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If LIVE Nightclub hadn’t been short a few bouncers tonight, Brock Justice would’ve been home an hour ago. He knew he should’ve picked up some beer from the convenient store instead of stopping by here. After Leo had seen Brock hanging around outside with some bikers, the guy had practically begged him to keep an eye on things in the club. Brock had a hard time saying no to people he thought of as family. And he owed Leo one anyway. The man had bailed him out of jail more than a few times over the past several years. Coincidentally, one of those times had been from getting into a physical altercation with some bonehead he couldn’t even remember.

LIVE was way overcrowded tonight. The ratio of humans to shifters was relatively high. The nightclub was one of the most popular in the state. It was also the only club owned by a shifter where humans mingled around. But sometimes the mingling didn’t always lead to good times. Several fights had broken out in here over the past couple of months and Leo had already received notices from the authorities about executing a shutdown if the security wasn’t tightened up. The fucked up part about it was that over fifty percent of the fights were over disagreements between shifters and humans. There was no promise in sight that the dust would settle anytime soon. It was a rough time in Tellevue County where opposing political views were the number one topic of discussion. On top of that, the local government was trying to seize the majority of shifter-owned lands through eminent domain proceedings. It was no wonder so many sat at the bar, emptying beer pitchers left and right. Stressful times called for desperate measures.

“Hey Brock!” one of the call girls yelled as he passed through the dense crowd to get to the bar. “What ya doing out here tonight?”

“I was just passing through for a drink.” If he could remember correctly, the woman’s name was Anna. She’d been working here a while out of one of the backrooms.

“Where are your brothers?” she asked.

“I don’t keep up with anyone but myself.”

“You boys haven’t been in the news lately.” She grinned. “I thought maybe you had packed up and left.”

“I’m still here.”

“Well, me too. But I won’t be for long. As soon as I earn enough, I’m gonna buy me one of those motorhomes and head out west. Me and my girls. We’re going to Vegas.”

“Uh-huh.” Brock nodded. “I wish you luck. I’m sure you’ll get there.”

Getting out of the small town of Aspen Valley was a hot topic for half of the residents here. The majority of those who left for greener pastures or big cities did so without warning. They never really talked about it; they just got up and left. Brock and his brothers had abandoned the town before when they were young boys, only to be led back here when their younger brother, Dane, was named Alpha of the Aspen Valley Pack. Now they had a duty to stand by their Pack Alpha and the growing shifter community.

“If you’ve got some free time, I can help you relax,” she said.

It was her way of nonchalantly offering herself and her body for the night. There were probably about a half a dozen other girls working at LIVE tonight for the very same purpose. He’d never fucked any of them, but they did offer expert massages. He didn’t know what had gotten over him. Even the massages he’d come to love here weren’t doing the trick anymore. He was bored with it all.

“Listen, Anna, I’m on duty tonight, but it was nice talking to you,” he said.

“Ah, if you say so,” she said, her gaze working slowly across his groin. “If you change your mind, I’m here until 2 A.M.”

After Brock broke away from Anna, he slid on an empty barstool, took out his wallet, and tossed a Benjamin on the counter. Not a minute later, Frank placed a shot of whiskey down in front of him.

“What’s the word, Brock?” Frank asked as he proceeded to make a cocktail for another customer.

“Just trying to stay out of trouble.”

Frank laughed. “Is that even possible, dude?”

“Doesn’t anyone have faith in me?” Brock asked, pretending to look sheepish.

Frank smirked and gave him a skeptical look. He dipped a martini glass into some salt, poured in whatever fruity cocktail he’d mixed, and topped it off with a lime. It wasn’t until he placed it on the coaster of the woman sitting two seats down from him did Brock fully realize that she’d been there. The moment he turned his gaze in her direction, she looked up at him with a set of the prettiest brown eyes he’d ever seen.

She diverted her attention and looked down at her drink before Brock could get a good look at her face. She certainly wasn’t a regular and she damn sure wasn’t a shifter. Her outfit was provocative and barely there and he almost wondered if she was one of the new girls working the back. No, couldn’t be. Brock saw right past the seductive club attire and dramatic makeup she wore. She didn’t appear to belong in Leo’s adult rooms, but again the selections changed almost weekly.

While Frank was focused on another customer, Brock rose from his chair, took his drink with him, and slid into the empty seat next to the woman.

She looked straight ahead and fumbled with the napkins on the counter as if pretending not to see him.

“So…” Brock said. “Let me take a guess at why a woman like you would end up at an adult nightclub like this.”

She turned sharply in his direction, eagerly awaiting his answer.

“I wasn’t aware there was a requirement to enter the nightclub,” she said. “But go ahead…”

“One, you’re one of those reporters from the city they send in here every now and then to get the scoop on us. Two, you were getting a little bored with the regular clubs in the city. Three, this is your first day on the job, you’re feeling overwhelmed, and you decided to take a break.”

She smiled. “None of the above.”

“I’m all ears if you care to share the real reason.”

“I’m not sure if I like you or not.” She blushed and lifted her cocktail glass to her lips.

They were painted a dark red and all Brock could do was imagine her mouth on him. Shit! He was a little more deprived than he thought. Maybe it was time to unleash his desires before he drove himself insane trying to keep his dick in his pants. That had been his grandmother’s advice the last time he visited her out west, but sustaining his sexual attraction to this woman, in particular, was proving to be more difficult than he could imagine and he didn’t even know her name.

“Save yourself and your energy for your intended mate,” his grandma had said. “Trust me, you’ll need it.”

What Grandma Justice didn’t know was that he possessed endless amounts of energy when it came to fucking, thanks to his papa who was a rolling stone. Brock liked his freedom very much and had realized long ago that his intended mate might never appear. But there was no way in Heaven or Hell that he’d mate or even marry four different women in the process of finding her like his Papa Magnus had.

As the woman swallowed, her delicate throat flexed. Her caramel-complexioned skin looked soft to the touch. Soon, his gaze had shifted to her rounded breasts pushing up out of her little tight top. She wasn’t even wearing a bra and he licked his lips as he contemplated what shade her nipples might be. Her thick and luscious thighs were pressed together tightly and he imagined his face between them exploring her.

Fuck! Just stop it. She’s a human and you’ll scare her away.

“Are you a shifter?” she asked, her question taking him off guard.

“Don’t I look like one?”

She turned slightly and assessed him inch by inch, sending his blood pressure into an unhealthy spike. “You do.”

“I’m full-blood. Weren’t you expecting a shifter? This is a shifter-owned nightclub.”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, that’s why I’m here. I’m looking for a shifter just like you.” The tip of her tongue slipped through the seam of her lips and then across it.

Damn, she’s hot.

“Now, it’s my turn to ask a question,” he said. “You said I was wrong about why you’re here. Why are you here, little Princess?”

“As part of a dare.” She took a longer sip of her cocktail.

“A dare?”

She nodded, pursing her plump red lips. “Mmm-hmm.”

“Do you mind elaborating?”

“I’m here because…I want to sleep with a shifter.”

Brock almost spewed his liquor as he struggled to keep his amusement inside. “Sleep with? Okay, that’s innocent enough. Even little fairy princesses sleep.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, Princess, if you’re here for something you want, you ain’t gonna get it beating around the bushes.”

“I want to fuck a shifter. There. I said it.”

“Are you drunk, Princess?” he asked.

“Not entirely. I’m very aware of where I am and I know what I came for,” she replied, hotly.

Brock’s balls tightened and his dick pulsed against his fly. “Why do you want this?”

“My break is over soon and I’ll be heading back to college in under a week. There aren’t any shifters there like you. In fact, the boys there don’t do anything for me. I thought if I slept with someone of your…caliber that would hold me over until I graduate in the summer.”

This time, Brock did laugh.

A visible blush crept up her slender neck. “I knew I’d be laughed at.”

“I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing because you’re misinformed.”

“I haven’t been informed of anything, except the fact that shifter males are excellent lovers. I have friends who’ve um…”

She pushed a few wayward strands of hair behind her ears and pursed her lips. Goddammit, he wanted to drag his fingers through her jet black, bone straight hair, and mostly, he wanted to kiss her plump, red lips.

“Who’ve what?” he asked.

“They’ve been with men like you and seem to really love it.”

“And you want to test it out?”

She nodded.

“What’s your name?”

“Don’t worry about asking because I wasn’t planning on giving it,” she teased. “One night is all I want.”

“One night, huh?”

“No strings attached and we go our separate ways,” she added.

Brock took a moment to assess her from head to toe, which wasn’t all that easy since she was seated facing the bar, but he loved what he saw. On top of that, the innocent scent underlying her expensive perfume was getting to his head. Did she taste as sweet as she smelled? This was all too good to be true.

“What’s the catch, Princess?”

She shrugged. “There’s no catch at all. I want something and you can give me that.”

As if demonstrating, she crossed her legs towards him and the heel of her stilettos brushed against his jeans.

Brock leaned in closer to her and more than a few seconds passed without her opposition. He stroked his palm upward against her leg, starting at her knee and pausing near the top of her thigh.

“I don’t think you can handle what I have,” he told her.

“Try me.”

“Then let’s quit the small talk.” He slid off the chair and held out his hand, palm up. “Let’s go someplace quieter.”

She looked around nervously. “Isn’t there a room in the back where we can do this? I thought this place catered to hook ups.”

“Do you think I’m gonna fuck someone as beautiful and delectable as you in the back of this nightclub? No, Princess.” He took her hand and leaned in to press his lips to her ear. “I’m gonna take you so hard. When I get done with you, you’ll be lucky enough to have the strength to stand in those sexy fuck-me stilettos you have on. Is that what you want?”

“Yes,” she whispered, her heated breath folding against the skin on his neck.

Hand-in-hand, they walked out of LIVE nightclub into the parking lot and into the cold dry air.

Chelsey Canon couldn’t believe she was going through with this. She didn’t even know this guy. But that’s what she wanted. A one night stand with a complete stranger. Not just any stranger. She was sick of giving her all during sex with her ex-boyfriends only to be unsatisfied in the end. She hadn’t dated anyone for over six months and had even promised herself to become celibate until she found the right man to marry. Maybe she couldn’t have her cake and eat it too. Maybe finding the right man and great sex was like finding a needle in a haystack. So why not have great sex while the right man came along? She had become miserable and downright horny waiting.

There was really no dare at all. This was all her idea. She had lied to the sexy wolf shifter. But even as she caught a glimpse of his sexy ass filling out his jeans as he led her away from the nightclub, she knew she was already invested in having sex with him.

The man was the perfect representation of a bad boy with his black shirt pulled taut across his chest muscles, the six o’ clock shadow on his handsome face, the way he wore his denim fitted against his ass, and the slow and easy gait of his walk. He was the type of man that she had never brought home to her dad—her uptight, overbearing dad who was also the State Governor. Her identity was another reason why Chelsey hadn’t given her name to the stranger and was also the reason she had worn more makeup than she usually did. Her parents tried to keep her out of the limelight as security measures, but every so often she’d end up in papers or tabloids. Her dad wasn’t exactly popular with the shifters of this town. She didn’t get into politics at all. She often hated the fact that her dad was the Governor. She hated the attention and the responsibility of pretending to be someone she wasn’t. Going away to college had been her first taste of freedom.

“Well, what’s it gonna be?” he asked, as they came to the middle of the lot yards away from the nightclub. “My place or yours?”

“Neither.”

“You got someplace else in mind?” he asked.

Under the full light of the moon, she was able to see him up close. He was gorgeous in a ruggish kind of way. His blond hair was disheveled in every direction possible atop his head. He didn’t seem to care. She was sure he knew just how good-looking he was. He used his charm on her as though he were certain she wouldn’t say no to him. His blue eyes roamed over her body as if he couldn’t wait to get her alone. She had almost forgotten that he wasn’t human, but a full-blood shifter.

“I’m new to the area.” It was partly true. Her parents had moved two counties over after her father had won the election last year, which was also the same year she moved out to live on the college campus upstate. “My family just moved here. What about a hotel? A nice one,” she replied. “I’ll follow you.”

He grinned. “I’m on the bike over there.” He pointed to a group of Harley’s near the back of the lot.

“I’m in the white Lexus,” she said. “See you in a little bit.”

Chelsey sat on the edge of the bed in the dimly lit hotel room. She tried to think of something to say once the sexy shifter came back. He’d led them to a five-star hotel on the edge of town and secured the room. The units weren’t cheap. Chelsey knew this because her mom got pedicures in one of the salons right next to the hotel whenever she was in town.

The door rattled and he ventured back inside holding a tiny aluminum bucket with a bottle of champagne inside of it. He set it down on the nightstand and advanced toward her like a hungry wolf.

