Natural Selection

Pack Mentality: Natural Selection Julia Talbot All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2008 Julia Talbot

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Pack Mentality: Natural Selection Julia Talbot Ryan is pretty happy working as a Park Ranger and living with his big bear of a lover, Loyal. The one thing he misses is a pack of his own. He’s a werewolf, and everyone knows wolves are social creatures, right? When a new pack moves in on his territory, Ryan hopes they’ll play nice. The new pack in town has been burned before, and Kamen and the others aren’t sure if they want anything to do with Ryan and his bear. They’re willing to live and let live, but when Loyal gets kidnapped, will the pack throw in with Ryan and help save him?

Chapter One “There’s a new pack in Mesa.” Loyal stared over at Ryan, one shaggy eyebrow going up. “A pack of what?” “Cigarettes. Dork. A wolf pack.” Now Loyal’s eyebrows lowered, snapping together over his heavy nose. “That’s awful close to a town to be catch and release country.” Ryan shook his head, grinning. “No, Loyal. A pack like me.” “Werewolves. In Mesa?” Mesa, Colorado, sat about two thousand feet below where Ryan lived with his bear of a lover, up on Grand Mesa, the largest flat-top mountain in the world. They had snow, aspens, and all the trout Loyal could eat. Loyal could eat a lot of trout. Most big old bears could. “Yep,” Ryan said. “Well, at least mostly, it looks like.” Grabbing an apple, Ryan munched, juice dribbling down his chin. Loyal swiped at him with one big hand, bringing him close to lick the sweet, sticky stuff from his skin. “Mostly, huh? Well, we’ll just steer clear of them.” Loyal was kind of a loner, and it had taken Ryan months after he became a Park Ranger up in Grand Mesa to get to know the big guy. The other Rangers had told him about the hermit-y guy who had the little cabin at the base of a wash, but it was Ryan who had understood what he was up against. It was dangerous to poke the bear, but Ryan kinda liked it. “I was thinking I could take them cookies. Maybe that ham you have hanging in the…” Ryan jumped at the swat Loyal laid on him, laughing like a maniac. The light in Loyal’s bright green eyes made him smile long after he’d stopped chuckling.

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“You’re a weird little man,” Loyal said. “Do what you want, but be careful. Your kind aren’t so ready to welcome anyone in who’s different.” Yeah. He knew that first hand, had the scars on his back to prove it. That was before he met Loyal. Ryan would bet that a new pack would be even less accepting of a wolf who mated regularly with a were-bear. “I’ll stay out of range, okay? Though if I meet one at the post office, I won’t back off.” “My wolf back down? Never.” Ryan got a squeeze that pushed all the air out of his lungs, and a kiss that would have left him breathless if he’d had any. “Nope,” Ryan squeaked. “Never. Now, what were we doing before I opened my big mouth?” “Well, you were going to feed me, but I think we might be able to come up with something else,” Loyal rumbled, reaching down to feel up his ass. “Something else is coming up as we speak,” Ryan said, rubbing all up on Loyal’s hip. Loyal laughed, the sound tickling the skin just below Ryan’s ear. “I knew I could count on you, baby.”

*** “That’s the last of it, right?” Liam heaved a box of dog bones into the storage room of Jenny’s new veterinary clinic. Sasha nodded, rolling his shoulders. “Should be, yeah. That woman has too much shit.” “The things we do for love, huh?” “No shit.” It seemed like they’d been moving forever. Kamen had chosen a new spot for them after the bullshit in Colorado Springs, one they all loved. Fresh air, mountains, acres of BLM and National Forest to run on. He and Sasha couldn’t have asked for more for them, or for their mate, Jenny. Except maybe for her to stop working so hard. “You boys get all my stuff out of the truck?” Jenny asked, coming in, her smock already on. She liked to dress for work, Liam knew. Put her in the right frame of mind.

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“The rest of it, yeah,” Sasha said, putting one beefy arm around Jenny’s waist. Liam had always thought he was built like a brick shit house, but Sasha made him feel like a pup. One way or the other, it worked for the three of them. Jenny shoved her hair into a ponytail. “You guys rock. Now I can get to work.” “Do you really think Mesa is big enough to have a vet practice?” Liam moved in close, drawn by the mingled scent of Jenny and Sasha. His mates. “Whether I do or not, I intend to keep it going. I imagine I’ll get more boarding and big farm animals up here than anything. Maybe more emergency stuff. You know me; I need to work.” Yeah, their girl was always busy. He and Sasha were working hard to adjust to the simpler life, too. They’d both had regular jobs back in the Springs, and this whole man-of-leisure thing was weird. They’d find something to do, but for now, Kamen was supporting them all. That was a very alpha thing to do, but it felt odd. Shaking off his thoughts, Liam slid one of his hands around Jenny’s waist, meeting Sasha’s big paw on the other side. “We could do a little work with you. Really get the place going with the right feeling,” he said against the side of Jenny’s neck. “Horny man?” Jenny laughed up at him, her pretty, blue eyes shining. Sasha chuckled. “That’s a good start. The animals will need strength, right? Nothing like virile manliness to pump them up.” They all cracked up at that, the word virile just making Liam snort. They’d had their problems, working out who went where and who belonged to who, but these days they had a handle on it. Jenny patted both their cheeks. “I’ll wait until we get home, guys. I need to get to work, really.” She gave them an arch look. “You could amuse yourselves.” Sasha’s whiskey eyes met his, the look in them pure big bad wolf. “We so could. If you don’t mind.”

