Ethel drove as she didn’t want to pay to repair Jerome’s truck, a real risk thanks to my claws. She banished me to the back seat, although I wasn’t certain why I’d gone along with her orders. The front seat had plenty of space for me, my claws, and even my bag. Going along with her wishes would preserve my life for a few minutes, as I expected I’d test everyone’s patience when I met her parents.

How better to learn what sort of in-laws I’d have? A few pushes, a few comments, a few toes dipped into murky waters, and I’d know exactly what I’d be getting into.

While the decision was already made, understanding the nuances of my decision to secure Ethel as my mate was important. How would I know which lines I couldn’t cross unless I poked and prodded them? My fur color would establish the basics. I’d play the rest by ear.

With a little luck, I’d have fun doing it.

On the other hand, everything that could go wrong probably would, and I had doubts I’d survive when it did. Ethel alone could take over the world if she wanted, and I loved her for it. I played hard to get, but I belonged to her as much as my virus insisted she belonged to me. My delays weren’t necessary, although I wanted to be in a better position to have a home before I took the plunge.

Sacrifices would be made, and I wouldn’t survive another night with her without giving in to my need to make her mine in all ways—or have her make me hers in all ways. All it would take was one intentional kiss to break me.

I wondered which one of us would make the first move.

It wouldn’t take her long to figure out how much power she held over me, and I’d enjoy when I finally unleashed myself around her, showing her how much I wanted her.

Then again, she likely already knew. Lycanthropes had sensitive noses.

“When we arrive at my parents’ place, I recommend you cuff my hands in front of me,” she muttered.

I worried. “Why?”

“I can’t strangle my parents for this stupid stunt if my hands are behind my back. They should’ve ensured no harm came to you.”

I barked a laugh. “Really, Ethel? I’m a lycanthrope male. We have a reputation of being difficult to capture on a good day, thus the bonus bounty for you. I’d like to know what you’ve been telling them about me for them to resort to using that tactic,” I teased.

“They know I’m interested in you. They know you’re one of my contractors. Little else.”

A wiser man would’ve left it alone, but curiosity ate away at me. “Tell me more about the little else, please.”

She giggled, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. “I had one too many girly drinks with Dad, and I think I told them I liked you in your jeans so much that I wanted to rip you out of them.”

I made a mental note to buy more jeans. “Girly drinks?”

“Yeah. They’re girly because the manly ones leave the drinker upright when it’s done with them. Daddy doesn’t like when his little girl drinks him under the table.”

“What the hell are you drinking that’ll knock a lycanthrope under the table?”

“Cherries in moonshine.”

“How is that girly? Since when is moonshine girly?”

Her giggling grew into laughter. “I dared Dad to eat just the cherries once. I was adding them to my Sex on the Beach. Knocked him off his seat. We had to carry him to his bedroom that night.”

“Should I be concerned?”

“Only if you make fun of my liquor.”

“I probably wouldn’t say no to sex on a beach,” I admitted. I could think of a few beaches within comfortable driving distance, and some were more private than others.

“Is that all it’d take?” she demanded.

I grinned. “Ask me again after I survive meeting your parents, then you’ll find out.”

Ethel’s parents lived in a mansion, which I should’ve expected considering how much they were willing to spend on their bounty stunt. The presence of seven luxury cars in the driveway, however, worried me.

Ethel pulled in behind the cars, angled the truck to ensure they’d have to drive on the grass to escape the property, and killed the engine. With breathy growls I wanted to hear more of, she pounded the steering wheel. “Damn it! All of my brothers and sisters are here.”

Some things needed to be addressed, and a cranky lycanthrope female protecting her territory might level the entire mansion given a few minutes and provocation. “I’m not going to leave you for one of your sisters.”

“It’s my brothers I’m worried about.”

Wait. What? I blinked, thought about it, but came to the same conclusion each time. I’d never understand women. “If I’m unwilling to leave you for one of your sisters, I’m definitely not going to leave you for one of your brothers.”

“Dale!”

“What? It’s true.”

“Dale. They’re not going to try to seduce you. They’ll try to pick a fight with you.”

Ah. “And?”

“They’ll kick your ass.”

I nodded my agreement with her assessment of the situation. “I’m used to having my ass kicked, but I can take a beating with the best of them. If I’m going to require transfusions, I request you be the donor.”

If she didn’t clue in I wanted her from that, I’d have to start spelling it out to get the point across.

“Keep talking like that, and we’re going to end up having a quickie in the back of Jerome’s truck,” she growled.

“I deserve a bed—and not the back of a truck variety.”

“Hotel?”

“We’ll see.”

“That wasn’t a no.”

“How observant of you. Should I survive my meeting with your parents, there will be no crashing Jerome’s truck trying to get a hotel faster.”

“You might need to drive, then.”

