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A Total-E-Bound Publication
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Nothing To Do With Pride
ISBN # 978-0-85715-816-1
©Copyright Amber Kell 2011
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright November 2011
Edited by Stacey Birkel
Total-E-Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination
and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or
places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form,
whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of
the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound
Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil
proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs
and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator
of the artwork.
Published in 2011 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL,
United Kingdom.
Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature
readers. This story has a heat rating of Total-e-sizzling and a sexometer of 1.
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Supernatural Mates
NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIDE
Amber Kell
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Book four in the Supernatural Mates Series
The search for a damaged coyote shifter leads KC into the arms of her sexy brother.
KC thinks Dennis is the sexiest shifter he’s ever met. When the sheriff asks him to help
Dennis find his potentially feral sister, sparks fly.
In the middle of hunting down a missing sister, surviving a plane crash and stopping the
sheriff from killing Dennis, KC finds that although the search for true love isn’t always
smooth it is worth the adventure.
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Dedication
For my fans who wanted Dennis to have a happy ending.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following
wordmark mentioned in this work of fiction:
Formula One: Delta Topco
NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIDE
Amber Kell
6
Chapter One
KC Fields watched Sheriff Lou Arktos leave the office and let out the sigh that had been
building in his chest since the sheriff had walked in earlier. Pining didn’t suit him, but he still
wondered what would’ve happened if he’d made his move before James came to town. The
troubled man had hobbled down Main Street with his cane and his tortured soul and
snatched the sheriff’s heart as easily as if it were a low-hanging apple on a tree.
It would be easy to hate the other man, but with as much pain as James had gone
through before learning he was a lion shifter, KC didn’t have it in him to feel any resentment.
Hell, KC couldn’t even find it in him to hate his abusive asshole of a father. Okay…maybe he
did harbour a little anger.
Still, if the big bear shifter had ever shown a smidgen of interest in him, KC would’ve
laid himself out on the desk and offered his ass to the sexy man. Maybe that was the
problem. Maybe he was too easy.
Shaking his head at his foolish thoughts, KC returned his attention to his computer
screen. He’d promised the sheriff he’d finish processing all the paperwork and concentrate
on finding the missing coyote. From what Lou said, KC suspected the woman had gone feral
and couldn’t be saved. However, he hadn’t shared his suspicions with the sheriff. He hated
to give anyone bad news. Not to mention the missing coyote’s brother was smoking hot and
KC wouldn’t mind knowing the man better. Whenever he saw Dennis, the poor coyote
shifter had a beaten-down look—shoulders rounded, head down, and if a black cloud could
actually follow someone, KC suspected it would be shooting lightning bolts at the coyote as
he walked down the street. Between betraying his friend, losing his sister, and being the
natural enemy of Adrian, the lion pride’s alpha mate, the sad shifter couldn’t catch a break.
On the plus side, Lou had asked KC to use his investigative skills to find Dennis’ sister.
If he did a good job, maybe the sheriff would give KC more responsibility. Although he
didn’t mind doing office work, he knew he could offer a lot more. KC loved to help and he
especially loved assisting the sheriff.
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Louis Arktos had rescued him as a young, homeless, battered shifter and had given him
a job and a sense of self-esteem. There wasn’t anything KC wouldn’t do for the sheriff, and if
he couldn’t help the big guy personally, at least his computer and organisational skills were
useful.
The outside door swung quietly inwards. KC looked up from his work to find his gaze
trapped in a sea of blue.
“Are you KC?” Dennis stood at the other side of the counter surrounding KC’s desk.
KC nodded. He’d only seen the coyote a few times in the distance. Up close, the man’s
eyes were bluer than he remembered and Dennis’ black hair had random streaks of gold.
KC’s libido revved up like a Formula One race car.
“I’m Dennis. The sheriff told me you might be able to help me find my sister.”
KC shrugged. “I’m certainly going to try.”
Dennis walked around the reception counter and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you.
I really appreciate you helping out.”
KC shook the offered hand and bit back a moan. The coyote shifter pushed all of his hot
buttons. The slide of palm against palm gave him all kinds of ideas about other things he’d
like to feel sliding together.
Mentally giving himself a shake, he released Dennis’ hand and settled back down in his
chair. The man had come to have KC help him find his missing sister—not to be jumped by a
horny fox shifter.
“Have a seat.” He indicated the visitor’s chair tucked away next to the wall.
Dennis grabbed the chair and sat beside him.
Looking at the earnest man next to him, KC shared his suspicions. “My biggest concern
is she might have gone feral.”
Hell, KC was almost positive the woman had gone feral. From what he’d learnt, she’d
been captured, tortured and who knew what else. It would be a miracle if she didn’t snap
and go on a killing spree. Although they’d discovered the place Candice had been
incarcerated last week, she was still missing and there were few clues to her current location.
Dennis nodded. “Me too. I’m hoping we can find her before she starts hurting people.”
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“I’ve already started a search, tracking any sightings of a coyote where there shouldn’t
be any. You know—attacks, news reports, that sort of thing.” If she’d gone feral, her ability to
shift back to human would’ve been buried beneath her animal instincts.
“Any luck?” Dennis leant so close that KC felt his breath against his neck when he
turned his head.
He swallowed back a moan before he continued. “Maybe. I’m waiting to hear back from
some people. From the few sightings I’ve found, I think she might be heading east. Is there
anyone on the East Coast she knows? Ex-boyfriend, good friend, someone willing to help her
out?”
Dennis paled. “Her son, Ethan. She had him when she was just a teen and put him up
for adoption. A few years ago he found her. They’ve been corresponding since then. I
wouldn’t be surprised if the People Against Werekin members used him as a threat to get her
cooperation.”
KC frowned at this new information. This should’ve come up when he’d searched her
background, but then the child’s files were probably sealed. Not that that little fact was
usually a problem. He pulled up his database again. “That’s easy enough to find out. Do you
have his number?”
Dennis nodded. “I already called and checked up on him, but I didn’t want him to think
anything was wrong. He’s sixteen and pretty perceptive. Too many questions would’ve
triggered suspicion. As far as Ethan knows, his mother is doing fine and will call him soon.
She might want to go to New York just to get visual verification that he’s all right. As far as I
know, she likes the people who adopted him. They’ve been really supportive of Ethan
finding his natural mother and have no problem with her talking to him on the phone or
letting her visit. She used to work for a travel agency and got really good deals on flights.”
Tapping his fingers on the keyboard, KC thought about all he’d learned about Candice.
“So you think if we go see Ethan, we’ll find your sister?”
Dennis shrugged. “Possibly. Do you have any sightings in New York?”
“Where in New York does Ethan live?”
“Near Albany.”
“There are coyote sightings there all the time. Right now I’m searching for any
particularly aggressive coyotes that people reported to the police. So far nothing pops out.”
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Dennis sighed. “She used to be so happy but from what the others have said, she lost a
large portion of her sanity after all the tests those haters conducted on her.”
“Why did they want her so badly?” KC still wasn’t sure about the plan this group was
behind—it was like each faction had their own agenda. Research, torture, slavery—the
groups had them all covered, though thankfully they hadn’t mastered any of them.
“Maybe they need a psychotic soldier?” Dennis offered in a dry voice. “How the hell
would I know? We could ask the people who captured her but they’re all dead.”
“That does make it difficult to interrogate them,” KC agreed.
Dennis sat in the oddly comfortable chair and sneaked glances at the beautiful fox
shifter. Even if he hadn’t heard it around town, he’d have known what creature KC shifted
into. The man’s red hair couldn’t have screamed fox any louder than if he’d used a
megaphone. Dennis had never found red hair appealing before, but KC’s hair had a rich
beauty that made Dennis want to plunge his fingers into the soft looking strands and then
see if KC’s pink lips could possibly taste as good as they looked.
KC tilted one red brow at him. “It might take me a bit to hunt down further sightings.
Why don’t you give me your number? I’ll call you when I find something.”
Dennis accepted the sticky note KC held out and quickly scrawled his name and
number across it. “I can be reached at this number. If you can’t get hold of me, call the pride
house.” He heard the bitterness in his voice and was instantly ashamed. The pride had
helped him a great deal despite his behaviour towards one of their own.
The fox shifter stared at him a while. “I thought the pride were good people?”
“They are,” Dennis agreed, nodding his head. “I’m just not their favourite person. They
only let me live there because they rescued me and know I don’t have any place to go. I’m
not Adrian’s best friend since his wolf hates my coyote. And after being forced to betray
Payce to try to save my sister…well, he’s friendly but I don’t think we’re buddies anymore.”
It still hurt to see the lack of warmth in Payce’s eyes. The werejaguar used to hug him
whenever they met. Since the betrayal, Payce hadn’t treated him the same. Some of it was
due to the fact that his werelion mate wanted to rip off Dennis’ head and treat it like a soccer
ball, but Dennis knew a lot of it was that Payce still hadn’t forgiven Dennis for his betrayal.
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He could tell Payce wanted to forgive and forget, but sometimes when a trust is broken it
takes a while to rebuild. He didn’t blame Payce, but that didn’t stop it from hurting.
Sighing, Dennis got to his feet. As much as he’d like to kiss the fox shifter, there was an
air of fragility about the pretty man that had him stepping lightly. He didn’t need to add the
sheriff to the number of people who disliked him. He had enough enemies. Besides if he
ruined things with the fox shifter, he didn’t have anyone else to turn to for help in finding his
sister. He needed to locate Candice before she did something she couldn’t forgive herself for.
She might appear to be a psycho killer, but Dennis still remembered her as the shy teenaged
girl who sneaked food to him at his rundown apartment after their parents kicked him out.
“Do you think she’d go to your parents?” KC asked, breaking into Dennis’ bittersweet
trip down memory lane.
Dennis gave a broken laugh. “Since they not only kicked me out for being gay, but
made her give up her kid, let’s just say their relationship has never been the best.”
“Ahh.” KC nodded. “I guess we can rule them out, then. I’ll keep following up on
coyote stories. So far that’s our best lead. I’m tracking her credit cards, but all I can find is one
listed and she hasn’t used it. Besides, I doubt she had it with her when she was in the
facility.”
Dennis wished he could think of some reason to stick around, but KC probably had
better things to do than entertain an unemployed coyote with no prospects.
“Hey, you used to work construction, right?” A bright blush crossed the fox shifter’s
face as he asked the question.
Curiosity kept Dennis from rising from the chair. “Yeah, I did. I worked with Payce. He
did the floors while I did walls and more general construction jobs.” He suppressed the pang
of pain at their lost friendship as he tried to figure out what the fox wanted.
“So you’d know how to shore up a wall?” The hope in KC’s face caused another flare of
arousal to jolt through Dennis’ body.
KC’s nose twitch told him the man had noticed. Luckily, Dennis didn’t blush. If he did,
he knew he’d be as bright red as KC’s hair.
“Yeah, sure. Why—you’ve got something you need help with?” Please let him need help.
Dennis was so bored he’d agree to hang paintings in KC’s house if it would get him away
from the pride compound. He knew the lions tried to be welcoming, but since they also knew
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he’d betrayed a friend, most of them kept their distance. No matter what the reason—once a
betrayer, always a betrayer in the shifter world. Add in the fact that coyotes were among the
least trusted of the animal shifters and he’d sealed his fate.
KC clicked a few things on his computer that didn’t appear to make a lot of difference
on the screen. Maybe he wasn’t the only one who was nervous. Dennis placed his hand over
KC’s to get his attention and quickly jerked it back as electricity zapped through his system
and went straight to his cock.
