To Have A Human

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To Have A Human

ISBN: 978-1-77111-398-4

Cover art by Angela Waters

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Chapter One

Carey Gayle finished his guitar riff with a quick flicking of fingers, sending the crowd screaming. He
loved feeding off the energy of a live audience. The acoustics in Club Feathers were better than most
of the small bars they'd played in and the owner always gave them free drinks.

“Thank you everyone for coming out tonight. We’re Banded Brothers, and we look forward to

seeing you again in two weeks.” He bowed to the crowd and waved a hand to indicate his band
mates. He could see his friends bowing in his peripheral vision.

The thunder of applause filled the bar and a chant of next week went through the crowd. Carey

waved again, then he kneeled down by the case to place his guitar inside.

“I think they liked your new song.” His band mate Eaton Franks crouched beside him, his bare

chest soaked with sweat. Eaton’s golden brown hair gleamed under the lights with the same color as
his feathers in eagle form.

Carey nodded. “Yeah, but I think me and Denton were playing different tracks.”

“That’s because you’re a show off,” Denton teased.

Carey looked up to see Denton’s eyes shift to reptilian for a second and Carey froze, wondering

what his friend sensed.

“You smell something?” Ducking his head Carey flicked his gaze around the club, hoping to spot

any danger before it found them.

“Mostly cat shifters,” Denton said in a low tone. “I thought I scented wolf for a bit, but it’s faint.”

Even in his human shape, Denton’s crocodile nature gave him a better sense of smell than Eaton

and Carey had.

“I didn’t see any wolves.” Carey replied. He always kept an eye out for wolves since that breed of

shifter tended to be unstable and start fights.

“I don’t want to alarm you guys, but there’s at least three cat shifters here and a wolf who left,”

Harris Bender said. Harris crouched down beside them, cradling his bass guitar like a baby.

Bear shifters had a sense of smell seven times that of the average bloodhound. Harris had never

been wrong. Between him and Denton they’d always been the first level of alert for their group.

Carey nodded. “Denton already said.” His friends were leery of other shifters since none of them

were affiliated with an official shifter family. The four of them had formed an unofficial pack with
Carey as the leader, despite his human status.

“If no wolves are going to attack, I need a drink!” Carey declared.

Snapping his instrument case closed, Carey left it behind for Denton to put in the van. Carey and

Eaton helped set things up while Denton and Harris were in charge of tearing it down. That was their
agreement.

Carey spotted Eaton flirting with a fan as he headed for the bar. Eaton was always the personable

one with the audience.

Carey had a knack for being able to recognize shifters even when they were in their human form. It

came from a childhood of hanging around with non-human friends. They always moved a little too
smoothly, a little more gracefully than everyone else.

The crowd slowed his progress toward that desired drink. Carey pushed through, nodding and

smiling to fans as they came to congratulate him on a good performance. The best part of playing to a
live audience for Carey was meeting people afterward and getting feedback.

Finally free of the bulk of people, Carey slid onto the closest bar stool.

“I hear they have a great selection of imported beer,” a deep voice spoke up behind him.

Carey turned to see six-foot plus of lush shifter goodness. The man’s dark eyes scanned Carey as if

he were a favorite treat and the stranger wanted a bite. Midnight hair cut short, but long enough for a
good grip, sent several hot scenarios rushing through Carey’s brain.

Work was over, it was time to play.

Carey let his gaze slide all over the delicious man. Cat shifter, would be Carey’s guess. “Can I buy

you a drink?”

Carey nodded toward the bartender.

“I’d rather just take you home and fuck your brains out.” The man didn’t even blink while he uttered

his outrageous pronouncement.

“Hmm, a direct kind of guy, I like that. But I never go home with anyone if I haven’t tasted the

goods first, not to mention I don’t even know your name,” Carey said pointedly.

Laughter looked good on the guy. Big, tall and intense, he probably didn’t laugh half as much as he

should.

“Forgive me. I got sidetracked by your half-naked body. I’m Broden Lyall.”

“Carey Gale. And I object to the half-naked thing. My shirt is still on.” Unbuttoned all the way to

expose Carey’s body, but still on. Eaton was the exhibitionist of the band.

“Barely.” Broden slid one long finger down Carey’s six-pack abs. “I hope you don’t think I was

objecting.” His trail ended at the top of Carey’s jeans. He hooked a finger through the front belt loop
and yanked Carey closer until their groins touched.

An embarrassing whimper left Carey’s throat. The man smelled like something wild and delicious.

Carey could feel the man’s heat through his thin shirt.

“I’m a bit sweaty,” Carey protested weakly as he locked his knees to stop from tumbling to an

inelegant heap at Broden’s feet.

“I like sweaty,” Broden growled. “It makes me want to lick you all over.”

Carey’s cock hardened. He had never been so turned on by someone so quickly before. He didn’t

generally pick men up at bars, but Broden was going to be the exception.

Broden’s nose twitched before he pinned Carey with a predatory expression. “I see you like that

idea, too.”

Carey tilted his head submissively as he felt Broden’s erection harden against him.

“You know what I am,” Broden whispered.

“I’m guessing cat of some kind,” Carey replied.

“And you’re not scared.” Broden searched Carey’s face as if trying to catch him in a lie.

“Nope. Kiss me,” Carey demanded.

Broden captured Carey’s lips without hesitation—tasting, licking, conquering Carey’s mouth. Heat

flashed through him like a flamethrower had scorched his insides. It took all his resolve not to climb
the man like a tree and hump against him in front of the entire bar. When they broke apart, panting
replaced words for a minute.

“How’s that for a sample?” Broden asked. His wet lips distracted Carey who yearned for another

kiss.

“Um…it’ll do,” Carey managed to say once he realized Broden was waiting for an answer. He

licked his lips to belie his words. Damn the man tasted good!

“Go tell your friends you’re leaving.” Broden turned Carey and shoved him toward his band mates

who were all watching him with great interest. Carey didn’t live like a monk, but he rarely went home
with complete strangers—his father taught him better than that. This time though, he couldn’t resist the
urge to follow Broden like a lost puppy looking for a new home.

Carey made eye contact with Harris who raised his eyebrows at him. A shrug and a bashful grin

conveyed all that he needed to. He made the motion that he’d call later and Harris nodded.

He turned back around to find Broden watching him with amusement.

“All done?” Broden asked.

Carey nodded. “If I don’t call Harris in a few hours, he’ll get worried.”

Even without weapons. Carey had lethal skills. His father made sure that Carey could handle any

situation with or without a gun to back him up. Or as his father liked to say, A pretty boy like you
needs to know how to take a big man down because everyone is going to want into your pants.

His father might not be the most diplomatic person, but he’d taught his son everything he knew and

had saved Carey’s ass more than once.

Broden placed a hand on Carey’s back to guide him, but didn’t try to speak until they left the noisy

club behind. “Your band is really good.”

“Thanks!” Carey smiled. “We’re getting better. We’ll never hit it big, but we enjoy playing in the

clubs. There’s cheap liquor and a friendly audience.”

“Why don’t you think you’ll ever be a success?” Broden’s interested expression told Carey the big

man really did want to know.

Carey shrugged. “I guess it depends on your measure of success. I think if we get to play in clubs,

then we’re a success. We’ll never be a huge name because it’s a matter of commitment. We enjoy
music, don’t get me wrong, but we all have other goals in life. I like computers, Harris is a painter,
Eaton is getting his degree in quantum physics or something like that and Denton is into landscape
design. Music is our passion, but it isn’t our life. In order to make it big, you need for it to be both.”

The street was quiet as they walked away from the club. Only a few cars passed, indicating the

lateness of the night. The cool air made Carey shiver. He’d left his jacket on the stage when he
stripped it off earlier.

“Here.” Broden’s body heat enveloped Carey with the warm cloth of his jacket. “I always forget

how cold humans can get.”

A snide comment danced on the tip of Carey’s tongue, but weighed against the chance for a hot

night with the shifter made him keep the words inside. Maybe Broden didn’t mean that like it sounded.
No reason to jump to conclusions.

“It is cold out,” Carey agreed, snuggling into Broden’s jacket.

“What do you do with computers? Programming?”

“Something like that.” More like de-programming. That was a world of discussion he didn’t want

to have with a total stranger. His hacking skills weren’t something he told other people about. He

used it for the benefit of organizations to check out their firewalls and verify their security, but most
people heard the word hacking and immediately thought he was into espionage or willing to break
into bank accounts and funnel money. Neither was a discussion he intended to get into with his fuck-
of-the-night no matter how nice the guy seemed. The less information shared, the fewer things that
could go wrong.

“Let’s not talk about me. Let’s discuss where we’re going so you can fuck me.” Carey figured they

were walking to Broden’s place since they had already passed the parking lot a while ago and
weren’t heading to any of the few cars parked on the street.

“I live right over there.” Broden pointed to a tall, modern building across the street. Carey had

watched them construct the luxurious condos a few years ago. They appeared to be well-built, if a bit
soulless.

“Nice.” Looked like he was getting lucky in style.

They crossed the street and Broden used his access card to open the main door.

Carey approved of the security even if he knew he could crack the code in a few seconds. It would

keep most people out. He automatically checked out the exits as they crossed the lobby. Carey kept
his hands to himself in the elevator as Broden pushed the number ten button. You never knew what
people would do with elevator recordings. Carey wouldn’t put himself in a questionable position that
he’d have to access later and erase.

Broden led Carey down the hallway. Doors were spaced a good distance apart so the residences

must be quite large. Stopping halfway down the corridor, Broden unlocked the door. Pushing it open,
he motioned Carey forward. “Here we are!”

Broden’s apartment surprised Carey. The place had an unused feel to it like, the man never really

stayed there. High-grade leather furniture, polished wooden floors and pieces of art glass filled the
condo. Carey wanted to take the gorgeous shifter to his house and show him what a real home looked
like. The Victorian mansion his grandmother had left him held all the character and warmth Broden’s
beautiful but empty living space lacked.

“I don’t spend a lot of time at home,” Broden said, as if reading Carey’s mind.

Carey shrugged it off. It wasn’t like they were picking out china patterns. If the man wanted to live

in a cold personality-free abode, he wouldn’t point out the flaw. For their purposes, they only needed
a nice bed and some lube. Luckily, shifters didn’t spread disease so a condom was optional.

Deciding actions were better than words, Carey stripped off his shirt.

“Not much of a talker?” Broden asked, amused.

“No I’m more of a doer. What about you? Want to do me?” Carey stepped closer until they were

almost chest-to-chest.

“Oh definitely, honey,” Broden purred.

Bingo. Carey had the big kitty’s attention. “Don’t be shy, let me see what you’ve got.” It was

probably the worst line he’d ever used, but when Broden stripped off his shirt and exposed miles of
sexy muscle, Carey had to admit it worked.

Carey’s erection hardened against the fly of his extremely tight jeans until he worried about cutting

off circulation.

Broden’s nose twitched and a wide smile crossed his handsome face. “Oh, honey, I want you, too.”

Carey let out an unmanly yip as Broden picked him up and slung him over his shoulder like a sack

of flour.

“Hey,” Carey protested.

Broden slapped his ass. “Hush.”

“Hush?” Carey wished he’d brought his knife—Broden’s broad back would make an excellent

target.

He didn’t have long to anticipate the shifter’s death. Broden rushed down the hall, then dropped

Carey onto a large bed with a big fluffy mattress.

Broden’s eyes glinted with satisfaction. “Hmm, just as I suspected.”

“What?”

“You look amazing in my bed.”

Before Carey had the chance to make the smartass comment hovering on his lips, Broden yanked off

Carey’s shoes, then tossed them over his shoulder.

“Not a neatnik, I see,” Carey said with a laugh.

“Not when I’ve got better things to do than lining up your sneakers.”

Broden took off his own shoes, then removed the rest of his clothes without fanfare. Carey

would’ve commented on the lack of romance if lust hadn’t choked him.

“I must’ve been a really good boy in another life,” Carey said, his gaze focused on Broden’s

erection.

“Come take your reward,” Broden coaxed.

“Mmhmm.” Carey made gimme motions with his hands, his mouth already watering over the

thought of tasting the liquid beading the top of the large mushroom head. He’d never considered

himself a size queen before. He might have to revisit that notion. After Broden, he might be ruined
forever.

Broden stalked toward to the bed, traces of the animal inside rose to the surface as his eyes glowed

with a predatory light. When he got close enough, Carey went to his knees and crawled to the edge of
the bed.

Carey wrapped a hand around Broden’s thick cock. Peeking at Broden through his long lashes,

Carey swallowed him down to the root.

“Oh Jesus!” Broden exclaimed. “I’ve never had anyone take all of me before. Yes, suck me!”

Despite Broden’s rough tone, he placed a gentle hand on the back of Carey’s head and slid careful

fingers through Carey’s hair.

Carey increased his suction until Broden tightened his grip to hold Carey still. “Stop. I want to

come inside you.”

After a noise of protest, Carey pulled off. “But I want to taste you,” he complained.

Broden groaned. “As much as I’d like to have you swallow me down, I want to fuck you even

more.”

With quick efficient motions, he divested Carey of the rest of his clothing. It took a little effort to

peel off his pants, but Broden applied himself to the job. When he was finished, he paused to admire
his handiwork. “Nice. You’re pretty all over, aren’t you?”

“I’m glad you think so,” Carey replied. He got his fair amount of attention, but since his three best

friends were drop-dead gorgeous, he never really thought much about his own looks. From the
expression on Broden’s face, the man didn’t find any faults.

“There’s lube in my nightstand,” Broden prompted.

“I’m on it.” Carey scurried over to the drawer and ripped it open. He gave a shout of success.

“Found it!”

Broden snatched it from Carey’s hand.

“Hey!” Carey exclaimed.

“That ass is mine tonight,” Broden insisted. “Roll over, beauty.”

Carey snorted. “I think I preferred honey.”

“And I think I prefer you on your knees and offering me your ass,” Broden countered.

Carey made a big production over sighing before he rolled over and wiggled his butt at Broden.

Broden slapped Carey’s ass, the sound echoing in the bedroom.

“Hey!” Carey objected.

“Sorry, I can’t resist smacking something that fine.” Broden grinned.

“Less smacking, more fucking,” Carey insisted.

“Patience, sweet.” Broden rubbed the red spot he caused.

Carey almost said something sarcastic, but the happy sound of the lube top popping open stilled his

words. He didn’t want to discourage the man from taking action. He had the uneasy feeling that
Broden had enough control to withhold sex just to teach Carey a lesson.

“Easy.” Broden circled Carey’s hole until he pushed back against the finger taunting him.