God, he smelled good. Like a mix of cologne, male, and some other spicy aroma she couldn’t identify. He tested the distance slowly before he laced his fingers with her hair. His palm ended up against her cheeks. Surprisingly, his skin was soft and she pressed her face into it.

“I’m going to make your body feel good, Princess,” he rasped just before grasping the back of her neck and bringing his lips down to hers, kissing her deeply.

Even the stilettos didn’t bring her level to his height. He had to have been close to six feet, four inches tall. Chelsey lifted herself up on her toes to get a better angle. Hell, he even tasted good and soon the heated blood in her veins turned into pure lust and determination. Her panties were already wet by the time his hands reached her ass where he kneaded her flesh softly.

He led her back awkwardly, past the bed, until her back hit the wall. Their lips parted and his mouth landed on her neck and he kissed her throat.

Chelsey’s breaths came in uneasy pants. She supposed it was a combination of the excitement of meeting a stranger who she was definitely attracted to and actually following through with her promise to herself. To find a man that would please her thoroughly in bed. She was already off to a good start. Right then and there, she resolved to let go of her reservations, be herself, and demand what she wanted.

She trembled as his knee made its way between her legs. Her sex rested over his thighs and she was certain the wetness had soaked through her panties. His lips nipped hers over and over gently and both of his hands were everywhere. On her ass, thighs, and neck. All of his attention was focused on her, as it should’ve been.

Chelsey grabbed the front of his shirt and tugged the tail end out from his jeans. She pressed her fingers against his rock hard abs, and then led them down to his bulge. He was so thick and hard that she nearly came undone touching him.

“You’re sexy as fuck and you smell so wickedly good,” he whispered against her throat.

Pure excitement pulsed between her legs. She wanted to be fucked right then.

He pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it down. He loosened his belt buckle and unzipped his fly. Before she could get a good look at what she knew was the biggest cock, she’d ever encountered he pushed her skirt up, grabbed her about the waist, and pressed her body up against the wall full force. He was hot against her, his mouth roaming over her lips in the most sensual dance that she’d ever experienced. His palms slid up between her top and stroked her breasts. She had more than enough to fill his big hands. He moaned in satisfaction, pulled her top over her head and then tossed it down with his shirt.

“Jesus,” he exclaimed, getting an eyeful. “Fuck yeah.”

He leaned in and pulled one taut bud between his lips. He alternated between both breasts, sucking them in and then flicking them gently with his expert tongue. He used the same amount of urgency kissed her breasts as he did with her mouth. Her back was firm against the wall and her knees became weak as tension built up within her core. His six o’ clock stubble brushed against her skin and against her firm nipples. With every suck, a wave of passion licked through her.

Chelsey had never experienced an orgasm from a man sucking her nipples, but sure enough, a shower of ecstasy poured through her and her pussy clenched and grew wetter. Her body trembled lightly against the wall when he blew warm air onto her areola.

“Oh…”

“Feels good, doesn’t it, Princess?” he asked, rising again to kiss her neck and collarbone again.

He slid his hands between her legs and his fingers found their way between the seat of her panties and her pussy. He pushed his fingers between her wet folds. Her thighs shook as he explored her sensitive sex and gently stroked her clit.

This was torture and ecstasy all rolled into one. He knew his way around a woman’s body and he wasn’t shy about letting her know that. He drove two big fingers up into her and her tight canal milked his digits.

“You aren’t anywhere near ready, Princess. You’re fucking tight,” he murmured against her chest, pumping into her slickness.

The sexy stranger went down on his knees, kissing along the insides of her thighs, taking her panties down her legs with him. Before Chelsey could protest, he removed her stilettos and sat them off to the side. He took one of her feet and propped it on the edge of a chair.

As he pressed his lips to her sex he groaned—no, growled—into it. Her legs nearly gave out from under her. He licked up and down the full length of her slit like it was the last course and only course of a meal. His moans of pleasure turned her on so much. He grabbed her hips and drove his tongue into her tightness over and over again. His finger took over where his tongue had once plundered and he flicked zealously at her needy clit. There was no use trying to hold her screams of passion inside. The urges were just too intense.

Chelsey gripped the back of his head, welcoming his expert tongue with vehement need. Her mind flooded with incoherent nonsense, her vision became clouded, and her body began to quiver uncontrollably. She moaned aloud as an orgasm so great hit her, the force of it rocked her very core. The sexy mouth between her legs licked until the last remnants of her climax had faded away.

He set her leg down and then rose to kiss her during the aftermath. “Do you taste how sweet you are?”

“Fuck me now,” she whispered against his lips.

“Someone is a little impatient, aren’t we?” he teased.

His cock had escaped his waistband and was so large that it brushed against her.

“Please, do it now. I can’t stand it.” What had this stranger done to her?

“I love when a woman knows what she wants. Don’t worry. I know just what you need.”

He picked her up in his arms and in three long strides reached the oversized bed. He dropped her onto it, pushed his pants down, and came over her on the bed.

She pointed to the purse lying in the middle of the bed. “I have a condom in my purse.”

“If you insist, Princess, but I don’t carry disease.”

“But I’m not on anything.” She grabbed her purse and handed him a condom. He took it out of the package and rolled it down over his thick cock. She almost thought it wouldn’t fit as he struggled to roll it down to the hilt.

“This will do for one round,” he said. “But I hope you brought more.”

“More…?” she whispered.

He grinned. “Yes, Princess. I’m going to fuck you all night long.”

Without another word, his hard cock slid down against her clit until it slipped past her folds to finally sink in about two inches deep. He dropped the full force of his weight between her thighs, shoving her legs apart even more.

Chelsey let out a strained cry of pleasure when he drove the entire length of his cock into her sex. She felt completely impaled to the bed. Massive jolts of pleasure pulsed through her as he began to rock back and forth within her. She clenched her teeth and dug her nails into his back while they adjusted to each other’s size.

“Ah, fuck yeah,” he groaned, pulling all the way out of her and then thrusting forward into her again hard.

She screamed. He cupped her ass and stroked in and out of her with concentrated thrusts. When her muscles relaxed she joined him in rhythm, opening herself up to him and pushing her hips forward. He pummeled himself into her until she came undone again beneath him. Only this time, it wasn’t his tongue that brought her to orgasm. His hard shaft brushed against her swollen clit and sent her into a climax. No man had ever fucked her to climax. This man, this sexy shifter, would be the first.

Moments later, his muscles tensed and he exploded, grunting in pure satisfaction. Something hot pulsed up into her. If she wasn’t mistaken, that was an indication that maybe the condom had broken. Her body was pure putty and her mind was too gone to think on it now. Her orgasm lasted for several minutes as his semen coated her insides, taking her on the strongest sexual high ever.

He rested his forehead against hers, breathing against her neck as they both came down from the orgasm. When his cock slipped out, so did remnants of his seed. He rolled off of her and peeled off what was left of the rubber.

“Human condoms and shifters don’t normally mix,” he said.

“Oh my God…” she breathed, although she could barely manage a sentence after having the best sex of her life.

“Don’t worry. You’re not all that fertile today. Likelihood of you getting pregnant tonight is slim to none.”

“What? So, you can detect when I’m fertile?”

He nodded. “The majority of shifters can. It’s normal.”

“Unbelievable,” she mumbled.

“Just think back on when you last ovulated and do the math.”

Chelsey laughed. “My mind is too messed up right now to do math. I’ll take your word for it.”

“Was it good? Did I meet your expectations?” he asked, turning over on his side and grinning at her.

“Yes,” she blushed. The absolute best.

“That was just a warm-up, Princess. This wolf ain’t done with you yet.”

“I don’t give a shit,” Dane Magnus, Alpha of the Aspen Valley Pack exclaimed, pounding his fist down on the table. “Garrett and the others may be halfway across the County by now but we have work to do. This is the best time right now. The governor left about two days ago on a business trip with his wife, so the home is clean.”

Brock, along with his blood brothers and three other crew members, were known as the Aspen Valley Outlaws. Only Brock, Dane, and Raoulf were present tonight and seated around an old oak table in Dane’s home.

After Dane rose to Alpha of the Aspen Valley Pack, the ranks had shifted a bit. Dane couldn’t actively run with the outlaws since he had a Pack and Pack lands to protect, but he did give orders. Raoulf became their secondary leader and Brock was third in line after that.

“So the only plan you’ve come up with his that we go to his house and raid the shit in his office in search of a safe,” Brock inquired.

“That’s the plan we had before. Police force and government officials raid our shit all the time. Our homes, our restaurants…and our nightclub. Fortunately, we have enough informants telling us that the mansion isn’t occupied and won’t be for at least a couple more days. We just need him to take a hint.”

“How do we know the safe has what we’re looking for in it?” Raoulf asked.

“We don’t,” Dane said. “We’re after more than just the safe. We’re going in there and we’re going to confiscate anything we know will be valuable in getting him to stop the eminent domain execution. We all know his legacy isn’t squeaky clean, but if we don’t have concrete evidence then there’s nothing stopping everyone else from shrugging the rumors off their shoulders about their wishy-washy governor.”

“And you think they’ll believe us more once we have the agreements we’re looking for?” Brock questioned. “What’s stopping them from calling the papers fictitious? What’s to say that the public won’t continue to label us liars, disregarding anything we present to them?”

Dane shook his head. “You’re getting ahead of yourself. The plan is to get the governor to stop all eminent domain proceedings before we ever present the information to the public. If he wants his reputation to remain squeaky clean, then we want him to leave our properties the hell alone. If he doesn’t comply…”

“…Then you’re suggesting we open up a can of worms,” Raoulf concluded.

Dane nodded. “Damn right, I am. Something tells me that the governor doesn’t want the public to know how wishy-washy he is. He knowingly helped many shifters expand business operations into his hometown. Heck, he even helped some Tellevue County shifters by approving private funding that fattened his pockets and that of the bank he co-owns. Now he wants to mimic the eminent domain proceedings of another state and use his governor title to strip it all away from us. I don’t know what the other Packs were up against, but these are our lands and we won’t be moved. That’s not how it works in Aspen Valley.”

“We hear you, bro,” Brock said. “Question is…when?”

“Tonight,” said the Alpha.

Chelsey finished painting the last toenail fire engine red and screwed the cap on. Leaving the wedges of toilet paper stuff between her toes, she waddled into the bathroom to relieve herself.

The mansion was pretty quiet and she liked it that way. The help dad hired to clean up when he was around had been given paid leave since her dad was visiting his business colleagues in the Midwest. Chelsey was more than relieved that they were gone and couldn’t hound her about her GPA any longer. Who cared about a GPA these days? Since when did a GPA measure someone’s ability to survive? The last time she checked, her dad hadn’t been the smartest in either high school or college and he’d somehow managed to co-own and operate one of the biggest private owned banks in the state and get elected to serve as Governor.

All of her life, all she ever wanted to be was a journalist, but of course, her parents tried to steer her away from that to pursue a career in politics. She’d tried to please them. Had even initially entered college as a political science major, but after a year of disinterest in the subject and career paths, she’d changed her program of study to English. And this winter, she’d have her English degree. Plus, she already had a job offer on the table already. One too many job offers.

Chelsey walked back into the room, fell back onto the bed, and glanced up at the ceiling. For the last couple days, all she could think about was one specific stranger’s handsome face and big cock. It had gotten so bad that she had the urge to masturbate a few times a day while thinking of him. She’d never done that after any man. It felt like she’d been given some drug and now she was feigning for another hit. Too bad she’d snuck out of the hotel room the next morning before he could wake up. But that was before she started craving him. Would she have stayed if she’d known that she couldn’t keep her mind off him? She’d made a deal with herself. She had wanted a one-night stand with a shifter and had gotten the best night of her life. If she wanted to find him, she’d visit LIVE again. But a man like him wouldn’t want a boring woman like her. Perhaps, she’d done him a favor by leaving. She almost wondered if all shifter males were that good in bed as the rumors suggested. Or did this one particular stranger just know how to expertly use what he was born with?

While thinking about that night, her hand had wandered up her blouse, kneading her own nipples and remembering how good his mouth felt against her. How she’d tried to, but since that night she could not bring herself to an orgasm as intense as the one she had with the stranger. Maybe if she visited one of those toy shops and bought a dildo as big as the stranger’s cock, it would work. Then again, would she be able to get the exact rhythm and pacing just right? He’d brought her to orgasm so effortlessly over and over again.

Her fingers ventured down inside of her panties where she had gotten wet just thinking about him. God, she wanted him again.

She glanced at the clock on the bedside table. 11:00 P.M.

She nibbled her bottom lip. That darned nightclub was still open. Maybe he was a regular there. She could go again and look for him. Apologize for leaving in the middle of the night and hope he wasn’t mad. Would he still want her? Was she as good to him in bed as he was to her?

Chelsey saw a shadow move across her bedroom wall. She removed her fingers from her nipples and sex and sat up on the bed. The sound of a motorcycle rumbled outside in the distance. Her parents weren’t scheduled to be back for another two days.