“Whoa.” Dennis stood up and scurried back to the other side of the reception counter.
“Wow. I haven’t felt that kind of attraction…ever.” KC stared at Dennis with wide eyes,
the pupils blown. He licked his lips, drawing Dennis’ gaze to the wet streak he left behind.
Damn, he wanted to taste that.
“Y-you wanted help with something?” He stuttered over the words as his mind strayed
to all the things he wanted to help the fox shifter with—projects that involved the two of
them naked in the location of KC’s choice.
“Oh yeah, I definitely want help with something.” The lust in KC’s eyes told Dennis it
had nothing to do with whatever the redhead had thought of before and everything to do
with the look in Dennis’ eyes.
“A construction project,” he guessed. Gossips around town said the sheriff watched
over the fox man like a mama bear guarded her cub. Dennis didn’t need a warning. He knew
he wasn’t good enough for the stunning man. He’d betrayed a friend and hadn’t been there
when his sister needed him. Dennis figured if Candice trusted him to help, she would’ve
already contacted him. Her silence told him louder than words that either she didn’t think he
could help or—even worse—it never occurred to her to call him.
“Um, yeah.” KC shook his head as if to clear it. “I’d like you to look at my house and
make sure it’s structurally sound. I keep adding to it and want to verify I didn’t make it
unstable.”
Dennis shrugged. “I’m not an architect, but I can give it a look. I should probably be
able to see if there are any obvious issues.”
“Great.” A bright smile crossed KC’s face making Dennis forget all his worries for a
moment. “Are you available tonight?”
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He was so available it hurt. Right now, he just hoped to finish the conversation and
leave the sheriff’s station without embarrassing himself. “What time?”
The fox bit his lip. Dennis barely resisted the urge to leap across the counter and lick at
the poor reddened bit of flesh to make it feel better. “How about five? I can finish up here
and take you out to dinner as a sort of pre-thank you for looking at stuff for me.”
“Sure.” Dennis wondered if this counted as a date. Looking at the gorgeous fox, he was
torn. If he could turn back the clock to a few months ago, he’d jump at the opportunity to go
out with KC. However, with his past, he didn’t want to cause any problems. “The sheriff isn’t
going to mind?”
“Lou doesn’t control who I see,” KC said in a firm tone. “He has his own man.”
The way the fox said that made Dennis wonder if KC had once hoped for something
different. “All right—if you’re sure it won’t cause any problems. I’ll meet you here at five.”
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Chapter Two
Sheriff Arktos entered the station, took one look at KC and frowned. “What did you
do?”
“What makes you think I did anything?” KC tried to deflect the sheriff’s questioning,
even though he knew it was a lost cause. For a bear, the sheriff wasn’t the laid-back, honey-
eating type. He was more of the rampaging, destroy-the-forest kind.
“You look entirely too proud of yourself.” The sheriff looked around. “Where’s the
coyote?”
“His name is Dennis, and he’s off doing whatever. I don’t know where he is. We’re not
joined at the hip.” He’d love to be joined together other places but he didn’t share that
information with the sheriff.
“Eww.”
“What?”
“You’re attracted to that mutt.”
“He’s not a mutt. Besides, how are things going with your kitty cat?”
If the sheriff’s smile got any wider, his face would crack. “He’s wonderful,” he sighed.
“Eww.” KC mimicked, though it was hard to sound disdainful while smiling himself. It
was good to see the sheriff happy. When they’d first met, KC had sensed Lou was a lonely
bear. Now that he had James, it was as though the man had a new lease on life. Nothing
bothered him for long, and the days he came into the station happy far outnumbered the rare
bouts of grumpiness.
“You’re changing the subject,” Lou reminded him.
Damn.
“I’ve located a few sightings of a particularly aggressive coyote that appears to be
heading east. Dennis said she has a boy in Albany,” KC said.
“Huh. I might need to work with Dennis and hunt her down online. If she isn’t in her
right mind, she might unwittingly harm someone. We need to get her the appropriate care
and make sure she can’t harm others. If you’re right, we need to stop her before she gets to
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her child.” The sheriff frowned as he obviously tried to think of the right path to take. KC
knew it was a quandary. Did they try to save her, or put her down like a rabid animal?
KC shrugged. He didn’t know how concerned parents responded when they thought
their child was in trouble. KC’s parents would’ve thrown a party. After all, he was the
abomination who loved men.
“Do you have any problems travelling with Dennis? I have no doubt he’s going to want
to go along.”
“Why would I?”
The sheriff gave him a long look. “Some think he’s untrustworthy since he betrayed
Payce.”
“Some people should think about what they’d do if one of their loved ones was
captured,” he said in a biting tone. Remembering the sad expression in the coyote’s eyes had
him losing sympathy for others.
“True.” Louis nodded. His smug expression told KC he’d just fallen into one of the
sheriff’s traps.
“Ugh.” KC rolled his eyes.
The door opened again revealing Dennis, who cast a nervous glance at the large bear
shifter.
KC looked between the sheriff and Dennis. “I’m supposed to have dinner with Dennis
tonight. Did you need me to stay?” He didn’t like the look in Lou’s eyes as he looked the
coyote over.
“It’s okay. I haven’t mauled anyone for a couple of days. I think I have it under
control.” Lou gave Dennis a smirk, but his eyes didn’t hold any hint of welcome.
Dennis gave him a weak smile even as the stench of fear filled the room.
The sheriff rolled his eyes at KC. “Go have dinner. I’ll wrap things up here before I lock
up for the night.”
“Thanks.” KC jumped at the chance. Dennis looked as though he was going to have a
heart attack if he spent another minute in the sheriff’s company.
KC shut down his computer then headed for the door. “Come on, Dennis. We have
reservations at Marks.” The only steakhouse in town, Marks had opened four years ago to
the delight of the shifter population. However, because of the size of the restaurant, shifters
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generally had to make reservations months in advance…and after a memorable visit from
Talan’s lion pride, they now had to mention what type of shifter they were.
“How did you get reservations there? I thought you needed to reserve months in
advance?”
Obviously Dennis knew of the restaurant’s reputation. KC shrugged. “I helped them
with a problem once and they said I could come by anytime.”
He wasn’t going to tell Dennis he’d broken into the restaurant owner’s ex-accountant’s
bank account and taken back all the money he’d embezzled from the restaurant. It was next
to impossible for shifters to get justice for their problems. Although there were shifter courts,
politics between species often made true justice impossible when tried by a jury of mixed-
species shifter peers. KC had cut through all the red tape and, as a result, had the unswerving
devotion of the family of hawks. He’d never eaten at their restaurant before, but when he’d
called, they assured him they would find a table.
The receptionist’s warm greeting helped set the tone for the evening.
“Mr Fields—we’re so happy you could join us and bring a friend.” KC recognised her
as one of the owner’s nieces. Almost all of the hawk family worked at the restaurant. The
entire flock were Harris Hawks—a particularly social type of bird.
The table they were shown to was by a big window overlooking the valley.
“Will this do?” The girl shifted nervously on her feet as she watched him look out the
window.
“Yeah, this is great.”
“Good, and the meal is on us,” a deep voice spoke behind him.
KC spun around to see the restaurant’s owner—Garret Halcon. The man’s reddish
brown hair gleamed like a mink’s coat beneath the subtle lights and was cut to show off the
man’s bold features. KC had always thought of Garret as a handsome man, but too arrogant
to be truly attractive.
“You don’t have to pay for my meal,” KC protested.
Garret’s reddish brown eyes flared with determination. “It is the least I can do for all
you’ve done for us. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have had the money to pay our bills. I
would give you a hundred meals if I thought you’d accept them.” He held his hand out to
Dennis. “Garret Halcon, nice to meet you.”
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Dennis looked the owner up and down carefully before holding out his hand. “Dennis
Wills.”
They shook hands but KC could tell the two men wouldn’t be best buds anytime soon.
After an uncomfortable moment, Garret flashed his bright smile at KC before patting him on
the back. “Have a good meal, KC, and don’t hesitate to come back here whenever you’d
like.” With a final glare at Dennis, Garret left.
Dennis resisted the urge to hunt down the bastard smiling at his man and rip out his
throat. His coyote growled close to the surface, even as his human half was shocked by his
odd possessiveness. Dennis didn’t get possessive. Men were a dime a dozen—at least in the
city—and as soon as he returned there, he could easily coax one into his bed.
Maybe it was the lack of censure in KC’s eyes that made him so attractive. The fox
shifter didn’t have anything against Dennis and was in fact trying to help him out. Dennis
didn’t like the predatory gaze that hawk bastard was giving his new friend. That was all it
was. Satisfied with his answer, he looked up into the amused gaze of KC.
“What?”
“Did you work it all out in your head?”
“Work out what?” For a panicky moment he wondered if the other man could read
minds.
KC shrugged. “I don’t know, but it looked like you were working out much bigger
problems than the size of your steak.”
Dennis smiled. “Are you kidding? With Garret paying, I’m getting the biggest steak I
can.”
The fox shifter threw back his head and laughed. Dennis couldn’t help noticing the
other diners in the restaurant had their eyes on him, too. He resisted the urge to growl at
them, but it was a close thing.
It had been a while since he’d had someone look at him like he was important. Payce
saved all his adoring looks for Kevin now. And Dennis couldn’t help wanting someone to
care about him like James cared about the sheriff.
“You still didn’t answer my question.” KC had set his menu aside and was watching
Dennis as if he were the most important thing KC had to pay attention to that day.
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“I didn’t like how Garret watched you.”
KC rolled his eyes. “He asked me out once. I said no.”
“Why?” Not that Dennis wanted the pretty fox to date the other man, but he wondered
how a charming, handsome man who owned a restaurant fell short of KC’s ideal.
“He’s too arrogant,” KC admitted. “He’s nice enough but I don’t like really arrogant
men. It would bother me over the long run, so I didn’t want to get into dating him when I
knew we’d never last.”
Dennis laughed as relief cut through him like a knife. “Nothing like seeing the ending
on the horizon to prevent the start of a relationship.”
KC gave him a wry grin. “I guess it does sound ridiculous, but I hate to waste energy on
something when I know it will fail.”
“There’s nothing wrong with knowing what you want.” Dennis knew what he wanted,
but he doubted the smiling, beautiful man before him would want a battered, ethically
dubious construction worker. Hell, even his former best friend could barely look him in the
eyes.
“Hello, I’m Markus. I’ll be your waiter this evening.” A tall, attractive hawk shifter
approached and gazed at KC with adoring eyes.
“I’m Dennis. I want the biggest steak you have and for you to stop staring at my
boyfriend.”
Shit.
Dennis cringed. What the hell was he thinking? They weren’t even really on a date. KC
was only buttering him up to get him to look at some construction issue he had. Dennis’
coyote had other ideas, though. He wanted to claim the fox shifter and gnaw the leg off
anyone who disagreed.
He waited for KC to correct him but the other man just turned to the waiter. “You’ll
have to forgive Dennis. He gets cranky when he’s hungry.”
The waiter gave Dennis a cautious smile but had the sense to quickly scratch down their
order and rush off. Smart boy.
“Sorry.” Dennis gave KC an apologetic smile. “I don’t know why I said that.”
“Well, I don’t know what your coyote is like, but my fox wants to fuck you and claim
you as mine.” KC gave a casual shrug as if he’d not just sent Dennis’ world spiralling.
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“What do you think it means?” A cold chill went through him as he realised what it
probably meant.