“In me now!” Carey insisted.

Broden didn’t answer. Instead he slid one finger completely inside and crooked it until Carey

bucked beneath the attention.

“More!”

A second finger joined the first, then quickly a third.

“I need your cock,” Carey moaned.

“I’ll give you what you need, don’t you worry.”

Carey relaxed as Broden’s erection pressed against his hole. “Now.”

Broden sighed as he slid inside. “You feel so good. Better than anyone, ever.”

“Flatterer,” Carey groaned.

Laughter puffed air against his skin as Broden rubbed his face against Carey’s bare shoulder.

“Are you scenting me?” Carey asked.

“Damn straight. When you leave here you’re going to reek of me for days.” Broden gave a growl of

satisfaction. The cat shifter pumped in and out of Carey as if his life depended on Carey coming
without a touch.

“Keep that up and I’m not going to last,” Carey protested.

“Good. Come!” Broden bit Carey’s shoulder, sending him over the edge.

“Oh, crap!” Carey cursed as cum spurted from his cock.

Broden groaned and Carey felt wetness flood his hole.

With a sigh, Broden pulled out, falling onto the mattress beside Carey. “I knew you’d be a sweet

fuck.”

“Glad I could prove you right,” Carey gasped. His heart hammered in his chest as he came down

from his orgasm. His shoulder hurt from Broden’s bite, but his body ached deliciously.

“Give me some time and we’ll do it all over again,” Broden said.

Two hours later Carey only felt a little guilty for sneaking out while Broden slept the sleep of the

well fucked.

Chapter Two

Broden looked up from his paperwork to find his second-in-command Isaac Graham standing in the
doorway. “You vanished last night with that pretty singer,” Isaac teased.

“Yes, I did. He was tasty, too.” Broden grinned. His inner jaguar swished its tail in agreement. He

suppressed his annoyance over waking up alone. He shouldn’t have expected a flirty singer to want to
hang around until morning. At least he knew where he could find the man in a few weeks if Broden
didn’t hunt him down sooner.

“Was he as sweet as he looked?” Isaac asked.

“I marked him as mine,” Broden confessed.

“You marked him? Seriously? But…but he’s human!” As a puma shifter, Isaac rarely showed

concern over anything. People who bugged him tended to decide they had other places to be.

“I know.” Broden couldn’t help who his jaguar picked. The beast had never chosen anyone before

and he couldn’t believe his animal half had chosen wrong this time. Memories of the taste and feel of
Carey had haunted him all day. He couldn’t wait to claim his future mate again.

“You can’t bond with a human,” Isaac objected.

Broden growled. “I will choose whoever I want and I want this man.”

Isaac sighed. “You better hope he’s tougher than he looks.”

“Are you telling me you don’t think I can protect my mate?” Broden stared at his beta in

amazement. A low growl rolled up his throat and he could feel his fangs beginning to lengthen.

“No. Of course not,” Isaac took two slow steps backward. “I just want you to be careful.”

“Is there anything else you needed from me? Or are you just goofing off?” Broden snarled.

“We need to hire a new computer hacker. Tony quit. He said our expectations were too high.”

“Damn it.” Broden slumped against his desk. It was difficult to find good computer people. They

tended to be more willing to hop onto the next better paying job than stick around. Especially hackers.
“Who’s taking over his position?”

“That’s the other problem. We don’t have anyone. Tony was our best security guy. The others

aren’t anywhere close to him.”

“We’ll have to hire outside.” Broden didn’t like the sound of this. To have someone else just step

in could be difficult. They’d have to get security clearance for any new employees and that took time.
“Do you know of anyone who might be interested who already has top security clearance?”

If anyone could find someone, it was Isaac. He was a connector—the type of person who always

knew someone who knew someone who could do a job. Which made him an excellent beta.

“I’ll call around and get back to you. I just wanted you to know about the situation,” Isaac

reassured him before leaving.

Broden sighed, resisting the urge to pull his hair out by the roots. He needed a cut. It grew so

quickly  he  should  have  his  barber  on  speed  dial.  Idly  he  wondered  if  Carey  would  like  it  longer.
Broden  frowned  as  he  considered  his  pride’s  reaction  to  a  human  alpha  mate.  They’d  better  fall  in
line  with  his  choice  of  mate,  or  there  would  be  serious  repercussions.  Broden  had  no  intention  of
dropping Carey. They might have only had one night together, but his Jaguar had decided on keeping
this one human and he wouldn’t be denied.

Annoyed that his brain kept circling back to Carey, Broden returned his attention to his paperwork.

He had to focus and break down the work to see how many people they needed to hire for all the extra
jobs. With the increased sophistication of global hackers and thieves, they never ran out of work.
Spotted Cat Security specialized in breaking into companies and exposing their security breaches.

They snuck through security systems both physically and electronically, with Tony being their main

hacker. However, now that Tony had abandoned them, they were dead with their electronic
surveillance until they found a new employee with mad hacker skills. Not necessarily an easy person
to replace. However, if Isaac found a new hacker, this person could train others to help with some of
the easier jobs. Unfortunately, hackers and security clearance didn’t always go hand in hand.

Broden plowed through his paperwork, trying to work out allocations of resources. He got lost in

his calculations and looked up in surprise when Isaac rushed back into his office.

“I called around and heard some rumors about a guy who can hack into anything—apparently

security is his specialty. My contact is checking to make sure it’s all right to give me his number. He
sounds like the right guy if we can get him on board,” Isaac said.

Broden nodded. “Great.” He tried not to panic as he contemplated letting someone else into their

system. Alphas didn’t panic, at least not where anyone else could see them.

“He’s human,” Isaac warned.

“Humans can be useful, just not usually as bodyguards or with break-ins. They’re just too weak to

match a shifter if there’s a confrontation. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be helpful with the
computers,” Broden explained.

Isaac gave Broden an odd look. “Aren’t you worried about your own boy? He’s human. You think

he’s weak?”

Broden shook his head. “No. I can take care of him.”

He would do everything necessary to keep his mate protected. Humans were fragile and needed

special care, but Broden figured he could protect one beautiful human.

* * * *

Carey crouched behind the low stone wall, his gun raised. Leaves rustled in the light breeze, covering
the sound of anything approaching. They were out there, he just had to be patient. When Carey was
young, his father taught him that when dealing with the enemy, patience was more than a virtue,
sometimes it saved your life.

A slight noise had Carey lunging to the right as claws scraped the wall where he’d been standing.

An eagle screech pierced the air. Spinning around, he shot the bird and laughed when a blue blot of
paint splattered across one large wing.

“Gotcha,” he said in a low voice. A growl had him leaping forward.

Snap

“Oooh, vicious,” Carey taunted with glee. He hadn’t realized he’d gotten so close to the water.

The ten-foot freshwater crocodile growled again before crawling back into the underbrush. Light

brown in color, it smoothly blended with the tall grass, all but disappearing in the shadowy water.

“You’re a cheater, Denton,” Carey called out.

Brush crackled and snapped behind him.

“Crap.”

Carey ran.

He might be able to roll out of the way of a croc, but the grizzly he heard tramping through the

underbrush could accidentally crush him. Adrenaline pumped through Carey’s body as he tucked his
gun  in  his  waistband  before  jumping  then  pulling  himself  up  onto  the  low-hanging  branch.  Carey
climbed  to  the  top,  spun  around,  pulled  out  his  weapon,  then  shot  a  paint  pellet  at  the  bear’s  wide
shoulders.  He  flipped  off  his  perch  and  nailed  the  croc  on  the  nose  as  the  creature  slid  out  of  the
greenery.

“The human wins again!” Carey shouted before dancing in a little circle like a football player

who'd just made a touchdown.

The croc transformed into a black-haired, green-eyed man who stood six-foot-two in his bare feet.

“I hate it when you shoot me in the nose,” Denton Stills complained, brushing at the blue paint coating

his face.

“I just like to hit the biggest target,” Carey teased.

Denton scowled. “Funny.”

“I know.” Carey bowed to his friend.

“At least you can see your paint,” Harris Bender complained, pawing at his back. At six-foot-three,

Harris resembled his bear form in size if not in hairiness.

“I can’t believe you’re pouting,” Carey laughed. A pouty face looked odd on the big muscular man.

The eagle swooped down and landed before Carey. In a showy flash of gold, the bird changed to a

five-foot-ten man with brilliant golden brown hair and gold-brown eyes. Blue paint covered his entire
arm and dripped down the side. He gave the mess a rueful look. “Good shot, Care!”

Carey grinned at his friend. Eaton Franks never held a grudge. The eagle shifter had been Carey’s

friend since second grade when an arm cramp had caused the adolescent eagle to fall from the sky
into Carey’s sandbox.

“You haven’t lost your touch,” Denton reluctantly agreed.

Carey relished his win as his friends pulled on their clothing. They might be shifters with enhanced

abilities, but he’d been training to shoot people since the age of five when his father gave him a set of
laser guns and tracked him through the forest.

Raised by a single father who lived and breathed Special Forces, Carey knew before the age of ten

how to sneak up and disarm an assassin. However, in a fit of rebellion, Carey had gone into
computers instead of joining any military group. That didn’t stop him from wanting to keep his skills
up to date.

After they were all dressed, they piled into Denton’s jeep and headed back to the cabin. The cabin

belonged to Carey’s father, but since he never stuck around for long, they could use it whenever they
wanted.

Despite the fun he had with his friends, as soon as the adrenaline faded, Carey began to miss

Broden. The stupid cat shifter had gotten into his head and didn’t seem willing to leave it anytime
soon. How he’d gotten so infatuated with a man in one night he didn’t know, but he had to admit the
glow from their one time together hadn’t faded in the thirty-six hours and ten minutes since they’d last
parted. Not that he was counting.

His phone rang, pulling Carey from his happy glow of winning. He ignored his friends’ good-

natured grumbles as he answered the call.

A few minutes later, he hung up.

“I’ve got an interview!” he said gleefully, waving his phone.

“Good. We need a new keyboard,” Harris said.

Carey nodded. All their extra money went to the band and to pay taxes on the house his

grandmother had left him, which they all lived in. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Don’t steal it,” Harris warned.

“Or liberate it,” Denton added.

“Or anything like that,” Eaton said.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Carey grinned at his friends. “You’re all very suspicious.”

“Uh-huh,” Denton said.

“I was never convicted,” Carey reminded them.

Eaton laughed. “That’s because they lost the evidence.”

Carey shook his head. “Pesky computer files, shame how they disappear.”

The friends all exchanged looks and burst out laughing. Harris wiped his eyes. “Morons shouldn’t

have left you alone with a computer.”

“Idiots thought a twelve-year-old couldn’t do anything,” Denton said with a smirk.

Carey shook his head at his friends’ amusement.

They were the best.

Bantering amongst themselves, the quartet returned to the cabin to wash up.

Thinking back over his conversation with Isaac, Carey knew this was the sort of job that would

lead to a much better revenue stream than his current one. He’d love to just work and not have to
worry about drumming up clients all the time. Sometimes it was more effort to find customers than to
do the job for them.

Carey picked up his guitar and began to absently strum it while he thought over his options. He’d

have to nail the interview. He’d do some research on the company before he went. Preparation was
the key.

Carey didn’t know what to expect when he reached Spotted Cat Security, but the silvery metallic

office building that looked like something out of a space ship wasn’t it. Their website hadn’t done the
headquarters justice. The building covered a good corner of a downtown block. If Carey took the job,

at least he wouldn’t have far to go from his house on Queen Anne. His grandmother had left him a
mansion at the top of the hill with a nice plot of land, but taxes were a bitch. Even with his friends
pitching in, they barely covered the tax bill.

“Wow.”

Carey’s mind automatically mapped out the entrances and exits as he walked into the building. The

quickest way to make an exit was imprinted on his mind before he made it to the elevator. Following
the instructions emailed to him, Carey pushed the button to the third floor offices. According to the
buttons, there were fifteen floors in all. He wondered what all these people did.

The doors opened, revealing a beautiful reception area with a lot of wood and an adorable shifter

girl at the reception desk. A row of office doors made a frosted glass ring along one wall. Peering
around the reception area, Carey could make out a maze of desks, but no cubicle walls. So far, so
good. He hated when he went places and saw a sea of cubicles.

Carey flashed his best smile.

“Can I help you?” the girl asked, her eyes brightening at the sight of Carey.

“I have an appointment with Isaac Graham.”

The receptionist tapped a few strokes on her keyboard before asking, “Carey Gale?”

“Yep, that’s me,” he agreed, leaning on the counter.

“If you’ll have a seat, I’ll tell Mr. Graham that you’re here.”

“Sure thing.” Carey sat down on the cushy chair indicated and pulled out his smart phone to

entertain himself while he waited.

Within a few minutes, he’d lazily hacked through their firewalls and examined their inventory. They

definitely had a good inventory of weapons and a long client list. He wondered what percentage of
workers were shifters versus humans. The company was owned by shifters, but because of their
sensitive work, names and pictures of the employees weren’t on their website.

“Mr. Gale?”

Carey looked up into a pair of friendly gray eyes set in a narrow face. “Yes, that’s me.”

“I’m Isaac Graham.”

Carey stood up and took the hand offered. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

He noticed the shifter moderated his grip so he didn’t hurt Carey when they shook hands. Some

shifters were overly cautious when dealing with humans. Carey hid his smile. Mr. Graham would be
surprised by how much strength Carey had.

“Call me Isaac, please.”

Carey nodded. “Please call me Carey.”

“Now that niceties are out of the way, let me introduce you to our A-boss.”

“You can say alpha. I won’t be offended.” Carey knew some humans were freaked by the rigid

social structure of shifter organizations. He certainly wasn’t one of them. How could he be when he
was essentially the alpha of his own small group?

Isaac’s smile became wide. “Excellent. I heard you’ve worked with shifters before.”

“I haven’t really worked with shifters, but I live with three of them.” Carey didn’t give details.

Isaac didn’t need to know the ins and outs of his personal life. A lifetime of caution kept him from
saying anything more. His father had drilled into Carey’s head not to share more than minimum details
with anyone.

“Good. Good.” Isaac nodded. “I just wanted to check. Some humans are uncomfortable working

with my kind.”

“Some humans are idiots,” Carey said.

“True. That’s very true,” Isaac agreed. “Sadly, I can’t say there aren’t some nutty shifters out there

also. I mean you have the wolves…”

Carey nodded. “At least that’s one group you can point to and fairly assess they’re all bonkers.”

“Agreed,” Isaac said.

