I jerked awake, letting out a groan as I slid my hand behind my head to massage the kinks out of my neck. Fuck. Old man’s half hour on the couch had turned into the whole goddamned night, if the early morning sunlight was anything to go by.

Voices filtered through to me, the low murmur of people trying to be quiet.

“You’re awake then.”

“Finally,” Grant grunted, pushing past Dylan and into the room.

Rolling my legs off the couch, I stretched up into a seated position, rolling my shoulders back and cracking a yawn. “What’s got your panties in a twist?”

Grant didn’t answer, instead sitting his ass down with another grunt.

“He’s been like this since yesterday.” Dylan threw the last of what looked like a bacon sandwich into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. I could almost see the ideas sparking inside his head.

“Careful, don’t hurt yourself.” Pointing a finger at him, I grinned. After slipping out to take care of morning business and freshen up, when I got back they were all still exactly where I’d left them, but now Tiny had joined them, with Dylan heckling and joking, carrying the whole conversation on his own.

Claiming my seat again, I’d barely sank back down when the smell of coffee preceded Julie into the living area, her rounded belly leading the way. “Here you go, sweetie.”

I stared up at her when the mug was thrust in my direction. Yesterday I’d been ‘dickhead’. The day before, I was ‘a grumpy bastard’. But, hey, I wasn’t going to turn down a cup of the good stuff.

Tom swung in behind her, a sad puppy expression plastered all over his face. “Julie—”

She beamed at me, simultaneously putting a hand up in her mate’s face, silencing him with sheer willpower. Or fear of being kicked out of the mating bed. “Alpha…”

Wary, I gripped my cup of coffee, just in case she decided she wanted it back, and tilted my head. “Julie…”

She leaned against the back of the couch, tapping her fingernails inches away from my shoulder. Pursing her lips, she shot her mate a look that would have lesser men quaking in their boots. “Alpha…”

Imaginary sweat beaded at the nape of my neck and trickled down my spine. “You’re looking especially beautiful today, Julie.” Especially after bringing me coffee, I added silently. Taking a sip, I sighed with pleasure when I didn’t start frothing at the mouth.

Someone smothered a chuckle, shutting up when Julie shot death glares around the room. Smoothing her hand over her very obvious bump, she gave me a sunny smile. “Why, thank you, Alpha. Nice of you to notice.” She spun to face Tom. “And to say so.”

His hands flew up. “I’m always telling you how radiant you look and how perfect—”

“But you don’t want any of this!” Her hands swept the length of her body, ending up in a V-shape aimed … at her crotch.

Every male in the room suddenly found themselves staring at the wall. Any wall.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Tom snuck forward another inch. “No, no, that’s not it at all! You’re wrong! Why would you think…” His voice faded off as we all turned and glared at him, silently slicing our hands across our necks behind Julie’s back.

“That you don’t want me? That you don’t find me attractive anymore?”

Tom winced.

I winced.

Dylan silently mouthed, oh shit.

Grant looked like he wasn’t even listening, lost in his own world.

I mean, I understood where Tom was coming from. Kind of, in a completely hypothetical way. Julie had been put on bedrest a short while back, but she was back on her feet now. The doctor said she was fine, the baby was fine, and that she could continue as normal, just to try and take things easy. And sex had been given a green light. But, obviously, someone had forgotten to send Tom the memo.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Yeah, sometimes I hated the fact that as the Alpha, I was included in these kinds of discussions. A man just didn’t need to know what another man could be doing with his mate. Or should be doing with his mate.

Why the fuck had I woken up this morning?

Julie’s breath caught, a sure sign of impending tears.

Frantic wasn’t the word to describe the shared glances in the room.

Shaking my head, I caught Tom’s eye. Man the fuck up, I mouthed.

Stalking closer to his mate, Tom lowered his mouth to her ear, but his voice still wasn’t quiet enough, “I just don’t want to hurt you or the baby, sweetheart.”

A bark of laughter from the doorway had my head jerking up, giving me a good case of whiplash. “What? Is he hung like King Kong?” Bree sauntered in, her hips rolling from side to side like a pendulum.

But Julie wasn’t listening anymore, her eyes locked on Tom’s as he swept her off her feet, hauling her to his chest with a low growl. He stalked from the room, her soft squeal trailing behind them, his answering rumble something I really didn’t need to hear. I gulped another mouthful of coffee. It was too early for this shit.