KC gave him a long look. “I think we both know what it could mean, but foxes can’t
truly identify a mate unless we have sex.”
“Same with coyotes.”
Dennis looked into KC’s eyes—his heart pounding so loud, he wondered why everyone
didn’t turn to locate the source of the sound.
“You don’t want a mate?” KC asked the words slowly as if he were trying to
understand them as they came out.
Dennis took a sip of water, now wishing he had ordered something stronger—like
whisky shots followed by vodka. “It’s not that I don’t want a mate. What shifter doesn’t want
a mate?” he stalled. After all, if this beautiful man truly was his mate, he didn’t want to scare
him off forever. “Let’s just say I have a lot of issues I need to resolve before I let someone else
into my life.”
Major issues like finding a psychotic sister and being jobless, essentially homeless and
unworthy of such a kind, gorgeous mate.
“So it’s not me, it’s you.” KC struggled to smile but Dennis saw the sorrow in his eyes.
He reached over and took KC’s hand in his own. “I’ve got a lot of problems right now,
honey. I can’t take care of a mate.” There—he’d put it on the table, his unworthiness out
there for his mate to see.
KC yanked his hand from Dennis’. “Who said I needed to be taken care of?” His anger
made his eyes glow, showing Dennis a flash of the untamed animal living deep inside. “I’m
not looking for a sugar daddy. I’m looking for a partner.”
Dennis leant forwards. “Don’t you see? I can’t be a partner. I don’t have anything to
offer.”
“Who says you need to offer anything? I’m here to help, not add to your problems,” KC
snapped. “I need a partner, not a caretaker.”
Before Dennis could respond, the waiter returned with their plates of food. Thick steaks
with fluffy potatoes and beautiful green vegetables were set before them.
KC gave the waiter a wide smile. “This looks wonderful.”
“Can I get you anything else?”
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KC shook his head. “Not for me.”
“I’m good,” Dennis agreed.
“Well, let any of us know if you need anything further.” He looked like he wanted to
say something else but Dennis gave a growl and the man scurried off.
“Shame on you, scaring that nice hawk,” KC reprimanded, but since he was smiling,
Dennis didn’t take it to heart.
“I warned him about staring at you.”
“He was just doing his job.” KC laughed.
“He can do it elsewhere.” Dennis cut his steak and took a bite. Flavours exploded across
his tongue. “Oh, so good.”
“Mm hmm,” KC agreed. “I should’ve taken them up on their offer before but I never
had anyone I wanted to share a meal this good with.”
Dennis smiled as a glow of pleasure filled him at KC’s words. It felt good to be
important to somebody.
They finished the meal talking of inconsequential things. Neither of them discussed
their respective families or the possibility of their mating. Dennis learned KC had built an
eco-friendly home of rammed earth and tyres into the side of a hill, which had taken the fox
shifter three years to create. Unfortunately, a recent mudslide had cracked a ceiling support
beam during a shift in the hill, and KC wanted a second opinion about the viability of the
beam. The fox didn’t want to talk to the sheriff about the problem because apparently KC
hadn’t exactly built it to local building ordinances. The more KC talked about his home, the
more Dennis wanted to see the unusual habitat.
“Can I get you gentlemen some dessert?”
KC gave the waiter a charming smile. “Can we get some cheesecake to go?”
“Of course.”
As soon as the waiter left, KC put some money on the table.
“I thought the meal was free?” Dennis asked.
KC blushed. “Oh, it is, but the waiter did his job. He should receive a tip.”
The waiter returned a few minutes later with a bag neatly tied at the handles. “Here
you go, sir. Thank you for coming.”
“You’re very welcome.” That damned bird returned just as they were standing to leave.
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“Everything good, KC?” Garrett gave Dennis a taunting smile.
“Excellent.” KC patted Garrett on the back. “Thanks for the great meal.”
“Anytime, sweetheart. You call whenever you want, and we’ll make sure there’s a table.
You can even bring your puppy.”
KC grabbed Dennis’ arm and dragged him out of the restaurant.
“I was only going to maim him a little. Maybe break an arm so it’s hard to fly,” Dennis
protested.
They walked back to the sheriff’s station and KC poked his head in, thinking he’d say
goodnight.
“Oh!” KC’s mouth went dry and his cock hardened. Damn, they looked good together.
Lou’s dark head bent over James’ golden one as he devoured his mate’s mouth in a carnal
kiss. A soft whimper from the lion shifter pulled one out of KC.
The men broke apart and with identical glazed looks of passion, turned towards KC.
“Umm, I’m gonna go home now,” KC said, holding back a moan.
Lou licked his lips as if trying to capture every last bit of his mate’s flavour. “Night.”
KC thought James might have responded, but as the bear shifter took that moment to
recapture James’ lips, he could’ve been wrong.
Hard and wanting, he walked back out of the station. While still adjusting himself, he
almost ran into Dennis.
The coyote scanned KC’s body with his hot gaze. “Sheriff’s stations make you horny?”
“Only if they contain a sheriff about to fuck his mate against the wall.”
“Oh.” Dennis swallowed and looked longingly at the entrance. “Are they naked?”
KC laughed. “Only kissing, but damn, they were really into it.”
Dennis gave a soft growl. “I bet that was sexy.”
“So sexy. Come, let’s go back to my place and have dessert.”
“Is that a code?” Dennis’ eyes flashed with amusement.
“Yes. Cheesecake is super-secret code for ‘come back to my place and fuck me’.” KC
shook his plastic bag. “So you want to come have some cheesecake?”
Dennis smiled. “I would love some cheesecake.”
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Chapter Three
Dennis’ jaw dropped open as he walked into KC’s house. While the fox shifter had said
his home was made of tyres and dirt, he hadn’t mentioned that that was only part of the
story. The half of the building that was outside the hill had a smooth stucco finish and a glass
front reflecting a clean modern style.
He’d never seen such a beautiful structure. It wasn’t a house…it was a piece of art.
Dennis held his breath as KC opened the door and they entered a home filled with smooth,
curved walls and rich, wooden beams.
“In the daytime this place must be stunning,” he said in awe.
KC blushed. “I like to think so.” He flipped on lights, bringing to life a home filled with
soft fabrics and vibrant colours. Bright wool blankets covered the dark leather furniture and
plush carpets splashed across the colourful concrete floor. Dennis crouched down. “Where
did you get these?” He asked poking at some glass pieces embedded in the concrete.
“I ordered them online.”
Dennis looked around. “You have internet?”
“Satellite.”
“Huh. No television?”
KC shook his head. “It takes up unnecessary energy. I produce my own electricity with
solar panels on the roof and a small backup generator. If I want to watch a movie, I use my
laptop, which I recharge with my solar charger. And if I really want television there’s always
one on at the Pride house.”
Dennis nodded. “Those cats like their TV. How did you build this?”
“I got some books and I lived in a tent for two years. I bought the land cheap with some
small contract projects, and I’ve been working on it ever since.”
“Why was it so important to you?” As Dennis walked through the house, he touched
the surface of the walls, the colourful hanging art, and the bits of glass and tile randomly
pressed into every surface. Turning, he looked at the entrance. Stained glass surrounded the
door. “That couldn’t have been cheap.”
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KC shrugged. “I took some classes at the community centre in town.”
“You did that?”
“Yeah. It’s not perfect, but I liked the idea of having made it myself.” KC paused. “I
built this because when my father kicked me out, I didn’t have any place to go. I never want
to be homeless again—it was the most hopeless feeling I’d ever had. I wanted to make
something of my own that no one could take away.”
Dennis fought the compulsion to hunt down KC’s father and beat the crap out of him
for causing the wounded look in the smaller man’s eyes.
“Where is that beam you wanted me to look at?” The thought of the entire place coming
down on KC’s head didn’t sit well with Dennis. He could tell by the pride shining in the fox’s
eyes that if he lost this house, it would break his heart.
“In here.” KC led the way to a tiny kitchen that held a gas stove and oven, a mini
refrigerator, a small table and little else. Dennis thought it was probably the most charming
kitchen he’d ever seen…and the tiniest. “That one.”
Dennis followed where KC pointed and saw the beam in question. A hairline crack
burrowed through the wood. Looking at the other solid beams surrounding it, Dennis
relaxed. “I don’t think it’s a true problem. I’d keep an eye on it, and if it gets wide or the
wood starts to separate, we should replace it.”
“We?” KC gave him a tentative smile.
Dennis sighed. “Fine. Put the cheesecake in the fridge, and I’ll check out the beefcake
before me.”
KC laughed until tears wet his cheeks. “Oh, fuck, that was bad.” Nevertheless, he slid
the dessert into the refrigerator then took Dennis’ hand. “Come on…the bedroom is this
way.”
The bedroom was exactly what Dennis expected from what he’d seen of KC’s home so
far. Smooth walls, bright colours and a comfortable looking sleigh bed made Dennis want to
curl up on the big mattress and cradle the pretty fox shifter. He quickly learned KC had other
plans.
Turning, he found KC already stripping off his shirt. The fox shifter saw him staring
and frowned. “What? Strip.”
“What? No flowers?”
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“If you get undressed and fuck me right now, I promise to get up at the ass crack of
dawn and pick you flowers from the forest. Now strip!”
Dennis laughed. He pulled off his shirt then slid off his socks, shoes and pants. By the
time he’d finished, KC lay naked on the bed—the red curls that surrounded his rigid shaft
beckoning him in closer. Dennis’ mouth watered at the sight.
Eyes on the prize, Dennis climbed up on the bed and wrapped his lips around the
mushroom head of KC’s cock. His eyes rolled back in his head at the flavour. The coyote
growled his pleasure at the taste. He wanted more…needed more. Sliding his head down
further, he heard KC give a squeal. Unable to smile, he settled for swallowing KC down. He
grabbed the fox shifter’s hips to keep him still and prevent his wiggling further.
“Please, please, please, Dennis, I need to come. Suck harder.”
Dennis pulled off.
“Nooo.”
“We’re not going to discover if we’re mates by me sucking you off. I need to fuck you.”
“You can do that after you get me off.”
Dennis shook his head. “If I taste you, I’m going to lose control.”
“Then you can fuck me later.”
“Where’s your slick?”
KC gave a cute growl as he flipped over and crawled towards his nightstand. Looking
at that tight muscular ass made Dennis give a growl of his own. For the first time he wished
he were a lion. The felines knew by sight when they met their mate. He didn’t tell KC his
rush to mate now was because it would break his heart if he spent the night in the fox
shifter’s arms…and then found they weren’t mates.
Dennis had survived losing his job, his apartment and probably his sister, but he knew
KC could be the straw that finally broke him.
“Hey, you okay?” KC’s golden eyes watched him with concern.
Dennis shook off his melancholy. “Yeah. I’m good, babe.”
KC growled. It would’ve been menacing if the man growling wasn’t so fucking cute.
“Don’t call me babe.”
Instead of arguing, Dennis took the lube from the fox shifter’s hand. “Roll onto your
back. I want to see your face when I enter you.”
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KC’s smile glowed in the dim light. “You’re such a romantic.”
Dennis smiled back. “I’ll spread cheesecake on you and lick it off later. How does that
sound?”
“Sticky.”
“Hmm. Hopefully they’ve put strawberry sauce in the box.”
While KC made a face at him, Dennis plunged two of his lubed fingers into his lover’s
hole.
“Ahh,” KC sighed.
Dennis moved his fingers until they easily passed in and out of KC’s tight hole. With
patience and careful stretching, he added a third finger with more lube.
“Come on, now!” KC whined.