I’d underestimated the appeal of a frustrated, desperate woman wanting me. “Once I’m rich, I can get a nice house for us, and I can pay for any damages we do to the hotel room, but I need to be rich first, which means we can’t detour to a bed right now.”

“I’ll pay for it.”

“I know you can.”

“Why is it an issue?”

“Because I need to prove I can?”

“Damned lycanthrope males!”

Unable to help myself, I laughed. “You only have yourself to blame for charming my virus so thoroughly.”

“Good. But I can provide for both of us.”

“I know that, but I want to be a competent partner.”

“I have no doubts of your competency. Except in a fight.”

As I deserved that, I sighed. “That’s something.”

Unbuckling her seatbelt, Ethel crawled onto the driver’s seat before wiggling her way into the back with me. “Leash me.”

With two words, she tested my patience, dignity, and general ability to string two words together. Had I been thinking earlier, I would’ve seen the cuffs and leash as the traps they were. I’d spend the entire evening pretending I didn’t want to use Jerome’s truck to stake an intimate claim on the woman I loved.

Maybe thinking about my taxes or various brutal ways to die would get me through the evening without my scent betraying my desire. After two work-related catastrophes, my taxes would be a nightmare.

“Leash me,” she whispered in my ear. “Then you can cuff me. Securely.”

I growled. “You’re evil.”

“It’s your fault you’re so handsome. I have itches I want you to scratch, sir.”

With her talking like that, I was done. “Where’s the nearest hotel?”

Laughing, she pointed at her parents’ mansion. “All bedrooms are essentially soundproofed as my parents enjoy feeding people liquor. Drunk people get rowdy. Rowdy people often decide to sleep together, and no one here wants an audience. We’re rowdy but private.”

“There’s no way I’m surviving tonight is there?”

“They’ll ply you with booze and lock you in my bedroom the instant they learn who you are. And they’ll probably hold you hostage at gunpoint until I get what I want. You. In case you weren’t certain.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Are you sure you’re not the one who’s behind the bounty?”

“I’m going to make them pay for coming up with the idea first—after you’re safely mated to me. For now, this benefits me. I’m going to take advantage of their idiocy. I’m willing to bet my asshole uncles helped talk my father into this.”

I started with the collar, as she’d ordered; wrapping it around her throat and buckling it tested me far more than I’d anticipated. Cuffing her gave me and my virus ideas, all of them perverted. Handing her the duffel with my clothes helped remind my virus waiting was necessary.

Long enough to confirm her bedroom was soundproofed—or partially soundproofed. I could deal with partially soundproofed.

“I disapprove of this bag.”

As I could see Ethel wanting to tear into her family, even cuffed, I replied, “Swing it like a weapon.”

“Oh, I like that. You’re not going to stop me from beating my family?”

“While I’d like to get paid, I’ll accept any losses should your temper snap before they can cut me a check. Just don’t hurt yourself hurting them.”

If they hurt her, I’d join in the fray and lose miserably.

“Deal. A few warnings. Dad might get growly over the collar. Ignore him. If he bothers you, do that roar you do. He’s a big pussy cat. Mom’s the one you need to worry about.”

I believed her. If Ethel’s mother was anything like her, her father wouldn’t need to lift a finger to keep the family safe. I’d seen Ethel armed and dangerous.

Only a fool would deliberately test her. By those standards, I was the king of all fools, as I’d do so at every opportunity.

“The sooner you get your family to pay out the bounty, the sooner we can test your claim that the rooms are soundproofed,” I growled.

“They’re not fully soundproofed, but as long as we avoid screaming, it’ll be as private as a full house gets.”

“So, not private at all?”

“I wouldn’t worry about any screaming, honestly. We’re lycanthropes. We’re not exactly quiet by nature. They’re also lycanthropes, so it’s not like my family is going to care, especially not after paying so much for us to make a little noise.”

I questioned her use of ‘little,’ but as everything else made sense, I decided against arguing with her. “The hotel probably has paper-thin walls anyway,” I admitted.

“Who cares? If they put a glass to the door, they can be jealous of your prowess. I saw you first, so tough shit for them.”

“You’re assuming a lot.”

Ethel grinned. “Basic lycanthrope biology, and every single woman I’ve asked has confirmed the rumor: a male in the mating frenzy is a wonder to behold. I’m looking forward to it.”

So many assumptions, so little time. Some of her assumptions were correct: once I got my hands on her, I wouldn’t let her go until I was certain no one would doubt she was mine and I was hers. As for being a wonder to behold, we wouldn’t know until I tried, and I had no intention of disappointing her. What she neglected to say was that the lycanthrope ladies had the same reputation, and I looked forward to her getting her hands on me.

If her parents’ home didn’t survive, they only had themselves to blame.