Isaac escorted Carey down a white-painted hall decorated with generic office artwork. Carey

wondered where a person went to buy the same crappy stuff that went on cheap hotel walls, but then
Harris painted most of his art. Not everyone was lucky enough to have a resident artist.

When they reached the last door, Isaac knocked twice and waited.

“Enter,” a deep voice called from inside.

Carey’s stomach did a nervous flip. That voice sounded awfully familiar. When Isaac opened the

door and waved Carey inside, his suspicions were confirmed.

“You!” he exclaimed. Paranoia struck. Had their meeting the other night been coincidental after all

or had Broden been hunting him and horny, stupid Carey had fallen for the act?

“You left me!” Broden stood up and marched over to Carey.

“It was a one night thing,” Carey defended himself. Broden’s anger was oddly reassuring. Maybe it

hadn’t been a setup. Maybe the gorgeous shifter had actually liked him. “And my shoulder still fucking

hurts.”

He wouldn’t let Broden get away with not taking responsibility for his painful bite since the damn

thing stung whenever he moved his right side or took a shower or even breathed wrong.

“Let me see.” Broden’s smug expression wasn’t reassuring. Carey resisted the urge to hit him. It

probably was the wrong move if he truly wanted a job there.

Before Carey could respond, Broden ripped open Carey’s dress shirt, sending buttons flying

everywhere.

“Shit! I liked that shirt,” Carey complained. It had been his favorite, too—polished cotton in a nice

blue. Eaton was going to throw a fit. He’d bought the shirt for Carey for Christmas a few years ago,
telling him he needed at least one dress shirt to be civilized. Apparently Broden didn’t get the how-
to-be-a-civilized-person memo. Maybe it was lost in his inbox along with the don’t-molest-potential-
employees note.

“Beautiful.” Broden brushed a finger across Carey’s wound. Carey whimpered as a jolt of desire

slammed through his body at Broden’s touch. Why he was so completely enthralled with this one man,
Carey didn’t know, but the slightest brush of skin between Broden and him brought sparks of need
zapping up and down his spine.

“I had a different word for it. Besides it sort of destroys my dating potential.” He struggled to

sound sarcastic when he was actually turned on.

“It proves you’re mine and you have no more dating potential,” Broden snarled. The tip of fangs

appeared through his lips. “You’re done seeing other men—or women, too, if you swing both ways.”

Carey opened his mouth to tell the bossy shifter what he thought of the man’s opinion when Isaac

intervened.

“I take it I should interview him then?” Isaac asked.

Carey and Broden turned to face him.

“For the job? You know, ask questions that don’t involve naked couch time?” Isaac’s raised

eyebrows showed he thought he was hysterical.

“I’ll interview Carey on my own,” Broden said in a rough tone. He put a hand on Carey’s shoulder,

his thumb sliding across a patch of bare skin and sending a shiver through Carey’s body. Unable to
resist, Carey jabbed Broden in the side with his finger, pleased when he got a grunt. The shifter was
way too sure of himself, thinking he could manipulate Carey into doing what he wanted.

Dating, maybe, but mating wasn’t on Carey’s to-do list. Not in this decade. He didn’t need a mate

to weigh him down and tell him what to do.

Isaac’s cynical gaze swept Carey’s exposed chest. “I don’t think that would be such a good idea. I

mean you can sleep with him all you want, but a job interview should be professional. I don’t want
you hiring someone with your little brain and regretting it later. No offense, Carey.”

“No offense taken.” Carey shrugged. At least one of them was looking out for the company. His

respect for Isaac grew at the man’s insistence on someone responsible doing the hiring. Obviously
Broden wasn’t giving the interview the right kind of attention. Carey would love a repeat of their first
encounter, but he could use a job more. He also didn’t plan to get it because he was sleeping with the
boss.

Carey’s phone beeped. He pulled it out of his pocket. “I think you need to beef up your firewall.

I’ve been all over your system and there wasn’t much stopping me.”

Whoever had been their computer specialist before hadn’t done a very good job, by Carey’s

estimation. Their security program was sophisticated, but anyone with an ounce of knowledge knew
all of its back doors.

The astonishment on both their faces made him smile. They really had no idea about the

technological capabilities of a smart phone. These obviously weren’t the computer crew. Carey
wondered who else they had on staff.

“You’re hired,” Isaac said.

“We will, of course, run a background check on you first,” Broden replied. His smile told Carey

that it was probably more for personal reasons than because he needed it for the job, but that was all
right.

“I’d be surprised if you didn’t. You’ll find I have both shifter and human clearance,” Carey assured

him.

If there was one thing his father had taught him even better than firearms, it was how to design his

own background check. Carey’s file showed whatever he wanted it to. However, the one these people
would see was the one he’d set up with security clearance and a limited background filler, enough to
look like he had a valid history, and with just enough facts to satisfy his curious kitty.

“Good,” Broden approved. “Now that that is out of the way, Isaac, you can leave us and go check

Carey’s clearance.”

“Don’t you want to explain the job to me? I might not want it,” Carey warned. He might think

Broden was the hottest shifter on the planet, but he wouldn’t ruin his life over a big cock, no matter
how well the owner knew how to use it. He’d only offered to interview because he wanted a steady
paycheck for the group.

There were other options. More tiring options that involved drumming up business and a few that

involved shady people with even shadier bank accounts, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t do things if
needed. He took care of his people. They might be an odd little pack, but they were his.

Broden wrapped an arm around Carey’s shoulders. “I’ll tell you all about it.”

“It doesn’t include having to have sex with the alpha,” Isaac piped up. “That’s completely

optional.”

“Don’t you have references to check?” Broden growled.

“Yes, sir,” Isaac gave a snappy salute before vanishing out the door, laughter drifted after him.

Carey tried to put his shirt back together, but had to give it up as a lost cause.

“I’ll buy you a new one,” Broden promised. “Sit.”

Broden motioned toward a leather couch positioned at the side of the room away from the desk.

The piece of furniture looked comfortable and well-loved like it had provided haven for more than
one impromptu nap and possible overnight sleepover.

“Is this like a casting couch interview?” Carey asked, waggling his eyebrows at Broden. “Should I

strip to see if I’m qualified for the job?”

Broden grinned. “The job isn’t contingent on giving me sexual favors. However, don’t let that stop

you from sleeping with the boss. Although I’m in charge of the company, I won’t be your direct
supervisor, Isaac will. He’s in charge of day-to-day operations.”

“Good.” Carey hadn’t stopped kicking himself for not getting Broden’s number before. He’d had an

attack of nerves in the middle of the night and had snuck away. Afterward, he’d regretted that action.
Broden deserved better. Unfortunately, unless he returned to Broden’s apartment and truly became a
stalker, there wasn’t a way to go back and apologize.

“I was going to go back to the club to find you,” Broden said, breaking into Carey’s thoughts.

“You were?” Carey’s heart pattered faster —he really was wanted. Despite the evidence of the bite

mark, he’d worried that Broden might regret his one-night stand with a human. Carey had more than
one encounter where the friendly shifter lover from the night before refused to acknowledge him the
next day. Harris generally hunted those men down and beat the crap out of them, but it had happened
before.

Broden nodded. “You said you’d be there in two weeks. I was going to make sure I was, too. I’d

like to date you on a regular basis and see where it might go. What do you think?”

“I didn’t think shifters dated. I thought you mated or not.” Carey couldn’t get a handle on Broden.

The man had marked Carey as if he belonged to him, but then didn’t push to seal the deal. As none of
his friends were mated yet, Carey didn’t know if this behavior was normal. Maybe the cat shifter was
a bit unhinged. Or maybe he was looking for a way to convey his regrets about picking the wrong guy.
Despite the satisfied look in his eyes when he saw his mark, maybe Broden didn’t want anything long
term either. Carey could appreciate that. He needed to get his friends settled first and make sure their
lives were on the right track before he could accept any man permanently in his life.

“I’m not like most shifters. I’m a jaguar, and the alpha of my pride. I need to make sure any man in

my life can handle being my mate. If you were a shifter, it would be easier. Each of our animals
would bond with the other. Since you’re a human, allowances must be made.”

Carey didn’t like how Broden acted as if being human was a barrier that had to be overcome. He’d

known enough shifters with that humans-are-inferior attitude that he didn’t have to accept it from a
lover.

“I can already tell you that if you think you need to make allowances for me, then we aren’t

compatible,” Carey let his disgust show on his face.

He wasn’t anyone’s second choice. With one last disappointed look at Broden and with his heart

breaking, Carey turned to leave.

Two steps later, Broden grabbed him and spun him back around.

“Don’t leave, babe. I didn’t mean for it to sound like that. I just want to know you better before I

make any permanent decisions. I told Isaac you were mine and I was going to keep you, human or not,
but I do have to make sure you’ll settle well with the pack. Is it too much to ask to give us some
time?” Broden’s pleading look twisted Carey into knots.

“I like you, too, but I’m not a consolation prize. If you can’t accept me as a human, we’re done.”

Carey was at a loss. He really liked Broden and even though he didn’t really want to be Broden’s
mate at this time in his life, he couldn’t make himself let the man go completely. He had a feeling that
if he quit seeing Broden, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

“Like I said, I want to date you. Take you out somewhere, not my apartment or a bar, and get to

know each other.” Broden leaned closer and sniffed at Carey’s neck.

Carey laughed. Broden’s breath across his neck tickled. “If you want, I can strip down and you can

sniff me all over,” Carey offered. He winced after he spoke. Eaton always told him he didn’t need to
say everything he thought. Harris claimed Carey had a defective brain-to-mouth filter. Carey
suspected a person had to have one to start out with in order to break it. His daddy wasn’t the only
reason Carey had to learn to hold his own in a fight.

Broden’s mouth quirked at the edges. “I’ll restrain myself.”

Despite his words, Broden shoved Carey’s shirt off Carey’s right shoulder a little to access the

bite. Broden lapped at the mark he'd left, healing the open wound. “Sorry I didn’t heal this for you. I
got carried away, and you left before I remembered.”

“It hurts like a bitch. I almost asked Eaton to fix it, but that would have been too weird,” Carey

explained. He’d never been romantically attached to any of his roommates—they were like brothers
to him.

A low growl vibrated Broden’s body against him. “I don’t know who Eaton is, but he better keep

his mouth to himself.”

The he-man act never appealed to him before. Why did Broden’s possessive tone make Carey

shiver with desire? Something about this cat shifter had Carey reacting like he never had before.
Maybe there really was some sort of cosmic-mate-matching service and they were the latest pair.
Only time would tell if this would work out.

Carey raised an eyebrow at him. “I didn’t agree to be exclusive.”

“Trust me when I say I don’t share. Until we decide what’s between us, I’ll need you to see only

me. I’m a jaguar,” Broden said as if that settled the matter.

“I didn’t think jaguars mated for life,” Carey said.

“Jaguar cats don’t. Jaguar shifters are like all other shifters—once we find the one we want, we

keep them.” Broden’s smile told Carey the man already had plans for keeping Carey.

“I’m not dating anyone else at the moment. I’ll agree to be exclusive for now,” Carey caved. He

didn’t want to fight, not when his entire goal was to get back into Broden’s bed.

“Thank you. Let me know if you change your mind,” Broden said. “So I can hunt down your new

lover and convince him of the error of his ways.”

“I’ll be sure to do that,” Carey said dryly.

Chapter Three

Broden knew the second Carey exited the elevator and walked onto the third floor. The scent of honey
and lemon always followed the man. An odd smell to make him hard and needy, but the results didn’t
lie. Since Carey had started to work there a few days ago, Broden had never missed the opportunity to
watch the man enter or leave a room. No one looked as good from all angles as Carey.

Not to mention the man did great work. Three banks now had permanent contracts with them after

Carey easily hacked into their accounts to show them the error of their ways.

His hot lover was also good for business—what more could he ask for?

He struggled against the urge to purr.

After taking a slow calming breath, Broden turned and tried to focus on his spreadsheet.

“Did you say something, boss?” Isaac asked.

The smirk on his face told Broden his beta needed his ass kicked…again. Ever since Carey had

started on the job and showed all the errors their last computer guy had left behind, Isaac had been
beside himself with smugness.

Not only did Isaac pat himself on the back for bringing Carey on board, but for finding Broden’s

mate. Isaac said that he got the credit because Broden let Carey slip through his fingers.

Smug bastard.

“No, I didn’t say anything.” Broden let a little growl underlie his words to show his ire.

Isaac tilted his head submissively, even though the twinkle in his eyes didn’t dim. “You should see

the workers pop out of the woodwork when he walks through the office, men and women.”

A fang pricked Broden’s lower lip. He sucked in a breath, appalled at the action. Only Carey

affected him enough to lose control and actually fang out.

Isaac gave a strangled laugh.

“Oh, shut up. I can’t help if it drives me insane. Have you seen my guy? He’s hot!”

“He is,” Isaac agreed. “You think he’s the one?”

Broden nodded. “He’s jumpy though. He’s agreed to be exclusive, but not to commit.”

“Is it the rock star thing?” Isaac asked.

Broden shook his head. “No, I think it’s because I made a comment about him being human. He’s

kind of sensitive about it.”

Isaac tilted his head to examine Broden. “Maybe you’re just insensitive. You’ve never had to

actually consider someone’s feelings before. Everyone has always catered to you, especially in the
pride. I think you need to step up your game. Do you know he remembered Julie’s birthday and he
hasn’t even been here a week?”

Broden shrugged. “You know I don’t remember stuff like that.” He’d never been good with

anniversaries and holidays—they always interrupted the flow of the regular day. Annoying.

“She’s been your assistant for ten years,” Isaac said, exasperated.

“So?” Broden wondered where his beta was going with his weird comment. It’s not like Broden

didn’t know how long she’d been his assistant.

Isaac rolled his eyes. “My point is, he’d make a good alpha mate. He already knows how to get on

everyone’s good side, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes.”

They both watched the friendly blond exchange smiles with the receptionist. Carey brought out the

best in everyone. Not to mention his shirt outlined a nice set of muscles. Broden longed to strip him
naked and examine every bump with his fingers and tongue. Sometimes at night he had dreams about
doing that exact thing. He wished to do more of it in the future.

He smiled as he visualized the mating mark still there beneath Carey’s shirt. Broden made sure to

freshen it each time they made love. Eventually, it would become permanent.

“I worry he’s not strong enough because he’s human.” As much as Broden wanted to keep Carey

forever, he worried the pretty man wouldn’t be strong enough to be a shifter mate. Although a mixture
of cat breeds formed their small pride, they didn’t have any humans in the mix. He ignored the
unhappy snarl of his inner cat.

