“Are you in…or are you out?”

Tamara glared at her fiancé. The demanding expression on Brad’s face was the same exact look he gave her when he wanted something. Only this time, no physical force followed. After all, they were surrounded by his partners in crime. He wouldn’t dare lift a hand to strike her around other people. Brad wanted no one to know how much of a coward he was.

Swallowing, she bit the corners of her lips. She’d waited for this opportunity for months. The chance to be free of the conniving bastard and the controlling dangerous life that he’d tricked her to lead.

Her plans were already in place. All she had to do was make one call and her contact would be waiting. She would be free from this life.

“Yes, I’m in.” Her voice came out on a hoarse whisper.

“A ride or die chick.” One of Brad’s friends chuckled. “What does a guy have to do to get one of those nowadays?”

Brad grabbed the duffel bag at his feet and grinned. “It’s an acquired skill.”

If they only knew. Brad Thatcher wasn’t the man he portrayed himself to be. Over the last ten months, he’d turned to heavy drinking each night. Then the verbal abuse turned into something much worse. She had something to show for being so vulnerable, the bruises on her skin. Now, she feared for her life. This situation had gone too far.

Tamara had never envisioned being with a man who seemed to thrive off of her pain. He was never going to get better. Her counselor had warned her of this. She’d even ticked off the list of warning signs to watch for in his behavior. Throwing jealous tantrums if she so much as looked at another man. Trying to control her every move and keeping her under lock and key. Verbal insults escalating into gripping her in the fit of rebellious rages. One after the other, the signs became clearer. Brad was an abuser. Of women, drugs, and alcohol. Yet she stayed.

Her heart pounded uncontrollably as she contemplated the consequences. If she failed this escape, there would be hell to pay and she might lose her life. The last time she threatened to leave him, he’d freaked out. She still had the marks on her neck to show for it.

“I need to use the bathroom before we leave.” Tamara looked to Brad for his approval.

“Ah man. We don’t have time for this.” Brad’s second sidekick yelled from the driver’s side of the vehicle. “We have to be at the museum during the shift change-over.”

Brad and his crew made their living as thieves. It was fast, easy money. They were bandits who ran from the law and walked on the edge. Her fiancé had hidden his shady side job from her while they dated. He’d painted himself to be the picture perfect husband-to-be, but he was a fake. Her normal boring life had been turned upside down.

It all started when he lost his job for money laundering. She stood by her man back then. Had even persuaded him to pursue other careers, but Brad had alternative motives. Things got out of hand, and soon her husband-to-be turned out to be the fiancé from hell. By the time she caught on, she was in too deep.

“I need to go,” she repeated in a harsher tone. She’d pay for acting out like this later.

“You better hurry.” Brad’s lips formed a taut line. He turned his attention back to his crew. “She’s the only one who can fit through the vent.”

As Tamara walked off to the bathroom in the back of the warehouse, they discussed strategy amongst themselves. After locking the door behind her, she retrieved a small cell phone from the sleeve of her boot. Her fingers shook as she flipped open the lid. Before punching in the numbers she’d remembered by heart, she exhaled.

Tamara paced the cramped space of the one stall bathroom, praying for Selene to pick up the phone. This was her only hope. Just when she thought her plans would backfire, her counselor answered the phone.

“Hello.”

The voice sounded groggy on the other end. At nearly two hours before midnight, she expected this much. She only hoped that Selene could still help her. It had been a while since she’d last spoken with the counselor.

“Selene,” she whispered into the phone. “It’s me. Tamara.”

There was a bunch a ruffling on the other end. “Tamara. I haven’t heard from you in three months. What’s wrong? What happened?”

“I’m ready.”

“Give me your location.”

“About ten miles south of Blue Hills, Virginia. Near an industrial area.”

Outside the door, she heard the van engine start. Brad shouted her name.

“Selene…I don’t have much time,” Tamara whispered into the phone with urgency.

“Wait. Let me get my laptop.” There was some fumbling on the other end. “I think I know where you are. Industry Park. Near the city. Shoot! I’m getting you out of there.” The sound of fingers tapping furious at the keyboard flowed through the phone line. “You are to board the next train out of the Westbed station. A man in a red cap will be waiting with your ticket.”

Each time she’d called Selene, they’d discussed her getaway. She’d chickened out twice before. The promise of a new beginning and identity seemed like the life change she needed, but the consequences if she failed this escape loomed in her conscience.

“How—”

Brad banged on the door. “Get your ass out here. Now.”

Tamara’s heart jumped and her voice lodged in her throat. Brad jiggled the door handle and pushed against it. It rattled on the frames.

She looked up at the small window. There wouldn’t be any escaping from here. Not even a small dog could pass through the bars.

Darting over to the sink, she turned on the faucet. “I’ll be right out. I’m just washing up.”

“Washing up, my ass.” Using the weight of his body, Brad burst through the doors.

Acting quickly, Tamara tossed the cell into the wastebasket under the sink.

He reached out and grabbed her by the forearm. “What the fuck are you doing in here?”

She flinched as he tightened his grip, pinching her skin. “I was just washing my hands.”

“You’re taking too long.” He led her out of the bathroom, practically pushing her towards the waiting van. After shoving her inside, he slid the door close. “Let’s go.” He jumped into the passenger seat.

Tamara took a seat in the back of the van. Her palms stung, and she looked down to find her hands balled in tight fists. Violence wasn’t the answer. She wouldn’t dare stoop to that level. So many times she’d wanted to hurt Brad. She hated him—despised him for making her afraid to fight back.

She bent down and touched the hilt of the pocketknife hidden in her other boot to make sure it was still there. The cell phone was gone. Now she only had the knife to protect herself. Last time, she threatened to use a weapon on him, he’d laughed in her face. Said that she wouldn’t dare kill him. He thought this was a game. She’d come to the realization that Brad loved to taunt her. It turned him on to see her in pain. But how far would he go? How far would he go until she ended up dead in a landfill?

Tamara swallowed.

The smoke from Brad’s cigarette wafted to the back of van when he opened the window to flick the ashes away. In the other hand, he had a bottle of vodka. As he took a swig of the poison that fueled his rage, a sense of hopelessness consumed her and she squeezed her eyes shut. She was tired of his perilous ways. Tired of feeling like being imprisoned in a dreadful place.

No matter what he’d done to her, it pained her to see him throw his life away in exchange for quick money, drugs, and alcohol. She had to get out of this relationship. She wanted to get out now.

CHAPTER TWO

By the time they reached the city limits, Tamara’s hands ached from wringing them in fear and anticipation. Once she made a run for it, she would be alone in the world. All her big dreams had been crushed following the death of her parents. She’d become dependent on Brad, but what they had wasn’t love anymore. It was a relationship of convenience and abuse.

Brad slid the van door open, shattering her thoughts. She jumped down and her boots hit the pavement with a thud. The damp night air fueled her senses, and she breathed in deeply. She smelled her freedom, and she only had to act to gain it.

He handed her a small black drawstring bag. “You know what to do?”

“Cut the telephone line. Enter through the side vent,” she said, pulling the hoody over her head.

He grinned. “Good girl. Do it in ten minutes, top.”

Tamara nodded, and then pushed the start button on her stopwatch. She tossed the bag over her shoulders and jogged behind a building. The museum was the next block over, but if she cut across behind an adjacent storage lot, it would take her half the time to get there. Then she’d have two minutes to report the break in to the cops. It had to be timed just right. Brad and his crew would have to be inside the museum and the police on the way before she hauled ass. Once the museum was under lock down, there would be no way out.

At the back of the building, she pulled a bobby pin from the bun secured at her nape and jimmied the lock. It gave way in a matter of seconds. The voices of the guards near the front of the building greeted her as the door swung open. She tiptoed inside, her heart about to burst from fear. Keys rattled and two doors slammed as the guards locked and secured the museum. They’d activated the security system, but she’d made it in just in time.

After unarming the system, she took the stairs down to the basement level, and entered a small office. There was a phone on the wall near the door exactly as Brad had told her. He and his crew had mapped out the entire museum and planned the burglary for several days. While they’d been planning to commit a crime, she’d been planning to execute her escape.

Tamara lifted the receiver with shaky fingers and punched the three digits that she should have used many times during her spats with Brad.

It rang once before an operator answered. “Nine-one-one. What’s your emergency?”

“I want to report a break-in,” Tamara whispered. “Hurry please.”

“Give me the location, ma’am.”

“Heritage Museum of Fine Arts.” She glanced down at her stopwatch. Shit! Brad would be waiting at the back door now.

“Are you okay, ma’am?”

Tamara disconnected the call and raced toward the back of the museum. Her instincts proved to be correct. When she opened the back door, Brad and the other guy barged inside.

“What took you so long?” He nudged past her and shoved a bag into her arms. “You take the third floor. I’ll handle the safe.”

Tamara paused, but only for a moment. She didn’t want to give herself away. What she hadn’t planned on was him asking her to help with bagging stuff. Her plan was to escape from the basement while they worked, but now she was stuck inside.

After glancing at her watch, she began her trek up the stairs. It was now five minutes to midnight. She had no more time. The cops would be there in a matter of minutes. If she was caught inside, there was no doubt that she would go down with Brad and his crew.

The window on the first floor opened with ease. She snatched the knife from the sleeve of her boot and cut through the screen. A gust of wind blasted her in the face as she tore the rest of it off.

Sirens blared in the distance. They were coming.

“Shit!” She was supposed to be out of here by now.

As she looked down out of the third story window, she feared busting her head on the pavement more than she feared time in jail. The cat would be out of the bag soon. She’d set her fiancé up and if she didn’t haul ass now, she would pay.

The panicked voices from the lower floor confirmed that Brad heard the cops approaching. Tamara climbed on the windowsill, and gripped the panes for balance. She swallowed dry air and her heart tightened. Her choices were limited. Die on the asphalt below or rot in jail. Either way she was doomed, so she took the jump.

When she hit the hard pavement, her legs gave out and buckled under her. Her body toppled over. In an attempt to keep her stability, she lifted her hands out in front of her. She’d saved herself from falling on her face, but her elbows and knees hit the rough gravel. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. As her bones throbbed in pain, she dragged herself toward some bushes. Blue lights flashed all around her, casting eerie shadows on the trees. Running through the forest was her only escape, but she needed to get a head start.

Her hand connected with the wired fence. She was stuck.

Her head swirled as the sirens and police radios echoed around her. Digging her fingers in the dirt, she managed to kneel. The bruises on her leg stung like someone had packed salt into them. She could stay huddled behind the bushes and pray the cops didn’t search there or she could come out from behind them to turn herself in. One thing was for certain; she wouldn’t get very far with a sprained ankle. And if she did, by the time she got to the station, her train would be gone.

Tamara tried again to stand up, but the ache was unbearable. Something rustled in the bushes next to her, and she strained her ears to hear better over the noise and mayhem surrounding the museum.

A low grumbling resonated behind her. The noise sounded like something that would come from a wild dog. She turned her head slowly in the direction of the sound. Her gaze met a pair of bright emerald eyes. A scream caught in her throat when she realized the eyes belonged to a huge wolf. Her heart halted.

The wolf’s grumble turned to a growl. Now she was certain the devil existed. She was trying to escape to a better future, and her very life was threatened yet again. It wasn’t until a tear landed between her lips that she realized she was crying.

“Nice…wolfie.” Tamara scooted back on her hands and knees away from the wolf.

The wolf tilted its nose and glared at her. It stepped forward, sniffing the air around her. The head and shoulders were massive and the face broad. He had to be male. She wasn’t a stranger to wolves and had encountered them many times in the Virginia wilderness. But what was one doing out and about in the city?

Her head turned in the direction of male voices. Cops. Had Brad and the others ratted her out? She ducked lower as they came nearer.

The wolf must have sensed her panic because he turned with ears perked up and sniffed the air behind it.

“There’s another one around here somewhere,” the cop said. “He jumped from that open window up there.”

Tamara squeezed her lips together, and kept her eyes on the wolf. For some reason, the wolf did nothing to bring attention to their location. Surely her cover would be blown if it so much as growled one more time.

Suddenly, the wolf moved forward slowly and bowed its head with the nose nearly touching the ground. She recognized this as a gesture of submission. It was as if he understood her plight and pitied her.

Tamara reached out slowly with her hand until she came in contact with the wolf’s face. The fur was surprisingly soft. He turned his face into her palm and sniffed loudly.

“I’ve done something very bad, wolfie.”

With shaky fingers, she reached up to stroke the side of his belly. Maybe she’d bumped her head on the pavement from the fall. Perhaps she’d even died and gone to Heaven as a result of the fall. Why else would she be allowed to stand within millimeters of a living breath wild wolf and not be mauled alive?

The wolf lifted its head to make eye contact with her and came closer. He nudged at her forearm and moved so that they were side by side. That was when she glimpsed his size. He had to have been the biggest wolf she’d ever seen.

Hold on.

Tamara jumped back. What the…? Did the wolf just talk to her? Damn, she must really be hallucinating.

Her life was over anyway. If she were killed and eaten by a humongous wolf, no one would even care. Did she want to spend the rest of her life in a jail cell next to Brad Thatcher or be this wolf’s next meal?

She looped her arm around its neck and dragged herself on top. Before she could utter her next breath, the wolf leaped into the air and over the fence. The transition happened so fast that everything went by in a blur.

When it landed on the other side, it raced through the forest taking her away from the blaring sirens. Taking her away from the jail sentence she deserved for breaking into that museum. Taking her away from the life she hated so much. It seemed she rode for hours on the back of the wolf by the time it stopped next to a stream.

She slid off its back and it walked up to the stream and took a drink. All the while, he kept his eyes on her.

“Thank you, wolfie.”

The wolf’s forehead creased and it studied her while lapping up the water.

Tamara glanced around the forest, seeing nothing but trees and bramble in the darkness. The wolf had taken her far, and all she heard were night owls and critters around them. A chilled breeze rushed over her and she shivered, rubbing her hands over her arms. She lifted her wrist and glanced down at the time. The train she was supposed to catch had already left.

She sighed. What would she do now?

The wolf backed away from the stream and turned. After taking a long look at her, it started in the other direction.

It was leaving. Digging her nails into the dirt, she tried to lift herself on her feet. A strong shock shot up the back of her leg. Grabbing her thighs, she doubled over. This time she bit into her lip and could have sworn she drew blood. When she looked up again, the wolf had already moved several yards away from her.

Finally, Tamara managed to bring herself to an upright position. She took several steps before the toe of her boot stumbled over something hard on the ground. Once again, she lost her balance and it seemed as though the world turned upside down. Her back hit the forest floor in a thud and her vision became hazy.

When she opened her eyes again, the emerald stare of the wolf was there again. She felt her lips spread into a smile. Arms blanketed her. This time she felt skin and muscles, not the soft fur of the wolf. There was a face of a man and dark hair that swept the forehead. But the eyes were the same.

What the—

Tamara frowned, her blurry gaze sweeping the man’s face. “Wolfie?”

It was all she could manage before exhaustion set in. Sleep. All she wanted to do was rest. Her heavy eyelids closed as pain and confusion swirled throughout her head.

Darkness claimed her…

CHAPTER THREE

Devin placed another log in the fireplace and pushed it into the flames with the iron rod. The small blaze crackled and grew taller, and a woodsy pine aroma filled the interior of the cottage. He’d always forgotten the sense of tranquility this place brought to him. It had been so long since he’d last lived here. The cobwebs were just beginning to take over. But, it wasn’t the state of the cottage that worried him most.

He replaced the rod on its hook, dusted the palms of his hands off on the front of his jeans and turned around. He focused his gaze on the majestic beauty that slept like a fairy on the large four-poster bed in the middle of the cottage. Her hair fanned out like a curtain as she curled up under the quilt on her side into a fetal-like position. She was light and slim in build, but surprisingly tall. Her skin was a light tea-colored shade in contrast to the dark mahogany hue of her hair. There were hints of red highlighted through it.

