“You owe me a date,” James called out to her as Abigail walked into the bar. She jerked to a stop, looking for him, and spotted him sitting on the bar with Antonio.

“It’s only been a week,” Abigail laughed, yelling back. “You haven’t told me any plans!” They had also gotten distracted. He asked her out the day they got Fenrir, who was roaming around the bar at that moment, and Chris had just come back. Then the barbecue. She was also scheduling her trip to DC.

It had been a busy week. She had only just finalized her flights and hotels for the DC trip, and it was a week away.

“Tonight, me and you,” James told her, pointing between them, “are having a good time.”

“Fine!” Abigail laughed. “Roger that. What are we doing?” She walked closer and ran her hands up the outside of his thighs, moving between them.

“I was thinking I would do dinner with you alone somewhere,” he whispered, putting his forehead to hers. “The guys agreed to stay at the bar until closing, so it’s just me and you for whatever we want.”

“Do you want me to do anything?” she asked, running her fingers up and down his legs.

“Go home and put on something pretty.” He frowned at his own words as Abigail just smiled at him. “Just show up at the house at seven,” he decided. “Wear whatever you want.”

“What will you be wearing?” She kept it light, but her heart was going a hundred miles an hour. This was a date. It shouldn’t change anything, but everything was so easy-going and James seemed to have plans now, ideas, and that made her excited and nervous.

“I promise you’ll enjoy it,” he growled softly.

“I guess I should go get ready?” She backed up a step and checked the time. It was already five. The day had flown by.

“I guess you should,” he chuckled. “I wanted to tell you in person, but you’ve been running around all day, and when you weren’t, you were on the phone or nose to the laptop screen.”

“I know, it’s been a long day,” she agreed.

“I get next date,” Antonio called from the pool tables. “After your trip to DC!”

“Okay,” Abigail laughed, waving over to him. That would be a wild night she wouldn’t forget. Antonio and a date. “You know you guys don’t need to do this kind of stuff, right?”

“Yeah,” James replied, shrugging. “But we want to.”

“Thank you.” She swooped in to kiss his cheek. “I’ll meet you at your place?”

“I’ll pick you up instead, do this properly. I’ll be at your door at seven. Go on. I’ll see you then.”

“Okay.” She nodded, her pulse racing. She turned on her heel, excited and nervous and anxious. She had a date.

She stopped to pet Fenrir and kiss her other two men on the way back out of the bar. She had gone to hang out for the evening, but she liked this idea of James surprising her with this date he’d been planning. Thomas hadn’t mentioned doing anything yet with her; he was probably comfortable like she was with the status quo.

She got back to her hotel and looked through what she had left in her room. Since it was a date, she would do something sexy. She had a little black dress that turned her beanpole body into something with a little curve. She was thin, and she always had been. Sure, the ten pounds the wolves somehow got her to gain were helping, but she was a waif.

This dress, she hoped, would make her seem like something a bit sultrier.

A quick shower was all she needed, and she did her hair in a braid to keep it from getting everywhere. She went light on her makeup, a touch of dark eyeshadow that made her large, oak eyes shine. She went with her classic red lipstick, a rose red that she thought went well on her paler skin.

Then she slipped the dress on and looked herself over. A different woman looked back at her in the mirror. This Abigail was ready to seduce a man, and she loved the confidence that gave her. She didn’t know why she was nervous. She had been with them, never feeling unwanted or not pretty, but this had her so nervous that she was aiming for the outfit to help her feel more secure.

She took it a step further and pulled on thigh-high stockings with a lace trim at the top, then slipped into a pair of heels.

A knock on her hotel door spooked her. It was only six-fifty. He was early!

She walked over and opened the door slowly. James stood patiently, in all black - including those delicious leather pants - with a bouquet of wildflowers.

“James,” she breathed out. “You’re early.”

“And you look stunning,” he growled, looking down her legs. She blushed, appreciating the compliment. “These are for you.” He held out the flowers and she took them graciously, sniffing them. She wondered if he went out to a meadow to pick them. “I could give you a cheesy line of how they remind me of you, but really, I thought a weird little hippie like you would like wildflowers more than cut roses.”

