Jason’s thoughts refused to stay in the present as he wandered through the garden at Rivergate Manor under a canopy of silvery sunset and slowly emerging stars. He’d tried to stop thinking about Selene and to focus on his business, which was sorely in need of his attention. But he’d failed miserably. His scout, Andrew, informed him that the Spackles deal was officially dead because of his neglect. But as much as he would have liked to return to business as usual, his mind bounced right back to Selene.

It wasn’t just his wolf’s innate desire to mark her as his own, although that part was surely there. His heart ached for her. He’d spent the day pacing an empty apartment, remembering how full it felt with her in it. Like a real home.

“Welcome back, brother.” Silas broke into Jason’s thoughts with a pat on his shoulder as he sidled up next to him. “Selene gave me a glowing review of your willpower and constraint this morning.”

Jason adjusted his watch on his wrist, remembering how little restraint he’d shown when he was shoving his tongue down her throat the night before. “It’s good to be back,” he said mechanically.

“You’ve certainly put on some weight. Jesus, you’re going to pop a button with all the muscle going on under there.”

“Funny how a few weeks locked in one’s home revives their love of physical activity.” Based on his brother’s expression, the note of bitterness in his words wasn’t lost on Silas.

“It was necessary. I know it wasn’t easy, but now you’re ready to face Nickelova if she comes for you. That’s what’s important.”

“So, when can we try to find her and kill her?”

“After the shift. I’ve rounded up three wolves, all with military experience. Gerty has agreed to go too. Grateful can’t leave her son but has promised to provide magical protection in the form of potions and spells. Do you think you can remember where to go?”

He nodded. “I remember.” Jason couldn’t wait to destroy the dragon fae who had started all this, made him suffer, only to find true happiness with Selene and experience true suffering all over again when she left. He wanted the dragon bitch to die slowly, but he’d take her death however he could get it. He hoped he was the one to do it, preferably by crushing her heart between his own two hands.

They arrived at the tent where the pack was shedding clothes in preparation for the shift.

“See you on the other side of the moon.” Silas crossed to the opposite side of the tent to strip.

Jason removed his tailored shirt and pants, toed off his leather loafers, and folded everything in a neat pile in the corner. He left the tent completely naked, his blood bubbling under the surface of his skin. The change was close at hand.

That’s when he saw her. Selene locked eyes with him across the sparsely wooded lawn, her beautiful skin gleaming in the moonlight. From the moment he’d met her, he’d admired the way she carried herself, like she lived above the fray, and now was no exception. Her hair was down. Goddess, he loved her hair. The delicate bones of her face added to the long stretch of her body, giving her the look of a ballerina, graceful even in the face of impending pain, an angel in their midst.

The din of the older members of the pack starting to shift filled the space: groans and growls and breaking bones. Jason pitched forward, the tawny fur of his underside breaking out along his abdomen. Human thought was difficult in this state as his wolf mind started taking over, but the last clear thought he had before he changed was a raging need to claim Selene as his. Mine, his wolf whispered. Mine.

And then he surrendered completely to the animal within.

* * *

The next morning, light poured over Selene’s body, the scent of new grass filling her lungs. Spring signified new life. Tiny hatching eggs deep within fresh earth. Budding green things. Blooming moss. Fresh dew. But it was another smell that made her spine stiffen. The warm spicy scent of male, musky cloves and chicory, a male whose arm draped across her stomach.

She might have turned in her half slumber to confirm who it was, but with a sleepy grunt the owner of the arm pulled her against a wide muscled chest. Glancing down at the hand between her naked breasts, she didn’t need to see his face. Dark hair dappled thick cords of muscle in the forearm. Strong hands held her. She knew this man. Knew his scent. It was Jason.

A werewolf was not responsible for what he or she did in wolf form. It was commonly accepted that a person’s wolf had a mind of its own. But lying here in Jason’s arms, every second brought her deeper into the realization that it wasn’t just her wolf who’d enjoyed Jason’s company. She could hardly bring herself to move from the pleasure of his closeness.

Moving only her eyes, she glanced around them. They were inside a closely set group of trees, and they were alone. She pretended to be asleep and snuggled in closer, closing her eyes as the feel of his breath on her hair sent tiny sparks of longing down the length of her neck and across the surface of her skin.

His hand coasted over her nipple, along the flat length of her torso and rounded the curve of her hip. Goddess, it was delectable. A warm ache ignited in her core, her need opening like a flower. She crossed her legs against the feeling, suppressing the moan his touch elicited.

She felt the moment he woke, the realization of her closeness causing his body to tense. He removed his hand from her hip and whispered, “Sorry” into the back of her head. As he rolled away from her, she knew she should act as though she were sorry too, cover up, move away. But she didn’t.

Instead, she rolled onto her back and looked up at him, naked, vulnerable. He was balanced on his elbow beside her, hovering but not touching. When their gazes met, her longing was so intense, her body began to tremble. Tears streamed down her face.