Devin moved closer and observed the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. She’d slept through sunrise and beyond. Sunset was on the rise and she’d stirred a few times, but had yet to awake. He supposed that her body was working overtime trying to heal the nasty sprain on her right ankle. She was lucky the bones weren’t broken. It had shocked him to see her small frame falling from the window of the museum. But had she fallen or jumped?

He turned his attention back to the vegetable soup boiling on the stove. His mother used to cook it all the time for him when he was a pup. From past memories, he’d picked out the fresh ingredients at the market to make the soup. He’d nearly cut his finger trying to slice the carrots, but managed somehow. It wasn’t every day that he prepared meals.

After turning the burner on low, he stirred the contents of the pot. He drew in a deep breath, taking in the delicious aroma of the mix of various spices. So this was what he was missing in a good home cooked meal? His solitary life back in Montana made it easier to dine out almost every night. He would have devoured the whole pot on the spot, but it was not customary among his kind to eat before the women. This was something he didn’t have to worry about; he shouldn’t have been worried about it now. He was an unmated wolf. How could the stranger on his bed trigger this custom now?

Customs weren’t the only thing the lone woman triggered. His wolf had taken a strong urge to protect her.

Devin walked toward the door and picked up the ax at the foyer. He closed the door softly behind him so as not to wake her and walked outside in snow.

Flakes fell onto his bare arms, but he didn’t so much as flinch. They melted immediately on contact.

He positioned a big hunk of tree on the ground and continued cutting at it. The fireplace was the only thing keeping the woman warm, and he estimated she would need a few more days of it.

Once he was certain the woman could fend for herself, with all the firewood she needed plus a well-stocked pantry, he would leave. He’d contemplated leaving already a few times, but couldn’t bear to desert her in her state.

Devin had no idea what she had done or what she was trying to get away from, but he had enough of his own troubles to deal with.

Tamara woke up to the sound of banging. It was a God-awful sound that matched the pain piercing through her head. Immediately she noticed she was in a bed…a very soft one. This was very unusual since she’d been on the run with Brad for the past couple months. Hotels and the back seat of a van had been her sleeping place during that time.

She focused on the soft light coming from the lamp on the nightstand next to her. Palming the soft linen beneath her, she lifted herself to a sitting position. The yummy scent of food flowed under her nose and her stomach grumbled aloud. Glancing around, she took in her surroundings. She seemed to be in some kind of cabin. The walls weren’t really walls, but appeared to be trees hammered together to form the small square space that was the interior. A log cabin?

How did she get here? The last thing she remembered was her body hitting the ground and the startling emerald eyes that seemed to pierce her soul.

It was surprisingly warm inside, but when she looked to the window above the door, snowflakes hit and stuck to the glass. The wind rustled and whistled and something scratched at the roof.

Tamara lifted the covers and balked at the flannel men’s shirt and pajama bottoms she wore. She closed her lips tightly together and her eyes lingered again over her surroundings. The pounding started up again outside. It sounded an awful lot like someone was taking a hammer to something.

She had no recollection of this place. She needed to get out of here now.

As she swung her legs over the bed, a sharp pang of discomfort raced up her right leg. She bent over to stroke her ankle. There were bandages wrapped around it. Had she done this? She didn’t remember much. Images of the jump she made from the museum window. Being face to face with the wolf. Feeling the crisp air whip at her face as she rode away on its back.

Holding onto the edge of the nightstand for support, she eased herself up. The wood floorboards creaked loudly as she pressed her weight against it. The pain throbbed once more, but it was nothing she hadn’t experienced before.

The doorknob rattled and she turned in time to see it turn and the door being swung open. She froze as a large man stepped under the door frame. Her gasp lodged in her throat, but her heart raced at a full sprint.

The man stood in the doorway and stared at her. She noticed the mysterious emerald eyes of the wolf right away. In one hand, he gripped a rope that secured together a bundle of firewood. In the other hand, he held an ax. He placed the offending tool next to the door frame.

Tamara exhaled, but her veins drummed erratically with alarm. The stranger let go of the rope and the wood bundle hit the floor with a thud. Her eyes traveled from his boots to the pair of form-fitting jeans he wore. They were ripped at the knees. He wore a single gray t-shirt that was completely damp. Droplets of water covered his massive bronzed arms.

Another gust of wind whooshed against the cabin and a few slivers of snowflakes flew inside. Her body shivered, reminding her that it was colder than Hades himself outside. Still the seemingly mute stranger stood there like it was a hot summer day on the beaches of Honolulu.

She lifted her gaze to his face. He sported a wide jawline and set of full lips. From where she stood, she observed a dimple on both cheeks. There was stubble on his face that appeared to be at least two days old. The ends of his black hair settled and fanned over his shoulders. But nothing was more startling than his powerful green stare.

The man kicked out a foot behind him and slammed the door shut.

Her heart jumped up to her throat and she gripped the edge of the nightstand firmly. “Who are you?”

“Devin.” His strong voice echoed throughout the cabin.

“What am I doing here?”

“I brought you here.” He reached down to grab the bundle and came closer into the cabin.

“Pervert! Where are my clothes?”

Devin turned, as if ignoring her and placed the firewood next to the fireplace. He grabbed the ends of his shirt and raked it up over his head.

His back muscles rippled as he hung his shirt on a chair beside him. The taut skin on his torso was bronze in color, and there wasn’t an inch of fat on him.

“My clothes?” she asked.

He took long strides toward her and she pinned herself against the wall beside the bed. The silver buckle on his belt sparkled as he approached.

“Don’t come any closer,” she warned.

He didn’t listen to her orders, and she searched nearby for a weapon. At the foot of the bed, he placed a stack of clothes. They were folded neatly. These were her clothes, only they’d been recently washed.

Tamara loosened her grip on the bedpost. “Why did you bring me here?”

“You wouldn’t have gotten very far on a sprained ankle.” He knelt over the box at the foot of the bed and pulled out a fresh t-shirt. The nice rippled chest disappeared. “I don’t know who or what you were hiding or running from, but you can stay here until your leg heals. You won’t be able to run again until it does.”

She looked around again. “Is this your house?” Some of the surfaces needed a bit of dusting.

“Yes.” Devin had moved to the kitchen. He reached up into a small cupboard and removed a large bowl. After scooping a generous helping of the delicious smelling soup inside, he placed it on a tray. There was a small table under a window where he sat the food.

He was halfway across the cabin again before she could stop him. Before she knew it, he’d scooped her up and was carrying her. She didn’t have time to allow fright to overcome her. Even though he held her steady, her fingers gripped his arms on instinct. They were taut, just as she thought. Her palms brushed the skin, which was surprisingly smooth and soft. He was extremely warm to the touch. She knew his smell—a spicy distinct fragrance.

He sat her down gently in a chair and slid the bowl of soup across the table. Her appetite suddenly roused as the steam floated up from the bowl. She swallowed, but her throat was exceptionally dry.

“I’m not very hungry.” Her eyes shifted away from the food to the floor in an attempt to avoid eye contact with him.

“I can hear your stomach grumbling. You’re hungry alright.” With that, he turned and focused his attention on the wood bundle.

She frowned and as if on cue, her stomach protested loudly. “You could be trying to poison me.”

“If I wanted to kill you, you wouldn’t be alive this very moment,” he said as he unraveled the rope securing the firewood.

“Where’s the wolf?”

Devin’s hands froze over the firewood and his eyes shot to her. There was a hint of shock in them. “He’s not home right now.”

“Is he your wolf?” She would never forget the wolf, no matter how hard she’d fallen. It’d saved her from a fate worse than death.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, he is.”

“I’d like to thank him for saving me. He’s a good wolf.”

Devin seemed to pause at her words, but he didn’t reply. He threw another piece of firewood at the flames and stood there poking at it.

Tamara spooned some of the soup and brought it to her lips. She savored the flavorful goodness of the concoction. It warmed her insides and reminded her of her nurturing mother. A second and third spoonful eaten turned into even more and the bowl was empty before long.

When she turned, Devin had just begun stuffing a duffel bag with clothes from the chest at the foot of the bed.

“Are you packing?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you going?” The thought slipped out before she could stop herself.

Devin swept his eyes over her, but it wasn’t in aggravation. “Home.”

Tamara shook her head. “I thought this was your home.”

“I own this place, but it hasn’t been my home for years.” He zipped up the bag. “I have to return to my hometown to take care of some business.”

“Oh.” The thought of him leaving suddenly bothered her. She had no idea why. Devin was a complete stranger.

“There’s enough firewood on the porch for a few weeks. By that time, the temperature should have already warmed up.” He prowled back over to the fireplace, pulled out a loose stone, and pocketed a wad of cash. “There’s enough food in the cupboard and in the freezer for a month. Eat what you need. We’re not too far from town. The path behind the cottage leads right into it.”

Shaking her head, she panicked. All this had been a bad idea. What made her think she would ever be able to make it on her own?

He seemed to ignore her as he prepared for his exit. “If you’re running from the law, I advise you to lay low for a while. There’s a carnival in town, and the roads are swarming with police cruisers. You’re free to stay here as long as you need.”

“I’m not running from the law exactly.”

Finally, he paused and turned his attention to her. “What are you running from?”

“My past,” she whispered.

He drew his brows together. “Your past?”

She nodded, and once again let her eyes trail across the floor.

“Are you in danger?”

“Yes. No. I mean, not anymore.”

He came to stand in front of her. “Are you afraid of something…someone?”

She wrung her hands in her lap and nodded.

Devin hunched his shoulders, and then he raised his eyebrows in question. “Who are you afraid of?”

“I’d rather not discuss my past. I want to leave it behind,” she said, firmly.

“What’s your name?”

“Tamara,” she said. The man had offered food, and his home, but didn’t even know her name.

“I’ll stay one more day, Tamara, if that will make you feel comfortable.”

She lifted her head to meet his gaze and smiled at him. “Yes, please. I’d like that very much.”

He nodded and let his bags drop to his feet.

CHAPTER FOUR

Devin had awakened several times throughout the night. The noise from the snowstorm outside disturbed him, reminding him that the quiet nights he’d enjoyed back home in Montana would be a distant memory in a matter of weeks. His responsibilities would be laid out before him tenfold the moment he showed his face in the Caedmon village.

Oddly, that wasn’t the only matter pressing him. From his position right outside the window poised on a ladder, he’d watched Tamara fumble around in the small kitchen nearly all morning. There was no doubt that she’d gotten up to the sound of him fidgeting with the rickety window. She’d yawned and then looked up once or twice to acknowledge he was outside, then gotten up from the bed.

Devin spread the last of the sealant next to the crack on the window. This needed to be done before the worst of the snowstorms moved in over the next few days. If he was going to offer up his shelter to this woman, she needed to be safe and warm.

Inside, Tamara began placing the food on two plates. He’d found himself grinning a few times as she rushed about looking in every cabinet and drawer for just the right utensil. He fed his wolf at the break of dawn while she still slept, but still his mouth watered as she stacked pancakes high on a platter. The aroma of juicy bacon had his stomach grumbling the way hers did last evening.This morning she’d washed and pulled her hair into a ponytail. He’d admired the way the curls became more defined as her tresses dried over the last hour. Before her hair had been bone straight, now the strands were curly and delicate against her face. Her skin looked smooth to the touch and slightly tanned, but he could tell that she was born with her beautiful light almond complexion.

A pair of fresh pajama bottoms and one of his shirts masked the delicious curves he’d admired the night he rescued her. He’d tried like hell to rid himself of the images of soft creamy thighs encased in her jeans and delectable nipples pressing against the silky fabric of her bra. It was a lost cause. She was right. Pervert. That’s what he felt like. He couldn’t help himself. As he neared what Caedmon culture called a Blue Moon heat, he’d have to suppress his desires around all women if he wanted to preserve his bachelorhood. This level of heat was the strongest and almost always resulted in numerous wolf matings. The wolf spirit within him yearned for a companion year after year, but his human side battled this need.

It’d been less than two days and he already felt this strong inclination to protect her. Even when he came across her huddled near the bushes while in his wolf form he’d been drawn to her. It was a strange feeling since he barely knew the woman.

At that moment, Tamara walked up to the window and tapped on it. She mouthed the words breakfast. He tossed his tools in the bucket on the ground and climbed down the ladder.

She was placing utensils on the table as he entered the cabin. Warmth and the smell of delicious home-cooked food comforted him. He peeled out of the wet long-sleeve tee and hung it over a hook on the door. He grabbed another shirt out of the chest at the foot of the bed. Before meeting her in the kitchen, he threw another log in the fireplace.

“I made you breakfast,” Tamara said, shyly.

“Thank you.” He pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. His knees came up to touch the bottom of it, but he kept a straight face. There weren’t many occasions when he actually ate at a table. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I wanted to.” She turned and grabbed the pitcher of hand squeezed orange juice and placed it beside the tray. “You’d been working all morning without eating.”As she moved her hand away, Devin glimpsed a mark on the inside of her arm. He took her arm and turned it over for his inspection. It was an old bruise, but the scab was mature and the skin around it was still red. Based on the healing progress of the bruise, it wasn’t one she’d gotten as a result of her jump.

His gaze trailed upward to meet her troubled eyes. He wanted to ask her how she got the bruise, but she shook her head and pulled her arm away.

“How’s your ankle?” he asked, instead.

She shrugged. “I managed to get around this morning so I guess I’m healing.”

“Why aren’t you eating?” He sat there with his hands grabbing the edges of the table. His stomach urged him to dive into the plate head first, but he fought the wolf-like instinct.

She poured a small amount of syrup over her pancakes. “What were you doing out there?”

“Two of the windows needed new caulking.” He poured some orange juice into a glass and placed it directly in front of her. “More snow is expected this evening.”

“I’m not used to all this snow.”

“Where are you from?”

“Florida.” She took a long sip of juice. “I’ve traveled all over the country, though.”

“That figures. They have lots of beaches there.”

“Right.” Tamara nodded, and slowly cut into her pancakes with a knife and fork. “Where do you live?”

He’d never known anyone to eat hot cakes with a knife and fork. “Small town in Montana.”

“So, you’ve traveled from far. Do you have family here?”

Devin didn’t know how to answer that one. He’d been a lone wolf and without a pack for five years. Referring to the people he left behind as his family felt foreign to him. “Yes.”

“A wife and kids?” Tamara studied him with those gorgeous brown eyes of hers.

He grinned. “Of course not.”

She let her eyes fall to the table, and then lifted a piece of pancake into her mouth.

The men’s flannel shirt she wore seemed to swallow her. It slid down on one side revealing a delicate collarbone and slim shoulder. This woman was gorgeous; it was a fact confirmed when he got the first real look at her the other night by the stream.

How would he stand up to his pack if he couldn’t even contain this sexual and emotional hunger suddenly consuming him? He’d been called to lead them, but he was no leader. He was far from it. A leader didn’t run from his problems. A leader was supposed to accept his past, not be ashamed of it. Before the eve of the Blue Moon, he’d help them with pack matters to include finding a suitable replacement for the late Alpha leader, Daniel Caedmon. But he could not—would not—lead them. He only wanted to return to his secluded ranch in Montana where one wasn’t looked on in disdain for being the bastard son.

Devin swallowed the rising lump in his throat and picked up his fork. He lifted his gaze to Tamara, who was meticulously parting her food off in sections on her plate. She appeared to be in deep thought as she chewed ever so slowly. Content with the amount of food she’d taken in, he sliced into his stack and began eating.

He and this beautiful woman had similar dilemmas. They’d both succeeded in running from their past. Yet, he’d foolishly talked himself into returning to his.