“I think Carey would kick your ass if he heard you questioning his strength. I think he’s plenty

strong for a human, and if he somehow gets into an altercation with a shifter, he’s got you, our pride,
and that band of his behind him,” Isaac persisted.

Isaac had come to some of Carey’s concerts and was becoming an avid fan. Broden suspected it

was a particular crocodile shifter that really had his attention, but he didn’t point that out. Not yet.

Broden shook his head. “As much as I want to keep him, it would kill me if I hurt him.” That’s what

it came down to. He didn’t want to hurt the younger man.

Humans were fragile. His father had drummed that into him years ago when he’d gone to a public

human-shifter school.

Unfortunately, his parents weren’t around anymore to ask for advice. His mother had died in a

plane crash and his dad died soon after from a broken heart. For shifters, it wasn’t just a figure of
speech. When they lost their mate, their heart literally couldn’t take the pain.

“So that’s it. Despite claiming him as yours, you’re going to let him get away?” Isaac’s tone

expressed both disgust and disbelief. “I never thought I’d see the day my alpha was afraid of
something.”

“I can rip out your throat before you make it to the door,” Broden said mildly.

Isaac cleared his throat. “It’s your decision, boss.”

Broden nodded. “Remember that.”

After discussing a few more items of business, Isaac rushed off to carry out Broden’s orders. He

left the door open when he exited, leaving Broden with a clear view of Carey talking to a new
worker. Broden had contracted the man for protection support, but his inner jaguar didn’t like how
close the man stood to Carey. No one but Broden should stand near enough to mingle his scent with
Carey’s.

The new guy, Dan or Dean or something, watched Carey with a glow of attraction that made

Broden’s animal half want to take the man down like a wounded deer and rip out his throat.

The Carey issue ate away at him. He needed to have the gorgeous man under him, preferably naked

and wrapped around his cock. Memories of the last time they got together haunted him day and night.
He had to have Carey, he just hoped it wasn’t a selfish move that would injure his pride in the end.

A loud purr rolled up his throat as he contemplated all the things he could do with the human. He

imagined Carey’s robin egg blue eyes darkening with lust as he licked all that beautifully tanned skin.
Broden wiggled in his chair, parting his legs to make room for the erection as he contemplated the tan
that extended all over Carey's hot body.

Taking a deep breath, Broden ruthlessly forced his mind to focus on the contract before him. His

erection would have to wait.

Linda came into the office, closing the door behind her and cutting off his view of Carey. Her

natural reddish-brown hair, twisted in a complicated knot, looked like it took hours, but Broden had
seen her twist it out of the way and pin it in place with a pencil and get the same elegant look. She had
the natural grace of an old movie screen actress with the attitude of a drill sergeant.

“You look nice today,” Broden commented.

Linda looked up from her notepad and frowned at him.

“What? Can’t I compliment you?” Broden asked innocently.

“The last time you complimented me it was to cushion the blow that you'd set the coffee pot on

fire,” Linda reminded him.

“That was what? Five years ago?” Broden asked.

Linda nodded. “And I only remember it because your desperate attempt at distracting me failed

miserably. Anyway, I wanted to say Carey’s a sweet boy, though you should formally claim him.
Spreading your scent across him, then sending him into the company to work is starting all sorts of
rumors.”

“What kind of rumors?” Broden growled. “If anyone has said anything to hurt him…”

Claws popped out of the tips of Broden’s fingers. No way would he let anyone harm Carey,

physically or mentally.

“Hold on, boss. I’m just saying it’s causing talk. Some are saying you’re too afraid to take what you

want or you don’t trust Carey because he’s human. I don’t think anyone has said anything to him, but I
don’t know for sure. Even if they don’t say anything to him directly, he’ll eventually hear the rumors
and his feelings might be hurt.” Linda look worried.

“I don’t think he’s that delicate,” Broden responded. However, the thought of it possibly hurting

Carey bothered him.

“It’s a matter of courtesy. If he were a shifter, would you hesitate?” Linda’s expression made

Broden feel like he was reverting to his childhood when his mother tried to hold him accountable for
his actions.

“No,” Broden confessed. “He’s right, I do treat him different because he’s human.”

Damn, he was an idiot. “I need to have a claiming ceremony. Prove to everyone I mean to make him

official. I’ve been an idiot. There’s no way I’m not going to keep him. He’s my mate. I know it. He’ll
have to get used to the idea.”

“That’s the spirit,” Linda approved.

Putting their heads together, they started to schedule the party.

* * * *

Carey settled into his office. Because he did all the computer stuff and needed a lockable space, he
was given an office of his own. Tony’s old office.

“Hello, pretty human, what’s on the agenda for the day?” Lucan slinked into Carey’s office. The

way he moved, all boneless, made Carey sometimes think of him more as a snake than the Scottish
wildcat he was in his shifted form. However, Lucan treated him just like he was a member of the
company. Carey had learned the corporation was actually a small pride of mixed cat shifter breeds

who ran the business and shared in all the profits.

“We’re breaking into WolfTrac,” Carey informed him.

Lucan tilted his head. “A wolf company is hiring us?”

Carey tapped a few keys and examined the monitor. “Hmm, did I say that?”

“Does the boss know?” Lucan stepped closer to see what Carey was doing.

“They’ve been trying to crack our system for the past three days and I’m trying to figure out why. I

don’t want to say bad things about Tony, but there were some emails between him and the WolfTrac
president. The email was encoded and I haven’t had time to look at it yet, but it does make me curious
as to why a cat shifter would leave an obvious good thing here to do some work with the enemy.”

“Tony is working for WolfTrac now?”

Carey nodded. “At least that’s what it looks like. His signature is all over their system. Not only

that, but he left a lot of holes in our system that WolfTrac seems to somehow know all about. I’ve
been plugging them and adding gates of my own to keep them out, but I’m following the a-good-
offense-is-the-best-defense route and am checking them out myself.”

“I did wonder why Broden never pursued Tony. I mean, we’re a tight group and Tony never really

fit in, but he was one of us, you know. The fact he just up and quit and no one went to check on him is
kind of odd,” Lucan observed. Sitting on the edge of Carey’s desk, he sniffed the air.

“What? You know I hate being sniffed.” Somehow it didn’t feel quite as annoying when Broden did

it, but it usually preceded sex so he was forgiven.

“I can’t help it, you smell like Broden, lemon and honey and, as a member of his pride, the alpha

always smells the best. I just want to climb in your lap and sniff you,” Lucan confessed.

“Do it and you're fired,” Broden growled from the doorway.

Lucan jumped gracefully to his feet, dropped to his knees, and bowed his head. “Forgive me,

Alpha.”

“Rather dramatic, isn’t he?” Carey asked.

“A little.” Broden raised an eyebrow. “Rise, Lucan, just keep your nose to yourself.”

“Yes, sir.” Lucan climbed to his feet and hovered as if unsure of what to do.

“Go back to your desk. Carey will call you when he needs you back,” Broden instructed.

“Yes, Alpha.” Lucan gave Carey a wistful look before exiting the office.

“Don’t be so hard on him, he’s young,” Carey said. He felt a little bad for the exuberant shifter.

Lucan had a sharp mind, but a big mouth. Carey understood the dangers of that combination.

“I’m not hard on him, I just don’t want him sniffing you. That’s my job.” Broden walked over and

pressed his face to Carey’s neck, inhaling deeply. “He’s right, you do smell good.”

Carey laughed. “I take it you like how you smell on me?”

“Absolutely, you’re the best kind of smell,” Broden confirmed.

“And what’s that?”

“Mine.”

Carey laughed. “Did you come by for a reason or just to sniff me?”

“I wanted to double-check you were doing your concert tonight. I’m going to show up, but it might

be closer to the end of your gig. I’ve got an overseas conference call later tonight.” Broden gave
Carey a pained expression that told him it wasn't something his lover was looking forward to.

“No problem. We’ll be there until midnight. After that, you’ll have to hunt me down at home.”

“Speaking of home, when are you going to take me to yours?” Broden frowned.

“I’ll have you over soon,” Carey promised. “I-I’ve never invited a date home before.”

It was sort of an unwritten rule. None of the roommates brought anyone into their house. It was their

safe zone, where strangers weren’t welcome. He’d have to check with his friends to see how they felt
before dragging Broden home.

“Really? Never?” Broden asked.

“Nope. I’ll check with the guys, maybe we can have a dinner or something,” Carey offered. He

didn’t want to make any hard promises, but if Broden planned to become part of his life, Carey
needed to be comfortable with Broden in his home. Carey usually kept his private life private—it
would be a big step to allow someone into his small group.

“Are you worried your friends won’t like me?” Broden’s expression was almost amused as if

Carey’s concerns were ridiculous. Maybe they were.

“Not exactly. It’s sort of complicated. Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got work to do.” He waved

meaningfully at his monitor.

“What are you working on?”

“Hacking the wolves. They’ve been trying to break into our system over the past few days. Do you

know why Tony left?”

“No. Why?”

“I think he might be working for WolfTrac now, and I don’t know why anyone would go work for

those psychopaths if they didn’t have to. I’m wondering if maybe he had to.”

“You think blackmail?” Broden asked in surprise.

Carey shrugged. “Did he give notice or anything?”

“I don’t think so, I’ll double-check with Isaac. As far as I know, he just stopped coming to work

and told Isaac we had too many jobs to do.” Broden frowned. “That does sound suspicious, doesn’t
it?”

“It kind of does.” No good roads led to the wolves. If Tony was working for them now, that might

be something Broden should investigate.

Broden grabbed Carey’s desk phone and called Isaac’s extension. After a minute, he slammed it

back down. “I forgot he’s taking the day off to go to a security seminar at the convention center. He
won’t be back in the office until tomorrow. I’ll leave him a note and have him check on that.”

“Thanks,” Carey felt a rush of relief that Broden not only believed him, but was willing to look into

his concerns.

“No, thank you. No one else thought to look into this. We should’ve been more concerned with one

of our own.” Broden kissed Carey, hard and fast, leaving a blaze of heat behind.

“Um, you’re welcome, but Lucan is the one who mentioned that he didn’t think anyone followed

up,” Carey got out once he caught his breath.

“I’ll thank him, too, minus the kiss.” Broden tapped Carey on the nose and left.

“It better be without the kiss,” Carey mumbled as he tapped on his computer keys. The idea of

Broden touching anyone else, kissing or not, made Carey cranky—Broden belonged to him.

“Crap,” Carey said, looking at the ceiling. “I’m in love with the fucking alpha.”

“About time you admitted it,” Lucan said, entering the room. “Thanks, by the way, for telling

Broden about my idea.”

“He talked to you?” Carey didn’t realize he’d been fixating that long on his computer screen.

Lucan nodded exuberantly. “He said I had good instincts for the pride.”

“That was nice of him.” Whatever faults Broden had, he was a good alpha.

“It was. I hear you have a concert tonight.” Lucan scuffed the floor with his shoe. “Is it okay if I

come along?”

“Sure, the more the merrier.” Carey sighed. “I’m not making much progress with this right now. I’m

going to run a few programs, then leave it for tomorrow. We’ll be at Feathers on Capitol Hill. It starts
at ten, come early if you want a seat.”

“Cool. I always wanted to go there,” Lucan exclaimed. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He smiled as Lucan all but bounced out of Carey’s office.

Lucan was a cute kitty. He’d be a good hacker if he could stand being seated for more than a few

seconds at a time. Maybe he should ask Broden to look into one of those standing desks for
Lucan—that way he could fidget and still get work done.

Pulling on his jacket, Carey headed out the door.

Chapter Four

The club pulsed with life and dancing as pre-recorded music pounded from the speakers positioned
all around the building. Carey spied his band mates on the small stage, setting up gear. Sometimes it
struck him odd that he was the only human in a band of shifters, but his father called him a shifter
magnet for good reason. If there were sick or injured shifters within a hundred mile radius, they
always found Carey.

“Hey, guys.” He waved to his friends as he approached.

“Hey, rock star,” Eaton called out.

Carey laughed. If either of them looked like a rock star, it was Eaton. The man’s gold hair and

perpetual tan gleamed under the stage lights.

Catching sight of the familiar bag in Carey’s hand, Eaton’s smile went nuclear. “You are the best,

dude.” He grabbed the sack Carey held out and opened it eagerly.

“I figured you wouldn’t have time to eat.” He didn’t mention he doubted Eaton had the money. His

eagle shifter friend sent all his extra funds to his parents to help raise his five brothers and sisters in
Guatemala. His family didn’t have a lot of money and Eaton worked two jobs besides playing with
the band. Despite everything, Eaton’s sunny nature always shone through his exhaustion and he’d
never let the band down.

“The double cheeseburgers are on top.”

Eaton grabbed two from the top and handed them to Harris.

“Thanks, Carey, I freaking love their salmon patties.” The sandwiches looked almost dainty in

Harris’s large hands. A nicer guy hadn’t been born despite the hardships life had dealt him. If Carey
hadn’t found Harris crammed into a small cage in a sicko’s backyard, the bear shifter might not be
alive today. By mutual consent, they never discussed Harris’s condition when Carey found him. Some
things didn’t need to be talked about between friends.

“Did you get my steak burger?” Denton stepped forward, his ripped shirt exposing his six-pack

abs. The man didn’t have a single ounce of fat on him and as a crocodile shifter, he burned off tons of
calories whenever he transformed, leaving his human form lean and muscular.

“Have I ever forgotten?” Carey asked, mildly insulted.

Denton’s eyes flashed reptilian for a moment. “Sorry, dude, I didn’t eat lunch,” Denton apologized.

“You know you can’t skip meals,” Carey scolded. When Denton got super hungry, his croc half

took over and bit down on whatever was closest.

A flush crossed Denton’s cheeks. “Sorry, I was working on a new song.”

“Ah,” Carey nodded. Denton got lost in the creative process and forgot to eat or drink or do

anything except the music.

Carey got his own chicken sandwich out and sat at the end of the stage next to Eaton. “How’s it

going?”

Eaton scanned the stage. “Pretty good. I think we’ll be ready in ten minutes or so. We should have a

nice crowd tonight.”

Carey followed Eaton’s head nod toward the audience. The tables were filling up quickly.

“Anyone playing after us?” Carey dared not hope the crowd was there for them. He thought they

were good, but he might be biased.

“Nope, they’re all here for us,” Eaton said with satisfaction.

“Really?”

Carey scanned the audience with new eyes. The crowd wasn’t huge, but it was growing, and it

looked to be a good attendance.

The band quickly finished their food and tossed their wrappers.

“I’ll change quickly, then we can get started.”

Carey grabbed the clothes Denton handed over to him and rushed to the backroom to get dressed.

