Enticed by the Moon

Moonlight Shifters 

Enticed by the Moon With an evil, virus-infected werewolf/panther on the loose, twins Ryken and Luken McCree are sent to collect and protect the enticing Tabitha Burns, the best friend of their alpha leader's mate. But bringing Tabitha back to McCarthy Ranch in one piece may prove to be more of a challenge than expected. Sexual chemistry blazes hot enough to bring the three of them to the gates of blissful pleasure, but secrets are soon revealed that could change everything between them. As lust and passion soar high, precious time is quickly running out. With a snarling evil close at their heels, and the approaching pull of the full moon clawing at their backs, everything they desire could lead to the destruction of all they hold dear. Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Vampires/Werewolves Length: 64,424 words

 

ENTICED BY THE MOON Moonlight Shifters 3

Morgan Fox

MENAGE AMOUR

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

ENTICED BY THE MOON Copyright © 2011 by Morgan Fox E-book ISBN: 1-61034-620-3 First E-book Publication: August 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Enticed by the Moon by Morgan Fox from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Morgan Fox’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Fox’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

 

DEDICATION For Eric…

 

ENTICED BY THE MOON Moonlight Shifters 3 MORGAN FOX Copyright © 2011

Chapter One Ryken stepped off the curb, staring up at the golden light shining through the third-floor window of the apartment building. The Romanesque architecture was something to be respected and admired, which he did. The sight he beheld was more traditionally found in England with its semicircular window arches accompanied by pointed arches located symmetrically on both peaks of the roof. Two enormous vertical towers located on both sides of the main building were bridged by a shorter, broader tower, which supported a stone, vaulted ceiling. The mystical energy radiating out from the dark gray, aged façade made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. The towering, gothic apartment building had way too much character to be stuck in the middle of Podunk nowhere. As much as he admired such fine craftsmanship, he had no plans of living in a place so eerie and cold. He preferred the warmth of Texas and the open land he called home. Now, what did that say about Tabitha Burns? He and his twin brother Luken had traveled all day and night to get here, and never once gave thought to how they would approach her. Tabitha was Brie’s best friend, and from what they could gather,

 

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she knew absolutely nothing about their kind. She was a virgin, in many regards, and one they were told to take extra special care of. Blood drained straight to Ryken’s cock as he thought of the delicious ways he would take extra special care of sweet little Tabitha. He didn’t even know what the woman looked like, but if she was friends with Brie, who he found a beautiful sight, she, too, had to be a gorgeous woman. But damn it if he hadn’t been given strict instructions to keep his paws and any sexual urges he had to himself. Too late, he thought with a groan. Sebastian should have just requested he cut off his own dick. That might have been easier to manage. Ryken hadn’t been this far from McCarthy Ranch for nearly five years. The same held true for Luken. Everything they needed was located in east Texas—everything except the warm body of a luscious woman. Neither he nor Luken had found a woman to call their own for quite some time. The absence of sex was not hard to miss when they were able to run and hunt on McCarthy land, but now they were forced away from their sanctuary. And sex was all Ryken could think about. If he knew his twin at all, and he knew him almost as well as he knew himself, he, too, was thinking about finding a warm body to sink his cock into. Ryken had always fancied brunettes with big, round breasts that would practically suffocate him when lying between them whereas Luken liked blondes with breasts that fit perfectly in the palm of his hands. But both agreed that a woman should have round hips, long legs, and a pussy so delectable they could dine for days on end. Ryken groaned, shifting positions to avoid the throbbing in his cock. Damn, he hated being alone with his thoughts, hated being away from his home. Shit, why did his thoughts always seem to stray to the place between a woman’s thighs? A place he’d gladly like to find his cock buried and wet—soon. The night air nipped at his heels as he strode across the street. The glowing lamps overhead offered a dreary yellow tint that did nothing

 

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but enhance the eeriness of the dark, old building. Ryken had no idea what Tabitha looked like. He only knew a basic detailing of the woman—average height and build. That was it. Getting a description from Sebastian and Jonah McCarthy had been like pulling teeth. They were so busy trying to find time to make love to their mate, Brie Ferguson—soon to be Brie McCarthy. They hadn’t had time to offer much more than an address and limited physical description. Thanks to Sebastian’s mate, he had been miraculously cured of a serious illness, the main reason that both Ryken and Luken were now in search of Brie’s best friend. They received word from Dr. Megan Shaw’s colleague, Dr. Zane McCoskey, that Mason Levi, a brutal serial killer and were-creature, was planning to kill Tabitha if the McCarthy brothers didn’t surrender Brie to him. Somehow, word had gotten around that Brie Ferguson was special. Special how, he didn’t exactly know, and right now he didn’t care. What he cared about was completing their mission to rescue Tabitha Burns. Tabitha was unknowingly in danger, so they’d been dispatched to retrieve her. But not wanting to alarm her to the dangers she might soon face, thanks to Mason and his potential goon squad, Brie hadn’t called to notify her of the twins’ arrival. By not calling Tabitha, Brie was unable to convince her that neither he nor Luken meant her harm, and that little issue was going to be the fun part of this adventure. Not even a week ago, Sebastian had been infected by Mason Levi, a werewolf-panther. A “wolanther” as Ryken liked to refer to Mason—an anomaly among the were-kind. A brief moment of contact with an infected lycan, or were-animal, where the skin is broken and the virus would soon ravage the host’s body, making their thoughts no longer their own…turning them into the perfect killing machine. The infected lycan would develop an increased sense of smell and strength, also the ability to mask their own scent, making them

 

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undetectable by others of their kind. This was a dangerous virus that mutated the DNA of the were-host, turning them into a brutal killer— a ruthless serial murderer with no conscience. Getting Tabitha and taking her to McCarthy Ranch was their main focus and mission. Good thing Ryken and Luken were werewolves, and once they found her scent they could sniff her out at any time, keeping her under their watchful gaze. Learning her scent was the challenge. They’d simply wait until morning and see who emerged from the building, and hopefully that meant identifying an averagelooking woman with an average build. Yep, a perfect fucking plan and a big waste of time. Thankfully, the weather hadn’t turned cold and brutal just yet. The fall season was in full swing. Days varied this time of year, some days warm, and some cool. Today was a warm day, but even so it wouldn’t really matter. As lycans they could regulate their body temperatures and withstand the brutal cold and winds of the season, which came in handy on nights like this where they found themselves lurking outside at all hours of the night. Luken stood beside him, his hands on his hips in an annoyed stance. “So any idea how we’re going to approach our averagelooking woman in the morning?” Ryken snickered, glancing down at his brother, whose bulge in his pants was nearly as impressive as his own. At least he knew he wasn’t the only one affected by thoughts of sex. “Maybe you could walk up to her and show her the imposing size of your cock and see if she’s willing to play nice.” Luken inclined his head towards his brother, eyes piercing. He growled, “You’re such a dumbass. Why does everything have to revolve around our cocks?” Ryken shrugged, glancing down at his own engorged region. “It just does. Besides, it’s still worth a shot. I’m fucking horny and if she’s willing—” His brows raised up and down repeatedly.

 

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Luken released a heavy sigh. Glaring, he said, “Sebastian would see you neutered, and you know it. Seriously, what’s the plan? Waiting for an average woman to emerge from an apartment building filled with other average-looking people really isn’t what I call a smart use of our time. Couldn’t we try to call Sebastian or Jonah again? Maybe even Brie? See if maybe they can stop fucking one another long enough to give us an apartment number?” Ryken chuckled, and then said, “Too bad that information was withheld…the way they made it seem, she lived in a house, not an apartment building.” “Right,” Luken agreed, glancing down at his wristwatch. “Well, it’s nearly nine in the morning in Texas.” Luken dug the phone out of his jeans pocket and handed the cell phone to him. “Call Sebastian and ask him for the apartment number. I’m not standing out here all night long.” Grunting, he argued, “Why do I have to call him?” His brother stared at him dismissively and then said dryly, “Because you’re the dumbass who didn’t press the matter when we were back in Texas—you fucked up so you fix it.” Luken smiled, waving the cell phone inches from Ryken’s face. He snatched the cell phone from his brother’s hand. He couldn’t argue with that. He really was lousy at follow-through. “And you say I’m a dick.” He dialed the number, pressing hard on the keys, as if trying to press his finger right through the phone. Sebastian immediately answered, “This better be important, asshole. You could’ve woken Brie.” Sebastian’s rumbling voice put him instantly on guard. “Sorry, jackass, but you didn’t give us Tabitha’s apartment number, and we’re standing in front of the building like a pair of fucking stalkers.” Brows furrowed, he asked, “And wait, how did you know it was me and not Luken?” His alpha seemed to call him asshole like it was an endearing pet name.

 

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A gruff sigh exploded through the receiver just before Sebastian said, “I didn’t and there’s no apartment number. The address I gave you was for her office building. She’s an investment partner for several local apartment buildings outside of Seattle.” His voice deepened into a hushed whisper. He growled. “Ryken, do you honestly try to piss me off, testing my patience, or do you come off as an idiot naturally? To me, anyone disturbing my time with my mate is an asshole.” Ryken closed the phone, not bothering to wait for any further shit to erupt from his alpha’s mouth. More than a month ago he’d made the mistake of attacking Brie in the woods at McCarthy Ranch. He didn’t know she belonged to Sebastian or Jonah. To him, she was an intruder, one he was taking to his brother Luken for questioning. That was until Sebastian and Jonah showed up to kick his ass. To this day, Sebastian hadn’t forgiven him, and they constantly battled for show of dominance. Ryken wasn’t looking to be pack leader. He and Luken were still young in the eyes of the pack, but strangely Sebastian didn’t seem to care. Grumbling, he turned to face Luken. “I fucking hate that guy.” A deep chuckle moved from Luken’s chest as he said, “Yes, and I’m sure he thinks of you as a gem. Now, what did he say?” “Besides saying that I’m an asshole and an idiot?” Ryken glared at Luken with an arched brow. “Sebastian said this is her office building, not her home” Ryken interposed as he glanced down at his watch again. “It’s a little after seven and most people arrive at work around eight, so we wait for the front office to open and then go ask for Tabitha Burns.” Luken nodded his head in agreement. He said, “At least Brie was gracious enough to give us her last name. Without it, our chances of finding her fast would quickly diminish.” Luken glanced around the parking lot and at cars that lined the street in front of the building. “Do you sense anything out of the ordinary?”

 

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“Like it would matter if Mason was here,” Ryken complained. His sarcasm faded quickly as Luken met his gaze and growled. Ryken responded, shaking his head, “No, I don’t see anyone roaming around just yet. I hate that we can’t smell Mason’s kind. Hate that the virus infecting him makes it impossible to know if he’s even two feet away from us. It’s frustrating, is all.” Luken’s tone grew serious. “I know what you mean. I only hope that Dr. Shaw can figure out what the heck it is before we’re all fucked six ways to Sunday.” Like ants to a mound, the morning rush began. Several cars pulled into the parking lot, while several cars left. A short woman in her early twenties opened the front doors to the main office. Black hair molded around her round face in a tight bob that made her look even younger. Wide, bright eyes beamed, making her appear way too awake for such an early hour. Luken walked up to the two large glass doors and pulled them open with determination. The lobby was as gothic in appearance as the building itself. Dark, gray walls and matching curtains, black-andwhite marbled flooring. The young woman’s desk sat off to the far left of the main doors. Her eyes widened even more as both he and Luken approached her. As he inhaled, the scent of her nervousness flooded his nostrils. It probably didn’t help that both he and his brother were over six feet tall, with broad shoulders that framed a well-sculpted set of muscles in the arms and chest. His hair had been pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck, while Luken’s golden hair—longer than most women’s—hung loosely around his shoulders and down to his waist. Ryken inhaled again as he reached the side of her desk, her eyes fixed on his. She was not only nervous, but also slightly aroused. Good, he’d use that tidbit of information to his advantage if needed. “Good morning.” He purred, doing his best to sound persuasively charming. He glanced at the name badge on her chest, before saying, “Debra.”

 

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Luken was known for his finesse with women. A smooth talker, easy to open up to and be around. On the other hand, Ryken, a more robust flirter, enjoyed the rush of blood that rose to a woman’s cheeks as he spoke to her in naughty, inappropriate ways. Whispering things she’d dare not repeat to anyone else. But sadly, Ryken couldn’t use those tactics now. He had to behave himself, something that was a serious challenge. Clearing her throat, she asked, “May I help you?” She spoke in a timid voice, no louder than a whisper. “I certainly hope so,” Ryken said, leaning against the side of her desk. His arms folded over his chest, accentuating the muscles of his biceps. A deliberate tactic Ryken used to get her distracted and more compliant. Damn, he liked this game. He loved toying with ladies to see how excited he could make them. He was not just a romancer, but a skilled seducer. Offering one of his devilish smiles, Ryken said, “A friend of ours works here. We were hoping you could point us in the right direction of finding her.” She sucked in a sharp, audible breath as Ryken swung his muscular leg around the corner of the desk and grazed the side of her slender arm. Glancing down at his leg, she bit her bottom lip. Eyes slowly rising to meet his gaze, she asked, “And who might that be?” “Tabitha Burns,” he responded, the deep timbre of his voice growing deeper as he leaned closer towards her. Moving his hand to his leg, his fingers grazed against her smooth, warm flesh. The pulse in her neck throbbed quick and hard. He watched her as she swallowed several times, before answering. “Actually, Tabitha doesn’t work at this location. She works off-site, mostly from home or on the road.” Debra narrowed her eyes. “How do you know Tabitha?”

 

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Ryken shared a crooked grin with his twin. I’m over this flirting bullshit. “As I said, she’s a friend.” Allow me, brother. Luken’s voice slammed into his head with the confidence of a Casanova. Dick… Luken rounded the other side of the desk and placed his ass against the hard wood edge. Assuming a similar pose as his brother, he folded his arms over his chest. “What my dear brother is trying to say is that we’ve just traveled all night to see Tabitha and we’d very much like to know where we could find her.” He leaned forward, his breath on her face. He twirled a loose strand of her silky hair between his fingers and then finally tucked it behind her ear. “Debra, would you know where we might find her or when she might be available?” A faint giggle rasped from her chest, followed by the batting of dark lashes. A red wash of color flooded her cheeks. “Allow me to make a few calls and I’ll see what I can do.” “That would be so helpful,” he said with a wide, gleaming smile. “Debra, you have the most beautiful eyes. Gray and gold, like the fog moving in from the sea during sunset…Simply enchanting.” A quick hand covered Ryken’s mouth, fighting back the roaring of laughter that teased in his head. Suddenly, the need to throw up in his mouth took over the need to laugh. His brother could pour it on thick when needed. A tactic he was not fond of. Debra picked up the phone and began dialing, Ryken’s eyes were quick to capture the numbers and store them to memory. Ears honed in, he listened, waiting to hear the recipient on the other end of the line respond. “Tabitha Burns’s office, how may I help you?” “Rachel, this is Debra over at the Majestic Towers. Do you know which facility Ms. Burns will be visiting today?” “Oh, hi, Debra. Actually, that’s funny you should call. She planned to be at your location this morning. In fact, I’m sure she might already be there. Have you checked her on-site office?”

 

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A nervous flutter rasped from Debra’s throat. “No, I was the first to open up this morning, so I assumed no one had come in.” A warm smile filled the other woman’s voice. “You know Tabitha. She never sleeps. I bet she’s been there for hours already.” “Thanks, Rachel. I’ll check. Have a great day.” “You too.” Debra hung up the phone and grinned up at Luken. “This might be your lucky day, gentlemen. It would appear that Ms. Burns may already be on-site.” “How wonderful,” Luken exclaimed. “Could you point us in the right direction?” He and Ryken hopped off the desk and stood like warriors on either side of her. She glanced from one to the other, swallowing nervously. Locking gazes with Luken, she said, “Oh, no, I don’t think I’m allowed to do that. No one, other than employees, is supposed to wander the office without a chaperone. I could get fired for letting you.” Luken spun Debra’s chair, grabbed her shoulders, and pulled her to her feet, his movements quick and determined. “I would never want to see you in trouble, Debra.” He dipped his mouth to hers and took her lips in a heated kiss. Playing with her mouth the same way he was playing with her emotions, using the lycans’ sexual prowess to his advantage. Not that he was taking advantage of the young girl, clearly she was enjoying the kiss as much as Luken, but they needed answers and they needed them now. This was why Luken was a better Casanova then he was. Ryken wouldn’t have wasted his time kissing a woman he wasn’t going to fuck. He would have climbed up the wall to the next floor and charged up and down the halls until he found Tabitha. Luken eased back from the kiss, Debra’s eyes still closed, her lips slightly parted. “Would you make an exception for us? Just this once?” Again he kissed her, caressing her lips with his tongue, his fingers trolling around her shoulders, back, then dipping into her hair.

 

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Ryken’s brow furrowed as he watched his brother make love to the sweet woman’s mouth. It had been ages since he’d kissed a woman. Feeling a tad bit envious, Ryken cleared his throat, wanting the display of affection to end—and soon. Debra’s cheeks reddened. Breaking the kiss, she said, “Yes, just this once. After all, you are friends of hers, right?” She licked her lips, staring up at Luken, who was looking back at her with a deep longing. “Exactly,” he said, stroking his thumb over her swollen bottom lip. “Tabitha’s office is on the third floor, office number three-thirtythree.” Rounding the table, Ryken headed for the main elevators, but then turned to see Debra staring after Luken with fevered interest, as he acknowledged her. “Thank you, Debra. We appreciate your help.” “Yes, more than you know,” Luken responded with a wink of his eye. Ryken pushed the button and the elevator doors opened immediately, allowing the twins to step inside. A sudden wave of nerves surged to Ryken’s stomach as the scent of something seductively alarming filled his nose. His heart began beating a hundred miles an hour, and his mind raced with thoughts—thoughts of a mate yearning for his touch, craving him with fevered passions. “Oh, shit,” Ryken muttered, holding his head in his hands. “What is it?” Luken asked, holding onto his brother’s shoulder. Groaning, sweat pouring from his brow, he removed his hands from his face and glanced at his reflection in the elevator doors. He looked the same, but inside he knew he was different. He felt the difference burning into his brain like the hot press of a branding iron. He was so fucked. His mate was near—a mate he didn’t want. Shaking off the mating instinct, he glanced at his brother’s wideeyed expression and simply said, “Nothing. I’m fine.” But he really wasn’t fine. Ryken was forever changed and there was no real way to

 

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avoid the mating bond that was overpowering him. Nothing was ever going to be the same for any of them.

 

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Chapter Two Tabitha sat at her desk, trying her best to focus and concentrate, entering data and checking reports. She frustratingly chewed on the earpiece of her gold-and-brown Versace framed glasses that dangled from the corner of her mouth. Another failed blind date had left her beyond sexually unfulfilled and annoyed. She was done with dating. If she could just soothe the ache in her pussy, she’d be all set. Her gray suit jacket she’d worn when she’d first arrived at Majestic Towers, before the sun even rose, was draped over the armrest of the guest chair across from her desk. White stilettos lay to the side of her executive chair. She liked to work comfortably, found it unbearable to be wedged in designer shoes and clothing when no one was around to appreciate it. So she discarded what she could and got right to business. Working to forget her disastrous date with a man who only wished to discuss how great he was, as well as get some real work done, she grabbed the first folder off the pile and began rifling through the papers. Lately, she had to work longer hours because she felt distracted, like something was clawing at the back of her mind, beckoning her to do something. What that something was, she had no idea, but something was calling to her—whispering words she couldn’t hear, but knew were being spoken. Maybe it was a subconscious trick that made her skin crawl like creeping and swarming insects. She felt like the flesh of her body was tingling and stretching tight over her bones as if someone were pressing against her, demanding attention. Was it her intuition telling her to be careful, but of what? Was it Brie that needed to heed caution?

 

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Chest full of anxiety and stress, she cursed under her breath, wishing Brie had called her. Her last conversation with her best friend had left her unsettled and unsatisfied. Brie had managed to escape a serial killer’s clutches and went into hiding with her coworkers, men Tabitha knew little to nothing about. Brie kept a lot of things to herself these days, a private woman to the core. A trait Tabitha shared with her best friend. Still, she didn’t like that Brie felt she couldn’t share all the aspects of her life with her. After all, it was Brie who made her open up about her own mysterious and emotional past. Brie was the one who helped strengthen her, guided and inspired her to keep fighting for what she wanted. Now that Tabitha had modicum of control over her own life, she could be a little mothering and controlling from time to time, a fault she had, but Brie had always managed to keep her in check. Brie had been there for her when no one else was. She would never judge Brie for the choices in her life. She would always be there as an advocate, as Brie had been for her. Ripping her from her wondering thoughts, the phone rang. Glancing down at the caller ID, she sucked in a sharp breath. Brie. I knew it. Something’s wrong. The strange feeling she was having twisting her gut was, in fact, her intuition. Grabbing the phone on the second ring, Tabitha blurted out, “Please tell me you’re okay.” “I’m okay,” Brie answered. The warmth of her voice moved through the phone and instantly soothed her weary mind. Sighing, she said, “Oh, God, I was so worried. I was actually sitting here thinking about you and then the phone rings and it is you. That was just a little weird, ya know?” “Yes, I imagine it was. Why were you thinking about me in the first place?” Tabitha leaned back in her chair, the tension still riding high and tight in her shoulders. “Well, last time we chatted, you were talking

 

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about the need for a security detail to follow your every move because a certain murderous lunatic was still stalking you.” “Right, that would make me a little worried and freaked out, too.” “But you’re not?” As she said it she realized it was both a question and a statement. Brie sounded too at peace to have a murderer chasing after her. What the heck was going on with her? She should be freaked out, stressed, in a state of panic—but she wasn’t. “No, not really.” Brie’s voice was full of overpowering confidence, and that worried Tabitha even more than it probably should have. Brie was an undoubting woman, but with all that was going on in her life, something was a little off. What did Brie know that she wasn’t telling her? Is the little shit keeping secrets? “And why is that?” The sternness in her voice might have been a little harsher than she intended, but she didn’t let it faze her. She needed to make a point. Damn that mothering, controlling need of hers. With a smile in her voice, Brie said, “Well, you could say it’s because of the men protecting me…and also because I’m getting married.” “You’re what?” Tabitha stood abruptly, nearly knocking herself over as her legs bumped both the desk and her chair, tilting her off balance. She grabbed the desk for support and steadied herself. Not missing a beat, Brie continued, “Getting married, silly. I’ve found the completion of myself, a union for my soul, and I wanted to call and tell you right away.” She radiated excitement and energy, but then why did Tabitha feel like the world was crashing down around her? Her heart squeezed in her chest, and her tummy did a somersault. Shocked, she couldn’t speak, absorbing the nightmare that her best friend was sharing with her. What the hell was she thinking? She hadn’t even been dating anyone that she knew of, and now she was getting married. Keeping stride with her upbeat conversation, Brie added, “I want you to come to east Texas and be a part of my wedding. The wedding

 

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is taking place at the end of this month at McCarthy Ranch and you must be my maid of honor. Please tell me you’ll be my maid of honor, Tabby.” The line went silent as her brain slowly processed the words Brie had spoken to her. Then, all at once her mind erupted into an allconsuming need to convince her friend of the huge mistake she was making. Women who rushed into marriage ended up shattered carcasses of emotional garbage and divorced in record time. Surely, her attorney of a best friend knew that. Brie was too intelligent to be so imprudent. Tabitha’s voice was sharp and to the point as she told her, “Brie, I wish I could share your excitement, but I’m afraid I’m at a loss for words. I didn’t even know you had a boyfriend, didn’t know you were serious about anything other than your work, and being your best friend and finding this out now is just unacceptable to me.” Brie said, “I know, Tabby. I’m sorry for not sharing more with you, but a lot has changed.” Brie exhaled. The air blew softly into the receiver of the phone for Tabitha to hear. “A lot I wish to share with you now.” “Like what? Besides the fact that you just dropped the mother of all bombshells on me—no wait, the mother of all bombshells would be that you’re pregnant and getting married.” The static on the line was so loud Tabitha felt it ringing in her ears like a bullhorn blasting through the silence. A ball of rage and disappointment dropped into the pit of her tummy, bile rose into her throat, and she couldn’t breathe. What had happened to her best friend? “Holy. Fucking. Shit. Brie Ferguson! You are kidding me, right? There is no way in all the heavens that you’re pregnant and only getting married because you’re pregnant,” she spit out. “No, of course not,” Brie snapped, sounding disgusted at Tabitha for even thinking those thoughts out loud. “I was getting married before I found out I was pregnant.”

 

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And that was her logical response? That was supposed to make everything better? Tabitha felt sick, and her belly churned like bubbling acid. She gripped hold of her stomach then grabbed the armrest of the chair behind her to ease herself back down into a sitting position. Her skin burned like she had a fever. Sweat trickled from her brow, and leaked into her eyes. Without warning, the door to her office opened and in strode two of the sexiest, most dangerous-looking men she had ever seen. Her fingers gripped the armrest tighter. Swallowing hard, her eyes drifted over her unexpected visitors. Her visitors had golden blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Both men looked breathtakingly, and unnaturally sexy. But who were these two men staring at her with such heated expressions and why was her heart racing so fast she thought it was trying to jump clear from her breast? Her pussy clenched with need and awareness, like she was about to tear the clothes from her body and spread her legs invitingly for these two men to savor. Damn, she should have used her vibrator last night, should have eased the burning in her pussy when she had the chance. More importantly, she needed to get a hold of herself and fast, before her body controlled what her brain obviously couldn’t. “Tabitha Burns?” the man with his hair pulled back away from his face asked in a voice so deep and husky that moisture pooled between her legs. Oh, shit! her mind roared. His voice was just as fuckable as his body. Oh, dear God, I’m so screwed. “Yes?” She tried to mask the fear in her voice with the look of confidence, but her true emotions were present and accounted for. So much for faking it. “We need to speak with you,” the other stated. His voice was smooth like butter and warm like hot maple syrup. Her toes curled into the soft fabric of the carpeting and her legs began to shake. Her nipples were so firm they could easily cut glass.

 

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Stuttering, she told her friend on the other end of the phone, “Brie, I’ve got company.” “Two very large, very sexy blond men?” Brie said. Her pulse sped up. She gasped. “How did you know?” With a giggle in her voice, she explained, “They’re friends of mine, and they’ve come to see you safely to McCarthy Ranch.” Grasping the phone tighter, Tabitha lowered her voice and asked through gritted teeth, “What are you talking about?” “Tabitha, these men are going to be part of my family, and I thought it best that they aid you in your travels. McCarthy Ranch is sort of tucked away in a cozy spot in east Texas, and no one knows these lands better then Ryken and Luken.” Narrowing her eyes, she called out, “Ryken?” The tall, brawny man with his hair pulled back nodded his head and grinned. Glancing at the other hulky male whose hair was flowing loosely over his shoulders and down towards his waist, she said, “And Luken?” Oh, my… Stunned by both of their charming smiles and sparkling, soft blue eyes, she cradled the phone closer to her face, gripping it as if it were a teleportation device that would beam her out of there and back into the real world. Pressing a forefinger and thumb to her temples, she breathed, “I think I need to sit down.” “You are sitting down,” both men answered in unison. Glaring, she retorted, “Then maybe I need to lie down.” Rolling her eyes at the sexy, golden he-men standing before her, she huffed out a sigh. “We can help you,” Luken said, rounding the desk. With quick reflexes, she snatched up her shoe, gripped and held it, heel pointed directly at him. She snarled, “Don’t even think about it, pretty boy. You touch me and I’ll change your anatomy into that of a woman.”

 

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Luken backed up, hands held up as he retreated back a few steps. “Okay, princess. You win. We’ll just wait over here.” “Brie, what the hell is going on?” Tabitha yelled. “Tabby, please don’t panic. Everything will be fine. I was hoping I would have a chance to talk with you before they arrived, but I misjudged how long it would take them to get to you.” “Why are they here at all? I’ve managed alone for thirty-two years. I don’t need a babysitter now.” She groaned between clenched teeth. “What’s the real story?” She knew there was something going on, felt it like an electrical current running over the flesh of her body. “Spill it.” “I’m getting married, Tabby. I want you here and safe beside me as I take my vows of marriage. Ryken and Luken are soon to be my family, and they volunteered to escort you to McCarthy Ranch. By the way, that’s going to be my new last name, McCarthy.” Brie shared that information with her like that was supposed to make everything better. Nope, it didn’t do a fucking thing. “Good for you. I still don’t buy it. Something’s off about this entire thing. First, I don’t hear from you for over a month, then I find out you’re being hunted by a freaking murderer, and now you’re getting married and you’re having some asshole’s baby.” Ryken snickered, and she glared at him, heat and anger firing from her eyes. “You think this is funny, Goldilocks? Well, it’s not funny at all, and I’m not going anywhere with these two,” she yelled into the phone. Then, she faced both Ryken and Luken, and in a tone that screamed annoyance, she said, “So you can take your barbarian twin asses out of my office now!” “Tabby, please—” Brie was cut off before she could finish her thought. Oh, no she didn’t. Tabitha was not going to let Brie use that sweet, innocent, lawyer shit on her. “Don’t ‘Tabby please’ me. I know there’s something else going on, and I don’t have to do anything. If you really are getting married, I don’t think I could be there anyway

 

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because I think your getting married is a mistake. No one smart gets married after just meeting someone, and anyone can tell you that you don’t marry an asshole just because his cock doesn’t shoot blanks.” She slammed the phone down onto the receiver, and it sounded as if the phone shattered on impact. “I think I’m going to like her,” Ryken said with a smirk. Tabitha rose to her feet, glaring at Ryken, one palm pressed firmly to the dark brown wood of her desk, the other pointed towards the door at their backs. “Now, you two, get the fuck out of my office.” Grinning as if amused by her actions and unaffected by her words, Ryken pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number and pressed the phone to his ear. A moment later he spoke, and she knew she was in big trouble. Staring her down with mischievous eyes, he said, “Sebastian, we’re taking matters into our own hands. No going easy with this one I’m afraid. She’s a bit of a wildcat.” Ryken closed the cell phone and slid it back into his pocket. She gasped. “What the hell does that mean? Taking matters into your own hands?” Both Ryken and Luken exchanged knowing glances and edged closer to her. She rounded the chair, placing it as a shield between her and the two men. “I asked you two barbarian boneheads a question. What the hell does that mean?” Ryken’s grin looked forced as he approached her. His knees bumped the front of her chair, and her heart stopped dead in her chest. Leaning towards her, she could feel the heat of his body, the warmth of his breath upon her face. She was in more trouble than she’d ever been. His eyes flashed with warning, a thickening haze of mystery and sex. She swallowed hard, and her body quivered in response to his nearness. Gazing into his darkening blue eyes, she wondered just who this man was and why he affected her so. She was aroused by him and

 

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she wanted him in a way she hadn’t wanted another man. He brought out primal urges in her—a raw hunger that frightened her. She watched him inhale, his face so close he nuzzled her hair at the crook of her neck. The deep timbre of his voice sent a chill down her spine as he said, “I think we’re done with the question and answer session, sweetheart. I think it’s time for you to just sit back and let us do what we came here to do.” Panic rose like a five-alarm fire in her gut. Rocketing herself out of her sexual haze, she jolted back as if electrocuted. “Oh, my God, I knew it. You’re too pretty to be normal. You’ve somehow taken Brie prisoner and made her say those things to me, tried to have her convince me to go with you so you could rape and murder me, too.” Luken’s face scrunched up in confusion and wonder. “Seriously? That’s what you think?” He shook his head and said, “Sweetheart, you’ve been watching way too much television.” “I don’t watch television and stop calling me sweetheart,” she demanded. Then she realized that the chair no longer separated them and she was well aware of just how close Ryken had gotten to her. Her eyes rounded as she looked into his heated gaze. Her breath caught in her throat as his hands clamped down on her arms, forcing her back into her chair. “Sweetheart, sit back and shut up. This is going to be a bumpy ride.” Ryken closed the last of the distance between them and all hell broke loose.

 

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Chapter Three The train car rattled and bucked as it charged down the tracks and the trees whipped by at such quick speeds they were making her a little sick. Experiencing some nausea might be good, considering she was frustrated beyond measure. Her face was hot like fire, and she breathed through her nostrils like a raging bull. That jackass Ryken had subdued her and tied her up with little effort. Funny how she could easily tear free of her bonds if she wanted to, but she didn’t. Had he done that on purpose? She wasn’t sure, but she also wasn’t as freaked out as she had been earlier. Now, a lingering curiosity made her simply want to see how this all played out and then if they were lucky, she would let then walk away with their lives. The private car was frigid, not from temperature, but from the wall of ice she erected around her heart. Getting close to her captors at this point was not an option, other than to dig and pry for information. She had an agenda, one she would follow to the letter. Even if just the scent of them made her body sing like a canary and forced her mind to walk on the naughty side. Stop it, stop it right now. Think of Brie, you’re only here to save Brie. She glared over at her captor sitting directly across from her. “I can’t believe you hit me, and then drugged me,” she snapped, turning to stare out the window, arms folded defiantly over her chest. Ryken snorted. “I can’t believe you’re such a bitch, but it was fun telling the conductor what a sloppy drunk you are.” He winked at her. “He suggested you ease up on the booze, sweetheart.”

 

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She rounded to face him, eyes heated with pure venom and hate. “Right, I’m sure he did, and I’m also sure he considers your barbarian ass the picture of a perfect gentleman.” She let out a sarcastic chuckle. Stiffening, he told her, “I never said I was, but I do have to admit that I’m amazed that someone as sweet, warm, and caring as Brie would have a best friend like you. You’re nothing at all like her.” She was stunned. For some reason his negative impression of her troubled her straight to her soul. She should not care if he approved of her or not, should not care if he liked her or not. She should only care that they were taking her to Brie. Straightening her spine, her voice just above a whisper, she said sharply, “You don’t know a thing about me.” Snickering, he rested his booted foot across his knee and flexed his arms over his chest, biceps bulging. His crooked grin warmed her straight to the spot between her legs that had been long neglected, but was desperate for attention. Oh, God, don’t look, don’t even think about it, she told herself. He’s the enemy. “Sweetheart, I’m afraid I know you better than you think. Women like you are all the same—men haters to the core because you feel if you put your trust in a man, you’ll lose a part of yourself. If you let a man help you, it only makes you weaker. Well, precious, that’s a load of bullshit.” The deep, brusque tone in his voice was angry and loud—and wildly sexy. Gasping, she thought she heard the hint of an animalistic growl emerge from deep within his broad chest. A sound that should have frightened her, but instead it excited her. Her pulse quickened. “To you maybe, but I bet you’ve never once had to fight for what you truly wanted, even the simplest of securities. Your good looks and pretend charm have gotten you everything you’ve ever needed or desired, hasn’t it? And I bet that as long as you don’t open your mouth too long to put your foot in it, you get laid at the drop of a hat.”

 

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**** He glared at her, hating that she struck a nerve. His home, his clothing, everything he called his own he owed to his pack, to his alpha, Sebastian McCarthy. Staring into the eyes of a woman he should have claimed the moment he’d seen her, he instantly hated her. He despised everything she was, but at the same time, he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything else in the entire world. Groaning, he couldn’t get close to this woman. There was too much danger involved. “You know nothing,” he growled. “Just as you know nothing about me,” she angrily said. He stood, brooding and pensive. He could do one of two things— kiss the smartass vixen out of her and claim the woman he knew belonged to him or leave her in the hands of his able brother. Luken could calm her down and ease her into being a good little girl. He chose the safer option. “I think its best we don’t speak to one another.” He turned to exit the train car. “I couldn’t agree more,” she acknowledged. Her tone might have told him “get the fuck out,” but the energy she sent out to him said otherwise. The attraction was mutual, and that made things a bit more complicated for them both. Gripping hold of the door, claws lengthening, digging into the wood panel, he opened it. But just before he vanished, she begged, “Wait, where are you going?” Not bothering to face her, knowing his eyes glowed with a silvery vengeance, he spoke over his shoulder. “What? You suddenly think I can strike up a civilized conversation with you without insulting you, or did you just want me to shut up so you could fuck me?” Eyes wide, she gasped. “I wouldn’t fuck you if you were the last man on earth.”

