Brac Village 12

Loving Styles

Styles hates wolves with a passion. They have been nothing but trouble to him
since he was a small pup. It was wolves who killed his parents. It was wolves
who messed with him in his young adult life. So when fate decides to give Styles
a wolf for a mate, he finds himself at a crossroad, uncertain of which road to take.

Robby Nobles is determined to make Styles his. He knows about the coyote's
tragic past, but he isn’t going to let that stand in his way of going after what is
his. The harder Styles pushes him away, the harder Robby fights to get near the
man. Loving Styles is easy, but getting the man to tear down his walls is proving
tough.

When someone breaks into Robby's house, trashing the place, Styles agrees to let
Robby stay the night. He swore that all wolves were his mortal enemy, until
Robby touches a place Styles thought long dead.

His heart.

Genre:

Alternative (M/M or F/F), Shape-shifter, Vampires/Werewolves

Length:

35,753 words

LOVING STYLES

Brac Village 12

Lynn Hagen

EVERLASTING CLASSIC

MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic ManLove


LOVING STYLES
Copyright © 2013 by Lynn Hagen
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62740-280-4

First E-book Publication: August 2013

Cover design by Siren Publishing
All art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be
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All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any
resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly
coincidental.


PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers

Dear Readers,

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Hagen from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank
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Table of Contents

Title Page
Copyright Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
About the Author

LOVING STYLES

Brac Village 12

LYNN HAGEN

Copyright © 2013

Chapter One

“Are you serious?” Styles threw his head back and laughed.

“I’ve never heard of a man that persistent.”

Reese chuckled. “No shit. It seemed every time my back was

turned, the guy was trying to creep in. I wasn’t sure what to do.
I’m not into beating up twinks.”

“And Caleb didn’t say anything?” Styles asked about the

Lucky Clover owner. He leaned back against the counter and
smiled, knowing damn well the owner wouldn’t have kicked the
man out either.

“Not directly to the little blond guy.” Reese smiled, showing

off a perfect row of straight, white teeth. “He was actually
amused by the whole situation. He said that’s what he paid me
for so handle it.”

“So did you?” Styles already knew the answer. Reese had a

very big sexual appetite. The man was as kinky as they came.

The smile on his face widened right before Reese winked at

him. “Oh, I handled it all right.”

There was no way Styles was going to get any details out of

Reese. The man never kissed and told. He was a true gentleman,
even if he was a big-time freak. It was just a part of his charm.

“I see you haven’t killed those wolves yet.” Reese turned and

set his mug of coffee in the sink. “How’s it going at work?”

Styles lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “They’re not that bad—

although Tryck still gets on my last nerve.”

Reese nodded. “I heard he can be a pain in the ass. But he

has a good side.”

has a good side.”

Styles had yet to see it. Working for Tryck Santiago was like

working for a lion with a thorn in his paw. The timber wolf was
always snapping or grumbling out orders. The only time he
seemed content was when his mate was around.

But then again, Styles didn’t like wolves. He had a few damn

good reasons for feeling that way.

“Ah, well,” Reese said as he walked toward the kitchen

archway. “It’s about time I went to bed.”

Styles looked at his watch to see that it was six in the

morning. He knew Reese had worked late at the Lucky Clover.
The bar slash restaurant stayed open until midnight. Styles had
yet to go to the place. He really didn’t get out much. He was
more of a homebody. Work kept him busy and he enjoyed
kicking his feet up at home.

Not to say he didn’t go places, but he hadn’t visited a lot of

the new establishments in town.

“Later,” he said as Reese raised a hand and waved it at him

before rounding the corner.

As Reese walked out, Kenway walked in. Styles

remembered the errand he had to run. Tryck had pretty much
barked at Styles that he had lost a bet with his brothers and it
was his turn to buy breakfast.

Tryck had lost the bet, so why did Styles have to get the

damn donuts? He wasn’t going to argue with his boss, even
though he had wanted to. “I’ll be by this morning, Kenway.”

Kenway held his chest and grabbed the counter as if he were

having a heart attack. Styles rolled his eyes and chuckled.

“What’s the occasion that you’re finally coming by my

“What’s the occasion that you’re finally coming by my

bakery?”

Styles felt bad that he hadn’t come to see Kenway and

Ross’s new place. He wasn’t much of a sweet eater and had
been too busy when the place first opened. “Wolves are making
me pick up some donuts for the shop.”

Kenway walked to the side door and opened it, bending

down to grab the morning paper. He tossed it onto the counter
before filling his thermal cup with coffee. “Then I guess I’ll see
you there.”

Styles went back upstairs. He had a few more hours before

he had to be into work. Maybe he could get another hour’s
sleep.

* * * *

Styles pulled his motorcycle in front of the bakery and cut the

motor, cursing as he removed his helmet. Maverick was standing
outside the bakery, talking on his phone.

He had avoided the alpha every chance he could. He was

grateful the man had let Styles and the other men stay at the
Manchester place, but the guy was still a wolf.

He knew he couldn’t blow Maverick off, not like he did with

any other wolf he had come into contact with. Styles might hate
wolves, but he wasn’t an idiot. He knew when to bite his tongue
and smile.

As Styles approached the bakery, Maverick finished up with

his phone call, sliding his cell into his jacket. Styles walked past
him, not saying a word as he reached for the door to Sweet

Delight.

“Sometimes you don’t get what you want, but what you

need.”

Styles turned back to Maverick, frowning, feeling a bit

confused. What in the hell was the guy talking about? Was he
talking about donuts?

Light-grey eyes were filled with amusement and if Styles

examined them too closely…understanding. But that couldn’t be
because there was no wolf alive that would ever understand why
Styles was the way he was. Anger filled him, but he shoved it
down to the pit of his gut.

Getting pissed at Maverick wasn’t on his list of things to do

today. Although Styles wasn’t a coward, he wasn’t stupid either.
Instead of letting his own personal feelings get in the way, he
smirked at the guy.

“Bakery fuck your order up?” he asked, not really caring

about the answer, but knew walking away from Maverick when
he was talking wasn’t a wise move.

The side of Maverick’s mouth twitched before the alpha

walked away from him, heading toward his Harley. Styles stood
there for a moment, wondering exactly what the man had been
talking about. He hated riddles and hated being confused even
more.

As Maverick slid his glasses on, his head turned back toward

Styles, his long black hair swaying over his shoulders. “Don’t
give up on him. It’ll be the worst mistake of your life.” The
motorcycle thrummed to life before Maverick pulled away from
the spot he had been parked in and blended into the traffic that
was passing by.

was passing by.

Styles stood there, listening as the roar of the motorcycle

faded, an eerie feeling washing over him. He knew he wasn’t
going to ask the alpha what he was talking about so he resigned
himself to the fact that the riddle would go unanswered.

He didn’t move until a customer tried to walk out of the

bakery, Styles blocking the man’s way. He gave the woman a
polite smile before he moved aside to allow her to exit before he
walked inside, instantly smelling sugar and melted butter, maple
and honey. His stomach growled, but he knew donuts were not
something that would fill him up.

He still had time. Maybe he would stop by the diner for some

breakfast before heading into work.

“Damn it,” Kenway said from behind the large, glass

enclosure. “You just made me lose a bet.”

Styles grinned at his friend. “And what bet would that be?”
“That you wouldn’t actually show up and get the donuts for

the Santiago brothers.” Kenway chuckled.

“Which means Ross won,” Styles surmised good-naturedly.

“He can buy dinner since he’s rich now.”

Kenway snorted. “I lost a dollar.”
That made Styles laugh. “You are such a cheap bastard.”
He spotted a few thermals of coffee off to the side, along with

Styrofoam cups and some sugar. Now coffee he could use. It
would hit the spot. Styles moved over to the small setup,
grabbing a cup and pumping the Morning Blend coffee until it
was near the rim.

“Okay, I need a dozen donuts, Kenway. If you dropped a

few on the floor…that would be all right.” He winked at Kenway

few on the floor…that would be all right.” He winked at Kenway
as he grabbed one packet of sugar and emptied it into the
aromatic brew. “They’re not for me anyway.”

Kenway’s perfectly executed arched brow made Styles smile

from ear to ear. “I’m not going to drop the donuts just because
they are for the wolves.”

“A guy could try.” Stirring his coffee, Styles took a careful sip

before heading over to where Kenway was standing. “Ah well,
then just give me a dozen so I don’t have to hear Tryck’s
mouth.”

Grabbing a flat cardboard box, Kenway began to construct

it. “You should be getting along with them by now. You’ve been
working there for over a year now. You can’t tell me that you
don’t like at least one of them.”

Watching the buffalo shifter open the display to start

collecting the donuts, Styles ignored the man’s statement.
Kenway of all people should know how Styles felt and why he
held onto his anger. His friend might get along with a lot of the
residents here, but Styles wasn’t going to be so forgiving—even
though no one in this town had technically done him wrong.
Kenway glanced at him through the glass and he could see the
man give a heavy sigh.

It seemed all the men he lived with were getting on with their

lives while Styles felt as if his was stuck in the past, stuck in a
limbo that ate at him every fucking day. It wasn’t that he wanted
to live that way, but he couldn’t get past the fact that a pack of
wolves had killed his parents and left him scarred for life. He
refused to forget the times when he was a young pup and had
gotten beat up by a few wolves who had nothing better to do

gotten beat up by a few wolves who had nothing better to do
than pick on the little coyote.

There were times in his early adult life when he had run-ins

with a few wolves who thought themselves better and tried to
prove it at Styles’s expense.

No, Styles wasn’t going to let bygones be bygones.
“Breathe,” Kenway said as he straightened. “You were

having such a good morning.”

Styles hated that his morning was ruined. He wasn’t laid back

like Reese and he wasn’t friendly like Kenway. It wasn’t that
Styles was a sourpuss, but whenever he thought of the things that
had happened to him in life, his blood always boiled.

Styles turned away, glancing at a shelf filled with fresh baked

bread, trying to lasso his anger and rein it in. As he had done
most of his life, he shoved the toxic emotions to the pit of his
being and then turned back toward Kenway, nodding toward the
box in the guy’s hands, and getting away from the subject of
wolves. “Finished?”

He took a sip of his coffee, ignoring Kenway’s assessing

eyes, hoping the man dropped the subject. He knew the buffalo
shifter cared, but there were just some things Styles didn’t want
to talk about.

“Yep.” Kenway closed the lid and set the box on the counter.

Styles handed the man the twenty that his boss had given him the
night before. “Coffee is on the house.”

Styles grinned, forgetting his momentary anger as he gave

Kenway a quick wink, raising his cup at the same time. “Giving
me freebees?”

Kenway shook his head, but Styles could see the humor in

Kenway shook his head, but Styles could see the humor in

the man’s expression. “Don’t get used to it. Since this is the first
time you’ve stepped foot in here, I’ll give it to you for free. You
pay the next time.”

Styles once again felt guilty that he had never visited Sweet

Delight before. But he wasn’t a sweet eater and he always had
to be at work at the crack of dawn. He glanced around the
shop, nodding in approval. “It’s a great place you have here,
Kenway. You and Ross have done good for yourselves.”

“Why, thank you,” Ross said as he walked out into the shop

from a small door to Styles’s right. “I’m glad you finally came to
see the place.”

Styles liked Ross. Even though the man was a vampire, he

was pretty cool people. Ross was the most androgynous man
Styles had ever met, but that only added to his character. The
guy also won a shitload of brownie points for the way he treated
Kenway. Styles always saw them at home, taking care of one
another, smooching, and damn if they didn’t look blissful.

“Try this.” Kenway slid a piece of buttered bread onto a

small paper plate and handed it to Styles. “I know you don’t like
sweets, but the bread is pretty damn good here.”

“That’s because we lucked out with Baker and Robby,”

Ross said. Styles didn’t know who they were talking about, but
he took the plate. The bread did look delicious. He could feel
the warmth of the plate and see the butter melting, making
Styles’s mouth water.

Before he could take a bite, a short, slim guy with blondish-

brown hair and hazel eyes walked from the back. Styles stared
at the man, thinking how damn cute the guy was. Styles felt his

at the man, thinking how damn cute the guy was. Styles felt his
blood begin to simmer and his body tingle when the man cocked
his head to the side, one dimple showing when he smiled.

Styles was riveted to the spot as the guy winked at him. He

gave a low chuckle, liking that the smaller man had such
confidence to openly flirt. The scrawny guy cocked an eyebrow
at Styles and he saw a glimmer of amusement in those entrancing
hazel eyes.

“Wow,” Ross said, almost breaking the spell. “I can feel the

attraction as if it were a damn breathing entity.”

A frisson of nervous energy passed through Styles. He set the

plate down, appreciating the gorgeous perfection—because the
man was, he definitely was, hell, he really was—but mostly
because the stranger was so focused on him. Styles was instantly
aroused and that was something that had never really happened
before. Not this instantaneously.

“Uh, Styles,” Kenway began as he waved a hand in front of

Styles’s face. “That’s Robby, my head baker.”

The man might be slim, but he was pure male and was flirting

with him. Styles’s grin widened, as he felt his libido go crazy. He
took a step forward, ready to ask the guy out when he caught
Robby’s scent.

A heavy lid slammed down on what he was feeling, his senses

putting up walls all around him. But to his dismay, his cock was
still hard in his jeans.

Robby was a fucking wolf.
Figures.
How could he have been attracted to—the coffee cup

dropped from Styles’s hand, hitting the floor as his breath caught

dropped from Styles’s hand, hitting the floor as his breath caught
in his lungs, a second, more powerful scent invading him.

“Oh shit,” Kenway said as he came around the counter,

pushing at Robby. “Get back into the kitchen.”

A rough growl ripped from Styles’s lips as he stared

menacingly at his mate. There was no goddamn way fate had
given him a fucking wolf. There had to be a mistake—a huge
one.

“But why?” Robby looked from Kenway over to Styles, his

blondish-brown brows pulled together.

“Because he is about to attack you,” Ross said as his eyes

widened and he stepped in Styles’s path. “And not in a good
way.”

Robby’s hazel eyes filled with utter bafflement. “But he’s my

mate. Why would he attack me?”

“Fuck!” Kenway cursed loudly before literally picking Robby

up and taking him into the kitchen when Styles felt his canines
descend.

“Now, Styles,” Ross began as he held his hands up. “Don’t

do anything rash.”

Styles turned and slammed his fist into the display case, the

thick glass shattering as rage filled him to overflowing. He paid
no attention to the way his hand was bleeding as he stared
murderously toward the kitchen door.

Snatching the box of donuts up from the counter, Styles

headed toward the door and walked outside.

He got far away from the bakery and then walked to the side

of the bike shop where he pressed his back into the wall. Styles
rested his head against the wood, glancing up toward the

rested his head against the wood, glancing up toward the
cloudless sky as he let go of his rage and let the knowledge that
his mate was a wolf sink in.

He thought about that single dimple, those big hazel eyes, and

that short, blondish-brown hair. His heart began to hurt knowing
that Robby was the very same breed he hated with a vengeance.
Why would fate do that to him?

Sometimes you don’t get what you want, but what you

need. The words made sense to him now. Somehow the alpha
had known that Robby was Styles’s mate.

Don’t give up on him. It’ll be the worst mistake of your

life.

Shaking his head, Styles glanced at his feet, wondering if the

alpha was right. He knew what a rare find a mate was. But he
couldn’t seem to get past the fact that Robby was a wolf. The
remembered way that Robby had smiled at Styles was like a
punch to his gut now that he knew the truth.

It had been the sexiest smile that Styles had ever seen.
But it would be the last time Styles would see that smile

because he wasn’t going anywhere near the man again.

Robby was a wolf, Styles’s sworn enemy, and he wasn’t

going to make any exceptions.

Not even for his mate.

Chapter Two

“Uh, what in the hell was that all about?” Robby asked as he

walked out of the kitchen, seeing Kenway and Ross cleaning up
the broken glass. Baker was helping, sweeping up the shards
from the floor.

The stranger had been his mate. Robby had felt that deep in

his soul. His wolf had howled to get free and go after the man.
So why did the guy have such a violent reaction when he found
out Robby was his mate? It made absolutely no sense to him.

“We need to talk.” Kenway pointed toward the office,

leaving his mate and Baker to clean the mess up. Robby wanted
to help them, but he wanted answers as well. That was the most
violent reaction he had ever witnessed to someone finding their
mate and he wanted to know why his mate had lost his mind.

Heading into Kenway’s office, Robby took a seat and waited

for his boss to start talking. He had wanted to knock the man out
for pulling him away from his mate, but Robby had worked with
Kenway for some time now. He knew there had to be a reason
that the buffalo shifter had forcefully moved him into the kitchen
against his will. That wasn’t like Kenway.

Taking a seat behind the desk, Kenway ran his hand over his

head, shaking it a few times before he glanced up at Robby. “I’m
really fucking sorry that Styles is your mate.”

Well, damn. That was pretty harsh. “Why?” he asked, his

tone brisk. He didn’t appreciate the way Kenway was acting,
like his mate was some sort of mass murderer. But at least now
he knew the guy’s name.

he knew the guy’s name.

Styles.
He could scent that Styles was coyote. Robby liked that his

mate was a different breed of shifter. But he had a feeling that
was a bad thing. Gee, what makes you think that? Maybe
because Styles busted a very thick piece of glass.

Giving a heavy sigh, Kenway sat up straight. “There is no

easy way to say this, Robby.” His boss looked him straight in his
eyes and said, “Styles hates wolves with a deep passion.”

Robby stiffened, his posture going rigid as his lips parted. A

sudden coldness hit his core at Kenway’s words as his wolf
rebelled at the idea that his mate hated him. He felt dizzy at the
knowledge. He lowered his head, pressing his lips together. He
had done nothing wrong and shouldn’t be held accountable for
someone else’s slights against Styles.

“I know this is disappointing,” Kenway continued. “But—”
“Why should I be disappointed?” Even though his heart felt

like it was shrinking. He lifted his head, staring directly at his
boss.

“Because Styles is going to refuse you, has refused you,”

Kenway replied, confusion in his blue eyes.

“I’m not giving up on him.” Pure confidence filled his voice.

“He may hate wolves, but he’s my mate. Whether Styles wants
to face that fact or not, I’m not going to let him toss me aside like
trash. He’ll be mine, Kenway.”

A wide smile spread across the man’s face as he dipped his

head in acknowledgment. “Good for you, Robby.” And then
Kenway’s features grew serious, fine lines etching around his
eyes and mouth. “Just be careful. He has a lot of rage inside of

eyes and mouth. “Just be careful. He has a lot of rage inside of
him.”

Robby had witnessed that rage. He had been glancing out of

the small window that lay in the center of the door, watching as
his mate shattered the display. It had been the most violent scene
he had witnessed. “Can I ask why he hates wolves?”

Kenway sat back and gazed at Robby. “His parents were

killed by wolves. Styles watched it happen. He was also scarred
by those very same wolves. His legs are pretty fucked up. He’s
also had a few run-ins with some unsavory men who happened
to be—”

“Wolves,” Robby finished for Kenway. Jeez, no wonder

Styles hated his kind. But Robby hadn’t been the one who had
hurt Styles and he was determined to show his mate that not all
wolves were evil.

“Yep.” Kenway nodded. “It’s kind of hard to like a breed

that has done you wrong your entire life.”

No shit. “I’m still not giving up.”
Kenway inclined his dark head. “If you need time off, just let

me know.”

Robby had never been the type to back down. He had left

his pack to strike out on his own, had put himself through
culinary school while working two jobs to support himself. He
didn’t let anything stand in his way.

And he wasn’t about to let Styles stand in his way of them

becoming a mated couple. He wasn’t foolish enough to believe
that this was going to be easy. Styles had a lot of rage inside of
him and Robby was going to have to find a way to get around
that and hopefully help the man heal.

Styles was his and he was very determined to make the

coyote see how important that was…to both of them. “I’ll need
three weeks off so I can kidnap him and take him to a remote
place.”

Kenway gaped at him.
Robby chuckled. “I’m just kidding, mostly. But I appreciate

you giving me leeway to pursue my mate.”

The way his boss was looking at him made Robby smile.
“Dude, I’ve never met a more driven man. You aren’t going

to let his feelings deter you in the least, are you?”

“Nope,” Robby said as he stood. “Why should I let him

throw away our happiness because of what some jackasses did
to him? Styles deserves his chance to be happy like everyone
else and I’m going to make sure he finds it, even if I have to beat
him over the head to show him the way.”

“And here I was feeling bad for you.” Kenway chuckled.

“Now I’m feeling a bit sorry for Styles.”

Robby clenched his jaw. “Don’t feel sorry for him, Kenway.

He is about to get a very rude awakening. He may have been
fucked over by my breed, but that doesn’t mean I deserve to
suffer for those crimes. He will be mine.”

Kenway gave him a smile that said he was looking forward to

this. “He works at Santiago Cycles and lives with me and a few
other men at the Manchester place out on route—”

“I know where it is.” Robby headed toward the door. “I’m

taking the rest of the day off. I think Baker can handle the
work.” He didn’t wait for an answer. Robby may be scrawny
and not an average height for men, but he was a force to be
reckoned with. He wasn’t sure how he had been slighted when it

reckoned with. He wasn’t sure how he had been slighted when it
came to the build of his body, but he was a true alpha at heart.

He just had to make sure Styles didn’t try to kill him.
“I’m heading out,” he said to Ross and Baker. “If you need

me, just call.”

“You’re going after him, aren’t you?” Ross asked.
“Damn right,” he answered in a self-assured tone as he

walked out of the bakery. Instead of heading to Santiago Cycles,
Robby walked to Floral Fragrances. He smiled when he walked
in, seeing Randy and Blair.

“Hey, Robby,” Blair called out when he entered the shop.

