Ken nervously nodded. "Sure. If I can."

"I saw the ring. I guess that means you've already proposed to her?"

"Yeah."

"I'd appreciate it if, once your leg is better and you're up to traveling, that you wait to have the wedding until you can get out to Idaho. Doesn't have to wait until the next Muster, but I'd love for me and Trent to both be there. We'll pay for everything." His smile turned wistful. "Trent and I have always wanted to throw her the kind of wedding I know Mom and Dad would have wanted their little girl to have." He snorted. "And the Dewster will have a proper formal wedding, complete with a froufrou wedding dress, whether she wants it or not."

_If I can kick a Prime Alpha's ass, I should be able to tackle my fear of flying._ "Okay."

"Good. Thank you. We really appreciate it."

* * * *

Badger sent Dewi to the grocery store to pick up some more items that he claimed he needed now that he had an extra wolf to feed. Ken quickly realized it was to get her out of earshot for a while when the three shifters gathered with him in the family room.

Badger looked grim. "It's not exactly what we thought. We haven't told Dewi this part, either. Ever since we learned his real name, I thought that it rang a bell. Fecking bastard. Chelsea never would tell me what happened, but before she met Charlie, there was a Prime Alpha sniffing after her. She had no interest in him, but he had a lot in her. Finally, her father put an end to it. Ran the bugger off. A little bit ago while I was out shopping, it all finally came to me."

He held the old Bleacke family photo album in his hands. Opening it to a page, he turned it around and showed it to Ken. He pointed to one of the old Muster pics Dewi had showed him, the one before her parents were married.

"That's him," Ken said as he took the photo. "That's Endquist. That's why he looked so damn familiar to me."

In the background at the far edge of the picture, behind a young Chelsea and her family, a man sat at a table by himself. He wore a dark scowl as he stared at the family's backs. Years younger but clearly recognizable, no doubt it was Walter Endquist.

"Photobomb level—asshole," Beck darkly said.

"You can say that again," Peyton agreed.

Ken still couldn't get the horrific pictures of the attack out of his memory. "He waited all these years to go after Dewi? Why didn't he come after her sooner, when she was younger?"

"There's no way he could have touched her in Idaho," Peyton said. "Badger and Beck can tell you, she was under armed guard, even though she didn't know it. All day, every day. We had watches around the house day and night. She went to private school, one mostly with other shifter kids, and we had people always inside her classroom. She thought they were teacher's aides."

"Beck and me never took our guns off at the same time," Badger said. "One of us always stayed awake at the house."

"It was hell on a love life," Beck grumbled in an obvious attempt to lighten the mood.

Something occurred to Ken. "So you didn't just ship her to Florida for her own good because she was a Prime?"

Peyton's smile looked grim. "Until she turned eighteen, no one was allowed to specifically know where she was besides me and Trent, Badger and Beck, and our mates. We told a lot of stories to people about her traveling around to help out in different areas. Some people knew she was based in Florida, but you have to remember, people who'd seen her fight were terrified of her. What bad apples there were didn't want to be anywhere near her."

He laughed. "One time, I told a small group up in Maine that I'd send her up there to straighten their shit out if they didn't learn to get along and quit their petty bickering. Within a week they reported back that everything was fine and cancelled their request for an Enforcer."

"Scared the piss right outta them," Badger said.

"Shit, she kicked my ass sparring more times than I can count," Beck said. "Nothing kills a man's ego faster than a teenaged girl who pulls her punches while fighting because she's afraid of hurting him," he added with a grumble.

"What about her friends?" Ken asked.

All three shifter men looked at each other and snorted in laughter. " _What_ friends?" Badger managed first. "She scared the crap outta pups her age. Human children weren't willing to go near her. She was fine with adults. It wasn't until she went to high school here that she managed to make a couple of acquaintances. And even then she was old enough to know not to get too friendly with them. She had a couple o' boyfriends, but they never lasted more than a couple o' weeks with her. She was too intense fer them to deal with."

Peyton let out a sigh. "I take full responsibility for this," he said. "I got careless. I should have asked for ID when I interviewed prospects and sent Dewi copies of everything. Beck, the picture you sent me of the guy, that's not the guy I interviewed. I wonder when he killed the real Palmer." He sadly shook his head. "I never dreamed this was simply an old vendetta. We were completely wrong about his motives." He looked at Ken. "Scratch what I told you earlier, Ken. It's what we thought, but obviously, we were wrong about the guy's reason."

"Not completely wrong," Badger corrected. "We just didn't know his full motivations."

"Why didn't he go after you and Trent?" Ken asked.

"Because we were too well surrounded. He didn't dare. Besides, we knew our parents loved us, but they doted on Dewi." The shifter's eyes grew misty. "Mom didn't think she'd be able to have more pups. I was a C-section because she had problems delivering me. The doctors told her she wouldn't get pregnant again." His gaze dropped to the floor. "Dewi was a beloved and welcomed surprise to my parents. And to me and Trent. We loved knowing we were going to have a baby sister."

As the situation snapped into total focus in Ken's mind, he realized the truth. "You only told her you were sending her away because you didn't want to have to risk hurting her to hide the full truth from her."

All three shifter men slowly nodded, and the last vestiges of Ken's resentment toward Dewi's brothers evaporated.

Even crusty Badger looked distraught. His voice sounded thick with emotion. "She was their darling. Peyton's right. They loved their sons, but Dewi was their miracle. It was no secret to anyone that she was their little princess. You wouldn't find a fiercer mother than Chelsea. But she longed fer a little girl to spoil rotten. Endquist couldn't have picked a better way to rip Charlie and Chelsea's hearts outta their chests than what he did."

Beck waited until it was obvious Badger was too choked up to continue to pick up the narrative thread. He sounded quiet and sadder than Ken could ever remember hearing. "The pics on the fucker's laptop were scanned in. Obviously, the original crime took place before digital cameras. Looks like he used an old instant. Probably a Polaroid, from the looks of them. A couple of the pictures, you can see numbers or parts of numbers in the borders, like he wrote on them as he took them. And the file names have consecutive numbers that match that order."

He swallowed as a catch developed in his voice. "If that's true, it looks like he broke in, grabbed Dewi from her crib, and then tied them up. Probably told them he'd hurt Dewi if they didn't comply. Maybe made Chelsea tie up Charlie first. No way would they risk Dewi's safety. Once they were tied up, he beat Dewi, then beat Charlie and Chelsea before he raped Chelsea. He..."

Beck coughed to clear his throat. "He killed Charlie first. Then Chelsea. He obviously wanted revenge against Chelsea for rejecting him. We know from what Ken heard during the fight that Endquist was interrupted by us showing up to see why Charlie and Chelsea hadn't shown up or answered the phone. And in one of the earlier pictures, you can see the clock that used to sit on their mantel. The time was fifteen minutes before we arrived."

Peyton sat listening, hunched over with his head lowered and his hands clasped together between his knees. "Thank you, Ken," he said. "Thank you for saving her." When he looked up, Ken spotted his red eyes, the too-bright look as if he hovered on the unstoppable verge of tears. "No matter what it is, no matter what you want—you ask, and it's done, Sir. I swear it. Trent and I couldn't have asked for a better mate for our baby sister."

Ken didn't know what to say, so he nodded. "I don't even know how I did it," he mumbled.

Beck reached over and clasped his shoulder, gently squeezing. "Even better. It means you love her enough not to think. It's instinctive."

"There's no deeper, truer love than that," Badger said with a decisive nod. Then he excused himself and left the room. Somewhere in the house, they heard him loudly blow his nose.

# **Chapter Twenty-One**

#

Over the next several days, plans were made for Ken to begin revamping their computer network. After Peyton signed off on the plans and purchases, he had to return to Idaho.

Ken admitted he was sad to see the man go. Peyton truly had welcomed him into the family. He treated Ken like an equal.

Like a brother, only in all the good ways.

Beck had returned to his home in Lutz, just north of Tampa, although he came over every day. The Enforcers still had jobs to do despite Dewi's new relationship status and the recent events. Dewi also took on one of the Enforcer candidates, whom Peyton met with again, personally, to confirm he was one he'd actually interviewed.

And Ken was due for another visit from their friendly personal shifter doctor. He was startled when the doctor, in a huge rig that turned out to be a portable hospital on wheels, declared the cast could come off. An x-ray showed his leg had healed enough to remove the cast. Ken was even more surprised to find out the doctor was actually a practicing veterinarian.

"You're a _vet_?"

Dr. Collins smiled as Ken sat on the exam table in the back of his RV, which had been equipped with human medical supplies and equipment. "Don't worry. I have degrees both in human medicine and veterinary medicine. I'm eighty-five years old. I had to switch fields or it would have gotten suspicious. I keep this as my portable office for the pack. I have another rig for on-site animal care."

The doctor looked like he was barely forty. "Why am I healing so fast?" Ken asked.

"I expected some rapid healing because you're an Alpha's mate. That's not unusual at all. I figured a minimum of three to four weeks on the leg. This is beyond even my expectations. It must be because she's a Prime."

Dewi stuck her head inside. "Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, kiddo. Come help me take your hubby's cast off."

She blushed. "We're not married...yet." She smiled at Ken.

Ken grinned. "Soon. Peyton wants you married off in Idaho so he and Trent can throw us a proper wedding." He'd held that secret back.