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Liam felt little fireworks go off in his belly. He might have fought Sasha on all this to begin with, but he sure wasn’t fighting it now. Jenny snorted. “I need to work. You go play.” Nodding, Sasha kissed Jenny hard before pinching Liam’s ass. “Run, Liam.” “Huh?” For a moment, he stared stupidly at his mate. Then the light dawned, and Liam laughed, taking a kiss from Jenny himself before taking off at a dead run. If he’d had his tail, it would have been wagging a hundred miles an hour. Sasha might have been faster and stronger, but Liam had a head start. He was almost a mile from Jenny’s clinic, way out in the woods, when Sasha caught him, slamming into him from behind, pushing him to the ground. “Oooph!” Liam struggled, crawling forward a few more feet, knowing it would make Sasha crazy, and send him into orbit. Sasha loved it when Liam fought him. “Gonna tear you up, babe,” Sasha growled, rubbing against Liam’s ass. “Remember the last time we did it this way, out in the open?” Bloody right he remembered it. When he and Sasha had both been dating Jenny, unbeknownst to Liam, Sasha had taken him out in the woods and reminded him of what good friends they’d been once. Liam had been hooked ever since. Laughing, he pushed back, feeling Sasha, even through their jeans. “At least there’s no snow this time,” Liam said, digging in with his hands to get better leverage. “No. I have to admit, I liked the snow. Gave it an edge, you know?” “You just liked that I fought you, acushla. Now, are you going to fuck me, or are we going to reminisce?” “Oh, I’m going to fuck you so good.” Sasha pulled him up on his knees and tore at his belt and jeans. “Don’t rip anything, lover. I need these to get home.” “Then help me.” The growled order got Liam moving again, had him reaching for his zipper. He could barely balance to get to it with Sasha pushing at him, but he did it, and then those

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big hands were pulling his jeans down over his ass and sliding up to squeeze his cheeks. Goddamn. Sasha’s hands felt hot, rough, the calluses catching on Liam’s skin, on the short hairs covering his balls. Sasha cupped them, rolled them, making Liam gasp and rock, trying to get more of the sensation. Hard teeth closed on his neck, making the hairs there stand up, too. “More, acushla. More.” “Yeah, babe. More.” The heat in Sasha’s voice was unmistakable after all this time, the need right there at the surface. Liam knew he wasn’t gonna get much more in the way of foreplay. The sound of Sasha’s zipper going down was all the warning he got before Sasha’s hard, wet-tipped cock pushed at his hole, sliding right in an inch or two. “Fucking love that I don’t have to coddle you, babe,” Sasha growled, before he started to move, thrusting in and out. Yeah. Yeah, that was one of the good things about the whole werewolf gig. No tender loving care required. Just hot fucking. Teasing him, Liam pulled away a little, scrabbling at the leaves and dirt, and Sasha smacked Liam’s ass, letting him know there was no running away. They rocked, Liam slipping and sliding with each smack of Sasha’s hips against his own. He threw his head back and let out a howl, the feeling so good, so right. Sometimes, much as they both loved Jenny, they needed something more primal. Something rougher. Especially now Jen was pregnant. Sasha bit him again and again, his cock spreading him impossibly, and Liam reached down and stroked himself, fisting his cock hard, his arm swinging. “That’s it, babe. Show me how much you want it,” Sasha said, moving ever faster, ever harder. Bloody hell, it was good. Just what he needed.

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When he came it was like an explosion of tiny lights behind his eyes, and Liam growled, his whole body shaking with it. His ass clamped down, the muscles working Sasha’s prick, and that was all it took. Sasha shot deep inside him, filling him with wet heat, and Liam grunted, his cock giving one last jerk. Fucking A. He might just live. “This whole having to be gentle with Jenny is going to kill us, babe,” Sasha said, breath damp and hot on the back of his neck. “Yeah, but we managed to find a way to entertain ourselves, yeah?” Nodding, Liam wiggled around and curled about Sasha’s body, touching noses, the gesture the same whether they were human or wolf. “We did. In the best possible way.”

Chapter Two “Loyal! Dude. They’re gay!” Glancing up from his strawberry jam, Loyal frowned at Ryan. He had no clue what the hell his bouncy little wolf was talking about. That bright smile was cute though, so he grinned back. “Who?” “The new wolves. I saw them.” Shoving his blond hair off his forehead, Ryan wandered over, pulling at his apron strings. Loyal knew a big guy like him looked ridiculous in an apron that said “Bears Do it in the Woods” but he hated to get strawberry goo all over him. He went back to stirring, letting Ryan hug up on him, leaning on his back. “Saw them doing what?” “Well, I was doing rounds and checking out the new building, you know, the one we saw going up last week?” “Uh-huh.” Oh, someone was ready to play. Loyal could feel Ryan, hard against his thigh. “So, I saw two of them, the big one with dark hair and the redhead? They were, uh, gettin’ frisky.” “Ah. You played voyeur, huh?” Man, sometimes he thought living out in the middle of nowhere was bad for Ryan. The man got bored and started looking for trouble. “No! I mean, not much.” Nuzzling up against his shoulder blade, Ryan laughed. “Once I figured out they weren’t just playing I left. It was kind of hot, though.” “You’re a freak of nature.” His jam was almost ready to go into the jars. Then the jars would have to boil for like, forty-five minutes. That ought to give them time to get frisky, if that was what Ryan wanted. “I thought we agreed that you would leave them

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alone,” he added, breaking free to check the water in the big roasting pan and drop the jar rack in. “We agreed to keep our distance, yeah, but if they’re gay, then they must be a pretty open pack.” Loyal sighed. That was the difference between bears and wolves. Ryan craved the pack, craved the constant attention and shit. Loyal just needed Ryan. “Well, I’m not going to invite them for tea, baby. I’m sorry, but until I know how territorial they’re gonna be…” He’d been burned before, living with other guys like him and Ry. No way was he gonna take too many chances. “Well, that’s okay. You know how I feel.” Ryan dipped a finger into the hot jam, yelping when it burned, but licking it off anyway. “I just… There’s just something about them that calls to me.” “I bet. Been a while since you saw one of yours. Just be --” “Careful. I know. Good jam. Want some help?” “Yeah. If you help me get it into the jars and sealed, I’ll have this little bit of time to do nothing.” Man, that got Ryan moving like nothing going, his wolf singing some country song, slopping jam everywhere but into the funnel. Yet another reason to wear an apron. They got all the jars in the pot, though, and before he could even blink, Ryan was on him, climbing him like a mountain, yanking his apron off. “Hold on, baby. Away from the heat.” He’d burned his ass once, making love in the kitchen. Loyal had no desire for a repeat. Hands under that tight little ass, Loyal headed for the main room of their cabin, dumping Ryan on the couch, coming down on top of him to take a kiss. Lord, he loved the way Ryan opened up for him, hot and wet and sweet. His tongue slipped right in, tasting heat and wild and man. So damned good.

