Kendall felt more than saw the array of different emotions that gripped Juliette at the boy’s confession. She stormed out of the crowd, heading with single-minded purpose toward the building on the other side of the street. He followed her, shadowing her a step behind to give her space.

His first reaction was to take control of the crisis and solve the problem for his mate. The ingrained need to protect her from harm extended to make her emotional pain his, but he also recognized the necessity to tread with caution where she was concerned. Juliette was an alpha too, and it would not do to undermine her authority in front of her pack. No matter how well-meant his intentions were, shifter leaders respected each other.

A mating between two alphas happened once in a blue moon, and Kendall wondered why the Goddess had seen fit to place Juliette on his path. He wouldn’t complain—only a few hours in her presence, and he already couldn’t imagine a life without her. Still, he wished they had met in simpler circumstances.

Juliette climbed up the stairs to the porch and strode through the entrance to what must have been the pack hall. Kendall didn’t say a word as they entered a studio at the opposite end from the main door. A large glass window occupied the back wall, opening the room to the verdant valley beyond. Large trees with umbrella canopies and bushes littered the landscape that degraded toward the azure waters of the ocean in the distance. The sun descended toward the sea, bathing the sky with an orange and pink glow.

Juliette made a beeline for the sleek desk and grabbed the cordless handset from the landline phone. She dialed a number, then waited for someone to answer, pacing around the room.

At her third circle, Kendall’s hand shot to her shoulder. He couldn’t keep still without doing anything to soothe her anxiety. Juliette pivoted on her heels and gave him a surprised look that turned into gratitude when he kneaded the tight muscles on her arm.

“Sheriff, it’s Juliette Kewada,” she hurried to say when a man’s voice resonated from the other end of the line.

“Hi Juliette, it’s nice to hear from you so soon.”

Mine, Kendall’s wolf snarled, pushing at his mental cage to be left free.

Juliette placed her palm against the speaker and angrily whispered, “Quiet.”

Kendall had not realized he growled alongside his wolf.

At the sound of the deep male voice and the familiarity with which he addressed Juliette, both he and his wolf went into a full possessive mode. Kendall’s hand lowered to the small of her back, caressing her with small circles that would remind her of his presence while she talked to the other man. It was an asshole move and Kendall knew it, but he had left sophistication and civilization behind the moment his wolf mated with hers. Now, the caveman code of conduct ruled his actions.

Juliette shivered under his hand and gave him a glare that would have withered a plant, but made him feel vindicated.

“Juliette? Are you still there?” the sheriff asked when she failed to say anything.

“I’m here. I need your help—” she said, eliciting another loud growl from Kendall, who didn’t even try to curb his reaction. “What’s your problem?” she mouthed to Kendall.

His answer was to grab her waist and lean in, zeroing on her mouth. His lips took possession of hers and he pressed against her body, wanting to rub his scent all over Juliette.

“Of course. What do you need?” The sheriff waited for her answer while Kendall devoured her mouth. “Juliette? Where are you? Are you okay?”

Juliette moaned once before pushing at Kendall’s chest. “Stop it.” She shook her head. “This is serious.”

“What’s serious?” the sheriff asked. “What’s going on?”

Juliette stepped away from Kendall, putting the desk between them and motioning for him to remain where he was as she finally answered, “Nicky and Devon are in trouble. They owe money to Shark and were taken from the camp.”

“I’m on my way,” the sheriff said before ending the call.

Juliette didn’t waste time in hurling at Kendall, “Are you out of your mind?”

Now that the man was out of the equation and his wolf lay quiet in his corner, Kendall found it difficult to explain his boorish behavior.

“My boys could be hurt or worse and what do you do? You grope me to mark your territory?” Juliette’s clear eyes burned a hole into his.

“It’s the Hunger,” Kendall said, grimacing. Passing his hand through his hair, he added, “Listen, I’m new to this mating thing and it’s not like I know what I’m doing.” He wanted nothing more than to pull her against him again and let his lips do the talking, but Juliette’s stance was forbidding. “When I heard that man addressing you so familiarly, I kind of lost it. I wanted to rip him apart.”

Juliette leaned against the edge of her desk and passed her hand over her face, mirroring his frustration with a long sigh. She shook her head and folded her arms under her chest. “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I wanted to slap Lily earlier for just eyeing what’s mine.”

Kendall gave her a hopeful smile, stepping toward her.

Juliette raised one hand to stop him. “But I didn’t act on my impulse, and you should learn how to deal with your urges.”

“You know that until we mark each other, this craziness isn’t going to stop. It’s our way, there’s no changing that. And then there is this Hunger—”

Her beta, Lily, appeared at the threshold, her fist raised to knock on the frame as she gave Juliette a sheepish glance.

“What is it now?” Juliette asked, her hand rising to her temple.

“The Wolf Pride’s alpha has just arrived,” Lily said, keeping her eyes anywhere but on Kendall. “And the Rojas called to say he and his mate are on their way and that they need a mother-in-law cabana for his mate’s parents.”

“Did we know about the in-laws?” Juliette asked.

“Nope,” Lily answered. “The Rojas’ alpha sounded pissed off, so it might be news to him too.”

“Open the rentals by the beach for the in-laws, and put the Rojas and his mate at the opposite side of the cove,” Juliette said.

Lily nodded a second time and made to turn and leave, but at the last moment she hesitated and asked from over her shoulder, “What are your orders about the boys?”

“I’ve called Sheriff Smith and he’s coming.” Juliette straightened and went to sit on her swiveling chair. “Go settle the Rojas and take care of the Wolf Pride’s alpha. He’s older and might need different arrangements. Call me if you need anything.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Lily brought her right fist to her heart, slightly bowed and left.

“I’m sorry,” Kendall said when they were alone and the other she-wolf was out of earshot. “It wasn’t my intention to—”

Juliette waved her hand. “We’re together in this. I can’t blame you for following your instinct. Sheriff Smith is a werewolf and was indeed familiar with me because—”

Kendall roared before he could stop himself. “Sorry.” He raised both hands in apology. “But I must know, are you together?” With a super-human effort, he kept his voice low, but the question weighed on his chest like a burning anvil.

“No, there’s nothing—” Juliette let the sentence trail.

Her hesitation made him wonder, but he forced himself to say, “The past is in the past. It’s only you and me now, nothing else matters.”

Juliette’s guarded expression relaxed into a smile that lit her face.

“You are so beautiful, I can’t resist you.” He closed the gap between them and pulled her off the chair. His mouth was on hers a moment later, coaxing her lips to yield under his siege.

Alpha to the core, Juliette didn’t let him lead the kiss, her tongue invading his mouth, stroking him in a frantic rhythm that mimed a more intimate penetration. Kendall couldn’t help but chuckle under her sensual assault, letting her guide their bodies into a frenzy that soon left him panting and in need of release. He still retained enough good sense to know that nothing more than a kiss could happen now. If there ever was bad timing, they sure had found each other at the very center of it.

“I know now isn’t the time to seal our union, but I need to mark you or I won’t be able to act normal around the other males,” he hoarsely whispered, turning Juliette and bending her over the desk, his fangs brushing her skin where the neck and the shoulder met.

She shivered underneath him, her palms splayed against the glass surface of the desk, fogging the surface with her heat. “I’m always on top,” she said, barely suppressing a moan.

“That can be arranged, but I must sink my fangs—”

The landline rang, interrupting him. Juliette grabbed the handset before he reached for it. Her fast thinking saved the phone, his intention had been to smash it against the opposite wall.

“Juliette Kewada.” She pushed her bottom against him and wiggled out from under his hold.

Kendall groaned but let her go.