She walked over to the window and pulled the curtains aside to view an unfamiliar van downstairs in the driveway. Figures moved inside the van, but no one had come up to the front door yet. The security gates were wide open, which was odd. They were controlled by user access codes. Either the gates had malfunctioned or someone had rigged the gates.

A male got out of the car and glanced up in the direction of her bedroom window.

“Shit!” she exclaimed. “This isn’t happening.”

She let the curtain fall and backed away from the window. The lamp near her bedside table was on. She thought to turn it off, but then whoever was down there would know that she was up here for sure.

Chelsey’s heart thudded frantically and she prayed to God that the man or men in the van were someone her parents knew. When she heard a loud thud coming front one of the back door’s downstairs, she knew she was wrong. Someone was trying to burglarize the home.

She panicked and clutched at her chest. All she could think to do was hide. Whenever they discussed family security, her dad had always told her to just let them take whatever they wanted while hiding. So that’s what she did. She rushed into the bathroom, turned out the lights, and hid in the utility closet.

It seemed like forever had passed. Maybe if just felt like that as she tried to hold her breath far too many times only to have her lungs burn in protest. What were the burglars going to do? Smell her up here and drop all the money and jewels her parents owned and take her instead? That was absurd. What criminal wouldn’t take the money and run? With this thought in mind, she brought her knees closer to her chest and tried to remain still and quiet.

Turns out she was wrong. The rumbling up the stairs sent her heart into frantic mode again. The moment she realized the rumbling sound came from feet running up the stairs, it was too late. The door to the utility closet was jerked open and a male as wide as a linebacker stood in the doorway. He wore a hood, his face was covered, and she could see nothing but his eyes. They were brown, dark, and feral-looking.

“Don’t think we couldn’t smell you up here,” he growled. “Get up.”

Chelsey screamed. “Please, take what you want. I won’t call the cops. I promise.”

The hooded man laughed and then grabbed her by the arm. She struck him across the face and he uttered a string of curses. While he was rubbing at his eyes, she dashed from the room but slammed head first into another linebacker. She fought against him until she couldn’t fight anymore. The man who she’d struck bounded her arms behind her back, led her out of the bedroom, and down the stairs.

They came to a stop outside where another hooded linebacker was waiting by the car.

“Look here! We got a live hostage,” one of the men informed the third guy.

“Let go of me,” Chelsey screamed. Although the men weren’t hurting her, she didn’t want to be carted away anywhere with them. She wasn’t some object. She was a person.

The third guy turned swiftly and did something no real burglar would have done. He snatched off his face cover and lumbered toward them.

It was the stranger from the nightclub. The third guy was the shifter she’d been daydreaming about. Chelsey would’ve remembered that face anywhere. Same blue eyes, blond hair, and dark stare. It was the stranger. Oh fuck.

“Hands off!” The voice was also sounded the same and it sent chills up her spine.

“Jesus, Brock…are you fucking kidding me?”

The stranger—Brock—growled like an animal. The warning he sent caused the two men that captured her to step a good two feet away from her.

“She’s mine,” Brock stated, and then took her by the hand. “Are you okay?”

“Are. You. Fucking. Kidding me?” the hooded guy to the right bellowed.

“Chill out, alright!” Brock demanded. “I know her.”

“Know her? We’ve just gutted her home and you’re just now telling us that you know her. What the fuck, man?” One of the others paced aggressively in front of them.

“I didn’t know I knew her.”

“Bro…do I need to knock some goddamned sense into you?”

Brock was staring down at her arm extra hard and his thumb was rubbing back and forth over something red on her skin. She must have missed a spot while wiping up the nail polish that she’d smudged on her skin.

“It can’t be.” His expression changed from angry and possessive to troubled. “Where did you get this? How did you know to mark yourself this way?”

“Mark myself?” she asked. “I was painting my toes when you and your posse rudely broke into my home.”

“This isn’t paint, Princess. This is an exact replica of my birthmark.”

“Holy shit!” one of the hooded men exclaimed.

“Are you insane?” Chelsey tugged her arm out of Brock’s grip. She rubbed at the red mark that reminded her of a pair of butterfly wings. Sure enough, it wasn’t smeared fingernail polish. Whatever it was, it appeared to be something under her skin.

“I should have known after I couldn’t get over you…” Brock muttered.

“What?” She stepped back a couple feet. “You’re a real criminal that just tried to kidnap me. How could you come after me?”

Brock shook his head. “I’m not after you. What relations do you have with Governor Canon? Are you…seeing him?”

“No!” I swallowed my disgust. “He’s my dad.”

“Oh man,” the aggravated man started pacing back and forth. “We’ve gotta get out of here.”

“Chill out, Raoulf,” Brock instructed him. “We had sex a few nights ago, all right? That’s how I know her.”

“Why would you do this?” Her throat tightened as she waited for his answer.

“I have no time to explain here. I’m a shifter and an outlaw. I—”

“Stop.” Chelsey held up her hand. “Stop right there. You mean you’re part of that group that runs around causing trouble all over the country.”

Brock shook his head. “You’ve got it all wrong. Your dad wants to seize our property using eminent domain laws. If he does that, our Pack will have nowhere to roam freely. He knows that and so does all of the other lawmakers standing with him on this matter.”

“So your plan was to fuck me hard and then kidnap me to get back at my dad?”

“I had no idea who you were until tonight. We’re here to dig up and get what we can on Governor Canon including the fact that he provided funding for us shifters before he took the Governor’s role. He seems to have switched out on us real fast once we got richer.”

“So you want to blackmail him for doing his job?”

Brock paused, his gaze lowering to the ground.

Raoulf stopped pacing and approached them. “We’re outlaws, woman. Your father and the local government are trying to take almost everything away from our Pack. What do you think? We’re not going to just bow down to be trampled upon when we have a right to be here just like anybody else.”

“I don’t care who you are. I want you off my property and my land. I will call the cops on each and every one of you…including you…Brock. How’s that for blackmailing?”

The guy who hadn’t said anything since the whole exchanged laughed. “It’s three to one.”

“Listen…both of you,” Brock said. “If either of you lay a hand on her again, you will answer to me. I said that she is mine.”

His statement sent a surge of arousal straight through her. She didn’t understand it. Why was she so affected by this man?

“We’re getting the hell out of here,” one of them said. “You can stay behind.”

The two men started for the van leaving Chelsey and Brock standing there.

“Chelsey…is that your name?” Brock whispered, picking up a few locks of her hair and bringing it to his nose. “You smell like cherry pie.”

She chuckled nervously. “I’m so freaking confused and you’re talking about pies. Why are you doing this?”

“Your father hates shifters, Chelsey.”

She shook her head. “No, he doesn’t. That’s not my dad.”

“Then why is he hell-bent on stripping us of our ancestral lands?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s just about bringing in money into the town. That’s what governors do. But he’s not against shifters. I know that.”

“Aren’t you aware that he plans to take our lands?” Brock asked.

“Take? Doesn’t there have to be an agreement between both parties?”

“Not entirely. And when you’re a shifter fighting for equal rights for your people, that answer is likely not. This is why I do what I do, Chelsey. So in answer to your question, yes, I’m part of that group that runs around, but it’s not trouble we’re trying to cause. We fight for the rights of shifters when they’re not strong enough to fight for themselves?”

“I’m sure my dad doesn’t want to fight you,” she said.

“We don’t want to lose our land and we need him to understand that. We’ve tried talking and sending letters, but everything has been returned unopened.”

“I don’t know what’s going on. I hate politics, but maybe I can get him to understand,” she said. “Your friends look like they’re ready to go, by the way.”

“My brothers will continue to do what’s necessary as part of our mission. We work as a team. Regardless of how far off the path I travel, they’ll stay the course. I meant what I said, Chelsey. I won’t let anything happen to you now that I know how irresistible you are.”

“You’re a charmer.”

“It’s all truth, but trust me, my wolf wants you more than you know.”

Her core heated as a vision of him pumping between her legs flashed through her mind. “He does?” she muttered.

“I can smell your heat, Princess,” he added.

“There’s nothing we can do about it here in front of your friends,” she said.

One brow quirked and he tossed her a challenging stare. “Says who? I’ll fuck you in front of anyone, anywhere if you ask me to.”

Chelsey fanned herself as heat rose up her neck. “Jesus you’re blunt.”

“How much time do we have?” she asked.

“To fuck? All the time in the world.”

She swatted him. “That’s not what I meant.”

He laughed. “I know what you meant. The proceedings begin next week.”

Chelsey placed her hands on her hips. “Here’s my ultimatum. You tell your arrogant ass brothers to bring back what they took from my dad’s home and I’ll call him promptly tomorrow morning.”

“How will you convince him to stop the orders?”

She smiled. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.”

“I’m gonna need collateral until tomorrow morning,” Brock said, grinning. “Who knows…you might just up and leave the State without a word, kind of like you did the other night.”

“What about my body for use as collateral? I’m feeling a bit neglected and could use another one night stand.”

Brock closed up the distance between them and took her mouth in a full kiss despite his crew still waiting in the van behind them.

Chelsey pulled back, her lips tingling from the warmth of his kiss. “Is that your answer?”

“That’s more than an answer.” He picked up her arm again, turning it over to view the red mark that hadn’t gone away. “And there’s a reason you’re wearing my birthmark. You probably don’t quite understand yet what’s happening to your body and what’s happening between us.”

“What’s happening? Did you slip some shifter magic into my drink or something because I can’t seem to stop thinking about you? Is that what your kind does to women? The rumors must be true.”

Brock gently stroked the underside of her chin with his fingers. “Let’s finish what we started the other night, Princess. I have a lot to explain to you and we’ll have our entire lives to understand it together. There’s a pretty good reason why both of us have been thinking about the other day and night.”

“You too?”

He nodded. “I drove to LIVE the following night hoping you would show.”

She smiled. “I didn’t think you would be there. We did agree on just the one night, so…I didn’t bother. I thought it would pass.”

“It won’t pass, nor will I let you out of my sight again. Go back inside and pack a bag, Princess. You’re coming with me.”

All of Brock’s brothers filed into an empty LIVE Nightclub. The one they called Raoulf headed straight for the unmanned bar and made himself a drink. The club had closed over an hour ago and only a few drunken patrons and what looked like the cleaning crew remained.

“Whatever you do, don’t kill my dad,” Chelsey said.

“That was never the plan,” Alpha Dane said. “Besides, we’re used to getting our way without ending lives. We have other methods.” He slid onto a bar stool next to Raoulf. “Isn’t that right, Raoulf?”

“Damn straight,” Raoulf added, taking a shot of whiskey. He still hadn’t removed his hood, which told Chelsey that either he still didn’t trust her or didn’t want to see all of his face.

“Like what?” she asked.

“Do you really want the answer to that?” Brock countered, leaning back on the counter on his elbows.

She tossed her purse on the bar and slid on a stool. “Are all the crimes and threats and stuff necessary?”

“We’ve asked your dad nicely and we’ve even warned those crooked town cops to stay off our lands. They’ve been using physical force of their own trying to keep us from bringing a stop to the eminent domain proceedings. Some of the human hunters in the area have even gone as far as hunting with rifles on the land. None of us have been shot yet, but other small animals and prey haven’t been so lucky. The carcasses are left out in the open for us to see. They weren’t killing for food. These were just senseless killings…almost like planting warnings for us to find. We traced the bullets to one single manufacturer in Texas. This is the last step,” Dane said.

Chelsey frowned. “I’m sorry that all of this is happening, but I promise you that my dad has nothing to do with planting carcasses. But what do you mean? The last step before what?”

“Before we get what we want, of course.” Dane shrugged. “For him to stop the eminent domain proceedings. If we lose this tract of land, we’ll be losing a lot of hunting grounds. Just in case you haven’t noticed, we are shifters. We shift and run as a Pack there. Some of us even live out there. Stripping the land will also push out other animals that have taken up shelter there.”

“Is that another way to say that if the County wins, your food source will disappear?” she inquired.

Dane pressed his lips together in a grim line, and then said, “You learn quickly. It’s been a little over thirty years since shifter existence was revealed. Some of us haven’t blended into human society. Some of us never will. Therefore, that’s what uncharted, and supposedly, uninhabited tracts of land—like the one they’re looking to confiscate—is used for. Wolves live there, they hunt there, they eat there. I’m sure you know that it’s not wise to fuck with wolves and their right to eat and live in their natural habitats.”

She swallowed. Yeah, she fully understood now. “I understand where you’re coming from. What do you have on my dad?”

Dane narrowed his gaze. “Why should I tell you?”

“Because I agreed to help. Whatever it is you have or took from my house, I want you to give it back,” she said. “I’m sure my dad will settle this without this last ditch effort to bribe him by using me.”