“You’re right,” she whispered, walking back into her hotel room. He followed her slowly, in no rush. She found a glass that she could set them in for the night. “I’ll need to get a vase.”

“You need to get out of this hotel room,” he chuckled. “But we can talk about that later.”

“Yeah, tomorrow,” Abigail giggled. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Ready to go?” He offered her an arm and she took it, letting him guide her out. “I’ve made dinner at the house. Everything is ready for you,” he whispered as he led her out to his truck. He opened the door and helped her step in with her heels. When he got in on the other side, he continued. “It’s a simple date, I know. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I’m a simple girl, James,” Abigail reminded him. “You didn’t need to go through all this trouble.”

“I think I do,” he chuckled, leaning over to kiss her as he turned his truck on.

They drove to the farmhouse in the quiet evening, and he helped her back out. She liked that he never took a hand off of her but was also a perfect gentleman. Gruff, a little cranky, James was a sweetheart. She already knew it, but she loved being reminded nonetheless.

He led her inside, getting the front door for her. She wasn’t allowed to stop at the living room and was taken directly to the dining room, where she could see the food already placed out. The lights were off, but candles were lit, and another bouquet of wildflowers sat in the middle of the table. He pulled out her chair and helped her sit down.

“This looks lovely,” she whispered.

“I went for some Italian,” he chuckled. “Andrew gave me a couple of recipes to try out.”

“You asked Andrew for recipes?”

“I told him I wanted to do something special with you,” he mumbled, looking a little embarrassed. It was adorable. “He offered a few ideas.”

“I love it.” She was nearly teary. This was special. This was for a woman who meant something to him. It was for her.

“Don’t get weepy on me,” James teased.

“This is just…I’ve never really had this sort of thing before.” Gavin had never done it for her. Boyfriends before him had been young men while she’d been a young woman, all inexperienced at letting someone know they meant something.

“Ah…” James trailed off. “You’ll have it with me. You’re important to me and you deserve this.”

“Thank you,” she replied softly.

He nodded slowly and kissed her cheek. “I’ll dish us up,” he whispered. He gave them each a serving of some seafood and pasta dish, a piece of garlic bread, and a small bowl of soup. She didn’t know any of the names of what he made, and he admitted that he didn’t either. They were both laughing after that, feeling more relaxed.

Before he sat down, he turned on some music, a soft violin solo that accented the entire atmosphere he’d given to the rustic farmhouse.

“I take it this is where we ask each other questions about things we’re curious about,” Abigail mentioned as they started eating.

“I think it is,” he chuckled, nodding. “Ladies first?”

She thought about her question for only a minute. “If you weren’t inner circle for a pack, what would you have done instead?”

“Like a career?” James frowned at his plate, thoughtful. She watched his eyes light up after a moment. “When I was in high school, I wanted to be a rock star. Played in a band with other guys my age until they went to college, knowing they didn’t have futures in the Texas Pack without an education. I did a trade school. I can weld, you know. But I couldn’t advance in the Pack the way I wanted, so when I heard of stuff going down as Chris took power in South Dakota, I moved and took a spot in that Pack.”

“The welding? Just a means to an end?”

“Yeah. Just something that paid my bills, so I could have fun doing anything else. I was…lighter back then, a bit more like Antonio than Thomas. Parties when I could get away with them, that sort of thing. The hunting compound changed me.” He sighed after that.

“I bet it changed all of you,” Abigail responded. “We don’t talk about it much, but I’m always willing to listen.”

“It’s in the past.” James dismissed her offer, shaking his head. “There’s no reason to keep dragging it up. Not on a night like tonight.”

“One thing?” Abigail asked, curious still. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“Go for it.” James waved her on.

“How did it happen? Really.”

“We learned some hunters were in our area, picking off wolves and passing it off as hunting real wolves. Kidnapping them and hunting them. Chris wanted us to go after them, violently, publicly. Thomas, me, Antonio, and Lochlan were against the idea, preferring to try something quieter. Scare them off. No reason to get a bunch of blood - it would only invite trouble if we didn’t try less dangerous options first.”

“And you were right.”

“Yup. Outvoted, we raided their hunting lodge and…Abigail, you don’t really need to hear this.”