 

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He could smell her lie a mile away. Growling, hating the need that twisted and ate at his gut, he snapped, “Well, it’s a good damn thing I’m not then, huh, sweetheart?” The train car door slammed shut, just as Luken appeared at his side. “Trouble with the little lady, brother?” He grumbled, “She’s all yours, Luken. Maybe she’ll be less of a bitch to you than she is to me. For some reason I bring the hellcat out of her, and I don’t have the patience to make nice with her.” He brushed past Luken and headed for the dining car that was loaded with gallons and gallons of alcohol. This wolf had plans of getting good and drunk, then maybe even finding a faceless someone to fuck the shit out of. As long as it wasn’t little Miss Pain In The Ass. **** Luken opened the door and stepped inside the room. Tabitha quickly brushed the fallen tears from her cheeks before he could notice. Frustrated both sexually and emotionally, she had been greatly affected by Ryken’s outburst, saddened at their abrupt separation. A need to have him rush back to make amends with her was so fierce in her mind and heart she almost couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Traditionally, she liked conflict, enjoyed the rush of adrenaline she got from it. But not resolving the conflict with Ryken before he stormed away from her twisted inside her like a rusty knife. Holy shit, she was losing her ever-loving mind. She wanted distance between them, didn’t she? She didn’t even know him or care about him, but if that were true, then why did she feel so lost the moment Ryken had left the room? Yep, she was truly out of her mind. The man was kidnapping her and had most likely done something awful to Brie. Having concerned feelings for a man in his position was not only dumb, but psychotic.

 

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Luken untied her bonds and then sat across from her, silent as a church mouse. His eyes were the same steely blue as Ryken’s, the resemblance uncanny. She took a moment to put her emotions in check before she spoke. “Did your brother send you here to babysit me?” Her voice shook as she tried her best to sound sarcastic and annoyed. It wasn’t working. He frowned. “No, but I was coming to relieve him anyway. I thought you might enjoy something to eat.” He presented her with a brown paper bag, waving it slowly in front of her. She hesitated to take it, but eventually did. She didn’t have the same urge to be a bitch to him as she was to Ryken. Not to mention, she was starving. Peering inside the bag, she found an apple, banana, orange, sandwich, and a bottle of water. Holding the sandwich wrapped in plastic, she arched her brow. The corner of his mouth quirked. He shared, “Thinly sliced turkey, American cheese, lettuce and tomato and mustard on whole wheat bread.” Amazed, her heart skittered to a stop. Narrowing her eyes, arching a brow, she asked, “How did you know that I liked my sandwiches this way?” He shrugged. “I didn’t, Brie did.” He cleared his throat before he said, “She’s apparently pretty angry with us for the manner in which we’ve taken custody of you.” His alluring voice was drenched with both humor and regret. He wasn’t hiding his emotions from her, and strangely, she felt that comforting. Her gut rolled at the reminder of her present situation—a captive. “Really?” She tossed the bag of food on the bench beside her and crossed her arms once again over her chest, noticing that her wrists rested more comfortably on her arms now that she was unbound. His intense but soft gaze penetrated into her soul as he stared at her. “I know you’re having difficulty believing us and with good reason. You don’t know us, you’ve never met us, and I’m sure Brie’s

 

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never mentioned us even once.” His deep voice rolled over her like a warm burst of wind. “Now, you’re being forced to be in our company, and you’ve been given startling news about your best and dearest friend. All of these things would be difficult for anyone to sort through.” She frowned, eyes narrowing tighter. She barked, “What, are you a psychiatrist?” She held his gaze as he explained, “No, but I grasp emotions and that the manner in which we’ve brought you with us might not have been the best way to earn your confidence. Please understand that we are truly here as chaperones.” His buttery smooth voice licked over her skin and sent a thunderous chill straight to the core of her body. “Look, I hope you see me and my brother as friends. We really are escorting you to see Brie, and she really is getting married. She’s happy, Ms. Burns. She radiates whenever she is with her…” His words trailed off. “What? She radiates whenever what?” His gaze wandered towards the darkening view of the landscape outside the window of the moving train. “I’m sorry, I got carried away. I realized these are things she should be sharing with you.” He returned his gaze to hers. “I have no right to divulge matters I’m sure Brie would want to tell you herself…as sisters or best friends might.” She was so confused by the man in front of her. Her reaction to him was so different from that of his brother. Ryken infuriated her while Luken calmed her, soothed her and made her feel like she was important. “You speak so differently from your brother. If you two didn’t look identical, I wouldn’t believe for one second that you were related.” He chuckled. “Ryken means well. He’s just having a hard time these days.” “These days?” she questioned, her tone sounding more interested in the subject than she realized.

 

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“I fear Ryken might be experiencing…growing pains.” He snickered. She giggled, but then covered her mouth, not wanting to reveal that she felt, in any other circumstance, she could have genuinely liked Luken. “But he’s already a grown man. What kind of growing pains could he possibly be suffering? Is his brain finally catching up with his body?” She laughed. He smiled, and she was suddenly captivated by the view of his warm, delicious grin, teasing her straight to her soul. He explained, “His heart, of course.” The way Luken spoke the words told her it was an unexpected statement. Perhaps even Luken was surprised by Ryken’s behavior. “His heart?” she asked, pinching her brows tight together. What was he referring to? Matters of the heart seemed a strange topic for them to be having. Ryken didn’t seem to love anything but himself, at least that was her first impression. She couldn’t help but tease, “Does Ryken have trouble expressing himself? Does he actually like me?” She laughed a little harder. “Was he just acting like the boys in grade school who believed in order to show a girl you liked her you pulled her hair or pushed her down during recess? Because if that is the case, then he must love me.” She glanced out the window, reflecting over the absurdity of their conversation. “Maybe,” he said plainly. She shrugged, wondering what the heck she had gotten herself involved with. There was something so different about the men that had become her traveling companions. They invoked a fevered connection that made her experience a sense of security when she was in their presence. The link between them made the crazy world she was somehow thrust into seem acceptable. She grabbed the bag beside her, pulled out the sandwich, and unwrapped it. Taking a bite, she asked, “Have you already eaten?” “No,” he said simply.

 

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She found it impossible to treat him rudely. He was just too damn nice and looked too damn good. What they hell was wrong with being cordial? Nothing. “Would you like an apple?” She pulled the apple from the bag and handed it to him. She waved the surrender flag in front of Luken, one he accepted with a smile. “Thank you, Ms. Burns,” he said as he sank his teeth into the bright red shell. “I’m sorry about the bonds earlier, but we had to make sure you wouldn’t try to leave us before you had a chance to understand we had no intentions of hurting you.” He held her gaze. “Ms. Burns, I honestly would have liked to have met you under different circumstances, one that didn’t involve barging into your office and stealing you away like some thief in the night.” She would have liked that. To have had that chance to know Luken without the stress of being kidnapped. Clearing her suddenly dry throat, she admitted, “Me, too, and please, call me Tabitha.” He nodded his head in agreement and repeated her name with the sweetness of honey, dripping from his tongue. “Tabitha.” Her name fell from his lips like a decadent shower of chocolate over ripe red strawberries. She shivered, watching his every movement. Captivated by the grace in which his lips pressed and released—a dance that had her wondering just how warm and insatiable those lips would be caressing her own. Strangely, the man in front of her didn’t frighten her in the least. Instead, he aroused her, something no other man had done. Well, except for his brother, Ryken, but that was because he fought with her and she’d always found heated emotions combined with quick wit to be sexually energizing. Feeling the pulsing arousal of a man, one as appetizing as Luken, had not happened to her in quite some time. She had managed to control the hunger and cravings for sex, several days ago, at least. The impulse to fuck anything that was willing conquered—the night that had changed her life forever. So she thought.

 

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Five years. That was the length of time that had passed since the last time she had been with a man, and that had been an emotional disaster. The jackass had ripped her heart out of her chest and stomped on it as if she had no feelings at all to consider. He used her. Got what he needed and then left just as quickly as he had stormed into her life. Bastard. She had been a fool then, unable to separate her heart from the needs of her body. She had come a long way since then. But now, things were different. Ryken and Luken both made things different. Why, she hadn’t a clue. Luken was making it impossible for her to control the desires flaming inside her body. She couldn’t resist the need to reach out to him, to close the last bit of distance separating them, and taste the lips that teased and enticed her. A thirst awakened inside her, one that was eager to be quenched. Her shoulder ached, and she absently rubbed it. Her skin flamed, her clothing too tight for her body. She was going insane with lust. What the hell was wrong with her? She was like a dog in heat, tail raised and ready for mounting. Dazed by an allure that radiated out of him, she stared deep into his radiant blue eyes as if noticing their unique color for the first time. She inhaled his scent, and the arousal she discovered left her breathless. He wanted her, she was sure of it. The sound of his rapid heartbeat, the pumping of his blood rang out like a beacon in her ears. Yes, he wanted her just as badly as she wanted him. The heat from his body called to her, warned of passions only he could sate. As if hearing her thoughts, her summoning of desires, he set the apple on the table at his side and moved from the bench to kneel between her legs. Using his large, uncompromising hands, he parted her legs further. Her eyes wide with wonder, she gasped, “What are you doing?”

 

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She should be asking herself that question. What the hell was she doing letting some stranger ease between her legs like a two-dollar whore? Grinning, he muttered in a tone as smooth as silk, “I think you already know the answer to that question, sweet Tabitha.” Nerves gathered like butterflies in her stomach. She shook her head. Was this really happening? “No, I’m afraid I don’t.” He gripped the half-eaten sandwich from her hand and placed it on the table beside her next to his apple then returned to gently clasp her hands in his, and kissed her knuckles. Her breath caught as she stared down at him. His loosely flowing hair tumbled over his shoulders, framing high, chiseled cheek bones and a square jaw. His eyes radiated heat and desire. A mirror image of the emotions she was feeling. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t think. Was this really happening to her? Was she going to let this happen to her? “Luken?” “Stop, Tabitha,” he growled low. His soothing voice tingled up and down her spine. “Don’t do it, don’t overthink yourself into a panic.” He nuzzled her neck, lips gliding along her flesh, goose bumps flaming her body. “I’m not. I just—” His voice was filled with hunger as he nipped at the lobe of her ear. “What, darling? You want me to kiss you? Want me to feel your warm, silky skin beneath my lips? Feel me wedged between your creamy thighs, shoving my cock into the tight grip of your pussy. Oh, I want that, too.” He purred, nipping at her chin, kissing along her cheek towards the corner of her mouth. “That’s not exactly what I was going to say.” She sighed, heart pounding like a drum in her chest. She knew she was going to say something, knew it was important. “I can’t think when you’re doing that.”

 

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“No?” The smile in his voice sent a jolt of electricity to her core, dampening her panties. She knew she was only lying to herself, knew she didn’t want him to stop, and damn it, she didn’t even care if being with him was wrong. Oh, God, this man made her wet, hungry, ravenous for affection. His large hand cupped the side of her face. His thumb slowly caressed her skin, sending shivers of delight soaring throughout her body. She closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of the warmth penetrating into her flesh. The sensation was divine and positively irresistible. “I don’t want you to think, Tabitha. I want you to feel. Your body is trembling with need, your heady scent begging me for more, so much more.” He growled low in his throat. “And I want to give that to you, sweetheart. I want to show you all the pleasures your body can stand.” He leaned closer to her, his breath mingled with hers. “Will you let me love you tonight, Tabitha? Will you let me show you the pleasures your body craves, desires…needs?” She fought to make sense of the sexual awareness ravaging her body. Her body didn’t belong to her anymore. She had no control and she couldn’t think straight. Everything she tried to think about was fuzzy. Nothing but pleasure and passion mattered. Her sanity stripped away, leaving nothing but need behind. A whimpering moan escaped her lips as she brought her mouth to meet his. The allure of his mouth captured her lips, tasting of exquisite male spice. Tongues mingled in a hungry feast, hot and ready for fevered exploration. Her hands shot to the button of his jeans, flipping it open with ease, then the zipper. Diving in, she greeted his firm cock with the soft grip of her hand, stroking gently. “Oh,” she breathed. His generous size only made her want him more. Never had she ached so much to be satisfied. Her body burned. An inferno of emotions and sensations she couldn’t identify. The need

 

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for him was alive like tingling electricity in her belly—a yearning that felt primal and raw. “Luken?” she gasped, fingers weaving into the golden strands of his loosely flowing hair. “What’s happening to me? I can’t believe how much I want you. Oh, God, I’ve never felt this way before.” Gripping her face in his hands, he took her mouth again, blocking her words. His eager lips caressed and suckled her, while his tongue tasted and dined on the wetness of her mouth. “I know, sweetheart. I feel it, too. I’ve waited so long for this.” He arched his hips forward as she stroked him harder. “Awww, that feels so good. I’ve been without a woman for so long. I fear I might not be as impressive as I would like.” She withdrew her hand from his pants, and he froze, meeting her gaze. “Oh, I seriously doubt that. We can do this all night long for all I care. That way you can prove to me just how impressive you really are.” He grinned, coaxing her lips with his. “I think I can handle that. You’ll find I have extraordinary stamina.” The buttons of her blouse popped open, one after the other. His large, unyielding hands worked the shirt free of her shoulders and arms. Magic fingers toyed with the clasp of her bra. The fabric slowly scraped over her sensitive nipples. His fingers gliding up and down her arms, he whispered, “God, you’re so beautiful, Tabitha. A vision I only dreamed of witnessing. You make me feel things…things I’ve never felt with another woman.” He nuzzled her neck as if inhaling her scent. “You are amazing.” A sigh of relief escaped her at the sound of his praise, glad he found her body appealing. Her breasts were not large, but not small either. She was blessed with full, round breasts that Luken seemed to appreciate. A chill shot to her toes the moment his hot mouth clamped down on her hard, responsive nipple. Head kicking back, he gripped her

 

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hips, tugging her forward. His mouth worked over her breasts, kissing, nipping, and suckling each one. He returned to her mouth, while his hands massaged and caressed her heavy breasts. Tender to the touch, she couldn’t stand it any longer, needed to feel him buried deep inside her body. Easing away from his lips, she whispered, “I’ve always wanted to make love on a train.” Fingers clawed into his back with fevered urgency, tearing at the fabric of his shirt. Obliging her, he tugged his shirt up over his head. “And why is that?” He moaned, capturing her lips again, greedy and possessive. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the hard ridge of muscle under her fingers. His smooth chest and erect nipples teased and delighted her. Sexy was not a word, but a man. Arousing and masculine, his primal, intoxicating aroma sent fire burning between her legs. Moisture pooled, and her body hummed with need, ready to feel the hard length of him sliding into the wet depths of her pussy. His warm breath on her face, she murmured between kisses, “I don’t know, just have. Maybe it’s the roar of the engine, the speed of travel, the likelihood of being discovered, someone overhearing.” Holding his alluring steel-blue gaze, she bit her lip. “I guess it could be a little of everything. Not to mention, being with a man I just met.” He chuckled, holding her face in his hands. The heat of his expression, the desire firing in his eyes sent quivers of passion blazing from every nerve ending in her body. “Is this one of your fantasies, sweet Tabitha? Being with a man you just met? You’ve never had a one-night stand before, have you?” “No,” she admitted. “Never.” “Would you honor me by allowing me to be the man in your fantasy, to pleasure you in ways no other man has ever been able to do?” How could she refuse his offer? That was easy. She couldn’t. She nodded, chewing the inside of her mouth, heat flooding her cheeks. She had never shared one of her fantasies with another man

 

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before, never trusted enough to do it. Why was she so comfortable with Luken? Why did she not even hesitate to tell him her desires? She was unnaturally eager to share herself with this man. He licked the seam of her lips and said, “Well, in that case, let’s give those who pass by a nice earful of your moans and groans.” Her teeth dug into her bottom lip. She enjoyed his playful suggestions—maybe a little too much. She loved that he didn’t tease her about her fantasy, but rather joined her in her need. She smiled. “Oh. So you think I’ll be moaning and groaning, do you?” Grinning wickedly, he pressed his hard cock between her spread legs. He told her, “Oh, I hope you’ll be doing a hell of a lot more than that.”

 

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Chapter Four She was going to stop breathing at any moment. Her heart was going to erupt right out of her chest, and her body was on the verge of self-combusting. She’d never been more aroused in her life. Luken’s hands cradled her face as he nipped at her chin and jaw, sending little shivers up and down each vertebra of her spine. She could feel his desire and hunger for her, mingling with her own in such a way it nearly blinded her. The sensations igniting in her body churned wildly along her veins. A blazing fire burned from within her soul. Unimaginable lust filled her body to the brim, overwhelming every fiber of her being, simmering in each nerve ending, melting any reserve she had of sleeping with this godlike stranger. He wanted her. She could feel it straight to her toes. His body craved hers. He wanted to soothe the untamed beast she had not even known lived inside her. “Oh, God, Luken?” she gasped. “Are you sure we should be doing this?” “Doing what? Enjoying ourselves? Enjoying the pleasure we can give each other?” Voice trembling, she muttered, “Yes, but even so, it doesn’t make it right. I don’t even know you.” He held her gaze, his face an inch away from hers. In a low, primal, deep voice, he shared, “My name is Luken McCree. I have a twin brother named Ryken and no other siblings. I’m six three and over two hundred pounds. I was born in Texas, and I’ll be thirty-three in March. I work and live at McCarthy Ranch, a property that’s been in my family for generations. I’ve never been married, never even

 

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been close to asking a woman to marry me, and I have no children. But the most important thing you should know about me is that I’m incredibly attracted to you, Tabitha Burns.” He brought her fingers to his lips, kissing each one in turn. “I haven’t had sex in a very long time, and I fear that if you deny me the chance to make love to you I’ll never survive the night.” He pressed his lips over hers and nibbled at her mouth before pulling away. His eyes were so full of heat and passion she nearly melted into the seat. “Beautiful Tabitha, you must be aware that my hand would never satisfy the cravings and fire you set inside me. Surely, you can feel the desire I have for you. I’ve never wanted anything more than to be with you.” She smiled. He was so damn charming she couldn’t see straight. Her fingers traced over his broad shoulders, the fabric of his undershirt annoying and coarse. What did she have to lose? She was a grown woman in the arms of a gorgeous man who clearly wanted her as much as she wanted him. What was so wrong with allowing her body one night to have her most primal needs satisfied? What better way to have that itch scratched then by a man who looked as exquisite as Luken? A man who was by far one of the sexiest men she had ever laid eyes on. A deep sigh later and she was saying to herself, Oh, what the hell. “Take this off,” she told him, pinching the white undershirt, lifting to reveal bronzed, delectable skin. Skin she couldn’t wait to feast upon. Her mouth watered. She had been alone for so long it was all she could do to not seem desperate, easy. She had already envisioned him naked, his hard cock pounding into her pussy with more vigor than she could stand. Licking her lips, she could practically taste the precum that seeped from the head of his cock. He leaned back and tugged his shirt up over his head. Within seconds he returned, positioned between her legs, cradled against the

 

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inferno blazing at the core of her body. Moisture pooled as he brushed his pelvis against hers. Oh, God in Heaven… Her head kicked back against the high back cushion of her chair, stretching her neck as she enjoyed the firmness of his cock pressed against her covered pussy. His lips sampled her neck, kissing and licking the warm flesh. She shivered, fingers digging into the taut muscles of his chest, shoulders, and back. The heat pouring out of his flesh was like standing in front of a roaring fire, he was so warm, inviting her to close the distance between them. The taste of his lips was pure male and heated spice. His mintflavored tongue molded with hers, sliding against hers with determined strokes. He eased back to tug her bottom lip into his mouth, over and over again, licking and tasting her. She had never been kissed like this before, as if the man couldn’t get enough of her. He tasted her mouth like a man starved for her touch, needing her more than he needed his next gulp of air. She loved it, not realizing just how much she had missed the feel of a man in her arms. The sensual caress Luken offered her made her eyes close as a soft moan escaped her lips. With Luken the intimacy between them would be different. Just sex—good old, hot and sweaty, I can’t believe how many orgasms I just had sex—nothing more. She wouldn’t confuse the situation as she had with her last relationship. She’d make sure of that. Once this matter with Brie had been resolved, she would return to her life in Seattle. Her boring, nothing ever happens to me life. Tabitha was lost in the touch and taste of the man captivating her body. Powerful hands crept up her thighs, hips, and waist. His fingers pulled at the material of her shirt and then freed her body of the confines of her skirt. The warm press of his hands against the flesh of her ribs and belly singed her, nerve endings charged and tingled. Her heart fluttering wildly, tantalizing sensations that reminded her of the connection she longed for since the attack. The animal attack that

 

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could’ve killed her and an event in her life she was desperate to forget. Cupping the heavy weight of her breasts, he pushed the fabric of her bra up over the mounds, revealing her bare breasts completely for his exploration. His calloused palm rubbed over her hard, tingling nipples, holding her breasts, robbing her lungs of air. His wicked hands massaged and stroked her flesh with remarkable skill. She closed her eyes as he teased her body. “Remove the rest of my clothing, Luken. Do it. Do it now,” she begged, needing to feel her skin pressed against his. The connection she was sure to feel once they had finally touched, flesh against flesh. “Damn, woman. What you do to me.” His rumbled growl was filled with satisfaction. Within seconds, he had removed the remaining garments, revealing her supple breasts. Her nipples ached as they grew harder with his intense, heated stare. A pain she would gladly endure to see a man as sexy as Luken gaze upon her body with so much desire and explosive hunger. Tabitha fought to breathe as his mouth fastened down on her firm nipple. Her heart raced as the wet warmth of his mouth suckled her breast. Her nails dug into his scalp, gripping him hard against her body, fearing that he would stop the delightful assault tantalizing her flesh. He gripped her hips, pulled her forward, and wrapped his other arm around her back, lifting her as if she weighed nothing into his arms. She blinked her eyes and found herself lying on the bed in her private train car. Luken kicked off his shoes and yanked off the remainder of his clothing with ease. Then, he was in front of her, fingers dipping into the waist of her skirt as if he intended to rip the fabric from her body. “Wait, there’s a zipper,” she whimpered, hips lifting off the bed, hands delving behind her in search of the zipper.

 

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Once the zipper was free, he pulled down her skirt, leaving her wearing only a pair of damp, silky pink panties. But the material keeping her pussy out of sight had to be removed. He eased the panties down her legs, slowly pulling the fabric past her thighs, freeing her body of the one thing keeping them truly apart. Her panties landed on top of the pile of clothing beside the bed. He sucked in an audible breath. “I’ve died and gone to heaven,” he muttered. Wide-eyed, she stared at him. His hand dove into his hair, arms flexing as he held that position, gaping at her in awe. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Tabitha.” He licked his lips, leaning forward, one knee pressing into the edge of the bed between her legs, his fingers trailing up her thighs. Her throat dry, she swallowed. She couldn’t stop shaking, her mind on one thing and one thing only—his cock fucking her pussy until she exploded with the best orgasm of her life. He was turning her mind and body into a bowl of Jell-O, as well as a nymphomaniac with an insatiable appetite. There wasn’t a thing she would deny him at this point. She felt the rush of excitement flood her body. Her pussy grew wetter, and her clit throbbed with need. A deep yearning pummeled her mind. A natural-born instinct thrived inside her soul and told her what she needed to do. The instinctive need pushed her to accept Luken and the connection he offered—a connection so primal it shocked her. He did something to her, mind, body, and spirit. What that something was, she had no idea, but it felt incredible, freeing, like a wild animal escaping the confines of its cage. Never had her body felt so in need of another’s touch. Never had she been more attracted to a man as she was to Luken, and that seemed to include Ryken, too, except it wasn’t the same. This man in her arms made her feel warm and welcomed, while Ryken brought out the devil in her. A seductive side she had not witnessed in herself

 

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before tonight. Ryken had a way of making her want to have down and dirty, rip the clothes from my body and do wicked things to me sex. Luken seemed to make her just lust, crave with need and desire to be touched, satisfied, and cherished. A difference she took great notice of. “Are you all right, love?” Luken’s deep voice ignited goose bumps along her flesh, and her heart beat hard in her chest. She’d gotten distracted with thoughts of the two men and their differences. An image flashed clear and bright in her mind—both men pleasuring her. Heat flooded her cheeks, and her pussy clenched tight. She had to remind herself that Luken was in her arms and about to be inside her body. This man was the one for her—at least for tonight. “Yes, I’m fine.” She kissed his mouth slowly and possessively. “Whatever you do, don’t stop touching me…kissing me.” The weight of his body sent shivers throughout her veins, blood surging like a waterspout, her mind on fire. She couldn’t wait much longer to feel him inside her, fucking her with all the strength and hunger she imagined Luken possessed. To know the passion she had seen in his eyes had not been just a dream. Kissing her breast, his mouth claimed her body, up toward her neck until he sampled her mouth once more. A rumble thrived deep in his chest, and he groaned. “Do you have any objections to oral sex?” She held her breath, eyes wide. No one had ever asked her that before. She hadn’t done it in so long she feared she forgot if she enjoyed it or not. Shit, what was he supposed to say to him? Gee, I don’t know? Yep, that sounded dumb even in the privacy of her own thoughts. “Don’t hesitate, Tabitha. I promise you’ll enjoy everything I do to your body. I won’t leave one drop of your sweet honey to waste. Your pussy will melt on my tongue like delicious, mouthwatering chocolate. I’m going to make you come so hard you won’t be able to think straight.”

 

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Her heart fluttered wildly. “I can’t think straight now,” she told him, gasping for air. He chuckled. The enticing sound warmed her to her toes. “That’s a good thing, sweetheart. In fact, I think it’s a very good thing.” A heated burst of trembling air shot from her lungs and her pussy tightened at the suggestion of his words. “Whatever you want to do to me, Luken, have at it,” she whimpered, surrendering her body to him and the pleasures his touch promised. A deep, throaty growl ripped from his chest as he dove to the spot between her legs. Pressing her thighs wide, she rested the heels of her feet on his broad shoulders. Head up, she watched him gaze upon her slick cunt. Oh. My. God. Her mind was fuzzy, her sanity fading. She couldn’t think. He was staring at her as if preparing to devour her and she would never be the same after he finished. But was that such a bad thing? Was it terrible that he promised pleasure and passion she had never experienced? Hell no. Luken blew a fiery burst of air over her throbbing clit, a sweet, heavenly torture that had her fingers clawing the fabric of the sheets beneath her. The heat of his hands pressed against her silky thighs, spreading her wider. She closed her eyes, the anticipation of his touch killing her softly, robbing her of breath. She whimpered—a silent plea for him to begin sampling her. Trembling with fevered desires, she begged, “Please, Luken.” If he didn’t taste or fuck her soon she was going to take matters into her own hands. Literally. She would rub her own throbbing clit and fuck her hungry pussy with her fingers. She was that needy and unashamed. Then his tongue pressed between the wet folds of her sex, and she moaned, more like screamed—an exultant cry of satisfaction and disbelief. A fever broke out all over her body, every nerve ending firing at once like a million gun salute.

 

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Clamping down on her clit, he sucked the sensitive bud into his mouth, flicking his tongue over and over again, drawing it in sharply between his lips. “Oh, yes, Luken. Don’t stop. Oh, God, don’t stop,” she whimpered. He didn’t stop. He continued to ravage her pussy, licking, sucking, and tasting every bit of her wetness. She was a fountain for him, and he was drinking his fill. She gasped as his fingers circled her pulsing clit, hips jerking, sending fire racing to her belly. His finger pressed inside the tight grip of her pussy, first one then two fingers, pumping in and out in slow, tantalizing strokes. “I’m so close, Luken,” she panted. Holding nothing back, she bucked her hips as the first wave of her orgasm slammed into her like a ton of bricks. She screamed, gripping his head, keeping him still until he wrung her free of the last drop of her essence. “That’s it, sweetheart,” he said, lapping at her slickness. “Your pussy’s so tight.” He growled, kissing her inner thigh, two fingers sliding in and out of her wetness. As he slowly finger-fucked her, her body relaxed. Her legs fell wide, all the tension fleeing her like the wind. She was beyond sated, but he continued to lap at her pussy, causing her to arch her hips, giving him more access to her body. “Sweet Christ, you taste so good. I knew you would, Tabitha. I knew your body would be like this, taste like heaven.” Her arm draped over her face, she didn’t move, didn’t speak. Too long had her body been without a man’s touch, too long since her last orgasm, and if she was lucky, she would get to have another one and soon. Dazed senseless, she panted, “Can we do that again?” ****

 

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Crawling up her body, he growled at the scent of his satisfied mate, loved that he could make her cry out in abandon. He knew she would be like this, pliant and willing in his hands, and he had known it since the moment he met her. He had caught her unique scent in the elevator, but hadn’t fully accepted it until he tasted her lips and licked the delicious cream from between her legs that she belonged to him. The instinct to claim her had been fierce. His beast wouldn’t have allowed him to walk away from her. The moment he sampled her, he knew. Tabitha Burns was his mate, and he couldn’t have been more pleased. She was an intelligent woman with a zest for life. She had no idea what wild and wonderful things lived inside her, things he knew she had not explored. He would show her those amazing and wonderful things, would entice her with a passion she had never dreamed possible. Holding her gaze, he could see himself in her hazel eyes, the greenish-blue color surrounded by a fine trace of black, a rich kohl that made her eyes so defined and uniquely hers. Her captivating eyes had his heart revving in his chest—eyes that filled him with wild, animalistic need. His beast growled, recognizing the woman beneath him as the mate he would cherish for all eternity. A woman he would do anything for. She was his to protect, and he would with his dying breath. The sweetness of her face made him gasp for air. The soft pout of her lips, the desire in her gaze, the heady scent of her sex—everything about her overwhelmed his senses. She filled his mind and body with so much more than he bargained for, and he hadn’t even fucked her yet. He hadn’t done much more than pleasure her once. And once was not nearly enough. He wedged himself between her legs, his hard cock pressing over her slickness, rubbing against her clit. He heard her gasp, shivering in his arms.

 

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Grinning, he asked, “Enjoyed that did you?” He ground his cock over her clit once more, loving the little moans tearing from her throat. “Because I’ve got so much more in store for you.” Her arm fell from her face and rested at her side. Smiling, her eyes sparkling up at him, she said, “More? I was hoping there would be more. A lot more.” Her eyebrows flexed up and down as her legs wrapped around him, encouraging him to settle in between her legs. He guided the head of his cock to her slick entrance and eased himself inside her, stretching her wide. The tight grip of her pussy was almost too much to bear. She whimpered, closing her eyes as he surged deep, to the hilt. Holding still, he gazed upon her straining, innocent face. “Are you all right, sweetheart?” Biting into her bottom lip, she nodded, and grimacing, she said, “Yes, it’s just been awhile.” She opened her eyes. The tightness around her mouth eased. “You know you’re not exactly a small dude.” He chuckled, loving that a woman with such sophistication would use the word “dude.” “I’m not so sure it’s me,” he told her. “Your pussy is as tight as a fist.” He hadn’t expected her to feel so perfect, so meant for him. “Will you be okay if I move?” Her eyes rounded. She gripped his shoulders, nails clawing into his flesh as if afraid to let him go. “Where are you going?” He grinned, smiling wide. “I’m not going anywhere. I meant I’m ready to start fucking you now, but I don’t want to hurt you. Can I do that, Tabitha? Are you ready to feel me?” He ground his hips against hers. “Really feel me?” “Oh, God, Luken, I’m so ready.” She moaned, throwing her head back, rolling it from side to side the moment his cock almost eased all the way out of her sheath, and slammed back inside. “Ah, fuck, baby,” he groaned, hips arching forward, driving deeper inside of her. “You feel so good.” He gripped the back of her knees, spreading her wider. Cradling his hips against her pelvis, he

 

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bucked forward, ramming his cock into her cunt over and over again, faster and faster. His mind fuzzy, he could feel the buzzing of electricity firing in his ball sac. He wasn’t going to last. She was driving him insane, and he loved every moment of it. Her body belonged to him, whether she realized it or not, and he was going to claim her in every way possible. Her mind and soul were next to conquer on his list. He would win his mate. There was no other option. “Ah, baby, I’m going to come so damn hard,” he growled through gritted teeth, feeling the tightening of her sheath squeeze his cock. She was coming. His chest boosted with pride as he watched her face distort with passion, listening to the little moans of satisfaction fly from her throat. He’d satisfied his mate, made her come, made her cry out in pleasure. Never had he been more pleased. One final thrust and he filled her body with his release. His need to claim her was so fervent in his mind—a basic need, a primal instinct. He collapsed on top of her, the sweat from their bodies mingling. He eased himself to the side and pulled her into the contours of his body, cradling her ass against his still-erect cock. She didn’t complain as he held her, didn’t make a sound as she drifted off to sleep except for the soft flutter of breaths that pushed past her lips. He smiled at the sweet angel in his arms, feeling an overwhelming sense of need to protect her. She was sated and in a short time she would be so again, when he claimed her once more. His cock pulsed at the thought of taking her body again before morning. Taking her, fucking her more fiercely, like the animal that clawed inside his mind, begging to emerge. He closed his eyes and dreamed of sleep, but couldn’t. His mind suddenly filled with thoughts of Ryken and the anger he had felt

 

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radiating out of his twin. Something was going on with his brother, something that he should have sensed sooner, but he hadn’t. Damn, he thought, rising from the bed to dress. Covering his sleeping mate, he left her in search of Ryken.