* * * *

Broden exited his Mercedes and slammed the door. He could hear the music from the parking lot. A
deep driving beat and a luxurious voice could be heard above it all.

Carey!

His footsteps sped up as Broden rushed to the front door. When the bouncer went to intercept him,

Broden flashed his fangs.

“Whoa, cover charge!” the bouncer said.

Broden pulled out his wallet and tossed some money at the bouncer—he didn’t bother to count the

bills. He needed to get inside, to claim his man before someone else dared. Pushing his way through

the crowd, Broden ignored the angry looks and frowns until he reached a few feet from the stage.

Wow!

On the stage was a man of pure sex appeal. Carey writhed and sang like a siren spinning his spell

upon his hapless victims. Broden knew if Carey crooked his fingers, half the audience would be more
than happy to offer themselves to him.

A low growl rolled up his throat while Carey continued his song and shook his ass on the stage.

His inner Jaguar wanted to drag the object of his attraction away from the crowd so no one could
drool on him. That ass should have exclusive to Broden Lyall tattooed on it to keep the others away.

Isaac walked through the busy bar to come stand beside Broden.

“He’s good,” Isaac shouted to be heard over the crowd.

Broden nodded, but didn’t say anything. Right now he didn’t want anything to distract him from his

mate, especially with Carey dripping sex like an incubus after a dry spell.

Four songs later the band stopped for a break.

Broden spun away from Isaac and followed Carey’s path off the stage and to the bar.

“Good evening, Carey,” Broden said.

Carey spun around. “Hey, Broden. You’re earlier than I thought you’d be.”

“The conference call ended sooner than I expected,” Broden replied. “Happy to see me?”

“Always.” Carey stepped closer until his sweaty body pressed against Broden.

Broden slid his hands into Carey’s hair, holding him still for his kiss. Carey tasted like everything

right in the world. Broden’s inner jaguar let out a purr, vibrating both of their bodies.

Carey laughed. “I think kitty approves.”

“What’s not to approve of?” Broden looked Carey up and down. “I think I might have to demand a

new company dress code.”

“I don’t think we’d get much done if everyone wore skin tight pants to work. I wouldn’t be able to

sit at my desk, that’s for sure.”

“Hmm, okay, maybe only on Fridays,” Broden amended.

Shaking his head, Carey accepted the bottle of water the bartender handed him. “Did I see Isaac?”

“Yes. I’ll talk to him tomorrow.” Broden gave the bartender a cold glare when the man flashed

Carey a flirtatious look. The stupid man also had the gall to check out Carey’s ass when he turned
away.

His inner jaguar clawed at Broden’s insides. The cat wanted to rip the bartender apart. Broden

took long, slow breaths and imagined his inner animal curling up in a ball to sleep, a calming exercise
he’d learned when he was young. It had been years since he last got so close to losing control.

“Hey, you all right?” Carey slid his hand along Broden’s arm.

The feel of Carey’s skin touching him soothed him as only a mate could—another sign Carey was

meant to be his. Broden grabbed Carey and kissed him. He started out gently, giving Carey the chance
to pull away if he wanted. Instead of objecting, Carey rubbed against Broden, ratcheting up the desire
to unprecedented levels.

Broden’s grip tightened as he added more aggression to his embrace. Carey matched him, kiss for

kiss.

“Carey, we need to get back on stage, man,” Denton’s voice broke into Broden’s lustful haze.

He lifted his mouth to glare at the intruder. A reptilian gaze flashed at him until the man’s eyes

returned to human.

Carey looked over his shoulder. “Sorry, Denton.”

Denton smiled at Carey. “Come on, you’ve got fans waiting.”

Broden received a quick kiss before Carey headed back to the stage.

“Keep your hands to yourself, cat, Carey’s not for you,” Denton warned.

Broden bristled at the order. “Why is that?”

“Because Carey’s good people and I know you kitty cats stick with your own. I won’t have him

toyed with because you’re in heat,” Denton growled.

“I’m not in heat. I’m interested in Carey and no lizard is going to stop me from getting what I want.”

Broden had no interest in playing games.

Denton smiled, revealing rows of razor teeth. “I’m not a lizard. I’m a crocodile. Trust me when I

say I’ve got Carey’s back. If you hurt him, you better sleep with one eye open, because we’ll hunt you
down. I’ve declawed a cat or two in my time.”

Broden nodded. “It’s good to see he’s got people on his side. Someday maybe you can tell me how

a croc shifter came to be watching out for a human.”

“You’ve got that wrong, mister. Carey usually watches out for us.” Denton turned around and

headed back to the stage before Broden could ask any more questions.

Isaac walked up beside him. “I still think he’s hot.”

“He’s a croc.”

“Hmmm, I like to live dangerously,” Isaac said.

Broden watched as his friend tracked Denton’s progress to the stage where he picked up his guitar.

“Are you going to stay?” Isaac asked.

Broden watched Carey begin a song and leaned against the post beside him. “I’m not going

anywhere.” No way would he leave the sexy man in a bar full of horny young people, all of whom had
their eyes glued on Carey’s gyrating hips. He’d tell Isaac about Tony tomorrow —it wasn’t like the
man was going anywhere now.

* * * *

Carey tried not to stare while he focused on his music, but Broden stood out in his fitted suit like an
Abercrombie model in a sea of trolls. Closing his eyes in order to keep on tune, Carey belted out his
words. They sang a combination of cover songs and ones the band wrote, mostly Denton.

The heat from the lights made sweat soak his clothes and saturate his hair. He knew by the end of

the night he’d be able to drench a full-sized bath towel with his moisture. The crowd went wild as the
band wrapped up their last set. Taking a bow, they exited the stage.

Carey only made it a few steps before a low growl sounded beside him. He turned to see Harris’s

eyes glowing. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“That man is here,” Harris said.

Carey froze. Over the past few weeks, a wolf had watched them, but never close enough to spot

and not always at every performance.

“Where?” Since Carey didn’t have enhanced senses, he depended on his friends to let him know if

there were any strangers they needed to keep an eye out for.

As a band of three shifters and a human, they were more cautious than they might’ve been if they

had an all-human band. Carey wouldn’t trade his friends for anything, but it did cause some interesting
times. More than once they’d had to hide their true nature from the world at large in order to stay safe.

Carey scanned the crowd, his training kicking in as he picked out a few people he considered

possible targets. Unfortunately with his tight leather pants, he had little room to hide a gun.

“Let’s clean up. Denton, you keep an eye out,” Carey ordered, taking control of the situation. In

their group of four, Carey had always been the leader.

“I’m on it,” Denton replied without hesitation.

Carey, Eaton and Harris all packed up their equipment.

“Can I help with something?” Broden asked.

“Carry this,” Carey handed over a subwoofer.

“What can I do?”

Carey looked up to see Isaac standing by the stage, his gaze pinned on Denton.

“You can carry Denton’s guitar,” Carey nodded toward the black case and ignored the dagger

glares from his friend.

He hid his laughter as he bent down and grabbed the keyboard stand. It only took a couple of trips

before everything was packed up. The person Harris had scented never made an appearance and after
twenty minutes, the bear shifter declared the stranger gone.

“Do you want to go home with your friends or with me?” Broden asked.

Carey turned to face his band mates. “What do you guys think? You need me to go with you?”

It would be the perfect reason to avoid Broden. As much as he liked the guy, he was still on the

fence about the forever-bonded mates things.

“We’ll be fine,” Eaton reassured him. “Don’t use us as an excuse. If you don’t want to go with

Broden, don’t.”

“Don’t be a pussy, Carey,” Denton taunted. “Not when you can be with one instead. Of course if he

hurts you, I will kill him.”

Carey smiled. His friends were the best. Leave it to Denton to cut to the heart of the matter.

Broden cupped Carey’s face, his thumbs brushing across Carey’s cheekbones in a surprisingly

gentle touch.

“I’m going to kiss you right now unless you tell me no,” he warned.

“Go ahead,” Carey whispered. He might have reservations about his possible relationship with

Broden, but he had none when it came to kissing the sexy cat shifter.

Thoughts vanished from Carey’s head as passion overwhelmed him. He forgot everything except

the texture of Broden’s fingers stroking his skin. He pressed closer, trying to add more contact
between them.

“Get a room,” Eaton said, laughter lacing his voice.

Broden broke away from the kiss. “I have one. Want to come home with me?”

Entwining his fingers with Carey’s, Broden pulled Carey along after him and through the crowd.

Carey nodded to the regulars he recognized and the people who waved to him as he passed. They
paused at the door when Feather’s owner appeared out of the crowd, barring their way.

“Hey, Carey, not leaving without your funds, are you?” Tim asked. A condor shifter in his animal

form, Tim stood six-foot-four-inches as a human. He might be able to meet Broden eye-to-eye, but he
still didn’t ooze the magnetism the cat shifter exuded naturally.

“Thanks, Tim.” Carey accepted the envelope the nightclub owner held out to him.

“No problem, you know I love it when you boys play. My bar tabs always triple when you’re here.

We still set up for next month?”

“You bet,” Carey agreed happily, tucking the fat envelope into his jacket pocket. That should cover

the utility bill.

“He’ll call you.” Broden wrapped his arm around Carey’s waist as if staking his claim. Typical

obsessive shifter behavior Carey had observed in the past, but never toward him.

Tim gave Carey a knowing look, but didn’t say anything. Instead, he stepped to one side and let

them pass with a wave of his hand. “Enjoy your night.”

“Thanks, Tim, see you soon,” Carey said as Broden moved him quickly out the door.

Carey didn’t say anything until Broden started leading Carey to his Mercedes. Carey stopped in the

middle of the parking lot. “I need to take my truck.” He pointed to his battered vehicle. “I don’t want
anyone to tow it.”

“Good point. Follow me and you can park in my garage.”

Carey’s father had taught him to never give anyone control of his method of transportation. You

can’t make a quick getaway if you have no way to run.

“Sounds good,” Carey agreed.

* * * *

It took little time to take the elevator up to Broden’s condo from the parking garage and soon they
were stepping into Broden’s sterile home. Carey suppressed a shudder at the personality-free abode.

“I’m going to hold you to that promise of dinner at your house,” Broden commented as if sensing

Carey’s dislike of his condo.

“I share a place with my band. You might not like the crowd,” Carey commented, trying to put

Broden off a bit. He wondered if Broden would be offended if he suggested he hire Harris and
Denton to redo his place. Combined, the pair could do their own design show, though Denton would
rip out every one of his crocodile teeth before he admitted it.

“Hmmm. Maybe not, but I’d still like to see where you live. You aren’t ashamed of me, are you?

Your band mates seemed to have mixed emotions about me.” The insecurity in Broden’s eyes
surprised Carey.

He tapped his cheek a moment as if considering. “Tall, dark, gorgeous man with a successful

business. You might be acceptable enough. I mean I am scraping the bottom of the barrel, but I guess
you’ll do.”

* * * *

Broden laughed. “Have a seat. Would you like a drink?” He could be a good host. Jumping on the man
immediately would probably be bad form.

Carey sat down on the couch, his legs spread wide apart and displaying his erection. Broden licked

his lips.

“I’ll take some water,” Carey said.

“Water, I can do that.” Broden pulled his gaze from Carey’s cock to meet his mate’s eyes.

Carey’s slow smile warmed Broden and eased his concerns. “You’re okay with this, right?”

“Absolutely. I’m glad you came tonight. I was worried I’d miss you if your call went late,” Carey

confessed.

“How could I not?” Isaac was going to pitch a fit when he learned Broden had cut short the

customer call in order to attend Carey’s gig. He’d rather lose all the clients he had, than disappoint
his mate.

Broden stared at Carey. He couldn’t remember the last time someone threw him off guard. Carey

slid off his tank top, exposing an enormous tattoo with an eagle, a bear and a crocodile designed in a
circle.

“You didn’t have that last time.”

Carey smiled down at the tattoo. He ran a hand over the intricately detailed mark. “I’ve been

waiting for the money to have it done. I wanted a picture of my family.”

Broden let out a snort. “Your family is an eagle, a bear and a crocodile. You have a weird ass

family.” He knew they represented Carey’s band, but he had to admit the lack of a cat in the tattoo hurt

a bit. Once they were officially mated, he’d damn well add a giant jaguar to his lover’s body. Maybe
cover his entire back.

The cold look he received for his teasing would’ve done credit to the crocodile. Carey stood and,

even though he barely reached Broden’s nose, the animosity crackling off him would’ve made a saber
tooth tiger proud.

“You’ve met my band.” Carey informed him. “They’re my family. Well, them and my father.”

Broden held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you guys were that

close. I knew you were band mates and lived together, but usually completely different shifter species
don’t join as a group.”

Their relationship fascinated Broden. Another reason he wanted to see Carey’s place, to

understand the interaction between the friends.

“We have special circumstances. I’ve known them all since I was a child. It’s a long story,” Carey

said.

“I’d love to hear it some time,” Broden said before he went into the kitchen and came back with a

glass of water. Getting information from his lover was difficult. Carey was like a high security safe
with a triple encryption code.

“I’ll share it some time when all my brain cells haven’t travelled south,” Carey offered.

Even knowing Carey was purposely distracting him didn’t deter Broden from falling for the hot

look sent his way. He carefully set the glass of water on the table before sitting beside Carey on the
couch.

“I’ll be happy to help you with your little problem,” he purred.

“Little?” Carey raised an eyebrow, daring him to continue.

Broden grinned. His mate did have a point, there wasn’t anything little about the erection pushing

for room inside Carey’s tight pants.

“Did I say little? I meant huge problem,” Broden soothed.

“That’s what I thought you meant,” Carey said.

Broden grinned. He would be happy to come home to find this half-naked man on his couch every

day.

Carey took a sip of water before pushing off his shoes and stripping off his pants. Stark naked, he

settled back on the couch with a come-get-me look in his eyes. Broden had never received a better
invitation.

“Nice.” No matter how many times Broden saw him naked, Carey still took his breath away.

Broden smiled at the fang mark on Carey’s shoulder. He’d done well there. The man belonged to him.

Now he just had to figure out how to integrate a human into his world without his entire pride

freaking out over it. Having Carey work with the pride had helped some. Getting them familiar with a
human in their midst took away some of the fear ingrained in them from their parents. Humans hadn’t
always been kind to the shifter world, and many pride members had bad memories of tortured
childhoods or frightening knife- or gun-filled encounters.

Carey’s cheery personality and helpfulness had done a lot to pave the way to better human-shifter

relations, but they still had a way to go. Pushing thoughts of his pride away, Broden quickly stripped
off his clothes before Carey’s interested gaze.