“I want to,” she whispered, leaning back. “If you want to tell it.”

“I’ll always hate Chris for it.” James groaned. “I know Antonio was uncomfortable with all of it. He’s not a violent person, really. He fought to keep his spot, but nothing more. Thomas just went into Marine-mode. He followed orders, whether he agreed with the directive or not. We picked a fight. We won the battle. We lost the war. Our place was raided, we were gassed. We were captured and shipped down to the compound. Woke up to find out we were going to be hunted, one by one.”

“Chris being here brings this all back up, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah,” James sighed. “It does. He…he blamed us in the compound. Said it was our fault. The rest of us, in general, for not protecting our Alpha.”

“I’m sorry,” Abigail said, suddenly cutting in before he could continue. “I’m so sorry.”

“The past. It’s in the past,” James mumbled. Stronger, he continued. “On to something happier. Why do you love your job?”

“Well, my job isn’t exactly happy,” Abigail grumbled. “I love it. I get to help people who have been tested and tried by the world in the worst ways. The strong ones who were nearly cut down and fought back.”

“Like what?” James took a bite of his food and waited.

“Like you guys? Any time the SSTF would find someone who escaped hunters, they would bring the person in to give them more information, to try and stop whoever did it. Normally the hunters just get slaps on the wrist. It’s the balance of trying to get justice for us but also keeping our secret from the general public.”

“That much I know,” he growled. “Until they fucked with the Kingsons, hunters could get away with murder as long as they didn’t expose our existence with videos and shit.”

“Yeah, they used it to continue what they did. If they exposed shifters, there’s a possibility we could get real protections, and their activities would become truly illegal. We could get a protected status. None of that matters for me, though. I would just make sure the victim was healthy and sound, so they could return to their life. I talked to victims either on the scene or at the closest headquarters. My colleagues and I traveled a lot.”

“And you loved it?” James asked, his intense stare pinning her to her chair.

“It was the happiest I had ever been, in terms of work,” Abigail answered honestly. “I loved it.”

“I’m glad that you might be going back to it, then. I’ll admit I’m worried that it will take you too far away, though.”

“We’ll make it work,” she promised. “I’m not ready to give this up, but I’m also…so excited to get back into it. Back into my work.”

“I know,” he whispered. “Next question?”

“I’ve heard you have a ton of sisters.” Abigail giggled, remembering what she had heard about it.

“Too many,” he growled. “I don’t talk to them much anymore. They didn’t really like that I went to South Dakota. They definitely didn’t like the trouble with the hunters, thinking it could bleed to them and their kids. One of them helped all of us out when we escaped the hunters, but she let me know not to contact her like that again.” James rolled his eyes. “I’ll get a call for a birthday. One of their boys will want me to get him a guitar. It’s happened before, it’ll happen again.”

“You aren’t concerned?” She frowned at him. “I mean, I don’t contact my family very often either but…”

“I’m not concerned,” James chuckled. “It was expected that I would leave Texas eventually. Too dominant just to be a normal packmate, but not in the social position to be accepted into the inner circle. I had to move on at some point. They just didn’t like South Dakota. They…I haven’t told them about Wild Junction yet. I’ll send one of them an email soon with what’s been going on with me and it will be fine.”

“I’m glad you have the family. I know Thomas only has Chris and Antonio’s parents are gone.”

“He’s also an only child, Antonio. He attaches to the people around him because of it. I would honestly say he’s been more of a brother to Thomas than Chris ever was. Chris and Thomas…they have always had issues, as far as I know. Antonio would know more. Feel free to ask them about it.”

“I’ll think about it,” she promised softly. She wanted to know more of these men, these wolves that were capturing her heart. She was falling so hard for them. She wanted to know everything about them, every little detail.

They ate quietly after that, sending each other smiles as they enjoyed the meal. It was all delicious, and Abigail made a mental note to send Andrew a thank you for the recipes.

“Are you done?” James asked quietly, pointing at her nearly empty plate. She nodded slowly and held it up to him. She stayed seated, thinking he would come back to talk more but instead, he offered his hand when he walked back into the dining room. “You’re probably tired of this question, but would you like to dance?”

“I’ll never be tired of you guys wanting to dance with me,” she admitted, taking his hand. “Of course I would like to.”