“The plan was never to use you,” Dane said, his gaze sliding over to Brock. “But it just so happens that you’re now connected to Brock. And actually, we don’t need to use you at all.”

Chelsey sighed. “My dad has held the seat less than a year. I assure you that he means no harm to the shifter community. I’ll try and help y’all, but I won’t stand against him.”

“Understood,” Dane said. “Your dad isn’t the only official in this town pushing this agenda, but he sure as hell does sign off on them.”

“So tell me…” She crossed her arms over her chest. “What’s your plan now that you have me?”

“That’s the thing…” Dane shrugged. “We’ll have to find another way to get your father’s attention in honor of respecting you now that you’ve bonded with my brother.”

“What other ways?” she asked, suspiciously.

“You’ve got a lot of questions.”

“You’re the one who ordered a raid on my house. Since this involves my family, I think I should know. And…like I said, I want to help your cause. I came with you willingly.”

“You came because there was no way you would’ve been able to run from Brock,” Raoulf countered. “You have his scent all over you, sweetness.”

Chelsey blushed. Brock’s scent was all over her, but so were his hands…among other things. Big things. A hard fleshy thing in particular. She bit her lips as heat rose up her spine and fanned across her neck.

“Now that it’s obvious to all of you that Brock and I had…were together and something happened between us, can I suggest that you not make any more adverse moves against my dad. There’s gotta be another way.”

“You’re right. And yes, we’ll find another way. Working with your dad is what we’ll deal with,” Dane said. “Focus on your mating with my brother and leave this to us. We never planned on harming you or your dad. What we do plan to do is defend and keep our properties.”

Chelsey moved across the small living area of Brock’s home, taking in his choice of furniture and setup. The space was devoid of clutter. The two bedroom, two bathroom log cabin sat on a small lot adjacent to one of the town’s biggest ponds. The Aspen Valley nature park that she had always wanted to visit was just five miles up the road. When her dad had first been elected as Governor, the privately-owned park was one of the first places she’d had on her list to explore. Unfortunately, even after her family was settled in at the mansion, much of her free time had been devoted to preparing for her last semester of college and she never got around to visiting.

“Is this where you live?” she asked.

“Yes. When I’m in town.” He shrugged out of his leather jacket and hung it on the coat rack beside the door. “My brother Garrett lives close by. He’s never home, though.

“It’s so secluded,” she said. “Don’t you get lonely.”

“Not really. I prefer the seclusion. Besides, if I want company, I can just race across town. Doesn’t take very long.”

“Right. With you being a wolf shifter and all that, I bet you travel back and forth through the woods so easily. Where do you spend most of your time when you’re not in Aspen Valley?”

“On the road mostly dealing with matters outside of the Pack that affects us.”

“Isn’t this eminent domain thing a Pack issue?”

He sat down in a chair and took off his boots before answering. “Yeah. I was in Jersey when Dane called me about it. This is a big deal since what they’re trying to take makes up the bulk of our acreage.”

“And you need places to…just be a wolf and not a man. Right?” She smiled, her gaze running across his body. “I get it.”

Brock grinned. “Do you now?” He stood up and crossed the small distance between them. He took a seat on the sofa’s armrest, grabbed her hand, and pulled her between his legs.

“I’m trying to, at least,” she said.

“Does it bother you that I’m both wolf and man,” he asked.

“It amazes me that you’re both,” she replied.

With him being so close to her, her temperature rose. Even now as he stood in close proximity to her, she realized how much she’d missed his touch. If she had listened to her instincts and returned to LIVE nightclub, she would’ve missed Brock showing up at her house. Would she have seen him again in that case?

“Now that we’ve been outed, we have to protect our own at all costs. There are still some who seek to get rid of what they fear,” he said. “In the beginning, they tried to destroy us. They feared those who could shift between wolf and man at will, but it was our job to make them understand that we weren’t rabid or out to kill. We’ve been living alongside humans for a very long time. We’ve come a long way, but still, we’re not granted some of the same rights as humans.”

Chelsey stroked the left side of his face with her palm. His stormy, blue eyes met hers and suddenly she remembered what had drawn her to him that night at the bar.

“You’re just as human to me as any man I’ve ever met,” she said.

He grinned. “That’s because you haven’t seen my animal yet.”

“I felt him the other night. When we were…together.”

“Yeah,” he breathed. “I’m sure you did. And now you’re wearing my mark as a result of that.”

“Who gave you permission to mark me anyway?” she asked, running her finger down his chest and reminiscing on the hardness of his flesh against her hands.

He gripped her hips and brought her closer. She made no moves to shy away when he dragged his lips along the outer edge of her ears. She trembled within his embrace, heat rising up her spine with every stroke of his nose against the most sensitive area on her neck.

“I would ask your forgiveness, but I find satisfaction in knowing that you’ll be mine to please forever,” he told her.

“I…” She sighed.

She’d never been one to tell a man how much she needed him even if it was just for sex. For fuck sakes, she was supposed to be the independent, don’t need handouts or a man type of woman that her mother raised her to be. But she also went out and got what she wanted, even if it involved doing something out of the norm. Like going to a bar seeking out a one night stand. Her one night stand had turned into a serious revelation. One she didn’t quite understand yet. A revelation that would take her some getting used to. The one truth that she did understand was that she wanted Brock.

“What is it? What are you thinking about?” he asked, kissing her skin softly.

“About how my life literally changed overnight.”

“This changes things for both of us, Princess.”

“I’ve just never had anyone like you, and I’m not saying that just because you’re a shifter. Maybe it’s because you’re older, mature, and you know how to treat women. I don’t know. I feel like this is all too good to be true.”

He pulled back and found her gaze. “You’re correct in that I’ll always treat you the way a woman should be treated. With love. Respect. Like she’s the only person on this planet that matters. But you’re different, Chelsey. To me, you are my true mate. The only woman that will satisfy my wolf. The only woman that I’ll always run to no matter what or who tries to separate us. It doesn’t make sense now, but what does make sense is that you’re wearing my birthmark. That’s not by accident. That’s fate.”

“So what do we do?”

“You do want this, don’t you?” he asked, confusion flashing across his face for a brief second. “You do want me, right?

“If I told you how much, would you use that against me?”

“Not against you. However, I would use it to your advantage,” he said, pressing his lips to hers, letting his words brush against them. “I’ve been wanting to get you alone for hours now.” He nipped the column of her throat. “I couldn’t wait until the Alpha was done going over our plans. My mind should be focused on our objective, but instead, all I can think about is you.”

She gasped when his lips molded against the underside of her chin.

“It’s funny because I wanted to go back to that nightclub so many times. I kept telling myself you weren’t going to be there and that I was just being too greedy and that was all the sex I was going to get.”

“Things would’ve been different,” he replied. “I was concerned when you didn’t show up.”

“Show up where?” she asked. “You mean you went back to the nightclub?”

“I did,” he said, sheepishly. “I was banking on seeing you. I left thinking that I hadn’t lived up to your expectations.”

“You exceeded them.” She chuckled. “If you were worried about your ability to deliver, you shouldn’t be. I left right away because I was a little overwhelmed. I just didn’t think a man like you would want to be bothered with me. You’ve got your life figured out, yet I haven’t even decided where I’m going to live once I graduate in December and I have less than four months to choose. I even have intern offers I haven’t even entertained.”

He took her hands in his and gave them a reassuring squeeze. “You just take things one day at a time. No need to rush anything.”

“That’s what my dad has been trying to tell me,” she said before she could stop herself. “Oh…I guess you don’t want to hear about my dad right now.”

“No, it’s okay. People disagree all the time. We’re just trying to get your dad as the governor and the people behind this issue to listen to us and understand why their plans won’t be beneficial to the environment as a whole.”

“He’s a good person,” she said. “It can be a little difficult to change his mind once he’s made it up. He’s set in his ways most of the time. He spent twenty-five years as an attorney and prosecutor before he got into politics.”

“Hmmm, he’s a smart man then?”

She nodded.

“Chelsey, I’m not asking you to stand against your dad, but what I am asking is for you to stay with me. Don’t leave me because of this.”

“You have nothing to worry about, Brock, because I don’t want to leave you,” she said.

Chelsey closed the short distance between them and kissed him. He felt like hot, hardened granite stone against her. Her knees grew weak as Brock took her lips over and over again. If it wasn’t for his strong, thick arms holding her securely she would have collapsed right before him. Actually, she wouldn’t have minded being on her knees with his rock hard length against her tongue. She needed to feel him, more of him. She broke the kiss to lift up the tail-end of his shirt to reveal the hard planes of his chest. He took the hint and pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it out of their way.

She pressed her lips to his chest, tracing her fingers along the hardened lines. Before she could go any lower, he slipped his fingers under her chin and lifted her upward, capturing her mouth again. They kissed with urgency and desire. The emotions flowed from her to him and back again as they shared this intimate moment alone. Her sex heated between her legs and her clit pulsed excitedly in anticipation of the pleasure he could give her.

His cock had hardened so much that it felt like a rock pressed firmly against her belly.

“I can’t wait any longer,” she mumbled against his lips. “Take me again, Brock.”

“That’s always been the plan,” he murmured against her neck, his tongue leaving a hot trail along her throat.

His hands slid up under her top and he pulled it over her head. He took his time disrobing her until only her panties remained. Her heart pounded impatiently, but it seemed that he couldn’t get enough of kissing her. He worked his lips and tongue expertly across her neck, her shoulders, and her breasts. She tucked her fingers down into his waistband, unable to resist the lure of taking his thick shaft within her grip and doing with it what she wanted. The thought of having Brock when she wanted and where she wanted excited her. She’d never had a man that was so eager to please her before. It was a good thing that she visited the nightclub on the night she did. She would have never found Brock and would have been lost in a sea of men who left her unsatisfied. With Brock, she felt safe and secure, and almost like a piece of her was restored each time she thought of him.

Chelsey undid his fly, eliciting a deep groan from his throat, and then wrapped her hand around him. Her fingertips almost touched as they curled around the thick meaty base. Her pussy clenched as the memories from their first night when his thick cock pushed into her for the first time. She ached just thinking about Brock filling her up completely.

She dropped to her knees and covered his cockhead with her hungry mouth, flicking the seam with her tongue and drawing slow, deliberate circles under the crease.

“Chelsey,” he groaned and grabbed a fistful of her hair into his palm.

He thrust his hips forward, pushing at the back of her throat. Just as she was enjoying being on his knees and being the ultimate source of his pleasure, his shaft tightened against her palm and against her tongue. She tried to anticipate the moment of his orgasm but then she became more focused on an ulterior objective: giving him as much pleasure as he could take. The streams of molten liquid that pulsed from his cock took her by surprise. His cum felt like honey against her tongue. She milked him, enjoying every last drop. He remained perched on the edge of the sofa, panting and looking under his dark, hooded eyes in disbelief as she pleased him. After only a few moments, the veins on his shaft began to fill with rabid desire again and his cock lengthened. All she wanted to do was please Brock, but he had other plans.

In one effortless motion, he rose from the chair lifting her with him. He carried her in his arms to the next room and then dropped her on the edge of the bed. He kissed her momentarily before standing back and admiring her body, his gaze landing on the mark more than a few times. He removed the rest of his clothing as he studied her. He was a masterpiece…and the most perfect man she’d ever been with.

Once he was naked, he bent down and hooked his thumbs around the waistband of her panties and removed the final garment from her, baring everything to his inspection.

“Is this what you’ve been craving, Princess?” he asked, grasping his cock in his palm and stroking slowly. His gaze was firmly planted on her body.

“Yes.” She licked her lips, giving him a come hither stare.

This time, when he approached, he sat on the bed next to her and pulled her leg across him.

“Then take what you need.”

She straddled him, propping herself up on her knees. Pushing him back down onto the bed, she positioned herself and effortlessly slid down the length of him one inch at a time. He grabbed her hips, assisting her in taking him deep and to the hilt. Her pussy adjusted to his big size and the more she stayed connected with him, the better she felt. She ground her hips sensuously back and forth until he was coated with her arousal.

She rocked into him, riding him into ecstasy. He groaned aloud as she set the tone and rhythm. She felt a sense of ownership as he relinquished control which was something he hadn’t done on the first night. His mark heated and tingled under her skin, as though it was further ensuring that the emblem was permanent. Soon she came undone, coming with so much force that it surprised her.

After her climax, he picked her up and laid her out on the floor on a soft plush carpet. He lifted both of her legs up and propped them onto his shoulders and then dove into her again without missing a beat. Pain and pleasure roared through her as he pumped into her with vigor. She couldn’t remember the number of times he brought her to climax over and over again in that position, but by the time his hot seed flooded her she was completely spent. And only then did he cradle her gently in his arms and place her in the middle of his bed where he joined her. She remained in his arms all night long, clinging to him. This time, she wouldn’t leave his side. Something had definitely changed between them. As she drifted off to sleep, her head on his chest, the mark on her arm continued to blaze hotly under her skin.