Tamara picked up her pace and then brought the palms of her hands up to her face and blew on them. This didn’t help her frigid fingertips. Each time her boots hit the ground, they sunk into deep drifts of snow. Her feet were freezing despite the double layer of socks she took from the cabin. The sun shone through the trees as daybreak began to set in. Soon the temperatures would rise and she would be okay. She hadn’t walked that far away from the cabin, but every few minutes she would hear the sound of a car whizzing by on a road.

This was a stupid idea. Despite how far she’d gotten on the trail, she still felt lost. If Devin hadn’t told her a lie the other day, then the path would lead her into town. Once there, she could take a bus to the next city and maybe find the nearest train station. A new identity and life was just beyond her reach.

As he’d done the previous night at the break of dawn, Devin had peeled out of his sleeping blanket by the fireplace and left. Just as she’d planned, she waited half an hour until she was sure he wasn’t within earshot of the cabin, got dressed and made her way to the trail. She’d left a note for Devin thanking him for his hospitality. He’d probably revel in relief once she was gone anyway. It seemed that he had his own business to tend to and she was an unwanted distraction.

Tamara stuffed both hands into her jacket pockets. She fumbled with the small roll of cash she’d saved up over the last few weeks while on the road with Brad. It was all the money she had to her name. She was surprised to find it still in the back pocket of her jeans. She’d have to make it last until she got her new identity and found a job. If growing up in a poor household didn’t teach her anything else, it’d given her the common sense she needed to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. It was time to put those skills to the test.

A rabid growl caused Tamara to nearly jump several inches into the air. Her eyes widened as she focused on a huge brown wolf in her path. Its fangs glistened with saliva and the lips lifted in a snarl. The ears were folded back against the head. Tamara took several rigid steps backward. The wolf prowled toward her and gave another low warning growl. Spittle dripped from the mouth.

She wanted to stand her ground but she was scared shitless. There was no hint of friendly demeanor with this wolf as she’d experienced with the one that saved her a few nights ago. This one’s eyes were brown, not emerald. And they seemed to dare her to make a move.

It lunged forward and gave a harsh growl, almost like a bark. She screamed, and her hand flew to her chest, it felt like it would explode from fear. The blood throbbed loudly in her veins. She couldn’t think straight. How would she escape this time? She wasn’t stupid enough to think she could outrun a wild wolf. Damn! Oh why, oh why was the devil taunting her? Was she never meant to have a normal, peaceful life?

Her chest and throat tightened and she realized she’d been holding her breath. She let it go in one huff. The wolf didn’t let up. It continued to buck at her as if coaxing her to run. If she ran, she’d be dead meat. If she didn’t run, she’d be the wolf’s breakfast. Dead one way or the other.

Her body shook as she took careful strides backward. The heel of her boots hit a log. Pain sprung up from her freshly bandaged ankle into her leg. Before she could catch her balance she fell—butt first—on the ground. It was the brown wolf’s golden opportunity and he moved in on her quickly. The massive white chest blocked her view entirely, and all she could think about was dying out here all alone. No one would know. No one would care.As she blinked her eyes, a flash of black swooshed past her. One minute the brown wolf hovered over her and the next minute a frenzy of black and brown fur tumbled across the forest floor. It took a shake of her head and a few seconds to focus and realize that the two wolves fought. They rolled and toppled across the forest floor in one massive fur ball.

Tamara looked on, frozen in spot. Not only were the angry growls prevalent, but their fangs snapped as they tried to take a bite out of each other. She didn’t want to witness a slaughter. Gaining her equilibrium, she scrambled to get up. She dashed several feet and stopped beside a tree to catch her breath.

The wolves still sparred over what could only be one thing…the chance to make her their next meal. Right before Tamara turned to escape, the wolf with the emerald eyes focused on her.

The remembrance of him saving her from being caught anchored her to the spot. Something akin to pity raced through her heart. The brown wolf took advantage of his opponent’s hesitation and clawed him in the face. It yelped in pain, but lunged on his assailant once more.

She cringed as she heard another yelp from one of the wolves. Riveted by the rough bark, she remained an onlooker behind the tree.

The black wolf made a quick lunge and came down on the brown-wolf’s neck with his sharp canines, holding him down. That put a stop to the snarling and fang snapping. The only sound now was the deep breathing of the two enraged animals and the faint whistle of the winter breeze.

When black wolf let go, the other lunged back and snarled. Her savior stalked forward growling loudly at her threat. Both of the wolves’ furs were spotted with blood. Finally, the brown wolf dipped his head in a sign of submission. It buried its nose literally in the ground, backed away a safe distance, and then ran off between some trees.

When her savior turned to look at her with all signs of anger wiped from his expression, she knew for sure that it was wolfie. Her heart pounded as he slowly approached her. She waited at her post beside the tree.

“Wolfie,” Tamara knelt down next to him. “Where have you been hiding all this time?”

As she reached up to touch its soft fur, he slumped to the ground.

“Oh, no…” She stroked and shook the unconscious wolf. It didn’t move one bit. Collapsing next to him, she listened for a heartbeat. The rhythm was strong and consistent.

She didn’t want the wolf to die. Surely that would happen if someone didn’t tend to its wounds in time. She pushed at its shoulder again, but his body felt like dead weight. He was too heavy for her to carry by herself.

Springing to her feet, she raced back to the cabin. Devin should have been back by now. She didn’t know how he would take the news that his pet wolf became injured while trying to save her ass again.

After dashing without stopping to catch her breath, she made it to the clearing in the forest where the cabin sat. Panting in spurts, she raced to the door and pounded. She didn’t even wait for Devin to answer and turned the knob. Surprised to find it still unlocked, her eyes darted to the table where she left the note. It was still there along with the pen beside it. Just like she’d left it. Devin had never returned.

Tamara clutched at her chest, taking in deep gulps of breath. Although her ankle throbbed in pain and her heart burned from exhaustion, the least she could do was return the favor. That wolf needed her help.

With all the courage she had left, she ran back outside to the small shed she spotted behind the cabin. There was a wheelbarrow propped in a corner. With it, she could bring the injured wolf to safety.

CHAPTER FIVE

For the thirtieth time, Tamara pushed the curtains back and looked out of the front window of the cabin. The snow was piling up fast outside and still there was no sign of Devin. It was getting darker by the minute, and the forest beyond the cabin looked like eerie shadows.

She turned away from the window. Who could blame him for leaving? He’d kept his word, and stayed one more day. It was time for her to fend for herself.

Her eyes fell to the floor to the living, breathing wolf lying on its side next to the door. The bowl of water she’d sat next to him was left untouched. It was as though the wolf was in some coma-like state…but he was very much alive.

Several times while cleaning the deep gashes, its lids peeled open and it stared at her with glassy eyes, only to slump to the floor again. It didn’t take a doctor to realize that all of the blood loss had drained his energy. The amount of it had been substantial enough to cause panic.

But panic had caused her to make a quick decision. Bringing the wolf into the home might not have been such a good idea. She had no idea how to bring a wolf back to health. Plus, what would she feed it? Pancakes? How would she tend to the deep wounds once it came to? It wasn’t as if she could drive it to the nearest hospital and ask for a blood transfusion. For one, she was out in the middle of nowhere without a ride. Two, she was probably wanted by the freaking FBI for breaking and entering. Three, this wasn’t even her damn home.

Why would Devin leave his wolf? It was lying on the floor in distress and possibly dying and he was nowhere to be seen. He’d deserted her.

Tamara lifted her hands, palms facing up and grimaced at the nasty blisters she’d earned. It’d taken all her might to push the wolf into that old rickety wheelbarrow. Carrying a hefty wolf through the forest didn’t prove to be an easy task either. Her shirt was torn and tattered, and her jeans were caked in dirt and mud. She didn’t need a mirror to know that she looked like a tired hag.

Tamara glanced at the sleeping wolf again. The light from a lamp sitting on an end table shone on its sleek black fur. She’d been surprised at how soft it was. Although, she’d never touched a wolf, never even came this close to one. She thought they were all wild animals, and a threat to any frightened unsuspecting human. This one had proven her wrong. If it was Devin’s wolf perhaps it wasn’t as wild as she thought. A domesticated wolf?

She entered the cramped bathroom, which was inconveniently located on the other side of the kitchen. As she bent and stretched to peel out of her muddied clothing, her strained and tired muscles called out to her. Dragging what seemed like a two hundred pound wolf through the forest was probably the best workout she’d had in years. Her ass and thighs hurt like hell.

It took several minutes for the water in the shower stall to heat up. She tied up her hair as best as she could using a hand towel and stepped inside. What she needed was to visit a hairdresser fast. The next time she came in contact with a flattening iron, her hair would be a pain to straighten. Her coils were tight, sometimes unruly, courtesy of her African American mother and her locks were abundant thanks to her Native American father. Doing her hair had become a chore, but she’d learned from living on the road for the last six months to make do with what was available.

Freshly showered, she stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her. She tiptoed quietly past the wolf over to the chest near the foot of the bed. Clothes were the next item on her agenda once she found somewhere to stay. She’d escaped Brad’s clutches, but unfortunately the only thing she left with was the clothes on her back. And of course, her life.

There was stack of neatly folded flannel shirts, jeans, and socks in the chest. It looked like Devin only kept the bare minimum. The absence of a closet also suggested that he didn’t own a lot of clothes. She felt incredibly guilty for wearing the man’s clothes, but there was no way she could walk around in a towel or even the same dirty clothes all day and night.

Tamara dug toward the bottom of the chest in search of something that wouldn’t make her look like a child playing dress up in her parents’ clothes. As she grabbed a green shirt, she heard something scrape across the floor. It was coming from the foyer where the wolf lay.

Her fingers paused on the fabric as a worst-case scenario rushed through her mind. Realizing that she had no weapon against a wolf that was capable of turning on her, she loosened her grip on the shirt and turned.

As her brain registered and processed what appeared to be a naked Devin standing in the foyer where a wolf had once been, a blood-curdling scream escaped from her throat. Devin, whose eyes widened, appeared just as startled as she was.

“Oh my God!” Tamara clutched at the towel covering her naked body and ran to the opposite end of the cabin.

Scratches marked Devin’s face and a deep scrape was on the left side of his abdomen. The bandages that she’d wrapped around the wolf’s torso lay at his feet. In his hand was the rope she’d used to secure the animal’s feet so it wouldn’t get away. He was sleek and built in his naked form. Hair the same color as the black wolf spread over his upper chest and arms. A patch of it led down his torso forming a “V”. His manhood hung, full and long, between his legs.

After studying what she could only imagine was her state of mishap, he walked over to the chest where she’d been and scooped out a pair of jeans.

“What the fuck is going on?” she cried out. “What the hell just happened?”

“Is there a reason why you ran off, Tamara?” It was a demand, yet he seemed so calm.

She shook her head. Confused, she looked from the foyer to Devin, who was now buttoning up his pants. “The wolf…?”

Devin held out his hands, as if he was coming for her.

“Don’t come any closer. Please.” Tamara pointed to the foyer. “There was a wolf at the door and now…” She rubbed her forehead with her palm. Sure she wasn’t hallucinating. She’d fallen hard on the pavement at the museum, but she’d recovered already. She glanced up again at the fresh gashes on his abdomen, and then at the bite mark on his neck. The same emerald eyes of the wolf glanced at her attentively. He resembled the wolf. “You—”

Devin nodded. “Yes. I’m the wolf.”

Her breath hitched in her throat. She motioned to the foyer with her hands. “That’s impossible. The wolf was alive and breathing and now it’s gone. Was there a costume? What happened to it? How can you…?” Her words came out in a rush.

He took a seat in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. “I can shift.”

“Shift?” Tamara straightened her back. “Like a werewolf? Like in a movie?”

“I am wolf. And I am human.”

“You’re a full grown man. How can you also be a wolf?”

“I possess the blood and spirit of Caedmon. Our lineage goes back hundreds of years. Our gift allows us to shift between man and wolf at will.” Devin dropped his head. “I shouldn’t be telling you any of this.”

“The spirit of Caedmon?” She laughed, nervously. “Is this some type of joke?”

“No.” There wasn’t a smile or hint of amusement on his face.

“Then do it. Do it now.” With shaky legs, she came out from the corner she’d backed herself into. “Shift into the wolf.”

“I don’t think you know what you’re asking.” Devin stood and walked toward the bathroom.

She followed him. “I know exactly what I’m asking.”

He turned on the faucet, cupped his hand under the spout, and splashed water over his face. As he leaned to grab the hand towel from the rack, Tamara glimpsed his waist and abdomen again. The deep gashes had disappeared. The skin where the wound had been was the same complexion and just as smooth as the rest of his body.

“You healed…” Tamara raised her eyes slowly to his face. “…really quickly.”

“That’s not a joke, either. Our gifts also give us the ability to heal rapidly…when we have enough strength, of course.”

“Impossible,” she whispered. “I studied medicine. None of this is possible. A man cannot shift into an animal.”

“You’re right.” He shrugged. “I can’t shift. Now, why don’t you tell me where you were going? I thought we had a plan. That you would stay another day and I’d at least help you reach town.”

“I didn’t want to bother you any longer.” It was a stupid idea. If she’d stayed in the cabin and accepted his help in the first place the wolf would have never attacked her. “Hey, don’t avoid the issue.” She moved aside so that he could exit the bathroom. “Show me how you shift.”

“You don’t believe me. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Do you realize how surreal this is? For you to tell someone, me, a regular person that you can change into a wolf?”

“You didn’t actually see me shift?” He picked up the bowl of water by the foyer and continued into the kitchen. “As for you…do you know how surreal it was for me to witness a woman falling from a third story window of a history museum?”

“I didn’t fall. I jumped.” Tamara pressed her lips together. “I was in trouble.”

Devin dumped the water into the sink, then grabbed a tall glass and filled it with more tap water. “I figured that much. What were you running from?”

She swallowed. “I’d rather not say.”

He downed the entire glass of water and refilled it. “Do you know what kind of time people serve for breaking and entering?”

Tamara met his eyes in challenge. “You have no idea what was at stake for me.”

“I’m trying to understand.” He gulped down the entire glass of water again and searched her face. “Left something valuable in the museum? You needed some cash…? What was it? What would lead you to burglary?”

“I’m not a thief.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I was running for my life.”

“Who threatened your life?”

She looked down at her toes. “My fiancé.”

His attention dropped to her ring finger. “You’re engaged?”

“Not anymore.” Arms still crossed, she slid her left hand under her arm. There wasn’t a ring. Brad had to pawn it to come up with the funds to buy a car several months ago. He’d promised to buy it back, but his promises weren’t worth much. “Ex-fiancé.”

“Why would you run?”

“I set him up. I botched his robbery attempt and ran.” She turned. “I needed a way to escape from him without being found.”

“This seems to pain you. I’m sorry.”

She could sense him close behind her. “I’m not the complete victim here. I let it get out of hand.”

“Out of hand?” he asked.

Tamara nodded. “It got worse before it ever got better.”

Devin slid his fingers down her bare shoulder and turned her arm over. He inspected the bruise she’d received from Brad a couple of days before the museum break-in.

“Is this what you are running from?” He spoke softly.

She nodded. The sound of his voice soothed her, but still she wanted to cower in a corner from embarrassment. She was ashamed to have let the abuse happen to her.

“You shouldn’t have to live in fear.” He let her hand drop to her side, but he did not let it go. “You have too much of a kind soul and are too beautiful of a woman to suffer such treatment.”

Tamara wanted to fall into his chest to welcome a deeper embrace, but something warned her not to trust freely. Her body yearned to close the tiny space that kept them apart. She pulled her hand from his grasp and moved to stand next to the fireplace. Oddly, the heat from his body had been more comforting than the heat from the fire.