Her eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yep."

She grinned. "I'll get the Hummer's oil changed. No, wait, we'll take the Saleen. No, maybe we should take the CRV—"

He kissed her, silencing her. "We're flying, silly."

Her grinned widened. "You'll fly for me?"

"Apparently you've rubbed off on me."

"No pun intended," the doctor joked.

"No," Ken said with a laugh, "the pun _absolutely_ was intended."

**The End**

**There are more books in the Bleacke Shifters series! Click here to visit the series page on my website.**

# **Free Preview: Geek Chic (Bleacke Shifters 2)**

#

The following is a free preview of _Geek Chic_ (Bleacke Shifters 2) by Lesli Richardson.

**Description**

_[MF, paranormal, wolf shifters, Alpha heroine, geek hero, IR romance between secondary characters]_

_A wolf hasn't just met his mate...but his match._

Dewi Bleacke's life is complicated enough, between settling in with Ken, her new vegetarian mate, being the Targhee pack's Head Enforcer, and trying to manage daily responsibilities running the extended pack council there in Tampa.

Oh, yeah, Dewi's brothers insist on a formal wedding.

But when long-time friend and Enforcer partner, Beck, finds his mate during an operation, Dewi feels guilty that he has to let her go or risk the completion of their job. She makes it her responsibility to help Beck track her down.

Looks like the headstrong Namiyah Drexler won't be easy to get along with. Until Nami's family gets in trouble, and she needs Dewi's help to save them. Adding insult to injury, Nami teams up with Ken to help plan the shifter wedding of all weddings.

Dewi would rather face a drug gang than wear a froufrou dress...Or, she just might have to do both.

**Preview**

"I can't believe we're now glorified skip tracers," Beck grumbled as they stood in the stifling Florida summer afternoon heat and waited for the bus at a stop on north Nebraska Avenue. "Next thing you know, we'll be hunting down delinquent library books."

"Shut it," Dewi snarled. "I'm not any happier about this than you are, but you know how it works. She's part of the pack, he's part of the pack, and that makes it a pack problem."

"I tell you what," Beck said. "We catch that boy, he's getting neutered. This is bullshit. This is, what, kid number six?"

"Seven. By six different women. That's what pissed her off the most, that he had five other kids with five other women and didn't tell her."

"Yeah. He's a numb-nuts. That wolf gets neutered."

"Do you hear me arguing?"

"Just wanted to make sure we were singing the same tune, that's all."

"There will be a wolf singing soprano when I get done with him."

"Guys," Ken said over the two-way radio he was listening in on. "Can we please cut the castration talk? You're making mine shrivel up."

Beck let out a snort. "He said cut."

Dewi held up a fist and got a bump from Beck.

Ken was riding shotgun in Badger's truck, with Badger driving. They sat parked outside a convenience store across the street from the bus stop where Beck and Dewi stood waiting.

Their target was one James Palver. He loved making babies, but wasn't so great at supporting them. His mistake was screwing over the baby momma of numbers one and seven, Linda Small. When girlfriend number six contacted Linda out of the blue, Linda was, needless to say, not happy.

Linda was even less happy to find out that Six had tracked down Two through Five via a vital statistics search.

Now, James' reproductive days were about to be deep-sixed.

Along with any money he might have. Although, considering the asshole was reduced to taking a county bus to work and back, Dewi suspected there would be no blood forthcoming from that turnip anytime soon.

Well, there would be blood, and plenty of it, but there wouldn't be any money. Not unless the worthless sack of shit hit the lotto or something, because he could barely keep a job.

Linda had petitioned Dewi, as head of the pack council for the expanded pack, to force James to face the music with her and to support his children. Well, _her_ children. Linda didn't care about the other five kids. And since the other mothers were humans who had no clue James had a little bit of wolf shifter in him, they weren't Dewi's problem. Diluted progeny with no hope of shifting weren't Dewi's problem, either.

As far as Dewi was concerned, Linda wasn't the brightest bitch in the pack, especially for picking James to be the baby daddy of not one, but two of her pups. But there was no accounting for love, she supposed.

They were stuck having to track James down via the bus. They didn't know where he was currently shacked up. Dewi didn't want to call his parents and ask them for help because she suspected they might lie for him. And since they were living in Arizona, traveling to speak with them in person so she could Prime mojo the truth out of them would only piss her off and complicate her life.

Thus she wanted to try this first, the easy way that wouldn't involve travel.

Right now, James was working as part of a temp construction crew that got dropped off at the same spot every day. If they were waiting for him at the drop-off point, he'd likely spot them and bolt, have the driver take him somewhere else before they'd even see him. They also wanted to decrease the number of witnesses to them grabbing him. And if James spotted them first, knew they were looking for him, it'd make it that much harder to find him the next time.

After batting around several ideas, the simplest solution was for Beck and Dewi to catch the county bus north of where James usually got on, ride it, and wait for him to board.

The bus appeared in traffic a couple of blocks to their north. Two other people sitting on the bench under the shelter stood at its approach.

"There's our ride," Beck muttered. "Oooh, baby. We're stylin'."

"Shut up," Dewi mumbled as they walked over to queue up behind the other two passengers. "The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can go home."

* * * *

Nami had herself about enough of this day. Now she remembered why no one else was dumb enough to say yes to switching shifts with Danice. Some of the routes were pretty good to have, decent people, relatively safe neighborhoods, that kind of stuff.

Then...there was this route.

To be fair, it wasn't the worst route a driver could pull out of the hat, but it made Nami grateful for the regular route she had from Citrus Park to downtown Tampa and back. She'd smelled more than her fair share of unwashed homeless people, and had been hit on by more drunks, in the past several hours than she had in the past several months.

_This is bullshit._

Danice hadn't been a driver for the county as long as Nami, so it was harder for her to get the better routes. Sure, Danice could have called off and taken an unpaid leave day, but she had young children and already had a few points against her personnel record for that. The young mother didn't need any more strikes.

_I'm too nice for my own good._

When she slid the bus up to the stop where four people waited—fortunately, none of them looking unwashed or drunk—she opened the door. The first two people looked ordinary. The woman who got on behind them...

There was something about her that set Nami's little inner watchdog on edge. She seemed okay on the surface, ready with exact change.

The guy with her...

_Wow._

He was built, a walking wall of muscle. And not bad looking, either, for a white guy. Blond hair and gorgeous blue eyes, had to be at least six four if he was an inch. After dropping his money in, he stopped and turned to look at her, his gaze drilling into hers, those intense blue eyes holding her hostage.

Her mouth suddenly went dry.

He stood there so long, Nami realized they were blocking traffic. "Sir," she said after clearing her throat twice so she could finally speak. "You need to take your seat."

She was both glad and disappointed that the seat right behind her was already occupied by a mother and young boy.

The woman who'd boarded before him called out to him, almost like a bark. "Beck."

It seemed to break whatever trance he was in, and he slowly made his way toward the back of the bus, where the woman had taken a seat.

_What. The. Heck?_

Nami finally remembered to close the door and check her mirrors before pulling back into traffic.

_He. Is. Trouble._

And she already had enough home-grown trouble in her life. She _damn_ sure didn't need to be inviting any in.

* * * *

"What the _hell's_ wrong with you?" Dewi whispered to Beck when he finally wedged his bulk into the plastic seat next to her.

He couldn't pull his focus or his gaze off the driver. Gorgeous, dark brown skin, and not some skinny twig, either. Short, natural hair, cut close, accentuating the sweetly round shape of her face. She smelled like jasmine, a scent he'd never really cared much about one way or another.

Until now.

Closing his eyes and breathing deeply, he flared his nostrils as the air conditioning carried faint traces of her scent to him.

_Mine._

_Mate._

His eyes popped open.

_Oh, shit._

Dewi poked his shoulder. "Hey. Earth to Beck."

They were only blocks from where James Palver would catch the bus after being dropped off with the rest of his work crew.

And the woman driving the bus was his mate.

Ignoring Dewi, Beck stood and walked to the front of the bus. The driver glanced at him in the mirror. "Sir, you need to take your seat while the bus is moving."

He grabbed hold of a pole right behind her. "Are you married?" he quietly asked.

She didn't look back at him, but her gaze briefly flashed in the rearview mirror again. "Sir, _please_ , take your seat."

"Are you single?"

"Sir, you need to sit—"

"Are you gay?"

" _What_?"

"Please, just answer me."

" _Sit_ yourself down _now_ , sir, before I have to evict you from this bus."

"That wasn't an answer."

The more she didn't answer, the more of her fear he felt, and the more he reacted to her. In his gut, he knew she was single, and straight.

And if she was single, that meant she wouldn't be for long. Not once he claimed her.

_Mate._

"Beck!" Dewi barked from her seat.

His head snapped around, and if it wasn't for the fact there were about fifteen other passengers on the bus at that moment, he would have bared his canines at Dewi.

Well, that and the fact that Dewi was a Prime Alpha and, despite their size disparity, she could easily kick his ass.

And, technically, she was his boss.

"What's going on?" Ken asked in Beck's ear over the radio.

Beck walked back three seats, to the first empty one on the opposite side of the bus from the driver, where he sat on the edge, ready to pounce.

He was aware of Dewi walking up and sitting just behind him, where she jabbed him in the back of the shoulder.