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They rocked together, Loyal keeping one leg on the floor because he didn’t want to crush Ryan. They needed a bigger couch, damn it. Didn’t seem to matter to Ryan. Those strong legs wrapped around Loyal’s hips, giving Ryan some leverage to hump up and get some friction. They didn’t even take their clothes off, just rubbed together, and Loyal’s zipper started to press painfully against his swollen cock. “Baby, I need some more room,” he said, pulling back to look into Ryan’s golden-brown eyes. “Floor, then.” Hands planted on his shoulders, Ryan tried to push him off, and Loyal laughed. “No, baby. I mean I need to get the damned jeans off.” “Oh!” Laughing with him, Ryan wiggled and squirmed until one of them could get their pants undone, the other one pushing them down. Hell, yes. That was so much better. So. Much. Better. Grunting, Loyal humped, his cock pushing against Ryan’s, loving the feel of smooth, hot skin and rough hair. His Ryan was a fuzzy little wolf, for sure. Not as fuzzy as he was, but hey. Bears had hair. Ryan scratched at his back a little, sharp teeth sinking into his shoulder, reminding him that he was supposed to be busy moving, not thinking. Yeah. Moving was good. Every touch of their hips and cocks and skin drove him higher and higher. “You with me, baby?” Loyal asked, rocking even harder, ready to blow any second. “With you. Love…” Nodding, Ryan panted, holding on hard, just giving it up for him. He came in a rush, his cock jerking, his ass hard as a rock. His come spread on Ryan’s hip, and the smell of Ryan and the feel of more hot come joined his, Ryan gasping and cussing, squeezing him until he could hardly breathe. “Oh, that was just the thing, huh?” He kissed Ryan’s neck, tasting salt and just a little bit of strawberry jam. “Uh-huh. Perfect. I so needed that.”

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Drawing back, Loyal stared seriously at Ryan, making long eye contact. “I’m glad, but you have to stop getting so close to that pack, baby. It could all go very bad.” Sighing, Ryan nuzzled in, giving him tiny, biting kisses. “I can’t help it, honey. They just call to me.” “Well, just make sure the call of the wild doesn’t end up with you getting your ass kicked.” “You like my ass,” Ryan said, chuckling against his skin. “I do,” Loyal agreed. “Right where it is.”

Chapter Three “What was it Myra wanted for that thing again, Col? I can’t read the writing.” Steve hated going to the grocery store when Myra was on a tear about making healthy shit for Jenny and her growing belly. There was always shit like flaxseed and mangoguava juice on the list, and that was hard to get in Delta or Grand Junction, which were their two choices of larger towns. Colin shrugged helplessly. “I got no idea, man. You know I don’t listen.” Yeah. Colin loved his lady, but he didn’t pay any attention to the wild concoctions Myra came up with. Steve didn’t blame the man a bit. He still thought Myra was a bit of a freak. They were in the health food aisle, looking for something that could be sesame crackers or semolina flour when Colin raised his head, scenting the air. “You smell that?” “Smell what?” Sniffing deeply, Steve sneezed, the scent of some kind of herb almost overwhelming him. “Wolf.” Colin moved close, angling the cart so they had the shelf on one side, the wire basket on the other, an automatic defensive move. Not that Steve could blame him. Aside from the members of their own little pack, they hadn’t had very good luck with other werewolves of late. Not at all. Steve scanned the aisle, looking for anyone who might be likely, and saw no one but an older lady and her toddler granddaughter. “Where?” he asked, trying not to cower. Seeing his lover Kamen get so torn up by their last hometown pack had put a good dose of cautious in him.

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“Somewhere close. Stay here.” Colin left him, stalking down the health food to turn into the canned vegetable aisle. Sighing, Steve stood and waited, biting his thumbnail. When he and Kamen and their little pack had left Colorado Springs, they’d looked pretty carefully for a place with no other shifters. If there was one this close… “Um. Excuse me?” Steve whirled around and stared at the guy in the Park Ranger uniform, the one who was smiling at him tentatively. “Yeah?” Steve said, trying not to freak, because now even he could smell the scent of male wolf. Where was Colin? “My name is Ryan Grinsky. I hope I’m not bothering you, but I wanted to say hi.” Ryan had light brown eyes, dark brown hair peeking out from under the Ranger hat, and a short, stocky body. With his freckled face and a big smile, the man appeared harmless. Appearances could be deceiving. “Uh…” Steve hated to seem like a coward, but he knew he was the brains of the pack, not the brawn like all of the others. God knew, he was smaller than every other guy around. Sasha and Kamen made him feel like a midget. He pushed the cart around to protect him some. “Hi. Steve. You’re not going to try to eat my face, are you?” “Not unless you ask me to. I happened to see you moving in the other week, and I didn’t want to get my head taken off if I came to say hello.” Ryan chuckled, the sound nervous as all hell. “Some, uh, people like us are not so friendly.” “I hear that.” Do not let him lull you into feeling safe, Steve thought, but he couldn’t help it. Ryan seemed so normal. So much like him. “Anyway, I just wanted to say welcome to the neighborhood and all.” “You live on this side of the Mesa?” Steve asked. They were just outside of Delta, which was actually over the ridge from Mesa, but it was a pretty drive and a lot less crowded than the bigger, closer Grand Junction.

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“No. I mean, we actually live up toward the middle. This is just as easy to get to when it’s not snowing. ’Sides, I was doing rounds and thought I’d get Loyal some salmon for supper. He loves fish.” “Loyal?” This was too surreal. Meeting another werewolf you didn’t know was rare. Sitting and chatting in the Safeway was just weird. “My boyfriend.” Looking around, Ryan lowered his voice, moving closer. “I saw you were with yours, so I didn’t figure you guys would have a problem with me being gay.” “No. Not with that.” That would be the pot calling the kettle black. “Just, uh, we’re not looking to have coffee, right?” Ryan’s face fell a little. “No. No, I just wanted you to know I was here, and that there’s no big pack up here or anything. Just me and Loyal.” “I can’t find him, St --” Colin came around the corner and stopped dead, scenting, vibrating in place. Just like a hunting wolf about to pounce. “Well. I guess I don’t have to.” Ryan held up his hands. “I was just leaving. I wanted to introduce myself. You’ll tell him, Steve. I don’t want trouble.” Steve found himself nodding. “It’s okay, Col.” “You sure?” Colin gave Ryan a hard look, doing the big dog thing. “Yeah. Yeah, come on. We need to get the milk and shit home.” He wheeled the cart around, giving Ryan an apologetic smile. Strange as it was, Steve felt bad for the guy. He seemed nice. Colin did a little more posturing, but soon enough they were out of the store and in the truck, heading home. “What did he say?” Colin asked finally, hands clenched tight on the steering wheel. “Just hi. It’s just him and this one other guy. They don’t want trouble…” What Ryan hadn’t said was stuff like, “I’m lonely, and I want to talk, and can we get together sometime.” It had been there, though. Right there in those light brown eyes.