An older man in worn jeans and a flannel shirt dozed on the porch steps, blocking the way to the front door. Ethel’s patience-worn sigh worried me, as I expected her temper would fray easier than normal.

Collared, leashed, and handcuffed wouldn’t do much to protect her targets. She’d find a way to turn my bag into a lethal weapon. Would the sleeper on the step survive?

I’d find out soon enough.

“Uncle Alan, why are you sleeping outside?”

“I annoyed your ma. She kicked me out, said not to come back in until you came home for a visit, and refuses to give me my keys. That damned brat of mine stole my car, too. Been here three days now, and I’ve been told I should be grateful she’s feeding me.”

“That was stupid of you.”

“Didn’t think it’d take a hunter so long to catch you. Gonna have to give that pack of yours some credit for keeping you so long.” Ethel’s uncle cracked open an eye, looked me over, and whistled. “Forget that other male, baby girl. Claim this one. You ain’t gonna find a prettier one in the state. How’d he get a collar on you without you ripping his arms off and feeding them to him?”

“Uncle! This is Dale.”

Ethel’s uncle opened his other eye and both his brows rose. “Your Dale’s a hybrid?!”

“Surprised me, too,” she admitted.

“That explains the collar and the cuffs. You’re making him look all fierce for my brother and his lady?”

“I think he’s trying to prevent murders. Yours.”

Ethel’s uncle chuckled and lurched upright. “Don’t get all upset over nothin’, baby girl. So, son. You claimin’ the bounties?”

“That’s the idea, sir,” I replied. “I’m going to buy us a nice house with the money.”

“One good for puppies?”

I flicked an ear back and struggled to control my tail. Wagging wouldn’t win me anything except some embarrassment. “One that’ll survive two newly mated lycanthropes, sir.”

He laughed. “If it can survive that, it should survive puppies—maybe. You took your sweet time working my niece. You planning on landing her sometime this year, or are we going to have to encourage you to get a move on?”

“Uncle Alan!” Ethel snarled and tightened her hold on my bag. “I swear, if he gets scared off because of you, no one—”

I tugged on Ethel’s leash. “I’m not sure I can afford a durable house and bail.”

“Damn it, Dale!”

“You’re worrying over nothing.”

Her pout tempted me into beating her uncle so I could take her off and get straight to the mating frenzy part of our day. “But I want to beat sense into him.”

I wanted him to go away, but I restrained myself. Given a few more minutes, she’d need to collar and leash me. Both of us riled up would lead directly to disaster. Lycanthrope males had a reputation of being dangerous, but I’d seen the truth often enough within our pack: it often took violence or intimacy to calm a female ready to rampage. Males had the same issue, but I could be reasoned with—usually.

Ethel tended to stick to her guns, and she was good enough with most weapons the CDC gave her, even the big ones when needed. However, she didn’t need weapons to be dangerous.

I’d have to request a pay increase for saving her uncle’s life. I sighed. “You might regret killing him later, Ethel.”

“Like hell I will!”

“Ethel.”

“What? He’s an ass. My entire family? Asses.”

Ethel’s uncle snickered. “Can’t say she’s wrong, son.”

“Let’s try to get through the evening without mauling anyone, please. I’ve reached my quota of maulings for the week.”

“I don’t know, Dale. Dad deserves it.”

I huffed. “Before you beat your father, perhaps you should ask your uncle why he’s surprised I’m a hybrid—and why they decided to issue the bounty when they did if they weren’t aware I’m a hybrid.”

“Huh. Never thought I’d be sayin’ this, but you’re huntin’ yourself a smart one, baby girl. It’s easy, son. She done called her ma and told her some bitch tried to run off with you. We figured we needed to put an end to that nonsense, so it’s best you accept it now. It’s too late to run. You’re not leavin’ until our baby girl gets what she wants.”

Psychotic family, check. Beautiful woman worth dealing with the psychotic family, check. Approval of psychotic family, check.

My life had become strange, but I didn’t mind it. Did that make me psychotic, too?

I decided to ignore all of the craziness coming out of her uncle’s mouth. “Ethel, why is he calling you a baby girl?”

“I’m the oldest, so I’m saddled with it. Don’t worry about it. You’ll get used to it.”

“Honestly, I’m more worried about another pack of angry lycanthropes beating me. One’s enough for a while.”

“They’re not going to beat you.”

“Maybe. We’ll see, assuming I survive the evening without being beaten. Now, that said, you owe me. You, however accidentally, caused this mess.”

Ethel sighed. “Damn it. I should’ve known my dumbass mother talked to Dad.”

“Now, now, baby girl. Your ma just cares, and she was right worried to hear someone had hurt your Dale.”

“Already claimed your territory with your family, have you?” I teased, giving a gentle tug of the leash. “I’m not that skittish, Ethel.”

“Like hell you aren’t!”