"What. The. Fuck?" Dewi whispered.

Jaw clenched and struggling to remain in control, he ignored her.

He _got_ it.

Now, he _totally_ understood why Dewi had done what she'd done when she claimed Ken. He'd wanted to blame her actions on a lack of self-control on her part, a slippage he'd never seen her exhibit before.

Not anymore.

_Mate._

It hummed through his veins, with every beat of his heart. With every pulse of blood as it coursed through his body.

_Mate._

My _mate._

* * * *

Nami didn't know what the guy's issue was, but she hoped he wasn't going to be a problem. It was days like this she wished they'd let drivers carry weapons. She did have a canister of pepper spray on her personal key ring, which was easily within her grasp.

She didn't want to use it on this guy if she didn't have to. He was hunky, but there was just something about him she couldn't put her finger on. It wasn't even like he was undressing her with his eyes. It was like he was making sweet and sexy love to her right there with his mind.

And while she'd never admit it, she liked it. There was something downright animalistic, hungry in his gaze, the way he visually devoured her.

A pleasant shiver rippled down her spine.

She pulled up to the next stop and slid over to the curb before opening the door. Five guys got on. The last one stopped halfway up the steps, raising his nose and apparently sniffing the air as he scanned the bus. His eyes bugged, wide in fright before he turned, bolting down the steps and out the door.

"Shit," the strange woman said as she jumped from her seat. She slapped the guy with her on the shoulder. "Come on." She shoved her way down the aisle past the four guys who'd just got on and jumped off the bus without even taking the steps before she was running.

The man with her stood, hesitated at the door, then whirled around. Before Nami could react, he leaned in and kissed her, long and hard and with enough sauciness she nearly let her foot off the brake. His hand cupped the back of her neck, and something about his scent, like cinnamon and freshly split oak, penetrated her to the depths of her soul.

His thumb stroked her cheek. " _Mine_ ," he whispered, even though she didn't see his lips move, and she nearly creamed her panties right there.

Then, just like that, he turned and jumped off the bus, following the woman, who apparently was chasing the guy who'd run off.

_Holeeeeee shit._

Part of her wanted to shut the bus down and run after him. He couldn't just lay an earth-shattering kiss like that on her and then take off without so much as a how- _you_ -doin'.

And part of her wanted to tear after him and rip him a new one for taking liberties with her like that. Just before she kissed him again.

On that thought, she finally closed the door with a trembling hand and reluctantly pulled away from the curb.

* * * *

Beck's cock strained against his jeans as he kissed the driver. She smelled like jasmine and tasted like vanilla and rich, dark coffee with a hint of jalapeño peppers. Her brown eyes widened as he lifted his mouth from hers.

When he sent the thought to her, _Mine_ , her eyes had widened.

More proof. She _was_ his. Might not have the clear mental connection Dewi and Ken did since he wasn't a Prime, but if the woman heard _that_ , it had to be a mate connection.

Unfortunately, he had a job to do. Glancing at her name tag, he saw it read N. Drexler.

Thus committed to memory, he spun around and tore off the bus after Dewi, who was rapidly catching up to James.

"Badger," Dewi said through the two-way. "Move in. I've almost got him."

From behind them, he heard the sound of their truck's engine wind up...

And the sound of the bus pulling away.

Fighting his instincts to turn and go chase it, catch up with it, with _her_ , his mate who was now getting away, he forced himself to follow Dewi, stay with her, and help catch this slimy little bastard. Maybe once they caught him, Badger could help him catch up with her bus again and he could get on and ride.

And then more riding of the better kind later, once he got N. Drexler alone and claimed her.

_Mine._

* * * *

You can find out more information about the Bleacke Shifters series on my website.

**_Click here for more info!_**

# **Free Preview: Her Vampire Obsession**

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The following is a preview from Her Vampire Obsession (Midnight Doms 7) by Tymber Dalton writing as Lesli Richardson. The books in this multi-author series are all standalone works that can be read independently of each other and in any order.

_Description_

**_Her taste is addictive and I will_ not _share her. No one gets her but_ me _._**

**_Dexter_**

I've lived a long time. Some might say too long. I honestly don't know what drew me to Lucius' club in Tucson, of all hellish destinations, but dark and self-destructive thoughts have increasingly beckoned to me, as of late.

Then I meet her.

She challenges me from the very start and awakens something I'd thought long dead and cold inside my soul. Even her name should burn my lips, yet I can't let her go.

But when pieces of the past catch up with us, will I be able to keep her safe?

**_Eilidh_**

I've spent most of my life running, but that bastard had my number from almost the second our eyes meet. He's the first of his kind to break through my defenses when I thought I was safe here, of all places.

He's done worse than steal my heart—he's given me hope.

Now what the hell do I do?

Especially when it looks like my past is catching up with us.

This time, I might have run out of options.

Chapter One

**_Dexter_**

"I must say, I was quite intrigued to receive your call, Dexter."

Lucius Frangelico, the self-proclaimed "vampire king," studies me with a very practiced tip of his head and a smile that, combined, are supposed to elicit a certain reaction from most people.

I am not most people.

And he's not _my_ king. I damn sure didn't vote for him.

Not that I have any desire to challenge him for his throne, either.

Yes, he apparently has one of those, too. If he thinks he'll make me take a knee for him, he's mistaken.

"Why is that, Lucius?" I'm well aware I'm probably one of very few people walking the face of this planet who know what he is, who can get away with not using honorifics with him.

"I've extended _how_ many invitations to you over the years, all met with silence? And now..." He lets his words drift into silence between us.

I settle back in my chair and swirl the glass of bourbon in my hand as the silence descends. I won't try to bullshit him—that'd be useless and stupid. Just because we're both eternal doesn't mean I should waste our time.

"Between us?" I finally ask.

He tips his head again.

"On paper, I'm scouting for expansion opportunities. Tucson is an ideal location for a new casino, and I've nearly aged myself out of Atlantic City." I sip my drink and savor the sharp bite of the liquor. He doesn't press or interrupt me.

Like me, he's a patient man.

It's a skill we've honed over the many centuries spanned by our existence.

I take another sip of the bourbon and savor it. I would miss bourbon. It's the closest thing I've had to experiencing the sun in over a thousand years, once I lost—

I clip that thought short.

The sun isn't the only thing my soul deeply mourns.

Rolling the liquor around on my tongue for a moment before I swallow, I finally let the words coalesce and fall from my lips.

"Between us, I'm wondering what a Tucson sunrise might look like."

Beside Lucius, Selene lets out a soft gasp. She's his queen, always by his side.

Not just because she's a wolf shifter he turned, either. Although that is a very good reason.

She's far more deadly than Lucius and me combined, and she's his mate, his wife...

And his bodyguard.

Even Lucius' well-paid and highly trained security team cowers before her, vampires and humans alike. I saw the way his men tip their heads to her and averted their eyes when she entered the room. It had nothing to do with her being Lucius' love and everything to do with their abject terror of her abilities.

While I had waffled a little over my plans, seeing how happy Lucius is with his mate reminds me how empty and cold my own life is and has been for...

Well, forever, it feels like.

Maybe I will look for my first sunrise in close to two thousand years. Greet it with open arms instead of running from it. What started as an idle thought several months ago has become an increasingly strong instinct as of late. But first, one last business victory.

Lucius _tsks_. "It would be a shame for you to do that." Hell, he even sounds sincere.

I smirk at him over the rim of my glass. "Why, _uncle_. I didn't know you cared." My sire has been dead for ages—not by my hand, thank you very much—and he and Lucius were sired by the same vampire. My sire was several hundred years older than Lucius.

So, yeah. Technically, he is my uncle. I'm also not stupid enough to think Lucius truly gives a damn about my existence one way or another, as long as I'm not causing him trouble either way.

"I always did like you," Lucius quietly says. "You have a backbone and integrity."

"Plus, I've never tried to kill you."

He returns my smile. "I will not deny that colors my opinion of you in a favorable direction." He sounds like he just walked off a BBC soundstage, while I dropped my Scottish accent once I relocated to the States. I tend to sound like someone from the Midwest now. "You are one of the few I have known this long who have not tried to overthrow me." A scowl flickers across his features. "Come to think of it, you are the _only_ one I've known this long who has not tried to overthrow me."

"How many others have you known as long as we've known each other, Lucius? There are few as old as we are." I sometimes envy younger vampires' ability to recite their exact date of birth...and rebirth.

Lucius and I come from a time well before calendars were rewritten around the birth and crucifixion of a Nazarene carpenter. In fact, I believe Lucius predates those events by a bit.

He smirks. "Well, there is _that_. Still, the sentiment remains."

"I have no interest in politics, and you know it. I never have."

His lips curl in another smile. "Yet another reason I like you."

"Politics is an unwinnable game. I prefer capitalism." I sip my drink. "It's far bloodier. And more profitable. It also neutralizes politics. With enough money, you can buy what and who you want."

He actually snorts. I wasn't even sure he was capable of humor like that.

Selene's quiet voice draws my focus. "You're not _really_ going to do that, are you? Meet the sun?" She was turned so recently she hasn't yet lost her humanity, her empathy. Some vampires manage to hold on to a modicum of that—such as myself.

Others come to see humans as nothing more than food and prey, instead of living, breathing beings with lives and dreams.