“Do you mind telling me what happened to the security footage from yesterday?” A stern look passed across her dad’s face as he leaned against the doorknob with his arms folded over his chest. “Everything’s been erased. Either that or the damn thing glitched again.”

His expression reminded Chelsey of all the times he used to ground her. Only this time, she was too old for his tough parenting tactics. She was literally counting down the days until she could get an apartment of her own—away from campus life and away from the scrutiny of her dad. Her privacy had always been paramount for her, so she’d known earlier on in her life that a career path in politics wouldn’t be a good fit for her. She needed a job where she didn’t have to live up to anyone’s expectations. Some days, she didn’t know how her dad coped—but somehow, he did.

“Maybe it glitched…” she replied.

On Chelsey’s demand, Pack Alpha Dane and his brother had returned everything they took that night. She hadn’t thought to check the security cameras, so the lack of footage from yesterday probably meant that Brock’s brother had done something to the cameras prior to breaking in.

“Well, did the electricity go out or anything?”

She continued to stuff her clothes into a suitcase. “I told you. I wasn’t here all night last night. I rested a little, got up, and got ready for a party. And then I left.”

He narrowed his gaze and pressed his lips together in a scowl. Chelsey wondered if he detected her slight variation about what happened the previous night. There wasn’t much she could get past her dad—the former prosecutor who was now the devoted, hard-working Governor.

“You weren’t interested in Aspen Valley’s nightlife when we first moved out here,” he stated, suspiciously.

“Well Dad, this town isn’t exactly known for its nightlife. Everyone my age hangs out in the clubs and bars of nearby cities. Too bad I just figured that out. That information could’ve saved me a lot of lonely nights last year when we first moved out here.”

“And maybe I withheld that information on purpose. Some of these bars should be shut down after learning what goes on the inside of them,” he said, reluctantly. “Whose party was it?”

“What party?”

“The party that you said you went to last night.”

“Oh…that party,” she said. “It was a private house party near Aspen Lake. I don’t really know the hosts personally. I learned about it through some old friends.”

That was only half the truth. A party had occurred that night, but fate had other plans for her.

“Just be careful going out alone like that. By the way, why are you packing so soon if you’re not due back to campus until Monday?” he asked.

“I have some things to take care of before my classes start up again,” she replied.

Truthfully, the only other thing she was pressed to take care of was the urgent need to get back to Brock. She didn’t know how she would feel when she left him on Sunday to travel back to college. What was wrong with her? She’d never been this attached to any previous dates or boyfriends? In fact, she wasn’t even ready for the time commitment that being in a steady relationship would warrant. She was attracted to Brock on both a physical and emotional level, but something about being in his presence and in his arms made her open up in ways that left her feeling vulnerable but safe. Was she ready for this? Was she ready to wear his mark?

Her dad must have sensed her change in demeanor. “You want to help others but it looks like you’re rushing back to campus before your break is up and I’ve barely gotten a chance to sit and have a talk with you. Do you need my help with anything while you’re here?”

She stopped packing long enough to give him a kiss on the forehead.

“The only thing I need your help with is what we talked about. The holidays are coming up and I’ll be back home and we can have dinner and do all the chatting you want,” she said.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about your post-graduation plans, but I guess we can hold off that discussion for another month or so,” he said.

“Nothing’s changed. I’m still weighing my options.”

“You are planning on moving back into Aspen Valley, aren’t you?”

She shrugged. “That depends on where I’m offered a position at. I have at least one out of state offer on the table.”

“Out of state, huh?” He gnawed wearily at his bottom lip. “You know, there’s a part-time position at the Courthouse that’ll be vacant right around the time of your graduation. I think it’ll be a good fit for you, even if it’s just to try out different career paths. Why don’t you apply?”

“Thanks Dad. I know this is your last ditch effort to keep me within arms reach, but it’s time that I made decisions for myself. Even if they're bad ones. Besides, I have a few offers already to entertain.”

He sighed heavily. “Alright. You know I’m here to help if you need it.”

Chelsey was a little relieved that he was done grilling her about her career choices, but then he returned to the dreaded topic about the break-in.

“You know what? I can’t ignore my gut instincts. I’m going to have to report my suspicions about someone possibly breaking into here to the police. Just last week some local high schoolers broke into Gerald’s vacation home. The one right across the street from us. Nothing was stolen and the suspects claimed they were just looking for a place to crash for the night after drinking. They must have known Gerald wasn’t living there at the time. And you know what’s really odd about what I saw here?” he continued. “I don’t remember leaving my office door unlocked.”

Chelsey swallowed and turned to face him. “Was anything missing?”

“No, I did inventory. Things weren’t where I remember them being, but I was also in a rush when I left here the other day. Are you sure you didn’t go in there to use the computer or anything?”

“No. Or maybe I did and I just don’t remember,” she said.

“Possibly. Well, I’m going to go get those security cameras fixed.”

“At least nothing’s missing, but you know what else is really odd…?

“What’s that?” he asked.

“I’m hearing rumors that you’ve made a group of people very angry because you and the other city council members are threatening to take their land and demolish what’s left of it.”

Dad grumbled. “I make a lot of people angry, Chelsey, but that doesn’t stop me from doing my job.”

“Does your job include putting dozens of Tellevue County residents out on the streets?”

“That tract of land is nearly ten percent vacant. That’s a very small portion of Tellevue County.”

“Who told you that the land was only ten percent vacant?”

“No one has to tell me anything. There are maps to tell us these things and the most recent County census report has been released. Besides, the tenants will get a reasonable token as soon as they vacate. It’s all part of doing business.I’ve conducted deals like this before with wolf shifter packs like the one here in Aspen Valley. Sometimes they win. Sometimes they lose.”

“You’ve conducted deals with them?”

Chelsey had to admit that politics weren’t really her thing, so she hadn’t been keeping up lately with what her father was doing or who he made deals with. After almost flunking out of her last year of college do to the stress of her parent’s nearly splitting up, she’d made a promise to herself to focus on nothing but her grades and her health.

“Yes, I have,” he replied. “Like I said, it’s the way business is conducted in this State.”

“What kind of deals have you conducted with local wolf shifter packs?”

Dad pulled out a desk chair from under the table and sat in it. “There are things that you’d never understand, Chelsey. You were only a child when these shifters began coming out. Back in our hometown where you were born, half of our police force was made up of shifters. One thing wolf shifters do exceed well at is protecting territories and securing borders from threats entering the State or, in that case, the town. We almost never had the use for police dogs because the wolf shifters were our eyes, ears, and nose…and they could talk. They picked up on everything. They kept our streets safe and drug-free. While I was a member of the city council, I did a number of things to help the shifters improve their way of living. Some of that included lawmaking that would allow them to repurchase or outright take back most of their hunting grounds. I funded some of their projects with private loans from my bank.”

“I remember when you used to work for the city council. I was just getting ready to graduate middle school at the time, but I didn’t know you were involved with wolf shifters on that level.”

“I was, but for the most part shifters don’t like to be governed by humans. We established what laws we could that were inclusive of the shifter population.”

“So that means you once cared about their way of life. Don’t you still do?”

Dad paused a moment before saying, “I tried to keep the reason for me and Priscilla’s rocky marriage away from you. You had a lot on your plate with entering your Senior year of college.”

Her heart grew heavy at the mention of her parent’s marriage which was hanging on by a thread. She sat on the edge of her bed, facing her dad.

“I think it’s time you tell me,” she said. “I’m not a little girl anymore. I understand about relationships and marriage and all that.”

“Yes, I know that. Your mother and I stayed together for a long time because of you. We wanted what’s best for you and we still do. I love your mother very much and I’m trying and willing to work things out with her. She’s just not very forgiving.”

“What does she have to forgive?”

“A whole lot.” His shoulders slumped and his eyes shifted across the room. “There was this woman. I would go on lunch dates with her. She was just someone that worked on the city’s council with me. Name’s not really important now, but I’m sure if you researched you could probably put two and two together. Your mother got the wrong impression and thought I was sleeping with her. We never slept together, but I had to admit that I was emotionally involved with the other woman to the point where anytime I’d meet her for coffee or anything, I’d tell your mother I was at work or having the beer with one of the guys. I was doing a lot of nice things for this woman—paying her bills and buying her things when she claimed to be going through hard times. Your mother had some of my credit card bills that attested to that.”

“Mom thought you were cheating,” Chelsey stated.

“She did. It took me a while to realize that’s what it was. I was untruthful and lying to myself and to her, which was nearly the same as cheating. My…friendship with this woman was cut short when your mother hired an investigator to look into my extracurricular activities. That investigator was a shifter and he helped her catch me in numerous lies. Your mother confronted me while I was at the spa with the woman.”

Chelsey swallowed and bit her lip. It was enough to make her angry. “This is the first time hearing the truth behind what caused the disconnection between you two. Mom hinted that there may have been another woman in the picture, but she didn’t come right out and say it and I didn’t want to open up any wounds for her by asking.”

“I know and I’m sorry. We decided together that you didn’t need to know the details. It was something Priscilla and I tried to fix. And for a while after that, we were working things out, but I don’t think she’s ever gotten over it.”

“Well, it hasn’t even been two years. It almost seems like yesterday when you two told me you were going to marriage counseling.”

“Right. If time is what she needs, I’ll give her that,” he said.

“And you’re holding a grudge against all wolf shifters because of something you were caught doing? By one of them?”

Dad lowered her head. “Unfortunately yes. This shifter may have been moonlighting as a private investigator, but he was also working in the special police force at the time. The same police force that I pushed because I wanted to help bring jobs to the shifter community.”

“I see.”

“But honey, that’s not what this eminent domain proceeding is all about. I didn’t target shifter land because of my past transgressions. I’ve been in communication with Midway Industries for several months now regarding their plans for Aspen Valley.”

“Midway Industries?” she mumbled. “That’s the same company who makes custom weapons, isn’t it? Rifles and guns, right?”

“Yes, it is. They’ll bring jobs and money to the entire County, not just Aspen Valley. It just so happens that the tract of land that would most benefit them is remote and virtually uninhabited, but unfortunately, the wolf pack has made claims that it’s not.”

“Haven’t you listened to them?” she asked.

“There’s no evidence. No homes, no cars…nothing indicates that this area has become the permanent resident of any of them.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “Dad? These are wolf shifters we’re talking about. They live in homes too, but they also run free through the woods. Do you really think they’re going to cut down all those trees to build homes instead of preserving their natural habitats?”

“This isn’t the only tract of land they have access to in Aspen Valley,” he countered.

“Apparently they’re adamant about keeping this one. I visited the area. What may look like dozens of miles of forest and barren acreage to you, is home to them. Is money more important than retaining the natural resources of the state and the respect of the citizens, including shifters?” she asked.

Dad frowned. “You’re barking up the wrong tree. We won’t demolish everything. Midway Industries will do everything they can to salvage what they can. They’d like to acquire the land but would rather not deal with the local shifters.”

“They don’t want to deal with them because maybe they know they’ll be met with opposition. Do you know what Midway Industries is known for? Clearing out forests to use in their weapons manufacturing operations and then building huge retail centers that drive the local shops out of business. Is that what you want for Aspen Valley?”

“I want to do all I can for the local economy. My term is up next year and I doubt I’ll be running again. Why are you so concerned about this?”

“Because I actually have friends who live out there,” she stated. “These investors from Midway Industries aren’t concerned about Tellevue County. They’re just concerned with their bottom line. Who’s going to piece our County back together when Midway Industries exhausts all we have and then moves onto the next money hungry politician?”

Her dad gave her a side-eye that rivaled all others. “Are you calling me money-hungry? There’s a time and place to question me about things, but this issue isn’t up for discussion—certainly not with my daughter.”

“So you’re going to let this happen?”

“Plans have been underway for months. The President of Midway will be flying in from Texas next week to get some signatures and it’ll be a done deal.”

“Unless the wolf pack can prove their case, right?” she inquired, hopefully. “Because what it seems to me is that someone on your council has made it their priority to keep the wolves quiet and at bay.”

He rose swiftly to his feet. “You have a lot more things to worry about, Chelsey, and this isn’t one of them.”

“Please Dad. I’m just asking you. I promised my friends that you’d at least listen to what the leaders of the wolf pack have to say. I know sometimes you have to make decisions that won’t benefit everyone, but please…for me…”

He frowned.

She approached him. “I told them you’d at least listen to what they have to say. Your staff won’t even direct the calls to you.”

“Who would like to speak with me?”

Chelsey rushed to her purse on the nightstand and pulled out a business card from it. She handed the card to her dad with shaky fingers.