Robby liked coming here to get the things he needed for his
garden. He had been fixing the place up that he had bought,
putting a botanical garden in the back. It was coming together
nicely. The backyard almost looked like a garden someone
would have as an exhibit, but he liked how enclosed it made his
yard feel and the beauty it brought to his place.

“How are things going?” he asked as he walked over to the

counter and shook Blair’s, and then Randy’s, hand. He liked
Randy. The guy was a bit shy, but he always smiled when he
saw Robby. The man was a wealth of information when it came
to what plants or flowers he needed for his garden.

“Come to pick something up?” Randy asked as he set a pair

of pruners down on the counter.

“Yep,” Robby answered. “I need a bouquet.”
Blair’s orange-brown eyes lit up. “Oh, Robby has a

boyfriend.”

“No,” he corrected. “I have a mate. I want to send him some

flowers.”

flowers.”

“You found your mate?” Randy asked in excitement. “Who?”
“Styles.”
Blair gaped at him, his eyes growing wide. Robby was

beginning to worry that he would have to give the man CPR if he
didn’t breathe soon. “You’re kidding right? He hates—” The
man glanced away, as if he didn’t want to finish his sentence.

“Wolves,” Robby supplied. “Yeah, Kenway filled me in.

What do you have that I can send?” He began to look around
the shop, his eyes falling on some pretty tulips. He didn’t want to
send roses. Those were overrated. Robby wanted something
different. “How about a dozen of these?”

“You are going to send a man who doesn’t like you some

flowers?” Randy asked as he moved from behind the counter.

“What better way to break the ice?” Robby asked. He had

to start somewhere with Styles. Flowers probably wouldn’t
work, but it would let the man know that he wasn’t backing
down. That was all Robby was trying to do, send a message to
the guy that he couldn’t run. Robby wasn’t going to let him.

Randy shrugged his slim shoulders. “If that’s what you want

to do.” He plucked the flowers from the shelf and walked over
to the counter. “Did you want to send a card with these?”

Robby stood there for a moment, wondering what he should

put in the card. He grabbed it and a pen from out of a cup and
began to scribble. Hate me all you want, but you are mine
and I’m coming for you. If you run from me, then I’ll kidnap
you and fuck you until the cows come home. Hope you have
plenty of lube, buddy.

That should do it. He wasn’t going to get all sweet and

That should do it. He wasn’t going to get all sweet and

sentimental, nor was he going to beg. Robby believed in getting
straight to the point. The message was as blunt as he could make
it.

He handed the card to Randy, seeing the curiosity in the

man’s eyes.

“Go ahead and read it.” Blair was probably going to read it

as soon as Robby’s back was turned anyway. Randy and Blair
gazed over to the card. Blair burst out laughing, holding his side
as Randy looked as if here were going to pass out.

“You’re delivering these,” Randy said to Blair. “There is no

way I’m getting caught up in this.”

Blair plucked the card from Randy’s hand. “I wouldn’t pass

this opportunity up. Get the bouquet together so I can take them
over to the bike shop.”

Randy shook his head and then started to arrange the tulips.

Robby would love to be a fly on the wall when Styles received
the flowers. The man was more than likely going to throw them
out, just as soon as he tore them apart.

But again, baby steps. Robby was very assertive, but he

knew he couldn’t change Styles overnight. He was going to have
to start out slow and work up to the bigger things.

“Wait right here,” Blair said as he snatched the finished

bouquet from Randy’s hands. “I’ll let you know what happens.”

Robby knew he wasn’t going to stay in the store while Blair

delivered the flowers. He wasn’t going to let Styles see him, but
he wanted to see the reaction for himself.

He followed Blair out of the floral shop and around the

corner. “Have him come to the front of the shop, Blair. I can

corner. “Have him come to the front of the shop, Blair. I can
watch him from a hiding spot outside.” There was a big glass
window up front of Santiago Cycles, and it would give Robby an
unobstructed view.

“You are so damn diabolical,” Blair said before Robby

stayed back as the guy walked into the bike shop. Law was
standing at the front counter. He watched the timber wolf walk
toward the back. A second later Styles appeared.

The man looked confused as he grabbed the flowers. Robby

held his breath—even though he knew what the outcome was
going to be. Styles grabbed the card and read it. Blair leaned
against the counter, his head turning slightly so he could wink
Robby’s way.

He had been waiting for Styles to shred the flowers, to start

cursing and threatening Robby’s life. But the guy just walked to
the back of the shop, out of sight, the flowers still gripped in his
hand.

Maybe he was waiting to be alone before he destroyed the

tulips. Curious beyond belief, Robby tiptoed to the back of the
shop and peered around the corner. There were sliding doors
that closed the back of the shop. But today they were wide
open, providing fresh air to whoever was back there.

He could see Styles standing by a counter, staring fixedly at

the tulips, as if he didn’t know what to do with them. His mate
reached down and caressed a pedal, his expression tortured.
Robby’s throat tightened at the way Styles was staring at the
tulips. His heart went out to the guy.

More than ever, Robby wanted to go to Styles and hug the

man, telling him that he would never hurt Styles. But he knew he

man, telling him that he would never hurt Styles. But he knew he
wouldn’t be welcomed right now.

Styles set the bouquet on the counter and then grabbed a

wrench. Robby quickly pulled back so he wouldn’t be seen. His
heart was pumping painfully in his chest as he moved to the front
of the store.

“Well?” Blair asked as Robby met the man on the sidewalk.

“What happened?”

Robby shook his head, confused at Styles’s different

reactions. He had gone insane when he found out that Robby
was his mate, yet he had accepted the flowers as if they were the
most precious things in the world.

He wasn’t sure what to make of the guy. “He didn’t destroy

them.”

Blair grabbed Robby’s arm, snaking it around his own as

they walked back to the floral shop. “All kidding aside, Robby,
you shouldn’t give up on the guy. I heard he had been given the
short end of things as far as wolves go. But being mated for a
very long time myself, I can tell you that the fight to get him will
be well worth it.”

Robby knew that. But he was still feeling a bit strange about

how Styles had looked at the tulips. The man hadn’t even
snarled when he read the card.

“By the way, you still owe me for the flowers. Frisco isn’t in

the habit of giving them away.”

He and Blair made it back to the floral shop, Robby paying

for the tulips before he took off. Instead of going back to work,
he headed home. Kenway had given him leeway and Robby
wasn’t trying to take advantage of that, but he needed time to

wasn’t trying to take advantage of that, but he needed time to
think about his next move.

Styles’s reaction had caught him off guard. Robby’s body

coiled up with arousal, a raw and hungry feeling starting to fill
him. He wanted Styles now, wanted him sexually. But that
wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

Robby pulled into his driveway and parked his car. He

walked back down the drive and checked his mail. He pulled out
a slim manila envelope. Checking to see who it was from, Robby
realized that it had been shipped to the wrong house. It wasn’t
even the right city.

Ah well, he would take it to the post office tomorrow. Today

he needed to gather his thoughts and figure out his next game
plan. As he walked up the driveway, Robby pulled out his cell
phone, glancing at the caller ID.

It was Baker.
Flipping his phone open, Robby walked into the house and

tossed the envelope onto the counter in the kitchen. “Don’t tell
me you need me back there already.”

“Hardly,” Baker replied. “I just wanted to check to see if you

were still breathing.”

“I guess you have your answer since I’m talking to you on the

phone.” Robby walked out back and grabbed the hose, ready to
water his garden. He loved spending time out here. It was such a
peaceful place he had created.

“What are you going to do about Styles?” Baker asked. “I

thought he was going to kill you.”

So did Robby for a hot second.
“Reno is coyote and he didn’t react that way. Of course, he

“Reno is coyote and he didn’t react that way. Of course, he

stalked me and made me run, but he never looked at me like he
wanted to snap my neck.”

“Are you trying to cheer me up?” Robby asked. “Because if

you are, you suck at it. I don’t need to be reminded about how
he tore the bakery apart.”

“He didn’t technically tear the bakery apart. He just shattered

a very expensive piece of glass that Kenway is going to charge
him for.”

Robby turned the hose on and then walked through the

garden, watering as he talked. “Did you call for anything
important?”

“I guess me making sure you’re still alive isn’t important.”

Baker hung up.

Robby tucked the phone into his jeans as he slowly strode

through the plants and flowers, his mind wandering back to
Styles and his expression in the back of the bike shop. He was
dying to know what the man had been thinking when looking at
the tulips.

He wasn’t sure if he would ever find out. Styles was a

complex man. Robby could tell just from the small encounter
with the guy. He was determined to get through to the guy, but
worried that Styles would flat-out refuse him and not budge.
There was always that possibility. Sometimes persistence did not
pay off.

Robby decided to send Styles a bouquet of flowers every

day this week. He would change it up though. Tulips were
pretty, but maybe tomorrow he would send carnations. If Styles
accepted them, then Robby would take the next step and bring

accepted them, then Robby would take the next step and bring
the man a lunch. He wouldn’t stay, just drop it off.

Baby steps, he reminded himself once more. Tearing down

years of hate was going to be exhausting, but well worth it in the
end.

He hoped.

Chapter Three

Styles was angry with himself. He hated that he was feeling

fevered toward Robby just for sending him flowers. Did the guy
think that pretty bouquets could make him forget a lifetime of
betrayal from the wolf breed?

Robby had been sending flowers all week and Styles wanted

to shout for the man to stop…He just couldn’t bring himself to
do that. No one had ever sent him flowers before. No one had
ever sent him anything before.

“Hey,” Law called from upfront. “Did you order lunch?”
Was Law offering? That would be the first time one of the

Santiago brothers had offered. It seemed a little out of character
for Law to do something like that. “No, why?”

Law appeared in the back room, a box lunch in his hand. His

eyes flickered to the plain white box and then he handed it to
Styles. “This was just delivered for you.”

“How do you know there’s not a bomb inside?” Styles

grabbed it. He didn’t like Law, but hated him less than he hated
Tryck. The guy didn’t fuck with him like Tryck did. He was
decent toward Styles.

That still didn’t make them friends.
“Yeah, as many people as you piss off, maybe I should have

called the bomb squad first.” The wolf walked out of the back,
leaving Styles to stare at the box in his hand. He could smell
chicken. It really seemed to be a lunch.

Tossing the box on the counter, Styles grabbed the rag from

his back pocket and wiped his hands. He had just finished up

his back pocket and wiped his hands. He had just finished up
with his latest repair and had some downtime. Since he didn’t
have anything else to do for the rest of the day, he knew Law
was going to tell him to clock out.

That had been their arrangement. That was something they

had agreed upon when Styles first got this job. At the time Styles
had insisted. He didn’t want to hang around here with wolves if
he didn’t have anything to do.

It had been over a year since he started working here. He

wanted to tell the brothers that he would work full shifts now, but
Styles’s pride wouldn’t let him ask for the extra hours. He knew
he was fucked up in the head. No one needed to point that out
to him.

But what was done was done. Styles began to clean up the

repair shop, putting the tools back where they needed to go, but
he kept smelling the damn chicken. His stomach growled and
Styles decided that he should eat the lunch, since it was
delivered. Why let it go to waste.

Flipping the lid open, Styles spotted one piece of chicken and

a single biscuit. But that wasn’t what caught his attention. There
was writing on the inside of the lid. Someone had left him a
message.

No, not someone. Styles knew exactly who had done this.

Robby. Why couldn’t the man just leave him alone? Images of a
naked Robby popped into Styles’s head and he growled
because those images were so disturbingly hot.

He curled his fingers in, pissed that he allowed those thoughts

to enter his mind. His eyes dropped down to the writing on the
box and Styles read it.

box and Styles read it.

This is just one piece of chicken. If you want to see the

rest, come to the diner at five p.m. Come alone and no
chicken will be hurt. I’ll know if someone is following you.
Don’t even think about calling the FBI in on this one or I’ll
tear every piece of chicken apart.

Before he could stop it from happening, the side of Styles’s

mouth twitched from a smile that was straining to break free. He
closed the lid, hating himself for being impressed with Robby’s
imagination and persistence.

He wasn’t going to go.
“If you are done, you can head out,” Law said from the

hallway, his grey eyes landing on the box. “Was it a bomb?”

Styles shook his head as he grabbed the plain white box and

headed to the time clock. “No.”

“Maybe next time, alma perdida,” Law said as he turned

and walked away.

Styles would have gotten angry at Law’s words if he hadn’t

seen the teasing in the man’s eyes before he had turned away.
The guy had been trying to break the ice between them since
Styles had started working here. Styles never let his guard down
and didn’t allow anyone to get close—especially not a wolf.

Styles walked out of the bay in the back, heading toward his

motorcycle. He started to toss the lunch in the Dumpster, but at
the last second, pulled back. Just like the flowers, Styles couldn’t
bring himself to toss away anything Robby had sent him.

With a fierce growl, Styles lunged the lunch high into the air,

watching as it hit the building next door and then landed in a
scattered mess on the ground. He spun around, refusing to go

pick it up.

He really, really hated himself in that moment for allowing

Robby to charm him, to get under his skin. He swung his leg
over his bike, started it, and then tore from the back alley,
heading home.

As he rode, Styles ignored the speed limits, ignored the fact

that he was driving way too fast. There was a deep ache in his
chest and at the moment, in the span of time he was drowning in,
nothing mattered to him. There was a possibility that he could
wreck his bike and kill himself in the process.

It didn’t matter.
Nothing mattered.
He was spiraling out of control. His head was all fucked up,

his thoughts scattered, his anger boiling him on the inside. He
was not going to be mated to a wolf. Styles was not going to be
charmed by a man with blondish-brown hair and big hazel eyes.

He made it home without becoming a part of the pavement.

Styles parked his bike in the back and walked in the house
through the side door. He bypassed everything and went straight
to his bedroom where he paced back and forth on the wood
floor.

How in the hell could he allow Robby to charm him? What

had he been thinking? Robby was a wolf. There would be no
charming, no dating, no romance, and no claiming. Styles
became angrier when his cock perked up at the thought of taking
Robby right there on his bed.

The anger became so hot that Styles damn near ripped his

clothes off, tossing everything aside as he walked into his
bathroom. He needed a shower. He needed to cool off and calm

bathroom. He needed a shower. He needed to cool off and calm
down.

Instead of soaking in the tub, Styles walked straight into the

shower area and turned the water on. He had two showerheads,
both sprays hitting him at once. He pressed the palms of his
hands into the marble wall and lowered his head, wishing he
could wash away all the hurt, all the pain, and every last damn
memory he had of every one of those fucking wolves.

Suddenly Styles felt someone watching him. He didn’t bother

to turn around because he knew who it was. “Go away, Reese.”

“Not when I can feel you hurting, my brother.” Reese’s deep,

rich voice filled the bathroom, and Styles was somewhat put at
ease. Reese had always been there for him. He had known the
polar bear shifter longer than he knew any of the other men that
lived in this house.

Reese had been the one to find him when his parents were

killed and nursed Styles back to health. Reese had been the one
who nearly lost his life helping Styles fight off the pack of wolves
who attacked him in his early adulthood.

And it had been Reese who had fought at his side when those

fucking grey wolves tried to destroy their small pack, making
them run to Brac Village in the first place for help. The man was
a fucking damn good friend to have, but Styles didn’t want to
talk to anyone right now.

It wasn’t that Reese was a superhero or anything like that.

The man was just one hell of a friend. That’s who he was.

“Kenway tells me you found your mate.”
“And Kenway has a big fucking mouth,” Styles replied

angrily. He finally turned to see Reese leaning against the

angrily. He finally turned to see Reese leaning against the
counter, his arms crossed over his chest. The polar bear shifter
didn’t know the meaning of boundaries. Styles never faulted the
man. Hell, there were times when Styles needed a friend and
somehow Reese knew and was there for him.

This may have been one of those times, but Styles didn’t

want to talk about anything right now. He didn’t want to tell
anyone about Robby. Styles didn’t want to talk about the man.

“Fate gave you a wolf shifter for a reason, Styles. It’s time to

heal and let the past go.”

Styles spun around, gnashing his teeth at the large man. “Fuck

you, Reese!”

A tight smile formed on Reese’s face. “You’re not my type.”

The man didn’t seem to ever get flustered or upset about
anything. There wasn’t a time when Styles could remember ever
seeing Reese pissed.

Okay, that wasn’t true. Reese became demonic when he was

fighting. But other than that, the man kept the coolest composure
Styles had ever seen. He knew that Reese had his own inner
demons, but the man never let it show.

He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.
Turning the water off, Styles turned and grabbed the towel

Reese had brought in, wrapping it around his waist. “Look, I
appreciate what you are trying to do, but I won’t have a wolf
shifter for a mate.”

“Too bad,” Reese said as his brown eyes followed Styles. “I

checked him out at the bakery and I must say, he is definitely
one good-looking ass man.”

Styles cut his eyes at Reese, hating the fact that his anger was

Styles cut his eyes at Reese, hating the fact that his anger was

coming back because Reese thought Robby was hot. Reese
shouldn’t be looking at his mate. Damn it! Robby was not his
mate, nor would he ever be.

But jealously sank its claws into Styles. Reese was a damn

good friend to have, but the man was also a voyeuristic man to
the truest sense. He also didn’t bat an eye being around his
friends when they were naked, like now. Styles knew that Reese
wouldn’t think twice about seeing Robby naked and that just
pissed him off.

Reese gave a deep laugh. “You are mad because you think I

want to see you two having sex, that I want to see this gorgeous
man naked. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be seething on the
inside.”

Styles moved until he was standing in Reese’s face, their

noses almost touching. “Stay out of this.”

A fine tic started in Reese’s jaw. He knew that—although

Reese was kinky as fuck—the man didn’t like his personal space
crowded. Styles took a deep breath and backed off. He
shouldn’t be taking his anger out on his friend.

His feelings were close to the surface. Styles needed to get a

grip. “Stop staring at my towel, pervert.”

Reese grinned. “I told you that you’re not my type.”
“Yeah, I’m not slim, blond, or twinkish in any way.”
Reese moved from the counter and headed toward the door.

“Just get dressed. Xavier keeps asking for his Uncle Size.”

That made Styles chuckle. The little half fey, half human

couldn’t pronounce Styles’s name for shit. Ruttford often came
by because he and Reese were good friends. For some damn

by because he and Reese were good friends. For some damn
strange reason, Xavier had taken a liking to Styles. The kid kept
calling him Size. Styles liked the nickname—but only when
Xavier called him that. He would kick anyone else’s ass if they
even attempted to use it.

After dressing, Styles went downstairs to see Diablo, Steele,

and Ruttford on the back deck at the table. Steele was holding
his swaddled son as Xavier played in the grass. As soon as he
walked outside, Xavier squealed, shouting, “Size!”

Styles dropped in the grass, picking up one of the toys as he

began to play with the little guy, feeling a peace finally settling
over him.

* * * *

Had he really expected Styles to show? Yeah, he had.

Robby pushed from the booth, giving up after waiting one full
hour past the time he had told Styles to be here.

“He didn’t show?” Tangee asked as he brought Robby

another water.

“How do you know I was waiting on someone?”
Tangee smiled. “We used to say that nothing stays a secret in

the Den. But now us guys at the Den say, nothing stays a secret
in the village.”

That wasn’t comforting. Robby wasn’t sure he liked

everyone knowing the trouble he was having with Styles. He
knew Styles would probably have a fit if the coyote knew that
everyone was fully aware of what was—or wasn’t, to be more
precise—going on between them.

precise—going on between them.

“I’ll catch you later.” Robby walked out of the diner, feeling

dejected. He knew he was going to have a long battle on his
hands, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to feel wounded.

It had been a week since he discovered that he had a mate

and Styles hadn’t budged one bit. Maybe it was time to turn up
the heat a tad. Robby had concluded that Styles had gone
ballistic in the bakery because finding out that his mate was a
wolf had been shocking.

Styles had plenty of time to get over that shock. Maybe it

was time Robby paid him a visit. He knew where the
Manchester place was. Robby just hoped that Styles didn’t try
to kill him.

He drove over there, but the closer he got to the place, the

less confident Robby became. He wasn’t going to give up on
Styles, but all kinds of scenarios played in his mind on how this
could turn out.

Pulling into the drive, Robby just sat there for a moment,

wondering what he was going to say to the man. Well, there was
only one way to find out. Robby eased the driver’s door open,
glancing up at the house.

It was beige with white trim, flowers decorating a lot of the

surface. There were even pink ones lining the front sidewalk. The
lawn was well manicured, and the place looked beautiful at night,
the first and second floor porch lit up.

His palms began to sweat as he walked up the front walkway

and climbed up the steps to the porch. He stood there worrying
that Styles would tell him to fuck off, or worse, attack him.

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
Before he could turn and leave, the front door opened. A

man with pretty brown skin and brown eyes stared down at him,
his face inscrutable. “Can I help you, Robby?”

Wait, he remembered this guy. He had come to the bakery a

time or two. What was his name? He thought hard until he
remembered the man’s name was Reese. “Is Styles home?”

Reese moved outside, making Robby take a few steps back.

The guy closed the door behind him and then leaned against the
house, crossing his arms over his chest. “Does he know you’re
coming?”

“No.”
Reese shook his head. “I didn’t think so.”
The long sigh the man let out wasn’t promising. At that

moment, Robby wished the earth would open up and swallow
him whole. Even though he had a great amount of determination
and was driven, he still had moments of doubt, moments that he
wished he didn’t have to live through, or ever want to remember.

Like the time he was taking his test on how to properly

prepare crème brûlée and had set the tablecloth on fire, failing his
test miserably. But that wasn’t as big a moment as this was. This
was life altering right now. Styles accepting or rejecting him was
going to decide how Robby lived the rest of his life.

A little melodramatic, but true. A shifter only got one mate. If

Styles continued to reject him, Robby would eventually be able
to move on and date other men. He might even settle down with
one of them. But none would complete him the way Styles
would. None would become a part of his very soul.