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Somehow Steve wasn’t scared of Ryan at all. Maybe they’d have to get together and have coffee sometime.

*** “Did you get the flaxseed oil?” Myra pushed her unruly red hair behind her ear. Really, Colorado just didn’t have enough humidity. Her hair tended to get static-y. “We missed a few things, honey,” Colin told her, handing her a bunch of bags. “I need to go talk to Kamen.” “Wait a minute.” She grabbed him when he tried to pass, hands curling into the fabric of his T-shirt. Oh, he was warm; he smelled good, too. “You owe me a kiss.” Colin stopped, bending to give her a kiss, his blond hair falling over his brow. She brushed it away, running her fingers through the thick mass, humming when he licked her lower lip. “Much better.” Giving her a smile, Colin ran a thumb down the side of her cheek. “Hey, honey. I’ll be back to help unpack. Steve will unload the truck.” “Okay.” Huh. Well, something was up. Colin usually loved their little hello and goodbye rituals. She wandered over to the door to Kamen’s study, holding her bracelets so they didn’t jingle together. She might not be a werewolf, but she could eavesdrop with the best of them. “…not sure if he was telling the truth, but he told Steve he was the only one,” Colin was saying. Through the tiny gap in the door, Myra could see him pacing back and forth. “Shit.” Kamen’s sigh sounded like sandpaper on wood. “We’ll have to check it out. If that’s true, there’s plenty of territory for all of us. If not, well, we’ll have to figure out something else.” Bags hit the floor in the kitchen, making Myra jump, and she almost fell into the study. Steadying herself, she wheeled and hustled back to help Steve with more bags. Myra smiled brightly. “Eventful trip to the store?” “Huh? Oh.” Steve shrugged. “We got most of what you wanted. Met another werewolf in the health food aisle, though, and Col freaked.”

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Colin rarely freaked. He was a much cooler customer than Steve. Myra had personal experience with both men. “You mean Colin decided to protect the pack and leave.” “Well, yeah.” “That’s not freaking.” Patting Steve on the butt always made him jump and blush, so she gave him a nice little whack. “That’s just prudence. We have to be careful.” “Well, he’s gay,” Steve said, “and he’s got a boyfriend. He says that’s it.” “Oh, we should have him for supper. Over for supper, I mean.” She clapped her hands, jewelry ching-a-ling-ing. “I could make tofu-turkey.” Steve swallowed convulsively, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Oh, God. No. Make a roast or something. Let Jenny cook.” “So you wouldn’t mind having him over?” Not that Steve was the best judge of character. He’d thought Myra was a freak; still did, when it came to her food. “I wouldn’t. We’ll see what the alpha says, huh?” Alpha. Pshaw. Myra didn’t hold with all of that shit. She liked Kamen a lot, but he was not going to tell her who she could or couldn’t invite to supper. “She’ll be sending cookies and an engraved invitation,” Colin said, sneaking up behind her to put an arm around her waist. His hand flattened on her belly, and she shivered, her nipples drawing up tight. No one made her feel the way Colin did. No one. “I will if I want, yes. Don’t be evil.” Myra leaned back against his wide chest, humming and putting her hands over his and stroking the weathered skin. “Steve likes him.” “Am I the only man in this whole world who isn’t gay?” he whispered against her ear. “I bet Steve just thinks he’s cute.” “Now you’re really being a butthead.” Breaking his hold, Myra turned and whapped Colin on the arm. Poor Steve. He looked like his head was going to explode. “I just thought he looked lonely,” Steve mumbled. “What did Kamen say?”

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“I said I don’t think we need to take chances,” Kamen growled from the doorway. “No tea. No cookies. No tofu turkey.” Really, Kamen was a beautiful man, but he was so bossy. Myra tossed her head. “Well, then this discussion is over, right? Colin? Could I speak to you alone?” “Sure, darlin’.” They headed for the other side of the house, his arm around her waist, and Myra leaned in, loving the scent of him, the heat. “You’ve got to start getting along with Kamen, honey,” Colin said, kissing her temple. “Why? He’s all orders and growls.” Their bedroom door shut behind them, and Myra turned into Colin’s arms, lifting her face for a kiss. “He’s the one who got us where we are now. He fought for us.” Colin gave just what she wanted, his hot mouth pressing down on hers, his tongue tracing the seam of her closed lips. Oh, she needed that. She wrapped her arms around his neck and his hands landed on her ass, and Myra arched into him, begging wordlessly for more. Sometimes she just needed to be distracted. She’d think of how to bring that new wolf over for supper after.

Chapter Four Ryan picked at his roast beef, the potatoes looking all runny and yellow with too much gravy. He sighed, shifting from butt cheek to butt cheek. “Baby, what’s wrong?” Loyal finally asked, staring at him from across the table. “Huh? Oh, I bet it’s the moon.” The full moon was only days away, and it always made him itchy. Good thing Loyal wasn’t bound to the cycles of the old lady, because they’d both be bitchy as hell, and he needed Loyal to be, well, Loyal. “It’s more than that.” One big hand covered his, Loyal’s dark brown hair falling down to cover one worried green eye. “Tell me.” “You were right. I should have stayed away from the new pack.” “Oh, baby. You didn’t.” “Hey, I told you I wouldn’t avoid them at the post office.” He poked at his napkin with his fork. “So I said hi. It didn’t go so well.” “I’ll leave off the I told you so, huh?” Stroking his hand, Loyal rumbled. “I love you. That ought to be enough.” “It is!” Oh, shit. He’d hurt Loyal’s feelings. “It so is, that way. I just… Sometimes I want friends I don’t have to hide from.” Shaking his head, Loyal got up and cleared the dishes, heading for the kitchen. Those wide shoulders were set stiff, the shaggy head hanging pretty low. He hated it when he made Loyal look like that, but he couldn’t help it. It was the nature of the beast. After much banging and clanging in the kitchen, Loyal came back out and handed him a piece of cherry pie with ice cream. Oh, yum. “Look, baby,” Loyal said. “I know you’re lonely sometimes. I get that. I just don’t know what to do. How can I help?”

