The moment I opened my eyes, everything came rushing back. Did last night really happen? Groaning against the sore tugging in my muscles, I sat up in bed. Forest green sheets were tangled around my legs. Not my sheets. Not my bed. Hunter’s bed—except Hunter wasn’t here. I was alone in his room, aching and feeling sticky.

Holy shit, I let the Alpha take my ass without a second thought. Heat prickled through me at the shutter-flash memory of Hunter’s cock touching the deepest parts of me. No longer a twenty-two year old virgin. Suddenly, I was glad it was with Hunter. The older man was obviously experienced—that much was certain by the way he’d wrung me out till I had nothing left to give.

And I’d given him everything.

I flopped back against the pillows with a sigh. Huxley was gonna kill me. He’d smell the sex on my skin. I knew I was in for a lecture, but I’d wanted it. It wasn’t forced on me. I’d chosen to have mind-blowing sex with a guy twice my age, and I enjoyed every last minute of it. Especially the cuddle session afterwards.

I lay in Hunter’s bed for awhile, basking in the bright sunlight that warmed the sheets that smelled so richly of him—and of us. I wanted to bottle up this moment and keep it forever, but all good things came to an end. Groaning under my breath, I forced my achy body out of bed and limped to the bathroom.

My clothes were still sprawled over the tile floor where I’d left them. I jumped into a quick shower, then got dressed and wandered down the hall. When I passed the closet where all of this began, I felt myself flush. I quickly hurried past. Didn’t need a boner. Right now, my heat was sated. I needed to make it home before the lust hit again, so that I could fill myself with toys to the memory of Hunter’s cock.

I found Hunter in the kitchen, frying up French toast in a cast-iron skillet. The sweet smells of cinnamon and nutmeg made my mouth water. My stomach gurgled to remind me that I’d definitely worked up an appetite.

“Smells good,” I murmured. Hunter glanced sidelong at me, his lip twitching. I plunked down at the kitchen table and studied him. “You didn’t have to cook me breakfast.”

“I know. I just felt it was proper to send you off with a full stomach.”

I couldn’t help the grin that stretched from ear to ear. Oh, I’d been full all right.

“Thanks,” I said, but by the stag’s smirk, he knew exactly what I’d been thinking. With a huff, he filled two plates with several thick slices of French toast drizzled in amber syrup. I cut off a corner and took a bite, groaning at the rich maple flavor. “This is amazing.”

“Glad you think so.” Beyond that, there was no small-talk, but in all reality? I was kind of thankful. I was still reeling from the fact that I’d spent the night in the arms of an Alpha without a single nightmare or a massive meltdown. I was proud of myself. After we finished with breakfast, I brought the dishes to the sink.

He raised a brow, like he wasn’t used to anyone helping him. It made me wonder how long he’d been living alone out here, in this quaint little cabin in the woods. Drying his wet hands off on the dish towel, he asked, “You ready then, pup?”

My belly flip-flopped. Might as well get it over with. “Yeah. Hunter? Thank you…for last night, and for saving me from Erick. I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m just glad you’re safe. Besides, I’m pretty sure we’re even now. I tossed your jeans in the wash but they’re still damp. You’ll have to wear my PJs home.”

“I’ll bring them back,” I said with a nod. At his quizzical look, I quickly added, “At the store. I mean, I’m sure I’ll see you again, seeing as Hux put me in charge of landscaping duty.” I chewed on my lip. “That’s not gonna be weird for you, right?”

His gaze slid over me quickly, down and back up again. “Nope. Not gonna be a problem.”

“Good.”

We took the backroads home. As it turned out, Hunter’s place was only about fifteen miles south of Greymercy. His pickup truck rattled and rolled over the roughened gravel roads with too many potholes to count. Every time we pitched forwards, the man grumbled about how the county should use his tax dollars to repair the roads instead of wasting them on stupid shit.

It made me grin.

We rolled to a stop behind my brother’s red Ford four-door. I didn’t miss the way Hunter’s gaze slid over the small one-story ranch that Huxley and I called home, silently appraising it. “This is the place,” I announced, unbuckling my seatbelt. I reached for the handle. “Thanks again.”