I laughed, shaking my head over how my drive to maintain professionalism had given Ethel the wrong idea about me. “I just wanted to maintain my professionalism at work. I’ve had my assumptions corrected.”

“Good.”

Ethel’s uncle sighed. “We don’t get to knock sense into Dale?”

“Touch him and I’ll kill you.”

“What do you got to say about that, son?”

I stared at him. “If you beat me, I’ll be useless to Ethel. I think she’s tired of watching me sleep off beatings.”

He cackled. “I expect so. You’ll anger her pappy something fierce if you tug on that leash much. Fair warning.”

“I’m confident Ethel can subdue her father as necessary.”

“She’s handcuffed, son.”

“She has the bag. That’s a weapon.”

“I think you’re overestimating her a little there, son.”

I arched a brow, reached over, and unclipped the leash from Ethel’s collar. “I’ll pay bail, but if I don’t have enough left over, you’re going to have to help with the house payments.”

Ethel wielded my bag like a club and dove for her uncle.

I waited until Ethel’s uncle begged for mercy before clipping the leash to her collar and pulling her back. “You don’t want to kill him.”

“Like hell I don’t!”

“If you kill him, our evening plans will be ruined,” I reminded her. “Bail for assault is cheaper than bail for murder, too.”

“He deserves it.”

The front door opened and a middle-aged man with Ethel’s eyes stepped onto the porch. “What’s going on out here?”

Ethel lunged forward, swinging with my bag. Reeling her in, I wrapped my arm around her waist before standing to my full height, lifting her off the ground. “Will you stop attacking everyone? Geeze, woman.”

“This is the bastard responsible for the bounty.”

“I thought your mother was?”

“They’re both responsible. Put me down. That bastard needs a beating.”

“No.”

“Put me down.”

“No. If I put you down, I’ll have to pay even more in bail.”

Ethel’s father frowned. “Alan, what’s going on?”

“If you write the lad a big check, you might get some grandpups out of the deal.”

I sighed.

“I only see the girl. The bounty was for that boy with the dratted girl as a bonus payout.”

Ethel growled and snapped her teeth at her father. “Let me kill him.”

Next time, we’d visit my family. They were saner. “No. If you kill him, I don’t get paid.”

“Without the boy, you don’t get paid.”

I displayed my fangs and growled. As I refused to call myself a boy, I replied, “I’m Dale.”

“Oh. You’re the boy. All right, then.” Ethel’s father hesitated, blinking. “Baby girl, you didn’t tell us your boy was so colorful.”

“I told you I’d never seen him as a wolf, Daddy!” she howled.

“That’s your fault for not doing better research on your boy.”

“Daddy! Damn it, because of you, a black duster went for him. For that alone, I should beat you to death.”

“You’re cranky,” I muttered, securing my grip on her and tucking her close to me, hoping she’d limit her viciousness to something I’d survive. “I’m sorry for her, sir. She’s annoyed we’ve been delayed.”

“Delayed from what? Committing a murder?”

After so many years of controlling my expression and tone, I remained as neutral as possible considering the circumstances. “Testing the soundproofing of her room, sir, along with the general durability of your home. She wanted to forgo collecting the bounty, but I have plans for the money, sir.”

“It involves a house large enough for puppies,” Ethel’s uncle announced.

My purple fur would cause me grief for the rest of my life, but my hybrid form granted me the strength required to mule kick Ethel’s uncle off the porch. Ethel twisted around in my grip to stare behind me. “Sir.”

“You punted him right off the porch.” Ethel giggled. “Sorry, Uncle Alan. He’s getting used to asserting himself. I’m sure he only meant to give you a love tap.”

I had?

“He deserved it,” Ethel’s father said. “Come on in, then. I reckon one of you might start with telling me why my baby girl is cuffed and leashed.”

“I begged for it,” the love of my life declared with no sign of embarrassment. “He resisted at first, but I can be convincing.”

I sighed again, wondering how I’d survive my first meeting with Ethel’s parents.

“I think you’re testing your boy’s patience.”

“The entire pack has been. It’s been fun. He mopped the kitchen floor with Allison because she punned him. We’re slowly convincing him to come out of his shell.”

“Slowly?” I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

“If it means you’ll stop wearing that damned perfume of yours all the time, go ahead and destroy the house tonight. It took a week for the stink to fade last time you visited. If you’re going to stink up my house, may as well get to do some renovations at the same time.”

Ethel wiggled in my hold. “You can put me down now, Dale.”

I snorted. “If I put you down, you’ll go for the throat of the next person to annoy you.”

Ethel’s father chuckled and turned to enter his home. “He’s right, baby girl. You need to get laid before someone gets hurt.”

As expected, Ethel snarled and struggled to escape my hold, determined to perform a brutal act of patricide.

I decided against telling Ethel her father was right.