“Relax.” Dennis knew he was stalling. His greatest fear was that he’d join with
KC…then discover the beautiful redhead wasn’t his.
“Now!”
Dennis kissed the fox shifter’s demanding mouth—nibbling and kissing until the other
man melted beneath him. He added lube to his cock then wrapped his hands beneath KC’S
hips and pushed inside. Once inside, he paused in his movement until KC began to wiggle
and fuck himself on Dennis’ cock.
“Impatient,” Dennis scolded.
“I wouldn’t be if you fucked me properly.”
Leaning down, Dennis took another kiss. He needed KC’s kisses like some people
needed air. If anyone ever asked him to describe the flavour of the fox shifter’s mouth, he’d
have to say KC tasted like pure unadulterated desire. Sliding inside the gorgeous man was
like finding home. All his adult life, Dennis hadn’t felt as though he belonged. But right at
that moment, with KC wrapped around him, Dennis knew he needed nothing else in life to
be happy.
“Mine!” he growled. His fangs dropped and, unable to resist, Dennis grabbed KC by
the back of the neck and bit him. Hips pumping, he marked his man.
“Mate,” his inner coyote growled.
Joy flashed through him like a wildfire, burning away the sadness and discontent in his
life and replacing it with a glowing happiness.
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His body convulsed and gave up his release, infusing his essence into the small fox
shifter. KC followed quickly afterwards, filling the air with the combined aroma of their
essence. Slowly, careful to not rip his mate’s skin more than necessary, Dennis removed his
fangs from KC’s body.
Lapping at the wound, he sealed it enough to stop the bleeding but not enough to erase
it completely. It would scar and tell others by both scent and mark that the younger man
belonged to him.
“We were right. We’re mates.”
KC didn’t respond. Instead, the fox shifter struck. Dennis jerked as KC’s fangs plunged
into the curve where his neck and shoulder met. He stilled, wanting to let his mate do
whatever he needed to feel Dennis was marked. After a moment, KC released him, lapped
half-heartedly at his wound then collapsed on his back.
“Am I claimed properly now?” Dennis asked with a smile.
“It’ll do.”
Dennis knew for a complete mating KC needed to plant his seed inside Dennis’
body…but that could wait for later. They had answered the important question. They were
mates.
KC lay on the bed, panting. His heart raced and his body tingled from spent desire.
Turning his head, he marvelled at the handsome shifter beside him.
I have a mate!
He knew from the other shifters that gay men could have mates but he’d never
expected to find one of his own.
Dennis had self-esteem issues, but KC knew he could help with that. “Wanna move in
with me?”
The coyote shifter turned to look at KC. “Maybe after we find my sister. I have to make
sure she’s all right…or put down if she’s dangerous.” The sadness in Dennis’ eyes told KC
how much it would hurt his mate if he had to kill his sister.
KC made a private vow to be the one to kill her if necessary. Dennis would never
forgive himself if he had to be the one to end Candice’s life.
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Just as he started drifting off, his cell phone rang. Blinking in the darkness, he snatched
it up and pressed the answer button.
“Hello?”
“KC, buddy, how are you?”
KC sat up straight. “Bob?”
“Did I wake you?” His friend’s amused voice tamped down KC’s annoyance at being
snapped out of his cosy post-coital glow.
“No. What can I do for you?” Bob wasn’t one of those people who called just to chat. He
was one of KC’s work contacts.
“It’s what I can do for you. I heard you were looking for a crazy coyote.”
KC’s grip on his phone tightened. “Did you find one?”
“Yeah, but no one can get close enough to figure out if it is a girl or a boy but the coyote
has been killing cattle all through Texas.”
“I think our girl is a little more east but it’s worth checking out. Thanks for the call.”
“You can thank me by letting me take you to dinner when you get here.” KC had
hooked up with the human a few times, but before he could frame a proper refusal, Dennis
ripped the phone from his hands.
“KC appreciates you calling but he has a mate now. We’ll see you when we get to
Texas.”
Pressing the disconnect button, Dennis handed back the phone.
“I was going to tell him no,” KC said. He tried to sound strict but he couldn’t stop the
smile from spreading across his face. Possessive Dennis was freaking adorable.
Dennis arched a brow. “Well, now you don’t have to.”
KC gave into his amusement and laughed. “That’s very true.”
“Is there any man who doesn’t want into your pants?”
Patting his mate on the cheek, KC smiled. “I’m sure there are some men out there.”
Dennis growled. “Have you met them?”
“Come on—let’s get dressed. We’ve got a plane to catch.”
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“You are not going off to Texas with this coyote to hunt down a psychotic cattle killer.
Are you kidding me?”
KC stared at the sheriff in shock. He never thought Lou would object to his trip.
“What’s wrong?”
“I thought you were going to make some phone calls—maybe hack a database or two—
not put yourself in danger. You have no training as an agent of any kind and I don’t want
you hurt. I will not permit this!”
KC’s stomach dropped. Damn, he hated disappointing Lou. The man had done so much
for him.
Dennis stepped forwards, bristling with rage. KC grabbed him by the back of the shirt
and pulled him away. “Don’t poke at the angry bear,” he warned. He knew Dennis’ mating
instincts were coming forwards to protect KC at any cost.
“You have something to say, coyote?” Lou’s eyes glowed with rage.
The office door swung open. KC had never been so happy to see the lion shifter in his
entire life. “James!”
The surprise in James’ eyes told KC more than words ever could that he’d been less
than friendly to the kind man. Jealousy had eaten at him, and even though he’d tried not to
show his upset, apparently he hadn’t been completely successful. Now, with having his own
mate, KC better understood how easily James had captured Lou’s affections.
“What’s going on?” James looked at his mate for answers.
“This coyote wants to take KC into the goddamn desert and look for a psychotic
shifter.”
James’ golden eyes took in the situation. KC could almost feel the intelligent man’s
mind clicking through all the alternatives.
“I’m sure Dennis will watch out for his mate. They can go and see if it is her before they
figure out what to do next. They don’t have to confront her. They can do reconnaissance and
call you at regular intervals.”
Lou crossed his arms across his chest.
“You have to let KC grow up sometime, hon.”
It amused KC to see Lou try to stare down his mate. The lion shifter just looked back at
him with calm golden eyes, not the least bit intimidated.
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After a few minutes of having his mate stare at him without backing down, the sheriff
rolled his eyes. “Fine, but I expect a phone call every three hours or I’m going to come there
myself.”
“Yes!” KC jumped up and down.
Dennis wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Calm, love—we’re trying to convince
the sheriff of your maturity.”
“Oh, right.” KC stopped wiggling. “We’ll call. I promise.”
Before KC could intervene, Lou grabbed Dennis and lifted him until his feet cleared the
ground. “If anything happens to my friend, I will break every fucking bone in your body.”
With each word, he shook Dennis to emphasise his point.
“Lou, drop him.”
At the sound of his mate’s voice, Lou opened his hand and released Dennis. Dennis
landed neatly on his feet but didn’t dare move.
James wrapped a hand around Lou’s thick arm. “I’m sure KC will need some travel
money to help with this investigation.”
Lou nodded. “Use the departmental card for hotel expenses and food. If she has indeed
gone feral, it falls under public safety.”
James opened his wallet and handed several bills over to KC. “This should get you
started.”
KC hugged James. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” James lowered his voice. “Now get out of here before Lou snaps.”
KC shoved the money into his pocket, grabbed Dennis’ wrist and shouted goodbye over
his shoulder. “Let’s go get your clothes from the pack house.”
“Okay. I should let them know I’m going, anyway. Talan will want to know. He likes to
keep tabs on everyone.”
As they left, KC heard Lou shouting, “What do you mean they’re mates?”
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Chapter Four
As they entered the pack house, the sound of running met them as a small wolf raced
past them, chased by a large lion.
“I guess we’ll get your stuff, then talk to Talan.”
Dennis agreed. His stomach knotted as he thought about confronting the lion shifter.
Talan had never been anything but nice to him, however Dennis would have to go near
Adrian in order to talk to the lion alpha. It was stupid to be scared of a small man who had
never actually tried to harm him, but he never forgot he was in enemy territory. Adrian’s
wolf didn’t approve of Dennis’ coyote, and as much as the human Adrian always treated him
fairly after Talan had forbidden him from killing Dennis, he could always feel the chill of
Adrian’s wolf peeking out at him.
It would be a relief to move in with KC after they dealt with Dennis’ sister. Maybe he
could find some work around town. Though the chances for work were better in Seattle or
even in Canada, he didn’t want to be far from his fox. Hell, if he did well on this trip, maybe
he could help the sheriff do odd jobs.
After grabbing a duffle bag he’d picked up a few weeks ago, Dennis quickly shoved
some jeans and T-shirts inside. “I don’t have a lot of clothes. I had my stuff shipped from
Seattle, but I mostly have work clothes.”
KC shrugged. “I’m not exactly a fashion model myself, but I like nice things for my
home.” KC’s home had a bit of luxury but it felt like a home. Dennis liked that about his
place.
As soon as Dennis’ clothes were packed, they headed out to find Talan.
The shifter was in human form and pinning a wolf to the ground with his legs.
“Is there a reason you have your mate pinned?” KC asked.
Talan gave them a wide smile. “Yes.” The pride leader didn’t elaborate.
“Oookay. We think we have a lead on Candice, so we’re heading out to Texas.”
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“Take my private plane—Lou will worry less that way. I’ll call the pilot and alert him
you’re coming. Also, talk to Dillon—he’ll get you a set of tranquiliser guns. That way if she’s
bat-shit crazy, you can tranq her.”
“Thanks.”
He looked down at Adrian, who gave him a disgruntled look. Whether it was due to
Dennis or the fact he was pinned, KC didn’t know. A few minutes later, with the help of
Dillon, they’d collected a pair of tranq guns. “Are you sure you don’t want any help?” Dillon
looked up at them with hopeful eyes.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine. Besides, if she sees anyone besides me she might freak out. She’ll
disregard KC because he’s a fox shifter and she won’t see him as a threat.” Dillon nodded
while KC glared. “What? It’s true.”
“Foxes are more vicious than we’re generally given credit for.”
Dennis rubbed KC’s shoulder. “I’m sure you are.”
“Don’t make me bite you,” KC grumbled.
Dillon shook his head. “See you guys later. Good luck finding your sister, Dennis.”
“Thanks.”
After a quick trip to collect KC’s clothing, they headed for the private airport twenty
miles away. “That was nice of Talan to loan us his plane,” KC said.
Dennis nodded. “I think he’s trying to make up for the fact that his mate hates me.”
“Possibly. Though I think Adrian’s warming up a little. He didn’t try to bite you when
we went to say goodbye,” KC said.
“I wasn’t sure if that was because Talan was all but sitting on him or not.”
KC laughed. “Yeah, what was that about?”
Dennis shrugged. “Alphas are weird. At least Talan is. I don’t really know any other
alphas.”
KC shrugged. “I think if Talan was any more laid back he’d be asleep.”
Dennis laughed. “The only thing that makes Talan angry is anyone upsetting his mate.
You want to see him in pure alpha mode—upset Adrian. I found out that, with a good
throwing arm, you can skip a lion six times in the lake before they sink.”
Giggling, KC asked, “Why did he toss the lion?”
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“He used one of Adrian’s computers without permission and accidentally deleted a file.
Adrian lost his temper. I actually think Talan tossed the other lion to save his life. They now
have a no-using-Adrian’s-office policy.”
“Probably a good idea.”