He rolled his lips together and cleared his throat, like he wasn’t sure what to say. “Alright then. Take care of yourself, Soren. Stay safe.”

His dark eyes met mine, as deep green as lake water, and for a moment, my breath clogged in my throat. I wanted to say something, but what else was there to say? Our night together had been wonderful, but that’s all it’d been. A one-night stand. A fling.

So I smiled and swung the door open with a squeal of metal. “See you around.” I gave a little wave, then turned around and walked up the drive. I climbed the porch steps, counting them in my head like I always did.

Huxley was at the front door before I ever hit the top step. His forehead puckered with concern. “Soren!” He threw both arms around me and squeezed until I squeaked. “Goddamnit, bro. Don’t ever do that again…” His words trailed off. His nostrils flared. I felt warmth flood through me at the sudden realization that flashed through my older brother’s brown eyes. He looked past me, to Hunter’s truck idling in the drive. “Is everything okay? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I grumbled, shoving past him into the house. He hesitated in the doorway and for a moment, I feared he might stomp down those steps and rip Hunter a new one. I could smell the unease—the anger—bristling on his skin, his wolf growling just beneath the surface. When the door clapped shut, I spun to face him. “Look—it’s not what you think, okay?”

“And what do I think, Sor? Besides the fact that I was worried sick about you all goddamn night.” His frown was etched in stone.

“That I can’t take care of myself. That I don’t have good judgment, that I let some stranger take advantage of me,” I snipped back, but my hands were already beginning to shake. I stuffed them into the fleecy pockets of my pants—Hunter’s pants—and scowled. “I’m fine. I wanted it and I don’t regret it.”

He blew out a sigh, his posture softening. “Soren…”

“What?”

“It’s not that at all. The idea that something bad happened to you and I wasn’t there to fix it…” Huxley shook his head. “It eats me up inside. I’m your brother. Your Alpha. I’m supposed to keep you safe. Please, be honest with me. Are you okay?”

His face seemed to crumple and immediately, guilt snagged in my chest. I was being a jerk. Stupid hormones. I dropped my chin to my chest. “I’m okay, Hux, honest. At least for right now. Hunter’s a good guy. He saved me…and it wasn’t like he was a complete stranger. He works at the hardware store. I’ve been going in there for months and we chat sometimes.” I shrugged. “And maybe I had a small crush on the guy. Felt kind of like fate that he was the one to come to my rescue.”

“Rescue?” Huxley pinned me with a sharp look.

I sighed and raked fingers through my hair, suddenly exhausted. The reality of the situation sank home like a knife to the gut—a reality I didn’t want to face right now. “Uncle Erick’s found us,” I said quietly. “That’s how I wrecked the car. He ran me off the road and slammed into my rear end. I made a run for it. I shifted and fled into the woods, but he’s an Alpha. If it wasn’t for Hunter…” I looked down at my scuffed tennis shoes.

My brother growled, low and resonating. My inner wolf shrank back at the sound. I wrapped both arms around myself, hugging my elbows tight to my body, and shook my head. “I don’t wanna think about it right now, okay? I know we need to have a family meeting, but I’m tired and sore and horny as hell and I just want to lock myself in my room until this heat passes. Can you give me that, at least?”

Huxley stepped into my space, drawing me to his chest once more. This hug was gentler, far more tender than his near-panicked squeeze from earlier. He blew out a sigh, his warm breath ruffling my hair. “Of course. Shit. I’m sorry for jumping on you, but I was afraid. You’re my brother, my best friend, and when you texted me last night, I freaked out a little. Not gonna lie.”

“I know,” I mumbled against his t-shirt, embracing him back. We held each other for several long moments before Huxley pulled back and cleared his throat. I offered a small smile. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need a nap.” Among other things. Like the box of sex toys in the closet.

I could feel the dampness soaking into the fabric of my boxers, even though I clenched my muscles tight. When my brother nodded, I scurried off down the hall to my bedroom. I flattened my palms against the cool wood of the door, then clicked the lock so that Dresden didn’t come wandering in on me with a rubber dick in my ass.

I grabbed my favorite toy out of the box—a large purple dildo with a tapered tip and a thick knot—and as I began to work it in and out of myself, I closed my eyes and imagined it was Hunter claiming me all over again.