 

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Chapter Five Ryken eyed his brother warily as he watched Luken duck down the train car away from Tabitha’s room. The roaring of the train charging down the tracks could barely be heard over the thunder of the blood racing in his ears. Furious with his brother, a deep, gutwrenching growl surged from his chest. The points of his sharp teeth bit into his bottom lip. The black claws of his fingers dug into his calloused palms. His body was slowly transforming into the beast, his hands no longer resembled human extremities. Keeping his wolf hidden in the shadows of his mind had never been so difficult, but then again, he had never felt as jealous and so filled with rage before either. When he returned from the bar after drinking his fill of whatever the bartender placed in front of him, he had overheard his brother fucking Tabitha. He had listened to her screams of pleasure, and smelled the arousal of her body. That was the first sting of jealousy. He should’ve never left her in his brother’s capable hands. The son of a bitch proved to be too capable. He had never been so out of his mind with fury in his life. Possessive need fueled his blood, and resentment clouded his judgment. She was supposed to be his, damn it. In that instant, he wanted to kill his brother Luken, twin or not. He couldn’t control the primal, thickening rage fueling his mind. Anger, so much anger, saturated his soul. He wanted her and he had since the moment he’d stepped into the elevator and caught her heady scent. The first gulp of air he inhaled of her had twisted his gut into a

 

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million knots, squeezed his skull like a vise. The awareness of her was uncanny. He knew she was special. The powerful instinct of the wolf looming inside consumed him with the desire to claim her as his mate—a mating that would forever change the man he was and the relationship he cherished with his twin brother. Finding his mate was something he had not imagined would happen to him. Never leaving McCarthy Ranch was supposed to ensure that. He was a lycan, a werewolf, who enjoyed the freedoms of the wild. Having a mate would change everything, but even knowing that, he couldn’t resist her. Not for a single moment. When he had seen her sitting behind the desk, he knew it was his undoing. Her golden strawberry hair had tumbled over her shoulders. Wide, shimmering hazel eyes greeted him, full breasts and a lean, athletic body—a goddess. The vision of her beauty and boldness stole the breath from his lungs and nearly rendered him speechless. The powerful presence she exuded thrilled him, and her quick wit fired his blood. Tabitha Burns tormented the hell out of him, charmed him with a wicked grin, and ignited a fire so hot in his body he thought was sure to incinerate him into a pile of ash. She was perfect—in every regard. Even when she frustrated him, he couldn’t help but want her. However, even with the impulses bumping around in his mind and body, she obviously had other plans, plans that consisted of fucking his twin brother—his smooth-talking, charmer of a shithead brother. The prick had no right to use her body. Tabitha belonged to him. How could Luken not see how she affected him? How could Luken not care that she turned him into a bumbling idiot, a frustrated jackass, whenever she was near? Why had Luken fucked her? Why did she let him? What did Luken offer her that he couldn’t? Physically they were identical. Even their cocks were the same size and shape. Surely, any woman wouldn’t be able to notice the

 

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difference between them. The only noticeable difference was that he wore his hair back in a nylon band, but that was an easy fix. Ryken tugged at the band and freed his hair, shaking it loose. Glancing at the reflection in the glass window, he grinned. A wicked thought eclipsed his mind. A thought he should not be having. He tried to convince himself that he would never have considered such a devious plan had he not been inebriated. Then again, primal need was also driving him. A raw instinct that roared awake with the beast rising up from beneath the surface. Claim your mate, his instinct demanded with a vengeance. The wolf inside him wanted to play, begged him for release. Stepping into Tabitha’s train car, he inhaled the scent of her body, could still smell his brother in the air, but not for long. He crept into her room. She was lying on the bed, a blanket barely covering her luscious body. Her uncovered, long, lean legs peeked out from under the blanket as she curled up on her side. Her one arm tucked up under her head, while the other pressed gently to the side of her chest. She looked so innocent, so delicious. He could eat her for hours. And he just might if he was lucky enough. Quickly disrobing, he slowly pulled the blanket off her and gazed upon the curves of her body. His cock jerked with need. Ryken took several deep intakes of breath and calmed himself, returning to the man she would appreciate, not the wolf who would frighten her. Leaning over the foot of the bed, his large hands slid up the silky, smooth skin of her legs. Her shapely thighs had his blood pumping, his heart racing, his cock standing at attention. With a gentle caress, he eased her legs apart, guiding her onto her back. She rolled sleepily to her back as she opened her eyes to gaze up at him. The inviting smile that lit her face crippled his deceitful heart inside his chest. He was a bastard for what he was doing, but honestly he didn’t care. His mind and body sought one thing—to be inside her, to dive into her psyche as he delved into her body. He would possess her, all of her, no matter what.

 

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Tabitha’s arms stretched above her head, lengthening her curvy body, pulling her breasts high up on her chest. She twisted her torso, elongated her flat stomach, arching round, full hips. Grinding his teeth, he growled low in his throat. “Are you ready again?” she asked. A sleepy soft voice warmed his flesh. Her legs rose up to pull him into the apex of her sex. Groaning, he eased himself on the bed the rest of the way and let her place him between her spread legs. His cock pulsed against her slick cunt, sliding over her clit. The scent of her arousal fired his body into an overwhelming sensitivity. Grinding his cock against her pussy, he asked, “What do you think?” Then she panted, staring at him for a heated, time-stopping moment. His heart and stomach twisted and rolled as she inspected him, her once sleepy haze disappearing, replaced by truth-seeking eyes. Shit. He never should have tried to deceive her. Never should have tried to take advantage of her. He should have trusted that instinct would have won her over sooner rather than later. How could he ever expect her to trust him if she figured out what he had planned to do? She’d never want him now. How could she? Slowly, she reached up and pulled his hair away from his face, tugging the golden strands into a mock ponytail. Her free hand traced along his cheek, brushing against the loose hair still framing his face. On a gasp, her fingers went to her lips, and he knew she figured it out. “Tabitha,” he whispered. “I can explain.” She brushed her fingers along the seam of his mouth, keeping him from speaking. “What’s to explain, Ryken? You figured you could pretend to be Luken. Thought I wouldn’t notice the difference between the two of you?”

 

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Swallowing hard, he nodded. “Yes,” he admitted honestly, the word coming out on a strangled wheeze. “I’m sorry. I never should have—” “Then why did you?” she quickly asked. “Why risk getting caught and making a fool of yourself? Making a fool of me? Why come to me when you know how distraught we make each other?” He licked his lips, his mouth as dry as cotton. He held her gaze, he saw something in her eyes, something he couldn’t quite identify. Was it desire? Perhaps it was only a reflection of his own. Swallowing back the bile choking him, he told her, “I want you, Tabitha. I want you so much it’s driving me crazy. I know it seems strange, but there’s something pulling me to you, making me want you more than the air in my lungs.” She looked away from him, gazing down at the space between their naked bodies. Looking at her forlorn expression made him want to touch her, hold her in his arms, and show her he wasn’t the biggest jackass in the world. He didn’t think that was ever going to be possible. Then she surprised him, knocking the rambling thoughts from his mind as she whispered. “I know what you mean, Ryken. I feel it, too.” He heard her heartbeat increase. He felt a warm burst of air on his skin, and smelled the arousal of her sweet pussy. “You do?” he asked, brow arched. Nodding, she wrapped her arms around his neck and cradled her legs to position him more securely over top of her. The hard ridge of his stomach pressed against the softness of her belly. Her round breasts possessed erect, rosy nipples and he couldn’t wait to sample those rosy red berries. “Are you sure, Tabitha? I don’t deserve to be with you now. I don’t deserve anything from you. I’m sorr—” “Yes,” she said, cutting him off. “We can worry about the consequences tomorrow, but right now, my body needs you. I couldn’t send you away even if I wanted to.”

 

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His mouth was inches away from hers, staring at her supple lips, needing to taste her to know if she belonged to him as his instincts told him she did. He felt her breath on his skin, and it was all he needed to feel before he claimed her mouth. His lips found her neck, the soft lobe of her ear, her lips, his tongue plundered her wet mouth. Her heated mouth called to him. Tasting each other, he felt the fire in his stomach soar, his mind clouded with desires he had never felt before. Passion like nothing he had ever known blinded him. Ryken was beside himself as he held her in his arms, stroking the soft flesh of her body, cradling her sumptuous curves so close to his body. He couldn’t tell where she began and he ended. His lips slid from her mouth to her chin, tasting the heated flesh. He loved the feel of her. She tasted of sunshine and rain, an intoxicating flavor that had his mouth watering for more. The softness of her skin, the warmth of her eyes, everything about her made him hard and eager. He’d love to ram his cock inside her wet pussy, but he needed so much more than that. Needed to feel her in more than just a physical way, needed her to need him just as much as he needed her. The connection he desired was burning his gut, twisting him into knots. He didn’t understand what was driving his thoughts, but he heard them loud and clear. He lowered himself to her breasts, sucking a nipple between his lips, flicking the hard bead with the tip of his tongue. Rolling his tongue over the nipple, he nipped at her breast. She shivered and he reveled in the sensations he caused her body to feel. He relished the little moans expelling from her body. She groaned as he moved to the other nipple to divvy up the same exquisite torture. His wide hands molded over her breasts, the heavy weight filling his hands completely. Tabitha’s fingers pulled at his loose hair, weaving in the long length, gripping him tight against her. She was whimpering, squirming beneath him with need.

 

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Fingers roaming her body, seeking their way between her legs, he parted the slick folds of her pussy and circled his fingers around her clit. Her hips arched up as he played with the swollen nub. He wanted to feel more of her, learn more about what she liked. His finger plunged into her sex. She bucked her hips, fucking his fingers as he pushed in another. Two of his fingers fucked her pussy while another circled the rim of her anus. She trembled as he pressed gently against the tight rim of her rectum. “Ryken?” she moaned. “What are you doing?” “Don’t worry, baby. I’m only pleasuring you. Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. Please, baby. I desire your trust.” Did he sound desperate, like he was begging her to accept him, needing her approval more than he realized? He glanced up to see her nibbling her bottom lip, her eyes securely closed and creased as if straining from pressure. “I promise, baby. You’ll enjoy everything I do to you. I won’t stop until you’re writhing in my arms, under my lips, and snug tightly around my cock.” Groaning, he swirled his fingers once again over her pulsing clit then eased his fingers back into the depths of her cunt. “Do you understand, baby? Do you understand what I’m telling you?” She nodded her head. He pulled his drenched fingers from her pussy, placing them at the entrance of her anus, spreading her cheeks. His finger pressed slowly inside, fighting against her rigid muscles. “Relax, baby. This will feel wonderful if you let it.” His mouth dipped down between her legs and licked her clit, sucking the throbbing nub into his mouth. She relaxed instantly, and his finger slid inside her tight asshole with ease. Then he pressed two other fingers inside her pussy, filling her body. She bucked against him. “Oh, God,” she gasped. “That feels unbelievably good.” Her hips arched up invitingly.

 

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A warm flutter awakened inside his chest. He loved pleasing her, couldn’t believe how responsive her body was to his touch. “I hate to say I told you so, but—” He licked her pussy once more, his fingers still fucking her body. “But why bother?” He licked her again, swirling his tongue around the sensitive clit. “No one has fucked that beautiful ass of yours before, have they baby?” Her eyes were squeezed tightly shut as she shook her head. Teasing her body with his fingers and mouth, he suddenly stopped—a need pounding in his head and cock. “Get on your hands and knees, baby.” Her eyes sprung open wide, but the smile that lit her face told him she was excited at the prospect of being on display in such an erotic way. She pulled up her legs and twisted her torso, rolling to the side and repositioned herself on her hands and knees. Ryken gripped hold of her hips and placed his cock at the entrance of her pussy, pressing the head of his cock inside the tight wetness of her cunt. He kicked his head back as a roar of satisfaction rumbled from his chest, and he slid all the way to the hilt. Pumping his hips a few times, he fucked her, took her slow and steady, enjoying the tight squeeze of her pussy sucking his cock inside the warm tissue of her body. The wolf was ready to join in the fun. Ryken couldn’t keep the beast contained much longer. Why bother? The beast would fuck her as only a wild animal could. He doubted that Luken had given in to the primal side of himself, considerate of her feelings. Well, he was considerate, too. Considerate enough to fuck her so good and hard she would never forget the night he gave her. Him, not Luken. Bucking his hips against the round globes of her ass, he pumped harder, faster, slamming in cock inside the depths of her pussy like a driving piston in an engine. He wanted to be different from his brother. Show her passions Luken was too modest to share. His finger circled the rim of her asshole, toying with the tight, flexing muscles of her anus. He circled his finger around her clit and lubricated his finger with her slick juices then returned his finger to

 

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her rectum, pushing against the muscles until he penetrated into the depths of her asshole. “Oh, God!” she cried, pushing back against him as he fucked her ass and pussy. “Ever had your asshole finger-fucked, baby?” Shaking, trembling in his hands. She shook her head, stammering, “N–no, n–never.” He drove in harder, faster, but still controlled and gentle. “Do you like it, baby? Do you like what I’m doing to your beautiful body?” “Yes. Oh, God, yes,” she panted. “Would you like to feel my cock fucking your asshole, and would you like to know what it’s like to have me shoved into the depths of your ass while I finger-fuck your pussy?” She didn’t answer. The question seemed to make her shudder with unease. He knew he could push her into answering, wanted her writhing in his hands, screaming and moaning for passions he could only give her. “It’s okay, baby. You don’t have to answer.” He removed his finger from her ass and his cock from her pussy. She moaned in displeasure as her once-filled body was empty of his touch, but he quickly fixed that when he pressed the head of his cock against the tight, restrictive muscles of her asshole. “Relax, baby, I won’t hurt you. Your body is so beautiful. I’ve never been so hot in my life.” He pressed a little harder, and she moaned as the foreign pressure of his cock pressed deeper inside her body. His hands held her hips still as he rocked his own hips forward, pushing against the straining tissue of her anus. “Damn, baby. You feel so fucking good. I’ve never felt something so tight in my life. You ass is milking my cock so perfectly.” She whimpered as his fingers circled her throbbing clit, stroking her until he heard the flutter of desires ignite from within her at the foreign feel of his cock in her asshole. He held himself still as he

 

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teased and tormented her pussy. His fingers glided along the slick walls, rolling over her clit, flicking the sensitive tip until she bucked against him. “Oh, God, I’m going to come. Don’t stop.” She pushed back against him and drove his cock to the hilt inside her ass, just as the juices from her pussy flooded his fingers. He delved inside her soaked pussy, fucking her cunt as he fucked her ass. The overwhelming sensation fried his brain, turning him into a puddle of mush. He couldn’t believe how wonderful she felt, how incredible her body tasted, and how the muscles of her cunt and ass gripped his fingers and cock. As her body continued to squeeze his fingers, he felt her body rock once again in his arms. She was shuddering and gasping from another orgasm. Her release only excited him more, fueling his body into his own release. “Awwwww,” he roared, body dripping with sweat as he filled her asshole with his hot cum. Pulling his cock free of the tightness of her rectum, he collapsed on top of her and rolled to his back, leaving her lying on her chest, staring at him with so much desire. He brushed the fallen hair from her face and smiled. “Did I hurt you?” he asked, and the tone in his voice was much softer than he had ever heard it. She shook her head with a smile. “Oh, no, I’m fine. That was incredible. I’ve never had anal sex before.” He pushed up to rest on his elbows, gazing down at her. “Did you like it?” A wave of naughtiness flashed in her eyes. “Would you think less of me if I said yes?” “No,” he said matter-of-factly. And he didn’t. He was thankful she was so eager for passion, so ready to please him as he was to please her. “I need to share with you that I’ve never enjoyed being with someone more than I enjoyed being with you.” He cupped her face,

 

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brushing the back of his knuckles over the soft skin of her cheek. “You are an amazing woman, Tabitha, and I’m honored to have been given your trust. Thank you.” She stared at him, her eyes filled with so many things he couldn’t tell exactly what they were. He thought he saw desire and heat, but there was something else in those eyes, something that warned him of the dangers in store for them. Her eyes fluttered shut and then popped back open. She was exhausted. “Would you like to rest?” He knew he should let her fall back to sleep, especially before Luken returned. “Yes,” she breathed, as her eyes closed. He pressed a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth before moving off the bed, turning to cover her again with the blanket. He dressed, but before he left the room, he glanced back at the angel that had filled his soul. She was his, but how could he ever have her, truly have her after she had given herself to both Luken and him. How could she choose between them? Luken had earned her trust immediately, while he was the jackass who had tried to take advantage of that trust. He was going to burn in Hell, for sure.

 

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Chapter Six Roaming the train cars in search of his brother had taken forever. Ryken was nowhere to be found. Luken prayed his dumbass brother had not gotten so sloppy drunk he had somehow managed to fall off the train. It wouldn’t have been the first time he had done something ridiculous while inebriated—like the time Ryken had partially transformed into the wolf on Halloween and gone streaking up and down Interstate 20. Yes, his brother could be a little reckless, not to mention careless, at times. The drink-dealing bartender shared that Ryken had sampled pretty much one of every alcoholic beverage available. But even with a supernatural metabolism, a lycan could get drunk. It took longer, but it could still happen. What the hell had gotten into Ryken? Why did Tabitha incite so much rage in him? Ryken was not without his own wiles. Ryken could wrap a woman around his finger just as easily as he could. His approach might be different, but the end result was the same—fucking until he couldn’t fuck no more. Granted, they had been out of practice for a while. Hadn’t really tried to score in months with everything they were responsible for at McCarthy Ranch. Maintaining the ranch was a full-time job, along with patrolling the property and keeping intruders out. That left little to no time for finding a warm body to snuggle up with. The reaction Tabitha had to Ryken was different—almost provoking.

 

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He shook his head at the strange thought. Did she do that to Ryken on purpose? Luken personally felt nothing but peace when he was with Tabitha. She soothed him like nothing had ever soothed him before. He smiled, remembering that he had left her naked and alone in her train car, something he was about to remedy. Opening the door to the train car they occupied, he inhaled deeply, pulling the familiar scent into his lungs, a scent he had basked in for hours the night before. Just as he stepped into the train car, the door to Tabitha’s private room opened, and Ryken stepped through it, sweaty, his hair down around his face in a way he generally didn’t like to wear it. Stepping closer, his chest tightened. He didn’t want to believe what his gut was telling him. Denying it to the bitter end, he snarled, “Why do you smell like Tabitha, Ryken?” Rounding to face his brother, Ryken said dryly, “You know why. I was watching her, protecting her.” He shook his head, knowing that wasn’t it. His calm façade fading quickly, he said again, “No, brother, that’s not the truth and you damn well know it.” Luken gripped the shirt Ryken wore, twisting the fabric in his hands. “Now, fucking tell me why you smell like her.” Luken leaned in and filled his lungs with Tabitha’s intoxicating scent. Ryken was covered in her fragrance. No, please not that…anything but that, Luken groaned inwardly. Ryken swallowed hard, and the lines around his eyes and mouth grew deeper, more defined. He confessed, “Because, brother, like you, I’ve sampled her and—” The slam of Luken’s fist against the side of his face stopped the last of his words from departing his lips. With a quick shove from his brother, Ryken fell to the ground, and as he held the side of his face, he glared up at Luken. “Did that make you feel better?” Luken hovered over his brother, a skulking ball of fury. He kicked his heavy black boot against Ryken’s ribs, slamming into him with

 

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enough force to crack a rib. Even though it wouldn’t do much to a werewolf, it made him feel better. “You stupid son of a bitch!” he wailed, as his fist moved to strike Ryken’s face again, but this time his brother blocked the assault and shoved him back against the wall with the heels of his feet. Rising to stand, Ryken breathed hard, eyes filled with regret and anger. “What the hell’s gotten into you?” he said, growling. “You’re acting like a lunatic. I’m your brother for fuck’s sake.” Claws lengthening, teeth bared, Luken snarled, “My brother would never have done what you did. You never should have touched Tabitha. She was off-limits to you.” Stiffening, Ryken bit out, “But not to you, right, brother?” Jaw flexing under the compression of muscles, he feigned ignorance. “What are you talking about?” Ryken shook his head and eyed his brother knowingly. “You fucking hypocrite. You give me orders you yourself hadn’t even obeyed. I know you slept with her last night. I knew it the moment I stepped into her room. I heard you fucking her. I hated that you had made love to her, hated it because I had already laid claim to her.” Eyes narrowed with an impassioned glare, he snarled, “She was mine, Luken, not yours.” Taking a solid step back, brow furrowed, Luken barked, “What the hell are you talking about?” Fists balled at his side, mouth pressed into a tight scowl, he growled. “She’s my mate, Luken.” Panic and denial gripped his heart. What his brother said couldn’t be true. It had to be a lie, but he had never known his brother to lie to him before, especially over a woman. “What are you talking about? That’s impossible. She can’t be your mate.” Arching his brow, Ryken went on the defensive. “Oh, really? Think even a wolf as self-centered as I’ve been my entire life isn’t capable of mating with a woman as beautiful and strong-willed as Tabitha?”

 

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Shaking his head, he corrected, “No, that’s not what I meant.” Ryken folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall at his back. “Then by all means, explain yourself.” He quickly retorted, “I only meant it’s not possible she’s your mate because she belongs to me. I tasted her last night, and I confirmed that she’s my mate.” Disbelief oozed from Ryken’s eyes, and his lips slightly parted. The brothers stared at each other for a good long while. Neither moved, spoke, not even to blink their eyes, and then they felt her like a warm, welcoming burst of air upon their skin. Simultaneously they turned to gaze upon her horrified face. **** Tabitha stared from one tension-filled face to the other, her heart pounding like the chugging of the train engine, as her mind wrapped around the conversation she had overheard. Surely, she misunderstood. There was no way that she had slept with both brothers in the same night because they believed her to be some kind of pawn between them. Mate? She was no one’s mate unless she decided. Had she made a mistake allowing both Ryken and Luken to make love to her? In the same night? What do you think, slut? Her conscience was now screaming at her. Oh God, what have I done? Her mind raced back to the moment Ryken had come to her. The power of his presence felt right—perfect. His body caressing hers brought so much welcoming satisfaction and peace inside her soul. The connection between them was instant, the fiery passion that sparked between them so natural. Primal instincts had surged between them, rendering her free of her inhabitations. It had to be that. Under normal circumstances she never would have done any such thing.

 

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They were twins, after all. They seduced her into desiring them. At least that’s what she was telling herself now. Her mind hazy with thoughts, voice trembling with anxiety, she asked, “What’s going on, guys? Please tell me I didn’t hear you both fighting over me. And why are you calling me your mate? What the hell does that mean?” Luken was the first to step forward, his hand outstretched towards her. “Tabitha?” Flinching, batting his hand away, she blurted out, “Don’t touch me. I don’t even know who you are. I can’t tell which one of you is Ryken and which one is Luken.” Her gaze became heavy as tears pooled in her eyes. Truth was she knew exactly which one was which. Instincts rang out loud and clear in her mind. She could smell the difference in them, had since the moment she’d met them. But how was that possible? One second she was so aware of who she was and the next moment she was a train wreck all over again. “I’m sick with what’s going on here. Please explain to me what’s happening. Tell me why you two are fighting. Why do you both keep calling me your mate? What’s going on?” “Tabitha?” Screaming, fists balled at her sides, she snapped, “Just tell me! Stop trying to avoid my questions and tell me what the fuck I want to know.” The brothers stood side by side. Ryken reached into his pocket and pulled out the nylon band he used to tie his hair back. “I’m Ryken, but I seriously think you already knew that, and from now on I’ll keep my hair pulled back, so you’ll always be able to identify us.” Her stomach dropped out of her body and straight to the floor. Ryken was right. She didn’t need the nylon band to tell them apart. She knew them as if they were part of her. Just like she knew it was Ryken who came to her last night pretending to be Luken. Why hadn’t she been compelled to stop him? Why did things seem so strange and foreign where the three of them were concerned?

 

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Ryken’s confession for coming to her last night was still fresh in her mind. He said he wanted her, desired her as she had him. But strangely, she had to hear the words from Ryken’s mouth again, had to hear the words part from his lips in front of Luken. Locking gazes with Ryken, she swallowed, demanding, “And why was your hair down to begin with?” He couldn’t meet her gaze, couldn’t stare at her as she spoke. Guilt was spread across his face. “You already know why, Tabitha. You were there, too,” he reminded her, looking away. Fighting against the knot rising in her throat, she told him, “I don’t care, Ryken. Tell me again why your hair was down. Tell your brother what you told me when we were alone. I think he needs to understand, too.” He glanced up, and his piercing gaze slammed into her. He said plainly, “Because I went to you with the intention of pretending to be my brother.” Her jaw clenched tight. Teeth grinding together, she asked, “And why would you do that?” For a long moment he simply gazed at her, eyes flickering with so much pain, regret, disappointment…in himself. She could feel it pulsing in his heart and mind as if she could read and feel his thoughts. Then his wall surged up, protecting his heart and mind. She knew instantly that the man who made her crazy with anger, frustrated her beyond measure had returned. He muttered coldly, “Because I knew Luken had already broken through that frigid barrier of yours and I wanted the chance to fuck you, too. Is that what you wanted to hear, Tabitha? That I wanted you for myself, as well? That I wanted to deceitfully claim your body and fuck you?” She gasped. No, that was not at all what she thought he might say, but then again, didn’t she expect him to rage out at her in anger? Wasn’t that what they did to each other? The heat of fire blazed from

 

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her eyes. If she thought touching him wouldn’t make her want him more, she would have clawed his eyes out. “That’s enough, Ryken,” growled Luken. She knew it all along, the passions behind each of their touches. She hadn’t only experienced the difference physically, but felt it in their emotions as each of them had made love to her. The connection between them was unique and exhilarating. Strangely, she was not embarrassed about what had transpired between the three of them. She was angry because she allowed herself to become an instrument between the brothers. She had allowed them the opportunity to use her as simply a warm body to fuck. She was more than that. And she didn’t need them to prove it, but it didn’t change the emotions churning inside her belly. Hating the woman she was becoming, with urges she couldn’t control, she felt nauseous. Things had changed drastically for her over the last three weeks. The attack was morphing her into a person she didn’t recognize, making her more impetuous, hungrier for excitement. The impulse for physical contact intensified. She felt as if she didn’t have any restraint over herself anymore, and that was overwhelmingly frightening and fortifying. For the first time in her life she longed to live life, not avoid it. Was that because of the attack she survived or Ryken and Luken? The questions that really affected her most surfaced. Did they even care for her? Did she matter to them at all, or was she just an easy lay? She honestly didn’t know, but there was something she found incredibly raw and powerful about them, and knowing that nothing could ever come of it, she felt the acidic bile rising up from the pit of her stomach, choking her. If she had been honest with herself, she would have admitted in the beginning that it was not just sex with Luken—there was something so much more to it than just a physical connection. The carnal pleasures her body demanded magnified at an alarming rate the moment his lips touched hers and she was lost to him instantly.

 

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Even though Ryken and Luken may not truly be kidnapping her, she still felt like she was imprisoned by them. She was a foolish woman to the core, one tied too closely to heightening instincts, as well as her heart. Instincts she had never experienced before had given her permission to fuck a stranger and his brother. This new primal behavior was nothing like her. She was changing, and she didn’t like who she was becoming. Where had her sense of modesty gone? Trembling, anger flooded her body. First, they had taken her body, and now they fucked with her emotions. She was confused and tormented by thoughts that didn’t belong to her. Emotions whirled and clouded her mind. Covering her mouth, she grabbed hold of her stomach. “Oh, God,” she gasped. “Last night was a mistake.” Ryken’s jaw flexed with tension. He reached out for her, but stopped before getting too close. “I’m sorry, Tabitha. I was drunk. I know it’s not a good enough excuse, but it’s the truth. I never meant—” Luken stepped forward, hands cupped to clasp her shoulders. She stepped away when she noticed his advancement. Did she deserve to be comforted? Why did she feel like she was the one who had been the most deceitful? Maybe the guilt she had seen in Ryken’s eyes had really been a reflection of her own. “No, don’t come near me,” she warned Luken, clawing for control of her wavering emotions. Tears in her eyes, she spat, “This is entirely your fault. If you hadn’t charmed me, enticed me into bed, none of this would have happened. I can’t believe I let you seduce me.” She was no longer able to block the twisting sentiments filling her belly. “And here I thought your brother was the asshole. I’m such a fool.” She slammed her fist into his chest. “Is this the game you play? Pretend to be the same man so you can fuck the same woman?”

 

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Uncontrollable sobs rocked her body, ashamed of what she allowed to happen. Mortified, she couldn’t control the burning hunger she had for these men. Confused more than she’d ever been, she spun away and ran from their sight. She wasn’t sure why she ran, why she felt so humiliated. Maybe it was because a side of her she had never let come out finally had. Maybe it was also a little regret, or maybe it was the fact that she enjoyed sex with both brothers. Secretly, she fantasized about being with them, the three of them together. Their bodies pleasuring hers in ways that would make her toes curl, her eyes roll into the back of her head, and her heart to stop beating from the multitude of orgasms they gave her. She drew in an unsteady breath, realizing that the roller-coaster emotions that tainted her spirit had turned her into a sobbing mess, and there was nothing she could do but ride the sentimental ups and downs until she either fell off or accepted the changes flooding her mind. Unlike any other experience in her life, she felt a calling to be with these men and felt compelled by something instinctive to be close to them. She should be angry, furious with them, but she wasn’t. She was angry with herself for not admitting that she really wanted to be with them again. And now she was angry because she had just walked away, embarrassed of the needs her body demanded and yearned to experience once again. What the hell did that say about her? **** Furious, Luken turned to meet Ryken’s gaze. “I hope you’re fucking happy. I hope you’re proud of what you’ve done.” “I’m not,” Ryken quickly answered. “I never intended for this to happen. I wasn’t thinking about the morning after. I was only thinking about what I wanted and needed.” He swallowed. “I’m not exactly proud of the fact that I hurt her, if it makes any difference.”

 

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“Good, it doesn’t, but maybe you’ve actually developed a conscience, you fucking idiot.” Luken’s hand dove into the tangles of his golden hair. “Maybe I have,” he murmured. The deep baritone of his voice was filled with remorse. Luken punched the wall at his side. Frustration seethed from his every pore. Damn his brother for fucking this up. Damn him for feeling she belonged to him, too. This couldn’t be happening. He had waited his entire life for the one woman who would be his and here he might have to share her with his twin brother. The knowledge of their fated threesome bonding was a bitter pill to swallow, but at the rate they were going neither of them would have her, and that was the worst part of all. “Luken?” Ryken called out. He turned to face his brother, pain etched in his face and heart. It was killing him to look at his brother, killing him that this was the path they had been forced to follow. “What?” he spat. Clearing his throat, Ryken asked, “Do you think Tabitha’s aware she’s one of us?” **** Tabitha’s blood-curdling scream rocked him to the core. Ryken’s chest jerked and tightened as his mind instantly seethed with fear. Both he and Luken ran in the direction Tabitha had disappeared. Rounding the corner to the adjoining train car, Ryken’s eyes narrowed at the sight. Two massive men held her. One gripped her legs while the other restrained her upper body, a steel blade pressed dangerously against her throat. She was helpless against their hold. They were three times her size, and judging from their yellow, tarnished eyes, they were also infected lycans. Still in human form, Ryken and Luken stood shoulder to shoulder, their bodies fueled with the possessive need to save their mate.

 

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“I suggest you let her go, asshole,” Ryken said, growling as the beast inside him clawed to break through his hold. Wild red and yellow eyes beamed in their direction. A rottentoothed giant smiled menacingly. “I don’t think so.” The vile man, holding Tabitha’s upper body snickered in response. “It’s best if you do as he asks,” Luken chimed in, inclining his head in Ryken’s direction. “He can be a real prick otherwise.” Funny, Ryken growled telepathically. Get ready, Luken warned Ryken. We need to make our move now or they’re going to jump from the train and we’ll never be able to track them. I know, on three… One… “Oh, I’m fucking scared, wolf boy,” the other giant said, snarling as his eyes began to glow with a deeper reddish hue, his body slowly enlarging and shifting as he held Tabitha. Two… “Wolf boy?” Luken’s eyes narrowed, staring down the two giant shitheads morphing into their were-bodies. “I’ll show you wolf boy, you stupid fucking freaks!” Now! Ryken and Luken leapt toward the two infected shifters faster than the blink of an eye. Partially transforming into the beasts that lay impatiently inside them, Ryken and Luken’s bodies expanded, chests bursting with muscles, claws lengthening, and teeth elongating, fierce and ready. The villainous men dropped Tabitha to the ground instantly. Relief slammed into Ryken’s chest as she scurried out of the way, ducking to hide behind a row of seats that had been ripped from the floor and tossed on its side. Claws and teeth sharpened like razors. Ryken and Luken sliced at the men, snarling. The weight of their bodies bore down on the two uninvited guests. Ryken’s knee came up, connecting with the rotten-toothed giant’s midsection. Grunting, the man turned, grabbed hold of Ryken, and

 

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slammed his face effortlessly against the wall of the train car. The giant’s super strength was heart-stopping, and the impact of Luken landing on top of him, nearly did just that. Ryken wheezed as the air was wrenched form his lungs. He had not even seen Luken being tossed like a rag doll, but he sure as hell felt the weight of his brother pounding down on him. Shaking off the dizzying whirl in his head, Ryken scrabbled to his feet, hauling Luken up alongside him. They leaped up and rammed their bodies into the giants once more, sending the men off balance. Without a moment of hesitation, Ryken’s knifelike claws caught the shorter man in the jugular, partially severing his head from his body. Tabitha screamed. Her fearful cry crawled along his skin like a slithering snake. Rounding, Ryken froze. His body filled with an enormous amount of tension. His jaw squeezed tight enough to grind his teeth into powder, shoulders hunched forward. Wide-eyed, he glared. Knelt on the ground at the giant’s feet was Luken. A razor-sharp blade was pressed against the bronzed flesh of his brother’s neck. “No, don’t hurt him,” Tabitha begged, running up behind Ryken. He grabbed hold of her arms just in time to keep her out of the giant’s reach. Gripping her upper arm, he whipped her around to face him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ryken growled. His eyes pierced into hers with more fear than he had ever felt. The need to protect her rose inside him like the blazing of fire from the pits of Hell. She pressed her hands against his chest, eyes pleading and drenched with fear. “Ryken, do something.” She shuddered, voice scraping against the back of her throat. “Don’t let him kill your own brother.” “Yes, Ryken.” The giant lycan snickered. “Listen to the pretty lady. Don’t let me kill your worthless piece of shit of a brother.” His venomous gaze jumped to stare at the giant. “Go fuck yourself, asshole,” Ryken shouted, pushing Tabitha back behind the

 

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seat, keeping himself between her and the man he assumed was one of Mason Levi’s goons. “Stay the fuck down, until I say otherwise,” he warned her. “Got it?” His words were not really a question and the words left his mouth so fast he could have cared less if he pissed her off or not. As long as she stayed safe and out of the way, he could focus on his brother. He glanced away from her, but could still feel the heat of her body and lethal gaze at his back. Yep, he’d pissed her off all right. Then again, when did he not? Luken groaned as the giant’s knife dug into the flesh of his neck. Blood oozed down his strained throat. “Give me the bitch and I’ll let your ugly twin live,” roared the giant lycan through grit-tarnished teeth. Ryken shook his head and chuckled as if unaffected by the warning comment. “Look here, Tiny, I don’t think you understand what you’re asking me. See that little lady.” He hiked his thumb over his shoulder in Tabitha’s direction. “She’s my mate, and he’s only standing in my way. You’d be doing me a huge favor by ripping his ugly head off his shoulders.” Luken’s eyes widened. “You stupid son of a bitch, what the fuck are you doing?” “Now, is that any way to talk about mom?” “Fuck you,” Luken muttered. Meeting his brother’s freaked-out stare, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “I can’t have her if you’re in the way.” Ryken’s fingers twisted around the hidden blade at his back. “I’m sorry, bro, but you can’t expect me to share the woman destined to be mine forever. How could I allow it? She’s everything to me and well…you’re just my brother.” “Ryken!” Tabitha screamed. She was clearly horrified by what he was saying, but it was all part of his plan. He always had a plan.

 

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The knife flew from Ryken’s fingers and lodged in the forehead of the mammoth lycan, his large body dropping to the ground. Infected virus or not, a knife to the brain could kill anyone. Luken was free and at Ryken’s side in seconds, both grabbing hold of Tabitha as they launched themselves out the door of the moving train. Ryken tucked Tabitha in the protection of his arms and legs as they hit the ground, absorbing the brunt of the impact. Luken stood first, pulling her to her feet, charging in the opposite direction of the train. Dipping into the security of the woods around them, they headed full speed into the thickening darkness. Luken glanced over his shoulder at his brother. He told him, “We need to get out of here and fast, find a car, something to put some distance between us. We can’t smell them, but they can sure as shit smell us.” “I know.” Ryken frowned. His wolf nose caught the scent of something through the thick foliage. He inhaled deeply. “I smell something up ahead.” Both Ryken and Luken moved in closer to Tabitha, sliding up under her spread arms, practically picking her up off the ground to help her run faster. She was fast, but not fast enough. The goons following them were swift and deadlier than anything they had ever faced, and that said a hell of a lot about them. “There, Luken.” Ryken pointed at a rust bucket of a car parked alongside a hole-in-the-wall bar located in the middle of nowhere. “You must have picked up on the delicious urine smell?” Luken snickered sarcastically. “What a dump.” Glancing over the car, he asked Ryken, “Can you hotwire that piece of junk?” “What do you think?” Ryken smirked, tossing back a grin, knowing damn well he could hotwire a space shuttle if needed. Hauling a very frightened and confused Tabitha into the backseat of the car, Ryken got to work. After a few seconds of mucking with wires, the car fired up. Luken was at his side, his hand resting on the 9mm on the bench seat.