“Huh.” Bree stared after them, a small smile playing on her lips. “Lucky woman.”

“I’m going to start calling him King,” Dylan declared, dropping into a chair and scratching his chin. Better his chin than his balls at least.

“Kong.” Tiny shrugged. “Rhymes with Tom.”

Dylan aimed a high-five at him and ended up with his hand hanging in the air.

“What’s up with Grant?” Bree’s soft voice tickled my ear, low and intimate.

Turning my head so we were face to face, I gave myself a moment to enjoy her presence. “Fuck if I know.”

The corner of her mouth tilted up and I wanted to catch it with a kiss. “I can get it out of him.”

I was still staring at her mouth. Wondering what she’d taste like. “Have at it. Hey!” Her hand had sneaked out, stealing my cup. When she placed her lips directly over the spot where mine had been only moments ago, I couldn’t hold back the low groan from escaping.

“Sharing’s caring,” she whispered, her teeth flashing before she took a sip.

I arched a brow. “Is there anything else you’d like me to share with you this morning?”

When her lashes lowered, hiding her eyes, pink tinting her cheeks, I almost lost it. “I’ll have to get back to you on that one,” she eventually replied, strolling away.

My eyes clung to her with a longing that made me fucking glad she didn’t look back.

Then I groaned. She’d walked away with my damn coffee.

* * *

Another day done. Yanking off my shirt, I aimed it at the wash basket, running a hand through my hair. It hadn’t gone as badly as I’d expected—turns out, the humans knew how to take orders—but there was still a lot of work to do. Tomorrow, they’d be treated to another slap in the face, a reminder that despite walking and talking like humans, we were animals. Tomorrow, we were letting our beasts out to play.

I chuckled, imagining the upcoming chaos while shucking my sweats and flicking the shower on, bracing myself against the freezing cold water and stepping in.

Next on the list: go file a report with Carter. The bossy cat had texted earlier, trying to throw his weight around. The water now scorching hot, I bumped my forehead against the tiles, closing my eyes and let it wash over me while running through the list in my head. I had a surveyor’s report to look over and Julie’s cafe needed restocking, and the invoices had to be finalized. A couple of pack members had lodged disputes which were sitting on my desk, waiting for my attention. I needed to pin down the bear Alphas for our weekly update meeting, which usually took place whenever the hell we were all hanging in the same place, but with this bootcamp, I was out of the loop. And there was the goddamned bootcamp itself. Everything was going fine, but something was niggling at me. Something felt … off? The trainees were working out fine, everyone getting along. As promised, none of them believed that shifters were dumb animals—emphasis on the dumb, because we sure as hell were animals. Or that we were abominations of nature that should be segregated. I wasn’t saying that those who thought that way were purist thugs, just plain ignorant humans, blinded by old prejudices and scared of change. But they were definitely not the kind of ideologies someone looking to train with us should have. So that was good news. I shook my head, rubbing my throbbing headache against the now heated tile. So what was it that was bugging me?

My stomach rumbled, reminding me that it was way past dinner. Ah, crap. There was also the whole finding a new cook for the packhouse. I wracked my brain, running through names, but came up blank.

“Owen?” Bree’s voice drifted through the open doorway, her footsteps coming closer.

Blinking water out of my eyes, I slicked my hair back, a grin tugging at my lips. “In here.”

The footsteps paused outside the door and I could almost hear the inner argument she was having.

Leaning against the wall, I faced the glass screen, wiping away enough of the steam so that I could see out. “You already have my ass burned into your retinas, remember?”

When she didn’t approach, I almost cut my shower short, catching myself at the last moment. I was the alpha of this house and I would not be chased out of my own goddamned shower. After the cold shoulder treatment she’d given me today, especially after that little chat this morning, if she wanted to talk to me she knew exactly where I was. “Suit yourself.” Grunting, I squeezed some soap into my hand and swiped it over my chest.

“You did that on purpose.” Indignation colored her voice, her exquisite aquamarine eyes firing with flecks of electric green as they tracked the trail of bubbles down my chest.

Well, if that’s what she wanted to believe. Lowering my hand, I let it swipe through my happy trail, grazing the edge of my hip and accidentally wiping my elbow over the glass, clearing a little more steam away. “What can I help you with, Bree?”