Her dad inspected it and read the name aloud. “Dane Magnus. I’ve heard of him.”

“Then that’s great, right?”

“Not sure, but he seems to have a fondness for acquiring real estate.”

“They said—I mean, my friends said that he’d like to talk business with you.”

“I’ll call him,” her dad stated. “In the meantime, I don’t want you conducting any more business on my behalf. That’s my job. You’re my daughter and you shouldn’t be doing anything to jeopardize your safety in my name.”

“Understood.”

“Besides, if you want to play the part of a nice politician, you should seriously consider the job I mentioned,” he said, grinning.

“I have seriously considered it,” she said. “For right now, just consider me the friendly mediator between the wolf faction and the money hungry politician.”

He chuckled. “Mediator, eh? I think you should seriously consider that as a career path.”

“I just might.”

Chelsey had watched the sunset many times before, but never while sitting by the lake and never with anyone else. As she rested back against Brock’s chest and threaded her fingers with his, she felt at peace, and nothing—not even the new chapter of her life that she’d be entering shortly—could take this moment of happiness away from her. It was too bad that she had to leave to soon to head back to campus. Even with the current dilemma surrounding Brock’s pack and her dad’s involvement, all she could do was think about what the next days, weeks, months—even years would hold for them.

They were seated on a blanket beneath a tree that had previously shaded them. The descending sun faded into the horizon, displaying a mix of muted orange and red colors. Mingling with the smell of freshly cut grass and a calming breeze was the spicy, irresistible essence of the man embracing her. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

“I could sit out here forever,” she said. “I’d forgotten how relaxing being with nature could be.”

“It’s the small things like this in life that are worth living and fighting for,” he said. With his finger still locked together, he lifted their hand and kissed the back of hers.

“Thanks for bringing me here. When I first met you, I would have never guessed that you were the type of man to enjoy anything other than your Harley or going to the bar.”

“Looks are deceiving,” he replied. “When I first saw you, I didn’t think you were the type to hook up with guys at the bar.”

She chuckled, a heated blush fanning across her face. “It was my first time doing that. I figured that I didn’t have anything to lose. But actually, I gained something.”

“We both did,” he said.

“About us…” she started.

“Yes…?”

“How certain are that I’m your…how did you put it the other night…intended?”

“There isn’t a thread of uncertainty left in me. My birthmark would never have transferred to you if you weren’t. We’ve been identifying our mates this way since the beginning.”

“What if I had chickened out? Because I almost did. What if you and I never met that night?”

“Fate would’ve brought us together again and again until the mating was confirmed. But understand that meeting an intended mate isn’t a privilege, it’s a gift. Some of us never meet our mates. And some of us are more attentive than we realize. The attraction was there the moment I saw you, so I guess it holds true that we’re drawn to our mates in ways we can’t deny.”

She sighed. “I don’t know if I can be the woman you want. I—”

“You are the woman I want. You don’t even have to question that,” he said.

“I barely know where I’ll be living in three months,” she replied.

“With me, if you want. Or I'll come to you.”

“Isn’t it too soon to be moving in together?”

“If you say so, but I'm sensing that our connection is deeper than I first thought,” he replied.

"The mating and all that, right?"

"That too, Chelsey."

"Wait…there's more to this that you're not telling me?"

He traced the back of her neck with the tip of his nose. "I hope so. We can go at your pace, but know this, Chelsey: you are mine. Completely and utterly mine. I’m already committed to you because I know the value of a true mate versus someone I was with just to pass the time. I’m ready and I’ll be waiting when you are.”

She smiled. “Well, that’s romantic.”

“It’s the truth. You’ll do what you planned to do before we confirmed this. You’ll graduate, weigh your career options…whatever you need. We’ll handle everything together. Just know that I want to be in your life.”

“Hmmm…whatever I need?”

He pressed his lips to the back of her neck and kissed along her nape. “Whatever. You. Need.”

She lifted to her knees and spun around to face him. Only seconds passed before their lips met with an urgency that seemed to grow every moment she stayed with Brock.

They were so consumed in their public displays of affection that they barely heard Brock’s phone ringing beside them. Whoever it was called back a second time.

Brock parted from the kiss and picked up the smartphone from the ground. “It’s Raoulf,” he said.

“Your brother, right?”

He nodded and answered the call.

She was already straddling him and didn’t want to stop their intimate session, so she continued teasing him with kisses to pass the time. He didn’t seem to mind.

“I’m kind of busy right now…” Brock told his brother. “Well, when is he coming back? Look, I can’t afford to get arrested again. Las time I walked away with a slap on the wrist.…This sounds more long term to me and I don’t have the patience right now for it….I can get it to you tonight. Can you meet me at LIVE?…Right…Okay….”

By the time Brock got off the phone with his brother, she’d gotten them both hot and bothered.

“If you keep this up, Princess, I’ll be taking you out here on the ground,” he groaned, pressing his mouth against the column of her throat.

“You wouldn’t…?”

He chuckled.

“You would,” she said, pressing her sex against his arousal. “Well in that case, why don’t you take me back to your place so we can get you taken care of?”

“That’s my intention. I’ll need the bed for what I’m going to do to you tonight. There’s no way I’m going to let you go back to campus unsatisfied. But first things first…I have to go drop something off to my brother at LIVE.”

She frowned and groaned.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be long. Wanna come?”

“Yeah, I do,” she said. “I could use a drink anyway.”

He grabbed her hands and helped her up. “Let’s get a head start then. The rest of the night will be ours.”

LIVE Nightclub had a private back entrance. About a dozen patrons were seated out on the back deck drinking beer, chatting, and laughing loudly. Only a few of them were women. When Chelsey walked up with Brock, she expected to feel out of place and unwelcome, but the opposite happened. Brock was well known by nearly everyone in the crowd, and he greeted them as he walked through the tables.

“Hey Brock. Didn’t know you were back in town. What’s happening?”

A slim, tattooed guy with a goatee pushed off of the railing and extended his hand. They greeted each other with something that looked like a cross between a handshake and a fist pump—maybe both.

“Hey Archer. I’ve been busy,” Brock said. “I see that you’re still holding it down out here.”

“Of course I am. Leo pays me well to bounce for him,” Archer replied, and then his gaze landed on her. “Busy indeed, eh?”

“Archer, this is Chelsey, my intended.”

“Lucky you.” Archer grinned. “So it’s true what they say then? The bad guy always gets the good girl.”

Brock chuckled. “I guess you can say that.”

“Um…nice to meet you,” she said, anxious to redirect the attention from herself to Brock.

They held a few minutes of light conversation before Brock excused himself by saying that he’d only stopped by to drop something off. He then led them to the far back corner of the deck. There was a sole male sitting at a large table big enough to seat four, but what was really strange to Chelsey was that he was the only one there. He was wearing a black hood that covered his eyes and his gaze was directed toward the table. Both of his hands were on his mug of beer. It almost looked like he was meditating or deep in thought about something. Odd…this wasn’t exactly the type of place Chelsey would think someone would go to meditate or seek solitude.

When Brock held out a chair for her to sit down, she realized that the lone man was Raoulf, Brock’s brother. Just as Brock took his seat, Raoulf lifted his attention, his gaze roaming back and forth between herself and Brock.

“Hello Brother,” Raoulf said, removing his hood. “You’re a little late.”

It was the first time that Chelsey had seen his full face and she didn’t know whether to run or blush. The man was dangerous-looking and attractive. Brock and his brothers had stellar genes, that was for sure.

“Yeah well, I wasn’t exactly in a rush to get here either,” Brock said.

“I can tell why,” Raoulf stated.

Other than the same facial structure and hardcore mannerisms, the two brothers had a lot of differences. Chelsey thought Brock was dark and mysterious, but after seeing Raoulf, she now deemed Brock a saint. Maybe because she knew that she could trust him now and that he was no longer a stranger. Or maybe it was because the contrast between the two brothers was like night and…midnight. She hadn’t been paying Brock’s brothers any mind during the aftermath of the raid on her dad’s home. Plus, they’d all been trying to hide their identities and wearing hoods similar to what Raoulf was wearing tonight.

Raoulf had jet black hair and brushed the top of his shoulders and eyes the color of jade. He had what looked like an old scar down the side of his face.

“Has my bro been giving you any problems, Chelsey,” Raoulf asked her.

“No…just the opposite actually,” she said.

“I bet,” he replied and then turned back to Brock. “I talked to Dane this morning. He thinks he can handle situation number one, but in the meantime, I’ve been called to handle situation number two.”

“Hmmm, if it ain’t one thing it’s another,” Brock said.

"Yeah, exactly…" Raoulf's eyes landed on Chelsey again and his nose flared."And from the way I sense things, you've got a hell of a year coming up."

"So it seems," was Brock's quick reply. “Can you believe my luck?”

“I most certainly can. You deserve this,” Raoulf commented. “Did you bring it?”

Brock pulled out a black satchel from his leather coat pocket and pushed it across the table to Raoulf. Without looking at it or opening the satchel, Raoulf stuffed it into the inside of his jacket pocket.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Brock commented.

“You know me well enough not to question my strategies,” Raoulf replied.

Chelsey didn’t know what the heck they were talking about, but even if she were privy to any of their inside knowledge, she doubted that she’d understand. She had to remind herself that Brock was in an alternate line of work. And, of course, she’d never forget that he was more animal than he was human.

“I’d come with you, but now isn’t a good time.”

Raoulf flipped his hood back over his head. “No brother, don’t explain anything. I understand completely about who and what you must cherish now.”

His green eyes paused on her for a while before landing on the table again. He tilted his mug of beer to his lips and guzzled it down in just a few gulps. “Time for me to go,” he said. “Too many eyes in this direction now that my famous brother has arrived.”

“Well, I just can’t help it. I’m just that dashing,” Brock joked.

“And I’m the rebel without a cause.” Raoulf rose and grabbed his helmet. “Tell Dane I’m outta here, will ya?”

“Take care, little brother.”

“Ditto.”

Raoulf left the area, leaving Chelsey and Brock alone at the table.

“Well, that was…interesting,” she said. “But I had no idea what you were talking about. You were speaking in codes.”

He grasped her hand in his. “Someday, I’ll tell you all about it, but the rest of this night is about us. Remember what I told you?”

“Yeah,” she said, then leaned over to meet his lips with hers. The kiss was short and sweet, leaving her wanting more.

Somehow she managed to forget about where they were to focus on what she needed the most. Brock lifted her as if she weighed no more than a feather and sat her on his lap. Her sex pulsed against his arousal and her lips burned as he kissed her hungrily over and over again. They were so absorbed in the taste and feel of one another that they barely noticed when a panicked hush fell over the crowd. Police sirens blared in the distance, growing louder as they approached the nightclub. Only then did they pull back from their intimate embrace. A couple of folks began to flee the area. One took off on his motorcycle and a handful took to the dense woods behind the building. The police cars coming to a screeching halt near the club must have been the backup because several un-informed and armed policeman rushed onto the deck.

“Everybody freeze! Stay where you are. Hands up and don’t make any sudden moves. That includes transforming if you happen to be a shifter. Just don’t do it.”

She’d never had a gun pointed at her and fear forced her to remain still as the policeman had ordered. She was still straddling Brock’s lap, but the heat between them had vanquished and all that remained was Brock’s frustration and her fear and confusion.

“Dammit,” Brock muttered behind her.

“What’s going on?” she asked Brock between clenched teeth as the cops began I.D.ing everyone left out on the deck.

“I have no idea,” he replied.

“Hey! You two!” a cop shouted at them. “Separate.”

Slowly, Chelsey removed herself from Brock’s lap and turned around only to find herself face to face with one of her dad’s friends and colleagues. His eyes narrowed and a flash of recognition crossed over his face.

“Chelsey?” he croaked.

“Detective Paulman?”

“What are you doing at this nightclub?” Mr. Paulman’s attention shifted from her to Brock who hadn’t moved a muscle since the gun had been pointed at him.

She swallowed. “Um…” How did she explain the impossible to a man who wouldn’t understand?

“Your ID?” the detective demanded of Brock.

“I’ve done nothing,” Brock said, flatly.

“We just got here. We were just sitting here. What’s going on?” Chelsey asked.

“It doesn’t look like you were just sitting here,” he stated. “We’re looking for a jewelry thief. A witness claims to have spotted the suspect here.”

“Just in case you’ve noticed, pal, I don’t exactly have a bag of jewelry lying around anywhere,” Brock offered.

“ID,” the detective demanded once again.

Brock grumbled in indifference but produced his ID anyway.

“Brock Justice,” the detective made a quick gesture to another cop behind him. “Cuff him.”

“What the hell?” Chelsey exclaimed.

“What the hell, indeed. Does your dad know you’re out here with a shifter and a criminal?”