“You are the most fascinating person I’ve ever met,” Broden whispered as he climbed onto the

couch, placing a knee on either side of Carey’s hips. “And you’re all mine,” he hummed.

“You had me before,” Carey reminded him.

“Yeah, but now you can’t escape,” Broden grinned triumphantly. His inner cat loved to play and

since Carey was used to being around shifters, he knew the young man wouldn’t freak if claws and
fangs came out.

“Who said I wanted to escape?” Carey licked his lips as he regarded Broden with lust-filled eyes.

“Mmm, not me.” Broden settled on Carey’s lap, pleased when his human easily took his weight. It

helped that Carey was quite strong for a human. Although Broden enjoyed being the aggressor, he
liked it even better that Carey wasn’t a fragile flower.

“Kiss me,” Carey insisted.

“Pushy boy,” Broden teased. He slid his tongue along Carey’s lips until Carey allowed him inside.

Heat pooled through his body, making his cock harden. Moaning, he rubbed against Carey’s body,
letting their erections bump and grind together.

He wrapped his fist around Carey’s cock, pumping gently. Sliding his thumb across the tip, he

spread pre-cum across the top before licking his finger to relish the taste. “Let’s get the lube. This is
one spot you don’t want chafing.”

Carey laughed. “I can’t argue with that. You should keep a tube in here.”

“If you come over more often, I’ll consider it,” Broden agreed.

Broden slid off Carey’s lap, then without warning, he picked up his mate and flipped him over his

shoulder.

“Hey! What is it about you and treating me like a sack of potatoes,” Carey protested.

Broden slapped Carey on the ass. “I like potatoes.”

Something about Carey always raised his spirits. No matter how much stress he had during the day,

just seeing his mate’s face made everything better. Working with him just increased his happiness.

Broden dropped Carey onto the bed. He froze as the beauty of the moment grabbed him by the

throat. Love took away his breath, but Broden brutally held back the words. Carey wouldn’t
appreciate hearing those three little words quite yet. When it came to feelings, his human was more
fidgety than a cat in a room full of puppies.

“Are you going to stand there all day or are you going to fuck me properly,” Carey complained.

“Properly?” Broden asked. “No, I plan to fuck you very improperly.” He grabbed the lube from the

drawer. “Roll over. I want to screw you hard and I don’t want to have to bend you in half.”

“But I’m very bendy,” Carey teased.

“I know you are. Now roll over.” Broden used his commanding voice, the one the cats in his pride

immediately responded to.

Carey raised an eyebrow. “Did you just try to alpha me?”

Broden sighed. “Just roll over before you totally ruin the mood.”

Giving that notion the attention it deserved, Carey rolled his eyes. “I somehow doubt you’ll lose

interest.”

Despite his words, Carey turned onto his stomach and shook his ass. “Does this help resurrect your

flailing interest?”

“Definitely, your ass could be the next Viagra, able to make a man hard with a single shake.”

Carey looked over his shoulder at Broden. “I don’t know if I should be flattered or appalled by the

imagery you just put in my head.”

“Let’s go with flattered,” Broden said.

Broden prepped his lover carefully before slicking up himself. Without further warning, he pushed

his cock inside Carey’s well-lubed hole, relishing the first moment of entry. The second he entered
Carey, he paused to savor the initial body-to-body interaction. He’d had many lovers in his past and
none of them had ever felt as good as Carey. When they connected, it was as if their souls bonded.

Leaning forward, he wrapped his body entirely around Carey, surrounding his lover with his heat.

In slow, dreamy movements, he slid in and out of Carey, cherishing every brush of skin, every second
of heat surrounding his cock and every gasp he pulled from his mate like sweet music.

“You feel so amazing wrapped around me. I want to keep you here forever,” Broden whispered in

Carey’s ear.

“It might make time at the office a little awkward,” Carey answered with a hitch in his breath.

“Mmm, I’ll chance it.” Broden plunged his teeth into his mating mark, reinforcing his claim.

“You’re mine. The sooner you agree, the quicker we can start planning our life together.”

“But no pressure.” Carey tightened around Broden, making him buck from the sensation. “And stop

biting.”

“More pressure,” Broden groaned. “And I’ll bite you until everyone knows you’re claimed.”

The thought of everyone knowing Carey belonged to him even when he danced half-naked on the

stage shone as a tantalizing dream. Broden wrapped a hand around Carey’s cock, pumping him to
completion.

With a cry, Carey came and shot across the sheets. The smell and feel of Carey coming sent Broden

over the edge. His cock pulsed out his release, flooding his lover with his scent and reinforcing his
mating claim.

Carefully disengaging from his mate, Broden toppled sideways. He pulled Carey into his arms as

he tumbled away from the mess.

“I’ll clean it up in a minute,” Broden said.

“We need new sheets,” Carey muttered.

“Rest. I’ll get them in a bit,” Broden reassured him.

“Okay,” Carey agreed, his voice already sleepy.

“My mate,” Broden whispered, nuzzling the back of Carey’s neck.

“Yours,” Carey agreed.

Chapter Five

Broden woke up smiling with Carey cuddled in his arms. Carey had agreed to be his. His mate might
have said it in the heat of passion, but Broden would hold him to his agreement. It would only take a
quick phone call to Linda to arrange a pride meeting for next week. They could plan a mating
ceremony at the same time. He’d even spread the invitation to Carey’s friends and father if he wanted.
Broden wondered what kind of person had raised his rather complicated mate.

Broden brushed the hair from Carey’s face as he slept. For a person who always appeared on the

alert while awake, Carey slept hard like a child safe in his bed. Broden hoped Carey always felt that
level of security when sleeping with him.

With a quick kiss to Carey’s cheek, Broden slipped out of bed, then pulled on his jeans. He kept his

steps quiet when he left his bedroom to start some coffee. No reason to wake his lover, they had no
work today. That reminded Broden he still needed to talk to Isaac about Tony.

“Good morning, Mr. Lyall,” a strange voice said.

Broden’s claws popped out of his fingertips in response to an intruder in his house. A wiry blond

man with the coldest eyes he’d ever seen sat on his counter. A pistol rested beside him in plain sight.
Dressed in a bland outfit of off-brand sneakers, khakis and a beige polo shirt, the man wouldn’t stand
out in a crowd. The average person wouldn’t remember the stranger two seconds after he passed him
on the street. Broden felt chilled at the ease with which the man would blend into a crowd, just a
regular every day guy who comfortably fingered the weapon at his side.

“Who are you?” Broden was quite pleased his voice didn’t shake. He needed to get this guy out of

here before Carey woke up. His jaguar swished its tail as if waiting to pounce and protect its mate.
Except the man had an oddly familiar smell and Broden’s fears were confirmed with the man’s next
words.

“No need to get uppity, little cat. I’m just here to talk to my son.” Somehow Broden didn’t feel

reassured. If the man had been a shifter, he would’ve been something with big claws and sharp teeth.
Examining the intruder, he took note of the similarities. If his sweet Carey were twenty or so years
older, half as pretty and slightly homicidal, the men could’ve been twins.

“He’s sleeping. Come back later and try knocking.” Broden didn’t take his gaze off the man as he

issued his demand.

Carey’s father gave Broden a low dangerous smile that sent chills across his skin. “I’ll wait for my

boy. He doesn’t tend to sleep in much.”

As if to prove his words right, Carey shuffled into the room, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He

smiled when he caught sight of the gun-toting intruder. “Hey, Dad.”

The joy in the man’s eyes at catching sight of his son made him look like a completely different

person. The fast transformation from cold killer to caring father made Broden a little dizzy.

“Hey, Care.” Carey’s father jumped off the counter and hugged his child like any other parent. As if

he hadn’t just broken into Broden’s secure condo and brought a gun with him.

Broden watched Carey’s expression carefully, surprised to see nothing but affection on his lover’s

face. Whatever the man did on the sly, he obviously adored his son and the feeling was returned.

After greeting his father with hugs and manly back-slapping, Carey turned the man to face Broden.

To Broden’s relief, he left psycho dad’s side to give Broden a quick hug before making introductions.

“Broden, this is my dad, Aden. Dad, Broden Lyall, though you obviously know that since you

figured out where he lives,” Carey added.

Carey’s casual acceptance of his father’s break-in skills startled Broden a bit. Of course, he did

hire Carey to hack into other people’s systems. Maybe the Gale family had flexible morals. But while
he found that trait adorable in Carey, he found it nerve-racking in his father. Next to Aden, Carey’s
crocodile friend looked like a baby gecko.

Aden nodded to his son. “I need to talk to you, alone.”

“Anything you want to tell Carey, you can share with me. He’s my mate.” Broden crossed his arms

over his chest. No way would he let this psychopath alone with Carey despite his obvious affection
for his son. Aden wouldn’t be the first father to kill his young. The man all but vibrated with violence.

Aden ignored Broden and kept his eyes on his son, waiting for his response, as if Broden didn’t

matter.

“It’s okay, Dad,” Carey agreed.

“A dead body was left by your front gate this morning. I went there first and found it with a warning

note. The Greben wolf pack is after you. I’m guessing it has something to do with your work for this
guy.” Aden pointed disdainfully at Broden.

“Did you get rid of the body? Eaton can’t see a dead body!” Carey snapped.

Aden nodded. “Don’t worry, I told the boys, but got rid of the evidence. I grabbed his driver’s

license.” He pulled a wallet out of his pocket and tossed it at Carey.

Broden intercepted it and flipped it open.

“Is it Tony?” Carey asked.

“Yeah.” Broden didn’t try to sugarcoat it. They both had suspected who it might be as soon as Aden

had mentioned a dead body. “I wonder why they did it.”

“Because I kept blocking their hacking. They’ve been using him to try and get into our system. I

guess once they figured out it wasn’t working, they had no further use for him,” Carey answered.

“Why did he go to them in the first place?” Broden asked. “He had a good life. A stable pride and a

good job, what else could he want?”

“Maybe he had debts we didn’t know about,” Carey offered. “You never really know about

someone else’s life. Everyone has things to hide.”

Broden resisted that obvious invitation. “You need to come and stay with me for a while. I’m not

letting you go home—the Greben pack knows where you live.”

Aden gave a snort. “You’re an idiot if you think he’s going to leave his friends.”

“Hey! You weren’t even invited here, you can leave any time now,” Broden snarled.

“Don’t talk to my father like that—he’s right, I’m not leaving my friends,” Carey replied, his face

set in mutinous lines.

“Fine, we’ll find them an apartment to stay in, too,” Broden answered. He paced as he began to

make plans. His mind worked better when he was in motion.

“I’m not leaving my house either,” Carey said between gritted teeth.

“Have you seen anyone strange hanging around recently?” Aden asked.

Carey paused. “Harris thought he smelled a strange wolf following us the other day.”

“If the Greben pack is after you, I’ll pull some people off break-in jobs and have them protect your

house,” Broden offered. The Greben family manufactured some of the worst drugs. They even made
some that affected shifters. Both the shifter and human authorities were leery of the group because
they weren’t afraid to hire assassins to take out any enemies.

“You know them?” Aden asked.

“Not personally, but I’ll see that Carey is protected. I run a security agency,” Broden explained as

fear chilled his heart. How could he keep everyone protected when Carey wouldn’t even be
reasonable enough to move into Broden’s secure building? Of course it couldn’t be that secure if
Aden just wandered in.

Aden tossed back his head and laughed. “You think my son needs protection? I just wanted him to

keep an eye out. He’ll be fine.”

“Your lack of concern for your son is appalling!” Broden growled.

“My son is more than capable of taking care of a few shifters,” Aden said, his gaze challenging

Broden to deny his statement.

Broden was more than happy to oblige. “He’s a human against shifters. He doesn’t have a chance,”

Broden snarled.

Carey turned to face Broden with an expression he’d never seen on his lover’s face before. “Are

you saying I’m inferior because I’m a human? Is that what you really believe? That somehow I can’t
take care of myself because I’m too fragile?”

Oh shit!

“No. I’m saying you aren’t equipped to fight shifters,” Broden explained. He flexed his claws to

prove his point.

Carey turned and stormed back to the bedroom.

Aden shook his head. “You stepped in the litter box this time, cat boy.” Aden reached behind him

and collected his gun.

“What did I do?” Broden had no idea how wanting to protect Carey had turned so wrong. He

wasn’t making things up. It was dangerous for humans to fight shifters, everyone knew that.

“You disrespected my boy. He’s not going to stay with you now.” The glee in Aden’s voice

shredded Broden’s last nerve.

“I don’t need the advice of a homophobic anti-shifter asshole,” Broden snapped.

Aden shook his head sadly. “Don’t lay this on me, cat man. I don’t care if my son loves a man as

long as he has someone. Unfortunately, you don’t seem smart enough to keep him.”

Carey returned, wearing his clothes from the night before. “Let’s go,” he told his father, not looking

in Broden’s direction.

“Wait!” Broden said. “I’ll assign someone to watch you.”

“Don’t bother, Broden. I can take care of myself.” Without another word, Carey walked out of the

condo.

“If he gets so much as a scratch on him, I will hunt you down,” Broden growled at Aden.

Aden shook his head. “You know nothing about my son. Maybe you should talk more and fuck less.

Getting to know your mate is just as important as claiming him.”

With those parting words of wisdom, Aden tucked his gun into the waistband in back of his pants,

covered it with his shirt, then followed his son out. Somehow Broden lost both his lover and the
respect of his future father-in-law in one fell swoop.

“Damn.”

Broden dropped onto the couch in defeat and rubbed his face in his hands. After a few minutes of

self-pity, he fetched his phone and called Isaac’s personal cell phone.

“What’s up, boss?” Isaac answered.

“I want you to put a guard on Carey Gale.”

“What’s up?” Isaac asked.

“He’s a target of the Greben family. They just left Tony dead on his doorstep. His psycho father

thinks he can take care of himself.”

“Against a pack of wolf shifters?” Isaac asked incredulous. “I mean I know he’s got shifter friends,

but what there’s only three of them and one human against an entire pack.”

“I know.” Broden felt better now that his friend agreed with his assessment. When Carey and his

father were there, he was beginning to think he was the only sane one.

“I appreciate a confident man, but are you sure he’s not crazy?” Isaac asked.

“Not entirely.”

“What’s his address?”

Broden froze. “I don’t know.”

“You’re dating a man whose house you’ve never been to?”

“We haven’t been dating long,” Broden protested. “Besides, it’ll be in his employee file. Look it

up.”

“You’ve had time to mark him,” Isaac countered.

Broden growled. “Just find his address and put security on him. If anything happens to him I’ll

never forgive myself.”