The plane was shiny, pretty and had luxury seats…which was the full extent of Dennis’
knowledge of planes. The captain was also a lion shifter, but an independent—not a member
of Talan’s pack. Having been briefed on their trip already, he had them buckling in for take-
off in a matter of minutes. They didn’t need much time to get clearance from the tiny air strip
space where the plane was kept.
“Did you notice this plane’s paint job is the same gold as the lions?” KC asked with a
smirk.
Dennis nodded. “They do like gold.”
After the plane was level in the air, Dennis decided it was time to learn more about his
mate. “So tell me, love… You know I have one sister. Are you an only child?”
KC’s lips tightened. “No. I have three siblings.”
Dennis waited a moment but nothing else was forthcoming. He decided to try James’
approach and waited his mate out.
“Fine. None of them have talked to me since my father kicked me out. Happy now? Not
my two brothers, nor my sister. I essentially have no family.”
Dennis entwined his fingers through KC’s before kissing the back of his hand. “I’m
sorry, love.”
“Yeah, me too.”
The intercom crackled. “This is the captain. We’re coming into some unexpected
turbulence. We are currently flying over Texas and should land in about twenty minutes, but
please stay seated.”
A flash of light lit the cabin.
“Shit, lightning.” Fear chilled Dennis’ spine. He wasn’t a confident traveller on a good
day. He’d hoped discussing KC’s family would distract him from the fact he was floating
miles above the earth in a fibreglass pretend bird.
“It’ll be all right,” KC’s touch calmed some of the panic until he saw another flash and
this time, as it touched the tip of the wing, a small fire broke out.
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“Do you think the pilot knows about that?” Dennis asked KC.
KC looked at him with round eyes. “I’m sure…I mean, he must…right?”
As if on cue, the pilot came back over the intercom. “Assume the crash position. We are
going in for an emergency landing. I repeat, assume crash position.”
After sharing another look, the men immediately crouched over into the correct
position. KC let out a sigh as Dennis clasped his hand.
“We’ll be all right,” Dennis said, but he wasn’t entirely sure whether he said it for KC’s
benefit or his own.
“Sure…sure we will. He’s a good pilot or Kevin wouldn’t have hired him.”
Dennis could hear the panic in KC’s voice. He didn’t get a chance to comment, though,
because the plane plunged down and both men gasped from the sudden change in altitude.
Bouncing in his seat from the jarring motion of the plane, Dennis tried to stay calm for
his mate…while inside he was screaming like a little girl in a horror movie.
I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die, he silently chanted. He didn’t want to say the
words out loud and freak out KC. Surely fate wouldn’t be so cruel to have him meet his mate
only to take his beautiful fox away from him before they even had a chance for a life
together.
Another bone-rattling shake and suddenly the plane plunged into freefall. Dennis’
stomach fell with it. The plane levelled out for a moment only to plunge again. Dennis was
glad that they hadn’t had a chance to eat because any food in his stomach would’ve been
decorating the cabin at that point. Even KC’s normally pale skin looked a little greenish.
Even though he’d been told to take the crash position, Dennis had naively thought they
wouldn’t actually crash. That only happened in bad disaster movies, not during routine
flights. He knew the pilot would try to come down in a sparsely populated area, but he
equally hoped that wouldn’t strand them in some godforsaken corner of the state.
At a frightening speed, they slammed into the ground. Dennis let out a shout as the
plane hit then flipped over tail over tip enough times that Dennis lost both count and
consciousness.
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KC opened his eyes. Everything hurt. It was as if a giant had put him in a drink shaker
and rattled him about before pouring him out on the ground.
“Ouch.”
Everything he had—and a few things he wished he didn’t—ached. Rotating his head
slowly, he realised he was dangling by the seatbelt and the ceiling lay below him.
Dennis.
Turning he found his mate hanging beside him. A red gash covered Dennis’ forehead
and he was bleeding copiously from the wound.
“Oh no you don’t. You don’t get to leave me.” KC fumbled with his belt, but he
couldn’t get the latch to release. His heart beat double time as he tried to reach his mate.
“Help!” he called out. Surely the pilot would help. No one came after he’d been shouting for
a long time, and he realised that maybe the pilot hadn’t survived.
Focusing inward, KC transformed from man to fox. KC’s much smaller form slipped
from the belt and his clothes and dropped to the ceiling.
Once on his feet, he transformed back to a man. He didn’t worry about his nudity since
there wasn’t anyone around to be offended.
After a few failed attempts, he finally got Dennis’ seatbelt off. The fact that his mate
didn’t regain consciousness with all his efforts disturbed KC a great deal. He let out a soft
noise as he accepted Dennis’ weight, careful to not let his mate fall to the floor. He laid
Dennis down and adjusted him to a more comfortable angle. After making sure Dennis’
breathing was regular, he went in search of the pilot.
Unfortunately, he found him.
KC had to pause and throw up the bile in his empty stomach before he could proceed.
After its multiple tumbles the plane had impaled itself—and the pilot—on a tree. A long
branch neatly bisected the pilot.
The image would forever be burned onto KC’s retinas. Scrambling away from the sight,
KC backtracked to the cabin. His hands shook as he returned to Dennis. What was he going
to do?
“What can I do?” He was stronger than the average person but significantly smaller
than Dennis. Not to mention he was afraid of moving Dennis any further. What if the man’s
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neck was injured, or his spine? It was difficult to kill shifters but not impossible, as proven by
the pilot’s fate.
The smell of smoke reached KC’s nose. “Oh, damn.” He sniffed again, hoping he’d been
mistaken. Nope. The smell still lingered. “Hell.”
He didn’t know what the smell came from, but he couldn’t imagine any scenario where
the smell of smoke and a downed plane were a good combination. He had to get them out of
there, right now!
Leaning down, he pulled up resources of strength he’d never accessed before and lifted
Dennis across his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. He carefully traversed the upside down
plane until he reached the outer door. It wasn’t until he got there that he realised he couldn’t
open the door and hold Dennis at the same time.
Groaning, he set Dennis down and checked to see if his mate had made any
improvement. The coyote shifter didn’t even twitch.
The smell of smoke became stronger and KC realised it must be coming from the
engines. Which meant it might not be quite as urgent, but they still needed to get the hell out
of there before the fire reached the cabin.
Hands shaking, KC struggled to open the upside down hatch door. He could do this.
He had to do this. All his adult life, KC had only had himself to worry about. Now, the
responsibility of another person, his mate, weighed on him—a heavy burden he would be
pleased to carry forever if the fates allowed and they got out of this horrible mess.
KC had planned for an evil sister and a potential battle, but he hadn’t expected that a
freak lightning storm and a downed plane might finish them off first.
Finally, the hatch door released and he pushed it open with a sigh of relief.
He picked up Dennis again, his battered and bruised body screaming with the strain.
After stumbling out of the plane, he almost dropped him. Where the hell were they? A sparse
forest stretched as far as his eyes could see like an evergreen, nightmarish maze.
Forcing his body to continue walking, KC waited until they were a good distance from
the plane before he put Dennis down.
“I’m gonna go back and get our bags, babe. Be awake and ready for action when I
return.”
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At this point KC didn’t really care about their clothing and he felt more than a little
nervous about leaving Dennis alone in the open, but he didn’t have any options. They
needed those tranq guns and if the plane held any food at all, grabbing it now could be the
difference between surviving and dying. For all he knew, a street could be right over the hill,
or they could still be miles into a strange forest. He wouldn’t know until he explored further.
Brushing back Dennis’ hair, KC placed a soft kiss on his forehead. “When I get back, I
want you to be yelling at me about wandering off alone. Understand?”
KC’s muscles ached, his hands shook from the stress and an enormous headache pulsed
behind his left eye, but he still needed to secure rations.
He gave a careful look at the burning engine. The fire looked like it might die out,
giving KC a burst of hope that using the plane for shelter might be all right if they had no
other options. He knew both Talan and Lou would be alerted when the plane didn’t land and
they didn’t get their phone call.
Phone!
“I’m an idiot! I can call.”
KC reached into this pocket and sighed when his fingers wrapped around the small cell
phone. Pulling it out, he looked at the dead screen.
“Shit!”
In between his mating with Dennis and getting ready for the trip, KC had forgotten to
charge his phone. “Charger,” KC muttered. He knew he’d at least remembered to bring his
solar chargers for both his cell phone and his computer. At the time he’d laughed at himself,
but old habits died hard so he’d brought them anyway.
First, though, he had to find whatever he could to take back to his mate. A small first-
aid kid tucked in a side cabinet was his first prize. “Bingo. You’re bound to have some
aspirin or something in you.” A small refrigerator netted several bottles of water, a shrink-
wrapped pound of smoked salmon and a gallon of milk. KC left the milk and grabbed the
salmon and water. The salmon would be good protein until they could find something else.
If they got desperate, they could transform into their animal forms and hunt. KC wasn’t
super fond of eating small, furry creatures, but he’d do what he had to in order to survive.
He also grabbed one of the blankets folded in a small cubby. He didn’t want to have too
much to carry. Walking into the cockpit, he kept his eyes averted from the dead pilot as he
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searched the area for additional treasures. He found a sack lunch the man had obviously
brought to eat later.
“Thanks,” KC told the dead pilot as he passed.
Exiting the plane, he set down his treasures and managed to pop open the cargo hold
door. In a plane this size it wasn’t huge, so he easily found his and Dennis’ bags. He tucked
his stolen finds into Dennis’ roomier bag.
Laden but happy with his collection, KC headed back to Dennis. “What the hell…” The
spot where he’d left Dennis was empty. A slight indentation on the underbrush was the only
sign the other man had ever laid there.
KC dropped the bags and looked around. Did Dennis wake up and leave on his own?
Surely he would’ve headed back to the plane. He didn’t want to shout in case Dennis was a
captive and it alerted the captors to KC’s presence, but then wouldn’t any group that found
Dennis be curious about any others who might have been there? His head whirled with
thoughts of what could’ve happened to his mate. It wasn’t like they were in the middle of
unfriendly territory. They were in the United States, and even if Dennis’ sister had turned
feral, she wouldn’t have the accomplices or the ability to mastermind his capture.
The stress and pain in his head forced KC to sit down. His head pulsed from the
headache he’d pushed to the back of his mind while he’d focused on getting everything
together.
As the world faded to black, KC realised he might have a concussion.
* * * *
Dennis woke to sound of shouting. “I deserve to see him, he’s my brother!” Candice’s
shrill voice pierced through his head as he heard a deeper rumble counter hers.
Blinking, he looked around. White-washed walls surrounded him in a small room with
a blue, painted side table and a rag rug. It looked like a farmhouse or something.
“KC.” Fear jolted through Dennis as he struggled to stand.
“Oh, hey…what are you doing?” A strange man who would’ve made the sheriff look
dainty rushed to settle Dennis back in the bed.
“I’ve got to get KC.”
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“Who’s KC?”
Dennis’ heart pounded so hard, he could feel it shaking his body. “My mate. I have to
find him! What if he’s hurt? Oh fuck!”
He struggled against the strange man’s hold even as the other man tried to get him back
into bed. “You’re in no condition to run off after anyone.”
“I have to. Did you hear me?” Dennis blinked some more as the man wavered in focus.
Green eyes looked down at him in concern. The man had dark hair and dark brown eyes.
Some Hispanic blood gave his skin a golden brown tone. Not shiny like the lions, but a
darker, richer brown. “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Nicholas, the leader of the coyotes.” The man puffed out his chest as if Dennis
should be impressed.