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“I don’t know. Run with me tomorrow night?” The day before and after the full moon he would change, just like he did on the moon itself. Loyal didn’t come out with him too often, saying he was too slow, too ponderous to run with wolves. “I can do that, baby. Now eat your pie.” “Bears.” Ryan snorted. “Always tempting a man with sweets.” “Uh-huh. You get more bears with honey than vinegar.” That had him laughing, digging into his pie. Sweet, tart, fresh. Yay. That made things better right away. Licking ice cream from his upper lip, Ryan forked up a bite and offered it over. “Want some? You know I like to share.” Those green eyes went dark for him, Loyal growling a little, shifting in his chair. “Love some,” Loyal said, and bent over to lick at his fork. Damn. That was sexy as hell. Ryan forgot all about hurt feelings and lonely, focusing on his amazing lover. He picked a cherry next, holding it out with his fingers. To hell with the fork. “Mmm. Melt in your mouth.” Loyal licked his sticky fingers, and Ryan felt his cock harden inside his pants. “More?” he asked, and Loyal nodded, eyes on his fingers, hands clenched on the edge of the table. “Yeah,” Loyal said. “More.” Ryan got up and moved into Loyal’s lap, dragging his plate with him. “I’ll give you all you want, honey.” “Want everything.” Kissing him like there was no tomorrow, Loyal pushed him back against the table, and the pie went flying. Damn. Oh, damn. Those big arms wrapped around him like steel bands, squeezing him, Loyal all but desperate for him. Good thing Ryan wanted everything, too. Before he could blink, Loyal stood, propping his ass on the table, muscling in between his legs. He spread wide, wrapping his calves around the backs of Loyal’s thighs, wanting to feel that big cock rubbing against him.

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“Skin, Loyal. Need skin.” “Yeah, baby.” Loyal slid back and got Ryan’s pants off, then his shirt. His hands went right to Loyal’s zipper, pulling the tab down so he could push and shove and get his big bear naked, too. Then Loyal pushed back between his legs, humping up hard. “Oh, there. Right there.” He reached down, grabbing both their cocks and rubbing hard, thumb sliding over the tips. Wet, hot, they were perfect together, and Ryan figured he needed to be grateful for what he had. Loyal should be enough for any man. No one loved him better. They rocked, the table squeaking, the chair behind Loyal falling over. Ryan would have asked Loyal to come inside him, but he lost words somewhere between the feel of the hair on Loyal’s legs and the heavy balls slapping against his ass. So he just pulled and stroked, panting and groaning, his head rolling back and forth. His eyes closed, but he could still see Loyal on his eyelids. The smell of musk and heat and sex surrounded him, overwhelming the scent of pie and cream, making him moan. “Baby… Oh, God. So good. This is what we need. What you need.” Loyal was babbling, that deep voice like water over gravel, and it added a whole different caress to the heavy touch of Loyal’s hands cupping his hips, his ass. “Uh. Uh-huh.” His tongue refused to do more than stick to the roof of his mouth, and Ryan pushed up harder, desperate to feel more, get more, his skin starting to burn with the heat they were producing. “Come on, baby,” Loyal growled. “Want to see you come. Fucking beautiful when you come.” Ryan opened his eyes, staring into Loyal’s green ones, his hand clenching hard on their cocks as he gave it up. He came so hard that he splattered Loyal’s chest, some of it falling against his belly, between his thighs. Loyal grunted for him, cock jerking in his hand, and came for him, a loud roar filling the room. Loyal was the beautiful one. Not him. They rested a moment, panting, both of them just boneless and happy.

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Pack Mentality: Natural Selection

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“Better, baby?” Loyal asked. “Until the moon tomorrow, yeah.” He was. He just needed a firm hand, really. Good thing Loyal was very firm. “I’ll run with you tomorrow. I promise.” Ryan grinned, nodding, stroking Loyal’s fuzzy chest. “I know. You never go back on a promise. I love you, honey.” “You too, baby. Now, where did that pie go?” “I think it’s on the floor. Want me to get another piece?” “Yeah. I think we need the sugar.” Lord. The way to a bear’s heart really was through his stomach. Ryan decided that he didn’t mind that one bit.

*** “Colin, there you are.” Kamen came around the bend in the hallway, clapping Colin on the back. The moon was so close that he was having trouble keeping his voice steady, but he needed to check in with the entire pack. “Not Colin,” the Colin look-alike said. “It’s Myra.” “Oh!” The moon took Myra early, and she took on the form of whatever living thing she was closest to when it did, so there it was. She and Col had obviously been together. “Swell, good. You’ll keep an eye on Jenny tonight?” “Of course I will. She’s pregnant, not an invalid.” “Yeah, but if she got out, Sasha and Liam would have your hide.” If a pregnant werewolf got captured… “No worries. I’m on it,” Myra said, clapping him on the shoulder with Colin’s hand. “Okay. Where’s Colin?” Myra gave him a smile, one that on Colin’s normal face he would call lusty. “I left him in the bedroom.” “Oh, gross, Myra.” “That’s what you say. Have a nice run.”