“I can’t stay here long. One, I promised my counselor once I was safe that I would call her. And two, I don’t have any clothes.”

“I have a cell phone. And I can get you some clothes.”

She wrung her hands together, contemplating his offer. The longer she lay low, the more likely any case that had been brought up against her would have gone cold. What the passage of time did not guarantee was that Brad had finally been captured and locked up. Unless he had a backup plan for getting caught in the act of burglarizing the museum, there was no chance he could have escaped being surrounded by police. The only reason she was safe and sound was because of the wolf. Devin, her rescuer.

“I must be a big inconvenience to you,” she mumbled.

“No, you’re not,” he said. “I’ve committed to help you.”

“You had plans before you even met me. I’ve done nothing but delay you.”

“Acting without adequate planning would have been a disadvantage to me. Over the past several nights here, I had the chance to re-evaluate my choice. I will have to leave soon though…if I plan to help my people.”

She turned to face him. “Your people?”

He moved to stand by the sofa. “Sit with me.”

Several moments passed while she waited patiently for him to speak. She lifted her gaze to meet his with question. Visions of his wolf flashed into her mind. “Tell me about this spirit of Caedmon.”

“We’ve been around for hundreds of years. One of the oldest and most respected wolf packs in the United States. Those who are born with the spirit of Caedmon have the ability to shift into wolf form.”

“Like you?” she asked when he paused.

“Yes. We’ve since branched out into many smaller tribes. We are a very diverse pack. This is the result of a custom of accepting wolves from disbanded packs who wish to accept the spirit, culture, and laws of Caedmon. However, the pack is still led by those who are directly descended from the first line of Caedmon wolves.”

“So, I assume that this is all kept secret…from non-wolves.”

“It is forbidden to offer knowledge about our existence to outsiders.”

She frowned. “But, you have told me…”

He grinned. “I’ve always been the bad seed.”

Tamara swallowed. “What happens to those who disobey the laws?”

“The punishment depends on the severity of the offense.”

She looked down at the patterns in the sofa. “I hope you are not punished because of me.”

He grasped her elbow in a gesture of solace. “Don’t worry about me.”

It seemed as though the Caedmon culture he talked of was a serious one. A real one. With people that shifted into wolf form just like he could. They had real laws, and he’d disobeyed one of them. For some reason, she did worry about him. She’d practically encouraged him to tell her a secret that he was bound to keep to himself.

They’d have to part soon, and she had a feeling that she’d never be able to forget Devin. The man who was also a wolf.

CHAPTER SIX

Snow fell so furiously that it came down in a white haze outside the window. The temperatures had once again dipped below freezing with what Tamara suspected was the worst of the storm. Devin had even said he hadn’t seen this coming.

Fire crackled and danced in the fireplace. Every so often, a log would break apart, and the flames would spark and pop as it settled in place again. It reminded her of the sounds of Christmas alongside her family. Sitting here like this with Devin made her realize that she missed moments like those.

Tamara folded her legs under her and scooped up another spoonful of soup. The hearty combination of chicken, noodles, and vegetables filled her up and warmed her insides on this freezing cold night. She’d never met a man who could cook and always thought that finding one was like discovering a needle in a haystack. Was it just by happenstance that she’d finally come across one?

She stole another glance at Devin who sat beside her, bent over the coffee table peering at some complex drawings. Every so often, he would mumble something to himself.

“Does Montana get this much snow?” She didn’t want to seem like a nuisance, but hearing the casual sound of his voice always seemed to calm her.

He nodded. “A lot more than this. I’m quite used to it.”

She glanced down at the pencil drawings and shadings. “What are you drawing?”

“An idea for an expansion of this cabin. It’s outdated. Too small, and needs a lot of work.”

She glanced at every corner of the room. It was small, but for its size it served the purpose. “Outdated? Well, how old is it?”

“Thirty, maybe forty years old. It was my mother’s. She lived here for a very short time.” He didn’t look up from the drawing.

“Is your mother…Caedmon?”

“Was. She’s dead.”

There was no emotion in his voice, and she wondered if he’d suppressed them.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“She followed her mate to the grave.”

“Excuse me?” Had she heard him correctly?

“Wolves mate for life. In Caedmon culture, if the mating is a true one, when a wolf’s mate dies, the other soon follows.”

“From doing some research on wolf behavior in college, I learned that they mated for life. It’s romantic…and sad at the same time.”

“How many bathrooms?” He looked down at his sketch again.

His change of subject suddenly caught her off guard. “What?”

“How many bathrooms would you want in your dream home?”

Tamara smiled. “My dream home? Hmmm…never thought about it.” She set the bowl on the table and peered at the drawing with him. “A huge master bath with Jacuzzi tub, separate toilet and shower. The works. A half bathroom downstairs for guests. I’d want at least two bathrooms upstairs with one of the bedrooms having its own.”

“Uh-hmm.” He scribbled some notes on a separate notepad. “Sounds like five bedrooms total then?”

“Exactly. I’m not big on mansions, but I grew up in a family where we were taught to make people feel at home. My parents had dinner parties all the time. The guest list was always large.”

“And they don’t anymore?”

“If they were alive, they would. They were involved in a terrible boating accident.” At the time, they’d been on a month long vacation, and had died doing what they loved. The grieving process for her was long and difficult.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Do you build homes all the time?”

“I make my living doing this. I have a construction business in Montana,” he said.

“How long have you lived in Montana?”

“Five years.” The muscles on his forearms moved lithely as he sketched on the pad.

It was long enough to call Montana home, yet she wondered what would make him return to Virginia after five years and refer to it as his home. Was it part of the Caedmon culture? Was he forced to return? What was at stake? Whatever business he needed to leave to tend to seemed serious enough.

“The other wolf…the one you were fighting with…is it Caedmon?”

“Yes.”

“Why did it want to kill me?” Had Devin not come when he did, she probably would not be alive.

“It didn’t want to kill you,” he said. “These forests are Caedmon territory. In its eyes, you were a trespasser…as well as an unaccompanied female.”

“Then, I really need to leave, huh? Before the other wolves find out. I don’t—”

“You will do no such thing,” he said quickly. “You are under my protection. You will find safety, but you will not find it alone.”

His declaration was firm, as if there was no room for discussion. He was no stranger to giving orders. It was the very thing she was running away from now. Devin had good intentions, but was this hint of dominance a glimpse into whom he really was?

“I don’t want to be a burden or the reason you receive reprimand from your pack, neither do I want to feel like a prisoner in your home,” she said, then picked up her empty bowl and walked to the kitchen.

She risked her life for the chance to make her own decisions again. There was no way in hell she would let yet another man make them for her. The reality was that a world of difference existed between Devin and Brad. She saw the honesty in Devin’s eyes, and the virtue in his demeanor. There should have been no comparison to Brad, but she had to be careful. Things weren’t always what they seemed. She’d been burned once before…

A heated body brushed across her side. The bowl slipped from Tamara’s fingers and hit the bottom of the sink. From the way her core warmed when he drew nearer, there was no mistake that it was Devin.

She held her breath, but did not turn around.

His hands came around her to grab the bowl in the sink, and he pressed his chest against her back. “Don’t fear me,” he whispered into her hair.

She shivered, but it wasn’t from fear or the cold.

Devin picked up the dishtowel and began to wash the bowl, leaving her no choice but to look. When he was done, he placed the dish on the drying rack. He took her hand and led her to turn around.

Her gaze was level with his chest, until he tilted her chin gently with a finger.

“Look at me, Tamara. Are you afraid of me?”

“No,” she whispered.

“The tension in your body tells me otherwise.”

How could she have forgotten they were pressed so closely together? His spicy scent drifted under her nose, mesmerizing her. It was familiar to her, yet it wasn’t a scent she’d known anywhere else but with him.

She shook her head. “I don’t know you.”

He closed his eyes. “Why do you smell so good?”

“Excuse me?”

“Your smell? Are you wearing perfume?”

She swallowed. “No, I don’t have any. Did you forget? You brought me here with only the clothes on my back.”

He took a deep breath and moved closer, positioning his nose against one side of her neck. At the same moment he brushed his face against her neck, her body became pliant in his arms.

“There is a strong urge to protect you,” he said.

“Devin…” she said in a husky voice, riddled with confusion.

Had the cabin not been so quiet, she probably would have missed the low growl he gave in answer. His gestures were affectionate. As he nuzzled the crevice of her neck, her legs turned to putty.

Suddenly, Devin broke away and this time he stared at her in confusion. His quick actions startled her and she clutched at the counters behind her for support.

“I must bring in more firewood.” He backed away. “I’ll go no further than the barn.”

And with that, he was gone, leaving her alone and puzzled in the cabin.

After pacing the cabin about a dozen times with Devin’s cell phone in hand, Tamara settled down on the couch and dialed her counselor.

The line rang four times before Selene picked up. “Selene speaking.”

“It’s Tamara.”

“Tam! No way.” There was rustling on the other end that sounded a lot like she was driving at top speed with the windows down. “You scared the bat shit out of me! Where are you? You’ve been reported missing by the police. Brad and his crew are in jail locked up. They have him held without bond on a half a dozen felony counts, a slew of misdemeanors, and a possible manslaughter charge. I’ve got my manager all over my ass for losing contact with you. Dude, are you okay? There’s a—”

“Whoa, Selene. I’m okay.” She laughed nervously into the phone. She’d always known Selene to have an entire conversation without taking one breath.

Selene exhaled loudly on the other end. “So glad to hear that. I’ve been worried sick. Give me your location. Where are you?”

“I can’t…” Tamara looked at the door where she knew Devin sat within earshot on the porch. “…I can’t give you my location.”

“What? Why not? Don’t do this again,” Selene said, firmly.

“I’m safe. I promise you that.”

“Are you sure? You sound unsure.”

“I only called to let you know that I was okay,” Tamara said.

“Who are you with? Family?”

Leave it to Selene to give the third degree. “No, I’m…with a friend.”

“A guy friend?”

When Tamara didn’t say anything, the counselor spoke again. “Look, Tamara, you don’t have to make big decisions now. We can help you. Remember what I told you about how we can create a new identity for you. There would be no charge to you. You don’t have to do this alone. There’s a fresh start waiting for you. You just have to act.”

A fresh start? Would that choice hold all the answers? It would ensure that Brad never made contact with her again, but would it erase the years of abuse? Would it give her back the civilized life that she used to have?

“I’m still weighing my options,” Tamara said. “I’ve found a place where I can lay low for a while.”

“There will be no charges against you. We work closely with the authorities. They know what kind of situation you were in.”

“It’s not that. I’d turn myself in if I have to. I just want a breather from all of this, you know?”

“How long have you known this guy friend?”

There was no reason to give this woman a heart attack by revealing to her that she’d only known Devin for less than a week. “Look, Selene, I’ve got to go.”

“Wait!”

“Yes?”

“The offer is always open. Keep in touch. Please.”

Tamara sighed.

“Okay? Okay? Say okay.”

“Okay.” She glanced out toward the door where Devin sat. “Thank you, Selene. For everything that you have done to help me. You were a true friend throughout the process, and will always be.”

“Tamara…”

Tamara ended the call before she changed her mind.

“The snow is clearing out again.” Devin joined her at the kitchen sink, where she washed the last of the dinner plates.

When the second snowstorm hit less than a day after the first one, it had caught him off guard. He should have sensed it coming, but his mind had been wandering on other distractions and problems.

Her movements grew slower as she raised her gaze to meet his. “And you have to leave soon…I know.”

Something akin to guilt filled his heart. It was an odd gut feeling that he hadn’t experienced in a long time. “Time is of essence.”

The eve of the Blue Moon was near. If he was not there to cast a vote against his cousin’s claim to take over the pack, he would be devastated if his lack of action led to their demise because of it.

When Devin received the letter mailed to him from one of the elders informing him of his half-brother’s untimely passing, he’d been saddened. Of all the offspring of the late Daniel Caedmon, his half-brother Damon was known among his people to be the wisest and most respected. It was prophesized by many elders that one such as Damon would lead his people for over a century, gaining new territories and strengthening the bloodlines through unity.

Only a year had gone by since they’d buried Daniel Caedmon, his estranged father. Now, his son followed, leaving the pack without an Alpha. The passing of these two leaders would only start a rivalry among the pack. It seemed that year after year, his people would endure some hardship that would yet again set them back in the quest to become a truly unified pack.

Small warm fingers brushed against his forearm. “I understand.”

The gesture calmed his raging headache. He took her hand, turned her palm up, and lifted it to his face. Her skin was soft and warm against his face, and her sweet scent grew stronger. Even when they were apart, the mesmerizing smell of her would not go away. The scent was in his clothes and on his bed sheets. Everywhere. Even the memory of it was engraved in his mind. Taunting him. It called to his wolf and stirred the longing for companionship—a mate.

Devin squeezed his eyes shut, and tried to drive out the lustful thoughts. Ever since he’d met Tamara, those attempts had been futile. The urges of the wolf were growing stronger, tired of playing second fiddle to his human side.

Her hand swept across his face and she ran her fingers through his hair. The gesture was innocent, but the feelings it awakened within him were carnal.

He opened his eyes slowly to admire her beautiful face. The fear and confusion in her gaze was something he needed to see gone. Her lips were slightly open as if she wanted to speak again. They were full, red, and inviting. When he moved closer to her and titled her chin, she made no move to stop him.

His mouth brushed against hers softly. Instant gratification flowed through his core in response to this intimate touch. He pressed a kiss gently to her lips. One taste was not enough and he kissed her again. The third time their lips met, he coaxed hers open, sliding his tongue along the seam. She was as delicious as she looked, and he became greedy for more.

The sound of footsteps approaching the porch and climbing up the steps pulled them apart. There was a rap at the door.

Devin turned and lifted his nose to the air. One sniff and he knew the person’s identity. Nick.

“Who is it?” Tamara whispered, holding onto his arm.

“It’s Nick. I asked him to bring clothes.”

Devin walked out onto the porch to greet his long-time friend. “That was quick.”

Nicholas Hyatt’s loyalty had been unwavering throughout the years. When Devin had broken off from the pack five years ago, Nick had followed without hesitation. They spent several months living on the road with little to no money, until they finally found their passion and a trade. Home building.

“I had just arrived in the city when you called,” Nick said, handing him a duffel bag of what he assumed were the clothes for Tamara and him.

“How much do I owe?” He pulled out his wallet.

Nick waved his hand in a gesture of indifference. “Don’t even worry about it. I owed you a favor.”

“Thank you.”

“Who is she?”

He couldn’t blame Nick for asking. “She ran into some trouble in the city. I’ve offered her a place to stay.”

“And…?”

“What do you mean…and?” he asked, irritatingly.

Nick grinned. “You withheld information.”

“I didn’t know I had to answer to you.”

“Can I at least come inside?”

Devin sensed the curiosity in the other wolf’s demeanor. Nick wanted to know whom the woman was inside, yet Devin’s wolf protested because Tamara was still unclaimed—not marked as his.

Devin reached into his back pocket and pulled out some keys. “There’s another log cabin less than a quarter of a mile from here. North. It’s yours.”

Nick chuckled. “Possessive, are we?”

Devin growled.

“I passed by the village before coming here. There was talk about you, and surprisingly, your guest. Did you have a brawl with Jonathan?”

Devin frowned. “He was on my land, threatening my guest.” It had taken him hours to recover from the fight in the snow with the other wolf that played dirty during their fight.

“As a result of the spar, they know about the woman. While traveling here, I came across two from Darius’ circle who were sent to keep tabs on you.”

Over the last few days, there was this feeling that he was being watched, but he’d shrugged it off as too much anticipation.

“What was I to do? Let them wolf-handle an innocent woman?” Devin balled his hands into fist. “What do they want?”