“Well thank you, Nick, for bringing me here, but I’ve got to go find my mate.”
The coyote leader frowned. “I am not Nick.”
“I don’t care who the fuck you are! I need to get to my mate!”
“You do not disrespect me in my own house.”
Dennis’ head hurt, his bones ached and he wasn’t entirely certain he could even walk as
his right leg pierced him with pain. He definitely wasn’t in any shape to take on a man who
looked like he could snap him like a twig.
“Listen, I’m sorry if I was disrespectful, but I don’t know where I am and my mate is
missing and possibly dead.”
“He’s not dead.” Nicholas said the words as if his words would make it so.
“How do you know that?”
“Because if he were dead you would know and your heart would be tearing apart in
your chest. Search deep. Do you feel his absence?”
Dennis shook his head. “But we didn’t complete the bond. I claimed him but he didn’t
claim me.”
“That does not matter. You are mates, yes?”
Thinking of his gorgeous fox mate, Dennis smiled. “Yes.”
Nicholas smacked him on the thigh. “Then you will know if he is dead.”
“But I still need to find him.”
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Nicholas turned to look at the person in the corridor. Dennis jumped at the shock of
recognition. It was his sister…but not. Gone were her long blonde locks and in their place
was a shorn cut just short of military regulation. Her easy smile had vanished beneath a grim
press of the lips and the wary look she gave Dennis chipped off a piece of his heart.
“Candice, go tell the others to organise a search party.” Nicholas turned back to Dennis.
“What does he look like?”
He watched his sister leave without saying any of the things lingering in her eyes.
Turning back to Nicholas, Dennis said the first thing that came to mind when he thought of
his mate. “He’s absolutely beautiful.”
Nicholas threw back his head and laughed. “A bit more detail might be handy. There
aren’t a lot of people wandering through the woods, but we don’t want to grab the wrong
one and drag him home.”
“He has red hair and stunning brown-gold eyes and he’s not exactly tiny, but small for
a man.”
“What is he?”
“Fox shifter.”
“Ahh. Will he eat my chickens while he’s here?” Nicholas asked, frowning at Dennis.
Dennis shrugged. “I don’t know. We haven’t been together long. I’m sure if you ask
him not to, he won’t.” The one thought ran through his head. “Why didn’t you search the
plane for more survivors?”
“Candice found you and brought just you here. She saw the plane go down when she
was out alone, searching for good hunting for later. In her concern for you, she didn’t check
the plane. I meant to send others, but we are short on resources and as Candice said the wing
was on fire, I didn’t to endanger my people on the off-chance there was another survivor.
The only reason Candice was allowed to bring you onto the ranch is because you are a blood
relative and Candice swore you wouldn’t betray her.”
“Betray her over what?”
Nicholas waved a hand around to indicate the room. “This ranch isn’t technically ours.
It was abandoned and forgotten when we arrived. We are trying to make sure no one
remembers its existence. Tell me, Dennis, why are you here?”
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“Because KC—that’s my mate’s name—got a tip that there were some shifters in the
area attacking cattle.”
Dennis frowned. “Damn it! I told them to knock that crap off. They endanger us all with
their antics.”
“Who?”
“Some of the younger members of our group like to toy with the humans. We are
hoping to civilise them, but if they keep it up, I will have to banish them from the pack. I
can’t take the chance others will connect the dots like your mate’s informant did.”
“How did Candice come to be here?”
Nicholas shrugged. “The same way most people get here—they wander across our path
and decide to stay. I named the ranch Serendipity.”
“Huh.”
“I’m not sure how much longer we can stay, though, if there are reports of coyotes in
the area. We don’t want to attract the wrong kind of attention. Candice is certain there are
still hunters out there trying to experiment on shifters.”
Dennis nodded. “I’m sure there are. Those kinds of hate groups always have someone
else to step in and take over the reins. How is Candice, by the way?” To Dennis, she looked
harder, sadder…different.
“She’s coping. From what I can get her to say, they did some horrible experiments on
your sister. Sanity is more of a reference for her than a frame of mind.”
“I see.” Dennis’ heart broke for Candice. The sweet girl who’d found out early that boys
weren’t to be trusted had now learned that neither was the human race in general. “Is she a
danger to others?”
Nicholas shook his head. “No. She is more a danger to herself. She would do no one
harm.”
Remembering what he’d learned about the people who’d captured her, Dennis couldn’t
bring himself to agree. “She needs to call her son.”
Nicholas raised his eyebrows. “She has a son? Candice!” he roared.
“What?” Candice’s pale face reflected terror as she appeared and took in the leader’s
anger.
“Where is your son? And why didn’t you tell me you had one?”
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Shit. Dennis hadn’t picked up the vibes before and he only had himself to blame.
Candice and Nicholas were together. He didn’t know if they were just dating or mates, but
Nicholas obviously felt he deserved to know about a child.
Candice glared at Dennis. “Why did you tell him?” The betrayal in her eyes cut him to
the quick.
“I thought he knew. When I called Ethan, he said he hadn’t heard from you for a while.
Besides, Nicholas was bound to learn about him eventually if you stayed here…and speaking
of calls, I need to call my boss—as soon as I find my mate.”
Candice paled and only the doorframe kept her up. “They said they’d kill him if I didn’t
cooperate, but I couldn’t take the pain anymore.” Sobbing, she slid to the floor as gusts of the
heart-wrenching sounds ripped from her chest and filled the air.
Dennis pulled himself off the bed and went to kneel by his sister. He wrapped her in his
arms and held her like he used to when they were little and a scraped knee meant an hour of
cuddling by big brother. “Shhh, we’ll find him. We found you. I’ll take you back home with
me and find you a safe place to be…”
Eventually, the sobs tapered off and the sniffles began.
“Here.” A box of tissues appeared over his shoulder.
“Thanks.” He took the box and handed it over to his sister.
She wiped her face and gave Dennis a grateful smile before scooting over and giving
herself more space. “I’m glad you found me. I was going to call you when I felt less insane.”
Dennis brushed back her hair from her face. “But then I’d never hear from you.”
Nicholas laughed behind them.
“Is Nicholas your mate?”
Candice shook her head. “We’re just friends. He likes guys, too.”
“Ahh.” That explained the vibe he’d been getting from Nicholas. He’d ignored it
because he had a mate, but if he’d been single, a bounce on the bed wouldn’t have been out
of the question.
As he was about to suggest they get off the floor, they heard a commotion in the house.
“Get it!” someone shouted.
“The fucker bit me!” another one yelled.
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Dennis wasn’t the least bit surprised to see a pretty fox rush into the room and leap for
him.
Laughing, he caught the fluffy animal. “There you are. I was worried sick about you.”
The small animal stood on his hind legs and licked Dennis’ cheek.
“I take it this is your mate? Or do you always make out with woodland creatures?”
Nicholas asked.
“Everyone, this is KC—my mate. KC, this is my sister, Candice, and the leader of this
group, Nicholas.”
KC shifted, filling Dennis’ lap with a sexy, beautiful, naked shifter.
“Wow.” Nicholas cleared his throat. “I take it back. Beautiful does describe him
perfectly.”
The fox shifter completely ignored Nicholas. Instead he plunged his fingers into Dennis’
hair and kissed every thought out of his mind.
A giggle and a loud throat clearing broke into his haze of passion. Carefully he pulled
his lover a fraction away, just far enough that their mouths no longer touched. KC gave a soft
sound of disagreement.
“We’ll leave you two alone to reunite while Candice figures out if she wants to go back
to town with you and I concentrate on not coming in my jeans.” Nicholas helped Candice to
her feet. Dennis heard him mutter as they left, “Fuck he’s hot.”
The door slammed behind them and Dennis laughed against KC’s lips.
“No laughing and more kissing. You scared me,” KC growled.
“Sorry, love. I guess my sister was so worried about me, she didn’t check the plane for
other survivors.”
“I thought my heart was going to stop beating when I came back and found you gone. I
passed out for a little bit. When I woke up, I saw two coyote shifters wandering about and
followed them here, hoping they’d know about—”
“I’m sorry.” Dennis didn’t know what else to say. He hadn’t been responsible but he
still didn’t like the pain in his lover’s eyes.
“Claim me again and make me yours.” KC’s eyes begged for the attention.
“No.”
“What?”
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“You are going to claim me. If we were properly bonded, you would’ve known the
second I woke up.”
Dennis had to smile. Sometimes the simplest things did work better.
“You’re gonna have to stand so I can get up. I’m still feeling a little shaky.”
“Oh, sorry.” KC immediately stood up but his eyes still devoured Dennis as if he
couldn’t quite believe they were together again.
“You know I’d never leave you willingly, right?”
KC nodded. “I was more worried that you woke up disorientated and didn’t know
where you were or were kidnapped by bears or something.”
“Know of a bear kidnapping cartel, do you?”
“Oh, shut up.” KC pouted.
Dennis laughed. “I’m sorry to poke fun, love. As soon as I woke up, I told them we had
to go back and find you. I had no idea they’d already sent people back to the plane.”
KC shrugged. “I’m not sure if they were sent or just looking for stuff to steal. I heard
them saying something about trying to impress the boss. I’m guessing they were hoping
there was stuff to haul back and get glory points over. Instead, all they got was a dead pilot
and a stalking fox.”
The image of a bright red animal stealthily following the young shifters told Dennis
more than anything that the pack members were a little too secure in the knowledge they
were alone in the woods. He’d mention it to Nicholas before he left. It was the least he could
do since the man was taking care of Candice.
“Strip!”
Dennis raised an eyebrow at his suddenly bossy lover. “Strip?”
“You know—remove clothing, get naked. It makes the entire horizontal hula much
more interesting.”
“It’s even more fun when it’s a project for two.”
“True.”
Before he could say anything more, his helpful mate had completely stripped Dennis of
his clothes. “You’re a frighteningly good at that.” He didn’t want to know how his mate had
got that much practice. Anyone with KC’s looks probably had guys lining up around the
planet for a chance at that ass.
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KC didn’t say anything. He just smiled and opened the side table. “Empty.”
A pounding on the door had them turning to the sound. Dennis growled. “Stay there,”
he ordered his mate, who promptly followed after him when he went to the door.
Ripping it open, he found Nicholas standing in the doorway with a tube of lube. “I
thought you might need this.” Nicholas looked him over with a wide smile, his dark eyes
heating.
“Are you done ogling my mate?” KC snapped, stepping forwards to bare his little fox
teeth at the leader.
“Sure, if it means I get to stare at you next,” Nicholas admitted obligingly.
Dennis snatched the lube then slammed the door in the leader’s face. “Bastard.” The
chuckles from the other side of the door told him he’d been heard.
“I should scratch his eyes out,” KC grumbled.
Dennis wrapped KC in his arms. “Relax, sweet, you’re my mate, not his. And I don’t
share. Now, let’s make this mating official.
KC relaxed against him. “It’s been a while since I topped.” His warm breath brushed
across Dennis’ bare chest as he spoke. It took a moment for his words to sink in.
“That’s okay honey, I’ve never bottomed.”
KC’s head snapped up. “Never? As in never, never?”
Dennis shook his head. He could feel his cheeks starting to heat as he confessed, “I
wanted to save that for my mate.”
“Oh, honey.” KC cupped Dennis’ face. “That’s really sweet. I’ll make it good for you, I
promise.”
With a growl, Dennis tossed his mate onto the mattress. “I’m not sweet.”
KC giggled. “My mistake. Do you want to be on bottom or to ride me?”