“You do realize that he will probably tell you to go to hell?”

“You do realize that he will probably tell you to go to hell?”

Reese asked.

“Probably.” Robby nodded. “But I’m not giving up. He is my

mate, Reese. Would you give up on yours?” He wasn’t sure if
Reese even had a mate, but he was trying to make a point.

“Not in a million years,” Reese admitted. “But I want you to

be fully aware that getting him to even acknowledge that you are
his mate is going to be damn hard.”

“I know his story,” Robby said. He was tired of everyone

pretty much warning him away from Styles, yet telling him not to
give up. The contradictions were migraine worthy. “Can I just
see him please?”

“I’ll take you to him,” Reese said, “but I’m going to stick

around to make sure he”—Reese cleared his throat—“acts
civilized.”

Whatever. Robby just wanted to see the guy. He didn’t want

anyone else around, but wasn’t going to argue. Reese just might
tell him no if he protested. The man opened the door and led him
through a living room with a red couch and a treasure chest for a
coffee table.

They passed through the room and then through a kitchen.

Robby stopped short when he saw his mate stretched out on the
lawn, playing with a toddler. This was a side of Styles he never
thought to see.

“He’s not a bad man,” Reese said softly beside him. “He’s

just been given a really bad hand his entire life.”

Robby’s heart ached at the smile on Styles’s face, the way he

pretended to be hurt when the toddler smacked his chest. Styles
was clutching his chest, groaning, and then his arms fell wide, his

was clutching his chest, groaning, and then his arms fell wide, his
tongue sticking out the side of his mouth.

Robby chuckled. He knew in that moment that he was never

going to give up on Styles, no matter how hard the guy pushed
him away. There was a damn good man, a caring man, buried
under all that hatred and Robby was determined to set Styles
free from his torment.

Chapter Four

Maverick sat at the table, the other leaders gathered. He was

pissed that he had to be here. Him, Cecil, and the boys—Xavier,
Nevada, Maddox, and Matthew—were supposed to be going
to the movies to see the latest Pixar film. He would rather be
there than sitting here. It was “boys’ day out” and he was missing
it.

“I’ve been told that Kenyon was spotted in the demon

realm,” Panahasi said from the end of the table. “I’m still trying to
track him down to verify this.”

Somehow Maverick knew the man didn’t have to track a

damn thing down. The guy knew things that no one else knew.
The memory of seeing Panahasi and Ceri in the alley still played
on his mind from time to time. The Demon Warrior was more
than he let on. But Maverick guessed everyone had their secrets.

“How the hell did he get there?” Zeus asked. “How would he

know how to get in through the Black River or did someone help
him?”

“All very good questions,” Christian said. “But we have

answers for none.” He turned toward the table. “We also need
to make the law stricter about interfering in mating. That disaster
with Turi should have never happened. His uncle should not have
gone against our ruling. I think it needs to be enforced.”

Maverick agreed. Egon had never raped Turi when he

kidnapped him. The man had drugged Turi and had him in one of
the private huts. He never wanted to see something like that
again. Abuse of any kind curled Maverick’s stomach. “Agreed.”

again. Abuse of any kind curled Maverick’s stomach. “Agreed.”

“I don’t,” Ahm said. “What if it is a misguided brother who

thinks his sibling is being harmed? What if the person interfering
doesn’t have malicious intent?”

“Then we will hear things case by case. But if the person

interfering is openly threatening the mated couple, kill them
immediately,” Dante added. “We have to send a message that
mated couples, no matter how many are involved, are protected
under our laws.”

Maverick knew Dante was referring to the mated couples in

Zeus’s pack. For some strange reason, the mated always ended
up in threes. He had been surprised when Jason and Nicholas
had mated that a third hadn’t come along. It could be because
Jason was now in his pack. Maverick wasn’t sure.

“The law should be very clear,” Nazaryth stated with

grimness. “Anyone interfering will be dealt with harshly and
swiftly. If it is a caring relative or friend, they need to address the
problem to their alpha, leader, or whatever, but not interfere
directly.”

“After all this time,” Christian said with a smile. “We have

finally started acting like a fucking body of leaders. It is about
damn time.”

“Does anyone oppose?” Panahasi asked.
The room was silent.
“Then it is law,” Christian stated. “Anyone found interfering

with mating will be killed.”

Maverick held up his hand, shaking his head. “Just as soon as

everyone knows the new law. Give it a month first. That way no
one can say that they were ignorant.” Because Maverick could

one can say that they were ignorant.” Because Maverick could
see someone using that damn excuse.

“Fair enough,” Christian said. “I’ll have someone record the

new laws as they are set down and have the documents
distributed. Until then, I’ll alert all other vampire covens as well
as my own. I expect you gentlemen to do the same. Reach them
all, far and wide, because in a month’s time, there will be no one
who can claim ignorance on this.”

“Now what about Kenyon?” Zeus asked.
“If he is in my realm, I will find him,” Panahasi said as he

shifted in his seat. The man was hiding something. Maverick
would stake his life on it. There was something in the man’s eyes
that said he wasn’t telling everything.

“When he is found, I want him brought before us, if possible,”

Christian said, his fangs gleaming in the light. “I want to watch
him slowly die for what he has done to my species.”

Panahasi nodded.
“Great,” Maverick said as he stood. “Now I can get back to

my full day of work.”

Christian chuckled. “Yeah, let me know how that new movie

is. I want to take my mates and boys.”

Maverick flipped Christian off before he headed out of the

office. Damn vampire. He didn’t know Maverick that well.

* * * *

Styles felt someone watching him. He knew who it was

because his heart began to beat faster and his canines were
making his gums tingle. Turning his head, Styles locked eyes with

Robby. What in the hell was he doing here?

“Time to go inside, buddy.” Ruttford walked over and

scooped Xavier from the grass as Steele and Diablo stood. The
cheetah shifter glanced down at Styles and gave him a rueful
smile. “Give him a chance. I almost lost out on the best thing of
my life from being a stubborn ass. I don’t want to see you doing
the same.”

Styles ignored Steele as the fathers took the two boys inside.

He was tired of everyone telling him to give Robby a chance.
None of them had watched their parents die in front of them.
None of them had scarred legs from their attacker trying to kill
them.

He lay there in the grass, staring up at the fading sun. He

wasn’t going to acknowledge Robby. Styles hadn’t invited the
man over. As a matter of fact, he was pissed as hell that the man
was even here.

“Got company,” Reese said loudly.
Styles heard the screen door squeak and knew Robby was

coming out. He tucked his hands behind his head, curling his
fingers and as he clenched his jaw, trying not to scream at the
man to fuck off.

One of the wrought iron chairs scraped on the back deck.

Robby had taken a seat. Styles fought to not look over at the
guy. That would only be acknowledging the man and that was
something Styles was not going to do.

“Just so you know, I let the chickens go free.”
Styles could hear the uncertainty in Robby’s tone. The man

was grappling for something to say. His tone was soft, as if trying
to talk a dangerous man down from the ledge. Styles blinked,

to talk a dangerous man down from the ledge. Styles blinked,
but continued to stare at the clouds that were slowly passing by.

“Okay, not really. I ate them. So if you still plan on calling the

FBI, the evidence is gone.”

As hard as he tried, Styles couldn’t hold on to his anger.

There was a war going on inside of him. His coyote was
snapping and snarling, wanting to get free to go to its mate. But
the man fought tooth and nail. His emotions were all over the
place. A part of him hated Robby with a vengeance just for
being a wolf. Another part of him was terrified to let his guard
down.

His head was telling him to walk away from this. His heart

was telling him to give Robby a chance.

Sometimes you don’t get what you want, but what you

need.

Don’t give up on him. It’ll be the worst mistake of your

life.

Give him a chance. I almost lost out on the best thing of

my life. I don’t want to see you doing the same.

Styles swallowed, his head hurting from the kaleidoscope of

emotions and thoughts crashing through him. Why on earth did
Robby have to be a wolf? If he had been any other breed, Styles
would be trying to make this relationship work.

“I’m not giving up on you.” The vow was spoken so softly

that Styles almost hadn’t heard it.

“I will never let you in,” Styles said. “Accept that fact and

leave me alone.”

“No!” Styles heard something slam onto the wrought iron

table. He figured it was Robby’s fist. “You can push me away,

table. He figured it was Robby’s fist. “You can push me away,
threaten to kick my ass, or even go through with that threat. But
I refuse to give up on us.”

Styles rolled to his hands and feet, narrowing his eyes at

Robby as he curled back his lip. “There is no us. Get that
through your fucking head.”

Robby chuckled, taking Styles by surprise. “Damn, you are

so sexy when you’re being pigheaded. Has anyone ever told you
that you have the prettiest brown eyes?”

Styles wasn’t sure what to say. He wasn’t sure what to think.

Robby wasn’t arguing. They were supposed to be arguing. He
wasn’t allowed to smile or laugh. That wasn’t how arguing
worked.

Robby’s hazel eyes twinkled as the corners of his mouth lifted

even higher. “I would love to see you in that position when
you’re naked.”

Styles cocked his head.
“I would love to be under you when you’re in that position,

and naked,” Robby corrected. “I bet you have a killer-ass
body.”

Styles growled when he felt the blush wash over his face.

What in the hell was this man doing? Was he insane? Styles was
snarling at the man, letting Robby know that he was ready to
attack, and the guy was talking about sex? “Get out!”

Robby lifted his head toward the sky. “But I’m already

outside.”

Styles pushed to his feet, heading toward the back door. He

wasn’t going to stand there and listen to anything else the man
had to say. Robby was a wolf—plain and simple.

had to say. Robby was a wolf—plain and simple.

He saw Reese standing just outside the back door and

wanted to strangle the man. He knew the polar bear was the one
who had let Robby in. Styles stopped walking when he saw
Reese’s eyes growing dark with desire. That only meant one
thing.

Styles slowly turned to see Robby pulling his shirt off and

tossing it onto the table. “What the hell do you think you’re
doing?”

“It’s hot outside, don’t you think?” Robby kicked his shoes

off and then his hand went for the snap of his jeans. He could
hear a slow rumble in Reese’s chest. The man was getting turned
on by Robby stripping.

Styles swallowed hard, refusing to be turned on by what the

man was doing. “Put your fucking clothes back on.”

One blondish-brown brow hiked up as Robby unsnapped the

button and then lowered the zipper. “What, these clothes?”

Styles was finding it hard to breathe. He wanted to turn and

walk away but couldn’t rip his eyes away from what Robby was
doing. A large part of him wanted to ignore the man. But the
other half of him, the carnal, lust-filled man, was hoping the man
continued.

Robby reached into the front of his jeans, slowly massaging

his erection. Styles couldn’t see, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew
exactly what the man was doing. “Knock it off,” Styles said,
hating that his voice wasn’t as firm as he wanted it to be. It
lacked any heat or reprimand.

His cock grew hard when Robby tilted his head back and

moaned, his tongue snaking out to glide across his bottom lip.

moaned, his tongue snaking out to glide across his bottom lip.
Styles wanted to bite that lip, to knock Robby’s hand away and
finish the job for him.

“Styles.” Robby breathed out his name. “Oh…god…Styles.”
Styles ground his teeth, his eyes drinking in what Robby was

doing, wanting badly to go to the man and help him, to ease his
urges and needs. But he didn’t move, rooted to the spot as he
watched, hating himself for wanting…just flat-out wanting.

Robby’s hand began to move faster and faster, panting

heavily until he cried out, “Styles!” Cum shot from his fist,
spurting over his hand and landing on the deck. Styles was so
hard, so ready, and so damn lost at what to do.

As Robby slowly lowered his head, Styles saw that his hazel

eyes were liquid pools in the fading sunlight. He was like a
fucking fallen angel standing there. The man lifted his hand and
licked the cum clean.

Styles spun around and crashed into Reese. He nearly fell on

his ass. Styles grabbed his friend and shoved him into the house.
“Don’t you dare go anywhere near him,” he said, the threat
coming out in a viscous growl.

“I never go near anyone,” Reese admitted. “I just like to

watch.”

Styles took off upstairs. As soon as he cleared his bedroom

door, he pulled his cock free and began a frenzied stroke,
thinking about how Robby had looked as he jacked off. The
man had flipped every damn switch Styles possessed. He kept
hearing Robby calling his name as he orgasmed over and over
again.

Fuck! Styles stroked his flesh harder, his fist pounding into his

Fuck! Styles stroked his flesh harder, his fist pounding into his

groin until he arched his back and came all over the wooden
floor. He slammed his eyes closed, hating himself. He wasn’t
supposed to take pleasure from hearing Robby call his name. He
wasn’t supposed to enjoy the knowledge that it was him that
Robby had thought about as he jacked off.

What was wrong with him?
Styles walked to the bathroom and washed his hand. Next he

grabbed a wet towel and cleaned the floor. He tossed the cloth
toward the bathroom and readjusted himself before heading
back downstairs.

When he reached the kitchen, he saw Reese standing there

talking with Robby. The man was fully dressed once more. The
two were chatting and smiling. Styles wanted to gouge Reese’s
eyes from his head for witnessing what Robby had done.

But Robby didn’t look remorseful. His eyes slid over to

Styles when he entered the room. The man looked genuinely
happy to see him. “Since you enjoy Reese’s company so much,
why don’t you just let him fuck you?”

Robby’s face fell, his eyes going bland before he turned and

walked out of the side door. Reese turned toward Styles. For
the first time ever, Styles saw hatred in Reese’s dark brown
eyes. “You are a fucking idiot,” Reese said between clenched
teeth. “Since you don’t know how to treat a gentleman, maybe I
will fuck him. I might even keep him as my own. He sure as hell
deserves better than what you are giving him.”

Before Styles knew what he was doing, he cocked his arm

back and punched Reese right in the nose. The polar bear
stumbled back as the blood spurted down his mouth and chin.

stumbled back as the blood spurted down his mouth and chin.
He growled, tackling Styles and taking him down. Reese
slammed his fist into Styles’s gut, and then cocked his arm back
again for another blow.

“Whoa!” Recker said as he walked into the kitchen. “What

the fuck are you two doing?” The rhino shifter grabbed Styles
and pulled him from under Reese like he was a rag doll, throwing
him against the wall. “Have you two lost your damn minds?”

Reese stormed from the kitchen without saying a word.
“What is going on?” Recker asked as he turned toward

Styles.

Styles clenched his jaw, turning his head and refusing to

answer the man.

“Fine, kill each other if you want, but don’t do it in the damn

house.” Recker walked out, leaving Styles alone in the kitchen.
He still had an urge to go hunt Reese down and finish the job.
Just the thought of Reese touching Robby…

Styles leaned his arms on the marble countertop. He cursed

himself for what he had said to Robby. He hadn’t meant it. He
had just been so damn angry that Robby was affecting him in
ways that he shouldn’t be, that he had taken it out on the man.

He was also pissed that Robby was smiling and talking with

Reese. The man should be just as miserable as Styles was. But it
seemed Robby couldn’t be swayed. The guy was determined.

Turning the faucet on, Styles splashed some water on his

face, hoping the coolness helped to calm him down. He didn’t
think anything would help.

“Push him into the arms of another man again and there will

be nothing you can say or do about it when you lose him.”

be nothing you can say or do about it when you lose him.”

Styles turned to see Diablo standing in the doorway. “What

do you know?”

Diablo shrugged. “Not much. But I heard you telling your

mate to fuck another man. Don’t get mad and attack Reese
because he is willing to take what you don’t want.”

Styles turned the faucet off, refusing to talk any further with

Diablo.

“The Ultionem has passed a stricter law on mating,” Diablo

stated. “Anyone interfering will be killed. It seems to me that
Reese wasn’t interfering—not when you offered him your mate.
Be very careful, Styles. You just might get what you are wishing
for.” The man turned and walked away.

Styles gazed at the empty doorway for a second before

heading out to the back deck. He stopped, gazing at the spot
where Robby had given his show. Styles walked over to the
spot, his imagination taking flight.

Robby was back there, jacking off. Styles cupped the man

on the back of his head and knocked Robby’s hand away,
taking over. He wrapped his fingers around the man’s hard shaft,
stroking it as he lowered his head and captured the man’s soft-
looking lips.

As Styles stood there fantasizing, his heart began to ache.

When he opened his eyes, he was all alone. Robby was gone.
The image faded away like smoke rising toward the sky,
escaping him.

Styles felt the hot tears slip down his cheeks as he thought

about his parents. How could he mate a wolf? Wouldn’t that
dishonor their memory? How could he claim someone of the

dishonor their memory? How could he claim someone of the
same breed who had killed such loving and caring people?

He was twisted up on the inside, unsure of what to do. He

didn’t want to lose what fate had given him, but he couldn’t bring
himself to open up to a man who was—Styles gritted his teeth.

Yes, Robby was wolf. But he was more than his breed. He

was a man who desired Styles in a way no other had. He was
risking everything to convince Styles to be with him. It was more
than Styles was doing.

Taking a seat, Styles wasn’t sure which road to take. Not

since his parents died had he felt this damn lost, this damn alone.
If only to himself, he admitted that he wanted Robby. Yes, he
did. His coyote was whimpering soulfully for its mate.

He closed his eyes, knowing he couldn’t let Robby in. There

were pieces of him that were lost and Styles hadn’t known what
it was like to be whole in such a very long time.

Chapter Five

Robby grabbed the manila envelope from the counter. He

had totally forgotten to take it to the post office. He was still
hurting over what Styles had said to him last night, even though
he knew his mate was only lashing out, fighting the attraction
growing between them.

God, had he really jacked off in front of two men? Robby still

couldn’t believe he had done that or what entity had possessed
him.

It was as if someone else had taken over his mind and had

Robby performing like a male exotic stripper. Only he kept his
jeans on and had stroked his cock to completion. The one
comforting thought about what he’d done was that Robby knew
for a fact that Styles had run upstairs and jerked his cock as
well.

Stuffing the envelope in the visor, Robby pushed those

thoughts aside and drove to work.

It was a beautiful day out, the sun shining brightly. He passed

by The Pit, Floral Fragrances, and The Lucky Clover on his way
in to work. There were people on the streets, walking to
wherever they were going. Some waved in Robby’s direction.
He waved back, wishing he could be truly happy. But a small
part of him worried that Styles would never come around and he
would be alone for the rest of his life.

When he walked into the bakery, he noticed a smile on

Ross’s face. What the heck was going on? It was a smile that
said the man knew something. “You had a delivery this morning.”

said the man knew something. “You had a delivery this morning.”

Robby’s heart began to pound as he moved closer to the

counter, his eyes scanning for this delivery. “What is it?”

Ross reached under the counter and pulled out a box,

handing it over to Robby. “There was a card attached. All it had
was your name, nothing else. It was leaning against the bakery
door when Kenway and I got here this morning.”

Robby turned, heading into the kitchen so he could be alone.

It would be another hour before Baker showed up. He set the
box on the stainless steel counter, his hands shaking as he
opened it.

There were chocolates inside. He searched for a card, but

there wasn’t one. That was okay. Robby knew who had sent
them to him. He couldn’t stop smiling. Styles might have been
cruel as hell last night with his words, but the chocolates had to
be a way Styles was trying to say he was sorry.

His gesture touched him. Maybe he and Styles had a chance

after all.

Robby closed the box and then hurried from the kitchen. “I’ll

be right back,” he shouted at Ross as he flew from the bakery,
jumped in his car, and drove to Village Mart.

Robby searched the store until he found a keychain that was

perfect. It wasn’t much, but he liked that it was in the shape of a
heart. It was also a shiny red. Robby didn’t have the money to
go out and buy anything expensive, but he knew that it was the
small things that mattered. Styles didn’t seem the type to want
anything outlandish anyway.

He then went to the greeting card aisle and grabbed a small

white box with cotton lined inside. There were small cards in a

white box with cotton lined inside. There were small cards in a
rack, the kind that could be written on for notes. He picked one
out that had butterflies on it and then went up front to pay for
everything.

Robby wasn’t sure if he was doing the right thing. What if he

was moving too fast? He wasn’t sure, but he knew he had to
take a chance.

Once he was back in his car, Robby thought long and hard

before he scribbled on the card.

I’m giving you my heart. This is the first time I have

given it to anyone. I won’t call the cops to get it back if you
don’t hurt it or tear it apart. We can share custody until you
stop acting like an ass and realize that we are fated to be
together. Until then, I want visitation rights. Meet me at the
diner at five p.m. to discuss custody rights.

Robby blew out a shaky breath as he stuffed the card in the

box and then closed it. If Styles didn’t show this time, he just
might give the guy what he wanted and leave the man alone. He
had been driven and determined to make the man his, but Robby
was starting to see that maybe the guy didn’t want to be
bothered.

But what about the chocolates?
He wasn’t sure. But tonight would tell him if Styles really

wanted to make this work or not.

Starting the car, Robby drove to the floral shop. He knew

Blair wouldn’t mind delivering this for him. The guy seemed to
delight in wanting to get a reaction out of Styles. But this time
Robby wasn’t going. He couldn’t. If Styles tossed the box aside,
Robby didn’t want to see that. “Hey, Randy,” he called out as he

entered the shop.

The guy glanced up and smiled as Robby headed his way.

“Hi, Robby. Here to buy more flowers?”

Robby shook his head. “Can you put a ribbon around this

box for me?” He placed the small, jewelry-sized box on the
counter.

“Sure,” Randy said. “What color ribbon do you want?”
Robby wasn’t sure. He wanted something that said forever,

something that told Styles that he was dead serious about them.
He just wasn’t sure what color would say all that. “What color
would say that I’m here for the long haul?”

Randy gave Robby a shy grin before he turned and cut a long

piece of ribbon from the green spool. “Green, Robby. It
represents the earth, something long lasting.”

That’s what Robby wanted. He wanted Styles to know the

full impact of what he was conveying. “Green it is.”