The cop grabbed hold of Brock and just like the detective ordered, applied handcuffs.

“Please, stop! What are you doing? He’s been with me all evening. He’s not the jewelry thief.”

“No, he’s not. But he’s damn sure worse than a jewelry thief.” He turned to Brock. “Brock Justice, you’re under arrest for trespassing, theft, and vandalism. You have the right to remain silent…”

“Everything will be fine, Chelsey,” Brock reassured her as he was read his rights. “It’s nothing new for me. You just stay strong.”

“But you’re…” Before she could finish her sentence, a cop shoved him forward and led him away from the deck.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“My job. I do believe I owe it to Governor Canon to let him know what kind of trouble you’ve attracted. You’re coming with me,” Detective Paulman stated, taking her by the arm.

“You have no fucking idea what you’re talking about.”

“Honey, I don’t think I want to know, but I do know that I want to keep my job. Your dad’s a friend of mine, but he can also cut me off from my check. I have an obligation to steer you away from this place. Let’s go.”

“Are you out of your mind, Chelsey?” Her dad ran his fingers through his hair and sighed harshly. “You were at a shifter nightclub?”

“Yes. So what? It was a nightclub. I go to them all the time on campus. Does it matter who owns it?” she replied.

“Theoretically, yes,” he countered. “I don’t know any of these people and, quite frankly, the security is a little lax. There’s an ongoing criminal investigation involving this club right now. What does concern me is Paulman’s account of how he found you.”

He scoffed and then continued, “He said you were in a very intimate position with this man. Do you know those shifters sold sexual services out of the back of this joint? How could you even go there to begin with?”

Her dad’s accusations and questions had gotten out of hand. She was seriously overwhelmed at this point, and the fact that Brock was arrested and she was somehow held here to be questioned made the whole situation worse.

“Look, I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

“Is this why you wanted me to make a deal with the Alpha of the Aspen Valley Wolf Pack? So you can be with this guy?”

“I asked you to do this because your reasons for following through with eminent domain proceedings are very unethical. Even if they were my enemies, I wouldn’t wish for them to lose their homes because of one greedy corporation.”

“This is insane and very embarrassing,” her dad exclaimed. “Do you know that Paulman asked me if you were working at the nightclub as a sex worker?”

“What business is it of his if I was working there or not? I went to enjoy myself.”

“Enjoy yourself? With your legs wrapped around a man several years older than you?”

“He and I…are dating.” If she told her dad that she was presumably a shifter’s intended mate, he’d flip out right where he stood. She had a right to choose her own boyfriend and lover, but what she didn’t appreciate was being reprimanded at the local police station like she was a common criminal for making out with him and minding her own damn business.

“I’ll explain everything to you soon,” she added. “I’m sick of the third-degree treatment from both you and your detective friend. Even if I knew every single detail about Brock, I wouldn’t tell them anything. I asked them for a lawyer. I wasn’t expecting you to come here and bail me out.”

“I’m glad you know your rights, but I’m your father and you’ll explain everything to me right now starting with how you got involved with the same man whose brother wants to dictate how I handle my business.”

Chelsey sat back in the uncomfortable chair and diverted her attention to the drab gray cinder block walls. “You wouldn’t understand if I told you how.”

“Oh, I’ll understand completely if you’re straightforward because right now you’re not being straightforward.” He slid a manila folder across the table to her. “Your trouble-making, shifter boyfriend has a rap sheet bigger than the size of this County. Thank God none of this has reached the press. You can also thank Detective Paulman for that. He’s managed to keep the reporters away.”

She swallowed but didn’t move to look inside the folder.

“I’m also highly suspicious of why you’re suddenly interested in this eminent domain case. I thought I could make a deal with Mr. Dane Magnus like two civilized beings, but I don’t think that’s going to happen now that I know that one of his brothers has been playing games with my daughter.”

“It’s not like that. We’re not playing games, dad,” she replied. “And you’re not telling me anything that I don’t already know. I got involved with him because I wanted him.”

Her dad’s eyes bulged. “So you know that this guy is a criminal and you’re hanging out with him willingly?”

“Whatever he’s done in the past, I don’t care.”

“Take a look.” He gestured toward the unopened folder on the table.

This wasn’t supposed to end up this way. She didn’t want to learn about Brock by flipping through his criminal records.

“Not only is this guy a seasoned criminal, he’s also an outlaw. Nothing good could come of any relationship with him.”

“You’ve never even spoken to him or asked his side of the story!”

“Now that I know what he’s capable of, I’m not sure I want to. Aren’t you concerned about your reputation?”

“If having the kind of reputation you’d like me to have means that I’m going to be miserable trying to defend it for the rest of my life, then no, I’m not concerned about what others think of me.”

Her dad sighed heavily and folded his arms over his chest. He then rubbed at his chin before saying, “I called Priscilla while I was waiting to come speak with you. She seems to be on board with my decision that you stop seeing this criminal immediately.”

“How dare you two discuss my personal relationship behind my back? Just in case you haven’t noticed, I’m an adult. I’ll be twenty-three soon and I have no intentions of moving back home.”

“What you don’t understand is that your reputation isn’t the only thing on the line?”

“You should be concerned with your own reputation as it stands,” she countered.

He pointed at the folder on the table. “And you’re not concerned about his reputation then?”

At his inquiry, she looked down at the table and ran her eyes quickly over the documents and list of accusations and charges against Brock Justice.

Assault. Trespassing. Petty theft. Aggravated kidnapping. Grand theft. Resisting arrest.

She slapped the folder close and pushed it back across the table. She couldn’t read anymore.

“Tell the Detective to release me from custody. It’s against the law to hold me here without charge,” she stated.

“It wasn’t the Detective’s idea to hold you here, Chelsey. It was mine. I needed to make sure the man in the next holding room hadn’t kidnapped you against your will. They’re known for doing that.”

Chelsey swallowed a gasp and then spoke once she’d regained her composure. “Now that you know he hasn’t been holding me against my will, you can let him go.”

“No. Unh-uh. It won’t be that easy for him. Mr. Brock Justice already had a warrant out for his arrest,” he said.

“A warrant for what?”

“Disarming and assaulting a police officer.” Her dad pushed the file folder back over and flipped a few pages before stabbing his finger on the center of a paper.

Her gaze flew across the details. “It says here that Brock was at a friend’s house when he got into a fight with the officer. After the altercation, he shifted and fled the area.”

“Go on. You’re missing pertinent facts.”

“It says…” She stopped cold when her eyes reached the damning evidence. “Oh…” She read on…

The victim (Officer Ferrell) claims that the suspect, Brock Justice, engaged in sexual relationships with his wife on several occasions. Office Ferrell was off duty but in uniform at the time of the altercation. Injury report attached.

“So there you have it? Your shifter boyfriend lacks moral judgment. I haven’t been the greatest husband in the world to your mom and I’m working on that. I’ve seen how I’ve hurt her and wouldn’t want the same heartache for you. I agree that you’re an adult, but I’m still responsible for what happens to my daughter. It’s up to you to take what you can from this and make an informed decision.”

Chelsey swallowed. “I just want to leave.”

“Before you go, I’ll need you to sign something for me,” her dad stated. “Apparently, Brock has called his lawyer and they’re waiting in the other room to discuss a deal.”

“A deal?” Her breath quickened as confusion set in.

“Several deals actually. It’s quite simple.” Her dad rose from his seat. “I’ll get Detective Paulman to let them know we’re ready.”

Anxiety rose in her chest. “Ready for what?”

“To fix this mess.”

Chelsey walked over to the other holding room with her dad, the family lawyer, and a member of the city’s council. She was in a state of denial about everything that had happened tonight. One of the best weeks of her life had proven to be both unpredictable and eye-opening. Yes, she’d gotten her man, but it seemed that everything was working against them to try to keep them apart.

Brock, Dane, and an older male she didn’t recognize were already in the other room. Some legal papers and a few pens were in the center of the table waiting for them. Brock was still in handcuffs. The moment she entered the room their gaze met, and despite the mute expression on Brock’s face, his eyes lit up. All she wanted was to leave this place with Brock. What her dad saw was a hopeless criminal, but in Brock, she witnessed a soft-hearted man capable of love and being loved. Brock was a man who fought hard for whom and what he wanted, even if it meant having his reputation burned in the process.

Everyone was introduced formally. She’d met them all at least once before, except for the Aspen Valley Wolf Pack lawyer, Mr. Johnston. Mr. Johnston seemed a little worried and anxious about something, but his monotone statements and knowledge of the law as it pertained to his client’s rights were on point. His extensive expertise even had Mr. Neilson, who was her family’s lawyer, taken back.

Mr. Johnston shuffled around a few papers as he spoke. “…which leads me to demand that my client is released immediately and that all pending charges against him be dropped.”

“On what grounds?” Detective Paulman demanded.

He placed a paper firmly down in front of Paulman. “According to this written and notarized statement from Officer Gordon Ferrell, he instigated the argument and threw the first punch that led to the altercation on January 7 of this year. A motion for summary judgment has been filed.”

“Wait a minute. Your client has been evading arrest since the incident,” Paulman countered.

“I don’t know about you, Detective Paulman, but I wouldn’t easily hand myself over for unfair charges brought against me. And with all due respect, it’s not against the law to have sex with the wife of a police officer—a fact that my client wasn’t made aware of at the time. It’s not against the law to defend oneself while being pistol-whipped in the face repeatedly by a man of the law.” He slid photos across the table of Brock with bruises to his nose and eyes. “Here’s another statement from a witness who was there that night that says several guests at the house gathering tried to stop the fight, but an officer of the law insisted on…hold on, let me read the exact statement… ‘leash and beat your ass like the mangy mutt you are’. My client could’ve very well torn Officer Gordon Ferrell to pieces, but I think he displayed better judgment in this case. Don’t you think? Consequently, I was looking into some other information and discovered that several DUI charges had been dropped against this officer of the law in the past. Ironically, the most recent charge had been a month before he got into an altercation with my client.”

Detective Paulman pushed back from the table. “This has nothing to do with the fact that he put Ferrell in the hospital that night.”

“My client knocked Officer Gordon Ferrell unconscious. That put an end to the fight. If not for that, continuing to fight could’ve led to more serious injuries…like death.”

“All these things like dropped DUI charges have nothing to do with what happened that night,” Paulson stated. “Your client here has a healthy criminal record leading back to his teenage years. And prior assault charges abound…”

Mr. Johnston cleared his throat. “I’m aware, but the frivolous charges that you’re holding him on have been disputed. I know you flunked out of high school, Detective, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to evaluate the hardcore evidence. He shouldn’t have even been arrested. I’ve pretty much rambling on in here with concrete findings that I didn’t even have to share with you. I should also remind you again that I haven’t slept in almost twenty-four hours. I was supposed to take my medication thirty minutes ago with food, and yet I am still here over this matter. I don’t have time to fuss and knicker with you at this hour, Detective Paulson. Uncuff my client.”

With a dumbfounded look on his face, Paulman turned to Mr. Neilson for support.

“Unfortunately, Detective, I don’t represent Officer Ferrell. I’m here on behalf of the Governor concerning his daughter.”

Paulman nodded. “Very well.”

The room went silent for a several minutes before Detective Paulman excused himself and stated that he would discuss with the Sherriff. When he returned, he had a set of keys in his hands and unlocked Brock’s cuffs.

A breath of relief rushed from Chelsey and she had a hard time containing her joy. Brock didn't even try to hide it. His grin spread from ear to ear and his attention remained on her and her alone. Until her dad cleared his throat.

Before making his exit Paulman stated, "Alright, you lawyers can have the room for no longer than an hour. More than that and my boss will get suspicious." He eyed Brock. "You got off the hook this time. Next time, it won't be so easy."

"Noted," Brock said.

Chelsey looked from her dad to Brock questioningly, wondering why they were seated here when they were more than free to leave.

"Now that we're all here together, I don't think we need to wait until next week to have a formal meeting. We might as well get this issue with the land you so desire to keep out of the way," Mr. Neilson stated. He began by opening his briefcase and then passing what looked like a one hundred page packet to Mr. Johnston.

"Save the formalities, Mr. Neilson," Alpha Dane said. "We reviewed the documents yesterday morning right after you sent them, and once again while we were waiting for Mr. Paulson to release Brock from the holding cell. I want our land, free and clear. Let's just get to it and sign."

"Oh, but there are some things Mayor Canon would like to stipulate before he signs anything free and clear."

"And that is…?" Dane inquired.

Her dad cleared his throat. "After speaking with you, I thought you could be someone that I could have a healthy business relationship with as far as my plans for this town, which aligns with your plans for your Pack. However, I can’t sit around and pretend to be pleased about my daughter being harassed and pursued by a criminal."

Her face heated in embarrassment when she realized what this was all about. "Dad!"

