Juliette kept her eyes on Kendall as she tried to concentrate on her phone call. As much as she wanted to chide him for his behavior, she was as guilty as he was, and not a submissive player by nature.

“Good evening, Alpha. I have someone here eager to talk to you.” The odious voice of the mobster known as Shark filled the air with the taunting note that was his trademark.

“Alpha!” a young voice resonated from the speaker, followed by a sharp sound of flesh on flesh that ended with a cry.

“Touch them again and I’ll kill you with my bare hands,” Juliette shouted.

“Always the feisty one, my sassy, little Juliette.” Shark’s voice was oily, reminding her of his father and making her feel sick.

Her wolf snarled, ready to attack.

Before she could silence Shark, Kendall’s growl filled the room. Fur and fangs sprouted at once as her mate fought to regain control of his wolf, who had answered her she-wolf’s call to fight.

Juliette widened her eyes in a silent plea for Kendall to let her deal with the problem. Although she was new at this mate-business, she knew how protective mates could be, and realized she would have done the same if Kendall were threatened, but she also needed to lead her pack as she had always done, by herself.

“Did I silence your pretty mouth, Alpha?” Shark goaded her.

Juliette placed her palm against Kendall’s chest and shook her head.

“What do you want?” she asked, synching her heartbeats with Kendall to calm him and herself at the same time.

“What I’ve always wanted—” Shark’s voice lowered. “You.”

This time there was no stopping Kendall from ripping the phone from her hand. “You stay away from my mate,” he barked, his words barely understandable.

“What did you do, Juliette? You went and got a mate behind my back?” Shark didn’t acknowledge Kendall and continued talking to her, but his tone had changed and betrayed his anger. “It only makes the chase more interesting.” He laughed. “Come visit me tonight. You know where I live. Wear something sexy.”

The line went silent, and the handset shattered in Kendall’s hand. “Who is he?” he asked a moment later.

“A bad memory that doesn’t go away.” Juliette took his hand in hers and led him outside into the small lanai facing the valley. She pointed at the large chaise lounge that occupied most of the space, and only when he sat did she lower herself by his side, her thigh brushing his long, muscular leg.

“Do you two have a history together?” he asked, moving closer to her.

“You could say that.” She scoffed. “How much do you know about me?”

“Not a lot, besides that you are one the youngest alphas in the States—”

“And one of the few women.”

“That too. But what does that have to do with anything?”

“I challenged my predecessor because he was a piece of shit who abused his power at every turn and never understood that no meant no.”

“Did he rape you?” Kendall asked, the torment in his voice impossible to ignore, and she felt compelled to give his hand a squeeze as she reassured him.

“Not me.” She swallowed the bile rising up her throat. Fifteen years had passed, but the past was always present, and talking about the events that took place just a few yards from where they sat still pained her.

Kendall squeezed her hand back in silent support before grabbing her by her waist to pull her on his lap. “Who was it?” His voice was a warm caress against her cheek.

“My best friend. She was only sixteen and killed herself soon after. I spent years training day and night, fortifying my body and my mind for the day I would fight that bastard, and when I did, I killed him and banned his son from the pack.” She hadn’t told that story in a long time.

“I’m sorry you had to go through something so horrific.” Kendall kissed her temple, then the point of her nose. “If I had the power to turn the time back, I would kill him for you.” He brushed her lips. “But I promise to give you all my support and strength from now on.” He leaned away to look her in the eyes. “And that includes trying my very best to keep my wolf and myself under control. We are both alphas and that takes a bit of adjustment to make things work, but I’m here for you and with you, one hundred percent.”

She had heard extravagant declarations of love in her life, but never had one touched her like his did. “I might let you be on top once or twice if you play your cards just right.”

“How generous of you.” The corner of his lip curved up in a naughty smile.

Needing to feel him closer, Juliette fisted her hands in his borrowed shirt and drew him down to her. His mouth felt warm and soft against hers, and he soon pressed her down, moving his body against hers.

“What about now?” he asked, hoisting his torso on his bent elbow and keeping his full weight from her.

Juliette appreciated that he understood her need to be in control, but she also liked that he knew when to be forceful. Before, when he bent her over the desk, a foreign thrill possessed her. Her body responded to Kendall’s touches and kisses with a mind of its own, and it was strangely liberating.

Her moan resonated loud in the small space of the lanai.

“Juliette? Is that you out there?” Sheriff Smith called from her office, making her jump like a teenager caught smooching her boyfriend.