He just hoped Styles knew what the green meant.
“What are you up to this time?” Blair asked as he walked

from the cooler. He tossed his hair over his shoulder, giving
Robby a mischievous smile. “Better yet, can I be in on it?”

When Randy was done tying the ribbon, he picked the box

up and presented it to Blair. “I need you to deliver this for me.
Will you?”

Blair snagged the box from his hand. “You know I will.”
“Now,” Robby said as his heart beat faster.
“Are you going to follow me to watch?”
“Not this time. I have to get back to work.” Besides, Robby

would know his answer soon enough. He had an urge to pull
Blair back when the man walked toward the door. He still had

Blair back when the man walked toward the door. He still had
time to come to his senses. Robby didn’t want to know if Styles
would come or not. His world would be devastated if the man
was a no-show again.

“Good luck,” Randy said softly to him as Robby headed

toward the door.

“Thanks.” He was going to need it.

* * * *

Robby sat at the booth, stirring his straw around in his glass

of water. Glancing at his watch for the hundredth time, he blew
out a breath when he saw that it was twenty minutes past five.

Tangee glanced his way and Robby could see in the guy’s

eyes that the waiter knew Robby had been stood up again. He
didn’t want anyone’s pity. All he wanted to do was go home and
be alone.

“Here.” Tangee slid a chocolate milkshake in front of Robby.

“It’s on the house.”

“Thanks,” Robby said without feeling. He had been sitting

there thinking about the chocolates and was starting to doubt that
Styles had sent them. How could he send Robby a gift and then
leave him hanging like this?

“Maybe it’s for the best.” Tangee patted him on the shoulder

as he walked away.

Maybe it was. Maybe the gods knew that Robby couldn’t

handle—his eyes snapped up when the door opened. Robby sat
there frozen to his seat, unable to breathe when Styles walked
through the door, glancing around the diner. His dark-brown

through the door, glancing around the diner. His dark-brown
eyes landed on Robby, but the man didn’t move. It was almost
like he had expected Robby to be gone by now.

He dipped his head and rubbed a hand over the back of his

neck before walking slowly toward Robby’s table. Robby
wanted to pump his arm in the air when he saw the keys in Styles
hand, the red heart dangling amongst the other things. He also
caught the small green ribbon sticking out slightly from Styles’s
front pocket.

Could it be possible that Styles understood what Robby was

trying to say with that ribbon?

He kept his features schooled as Styles stopped by the table.

The man didn’t say anything. He just stood there. Taking a huge
chance, Robby slipped from the booth and smiled up at Styles.
“Thanks for coming.”

Tangee was in the background, grinning like a goof and giving

Robby two thumbs up.

“Well, you said we needed to discuss custody rights,” Styles

said in a tone that made Robby think the man was ready to bolt.
He could tell the coyote was very uncomfortable. That was the
last thing Robby wanted him to be. They were feeling each other
out and trying to make this work.

Styles had shown up. That meant he wanted something with

Robby. He just wasn’t sure how deep that something was. They
were standing on fragile ground right now and Robby knew he
had to step carefully.

“Can we talk?” he asked gently, placing a hand on Styles’s

arm. “Please,” he added.

Styles nodded as he took a seat, his eyes studying the table.

Styles nodded as he took a seat, his eyes studying the table.

Robby had never seen anyone look so lost, so unsure in his life.
He placed his hands in his lap to stop himself from reaching
across the table. “Thanks for coming.”

“You said that,” Styles pointed out.
Robby could feel a blush creeping across his face. “That I

did. Do you want the rest of your chicken? I can have it—”

“I’m not hungry,” Styles said, cutting him off.
Robby wasn’t sure what to say. A ton of things had gone

through his mind when he was sitting here by himself. But now
that Styles was sitting across from him, his head still lowered and
playing with the silverware, Robby was at a loss.

He stared at Styles, his heart aching for the handsome man.

His mate was wearing a tight blue T-shirt, showing off very
impressive muscles. He had masculine features like a wide nose,
strong jaw, kissable lips, and for a mechanic, very clean nails.
His hair was short and brown. Robby wanted to run his hands
over the strands.

Robby stared at Styles’s hands as the man twirled the fork.

The silence was awkward. “I like your motorcycle.”

Styles glanced up at him and Robby could see that the guy

hadn’t expected him to talk about something so unimportant.
“Thanks.”

This date—or whatever it was—was failing miserably. Robby

wished he had asked Styles to meet him at the movies instead.
There they wouldn’t be allowed to talk. “Do you want to get out
of here?”

Styles finally glanced his way. “Where to?”
“A stroll down the street, a walk through the woods, or

“A stroll down the street, a walk through the woods, or

bungee jumping. Hell if I care.”

Styles stood. “Listen—”
“No,” Robby held up his hand. “If you want to leave, just go.

I understand how hard it was for you to come in the first place. I
mean, what was I thinking? You hate wolves. And hey, I’m a
freaking wolf. What chance did I really have with you? Just piss
off.” Robby was finished trying to be nice. The man was about to
blow him off and his damn pride was hurt.

Styles shifted to his other foot, shoving his thumbs in his front

pockets as he stared at Robby. “I was just going to say that we
could go for a ride on my bike.”

Robby blinked up at him. “Can I have my words back? I

seem to have let them loose at the most inappropriate time.”

“Nope,” Styles replied. “I’m holding them for ransom.” He

spun on his heel and headed toward the door. Did that mean
they were still going for a ride? Robby didn’t stand there too
long wondering. He shot after Styles, heading out the door
behind his mate.

“I’m really sorry I said those things,” Robby said when he

caught up to Styles. He felt like a complete and utter fool for
telling Styles to piss off. He normally wasn’t that mean to
someone and he had been so afraid of being rebuffed that he had
struck first.

The man gave a nonchalant shrug, but Robby could see the

disappointment in his eyes. “No big deal. I’m used to that kind of
shit.”

Robby grabbed Styles’s arm before the man could turn

away. What he hadn’t expected was the growl that ripped from

away. What he hadn’t expected was the growl that ripped from
the man, his canines instantly showing. Robby took a step back,
his hand covering his throat. He’d never seen anyone look that
lethal in his life. “Styles?”

His mate scowled, turning his handsome looks into something

demonic. “This isn’t going to work, Robby.”

He wasn’t going to give up. Robby had worked too hard to

get them here. It was one simple meeting at a diner, but Styles
was wearing the keychain Robby had sent him. That meant
something whether the pigheaded man knew it or not. He wasn’t
going to allow Styles to shove him away.

Digging into his pocket, Robby pulled out a lighter and held it

up. It was a plain blue Bic, but he was trying to make a point.
Styles’s eyes dropped to the lighter, his brows dipping deep.
“It’s a lighter.”

Robby shook his head. “Guess again.”
Styles turned and began to walk away. “It’s a damn lighter.”
Running ahead of the coyote, Robby shoved his arm out,

placing the lighter close to Styles’s face. “Guess. Again.” His
tone was a little firmer, making Styles take him seriously. “What
is this?”

“A blue lighter,” Styles answered. “What is your point?”
“It’s symbolic, Styles.”
The man gave a light shake of his head. Robby knew he

wouldn’t get it, but he was trying to make Styles pay close
attention. It was working. His mate studied the lighter intensely.
“I don’t know.”

Running his thumb over the steel wheel, Robby watched as

the flame danced around. Styles seemed mesmerized by it. His

the flame danced around. Styles seemed mesmerized by it. His
dark-brown eyes followed the flame as it swayed.

“It’s light, Styles. Don’t you see? I want to be the light in your

darkness.” Robby released the flame and grabbed Styles’s hand,
placing the lighter in his palm. “Just give me a chance.”

Styles studied his palm and Robby saw the tortured look

enter his mate’s face once more. “I can’t let go.”

“Then let me help you.” He wanted to wrap his arms around

his mate, but Robby kept a slight distance. It killed him to do so,
but they were on a slippery slope right now. Styles could fall
either way.

He let out a stuttering breath when Styles curled his fingers in,

enclosing the lighter in the palm of his hand. “Just…give me
time.”

Robby could do that. He would give Styles all the time he

needed. “Dinner, tomorrow night?”

Styles glanced back at the diner. “Lunch.”
Robby knew lunch was Styles’s safeguard. They would have

a limited amount of time. He would take that. “Okay.”

Standing on the street, Robby watched Styles walk to his

motorcycle and mount it. He slipped his glasses into place and
Robby’s cock became hard. Styles truly was a gorgeous man.
The roar of the bike filled the air as Styles pulled away.

His evening plans ruined but happy he was making progress,

Robby headed to his car and drove home. He thought about
Styles the entire way. What was he going to do in order to tear
down the man’s walls? He cursed when he remembered the
chocolates. He would thank Styles for them tomorrow.

Pulling into his drive, the only thing Robby wanted to do was

Pulling into his drive, the only thing Robby wanted to do was

walk through his garden. Being back there always calmed his
nerves and settled something inside of him. He was going to take
a shower first and then slip on some pajama pants, letting the
slight breeze skate over his heated flesh.

And he was heated. Things might not have gone as planned,

but being near Styles made Robby’s cock ache. The
remembered way Styles had watched him as Robby jacked off
in the man’s backyard kept playing over and over in his mind.

Styles had been entranced. His eyes had never left Robby.

He knew that his mate wanted him, but his hatred continued to
get in the way. Maybe he would go back over to Styles’s house
tomorrow night and catch the man in his bedroom.

Robby didn’t give a shit if he just met the guy. He wanted to

be fucked into the wall. If that didn’t work, he was going to at
least suck the man off. Robby was going to break down that
damn barrier between them.

Walking through the front door, Robby froze. His eyes

scanned the house as his heart began to hammer in his chest. He
couldn’t be seeing what he was seeing. There was no way. As
his hand fell away from the doorknob, Robby walked further
inside to see that someone had ransacked his home.

Chapter Six

Styles wasn’t even sure why he was riding past Robby’s

house. It had to be the lighter thing. He had the blue Bic stuffed
in his front pocket, keeping it close after what Robby had said to
him.

The man was throwing him for a loop.
No one had ever sent him flowers or gifts and no one had

ever gone through this much trouble just to get past his walls.
Robby was getting to him, making Styles feel like they had half a
chance with each other.

He slowed his motorcycle when he saw a police car sitting in

Robby’s driveway. What the hell was going on? Robby was
standing out front, talking with one of the officers as another
walked out of the front door.

Pulling in beside the cruiser, Styles put the kickstand down

and cut the motor. Big hazel eyes glanced his way and he could
see fear in them. Robby had his arms crossed over his chest, but
not in a relaxed pose. It was more like a defensive move, as if he
was trying to keep the chills away.

Styles slid his glasses off and propped them on his head as he

walked over the blacktop and then crossed the front lawn.

“Who are you?” the cop asked when he turned to look at

Styles.

“Styles Huntington.” He moved closer to Robby, his eyes

questioning. “What happened here?”

“Someone broke into my house and wrecked the place,”

Robby said, his voice shaky.

Robby said, his voice shaky.

“Can you think of any reason why someone would do this?”

the cop asked Robby.

Robby shook his head back and forth. “None. I work at the

bakery. Unless someone didn’t like a donut or pastry, I can’t
think of any reason why someone would do this.”

Styles was amazed that Robby could still hang onto his sense

of humor after something like this. His voice wasn’t steady, but
he could tell Robby was trying to use levity to cope with his fear.

“Did you notice anything missing?” the cop asked, scribbling

in his notepad.

“No, but until I clean up, I won’t really know.” Robby

glanced back at his house and Styles could tell that he was really
shaken up.

“Do you have any relatives that you can stay with, Mr.

Nobles?”

They were all standard questions. The cop was doing his job

and he looked like he was concerned, but not as concerned as
Styles was. Who would break into Robby’s house, and why?
Was the threat gone? Was this just some random act or was
Robby being targeted for some reason?

Robby shook his head. “My relatives live too far away.”
“I don’t think you should stay here tonight, Mr. Nobles, not

until we find out what’s going on.” The cop turned toward
Styles. “Are you a friend?”

Styles cut his eyes at Robby. He stared at the man for a

second before dipping his head. “I am.”

Robby gave him a wobbly smile.
“Can he stay with you tonight?” the cop asked. “It would be

“Can he stay with you tonight?” the cop asked. “It would be

best. We don’t have any clues right now as far as who did this.
Mr. Nobles is shaken up as well. He’ll need a friend.”

Styles couldn’t stop gazing into Robby’s hazel eyes. He’d

never seen anyone look so damn vulnerable and scared. “Yeah,
he can stay.”

The cop turned back to Robby. “Why don’t you take Mr.

Huntington inside with you and gather some things. Be careful
what you touch. I want to have this place dusted for fingerprints
and I don’t want you to destroy any evidence we might be able
to gather.”

Robby looked like he was about to collapse. The reality of

what had happened was hitting home the longer the cop talked.
Styles touched Robby’s upper arm and nodded toward the
house. “Let’s go get some clothes.”

Robby dropped his arms and turned, walking inside, Styles

right behind him. The man kept running his hand over his hair,
glancing around at the destruction. Styles tapped him on the arm.
“Your bedroom.”

Robby nodded and led Styles down a hallway. There wasn’t

one spot in the house that hadn’t been left untouched. The couch
was flipped over, the television on the floor, busted. Pictures lay
on the floor, shattered, and there was a mound of debris all over
the place. It looked like a tornado had come through this place.

When they entered the bedroom, Robby stopped, his eyes

misting up as he gazed at the mess. Drawers were opened,
contents spilled. The bed was overturned, the mattresses sliced.
“What were they looking for?”

Robby’s head turned as he gazed up at Styles. “I don’t

know.”

He spotted a small suitcase and grabbed it, setting it atop the

dresser. Styles ignored the part of him that was rebelling against
letting Robby stay with him. His coyote seemed to be in charge
and it had its canines bared to anyone or anything that was a
threat to its mate.

“Grab some clothes. I’ll go in your bathroom and get some

toiletries for you.” Styles left Robby to pack as he walked into
the bathroom. He stopped when he saw that the bathroom had
been searched as well.

His anger began to mount as he grabbed Robby’s toothbrush

and then opened the medicine cabinet, grabbing his cologne and
shaving cream. Who in the hell had done all this? Why?
Someone had been looking for something. He could tell by the
way the place looked.

Styles snagged Robby’s razor and his shampoo. He had all of

this at home, but it might help Robby cope a little better if he had
his own things. Styles walked back into the bedroom to see
Robby standing there staring at a photograph. The small suitcase
was packed, so Styles walked over and tucked in the toiletries
he had gathered.

Robby tucked the frame into the suitcase and then closed it.

“I’m ready.”

Styles felt a bit detached, but he also felt something he had

never felt before. He wanted to protect Robby. He wanted to
make sure that no one hurt this guy, but Styles wanted to take
away Robby’s fear. Styles had never wanted to protect anyone
before, not like this.

When the friends he lived with were under attack, Styles had

When the friends he lived with were under attack, Styles had

fought to keep not only himself alive, but the men with him. But
this was so much more personal. He wanted to…hug the man.

Instead, Styles grabbed the suitcase and led Robby to the

front room, trying to get the man out of the house so he wouldn’t
continue to see the destruction. He stored the suitcase in the
trunk of Robby’s car. “Since you know where I live, I want you
to drive in front of me. I’ll follow.”

He wanted to make sure no one came after Robby. Styles

wanted the man to take the lead so he could keep an eye out for
any pursuers.

Robby slipped into the driver’s side and pulled out of the

drive. He had to maneuver around the cop car, but the driveway
was wide enough to where Robby could do that with ease. It
took about ten minutes until they reached the Manchester place.

Styles pulled his bike next to the driver’s side. “Pull the car all

the way in the back.”

Robby pulled away from the curb where he had started to

park and did as Styles asked. Styles parked behind him, but
noticed that Robby hadn’t gotten out. When he walked to the
front of the car, he saw Robby sitting in the driver’s seat, wiping
at his eyes.

Opening the car door, Styles squatted down. “It’s going to

be okay, Robby.” He wasn’t sure what else to say. The guy’s
home had been broken into and trashed. Styles was pretty sure
that Robby felt violated. A home was a person’s safe haven,
their oasis.

“I just don’t get why someone would do that to me.”
Styles reached out and grabbed Robby’s hand, giving it a

Styles reached out and grabbed Robby’s hand, giving it a

small tug. “Come on.”

His mind was working overtime. There was a spare room in

the house. Spencer had moved out when he mated Bear. Should
Styles put him in there or in his own room? What really, really
bothered him was the fact that he was no longer thinking of
Robby as a wolf, but a friend. He wanted to help, to comfort the
man.

He should have been taking Robby to the bed and breakfast,

setting him up there, not bringing him home. Hadn’t Styles sworn
that all wolves were his mortal enemies? Once again, Styles
found a battle waging inside of him.

It would be easier to let the man in if only…
“I don’t want to be alone tonight,” Robby murmured behind

him. “I’m not trying to encroach on your space, but I just—”

“It’s fine,” Styles said before he thought about his words.

Was it fine? Could he allow Robby to stay in his bedroom?
Styles set the suitcase by his dresser, unsure of what to say when
they were both in his room.

Robby sat at the edge of Styles’s bed, his hands in his lap.

His head was tilted down and the guy looked on the verge of
crying again. Styles wasn’t sure what to do. He’d never had to
console anyone before. The concept was foreign to him.

“My life’s belongings are in that house,” Robby said. “All the

memories I’ve gathered my entire life.”

Styles glanced around his bedroom. There were no pictures

on the walls or dresser. There was nothing there to make his
room personal. He had a bed, two nightstands, two lamps, and a
dresser. That was it. He hadn’t collected a damn thing.

dresser. That was it. He hadn’t collected a damn thing.

And then he thought about the ribbon in his front pocket. He

also thought about the flowers sitting in his bathroom. The
flowers Robby had been sending him. Those were the only things
he had saved. Styles didn’t believe in hanging onto mementoes.
They had never been worth hanging onto before.

“We’ll get it all put back together.” Styles wasn’t sure why he

had offered to help the man, but having something taken away
was a feeling he was well acquainted with. Styles could identify
with Robby on that subject.

“Thanks for helping me out,” Robby said as he lifted his head,

and then he cocked it to the side. “Why were you at my place?”

Styles cleared his throat, unsure of what to say. He had just

wanted to drive by and maybe catch a glimpse of Robby without
the man knowing what he was doing. He hadn’t planned on
stopping. “I was heading someplace.”

God, even to him that sounded lame.
Robby gave him a look that said he knew Styles was lying.

But the man didn’t call him on it. He just nodded and then stood.
“Bathroom?” he asked, pointing toward the door on the far end
of the room.

Styles held his breath as Robby walked over to the door and

then stepped inside. The guy was going to see the flowers. Every
single bouquet that Robby had sent him sat in its own individual
vase. They were scattered all over his bathroom. There was no
way he wouldn’t see them.

When Robby emerged from the bathroom, Styles braced

himself for the teasing, for the man to say that Styles was a wuss
for wanting to keep something that was very precious to him. But

for wanting to keep something that was very precious to him. But
Robby didn’t say anything about the flowers as he sat back
down. “You have an awesome shower.”

His bedroom and bathroom were his oasis. The bathroom

was the one place Styles had splurged. He had contracted
Roman Lakeland to remodel it into Styles’s dream bathroom. “It
is pretty cool,” he admitted.

“Do you mind if I take a shower?” Robby asked as he

bounced his blondish-brown eyebrows. “I need one, but
honestly, I am dying to check it out.”

For the first time since they had been around each other,

Styles laughed. “Be my guest.”

Robby moved over to Styles, leaning down to grab his

suitcase, and Styles could do nothing but hold his breath. The
man was so close, his face right there at Styles’s crotch. He
could feel himself growing hard as Robby took longer than
needed to grab the handle before he pulled away and knelt on
the floor.

The guy was torturing him in ways that had his cock pulsing.

He was kneeling there, unzipping the case, still so damn close
that Styles’s body was heating up to nuclear meltdown. When
Robby tilted his head back and gazed up at Styles, he thought his
cock would explode.

“Do you keep the towels in there?”
Styles daftly nodded, his lungs hurting from holding his breath.

Robby gave him a teasing smile before he grabbed a pair of
pajama pants from the suitcase and then headed into the
bathroom.

Styles needed to get away, to put space between them. He

Styles needed to get away, to put space between them. He

didn’t think he could handle it if Robby stepped from his
bathroom, his body glistening with sprinkles of water clinging to
his skin. He headed toward the door, making a quick exit and
then walked briskly down the stairs.

When he reached the kitchen, Styles felt as if he could

breathe again.

“I see Robby’s car is out back,” Kenway said as he stood at

the counter, making himself something to eat. The tone wasn’t
accusing, but questioning.

“Someone broke into his place and trashed it.” He felt

compelled to explain Robby’s presence. That was something he
never felt the need to do. Styles explained himself to no one. But
here he stood, babbling nervously to Kenway. “The cops asked
if I would let him stay here for the night until they could dust the
place down for fingerprints.”

Kenway cocked his eyebrow, but didn’t say anything about

Styles’s loose lips. “Is he all right?”

“He’s a bit shaken up, but he wasn’t hurt.” Styles went to the

fridge and grabbed a bottled water. He cracked the lid and
drank half the bottle. His throat was so fucking dry that it felt like
sandpaper.

“Do they know why someone would break into his place?”
Styles shook his head. “No one knows. Robby says he

doesn’t have any enemies.”

Kenway studied him for a moment as he shoved his plate in

the microwave. “Do you think he should come into work
tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” Styles answered. “He should be somewhere where

“Yeah,” Styles answered. “He should be somewhere where

he can be protected.” Styles was acting so out of character. Not
only was he looking out for someone other than himself, but a
wolf no less.