"No Chelsey," he interrupted. "This is business and this is necessary."

"Your accusations of harassment…are they warranted?" Mr. Johnston asked.

"I'll call it like I see it," her dad countered. "I don't want her around Mr. Brock Justice period."

"This is absurd," Brock protested. "What does this have to do with the prior agreement you made with Dane about our land?”

"Oh, it has everything to do with our agreement," her dad replied. "Before I sign anything, I want an agreement from you that you'll leave my daughter alone."

"No!" Chelsey stood. "You don't get to make that call."

"Sit down, Chelsey," her dad ordered.

"I'm not sitting anywhere. I told you what Brock meant to me. How could you try to manipulate any of us over something like this?"

"I think you know why. You're my only daughter. My only child. And you have your future ahead of you."

"Exactly Dad. My future. I just can't be--."

"Chelsey," Brock called out.

Even with the anger welling up in her heart, the sound of Brock's voice changed her entire perception on everything. She turned her attention to him.

"Everything's going to be okay," he reassured her.

It was as if he was telling her to let it be. To let it ride. Did he really mean it?

"Why?" she asked.

When he didn't answer, the lawyer began speaking again. She slumped back in her chair, her mood a mix between furious and hurt.

"As my client mentioned, he will sign the agreement to stop the eminent domain proceedings if you agree that Mr. Brock Justice will leave his daughter alone," Mr. Neilson stated.

"That's easier said than done," Dane said. "You don't understand what's happening between them."

"Here's what's happening between them…," her dad interjected. "A grown man, half wolf in his mid-thirties is preying on my younger daughter. After he's used her, he'll run on to the next one. I may not know your ways, but I've heard enough to know that you wolves don't stick around."

"That's not true, Governor Canon. Your daughter is the center of my world."

"She can't be the center of your anything if your Alpha wants this piece of property. Certainly, there are more than enough she-wolves for you to chase after on it. My decision is final. In exchange for your agreement to leave my daughter alone, I will stop the proceedings and never look back."

Dane sighed harshly and sat back in his chair. "But what if--"

"It's my final offer, Dane Magnus. You've fought for your land and I'm willing to hand you the trophy. I'll fight for my daughter's well-being and future."

"Don't do it," she urged. "I don't agree. I won't stay away."

"You'll stay away alright. I'll be hiring you a bodyguard to see to it. You could’ve gotten yourself into some serious trouble tonight out there at that nightclub."

“I would never let anything happen to her,” Brock countered.

Dane and Brock exchanged long knowing glances.

"Give us a few minutes," Dane said

He and Brock got up and huddled in the opposite corner of the room. She couldn't make out what they were saying, but by the look that crossed their lawyer's face, she could tell that he picked up on everything. After all, he was a shifter.

Several minutes passed before they sat back down.

To Chelsey surprise, Dane pushed the thick packet back across the table to her dad's lawyer.

Mr. Neilson shrank back in surprise. "What now? Don't you accept the terms? Certainly, you want your land back."

"No deal, Mr. Neilson…Governor Canon. We've decided we'll go head to head with the corporation who has an interest in our land. We tried to reach an amicable agreement, but it seems we'll have to get our land back by other means."

"What? So you're doing this so you can continue leading my daughter astray?" her dad protested.

Brock leaned forward in the chair. ”I can sit here and lie to you, Governor Canon, and tell you that I'll leave your daughter alone. Truth is that I can't. Because I don't want to. Because it would literally be impossible. As much as I want you to sign your name on the dotted line and give our Pack the peace of mind we need about the future of our land, I want to be in your daughter's life more. I want to be there for my future babies. The answer is no. I can't stay away from your daughter. She is my mate. She will be my wife. And she's pregnant with my child."

"Wh-what?" Her dad shot up out of his chair.

Chelsey gasped and swallowed the huge lump that rose in her throat. She clutched her belly as she tossed Brock a questionable look.

"How do you know?" she asked.

"We're wolf shifters, Chelsey. We smell the changes already happening in your body. And just as sure as I can tell that you're mine, I know that you've conceived."

"This is unbelievable!"

Her dad pounded his fist into the table right next to her and she jumped.

The audible growl from the other side of the table rumbled through the room. She didn't have to look up to confirm that the warning came from Brock.

"Dad, please." She touched him lightly on the arm. "I've had enough of the arguing for one night. Quite frankly, I don't want to spend my night down at the police station. I'll come home and we can talk about this together."

"This is shocking. Whatever you do, don't bring him along with you. I'm in no mood to make any deals with the man who knocked up my daughter." He backed out of the room with haste.

"We'll be in touch, Mr. Johnston," Mr. Neilson said, before following her dad out of the room.

Dane and Mr. Johnston left the room as well.

Chelsey rushed into Brock's embrace, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face against his chest. "I was so scared for you."

"Don't be," he mumbled into her hair. "I'll never leave you alone."

She lifted her chin and held his gaze. "You're not bluffing, are you? Am I really pregnant?"

"I wouldn't lie to you. I wouldn't lie about something like that. Depending on how accurate early detection pregnancy tests are these days, you might find your answer waiting for you as early as tonight."

"I trust you," she said, pressing a single kiss to his lips. "I just can't believe the embarrassment that I just went through."

"Dads are always protective and I don't blame him. It just looks like I'll have a hell of a lot more convincing to do than I'd initially anticipated."

She swallowed. "Yeah, but he'll come around."

"I do hope so."

Dane stuck his head back in the room. "Hey Brock, we've gotta clear the room."

Brock wrapped his arm around her waist. "Let's get out of here."

Chelsey walked across the police station flanked by two wolves, Brock and Dane. Her dad was nowhere to be seen, but she could make out his anxious voice in one of the closed offices. She didn't have the energy to argue with him anymore tonight. Not with what she'd found out. As far as she was concerned, her top priority was bringing a healthy baby into the world. She smiled at the thought of being a mother. She'd always wanted a huge family, but never thought she'd be so lucky so soon.

Dane had a driver waiting for them outside of the police station. She got in the backseat with Brock and they drove off.

Chelsey woke up the next morning to the sound of Brock's cell phone ringing on the dresser. The bed shifted and the warmth of Brock's arms left her when he moved to answer the phone. She could barely even remember coming to Brock's home and entering his bed. The stress of last night had worn her out. On top of that, her body was going through some interesting changes.

She rolled over and wrapped her arms around him as he was finishing up his phone conversation.

He kissed her forehead. "Hope you're all rested up. We've got a bit of a journey ahead of us."

"We?" She pressed her palm against his chest and lifted herself up a bit. "What do you mean?"

"Your first day back is tomorrow, isn't it? I wouldn't want you to miss any of your classes."

"You're going with me?"

"Why would I not? With you carrying my baby, I think you'll need the support and someone to take and back and forth to doctor's appointments. Especially the ones where I get to see our little one on ultrasound."

She smiled. "Someone's a little anxious, aren't we?"

He chuckled. "Yes, actually I am. This means the whole world to me. Everything that’s happened to me lately. Finding my true mate and learning that she's carrying my child. I just never thought it would happen to me."

"We're both lucky then. I just wish I didn't have to go back to that cramped apartment. But with only a few months left, I can't really complain."

"Dane just called to inform me that Garrett’s in town again. With the exception of Raoulf, who just picked up another assignment, we're going to try to get together real soon."

"You should. I remember you saying how you guys don't get to meet up often because of your job responsibilities," she said.

"Yeah, this is a nice window of opportunity since I don't plan on staying in town either over the next couple months. He tells me there's another stable Wolf Pack near your campus. They're a friendly bunch and wouldn't mind me staying on their turf temporarily. I'll see what they have in terms of home rentals out there, and that way I can stay close by, and of course, you can totally ditch your apartment to come keep me company."

"That sounds like something I totally would do," she said, tracing the hardened muscles of his upper chest.

“And I have more good news. The main reason Dane called was to let us know that the eminent domain proceedings were halted early this morning," he said.

"What? But I thought…"

"Yeah, I thought after we disappointed your dad that we'd have to fight for our land another way. Mr. Johnston pulled up the documents to confirm and it seems that your dad's signature is on the documents."

She sighed. "About last night. I know he'll come around. He can be a hard ass sometimes and he's kind of set in his ways."

"You don't have to explain. If it were my daughter, I'd respond the same way. I'll just be prepared to prove myself to him. I don't want to be the person who comes between a father and his daughter."

"Don't worry. I have to prove myself to him all the time. He won't understand this mating thing. That one will take time."

"Certainly. Would he understand if you became my wife sooner rather than later?"

Chelsey blushed. "Brock, are you asking me to be your wife?"

"That’s exactly what I'm asking, Princess. You will be my wife, won't you?"

Her belly chose that moment to growl in hunger and they shared a laugh.

"Does my acceptance include breakfast in bed?" she asked.

"Anything for my mate and mother of my child."

Chelsey held the cell phone between her ear and shoulder. "Yes, Mom, I'm eating healthier now. You and Dad don't have to worry about that. Brock's been making sure of that. I'm gaining weight faster than I did my freshman year and Brock here claims it's sexy."

"Sounds like you've got yourself a good man. I can't wait to meet him."

Brock came up behind as she stood at the counter kneading some dough in preparation of dinner and kissed her temple. He smelled of fresh pine soap. She took a peek behind her and almost swooned at the sight of him wrapped in nothing but a towel. His skin was still glistening with water droplets from the shower. His hair was damp and slicked back. With one hand on the handset, she tugged at the towel, revealing the sizable package she'd been craving all afternoon during her class lectures.

She bit her lip and held back a gasp as he pressed his body against hers and bent his lips low to tease and sensitive skin above her collarbone.

"Tell her I can't wait to meet her either," he whispered.

"He says he can't wait either, Mom."

"I'll have time to brush up on my cooking skills before you guys get here. It's been so long since I prepared a dinner," she said.

"That's okay--"

Chelsey was cut off the moment Brock slipped his hands under her skirt. He pulled her firmly against his hardness. His mouth never left her skin. His breath fanned across her neck. He left heated trails along the column of her throat as he kissed and caressed her there.

"What was that? You sound a little breathless. Make sure you're not overworking yourself either," her mom said.

"I'm fine," Chelsey breathed. "I'm not overworked at all."

Brock's eager fingers flittered across her hip. She caught his hand and held it before he got her too worked up.

She covered the receiver and told him, "Give me a minute and we'll finish this."

"Will be ready when you are," he said in a low, husky voice and then sat at the kitchen table with erection on full blast and all.

"Is that Brock?" her mom asked.

"Yes, we're having an early dinner," Chelsey replied.

"I'm impressed that he moved out there just so he could be with you while you finished college. All and all, I'm glad you don't have to do this alone."

"That definitely makes things less stressful for everyone. Looks like we'll be back in town just in time for Halloween. I hope you brought some chocolate back with you from Germany."

"As a matter of fact, I did," she said. "But come home soon before your dad eats them all. I think he's gone through a box of them already."

"Tell him to lay off my sweets," she joked. On a more serious note, she asked, "How are you two?"

"We're getting along for now," she said. "I guess I have you to thank for that. After hearing how happy you are with Brock, we thought we could use some positive energy between us. Especially now that we'll be grandparents next year."

"I'm so happy for you two. So Dad's been getting adjusted to that notion without fuss then, right?"

"He's very happy about becoming a grandfather. He had a meeting with that other shifter you were telling me about. The leader. The Alpha. David? Daniel?"

"Dane."

"Yes, that's it. They're talking about doing something similar to what he did for the wolf packs in our hometown."

"So, I've heard," Chelsey said, turning back around to steal a glance at Brock who was still sitting naked at the kitchen table snacking on a few pieces of the raw veggies she'd used to make the salad.

"You know what, Chelsey. I'm going to let you two lovebirds go. I'll call you tomorrow and let you know how I did with my job interview at Tellevue County Library.”

"Good luck, Mom, but I know you've got this one in the bag."

"Take care."

"Your mom sounds nice," Brock said after she disconnected the call.

"You were listening, weren't you?"

"I couldn't help it," he said. "My sense of hearing isn't average by any means."

She walked toward him. "You know what else isn't average…?"

"What's that?"

He grasped her about the thighs, slid his hands upward, lifted her dress and revealed that she wore no panties. She pressed her lips down to his and straddled his lap. She was already wet and ready for him and she took him with ease. He groaned his pleasure.

"I think you know," she said, pushing herself down to the hilt over him until she was filled completely.

"Does this please you?" he asked, gripping her about the hips and directing her pussy up and down over his steely shaft.

"Yes," she moaned.

"That's perfect, Princess. You're so fucking perfect for me," he groaned, resting his head against her breasts before lapping at her nipple with his tongue.

In the privacy of their home, and where no one could ridicule or interrupt them, they made love. If this moment was any indication of what her future would hold, she was the luckiest woman alive.