Once again, I focus on the liquid in my glass, gently swirling it, so I can breathe in its scent. "I haven't decided yet, quite honestly. It's not exactly a new idea for me, but the notion hasn't passed the way it usually does."

"What you _need_ is a distraction," Lucius insists. "You _must_ come to the club tomorrow night. Seems I remember you know how to wield a riding crop." He smiles. "Paris, wasn't it?"

"Milan." I don't need sex. Not to sound like an asshole, but I can get that whenever I want it. I have no desire to take it without consent, either. I outgrew that nonsense about the same time I was turned.

Without consent.

It was one of my younger "brothers" who killed our sire. My brother had also been turned without his consent, but his turning and weaning had been even more cruel than mine. It rendered him practically feral and barely coherent. Once he was strong enough, he killed our sire. Then he greeted the sun the next day because he'd been driven mad by both what he'd done to our sire, as well as by the effects of being turned.

Yes, I'm guilty of having stood by and watched it happen. Allowed it, even.

Fate in action.

Obviously, I'm far stronger than a human. Outwitting one, wooing one—those are pleasures I will never take without working for them. I won't allow myself to violate consent for the average innocent.

"Why did you open a club, of all things?" I ask. "And why _here_ , of all places? A vampire, in a desert?" In the short time it's been open, Club Toxic has developed a rep among multiple species, but especially vampires.

Lucius smiles. "The cover makes sense, when you look at the larger picture. Besides, I like the area, and the situation in LA was no longer...tenable. On multiple fronts."

"You're surrounded by shifters." I hold up a hand to Selene. "No offense intended. I have no issues with shifters."

She smirks. "None taken, but only because you look like Ianto, and I love _Torchwood_."

Honestly? I couldn't tell you what I look like. It's been over two thousand years since I've seen my own reflection, and I'm not narcissistic enough to have my portrait painted.

Before I can ask what Selene means, Lucius speaks. "Nonsense. We're not surrounded—it's a target-rich environment." He smiles. "We have an agreement, and we have been mutually beneficial to each other. We don't hunt them, and they don't hunt us. When a human accidentally discovers their secret, they have one of our kind wipe it from the human's mind, meaning they don't have to kill the human.

"There is also strength in numbers, even as diverse as we are. Working together has shown everyone that setting aside petty, past differences is a boon for both. Especially against common enemies. Tucson has a large enough population that it allows for ample, safe feeding for us. I keep my nest tightly in check and remind them it behooves them to keep the shifters happy, and we help the shifters keep their secrets. Likewise, they help us keep ours."

"Are the shifters happy to have 'leeches' living in their midst?"

He smiles and shrugs. "The arrangement holds." His smile fades. "When traitors in my midst threatened that arrangement, I took care of them and made an example out of them to prove to the shifters that I can be trusted. And again, when a rogue nest tried to usurp me, we were allies against them. _That_ is all that matters."

"It certainly seems like a unique arrangement compared to elsewhere." Usually, shifters and vampires avoid each other. If forced together in close quarters for too long, there is inevitably bloodshed. In a fair fight, vampires can usually beat shifters.

But shifters have a highly refined sense of smell and the ability to hunt in the daytime, meaning vampires are vulnerable.

"The shifters and I agree in more ways than we disagree," he says. "It was simply a matter of allowing them to see I am a man of my word. I helped eradicate a blood slavery ring in the area, for starters. Shifters being sold as sweetbloods. I help protect us all against the government. The local werewolf pack Alpha has seen I don't hesitate to eliminate those who would move against me or against the shifters we have allied ourselves with. Any vampires who don't wish to abide by my rules can happily fuck off and move elsewhere, outside my territory, or die. I allow the shifters to take care of their own, as long as they don't interfere with my...business, and they do the same."

I risk a smile. "And do you have the shifters over for tea and biscuits?"

His jaw tightens, but he doesn't rise to the bait. "Not exactly."

Selene giggles. I amuse her, which is one reason I'm now sitting in Lucius' living room. Other than sunlight and stakes to the heart, Lucius has only one weakness—Selene.

I envy him that comfort.

Even if she is easily the scariest creature on the face of the planet.

"How do you get around their squeamishness about us hunting?" I ask.

"It's amazing how many humans will volunteer to be cows when you throw in orgasms." He smiles again. "And money. There are also the...less desirable populations. Criminals. Did you know you can find registered sex offenders' information right online? It's publicly available for anyone to see. No one complains if one of them dies. We're careful to do it in stages, and to wipe their minds after every blooding."

"It's a twofer," Selene says, flashing canines as she smiles. "In a couple of years, Tucson will be one of the safest cities in the country."

"And more people will want to move here," I note. Ingenious.

"Exactly," Lucius says. "And it stays safe. There are also plenty of criminals out on parole who have trouble finding honest work. We are willing to pay them cash, and all they have to do is stay drug-free and not reoffend. Again, it helps keep the area safer. Also, I've forbade my sired from siring any new vampires of their own without my permission. It's a death sentence, if they do. They also know if they leave a trail of corpses, I will allow the shifters to take care of them for being rogues, if I don't stake them first myself."

I'm actually the only resident vampire in Atlantic City, that I'm aware of. I made it clear it was my territory, and that I would welcome visitors who cleared their visits with me and agreed to abide by my rules—no bodies, no sired, and no setting up a permanent residence. That I would provide them an ample list of volunteers happy to "play" with them and let them feed, or they could buy ethically acquired blood through me.

It's worked for me for over fifty years.

Which is another reason why I'm here tonight discussing this with Lucius.

"To be clear," I say, "I'm looking to set up a human-centric resort, not a vampire one. I run the company, but no one other than six trusted employees who've been with me for decades know I'm a vampire. I'm not looking to challenge you for control of the area, which is why I'm here discussing this with you in the first place." He knows exactly what I'm _not_ saying—I'm not going to pay him tribute.

"What do I get in return?"

"Cover, increased transient populations of tourists to feed from, and, as long as your people don't kill, I'll allow them greater access through paid staff positions, as well as send guests to your club through recommendations. Meaning more jobs for vampires who wish to settle in this region, with your permission, of course. I will also contribute very generously to local politicians' campaigns and pet projects, in conjunction with you. I'll back whatever political issues you wish to forward for your own interests, as long as innocents aren't harmed, and I'll stand behind you in full support if anyone tries to move against you."

He slowly nods. "That _is_ tempting."

"No killing or siring on my property," I add. "Not looking to increase the population. And any feeding done on my property must be with consent. For any vampires from out of town who wish to stay with me, I will source purchased blood exclusively from you." That will mollify him.

"I thought you said it'll be a human-centric resort?"

"It will, but I would be remiss not to include a section dedicated to catering to a specialty clientele. North-facing rooms with completely sealable shutters, and extra security features for the rooms. Specially trained staff, some of whom will be happy to consensually...satiate guests' hungers, if desired." I've already perfected the formula at my current hotel.

"I have heard favorable reports about your operations in Atlantic City." Well, of course people have reported back to him. I would have been shocked if he hadn't sent spies, vampire or human.

"There's a reason I'm as old as I am without a nest of my own," I remind him. "I do not piss people off, and I can back up my words with actions."

"And shifters? Will you be talking with them as well?"

"I feel I must. I know they run a fight club in town. I'm sure they would love access to whales willing to get the full experience of betting on live fights. I can buy a lot of law enforcement and local officials with the kind of money I'll be bringing with me. Convince them to look the other way. I'm certain I can talk the shifters into agreeing to a mutually beneficial deal. Another reason I wanted to talk with you first, since you and the Alpha are on reasonable terms with each other and have a stable treaty in place. I am showing you respect by coming to you first for your permission and blessing."

I see him struggling to not openly preen. Yes, I know how to appeal to him. "Does this mean you will come to my club tomorrow and postpone your ridiculous idea about meeting the sun?"

Tipping my glass so I can drain the last of the liquor, I nod. "I suppose I should hang around a little longer. See if my mood permanently changes."

He looks to Selene. "Please bring us a decanter of the special vintage, my dear. _Un_ diluted. Three glasses."

She arches an eyebrow at him but rises and leaves the room.

"Special vintage?" I ask as I lean forward and set my glass on the coaster on the coffee table separating us.

"I do not wish to say anything else until you taste it. But it is... _exquisite_." His eyes actually light up.

"Why, Lucius. Should Selene be jealous?"

He grins, showing full fang, very amused. "Not in the slightest. First, you taste. Then we will discuss. I actually think you might be the answer for each other's mutual...situations."

The old bastard has my interest, and he knows it. Selene glides back into the room and carries a tray holding three crystal wine glasses and a matching crystal decanter, the latter of which is filled with a dark red liquid I know isn't wine. She pours three generous servings, not spilling a drop, and serves Lucius, then me, and takes the final glass for herself before settling on the sofa at his side once more.

Being a polite guest, I wait to waft it under my nose until she's settled, but when I do...

_Holy fates!_

My eyes fall closed. A buzz fills my head, and my mouth _waters_.

Lucius laughs. "Ahh, I knew you'd like it."

I haven't even tasted it yet, and I already want to meet and mate the creature, regardless of gender, whose veins could produce such a heady bouquet. "Shifter?" I manage, forcing my eyes open.