 

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Gazing down at the gun, Ryken asked, “You didn’t think to pull that out when we were fighting Mason’s morons?” Luken shrugged. “Sorry, I was a little distracted.” By Tabitha, Ryken groaned to himself. Ryken asked, “Where to?” “Anywhere, but here. Find us a hotel. Somewhere off the beaten path would be perfect,” Luken replied. “Somewhere we won’t be found unless we want to be.” Ryken glanced at the rearview mirror and sucked in a breath as he stared at the absent look in Tabitha’s eyes. It was going to kill him, but he had to do it. For her, he would do anything. “Luken?” Ryken called to his brother, his voice a cold rumble. “What?” Meeting his brother’s curious gaze, he told him. “Take care of Tabitha. I’m sure we’ve lost them for now.” He looked back in the mirror again. Her lips were trembling, tinged a pale blue. “She’s in shock. She needs to be cared for.” He paused then added, “She needs you.” Instantly, Luken twisted in the front seat, glided over the seat, and slid into the back alongside Tabitha. Settling his arm around her, he cradled her body against his. She was stiff and a little resistant to him. Tabitha’s negative reaction to Luken pleased him at first, but he pushed aside his pride again because he knew she needed the connection that his brother could provide. He had no choice but to allow Luken to touch her if they were going to help bring her back to the real world. She was too important to let a little thing like mating heat stop him from looking out for her best interests. Chivalry sucks, he inwardly muttered. Groaning, he told his brother, “Use your body heat to warm her. Talk to her, Luken. Reassure her that she’s okay.”

 

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Luken wrapped his other arm around Tabitha’s front, pulling her up against his chest and into the warming comfort of his body. He stroked up and down her arms in a soothing caress. “Since when did you become ‘Mr. Emotional’—so in tune with a woman’s needs?” “Since I discovered that the woman in your arms was my mate,” Ryken said matter-of-factly. Luken growled. “We’re going to have to discuss this, you know?” He shook his head. “No, we’re not. What’s to discuss, brother? You say she’s your mate, and I know she’s mine. The only thing left is to see who she chooses.” His gut churned with rolling, bubbling acid. He knew the obvious choice for her was Luken because he infuriated her as she did him—unless she chose neither of them. “It won’t really matter what we discuss if she doesn’t want either of us.” He exhaled harshly. “Right now, I only want to get her to safety. The sooner we get to McCarthy Ranch, the better. At least then we’ll have Sebastian, Jonah, Reyes, and Dominic to back us up.” Ryken stared out the windshield, while his brother held and soothed the woman he desired. There was an attraction that burned inside him, and for so many reasons that he didn’t understand, he truly cared for her. She consumed his every thought, both waking and sleeping. Not that he had slept much since collecting her from Seattle, but the catnap he had managed to take earlier left him with more arousing need. Why did just seeing her enchanting face awaken something so amazing and frightening inside him? He had never been afraid of anything in his life, but he was terrified of both losing and possessing her…Tabitha Burns, his mate.

 

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Chapter Seven The moment Luken had crossed the threshold of the dingy hotel room with Tabitha cradled in his arms, it seemed a little less dark and gloomy. He gently placed her on the bed closest to the bathroom. He didn’t want her stumbling through the room when she finally came around. One thing he had learned over the years was that a woman cherished the bathroom, like it was some private sanctuary where magical things happened. He didn’t understand it, but he would accept it. And truthfully, did he have a choice? Tabitha had not spoken a word since they fled like bandits from the train car, but just having her close soothed his beast, brightened his spirit if even just a little. He hated that she was so lost inside herself. He could feel her retreat further into the shell of her mind. Resisting the changes in her body was no longer a choice for Tabitha, and the sooner he could draw her out of her fractured state, the better off they all would be. “Tabitha, sweetheart, can you hear me?” He brushed her blonde hair away from her face, his fingers playing in the silky strands. He loved the feel of her hair teasing between his fingers. In the best reassuring voice he could muster, he whispered, “We’re safe now. You’re safe. Ryken and I brought you to a hotel where those men won’t be able to track us. You can rest without worry. I promise, we’ll watch over you. We’ll protect you, Tabitha.” Blinking, her eyes watered, before her incredulous gaze rose to meet his. Voice shaking, she asked, “Weren’t you supposed to protect me before?”

 

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Luken swallowed the rising bile that filled his throat. The shame of his failure slammed into him. “Yes, I was. I’m sorry we let them get that close to you. It will never happen again.” At least that was his wish. He would protect her with his last breath. That was what his gut told him, and his mind and heart agreed. “They were more than close, Luken. They could’ve killed me at any time.” Her voice dipped low and hoarse as more tears filled her eyes. “I had a knife held against my throat.” He stroked her damp cheek with the backs of his fingers. “I know, sweetheart. I’m so sorry they hurt you. I promise I won’t let it happen again.” He knew his reassurances meant nothing to her if he couldn’t live up to his word, so he had no other choice but to prove to his mate that he would do as he promised. She would never be that close to danger again. No matter what he had to do to ensure it. “Luken?” Her raspy voice brought him out of his deep thoughts and back to her tear-streaked face. He held her gaze as she asked, “Those men…were they even human?” “What makes you think that?” She shrugged slightly. “Something about them wasn’t right. I could sense it. They moved so fast, I didn’t even see them coming up on me. The strength they possessed wasn’t normal. I was helpless against them.” Cringing, she shook her head. “I’ve never felt so vulnerable in my life. So afraid I was going to die.” Her hard, heavy sobs stripped him bare. He wanted more than anything to ease the pain ravaging her mind, to eradicate the memory. She needed to know what was happening to her, had to know that what she was about to experience as a lycan would change her life forever. “Tabitha, there is so much I want to share with you, but I’m afraid now might not be the best of times.” Her body trembled as she closed her eyes. One final tear slid down her pale cheek as sleep won over. She was no longer responding

 

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to the heat of his touch or the comfort of his voice, so he wrapped her shivering body into the warmth of the blankets, securely tucking her in. Ryken had disappeared outside, scanning the layout around them, securing the perimeter for the night. There were only a handful of hours left before sunrise, but a few hours of rest were better than none. Luken turned off the light beside the bed, kissed her forehead, and vanished into the bathroom. He was desperate for a shower. Blood stained his hands and neck. The fear that blazed inside Tabitha started because of the men who had attacked them on the train. Watching Ryken slice through the neck of the assailant had to have been the reason for her mental breakdown. The blood spatter alone was enough to shock and horrify the most battle-trained beings. Not to ignore the little-known fact that her once fragile body was now being ravaged by an aggressive lycan DNA. When she finally came fully around, he didn’t want her staring at his blood-soaked clothing. He did not want her to remember what they had done to escape the situation. It was horrible enough that she had been present to begin with, that they had allowed her to be manhandled by Mason Levi’s men. His need to protect her was fierce as was his need to make love to her. Some men waited a lifetime to find their mates, the one truly meant to soothe the beast inside. He had to figure out a way to make things right with her, had to find a way to convince her that they were meant for each other. Holding Tabitha in his arms had never felt so right. She was a perfect fit for him and he would do anything for her to see that. Except one thing—he didn’t think he could destroy the bond with his brother just for the affections and love of a woman. No matter how much he wanted Tabitha. No matter how much it would destroy him to lose her.

 

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Luken needed to talk with Ryken, needed to figure out what they were going to do about their little love triangle. Ryken always had a plan, and maybe they would be lucky enough for him to have one now. **** The squeaking of the shower faucet and the pounding of water against the wall of tile in the bathroom yanked her out of the trance she had somehow been submerged in. She could hear the water banging against the tub. Inhaling a lungful of air, she caught Luken’s scent. Ryken was not in the room. Freeing herself of the tight confines of the blanket, she tossed the covers to the side and sprung off the bed. She snaked the cell phone off the nightstand and tiptoed to the door with a purpose, quietly opening the door and exiting the room. She stumbled, arms pumping like pistons. Her legs were on fire. She ran in the direction of the woods. She had to get away from them so she could finally have a moment to herself to think. Her first thought was that she had to speak with Brie, and above all things, she had to know that the strange situations she had been experiencing were not some figment of her imagination, and that she could truly trust the men accompanying her. She wanted to believe that, more than anything, but trusting and believing in the brothers was nearly impossible after what she had witnessed with them—a night filled with passion and blood was not exactly the lasting impression she had hoped for. She had run as far as she could before feeling the first wave of nausea twist in her gut, and she abruptly stopped to catch her breath, leaning over, hands resting on her knees. She felt the bulge of the phone in her pocket and grabbed it. Opening the phone, she discovered that the last name dialed belonged to Sebastian McCarthy. That was the name Brie had given her the other day. McCarthy was soon to be her married name.

 

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Her fingers quivered as she dialed the number. A brusque, commanding voice charged through the phone. “You two get out okay?” “Who is this?” Tabitha demanded with as much gusto as she could muster. “Where’s Brie?” “Tabitha?” the thunderous voice asked. “Tabitha Burns?” Surprised to hear him say her name, she squeezed the phone tighter and questioned, “How do you know me?” “My name is Sebastian McCarthy. Brie is my fiancée.” Her gut knotted. Panic assailed her. “Where is she? I need to speak with her.” “Tabitha, is something wrong?” he asked, his voice oozing with concern. She didn’t want his concern. She wanted to speak to her best friend, and she wanted to do it now. Heart pounding, her words charged from her mouth with strong inflection. “Damn, dude, are you deaf? I said I wanted to speak with Brie, not you. Now get her on the damn phone before I get really pissed off.” Sucking in a gulp of air, Tabitha waited as the line went silent. As she listened, she heard rustling in the background. Brie’s voice was faint, but recognizable. She was there. Tabitha’s heart beat faster with hope. “Tabitha, what’s wrong?” Brie’s voice eased through the panic filling her head even though there was a tone of worry woven in her words. “Oh, God, Brie, please help me. What’s going on? What’s happening to me?” “Calm down, honey. Tell me what happened. Are Ryken and Luken with you?” Sobbing, Tabitha took a seat on a log nearby. She wheezed, “No, I’ve run away.” “You what?” Brie all but screamed the words into the phone. “Tabitha, you’re in danger. Mason Levi’s men are tracking you to get

 

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to me. You must return to Ryken and Luken. They’re there to protect you. I should have told you sooner, but I was afraid you’d freak out and not come to McCarthy Ranch. I couldn’t take the chance that you would come willingly, especially when I shocked you with my sudden news. Sending Ryken and Luken was truly our only option to ensure that you were kept safe.” Sniffling, Tabitha sat down on a stump. “Oh, I believe you.” She paused, sucking in a deep, calming breath. “We were attacked on the train. Two very large, very strange men tried to kidnap me, which seems odd to me now considering that’s what I thought Ryken and Luken were trying to do.” Brie sighed, explaining, “No, honey, Ryken and Luken are friends of mine. They’re my fiancé’s cousins.” A forced giggle rasped through her sobs. “Well, then I’m sure you’ll find it amusing that I was not only attacked by two goons, but I stupidly slept with both Ryken and Luken.” “You what? Both of them?” Never in her life had Tabitha heard Brie sound so astounded as if she couldn’t believe Tabitha capable of having sex with one guy, let alone two. The cool, smooth-talking Brie was letting her true passions blast through loud and clear. Inhaling a gulp of air, she fought against the need to cover her face in shame. She already felt like the skin covering her body didn’t belong to her, that her thoughts were not her own. She was sick to death with the strangeness consuming her body, mind, and soul. “Don’t you dare yell at me, Brie. Right now I’m fucked in the head and I could use your help, okay?” Groaning, Brie muttered, “Sounds like you were fucked somewhere else.” The seemingly judgmental voice of her best friend cut through the air like a knife. Or maybe it was a knife in her back she felt twisting, jabbing in deeper with the coldness of her tone. She ran a hand through her mussed hair, gripping hold of it near the roots. Gritting her teeth, she said plainly, “Don’t, Brie. Don’t

 

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judge me. I don’t need to hear it right now. I need your help. You can scold me later for all I care, but not now.” Her tone softened with surprise. “I don’t want to scold you and I’m not judging you. I seriously think you are overreacting.” She sighed. “I guess what’s been done doesn’t really matter now anyway because. Sebastian is most likely going to kill both Ryken and Luken when they return to McCarthy Ranch. They were warned not to touch you. They were given specific instructions to bring you to me unharmed, and it sure as shit sounds like they’ve done a pretty shitty job at that.” Brie’s voice had a hard, raspy edge to it as it dropped into a whisper. “I’m not too thrilled with them myself actually. They never should have taken you without explaining who they were, never should have slept with you…unless you really wanted it of course, and they never should have let you get anywhere near danger or find a way to escape them so you could call me.” She quickly gazed around the dark surroundings, realizing that charging out into the middle of nowhere was probably not the brightest idea she ever had. “I’m so scared.” “Why didn’t you just ask them to call me? They would’ve given you the phone, we could’ve spoken without you putting yourself in harm’s way.” Brie’s soft voice was the comfort she had hoped to find. “I didn’t think about it,” she admitted. “What am I supposed to do, now?” She couldn’t admit to Brie that she was more frightened of being alone with Ryken and Luken again. There was something drawing her to them, like a magnet she couldn’t help but be attracted to. They called to her in a primal, unexplained way. She didn’t want anything bad to happen to them, and the more she thought about it, the worse she felt. “I’ll tell you exactly what you’re going to do.” Brie’s voice boomed through the phone with a commanding power Tabitha had never witnessed before. “You are going to march that stubborn ass of yours back to Ryken and Luken where you are going to have them

 

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call Sebastian, and then they are going to arrange for you to be brought to me as they were supposed to have done in the first place.” Gasping with nerves, she asked, “And you are absolutely sure I can trust them?” She might have strange urges that told her to run to them and never look back, but she still couldn’t shake the fact that she didn’t really know them. She knew practically nothing about them other than what Luken had shared with her, if that was even the truth, and that they were related to Brie’s fiancé. “Just keep your panties on and you should be fine,” Brie muttered with a hint of laughter in her voice. “And if you run across any of Mason Levi’s men, you need to have one of the wonder twins call Sebastian immediately. There seems to be a hell of a lot more of them than we first thought. You need to be extremely careful, Tabitha. Do not fucking dilly-dally.” What else was Tabitha going to do? Stand in the middle of the woods like a helpless little girl? Not likely. “Okay, I’ll do as you ask, and I’ll have them call you as soon as I get back to the hotel room.” “I expect to hear back from you in less than ten minutes. The clock’s ticking. Get your ass in gear.” Damn, who was this woman giving her orders? An aggressive, commanding woman—Brie had changed, and it seemed it was for the better. Maybe this fiancé of hers was not an asshole, after all. Maybe he was the reason for the newly reenergized independent woman Brie had become. Closing the phone, Tabitha stood and began running in the direction of the hotel. She couldn’t see it, but she knew exactly where it was. Her sense of direction was incredible. Not to mention her sense of smell which picked up Ryken’s sexy as hell woodsy fragrance, as if he had been standing in front of her. She stopped, knowing he was close, could feel his eyes burning along her skin as he stared at her. The fine hairs along her nape stood on end. She felt his fury, felt his displeasure regarding her running from

 

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them, but she was returning to them, so maybe she would be lucky and they wouldn’t scold her too badly. Lord knew, she had already received enough ass-chewing from Brie.

 

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Chapter Eight Ryken’s eyes narrowed as he studied his mate, pure, volatile anger seething from every pour. Did she not understand the danger she was in? Did she not understand that his job was to protect her no matter what? Why did she insist on running from them? He stepped free of the shadows cast by the massive trees surrounding them, and his jaw ticked with each step he took, drawing closer to her. She could have injured herself out there alone. He had to show her exactly why she needed to stay in his custody and he had to convince her that there was no other place where she would be safe other than with them. Them? He scowled at his slip of the tongue. Or was it? “Stay away from me,” Tabitha warned, her voice tinged with a forced confidence and a hint of fear. He knew her fear well now, could smell it like a blossoming rose. Good, he wanted her to be afraid. Not of him, but of the things that hid within the shadows of the night. Creatures that would take great pleasure in breaking a strongwilled woman like Tabitha. Closing in on her, he muttered, “I can’t.” Biting back the anger bubbling up in his chest, he squeezed his hands into tight fists. “I’ve tried, told myself you don’t want me. I get that, but I still can’t resist you. I need to be close to you. I need to keep you safe.” She laughed, the wispy sound edged with disbelief. “So, you think coming out here and talking to me in the same suave, charming way your brother does will make me forgive you? Make me stop wanting to fight with you? Well, it won’t work, so don’t bother,” she told him.

 

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She spun around, turning away from him. She stumbled and tripped over a well-hidden log. As she began to fall, Ryken quickly grabbed hold of her arms, stopping her decent before she landed flat on her face. He propped her back up onto her feet with ease. She ripped her arms out of his hold. “Don’t touch me,” she barked. His chest tightened with regret. “I know I hurt you. I’m sorry for that. I’m also sorry for what you saw me do on the train. That must have been a shock.” “A shock?” She narrowed her eyes and scrunched her nose. “Ryken, you killed a man, but that was nothing compared to what you said to me in the corridor of the train. You said you wanted a chance to fuck me because your brother had.” She bit her quivering lip. “You said I was frigid.” She paused for a long moment. Fists balled at her sides, she snapped, “Ryken, you fucked me in my ass. You hurt me. You took my body, and then treated me like shit afterwards. You had no right to hurt me. No right to say those things to me when we were alone and then be so cold in front of Luken. I was prepared to give you a chance, but you screwed up—again.” Her voice trembled as she yelled at him. Bile rose up in his throat, and he swallowed, trying to keep his emotions in check. He hated himself for what he had done to her, but she had to know he didn’t have a choice. She was his mate. The desires she aroused in him were like a possession. He had no other choice, but to be with her, to own her—forever. Ryken’s spine went ramrod stiff as he said, “I know. And you’re right. I acted badly, and I was…jealous. I never should have touched you, but I only did it because—” “What? You only did it because…” Her voice trailed off, the last words hanging in the air like a two-ton elephant. “Spit it out, Ryken.” “Tabitha, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” She chuckled coldly in response. “I’ve seen grown men rip through flesh like it was butter, dodged claws that looked more like

 

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razors, and jumped from a fucking moving train. Being chased by men who looked more like wild animals has a way of making you believe almost anything. At the rate I’m going, I’m likely to even believe you. Now spill it.” He nodded, accepting that he had no other choice but to appease her. To share with her that the worst of her nightmares had nothing at all to do with him, but because of something that happened before they ever met. She was starting to sound brave and forceful, and that was good because she would need those militant emotions after he revealed the details of what the present future had in store for. “Have you noticed any changes about your behavior over the last few weeks? Have you felt different?” Eyes narrowing, she frowned. “How’s your hearing, your eyesight?” Crossing her arms over her chest, she questioned, “What is this, Ryken? Why are you asking me this? What’s how I’m feeling got anything to do with what you’ve come to talk with me about?” “Because it does.” Pausing, he asked her, “Be honest with me, Tabitha, are you attracted to me? Have you been since we met? Is there something between us?” The lines around her eyes and mouth tightened as she scowled. Again she turned to escape him, but he quickly grabbed her arms, eyeing her with great intent. She snapped, “I don’t see what any of this has to do with getting me to believe you. Just fucking tell me what you’re trying to say, Ryken. Stop messing around.” He shook his head, stepping closer, arguing, “I’m not messing around, Tabitha. I’m trying to get you to see a few things before I drop the whammy of all whammies on you.” Frustration pounded in his skull like a drum. He needed her to understand she was in danger from herself as well as from Mason Levi’s men. She held his intense stare, arms molded tighter over her ample breasts, apprehension filled her gaze.

 

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He licked his dry lips and swallowed, then asked, “I realize this might be a strange question, but I have to know…were you attacked a few weeks ago? Bitten by a wild animal or had sex with someone other than me or Luken?” She sucked in a shocking breath. Dropping her arms to her side, she glared at him. Hands balling into tight fists, she spat, “It’s none of your damn business who I’ve slept with.” “So you haven’t slept with anyone else besides us,” he quickly responded. “I didn’t say that,” she countered. “But you didn’t deny it either,” he reminded her. His hands held her at her upper arms with enough strength to let her know he could most definitely overpower her. “When were you attacked?” Eyes wide, she swallowed, staring at him with an enormity of seething hate. She suddenly glanced away from him, looking at the ground beside them. Hesitating for a long moment, she revealed, “A few weeks ago.” A gasp of air whooshed from his lungs as his fingers glided up and down her arms in a comforting caress. Strangely, it pained him to know she’d been hurt and he wasn’t there to protect her. “Tell me what happened.” Eyeing him, she questioned, “Why? What’s this got to do with anything?” He sighed heavily. “Tabitha, please tell me what happened.” Surely, she could hear the desperate plea in his voice and he didn’t care. He would open his heart up for her if that was what she needed. For a long moment she stared up at him. Finally, she said, “I was walking to my car late one night after work. I heard something behind me. When I turned around—” He caressed her cheek. “It’s okay, Tabitha. I’m here with you. You’re safe now.” She nodded and took a deep breath before finishing her thought. “Some kind of massively large animal with glowing golden eyes

 

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attacked me. I tried to run, but I didn’t get far.” She hung her head as tears leaked from her eyes. The beast roared inside his head, angry that she had been attacked by another fucking lycan. “The spot where you were bitten, has it healed?” She absently rolled her shoulder. “Yes.” She nodded. Ignoring her earlier query, he asked, “And to answer my previous questions, you do hear and see better than before?” She swallowed. “Yes.” “Your sex drive, has it been elevated?” Obviously appalled by his question, she swatted at his arms, “Fuck you, Ryken,” she snapped. “I can’t believe I fell for that. You’re just trying to get into my pants again, and it won’t work.” She pushed away from him, creating unwanted distance. At least as far as Ryken was concerned. He moved in, closing the distance again. He told her, “Tabitha, as much as I would love to be wedged inside that hot little body of yours, fucking you senseless, I’m more concerned with the fact that you were bitten by a wolf. A lycan.” She distorted her face, eyes narrowing, lips turned down into a frown. “You’re such an asshole.” The corner of his mouth curled up into a crooked grin. “I know, but that’s beside the point.” “What the hell are you talking about?” she begged. He stroked the side of her face, fingers brushing into the strands of silky soft hair. Remarkably, she didn’t object to his touch and that pleased the beast as well as the man. “The urges you have, the changes in your physical abilities, the desires you have for me and my brother, it’s all part of the transformation. Lycanthropy.” Slapping away his touch again, she argued, “You’re insane. I’m not undergoing any transformation. And I don’t even want to know what Lycanthropy is.”

 

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“Tabitha, I know this is a shock, but you’re becoming a werewolf, and the sooner you accept the changes in your body, the sooner you’ll adjust.” She stared at him for a long moment before erupting into laughter. “You’re out of your mind, you know that? Did Brie know just how crazy you were when she sent you to get me?” She glanced around the area. “Don’t tell me…there are cameras out there spying on us. We are being watched, right? This is all some kind of prank—a joke?” “No, Tabitha, this is not a joke.” The harsh rumble that sprung from his throat had her silenced in seconds. “Tabitha, I’m going to show you something, but I beg you not to run. I’ll only chase after you if you do.” He stared into her sparkling green eyes and wondered if she was brave enough to handle what he was about to show her. “Remember Tabitha, no matter what, I will not hurt you. I am in complete control.” Ryken’s beast clawed at his mind, eager to make an appearance. He knew this was not the smartest thing to do, but how else could he convince her that what he was telling her was the truth? The wolf inside him was finally happy, had wanted to run. The beast was ready to play, but mostly he was eager to fuck his mate. He needed her to accept him, all of him, but more than that he needed her to accept her own fate. The flesh of his hands and feet split, revealing the elongating bones and claws of the wolf beneath the meaty surface. His body and face shifted and transformed into the menacing black wolf with eyes that would glow as silvery as the moon above. Eyes wide, she screamed, turned, and began running further into the thickening woods. He had told her not to run. His wolf would only hunt her down, and once he got to her, he would have little control over the wild urges of the beast. The run would awaken him, stimulate him beyond rational thinking. The wolf already wanted her, and now he only wanted her more.

 

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“Tabitha,” the wolf roared, just before a deep throaty howl broke the air. Claws ripped into the loose and hard dirt under his paws, tearing the vegetation from the ground as he charged after his mate. Fury filled his wild mind. He wouldn’t let her get far, wouldn’t let her escape. That’s why he followed her out here in the first place. The location was so secluded that there was little chance that she would make it far enough away that he couldn’t catch her. He was one of the fastest runners in his pack, and hunting and tracking was his specialty. And right now he had his sights set on tracking down his disobedient mate. **** She knew it. He was going to kill her, tear the flesh from her body and leave her decaying corpse rotting for the birds and animals to dispose of. There would be nothing left of her, nothing that would reveal what had happened to her. Who would even believe it possible? Ryken had transformed before her eyes, becoming a monster, a beast. Black fur consumed his body, sharp claws and teeth elongated. His human size was massive before his change, now it dwarfed in comparison. Her mind froze from fear. All she could do was run as fast and as far away from him as she could. The fierce growl teased her ears, warning her of his closeness. Stumbling over foliage, rocks, and sticks, she prayed she would make it somewhere safe. That by some supernatural means she would outrun Ryken, escaping the massacre he was sure to deliver. Tripping over something, her head smacked the ground hard. Bright flashes of light blurred her vision. A blinding, debilitating pain filled her head, numbing her senses momentarily. Her gut rolled with wave after wave of nausea. She was going to be sick.

 

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She was no physical match against Ryken, didn’t stand a chance against the monster closing in on her heels. But she couldn’t surrender without a fight. Sure, he might kill her, but it would be on her own terms. She wouldn’t be a victim—not this time. Scrambling to her feet, she shifted directions, aiming for a darker, more secluded area. Trees that stretched towards the sky littered the horizon. Thick, heavy brush covered the ground—a perfect place where she could find a spot to hide. As she ran for her life, Tabitha reached deep inside herself, digging at the last of her reserve. Thoughts of her life raced in her mind, remembering how hard she fought to achieve everything in her life. Things didn’t come easy for her. She worked her tail off in college, paying her own way because her parents couldn’t afford to. Then she secured a job that basically started in the basement. Years of struggle and she finally climbed her way out from the bottom, discovering a true sense of accomplishment. Now, her life might be over before she even had a chance to share her success with someone she loved and cared about. Why had she waited so long to be happy? Why did it take a monster chasing her down to make her see just how much of her life she ignored? Staring death in the face gave her a newfound perspective. Had she had a chance to do it all over again, maybe she would do things differently. Maybe she would do more than work her ass off. Maybe she would find time to go out with friends and enjoy herself. Maybe she wouldn’t blame her parents for the choices she believed they had forced her to make. Life was funny. Too bad there was nothing funny about being chased by a monster. Tabitha ducked behind a tree and scrambled on her hands and knees, crawling underneath a thick coverage of brush. Her heart raced as she stared out along the ground, ears on alert. Waiting for the first sign of Ryken, she closed her eyes and prayed that she would wake up and discover this was all just a bad dream. None of this could be real.

 

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Monsters didn’t really exist. They were all part of her imagination. Too many hours spent watching supernatural television shows. The snapping of a twig in front of her held her attention. Her breath froze in her chest as she looked out, eyes focused and ready. Fingers plunged into the ground, digging in for traction. Screeching, she kicked with all her might as something strong gripped hold of her ankles, yanking her out from under the thick foliage. Flipping her effortlessly, Ryken dove on top of her. His naked body pinned her down onto the hard ground. She twisted and bucked, but her actions were futile. “Stop,” Ryken warned, and his eyes continued to glow disturbingly silver. She stilled as the tone of his voice commanded her to do. Her heart pounded so loud that she was deaf to all other sounds around her. Then, she realized it was not her heart she heard thundering in her ears, but Ryken’s. “I told you not to run from me,” he rasped, his breath on her face. “What are you?” she asked, voice trembling. Ryken’s eyes rounded with annoyance. “Damn, woman. Did you listen to anything I said? I’m a werewolf, and so are you. What just happened to me will happen to you within the week. I didn’t want to scare you, but you left me with little choice.” Shaking her head, she told him, “No, that can’t be true. Werewolves don’t exist.” He glared at her, brows high on his forehead. “Really? Then you should explain that to Brie because she’s marrying my alpha.” Swallowing back the fear choking her, she couldn’t believe what he was telling her. This had to be a lie. “What are you talking about?” She wiggled in his grasp, fighting to free herself from his strengthening hold. “Brie would never get mixed up in this.” His grip on her wrists tightened. She knew she must be pissing him off. Something she should really refrain from doing.

 

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“Brie is marrying one of us. She knows we exist, has for some time now.” “Really?” she barked with disbelief in her voice. “Then why didn’t she tell me?” “I don’t know, maybe because she knew you’d react like this.” He eased off of her. Her heated gaze fell to his naked body, lingering over the part of him that always reacted to her. She quickly rose to her feet, swaying from side to side like a drunken sailor. “Maybe you should sit down,” he suggested. “I don’t want to sit down.” Her legs wobbled underneath the weight of her body, but he was quick to catch her. “Maybe you should lie down,” he suggested again. Eyeing him with the deep heat of hatred, she snapped sharply, “Last time I laid down, you shoved your cock in my ass, so forgive me if I say, no thank you.” “Actually you were on your hands and knees if you remember correctly.” She frowned at him. “You’re never going to forgive me, are you?” “Nope. You are a son of a bitch who deserves to suffer. I hope you enjoyed fucking me, Ryken, because you’re never going to do it again. You or your damn brother,” she spat. **** “That’s a shame,” Ryken growled, closing the distance between them, pulling her up against his chest. His eyes warm, he knew the desires blazing inside him were being driven by the wolf. He moved in towards her, her palms pressed flat against his chest. “Your eyes,” she whispered. “They’re silver.”

 

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“It’s the wolf, Tabitha.” His deep voice rolled from his throat, laced with passions only she could invoke in him. “My wolf is very attracted to yours.” He nuzzled her neck, sniffing the scent of her hair. She shivered against his chest. “I’m not a wolf, Ryken. You could still be fucking with me for all I know.” He growled low in his throat. “Denial won’t change anything, Tabitha.” He eased her head back to stare up at him. She told him, “No, but it will keep me from being hurt by you again.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckles. “Never again, Tabitha. Never again will you have to worry that I’m lying to you. I will never deceive you. Earning your trust is all I care about.” He hesitated and then wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, kissing her, loving her mouth with heated intensity. She leaned into his touch, moaning into his mouth as he caressed and teased her lips. Parting from the kiss, he confessed, “That and pleasuring your amazing body, baby. There are so many things I wish to do to you. So many things I need to experience with my mate.” She stiffened in his arms. “Stop saying things like that to me, Ryken. I don’t understand why you keep calling me your mate. I ran away from Luken before I had the courage to ask him.” Jealousy panged in his gut. “Were you with him again?” Her eyes rounded in surprise. “No,” she quickly told him. He swallowed back the rising need to keep her all to himself, but he knew it was ultimately her choice to decide if she wanted him or not. He wouldn’t push her, unless she left him with no other option. “But you wanted to be with him. Do you have urges to be with him, Tabitha?” She couldn’t meet his eyes. Her voice trembled as she admitted, “Yes.” He nodded, jaw tightening.

 

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Pushing past his own selfish emotions, he placed his finger under her chin and raised her timid face so he could stare into her eyes. Eyes he hoped he could gaze into for all eternity. “Don’t ever be afraid to tell me how you truly feel. I want honesty between us always. I need a chance to earn your respect.” Her eyes watered as she locked gazes with him. “Ryken, I don’t understand what’s happening to me.” “The wolf is what’s happening to you, Tabitha,” he told her in a matter-of-fact tone. She shook her head. “No, not that, I mean, I don’t understand why I want you both so bad.” Ryken’s heart skittered to a stop. Had she said what he thought she said? “You want us both?” he breathed. She nodded hesitantly. “Yes, the thought of being without you, either one of you…I can’t do it. It doesn’t seem right. I hurt when I think about leaving. My heart, my mind, everything hurts. I have desires, cravings that I’ve never experienced before. Whenever I let those thoughts surface, it’s your face I see pleasuring me. Yours and Luken’s.” She placed her hands on the sides of her head. “God, I sound like such a slut.” “No,” he said, kissing her mouth again. “You sound like a woman who’s found her mates.” She stared at him curiously, eyes widening with anticipation. “Mating? You keep saying that to me. What are you talking about?” **** A figure stepped clear of the shadows, and she knew it was Luken before he even spoke. His voice eased over her like a warm blanket. “It’s when two wolves choose each other to bond with forever. It’s a connection that keeps a couple united. The feelings never go away. They only grow stronger.”

 

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As Luken approached, she said, “So basically what you’re saying is I’m stuck with you?” She glanced from one to the other. “Both of you?” Ryken took a large step back, making room for Luken to stand beside him. No longer crowding her, he acknowledged, “Not if you don’t want to be.” Ryken looked as if he was holding his breath. She folded her arms across her chest and muttered, “I’m listening.” “You don’t have to pick either one of us Tabitha,” Ryken informed her. “The connection you feel will never go away. You will always know we’re out there, ready and willing to satisfy your every need.” His voice grew raspy and deeper. “But you will never be able to fully ignore the instincts flaming inside your body, clawing at the back of your mind. Instincts that beg you to accept the connection and the men before you as your mates.” “You can pretend to ignore it, but you can never deny it,” Luken added. “And what does that mean?” Ryken’s gaze grew darker as he shared with her, “It means you can’t ignore what’s right in front of you. You will never be able to forget us and the pleasures we’ve given you. You will never be able to truly live without us. Whatever you do in this life, our faces, our touch, our passions will always haunt you.” “Well, that’s just fucked up,” she muttered, hands flying to her hips. Luken covered his mouth, hiding his laughter. “There is nothing funny about this. I’ve pretty much lived a normal life until you two showed up.” “No, actually that’s not true,” Luken’s voice rumbled. Ryken was the next to speak, his voice just as deep and thundering as Luken’s. “Your life was forever changed the day you were bitten by a werewolf. Your life was forever changed for the better when Luken and I showed up.”