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Pack Mentality: Natural Selection

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Shaking his head, Kamen found his other pack members, one by one, reminding them to be careful. To avoid humans and the other wolf that was out there. “We don’t need to take chances, and this territory is all too new to us,” he said solemnly, his voice little more than a series of growls. Colin, Sasha and Liam all looked appropriately accepting. Steve was the one who looked mutinous, and Kamen dragged him off to a private corner, rumbling and setting his teeth to Steve’s throat. “You have to listen to me, baby,” Kamen said against Steve’s skin. “He may be perfectly nice, but we have to be careful.” Steve was always the last one to be taken by the moon, and he still sounded perfectly human. “Sure. Sure, we do, love. I just think he’s sad. A little lonely.” “Well, I’m not sure that’s our problem.” He was trying hard not to get distracted by the scent of Steve’s skin, but it was tough. Kamen licked a trail along Steve’s jaw, tasting salt. Tasting the wolf trying to break free. “Why isn’t it? We’re a pack. He needs a pack. It’s like, natural selection and shit…” “Enough, baby. Promise me you’ll be careful.” Steve smiled, rising up on tiptoe to kiss his mouth. “That I can do, lover. I promise.” Stiffening in his arms, Steve stared out the window. “Here she comes.” “Outside.” They met the others outside, shedding their clothes as they went. The moon rose just as they finished, and Kamen felt the wolf start to take him, his body pulling down, gravity taking him to the ground. His face pulled out, the rest of his body pulling in, joints and bones popping and creaking. The last thing to sprout was his tail, and Kamen used it for balance when he put his head back to let out a long, full-bodied howl. One by one his pack answered him. From Sasha and Liam, who were starting to howl in unison these days, to Steve’s thin wail, to Colin’s deep bay, they all responded.

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Pack Mentality: Natural Selection

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They could even hear Jenny from deep inside the house, the sound a little mournful because she wasn’t allowed to run. Kamen snapped a little at Liam’s nose, keeping the big, red wolf from attacking the front door. It was time to hunt.

Chapter Five Loyal didn’t even try to keep up with Ryan. He’d watched his wolf change, watched the moon take hold. Then he’d sought the bear inside him. It was so different for him. He had to concentrate hard on letting the human form go, had to think about huge paws and a set of teeth that wouldn’t quit. Then the bear would come, and his body would change, growing ponderous and furry, the whole world sharper, different than what his human senses could manage. His bear always had to fight that moment when Ryan’s wolf smelled like danger. Like an enemy. A few seconds maybe, but it seemed like a lifetime when every instinct in him wanted to attack. Which was why he let Ryan run ahead of him, that wolf’s tail like a flag in the growing darkness. Once the disorientation wore off, Loyal followed Ryan out into the aspen grove, marking this tree, scratching his back against the rough bark of that one. Ryan came bounding back to him, tongue lolling, touching noses with him before running off again. His bear smile was more a baring of teeth, but it worked for him. Ryan romped and played, his short, stocky body just the same in the form of beautiful brown wolf as it was when Ryan was human. Loyal loved to watch. Loved to see Ryan in his element. They ran for hours, Loyal breaking into the occasional lope to catch Ryan chasing a rabbit or a squirrel, Ryan leaping over his belly when he stopped to roll on his back, paws waving happily in the air.

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Ryan smelled them first. Loyal saw it in the way that fine wolf form went stiff, tail up but not wagging. Then the scent invaded Loyal’s nose, and he stood up on his hind legs, scenting the air. Wolf. Not his wolf, either. Rumbling, he took a swat at Ryan’s backside, turning back toward home. He’d taken maybe three steps when two wolves appeared out of the trees, bursting into the little clearing. One red. One black. Both amazing specimens. They stopped dead, staring from him to Ryan in a hilarious parody of the puppy head tilt. Loyal growled. The other wolves growled. Ryan whined, running right over and rolling to his back, giving the other wolves his belly and throat. Well, shit. Sitting back on his haunches, Loyal watched, feeling anger and sorrow in his gut. Ryan was his, but Ryan was a damned pack animal, needing the presence of others, needing to be part of a group. Why the damned fool couldn’t just join the Unitarian church or something, he didn’t know. More wolves came, all of them scenting Ryan, all of them giving him a wide berth, and when the big gray and black wolf barked, the others gave Ryan a nuzzle or two, then faded back into the woods. The alpha, because no other wolf could be as big or scarred as that one, gave Ryan one more lick, gently closing its teeth on Ryan’s throat. Then they were all gone, fading away like smoke from a campfire. Ryan bounced right up to him, legs straight, butt up and head down, wanting to play. Growling, Loyal took Ryan down, rolling him to his back. His wolf. His. Whining, wiggling, Ryan gave it up for him, licking at his snout. Telling him it would all be okay. Loyal understood enough wolf these days to know exactly what Ryan meant. I love you. I’m sorry. I’m yours. His senses filled with Ryan, with musk and need… and with the almost human smell… Humans.

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Pack Mentality: Natural Selection

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Loyal turned, raising up on his back legs again, facing down the humans he hadn’t even smelled or heard until now, letting his roar fill the sky. Ryan snarled, on his feet and circling around to rush at the men with guns, but their awareness came too late. Something sharp and hard slapped against Loyal’s neck, digging deep, and he grunted, going back to all fours, the world blurring around the edges. He roared for Ryan to run, to get away, and the last thing he saw before everything faded black was the brown plume of Ryan’s tail, disappearing into the trees.

*** Ryan limped the last few feet to the cabin, his bare feet bleeding, leaving a bloody trail up to his front door. Loyal wasn’t there. Ryan knew it, and he didn’t want to go into his empty house, didn’t want to see all of the places Loyal should be and wasn’t. He had to, though. Had to go in and call in to work, had to get some clothes. Men expected you to wear clothes, and if he was gonna find Loyal, he’d need to be all man. His fist met the front door with a smack, the sound a soggy thump. His hands were all but useless. Ryan’d gone a little crazy when they took Loyal away, the huge bear looking small and helpless with the tranquilizers and the weird stretcher thing with the net. There had just been too many for him to take them all on. “Hey, Gina,” he said once he dialed the Park Service. “I’m out today. Sick as a dog.” His voice sounded like raw hamburger, so at least he didn’t feel like he was lying. “Oh, you would call in,” Gina said. “We had a bear sighting last night. They got him. They’ll relocate him tomorrow.” Forcing himself not to howl, Ryan managed a, “Oh, bummer. You know how I love bears.” “I do. Get better. You can come help us in the morning.” “Will do.”

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Pack Mentality: Natural Selection

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Brain racing, he hung up, grabbing a couple of Power Bars. At least he knew Loyal wouldn’t be moved until the next day, and he knew where they’d be holding him. They’d keep the big bear sedated until they moved him, wherever that was, and that would keep Loyal in bear form. The change back to human wouldn’t happen until they gave Loyal the reversal drug, and Ryan didn’t intend for that to happen. Throwing on jeans and a T-shirt, Ryan avoided the mirrors, not caring if he looked like shit. There was no way he could get Loyal out of the holding cells by himself. He knew exactly where he had to go. If he and Loyal hadn’t been so distracted, Loyal would never have been caught. That new pack owed him one.