Dennis tilted his head as he considered his options. “I never thought about it before. I
always assumed I’d be on the bottom, but I like the idea of being on top—that way I can
control it and still look you in the face.” Dennis needed that connection with his mate.
Penetration for the first time meant something to him.
KC nibbled on his bottom lip. “I’m sorry you weren’t my first.”
Dennis shook his head. “I’m not. This way you’ll know what I’m going through.” He
held up his hand to stop KC from speaking. “I don’t want to ever hear about your first time
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or any of your times with other men, unless it was traumatic and you need to talk about it. I
wasn’t your first, but I’ll always be your last.”
KC’s smile could’ve lit up the entire planet. If he could harness smile-energy, Dennis
was certain his cute mate could completely remove the solar panels from his home.
“Lay on the bed.” Dennis pointed to where he wanted his mate to go.
KC gave him a curious look. “I can figure that part out, I think.”
“Sorry, I’m nervous.”
“It’ll be fine. We’re mates—we’re meant to be together.”
Dennis shuffled closer to his mate, his hardness fading a little with his nerves. He could
tell by looking at his mate’s erection that KC wasn’t having the same attack of nerves.
“We’ll use lots of lube and go slowly. I can’t imagine anything you do not being good,”
KC coaxed. “Come closer and I’ll make sure you use enough.”
Dennis laughed nervously as he climbed on top of his lover. KC rubbed Dennis’ back,
encouraging him to lie flat across his chest.
“I’m a shifter, remember? I’m tougher than I look.”
Dennis relaxed and put a little more weight onto the fox shifter. KC circled Dennis’ hole
with his slick fingers. It took all of Dennis’ faith in his mate not to tense when KC slipped one
lubed digit inside.
“Relax.” KC kissed Dennis’ cheek, then his chin, until finally Dennis couldn’t take it
anymore and he took control of KC’s mouth, biting and licking his lips until the fox shifter
gave in and opened to him. A growl built in Dennis’ chest at his mate’s luscious flavour.
Nothing, before or since the first time he’d savoured it, had tasted as amazing as his mate’s
mouth. Heat poured through his body and he pushed against the invasion that had started
out uncomfortable but had since turned into bone-melting pleasure.
“More.” He broke away to mutter the word before diving back in for another kiss.
When KC pulled his fingers out, Dennis gave a sound of protest.
“Shh, I’ve got to lube myself. Sit up.”
Nerves returned at the separation. Obviously sensing them, KC said, “We can kiss
again once I’m inside you.” Dennis was starting to realise his mate understood him better
than anyone ever had before, and probably more than anyone else ever would.
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Once KC was ready, Dennis took a deep breath and scooted up on his knees. KC ran his
hands up and down Dennis’ thighs to calm him. “We don’t ever have to do this if it makes
you this upset.”
“Oh, hell no! We are completing our bond.” There was no way he could let KC run
around thinking Dennis didn’t care enough to finish his end of their bonding. He could
already see the vultures circling, waiting to take KC away at that news.
Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine his tight circle relaxing as he impaled himself on
KC’s hard shaft. For a small man, KC was well-endowed and he felt even bigger inside
Dennis’ virgin hole.
“Relax, love.”
Dennis let out a sigh of relief when he reached the base of KC’s cock. “So full,” he
moaned. Too full. His body ached from the stretching and his tight pucker burned with
discomfort, despite copious amounts of lube.
KC’s face tightened with lust and a cute pair of fangs peeked out. Love for his mate
filled Dennis like liquid sunshine, warming him from inside and out.
“Move,” KC whispered, “or I’m going to come before we even get to the good stuff and
this will be the lamest mating in history.”
Dennis laughed. He received a slap on his hip.
“Stop that, you’re going to make me come.”
“We’re having sex. That’s supposed to be a good thing.”
“I’m going for stamina…you know, past a minute and a half.”
Dennis had to suppress further laughter—KC looked almost to be in pain. As Dennis
moved slowly up and down, KC’s cock brushed across something inside him. “Fuck.” Tilting
his pelvis slightly, he made it brush across again. “Oh, why did I never do this before?”
“Because you were waiting for me,” KC reminded him.
“Yeah, but I could’ve used a dildo or something… Oh, fuck. We need to do this often.”
With each bounce, his cock returned to its former hardness. “Yesss, right there.”
KC wrapped a hand around Dennis’ cock, making Dennis’ eyes fly open.
“Remember me?”
“Sorry.” This was supposed to be an intimate moment between a mating pair and
Dennis was treating his mate like the dildo he’d mentioned just a moment before.
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“We’ll have plenty of chances to do this, but only once to do it first.” KC gave him a
sweet smile to take away the sting of his words.
Dennis leant forwards and gave his lover a kiss of apology. It quickly turned into
something else when KC flipped him onto his back and proceeded to fuck every thought out
of his mind.
“Sneaky fox!”
“Serves you right. I want you focused on me, not just on my dick.”
Then KC hit an angle Dennis had only dreamt of and he emptied his load between
them. He opened his mouth to speak but instead screamed when KC bit him hard at the
curve of his neck, renewing his mating mark.
Dennis felt KC pump his seed inside his ass, but it was the click as though all the world
fell into place that captured his attention.
“We’re now mated!” KC said with a smug smile.
Dennis grinned at the satisfaction in KC’s voice. Possessive little fox.
Closing his eyes, Dennis was content to lie there as his mate pulled out of him and
collapsed on his chest. “We’ll have to do that often.”
“You know you only have to do the mate bond once,” KC said.
Dennis shook his head. “No, that’s only a rumour. I’m pretty sure it’s a daily event.”
KC chuckled against him. “Right, sorry. I must have been mistaken.”
“That’s what I think, too.”
“So…your sister’s not psychotic?”
Dennis shrugged, moving KC’s head up and down with the movement. “She says not.
Nicholas says there are some troublemakers on the farm that like to harass the local cattle. I
don’t know if it’s true or not, but we’re not here about cattle. We’re here for my sister.”
“Are we taking her back with us?”
“If she wants to go.”
Dennis squeezed KC tight.
“You don’t have to try and break me. I’m on your side, remember?”
“And inside me and taking me in…” Fuck, he was hard again.
“Focus!”
“Sorry.”
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“We need to get your sister help and make sure she’s not psychotic.”
“And what are you going to do if you find out I’m unbalanced?” a cold voice came from
the doorway. Shit, they’d been so wrapped up in each other, they hadn’t noticed the door to
the bedroom opening.
Dennis pulled up the sheet to cover his mate. He didn’t care if his ass was hanging out.
No one got to see his baby naked unless it was during a shift.
“Oh, please! I’m not interested in your tiny mate!”
“Hey! I’m not tiny.”
“You’re tiny enough to squash like a bug if you think I’m going to let you do any
experiments on my psyche. You can think again.” She bared her teeth at him. Seeing coyote
teeth in a delicate girl’s head was all kinds of wrong.
“We’re not going to conduct experiments, but we want to make sure you get the help
you need.”
“I’ll decide what I need,” Candice growled.
Dennis looked his sister in the eye. “Come back with us and we’ll try to get you healed
so your son can get to know you even better.”
“That’s cheating…pulling the son card.”
* * * *
KC gave a panicked squeal.
“What’s wrong, love?”
“We didn’t check in with Lou, and Talan’s plane is missing. They’ve got to be frantic.”
“Oh shit!”
“Where’s your phone?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t even think of calling you.” Dennis smacked his forehead. “God,
I’m an idiot.”
“Well, if it isn’t ringing off the hook, I’m guessing Talan isn’t calling.”
“Not necessarily. I turned it off for the flight.”
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NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIDE
Amber Kell
48
Candice walked over to Dennis’ pants and pulled out his small cell phone. After
turning it on, there was a soft chime as the phone came back online. “You’ve got twenty-two
messages.”
“I’m dead! There’s no way Talan and Lou are going to let me go anywhere with KC
ever again. Not to mention we wrecked Talan’s plane.”
“That wasn’t our fault,” KC objected.
“None of it was our fault but that doesn’t mean they still won’t pop a vein.”
“We still need to get back to your town, too,” Candice reminded him.
“Somehow I doubt Talan has a backup plane. Let me retrieve my computer from our
bags and get online to look for flights.”
“Candice, go pack a bag. We’ll get dressed and meet you in the living room.”
Candice nodded but she looked reluctant to leave them alone.
“We won’t go without telling you,” KC said gently.
“O-okay.”
Dennis scanned his calls and saw half of them were from Talan and the ones that
weren’t were from the sheriff’s office.
“Who should I call first?”
Screams snapped his attention from the phone.
“I think we should’ve called earlier.” The door slammed open and Lou entered with
Nicholas dangling from his hand like an afterthought. When he’d thought of the coyote
leader as big, he’d been wrong. Compared to Lou, Nicholas looked like a rag doll. Lou tossed
the battered coyote to the ground where he lay still.
“Hey Lou,” KC said with a finger wave.
“Do you know how worried I’ve been?” the bear shifter roared.
“I’m pretty sure everyone in the United States knows how worried you were,” James
said, walking in beside his lover. He stopped in front of the coyote shifter. “Sorry for the
mauling.”
Nicholas groaned and stayed on the floor.
“I’ve been sick for hours worrying about you and you’re in here playing hide the
sausage,” Lou growled.
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NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIDE
Amber Kell
49
“Easy, love.” James looked the pair over and shook his head. “Talan called and told us
the plane went down. Lou’s been freaking out ever since. When we got to the site, we met up
with some coyotes who brought us here.”
Dennis held up his phone. “I was injured. It just occurred to me to call. I’m really sorry,
Lou.” He didn’t mean to make the sheriff worry. KC adored his boss and Dennis worried
he’d single-handedly damaged their relationship.
The bear shifter sighed before turning around and walking out. James went into the hall
and returned with their bags. “Get dressed and we’ll go home.”
“We’re bringing Candice,” KC said.
“We’ll talk once you’re dressed.” For the first time, James’ eyes frosted over with a look
less than friendly. “I know you’re trying to be your own person, KC, but Lou was really
worried about you.”
KC dropped his head down as James left the room.
“Hey.” Dennis lifted KC’s head with his hands. “He knows we didn’t do it on purpose,
babe. We just need to talk to him. We should’ve called before we made love and that’s my
fault. I knew the sheriff was worried about you. We’ll talk to him and he’ll forgive you.”
KC wiped away his tears. “James has never looked at me like that before, like I
disappointed him.”
“Well, you haven’t known him long. You have plenty of time to disappoint him
further.”
Laughing, he shoved Dennis away. “Thanks for your confidence.”
Dennis smiled, pleased he’d got his mate out of his doldrums. “Let’s go take a shower
then we can talk to them and tell them why we need to bring my possibly psychotic sister
home.”
“Okay.”
They showered together but barely touched each other in their haste to get clean
without becoming distracted. Dennis didn’t want to test fate by putting his hands on KC.
They returned to their room and quickly dressed before grabbing their bags and headed
for the living room to face the music.
Candice’s impassioned voice led them to where everyone else was collected. Nicholas
lay on the couch with a bag of frozen peas on his eye. “Just take your men and get out.
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NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIDE
Amber Kell
50
You’ve already been more trouble…” KC’s eyes widened as he saw the newcomer in the
group. Bob stood there, looking tall and handsome in his cop uniform.
“Hey, human.”
“Hey, foxy man.”
Dennis let out a low growl.
“Ahh, the man from the phone.” Bob’s eyes widened as he took in Dennis’ narrowed
eyes. He lifted his hands, palms up. “I got it, no touching KC.”