He's still smiling and sipping. "To be honest? I don't know _what_ they are. Which is exactly why they are currently under my protection. Taste it, Dexter."

I do. Brilliant colors of flavor explode in my mouth like ripe berries and sweet honey.

My god!

It's enough to make me want to believe in happy endings of the non-pornographic kind.

I must be wearing a "look" because Lucius smirks. "Once again, I'll ask if I can persuade you to postpone your silly notion of greeting the sunrise."

If my heart still beat, it'd be racing in my chest. Even my cock stirs, eager to learn more. "Only if you promise to introduce me to them." I know he's being cagey for a reason. He's trying to hook me and reel me in. "How much money will this cost me?"

He exchanges a glance with Selene. "I wish I could quote you a price, but I cannot. They are their own person, and it is a...unique situation. They've been with me since I opened the club. I also wish I could say they are an experienced sweetblood, but they are not."

"They're not? This _isn't_ sweetblood?"

"They have never been blooded, only...donations. In addition to working for me, I 'ethically source' their blood from them for more than fair compensation. Usually, I dilute it by mixing it with other batches. I can charge more for it that way and make it last far longer."

"And they're not a shifter?"

He shrugs. "Come out tomorrow, meet them, and tell me what you think."

I swirl the glass under my nose again, deeply inhaling. I feel like I've never seen colors before this moment, never had the ability to smell anything, until now.

For the first time in too long, I eagerly _want_ to see another day.

So to speak.

I'm torn between wanting to guzzle the remainder of the contents in two or three swallows, and slowly sipping it for hours. When I finish, Selene automatically moves to refill my glass, pouring me what's left in the decanter. I know she didn't spike it with something because she poured all three servings from the same decanter.

"What did I do to earn such good graces from you, Lucius?"

Honestly? I'm starting to feel a little drunk. Or, maybe that's his goal.

He shrugs. "You are family, in a manner of speaking." His smile fades. "I have lost too many. And, as you said, you have no desire to overthrow me. You have no nest of your own."

"And?"

He smirks. "And my sweet pet is very territorial. Were I not already madly in love with Selene, yes, I would be tempted to explore something more permanent with...them." He tips his head, indicating my glass. "Trust me, I felt the same way you did when I first sampled this. There are extenuating circumstances as to why I never claimed them, but I cannot and will not explain in more detail until after you meet them in person." The love in his eyes as he looks at Selene nearly breaks my heart. "We were not meant to share a third for anything than the occasional sip, and this person deserves someone to love and protect them."

By the time I finish the second glass, I truly feel _very_ drunk. As the driver returns me to my hotel, I'm lost in thought.

Absolutely, I want to meet the human who made me feel this way.

What I'll want to do with them after that... I guess I'll have to hope for a miracle.

After returning to the hotel, I retreat to my room, where the head of my security has already ensured that the bedroom windows are more than adequately covered. I take a shower, still lost in thought about the exquisite taste rolling through my system.

While I'm in there, I take my cock in hand and slowly start stroking. Lucius knows about Robert, and that I've had lovers across the spectrum. I can't help wondering why he's withholding even that much info from me.

As I close in on my first truly joyful orgasm in too damn long, I also realize I neither care about the person's gender, nor Lucius' reasons for withholding that info. All I care about is how I feel... _alive_. Pre-cum leaks from me as my hand strokes my cock. I wish it was a willing mouth or pussy—or ass—I was stroking into, but I'll settle for this because of how light my soul feels.

A sensation I'd been certain a mere twenty-four hours ago that I would never experience again.

I want to hold them, tease them, feel their willing flesh squirm against me as I do all sorts of delightfully evil things to them, all while giving them as many orgasms as I can wring from them.

If that blood wasn't from a sweetblood...

Fates, what will they taste like once I've coaxed them into the depths of subspace? Spanking their ass with my hand until they're red and squirming—

That's the thought that sends me over the edge. The first truly good orgasm I've had in a disturbingly long time makes me pump cum all over my hand and the shower wall and leaves me a little weak in the knees.

How much better will it feel when I spend inside them? Because make no mistake about it, I'm already determined to win them over.

I _must_.

Even an hour after dawn, I still lie wide awake in bed and stare at the ceiling. What _is_ that feeling coursing through me?

Excitement. Anticipation.

_Need_.

I think the last one terrifies me, at least a little.

And it's _exactly_ why I will go to Club Toxic tomorrow night.

Because who doesn't need a little terror in life to break up the monotony of a never-ending existence?

* * * *

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Keep reading for the first chapter to _Governor_ (Governor Trilogy 1) by Lesli Richardson.

**Description**

I kneel for only one man—Carter Wilson, my best friend, chief of staff, and bastard extraordinaire.

It's a price I willingly pay to be owned by _Her_.

His wife.

Who is also, as of when we were sworn in this morning, my lieutenant governor.

I am Owen Taylor, governor of the great state of Florida.

* * * *

**Chapter One**

**_Now_**

It's hard not to shiver when the AC kicks on as I kneel, naked, on the floor of my new office, the carpet doing little to cushion my knees. My hands remain clasped behind my head, back straight, elbows out.

This is how he's trained me, and what he expects of me.

My knees are spread as wide as I can manage and still keep my heels tucked under my ass.

He circles me, inspecting me as he smiles and tugs on his shirt cuffs, adjusting the lay of the cufflinks. I know he wants to strip off that suit he's wearing and fuck me right here, spread over my new desk, but he's holding himself back.

Waiting.

I keep my gaze fixed straight ahead, even though my hard cock has a will of its own and is probably dribbling a puddle all over the towel Carter thought to put down before ordering me to kneel.

He might be a bastard extraordinaire, but he's also very practical.

He looks pleased with himself, and he has every right to be. He's the only man I kneel for and he damn well knows it.

It's a price I willingly pay to be owned by _Her_.

His wife.

Who is also, as of when we were sworn in at one o'clock this very afternoon, my lieutenant governor for the great state of Florida.

* * * *

Carter Wilson, bastard extraordinaire, is eight years older than me, a decorated Army veteran, my best friend, college roommate, one of my two closest confidants, my chief of staff...

And he's the Master and husband of Susannah Evans.

Susa owns me—mind, heart, soul, and body—and has ever since I first met her in college.

Since she owns me, that means I belong to Carter by default. It was the deal I willingly accepted all those years ago.

Susa grew up the daughter of a lawyer, a progressive Republican who pretty much ran the state GOP for decades. Still does, unofficially now. Benchley Evans was a county administrator, then a county commissioner, followed by four terms as a state rep, and two more as a state senator. The only reason he didn't run for the big G or a national office was a massive heart attack that made his wife put her foot down and demand he choose his family over party and politics for once in his damn life.

He also hailed from a family that first made their fortune in citrus and cattle. As freezes and canker and greening took down the citrus industry, and the exploding housing market chipped away at cattle lands, he'd already moved on to land development, jumping in early when acreage was still cheap.

That meant he could easily afford to send his only daughter to any college she chose, for any degree she wanted.

It was my luck—good or bad, you decide—that we ended up in Tampa together, selecting majors and minors that would help us with law degrees.

But she's also smarter than me in many ways. Far more ruthless politically. That's why, when Carter decided we could change our home state in good ways, Susa insisted it should be me who ran for governor on a third-party ticket.

_This_ time.

After eight years—if I win re-election, that is—she'll be perfectly positioned for her own gubernatorial bid.

I'll do my best to get her elected. Once I'm out of office, I'll return to the private sector while still championing a few key causes that are near and dear to my heart.

But what I'll be looking forward to most by then is time out of the public eye.

For at least the next four years, my official residence is the Florida Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee. I can't simply choose to _not_ live there, because it'd be a logistics nightmare for my security detail, as well as an unnecessary expense for taxpayers.

Considering two of the key planks in the platform we ran on were better budgeting and smarter spending, I can't do something that would so blatantly fly in the face of those ideals.

I especially can't cite wanting to be with Susa and Carter whenever I choose as the reason.

I still own my house just outside Tampa, next door to Carter and Susa's house and sharing the same backyard fence. But for the most part, I won't be staying there during my term. Besides, there's already a calendar full of official state functions, and many of them will be held at the mansion that is now my home.

My only consolation is that Carter, as my chief of staff, is expected to either be with me or be on call for me twenty-four/seven. No one will suspect anything untoward if he's spotted coming and going at odd hours. Susa's presence, both as Carter's wife and my lieutenant governor, will not raise many eyebrows, unless she regularly shows up at the mansion at an unusually late hour without Carter or staff of her own. One of the trade-offs we'd already talked about and figured into our plans was that by embarking on this path we'd lose privacy.

Carter is more than ready and willing to give me what I need and crave when Susannah is unable to. He's also ready and willing to be a warm body in my bed so I won't feel so alone every night.

Because before the whirlwind that was my campaign to become governor, the three of us shared a bed nearly every night.

* * * *

Where I'm kneeling about three feet from the far end of my desk, I can't be seen when Carter answers the knock on my office door after unlocking it and cracking it open to see who it is. He moves aside just enough to allow someone else to step in, and my breath catches, my pulse races.

_Her._

"I only have a few minutes," Susa says in her usual clipped, all-business tone.

Carter closes and locks the door behind her and, moving faster than it seems possible for a human to manage, grabs a handful of hair, tipping her head back.