“Darius wants to rise as leader. You know that.” Nick eyed him seriously. “They want you out of the equation. His followers will do anything to see to it. That puts everyone near you in danger.”

Devin swallowed, and then opened the door. “Come inside.”

As Nick shed off his boots and jacket, Devin turned to glance at Tamara who appeared to be finishing up with the cleaning. He met her halfway and brought her to stand next to him. “Tamara, this is my good friend, Nick. He is like a brother to me.”

Nick smiled and held out his hand. “Pleasure meeting you, Tamara.”

Devin pressed his lips together, trying to shake the bit of jealousy at the sight of the other man touching Tamara.

“Nice to meet you,” she whispered.

“Where are you from?”

“A little of everywhere,” she answered.

Nick raised an eyebrow high in astonishment. “Sounds interesting. We’ll have to discuss more about that.”

Devin moved to sit on the sofa, and Nick took the hint and followed.

Tamara’s hand rested on his shoulders. “Would you like some coffee?”

He caressed her hand as it lay against his skin. “Rest. You’ve been up all evening in the kitchen.”

“I’m fine.” She turned to Nick. “Nick, would you like some coffee? I’m going to make some for Devin.”

Nick’s lips spread in an amusing grin as his gaze shot back and forth from him to Tamara. “Yes, I would. I’ve been traveling all day.”

“Are you hungry? I was going to put up the leftovers from dinner. We had salmon, wild rice, and asparagus. Would you like some?”

“I would. That’s nice of you to offer,” Nick said. “The coffee would go quite nicely with a good home-cooked meal.”

Tamara smiled before she turned. She’d offered out of the generosity of her heart and seemed happy to oblige his request. Her heart was pure and kind, but now he feared that he’d introduced her to a new world of danger, like Nick had said.

“She’s nice, and a pleasure to look at,” the other wolf drawled. “No wonder you fought for her.”

This time, Devin snarled.

Nick held up his hands, palms out. “Hey, man, sorry. I recognize a good woman when I see one.”

And so do I…

Devin knew that Tamara was still in earshot, so he lowered his voice and asked, “How many will be there to cast a vote?”

“Four. Two elders. The youngest son of Daniel. And the first and oldest living son of Daniel, you.”

“We are the only ones?” Devin shook his head in disbelief.

“The only ones who’ve come forward. Ironically, none of you have stood up against Darius to lead.”

“Darius is shady. He steps forward for his own gain. He’d rather see our people return to the old ways of repression and gain through senseless battles with rival packs. Those customs caused us to lose many Caedmon lives,” Devin said.

He’d never been so furious. It had been personal reasons that made him fall astray from the pack, but he still loved and cared about the family and the people that he left behind. Why would they stand for this? Why would no one else step forward to lead?

“You’re right. We can’t go back to those customs. You know what you have to do.”

“I will not lead.” Devin stared with exasperation at Nick.

“I don’t care what anyone says, brother,” Nick sat up in the chair and returned a serious glare. “Your father denied it. You deny it even to this day. The pack belongs to you now. You are our leader.”

Devin had no words. Whether Nick’s statement was the truth or simply just his speculation, he would never feel welcome among a pack that disowned him and cast out his mother so very long ago.

He would remain the bastard son of Daniel Caedmon.

Never to rise as any kind of Alpha.

The statement had been engrained in his mind ever since he could understand the words and the meaning behind them. They’d been spoken by his own father, and they were words that he would never forget.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Tamara didn’t expect Devin to return so soon. The rhythm of his footsteps on the porch and the sounds of him dropping his ax and shedding his boots were all too familiar to her. He’d left a couple hours ago for the market, but assured her that Nick wasn’t too far away and that she’d be safe. Every so often, she would peek out the window and true to his word, a brown wolf lay under the trees nearby.

She glanced over at the kitchen table, which was not yet set. He’d be hungry from the journey and she should have had his food ready. She finished folding up a pair of his jeans and placed them in his sack as he came inside.

Devin looked around the house. He seemed confused. Had she cleaned and dusted the place to his liking?

“I’m sorry. I should have had food ready,” she said, then started off toward the kitchen.

He came behind her and gently pulled on her waist, tugging her into his chest. “What is my name, Tamara?”

“Devin.” She was puzzled with this question.

“There is no punishment for not doing something you don’t feel like doing. I will never give you orders,” he said, firmly.

She closed her eyes, embarrassed at her actions. It was only a normal routine for her to cook, clean, and have everything in perfect order before he came home. He was never angry when these things happened. He…

Tamara shook her head. Brad was gone from her life. She didn’t have to worry like this anymore. No one would strike her because the bed wasn’t made or the towels weren’t folded or the dinner table wasn’t set. Not anymore.

“I just don’t want you to be angry.” She’d never seen these emotions in Devin, and she certainly didn’t want this evening to be the first time. The last evening before he left on his quest.

“Tamara,” he whispered sadly, and then he dropped his forehead onto her shoulder. “Do you know it is custom in Caedmon culture to put the woman’s needs before the man’s?”

She shook her head.

“Even in human culture, there is never any excuse to treat a woman so badly.”

She bit her lips, swallowing down the shame of her past.

He lifted his head to look at her. “There is a difference between a man and a coward, don’t you think?”

“I guess so.”

“The answer is yes.” He brushed a curl from her forehead with his fingers and kissed her there. “Give me the name of the coward who did this to you?”

Tamara shook his head. “It’s over with.” There was no way she could let him get involved. This was her problem, not his. The solution to the damage that was already done would come in time…when she got her old life back. She could forget about the abuse then, while she focused on things that really mattered to her.

“I will find out,” he whispered.

It was a promise she hoped he did not keep.

“Devin, I don’t want to talk about that. This is your last night. I appreciate what you’ve done for me. I want it to be special, just in case I don’t see you again.”

“Come here.” He took her hand. “This will be our special night. I have something to give you.”

“What is it?”

He brought her to sit on the bed, and then lifted the lid to the chest in front of it. She waited as he parted the clothes and pulled out a small wooden box. He opened it up to reveal an emerald pendant on a necklace and lifted it, holding it between them.

The shiny edges flashed and glinted as he held it up to the light. “This used to belong to me. My mother gave it to me.” He opened her palm and placed it inside.

The stone was surprisingly warm against her skin. “It’s pretty.”

“It’s for protection. I want you to have it.”

“No. It’s too much.” She tried to give the pendant back to him.

“Tamara, please keep it.” He opened the loop and draped the necklace over her chest.

“I’m not worth this. You should give it to someone very special.” It seemed like too generous of a gift for someone like her, someone that would be gone from his life in a matter of hours.

“You are very special to me. Do you want to know one of the reasons?”

She smiled. “Yes.”

“You’ve made me realize how good it feels to help others. I helped you, and now I want to help my pack find a leader who will lead us into the next generation.”

Tamara picked up the stone and closed her palm over it. How could she ever say no to that? “Thank you.”

“I know you don’t believe in the spirit of Caedmon, but its powers exist within that gem. You will be protected from evil.”

“I believe in the spirit of Caedmon. I believe because you are Caedmon.”

He smiled. “Let’s eat together, and then we will talk until the sun comes up as we did last night.”

“Stay strong, Tamara. I will return.”

It was all the words that Tamara needed to hear from Devin.

“I can do that.” She nodded and then stepped into his embrace. His bare chest felt warm and soft against her cheeks. Taking a deep breath in, she reveled in the scent of him. Why did she want to demand that he not leave?

“Remember, Nick will be nearby at all times. Should you need something, just call out to him.”

“Devin, how long will you be gone?”

“I won’t be long.” He pressed a single kiss onto her forehead. “Six hours at the most.”

“I wish I could go with you.”

“Not this time, Tamara.” He shook his head. “I don’t know how well received I will be among my people. I will come back for you. You have my word.”

Devin started to leave but she grabbed his arm, pulling him closer. She stood on her tiptoes and leaned into him, meeting his lips in a kiss. He rested his hands on her hips and returned her kiss. His tongue sought entrance into her mouth. She parted her lips slowly, allowing them to join in a more intimate union.

The hard angles and muscles of his body fit perfectly to her soft curves just as they had last night when she fell asleep by the fireplace curled against him. He was gentle with her and took her mouth lovingly.

Before she knew it, her back was pressed firmly against the wall of the cabin. They parted briefly to catch their breath, and then he claimed her lips again. He angled their mouths and deepened the kiss. Her body grew hotter by the second, and her legs felt like they would give out from under her. His body wasn’t the only thing as hard as rock. A hard erection pressed against her stomach through the confines of their clothing.As soon as she arched into him, Devin broke away and brought her hands up to his face to kiss them. “We should stop now before it’s too late.”

Her lips tingled and her body yearned for something more. “Wait,” she said when he moved toward the door.

He paused, his hand on the doorknob.

She pointed to the bag that was packed and ready for him by the chairs. “Your bag.”

Emerald flickered bright around his irises. “I go as wolf tonight.” With that, he was out of the door.

She ran out under the evening sky and stood on the porch. Devin’s body was illuminated by the majestic moon and bright stars, his eyes glowing in the dark.

“Devin…” she whispered.

It happened so quickly. In a flash. It had to have occurred when she blinked. The wolf stood in the same place where Devin had once been. His stare bore into hers one last time before it titled its nose to the sky, and let out a howl that echoed beyond the trees.

What chilled her to the very core was a chorus of howls from wolves further off in the distance.

The wolf took off into the forest, disappearing from her sight.

Devin heard them before he saw them.

He stood back behind an old oak tree peering in the opening where his people mingled. They were having some kind of celebration despite the dire situation of the pack. From the type of music that flowed through the speakers of the Main Hall where some of them socialized, he could tell that it was someone’s birthday. One of the elders probably. They always got the biggest and most extravagant parties.

It had been five long years. Nothing had changed about the place. Those he recognized from his post behind the tree looked like they hadn’t aged a day in their life since he left. The aging process of the Caedmon was significantly slower than humans. Except for shorter hair, he probably looked the same as he did the day he left the place.

Would everyone feel the same way about him as the day he was declared an outcast?

There was only one way to find out.

Devin emerged from behind the bushes and attempted to blend with the crowd. At first, no one noticed him. As he hastily made his way toward his destination, heads began to turn in his direction. Of course. They were wolves and could smell an imposter among a crowd. He held his head low, eyes to the ground. Unrest among the pack was not something he wanted to be the cause of. At least not this night.

Something totally unexpected began to happen. The noise died down considerably. When he looked up this time, most everyone was staring in his direction. They formed a line on either side of the trail, parting to let him pass. The ones in wolf form bowed their heads with their noses pointed to the ground. Those in human form lowered their heads as well. By now, the music had stopped playing and the whispering grew rampant.

Devin was shocked at this receiving, but he feigned a calm composure and nodded to return the display of respect. The only wolf deserving of this type of welcoming was the Alpha of the pack. Perhaps they’d mistaken him for Daniel’s other son.

Making his way to the home at the end of the beaten path, he spotted the statuesque form of the elder he came to see. Roman. He was the oldest Caedmon alive. The old man had to have been well over a hundred-fifty years old. The brown cloak that was draped over Roman’s shoulders seemed to weigh down his frail form. One hand rested on his cane, leaving the other free to push the hood of the garment off his head. His white eyes seemed to sparkle with question. He’d been blind since he was born, yet Roman was known as the wisest Caedmon elder to date.

Roman lowered his head just like the others. “Devin.”

“That’s not necessary,” Devin remarked.

“Come inside.” The old man gripped his arm firmly and led him into the home.In the foyer, Devin removed his shoes, leaving them near the door.

Roman moved through the home as if he had 20/20 vision, and poured two tiny cups of what was likely some herbal tea and placed them on an end table near the fireplace. “Sit.” He motioned to the empty chair with his hand.

He obliged Roman’s request.

“What took you so long to come?” the old man asked.

“I ran into some things that needed to be taken care of first.”

“The woman? Has she been taken care of?”

Devin stiffened. He’d forgotten how easy it was for Roman to catch a lie or, for this matter, the other half of the truth. This was the man who’d tutored him for almost seventeen years. He should have known better. “Yes. She ran into some trouble and needed some help.” He picked up the cup and took a sip of the warm tea. “I also needed time to think.”

“And your decision?”

“The Blue Moon and voting ceremony are two nights away, is it not?”

“Do you plan to cast a vote against Darius?” Roman asked.

“Yes,” Devin said firmly. There was no doubt about that. One thing he never wanted to see was Darius leading his people.

“Good. Then you will rise to lead the pack.”

“I did not say that.” Devin placed the cup back on the tray.

Roman’s face became distorted in anger. “Did you not see tonight that our people have accepted you? You are next in line. They look to you to lead.”

“I was never meant to lead.”

“You were always marked to lead us. I told you this long ago.”

He’d been no more than twelve when Roman told him of the Alpha who would lead their people for over a century, climbing in rank as the strongest pack in the nation.

“Daniel prohibited me from benefiting from the treasures that he bestowed on his other sons. I was born a bastard, and he was ashamed of me. I wasn’t marked to lead; I was marked as an outcast.”

Roman sighed heavily and squeezed his eyes shut as if the words hurt him. He knew they were true. Even the Caedmon people knew he was nothing more than the son of the Alpha’s mistress.

“You were at his funeral, weren’t you?” Roman asked.

Devin lowered his head. It took every ounce of energy in his body to dispel his pride and see his father being laid to rest.

“Your father had a change of heart.” The old man stood and moved to the other side of the room near a tall bookcase. “Sadly the death of your mother, his failing health, and seeing you leave the pack indefinitely was likely the cause for this.” He brought a silver scroll and placed it firmly in the middle of the table. “The last will and testament of Daniel Caedmon.”

Devin shivered visibly as a cold draft stirred in the small home. “It doesn’t matter what is written. I know what he said to me. I saw how he treated my mother.”

“People say things they don’t mean. Your mother left Daniel to bond with her true mate. Daniel knew that she was not his mate, yet he wanted to claim someone so badly. The Alpha who is prophesized to lead us to greatness claims a mate. He wanted that title. Greed contributed to his ultimate downfall.” Roman pushed the scroll toward him on the table. “Before Daniel passed, he made me promise that you would receive it. Many attempts to contact you in Montana failed.”

“Damon…Damon claimed a mate. He’d done all the things outlined as prophesized. His death was an accident. Could he have been the chosen?”

Roman shook his head. “No. Damon rose to leadership because you were absent. AWOL. Only three of us know about the will. Your own brother, Damon, read it to me and the other Elder. We have not told anyone because we want our people to have hope for their futures. We cannot bear to tell them that the pack will die out because the chosen refuses to rise.”

Devin clutched the scroll in his palm, making a fist. He unscrewed the top and pulled out the rough vellum paper. It took both hands to hold the curled edges down against the table so that he could read the fine print.

It read: I, Daniel William Caedmon III, of the state of Virginia, son of Daniel William Caedmon II, now leader of the Caedmon people, do make and declare my last will and testament as follows…To my first born son, Devin Tomas Caedmon, I give and devise all lands, buildings and properties that I hold or have a right to. I also give him all sums of money, silver, and gold. I give him my blessing to rise as Caedmon leader should he choose this path…

Devin looked up, meeting the adamant, blind gaze of the elder.

Roman whispered one word and one word only on a hoarse breath. “Rise.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Tamara threw open the door and raced outside to greet Devin. With open arms, he hugged her close, embracing her the way she’d imagined he would.

He kissed her feverishly, then stepped back to stare at her. “I’ve missed you.”

She smiled. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”

He looked down at her feet. “Where are your shoes?”

The grass was still damp from the morning dew, but she could care less that her feet were suddenly cold. Devin was home, and she felt completely safe again.

He scooped her up and carried her back into the cabin. Once inside, he set her down at the foot of the bed. “Stay right there. I have something for you.”