“Oh goddess, I’m so sorry. Did my wolf hurt you? Should I get help?” Jason whispered.

Selene shook her head. She wiped under her eyes. “It’s not you or your wolf,” she said softly. “It’s me. Lying here next to you, I can’t pretend…”

He frowned, his eyes narrowing. “Can’t pretend what?”

“I can’t pretend that I’m not jealous of my wolf.” She sobbed quietly. “I wish things were different. I wish I had the freedom to feel what I feel.”

He swallowed audibly, cleared his throat. “What do you feel?”

“I’m falling in love with you, Jason,” she said, the words tumbling out all at once. “For the first time, I’m questioning what I want for my future. This isn’t supposed to happen. I’m supposed to keep a professional distance. But every time I close my eyes, I see you.” She turned her head to look away from him. “I’m a terrible person. I’ve betrayed my role as an acolyte.”

A shadow passed over her face, his hand hovering, almost as if he were afraid to touch her. She thought he might pull it away, but then he wiped her tears with his thumb. He stroked along her jaw, encouraging her to face him.

“You are not a terrible person,” he said quietly. “Why does this have to be a mistake? Can’t you see that I’ve fallen for you, too? I don’t care if it’s because of the therapy or if we were just meant to be together. By the goddess, you’ve gotten under my skin. If you feel the same way, don’t we owe it to ourselves to see where this goes?”

Selene blinked up at him and scoffed. “You don’t understand. I can’t just try you on for size. If I pursue this, there’s no going back for me. I’d have to give up my status as an acolyte.”

Jason’s brow furrowed. “I’m not suggesting you try me on for size. I’m talking about something exclusive and permanent. I’ve never had that before. I know it won’t be easy, but I want to try with you.” He removed his hand from her face and shifted as though he might get up and walk away.

Goddess help her, she couldn’t deny this anymore. Selene reached out and caught him behind the neck. At first he looked surprised. He gripped her wrist, searching her face.

“Try,” she whispered. “I want to try.”

A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I’ve learned to restrain myself around you, Selene, but make no mistake, I’ve wanted you, my wolf has wanted you, since the moment I saw you standing under that tree in Red Grove. You don’t know what you do to me. You’re playing with fire.” His eyes flared amber. His presence loomed like a growing hunger above her. “Do you know what you want? Because I do, and I don’t think I can resist you anymore.”

In answer, she pulled his face toward hers. A rumble came from deep inside his chest and his mouth slanted across hers, the kiss warm and soft, a question instead of a demand. Her arms snaked around his neck, gripping him tighter. He licked the crease of her lips, an invitation she was more than happy to accept. The erotic feel of his tongue stroking against hers made a rush of heat flare inside her. With a sharp inhale, his body responded to her arousal, covering her, surrounding her. His elbows landed on either side of her head as his fingers buried in her hair.

Her hand stroked along his side, skimming over his warm skin, then up and over the peaks and hollows of his back. She used her nails to pull him closer, scoring his skin. He groaned into her mouth.

Breaking away, Jason panted, his chest heaving. “This isn’t the right time or place. Not here. Not now.” She was surprised that it was Jason who said it. Wasn’t she supposed to be the one to protest? “I want it to be special for you. Our first time should be memorable.”

Only, she didn’t want to wait. She didn’t want the opportunity to think or to change her mind. “Please,” she said against his lips. She guided his hand down her inner thigh and between her legs.

Amber eyes flashed, a growl vibrating against her chest. His fingers stroked her, circling her opening with a tantalizing rhythm. By the time he dipped inside, she was quivering. Her body rolled beneath his touch, his expert hands coaxing a rush of pleasure from her core. She arched, creating counterpressure against his hand.

His thumb circled and his fingers thrust before he dipped his head. She felt his lips below her belly button, his tongue tracing circles toward his fingers. It was too much. Her face blazed thinking of him down there. But if her mind wished to protest, the rest of her suppressed that urge as Jason’s tongue licked up her center.

She spread her arms on the soft moss and arched into him. Two more languid licks and she shattered, her body clenching around his fingers, tiny sparks of pleasure blowing out through her fingertips before echoing back to her core.

He held her as the aftershocks rocked her body. Stroking her hair back, his hips settling between her legs. He hesitated to enter her.

“Let’s make this real. I don’t want shadows or secrecy with you.” His eyes pleaded with her. “I want the world to know you’re mine.”

“I’ll have to step down from my position.”

He searched her face, his jaw tightening. A deep breath moved in and out of his lungs. He suddenly looked gravely serious. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You don’t have to. I want to. It’s the right thing to do. It’s time to make a choice, and I…” She ran her fingers across his chest. “Well, I already have. I choose you.”

A smile spread across his face—until Silas’s burly hand clamped down on the back of his neck and lifted him off her in one swift movement.

“What have you done?”