 

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Brow furrowed, she glared at Ryken and said, “Damn, you are a cocky son of a bitch.” He shrugged and said, “I’m only stating the truth.” “And how exactly did you make my life better? You kidnapped me, got me practically captured by the goon squad, and now you’ve given me the best news of all…I’m a freaking werewolf with two werewolf lovers. How fucking sweet is that,” she muttered with a heightened level of annoyance and extreme mockery. “Sarcasm will get you everything with me, ya know?” Ryken teased. “Oh, shut up,” she snapped through gritted teeth, hands fisted at her sides. “You drive me crazy you know that?” He was on her the next second, holding her against him. “I’ll always drive you crazy, baby.” She stared up at him, as the heat from his touch seared her skin. “And that’s just one of the things you like most about me. My wild side inflames you, makes you hot, makes your pussy wet for my cock.” “Ryken, don’t,” she pleaded, twisting her body in his hands. He wouldn’t release her. He held his mouth above her ear and whispered, “Don’t what, Tabitha? Don’t tell you that I want you so much my chest hurts? Don’t tell you that I can still taste your sweet pussy on my lips, teasing my tongue? That my cock aches to be inside you once again, pleasuring you till you come?” He groaned. “Oh, Tabitha. You don’t have any idea what you do to me.” Her legs went weak, and had he not been holding her, she would have dropped like a lead weight to the ground. “You shouldn’t say these things to me, Ryken. It’s not normal what I’m feeling for you…both of you.” Suddenly, she was turned, her back against Ryken’s chest. She faced Luken, his fierce arms locked around her like a vise. “There is nothing normal about wanting something as badly as I want you, Tabitha. Ryken and I will never desire another woman like we desire

 

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you. To us, this is so much more than the simple act of fucking. The connection we have with you…it—” His eyes cast downward as he pressed his lips into a tight scowl. “What? Tell me,” she begged. His eyes locked with hers, as he explained, “You are our forever. No other woman will ever touch our souls as you have. We will never accept another woman in our lives because the only woman we want is you. We mate for life, Tabitha, and we live a very long time.” “This is crazy. We’ve just met.” “When it’s meant to be it doesn’t take much more than a conversation, a touch, or even a kiss to know you’ve met the one who is meant for you.” Luken released a heavy sigh. Nuzzling against her cheek, Ryken asked, “Will you give us a chance to prove to you what we mean? Will you forgive me and allow us to start anew?” He kissed her ear. His breath dipped inside and sent shivers tingling up and down her spine. “Tabitha, I know I sound like a broken record, but please give me a chance to show you that I can be the man you want. The man you desire. The man you can trust.”

 

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Chapter Nine Whatever was happening to her was beyond her control. She was now bound to Ryken and Luken as if they had somehow become a vital extension of her body and without them, she would cease to exist. Tormented by the arousal swamping through her veins and mind, she closed her eyes and sobbed. These strange urges she was experiencing didn’t belong to her. She didn’t understand why all of these things were happening to her. Why did she feel so helpless against Ryken and Luken? So powerless to do or feel anything except their passion—raw, primal desires that caused her blood to pump fierce and wild throughout her veins. Their physical closeness alone fired through her body, making her feel as if she couldn’t function for a moment without Ryken or Luken impacting her life. Even as the heavy sobs rocked her body, she could no longer deny the bonding she felt forming between them since their first encounter. A primitive power and instinct surrounded her. But the changes happening to her didn’t feel right, didn’t come from the person she knew herself to be. This was not the life she would have chosen for herself. A normal life was what she wanted—one that consisted of a steady job, a house, a husband, and a family. A simple life as a human being, not a Goddamn werewolf. “Don’t be scared, Tabitha.” Luken’s voice rolled over her in a hypnotic haze, breaking her free of the fear that rippled inside her. He brushed the fallen tear from her cheek. “We want you…all of you…not just your body. This connection thriving between us, the one I know you feel is so much more than just sex.”

 

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Ryken’s hands slid around her waist, climbing up her stomach and ribs, inflaming her skin. Masculine fingers closed possessively over one nipple, teasing, sampling, measuring the responsiveness of her body. She was very responsive. Arousal consumed her, tearing through her senses and every cell in her body. She choked back a sob as his fingers plucked at her sensitive nipple. “Oh,” she gasped. The corners of Ryken’s mouth lifted into a knowing smile. “You desire me,” he mused, his voice a husky rumble. “I know you do. I can smell your mouthwatering cunt, and I want so much to taste your sweet pussy again.” Cocking an eyebrow, he turned her to face him and wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her against him by the small of her back. “Do you enjoy my touch, Tabitha?” He nuzzled his whiskered face against her cheek, erotically abrading her skin. “Do you like the feel of my skin on yours, the way my hands caress your beautiful body?” She quivered as he whispered words in her ear that made her heart race faster. Her breath snagged in her chest the moment he nibbled on her ear. The warmth of his touch sent shivers tingling up and down her spine. “Kiss me, Tabitha. Give me permission to love you.” The husky growl in Ryken’s voice had her toes curling inside her shoes. What did she have to lose by giving into his wishes? Tabitha believed she had everything she wanted. But if that were true then why did she feel so lost and miserable? Why did the thought of being without these men frighten her more than the knowledge of losing her independence or better yet becoming a werewolf—a fact she had yet to accept fully. Her chest tightened as she swallowed the nerves choking her. She said softly, “Promise me something, both of you.” “Anything, just ask,” Ryken quickly responded.

 

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Swallowing hard again, she whispered, “Promise me you won’t hurt me. Promise that I’m not just some piece of ass you’re tricking into fucking in the woods…or on a train.” “Tabitha—” Ryken and Luken both called out to her, moving forward, surrounding her with their large, imposing bodies. Raising her hands up to both of them, she protested, “Wait. I need to know that I mean more to you than that. I’m not asking for love— in fact it’s better if we don’t ever go there—but to know that I’m not just a notch on your bedpost. I don’t care if it’s a lie. I still need to hear you tell me it’s not.” Ryken and Luken both eliminated the distance, closing in around her. Their large physical size didn’t frighten her. In fact, it did just the opposite. She felt safe standing between them, collecting the warmth of their bodies like she was a prized treasure. She could smell their need for her. She thought she had picked up on it before, but now standing so close to them she was sure that was what she sensed. Strange as it was, her senses were becoming more acute. Luken twined his fingers into her hair, pressing his lips to the soft strands. “We’ve told you already, Tabitha. No one will ever be a part of us as you are. You belong with us. The only woman meant to be our one and true mate.” “There will never be another for us,” Ryken reminded her. “I can promise you this, Tabitha, I will always want you. I will always desire you, and there will never be a woman who can piss me off or turn me on more than you.” The twinge of a smile tugged at her lips. “You do have a unique way of irritating me, Ryken.” She placed the palm of her hand on the side of his face, rubbing against the coarse whiskers of his cheek and jaw. The gesture felt normal, like she had done it a hundred times before. The touch of his skin sent a jolt of electricity blasting throughout her system, but his touch was nothing compared to the feel of his lips as he leaned down and sensually claimed her mouth. In an instant, his

 

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kiss soothed her frayed nerves like nothing else possibly could. There was something truly desperate in his kiss, something she didn’t have a choice but to accept and enjoy. Parting from his kiss, she glanced from one brawny male to the other. Nerves fluttered wildly in her belly as she asked, “How do we do this? I’m sorry if I act like a virgin here, but I’ve never been with two men at one time. Shit, it’s been a long time since I was with one before the two of you.” Scowling at herself for the way that sounded, her brow furrowed. “Wow, I really do sound like a slut.” Chuckling, Luken told her, “No you don’t. To be honest with you, I was working a little wolf mojo on you earlier when we were in your train car.” “Wolf mojo?” she asked, arching a brow. “Yes, once I sensed that you were a wolf, too, I used the attraction of our wolves to get you to submit more willingly.” She dug her hands into her hips, scowling playfully. “Now that’s just sneaky,” she hissed with her eyes narrowing into piercing slits. He nodded with a large, imposing smile illuminating his face. “Mating heat is a primal attraction, sweetheart. One that neither one of us can control.” She slowly licked and nibbled her bottom lip. Curiosity pummeled around inside her head. Instinct answered her question, but she couldn’t resist hearing the response from their lips directly. She asked with a hopeful tone, “Is sex better when you’re a wolf?” Grinning with lust-filled desires, Ryken answered, “Sex is great when you’re a wolf. Once you turn completely, I’ll show you exactly what I mean.” His brows flickered up and down. Smiling, she said, “Oh, I’m sure you will.” Tabitha tugged her shirt up over her head, leaving her bra on. Staring at both men, hands on her hips, she demanded, “Now, stop talking and get to pleasing me before I change my mind. And, boys…this better be worth it.”

 

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Luken groaned, his eyes focused on her as he asked, “Brother, has our little mate found her own wolf mojo?” She could feel the smile in his voice like a warm, silky blanket caressing every inch of her sensitive skin. Licking the seam of his lips, Ryken answered, “I believe she might have.” In the next second, Ryken closed the remaining distance between them in a single, commanding stride, his hands reaching out to cup her face, his thumbs caressed her jawline until her head leaned back, exposing her delicate throat. Then, his mouth was on the pulse pounding in her neck, sampling the soft flesh under his lips, licking at the savory taste of her body. Moaning, she eased her breasts up against his steel chest, molding and crowding in close. Her hands came up to cradle his firm ass, tugging his thickening erection against her belly. Luken slid up behind her, unclasping her bra. Ryken eased away enough to let the material drop to the ground between him and Tabitha, never breaking the connection of their kiss. Luken planted his hands on her hips and sent her whirling under his control, spinning her so that her back was up against Ryken’s chest. She had no time to react before his fingers gripped the waist of her skirt and yanked the garment free of her body, shredding the material. Before she could protest, Luken’s mouth was on hers. Her mouth opened at once, stroking his tongue with hers, matching the urgency she felt in his kiss. His hand tightened on hers, and his mouth was suddenly brushing her neck as he inhaled against it. The sensations ravaging her body intensified as his fingers pinched her erect nipple. Something clenched, snapped, and sizzled inside her. Ryken’s mouth teased her skin while more tingling ripples traveled along her body. While her mouth was occupied with Luken’s fevered kisses and he plucked and stroked her sensitive nipples, Ryken groaned behind her as she wrapped the palm of her hand

 

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around his thick shaft. The sensitive nerves of her pussy screamed as she stroked his long length. She couldn’t wait for him to be buried deep inside her, fucking her to the point of maddening lust. She felt him tremble in her hand as she worked his shaft, slow from base to head, swirling her fingers around the moistened crown. He sucked in a breath as she broke his brother’s kiss to lick the palm of her hand and grasp his cock once more. Head craning back as if growling towards the heavens, Ryken demanded, “Luken, I want my turn.” His voice was low, but resonating. “I want my turn now.” The commanding tone of Ryken’s voice made her pussy clench with need. Damn, these men made her hot with desires she never knew existed inside her. Luken eased his hold on her hips and allowed Ryken to take command of her body, spinning her quickly to face him. A primal sound escaped him as he pressed his hard length against her body. Tabitha sighed at the untamed feelings running through her veins. Gasping at the wild sensations bombarding her with feelings that surged straight to her core, she felt as if every nerve ending in her body was about to explode. Their wild and skilled hands caressed her as if she were a divine queen they worshiped. She was losing herself in the powerful passion that seemed to burn so easily between them. Nuzzling against her cheek, Ryken growled, “On your knees, mate.” A fevered chill rushed up and down her spin, and she instantly obliged. She didn’t have a choice. Her body was reacting to theirs on a level she hadn’t experienced with anyone else. Her knees planted into the soft soil. Then, she arched her back almost instinctively as if alerting him to her demands, begging him to satisfy her more primal desires. Hands flat on the ground, her body was thrumming with need that only they could satisfy. Ryken knelt behind her, coaxing her pussy with the head of his cock, sliding the heavy member over her clit, sending fire blazing into her belly. Biting her bottom lip, his fingers suddenly replaced his cock. Reaching from between her legs, he massaged her clit, smearing the

 

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slick moisture around her pussy, dipping a finger into her cunt, fucking her slowly. He inserted another finger, stretching her pussy wide. The delicious pressure caused her to arch forward in an inviting declaration. Fevered sensations flooded her body and her pussy as his fingers and hands worked her over, gliding over her sensitive clit, fucking, flicking, and rubbing her pussy with exquisite torture. She was going to come. A mind-numbing eruption she couldn’t wait to experience. Bucking against him, her mind and body soared to heights she hadn’t felt before. The pressure within her gathered, preparing to explode. In a wave of heat, her mind snapped and she was screaming at the top of her lungs. As she came her body shuddered and her pussy tightened around Ryken’s fingers. “That’s it, baby,” Ryken growled, giving her weeping pussy little time to rest as the head of his cock teased at her readied entrance. Instantly, she pushed back against him again, wanting him to drive into her with the force she needed, longed for. She was ready to be fucked. The untamed urges charging through her body were making her so wild with need she was quivering. With a roar, he entered her with one unrelenting stroke. She gasped at the intrusion, sucking in a breath. She met his slow and controlled thrust, driving him inside her further. He was so big, very big, and she loved it. He filled her pussy with more than just his cock. He filled her with complete and total satisfaction. Her gaze drifted over a very naked Luken moving towards her. Glancing over his body, she witnessed his shaft protruding from between his narrow hips like a rod, his ball sac heavy and begging to be fondled. She hadn’t noticed just how magnificent his body was when they’d first made love. Maybe it was nerves before, but for whatever reason, she wasn’t nervous now. Just the sight of him had her pussy growing wetter and clamping down forcibly around Ryken’s cock.

 

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“Damn, man. I think she likes the sight of you. She’s squeezing my cock so fucking tight.” Ryken groaned, gripping her hips and slamming in deeper and harder. He kicked his head back in a mock howl. She licked her lips as Luken’s cock lingered in her view. She wanted to taste him, sample him like a tasty treat—a chocolate hors d’oeuvre she was addicted to. Hungry for him, she lifted her hand up and caressed his balls, encouraging him to move closer. His impressive cock bobbed in front of her, close enough that she flicked her tongue over the moistened head, swirling her tongue around the crown before taking his dick into her mouth fully. Well, as much as she could. Her hand worked over the base of his shaft as her mouth slid up and down on the rest. Her tongue swirled around his cock wickedly each time her mouth sucked him in deeper. “Oh, God. That feels so good,” Luken moaned, massaging her breasts, pinching her nipples as she fucked him with her mouth. “That’s it, sweetheart, suck me harder.” As she devoured Luken’s cock, savoring every inch of his fullness, Ryken’s thrusts grew more intense, driving deeper and faster. Her pussy tingled with electrical pulses. Seated deep, he pumped inside her like a piston, inflaming her body even more. With each thunderous plunge of his cock, tension built insider her, spiraling until she thought she couldn’t take any more. For a moment, she slid her mouth off of Luken’s cock. “Oh, God!” she cried, her fingers probing into the earth under her palms. Her nerve endings electrified at the intimate touch. Then, a cry tore from her throat when his fierce thrust burned into her like a brand. A harsh noise erupted from Ryken and Luken as she felt their primal control snap. Luken’s fingers dug further into her hair, holding her in place as she milked his cock with her mouth, tasting his sweet, spicy cum, while Ryken’s cock continued its assault on her cunt, empting his seed into her womb.

 

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“Awww, baby,” Ryken groaned, bucking his hips one last time before pulling his cock out of her pussy. Luken knelt in front of her, cupping her face in his massive hands. “Are you all right, sweetheart? Did we hurt you?” Smiling, she shook her head. “No, Luken. I’m fine, and that was amazing.” He smiled. “I’m so glad you said so,” Luken said, his voice hovering on the edge of concern. Pushing back to sit on her heels, she repeated, “I’m fine, Luken. You really need to stop being so worried about me.” “Never,” he confessed. “That will never happen, sweetheart. I’m afraid you’ll just have to accept that I’ll always worry about you and I’ll always hold your needs above my own.” The honesty she heard in his words rendered her speechless. Why would a man care so much about her? She already let him have her body, not once, but twice. It wasn’t like he had to whisper sweet nothings to get into her pants. She wouldn’t need much more than to take a glance into his warm, breathtaking eyes to give into the primal needs that enflamed her body. Being with these men just felt right, and when the time came that she would have to say good-bye to them, she knew it would be difficult. They would be at McCarthy Ranch soon, and she believed everything would change. How could she keep up an affair with two men? How could she explain to Brie that she wanted the love and devotion of these men…No, not only love and devotion, but hot, passionate sex, as well? Then, her stomach rolled with nerves and the memory of what she had done before the three had made love in the woods. Brie and her words rushed back in. “Uh-oh,” Tabitha warned, nibbling on her fingers. “What, uh-oh? You never say ‘uh-oh’ after sex, Tabitha,” Ryken teased.

 

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Swallowing back her worries, she said, “I think I made a terrible mistake.” Sternly, Luken told her, “Please tell me we are not going through that again. What we did was perfectly natural, and we care about you more than you realize.” Shaking her head, she breathed, “No, not that.” “Then what are you talking about?” Luken asked, pulling his shirt back over his head. Cringing, she told them, “When I snuck out of the hotel, I called Brie and sort of told her what happened.” Eyes narrowing, Luken asked, “What exactly did you tell her?” Instinct told her she’d made a mistake by talking to Brie. The dreaded look on their faces confirmed she was right. Tabitha blurted out, “Everything. Including that I’d slept with you…both of you.” Her hand covered her mouth, her eyes round with regret and concern. “Oh, shit,” Ryken spat. “Oh, shit is right,” Luken agreed. “We are so fucking dead.” Ryken stared up into the star-filled sky. “It’s a good thing it’s almost a full moon.” Clutching her clothing to her breasts, she questioned, “What does that have to do with anything?” Ryken locked gazes with her, his face a stone of emotional mystery. His voice filled with powerful awareness as he explained, “Because we are the strongest during that time, and believe me when I say that Luken and I are going to need every bit of our strength.” Stepping close enough to place her hand on Ryken’s forearm, she asked, “Why is that? Why would you need the strength of the moon?” Luken closed in behind her, his hands rubbed up and down her arms as if to warm the flesh beneath his touch. He then said matter-offactly, “Because Sebastian McCarthy is going to kill us.” ****

 

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Mason twisted the silver blade between his calloused fingers as he studied his former pack mate casually sitting at the bar drinking his beer. Tracking his cousin to this hole-in-the-wall bar had been more difficult than he’d first predicted. His cousin was a remarkable hunter and proved to be even more of an elusive target. Don’t kill him. The voices reminded him over and over again. A bombardment of cries, repeating, we need him, we need him, we need him. You must convince him…convince him, Mason. Do it now! The voices screamed and echoed inside his head in unison. All begging him for the same thing—collect Ryder O’Laughlin. He nodded as if the voices in his head could see him. Lifting the back of his leather jacket, he slid the blade into the sheath located at the small of his back. Not far enough out of reach should he need it, but out of sight to help ease the fears of those he came in contact with. He knew that Ryder would know he was armed and would trust him about as much as he could smell him. And with the DNA mutation, Ryder couldn’t smell Mason at all. Mason stalked to the bar behind Ryder like a lion stalking its prey, silent and deadly. His fingers danced at the edge of his leather jacket, gliding over the hilt of the blade. Standing behind Ryder for what felt like hours, he eased into the chair beside him and slapped his hand down hard on the dark, rubbery wood. “Jack on the rocks,” Mason demanded to the bartender. The bartender nodded and placed a glass in front of him, which Mason automatically swallowed in one gulp. “Another,” he ordered, and the bartender complied. At least four more times, Mason tossed back the drinks before he turned his gaze to his cousin. Ryder glared at him curiously, and asked, “Are you trying to get drunk to make it easier for me to kill you?” “Nope, just trying to numb my need to do that same to you.” Mason laughed huskily, gulping down another drink.

 

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“What the fuck do you want, Mason? I shouldn’t even hesitate to cut your damn head off.” Mason tsked under his tongue. “Now, is that any way to treat family?” “Fuck family, Mason,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “What do you want?” Mason cocked his head to the side, glancing at the brown-haired giant. Narrowing his eyes, he asked Ryder, “Do you know who Sebastian McCarthy is?” Ryder arched a brow. “Why?” He tossed down a newspaper clipping with a woman’s picture on it. He tapped the picture with his thick finger. “Because I want this woman, and she just happens to be the mate of that asshole, Sebastian McCarthy. She’s also the attorney who burned me and ruined all of my fun plans, forcing me to start collecting new toys.” He chugged back another drink. “I owe that angel for all the kindness she bestowed on me.” Ryder’s eyes glanced down at the bar, staring into his beer. “And what does this have to do with me?” “I want your help to capture her,” Mason said matter-of-factly. Ryder laughed, practically spewing his beer all over the counter. “So, a side effect of this mutating DNA must also be brain damage.” Mason snarled. “You might think this is funny, but I’m not laughing. And you might want to tame that insulting tone of yours, cousin. You really don’t want to piss me off.” “Right, because you’re the big badass lycan now that you’ve got some fucking superpower bullshit running through your veins.” Ryder took a sip of his beer, swirling the liquid slowly in his glass. He asked plainly, “How do you plan to get her out of the McCarthy stronghold?” “I have an ace up my sleeve,” he said, his voice warming to the thought of victory.

 

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“I doubt that,” Ryder said dryly. “You’re just playing games, Mason. There’s no way in hell you’ll get her away from Sebastian. He’s a powerful alpha with a lot of followers, and he’ll die before he lets her go.” Ryder stared at him with wild intensity. His jaw twitched. “I don’t play games anymore, Ryder. I’m above such things. And Sebastian McCarthy will do exactly what I ask for because I’m about to have the best kind of leverage a lycan can have.” “And what might that be?” Ryder asked, suddenly straightening in his chair. Mason grinned. “The one person Brie Ferguson cannot live without—her best friend, Tabitha Burns.” Looking astounded by his cousin’s plans, he asked, “What? You plan to capture the girl and barter her for Brie?” He nodded with a smirk, taking another gulp of his drink. “And you really think that McCarthy will just sit back and let his mate sacrifice herself over her best friend.” He chuckled hard and loud. “You really have lost your mind. McCarthy’s men will never let you within a hundred feet of her. Trust me, I know.” “You’ve spoken with them then?” Now it was his turn to nod, sipping his own beer. “I’ve spoken to them, and they’re really not happy with you at the moment.” The corners of his mouth quirked up as he said, “I imagine not, considering I tried to kill his precious mate not too long ago.” Ryder turned, and annoyance filled his gaze. “Mason, what the fuck do you really want? Tell me why I shouldn’t slice your head from your shoulders?” “Because we’re kin,” he said, sounding more like a question than an answer. “That makes no never mind to me. I could give a rat’s ass if you were my mother. You’re infected with some mutating lycan DNA, and I’m not exactly thrilled about the side effects.”

 

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“Side effects? You mean the fact that even with your lycan abilities I’m still stronger and faster than you, or that I have no tangible scent to identify me? Yes, I’d say those are pretty fucking awesome side effects.” After all, who wouldn’t want abilities like that? Powers that created the ultimate, undetectable killing machine or to be the most feared weapon on earth? His skin chilled, and his pulse pounded with excitement, knowing that he currently possessed supernatural powers that gave him the ability to infiltrate any army at any time—and soon he would. Yes, those were pretty fucking awesome side effects to suffer from, Mason thought. Ryder slammed his empty beer mug down onto the countertop, pulling Mason clear from his thoughts. “Levi, let’s get something straight. I might be your cousin, but I don’t like you. Never have. You were fucked up before you somehow got infected, and you’re even more fucked up now. So do me a favor and leave me the hell alone.” “Testy, aren’t we?” Mason muttered. “And to think I was here to ask if you wanted a piece of this great fortune I’ve discovered. To know what it’s like to feel invincible.” A deep rumble sprung from Ryder’s chest. His eyes rounded with worried surprise. “You might feel invincible, Mason, but you’re not. You would be wise to remember that little fact.” Curling a devilish grin filled with evil doings, Mason tsked. “Now Ryder, why do you act like that? I’ve come bearing gifts, and you turn a cold shoulder. What kind of family hospitality is that?” Mason placed a hand on Ryder’s shoulder and Ryder quickly shifted and knocked Mason’s hand free. Glancing at his shoulder then locking hate-filled eyes with his cousin, Ryder said coldly, “Look Mason, I’m going to say this only once, so listen very carefully. I’m going to let you leave this bar in one piece this time, but I’m warning you, the next time we meet I will do everyone a favor and kill you.”

 

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Mason continued grinning as if unaffected by his cousin’s words. He simply took one final sip of his drink, scooted out of his chair, turned, and exited the bar. The voices in his head purred and screamed. Unable to decide what to do, but it was Mason who spoke loudest. “Don’t worry, cousin,” he breathed. “You won’t have to dirty those paws of yours. I’ll do you one better. I’ll take your head next I see you.” Laughing as if the devil himself took possession of his body, he launched himself into the night and back onto the trail of Tabitha Burns.

 

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Chapter Ten Luken growled as he sat on the edge of the bed a few feet away from his brother. His older brother by only minutes, the brother whose instincts told him the woman he desired was also his mate. How in all that howls at the moon was that even possible? How could two lycans, especially brothers, share the love of one woman? Shit, he mouthed, feeling like such a damned fool, a cursed fucking idiot. This was Sebastian and Jonah McCarthy’s fault. The recognized leaders of their pack had gone and mated with the same woman and everything seemed rosy as far as they were concerned. But it wasn’t rosy to him. He was furious to have to share the woman he would cherish for all eternity. The woman he was growing fonder of by each passing moment. Growing up, he had shared his entire life with Ryken and damn it, he wanted to be selfish just this once. He didn’t want to share his mate. Sharing her seemed so wrong and unfair. There were some things a man should not have to sacrifice—one of those things being his mate. Growling inwardly, he didn’t see how he could have her any other way. He’d pretty much promised her that they would forever take care of her, both of them. That she wouldn’t have to fear them, and they would never hurt her. Fighting with Ryken would do more than hurt her. It would frighten the ever-loving soul right out of her. He wasn’t good at swallowing his pride, but he’d do it for her, no matter how much it twisted his mind and burned like acid in his gut.

 

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Ryken cleared his throat, robbing Luken of his angered and onesided thoughts. “What are we going to do?” Ryken muttered, glancing over his shoulder towards Luken. “I don’t want to share her with you either. I don’t want to share her with anyone.” He growled low in his throat, not a threatening sound, but more like a sigh of frustration Luken snapped his gaze back to his brother. Had he spoken his thoughts so loudly that his twin heard him, or had just being a man given him the same jealous feelings? Luken cocked his head towards his brother and asked, “What? And you think I want to share her?” Ryken’s elbows rested on his knees, and he cradled his head in his hands. “I don’t want to fight with you, Luken. It doesn’t seem right for something to brew like this between us. I’ve always loved having you as my brother and best friend, but right now, I hate feeling like I want to rip your fucking head off your shoulders.” “I know the feeling,” Luken mumbled through gritted teeth, his fingers clawing at the sheets beneath his hands. Ryken’s eyes welled with a sea of hopelessness, as he pleaded, “Then what do we do?” Surprised by his brother’s question, he responded, “You’re asking me? Aren’t you the one with the plans?” How was he supposed to know what to do? He’d never been in a situation like this before. Never in his life had he needed to compete with his brother for the affections of a woman. Ryken stared off into nothingness. Luken’s gruff voice strained in his throat as he told his brother, “I’m serious. What can we do? I won’t give her up, and if I know you at all, neither will you.” He turned to look at the bathroom door, wondering if the woman tormenting his mind was thinking of him at all. “So where does that leave us?” Groaning, Ryken simply said, “Fucked, and not in a good way.” Then he stood and began pacing the room, carving a trench in the plush gray carpeting.

 

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**** Tabitha showered, and the hot water massaging her skin felt like heaven on earth. Relaxing, taking time to bathe was a new experience for her. She didn’t know how to do it, to enjoy herself, to not move at the speed of light. When she returned from the woods with them, she found the bathroom transformed into a private oasis just for her. Luken must have done it while she was running for her life. Sudden pangs of guilt welled in her belly. She wanted to laugh at the situation now. She really had lost her mind. The proper woman she considered herself to be was absent and missing. And maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing after all. Luckily, the sexy warrior gods had left her alone, giving her all the time she desired to attend to her herself and think. Smiling, she appreciated their attempt to make her feel safe and comforted. And she had to admit that the bathroom did have a welcoming appeal to it. Once she had stripped her dirty clothes from her body, she stepped into the shower and under the running water. The moment she placed her head under the vibrating beads, she lost herself to the pleasurable sensation. Hands pressed against the wall, she let the water roll down her back and chest. The tingling pulsations teased her body and mind, reminding her of the hands and mouths of both Ryken and Luken. Her lovers. Her mates. Well, at least her lovers. She wasn’t too sure about the mate part just yet. There was still so much she needed to learn about them before she committed to something she might really have resisted if not in a highly intense situation. Plus, there were still too many unanswered questions.

 

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Who were they really? Where did they come from? Where did they live? Who are their parents? How many people have they had to kill to protect their secret? The thud of that question sank to pit of her stomach like a lead bomb. She hadn’t questioned Ryken’s actions earlier when he killed that man, hadn’t thought to ask what had truly happened to them. But she couldn’t deny what she saw. Once she had finished shampooing her hair and washing the dirt from her body, she shut off the water and stepped clear of the shower. Her clothing had been removed and a feather-soft robe was left behind. Drying off, she slipped the white hotel robe around her and opened the door. A whoosh of steam followed her as she stepped inside the bedroom. Ryken and Luken sat on the edge of the bed. Both men had their elbows resting on their knees and their hands on their heads as they waited for her to emerge. Once fully inside the room, both men stood to greet her, and their expressions told her nothing of the thoughts banging around in their heads. “Did you enjoy your shower?” Luken asked, his voice a husky rumble as if he’d been choked by emotions. Before she could respond, Ryken questioned, “Did we supply you with enough bathing gels and shampoo?” “Was the water warm enough?” Luken shot out. Ryken stepped closer, his hands nervously balling at his sides. “I hope the robe will be sufficient until we can get you a new pair of shoes and clean clothes.” “Guys.” She put up her hands to stop the onslaught of panic funneling out of them. She could feel their anxious emotions as if they were her own. “I’m fine. I’m not going to freak out on you again. I’m not going to run wild through the woods.” She grinned, narrowing her eyes. “At least not yet.” Crossing the room, she edged closer to them and placed the palms of her hands on each firm, broad chest. The connection sent a jolt of

 

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electricity tingling into her hands and up her arm, surging up and down her spine straight to her toes. God, the things they made her feel—incredible, irresistible, and cherished. Licking her lips, she said, trying to ease their worry, “I promise I won’t run off again and I’m not angry about the sex, okay.” She locked her gaze on Ryken. “So you can stop looking at me like that. You have nothing to worry about. Other than the fact that I’m exhausted and would like nothing more than to fall asleep for a few hours.” She yawned, rolling her neck from side to side as she massaged the nape of her neck. “Would that be okay?” Her question was met with silence, so she glanced from one set of magnificent azure eyes to the other. Her gaze finally settled on Luken’s. His face revealed no emotion. Narrowing her eyes, holding Luken’s questioning gaze, she asked, “Are you all right?” He nodded stiffly. “I’m fine, Tabitha. I don’t think I’ve ever been better.” Luken then glanced at his brother, his jaw ticking under the strain of flexing muscles. She arched a brow. “Then why don’t you look like you’re okay? You both look sort of irritated and stressed out and last time I checked that was my department.” Luken chuckled. “Yes, well, even us big warrior badasses have our issues.” “Right, we big bad warriors find ourselves in need of a good cry from time to time,” Ryken added with a lopsided grin. She pressed her lips together into a thin line. “You do? That’s news to me. I thought men like you didn’t feel anything but powerful.” “No, Tabitha, we feel a great deal more than that,” Ryken shared. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other, gazing at the golden haired warriors with a lot of skepticism. “Like what?” “Like passion, desire, and hunger—” The words rolled from Ryken’s tongue to Luken’s seamlessly. “Lust, need, regret—”

 

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“Sadness, longing, jealousy, temptation—” Ryken continued. “Lo—” Luken began. “Love?” Cutting off his words, she backed away, her heart lodged in her throat. “Why are you sharing these things with me? I told you I wasn’t going anywhere. At least for now. Why tell me these things? You don’t have to fill my head with words you think I want to hear.” “Loyalty,” Luken corrected, and the sharp tone he used compelled her to turn her head quick in his direction. “Besides, if it were love it wouldn’t be meant for only you, Tabitha.” “No?” She folded her arms over her breast, pushing the palms of her hands hard against her toned biceps. “No. They are meant for us to share with you. These are the things we want to share with you as our mate. You’ve already given us the chance to feel more than either of us have ever dreamed, but there is so much more than—” Oh, God, what was happening? She couldn’t listen to this, didn’t want to listen. Love was not in the cards for her, and dreaming of impossible things only made for unhappy endings. Damn it. She groaned to herself. Things were starting to go so well. “Okay, you can stop right there.” She put her index finger up, slowly waving it back and forth, forcing them to stop their babbling of emotions. She couldn’t hear this. It was too much too soon. What the hell were they thinking? If they wanted to freak her out, they were doing a fabulous job. Hadn’t they ever heard of the expression breaking it in easy? “You guys don’t know a single thing about me. You don’t know what I want, and you don’t seem to really care to learn. You only seem to want to keep fucking me because some strange ass mating heat is telling you to do it.” “No, Tabitha—” “I wasn’t done talking, Ryken,” she blurted out, staring up at them furiously, eyes darting from one gorgeous face to the other. “I have no

 

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misconceptions of what this is. Sex. A great fantasy you let me explore, an itch you let me scratch. Who could resist an offer to be with two hot twins who offered one night of primal passions? Well, two if you count the train, but still it’s just a fantasy, nothing more. It can’t be, so please stop ruining this for me.” Luken’s brow furrowed as he asked, “Why? I thought things were different now.” Tabitha narrowed her brows, pinching the skin at the bridge of her nose tight. “Why, because I let you fuck me in the woods? Or because I became more pliant and accepting to you?” Ryken growled, a deep thunder that had her attention shifting from him, and then back to Luken. “No, because of what we discussed in the woods.” Luken’s eyes rounded as he asked, “Besides, what if we want more?” She gasped. “How can you? Like I said before, you don’t even know me. You cannot begin to know what love is, and it’s impossible for you to think you already do. Damn it, why did you have to go and fuck everything up. I was doing great with all this crazy shit and now—” “Now what, Tabitha? We know who you are. We know you live alone and are a workaholic. We know you haven’t been in a serious relationship for more than five years. We know you are strong willed and highly opinionated…almost to a fault.” Ryken raised his hands up in surrender as she glared at him with wild hatred. “I’m merely saying we know more about you than you think we do.” No, they didn’t know her at all. No one truly did. She was still learning about herself after all these years. How could they look her in the eyes and honestly believe they knew her? “Details,” she spat. “A pretty use of words that mean nothing, especially if you don’t give a shit enough to learn what’s truly in my heart rather than what Brie has shared with you or what you managed to research on your own.”

 

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“We want to know more about you, Tabitha. We only need for you to give us a chance to do so,” Ryken admitted. “We’ve already told you that you are our mate and what that means to us.” He glanced over to Luken then back to her. “We want you as a husband wants a wife. To protect and honor you, forever.” Her eyes went wide, and panic grappled with her heart. “You expect too much from me. I can’t ever love you. I can’t be your girlfriend, your lifelong mate, none of it. I’m not geared that way. And even if I was, I’m not worth the time.” As the words left her lips, anger seemed to rage out of them, causing her to take another step back. “Why? Why do you think that?” Ryken barked, shifting impatiently, drawing her gaze to his broad shoulders. She twisted her hands nervously and questioned, “Does it really matter? All you need to know is it just can’t happen.” “Why, Tabitha?” Ryken demanded. “What’s so wrong with spending your life with us? Being our mate?” He stepped closer, tension oozing from his body, his arms locked at his sides looking as if he wanted to strangle her for being so difficult. Shit, she’d like to strangle herself sometimes. “I know damn well that no other man has ever made love to you the way we have, made you come so hard your heart felt as if it were going to explode right out from behind your breast. It’s obvious you’re attracted to us—you want us. Why, Tabitha? Why can’t you accept us as we’ve accepted you?” Impossible, her mind screamed. What they were asking of her was simply impossible. Her heart was simply tired of being broken and used, left discarded as if she didn’t matter to anyone. “I…I can’t tell you,” she stammered as a nervous assault slammed through her veins. Her face heated with embarrassment of her emotionally neglected past. “Why, damn it?” The animalistic roar in Ryken’s voice shook her to her core. She gasped as his eyes began to swirl with murky silver.