He led her to the living room, where the music continued to play, and swung her around. When he pulled her back to his chest, she looked up and kissed him softly. She would never forget this sweet little date he’d done for her. The flowers, the candles, the food. The opening up and talk they had.

He swayed them, sensual and slow, to the violin still playing. She knew he was seducing her and it was working.

“I love this dress,” he growled in her ear.

“Me too,” she replied airily.

“You didn’t need to get all fancy for me, but forgive me, I’m thankful,” he teased. One of his hands was on her lower back, holding her hips to his as they danced. She could feel the bulge in his leather pants against her. “I love you in everything you wear, but this…this is something I wasn’t expecting.”

“I don’t wear it often. Thought tonight was the perfect time.”

“Good thing I didn’t take you out,” he groaned, kissing her neck slowly. “Would rather keep you to myself in this. Thomas and Antonio will be jealous I got to see it.”

“I’ll wear it for them later,” she whispered.

“Never leaving,” he growled in a commanding tone. “You’ll never leave this house in this dress.”

It made her laugh. He was so forward - they all were when they wanted her. She was still laughing and squealed softly when his hands went to her hips and lifted her.

“I want to see the rest of the outfit,” he growled, sounding a little strangled. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her dress riding up to nearly her waist as he carried her to his bedroom.

He dropped her on his bed and pushed her dress up further, snarling at the lacy thigh-highs she wore. She had even matched her underwear to them, all black, lacy, and barely there. She got goosebumps as his fingers trailed over the edges of the lace.

“I don’t think I can wait,” he growled, looking up to her from the lace. “Not with you looking like this.”

“Don’t,” she breathed out, heat pooling between her legs.

His gaze was heated as he undid his pants, releasing him. “This is only round one. Remember that.”

He wasted no time after that. Abigail was still in her dress, still wore the stockings and heels. He just pushed her panties aside and sank into her. He leaned down over her and released her hair from its braid as he thrust into her. He pushed her further onto the bed, both of them still wearing too many clothes, as he took her hard and fast. She held onto his shoulders and wrapped her legs around him as he pushed her all the way to the headboard, then grabbed on to it. She kept her eyes on his as he buried himself deep in her, over and over.

“Jesus, Abigail,” he groaned. She just panted and moaned back at him, unable to think or function. She kept her legs tight around his waist, not allowing him to leave her too much, not allowing him to do anything more than make love to her. “Fuck.” He dragged the word out. “You close?”

“Yes,” she whimpered. She was so close. Closer than she thought, but the edge seemed to be just out of her reach.

“Rub your clit, little doe,” he growled. “For me.”

She had never done something like that with a lover. She had lost all her inhibitions, though, and trailed a hand down to gently work herself as he drove into her. He leaned back and looked down to watch as he fucked her as well. She watched him enter and retreat while helping herself until her eyes rolled back and her orgasm slammed through her core. He snarled and leaned back over to continue thrusting as her core rippled in ecstasy. It wasn’t very long for him to bury his face into her neck, bite down hard, and finish as well. It left her panting hard, holding him as her legs shook, both of them sweaty.

“Let’s get all of these clothes off,” James groaned, lifting back up. She nodded and sat up slowly. He reached around for her zipper and tugged it down, then pulled the dress off. She unsnapped her bra as he pulled his shirt off and threw it to the side, letting it land on the floor. The leather pants went next, but he stopped her from taking off her thigh-highs. “If it’s no problem…can those stay on?”

“They can,” Abigail whispered, smiling at him. “I wouldn’t mind if you ruin them either.”

“Oh, fuck, Abigail,” James growled, pouncing back on her. She let him roll her to her stomach and start a second round. She was sensitive, but so okay with it. He buried himself in her again, making her scream.

The second round was faster than the first, driving her quickly over the edge and leaving them both too exhausted to move. He pulled her into his chest, kissing her as she fought sleep.

“Thank you,” she mumbled. “I really liked tonight.”

“Anything for you, Abigail.”

“You don’t mean that,” she chuckled weakly, half asleep.

She thought she was dreaming when she heard him whisper into her hair.

“I do. Anything for the girl I love.”