It had to be a shocker for Kenway. But hell, it was a shocker

for Styles as well. Never in his life had he thought to protect his
sworn enemy. Yet here he was, keeping Robby safe.

“You know he is welcome to stay here for as long as he

needs.”

Styles headed toward the side door. “I know.” He needed

air. He walked to the back deck, standing there as he tried his
best to compose his frazzled nerves. Fuck! Robby was in his
bathroom, naked, lathering soap all over his—Styles pushed the
thought away.

Robby was here. Styles just couldn’t believe it. This was a far

cry from the way he had acted when he first realized that Robby
was his mate.

His chest hurt, really fucking hurt. He had acted like an insane

animal that day, rebelled against the idea that a wolf was his
mate. And then Styles felt ashamed because his mind had
refused to accept that fact and he had never allowed himself to
think of Robby as his mate.

He had even agreed with the cops that Robby was a friend…

not a boyfriend…not his husband…just a friend. He gazed up at
the sky, wondering if letting the man in, letting go of his rage,
would be a betrayal to his parents’ memory. He was conflicted.

The air stirred around him and Styles scented bear. “What do

you want, Reese?”

The man moved closer, bumping his shoulder with Styles. He

The man moved closer, bumping his shoulder with Styles. He

hated that there was a riff between them. Reese had been there
for Styles through thick and thin. The man was hell of a friend to
have and he had taken his anger out on the guy.

“I see Robby is here.”
Styles nodded.
“Kenway told me what happened.”
God, could that guy keep any kind of secret? He had the

loosest fucking lips around. If he ever wanted to commit a crime,
Styles would have to make sure Kenway was nowhere near him.

Reese moved over to the table and took a seat. “Nice night

out.”

Styles joined him, sitting back and staring at the woods

behind their home. He thought about Robby, the flowers he had
sent, the keychain, and the witty cards. He smiled when he
thought about the chicken, and how he held the man’s heart…
joint custody.

He’d never met anyone like Robby before.
“He seems like a really sweet guy,” Reese said, breaking into

Styles’s thoughts.

“You can’t watch us have sex.”
Reese chuckled. “Aw, come on. You won’t even know I

was there.”

Styles cut his eyes at Reese, giving the man a look that said

his answer would always be no. It didn’t slip his mind that he had
just admitted out loud they he was going to have sex with
Robby. When he spoke the words, they had felt natural.

“Fine,” Reese said and then sighed. “I swear, everyone in this

house is turning into prudes. At least Paine still lets me watch.”

house is turning into prudes. At least Paine still lets me watch.”

“That’s because Paine is a true-to-the-heart freak,” Styles

answered. “The man would have sex in the middle of town if he
thought he could get away with it.”

Reese nodded. “He’s pissed that Steele has mated. Not that

he doesn’t like Diablo and love his nephew, but the days when
both of them fucked the same guy are over.”

Styles thought about the random sex he had over the years,

the quickies, or the times when he got off and left. He couldn’t
even remember any names. It had always been just an act for
him, nothing more. His feelings had never been invested.

Glancing up toward the balcony that led to his bathroom,

Styles knew that was about to change. His feelings toward
Robby were changing in ways he never thought possible. Styles
wanted to be with the guy.

Maybe he would play hard to get a while longer. He really

did like getting flowers sent to him and he absolutely loved he
ransom notes. God, he was a twisted fuck.

But twisted or not, Styles knew he was fighting a battle he

wasn’t going to win. Robby had wormed his way into Styles’s
life and he honestly couldn’t imagine himself pushing the man
away any longer.

“You’re going to mate him, aren’t you?” Reese asked with a

shitty ass grin on his face. “Mates will do that to you.”

Reese wasn’t mated, but Styles knew the guy was on the

lookout. Every shifter wanted a mate. From what he had heard
over the years, a mate was like having the other part of a
person’s soul given to them.

Styles wasn’t sure if that was true, but he could say that

Styles wasn’t sure if that was true, but he could say that

having Robby close, he was starting to feel as though the man
had become an integral part of his life.

God, who knew that Styles would fall just from having

flowers sent to him and chicken sent with a ransom note?

Chapter Seven

Styles walked upstairs, inhaling a deep breath and blowing it

out slowly. He knew what he was walking into. Robby was
naked in his room, or mostly. The only thing the man took out to
wear was a pair of pajama pants, and those were thin as hell.

It was a balmy night and Styles was hot himself, but it didn’t

help that some of that heat was from the need burning in his loins.
Styles could feel the heaviness inside of him to take Robby, to
fuck the man until the hunger for the guy abated.

His steps slowed until he was just standing there on the

staircase, curling his fingers around the wood as he tried to get
his libido back under control. Styles still couldn’t believe that
Robby was a wolf and he was thinking about having sex with the
man.

Had Robby gotten to him that badly? Had those mementoes

meant that much? Styles knew they had. Those damn flowers
meant the world to him, even though they shouldn’t. Turning,
Styles took a seat on the step, rubbing his hand over his jaw.

“I thought you would be running up there.”
Tilting his head back, Styles glared at his approaching friend.

“Stop stalking me.”

“You wish,” Reese said as he took a seat next to Styles.

“What’s on your mind?”

Styles’s left eyebrow rose a fraction. “What, are you my

damn shrink now?”

“Nope,” Reese replied as he leaned back and rested his arms

on the steps. “Just wondering why you’re leaving Robby in your

on the steps. “Just wondering why you’re leaving Robby in your
room while you sit here like a man in conflict.”

Styles hated that Reese could read him so well. He had been

around the man too damn long. Stretching his legs out, Styles
wondered how to say what he wanted to say without actually
saying it. “Robby is a wolf.”

Reese’s lips curved upward. “Yeah, I kind of scented that on

him.”

“I hate wolves,” Styles reminded Reese as he set his chin in a

stubborn line. “Why would fate give me a wolf for a mate when
the fucking breed has done me so wrong?”

Reese sat forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Has

Robby done anything wrong to you?”

“No.”
“Then I think it’s about time you start blaming the ones

responsible and not the entire race. I’ve meet some pretty damn
decent wolves since I’ve been here. Place the blame where it
belongs.”

“But my parents—” Styles turned away, hating that he was so

fucking confused.

“Would be happy that you found your mate, Styles.” Reese

bumped shoulders with him. “I wouldn't give a fuck if Robby
was an elephant with five tusks. He’s the one person fate thought
would fit perfectly with you. Maybe they gave you Robby to
help find your way. Who knows. But making him pay for
something he didn’t do is asinine.”

Reese was making perfect sense, but Styles had hated

wolves his entire life. It wasn’t that easy to let it go. He wanted
to make those responsible pay, but Reese was right, Styles was

to make those responsible pay, but Reese was right, Styles was
making the entire wolf breed pay for what had happened to him
and his parents. Robby was his mate. Being a wolf did not define
who he was. It was just a part of him.

He knew he was trying to talk himself into this. Everything

sounded so logical, so easy. So why was he hesitant to leave the
steps and go to his room?

“And since I’m the voice of reason, I think I should be

rewarded.”

Styles shoved his hand against Reese’s leg. “You’re not

watching, perv.”

“There is nothing perverted about wanting to see the beauty

of male bodies and how they intertwine together.” Reese’s tone
had grown serious. “Do you know how sensual watching two
males making love is?”

Okay, now Reese was getting way off topic and Styles did

not want to go there. He stood, heading up the steps. “Later.”
He would have to remember to lock his bedroom door.

“Prude!” Reese shouted behind him and then Styles heard a

deep laugh. The guy was persistent, but Styles wasn’t going to
allow him to watch a damn thing. Although he had thought about
having sex with Robby, Styles wasn’t sure what he was going to
—he stopped dead in his tracks when he walked into his
bedroom to see Robby bending over, pulling his pajama pants
on.

The man’s bared ass was showing before he slipped the

fabric into place. But Styles had caught sight of the pale flesh
before the man had covered it.

And he couldn’t stop thinking about what he wanted to do

with that nice ass. His canines had become heavy in his mouth as
he felt an urge to bite. His cock grew to full length, his skin felt
tight.

“I’m sorry,” Robby said as he turned toward Styles, his hazel

eyes widening a fraction. “I took longer than expected. But those
dual shower heads were nirvana.” He ended his sentence with a
smile.

Styles pulled his eyes away from the man to notice a few

candles were lit around the room. What was Robby planning?

Robby waved his hand toward the closest candle. “It’s a

ritual I have. I always light candles when I shower. It helps me
relax. I’ll put them out.”

“No,” Styles said a little too quickly. A momentary look of

discomfort crossed Robby’s face. Styles knew he was flip-
floppy with his moods and the guy probably didn’t know what
he would do. “They’re…nice.”

One corner of Robby’s mouth pulled into a slight smile. “You

better be careful. Lighting candles when showering or taking a
bath can become addictive. I usually put them in the bathroom
with me, but I was afraid of setting the flowers on fire.”

Styles felt his cheeks heat up when Robby mentioned those

damn things. Once again he was waiting for the guy to tease him,
but Robby busied himself by walking over by Styles, dropping to
his knees, and zipping his suitcase back up.

What was with him kneeling in front of Styles? Didn’t the guy

know just how much that affected him? Was he aware of the
captivating picture he made down there? Before he could blink
his eyes, Robby had moved closer, placing his hands on Styles’s
thighs. “What are you doing?”

thighs. “What are you doing?”

There was almost an imperceptible amount of pleading in

Robby’s eyes. Styles held his breath as Robby ran his fingers up
and down his thighs, his fingers moving closer and closer to the
snap on Styles’s jeans.

“I want to give, not take. Will you let me do that for you?”
Styles’s head lifted and then lowered, panting so quickly that

his mouth dried out. Slowly, he moved closer to the dresser and
leaned against it, Robby moving with him. He threaded his
fingers in Robby’s hair, palming the man’s scalp.

Robby lowered his lashes as his hands moved to unfasten

Styles’s jeans. The man’s hand brushed over the head of
Styles’s cock, causing a surge of heat to rise within him. He
didn’t say a word, just watched as Robby fished his cock out
and kissed the very tip of the head. Styles’s entire body jerked,
his hand tightening on Robby’s scalp. Wrapping his lips around
the head of Styles’s cock, Robby began to suck, his tongue
tracing the veins, his cheeks hollowed. As he watched Robby,
the man looked up at him. Styles gave a low growl when he saw
the smile in Robby’s eyes that contained a sensuous heat.

The look was as intimate as a kiss.
Styles wanted to tell Robby to suck his cock harder, to take

him all the way down his throat, but the words were caught in his
throat as he watched the man turn his head, his tongue snaking
out to lick along his cock.

The coyote in him howled at the pleasure that was becoming

overwhelming. His eyes moved over to the candles flickering as
Robby reached a hand into his pants and palmed his sac. He
began to roll the flesh gently in his hand, giving the skin a slight

began to roll the flesh gently in his hand, giving the skin a slight
tug.

Styles threw his head back, hissing and groaning, grabbing

the strands of Robby’s hair and giving a slight tug of his own.
The scent of Robby’s arousal slid over him like fur against his
skin. It was strong, musky, and had Styles salivating to take the
man right here on the floor.

The man’s tongue was slow, sliding, erotically rough and so

hot that he felt like he was melting. Robby pulled back, his
tongue swirling around the head, dipping into the slit, and pulling
out the pre-cum, giving a light growl of approval.

Styles was barely holding onto his control, barely keeping it in

check. His coyote wanted to mate Robby, claim him in the most
savage and sensual way. Styles opened his eyes, seeing Robby’s
grimace of pleasure, the raw lust that transformed his handsome
face and made his hazel eyes burst with heat. Styles hadn’t
thought Robby could get any better looking, any more tempting,
but staring down at the man, he knew he had been wrong.

Claim him. He is your mate. Stop being such a damn fool.
Styles’s breathing picked up. He could see Robby’s eyes

begging him with want and need, pleading to be claimed. Robby
had said that tonight was all about Styles, but Styles wasn’t that
selfish. He couldn’t take from his mate and not give. He was
enjoying what Robby was doing to him, but he also wanted to
give the man so much pleasure that Robby drowned in it.

Grabbing at the fabric of his shirt, Styles lifted it up and then

over his head, tossing it aside. He circled his fingers around
Robby’s wrist and placed his mate’s hand on his chest. Robby’s
skin was hot to the touch, making Styles groan.

skin was hot to the touch, making Styles groan.

Robby pulled away from sucking Styles’s cock and stood,

wrapping his lips around Styles’s nipple. The man sure as fuck
liked sucking. His cock jerked at the thought of having Robby
permanently attached to his body with those masterful lips. He
rolled the nipple around with his teeth, and then gently bit down.

He could feel the tips of Robby’s canines biting into his flesh.

Styles grabbed the back of Robby’s head, pulling the man back,
gazing down into eyes that were swimming in a carnal, fervid
mist. “You like biting?”

Robby licked at his lips, his smile slow in forming but finally

appeared, reaching his eyes. “I got carried away.”

“I just bet you did.” His words were spoken in a low growl,

his coyote close to the surface. His hand moved to Robby’s
back stroking its way down to the man’s buttocks. He gripped
tightly as the beginning of a smile tipped his mouth. “You like
toying with me.”

“I like getting a response out of you,” Robby countered. “I

like to keep you guessing. I want to keep you on your toes,
constantly surprising you, always making you wonder what I’m
going to do next.” The man’s words had a slight snarl to them
but Styles could see that Robby loved sending ransom notes,
loved the game of guess-what-I’m-going-to-do-next.

He could be just as spontaneous as Robby. Styles could

keep his mate guessing as well. Like now for instance. He
reached into the drawer and pulled out the lube, keeping a tight
grip on it. Then, in one swift move, Styles took Robby to the
wooden floor. He was on top of his mate in a heartbeat,
slamming his lips over Robby’s.

slamming his lips over Robby’s.

Styles set the lube down next to Robby’s head as he tried to

devour the man.

His mate dug his fingernails into Styles’s shoulders, parting his

lips. Their tongues dueled and fought over who would control the
kiss. Robby might be slim, and not as tall as Styles, but the man
definitely had a strong, aggressive personality.

Grabbing his mate’s wrist, Styles locked the man’s hands

over his head. He smiled, flashing his white teeth. “You are a
very determined man. What, do you think you’ll roll me, place
me on bottom, and then what were your plans?”

Robby lifted his head and tried to nip at Styles’s lips. “Very

naughty ones.”

Styles dipped his head and locked his teeth on Robby’s

throat, giving the man a throaty growl before he pulled back and
kissed his neck. His cock was hard, straining in his jeans and
Styles could feel the blood pulsing, making him almost mad with
the need.

Robby smirked at him. “Don’t worry, you would’ve kept

control.”

Styles seriously doubted that. Locking eyes with the man

beneath him, Styles lowered his head and licked his tongue over
Robby’s exposed chest, smiling to himself when his mate’s
breath hitched. He could feel Robby tugging at his arms, trying to
get his hands free.

In the struggle to see who was going to dominate who, there

was no fucking way Styles was going to release the man. Never
before had Styles met a man who should’ve fallen into the
category of twink, yet acted more like a dominant alpha.

category of twink, yet acted more like a dominant alpha.

But under all the posturing, Robby was also determined to

love Styles, no matter how much he pushed the man away,
snapped at him, or acted like a total ass. He saw Styles as his
and was laying his claim.

Releasing one of Robby’s arms, Styles pointed at the man,

giving him a look that said, “don’t fucking move.” He shoved at
his jeans, kicking them off. He wanted skin against skin. Styles
wanted their entire bodies to touch without confinements, without
anything getting in the way.

With his free hand, Robby tried to reach down and grab

Styles’s cock. He knocked the man’s hand away. “Still trying to
take over?”

“Still trying to play.” His mate’s eyes shimmered with

laughter, his features softening as he gazed at Styles with such
love that Styles had to look away. He couldn’t understand how
Robby could love him and they had just met. Not only that, how
could Robby love him when Styles had done everything in his
power to keep the man away from him?

“Growl for me,” Robby teased as his hitched his hips and

drove his cock forward, making the heated flesh slide along
Styles’s own erection. “It flips my trigger when I hear that sound
coming from you.”

His mate lifted his legs and swung them around Styles’s waist,

locking Styles into place. “Or should I be begging you to purr?”

Styles was totally and utterly confused. Robby was acting

dominant and submissive at the same time. He was giving Styles
control, yet keeping some for himself. “It is you who is going to
be purring like a kitten when I’m done with you.”

be purring like a kitten when I’m done with you.”

“Challenge accepted,” Robby said as he humped at Styles’s

groin. “Make me purr, Styles.”

Styles’s blood ran hot at Robby’s words. Not only did he

want to make the man purr, but he wanted to hear Robby crying
out his name as he came.

He was so caught up in wanting to fuck Robby through the

floor that Styles no longer cared that the man was a wolf. He no
longer cared about anything except claiming the man. Robby was
driving him insane, making him want things that he had never
wanted before.

But the one thing Styles wanted most was to hear Robby tell

him that he loved him. He wanted assurance the Robby would
never hurt him. If his mate betrayed him, did anything to make
Styles doubt the man, he knew he would be crushed. His world
would come to a screeching halt.

Because he was doing the one thing he never thought he

would do in life. He was going to trust a wolf. He was going to
give himself over to Robby, and he was going to trust the man
not to destroy him. It was the most terrifying feeling in the world.
Styles had never trusted anyone, not even the men he lived with.
Not one hundred percent. None of the shifters he lived with had
his total and utter trust.

Styles gazed down into Robby’s eyes, seeing his future,

seeing his happiness…or his destruction. Because Robby was
now capable of doing the one thing that no one had ever had the
ability to do before.

He could destroy Styles. He had given his mate that

capability when he decided that he was going to claim the man.

capability when he decided that he was going to claim the man.
When he dipped his head, Styles took Robby’s lips in a tender,
gentle kiss. His hand smoothed over Robby’s flesh, trying to
memorize every dip, every valley. This was the first time he had
opened himself up, and he was praying that Robby did him no
harm.

Pulling back into a kneeling position, Styles scooped Robby

up with him, settling the man in his lap. His arms wrapped around
Robby’s body, his fingers exploring as his tongue did the same.
He tasted the man’s lips, his jaw, and then kissed a trail down
the man’s neck.

As he continued to make love to the man’s flesh with his lips,

Styles reached for the discarded lube. He squeezed a good
portion of the clear liquid onto his fingers and then dropped the
bottle next to his knee. Styles ran his fingers down the crease of
Robby’s ass, feeling his mate panting, breathing harder as he
captured Styles’s lips and sucked Styles’s tongue in, playing with
the appendage.

Styles ran his fingers over the puckered back entrance,

probing before slipping a single finger past the tight muscles. His
other hand cupped Robby’s scalp, holding his head in place
before he pulled his lips away from Robby’s mouth, and began
to nibble his way toward Robby’s ear.

“Purr for me,” Styles whispered as he inserted a second

finger into his mate’s ass. “I want to hear how I make you feel.”

Robby’s head fell back onto his shoulders as his lips parted

and his eyes fluttered closed. A long, provocative groan rumbled
through him. The man was rocking, impaling Styles’s fingers
continuously as his hands cupped Styles’s neck, holding on as he

continuously as his hands cupped Styles’s neck, holding on as he
took his pleasure.

The sight was rapturous, spellbinding, making Styles’s breath

freeze in his lungs. He’d had many lovers over the years, and
none of them had ever responded to him so passionately, so
wantonly. His throat tightened at the way Robby was giving
himself to Styles. The man was holding nothing back.

Inserting a third finger, Styles quickly stretched his mate,

desperate to get inside the man. He wanted to feel like he was a
part of Robby. Styles wanted to sink inside the man and never
leave. Robby had a zest for life, and Styles wanted a piece of
that. He wanted to feel whole again. But most of all, he wanted
to look at life without the hatred that brewed in his heart.

Removing his fingers, Styles lined his cock up and then let

Robby take control, easing himself onto Styles’s shaft. He held
on to his mate, fascinated beyond measure at the way Robby
was looking at him, staring into Styles’s eyes as if he were the
man’s entire world.

When he tried to turn his head, Robby placed his hand on the

side of Styles’s face, refusing to let Styles look away. “I love
you, Styles. I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to be the light in
your darkness. Let me in, please.”

Something inside of Styles broke. He buried his face in

Robby’s neck, tightened his arms around the man’s body, and
thrust his hips upward. He could feel a small part of him healing
as he made slow, sweet love to his mate.

“Please…don’t…” Styles’s throat grew tight as he thrust his

cock into Robby’s body. “Don’t ever…” He wasn’t sure how to
finish the sentence. His emotions were raw, like an open wound.

finish the sentence. His emotions were raw, like an open wound.
He hadn’t felt this vulnerable since…ever.

“I have you,” Robby whispered. “And I’ll never hurt you,

Styles. I’ll never let anyone else hurt you either.”

Styles shook his head, feeling as if this moment was unreal.

How could anyone love him this much? It was almost
unbearable.

Robby began to purr, the sound vibrating his chest. It was the

oddest sound. Styles pulled back and gazed down at his mate.
Robby was grinning widely and then he chuckled. “Looks like
you won the challenge, stud.”

Styles threw his head back and laughed, taking Robby down

to the floor and driving his cock deep into Robby’s ass. His mate
groaned, wrapped his fingers around his bobbing cock, and
began to stroke himself.

Watching his mate try to get himself off was so fucking erotic.

He wanted to make this last all night, but being inside Robby,
watching him stroke his flesh was becoming too damn much.

Styles felt his balls draw tight to his body, a tingling racing up

his spine. He reached between them and curled his fingers over
the top of Robby’s, helping his mate get off as he kissed
Robby’s shoulder and then sank his canines into the soft flesh.