 

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“We’re risking everything for you. The least you can do is explain why you are rejecting us.” Ryken growled through clenched teeth. The fierce rumble that vibrated from his chest might have intimidated someone less pissed off, but not Tabitha. His feeble growls did nothing but amuse her…and anger her even more. “I’m not rejecting you, Ryken,” she corrected, hands digging in on her hips. His dark blond brows shot up as he blurted out, “You’re not? Because it sure as shit feels like you are.” Her hands sprung up to her damp hair, her fingers twisting around the wet strands. She begged, “Please stop doing this.” Ryken moved in, crowding her. “Doing what, asking you why you can’t be a part of our lives? Why do you refuse to even try?” Tabitha forced her way around Ryken, stabbing her elbow into his hard stomach. “I can’t, and that’s all you need to know.” Grabbing her by the arm, Luken spun her to face him, halting her retreat to the bed. “The fuck it is,” Luken roared. His body loomed larger in the shadows of the room. “We desire to know because unlike you, we’ve accepted that you are our mate and we will forever be linked to you. What you don’t realize is that each time you fuck another, we will know it, and it will be like a knife slicing into our hearts, our minds…our very souls.” Her eyes welled with tears, and her heart thudded heavy in her chest. “Stop trying to make me feel guilty over this. I didn’t ask for this.” Luken’s hands cradled her face, brushing back her fallen tears with his thumbs. “Guilt is not my motive, sweetheart. But if you are not willing to divulge more of yourself to us, I thought you should at least know what your selfishness will cause us.” He held her weary gaze, and said plainly, “A great deal of fucking pain.” She slammed her fists into his chest, trying to push him away. “Damn it, Luken, I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t have a choice, and now you think that because you offer a

 

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future with me, one filled with passionate nights, you think that’s all I need. Well, you’re a major idiot if you truly believe that.” Holding her against him, Luken’s voice was resonating as he said, “Stop stalling, whining, complaining, or whatever the fuck you are doing and just tell us why.” Their hammering need to know her secret sank into her mind like quicksand. They were on her, digging into her soul with such fury, such aggression. Raw, seething anger filled her head and she realized that they were invading her thoughts, somehow trying to dig inside her brain for the information she kept private. Panic slammed inside the soft tissue of her heart, shredding the tender walls she had erected over the years. She did her best to block her thoughts, fighting against their aggressive telepathic link with all her might, concealing her past fears. A battle she was losing. Fists balled at her sides, she shouted as tears fled from her eyes, “Because I can’t trust or rely on anyone—ever!” Dropping to her knees, hands over her face, she sobbed hard. Gutwrenching cries tore from her chest and throat. Tears that had not been shed in all her life were now spilling from her eyes like a waterfall of emotions. She was finally breaking down. Why did it take two men she barely knew to free her of the bottled-up emotions? Twisting sensations untied inside her, unraveling with each tear that slid down her cheeks. “I had everything taken from me as a child. My parents pretended I didn’t exist, leaving me with nannies and caregivers who abused me. I was forced to do things on my own. I ran away from home so I could be free of the torture I was enduring. I changed my name to escape my parents. Brie was the only person who knew my secret. She was the only person I turned to for help.” Remembering what the nannies and caregivers had done to her over the years was the return of a nightmare. She had long hoped to forget what had happened to her as a child. Luken knelt in front of her, his voice low as he told her, “Tabitha, we can’t change what was done to you when you were a child.”

 

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“No, you can’t!” She cried harder. “You can’t take away the memories of all the beatings I sustained. You can’t take away the number of times I was yanked from my bed, terrified that I was going to be killed by my nanny all because she had had too much to drink. You can’t take away the laughter I heard from my parents as I told them what was being done to me. They didn’t believe me. No, you can’t do shit to take any of that away.” Gripping her by her shoulders, Ryken lifted her effortlessly into his arms and held her close. “No longer, Tabitha. You will never have to be alone again. No one will ever hurt you like that again.” She shoved him away, beating her hands against his hard chest. “No, that’s not what I’m saying. Damn, why is it that when a woman cries, a man feels that his arms around her are all she needs? Well, it’s not.” Surprise blanketed Ryken’s face. He muttered, “I’m sorry, I just thought—” His voice grew soft and disappeared into the silence of the room. Tabitha trembled, not from cold, but from the pure adrenaline, which fired emotions that rocked through her body—emotions she had blocked and never thought she would be forced to relive again. It wasn’t Ryken and Luken’s fault. They had actually been wonderful to her, and maybe it was good that she was getting all this out in the open. Then, they would understand exactly why she could never give them what they wanted from her. Why she could never be their one true mate. Shaking her head, she whispered, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to unload so much on you. I’m sure you think of me as the poor little rich girl whose family was just too strict so I’m just having a temper tantrum. I don’t blame you for thinking that. Most people did.” “We don’t feel that way, Tabitha,” Luken said. “But we would like to be a part of your life. You pick the terms for now, but know that we are not going anywhere.” Now, that got her attention.

 

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She rubbed her runny nose with the sleeve of her robe. “My terms?” Luken nodded. “You’re worried that we are going to step on your freedom, the freedom you fought to achieve. To prove that we’re not looking to stop you from being who you want to be, we’re going to step back and let you lead.” She cocked her head slightly in Luken’s direction and narrowed her eyes. She questioned, “You won’t force me to do anything I don’t want to do, like move to McCarthy Ranch or quit my job because you think I’m your mate?” Luken said plainly, “Could we really make you if you didn’t want to?” She licked her dry lips. “I’d like to think the answer would be no.” “Why think?” Ryken asked. “We don’t have any control over you.” She released a husky laugh and said, “You really don’t know the kind of power you hold over me, do you?” Luken stepped up beside Ryken, both men towering over her. She swallowed at the intensity gleaming in their eyes. “The only power we hold over you, Tabitha, is the power you allow us to have. The power you hold over us is no different. We just—” “I know,” she whispered, cutting off Luken’s words. She didn’t have to hear the words emerge from his mouth to know exactly what he was about to say to her. They were practically beating the idea into her head as it was. This was their world, one they were used to and comfortable with. Glancing at them both, she finished Luken’s statement, adding, “You just accept it.”

 

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Chapter Eleven Ryken wanted to murder them all. The coopery taste of blood kept him grounded enough to not demand she tell him who those vile people were from her past that hurt her so terribly. He felt the claw of his wolf and was desperate to deal with those inexcusable varmints in the way he believed they deserved—torture them the same negligent and uncaring way they had tortured her, and maybe a little worse. Loving and caring for Tabitha was a powerful need he had that blinded him with supernatural possessiveness. As he stared at her, and heard the honesty of the words, his chest tightened. Accept it. Her words echoed in his head. Accept it, that’s what he wanted Tabitha to do more than anything—needed her to accept not only the changes in her own body, but the emotional changes that charged like lightning between them. But he didn’t want her to want him just because the power of the mating heat told her to. He wanted her to want him because she, heart, body, mind, and soul yearned for nothing else. Eradicating the distance that separated them, Ryken cupped her face, tilting her jaw to capture her lips, sampling them with alarming passion. His fingers were quick to dip into the collar of the robe, parting the material and pushing it off her shoulders. The garment dropped to the floor. Surprisingly, she didn’t resist him. Instead her arms surrounded his neck, pulling him closer to her. The warmth of her body felt beyond good. It felt familiar, like a warm cup of cocoa on a cold day. Amazing. That was the way her flesh felt beneath his fingers and calloused palms. Everywhere he touched tingled and pulsed as if liquid fire flowed within her blood.

 

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“I need you, Tabitha,” he whispered against her lips. “Can you feel how much?” He pressed his cock against her belly and heard her moan at the pressure. “That’s right, baby. My cock is hard for you. It will always be hard for you. No other woman will ever do to me what you do.” A heavy sob rasped from her chest as she forced him to kiss her again. Her mouth ferociously took control over his. Damn, his mate was hungry, and he was more than ready to satisfy her appetite. Guiding her down onto the edge of the bed, he eased her back, pushing her knees up and kneeling down between her spread legs. His gaze drank in her savory, wet pussy. The little pink clit pulsed with life, beckoning his mouth to taste and tease it. “Baby, I’m going to eat your pussy, and then I’m going to fuck you until you can’t take any more.” “Okay, hurry,” she urged. Chuckling at her urgent command, Ryken stripped his clothing in record time, and then he closed his lips around the swollen clit, sucking it hard into his mouth. She cried out instantly, letting him know she liked the exquisite play. Good, because he had no intentions of stopping. He spread the wet folds of her pussy, lapping at her cunt and swirling deliciously around her clit, flicking his tongue in a rhythm that had her panting and writhing in his hands. Her fingers dug into his scalp, holding him in place, and just as the first orgasm hit her, she screamed. He rammed his tongue deep into her pussy and tasted the delicious cum flowing from her. Divine. That was how she tasted. The sweet honey that belonged to him and his brother. No one else could ever taste her, touch her…love her. Crawling up her body, he tucked his arm around her waist, and lifted her up further on the bed. Then he pressed her legs wide, sliding his hard cock into her wet pussy, ramming it inside. She gasped and arched her back. Hissing, she begged him, “Oh, God, yes. Do that again. Fuck me hard. Just like that.”

 

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Pounding his cock inside her pussy once again, he found a rhythm that had him hammering away at her cunt like a bomb that was about to explode. He fucked her, shoving his cock into her depths with a supernatural force…and she loved it. Her fluttered cries of passion filled his ears as her nails dug into the flesh of his shoulders, raking across his skin, driving him mad with lust. Tabitha arched her back as Ryken drove into her pussy again. She pulled and tugged at her hard nipples, caressing and massaging her breast. She sucked on a finger, wetting it before returning the moistened tip to her rosy, pink nipple. “Ah, fuck, that’s hot,” Luken muttered, crawling onto the bed, clasping a rough hand over one supple breast, and then placed the erect nipple into his mouth. She hissed the moment his mouth clamped down. “Oh, God, yes,” she cried. “That’s it, Luken, suck my nipples, pinch them.” Ryken growled at the erotic orders she gave his brother. She was a vixen. His luscious vixen. Damn, he loved fucking her, and strangely, watching Luken was like being a fly on the wall, as if he could step outside of himself, but still watch as he made love to his mate. Ryken’s body tightened as her pussy clamped down, squeezing and pulsing around his cock. Crying out, she climaxed again. Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him against her with hard, vigorous strokes. “That’s it, baby. Let me fuck that slick pussy.” “Oh, God,” she cried as another orgasmic wave seemed to take possession of her body. Once he felt the pulsing of her pussy ebb, he pulled out of her tight sheath and switched places with his brother. “Get on your hands and knees, baby. Luken’s going to fuck you, and you’re going to suck my cock,” he said with a dark, seductive edge to his voice. She did as requested, and Ryken moved into position beneath her, lying flat on his back. Luken’s cock eased inside her, and Ryken

 

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knew by the look on her face that his cock was stretching her pussy nice and wide, and she loved it. The warm, rosy glow in her cheeks was enough to make his cock harder. Licking her lips, Tabitha took Ryken’s cock into her mouth, the wetness from her pussy still glistening on his shaft. She moaned heavily as she sucked him deep, her tongue swirling wickedly around the head and along the shaft. She sucked his cock to the beat in which Luken fucked her, and his body tingled. He wasn’t going to last long. Fucking her, making her come twice, and now having her delicious mouth working over his cock was enough to make him dizzy. The air was leaving his lungs as quickly as it filled them. “Ah, fuck, baby. Ah, that’s it.” He groaned deep in his throat. His head pressed into the pillow as his entire body tightened. He growled and cum spurted from his cock like a fountain. The sight of Tabitha licking up every drop pleased him immensely. Luken bucked several more times before he found his own release, slamming hard into her pussy until he and Tabitha both collapsed on top of Ryken. Speechless and out of breath, none of them said a word. Luken simply moved to the side, tugging Tabitha against him, giving Ryken room to move into position on the other side of her. As if this was their traditional way of falling asleep, all three did just that. And one thing was certain for Ryken, he was never going to be able to let Tabitha go. Not as long as he was alive to fight for her. **** When Tabitha awoke, sore in all the right places, she was bundled up under the comforters, but the warmth of Ryken and Luken was gone. Their scent still lingered on the pillows beside her. She listened carefully to hear if they were nearby, and she picked up the deep rumble of their voices lurking outside the hotel room door.

 

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Flipping the comforter off her body, she stood, only to discover a new pair of jeans, shirt, panties, bra, and tennis shoes lying on the desk table located at the foot of the bed. One of them had managed to find her clothing and surprisingly enough the clothing was even in her size. Her heart raced as she slid on the black thong underwear and bra. One of them had picked out the sexy lingerie, but she was sure they both had touched the fabric. Her body tingled just as it did when their hands were caressing her, massaging her in ways that made her body crave the passion she found with them. Blowing out a pent-up breath of air, she quickly put on the rest of the clothing, ran to the bathroom to tame her wild hair, and returned to the front door, opening it to find both Ryken and Luken staring at her, arms folded over their chests, each with a foot propped up on the railing. “Good morning.” She greeted them with the best morning smile she could conjure. She wasn’t one to enjoy the kiss of first morning light, but she’d do her best in any regard. “Good morning,” Ryken replied. “There’s coffee in the car if you would like one. We were just about to come in a get you when we heard you getting up.” Grinning, she knew she was still getting used to the idea that all her actions and sounds could be heard by them. She would have to put that little fact to memory fast and be sure not do to anything that might embarrass her later. “I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to all this,” she muttered. “Sure you will,” Ryken said, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. “After all, you don’t really have a choice as far as that’s concerned.” “Right. Thanks for reminding me.” Tabitha scrunched her nose up at them both and sauntered past them, holding her hands on her hips, wondering which car they were supposed to take. The junk heap they had stolen the night before was nowhere to be found. The only cars that lined the parking lot were a beat-up pickup truck and an old rusted van. Surely, neither of these

 

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were the vehicle they would be traveling hundreds of miles in. That would just suck. Turning to face them, her eyes narrowed, and she asked, “Seriously, which vehicle are we taking?” Smiling from ear to ear, Ryken glided up beside her and put a comforting hand on the small of her back. “Our ride is around back, princess.” He chuckled. He led her around the side of the building, and the moment she spotted the new Chevrolet Camaro, a little whimper of joy fluttered from between her lips. “Seriously,” she gasped, clasping her hands together like a joyfilled child. “You stole a Camaro?” Chuckling with a deep rumble, Ryken explained, “Actually no. Sebastian was good enough to ship a car to us overnight. Brie mentioned to him that the Camaro was your favorite sports car. Apparently, after the conversation you had with Sebastian on the phone the other day, he figured you would enjoy riding in it. He thought it might help you calm your wacked-out nerves.” She cocked her head. “Oh, really? And I’m sure Brie also mentioned that my favorite color was red, as well?” “Yes, as a matter of fact she did,” Ryken said grinning. “But I do have to tell you that until we reach McCarthy Ranch, you’ll have to leave the driving to us.” Was it possible that she was actually okay with the idea of being chaperoned by them? Yes, strangely she was. Trusting them was becoming easier, and having both Ryken and Luken see to her safety just felt right. But she still had to tease as if she wasn’t exactly thrilled, she didn’t want to make everything too easy for them. She immediately folded her arms over her chest and asked, “What are you two, Greyhound bus spokesmen, now?” Coming up behind them with a hearty laugh, Luken snickered. “You really do have a twisted and sarcastic personality, don’t you? I’ve never known someone as quick-witted as you. Does your brain

 

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process information at warp speed or are you naturally programmed to flip out comments as needed?” With a smirking smile, she teased, “You two seem to bring the devil out of me.” Ryken rubbed lower on her back just over the top mound of her ass. “Yes, I think we do.” He kissed her cheek and opened the door to let her crawl into the backseat. She swung her ass from side to side more enticingly than she meant to and realized her mistake the second Ryken’s large hands cupped her ass. “Nice. You can wave that cute little ass in my face anytime you want, baby. In fact I’ll even let you si—” Falling into the backseat with Ryken’s hand escorting her the entire way, she taunted, “Will you behave for one moment, Ryken?” Batting his thick lashes at her, he said, “What are you talking about, baby? I am behaving.” The long drive down the boring back roads of God knows where was weighing on her nerves. She needed to find a way to occupy her time or she was going to go stir-crazy. The backseat was cramped even for a woman of five foot seven, and there would be no possible way that either Ryken or Luken could fit without more misery than she was experiencing. All those years of dreaming of her favorite sports car, never had she imagined herself in the backseat—she was driving the fierce machine, moving through the gears with tuned precision. “Guys, I hate to sound like a whiny child,” she muttered. “Then don’t,” Ryken chimed in. “Funny,” she said, shifting her weight in the seat to cross her legs. “I’m hungry, and I really need to find a little girl’s room before this backseat turns into a swimming pool.” Ryken glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Can you hold it a little longer? We’re just outside of Fort Worth, and I was hoping to get to Dallas before dark. We only have a few more hours and we’ll be safe and sound at McCarthy Ranch.”

 

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With a grimace, she shrugged her shoulders. “I wish I had a penis so I could just flip it out the window, but I don’t so, no…I can’t hold it.” Ryken’s upper lip rose up, and the reflection of his disgust was present in the mirror, but to her surprise it was Luken who was the first to comment. “That’s just gross, Tabitha. I for one am extremely glad you don’t have a penis. Damn it, Ryken, find the woman a bathroom. And Tabitha, never say that kind of shit again. It just gave me the willies.” Giggling, she teased, “Oh what’s wrong my big brawny man? Does the idea of rubbing wieners with another man trouble that barbarian brain of yours?” Luken twisted in his seat to face her, his eyes narrowed with a wicked glare. “Keep it up, sweetheart, and when we get out of this car, I’ll paddle your ass just because I can.” Pouting her lips out at him, she teased, “Oh, promises, promises.” Then it hit her. She was flirting with them both, and it felt good to do it. She was truly enjoying spending time with them. They chatted like old friends, teasing and laughing. Natural, that’s how she felt in their presence, and that both warmed her heart and frightened her all at the same time. **** Ryken glanced back in the rearview mirror and watched as the smile vanished from Tabitha’s face as if they had said something that troubled her. She seemed to be enjoying herself, and then like a breeze blowing in, she went cold and frigid. Damn it if he didn’t understand women. They were an anomaly to him, and he would most likely die before ever truly understanding the woman who was making his heart beat a little different in his chest. Up ahead on the right was a gas station, and it didn’t look like the best place to stop, but it would have to do. Once they got further into

 

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the city, he could’ve found her a better place to freshen up, but after the penis comment, she deserved a little torture. The car came to a stop, and Luken popped out of the car and let Tabitha escape from the back. Ryken leaned across the front seat, calling out to her before she got too far away. “Hey, before you run off, did you want anything from the store?” “Sure,” she hollered back. “Get me something diet to drink and a bag of Doritos. “Doritos?” Luken asked, sounding surprised. “Yep, Cool Ranch to be specific. They’re my favorite,” she said with a crooked grin then turned and hastened to the bathroom. Ryken followed Luken into the gas station. Slapping his brother on the back, he told him, “I’ll find the chips, if you find her something diet to drink.” Luken nodded and headed towards the large glass refrigerators located in the back of the store. Ryken returned his gaze to the row of chips. For a store in the middle of nowhereville, this place had a boatload of chips. He quickly grabbed two bags off the shelf and glanced over his shoulder to see his brother coming around carrying two large bottles of water and a diet soda. “Ready?” Ryken asked. Luken stared in the direction of the bathroom and asked, “Tabitha come out yet?” Ryken’s mouth creased into a frown. “Nope. Give me the drinks and see if she needs anything.” He held Luken’s gaze and said, “Hurry, now is not the time for mating heat to win over the functionalities of your brain.” Luken grinned, handed the bottles over to him, and within a few commanding strides was standing in front of the bathroom door, knocking like a protective giant. He shook his head with a grin. Ryken took the items to the counter and paid. He smelled Tabitha approaching before he saw her. Damn, how he loved the wild and

 

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sweet scent of his mate. Just knowing she was coming closer to him fired his blood and kick-started his pulse into overdrive. Keep it together, buddy. We’re almost to McCarthy Ranch. Then you can show her all about mating heat and the wild and exciting side of being a lycan. Tabitha leaned around him, her breast pressing against his hard back. He groaned. “I’ll take that,” she said, grabbing the bottle of diet soda and a bag of Doritos. “See you back at the car.” She spun around and stepped through the doors, not looking back to see if either he or his brother were following behind her. She still didn’t comprehend what kind of serious danger she was in, but Luken was on the same page and charged out the door after her. One thing they both forgot…he had the keys. Grinning, he strutted his way towards the car slower than molasses, where both Tabitha and Luken glared at him with obvious annoyance. “What?” He shrugged. “You should’ve waited for me if you wanted back in the car.” He winked at Tabitha, tossed a water bottle over the hood of the car to his brother, dug into his front jean pocket, pulled out the keys. Ryken was quick to get back on the road. They still had a few hours before they reached McCarthy Ranch and if he had to grow wings out of his ass, he would get Tabitha there, and soon. A strange feeling had his gut twisting, churning with acid. The hair at the back of his neck tingled and itched like he was being watched. The feelings made his wolf antsy, twitching just beneath the flesh, ready and willing to emerge. Something was off, and he couldn’t tell exactly what, but something was definitely off. Do you feel that? Ryken telepathically linked to Luken. Yes, what the hell is it? I have no idea, but I’d give anything to be wrong with whom I think it might be. Ryken knew that the only thing that could make his

 

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wolf so ready to egress was the immediate threat to his mate. Protecting Tabitha was everything to him. For Luken as well. Fuck, was Luken’s first reply. What do you want to do? Should we get off this road? Try a different direction? It won’t matter, Ryken said matter-of-factly. If they’ve caught our scent, they’ve got us where they want us. Damn it! Luken roared. Ryken’s foot pressed down on the gas just a little harder, and the car quickly accelerated. His eyes moved from mirror to mirror, scanning around for the possible owner of the ill feelings. Luken seemed to be doing the same. Tabitha’s cheery voice cut through him like a nervous shudder. “Okay, guys. What gives? Why the sudden silence?” Telling her that he thought they were being followed by Mason Levi’s men would only upset her, and remaining calm was essential. “What do you mean?” he asked, trying his best to sound unaffected by his concerned thoughts. Arching a brow, she folded her arms over her chest. “Don’t do that, Ryken. I can feel that something’s wrong. I may not have spent a lifetime getting to know you two, but I think I’m pretty aware of your habits after spending so much quality time with you recently. So, do us all a huge favor and don’t give me the runaround. Tell me what’s wrong. Why the silent treatment? And why do you look as if you’re ready to murder someone?” Ryken’s eyes darted up to the rearview mirror, catching Tabitha’s gaze. Shit. He’d been so concerned with what was clawing at the back of his mind that he’d done a piss-poor job of masking the emotions on his face. Keeping things from her was going to be a bitch. Staring at her, he explained, “We think someone’s following us.” She gasped. “You mean, Mason’s men?” “Yes,” he said dryly. She twisted in her seat to look out the back window, “Oh, God. What are we going to do?” When she turned back around her eyes

 

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were as large as silver dollars, and the lines around her mouth, nose, and eyes were more defined. Ryken held her gaze as he calmly told her, “We’re going to keep driving and put as much distance between us as possible. Surely, those freaks can’t outrun a Camaro.” “But what if they can?” she asked in a tone that revealed just how nervous she was about the idea of being caught by Mason’s men. “Babe, you can’t think like that. Luken and I won’t let them hurt you.” Sighing heavily, she said, “I’m grateful for that, but who is going to protect you from them?” Her question took him by surprise. No one other than Luken had ever showed true concern for his well-being. Luken always had his back, but never once had he considered a time that he and his brother would be stuck in a situation like this either. Swallowing hard, he prayed he wasn’t going to have to find out what it would be like to need another form of backup. Ryken sucked in a deep breath. “Our best option right now is to remain calm and keep our eyes open. If you see anything strange, let us know.” “But it’s getting dark, and I won’t be able to see as well as you guys.” “That’s not true,” Luken corrected. “Your wolf senses are going to be stronger now that you are a few days away from your first full moon.” She clutched the sides of her head in her hands and muttered, “Oh, God, not that shit again.” The wolf growled. “Tabitha, this is no time to test our patience as far as the wolf shit is concerned. You are a wolf, you’re going to turn into one, and Luken and I will be there to help you adjust to the new you. Stop resisting the idea because as soon as you turn, I’m going to fuck the hell out of that sweet body of yours, and I doubt you’ll ever have a problem with being a wolf again.” As he spoke to her, there

 

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was a raw, commanding fever in his voice. One he reserved especially for his mate. Speechless. That was what he rendered her. He gazed at her in the rearview mirror where he saw her lips slightly parted and her eyes wide with heat. He could smell the arousal flowering out of her, and it was driving him mad with lust. Ryken’s voice was still husky with the growl of the wolf as he said, “Now, be a good girl and keep an eye on anything that might look suspicious.” She nodded, turning immediately to glance out the windows around her. Getting his mind back on the task at hand, he whipped his gaze back to the road ahead and pressed a little firmer down on the accelerator, breaking every speed limit law on the long stretch of open road. His body tensed and filled with nervous energy as he gripped the steering wheel hard, twisting his hands around the firm leather. One thing he truly hated was being stalked, being someone’s freaking plaything. He was the one who did the hunting, and the fact that he was now the one being hunted was seriously pissing him off. Then it happened. Several sets of bright lights beamed in his rearview mirror as if they had somehow dropped right out of the sky. The darkness of night had finally fallen, and under the mask of darkness the suspicious feelings he and Luken had sensed were finally confirmed. “Shit, we’ve got company,” Ryken growled through clenched teeth. “How many are there?” Luken bit out. “I count three cars, possibly trucks,” Tabitha said with calmness in her voice that impressed the hell out of him. “You all right, babe?” “Yes, Ryken, but if I mean anything to you, you’ll get us all out of here in one piece. Please.” The plea in her voice twisted his gut into a million knots.

 

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“I’ll do everything I can to make that happen, babe,” he assured her. “Me, too,” Luken added, turning to face her with a soft smile, pulling his pistol from between the seats. Eyes wide, Tabitha breathed, “What are you going to do with that?” “Use it,” Luken said plainly. “Right, makes sense,” she said with a slight nod of her head. “I’ve just never been around guns before. They make me a little nervous.” Smiling, Luken said, “Well, I promise not to shoot you, so you have nothing to worry about.” “And as soon as we’re out of this situation that is an issue that will be quickly resolved,” Ryken said. Brows lifted, she gasped, “What issue? Shooting me?” A soft chuckle thundered from his chest. “That fact that you’ve never used a gun,” he reminded her. “My mate will be able to defend herself at all costs. You will learn how to fire a gun, and you will have good aim when doing so.” He met her wide-eyed gaze in the rearview mirror again. “Do you have any problems with that, mate?” Shaking her head, she said, “No, I’ve actually always wanted to learn. I don’t like being afraid of things. I think I’d enjoy having you teach me how to use a weapon.” “Good,” he said flatly, glancing back to check his mirrors and the fast-approaching vehicles tailing after them. “Then, it’s a date.”

 

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Chapter Twelve Twenty minutes later, the three vehicles were still close enough to make the hairs on the back of Luken’s neck tingle and dance like crawling spiders. Damn, he hated that feeling. He cocked his head, glancing over his shoulder at the wide-eyed expression blanketing Tabitha’s face. She didn’t look scared, but she did look worried, and who wouldn’t be considering the unease of the situation. His chest tightened as the words of his potential lie fled his lips. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. I promise.” Shit, couldn’t he sound more convincing? He scowled himself. Arching a brow, she snickered. “Are you sure you want to make that promise before you even know what the vehicles tailing us want?” He groaned at her, hating that she was probably right and too observant for her own good. But his pride wouldn’t allow the unknown to overrule his need to reassure his mate that she would be safe. “Sweetheart, honestly, we don’t know if those vehicles behind us are even chasing after us.” “No?” she questioned with layering surprise. “Then why is it that when Ryken speeds up the car, the distance between us and them doesn’t increase? I’d say that’s a pretty good indication that they’re tailing us.” For as long as he lived, this woman would always keep him on his toes, and more than that, she would always keep him honest. “You’re right. They’re tailing us, but I still don’t want you to worry.” “Sorry, honey, but that’s what us females do. We worry.”

 

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Ryken snickered. “She called you honey. Must be the gold in your scraggly hair that she’s referring to.” His brow furrowed. “Really? Well, twin brother, if you haven’t noticed, you sort of have the same scraggly hair.” Giving his head one sharp shake, he said, “Nope, I have golden blond hair that flows magnificently around my broad lycan shoulders, toward my sleek, narrow waist that our mate loves to rub her nimble fingers over.” His voice purred as he joked and teased. Luken frowned as his brother waggled his eyebrows up and down several times. Glancing back to look at Tabitha, he saw the slight pink in her cheeks and a warm glow to her eyes. He’d never get tired of seeing her blush from their playful banter. Just then, a stray bullet busted through the back window, shattering the glass into hundreds of pieces. Tabitha screamed. Luken twisted, reaching for her head. “Get down, Tabitha,” Luken hollered, pushing her head down below the line of fire. “Stay down, sweetheart, until I say otherwise, okay?” Not waiting for her response, he picked up his gun and swung his weight around in the seat, and Ryken’s driving went on the offensive. With his left hand palming his Springfield 9mm, he used the headrest of the back seat to hold his aim steady while he opened fire on the vehicles still closing in on them. “Ryken,” he shouted. “This is a fucking brand-new Camaro for Christ’s sake. Can’t this thing move any faster?” “I’m driving the shit out of this car, Luken. Do you think you could do any better?” Ryken snapped, his voice harsh and deep. “Yes, feel free to get the fuck out of the driver’s seat and I’ll show you,” Luken announced with an air of cockiness he hadn’t realized he’d harbored inside himself. “Fuck you,” Ryken snarled. “Just keep shooting and shut the hell up and let me drive.”

 

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Suddenly, a vehicle charged from out of nowhere and slammed into the side of the Camaro, jarring everyone inside. Immediately, Luken fired his gun at the black sedan, but the bullets bounced off the glass like they were hitting rubber. “Aim for the tires,” Ryken shouted, and as if reading his mind a second before he said it, Luken was already doing so. A well-placed bullet pierced into the black wall of the front tire, causing the driver to lose control. The car veered off, slamming into a guardrail. Then, as if matters couldn’t get any worse, they were rear-ended by a monster-truck-looking SUV. The Camaro bucked forward and jolted back, shaking and rattling them all. Luken quickly spun around to make sure Tabitha kept her head down. She was balled as low as she could go between the front and rear seats. Ryken swerved and drove the sports car like his life depended on it—because it did. Luken took the opportunity to reload his gun, popping one clip out and slamming in another. He called out to Tabitha, “You okay, sweetheart?” The sound of her voice was muffled as she replied, “Peachy, honey. Now, please kill these freaks because they are seriously pissing me off.” “That’s my girl,” Luken praised her. “We are going to get out of this.” “You keep saying that, Luken, but for some damn reason, I’m still cramped in the back of this car.” “Shit, dude. Get to shooting up the bad guys before she starts getting pissed at us.” Ryken snickered just as Luken opened fire on the SUV that was just about to ram them once again. Luken focused his shots on the engine, hoping to render the vehicle useless. Nothing was working. The bullets did more bouncing than anything, and that wasn’t good considering they were bouncing back toward them.

 

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“Damn it, I can’t hit shit. There’s something shielding their cars, and I can’t penetrate it. I need some clear shots at their tires, Ryken.” Ryken glanced from mirror to mirror, the car slowly accelerating as he said, “Got it. I’m going to open her up a little, see if I can get a little clearance between us. Once I do, take your shots and make them count. There’s no telling how many opportunities we’ll have at this.” Luken understood that this was most likely a onetime deal. They had three vehicles behind them and only one way of getting them off their ass. Grabbing a fresh clip, he took a deep breath and let the air leave his lungs. Positioning himself, he told Ryken, “Ready whenever you are.” Nodding to his brother in response, he told Tabitha, “Hold on, babe. Things are about to get pretty crazy.” The Camaro surged forward as Ryken pressed the accelerator flat to the floor. Swerving from one side to the other, weaving in and out of the sudden flow of traffic, Luken opened fire on the first SUV, hitting the front tire on his first shot, sending the SUV spinning out into another car. The second SUV moved up into its place, and again Luken took aim, but his shots bounced off the vehicle’s hood and fender. “Damn it, I can’t get a clean shot,” Luken shouted. Ryken then swerved harder, twisting his body to hold onto the steering wheel. Luken fired his weapon, hitting the passenger side front tire, putting the trailing SUV out of commission. Luken watched as the last remaining SUV moved into position behind them, but this driver learned from the last two that he had to keep his distance, and he used the other cars on the road as shields, stopping Luken from firing his gun at them. “Now what?” Luken muttered under his breath. “What’s going on,” Tabitha asked, raising her head up. “Are we out of danger?” Just as her head peered up over the headrest of the seat, several shots were fired from the SUV behind them. Tabitha screamed as

 

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several bullets slammed into the seat in front of her, directly into Ryken’s back. “Oh, God!” Tabitha cried. The car began to slow as Ryken’s body slumped forward. Luken grabbed the wheel, yelling at his brother to stay awake, demanding he do it for Tabitha. His foot jammed down onto one of his brother’s, keeping the car moving. He had to figure out a way to get them out of this mess, had to get them all to safety. Looking into the rearview mirror, he noticed the SUV was further back, giving him an opportunity to switch places with his brother. “Tabitha, I need you to grab Ryken. I need you to pull him into the backseat and keep pressure on his wounds. Can you do that?” Luken twisted his leg between his brother’s, keeping a firm hold on the steering wheel and enough pressure on the gas pedal. “Y–Yes,” she stammered. Keeping his eyes focused on both the road ahead and the SUV behind them, he ordered, “Do it now. Grab him before the SUV moves closer.” Without hesitation, Tabitha grabbed hold of Ryken’s arms and pulled him to the side, while Luken helped to guide his legs around him. Ryken was half in the front seat and half in the back, Tabitha held him close. She pulled his shirt up over his head and used it to apply pressure. “Keep your head down, Tabitha,” he demanded, the tone of his voice firm and commanding. “What are you going to do?” Glancing at her in the rearview mirror, he said, “Save our lives. I hope.” Without another moment to lose, Luken slammed on the brakes, allowing the SUV behind them to catch up. He sped up, switched lanes, and slammed on the brakes again, putting the SUV beside him rather than behind him. All the windows, except for the windshield in

 

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the Camaro had either been rolled down or shot out. Luken grabbed his gun, aimed, and fired into the sidewall of the front tire, hitting it several times, sending the SUV veering into another car. Luken didn’t wait to see what happened next. He put his foot down on the accelerator and raced away as fast as he could. Now, out of danger, he needed to find a way to save his brother’s life. He could smell the poison of the silver eating away at his brother’s flesh. Ryken wouldn’t last long. **** Ryder O’Laughlin leaned against the wall, grasping the opened newspaper in both hands. He glanced over the top of the crisp paper, waiting for McCarthy Legal to open its doors. The morning sun was breaking through the gathering clouds overhead, announcing that morning had finally arrived. He sipped a hot, steaming cup of coffee with a triple shot of espresso, absorbing all the delightful benefits of a caffeine jolt. Lucky for him, directly across the street from the legal office was a local coffeehouse. Normally, he was not the kind to stalk a company or a person for that matter, but he needed to find Sebastian McCarthy. Had to let him know about his run-in with Mason Levi and the information he’d gathered from his asshole of a cousin. He was also curious to find out if Sebastian needed a little extra manpower putting a stop to the rampant mutating DNA infecting the lycans. If Ryder’s instincts were correct, they were warning him that Mason was actively recruiting lycans from his past, lycans with the reputation for already being strong and powerful—serious badasses. If the virus, or whatever the hell it was, infected them as well, they would most likely be even more lethal killing machines, and that was something Ryder and his pack were desperate to prevent.