She swallowed hard, then tried to cover it by coughing into her hand, her eyes darting away. “Geez, cover that thing up, would you?”

I turned around, giving her a view of my ass. “Better?”

“Not really,” she muttered into her fist, leaning her ass up against the vanity.

Which just gave me ideas. Lots and lots of ideas.

She looked like she was going to say something, but stalled at the last moment, indecision flickering in her eyes. And something else … pain? Despair?

Whatever it was, it put the fear of God into me. I shoved the shower door open, managing to brace myself against the metal enclosure before I closed the gap between us. “Tell me,” I ground out.

She picked at a spot of toothpaste in the sink, peeling it away with her nail. “Have you ever had to make a decision that would change your life forever?”

Yes. I swallowed my initial answer, forcing a new one out, “What kind of decision?”

She laughed, but it was a hollow sound that tore at my chest. “Nothing. It doesn’t matter, and it’s not why I’m here.”

Grabbing a towel, I secured it around my waist, moving toward her smooth and slow, a predator stalking skittish prey. “Bree—”

“I might have to quit my cushy new job.” Before I could get a word out, she snorted. “Scratch that, I’m definitely going to have to quit my job.” She flicked the blob of toothpaste into the drain, contempt curling her lip.

But, why? What was she pissed at? “You not having fun, sugar?”

When her eyes met mine, they were so fucking … real, it was like I could see into her soul. Then the shadows returned, clouding her thoughts. “Kicking ass? What’s not to like?”

“Then why leave?” Because that’s what she was saying. She was telling me she was fucking leaving. Just like that. Without even giving me a chance, giving us a chance.

“Choices. Both shit, but they’re all I’ve got.” Her voice was barely above a whisper as she scratched at the sink, hair falling over her face and hiding her from view. “So, yeah. Sorry about that.” Pushing away from the cabinet, she shoved her hands in her pockets and shrugged. “Thanks for the opportunity.”

Like I was just a goddamned employer to her.

“I think you’re forgetting something,” I growled, blocking her exit.

Her eyes widened, then narrowed, but it didn’t stop her from tracing the line of my jaw with her gaze, or feasting on my lips. Her scent rose between us, ripe and sweet and tinged with her arousal, wrapping around my cock and tugging it to life. It jerked beneath the towel binding, demanding her attention. Demanding to be welcomed by her body, to plunge inside her silky, wet heat and claim her as my own. This thing between us, it was too raw, too alive, too goddamn savage for her to walk away from.

And she felt it too.

No more running.

I stalked forward, satisfaction pumping through my blood when her gaze dropped to my cock, her chest rising as she sucked in a breath.

“Owen, don’t. I have—”

“You’ve made your mind up, you’re leaving.” Me, I added silently, my wolf howling with rage. “There’s nothing I can do to convince you to stay.” I made it a statement, keeping my voice flat and level, not an ounce of emotion allowed to leak through.

She bit her lip, sucking it into her mouth, before shaking her head. “Nope, nothing.” The words came out clipped, forceful, but her gaze dropped to her hands as her shoulders hunched, brow furrowing.

I almost took a step back. Where was the woman who could cut through my bullshit with her wit and thrived on giving me a verbal smackdown? I could understand being afraid, even scared of the future, but this … this scared me. The woman I knew didn’t cower or hide; she fought scrappy and didn’t give a shit about the rules.

Because we were one of a kind; I knew her.

I caught the back of her head, sliding my fingers through her hair as my other arm curled around her waist, yanking her against me. “If there’s nothing I can do, then this shouldn’t mean a damn thing to you.” My words were growled against her lips, a lick of heat against the seam of her mouth.

Her hands came up between us, palms flat against my chest and ready to shove.

That was my girl. Never giving up. A fighter to the last.

Aquamarine eyes stared up at me, spitting fire and swirling with a cloud of emotions I couldn’t even begin to try and understand. But it was the heat I was interested in, the heat that stole into my gut and squeezed me tight. I hadn’t even tasted her properly and I knew for sure.

She was the one.

Exhilaration and relief shot through me.

Her fingers curled and her nails dug into my chest, tiny pricks of pain slamming into the flesh encasing my heart.

I claimed her mouth, the savage beast rising up inside me as I groaned against her lips, our bodies sliding together in utter perfection.

She yielded on a moan, and my control snapped free of its final tether.

I fell into her.