" _What_ was that, _pet_?" he softly growls.

She's never allowed to use that tone on Carter and she damn well knows it.

Her entire posture and voice change, needy and soft, even as my own body responds to Carter's tone. "I only have a few minutes, Sir."

I struggle not to smile, not to laugh. With today's craziness, she likely forgot herself.

I only wish I could be there later tonight to watch when Carter reminds her who she belongs to.

He marches her around behind my desk and I allow my gaze to follow them. He bends her forward over the desk, making her put her hands flat on it, and hikes up her skirt. Since she's also wearing three-inch heels, it means her gorgeous ass sticks out nicely.

"Who said you could wear panties today, pet?" I hear the fabric rip and a quiet _meep_ from her.

"Sorry, Sir. I thought—"

"You thought _wrong_."

Another violation.

_She's going to have fun sitting tomorrow._

She's lucky we already did a sound check one evening last week, before I took office, and we discovered Carter can't spank us in here if someone's in the outer office.

Like Julia, my administrative assistant.

Who, right now, is sitting out there at her desk, along with a trooper from my security detail.

Holding out the offending material, Carter walks over to me with a playful smile on his face. "Do you believe this shit? Looks like a certain pet has forgotten her place."

"I see that, Sir."

He turns from me, stuffing her ruined panties into his left front slacks pocket. I have a feeling they'll probably end up in my mouth later.

Not the first time he's gagged me with her panties.

Not saying I mind it, either.

" _Loyalty_."

I immediately relax into the position, knees still wide, but my back now rounded, my left hand on my thigh, my right flat on the floor, my gaze focused down.

It's a Carter thing.

It works—that's all that matters. Countless times he's put me into this position during the day behind a locked office door, but with my clothes on. Especially if it's been a rough day and I need a quick reset.

I can think about _Him_ , about what we have together.

It's not a one-way street. Carter is loyal to us, always putting us first no matter what. That might sound odd to someone who doesn't know the three of us. There's a lot of bullshit out there about what people "should" or "shouldn't" do.

Carter sets his own path, trims his sails, and we follow.

_Loyalty_.

When I first idly floated what at the time I thought was a ridiculous proposition—running for governor—it was Carter, and then Susannah, who had my back and were my most vocal and vicious supporters.

_Loyalty_.

She is my queen, my heart and soul, my sun and my moon, all rolled into one. My muse, my reason for living. I would kill or die for her if it came down to it. I would—and have—embarrassed the hell out of myself just to make her smile.

_Loyalty_.

All of these things I think of as I slow my breathing and my back muscles loosen, enjoying a break from the more formal _Primed_ position.

_Primed_ is always performed naked. Frequently for long stretches of time. The bastard extraordinaire takes great pride in sometimes torturing me while in that position, expecting me to maintain it.

Or expecting me to fail to maintain it, which brings punishment.

Win-win.

But that's life with Carter.

I didn't say I didn't enjoy it.

* * * *

In _Loyalty_ , I can hear what's going on but, because of where I'm kneeling and with my head bowed, I can't see.

But I can imagine, based on the sounds.

Her low, pained grunts as she struggles to stay quiet probably means he's pinching or maybe even biting the insides of her thighs.

Which are now, most likely, covered with her own juices.

She enjoys life with Carter, too. We wouldn't be here if we didn't. While this is not a place I ever envisioned myself being, now that I'm here I cannot imagine being anywhere else.

I don't even mean this office.

I mean with these two people, and especially with Carter.

Carter at his best is a loving, kind, gentle, compassionate, funny, brilliant, gorgeous, sexy man.

Since I consider myself straight, those last two are pretty damn fine compliments.

Carter at his worst is evil, sadistic, mean, brilliant, gorgeous, and...

Yeah, sexy.

It pains me to admit that.

No, I'm usually _literally_ in pain when I admit it.

Not that he would consider any of those descriptors an insult.

And, again, not that I'm complaining, because I'm not. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be.

I know I don't have to speak up and remind him of the time. It might not seem like he's watching the clock, but I'm sure he's calculating exactly how much he can cram into what little time the three of us have alone together right now.

Maybe perhaps _literally_ cram.

That doesn't even bother me anymore.

After a few minutes of him torturing her, he speaks.

" _Boy_."

I'm on deck. I smoothly rise to my feet even as they sting, full of pins and needles and protesting they still need a moment to recover.

Carter smiles at me and my cock twitches. "Come here."

His fist is buried in her hair, her cheek is pressed against the desk, and her skirt is now rucked up around her waist. She's gorgeous and mussed, her blue eyes wild with that special kind of energy Carter has a particular way of building in both of us.

That _please_ _fuck me_ look.

Our times together have been few and far between lately, first with our grueling campaign schedule, and now with taking office. We went from sleeping together every night to sometimes barely seeing each other for days at a time.

That, above all, has been the most difficult part of all of this, losing that privacy, that time together. Not even sexy time. I mean being able to close our eyes, take a deep breath, and relax with our heads in Carter's lap.

We've all had adjustments to make. Susa and I trust Carter to take care of us, though.

Like right now.

I'm sure whatever Carter has in mind will carry us through until the next rare time the three of us can be alone together.

Because it will have to.

* * * *

Order _Governor_ (Governor Trilogy 1), _Lieutenant_ (Governor Trilogy 2) and

_Chief_ (Governor Trilogy 3) by Lesli Richardson today:

**http://tymberdalton.com/books/series-info/governor-trilogy/**

Other series set in the same world:

Determination Trilogy

Devastation Trilogy

Inequitable Trilogy

Deviant Trilogy

Devout Trilogy...

And more coming soon!

# **Free Preview: The Great Turning**

#

The following preview is chapter one of _The Great Turning_ (The Great Turning, book 1) by Lesli Richardson.

g

**Description**

_[111.2k words, science-fiction, post-apocalyptic, futuristic, dystopian, GLBTQ fiction]_

It's almost one hundred years since The Great Turning, the catastrophic meteor strike that changed the world forever. Russell Owens is a recently discharged New North Americas Army sniper who only wants to return to his home just outside of Yellowstone to resume life with his gentle husband, Ted. Russell doesn't want to re-up and hates that he had to kill for a living.

Zola Wright is the most skilled assassin the NNAA has ever had. She was tricked into re-upping—once. When the burned-out Red is sent to find Russell to talk him into returning, what her commanding officer doesn't realize is that she's not coming back. Her conscription time is up, and she wants out. She's also reluctantly falling for Russell.

Now the sniper and the assassin are the ones being hunted, on the run from the army they just finished serving. Their former CO has secrets he'll kill to keep. But Russell and Zola have more in common than their killing skills. And when Russell and Ted both fall for Zola, she knows their only option is to stand and fight together for the happiness and peace they yearn for—or die trying.

* * * *

**Chapter One**

Russell Owens no more noticed the noontime heat of the mid-April sun beating down on him as he hiked than he'd noticed the stifling humidity in Houston after his first month stationed there.

It just...was.

Nothing to be done about it, except to keep moving.

Moving.

Always moving.

He'd opted for an easterly trek instead of a more direct northern and westerly course, following the skeleton of what remained of Old Highway 10 toward the shipping yards of Baton Rouge.

It could possibly take him weeks longer to reach his final destination, depending on the condition of the roads between there and home, but it would keep him well clear of the wastelands of the New Mexico and western Texas territories. He hoped he might be able to hop a boat to take him up the Mississippi, at least as far as New St. Louis, which would put him squarely in the heart of the Midwest Territory.

From that point, it should be easy to join a caravan heading northwest toward Rapid City, or farther. If his luck held, maybe he could find a caravan going all the way to the Seattle Stronghold, which would take him even closer to home. He'd listened to the radio chatter during his five-year conscription at Houston. He'd kept up with scuttlebutt. He'd studied the weather patterns. He'd followed the ShiTr reports, as they called them—Shipping and Transportation.

Late spring and summer meant caravans traversing the high passes and cutting weeks—sometimes months—off transport times.

Someone would be able to help him get to Montana.

Home.

To Ted.

With that thought firmly gripped in his mind, Russ kept moving.

Moving.

Always moving.

Overhead, the sun slowly swung across the sky until it was beating on his back instead of directly against his battered floppy lid, one of the few things from his conscription period he didn't mind holding on to. The beige canvas hats were practical, durable, and came in handy.

He'd burned one of his uniform shirts the first night he'd camped out. Just pulled it off and set fire to it. In retrospect it was a foolish move, one which could give anyone who might be following him a clue to his route, but he didn't care.

It felt good to do it. Not like he needed it any longer.

Despite unofficial requests by Colonel Craige and Major Hicks to reconsider opting out and to please speak with them one last time before filing, he hadn't.

They hadn't issued _orders_ to speak with either of them.

So once Russ' filed his opt-out, he'd been issued a civvie ID card, and his chip code had been updated, Russ had packed his ruck and bugged out of Houston before anyone knew he'd actually departed.

Gone.

Out.

Free.

_And now, back to Ted._

Maybe if they'd tagged him for a different role he would have reconsidered, if Ted had been for it. Go for corporate status, a lifer. Or even a wonk. If there were no available transfers to the Bozeman barracks, he could have easily afforded to pay Ted's passage and been assigned digs on base and lived a boring, humdrum life as a fleet mech, or a clerk, while Ted made a decent living as a civvie sol-ec tech.