Tamara waited patiently on the bed, and watched as he set a large bowl of water next to her feet. Before kneeling before her, he grabbed the tail end of his shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing bronze skin and tight muscles.

He dipped a cloth in the bowl, wrung out the excess water and then lifted her feet onto his thighs. “You look tired. I thought I told you to rest while I was gone.”

“I couldn’t sleep.” The heated washcloth felt like heaven against the soles of her feet.

After both feet were devoid of sand, he pulled a bottle out of the bag he brought back. He unscrewed the top and poured a small amount of the liquid into his hands.

“What’s that?”

“It’s massage oil. It will help you relax.”

Strong hands started with her toes, massaging the tension away. She fell back onto the bed and closed her eyes. When he reached the ends of her dress, he slid his palms under the fabric to knead her thighs. He worked his way up to her hips. Before long, her body became lax under his expert fingers. The sweet scent of the oil tantalized her, and he worked with precision.

The mattress creaked as he joined her on the bed. She opened her eyes to meet his gaze.

“I sometimes think this is a dream,” he whispered, “and that one day I will wake up and you will be gone.”

“You would have one less problem to worry about.”

“No. This is a dream come true.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “How did I become so lucky to come across a woman like you?”

Tamara covered his hand with hers. “And how did I become so lucky to come across a man like you?”

When their lips joined in a kiss, a feeling of euphoria washed over her. His hands traveled under her dress once again, grabbing her waist and pulling her closer into him. He dipped lower to kiss her on her face, neck, and shoulders. His fingers moved slow and gentle across and her body. Her mind flourished with lustful naughty thoughts.

“I would show you how much I have wanted you all this time…if you will allow me.” He breathed hard against her chest as a spoke the words.

She wanted him to show her how it felt to be wanted. “I’ve never been with a…” Her words trailed off.

“I can be gentle. Like this.” He slid his lips across the tops of her breast, leaving a flaming sensation across her skin. “Or I can be rough…like this.” He swept his tongue firmly over a nipple and suckled her through the fabric of the dress.

“Devin…” Her breath hitched sharply and she bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out in pleasure. The sensation of his mouth on her made her toes curl, but the feeling died out quickly when he lifted his head, eyebrows raised in question.

“Only if you are ready. Only if you will accept me.”

“I want you.”

He moved in and brushed his lips to the underside of her chin.

She grasped his shoulders and held him back. “The lights?”

He looked up at the light hanging over them. “What about them?”

“You forgot to turn them off.”

“No, I did not. When I touch you, I want to see how much it pleases you.”

She nodded, a heated blush fanning over her face.

Devin slipped the straps off her shoulders and bared her breasts to him. His gaze never left hers as he grabbed her in one hand and sucked her bud between his lips. He drew circles around the nipple, teasing the aureola. Her nipples puckered painfully under his playful tongue. He gave the other breast as much attention, kneading them with his palms.

The erection in his pants pressed against her belly. “I smell your sweet heat, Tamara. Say the words, and I will give you the release your body craves.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?” He nuzzled the side of her neck, and licked at the sensitive skin behind her ear.

“I will accept you.”

His lips and tongue over her body felt as good as the massage he gave earlier. It seemed as though he deliberately slowed things down. He observed her as he teased her with an attentive gaze. She had fallen so deep into his trance that she did not realize that she now lay completely naked on the bed for his inspection.

Devin was now down to his boxer briefs. The size of his dick did nothing to rid her of her hesitations. He was so big and erect that the head emerged from the waistband.

He grinned and brought her legs up so that the back of her thighs was against his chest. Bringing her foot to his lips, he kissed her toes. The other foot was given an equal amount of attention. Her pussy clenched as he dragged his tongue up the insole of her foot. She clutched at the bed sheets, as her core tightened into the buildup of an orgasm.

His lips left a wet trail on the inside of one thigh. He stopped to kiss her at the junction of her thighs.

“Please…” Her clit throbbed.

“Come,” he commanded.

Spreading her thighs further apart, he dragged his tongue slowly through her pussy lips. Her body convulsed involuntary on the bed as her release flooded through her. He found her center and suckled on her clit, prolonging the sensation. Her orgasm was so powerful, that it not only took over her body, but mind and soul as well. He lapped greedily at her nectar as small shivers pulsed through her. It wasn’t until he grabbed her hips and pulled her pussy closer to his mouth that she realized that he wasn’t going to stop. He tongue lashed her already sensitive bud with accurate, firm strokes. A fire raged through her core and she came again.

He growled in satisfaction, and she moaned in ecstasy. His lips glistened with her honey as he rose to kneel above her on the bed. Her eyes widen at the length and girth of his manhood. His dick was hard as a rock with thick veins running under the thin skin. It stood erect, nearly vertical to the ground, and the head tilted to the right.

“Your fucking pussy was delicious,” he growled.

Tamara brought herself to a sitting position to kiss him, tasting her juices on his tongue. She reached for his cock and wrapped her fingers around it. He was nearly as big as her wrist and the veins pulsed against her palm eagerly. She led him down over her and he found her center with no trouble. The head of his dick sunk into her with ease. Her wet pussy clenched in need of him.

“Tamara, look at me.”

She lifted her gaze to Devin, to the man who’d saved her life. The pupils of his eyes narrowed. They were the eyes of the wolf.

He sank deeper into her. “Do you understand what I am? Can you accept that?”

“I already have, Devin. I owe my life to your wolf.”

“My wolf…my wolf wants to claim you as his own.”

She interlocked her fingers around his neck, pulling him closer. He slid inside of her until he was buried to the hilt. She bit into his shoulder as the ache from being stretched subsided. Accepting him, she opened her legs wider, accommodating his girth. His thick shaft moved inside of her with gentle slow strokes at first. When he was completely coated with her juices, he increased tempo and pressure. He grabbed onto her ass and held her down as he pumped into her.

Gratifying sensations overtook her and she let go once again. As she came, her pussy milked his cock. His breathing came hard and fast against her neck where he rested his face against hers. Wrinkles developed on his forehead at the same time he groaned in pleasure. Hot seed seared her insides as he came within her. He stroked through his orgasm, pumping what seemed like every last bit of his soul inside her.

After their hearts calmed, he snuggled beside her on the bed and gathered her in his arms.

She’d fought sleep earlier while waiting for him to return, but now all of her energy was gone for sure. Her eyelids grew heavy.

“Sleep, love,” he whispered.

“I don’t want to wake up without you here…with me.” She heard her own voice slur as she fought to keep her eyes open.

“I will be right here when you wake up,” he said.

“Promise?”

“I promise.” He closed his eyes. “Now let’s sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow.”

CHAPTER NINE

Tamara clutched the emerald pendant, running her fingers along the flat edges, as they turned off the main highway onto an unevenly paved road. The stone sign that read Caedmon village was the only indication she needed that they’d arrived.

She glanced out of the passenger side window, looking between the trees for any sign of life. A feeling of nervousness settled over her as soon as they came across a clearing in the forest. That was when she began seeing the tops of homes, and grown-ups and children walking around going about their daily business. It reminded her of the community she grew up in while living in Florida with her parents. A close-knit community where everyone was considered family.

Devin placed a hand on her thigh as he turned down a street. “I sense your hesitation. Don’t be afraid.”

It was probably easier from him to say. He knew these people. They were like a family to him. They were Caedmon.

“Are there any humans?”

There was silence for a while. “Not since I last left.”

“What will happen when they see me?”

“Nothing,” he said. “All of us interact with humans on a daily basis. Most of them work outside of our community.”

“Will you be punished?”

“No. And even if it did come with a punishment, it wouldn’t matter. You are very special to me, and I don’t care what anyone else thinks.”

Tamara relaxed at those words, but in the back of her mind, she knew there would be consequences.

Devin drove the truck through some wrought iron gates, and pulled into the driveway of the biggest house on the block. It wasn’t a house, for that matter. It was a three-story mansion.

He parked in front of the garage alongside a black SUV and shut off the engine. Turning to her, he said, “My business here should take less than a week…if all goes well. After things die down, we can start building that house you and I have been talking about.”

Tamara smiled. Not one day had passed by since he first showed her the sketch of the expansion that they did not talk about the construction of the home, what materials should go into the interiors, where the windows should be, and how high the vaulted ceilings should go. “I’m sure you don’t need my say in the matter. You build homes for a living.”

He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. “But I appreciate your woman’s touch and expertise on some areas.”

She spotted someone emerging from the home and stand on the doorstep. Another followed until the pair flanked either side of the door. Their actions weren’t consistent with people who owned the home and wanted to welcome a guest. Their stance was more suited to servants. “Exactly whose home is this?”

“Apparently, it belongs to me.”

Before she could question him, he got out and came around the other side to open her door.

A young man appeared beside them. He looked neither of them in the eye. In fact, his head was lowered. “Sir—”

“That is not necessary. Address me as Devin.”

“Devin, may I take your bags inside?” the young man asked.

Devin handed him a set of keys. “Thank you.”

Tamara clutched Devin’s hand as they took the narrow pathway to the front door.

“Welcome, sir,” the servants spoke in unison. One of them gave her a quick sideways glance.

There was yet another servant waiting on them in the foyer. “May I take your coat?”

Devin helped Tamara remove her coat and then he handed off both garments to the woman.

“I’m Lenora. I’m the head maid in charge. I would be honored to remain here to serve you as I have your late sibling.” She bowed her head slightly, and then gestured off to their left. “Your bother is waiting for you in the office. You’ve arrived in time for dinner,” the woman said, as she led them down a long corridor.

They came to stop in front of a set of double doors. Lenora took a long look at her. The wrinkles that developed above the bridge of her nose told Tamara that she was not the least bit pleased at her presence.

“Sir,” Lenora tore her glance away from Tamara long enough to turn to Devin. “Your room has been prepared. I’ll have Leo bring up your luggage. Will your guest be staying with us?”

“Please address me as Devin, and yes, Tamara will be staying.”

“I will prepare a separate room for her.”

“No,” he said firmly. “She will be staying with me.”

With that, Lenora swung open the doors and stood off to one side. “Good night, si—Devin.”

Just as she speculated, she hadn’t been well received. After all, she was only a human among wolves.

Devin’s half-brother Dawson stood when he and Tamara entered the room. At first glance, Devin realized that Dawson was the spitting image of his mother, Gloria, who had striking blue eyes and blond hair. Daniel Caedmon and Gloria weren’t true mates, but Daniel regarded her as such.

Dawson was only seventeen years old, but he appeared mature and wise for his age. Devin met him in the center of the room, and they hugged. They’d never been close. The differences in age played a factor, but by the time Dawson had been born, Devin had learned his place as the bastard son and had grown further and further apart from the family.

“Brother,” Dawson said. “I am so glad you are here.”

“Why?” Devin asked. “I will only stand in the way of things.”

Dawson nodded. “I was hoping for that. I’m not strong enough to stand alone against Darius.”

There was a hint of fear in Dawson’s eyes. Heck, he even smelled it throughout the room. “Why do you say that?”

This time Dawson looked him square in the eyes. “There is only speculation…but I have a gut feeling that Damon’s death was no accident.”

“A rock climbing accident, right?”

“Accident,” Dawson scoffed. “He was an expert climber. We found the rope still attached to the anchor. It was cut, not torn. It was no accident.”

Devin swallowed his disgust, and cringed as his heart thudded with rage. Could Damon have been murdered? Of course, he wouldn’t put something like that past Darius. There was a lot to gain being Caedmon leader. History had a way of repeating itself. In the past, potential leaders had been known to fight to the death to gain such a position.

It wasn’t until Tamara gently squeezed his arm that he felt calm again. “I’ve been rude.” He placed a hand in the small of Tamara’s back so that she stood ahead of him. “This is Tamara. Dawson is my youngest brother.”

“Hello, Tamara.” Dawson offered his hand.

Tamara accepted the greeting. “Nice to meet you, Dawson.”

“You’re human,” Dawson said.

“She is.” Devin said. “Tamara holds a special place in my heart.” The statement flowed from his mouth so easily, but it was the truth.

Dawson smiled. “It must be nice to have someone you can share your heart with.”

The fact was that he had never shared his heart with anyone. Hearts were too easily broken, yet, he gambled his away once again. But Tamara wasn’t his father. She was far from it.

Devin nodded toward the table. “We should eat. Let’s talk over dinner.”

Tamara reached for the bottle and squeezed more of the almond and vanilla smelling body wash onto the sponge. She drew in a deep breath, and reveled in the essence of it. How long had it been since she’d soaked for this long in a warm bath?

After smoothing the soap over her skin, she closed her eyes and sank deeper inside, resting her head against the edge of the tub. The water in the whirlpool reached her collarbones, and she could actually stretch her legs out without being cramped.

This was no ordinary bath. The room they’ve been offered to stay in was fit for a king and queen. Everything about it—the silken bed sheets, plush carpet, and heavenly soft mattress—was extravagant. The bathroom was complete with a full shower, dual marble vanity sinks, and sleek tile floors. It reminded her of something she’d seen on the cover of a magazine featuring homes for the rich and famous.

A strong set of hands molded over her shoulders. She didn’t hear Devin come in, but there was no mistaken that it was him. His familiar smell was like a drug to her.

He massaged her neck and shoulders. “You’ve been in here a very long time.”

“I can’t help it. The water feels so good.”

“May I join you?”

Tamara grinned. “There might be enough room in here for you.”

“Are you teasing me?” The water swooshed around her as he stepped into the whirlpool.

“Would you like me to?” She opened her eyes in time to see the lower half of his body disappear under the bubbles.

“I’ve been waiting long enough to have a moment alone with you.”

Although, he’d never left the house, there’d been several meetings and things that needed tending to. “I was bored without you.”

“I’m sorry.” His expression turned serious then. “You shouldn’t have to deal with my craziness.”

“It’s not that.” She reached up to slick back the hair from his forehead. “It’s just that I want you all to myself…which is selfish.”

“We share the same feeling, then. Tomorrow we’ll take a short trip into the city. Just me and you. Like a date.”

“I would like that.”

He moved in closer until his body was touching hers. “I want you all to myself too, Tamara. Just like it was back in the cabin.”

“We have now,” she whispered, her fingers spreading over his chest. “We can pretend that we’re back in the cabin.”

One night and several rounds of sex with Devin had turned her into a sex fiend. She’d never been this direct with any man. Didn’t even remember the last time having sex brought on such a potent mixture of emotions.

Tamara tilted her chin and initiated the kiss, but Devin didn’t just return a simple kiss. He made love to her lips, sipping at them gently and exploring her mouth with long lingering caresses of his tongue.

His manhood brushed against the apex of her thighs and she reached between them to grab him. He tore away from the kiss and tilted his face to the ceiling. A look of pleasure crossed his features as she stroked him. His dick transformed to rock hard and the veins pulsed against her fingers. She traced a line from tip to root, and watched as his balls drew up tighter around his dick. He was long and full in her hand. A work of fine art. She took her time pumping him between her fist.

Devin covered her hand with his. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“No. I’ve never seen it quite like this before. You’re perfect.”

Not only was he twice as long and big as the asshole she’d foolishly chosen to give her virginity too, he also had no issues with letting her touch him. Sex in her past was always performed with the lights off. No foreplay. No kissing. Emotions were even non-existent.

“Touch me all you want, Tamara, but I can’t promise I will last long if you continue to torture me like so.”

She grinned and led him to sit on the edge of the tub. The sexual control she had over him made her want to do devilish things. With his throbbing dick in hand, she moved forward causing him to move backward. When he couldn’t move any further, she knelt in the water in front of him and slid her tongue against the opening on his cock head.

He uttered an expletive, and bit the corner of his bottom lip.