He felt his mate’s hot seed spilling between them and his hole

clamping down tightly around Styles’s cock as Robby shouted
his name. With a flurry of hard and fast thrusts, Styles finally
froze, buried as deep as he could be, his cock exploding in his
mate’s ass. He growled around the flesh his canines were buried
in before he pulled them free and licked the wound.

Robby lay there panting, his eyes glassy, a large smile on his

face. Styles just knelt there, staring down into his forever. He

face. Styles just knelt there, staring down into his forever. He
had just claimed the man, the wolf, his mate and he couldn’t find
it in himself to regret what he had just done.

* * * *

Robby woke sometime in the middle of the night. His body

was sore as hell but he couldn’t stop smiling. He gazed over at
Styles who was fast asleep. The man looked so damn peaceful
with his eyes closed. Robby wished he would always look this
serene.

Pushing out of bed, Robby headed toward the bathroom.

Now that he didn’t have lust riding his mind, he thought about his
house. Who on earth would break in? It didn’t make any sense
to him whatsoever.

He didn’t have any enemies.
Robby spotted his cell phone on the bathroom counter. He

had totally forgotten that he had left it there right before he took
his shower. Using the bathroom, Robby washed his hands and
then grabbed his phone.

There was a missed call and a voice mail.
It was probably Kenway telling him to show up early

tomorrow. Robby loved getting the overtime, but hated the
earlier hours sometimes.

He pressed his ear to the phone, glancing at the bathroom

door and eager to get back to bed so he could curl in next to
Styles. Whether the man knew it or not, he was a cuddle bunny
in his sleep.

Robby froze, his heart beating out of control as he listened to

Robby froze, his heart beating out of control as he listened to

the message.

“You have something that belongs to me. If you don’t return

it, I’m going to make you wish you were never born.”

Chapter Eight

“I’m looking at him right now,” Kota said into the phone.
“Are you sure it’s him?” Maverick asked as he dropped

down onto the sofa in his office, his mind racing as he tried to
figure out exactly what was going on.

He had sent his second to the demon realm, wanting to do a

little investigating of his own. Maverick didn’t trust that Panahasi
would tell him if Kenyon was there. He wasn’t sure, but the
niggling feeling had been with him since his meeting at Christian’s.

His hunch had been right. Kenyon somehow found his way

there and was now trying to hide out. Maverick wasn’t sure
what the man was up to, but his gut told him that nothing good
was going to come from the head Vampire Hunter being in the
demon realm.

“I’m damn positive,” Kota replied. “He’s using his real name

here, not an alias.”

Odd. Very odd.
“All right. Get out of there. At least we know where he’s at.”
“Don’t you want me to stick around?” Kota asked. “We

need to know what he’s up to. I don’t like the fact that he made
it here. That means someone was paid handsomely to bring him
to the demon realm and I want to find out who it was.”

Maverick knew Kota was right, but he didn’t want to risk the

man’s life. This was a very dangerous game Kenyon was playing
and he refused to allow Kota to get caught up in the middle of it
all. Kenyon was lying low, biding his time. But for what?

“Don’t talk to the Demon Warriors,” Maverick said. “They’ll

“Don’t talk to the Demon Warriors,” Maverick said. “They’ll

only tell Panahasi that you’re there. I want this very low key. Do
not confront Kenyon, Kota. I just want you to gather intel, keep
tabs on him, and let me know who he meets up with.”

“I’ve been staying under the Demon Warriors’ radar. I’ll

keep my distance from Kenyon.”

Maverick hung up, his gut telling him to pull Kota out of

there, but the man was right. They needed to know what was
going on.

He dialed Christian. “Kota spotted Kenyon.”
There was a long pause before the vampire spoke. “So our

suspicions are true. Panahasi is hiding something.”

Damn, and he really liked the demon leader. But if they were

going to be a working group, shit like this couldn’t be tolerated.
Maverick ran a hand over his chin, grinning to himself. God, was
he really all for the Ultionem instead of moaning and groaning
about the super-secret club?

He sighed as he sat back, stretching his legs out in front of

him. “Looks that way.”

“Are you going to keep your man there?”
“For now.” If shit got funky, Maverick was pulling Kota. He

didn’t give a shit about Kenyon or the Demon Warriors when it
came to his pack. “I’ll keep you updated.”

“I sent someone in as well,” Christian said just as Maverick

was about to hang up.

“Who?”
“Christo. I wanted to find out what was going on. I will call

him and tell him to get with Kota. Two heads are better than
one.” The man laughed and Maverick knew the pervert was

one.” The man laughed and Maverick knew the pervert was
talking about having two mates.

“Do that.” He hung up.

* * * *

Robby moved quickly through the door in the back of the

bakery, the one that led to the alley behind the shop. Making
sure no one was in the kitchen, he grabbed the manila envelope
from his back pocket and shoved it under the bread slicer.

His heart was hammering in his chest as he took a few steps

back. The envelope could be the only reason someone was after
him. Robby didn’t have anything that belonged to someone else.
For over a week he’d had the thing in his possession, constantly
forgetting to take it to the post office.

He was even too afraid to look inside the envelope to see

what the person who left that threatening message was after. He
didn’t care. All he knew was that he had to figure out what to
do. Whatever was in that envelope was spurring someone into
tearing Robby’s house apart. It had to be something important.

“You’re here early.”
Robby spun around, clutching his chest. It was only Kenway.

His boss stood there with a questioning expression on his face
and then shook his head. “Styles still have you chasing your tail?”

He wished that was his only problem. “We’re working things

out.” Robby grabbed his apron and pulled it over his head and
noticed that his hands were slightly shaking. He’d never gotten a
threatening voice mail in his life. It was unnerving.

“He’ll come around,” Kenway said before leaving the

kitchen.

Yeah, Styles had come around all right. The guy had claimed

him last night—and in the most erotic, sensual, and mind-blowing
way. Robby’s ass still hurt. Thoughts of the envelope and threat
were soon gone as Robby replayed last night in his head. Styles
had been everything and more.

“Someone got lucky,” Baker said as he walked into the

kitchen. “I know that look.”

Clearing his throat, Robby got to work. He wondered—as

he did last night—if maybe Styles would mellow out now. He
hadn’t taken Robby savagely, but gently, passionately. That
meant the guy cared in Robby’s book.

“Styles is up front,” Kenway barked as he stuck his head

through the door. “Tell me you’re not going to take off.”

Robby quickly washed his hands and then hurried over to the

door. “Sorry, I can’t promise that.” They were newly mated and
Robby could feel his cock perking up at the thought of seeing his
mate again.

His steps slowed when he saw the agitated look on Styles’s

face. Something wasn’t right. Even though he didn’t expect the
man to be smiling, he at least expected him to look relaxed. But
he wasn’t. His thumb kept tapping on his thigh and his jaw was
set in hard lines.

Robby walked right out of the bakery, Styles following.

When he knew they were out of earshot, he turned toward his
mate. “What’s wrong?”

Styles crossed his arms over his chest, gazing out over the

street. “Someone went through my saddlebag early this morning,
before I left for work.”

before I left for work.”

Shit. Had the person after Robby known he was with Styles?

Was he going to start harassing Robby’s mate now? “Do you
think I did it?”

His heart sank when he saw Styles’s dark-brown eyes flicker

toward him. His anger shot through the roof as he took a step
forward, glaring at the man. “I would never go through your
things. I can’t believe you would even think—why would I—”
Robby walked away from Styles before he hit the guy.

And here he thought they had some sort of trust growing

between them. He stupidly thought that he and Styles had some
kind of understanding. The man was impossible!

He felt a strong hand on his arm as Styles stopped him from

walking away. “No, I don’t think you did it.”

Robby was not appeased. “You thought it for a second.”

And knowing his mate had any kind of doubt hurt like hell. He
knew Styles wasn’t going to change overnight, but the man had
to give Robby some fucking credit.

Styles looked as if a battle was waging inside of him and then

he let out a long breath. “I’m sorry.”

Wow. Did Styles just apologize to him? The guy didn’t seem

the type to tell anyone he was sorry. He glanced up to make sure
the sky wasn’t falling. “Did they take anything?”

“Nothing.”
Robby reached up and snaked his arms around Styles’s

neck, pulling his mate in close for a hug. He whispered into
Styles’s ear, “Someone is after me.”

Styles stiffened, but held Robby close. “Do you know who it

is?”

is?”

“No, but an envelope was delivered to my house by mistake.

I think the person who trashed my house is the same person who
left the threatening message on my phone last night. He could
also be the same person who went through your saddlebag.”

Styles growled, his hold growing tighter. “Why didn’t you tell

me you got a threatening message last night?”

Robby kissed Styles on the side of his cheek. “Because you

looked so damn peaceful sleeping and all I wanted to do was get
back into bed with my cuddle bunny.”

“Your what?” Styles pulled back, his brows dipping.
Robby chuckled. “You love to cuddle when you sleep. Trust

me, I love it.”

Styles didn’t look happy about that. He nipped Robby on his

chin before he pulled back, his voice still subvocal. “Don’t
change the subject.”

Robby gave him a look that said he didn’t want to discuss

what was going on out in the open. There was no telling who
was listening. If the culprit was a shifter, he would be able to
hear them even if he wasn’t close by.

“Come on.” Styles grabbed his hand and damn near dragged

Robby along.

“Where are we going?” He glanced behind him, watching as

they left the bakery behind. Boy, was Kenway going to be
pissed.

“Someplace we can talk without worrying about ears.”
That was very evasive. Robby followed, trying to keep up

with Styles’s long strides. They were soon in front of the bike
shop. But instead of going inside, Styles straddled his bike. “Get

shop. But instead of going inside, Styles straddled his bike. “Get
on.”

“Saying please might help.” Robby crossed his arms over his

chest, tapping his foot out angrily. He wasn’t budging on this.
Styles was going to learn to stop being so damn irritable, at least
with him. Robby wanted to smile when he saw the way Styles
was staring at him. The scowl couldn’t get any deeper.

Styles handed Robby a pair of glasses and then narrowed his

eyes. “Please.” The word was spoken through gritted teeth.
Robby patted him on his shoulder as he climbed behind his mate,
slipping the glasses into place.

“That wasn’t so hard,” he said softly into Styles’s ear. “If you

say that word later, I just might suck your cock.”

He chuckled when he felt the rumble of a growl under his

hands. “Now take me to your hidden fortress.”

Styles turned his head and stared at Robby for a moment

before he pushed the bike backward and then took off. Robby
gripped Styles’s waist tightly as they weaved through town and
headed out onto the open road.

He forgot to tell his mate that he’d never ridden on a bike

before. That might have been a wise thing to bring up, but they
were on the road now. He just held on tight, resting his chin on
his mate’s shoulder.

The freedom of riding a bike was close to the same feeling

Robby had when he shifted and went for a run. He loved feeling
the wind blowing through his hair and inhaling Styles’s earthy
scent. He knew he was addicted to riding now. Robby would
just have to learn to ride a motorcycle, or maybe he wouldn’t
just so he could sit behind his mate and hold him close.

just so he could sit behind his mate and hold him close.

They pulled down an access road that was riddled with

potholes and debris. Styles maneuvered carefully, Robby holding
on for dear life. The guy wasn’t driving fast, but he didn’t want to
get knocked off. Robby was being shaken up, his entire body
bobbing around.

“Could you have picked a more messed-up road?”
His mate didn’t say anything. They just drove deeper into the

woods until Robby saw what looked like a small shack. Trees
were close to the shack, making it seem intimate and cozy. There
was so much green that Robby’s wolf was whimpering to get
free and go for a run. He calmed the beast with a promise that
they would run later. For now he needed to find out why Styles
had chosen this place.

“Where are we?” he asked as he climbed from the back of

the bike, stepping right into one of the potholes. Thank goodness
it hadn’t rained or his foot would have been drenched. But he
did almost lose his balance. He gripped Styles’s leather jacket,
recapturing his steadiness.

“Some place I like to go to once in a while.”
The statement had Robby scrutinizing the small structure

closer. He tried to imagine Styles sitting out here trying to be one
with nature. He knew his mate was coyote, but he just couldn’t
imagine the man out here running around, finding peace.

“I hid the envelope.” Robby got straight to the point. “I don’t

know what’s in it, but apparently it’s enough for someone to
come after me.”

“How long have you had it?” Styles asked as he approached

the shack and opened the door. There was one window that

the shack and opened the door. There was one window that
Robby could see and it looked like it had decades of grime
smeared all over it. The wood looked warped and in need of
repair, but it held as Styles swung the door open.

“A little over a week.” Robby trailed behind Styles, wanting

to see what was inside. The closed-up smell hit him first. No one
had been here in a while. Dust floated around in the little shards
of sun that managed to penetrate this deep in the forest. When he
stepped fully inside, the only thing in the one room place was a
cot, a small table, and a chair. There was also a very small
potbelly stove that stood in the middle of the hovel.

Since it was midsummer, Robby knew Styles wouldn’t be

lighting it. His mate dusted off the chair and then waved for
Robby to take a seat. “I own some of this land. Since I didn’t
ask Maverick for a business loan, he gave me rights to his little
shack and twenty acres. He said something about head time.”
Styles grumbled the last part.

“That was really nice of him,” Robby said conversationally.

“This seems like a nice area.”

Styles shrugged. “I was thinking of tearing this down and

building a small cottage. The place is pretty secluded and there is
plenty of land to run.” The man grimaced and he knew the guy
was thinking about Robby’s wolf. Sooner or later Styles was
going to have to deal with Robby’s beast. But for right now, he
was opting for later. They had to work on them first.

“Would I be invited to live out here with you?” Robby had to

ask. Just because they were mated now didn’t mean that Styles
was going to pronounce to the world that he had claimed a wolf.
The man seemed to have a hard time accepting that still. He

The man seemed to have a hard time accepting that still. He
accepted Robby, but his wolf was a whole other kettle of fish.

“Of course,” Styles said without hesitation, making Robby’s

heart lighter. “Would you really want to live out here? It’s pretty
damn far from town.”

Robby wiggled his brows playfully, trying his best to ease the

tension lines on Styles’s face. “Then I’ll have my secluded spot
where the FBI won’t find you.”

He finally took a seat in the chair and started imagining what

kind of cottage they should build. Whatever they came up with,
Robby was going to insist that they have a huge walk-in shower
like Styles had at the Manchester place.

Robby hadn’t wanted to get out of the damn thing last night.
“Why?” Styles asked as he pressed his back into one of the

walls and shoved his hands in his front pockets.

Robby was confused. “Why what?”
The man looked like he was mulling things over, his dark-

brown brows drawn down as he chewed on the side of his lip.
His eyes darted over to Robby and then he lifted his head. “Why
did you come after me? Why did you keep pushing after I went
apeshit in the bakery?”

Ah, the guy wanted to know why Robby cared so much

without directly asking the question. The shifters Styles lived with
were probably good friends, but outside their little group, had
anyone extended a caring hand toward this man? If not, that was
a damn shame. Robby knew deep down that Styles was a good
guy. He had just been fucked over royally by life. “Because I
wasn’t giving up on my mate. The odds were already stacked
against me, but I’m not a quitter. Things that should tear us apart

against me, but I’m not a quitter. Things that should tear us apart
are only going to make us stronger.” It was the honest truth.
“You deserve a shot at happiness, Styles. Your happily ever
after, if you will.”

Styles scowled at Robby. “This isn’t a fairy tale.”
Robby’s heart hurt for Styles. The man just didn’t see himself

as someone a wolf could truly love. “It could be.” He stood,
walking over to his mate and cupping Styles’s face. “We could
make it our very own fairy tale. All you have to do is let go of the
pain and hate. Just let me in and shed your coat of anger.”

“It isn’t that easy.”
“Yes”—Robby ran this thumb over Styles’s bottom lip—“it

is. You are staring down at your mate right now. We are going
to be together for a very long time. Will you ever trust me fully,
Styles? Will you ever let go of enough hate to love me?”

Styles didn’t answer him. The man dipped his head and

pressed his lips against Robby’s, fighting with his tongue to get
Robby to respond. He knew in the shadow of the room that this
was the only answer he was going to get.

His mate wasn’t ready to let go, ready to love him. He

accepted Robby as his mate, but that’s as far as it would go right
now. A piece of him died right there in the dust-covered room as
he finally opened his mouth and let Styles have his way. There
was no use fighting with the guy. At least the man hadn’t lied to
him. That was a very small comfort in regards to the big picture.

Loving Styles was heartbreaking, but Robby knew he wasn’t

going to give up. Styles needed someone who would continue to
push, continue to break down his walls until none were standing.

Chapter Nine

Styles dropped Robby off at the bakery. He wasn’t even

sure why he had taken the man out to the small shack. It was a
place he used when he needed to think, needed to get away. He
had never shared it with anyone before.

He had been a coward when his mate had asked him a

simple question that didn’t have a simple answer. He may not
have had a ready answer, but he could have said something
instead of trying to kiss his mate into forgetfulness.

Robby hadn’t asked him anything after the kiss. He could see

the quiet acceptance in the man’s hazel eyes and it killed a part
of Styles to know the emotional wreck he was making of things.
But he wasn’t going to lie to Robby just to appease the man.

“Got a job for you in the back,” Dagon Santiago said as soon

as Styles walked through the door. “Guy wants it fixed by
closing. I told him no problem.”

Instead of his usual flippant reply, Styles just gave a nod as he

clocked back in and grabbed the repair order. The bike
belonged to a guy named Stephan Jackson. Styles remembered
the guy. He was one of the firefighters that had started after that
whack job Sampson had been arrested and sent to the nuthouse.

There were two others who had been hired as well, although

Styles couldn’t remember their names. He remembered Stephan
only because the man came in here often to buy accessories for
his motorcycle.

Tossing the chart aside, Styles got to work. He pushed aside

all thoughts of Robby and the fucked-up morning they had

all thoughts of Robby and the fucked-up morning they had
together. But the one thing he didn’t forget was that someone
was after his mate.

He saw Dagon step into the shop from the corner of his eye.

The man grabbed the chart that Styles had tossed aside, glancing
over the work order. “Will you have this done by closing?”

Styles nodded. “It’s a simple repair job.”
When Dagon continued to watch him, Styles knew the man

had come back here for another reason. He just wished the man
would spit out what he had to say and leave him to his work. He
hated being watched over. Finally, after a long moment, Styles
set his tool down and glanced up. “Something I can help you
with?”

Dagon rubbed his jaw and then pointed a finger at Styles.

“There’s something different about you.”

It could be the fact that Styles wasn’t snapping at the man.

“I’m wearing boxer briefs instead of going commando,” Styles
replied. “Thank you for being so perceptive.”

“That’s what it is,” Dagon said, smiling as if happy he’d

figured it out. “You aren’t your usual sourpuss self.”

Styles did not like being scrutinized. “Are you trying to invite

me to a company picnic or something?” he snapped. “If not, get
the fuck out of here so I can finish my work. And if you are
inviting me, the answer is hell no.”

“You had me worried,” Dagon said and Styles could tell the

guy was getting a kick out of this. “For a second there I thought
you were actually changing into a tolerable man.”

“The bike will be done by quitting time.” Styles grabbed his

tool and went back to work, totally ignoring the man standing a

tool and went back to work, totally ignoring the man standing a
few feet away. He no longer wanted to take part in the
conversation. But Dagon’s words had sown the seeds and now
the thoughts were growing in Styles’s head.

Dagon’s reaction was the total opposite of what was normal.

He should be worried if Styles was snapping, not the other way
around. Styles grew agitated as he worked, gripping his tools
tighter in his hand.

Nine damn days around his mate and Styles was starting to

open his eyes to the possibilities around him. He didn’t like
change, not in the least. Change had always brought something
bad with it. Styles was sick of bad things.

But this was Robby. How could change be bad with a man

who was good to him? Styles was pulled from thought when his
cell phone rang. It was sitting over on the bench. He set the
ratchet down and grabbed it, pressing it to his ear.

“Hey, Styles, it’s Kenway. Did you take my head baker

again?”

“I dropped him off a little while ago. He should be there.”

Styles remembered the man after Robby and his pulse
quickened. “How long ago did he leave?”

“That’s just it,” Kenway said. “I didn’t even know he was

gone. He usually tells me when he’s taking off with you.”

Styles gripped the phone tighter, his mind racing. “Was the

door to the alley open?”

“Uh, yeah,” the man replied. “How did you know?”
Styles headed out of the bay door in the back, going straight

for his bike when he heard something that sounded like a trash
can was being knocked over. Turning in the direction of the

noise, Styles walked up the side of the building, his eyes landing
on a pair of feet. “I found him.” He tossed the phone down and
dropped to his knees. Robby was lying there, holding his gut and
staring up at Styles with fear.

“I tried to make it to you,” he whimpered. “He took me by

surprise. I tried, Styles. I really did.”

“Calm down,” he said as he gently pulled Robby’s hands

away from his stomach. Styles stopped the quick inhale of breath
when he saw the man’s shirt saturated in blood. “Let’s get you
inside. We’ll deal with everything else later.”

He scooped Robby from the ground with ease, carrying his

mate back into the bike shop. He knew what Robby had to do.
The man needed to shift in order to heal. “Dagon!” Styles
shouted as he laid Robby on a cloth-covered sofa in the back. It
was a ratty grey couch that had seen better days, but it was
serving its purpose now.

Instead of Dagon answering the worried shout, Tryck

appeared in the back part of the shop. Styles did not need this
right now. He didn’t want to deal with Tryck Santiago and his
smart-ass comments. In the mood Styles was in, he’d deck the
guy.

“What happened to him?” Tryck looked enraged. His

expression was murderous as he glanced from Robby to Styles.

“What, do you think I did this?” Styles stood, swinging

around to face the man. “Do you think I stabbed him?”

It took a momentary pause for Tryck to answer him. Styles

was ready to lay into the guy until the man spoke. “I don’t think
you did this. You need to make him shift.” His eyes flashed back
over to Robby.

over to Robby.