 

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Like Mason, Ryder was one of the rare breeds of half wolf, half panther. When in lycan form, his body was about the same size as the wolf, but his speed was even more impressive with the agility the panther provided. A long-legged, buxom blonde sporting a dangerously tight miniskirt and heels that would make a porn star jealous, stepped out of the coffee shop. He’d been so entrenched in his thoughts that he hadn’t even noticed her go in, which was so unlike him. He noticed everything, especially a piece of ass as enticing as the woman sauntering across the street in front of him. The little vixen with her tight gray suit jacket snugged up against the fullest breasts he’d ever seen was a delicious, cock-swelling sight. His blood pumped hard in his veins, reminding him that he hadn’t had a woman in way too long. Sniffing the air, he scented her as human, but what happened next stunned even him. His heart surged in his chest, galloping as if he were in a full-out sprint. He crinkled the paper in his hands, dropping his cup of coffee onto the ground. Gripping the wall at his side, he stared after her, wondering what the fuck was going on with him. His chest felt so tight, he thought the very bones beneath his flesh would tear through at any moment. Struggling to regain his breath and composure, he pushed to his full height of six four and stumbled across the street after the sexy blonde whose scent was literally setting him on fire. He had to find out who she was and fast. The need to be close to her was the only thought pounding through his jelly-like brain. Crossing the street, he made his way into the tower, her scent filling his nose as he entered the elevator. Following her tantalizing scent, he pressed the button for the top floor, hoping to catch her scent the moment he passed her floor. And as he figured, that’s exactly what happened. Clawing at the buttons, he pressed the one nearest to the floor she had exited. Flinging his body out of the elevator, he found the nearest set of stairs leading to the floor below. The second the door opened, he

 

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caught her heady scent once more, and to his complete surprise, he was staring at the main doors for McCarthy Legal. Inhaling a full chest of air, he slowly released it, closing his eyes and regaining what little control he still managed to hold on to. Pulling open the door, he stared into the deepest emerald green eyes he had ever beheld. “May I help you?” the soft, bubbly voice asked. Stammering, Ryder quickly responded, “I…I’m looking for Sebastian McCarthy. Do you know where I could find him?” “Mr. McCarthy is away on business. Is there something I can help you with, Mr.—” “O’Laughlin. My name is Ryder O’Laughlin.” “And how may I help you, Mr. O’Laughlin,” she asked with a soothing level of politeness that was almost annoying in nature, like she was more a robot than a woman who shared the same simulating desires to him that he was clearly having to her. Clearing his suddenly dry throat, he told her, “I’ve got news to share with him about Mason Levi, and I know he’ll want to hear about this information as soon as possible.” “I see,” she said plainly. “I’d be more than happy to relay the information to him, and I’ll be sure to deliver the message to him personally.” She smiled, but the emotion didn’t reach her eyes. Grinning at her, realizing that she was either dead inside or the best gatekeeper he’d ever encountered, he tried again. “I’m sorry to be so difficult, Ms…” He let his voice drift into the silence of the room. “Miles. My name is Tiffany Miles,” she replied, batting her dark black lashes. “Ms. Miles, I don’t think you understand the importance of this information.” He groaned, trying to stress just how much he needed to speak directly to Sebastian and no one else. “And I’m sure you’ll understand when I tell you that Mr. McCarthy is not available, but as it is part of my job to assist him, I would be happy to relay the importance of your message to

 

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him…once you tell me what that is,” she responded sternly, her hands digging into the sides of her round hips. “Look,” he snapped, his patience running paper thin. “I appreciate that you—” Just as he was about to finish his rant, the front doors to McCarthy Legal blasted open and in poured a very bloody male carried by two others. Ryder’s gaze shot to Tiffany, who was already bounding around the desk to render assistance. “Ryken! Luken!” Tiffany cried. “What happened?” **** Luken glanced up to see Ryder O’Laughlin staring at them, a definite surprise to say the least. He ordered, “Well, don’t just stand there staring at us, Ryder, lend a Goddamn hand.” In a few commanding strides, Ryder crossed the floor and eased Tabitha out from under Ryken’s arm, taking the weight of Ryken against him. Luken felt the shift of weight immediately and was grateful for the assistance. His muscles strained with the limp weight of his brother. Luken caught the assistant’s stunned expression, telling her, “Tiffany, we were attacked by Mason Levi or at least a few of his goons. I’m not exactly sure, but Ryken took a few gunshots in the back and gut—most likely silver bullets. He needs medical treatment immediately to get the silver out before it poisons him to death.” Jumping into action, she said, “We can take him to Dr. Shaw’s office. It’s close.” Luken’s brow narrowed as he said, “Last I heard, she was at McCarthy Ranch.” Shaking her head, Tiffany rounded the desk, grabbing her purse and office keys. “Yes, she has other doctors on call always. I’ll tell them we’re on our way.” She began dialing her cell phone, shouting behind her as she moved for the door, “Sebastian’s Suburban is down in the parking garage. We can take that. Let’s move.”

 

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The woman was a force to be reckoned with, persuasive, and sharp. Seeing Tiffany in action told him why Sebastian trusted her to run the office in his absence. She had her shit together, and he was grateful for that. “This is Tiffany Miles, Sebastian McCarthy’s assistant. We have an emergency silver extraction heading your way. Lycan male, ETA fifteen minutes.” Without hesitation, she hung up the phone and pressed the button on the McCarthy private elevator and led the four trailing companions inside the silver box. Turning, she glanced at Tabitha. “I’m Tiffany. I’ve spoken with you a few times on the phone. You’re Tabitha Burns, right?” “Yes–s,” Tabitha said, stuttering a bit. “Is he going to be okay?” Tabitha asked, the tears in her eyes growing thicker. The sight of her emotional pain twisted inside Luken’s chest. “Yes, sweetheart,” Luken told her in a deep, but calming voice. “Ryken’s strong, and we’ve got great lycan doctors who take excellent care of us in situations just like this.” He smiled at her, trying his best to reassure her. “Trust me, honey. I won’t let anything happen to my brother.” Tabitha nodded nervously, her hands twisted together in the fabric of the blood-saturated shirt she’d been holding against Ryken’s wound. Her shirt and jeans were covered in his blood, and the sight of her so frightened and worried robbed him of breath. Fighting the urge to run and comfort her, he tended to his brother. Ryken had to be priority one right now, but as soon as his brother was stable, he would ease the worry from his mate and show her just how much he cared for her…which was more considerable than he ever realized.

 

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Chapter Thirteen Zane McCoskey rushed to the main doors of the clinic to greet Tiffany Miles and the lycan she had called about. Immediately identifying the severity of the situation, he called for his nursing staff to assist him. A gurney was brought over, where Zane effortlessly lifted the wounded male onto the bed. Then he recognized the man from McCarthy Ranch and his heart dropped in his chest. He leaned over to begin checking his vitals. His pristine white lab coat brightened with the crimson blood that covered Ryken’s chest and back. Dark, murky blood seeped from the open wounds. The silver inside his body was making it impossible for him to heal. Zane listened for Ryken’s heart, and his pulse was weak, his breathing labored. Time was running against them. “Let’s prep him for surgery,” Zane instructed a brown-haired nurse, who nodded and with the assistance of another nurse, pushed the gurney down the long, narrow hallway. Tabitha called out, “No, wait. Where are they taking him?” Luken’s arms surrounded the strawberry blonde, hauling her off her feet, cradling her against him. “Tabitha, they have to operate on him. He has silver in his body, and it’s killing him. If they don’t get it out, he could die.” The words weighed heavy in the air—a sensation that caused Zane’s heart to beat harder and faster. Sobbing hard, Tabitha turned and tucked her face into the crook of Luken’s neck, his arms squeezing around her in a comforting embrace.

 

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“Go, doc. Save my brother.” The desperation in Luken’s voice was easily heard and felt by those around him. Zane nodded, but before he left, he told Luken, “Don’t go anywhere. He may need a transfusion, and you are obviously the best candidate. To err on the side of caution, I’ll have one of my nurses come draw some of your blood.” “Don’t worry, doc, I’m not going anywhere.” Zane turned his broad frame as if to head in the same direction as Ryken, but first he took a long, heated glance over at Tiffany. She was standing with her arms wrapped over her supple breasts, the look of worry covering her sweet face. The gray miniskirt she had chosen to wear today left little to the imagination and suddenly his pulse pounded and his heart revved up. He hated that this happened to him whenever Tiffany was around, but what he hated more was that he could never tell her how she made him feel. Besides the fact that timing sucked, he could never manage to get the words to formulate. Instead, he could only talk to her about things of business. That was the only time he didn’t feel like a blubbering idiot around her. Locking gazes with her, he said, “Tiffany, you’ll need to call Sebastian and tell him what’s going on. As soon as I have Ryken patched up, we’ll need to arrange transport to get him to McCarthy Ranch. He should heal fast once I extract the silver.” She nodded, pulling out her cell phone from her purse. Then he fled down the hallway as fast as he could and rushed into the operating room, where Ryken was prepped and ready for surgery. **** It had taken three hours to complete the surgery. All the silver had been removed from Ryken’s body, and he was healing at an incredible speed, thanks to his brother’s healthy blood. Luken spent every moment at her side, and Tabitha was grateful he had been there.

 

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Her mind had been in a sea of fog, trapped by worry and fear that left her wondering how things had gotten so out of control. How had she gone from having a normal life to running from murderers and having her heart ripped from her chest at the thought of losing a man she cared for more than she ever realized was possible? Staring down at Ryken’s slumbering face, now cleaned of blood, she understood the strange feelings in her stomach to be more than just infatuation. She was falling in love with these men—men who gladly put their lives at risk to save hers. Who knew heroes still existed… During Ryken’s surgery, Tiffany had arranged with Sebastian for another Suburban to take them the rest of the way to McCarthy Ranch, but this time Ryder, Dominic, and Reyes were also part of the escort team. Dominic, a fierce, six-foot-six giant of a man dressed in all black with shoulder-length black hair pulled back at the nape of his neck, possessing dark and mysterious eyes, forced her to take a step back to take in his enormous frame. Reyes, on the other hand, while still a towering six foot four, had more of a refined, sophisticated demeanor. His short, black, cropped hair and groomed goatee combined with his elegant dress of slacks and collared shirt had her scratching her head in wonder. How could a man with the most alluring crystal blue eyes and regal appearance be one of Sebastian’s most trusted and feared lycans? As strange as it was, they were, and she was plenty glad they had come to help. The last thing she wanted was to worry that something else would happen to Ryken or Luken as they drove the last hundred miles to McCarthy Ranch. Tiffany had shared with her just how lethal these men could be and what they had done to keep their pack protected. Knowing all those unique details about their warrior-like past eased her fragile mind. Surely, their massive physical size alone would frighten away anyone who would dare try to get in their way.

 

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As they drove, Ryken’s head lay in Tabitha’s lap, and she stroked his soft blond hair. Thrilled that his fever had broken, she waited patiently for his eyes to finally open. She couldn’t wait to gaze into those ocean blues that always made her heart race just a little faster. Caressing his cheek, she stared down into his masculine face. Her fingers teased over his square jaw and full bottom lip. She knew he was going to be all right, felt it down into her soul, but it still didn’t stop the well of emotion in her mind. Before she could wipe it away, a single tear rolled from her eyes, landing onto Ryken’s cheek. “Don’t cry, baby,” said a husky voice. “I’m okay.” Gasping, she cried, “Oh, God, Ryken. You’re okay.” She leaned over and kissed his lips repeatedly, moving to kiss all over his face. “You scared me half to death.” She held his face in her hands. A faint smile tugged at his lips. “I’m glad to see you, too, babe. I take it they got all the silver out?” She stared at him, dumbfounded. “You nearly die, and that’s what you have to say to me? Your concern is for the silver?” She slapped him on the shoulder. “Where the hell are all the romantic words? You could’ve died on me. You said you would protect me. What if something happened to you, Ryken?” More tears leaked from her eyes, and she trembled. “What if I never saw you again?” Ryken grunted as he sat up, twisting to take hold of her. “Ryken, your wounds,” she breathed. But as much as she might protest about his wounds, it was what he did next that had her toes curling in her shoes and her mind going blank on everything else. His mouth took possession of hers like a man starved for it, desperate to taste her. So damn hungry for her, he was clearing his plate and asking for seconds. His large, powerful hands cradled around her head, pulling her into his strong hold. She responded to him as she always did, opening for his kiss, moaning with the satisfaction of his taste and touch. He drove her wild, made her hot with lust, made her burn with need.

 

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He licked the seam of her lips, pulling away to gaze into her eyes. “Tabitha, I wouldn’t let something like a little silver separate us. I want you too much. I need you and as much as you hate the idea of feeling something for me other than sex you have to know by now that I’m falling in love with you.” Eyes wide, she sucked in a sharp breath. “Ryken?” He kissed her lips gently, cutting off any chance she had to object. “Don’t say a word, Tabitha. I don’t want to frighten you. I only thought you should know you mean a hell of a lot more to me than damn silver.” He grinned, lifting her chin in his hands, pressing another kiss to her lips. “Thank you for caring about me, Tabitha. You are the first woman to ever do so that wasn’t my mother.” Surprised by that, she licked her lips, her mouth dry. “Ryken, I’m glad you’re okay. I prayed you would be. My heart was so broken at the thought of losing you. I know that means something, but I’m just not ready to admit what.” His thumb stroked her bottom lip, his eyes staring at her mouth for a long, heated moment and then shifted to her eyes. “I don’t want you to right now, baby. When the time is right, you’ll know.” The static of the radios between cars drew their attention. “Luken?” called a deep, resonating voice. Luken pressed the button on the radio receiver. “Yes, Dominic,” he replied, glancing in the rearview mirror at her, making her suddenly realize that he had heard her and Ryken’s discussion. She swallowed back the nerves that choked her. Wow, could things get any more complicated? “We’re just outside McCarthy Ranch,” Dominic said with an edge to his voice that was even more fierce than normal as if he were on guard. “Up ahead on the left will be a long stretch of dirt road. Space out, give us some distance to make sure the road is clear.” “Will do,” Luken confirmed, easing off the accelerator as they watched Dominic and Reyes turn onto the desolate dirt road.

 

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As they traveled down the road after Dominic and Reyes’s Suburban, she leaned forward to take a better look out of the windshield. Tabitha crinkled her nose and said, “Please tell me McCarthy Ranch is not in the middle of these spooky ass woods? I really can’t handle any more spooky.” “Spooky?” Ryken asked, inclining his head towards her. “These woods are the most spectacular woods you’ll ever see, babe. And soon enough, we’re going to show you exactly why.” Then it happened. The world simply began moving at supernatural speeds. All around them were swarms of men, large, fierce-looking men who possessed the same yellow and red eyes as the men on the train. Once her eyes focused, she realized that these weren’t just men charging after them from the thickening woods, but men who looked more like animals. Claws and sharp canines sliced through the air as they rammed their menacing bodies against the sides of the Suburbans, rocking the trucks as if they weighed almost nothing. Dominic swerved, slamming his truck into a tree, blocking the road. Jumping from the vehicle, Dominic and Reyes leapt into battle, shooting and slicing anything that approached them. Ryken and Luken grabbed their guns and prepared to do the same. “Sweetheart, you need to do us a favor,” Luken said. “What?” she breathed nervously. “You need to run as fast as you can up that dirt road. The cabin is only a few miles up ahead and you can make it. We’ll hold them off for as long as we can, but you can’t stay, Tabitha. You have to promise us you’ll run and run fast, don’t linger, no matter what you hear or see.” Trembling, she shook her head. “I don’t think I can do this.” Ryken pulled her back into his arms, kissing her lips to distraction. He told her, “Sure you can, babe. Brie is up at the cabin. Sebastian and Jonah are up there, too. We need their help, and you have to go and get that help for us. Can you do that, baby?” He

 

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brushed her hair back away from her face, his fingers molding to the back of her neck, holding her face close to his. “Yes,” she breathed. “I can do that.” “Good,” Luken said. “Because all hell’s about to break loose.” Luken rammed the back of Dominic’s truck trying to get past it, but all it managed to do was debilitate his own vehicle, crushing the engine block and clipping a row of trees. At least he’d taken out a few of the creatures presently attacking them. Granted, running over them wasn’t the most graceful of tactics, but definitely the most effective. Opening the door, Ryken turned and kissed Tabitha one more time. Then, he shoved her toward her own door, shouting, “Go, baby. Run. Now!” Without looking back at her, Luken jumped from the vehicle just as she did, bolting out of the door like lightning. Tabitha sprang right into action, sprinting faster than she ever had. Her arms pumped, and her heart raced. She felt powerful and strong as she ran, even knowing that the men behind her were fighting to keep her safe. She was running for them, not from them. They needed her help, needed her to find Sebastian and Jonah, and that’s exactly what she intended to do. She felt the presence of something wild crawling along her skin, something evil lurking at the back of her mind, scratching at her flesh and pulling at the fine strands of hair on her head. Instinctively, she knew what that feeling was. Someone or something was following her, tracking her like prey as she ran for her life. Praying she would make it, she reached inside herself, conjuring all the strength she possessed. Her legs burned and throbbed. She stumbled, but quickly regained her momentum. All the while, the eerie sounds of the night accompanied the mayhem of battle and the death cries of war. Ryken and Luken and the others were fighting for their own lives as well as hers, and she had to make it to McCarthy Ranch, had to get there to send help. The cabin was up ahead, and she could see the light filtering through the trees. A sudden wave of nerves twisted in her belly. The

 

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sight of her salvation made her legs move faster, arms pump harder. A surge of joy filled her heart at the simple thought that she was going to make it. Hurdling over a stump, she cut a path through the trees, rather than sticking to the dirt road. She scraped her arm on a tree and it tossed her off balance. Stumbling, she landed on her chest, hands splayed out to brace for impact. Mouth full of dirt, she scuffled back to her feet only to feel the heavy weight of something snarling land on her back, shoving her face back into the dusty soil. Tabitha fought hard against the monstrous weight overpowering her, pushing with all her might to get free. Gasping for air, she screamed, praying that someone would hear her cries for help and save her before she was killed by whatever was attacking her. Then her head slammed hard against the cold, solid ground and her vision went blurry, all but the sound of her own screams were left ringing inside her head. **** Brie shot up to stand, her heart pounding in her chest at the sound of a woman’s screams. Running for the door, she opened it, stepping outside onto the porch. Her eyes drifted over the woods, unable to see anything out of the ordinary. So instead of relying on her eyes, she reached out with her instincts, sensing all the energy that surrounded the ranch. A gut-wrenching presence robbed her of breath and forced her body to react. Fear was far from her mind as her body was consumed with more electrically charged energy than she’d ever felt surging through her veins. Her hands extended out to her sides, and her chin raised up to the heavens. The power she harnessed was quickly released, sending a blue current of energy blasting out of her body and out to anything within several miles. The pulse of energy felt like an aftershock, the sound like a sonic bomb.

 

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“Sebastian!” Brie cried before collapsing onto the porch of the cabin. Sebastian and Jonah were on her in seconds. “Brie, what happened? We felt your energy. What did you do?” Sebastian’s head shot up, scanning the woods around them, sniffing the changing air. She didn’t have to tell him. He was already sensing it. “We’ve got company,” Sebastian said, his voice so deep it was almost a growl. Her body weak, she raised her head, pointing in a specific direction. “Tabitha. She’s out there. Something was attacking her.” Jonah leapt over top of them, storming into the woods like a madman, charging into the direction Brie had pointed. “Come on, darling. Let me get you inside.” Sebastian moved to pick her up, but she grabbed his hand and squeezed, the panic and fear alive and thriving inside her heart. “Sebastian, if Tabitha’s here then the others are close. You must go after them.” He stared at her, his jaw tightening under the compression of muscles. “I’m not leaving you alone, not when you are so weak.” She held his hand close to her breast. “I’ll be fine,” she assured him, stroking a trembling hand over his cheek. “I just need another moment, and then my strength will return. Trust me, they need their alpha.” She kissed his lips. “Go.” Lifting her into his arms, he carried her inside the house, placing her on the sofa, then fled the room, running into the night after Jonah and God only knew what else. Brie quickly regained her strength as Jonah burst in the cabin carrying a very unconscious Tabitha. Brie sprang up off the sofa and ran towards him. Her arms cradled around Tabitha face, and then she turned and pointed towards the sofa she had just vacated, telling him, “Put her here, Jonah.”

 

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Brie felt for Tabitha’s vitals. Her pulse was weak, but there. She was pale, her lips slightly blue, a deep gash on her forehead. Brie’s hands began to warm. The healing powers that lived inside her instinctively prepared to help her friend. Glancing to her mate, she told him, “Jonah, go after Sebastian. Ryken and Luken wouldn’t leave her unless it was necessary. Neither would Dominic or Reyes for that matter. They need you.” Arching a brow, Jonah asked, “Are you sure, Brie? I’m not crazy about the idea of leaving you alone.” Her chest filled with his protective love, but she knew the others needed his help more. He was too strong of a fighter not to go. She was sure she would be fine here in the cabin. “If Sebastian is there, do you honestly think I’m not sure?” Nodding, he said, “Good point. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He ran for the door. Pausing a moment, he turned to glance at his mate. “Brie, if you need us all you have to do is think to us, and we’ll be back in a howl.” “I know, honey,” she said, smiling. “Now, go.” The instant Brie was alone with Tabitha, she placed her hands on Tabitha’s head and heart and let the healing powers warm from her hands into her best friend’s body. The wound on her forehead closed with a glowing yellow light, and her beaten and bruised body was healed within seconds. The energy it took to heal her friend was nothing compared to the strength it took to knock out the evil forces surrounding McCarthy Ranch. Brie couldn’t tell how many there were, but it was enough to put her out of commission for a good long while. “Brie?” Jonah called out to her. Raising her head, she met his astonished gaze as he moved inside the cabin towards her. A strange pang of emotions sank to the pit of her belly as she stared at the unidentifiable expression on Jonah’s face. Sucking in a sharp breath, she asked, “What is it?”

 

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He swallowed before telling her, “Mason Levi’s dead.” She stood, her hand covering her heart. “How?” she gasped with a wave of relief filling her heart and mind. “Did one of you get the drop on him?” Eating up the last of the distance that separated them, he placed his hands on her arms. Shaking his head, he whispered, “No, honey, we didn’t, but you did.”

 

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Chapter Fourteen Before Brie had a moment to grasp the meaning of Jonah’s words, the door filled with Ryken and Luken, rushing in to kneel beside Tabitha, who still slumbered on the sofa. She would need to rest for a little while longer as Brie was not at her full strength when she healed her. Ryken and Luken made it impossible to see Tabitha over their imposing sizes as they protectively leaned over her. The sight of their concern for Tabitha warmed her heart. She sensed that they truly cared for her friend, and their reactions toward Tabitha’s physical state couldn’t have pleased her more. Grasping Tabitha’s hand, Ryken shifted his gaze to glance at Brie. “What happened to her?” he asked, the urgency in his voice telling of his fear for the woman he held. “Was she attacked? Is that why she’s unconscious?” Continuing the bombardment of questions, Luken asked, “Is she going to be all right?” Brie nodded. “Yes, Tabitha’s going to be fine. Just give her a moment. She was pretty banged up when Jonah found her.” Ryken stood, extending his hand out to Jonah, who took it. “Thank you for bringing her here.” Glancing at Brie, he said, “And I know you healed her. Thank you.” He swallowed hard, emotions filled his eyes, and he quickly turned away from them, staring down at Tabitha. Sebastian’s warm and soothing hand eased over her shoulder, and the moment he touched her, she wanted to cry, weep like a baby, but she didn’t dare. The feelings churning inside her heart were foreign to her. Emotions Brie had never experienced before raced through her

 

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mind, swirling with darkness. She closed her eyes and let his arms surround her. Jonah held her side, while Sebastian held the other. Together they seemed to always make her feel safe and protected, but right now all she felt was terrified. Terrified by what she had done, by what she’d been unable to prevent. Kissing her forehead, Sebastian cupped her face in his hands. “I love you,” he said warmly, holding her gaze. “And we’ll get through this, I promise.” The deep timbre of his voice sent a warm chill down her spine. The strength in his presence alone made her feel just a little stronger. Sebastian had a way of doing that to her, and she welcomed the feelings. Jonah at her side was an added bonus. “Get through what?” Dominic’s voice boomed as he emerged into the room. Jumping to cover, Jonah simply said, “Mason Levi’s been killed, and we’ve got to get his blood sample to Dr. Shaw, immediately.” He took Brie’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Well, that’s fucking great news,” Dominic roared with renewed energy. “But why in hell isn’t Dr. Pain-In-The-Ass already getting the damn sample herself?” Reyes scoffed, “Dominic, must you always talk about Megan that way?” Rolling his eyes at his friend, Dominic argued, “Reyes, if you only knew what—” “Shut up, all of you,” Sebastian’s voice rumbled. “I don’t give a rat’s ass about any of that bullshit. What I do care about is getting Mason’s body to Dr. Shaw and fast. Jonah, tell Dominic and Reyes where the body can be found and take it to the doc immediately. Ryken and Luken—” He paused, eyeing the men with a level of intensity that would have frightened most anyone. “Wait for me in my study. We’ve got several things to discuss.” He turned as if to dismiss everyone from the room, but quickly grasped his brother by the arm. “Come right back when you’re done.” Brie knew it was because the

 

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three of them needed to talk about what had happened with Mason Levi—or how she had killed him to be more exact. Sebastian turned to see that his men had still not left the room, hovering like a bunch of old women at a gossip convention. “Why is everyone still here? Do you need a formal invitation? Get moving!” Dominic grunted. Reyes shifted his weight, following Dominic as he stalked out the front door after Jonah. Ryken and Luken glared at Sebastian, retreating to his study, both glancing back several times to see Tabitha. Brie sighed as the room was finally empty of everyone but her, Sebastian, and Tabitha. Staring down at her friend, Brie noted the deep lines of worry surrounding Tabitha’s eyes and mouth from days of running for her life. She warned, “She’s going to freak when we tell her everything.” Sebastian placed his hands on her shoulders. “You have a remarkable way with words, my dear, and you can ease her mind,” he assured her. “She’ll be fine.” Biting her bottom lip, she muttered, “Do you think Ryken and Luken told her that she’s transitioning into a wolf? That she’s becoming a lycan?” He shook his head. “Only one way to find out,” he murmured. “Wake her up, honey. Let’s get this over with.” Nodding, Brie touched Tabitha’s temples with her fingertips, and Tabitha opened her eyes, blinking repeatedly as if the lights in the room were too bright. “Tabitha? Can you hear me?” she called out softly. Tabitha groaned. “Yes. I can hear you. What happened to me?” She gently stroked her head at the spot where the large gash used to be. The only thing remaining of the spot was dried blood. “You were attacked on the way to the cabin,” Brie said calmly. “Do you remember anything?” She closed her eyes, rubbing her temples. “We were ambushed coming into the ranch. Ryken and Luken told me to run.” Her eyes opened wide, panic washed over her face. She sat up. “Oh, God. Are

 

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Ryken and Luken okay? Did they get hurt? Where are they?” She twisted around, glancing all over the room, eyes searching. Brie sat beside her, wrapping her arm around Tabitha. “Ryken and Luken are fine. They know you’re okay as well. Don’t worry, honey, everything’s all right now.” “Brie?” she whispered, shaking her head. “I was so scared. Strange things have been happening to me. Strange things I don’t really know how to explain.” “Maybe I can help.” Sebastian’s voice boomed around the walls of the room, drawing their attention towards him. Looking up at her mate, Brie said, “Tabitha, this is my fiancé, Sebastian McCarthy. I believe you’ve already spoken.” With a curt nod, Sebastian extended his hand. “Ms. Burns. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival.” She took his hand and gave it a solid shake. “Right, I wish I could say I was excited to be here, but really I—” Brie interrupted, “You’ve been through a lot, and there’s so much we need to talk with you about.” “Really? Like what?” Tabitha asked, sounding a tad sarcastic, as if the news Brie wished to share with her couldn’t get any worse than what she’d already been through. Sebastian folded his arms over his broad chest and arched a brow as he asked, “Tabitha, have you been attacked by a wild animal recently?” Tabitha scrunched her forehead, and huffed out a breath. “What is it with you people asking if I’ve been bitten by an animal?” “Tabitha, honey, I know this is all strange,” Brie said in a manner as comforting as she could. “Strange?” she spat. “What was strange was watching Ryken turn into a freaking werewolf then tell me I was going to turn into one as well the next full moon. But what really chaps my ass—” Just as she was about to finish, Jonah stepped into the room and moved to stand beside Sebastian staring down at Tabitha.

 

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“I’m sorry, Tabitha. This is Jonah McCarthy. Sebastian’s brother,” Brie shared, swallowing back the need to confess more. Timing was everything. Sebastian shifted his stance, arms still folded over his massive chest, glaring down at her and Tabitha. Brie frowned at him. Shifting his gaze to Tabitha, Sebastian muttered, “You were saying?” “Oh, right,” Tabitha said, rotating her position on the sofa to stare at Brie. “What really chaps my ass is that you’re engaged to a man you never saw fit to introduce to me before. How can you honestly be getting married to a man you just started dating?” Brie cleared her throat. “Well, actually I’m not just marrying Sebastian. I’m marrying Jonah, as well.” “You’re what?” Tabitha blurted out, springing up to her full height, staring wide-eyed from one masculine face to the other. Brie stood, hands reaching out to comfort her friend. She said, “Tabby, calm down.” Shrugging off Brie’s hand, Tabitha erupted in anger. “Don’t tell me to calm down, Brie. What the fuck’s going on with you? The Brie I knew would never be so foolish.” “Ms. Burns.” Sebastian’s voice crawled with annoyance. A deep timbre that Brie had heard one too many times when she had done something incredibly wrong and was about to be scolded. “Don’t ‘Ms. Burns’ me, you overgrown barbarian. How dare you take advantage of my best friend? What have you done to her? Filled her head with nonsense, manipulated her into thinking you are werewolf gods? Is this some kind of cult, ‘hot, brawny men in the middle of the woods’ kind of cult?” She put her hands up, waving off their chance to interrupt her. “Don’t tell me, you have a few females lurking around to satisfy all your wild and crazy needs? What kind of freak show is this?” “Tabitha, that’s enough!” Brie shouted, the palm of her hand itching with the need to smack the ever-loving hell out of her friend.

 

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She had crossed a line, one that wounded her deep inside her heart. “You are insulting me and my fiancés, and I really don’t like it.” “What?” Tabitha gasped. “You’re actually defending this? You actually want this kind of life?” “This is my life now, Tabby. I’m in love with Sebastian and Jonah, and I have been for years. For too long, I allowed my shyness and fear to stop me from admitting my true feelings for these men. But something finally happened that gave me the courage and strength to live life as I saw fit, regardless of what others think.” Brie took both Sebastian and Jonah’s hand and turned back to Tabitha. “But this works for us, Tabby. I couldn’t live without them. They are my life now.” Tabitha took a long moment to look them over. Her eyes lingered on their clasped hands. Her eyes watered. Hesitantly, she asked, “Are they lycans, too?” Sebastian squeezed Brie’s hand before responding, “Yes, we are lycans, Ms. Burns. Just as Ryken and Luken are lycans.” “Dominic and Reyes?” she quickly asked. “Yes,” Jonah said dryly. Tabitha ran stiff fingers through her tousled hair. “I need a beer.” “You don’t drink,” Brie reminded her. “Maybe I need to start,” she said, sitting back on the sofa with her hands covering her face as she rested her elbows on her knees. “Tabby,” Brie said, sitting beside her once more. “What is your relationship with Ryken and Luken?” Tabitha’s expression changed into a curious and surprised stare. “What does that have to do with anything?” Sebastian again responded, “Because, Ms. Burns, if they violated you against your will or persuaded you to—” Hands out in front of her as if to try and stop a moving train, Tabitha blurted out, “Whoa? Stop. I shouldn’t have said anything to you on the phone. I was scared and truly freaked out.” “So they didn’t hurt you?” Jonah asked.

 

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“No!” Tabitha cried. “Ryken and Luken would never hurt me. They protected me and…Look, I don’t see why telling you how I feel about them is important. Just know that I’m grateful to them for getting me here safe and sound, okay?” Sebastian released a pent-up breath of air and glanced at Brie. Telepathically, he said, Take Tabitha up to her room, and get her settled in. I’m going to have a nice little chat with the twins. If what Tabitha said is true…the words went unspoken, but she knew that Sebastian would use his better judgment when deciding what to do about Ryken and Luken. They had gone against his orders and that had to be addressed. Silently nodding, Brie told her, “Tabitha, I’m sure you’re tired. Would you like to get cleaned up and change?” Smiling, she clasped her friend’s hands in her own. “I’ve got a closet full of clothes for you to pick from. There’s a room upstairs where you can shower and rest.” Tabitha nodded, her eyes staring down at the ground, still full of unspent tears. Standing, Brie kept her arm around her friend and led her up the stairs. When they reached the top of the landing, Tabitha asked, “Are you really happy, Brie?” “Yes, Tabby, I am. I’ve never been happier.” “And you’re okay with the fact that you’re going to be married to not one but two werewolves?” Brie giggled. “Actually that’s the best part.” Tabitha raised her gaze to meet Brie’s. “How do you mean?” Brie grinned. “You know…the sex of course. Surely, you noticed that sex with Ryken and Luken was far beyond that of any normal sexual encounter you may have had before.” A hidden smile emerged and Tabitha said, “Oh, that. Yes. That I did notice.”

 

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Holding her friend’s gaze, Brie said, “Ryken and Luken are pretty amazing, aren’t they?” Her heart warmed at just the thought of the two men she’d grown very fond of within a very short time period— men soon to be an extension of her own family. Tabitha sighed. “Yes, but I wish they weren’t,” she admitted, honestly. Brie’s brow furrowed. “Why would you say that?” “Oh, Brie, you know why.” Tabitha moved into the room, and stalked over to the window, glancing outside into the night. Shaking her head, Brie told her, “Tabby, you can’t keep doing this to yourself. If you’re happy with Ryken and Luken, then enjoy it. It’s not like you have to run out and marry them.” Frustration welled inside her. Damn it, her friend was the most stubborn woman she’d ever met. “Shit, you can’t keep avoiding your emotions.” “I’m not avoiding them,” she spat. “You are avoiding them, and you’re scared,” Brie argued. Shaking her head, Tabitha screamed, “No. I’m. Not!” “Yes,” Brie hissed. “You are, and I understand why, but you still need to face facts, Tabby. Things can be different for you if you just allow it. Don’t let your past failed relationships and family issues drag on any longer. You’re a grown, intelligent woman. You can enjoy relationships and live your life like everyone else.” “I can’t,” she yelled, fist balled at her sides. “You know I can’t. It’s impossible. I can’t let anyone in. Every time I try, it only leads to disaster. I’m not supposed to have a happily ever after. That’s you, Brie. Not me.” “Bullshit, Tabitha,” Brie groaned through gritted teeth. “You can’t keep living in the past or worrying that every time you let someone in, they’re going to hurt you. It doesn’t have to be that way. You learned to trust me and you can learn to trust them. You’d be amazed at how patient these brutish-looking men can be. They’re honest and caring men, Tabitha. They would never intentionally hurt you.”