She tongued his rod, tracing along the veins. He seemed to grow even more under her touch. His reacting like that gave her satisfaction in knowing that she could please him.

“Tamara, I will come if you don’t stop.”

“Exactly, making you come is my plan,” she whispered against the underside of his dick head, and then looked up to lock gazes with him.

There was a small amount of precum at the tip, and she licked it up with her tongue. He was spicy and sweet, just like salted caramel. She covered him with her mouth, yearning for more of him. It was almost impossible to take all of him inside, as she wanted to do. She used her hands to pump and stroke him, as she hungrily sucked at the bulbous head.

“Oh my G—.” He took either side of her head with his hands. “Just like that. Fuck.”

The sound of his eager voice had her pussy clenching in need. She stopped sucking him long enough to make her next demand. “Sit on the edge. I want to fuck you.”

He did as she obliged, moving quickly. “You like to be in control, is that it?”

The idea of sexually dominating Devin turned her on. “Yes.”

“I like that. A woman who will take charge.” Devin dragged her into his embrace, tipped her chin, and took her lips in a kiss. The kiss was passionate and it confirmed how much he wanted her.

He lifted her thighs over him so that she was straddling him. His dick pierced her opening and she cried out. She was still sore from the previous night, yet she still wanted more of the same. He bent his head to her breasts and took a nipple into his mouth. A jolt of pleasure burst through her body as he suckled, causing a warming sensation inside her. She slid down on him with minimal effort, taking all of him inside of her.

Tamara rocked her hips back and forth, adjusting to his size. She moved slowly at first and then fucked him with firm deliberate thrusts. His hands squeezed the globes of her ass as she bounced. She held her hands at the back of his neck, and tilted her hips at just the right angle. It was unnecessary as he was long and wide enough to touch all her nerve endings. Her climax was near, building inside of her, but wavering over the edge. She didn’t want this feeling of euphoria to end. Lust. Love. Carnal desire. Need. All those emotions swarmed within her. She slowed her pumping and claimed his mouth with a kiss.

She lifted herself off of him and knelt on the bench on the other side of the whirlpool with her back turned to him. Looking over her shoulder, she said, “Now you will fuck me…this way.”

“Oh, yeah?” He bent over her and kissed lightly along her spine. “You’ve teased the hell out of me. Shall I return the favor?”

She pressed her ass up against his erection. “Would you be able to resist the urge not to?”

“Tease.” Devin lifted both of her arms and placed her hands on the silver bars in front of her. “You will need to hold on tight, because I’m going to fuck you good and hard.”

“Please do,” she whispered.

His lips moved lower to brush against her hips and he didn’t stop there. “You have a nice ass.” He pushed two fingers into her drenched pussy and then slid them up and down her slit.

Parting her pussy, he took her with his mouth. She cried out as he pulled her clit between his lips, teasing her with the tip of his tongue. He sampled her from behind, and she struggled to keep her slippery hands on the bars. With slow tantalizing strokes of his tongue, he licked from clit to ass again and again until her legs shook from the intensity of the desire raging in her body. Throwing her head back, she cried out his name as her climax raced through her.

Devin slammed into her with one stroke while she was still riding erotic waves. He grabbed hold of her hips and pounded into her relentlessly, never missing a beat. “Is this how you want me to fuck you?”

Waves of water splashed onto the floor. She threw her ass back, meeting him thrust for thrust.

“Yes…” It was all she could manage to say as yet another climax hit her.

“I want you forever…to claim you.”

“I know…your wolf,” she said, the words escaping her on bated breath.

His body began to shake and he stroked deeper within her. “Mine,” he growled, as hot seed exploded into her heated pussy.

Mine. Those words echoed through bathroom, and seemed to repeat itself in her head. Her heart rate had not returned to normal by the time they finally separated. With weakened legs, she collapsed into the tub and fell back against Devin’s chest.

She’d experienced twice as many emotions with Devin, as she had in her whole lifetime. This was the way it was supposed to be.

CHAPTER TEN

“So, how did you two meet?” Dawson asked out of the blue, as he stuffed hefty pieces of steak into his mouth.

Tamara put down her fork and glanced across the table at Devin. He took a long sip of water, and then nodded.

“We met at a museum,” she said. “Devin had just arrived in town when we…bumped into each other.”

“Bumped?” Dawson raised an eyebrow. With his blue eyes and blond hair, he looked nothing like his brother. They were tall, built the same for the most part, but each were like night and day. “Did you know what he was?”

“Not at the time.” It didn’t matter what he was. He’d saved her from possible miserable consequences because of a last minute decision to flee from Brad’s abuse. It was a selfless act he’d made by delaying pressing matters while seeing to it that she was safe within his haven.

Dawson sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “The only reason the whole village hasn’t revolted yet is because of who Devin is.”

“Revolted?” Tamara frowned.

“You’re human. How do we know you don’t pose a threat to us all?”

“Dawson, that’s enough,” Devin warned.

“No. Let him talk.” She placed her fork on her plate. “I would never gain anything from bringing harm to your people.”

“You had to have known you were visiting a pack of wolves, and there would be opposition. What precisely would you gain from being here?”

“Devin.”

The whole table fell quiet at her declaration. It seemed to satisfy Dawson’s curiosity about her intentions as well. She lifted her gaze to study Devin, but he was already looking at her. His lips turned up in a smile, and she sighed in relief.

“Excuse me.” Lenora, the maid, stood at the doorway, holding a small girl by the hand.

Lenora waited patiently until Devin motioned for her to come in.

“Roman made it at long last. He said he was sorry he could not attend dinner but had to take care of other matters.” She pushed the girl gently forward. “He said he wanted you to meet Elisa.”

Elisa’s eyes remained on the floor, and she wrung her little hands against her white and red daisy dress. Her bouncy brown curls hugged her face, making her resemble a doll.

“Elisa, hello.” Devin was the first to speak. “Would you like to join us at the table? We’re having cake for dessert.”

The girl shook her head furiously, eyes still on the floor. “I don’t like cake.”

Lenora knelt before her, taking both of the girl’s little hands in hers. “It’s okay, Elisa. You have to be strong like we talked about.”

“Did Roman not leave a package?” Devin asked.

The maid stood and pulled the little girl closer to the table. “There are not many ways to put this, sir, but Elisa is the package.”

Devin dropped his utensils on the plate. “What do you mean…she’s the package?”

“Devin. Dawson. Elisa is the daughter of a maid that once worked here under your father. She’s your half-sister.”

“What!” Both Devin and Dawson chimed in shock.

Elisa cringed, all while keeping her gaze on the floor. Tamara immediately felt sorry for her and she was inclined to get up to console the girl.

Devin hadn’t even made it to the first step yet when Roman opened the door to his home and motioned for him to come inside. The elder probably hadn’t even used his gifts to sense his arrival. The surprise Roman had bestowed upon Devin at dinner would have been cause to anticipate a visit from anyone.

Devin sat in one of the chairs facing the fireplace. His hands itched in impatience as the elder poured steaming hot water over some herbs in a teacup.

Roman placed the tray on the table in front of them. “It’s rather late. You should be resting because you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow.”

He didn’t care about tomorrow; he was concerned with what he’d found out this day. “Is it true?”

“Have you ever known me to tell a lie?”

“Our sister,” Devin said in shock. “She’s barely nine years old. How could my father have kept this a secret?”

“The same way he kept your birth a secret.”

Devin’s frustration had his blood boiling. “But my mother wasn’t a maid in his servitude. How many female servants has he fucked? How many more children has he sired?”

“I have no knowledge of any others.” Roman pushed a cup of tea across the table toward him.

To appease the elder, he downed the hot herbal beverage in one gulp. The heat spread throughout him, added to the rage blazing inside his body. “Ironically, she seems to have been born around the same time my mother was banished from the village.”

“Your father never listened to me when it came to women. He was very busy in that department.”

“The child…where has she been staying?” If he knew his father right, he would have wanted to keep Elisa hidden away, but forever under his watchful eyes.

“Her mother was banished from the village when she was six years old. Up until then, she had been a servant. For the last three years, she’s been living with her aunt.”

“I can’t imagine what she has been through. Our situations are very similar, but she’s way younger than I was.”

Roman smiled. “I’ve had the privilege of tutoring her. She’s very mature for her age.”

“She’s taken a liking to Tamara. They were in the library when I left. Elisa knows our history well.”

“Elisa is special.”

Devin nodded. “Yes, all children are.”

“Elisa is a seer.”

“A seer? Like you?”

“She will lend great knowledge to our next generation.” His eyebrows drew together in concentration. “Your offspring.”

“Then she will become an Elder, like you?”

The old man chuckled. “A seer never gives away all his secrets.” He stood. “It is time for you to go now. Tomorrow, you will claim your birthright.”

He took the hint, and moved toward the door. “Do you have anything else to tell me before I leave?”

Roman’s lips spread into a slow smile. “What else would you like to know?”

Devin didn’t know if he wanted to discover anymore surprises. How could Roman deal with so much knowledge and not suffer from information and historical overload? “Goodnight, old friend.”

“Devin…”

He paused outside the home, and turned to find the Elder standing in the door frame.

“Sooner or later, you will have to give into the urges of your wolf side. He is stronger now than he’s ever been before. Not even as a child was your wolf this confidant. Only a true mate would bring out this much dominance in a wolf.”

“Why are you telling me this?” he asked.

“A wolf always knows his mate.”

The elder closed the door, leaving him standing in darkness among the sound of crickets.

Devin snuggled against Tamara, resting his chin on her shoulders and wrapping his arms around her tightly. She responded by moving closer to him in their spoon. His body was still heated from their rounds of sex, but she’d begun to shiver after they’d parted. The temperatures had dropped below freezing soon after he returned from visiting Roman. He had to remember that Tamara was only human and her temperature did not adjust that quickly to this type of weather.

She’d not fallen asleep yet. Devin could tell from her uneasy breathing.

“Tomorrow night is the Blue Moon,” he said.

“I know. Elisa told me.”

“What exactly did Elisa tell you?” Devin thought back to what Roman had said. With Elisa being a seer, there was no telling what she’d revealed to Tamara.

“She said that all the wolves would gather. It’s usually a time of celebration, but this one will end in disorder.”

Elisa was right. If he remembered correctly about how competitive his cousin was from their days as young pups, then he would not go down without a fight.

Devin swallowed hard. “I owe this duty to the Caedmon people.”

“I respect your decision.”

Was Tamara his true mate? It would explain why he’d been so drawn to her the night at the museum. There was this feeling to protect her like only mated wolves do. He’d had other women before, but before they could expect any sort of commitment he would break it off with them. Bachelorhood was better than having a broken heart in the long run. At least, that was his take on life until he bumped into Tamara. She awakened the urges of his wolf, a wolf who yearned for a life-long companion.

But how could it be possible that his mate was a human?

She sighed. “But, it’s obvious that I don’t fit in here.”

“It will take time for the Caedmon people to accept our union. I’m the bastard son of Daniel Caedmon and many still oppose me. My people have been betrayed many times in the past by pack members that have long been removed. There has always been hesitation to embrace change.”

“I don’t want to come between you and your pack. Knowing that you’ve broken a rule because I was selfish hurts me.”

“Your actions were not selfish. We both want each other. Let’s commit to be together and let the cards fall where they may. I want you in my life.” There would never be anyone else who completed him as Tamara did. He could not let her stray from him. Roman had been right; his wolf was very much compelled by her.

“And I want to be in your life.”

It was all he needed to hear, and his heart was reassured. He would claim her soon, but not during the height of this chaos.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The huge crowd was unexpected. Tamara had no idea how significant the Blue Moon was until she saw the turnout. As her eyes roamed over her surroundings from her seat on a fallen carved out tree, she spotted more wolves than she had ever seen gathered in her life. They mingled at the opening in the forest where the events were to be held, both in human and wolf form.

Elisa, who sat beside her, grabbed her hand. “Not all Caedmon live in the village. Some have gone on to enjoy life outside of these woods among the humans. There could be other reasons for leaving, too.”

“Like what?” Tamara asked.

“To start their own pack. To leave and join others…usually the women to follow their mate.”

Tamara searched the area for Devin. It didn’t take long to find him, as he’d been the main attraction throughout the evening. She thought back to his conversation the night before. No matter what the consequences were, he seemed content on being with her.

“That’s Darius,” Elisa whispered.

Tamara followed her gaze on the other side of the field where another crowd formed a semi-circle around a man. He was built, tall, and exceedingly handsome. Long brown hair hung to his bare broad shoulders. Nothing in his appearance said evil, but then looks were mightily deceiving. A woman stood beside him. She was just as tall and fair, with short ice blonde hair. “Who’s the woman standing next to Darius?”

“His mate. Yeah, even evil wolves can be mated. I don’t know much about her. She was brought over from another pack.”

A hush fell over the crowd as two old men stepped onto a large wooden podium and took a seat at a long table.

“They’re about to get started,” Elisa said, as Dawson joined them.

Several moments passed as the two old men, Devin, and Dawson began their meeting at the round table. Tamara wasn’t close enough to the front to hear anything that was discussed but from the serious look on each of their faces, she figured they’d started with the issue at hand.

“This will be the third Blue Moon that I’ve seen,” Elisa said, interrupting her train of thought. “It’s beautiful. A special one.”

“What’s going to happen?” Tamara asked, slowly, not taking her eyes from Devin as he took a pen offered to him by one of the men at the table. It appeared that he’d signed some papers.

“Be careful, Tamara.”

Tamara swallowed. The blunt answer was indication that the young, wise little girl knew more than she was letting on. Be careful. What did that mean? What did it imply?

“I am Roman.” One of the old men stood up from the table at the end of the podium. “Executor of the estate of Daniel Caedmon, the third. This evening marks my fiftieth blue moon.” He thrust a rolled paper up toward the sky, holding it tight in his fist. “On this evening, I live to honor the Caedmon legacy. Herewith, I inform you of the last will and testament of Daniel Caedmon, the third. All properties, buildings, lands, debts, monies…anything bearing the Caedmon name shall now revert to his first born son…Devin Caedmon.”

The crowd broke out into a choir of whispers.

“No opposition?” Tamara whispered.

“No one is crazy enough to argue with the written will of Daniel Caedmon…or with Roman, for that matter.”

Roman placed the will into a small chest and slid it across the table to stop in front of Devin. “There are other pressing matters at hand,” he said. “Our pack is without a leader. An Alpha who is strong enough to man and protect the pack. Not another night shall go by without such guidance. Shortly after the death of Daniel, only one has come forward to lead…”

The front of the crowd shifted away from the podium as Darius and his crew stepped up to be noticed.

“In Caedmon culture, direct descendants of previous leaders have fair claim to the position. Among us Caedmon, it is well known that the eldest son rose when the father passed on by default...”

Elisa squeezed her hand, hard.

“…unless there is a challenge.” Roman’s cold stare fell on the crowd. He seemed to gaze at nothing in particular, as he paused. “Darius Caedmon, the son of the brother of Daniel has stepped forward to lead.”

Darius made a great show of himself, allowing his mate to take his coat as he stepped onto the podium. He wore a necklace with a stone pendant, but it was made of white diamond versus the emerald that Devin had gifted to her.

Tamara clutched the pendant against her breastbone, and turned her gaze to Devin. He seemed to stare in her direction, his eyes glowing intensely in the darkness. She wanted to tell him to be careful, and even wished that he wore the protection amulet instead of her.

“Good evening,” Darius drawled, his grin could have charmed the most doubtful of men. “I would be honored to lead us into the future.”

“There will be no easy victory,” Roman told Darius.

“What…?” Darius looked back at him, annoyed.

Devin stood up then, his look turning from indifferent to stern. “There is no way I will stand by and let you lead and destroy.”