KC shook his head and looked back at his human friend. “Hey Bob, how did you know
I was here?”
“I didn’t. I was following the sightings of a plane crash and ran into this group of
squatters.”
“We’re not fucking squatters,” Nicholas growled. “We’re revitalising the ranch.”
“Did you buy it?” Bob asked.
“There wasn’t anyone to buy it from. I tried calling around but there aren’t any records
of anyone who owns this place. According to the county, the last owner died and no one
came forward to claim it.”
“I’ll look into it. Someone has to own the property.”
“We do.” Nicholas lifted his bag of peas and glared at the human.
KC could practically feel the sparks striking between them. “Maybe Bob can do a little
research and if it is truly not owned, you can arrange for these people to buy it?”
“Maybe.” Bob shrugged. “For you, KC, I’ll try it.
“The limo is out front,” Candice said.
As he passed the cop, KC whispered, “Be nice.”
Bob jerked back. “I’m always nice.”
Nicholas made a snorting sound from the couch.
Lou picked up Candice’s bag as he passed and she had to scurry to catch up. KC didn’t
want to go on another plane, but what else could he do? They couldn’t drive all the way
home. Well, they could…but it would take forever.
“I brought something to drink,” Lou said, offering him a swallow
KC accepted the soda and took a deep drink. It took him a moment to realise something
was wrong. He set the can down just as he fell into blackness.
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NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIDE
Amber Kell
51
Chapter Five
Dennis watched his mate collapsing and caught him before he hit the floor. “What the
fuck did you do to my mate?”
The bear shifter looked unperturbed. “I drugged him so he doesn’t freak out when we
get on the plane.”
Relief shot through Dennis. He hadn’t realised how worried he’d been about his mate.
He’d felt KC becoming more tense the closer they’d got to the limo.
“I don’t think an airline is going to let us go through with a drugged shifter,” Candice
said with a shake of her head.
“We’re going to a small airstrip.”
Dennis swallowed back his own panic.
“Here—have a soda.”
Dennis laughed, his tension easing a bit.
The miles flew by with KC’s head in his lap. Dennis stroked his mate’s hair in a calming
motion that soothed him. “Whose plane is it?”
“Kevin’s. He keeps one for business. We flew in it to get down here. Everyone at the
pack house was worried.”
Dennis hid his surprise that Kevin, Payce’s mate, had been willing to loan them the
plane after Dennis had allowed Payce to be captured in order to try to save Candice. At the
time he went with the situation hoping Payce would be able to take care of himself and
escape. Payce had been safely rescued, but because of that betrayal, the lion shifter didn’t like
Dennis much. It must’ve been KC’s plight that convinced Kevin to help.
Dennis nodded, stroking his mate’s face. “They all love KC.”
“No. The lions were concerned about you. Payce was beside himself, which is why we
got Kevin’s plane.”
“Really?” Joy filled him. He missed his friend. Payce might not trust him like he had
before, but Dennis hoped they could have a relationship again.
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NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIDE
Amber Kell
52
“Yes, Dennis. Many of the pride have come to like you and don’t want anything to
happen to you. They were all upset about the plane crash.”
Dennis swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’m sorry about the pilot.”
“It was the two of you we were really worried about.” The bear shifter shrugged.
“Talan will, of course, provide for his family.”
“Good.”
Candice’s hand tightened on the phone as if it were a lifetime. He couldn’t connect this
anxious, worried woman to the hard, cold-blooded killer she’d been painted as.
“Did you really kill those people?”
Candice looked at where Dennis’ hand stroked KC’s head. “They’d pumped me full of
their latest drug cocktail. It drove me insane. I woke up naked in the middle of the forest
covered in blood. You don’t know what it was like—the needles, the weird formulas and the
constant taunting by the guards. They told me they were going to sell me to the highest
bidder.” Candice’s hands shook. “They told me a lot of things.”
“Hey.” Dennis grabbed Candice’s hands. “You come back with me and I’ll find you a
place to stay. Maybe the pride will give you my old room when I move in with KC.”
Her expression softened as she looked at the unconscious fox shifter. “You really found
your mate, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Good for you.” Candice smiled but her eyes reflected her sorrow. “I guess our parents
were wrong then, weren’t they?”
Their parents had told Dennis he’d be alone his entire life because he went against
nature and chose to have sex with men. “Yeah, I guess they were.”
Cuddling his lover tight, he hoped they found his nephew soon. He didn’t think
Candice was strong enough to handle any more bad news.
* * * *
Dennis awoke at the shout.
Turning his head, he saw his mate sitting straight up in bed, looking around with bleary
eyes.
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NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIDE
Amber Kell
53
“Where am I?”
“At the pride house. It was too late to head to your place last night and the pride house
was closer.”
“How did…oooh, that sneaky bear drugged me, didn’t he?” KC’s eyes flashed his
annoyance.
“He wanted to spare you the stress.”
“I hate it that he knows me that well.”
Dennis laughed. “He adores you.” An unpleasant thought crossed his mind. “You two
never…?”
“No. No! Not that I wasn’t willing, but Lou never showed any interest, and the one time
I thought about approaching him, he found James the next day.”
Relief shot through him. “Good.”
KC climbed on top of Dennis. “Where is everyone else?”
“Lou and James went to get Candice settled and then went home.”
“So we’re all alone.” The fox shifter’s eyes glowed with interest. Dennis reached up to
pull his lover down just as KC’s stomach gurgled loudly.
Dennis laughed. “Maybe I should feed you first.”
KC rubbed the fabric over Dennis’ erection. “I can think of something you can feed me.”
“Food first.” The urge to care for his mate was riding him hard.
“I don’t want food. I want to make love to my man. I can’t tell you how frightened I was
when the plane crashed and I couldn’t find you. The terror that went through me tore me
apart. I never want to feel that sort of pain again. You can’t put me through that again.”
Dennis hugged KC close. “I won’t, honey. I promise.”
“Good.” They snuggled together for a moment before KC asked the question preying
on his mind. “Do you really think your sister is innocent? I mean, about the killings…that she
was drugged?”
“I don’t know. I guess we’ll just have to keep our eyes open and see what she does next.
I’d like to trust her, but she’s changed.” Dennis rubbed his cheek across KC’s shoulder. “I
think they did horrible things to her and she isn’t the type that can take abuse like that and
not fight back.”
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NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIDE
Amber Kell
www.total-e-bound.com
54
KC thought about all the things that could go wrong while looking out for Dennis’
sister. “We’ll have to ask Talan if he knows any good psychiatrists. She needs a professional.
I don’t know if she’ll go to one but it would be nice to give her the option.”
Dennis kissed his lover. “I adore how you are looking out for my sister.”
KC smiled. “I just want you to be happy and you’re not going to be if your sister is
suffering.”
“As long as you’re with me, I’ll be the happiest coyote ever born,” Dennis said. He
quickly divested his lover of his clothes and proceeded to prove to KC that his words were
true.
Coming Soon from Total-E-Bound Publishing :
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
Amber Kell
Released 5 December 2011
Excerpt
Chapter One
I’m going to kill him. It’s the only way to get out of this matchmaking contract, and I’m
willing to do the jail time over it. Granted, I’m also betting I won’t be sent to jail. After all,
I’ve matched most of the judges in the city and they adore me.
“I don’t approve of your choices.” The tall werecougar loomed over me as if my picks
would change if he growled a little more.
“You haven’t even met them.” I held on to my temper…barely. I really longed to take
my solid steel owl statue and smash it over his head.
“I will know my mate,” he insisted.
“Great. Then go and meet these three women and let me know how it goes. Now, get
out of my office.”
A low growl rolled from his impressive chest. It was an unfair fact of life that all shifters
were gorgeous. It didn’t matter what kind of animal—wolves, cats, or even the occasional
rat…all gorgeous.
“No one talks to me like that.” He stood over my desk, trying to intimidate me with his
size and power.
I rolled my eyes and stood up. I barely came to his shoulder.
“Listen, sugar, I’m sure everyone in your clan thinks you’re the best thing since
warmed milk, but I don’t take intimidation well. I gave you the names and pictures of three
potential mates—go meet them. If none of them are your match then come back.”
www.total-e-bound.com
My patience, never very long to start with, vanished completely beneath his
incredulous stare.
“I thought you were supposed to make me the perfect match.”
“Making the perfect match is all about lining up the right people. The three women I’m
setting up for you are potential mates, which means any one of them could be the right one,
but it will need a combination of how far each of you are along on your personal evolution to
determine a mate.”
“You can’t just look at them and know?” His examined me closely with his feral gaze.
Actually, I could point out which one would be his perfect match, but people often
fought against their instincts. If I pointed out girl number two, he’d go with number one or
three then come back and yell at me about how they didn’t work out. It was best to let the
man or woman pick. Once they met—and chose—the one I knew they would pick in the
beginning, they settled down to domestic bliss.
“Go on the dates and be a good alpha.” I patted him on the shoulder just to get another
snarl. It was fun playing with the kitty cats.
I saw the moment the anger faded from his eyes. “One of these women is definitely my
mate?” He tilted his head as though he could hear my thoughts if he were to listen closely
enough.
“Yes. I promise one of these women is your mate.”
A wide, toothy smile crossed his handsome face. Before I could brace myself, he leant
forwards and placed a big kiss on my cheek.
“Thank you, Matchmaker. I’ll keep you informed.”
“You do that.”
With the smooth grace innate to all shifters, he walked out of my office. He had a great
ass.
“I thought he’d never leave,” a deep voice spoke behind me. I spun around, my heart
racing.
A tall man in an expensive suit leaned against my filing cabinet. His dark hair gleamed
in the dim lighting and his pale, almost colourless, blue eyes shone with an unnatural light.
Vampire.
I didn’t even have to check his aura to know what he was.
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“Wh-what are you doing here?”
Few things scared me like vampires. There was something extremely creepy about a
person who could walk around after they’d died.
“I’d like to acquire your services.”
“No.”
A frown formed over his unnaturally smooth brow. “What do you mean, no?”
“I mean no—as in I don’t match vampires.” He might scare me but it wasn’t the first
time I’d been scared in my life and I doubted it would be the last.
“Why not?”
“Because you’re dead.”
“I am not dead,” he said in an offended tone. “If I were dead, I couldn’t be talking to
you.”
“Well, you’re the walking dead. It’s the same thing.”
He took my hand and placed it on his chest over where most people had a heart.
“Do you feel my heart beating?”
“Yes.” Strange, but I really could feel the thump of a heart inside his chest.
“Then I must be alive.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to participate in his twisted logic.
“Nevertheless, I don’t match vampires.” Nothing could get me to back down on that
particular vow. I only had to remember my aunt’s ravaged body.
Pre-order your copy here:
About the Author
Amber is one of those quiet people they always tell you to watch out for. She lives in
Dallas with her husband, two sons, two cats and one extremely stupid dog.
Amber loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and
author biography at
.
Also by Amber Kell
Hellbourne
Yearning Love: Protecting Francis
Yearning Love: Taking Care of Charlie
Dangerous Lovers: Catching Mr Right
Supernatural Mates: From Pack to Pride
Supernatural Mates: A Prideful Mate
Supernatural Mates: A Prideless Man
Cowboy Lovin’: Tyler’s Cowboy
Total-E-Bound Publishing
www.total-e-bound.com
Take a look at our exciting range of literagasmic™
erotic romance titles and discover pure quality
at Total-E-Bound.
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