“We’ll keep him safe,” Isaac answered cheerfully.

“Thanks.” Relief filled Broden. Isaac would take care of Carey just like he handled everything else

with ruthless efficiency.

“No problem, boss, I’m interested in discovering more about the guy you’ve fallen in love with. I

mean I like him and all and he’s a great hacker, but he never really shares anything personal.”

“I know,” Broden agreed. When all was said and done, he really didn’t know his lover that well.

Maybe he could learn more about Carey and keep him safe at the same time. “While you’re checking
out his address, do a background check on his father. He came to my apartment with a gun and he
looked more than capable of using it. I’m thinking he has a military background of some kind. He
might even still be active. His name is Aden Gale.”

“Got it. You know if Carey finds out you’re investigating his father he might not be so forgiving,”

Isaac warned. “Some people try to learn things through conversations with their mates—you might
want to try it sometime.”

“It should concern you to know that you and Carey’s father agree on that point,” Broden pointed

out.

“I’m just letting you know you might be taking the wrong approach to this whole thing,” Isaac said.

“Carey is my mate. He’ll forgive me.” Broden had confidence that his lover would get over his ire.

Didn’t he have to?

* * * *

Carey was still fuming when he entered his house twenty minutes later with his father on his heels.

Eaton, Denton and Harris were lounging around the mansion, eating wings and pizza.

He frowned at the eagle shifter. “Don’t you feel cannibalistic when eating something with wings?”

Eaton laughed. “I think I can overcome any kind of wingy taboo. Besides, you’ve seen me eat

chicken before not to mention eagles hunt smaller birds.”

“True.” Carey plopped down beside Eaton. “And each time it freaks me out a little bit.”

Denton and Harris laughed while Eaton shook his head.

“Did you secure the house like I told you to?” Aden asked the shifters.

“Yes, sir,” they said simultaneously.

“The windows are triggered,” Denton said.

“The garden has traps,” Harris added.

“And I re-calibrated the security cameras,” Eaton spoke up.

“Good. My being here won’t do anything but draw more attention to you. I’m going to go, but I’ll

still be keeping an eye on you. You know how to contact me if there are any further problems. You
guys can always go to the cabin if you need to get away. I’ve added a little money to your account,

Care, I noticed it was getting a bit low,” his father said.

“Thanks, Dad.” Some people might think Aden Gale was a strange parent who taught his son

dangerous things, but Carey knew his father only wanted to prepare him for a world where Carey
wouldn’t be the biggest, baddest thing around. Aden’s goal was for Carey to at least be the last man
standing. Aden’s motto was even the toughest guy will fall if you shoot him in the balls.

His father gave Carey a manly clap on the shoulder before showing himself out. As soon as the

door closed behind him, his roommates started talking.

“Your dad freaks me out,” Eaton confessed.

Carey laughed as the other two shifters nodded their agreement.

“You didn’t have to come home early,” Denton said. “You knew your dad was looking out for us.

Why leave your kitty friend?”

Humiliation burned through Carey as he remembered Broden’s attitude. He’d been halfway to

falling for the guy when he learned how Broden really felt about humans. Carey felt like an idiot.

“Because when Dad came over with his news, Broden told me he doesn’t think I can handle myself

because I’m human,” Carey confessed.

“Oooh no.”

“Idiot!”

“Crap!”

Carey nodded. “I’m apparently quite unable to take care of myself and need my big manly shifter to

look out for me.”

“Well, to give him credit he’s probably not used to humans like you. I mean if he’s only dealt with

shifters in the past, he might not realize that some people, some humans are more than capable of
taking care of themselves,” Eaton offered.

“Always the peacekeeper,” Carey patted Eaton on the leg.

“No, he has a point,” Harris agreed. “You are exceptional. Not every human can take down

shifters. I don’t think you should give up on your cat man yet.”

Carey let out a long sigh. “Is it wrong that I’m looking for reasons to break up with him?”

“Why?” Denton asked. “If he’s that much of an asshole, I can take care of him for you.”

Carey pulled down his shirt to show the mark. “He marked me.”

“Ooh,” Eaton leaned over to check it out closer. “He’s bitey. I thought you smelled weird but I

thought it was because you spend the day with all those other shifters.”

Carey shoved Eaton away. “He thinks I’m his mate.”

Denton frowned. “Cat shifters don’t think they have mates, you’re either a mate or not. If Broden

says you’re his, he’s never going to let you go.”

“Unless we kill him!” Eaton said cheerily. “That would end the whole thing.”

“No killing!” Carey snapped. “I don’t want him dead.”

The thought of Broden being harmed made Carey’s heart beat faster in a panicky rhythm.

“You really like him,” Harris said with the wonder of a child discovering a new toy.

“Yes. I really like the idiot,” Carey grudgingly admitted.

“Carey’s in loooveee,” Denton sang.

“Shut up,” Carey threw a chicken wing at him.

Denton snagged the food out of the air and bit into it.

Looking around the large room made him smile. The house was an old Victorian with all the

original details. With over seven thousand square feet of space, it was too big and too much upkeep.
However, it was filled with memories of his childhood and growing up with his shifter friends. When
Carey looked around the house, he saw a home filled with memories. The long banister he used to
slide down, the ballroom where his grandmother taught him to waltz and the enormous kitchen where
she tried but failed to teach him how to cook.

His grandmother had invited his friends into her home and lavished them with all the love they

could ever need. She’d even added a freshwater pond for Denton to swim in when he needed a good
soak. They’d all mourned deeply when she died five years ago.

“What are you thinking about?” Eaton asked.

“Memories. I’ve had some great ones in this house.”

“Have you thought about who you’re going to leave it to when you die?” Eaton asked.

“Poaching out my house?” Carey asked. Shifters lived much longer than humans and it made sense

to him that his friends would worry about their home.

“No,” Eaton denied. “I was just wondering. You don’t have any siblings. You probably aren’t

going to have kids unless you adopt. And since you’re denying your kitty, I have doubts you’re going
to have any children soon.”

“I have the house divided between the three of you,” Carey said calmly.

“No shit?” Denton asked.

“You’re my closest friends, who else would I leave my house to?”

Harris growled. “You’re going to mate with that damn cat and live a god damned long life. You

understand?”

“What are you talking about?” Carey frowned at his friend.

“If you officially mate with the cat, it will extend your life as long as his,” Denton explained. “I

thought you knew that about shifters. You know everything else about us.”

“Since none of you have mates or have even started looking, the ins and outs of shifter love have

escaped me. I can’t believe you want me to accept him just so I can live longer.” A ruthless idea to
come from the usually dreamy bear.

Harris rolled his eyes. “No, you should accept him because you’re his mate and the only one he’ll

ever have. The fact that mating with him will extend your life is just a bonus.”

Carey sighed. “I can’t decide right now when I’m under a death threat. Once the wolf gang is dealt

with I’ll make a decision about Broden.”

“I think it’s time for us to go back to the cabin. Make them come to us.”

“Gee, I hope no one follows us…” Denton said. The sound of a bone snapping beneath strong jaws

filled the air.

They laughed over their food as they made plans.

Chapter Six

Broden paced back and forth in his office, waiting for an update. At least Denton called him to tell
him they were going out of town.

“He’ll be fine. We’ve got men following him,” Isaac soothed.

“I need to go out there. I don’t like leaving him unprotected.” Broden felt twitchy without Carey in

his sight. Especially since he knew the Greben pack wanted Carey’s blood or maybe his skills,
Broden wasn’t sure about that yet.

“Doesn’t he have three shifters with them, one of them a bear?” Isaac lifted an eyebrow at him.

“That won’t help them if Greben brings the entire pack,” Broden fumed.

“I did some calls and six of Greben’s boys headed out of town. I think your man can handle that

many,” Isaac said.

“I’m not going to chance it,” Broden snarled.

“Why don’t you give him the opportunity to prove himself? You said his father looked like a

dangerous man. Maybe he taught Carey a thing or two. We can keep an eye on the main pack from
here. If they so much as twitch a paw out of place, we’ll hunt them down. If you go too early, you
could lose Carey forever. No one wants to be considered weak by their mate,” Isaac said.

Broden collapsed on his couch. “You’re right. Telling him I thought he was a fragile human started

the fight in the first place. No reason to compound my stupidity.”

“Exactly,” Isaac approved. “Why don’t you go home and get some sleep? I’ll call you if anything

happens. You’re not going to get anything done today.”

Broden couldn’t argue with that reasoning. He’d been there for several hours and had nothing to

show for it. “Fine, but call me if you hear anything. Understand?”

“Absolutely,” Isaac promised.

The busy traffic home had Broden cursing most of the way. Entering his condo and upset about

Carey and the Greben pack, Broden didn’t pay attention to the odd smell until it was too late.

“Oh good, and I thought this was going to be a hard capture,” a silky voice said.

A sharp pain pierced Broden’s neck as the scent of wolves filled his nostrils. Damn, he’d turned

into one of those too-stupid-to-live heroines. All he needed to finish the look was a pair of four-inch
heels and a dark forest to stumble blindly through.

He definitely owed Carey an apology. Longing for his mate, Broden tumbled into darkness.

* * * *

“Who wants s’mores?” Eaton asked brightly.

Three hands went up.

“Cool. I’ll get the stuff.” Eaton scurried off to the small kitchenette.

“You should call him,” Harris said.

Carey scowled at his friend. “Why? So he can explain my inferiority in excruciating detail?”

“I think you’re making too much over that,” Denton scolded. “He’s just a little kitty who doesn’t

understand his ball of yarn bites.”

“That was bad,” Carey scolded his friend.

“Come on, call him before he gets his fur all ruffled,” Harris teased.

“You guys are never going to stop bugging me until I call him, are you?”

“Nope,” Denton exclaimed.

“Fine.” Carey pulled out his cell phone and dialed Broden’s number.

The phone rang and rang before going to voice mail.

“He’s not answering. Huh,” Carey set his phone down. The lack of answer unsettled him a bit.

Broden always answered his phone.

“Maybe he’s using the litter box,” Denton commented.

“I will end you all if you don’t stop with the cat jokes,” Carey threatened.

“Yes, Carey,” Denton and Harris said together.

Carey wasn’t fooled by their fake looks of contrition. He knew they’d start up again.

A howl filled the air, the sound quickly picked up by other wolves.

Eaton stomped back into the room. “I’m glad I didn’t started roasting marshmallows because I hate

it when they get ruined.”

Another round of howls had Eaton tilting his head, not unlike his bird nature. “I hear six.”

Carey yanked back the rug and pulled at the iron ring embedded in the floor. Opening the hatch

revealed a wooden ladder leading down below. The smell of cedar and dust filled his nose. His
father had discovered the underground cellar after he’d bought the cabin. It had been little better than
a hole. Together Carey and his father had added a better framework, cedar flooring and lots and lots
of hooks for weapons. Pulling the cord lit up a lone light bulb.

Rows of guns and stacks of ammo filled the dugout basement. There was even a case full of knives

and a few bows, but for now the collection of guns should do well enough to take out a wolf or two,
or at least sting their asses. Carey grabbed his new favorite Glock, filled his pocket with ammo
cartridges and was ready to go hunting.

Carey climbed back up the ladder, pleased with his collection.

“Ready, wimpy human?” Denton asked.

“I’ll try not to break a nail.” Carey snapped in his first cartridge.

There was a scratch at the door. Carey raised an eyebrow at Harris who shrugged.

“Should we let in the wolf at the door?” Eaton asked.

Carey shrugged. “Sure, why not if they want to make it easy for us. Wolves in a cabin are sort of

like shooting fish in a barrel, not a lot of sport involved.”

Harris opened the door. “Hello.”

A muscled man wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a whole lot of attitude sauntered into the place like he

owned it. “Which of you is Carey Gale?”

“I am.” Carey raised his hand in a pick-me gesture.

“I’ve come to give you the chance to work for John Greben. His last computer tech proved

incompetent. You will, of course, be spared your life as payment,” the wolf in human form explained
as if he were doing Carey a massive favor.

“I’m sorry, but what’s your name?” Carey asked.

“Frank Greben, John is my brother.” Frank’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m not going to be your computer bitch, so you can just go back to your master and tell him you

failed,” Carey made a shooing motion with his hand.

“You think your little friends can help you? I can kill them with just a snap of my finger.” Frank

sneered.

Carey shot his leg.

Frank screamed and clutched at his bloody wound. “I’ll kill you.”

Carey knocked the wolf over with a well-placed kick. “Here’s a little something you might not

know. My father is in Special Forces. He’s taught me all kinds of things about skinning animals. Now
you can get out here nicely and tell your pack leader to leave me the hell alone or I can hunt you down
and kill you.”

The wolves howled.

“My pack will tear you apart,” John warned.

“Or I can shoot them. I’m a really good shot.”

“He is,” Denton verified.

“What about my leg?” Frank whined.

“Shift,” Carey shrugged indifferently.

“I’m not shifting in front of you!” Frank exclaimed.

“Then go outside, I don’t care,” Carey said.

“How am I going to get there?” Frank pointed at his leg.

“I can help with that.” Harris picked up the wolf shifter.

Eaton rushed forward to get the door. “After you.”

Harris tossed Frank out the door.

“Nice distance.” Eaton slapped him on the shoulder. “That shot-put training you had really paid

off.”

“I thought so,” Harris said proudly.

The five wolves sitting in a circle looked at them curiously.

“Tell your alpha we don’t want to have to kill your pack, but we will if you don’t leave us alone,”

Carey warned.

Harris slammed the door.

“Who wants a beer?” Eaton asked.

“Ohh, me!” Denton said.

The other two nodded and a round of beers were opened.

“How long before kitty cat arrives?” Denton asked.

Carey shrugged and took a sip of beer. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

“You think so?” Eaton asked.

“Absolutely. He’s obsessed,” Carey said wryly.

“Your interpersonal skills might need a little work,” Denton offered.

“Hmm. Maybe.” Carey rubbed his chin like he was thinking it over. “No. That can’t be it.”

Carey’s phone rang. “Hello?”

“Carey we have a problem. John Greben has kidnapped Broden. He says he’s going to kill him

unless they get you. Come back to Seattle and let’s get Broden back,” Isaac proposed.

“You want me to turn myself in?” Carey asked in surprise. He’d thought Isaac liked him and if

Broden found out his beta gave Carey over to the Greben pack, he’d kill him.

“Don’t be an idiot,” Isaac scolded. “I want you to come help us kick their collective asses. That

way not only can you get Broden back, but he’ll have to eat his words about you not being able to
protect yourself.”