Darius’ laugh was loud and menacing. “Let? Did you say let?”

“By law, there are only four of us left to lay down the law. We’ve exercised our vote to remove you from stepping into the vacancy.”

“No one stands against me,” Darius said, holding out his arms for emphasis. “Show me the law that says you can stop someone from guiding our pack. If there is no leader, there is no pack. It is the oldest law in the book.”

“Our aim is to stop you from guiding our pack, Darius. There have been too many charges against you. Too many speculations, and not to mention the foolish notions about how you plan to dictate and rule our people. We need a leader, not a ruler. There are other suitable leaders.”

“Like whom? Dawson is too young to lead. He has one more year. No one will wait that long.” Darius stared Devin down in disgust. “And you are no more than the bastard son of your father. I’m surprised he left anything to you. Why would anyone want you to lead?”

Devin growled, and threw himself toward Darius. It took three men to hold Devin back as he struggled to release their hold on him.

Tamara’s heart jumped to her throat. It seemed to beat rapidly there and her blood heated. This time, it was she who strengthened her grip on Elisa hand.

“You will not lead us,” Devin snarled between clenched teeth. “I challenge you, Darius Caedmon.”

“I came prepared for this,” Darius leered. “I’ve been watching for days as you practically ignored the most respected law of our pack. No humans allowed within our haven.”

The crowd gasped and Tamara swallowed, holding her breath.

“It is no worse than the murder committed to steal this title.”

The crowd erupted in a frenzy of chattering. Murderer. Bastard. Human. Those words rung over and over around her. She kept her line of sight on Devin, but she knew many pairs of eyes bored into her. Being called out was not something she’d planned for tonight. She knew it would have happened eventually, and that there’d be consequences if she’d stayed here with Devin, but she hadn’t set herself up for the embarrassment she now felt.

“How dare you?” Darius hissed. “Nothing about which you imply has been proven. You, on the other hand, bring the human into our communities with no shame in your game.” He pointed toward Tamara to make his point.

“What am I to be ashamed of? I will not hide away the woman I love.”

Darius laughed. “The woman you love is a human.”

“She is my mate.” Devin’s words sliced through the crowd like a knife and echoed throughout the trees.

“No.” Darius shook his head. “You won’t fool us as your father did. He was a liar. He faked a true union in order to rise as Alpha, calling your trifling mother his mate. Just like that bitch, your human is a whore.”

There was a flash of green, and a wolf emerged where Devin once stood. It leaped into the air, hurling itself viciously toward Darius.

Tamara thought she heard flesh tearing as the paws of the wolf lashed Darius across the face. Darius fell back a bit, and when he moved his hand away from his cheek, it came away with blood. Three ugly claw marks ran across the side of it.

“You will pay for that…” was all Darius said before Tamara saw two wolves clash together and tumble off the side of the podium in one violent brown and black fur ball.

Tamara couldn’t stand to look. Pain seized her body as if she were the one doing the fighting. She wanted the hurt to go away, so she closed her eyes. Ripping her hand free from Elisa’s grip, she drew her palms to cover her ears. Her efforts to block out the violence were futile.

A vision of Brad flashed in her mind. She’d been stuck in traffic on the way from a class lecture. Dinner would have been late if she didn’t stop for pizza. It had begun raining heavily before she made it to the apartment. Their parking spaces were on the other side of the lot. She’d grabbed what she could to keep herself from becoming drenched. He was angry even before she entered their apartment. He hadn’t hit her because dinner was late that night. He’d hit her because she’d used his letterman jacket like a raincoat. The side of her face stung, as if she’d been thrown back in time.

She wanted to forget…

Just before Tamara opened her eyes, freezing rain began to fall softly. Sheets of it came down, accompanied by a gust of cold winter wind. The full blue moon still beamed in on the wolf fight. Not a soul seemed to care as the dirty gray clouds loomed overhead, soaking them all.

Her lips began to quiver as she strained her eyes, trying to focus on the fight.

Suddenly Tamara heard a yelp, and her eyes shot toward the two wolves. Devin had his muzzle around Darius neck. Devin’s growl rumbled and his sharp teeth could be seen as he gripped the other wolf’s neck.

“Fight to kill,” the crowd chanted. “Fight to kill.”

Tamara’s chest burned, and she realized that she’d been holding her breath. Fear was her reality. Rain tasted like salt. It took her only seconds to realize she was crying. The horrific sight of the wolves battling terrified her. Her body obeyed what her mind was telling it to do.

She ran.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Devin ran.

He ran like his life depended on it. The trail of Tamara’s scent was nearly gone. Pure instinct was all he had to find her now. She didn’t know the land very well. He feared for her.

Too much time had passed since she’d taken off into the forest before Devin realized that she was gone.

He would have caught up to her by now, but he was weakened from the fight. The deep claw wound in his back pulsed with pain with each leap he made, but he was determined to find her.

Tamara’s scent took him in circles. She’d roamed in loops. That made it harder for him to trail her. It was an indication that she was lost in the forest. Anything could have happened to her by now.

He should have killed Darius, but those actions wouldn’t have earned him any prizes. It served the scoundrel better to live the rest of his days as a failure.

It was time to move forward with only good intentions for the Caedmon pack, and leave behind only those who would bring harm to them.

Devin’s intuition led him to a stream. Sure enough, at the water’s edge, her small form lay in a heap on the grass. Her hair was mated to her face. The clothes she wore clung to her like a second skin. Her lips looked dried and parched. Her breasts rose and fell rapidly as she clutched tightly at the pendant that he’d gifted to her.

It pained him to see her in such distress.

He whined and nudged at her cheek with his nose. Tamara was beautiful still, even through his wolf eyes. Even in her state of mishap. Her lids peeled open slowly, and she lifted her small hands to his neck and pulled herself up to a sitting position.

“Wolfie, you’ve come to save me from this all over again.” Her breath was rushed, and he could tell she was dehydrated. “I knew you’d come.” She swayed slightly as though she were disoriented.

He shifted from wolf to human form, and allowed her to fall into his open arms. “Tamara, please…don’t ever run from me again. If anything had happened to you, I would have been devastated.”

“You scared me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to scare you, but this thing had to be done.”

When he looked down again, her eyes were completely closed and she went limp in his arms. He bit back the pain as he hoisted her up, carrying her through the forest back to his haven.

Tamara rose to the smell of homemade soup. She drew in another deep breath and her insides warmed. It was a familiar fragrance of broth, herbs, and freshly stewed vegetables. Before she even opened her eyes, she knew exactly where she was.

The interior of the cabin hadn’t changed since the day she and Devin had left for the Caedmon Village. She felt safer here than she did anywhere else in what seemed like a very long time. Clutching the soft sheets up against her chest, she lifted herself to a sitting position.

There were candles on almost every flat surface throughout the cabin. It was dark out, but she noticed that none of the lights were turned on. She reached out and clicked the switch in an attempt to turn on the lamp beside the bedside. Nothing happened.

“The freezing rain turned into snow shortly after we got here. Most of the town’s power lines froze and fell down. We’ve been powerless for several hours.”

Tamara turned in the direction of Devin’s voice. He sat in the oversized leather chair in front of the fireplace. She couldn’t see him until he swiveled around in the chair, coming into a clearer view.

He was alright. Why had she been so scared? It was in a wolf’s nature to be aggressive. Although, Devin wasn’t just any wolf. He was a man. A man who’d made her feel safe and welcome from the very beginning.

Devin seemed to be studying her. Maybe he thought she was a completely crazy person the way she ran off in the forest out in the middle of nowhere.

Tamara looked down at the sheets. “I acted childishly.”

“You did what any normal person would have done.” As he sat on the bed next to her, the mattress sunk deeper. “You’re not accustomed to seeing wolves battle it out like that.”

“Seeing the fight triggered really bad memories. In escaping Brad, I was hoping I could forget my past.”

Devin sighed. “You might not easily forget, but you can learn from it.”

Tamara squeezed her lips together, but then realized she couldn’t resist voicing her thoughts. “How can I learn from an abusive past? Should I never ever trust again?”

His shoulders slumped.

When he didn’t respond, she continued. “It’s not as easy as it sounds.”

“I’m sorry for what happened to you. The abuse was not your fault. You left the situation, which is the bravest thing you could have ever done in those circumstances.”

She swallowed. “I should have left earlier.”

He slid his hand between hers. “Tell me what I can do to help.”

“You’ve helped enough already.” She smiled. “You delayed your plans and nearly risked your leadership position within the pack because of me.”

“A wolf always places his mate above all others.”

“Mate,” she whispered. “How do you know I’m your mate?”

“For me, there were several clues from day one.”

“Like what?”

“When wolves find their true mate, they gain more power and confidence. I hadn’t really thought about it until recently, but I was never supposed to make it over that fence at the museum with you on my back.”

Tamara’s mind went back to the night at the museum. It was undoubtedly one of those memories that she would carry with her forever. The fence in question had to have been at least twelve feet tall. She vaguely remembered because while planning the burglary, Brad and his crew ruled out escaping through the back of the museum due to the height of the fence.

“What kind of powers would allow you to jump so high?” she asked.

“The same powers that allow me to shift between man and wolf involuntarily, only mine have become stronger since the day I met you.”

Her mind flashed back to the evening when she first discovered that Devin was a wolf. “The same powers that allowed you to heal so quickly after you saved me from the wolf attack.”

“Precisely.” He turned her hands over, palms facing up. “If you are my mate, you should now have powers of Caedmon. The night you made the declaration that you believed was probably the night the powers came to you. Although, I suspect your powers will be limited…because you are human. For example, you have to be born of a Caedmon wolf to be able to shift like one.”

“No way.” She laughed, nervously. “There’s no way I have…powers.”

Devin turned around to reveal the nasty claw marks on his back.

She gasped in shock. During the fight, she’d zoned out so much that she’d missed the part when this happened. Or maybe it occurred when she ran off. He’d needed her…asked her to be present, yet she’d run off selfishly.

“Put your hands on my back.”

Tamara shook her head. She wanted to. Something within her wanted to erase the scars on his back. She just didn’t believe she could help him quite the way he helped her. What had she done to return the favor besides try to run?

“It will only work, if you want it to.”

She placed her hands on his back, near but not touching the wound. “This is silly.”

“It doesn’t work unless you believe.”

Tamara took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She ran her fingers along the deep gash. It formed a jagged line horizontally across his spine. She wished the fight had never broken out between them, but Devin was right. It was the way of the Caedmon wolves to challenge their opponents. But what she really hoped for was less sparing within the pack circle? If only Darius’ agenda had been in the best interest of the Caedmon people, it would never have come to this. Or maybe she was wrong.

“Open your eyes, Tamara.”Before she did, she ran her fingers along the cut again. The lesion was gone. Her eyes flew open to find that the wound had healed as if months had passed by. There was still a pale scar, but no scab or open skin.

“Oh, my…” her hands flew to her mouth.

“There should still be a scar. The wound was pretty deep…” His voice trailed off.

“What does this mean?”

He turned to face her. “Will you accept me? As I am?”

“Yes.” She nodded. The pull he had on her and the feelings that overcame her whenever he was away was something she’d never had before.

“It’s not as simple, and accepting me requires more bravery on your part.”

“I don’t know if I can be as brave as you think, but still I don’t know what you mean.”

“There is a final step to the mating process,” he said. “And it involves bonding.”

“Bonding. Like confirming our love and affection. Kind of like marriage.”

“It’s kind of like a marriage, but we will have to do more than declare our union with a ring. This will make us stronger. It will be an honor to lead the Caedmon people with my mate right alongside me.”

A fairytale wedding had been in Tamara’s dreams once, but those dreams had been shattered long ago. Now that she’d found a man that truly cared for her, she had hopes again. “How, then, will we complete the process?”

“Wolf mates bond through the bite.”

Her brown doe eyes widened slightly with this knowledge. Devin’s intentions were never to frighten her. But fear wasn’t the expression written on her face. No. He could smell fear, and this wasn’t it. This was anticipation and lust.

“Show me.” Tamara pulled the covers back revealing the thin negligee she wore.

It was all the courage and confirmation he needed. It took them mere seconds to rid themselves of the clothing in the way. Her nipples were perfect and he enjoyed the silky soft feel of them between his lips. Bending over her, he teased the tightened little buds with his tongue. He loved the way she arched her back as he tugged gently on her nipples.

His fingers drifted down past her abs, navel, and mound to find that she was already dripping wet for him.

She moaned as he stroked her and her body writhed on the bed. “I want you to take me hard. Mate me like you really mean it.”

He dragged himself up slightly to kiss the creamy crevices of her neck. “I want to be gentle. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t hurt me. You’ve been gentle enough. Tonight, I don’t want you to hold back.”

He sipped at her neck. She tasted of cotton candy and cherries. “Tamara, you don’t know what you’re asking.”

“I’m not asking, Devin. Make me yours. Complete our union.”

His hands molded to her ass and he pulled her forward until the head of his dick brushed against her pussy. She wrapped her legs around him and heat radiated from her against him. He pet her pussy, sliding his fingers between the soft lips. Her juices coated his fingers as he thrust in and out of her.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, admiring the look of bliss on her face while he pleasured her.

“Please, I need you inside me.”

“Patience. One taste and then I will give you what you want.”

The moment he sucked her clit into his mouth, she raised her hips from the bed. He tasted her like a hungry man who hadn’t eaten for days. Her pussy was a sweet drug that he was addicted to. Her fingers gripped the top of his head and he applied more pressure to her bud of desire with his tongue. He could prolong her release, if he wanted to, but the wolf within urged him to complete the union.

Her breathing became uneven and her legs shook as she experienced an orgasm. The sounds of her moans rang like musical notes throughout the cabin.

Tamara brought herself up to a sitting position, dragging him in for another kiss. She turned on the bed, holding herself up on her hands and knees. How had she known that he wanted to take her this way, in this position? Her ass was beautifully rounded, just enough flesh to grab hold of as he took her. He glimpsed her pussy as it glistened from her honey. The sight of it had his dick pulsing in excitement.

Devin gripped her hips with both hands, and pushed into her a couple inches. Tension spread through his core when her pussy squeezed around him, milking him. Tamara slid backward, accepting his entire length. He bit his lip as pleasure consumed every nerve ending in his body.

He pumped into her with long sure strokes and she met his thrusts again and again. The carnal sensations not only ran across the surface of his skin, but also surged deep within him and down to his wolf soul.

Before he knew it, his fangs brushed against the back of her neck. It felt as though his balls overflowed with his seed. He would burst soon, but he wanted to ensure her satisfaction first. Brushing her hair off of her shoulders, he viewed the bruise he’d spied on her so many times during their lovemaking. It reminded him that someone had once hurt her. He wanted to erase those bad memories completely, but he knew this was not possible. He’d do what he could to harvest new memories for her.

With gentle swipes of his tongue, he prepared the area for entry.

“Devin…” she whispered, as he descended on her with fangs distended.

“Tamara, I commit to you. I commit to you for life.”

She cried out when he bit her and her climax roared through her.

There was no blood when he took her. The bonding bite was not meant to break the skin, only to claim her indefinitely. As he replaced her old bruise with his mark, his orgasm rushed through him.

His hot seed surged into her, completing their bond and strengthening their union. When they sunk into the mattress out of breath, his body still shivered in the afterglow of his orgasm. Her head was pressed into his chest and she panted against his skin. He reached out to move the hair hanging over in her face, but he did not expect to see fresh tears on her cheeks.

Devin frowned. “Tamara, what’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

“No.” Her smile widened, and she wiped at the tears with the back of her hand. “These are happy tears. I’ve never felt this way before about anyone.”

“Then we share that in common.” He pulled her against him, embracing her. “You are my mate, and the kind of love I feel for you will never be felt for anyone else.”

BONUS EPILOGUE