Chapter Six Jenny made them breakfast. Well, Jenny and Myra, but Liam really only worried about thanking Jenny. Which he and Sasha did. Enthusiastically. Liam kissed Jenny hard, savoring her warmth and the taste of maple syrup. He cupped her breasts, weighing them, feeling the tiny changes there since she’d gotten pregnant. Heavier. Softer, almost. He pushed his cock into Jenny’s hot, wet pussy, his hips snapping back and forth, driving him into her, then back on Sasha’s thick cock. Sasha held his hips, slamming into him, teeth set on the back of his neck. Moaning, Liam sawed back and forth, his lips sliding along the skin of Jenny’s neck. She held him, her hands buried in his hair, fingers clenched tight. The sounds she made went right to his balls, and Liam bent even farther, licking a line down her breast, lips wrapping around one hard, pink nipple. Sasha reached around with one hand, finding where Liam and Jenny joined, rubbing at their sensitive skin. Liam howled, head lolling against Jenny’s shoulder as he came, filling her deep. Jenny cried out, her body arching hard, pushing him back on Sasha so fast that their skin smacked. Wet heat filled him, Sasha’s cock jerking inside him, and Liam’s balls clenched in sympathy, his cock making one last valiant effort to squeeze his come out of him. Goddamn, he loved the day after the first turn. Jenny chuckled, stroking his sweaty hair back off his forehead. “That makes me feel less like I missed all the fun, boys.” “Was it so awful to stay home with Myra?” Sasha murmured against the back of Liam’s neck, hands moving lazily from his skin to Jenny’s. “Well, it’s not like I can watch movies or anything.”

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“You didn’t miss much,” Liam soothed, rubbing his bristly cheek against Jenny’s soft skin. “All we did was meet the new wolf,” Sasha agreed. “His boyfriend is a bear.” “No shit? Huh. Well, that’s not nearly as neat as Myra. Cool, though.” Jenny seemed pretty unconcerned, so Liam didn’t bother to try to smack Sasha for telling her. “He’s huge,” Liam told her. “Really pretty.” “Awesome. Now, let me up, boys.” Sasha slid free, leaving Liam room to pull out, and Jenny climbed off the kitchen table, brushing pancake scraps off her ass. They were all still laughing when the back door flew open, the new wolf standing there looking like death warmed over. Liam and Sasha growled, putting themselves in front of Jenny so she could get her robe on. “What the hell are you doing here?” Sasha rumbled, staring the man down. What was his name? Ryan! Ryan just stood there, staring back, hands on his hips. “I need your help,” he said, glaring at them, one after the other. “Loyal got caught last night, and it’s your fault as much as it is mine. We have to get him out.”

*** “Wait,” Kamen said, pacing back and forth across the front room. “I don’t see how this is our problem.” Steve sat on the couch with Ryan, kinda keeping the guy still while Myra doctored his feet and hands. “Well, if it wasn’t for you guys, we would have seen it coming. We were so busy with me making an ass out of myself for you that neither of us heard those animal control guys until it was too late.” Poor guy was bouncing his leg, and Myra was cussing softly, trying to get him to stop so she could wrap the last bandage. Steve reached over and grabbed Ryan’s knee, holding it down.

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“He’s got a point,” Steve said. Everyone turned to stare at him, all but Myra and Ryan glowering. Steve lifted his chin. “What? If we stayed away like we all said we were supposed to, instead of running into his territory and shit…” “His territory?” Kamen asked, staring him down even harder. Thing was, Steve wasn’t about to be intimidated by his big, alpha lover this time. They were in the wrong. “Yes, his. We got out of bounds. He says we were what? A mile from his cabin?” Ryan nodded quickly. “Yes. We were on our way home.” Sasha sighed, scrubbing a hand over his head and giving Kamen a look. “That’s close to home, man. We might ought to help him.” “Might?” Myra’s pretty, green eyes flashed fire. “I think you’re all assholes. All but Steve, who for once I agree with. It doesn’t matter who or what is in trouble. We need to help. We all wished someone had stood up for us once upon a time, instead of kicking us out of town, don’t we? Ryan, honey, do you want a smoothie?” Steve shook his head and made a choking sign at Ryan when Myra’s back was turned. “Um. No, thanks. I’d take a drink of water, though.” Nodding, Myra headed for the kitchen, leaving her last words lingering. “I’m ashamed of all of you.” Everyone sat around, red-faced, until Jenny cleared her throat. “I assume they have him sedated?” “Yeah.” Ryan shrugged. “They’ll keep him that way. Park Service policy. It’s when they give him the reversal drugs that we’ll have issues.” “That will stimulate the change? Is he lunar?” Jenny went on. “No. But yes, it will stimulate the change.” Kamen sighed again, shaking his head. “Which will be bad for all of us. We can’t let him be a study case. Okay, guys. Saddle up. We have to do this before the moon.” Steve pumped his fist in the air. “Yes! My faith is restored.”

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Pack Mentality: Natural Selection

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He got another one of those “I’ll get to you later” looks that made his cock try to get hard, but Steve ignored it, patting Ryan’s knee. “We’ll get your bear back.” Myra pottered back in, handing a bottle of water to Ryan before clapping her hands. “Oh, wonderful. You’ll bring him back here. I’ll make snacks.” God help them. They were going on a rescue mission.

Chapter Seven The containment facility wasn’t hard to find. Ryan knew where everything was, even if he wasn’t on the animal control team. The problem was that tons of people milled around between the cages and the clinic and the lab, and it was gonna be a bitch to get to Loyal. His heart felt like lead in his chest. He saw Loyal, sleeping the sleep of the drugged in his cage, just right over there. The temptation to rush over and tear the cage apart with his bare hands was strong, but he knew it would be better to wait. Patience was a fucking virtue. Sasha, Liam and Colin were going to be the distraction. Then Kamen would stand guard while Jenny administered the reversal drug to Loyal, and Jenny and Ryan would get Loyal to safety. All they needed was the distraction. The lab sat about twenty yards from the cages, but they did have the advantage of the shade trees back behind the wire enclosures. Cottonwoods and pines ranged this far down the side of the Mesa, along with other hardwoods, and they offered a lot more cover than aspens would. Creeping forward, Ryan made the edge of the enclosures. He could almost reach out and touch Loyal’s big hind paw. Jenny motioned for him to go around to the front of the cage so she could take the back. The reversal drug would go into the bloodstream a lot faster if it came up from the legs, and Loyal would need Steve right there when he woke up. Kamen loomed behind them, ready to run interference, and suddenly everyone was in place. Time to rock and roll.