There was a minute trace of anger in the man’s tone.
“I got this,” he said as he turned back around. “Tell Dagon

that the bike won’t be ready on time.”

“Don’t worry about the bike, mi hermano perdido,” Tryck

said. “Just take care of your mate.”

Brushing Robby’s hair aside, Styles patted his mate’s cheek

lightly. The guy had passed out. That wasn’t good. If he lost too
much blood before he shifted, Robby could die. “Hey, Robby,”
he said as he continued to pat the man’s cheek. “Wake up.”

“You are being too gentle,” Tryck snarled. “Wake up,

Robby!”

Styles growled at Tryck who merely shrugged. He was about

to go off on the man for screaming at his mate, but then Robby’s
eyes fluttered open. His skin was turning paler, his eyes duller.

“I need you to shift,” Styles said softly. “You need to heal.”
Robby licked his lips before he spoke, his voice barely above

a whisper. “But you hate wolves.”

Was the man serious? He was willing to die in order not to let

his wolf free? Styles couldn’t believe the sacrifice his mate was
going to make in order to stop Styles from going apeshit. “Shift,
damn it,” he gritted out. “I won’t lose you.”

Styles was thrown into his past as he watched Robby slowly

change into his wolf. The fur sprouted, his muzzle emerged, and
Styles was trying his best to hold it together. He had been fooling
himself. He had told himself that he could mate Robby but that
was because he hadn’t seen the man in his wolf form.

He was seeing it now and he had to take a step back as all

the years of hatred and resentment came flooding forward. He

the years of hatred and resentment came flooding forward. He
stared at Robby—the wolf—his mate. He wanted to hate
Robby. Styles wanted to renounce his claim—no, he didn’t—
yes, he did.

“Can you handle him changing into a wolf, reminding you

what fate gave you? You are facing your worst fear, mi
hermano perdido.” Tryck’s voice held a tone of sadness. “You
are looking at your enemy that you have mated.”

“H–He’s not my enemy.” Styles curled his fingers in,

reminding himself that it was Robby lying on the ratty old couch,
not the ones who killed his parents, not the ones who tortured
him as a young adult.

This wolf cared about him, had sent him ransom notes, and

never gave up. This wolf pushed and pushed as Styles pushed
back. He hadn’t given up and he hadn’t let Styles chase him off.

“Do you feel the need to kill him?” Tryck moved closer, his

eyes going from Styles to Robby. “Do you feel that hate eating
you alive?”

“I—” Styles’s eyes swept over the wolf, his light tan fur, the

way his chest rose and fell quickly, and waited for the all-
consuming rage to rear its head—for his emotions to tear apart
what he was starting—had been feeling—toward his mate.

Styles dropped to his knees, covering his face with his hands

as he mourned the loss of his parents once more. Images of
those responsible became vivid in his mind, like a long lost ghost
coming back to haunt him—a ghost that had never truly left.

“If you can never love him the way he deserves to be loved,

you must let him go. A life cannot be built on hatred. You have a
choice to make, mi hermano perdido—your hatred or your

choice to make, mi hermano perdido—your hatred or your
mate. You cannot have both.”

“Just shut up!” Styles rocked back and forth, hearing the truth

in Tryck’s words but unable to face it. “What do you know
about mating the enemy? What do you know about hating
someone so deeply that it scars you?”

“Do you hate Robby? Is he the enemy you refer to?”
Images of the man cornering Styles in the shack came to

mind. Had anyone ever looked at him with such love in their
eyes? Styles had felt those raw, vulnerable emotions coming
from Robby down to his very core. The man hadn’t been lying.
He loved Styles and Styles knew Robby would sacrifice his life
for Styles.

“He’s not my enemy,” Styles whispered into the room.
“Then who is your enemy?”
Styles gritted his teeth, wading through the pain, the anguish,

and the hatred, trying to find solid ground to rest on. “Those who
hurt me, my parents. The men who took their lives, who tried to
take mine.”

“Am I your enemy?”
Styles glanced up at Tryck, seeing in the man’s eyes that he

wasn’t trying to be an ass but asking a genuine question. “No,
but you like to fuck with me because of my hatred.”

Tryck shrugged, looking unapologetic. “True, but only

because I have not aggrieved you yet you snarl in ways that
irritate me. I am who I am, Styles. I am better with negative than
positive. But the difference between you and I is that I only hate
those who have wronged me and are mildly perturbed by those I
just don’t like.”

just don’t like.”

“Why did you hire me?” Styles had always wanted to ask

that question but his pride had never let him utter those words.

The side of Tryck’s mouth twisted into a smile. “Maverick

suggested it. He told me that a coyote who needed to find his
way was going to ask for a job and that I needed to hire him. I
normally try to do everything in my power to piss that man off,
but”—Tryck let out a long sigh—“it was a part of my loan
agreement.”

Now Styles was simply confused. “But this bike shop has

been open for years. How did he know about me back then?”

“The man is strange that way. He sees shit no one else sees. I

may have my differences with the alpha, but one thing I have
learned over the years is that he truly cares about the underdog,
children, and those who are lost.” Tryck narrowed his eyes at
Styles. “But if you tell him I said any of this, I’ll deny it all and
come after you.”

Styles turned back toward Robby, but instead of feeling the

hatred that had first consumed him, he wanted revenge against
the man who had attacked his mate. “I won’t change overnight,
Tryck. I still don’t like you.”

Tryck chuckled. “The day you start liking me will mean I am

losing my touch, mi hermano perdido. I am acerbic on purpose.
It is in my nature, but not yours. I don’t see you as a man who
hates the world.”

But he did—had. Styles wasn’t sure any longer. Nothing

seemed to be how it was and Styles knew that he was indeed
changing. Robby had been the catalyst. He had shown Styles
that being loved by a wolf wasn’t a bad thing.

that being loved by a wolf wasn’t a bad thing.

He watched as Tryck left the room and then Styles turned

toward his mate. He inched closer, getting a better look. For a
wolf, Robby was handsome. His fur looked soft to the touch,
and he was smaller than Styles would have assumed. Could he
love Robby that way he deserved to be loved?

Hate or mate?
Styles knew in his heart that he was going to choose his mate.

Tryck was right—although he would never tell the man this—he
couldn’t have both. Styles settled in next to the couch, placing his
arm over Robby’s body. He stared at the sleeping wolf, and
knowing that this was his mate, Robby, Styles felt no hatred,
only sadness at the injustice his parents had suffered.

Reese was also right. They would be happy that he had found

his mate.

Styles snapped his head around when he heard a noise

behind him. He was ready to attack until he saw that it was
Reese. How in the fuck did the man do it? How did he always
know when Styles was hurting?

“Kenway told me that Robby had disappeared from the

bakery. I just wanted to check on him.”

“That man is a bigger gossip than Spencer.” Styles snarled

the words. “He’ll be fine as soon as he’s finished healing.”

“What happened?” Reese grabbed a crate and turned it over,

taking a seat as he rested his arms on his thighs.

“Someone stabbed him.” Saying the words only reminded

Styles that he had someone to hunt down and kill. Now more
than ever he wanted to know what was in that damn envelope.
He knew Robby had hidden the thing, but Styles was ready to

He knew Robby had hidden the thing, but Styles was ready to
find out what was in it and then hand it over to the alpha to deal
with.

Robby wasn’t cut out for this cloak and dagger bullshit. The

man was a baker, not a fighter. Styles would take up his fight.
He was more suited for that job. Robby was sweet and
innocent.

“Do you know who did this?” He could hear the rumble of

anger in Reese’s chest.

“Not yet, but I’m going to find out.” Styles was going to

show that person that no one fucked with his mate. Robby was
his and this couldn’t go unpunished. If he let it go, then he was
only inviting more trouble.

“We are going to find out,” Reese corrected him. “I’m not

letting you go this alone. Why should you have all the fun?”

“We’re not going on vacation, Reese. We’re hunting down

the man who hurt Robby so I can kill him.”

Reese nodded. “I know.”
Smoothing his hand over Robby’s fur, Styles was beginning

to see that his hatred had blinded him to a lot of things. He had
always called Reese friend, but Styles had kept the man at arm’s
length. He had kept everyone at arm’s length, afraid of letting
them get too close, terrified of either losing them or being
betrayed by those he thought cared.

“Thanks,” he murmured. “Thanks for always being there for

me, even when I didn’t want you there.”

Reese let out a low laugh. “You getting soft on me, coyote?”
Styles narrowed his eyes at Reese. “You still aren’t watching

us have sex.”

us have sex.”

Chapter Ten

Styles slowly mopped the floor, watching everyone around

him. The lobby of the law firm was pristine, not really needing
further cleaning, but Styles was on a mission. Reese had talked
him into thinking things through. The man had told him not to go
in guns blazing. Maverick had done a little digging and found out
the man who had hired the hit man was a lawyer at a law firm in
the city. His name was Joseph Levitt. The guy being human,
Styles couldn’t just walk in here and openly kill the man.

He kept his head down, trying to look as nondescript as he

could. Styles wasn’t going to let the murder of Joseph Levitt fall
on anyone’s head back in Brac Village. The town was already
being scrutinized enough by the Vampire Hunters.

The man at the security desk headed his way.
Styles had moved into position when one of the real janitors

had called in sick. He had knocked out the person coming in
from the temp agency. The man was currently taking a nap in the
backseat of his car.

He was also tied up and had a piece of duct tape over his

mouth just in case the guy woke early.

“Get up to the second floor. There’s been a spill in Mr.

Levitt’s office,” the guard said to him. Styles nodded, making
sure there was no eye contact as he pushed the mop bucket
toward the elevator. Reese had posed as a client needing advice.
He told Styles that he would make sure something spilled.

As the elevator doors opened, Styles stepped on as Reese

exited. They locked eyes for a moment, Reese giving him a

exited. They locked eyes for a moment, Reese giving him a
subtle nod, telling him that Mr. Levitt was in.

Styles’s fingers curled around the mop handle as the doors

closed. He was going to teach the man about hiring someone to
come after his mate. Maverick had assured him that if he found
the hit man, he would hold the guy until Styles returned.

It was a very strange feeling having wolves help him. Reese

was a polar bear, but the Santiago brothers had given him the
day off to go find the lawyer. Robby was at home, under lock
and key until they found the hit man. Ryker, one of the white
Siberian tiger shifters, was watching over Styles’s mate.

“Right in here,” someone said as soon as the elevator doors

opened. “A client knocked over the water cooler in Mr. Levitt’s
office and I need you to clean it up before the water ruins
anything.”

From the way the woman was worrying her hands, Styles

guessed that she was Mr. Levitt’s secretary. He didn’t stick
around long enough to ask. He moved in the direction that she
was pointing, not uttering a word.

The secretary went back behind her desk, not giving Styles

another thought. That was what he wanted. Styles didn’t want
anyone remembering him. Oh my, someone killed Mr. Levitt? I
don’t remember anyone suspicious going into his office. That
was exactly how he wanted it to go down when the body was
discovered.

Walking into the office as if he did this sort of work all the

time, Styles glanced over his shoulder to make sure nobody was
watching before he silently closed the door behind him. He
cursed under his breath when he saw that the office was empty.

cursed under his breath when he saw that the office was empty.
Where in the hell was that lawyer?

Grabbing the expensive-looking coat off the back of the

chair, Styles tossed it onto the spilled water. He wasn’t here to
clean the damn thing up. Instead of waiting idly for the human to
return, Styles started poking around.

He found nothing of interest until he came across a locked

drawer. Styles gave a hard tug, using his shifter strength to pry it
open. The drawer protested before the wood splintered. He slid
it open and glanced inside.

My oh my. Why would a lawyer have a gun hidden in his

drawer? He wondered if the human had ever used it, and if he
had, had it been to kill any nonhumans? Styles also spotted an
envelope. Plucking it from the drawer, he opened it.

As Styles scanned over the paper, he felt the lead weight

settle in his stomach as his heart began to beat harder. He turned
to the next page, and then the next, finding any nonhuman’s
worst nightmare.

The pages contained names, addresses, and what species or

breed the person was. It was a very detailed compilation of intel
on the paranormal world. How in the fuck did Mr. Levitt get
this? There was only one answer. A paranormal creature had
betrayed them. No human could possibly know all of this.

Hearing a noise outside the door, Styles shoved the list back

into the envelope and then slid it down the back of his pants,
placing his shirt over the evidence. Styles was willing to bet his
life the copy of that list was in the envelope that Robby was
currently hiding. That was enough for anybody to kill for.

Maybe Mr. Levitt had sent the list to another hunter, the

envelope getting lost in the mail. That was a damn good reason
to hire a hit man. He had to get this information to Maverick
because Styles had no clue what to do with it.

Grabbing the mop bucket, Styles headed toward the door.

He moved quickly toward the elevator, thanking fate that the
secretary was nowhere in sight. He didn’t need her going into the
office to find out that he hadn’t cleaned up the mess. Styles
definitely didn’t need her to find out that he had thrown the
expensive jacket over the water.

He had gone there with the intention of killing the lawyer, but

since he now knew that the man was a Vampire Hunter, Styles
needed to take a step back and consider the situation. Oh, he
was still going to kill the hit man for going after his mate, but
going after the man who had sanctioned the hit would have to
wait.

As the elevator doors slid closed, Styles shook his head. This

was the first time he had stopped to consider the consequences.
Before meeting Robby, Styles would’ve waited around for the
lawyer and then sliced his throat, uncaring what happened next.

Styles was constantly amazed at how much Robby was

changing him. He wanted to become a better man. Styles wanted
to always see the love in Robby’s eyes when his mate looked at
him. He didn’t want to do anything to tarnish that.

The elevator doors slid open and Styles pushed the mop

bucket through the basement and storied it where it belonged.
He headed out of the service entrance, never looking behind him
as he headed back home.

* * * *

* * * *

Maverick glanced over the list that the coyote had just given

him. How in the hell had the humans gotten their hands on this
kind of information? The traitor had to be someone who moved
in and out of the different packs and covens with ease.

There was only one person that Maverick could think of.

There was only one person that would have all of this information
at the ready. He picked his phone up and called upstairs to Dr.
Sheehan’s office.

“Would you mind coming down to my office for a moment?”

Maverick asked Nicholas.

“Of course, I’ll be right down.”
Maverick refused to believe that Dr. Sheehan had betrayed

them all. He was a part of Maverick’s household, a trusted
member in the paranormal world. He had treated patients not
only of Brac Village, but in Pride Pack Valley, and on occasion,
he had gone to Christian’s as well.

But there was a tiny part of him that wondered if maybe the

doctor hadn’t done something like this. There was no reason in
Maverick’s mind for Dr. Sheehan to hand over those files.
Nothing would explain the treachery.

The office door opened and Maverick watched as Dr.

Sheehan stuck his head in. “Do I need my medical bag?”

Maverick waved toward the chair in front of his desk. “There

is no need for your bag. I just want to have a word with you.”

Nicholas moved into the office, taking a seat. “I’ve known

you for too many years, Maverick. What’s going on?”

Handing the list across the desk, Maverick watched as Dr.

Handing the list across the desk, Maverick watched as Dr.

Sheehan took it, his eyes scanning each page. He glanced up,
confusion written all over his face. “What is this?”

“A list that was found in a human’s office.”
Maverick saw the exact moment when knowledge dawned in

Nicholas’s eyes. “You think I gave this to someone?” There was
outrage in the man’s voice. “I might be human, but I’m a doctor
first. There is no goddamn way in hell I would’ve ever handed
this over to anyone.”

The man’s reaction was too genuine, his rage too raw. “I

want you to help me figure out how this list got into a Vampire
Hunter’s hands.”

Nicholas threw the papers up onto the desk, sitting back as

he sulked. And then in the next breath, he was sitting up straight.
The man looked contemplative for a moment before he spoke.
“A few weeks back I noticed some of my files were out of
order. I’m very meticulous when it comes to my files. I couldn’t
explain it so I let it go.”

This time it was Maverick’s turn to sit forward. An alarm had

gone off a few weeks back. Maverick had thought that Cecil
was sneaking out to have some fun, coercing Carter into taking
him. It seemed his assumption was wrong. “Someone broke into
your office.”

“But how?” Nicholas asked. “This place isn’t exactly easy to

break into.”

“It is if you have paranormal help.” Maverick’s fist slammed

down on his desk. If Kenyon enlisted paranormal help to get into
the demon realm, what’s to say that the lawyer didn’t enlist help
to get into the Den?

to get into the Den?

If he ever found out what fey helped the lawyer, Maverick

was going to nail the man’s balls to the wall. He had
underestimated the Hunters’ thirst for knowledge. They were
determined to gather as much intel as they possibly could about
the paranormal world.

Now that he knew how thirsty there were, Maverick planned

on getting as much information on them as well. He was going to
use the information for the same reason they were gathering
theirs…to eradicate those bastards.

* * * *

“Can I at least go into the backyard?” Robby asked as he

strummed his fingers on the dining room table.

“Nope,” Recker said. “There’s a hit man after you. Why on

earth would you want to go out into the open?”

Because Robby was bored out of his mind. He wasn’t used

to sitting around on his ass all day. He wanted to keep busy so
he would remember that someone had stabbed him right in his
gut. He still shivered when he thought about how the man had
lured him out of the kitchen at the bakery. Whoever that guy
was, he was damn good at making wounded dog noises.

Robby wanted to kick himself for falling for such a ruse.
Deciding that he couldn’t just sit around, Robby walked into

the kitchen and began to check the cupboards. He pulled out
everything he would need to make some chocolate chip cookies.
He was surprised that all the ingredients he would need were at
the ready. Feeling a little better with something to do, Robby

the ready. Feeling a little better with something to do, Robby
preheated the oven and began to mix the ingredients into a bowl.

Baking always helped relax Robby. And if ever there was a

time he needed to relax, it was now. His mate was off chasing
down some lawyer to kill him, a hit man was after Robby, and
Robby still wasn’t sure how his mate felt when he saw him shift
to his wolf form. His mate had taken off before Robby had
woken up.

There was just too much shit going on. Why couldn’t his life

be simple once more? Okay, it wasn’t simple when dealing with
Styles, but Robby could do without someone trying to off him.
He never asked to get involved in that. He should’ve just
returned that fucking envelope the day he had received it.

Placing the raw dough on the cookie sheet, Robby shoved

the pan into the oven and then sat at the table in the kitchen. He
couldn’t understand why he didn’t go to work. There was no
way in hell someone was going to come after him when Kenway
was around. This waiting for the bad guy to be caught stuff was
nerve racking.

“Oh hell’s bells,” Frisco said as he walked into the kitchen.

“Please tell me you’re baking something sweet.”

“I threw together some chocolate chip cookies,” Robby

answered the man. “I had to do something besides sitting around
on my ass.”

“Be lucky you still have an ass to sit on,” Frisco replied as he

walked over to the oven and squatted, peeking inside. “You
damn near got killed. I wouldn’t be complaining about being
stationary.”

That was true. But he still worried about Styles’s reaction to

That was true. But he still worried about Styles’s reaction to

seeing Robby’s wolf. His relationship with the man wasn’t
exactly what Robby would call in a blissful state. They were still
feeling each other out. He hoped like hell that this didn’t set them
back.

Even if it had, Robby wasn’t giving up. He hadn’t come this

far to have Styles push him away once again. If he had to,
Robby would kidnap the stubborn man and take him out to that
shack and torture him with sex until he saw reason.

He removed the cookies from the oven and set them on a

cooling rack before having another seat. Now that the cookies
were done, Robby was without anything to do.

Robby sat very still when Reese and Styles walked through

the side door. He tried his best to gauge the man’s reaction, but
from the look on his mate’s face, he wasn’t sure he wanted to
talk to him right now.

Styles looked pissed.
He watched Reese tap Ryker on the shoulder and then nod

toward the living room. They were giving Robby and Styles
some time alone. He sat there waiting for the man to say
something, anything to indicate if they were back at square one.
But Styles didn’t say a word. He walked over to the fridge and
grabbed something to drink, before pushing his back against the
counter.

“Are we okay?” Robby asked, unable to stand the tension

any longer.

“I’m not going to lie, Robby. Seeing you in your wolf form

triggered a lot of flashbacks.”

Robby jumped from his chair, stabbing a finger in Styles’s

Robby jumped from his chair, stabbing a finger in Styles’s

direction. “I won’t let you throw me away, Styles. I know, I get
it. You hate wolves. I tried my best not to shift in front of you,
but you insisted. Now look where it’s gotten us.”

Styles set his drink down before walking over to Robby,

giving him a small growl. “I was going to say before I was
interrupted that I worked a lot of shit out in my head. I still hate
the wolves responsible for my parents’ death, and my torture.
But I don’t blame you. I can’t hate and love you at the same
time.”

“I did it again, didn’t I?” Robby said and then swallowed

roughly. When was he going to learn not to get ahead of himself?
“I jumped to conclusions.”

Styles snagged Robby around the nape of his neck and pulled

him close, making Robby’s pulse jump, his stomach clench, and
he had an urge to run. Shivers ran through him as Styles dipped
his head and pressed his lips against the shell of Robby’s ear. His
breath was warm, inviting, and made Robby feel tingly. “Yeah,
you did.”

Robby cocked his head to the side, wanting the closeness,

but wanting answers as well. He gazed up into dark-brown eyes,
searching. “Did you just say you loved me?”

From the expression on Styles’s face, Robby could tell the

man looked like he had been caught off guard, as if he hadn’t
meant to let the love word slip out. Instinct told him that Styles
was ready to bolt if need be. Robby grabbed his mate around
the waist, ready to pull him back if he even tried. “Answer me.”

“I don’t hate you,” Styles answered and Robby could

actually feel the man’s pulse speeding up under his hands. Their

actually feel the man’s pulse speeding up under his hands. Their
eyes stayed locked for a moment, Styles’s body growing stiffer
in Robby’s arms.