Hell, Russ wouldn't have minded being a cook.

But no. That wasn't possible. Not with what they wanted him to do.

He'd despised every second of it. He hated being shipped out on midnight air runs to territories foreign and domestic to back-up other Red units or ground grunts doing enforcing, rooting out bands of thugs, or calming Fundie rebel skirmishes.

And he wasn't good enough at kissing ass—or willing to engage in dirty tricks—to step on the backs of his fellow Reds to get a promotion higher than the rank of captain. And in Craige's command, you pretty much had to be like that to advance any farther up the food chain.

Russ might have been the best sniper the New North Americas Army ever had, but each shot he took, each kill he made, it chipped away at a piece of his soul until he knew the only good thing left inside him was his love for Ted.

That's where the rest of him still lay.

And that's where he'd go, home to Ted, in Montana.

Or he'd die trying.

* * * *

His second night on the road, Russ made a nest for himself in some thick, tall brush a few dozen yards off the old roadbed. He ate a protein bar for dinner instead of popping open one of the MREs he'd purchased on base before he left, or starting a fire and hunting something. He definitely didn't need a fire. The gentle, warm breeze felt pleasantly mild, and a nearly full moon gave him plenty of light to see by. Not to mention staying dark in his position kept him safely hidden from anyone who might pass his location.

Yes, he was once again a legally free citizen of the New North Americas, whatever _that_ meant. He'd done his five years of mandatory conscription time, earned enough coin to help him and Ted expand their compound the way they'd always talked about, and he could theoretically live out the rest of his life in peace.

If the nightmares would ever stop.

Russ never slept well or deeply. Not anymore. Especially when out in the open.

Add to the list that he was still far closer to Houston than he'd like to be.

A few hours later he startled awake, his fingers closing around the grip of the 9mm he'd purchased for his own use as a sidearm during conscription.

Listening, he waited, body tensed. He knew what had awakened him—all the normal sounds of crickets, birds, and other nocturnally active denizens had gone silent in his immediate vicinity.

Usually, that meant a predator.

It took a while until his ears heard what his instincts had already picked up—the footsteps of several people walking along the crumbling tarmac of the old highway. No one spoke.

He didn't move, kept his breathing slow and light through barely parted lips.

Still, his pulse raced. From the sound of it, many or all of the people in the group wore boots similar to what he wore on his feet, military-issue tactical hiking boots, thick and waterproofed and made for keeping troops vertical and mobile as long as possible. They made heavy, unmistakable footfalls to the trained ear.

Especially when the troops wearing them made no effort to stay quiet.

Russ didn't spot any telltale lights and suspected they were using the moon for illumination, conserving precious batteries so they didn't have to resort to loud hand-crank chargers. He didn't dare move or lift his head over the brush to see how many there were.

Craige and Hicks had both been off-base when Russ left, not due to return until the next morning. He hadn't responded to their requests to speak with them one last time before his opt-out forms were formalized, and he wasn't hanging around to wait on them, either. His chip code had already been changed to reflect his freeman status. Sure, he could have spent one last night at the barracks.

As a civvie, he didn't owe them shit.

Still, he wouldn't put it past Colonel Craige to send someone after him "just to talk." To try to coax or haul him back in by whatever means necessary so they didn't lose the best sniper they'd had in over twenty years.

Hell, the best sniper the Nanners _ever_ had, period.

Russ was no idiot. He'd heard the rumors during his conscription. About how Craige had the highest overall re-opt numbers of any Red commander, Houston's specialty re-opt numbers higher than any barracks in general. Low-level wonks or people without specialized skills, no one cared. Those numbers ran along the average of other barracks.

But the specialists, the techs, the Reds—there was definitely a spike in Craige's re-opt numbers in that bell curve when compared to other barracks.

Numbers reportedly obtained by bribing or coercing people into re-opting, if the scuttlebutt was true.

Dead Reds didn't count.

Russ didn't plan on boosting their numbers, much less dying.

As Russ remained motionless and listened, the footfalls passed his location without slowing. Either they weren't looking for him, or they were but weren't equipped with one of the precious few night-ops glasses the Houston barracks had for just such an occasion.

If they were looking for him, he suspected they weren't looking very hard.

Or weren't very good at it.

Either option was fine with him.

Russ remained invisible in his nest in the tall brush. He'd started to relax when something else pinged his attention. Still on high alert, he held his breath again until, yes, he sensed someone else. This one moved far more stealthy than the first batch. Much lighter on their feet, possibly even a woman.

There were more men than women in the Red units overall, but the second-best sniper in the NNAA was a woman, as was the best assassin, both of them stationed out of the Houston barracks. Russ knew the sniper, because she was in his squad, but he had never personally met the assassin, Captain Wright.

The unseen presence slowly worked their way down the old highway, pausing now and again as a night noise apparently caught their attention.

Then they stopped, not too many yards from where he'd entered the high grass off the highway. In daylight, a trained eye would easily pick out his trail. At night, however, even with the bright moon, they couldn't. Not without a light.

Eventually, Russ heard the person continue on until, once again, he was alone and the only noises surrounding him were the usual nighttime sounds of this sparsely inhabited region.

Still, he knew his sleep was shot for the night. Instead, he chose to think about Ted, about how he'd soon be reunited with him. Be able to hug him again. At six-one, his partner was only two inches shorter than him, with blond hair and blue eyes and a snarky sense of humor, combined with a gentle soul, a combo which never failed to get Russ' motor running. Russ wanted to do nothing more than hug that man, hear his laugh.

See him smile.

Russ knew it'd be too easy to close his eyes and let his mind wander, but he didn't want to be distracted. It'd be too easy for someone to sneak up on him. Knowing there were other people out there in the dark, unseen, meant he couldn't let his focus slip that much.

Instead, he smiled as he stared up at the sky and fantasized about getting home, where he belonged. To getting on with his life. To reconnecting with friends.

To reuniting with Ted.

* * * *

Captain Zola Wright mentally cursed the four men walking a short distance in front of her.

_Could they_ possibly _make any more noise?_

At that point, it wouldn't have surprised her if they broke into bawdy drinking songs.

They might as well, for all the racket they were making. Sneaking up on someone trained in concealment and who didn't want to be discovered would be damn near impossible at this point.

Then again, she hadn't wanted this mission. She sure as hell didn't want to be in charge of a group of lifer wonk privates who didn't give a shit about what they did because of their job security.

And, frankly, she didn't want to find the man she was looking for.

Not that she was dumb enough to admit that to her CO, or to the wonks assigned to go with her on this mission.

She had less than two weeks left in her own two-year opt-in term. It was just like Half-Assed Hicks to assign her some bullshit job like this, even though she suspected the orders came directly from Colonel Craige above him. She'd never met Captain Russell Owens in person. Now that decorated sniper was a civvie, she _really_ didn't have any desire to meet him. Owens had earned his freedom, as far as she was concerned. Did his time, and opted out.

_Lucky bastard._

Although unknown to her personally, she respected him, his reputation, and his record. They'd worked several missions together, without actually being face-to-face, him and his squad providing sniper cover to her Red troops on the ground. She knew his rep and his skill level—the best sniper the NNAA had, bar none.

He had countless logged kills, maybe as many as she had, but she envied his ability to do it from a distance. Even though he was a Red, they were assigned to separate squads that never mixed despite being stationed at the Houston barracks.

If that was by design of their higher ups, Zola didn't question it. She focused on doing her job, no matter how much she hated it, and herself, as a result. Besides, with over ten thousand people stationed at the Houston barracks, not counting civvie personnel and civvie NOKs, it was a city unto itself. And as much time as Zola spent on the road on missions, there were people in her own unit she barely knew, much less people in other squads.

Once she'd been assigned to the covert Red assassin unit at the Houston barracks after basic ended, Zola had never been able to get herself transferred out again despite despising the job. Had she known being good at what she did would mean seven years of hell doing it, she would have faked clumsiness, ineptitude with a blade and a choke wire, pretended she couldn't track a blind, three-legged bull in a china shop at high noon—anything to keep from having to take lives and being pigeonholed as an assassin.

Now they wanted her to find and talk to Owens, try to convince him to come back, opt-in for another term.

_How the frak am I supposed to do that when_ I _don't even want to be here for another opt-in?_

Not that she'd ever admit that to Major Hicks or Colonel Craige. She was no idiot.

But she had to at least make the effort in front of the wonks, even though they didn't know the specifics of her orders. If she found Owens, she was to talk with him. If he didn't want to return, she was to report the conversation, his last-known whereabouts, and pass along his exact intended destination, if that intel was available.

She hated that, too. Hated that she _knew_ , deep in her gut, that her higher-ups wanted him back, dead or alive, regardless of what they'd told her.

She'd found Owens' burned uniform shirt earlier and had a hard time not laughing in front of the lifers when she told them it was probably from a hunter or transient, and they'd believed her.

Burning the unneeded traces of her military life. It was something she planned to do herself in very short order, eliminate all hints of her Red career once she was a civvie.

She wouldn't be able to so easily get rid of the memories, or the bad dreams, or the 9001 chip status that would follow her to the grave and likely earn her looks of fear and grudging respect any time she had to be scanned, but at least she'd be _free_.