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Pack Mentality: Natural Selection

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Something landed in the center of the compound and started spewing smoke, and Ryan wanted to cheer. Sasha and the others were coming through for him. It sucked to see his co-workers start to run around in a panic, but Ryan didn’t feel too bad. They’d kidnapped his lover, after all. Big bodies shot into the clearing, Sasha, Colin and Liam all tossing smoke bombs and padlocking doors, avoiding confused and screaming people. Jenny shot like a rocket to the edge of Loyal’s cage, drawing up the shot that would wake the sleeping bear. Ryan trusted Kamen to watch over them and scooted out to kneel next to Loyal’s big head, lifting the long snout in his hands, talking low and easy, even though his voice shook. It seemed like forever. It took maybe a few minutes. Loyal started twitching, that big bear body shrinking, losing hair, slowly becoming human before their very eyes. “Cool,” Jenny said. “So different than us, huh?” “Yeah.” It fascinated Ryan every time. Even when the shit hit the fan. “Less talk, more action,” Loyal growled, his words slurring, but right there and awake. “Definitely,” Kamen agreed, coming to pull Jenny away and wrestle the cage open. The lock popped open like a plastic toy, and Ryan stared. He’d never seen a wolf whose strength carried over into his human form. Loyal crawled out on all fours, looking bruised and hungry. “Did you bring me clothes, baby?” “I have sweats. The smoke won’t hold out long.” Neither would Colin and the others. Ryan could feel the moon rising, feel it along his spine and between his ears. They had a few hours yet, but they would all start to lose focus, would all start itching. They got Loyal up and moving, got him dressed, Jenny a solid prop under Loyal’s arm. Ryan liked her. Hell, he liked Myra, too, weird as she was. Kamen pulled up in the truck, gravel spraying, and they stuffed Loyal in the back of the king cab, the wheels spinning, finally finding purchase. They fishtailed out

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onto the main road, and seconds later the roar of another big truck followed them, Colin, Sasha and Liam right behind them. Hopefully no one else would follow. Ryan didn’t figure they would. The Park Service wasn’t used to having break-ins. Or breakouts.

*** The wolves ran while Loyal slept. He had to admit, it was disconcerting to wake up to a Ryan who wasn’t Ryan, trying to feed him snacks and shit. Myra had been in the room when Ryan told Loyal goodnight, and damned if she hadn’t shimmered right in front of his eyes and taken on Ryan’s form. The possibilities there hadn’t escaped his notice, even if he would never cheat on his baby. Morning found Myra back to herself, wandering in with a steaming plate of eggs, bacon, toast and fried potatoes. Loyal sat up and stretched, his back popping hard. “I thought Ryan said you were a vegetarian.” “Oh, I like healthy food,” Myra said in her musical voice, “but I know you carnivores well.” “Do you have any honey for the toast?” “Oh! I do.” She bustled off again, jewelry jingling. Ryan came back, though, bearing honey and another plate. “Hey, baby,” Loyal said, smiling hugely. “Your new pack has a nice house, huh?” “I don’t know about my pack, but yeah, the house is nice.” Loyal didn’t argue, but he could smell it on Ryan. He’d been accepted. Amazingly, Loyal felt at peace with that. Ryan was still his. Crawling into bed with him, Ryan handed over the honey, digging into his own plate. “Jenny says she taught Myra how to make breakfast when Myra and Colin got married. Are you okay, honey?”

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“A little sore, but good.” Licking honey off his lip, Loyal set his plate aside, wrapping an arm around Ryan’s waist. “How are you?” “Much better, now that you’re safe and here. I want to go home, though. Want you in our bed.” “Yeah?” His cock twitched, trying to rise, even though the anesthetic drug was still weighing him down. “Uh-huh. I like these guys, but I don’t want them listening in.” Ryan leaned up and gave him a kiss, lips moving soft and slow on his. Sweet baby. “Then I say we hit the road. We can be home in fifteen. Twenty at the most.” “Cool. I’ll drive.” Ryan hopped up and ran around getting their clothes, his enthusiasm damned heartwarming. Loyal figured Ryan may have found a new pack, but he would always choose Loyal over everyone else. That worked for him.

Epilogue Steve watched Loyal run down the yard, dragging Myra and Sasha with him. The impromptu football game had started up just about the time Kamen fired up the grill. Jenny cheered her men on from a lounge chair, but Loyal beat them all to the marked off end zone, making Ryan bounce and pump his fist in the air. It was so cool, having Ryan around. He glanced over and found Kamen watching, a huge smile on his face. “So, are you ready to admit I was right about them?” Steve asked, reaching over to cop a feel. “Maybe,” Kamen growled, staring down at him with hot eyes. “Now, don’t go getting all het up. Jenny can’t grill anymore. She’ll puke. You’ll have to wait until after we eat to go do the nasty.” Nodding, Kamen backed off, putting the cover on the grill to let it heat up a little more. “Yeah. Damn it.” Grinning, Steve shifted, pulling one leg up to try and hide his burgeoning hardon. “I like them, Kamen.” “I like them, too, baby. You were right. There. Happy?” “I am. I really am.” Steve thought they all were. It really just seemed like a predestined thing. Kamen needed a big pack. Sasha, Liam and Jenny needed more people around to help raise their baby and Myra needed someone who would drink her honey and flax smoothies, which Loyal loved. Steve and Ryan needed to be friends. There was something to be said for natural selection.

Julia Talbot Julia Talbot resides in the Southwest of the United States with her dog and several houseplants, and has not quit her day job. She has a penchant for blank books, gay porn, and big, ugly hats. She can most often be found in coffee shops and restaurants, scribbling in her notebook and entertaining other diners with her mutterings. Visit Julia’s website at http://thegates.net/juliatalbot to see her current stories, upcoming projects and visit her blog.