 

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God, it was killing her to see her friend so afraid of an emotional connection. The loneliness in a life like that tore at her heart, ripped it to shreds and stomped all over it. “You don’t know that,” Tabitha murmured. Brie frowned. Sadness and regret consumed her heart. “I wish you could have seen how worried Ryken and Luken were for you when you were unconscious. They were honestly terrified that you were seriously hurt. They care about you, Tabitha. You’d have to be blind not to see it.” Tabitha turned away from the window, her face red with the fever of her emotions running through her. She moved to sit on the edge of the bed. The soft fabric gave way under her weight. Her hands gripped the round knob of the footboard. Softly, Tabitha asked, “But what if they treat me like my family did? What if they grow tired of me and consider me more of a burden than a prized treasure? I couldn’t go through that kind of treatment again, Brie. It would kill me to be rejected by them.” She choked back a sob. “My family fucked me up enough and I can’t afford to let that happen to me again.” Brie leaned over and hugged Tabitha. The sadness in her friend’s words pulled at her heart and knotted in her belly. Tabitha shuddered in her arms as she held her. Hard sobs rocked her body, tears flowed from her eyes. “You’re right, Brie,” she whimpered. “I am scared and I don’t know how to change that. No matter what my heart feels for them, my head just won’t get out of the way.” Brie cupped Tabitha’s sweet face in her hands and smiled down at her. She said simply, “Take it day by day, Tabby. Give things a chance with Ryken and Luken. Embrace the changes you are going through. I can’t guarantee it will be easy, but you owe it to yourself to try.” Tabitha wrapped her arms around Brie, and she sobbed harder than she’d ever heard or seen Tabby do. She was glad she was there

 

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for her friend. The overwhelming emotions Tabitha was experiencing were long overdue, and she’d be there for her for as long as Tabitha needed her. After all, that’s what best friends did, no matter what. **** Sebastian summoned Ryken and Luken to appear in front of him. Ryken and Luken did as commanded. Their faces were strained with nerves, and their broad shoulders were filled with tension. They knew they had gone against his specific instructions, and knew exactly why they now stood in front of their alpha, preparing to face the punishment Sebastian felt they deserved. Glaring down at the twins now on his shit list, he said, “I’m grateful that you made it safely to McCarthy Ranch with Ms. Burns in one piece.” He paused, glancing over their wincing faces as if they were waiting for him to rip their heads from the shoulders. “However, I’m not pleased that you not only revealed your true selves to Ms. Burns, but you defied my explicit instructions to not touch her. Yes, gentlemen, I’m very much aware that you have slept with my mate’s best friend, and I’m none too happy about it. What the hell were you thinking? A human with no ties to us could have cost you both your lives. Did you even consider that your reckless behavior could have gotten all of you killed?” Sebastian moved around his desk and propped his ass on the edge, crossing his feet at the ankles. He brushed a stiff hand over his whiskered jaw, his eyes darting down to the ground and back up again. Both Ryken and Luken appeared grief stricken as if they had lost their only means for living. Pausing to take in the sight of the solemn twins, he could feel their growing bond, the one they shared with Tabitha. Sebastian understood the mating bond perfectly. He’d experienced the mating bond recently, and he wouldn’t change a thing about his mate and the time they had shared together.

 

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“Ms. Burns is a beautiful lady,” Sebastian said and both Ryken and Luken immediately glanced up to meet his eyes. Surprise filled their gazes. “And I can understand the challenge of keeping your paws to yourselves. Not so long ago, I suffered from the same affliction.” With an arched brow and sympathetic glare, he stared at them. “She did explain in her own, nonverbal way that the act was consensual.” He licked his dry mouth. The conversation of their sexual activities was truly the last thing he wished to discuss with them. “And I think you should avoid contact with Tabitha.” “But Sebastian—” the twins argued in unison. He raised his hand, blocking Ryken and Luken’s objecting remarks. “And even though it goes against my better judgment, I’m not going to restrict you from seeing her again. In fact, I think it would be wise if you helped her during her transition. This will be a very difficult time for her and since she’s already comfortable with you both…” His unspoken words lingered in the air. “You mean it?” Ryken all but barked out. Sebastian nodded. “But only if she wants your aid. I don’t want to learn of it later that she told you jackasses to take a hike. Being with her should be her idea, not yours or your damn cocks’. Got it?” “Yes,” Ryken said, a smile appearing on his face for the first time all night. “Of course, Sebastian,” Luken said, sharing the same knowing smile. “Then, get out of my sight before I change my mind,” he told them, and like rats, they scurried off and he knew exactly where they were headed. Like he’d told them, not too long ago, he suffered from the same affliction—the need to be with his mate, no matter what, even if that meant jumping up onto a two-story balcony to get to her. Chuckling to himself, he turned in search of his own mate. They had things to discuss. Possession ruled his brain as the most alarming need to hold her in his arms fired deep inside his soul. His Brie was a

 

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delicate flower on the inside, even though she tried like hell to seem otherwise. She would need him more now than ever. He and Jonah would be there for her, forever and always.

 

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Chapter Fifteen Finishing her shower, Tabitha muttered, “What the hell am I going to do now?” The wet ringlets of her wavy hair dripped with excess water. As she stepped into her room, she noticed that Brie had laid out on the bed a clean pair of jeans and blouse for her to wear. She even thought to provide her with new underclothes, socks, and tennis shoes. Brie’s words rang in her head like a chiming bell. Tabitha didn’t want to hear them, but the repeated pounding left behind in her mind was hard to ignore. The words were a constant echo reminding her that she’d chosen to be alone and not trust anyone. Vulnerability was an awful feeling and she didn’t want to feel that way anymore. Ryken and Luken seemed to take that feeling away. They unknowingly opened up their hearts to her and for a brief moment, Ryken’s profession of love had made her want to run and hide, but he quickly reeled her in with just the sound of his voice—a deep, calming voice that thrilled her straight to her toes and penetrated into the depths of her soul. Even though Luken had not confessed his feelings openly to her, she felt them, too. The way they held her, possessed her, and loved her body, she’d known how deep their affections for her had grown—a puissant connection that thrived with the strength of an electrical charge. That was how profound their feelings were for her. That alone was enough to piece together her once shattered spirit. Dressing, Tabitha knew that she should embrace the chance to enjoy life with Ryken and Luken. What woman, if given the opportunity, could resist? She

 

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would be a fool not to at least try. A fool and a coward, something she never wanted to be. Tabitha finished dressing and a slight breeze blew into the room. She knew the scent on the air the moment she inhaled. Masculinity with a hint of woods and spice—a masculine fragrance she would forever be changed by. Ryken… Closing her eyes, she sucked in a sharp intake of air and slowly released it, searching for a calming and peaceful place. She couldn’t seem to find it completely. The nervous pounding in her blood made that search nearly impossible. “I’m scared,” she murmured. “I’m afraid of what I’m becoming, of what I’m feeling.” She swallowed hard, raising her wild gaze to capture Ryken approaching. “What if this somehow changes me? Makes me a freak? A monster?” His hands gently cupped her jaw, and he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “You really do watch too much television, babe.” He smiled at her, but it didn’t ease the tension filling her chest. “Ryken,” she gasped. “I don’t want to be a monster.” Her fingers clutched around the fabric of his black T-shirt. Stroking the hair back away from her face, he held her to him. “Is that what you think is happening to you, baby? You think that being the wolf will make you a monster?” Stunned that he didn’t understand, she answered honestly, “Well, yes.” He chuckled. “Baby, being the wolf is wonderful and liberating. You’re not the mindless monster that television would have you believe. You’ll remember everything. You’ll have total control over your own actions. The thrill of the run will fuel your body, the need to play, to—” He raised her face to his, capturing her lips in a searing kiss, then said, “The need to fuck.” Nibbling on her lips, he teased her mouth once again. “I told you before that I was going to show you how wonderful it would be and I wasn’t kidding.”

 

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Swallowing again, she admitted, “I can feel…something different about me. Not only is my sex drive burning like a hundred-story building inferno, but my body feels stronger and my senses sharper. It sort of freaked me out before, but I swear I could hear rabbits hopping outside and birds swooping out of the sky and up again. The flap of their wings—” She swallowed back the rest of her thoughts, locking gazes with Ryken. Grinning, he said calmly, “And that is just the start of the incredible things that are happening to you because of the wolf thriving inside you, preparing to awaken.” Nerves surged up into her throat and she tried to swallow them back down. She asked, honestly, “Will it hurt? Changing, I mean.” Ryken’s fingers brushed against her cheeks and his expression grew more serious as he said, “The first time is the hardest because your body had never transformed into the wolf before, but the change only lasts a few seconds, and then it’s over. Then the truly amazing stuff happens.” “Like what?” she asked, needing to know more to ease the fear burning in her mind and gut. His fingers glided through her damp hair, and he stared at her as if she were the most precious thing he’d ever beheld. And just as Ryken was about to speak, a deep voice purred up from behind him. Her heart raced just a little faster as she locked gazes with Luken. “Like feeling for the first time in your life that you actually belong to something greater,” Luken said, coming up alongside her. Ryken made space for the three to stand together, forming a triangle. The deep timbre of Luken’s voice tickled along her skin. “As if the heavens and earth combined and allowed you to be a part of them for the night. The spirit of the wolf and the spirit harvested within your soul become one.” Luken brushed a fallen strand of hair from her face, letting the backs of his knuckles glide over her cheek. “The power it holds is the most glorious feeling and it’s always going to be alive inside you. That amazing feeling will never go away.”

 

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Tabitha stared at the two men that had blasted their way into her life with the force of a wrecking ball and wondered how she had gotten so lucky. Looking back over the years she spent running from her past only to now realize that’s what made her who she was. And she was a woman who was deeply cared for and cherished by these two wonderful men—men who had won more than just her body. They were now a part of her very soul. Without them, she feared she wouldn’t be able to survive. Brie seemed to have the perfect life, outside of the fact that a serial killer had wanted her dead or alive. But the men in her life, the ones she planned to marry, were everything to her, and the energy that radiated out of them as they stood arm in arm was exhilarating. Brie was happy and the idea of her being with two men, let alone marrying two men, would have troubled her before, but no longer. Now, she had her own threesome to enjoy. One she was hoping would make her just as fulfilled as she believed Brie to be. If she hadn’t already felt it, just glancing from Ryken to Luken, she could see that things were about to get interesting. She asked, “It’s almost time isn’t it?” “Yes,” the towering men said in unison. “We should go,” Luken announced. “Go where?” she asked, eyes wide, stomach rolling with nerves from unanswered questions. Ryken’s voice was low, but commanding as he told her, “Into the woods, where we can be together without worry. We won’t let you change without us, Tabitha.” Luken added, “Soon, you’ll be able to control when you change, but right now, the call of the moon is too powerful. If you let us, we’ll gladly teach you how to control the beast.” Smiling warmly, she agreed, “Yes. I’d like that very much.” “Then, let’s go and get a little wolfy, shall we?” Ryken grinned, extending his hand out to her.

 

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Taking his large hand, she cradled it against her chest, clasping hold of Luken’s as well. “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for helping me and caring about me. I—” “Save it, babe,” Ryken said sharply, cutting her off. “When tonight is over and you see for yourself just how right we were about everything…then I’ll let you thank us properly.” Cocking her head with a weary grin, she asked, “You mean you want me to thank you with sex.” He gave his head a quick shake and said, “No, not just sex, but raw, primal passion that will have your eyes rolling into the back of your head and—” “You’ll be howling at the moon.” Luken chuckled, and the humor was much needed. “You think so, huh?” she said, the warmth of their playfulness easing her mind and charged her body. Damn, the things they did to her, the way they made her feel. Ryken leaned down, his mouth just above her ear. He sighed. “Oh, yes, baby. You’ll definitely be howling at the moon. I guarantee it.” His warm breath dipped inside her ear, sending tingles up and down her spine. Smiling, she pressed to her tiptoes, taking turns kissing each one. Lingering a moment longer as Ryken clasped his hand around the back of her neck, holding her to him. Staring into Ryken’s heated gaze, she said, “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go get a little wolfy.” “I think our mate is going to enjoy this more than I first thought,” Ryken shared. Grinning, Luken growled. “Well, let’s not waste another moment and go find out.” Both men wrapped themselves around her in a protective embrace and leaped over the balcony in one heart-stopping swoop. The soft impact of the earth below was barely noticeable. Not wasting a

 

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second, Ryken and Luken led her deep into the wood, until she stood in the middle of a small clearing. Arriving at the location seemed to take less time than blinking her eyes. The speed at which they ran surged through her, a thrilling and pulse-pounding sensation that had her yearning for more. Her body itched and tingled with need. “Take off your clothes,” Ryken told her, already disrobing. “We’ll come back for them in the morning.” Her nervous fingers fondled at the buttons of her shirt and jeans. Luken appeared in front of her, his strong hands covering hers. “Here, let me,” he growled, standing in front of her like a Greek god in all his glory. She swallowed at the magnificent sight of him. “Thank you,” she muttered. Arching a brow, he cocked a wolfish grin. “It’s really my pleasure.” Shyly, she glanced away and toed off her shoes. Luken was quick to remove the rest of her clothing, kissing her breasts, belly, and pubis before picking up the clothing and placing them all in a neat stacked pile at the base of a mammoth tree. Tabitha’s eyes were magically compelled to search the sky above. When she did, the dusty gray clouds parted and revealed the brilliance of a silvery full moon. Her gut twisted with anxiety, her skin pulled too tight over the bones of her body. The muscles underneath the flesh stretched and tightened, flexing with new power. She dropped to the ground on her hands and knees as if praying to the sky above. Screaming, her body began to shift, change. Powerful sensations rocked her, and then the pain kicked in. Black claws tore from her fingers, her mouth filled with menacing teeth. The sound of breaking bones and elongating muscles were all she could remember. For a split second, the pain was immense, and she thought the stabbing ache ripping through her body would surely kill her. Then, just as Ryken

 

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had said, the change was over, and she was running through the woods chasing the scents and sounds of the night. Ryken and Luken, dark wolves with coats dusted with black, red, and brown, raced past her, running after each other and frolicking like children. The seductive and enticing feeling of dashing through the night was exhilarating. Her paws pounded down on the soft soil, claws digging into the earth below, jumping over logs and rocks with the ease of a graceful dancer. Her lungs were full of air, and her heart raced with renewed energy as if breathing for the first time. **** Brie tugged at her bottom lip, vigorously pacing in front of the giant unlit fireplace in the main den. The newly remolded room was now filled with a feminine touch as well as the classic country feel it once possessed. The rustic cabin with its big, bulky furniture was accented with fine prints and calming colors. But even with all the warm and peaceful colors surrounding her, Brie couldn’t clear her mind of what she had done. Killing was not in her nature. She was the one who fought for those less fortunate…legally. She didn’t murder people, evil or otherwise. Sebastian and Jonah entered the room, and immediately she ran to them, arms and posture ready to be embraced—needing to be held. Wrapping herself around Sebastian and Jonah, she whimpered, “Oh, God. I killed a man.” “I knew we shouldn’t have left her alone,” Jonah murmured to Sebastian. Holding her tight, Sebastian reminded her, “Brie, darling, Mason Levi wouldn’t have hesitated to kill you or any of us if given the chance, so don’t even give his memory a second thought.”

 

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Stroking her hair, Jonah said, “Brie, honey, you did the right thing. And I’m glad you did it. If you hadn’t, he would have killed Tabitha.” Their strong words made sense to her, but they still troubled her all the way to her soul. Killing was wrong, and even though necessary, the feeling left behind was too brutal to comprehend. Her heart and mind warred with what she had done, her actions not her own. Sniffling, she admitted, “I know this, but why do I feel so dirty, like I’m more evil than he was.” Sebastian eased back to cup her face in his large hands, staring down at her with eyes that reminded her how strong and powerful he was. He explained, “Because your heart and soul live to heal and help others, but what you are not understanding Brie, is that you most likely saved the lives of a helluva lot of people by eliminating Mason Levi. He can no longer hurt the innocent, and he can no longer recruit more for his cause.” Nodding, she agreed with him, “You’re right.” Smiling coyly at him. “You’re always right.” Her arms wrapped tight around his waist, and she let the staccato beat of his heart soothe her into peaceful thoughts. There would be more days ahead where she would have to fight for those she cared about, but right now she was going to let Sebastian and Jonah take care of her. And right now, what she needed most was the strong arms of the men she loved holding her and helping her to feel safe. Then the thought of his decaying corpse popped into her head. She hadn’t even seen his body since she fried his ass with the power that was growing inside her. She asked them, “What are we going to do about his body?” Jonah answered, “Dominic and Reyes have already taken his body to Megan. They are on their way back to her lab in Dallas. There, she can do all the testing she needs to do on them. She still hasn’t come

 

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up with a vaccine, but she thinks she’s close. Surely, with Mason’s blood she can do it.” Eyes wide, she gasped. “And what about the fact that I killed him? We need to report it.” “The fuck we do,” Jonah roared. “That bastard can rot in hell for all I care, and I hope he does.” Sebastian glared at his brother and then softened his expression before returning his gaze to her. “Brie, you’ve got to stop thinking like a lawyer for just a moment and see the big picture here. What could we tell the police? How would we describe the manner in which he was killed? They’d lock all of us away, and jail is no place for a lycan or his pregnant bride.” He held her close, kissing the top of her head. “Brie, the best thing we can do is let things go with Mason. Megan will dispose of his body medically once she’s done getting what she needs from him. There will be no need to pursue this matter any further.” She swallowed, her heart twisting. “But what about notifying his family? Surely, his pack would like to know what has happened to him.” Jonah took hold of her hand, spinning her towards him so he could kiss her forehead. He told her softly, “Our sweet Brie always thinks of others before herself.” She smiled at Jonah, glancing back to Sebastian as he explained, “Ryder O’Laughlin is traveling with Dominic and Reyes. As you might remember, Ryder was Mason’s cousin and also a new member of our team. He’s going to help us capture and contain the remaining infected lycans.” “How?” Brie asked with a tinge of surprise in her voice. “And when did you meet with Ryder?” “He was traveling in the third vehicle with Tiffany. He protected her and kept her safe,” he said plainly. “Tiffany was pretty hysterical after the attack, but said Ryder didn’t bat an eye when it came to standing side by side with our men.”

 

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With an arched brow, she asked, “Why was he here at all?” “He came to warn me,” Sebastian said matter-of-factly. “Mason spoke to him, and he feared that Mason was getting too close to us and he didn’t want to see him hurt you. His pack asked for volunteers to hunt Mason, and Ryder was the first to do so. He’d actually tracked him using tactics they had grown up using. Knowing those things might be useful.” “And you trust him?” “Actually, I do,” Sebastian admitted. “After the way he protected Tiffany and the fact that he didn’t have to come warn us or fight with Ryken and Luken to protect Tabitha…Well, that was really all I needed to hear and see to accept his offer to join us.” Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “And you’re sure he’s not infected and it’s not some kind of trap?” Smiling, he told her, “You really are a worrywart, you know that?” “I just don’t want anything else to happen to the men I love and the people I care about,” she said testily, hands digging in at her hips. Clasping hold of her shoulders, kissing her cheek, Jonah purred into her ear. “Nothing’s going to happen, Brie.” Staring up at him, she asked, “And you’re sure?” “Yes,” Sebastian and Jonah answered in unison as if annoyed by her constant worry. Jonah’s hand slid to Brie’s belly where he rubbed it lovingly. “You’ve got to stop worrying so much about everything else and focus on yourself.” “I know,” she agreed with a coy smile. Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as he glanced over Brie as if inspecting a piece of meat. “What?” she gasped, glancing down to see if she spilt something on her shirt.

 

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Sebastian gave his head a quick shake and said, “Nothing, I was just thinking that maybe the power you conjured earlier to save Tabitha had something to do with the baby?” Her eyes rounded, her lips parted on a gasp. “I don’t know.” She sounded freaked and with good reason, because she definitely was freaked out. What if her unborn baby was able to make her powers surge like that? What if her unborn baby had powers of his or her own? She still didn’t understand her own talents, let alone how to manage them perfectly. Now, she might have to figure out how to do it, not only for herself, but for the baby growing in her womb.

 

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Chapter Sixteen When Tabitha woke, she was tangled within a mass of arms and legs. The familiar naked weight of the men she’d chased during the night had wrapped themselves around her. Their protective embrace warmed her, tickled her to her toes. She loved being this close to them. She loved touching them. She simply loved. Love… The word, once so foreign to her, now felt real, tangible, like it was truly something she could achieve and experience for herself without regret or fear. Letting go of her past would take time and a lot of work, but as she glanced down at the men in her arms she knew she had to try. Fifteen years was a long time to live in the shadows of a horrible past—a past that wasn’t hers anymore. At least it didn’t have to be. That’s what Brie was trying to tell her. She could choose for herself what her future held. She knew she could be with Ryken and Luken if she really wanted, and she didn’t have to let fear dictate her actions. Instead, love could. As she glanced down at the slumbering faces of the men she loved, yes, loved, she couldn’t help but smile. She had become the person she never imagined she would be, and it was because she let two strangers, two werewolves, infiltrate her heart. She hadn’t allowed herself to share a piece of her soul with anyone until them, and now she couldn’t wait to explore so many more things with them—whatever those emotional adventures might be. Finally understanding the feelings swirling in the pit of her stomach, she shifted to sit up. Not caring that her body had been used

 

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as their plaything during the night because just as they had used hers, she had used theirs, and the power of their joining had been incredible, healing even. Ryken was right. Sex as a wolf had been primal and raw, but sex as a human with lycan powers would soon prove to be even more prodigious. Her fingers glided down Ryken’s hip towards his cock, molding around his shaft. Smiling at the sound of his groan, she turned her gaze to Luken. His body was almost in the exact same position as Ryken’s just on the other side of her, and she did the same thing to him, gliding her fingers down his lean hip, around to his cock, gripping him and stroking the shaft slow. Luken’s eyes popped open, his gaze rising to meet hers. She held her breath, nibbling her bottom lip. “What are you doing, mate?” Ryken’s voice growled from her side. Grinning, she teased, “Oh, I don’t know. I thought I might play a little this morning.” Rising up to his elbows, Luken asked, “What? No objection to being called our mate?” “I was actually thinking that I might have been overreacting about the whole mate thing.” Arching his brow, Ryken snickered. “Oh, really?” Nodding, she teased with a giggle, “Yes, I might like being your mate, might enjoy our romp through the woods, and our romping in the woods.” “So, you don’t mind being called mate because you like the way we fucked you last night?” Shocked by Luken’s words, she gasped. “No, of course not!” “Then why the sudden change of heart, mate?” Ryken sat up, his eyes deep and penetrating. Huffing out a sigh, she stood, hands on her hips. “Oh, never mind.”

 

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She turned and inspected the room she was in. It didn’t look like McCarthy Ranch. At least what she had seen of McCarthy Ranch. “Where are we?” “This is our home, a few miles from the McCarthy cabin.” “Oh,” she said, sounding surprised. “So, you don’t live with them?” “Hell no,” Ryken blurted out, sounding almost offended that she would think they lived with Sebastian and Jonah. Luken moved up behind her, his hands rubbing up and down her arms. “Why are you willing to accept being our mate now, sweetheart? I want to know.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe because I don’t think it would be as bad as I once thought it would.” “But why? What’s changed?” Luken urged her to continue. A long moment of silence passed before she admitted, “I have. I’ve changed, Luken. I’m different, and I feel great about it. I loved running through the woods, enjoyed beyond everything I’ve ever imagined. I also—” She hesitated to answer, emotions choking her, eyes searching their faces. “What, Tabitha? Don’t stop now.” Ryken’s voice was harsh and filled with need. Even if she hadn’t heard the desires filling his words, she sure could feel them in her heart. “I also care about you, both of you, very much. I want to give us a chance. But I swear if you hurt me—” Luken’s gentle kiss cut off her words. His kiss was a slow-burning simmer. The growing intensity had her feeling like she was floating on clouds. She opened for him, and his tongue tasted hers, the wild within their passions firing into their kiss. Her fingers dug into the taut flesh of his back and shoulders. She was practically clawing up his body as he made love to her mouth. Dipping down, he grabbed hold of her hip and raised her leg, wrapping her calf over his hip, lifting her against his body. Her legs molded around his waist as

 

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Luken carried her into his master suite. The giant bed was a playground for their exploring love. Breathless, she was dizzy on the lust she felt pouring out of his heart and soul. “Tabitha, I have to tell you something before we make love.” He tilted up her chin as if consumed by the need to look into the depths of her eyes before telling her what was on his mind. “What is it, Luken?” she murmured softly against his face, her heart beating a little faster. He licked his lips. “For the first time in my life, I’ve fallen in love.” He cupped her chin and jaw, his warm touch on her face. “Tabitha, I’ve fallen in love with you,” he told her, dropping down to take possession of her mouth once more. Luken kissed her using his entire body. His hands worked over her flesh, massaging and caressing the lean length of her body. His strong fingers tingling down her spine, clasping the nape of her neck, he thrust his tongue deep, while he kept her face still in his uncompromising hands. Gasping for air, she eased away to stare up at him. She saw wild excitement and scorching lust in his eyes, but also something else, bright and warming. And now that she’d heard his words move from his lips, she knew exactly what those things were. He loved her, and knowing that caused her heart to flutter uncontrollably in her chest. A feeling she’d never experienced until now. Then, Luken lowered his lips to hers again and sampled her slowly, savoring her kiss, enjoying the fiery connection they shared. “Mate,” he whispered against her lips. “Mate,” she acknowledged without hesitation. Luken’s mouth softened, and she felt him smile. The warmth of Ryken’s body crowded in behind her. His hands cupped the globes of her naked rear. He pulled her hips back, his turgid erection sliding between the folds of her ass. Her head fell back against his shoulder as Luken trailed a gentle finger from the hollow

 

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of her neck to her breasts, then lower until his finger slid between the wet folds of her pussy, gliding over her swollen and throbbing clit. Moaning, her fingers dug into Luken’s shoulder, her leg still resting on his hip. “Oh, God that feels so good,” she groaned, rolling her head from side to side. Luken assaulted her damp pussy, his finger plunging inside the depths of her cunt while the head of Ryken’s cock nuzzled against her anus. The lust-filled sensations burned deep in her body. Hunger, so much hunger, set her body on fire. She needed them now more than ever, couldn’t wait another second for them to make love to her—to share the desires and passions enflaming her body. “Oh, God. Don’t stop,” she cried. “More, please more.” For the first time in her life she was ready to let herself go, allow herself a chance to truly experience pleasures only those who were in love experienced. She wanted to experience that with Ryken and Luken—now. “Make love to me, please,” she gasped. “I don’t want to wait. I want you both.” She reached a hand behind her, touching the firm, muscular legs of Ryken. Her other hand grasped the tight sinew of Luken’s chest and shoulder. A moment later, Luken moved onto the bed, extending his hand for her to follow. She eased up his body, straddling his hips, his fierce erection probing her belly. Gripping her hips, he raised her and slowly eased her down his hard shaft. Gasping from the tight intrusion, she closed her eyes and waited until she was seated all the way down onto the base of his cock. Ryken crawled up behind her, his cock probing at the entrance of her ass. She hissed the moment the pressure increased. For one moment, she glanced over her shoulder, meeting Ryken’s determined face, his eyes ablaze with lust and desire, his huge cock pressing against her. She knew what was about to happen, but the

 

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nerves in her belly were still so wild and untamed. Then she inhaled deeply as the cool feel of lubricant coated her asshole. “Are you ready, Tabitha? Ready to feel both me and Luken inside you, ready to know what it will be like to have us as a part of your life…forever?” She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. “Yes,” she whimpered, as nervous passions fluttered in her mind. She was ready, more than excited. Her pussy clenched and her clit throbbed. Luken’s fingers swirled around the sensitive bud, driving her beyond reason. “Do it, Ryken. I’m ready, God, I’m ready,” she cried, pushing back towards him, coaxing his cock to drill inside her. “Relax, baby. I don’t want to hurt you.” “You won’t,” she pleaded. “I know you won’t.” “Hold still for just a second,” Ryken told her, moving his cock into position. She sucked in a sharp gulp of air as a slow burn eased up her spine at the wide intrusion sliding deep into her ass. Her pussy so tight and full, the sensation was incredible. Trembling with more fire and desires than she ever imagined she’d feel, she gasped. Her fingers dug into the taut muscles of Luken’s chest. “Damn, you are so fucking tight, baby.” Ryken groaned like a wild animal behind her. “Hurry the hell up, Ryken. I don’t know how long I can hold out.” Luken’s face was strained, his gaze never veering away from hers. “You better hold out,” Tabitha scolded. “I want this to be good, or I’m not going to be very happy with either one of you.” Chuckling, Luken told his brother, “You heard the lady, bro. Let’s get to making this good for her.” Ryken groaned as he began fucking her. Luken pushed deep inside as Ryken pulled almost out, reciprocating their action. Riding her body, pleasures spiking with each thrust, Luken’s fingers continued to swirl around her clit. Their savage assault on her pussy

 

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forced her eyes to roll back in her head, and her nipples to harden further and ache. “Oh, God,” she cried. Blinded by the first climax, she clawed the sheets beside her. Leaning forward, Luken took possession of her nipple, suckling the tender bud into his mouth. She arched her back, and the position drove them both deeper inside her body. “Damn, baby. You do that again and I’m going to come.” “Well, we don’t want that do we?” Moaning, she arched again. The feelings of their cocks filling her body pushed open the sensual gate once more. Her pussy pulsed around Luken’s cock, preparing to scream with release. The tension built and built, the coil tightening, they were making her melt. She was ready to come. They fucked her harder and faster, and she burned with desires she had no idea existed inside her. Her pussy quivered, and like an earthquake, the continued wave of orgasms rocked her body. Her slick cunt squeezed around Luken’s cock, milking him as he found his own release. Ryken’s body collapsed on hers. The deep, thundering growl of his wolf roared into her ears as his semen filled her ass. The cries and growls of satisfaction saturated the room. The scent of passionate sex drifted on the air, announcing their mating heat. Falling onto the bed, they cuddled and wrapped themselves around each other, covering up with a crisp, thin sheet. Everything was perfect, except for one thing. She hadn’t confessed what was truly in her heart. “Guys, I’ve gone and done something really stupid,” she told them, scrunching her nose at them both. Luken cocked his head to the side, staring at her with an alarming level of intensity, making her nipples harden almost painfully. Ryken narrowed his eyes. The deep, penetrating glare would have startled her a little before, but not anymore. She understood those eyes now. Those remarkable blue eyes she couldn’t help but gaze into with deep longing and fiery lust.

 

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Nibbling on her bottom lip, she confessed, “I’m well aware that this might come as a huge surprise to you, but I’ve gone and let myself fall in love with you.” As she lay between them her gaze shifted from Ryken to Luken. “Now, there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to live without you.” Smiling, Luken asked, “And what does that mean exactly?” Grinning wide, she explained, “It means I won’t be returning to Seattle anytime soon, except perhaps to pack up my clothes and move here to McCarthy Ranch, where you’ll be stuck with me.” Stiffening, Ryken sat up and turned his back to her. His feet dangled off the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry, Tabitha, but that’s not nearly enough.” He stood, the round globes of his ass flexing as he walked, the muscles rippling as he twisted to stare at her. She could see the hard strain in his gaze as he looked at her. Her eyesight was perfect even in the cover of darkness. The sheet she had covering her breast dropped to her lap as she quickly sat up, stunned by what Ryken was telling her. She gasped. “What do you mean it’s not enough?” “Tabitha, if there is any inclination in that brain of yours that says there’s a chance you could leave me—” Glancing to his brother, he corrected, “Us. Then, that’s not going to work at all.” Luken tossed the blanket off his legs, rising to stand beside the bed, gazing down at her. He said, “It’s not enough for me, either, sweetheart. If you are not interested in forever with us, then your offer is just a tease, and we are not interested in being teased by the woman we love.” She swallowed hard, her eyes so large she knew the whites of her eyes shone as bright as the full moon she had chased the night before. She pushed to her knees, crawling to the foot of the bed to be closer to them. Her chest rose and fell with panic. This was not what she had hoped her delivery of emotions would be like. She thought they would welcome it with open arms, but they didn’t. Ryken and Luken

 

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were rejecting her offer, and there was only one thing a strong, stubborn woman could do at this point—she could say exactly what was in her heart, and she could do it with strong conviction. “Damn it, you two don’t make anything easy, do you? If I told you that I wanted forever with you, wouldn’t that steal all the mysterious romance out of our little love triangle? I mean, really, does a girl have to pour out every little detail in her heart before you get that you already have me forever? You must know that there will never be another man for me other than the both of you.” She slid off the bed, frustration thick in her voice as she said, “I almost died, and the only thing that crossed my mind was the fear of losing you. No, Ryken and Luken, it’s not enough. You’re so right. Loving me forever will be a challenge, a great big challenge, and damn it, if you even think of quitting me, I’ll rip your Goddamn nuts off your body, grab hold of your peckers, and jump from the nearest balcony—so don’t tell me it’s not enough. You’re damn right it’s not.” She stepped between the two men, staring up at them. “I want it all, I want the love, the sex, the future, everything you can give me for a perfect life. That’s what I want, but I didn’t realize until now that I had the courage to share.” Holding her in his gaze, Ryken asked, “Are you serious? You’re not just saying this cause you know it’s what we want to hear?” Smiling, she said, “Ryken, I’ve never been so sure in my life about anything.” “Excellent,” Luken roared, lifting her into his arms and carrying her back to the bed. She squealed as he tossed her soft body onto the bed. “I don’t know, Luken. I’m still not at all convinced that she’s telling me the truth.” Rising to rest on her elbows, her round breasts pressing towards the ceiling, she told him simply, “Then, why don’t you come over here and let me prove it to you. I’ll even let you do very wicked things to me.”

 

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Eyebrow raised, Ryken snickered, “Anything?” “Anything,” she moaned, lifting her arms in the air, beckoning them to join her. Ryken and Luken sprung onto the bed, cradling Tabitha into their arms. She loved these men, felt complete for the first time in her life like she didn’t have to work to impress them or fear losing their love because she was an inconvenience. Who would have thought that she’d owe all these incredible changes in her life to a wolf bite and a serial killer? Certainly not her, but she had no regrets, and she wouldn’t consider changing a thing. Ever.

THE END WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MORGAN.FOX.AUTHOR

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Morgan Fox currently resides in Texas, and has been writing paranormal romance for as long as she can remember. As a teenager she wrote dozens of short stories about love, loss, danger and of course the seductive paranormal bad boy. A graduate from the University of Texas at Dallas, she was raised in Florida, but navigated to Texas as quickly as she could. Most days, you can find Morgan on her computer diving headlong into her fierce imagination where anything can happen. When not writing, or thinking about writing, she enjoys cycling with her husband and reading all kinds of romance novels. Finding time for all things she loves can be challenging, but with a supportive husband all things are possible.

Also by Morgan Fox Ménage Amour: Moonlight Shifters 1: Seduced by the Moon Ménage Amour: Moonlight Shifters 2: Tempted by the Moon

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

 

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com