Not that Hicks had said as much, but she suspected if or when Zola found Owens and reported his inevitable go-fuck-yourself reply, Colonel Immanuel Craige would order someone else be sent to take care of him. Likely from a Red unit under his command out of a different barracks, someone who didn't know Owens and who hadn't worked with him personally.

If scuttlebutt was to be believed, it wouldn't be the first time Colonel Craige had someone eliminated who he'd deemed too valuable to lose. Either that, or non-medical retirement opt-out Reds from Craige's command had the worst luck ever. Maybe he didn't want trained Reds running around with civvies, possibly able to hook up with Fundie rebel groups or thug bands that sprouted from time to time. Able to join with opposition forces, or even train others in their specialized and highly deadly tactics.

Worse, someone who would know the Red playbook and be able to come up with counter tactics.

That was her guess, anyway. She didn't know for sure. No one had ever offered up a better supposition for it, and she never contributed her own opinion to those conversations. Last thing she wanted to do was have word get back to Craige or Hicks about her thoughts.

Thus she kept them to herself.

Besides, she'd never been assigned that task, to eliminate a Red opt-out. She had no concrete proof it ever happened in the past, either. Had never talked to anyone who'd admitted to doing it. Early on, she'd thought maybe it was just a calculated mind fuck meant to discourage Reds from opting out. Even though amongst the Reds the rumor mills sometimes worked overtime, there was too much circumstantial evidence of it to be merely coincidental. Usually, it was rumored, they picked a lifer Red to do the dirty work.

It apparently wasn't a widespread practice amongst the Red units under other commanders, as far as she knew. Zola wasn't stupid enough to blow the whistle on something she couldn't prove, especially not this close to her own opt-out.

If Colonel Craige couldn't have them, no one could. That was, she'd heard, his unofficial mantra. A dead Red didn't count against his opt-out stats. She also knew he took great personal pride in his opt-in numbers, for some crazy reason.

She didn't care why. That was above her pay grade.

She knew his philosophy would likely apply to her as well. Which was why she'd never come right out and told Craige or Hicks that she wasn't going to opt-in a second time. They'd just assumed she was, a belief she was happy to nurture and encourage despite never outright saying so.

What they didn't know was that people from her closely-knit area in the Carolina Territory had a long history of rigging the conscription, ever since the system was created following The Great Turning. They had been smart enough to fake their info when registering children, traveling for days or even weeks to rego centers far from their homes, and once there lying about where they lived.

The NNAA didn't have a means of verifying anything before it was entered in their computers. Rego center wonks rarely questioned someone claiming their origins in the local region when they registered children, even when they obviously weren't from there. And if doubts were raised, the lifer wonks running the rego centers were easily convinced to look the other way with a token of appreciation, such as a bottle of home-brew, or a pack of 420 smokes, or a medium coin passed under the table to them.

Zola and her brothers had all been registered via the San Antonio rego center. Her mother had been registered out of Detroit, and her father out of Chicago.

The NNAA wouldn't be able to track Zola once she opted out. She'd made sure to verify that. Once a conscript opted out, their chip status was changed to freeman. If someone ever wanted to check her, once the ID number was cross-referenced with the status database, that was it. They didn't have the ability to check names anymore. The overtaxed and ancient computer database system was far too fragile as the population had slowly begun to rebound, placing even more of a strain on it and the quickly degrading satellite network.

Zola already had her plan in place, had done her research. She'd claim she was heading back to her listed hometown region of Tampico, in the Old Mexico territory. That was where she'd reported for her conscription not long after she'd turned twenty. After she opted out, she would even journey south along the Texas coast from Houston, in case anyone followed her from the barracks.

Once she was sure no one was able to track her true destination, she'd head home to the Carolina Territory.

And then figure out a way to make a normal life for herself. She was still young. She still had a long life ahead of her.

Hopefully.

A long life to figure out how to rid herself of the nightmares she suspected would plague her for years.

At least pet cats and dogs wouldn't care how dead and broken she felt inside. Although Zola struggled not to think of the pets she had to leave behind in her parents' care when she'd left home for her conscription.

It hurt too much, knowing that most, if not all of them, had probably passed in the time she'd been gone.

She'd always envied those who'd lived before The Great Turning. They'd had life so much easier. No forced conscription period. Their wars had been fought in distant countries with aircraft and missiles that could bestow death from a distance. What had been America had been peaceful. A population that could stand together and help one another.

Her great-grandfather had told her stories as he showed her books stored in his basement, pictures of a time well before her birth twenty-seven years earlier. Before a meteor struck the Earth and devastated a massive section of the eastern Asian continent, as well as triggering tsunamis and cataclysmic global conditions that killed off over two-thirds of the world's population within the first five years between starvation, diseases, and violence.

Before billions of people died and countries fell, dissolved by the disaster and by the deaths of their people.

Before the New North Americas formed, when there were still separate countries and states comprising the North American continent, and not one central government slowly rebuilding things one industry at a time.

Before, they had technology and machines that made life a breeze compared to today.

Fuel that flowed from pumps anyone could operate, filling vehicles that could take you anywhere you wanted, without a care. Vehicles nearly anyone could afford to own and operate and drive.

Next year marked the one hundredth anniversary of The Great Turning. People had finally eked out lives and rebuilt communities as the weather patterns improved, making large-scale farming of crops and livestock possible again in much of the continent. She wanted a chance to live. To work.

Maybe even find someone to love and raise a family with.

She damn sure couldn't stomach spending her life as a paid killing machine for the NNAA. The only reason she'd stayed in for one opt-in period was because she'd stupidly believed John Porter when he'd said he loved her. He was staying in, and had begged her to opt-in, to stay with him.

That they could have a life together. He had spent months seducing her, getting her to fall for him.

And she'd fallen, hard and painfully.

She'd been dumb enough, naive enough, to fall for everything, thinking someone could love someone like her. A paid killer.

_Not this time. Never again._

Zola paused and held her breath. Ahead of her, the sounds of the men faded into the night. But there was...something.

The feel of a large animal close by. A predator.

Watching her.

It wouldn't be a bear or a large cat, because those had been hunted almost to extinction in the warmer, open climes of the South. They were only found in the North, and in mountainous regions.

This was neither.

And they weren't close enough to a body of water for it to be an alligator.

She closed her eyes and waited, listening not just with her ears, but with all her senses.

It could be a person, but she'd scented no traces of a fire, spotted no signs of human life, other than the idiots ahead of her, ever since they'd found the campsite earlier.

If it was a person out there, they definitely didn't want to be found.

This was, she'd told Hicks, why she was refusing a vehicle when he offered her the use of one. Owens was smart enough to head out on foot. She couldn't be expected to track the man if he went off the road if she was zipping along and couldn't watch for subtle signs.

Half-Assed Hicks had agreed with her rationale. Then he'd said Colonel Craige wanted her to take the wonks, and she knew she couldn't argue with him about it. It'd look too suspicious.

What she didn't want Hicks to know was that refusing a vehicle had also been a stall tactic on her part. One well-trained man, alone, could move far faster than she and four lifer wonks could. They would hike through the night tonight and stop for a couple of hours around noon tomorrow to nap and rest during the heat of the day, when they could more easily set a watchman.

In this case, her rationale was that she wanted to try to get ahead of Owens, let him catch up to them. Again, logical thinking that Hicks and Craige couldn't argue against. Owens likely would have holed up for the night and only move during daylight hours. Without someone to stand guard, he wouldn't camp out in the open and would want every advantage.

After a few moments, Zola opened her eyes again and moved on. Yes, she realized there was a very good chance it was Owens somewhere nearby out there in the dark.

If it was him, it meant her logic was—unfortunately—accurate. Because they would pull ahead of Owens.

_But the last thing I want is an encounter with Owens in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere. I have less than two weeks left before I opt-out and run. Professional courtesy._

She continued walking, determined to catch up to her thunderous herd of wonks and light a fire under their asses to pick up the pace.

* * * *

For more information about _The Great Turning_ and other books in the series, please check out the series page on my website.

# **About the Author**

#

Author Lesli Richardson, who is better-known by her more prolific wild-child Tymber Dalton pen name, lives in the Tampa Bay region of Florida with her husband (aka "The World's Best Husband™") and too many pets. She writes a wide variety of heat levels and genres, from mainstream sci-fi all the way to scorching ménage.

The USA Today Bestselling Author (as Tymber) and two-time EPIC award winner is a part-time Viking shield-maiden in training who loves to shoot skeet and play D&D with her friends. She's also the author of over one hundred and sixty books and counting, including _The Reluctant Dom_ , _Cross Country Chaos_ , the Bleacke Shifters series, the Governor Trilogy, the Determination Trilogy, The Great Turning Trilogy, the Suncoast Society series, the Love Slave for Two series, the Triple Trouble series, the Coffeeshop Coven series, the Good Will Ghost Hunting series, the Drunk Monkeys series, and many others.

She lives in her own little world, but it's okay—they all know her there.

She loves to hear from readers! Please feel free to drop by her website and sign up for her newsletter to keep abreast of the latest news, snarkage, and releases.

Honest reviews are always welcomed. They help with a book's visibility and can boost its placement on book retailer sites. Even a few lines about what you felt reading the book will help. Thank you so much, it's greatly appreciated!

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