“I like how you think, Isaac,” Carey commented. “We’ll be back in town in about two hours. Where

do you want me to meet you?”

“Stop by the office and we can get you some weapons before we head out,” Isaac offered.

“That’s not a problem. Where is the pack located?” Carey had no idea of the pack headquarters. He

didn’t generally hang around the part of town where scary wolf packs gathered. His father taught him
to protect himself, but not to look for danger.

“They want to do the exchange at Seward Park. I think they believe we’ll be less likely to cause a

fuss if we’re in public,” Isaac said.

“Idiots. I’ll call ahead to the human police and tell them to stay away. I’d suggest we go straight to

their pack home and hit them where it hurts, but who knows what they’ll do to Broden. They might kill
him just to teach us a lesson.”

“Agreed, but we also don’t necessarily need to go in there guns blazing. If you take out the leader

of a wolf pack, they fall apart. If we can kill John Greben, it’ll all end quickly,” Isaac stated.

Most wolf packs were attack-now-worry-about-details-later and were completely under the

control of their pack alpha. Little individual freedom or thinking took place. If they finished off John
Greben, they were golden.

“Do you have a picture of him?”

“Who?” Isaac asked.

“John Greben.” Carey could grab a picture himself from the Internet, but it would save a lot of time

if he didn’t have to.

“Yeah, I’ll text it to you. Just come back home,” Isaac pleaded.

“We’re on our way. We just need to pack up and head out.” After exchanging goodbyes, Carey hung

up.

Eaton looked at his marshmallows sadly, then stuffed several in his mouth, giving him more of a

chipmunk than an eagle look. “I wove mashmawows,” he said with his mouth full.

“That’s so gross,” Denton groaned. “You know I hate it when you talk with stuff in your cheeks.”

Eaton made kissy noises that sounded more like a deranged squirrel than a kiss, making them all

laugh.

“Broden’s been kidnapped by the Greben pack. They want to exchange me for him at Seward Park

tonight. We’ve gotta get going,” Carey explained.

No one moved.

“Which part of going did you guys not understand?” he asked.

“The part where you think we’re going to exchange you for anyone,” Harris answered.

“I’m not really going to be exchanged. It’s just a ploy to get Broden back and kill their leader John

Greben. I won’t be in any danger,” Carey promised.

“I don’t know these cats well enough to trust them with this kind of exchange. I say before we go

we call in the big guns,” Denton said.

Eaton nodded and swallowed his marshmallows. “Let’s call your father.”

The city streets shone from the recent rain as they headed to the park, giving everything a blinding

glare when oncoming cars flashed their headlights.

Pulling into the parking lot, Carey saw the rest of the office had already arrived.

“You ready, Carey?” Eaton asked. The eagle shifter had his hair tied back and covered with a

black beanie, and all four had Kevlar vests and enough weapons to start a revolution. Carey had damn
near emptied the cabin’s weapon room.

“As ready as I’m going to get,” Carey replied.

He had a Glock in his underarm holster, a Sig tucked in the back of his waistband and a .38 nestled

in his ankle holster, plus every pocket he had was filled with ammo. If that all failed, he had the
Bowie knife his dad gave him for his tenth birthday because according to his dad, if someone pulls a
knife on you make sure yours is bigger.

There was no doubt in Carey’s head that the wolves had no intention of letting anyone but Carey

leave alive, and that only because they needed him. The more cats they could take out, the better it
was for the wolves. Less competition was better for them in the long run.

“Let’s go get your cat,” Denton said. His anticipatory smile would’ve been chilling if Carey hadn’t

been sired by tougher stock.

“Looks like the wolves need to be taught some manners,” Harris said in his calm way. Even going

into a possible gunfight, Harris never lost his Zen-like tranquility. Carey had seen him bash a rhino
shifter’s head in and then calmly finish his sandwich.

In synch, the four friends exited the van and headed toward Isaac’s group. The beta’s eyes widened

when he caught sight of them.

“I guess it’s not your first time at this rodeo,” Isaac commented.

“We like to call this a regular Saturday afternoon,” Denton replied.

Isaac examined their gear. “Military grade. How did you get your hands on this stuff?”

“It’s rude to ask where your presents come from when you find them wrapped under the tree,”

Eaton said piously.

Carey suppressed his laughter because his dad had given Eaton that particular sniper rifle complete

with a big red bow two Christmases back.

“You have hidden depths, alpha mate. I think you’ll fit in just fine,” Isaac’s eyes glowed

approvingly while Carey wondered if that was such a good thing or not.

“Have you seen the wolves?” Carey asked.

Isaac nodded to a field away from the parking lot. “Over there.”

Carey nodded and headed in that direction, his friends flanking him on both sides, Harris on his

right, Denton and Eaton on his left. He vaguely heard cursing and a stampede of feet following them.
Carey kept his focus on the man standing in the middle of the field with a dozen wolf shifters, holding
a gun trained on another man lying on the ground.

Carey had wrestled with himself over whether or not he could commit to Broden, but seeing his

strong, vibrant lover collapsed on the ground sealed his answer. He loved Broden. Every stubborn,
annoying bit of him, and if John Greben hurt one hair on Broden’s head, Carey was going to kill him.

“Took you long enough,” John sneered. He was a handsomer version of his brother, but his eyes

had a meaner cast. Carey knew that type of man—he’d snap for no reason and beat the crap out of
someone, then blame it on the victim later. A bully. Carey knew exactly how to deal with bullies.

“Didn’t your brother tell you we were on the way?” Carey gave Frank an appraising look. The

wolf glared back at him.

John laughed, a cold sound holding all the warmth of the winter wind. “He told me you shot him.”

“Yes, I did. I’d have killed him if I’d known you had Broden,” Carey said.

John smiled, his dark eyes lit with a mean mirth. “I like you. You’re almost as ruthless as me. Your

big drawback is that you have loved ones. If you have people who love you, you’ll always be weak.”

“Weird, I’ve always thought that’s what makes me strong.” Carey stared at John as if waiting to

hear what he was going to say, but in reality he was assessing the situation.

“I like your house,” John said. “While we’re here, I’ve decided to make it my new base. My men

are there now, helping themselves.”

Carey laughed. “I somehow doubt that.”

A look of confusion crossed John’s face. “I don’t get you, you’re not the least worried about

coming out here and being surrounded by wolves. Even with your backup, you are outnumbered yet
you don’t smell the least bit like fear, and neither do your buddies. The cats all stink of it,” he
sneered.

“Can we get on with this?” Carey asked in a bored voice. “Give me back my mate and I won’t kill

you.”

John threw back his head and laughed. “He’s your mate? This just gets better and better. Sadly, it

does mean I can’t kill him if I want your services. Tell you what, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll free
Broden here and you come work for me.”

“I have a counter offer. Free Broden and I don’t kill you,” Carey said.

“That’s your counter offer? How about I kill one of your pretty friends?” John moved the gun from

Broden and toward Eaton.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Carey said.

“Why not?”

“Because my sniper gets an itchy trigger finger when my friends are threatened,” Carey offered.

“Sniper! Ha! You don’t have a sniper. Who do you think you are?” John taunted.

“Lance, shoot the eagle,” John ordered.

The wolf by John’s right pulled out his gun and pointed it toward Eaton. A loud crack filled the air.

A red bullet wound appeared in the center of Lance’s forehead. He toppled to the ground. Before he
even hit it, Carey knew he was dead.

“Did you want to try that again?” Carey asked.

John stared at his dead pack member. “I can shoot Broden before your sniper gets me.”

“You can try,” Carey agreed. He crossed his arms in front of his chest as he waited for John’s

answer. “We can do the whole shootout at the OK Corral thing if you’d like, but that sniper taught me
everything I know. We will win, and even if we don’t, we’ll kill most of your pack—all so you can
get one hacker. You might want to think about that.”

John’s phone rang. Not taking his eyes off Carey, he answered. “What do you mean you can’t take

the house?”

Harris’s big body shook with laughter beside Carey.

“Shush, you’ll make him feel bad,” Carey scolded.

Broden still hadn’t moved. Carey wondered if Broden was drugged or if the bruise on his forehead

had caused his unconsciousness.

“Get everyone out you can. I’ll talk to the owner.” John hung up with the person on the phone still

squawking in the receiver.

“Problem?” Carey asked innocently.

“Your house has apparently eaten ten of my wolves.” John paled.

Denton didn’t try to hide his amusement—he threw back his head and laughed.

“A wolf-eating house.” Eaton giggled.

“Enough!” Carey scolded his friends. The traps they’d set captured the wolves in cages beneath the

ground. It would take a special pass code to release them. His father had set the system years ago
when he’d worried some of his enemies might be interested in capturing or killing his son.

“I’m willing to trade your cat for my wolves. Do we have a deal?” John’s expression showed what

he thought of having to make one.

“Deal. I take Broden now and I’ll send your wolves home.”

John scowled. “How do I know you’ll keep your part of the bargain?”

“What am I going to do with a bunch of wolves?” Carey asked.

“Good point. If I don’t see them in two hours, then I’m coming to get them myself.”

“You should come get them,” Carey agreed. “Otherwise, they won’t have a way to get home.”

“I’ll send cars,” John said sourly.

“What did you do to Broden?” Carey had held back asking before because he figured John

wouldn’t answer just to spite him.

John pulled a vial out of his pocket. “I drugged him. If you give him this, it’ll counter the drug and

he’ll wake up with only a headache for his troubles. Here, catch.”

Carey easily caught the vial.

“You know, for a human you have really good reflexes,” John commented.

“Thanks. Harris, grab Broden,” Carey ordered.

Harris put the rifle strap across his chest, then walked over and picked up Broden. The bear shifter

easily flipped the unconscious cat over his shoulder. A flash caught Carey’s attention.

Isaac shrugged. “What, you didn’t think I’d get a picture of that? It’s perfect blackmail material.”

“Send me a copy,” Carey said. With a nod to John and a wave to his kitty cohorts, Carey led his

group back to the van.

“That was disappointingly bloodshed-free,” Denton said with a pout.

“One guy died,” Harris pointed out.

“Yeah, but it was all tidy and neat,” Denton protested.

Carey laughed. “Sorry, next time I’ll request more blood splatter.”

Shaking his head, he got in the car and they drove home.

Chapter Seven

Broden woke up to a blinding headache in the most comfortable bed he’d ever lain in. Like sleeping
on a cloud, the mattress cushioned his body and the covers cocooned him in a cozy nest. He could
easily stay there forever.

“Good morning, lazy cat.”

Broden’s favorite voice in the world added to his pleasure and he began to purr. “Morning, mate,”

he replied. His voice sounded rusty to his ears and his throat dry.

“Here’s some water,” Carey slid an arm behind him and pressed a glass to his lips.

Broden happily drank the cool liquid as he soaked in his mate’s scent. The whole bed smelled like

him—hell, the whole room did.

“I’m in your home,” Broden said, amazed.

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Carey asked.

“Someone stabbed something into my neck,” Broden replied.

“John Greben had you drugged and kidnapped in order to get to me,” Carey informed him.

Broden blinked up at his mate. “But you’re here and I’m here. What happened?”

“Let’s just say things didn’t work out for him like he thought.”

Looking around the room, Broden soaked in the architecture. Unlike his modern, cold building,

Carey’s room had interesting moldings and pale yellow walls with vibrant artwork. The furniture had
the feel of solid wood and the window treatments blended with the colors in the room. Overall, it
oozed home from the very core.

“No wonder you don’t like my place,” Broden mused.

Carey laughed. “You’ve slept for a few days, want to take a shower and get some food?”

“Sounds good,” Broden agreed. He didn’t really want to get up—he’d never been so comfortable

in his life, but he did need to use the bathroom and he might as well shower while he was there.

“Come on,” Carey held out hand to help Broden up.

Broden let Carey pull him out of bed before wrapping an arm around his mate and dragging him

toward the door he pointed to.

“I think it would be a better idea if we shower together. Water conservation and all,” Broden

declared.

“Hmm, very wise idea,” Carey agreed. “You go ahead and use the bathroom. I’ll come in when you

start the shower.”

Broden did his business, brushed his teeth with a new toothbrush he found on the sink and started

the water. With some food and another session in that heavenly bed, he’d be good as new.

Carey appeared as if on cue.

“Get in and I’ll wash your back,” Carey motioned Broden inside.

“That’s probably the best offer I’ve ever had,” Broden agreed, stepping into the tub. It was one of

those old-fashioned claw-foot tubs with the amazingly high sides. A curtain ran all around it, but
when Cary moved the curtain away from the window, it exposed a private rose garden.

“My grandmother planted that garden in tribute to my mother. She died having me, but apparently

loved roses,” Carey said.

“Is your grandmother still around?”

Carey shook his head. “No, we lost her a few years ago. She left me this house.”

“From what I’ve seen of it it’s beautiful,” Broden said.

“I love it and I love you,” Carey said, soaping up his hands.

Broden smiled. “Does this mean you’re going to agree to become my mate officially?”

“Someday. There’s not any hurry, is there?” Carey asked.

Broden sighed as his mate’s hands ran across his body, stroking and soothing him with each pass.

“No hurry as long as everyone knows that I have you.”

“I’ve thought about adding another tattoo,” Carey said as he wrapped his hand around Broden’s

erection.

“Whatever you want,” Broden agreed. “As long as you keep me.”

“Would you like to move in with me?” Carey asked. “My friends won’t be moving out.”

“I wouldn’t ask them to,” Broden reassured him.

“Good, then let the negotiations begin.” Without warning, Carey dropped to his knees and Broden

realized his lover had no intention on playing fair, a fact that became less and less important against
the skill of Carey’s talented mouth. In no time at all his orgasm rushed through him only to be greedily
sucked down by his lover.

His knees wobbled and he was more than a little relieved when Carey stood up to help support

him.

“Come, cat man. Let’s go back to bed and I’ll tell you a bedtime story about the boy who grew up

in this house,” Carey coaxed.

Eager to go back to bed, Broden let Carey lead him back into the other room only to stop at the

sight of a pair of fully automatic machine guns with white bows around them. They looked like the
sort of bows you’d put on a wedding package.

“Aww, Dad must like you,” Carey said. “He only leaves guns for people he likes.”

“Um, that’s sweet?”

“Welcome to the family, Broden,” Carey said with a grin.

Exhaustion wore Broden down. “Let’s get the guns off the bed and take a nap. After that we can

explore all the things two grown men can do in such a big comfy bed.”

“It’s a date,” Carey agreed.

Broden climbed into bed and cuddled his mate close. Today he just wanted to lie there and be with

Carey. Tomorrow he’d worry about the details of meshing their lives together.