Robby was ready to push the subject, but didn’t want to hear

the words when they were being forced out of the man. He
would rather his mate tell him when he was ready to say it. Not
before then. “Did you find the lawyer?”

Styles looked relieved at the change of subject. “No, but I

found some interesting stuff. I need that envelope you hid.”
Robby listened as Styles explained what he had found. He
couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Who would compile a list
like that?

Knowing the intimacy between them just moments before

was shattered, Robby released Styles. He took a step back,
giving himself room to breathe and giving Styles the space he
obviously needed. Even though the man hadn’t said the three
words Robby wanted to hear, the guy had said them in a
roundabout way.

He would have to accept that…for now. “Do you think the

envelope has anything to do with the lawyer?”

Styles still didn’t look relaxed, as if Robby would jump in

front of him at any second and demand to know if Styles loved
him. “I think a copy of that list is in that envelope you are hiding.
I need to get it to Maverick. None of us needs that envelope to
fall into the wrong hands.”

Robby wholeheartedly agreed. He wanted nothing more to

do with that freaking envelope. It had caused him nothing but
trouble. The sooner he got that damn thing out of his hands, the
better. “I hid it under the bread slicer at work.”

better. “I hid it under the bread slicer at work.”

Styles grabbed his cell phone. “Hey, Kenway, look under the

bread slicer.”

“You were already looking for it?” Robby asked.
His mate nodded, pulling the phone away from his ear. “We

couldn’t let it fall into the wrong hands.” Styles pressed the
phone back against his ear as he listened. “What do you mean
it’s not there?”

Robby’s heart sped up. Someone had found the duplicate

copy. But who?

Chapter Eleven

Kenyon sat across the table from Marino Malone. He didn’t

trust this man. There was something about the guy that set off
every warning bell he possessed. Kenyon normally wasn’t
intimidated by anyone, but a little voice in the back of his mind
told him to be wary.

“I’m told you are a very influential man, Kenyon,” Marino

said as a waiter set a glass of wine down in front of the guy. “If
this is true, we may just have a deal.”

Kenyon had motive behind what he did. He didn’t think that

nonhumans should exist. They were an abomination against
nature. The thought of wiping them all out crossed his mind more
times than he could count.

But what were Marino’s motives? What drove this man

besides apparent greed and the allure of power? Kenyon’s
instincts were normally on point and his gut was telling him that
Marino Malone was far more dangerous than Kenyon could
ever be.

Nonetheless, he kept his features in check as he gave the man

a tight nod. “We might,” he agreed. “I have always believed that
combining forces was a very smart way to obtain one’s goals.”

Actually Kenyon believed that getting rid of the competition

was the only way. But Marino was not a man who would be
easily killed. He had tied up the loose ends, killing the lawyer and
hit man who had gone after Robby. Kenyon had his second go
into Brac Village and steal the list. It wasn’t that hard considering
the back door to the bakery was always left open during the

the back door to the bakery was always left open during the
day. His man just had to wait until no one was in the kitchen. The
mission had been accomplished and now the paper was currently
residing in his jacket pocket. Having spies everywhere was a
handy thing.

Kenyon had someone watching Robby from the opened

back door of the bakery and had seen where he had hidden that
envelope. The lawyer had gotten sloppy and had become a
liability Kenyon didn’t need. But as he stared across the table at
Marino, he knew that sometimes the enemy was a very good
ally.

Hmm, maybe the man could actually be of some use to

me.

Marino raised his wineglass, a deceiving smile on his face.

“Here’s to new partnerships.”

Kenyon raised his as well. “And future endeavors.”

* * * *

Styles stared across the room at his mate. He wanted to say

something, just one word…one word. But when Robby had
called him on it, Styles had frozen. He had never uttered the L
word in his life. It wasn’t a word he casually threw around. The
word meant something to him.

And so did Robby. When it came time for him to finally use

that word, something inside Styles had shut down. He hadn’t
been able to breathe, think, or put two thoughts together. He
was the dominant male, the alpha between the two, yet Robby
always seemed so much larger than life. The man knew what he

always seemed so much larger than life. The man knew what he
wanted and went after it.

Nothing seemed to dissuade the man. He was like a ball of

harnessed energy. Anytime Robby looked his way, Styles
always got the feeling that Robby was fucking him with his eyes.
The hazel turned to molten, liquid fire, the man’s eyes caressing
Styles as if they were hands.

Styles had been unable to say those three words that he

knew Robby wanted to hear, yet the man didn’t seem upset. If
anything, he looked more determined than ever.

“I don’t understand why the envelope isn’t there,” Robby

said as he sat at the kitchen table. The man was talking, but
Styles could tell his mind was somewhere else. Styles moved
behind the counter as a strange sensation to put something
between them came over him. His mate was talking but Styles
couldn’t think past the point where Robby had pressed into him,
asking if Styles loved him.

“Styles?”
His eyes flickered up to see Robby staring at him pensively.

His heart quickened, his hands became sweaty, and Styles’s
throat grew so tight that he was finding it hard to breathe. How
could one look affect him so deeply? “Yes?”

Robby gave him a cocky smile, like he knew what Styles was

thinking. His hazel eyes twinkled as the smile grew wider. “Did
you hear me?”

Even though he hadn’t, Styles nodded. “The envelope.”
Robby’s boyish good looks intensified as he gave a light

chuckle. “That’s not all I said.”

Clearing his throat, Styles tried to shake the overpowering

feeling that was gripping him. “You’ll have to repeat yourself.”

“I said, stop looking as if I have you cornered.” Robby

waved a hand toward Styles. “You don’t need to put the counter
between us.”

Styles glanced down at the marble, feeling a bit stupid

because Robby had known what he was doing. “We need to get
to the bakery and find out what happened.”

Robby stood, walking slowly toward him. “What can we do,

Styles, dust for prints? The envelope is gone and I haven’t a clue
where to start searching, do you?”

Styles was unable to think the closer Robby came. The man

was walking toward him like he was a predator and Styles was
prey. He stood there unmoving like a jackrabbit as the wolf got
closer, scenting the air and smiling with wicked joy. That’s how
he felt at the moment, as if Robby were going to catch Styles and
devour him.

His mate came around the counter, placing a hand on either

side of Styles, gazing up at him. Styles held his breath as he
stared down at the man. He wasn’t sure what to think and had
no clue what Robby was up to.

His heart gave a wild kick, wondering how Robby could look

any more gorgeous than he already did, but as Styles gazed into
hazel eyes, he knew the truth. He loved Robby beyond anything
he could put into words, past anything he had ever felt for
another being, and wished like hell he could say those words to
his mate.

They were stuck in his throat, refusing to pass his lips.
Robby leaned up, pressing his lips to Styles’s cheek, inhaling

deeply as a small rumble vibrated in his throat. “I love you,

deeply as a small rumble vibrated in his throat. “I love you,
Styles. You don’t have to say it back. I just wanted you to know
how much I truly do love you.” His mate kissed the part of
Styles’s face where the cheek ended and the ear began.

Styles cupped the back of Robby’s head, bringing the man

impossibly closer before turning and brushing his lips over his
mate’s. Robby let out a small moan before opening his mouth
and sucking Styles’s tongue down his throat.

His hand gripped Robby’s scalp tighter as Styles slanted his

head and took the kiss deeper. He was trying his best to pour all
of his pent-up emotions into that one kiss, letting Robby know
without words what the man meant to him.

“Upstairs,” Robby whispered into his mouth. “I need you,

Styles. I need you badly.”

Styles didn’t hesitate. He broke the kiss and grabbed his

mate’s hand, pulling him quickly upstairs. He slammed the door
behind them, nearly tearing his own clothes off as Robby
undressed. When they came back together, it was almost like a
heavenly sigh. Skin touched skin, mouths collided, and Styles felt
as if he was losing his damn mind, the need in him so strong.

Robby pulled his lips free and began to kiss Styles’s jaw, his

neck, and his collarbone. His lips were scorching hot, leaving a
blazing trail as he bit down on Styles’s flesh. Robby traveled
lower, sucking a sensitive nipple into his mouth.

Styles’s cock grew harder, pressing into his mate as Robby

teased, nipped, and licked before releasing Styles’s nipple and
moving to the neglected one. He gripped his mate’s hair, gently
pushing on Robby’s head, saying to the man, pleading with his
hands for the man to suck his cock.

hands for the man to suck his cock.

Robby gave a light chuckle as he nipped Styles’s nipple. “If

you rush me, I’m only going to torture you longer.”

Styles eased his hands back, knowing full well that Robby

would go through with his threat. Although he loved this kind of
torture, he wasn’t willing to prolong it any longer than it should
be. He wanted to feel those kiss-swollen lips wrapped around
his cock.

Robby’s hands explored Styles as his lips, tongue, and teeth

teased, tortured, and pleasured him to the brink of madness. He
was losing all train of thought, all coherency as Robby moved
lower, the tip of Styles’s cock touching under the man’s chin.

“Please.” The one word was gritted out as Styles stood there

trembling, praying Robby didn’t prolong the torture.

His mate glanced up at him from under his thick blondish-

brown lashes, his hazel eyes telling Styles that there was no need
to beg. Robby dropped to his knees, circling his fingers around
Styles’s heated flesh.

“God, I love your body,” Robby said right before he sucked

Styles’s cock into his mouth. Styles gritted his teeth as Robby’s
lips played over the oversensitized skin, his tongue teasing. He
feared his legs wouldn’t hold out, that he would collapse with the
raw pleasure that Robby was giving him.

His mate’s hands cupped Styles’s ass. Styles reached behind

him as he placed his hands over Robby’s, wanting to feel a
deeper connection. How could anyone endure this much
pleasure and not die from it? His cock was impossibly hard now,
a ferocious need building inside of him.

Robby sucked his cock down his throat. His mate groaned

Robby sucked his cock down his throat. His mate groaned

and the vibrations were an added pleasure that had Styles hissing
in approval. With short and even bursts, Styles began to fuck his
mouth. His mate slid his hands between Styles’s legs and began
to massage the tight skin of his sac.

The feel of Robby’s lips on the sensitive skin of Styles’s cock

had Styles clutching his hands in an effort to find control where
there seemed to be none. He didn’t want to come like this. He
wanted to be buried deep inside his mate when that explosion
happened.

He pulled back, his cock popping free and Styles was half-

tempted to shove his erection back into Robby’s mouth. The
man looked like a fallen angel on his knees as he stared up at
him.

“Bed,” Styles managed to say past his raging heart, his

ragged breaths, and knew he needed to gain some sort of
control. He crawled in next to Robby and took his time, his
hands and mouth mapping his mate’s body leisurely, and
imprinting it in his mind.

“Now I feel like the one who should be begging.” Robby was

breathing in small pants, gazing at Styles before slowly letting his
eyes flutter closed.

Styles swirled his tongue, drawing patterns along Robby’s

sensitive skin, watching how his mate reacted, and loving every
single damn noise the man made. He inhaled the exotic scent of
Robby—thick honey and wildfire, seeping into Styles’s skin,
curling around his senses.

He rubbed his scent all over Robby, wanting, needing for the

world to know that Robby was his.

world to know that Robby was his.

“God, Styles,” Robby groaned. “I love how you are rubbing

all over me, but please, fuck me.”

Styles watched Robby with barely hidden fascination at the

way his mate’s skin broke out in goose flesh, his body moving
seductively in a serpentine fashion. He was so sensual, so sexy
and erotic. What else could he do but give his mate what he was
begging for?

He grabbed the lube and stretched Robby while kissing and

licking his skin, lapping his tongue over damn near every inch of
the man’s lower body. Robby was trembling by the time Styles
encouraged his mate to get on all fours.

Styles lined his aching shaft up with the pulsating and

glistening entrance and pushed inside, both gently and insistently.
He felt his cock surrounded by soft, smooth wetness, and all he
could think of was to give Robby the fuck of his life.

Robby was tossing beneath him, his hips bucking, driving

Styles harder into the soft flesh of his mate’s ass, grinding against
him. Gritting his teeth, Styles eased back, wanting to scream
about the incredible pleasure from the friction of Robby’s flesh
against his.

Spreading Robby’s thighs wide, Styles slammed his hips into

Robby’s ass, feeling his scrotum tighten against the base of his
cock as he drove deep and hard inside his mate.

The words were there, on the tip of his tongue, ready to spill

but refusing to leave his lips. Styles growled in frustration,
wanting his mate to know that he did love him. He loved Robby
so much that it bordered on insanity.

But he couldn’t say the words. His bravery left him as Styles

But he couldn’t say the words. His bravery left him as Styles

pushed harder into the tight sheath, gritting his teeth now at the
pleasure.

He leaned over Robby, blanketing him from thigh to nape,

and then settled his mouth on the man’s shoulder, licking him, his
canines aching to bite into the man’s flesh. Styles’s head
lowered, his teeth gripping the sensitive area between shoulder
and neck as Robby screamed out in pleasure, his ass pulsing
around Styles’s cock to the point he could barely move.

His mate’s release filled the room, invading Styles’s lungs.

The scent was making him crazy. He scraped his canines along
Robby’s shoulder before finally biting him, claiming his mate
once more.

Robby cried out again as Styles pistoned into the man, his

cock encased in his mate’s tight ass and then he was frozen in
time and space as he found his pleasure, and felt his body
emptying as endless streams of cum filled Robby’s ass.

Styles released Robby’s shoulder, kissing and licking his

wound, inhaling the unique scent that belonged solely to his mate.
He watched Robby for several moments, devouring his mate
with his eyes before hanging his head trying to rein in his
emotions.

Somehow, someway, Styles was going to tell the man he

loved him. Robby deserved nothing less.

* * * *

Robby was finally back at work, laughing with Baker as he

made the cinnamon buns Kenway had asked for.

made the cinnamon buns Kenway had asked for.

“You really sent him a ransom note to get the rest of his

chicken?” Baker seemed thoroughly amused. “Genius.”

Robby thought so. He liked doing little things like that for

Styles. It helped their relationship stay spicy. He never wanted
his mate to grow bored with him. But Robby knew that he had
also helped break down some of those walls that Styles had
erected around him.

Just as he put the cinnamon buns in the oven, Kenway stuck

his head into the kitchen. “Are you done with the orders for the
day?” he asked.

Robby nodded. It was late afternoon and the only thing that

needed to be done was complete. Someone had ordered an
entire dozen of cinnamon buns in a rush order. “I just put them in
the oven, why?”

Kenway rolled his eyes. “Why else? Styles is here for you.”
Baker snickered as Robby pulled the apron over his head

and hung it on the hook. “Tell him I’m going to wash up and then
I’ll be right out.”

“Yeah, because I live to pass messages between the two of

you,” Kenway said before he disappeared. Robby chuckled. He
knew that Kenway honestly didn’t mind. Walking over the sink,
Robby washed up before waving good-bye to Baker and
heading outside.

Styles was sitting on his bike, looking devilishly handsome as

always. But today the man had a sparkle in his pretty brown
eyes that had Robby’s heart skipping a beat. “What are you up
to?”

Styles handed Robby a helmet. “Just get on and I’ll show

Styles handed Robby a helmet. “Just get on and I’ll show

you.”

Unable to resist and curious as hell, Robby quickly strapped

the helmet into place before climbing behind Styles and wrapping
his arms around his mate’s waist. Styles took off, not saying
another word as they cleared Brac Village and headed down the
country road.

The suspense was killing Robby. He wasn’t sure why Styles

was being so cryptic and couldn’t wait to find out. His brows
furrowed as Styles turned on the access road, heading toward
the small shack that they had visited once before. He knew that
this was a place that his mate went to think, to get away from it
all at times. He just wasn’t sure why they were here right now.

Styles pulled his bike next to the shack and cut the motor.

Robby climbed off, removing his helmet as he glanced around.
Everything looked the same. What was Styles up to?

Without a word, Styles dismounted and then led Robby

inside the shack.

“Okay, I’m dying of curiosity.” Robby turned toward his

mate. “Spill it.”

Instead of answering him, Styles gently placed his hands over

Robby’s eyes and then they took a few steps forward, going
deeper into the shack. It wasn’t that big to begin with. Where the
hell was Styles taking him?

They came to a stop and then Styles placed a kiss on

Robby’s neck before removing his hands. He still didn’t
understand what was going on until Styles pointed down to the
table.

Robby felt his heart beating faster when he saw blueprints

Robby felt his heart beating faster when he saw blueprints

laying there. He studied them, his eyes sweeping over the layout.
The longer he looked at the blueprints, the wider his smile
became. It seemed Styles had these plans drawn up, showing
Robby the cottage that he had talked about building. “You’re
really going to do it?” Robby turned and stared up at Styles.

“We,” Styles corrected him. “I want us to have a place of our

own. I want us to have privacy, and be able to run in the woods
on this land. I want us to grow old here, sitting on the front porch
as we watch the sunset.”

Robby knew that Styles was having a difficult time saying he

loved him. But he could see that the man was trying to say that in
so many other ways. Did he really need to hear the words? It
would be nice. He wasn’t going to push the man to say them,
just enjoy how far he and his mate had come.

“How long before it’s complete?”
Styles hugged Robby from behind, resting his chin on

Robby’s shoulder. The man seemed so damn content, so at ease
here. He rested his hands over Styles’s arms, soaking in his
mate’s melancholy mood.

“Since Roman is so busy, I couldn’t get him to build it. But he

recommended some people and assured me that they could get it
done in two months’ time.” Styles dropped another kiss on his
shoulder before he released Robby.

There was something else. Robby could feel it. Styles stood

there with an uncertain expression on his face. He was almost
afraid to ask, but he hated to see his mate that way. “Tell me.”

Styles shook his head. “It’s not a matter of telling you. It’s a

matter of asking you.”

matter of asking you.”

Robby took a step back, his defenses going up. “Then ask

me.”

Styles ran a hand over his short cropped hair, his eyes darting

around the shack before landing on Robby. “Do you want to go
for a run with me so you can see the land that we own?”

Styles was full of all kinds of surprises today. It was the last

thing Robby had expected the man to ask. He became uncertain.
Even though the two were mated and were getting along better
than ever, Robby knew that Styles hadn't fully let go of his hatred
for wolves. “Maybe some other time.”

It killed a part of him to say that. Robby knew he was

denying who he was in order to keep the peace. He never
wanted to see Styles go crazy again. Even though the man had
remained calm when Robby had to shift and heal, he didn’t want
to push his luck.

Styles shook his head, looking more determined than ever.

“We’re going to be together for a very long time. Your wolf is a
part of who you are and I accept that. I accept you. You’re my
mate, Robby. I accept every part of you.”

Robby wanted to cry. Styles was trying. He really was. With

a shaky breath, Robby nodded. “Okay.”

They walked outside. Styles undressed, setting his clothes by

his bike. He stood there gloriously naked, watching Robby,
waiting. With a shaky hand, Robby undressed. He took in a
deep breath and then shifted.

Styles stood there for a moment, his eyes skimming over

Robby’s wolf form. Robby couldn’t read the man, and was
wondering what Styles was thinking. He was beginning to worry
until Styles spoke.

until Styles spoke.

“You really are beautiful.”
Robby trotted over to Styles, pushing his nose into the man’s

hand. He wanted to feel his mate’s hand caressing his fur,
accepting who he was. Styles let his hand brush over Robby’s
head, a small smile on his lips. “Let’s go for a run.”

His mate shifted into his coyote form and the two took off,

Robby bursting with joy and happiness as they explored their
new home.

* * * *

Styles just got off the phone with Maverick, and to his

dismay, had found out that the list still had not been recovered.
Maverick confessed that the list may never be recovered.
Someone out there had all the information they needed to
destroy the paranormal world.

Styles just hoped like hell that it never came to that.
“I’m so excited,” Robby said next to him as both of them

stood by Styles’s bike and watched the construction crew work
at building their new home. It was almost complete. The foreman
had told Styles that they were in something called the last phase.

Styles turned when he heard the roar of many motorcycles.

He hadn’t been expecting anyone in the construction crew was
already here. Who the hell could he be?

His eyes widened when he saw over a dozen motorcycles,

trucks, and some cars pulling in. What in the hell was going on?
He was even more shocked when he saw the Santiago brothers
were among the bikers.

were among the bikers.

“Why are they here?” Robby asked.
Styles shook his head. “I have no clue.” He would’ve been

worried, but Paine was standing in the back of Kenway’s truck,
his arms stretched wide as he was shouting, “Woo-hoo!”

He walked over to Kenway’s truck when the man parked,

going right for the driver’s door. “What is all this, Kenway?”

“A bonfire!” Paine shouted. “We’re here to celebrate your

new home.”

Styles was truly baffled. “Why?”
Maverick strolled over to him, a smirk on his face. “It’s

called having friends, coyote. Get used to it. This is what we do
in Brac Village. Friends get together, celebrate, and have a good
time.”

Friends? What the hell was the alpha talking about?
Law Santiago walked over to Styles, throwing his arm over

Styles’s shoulder. “I brought the weenies.” He nodded toward
his brothers. “I brought the food as well.”

Tryck flipped Law off. “Wienie this.”
“It looks great!” Spencer shouted as he climbed out of

Bear’s truck. “Please tell me you have a sunroom where Robby
and I can sit and gossip our asses off.”

“Spencer,” Bear said in a warning tone.
Spencer rolled his eyes. “I meant, sit and chitchat.”
Bear chuckled as he shook his head. “You’re hopeless.”
Styles watched as Ruttford set Xavier down on his feet, the

toddler waddling toward him, screaming, “Uncle Size!”

He chuckled as he swooped the little guy up into his arms.

“I’m having a swing set built out back just for you,” he

“I’m having a swing set built out back just for you,” he
whispered to Xavier before setting the little guy back on his feet.
Xavier took off, running in circles and laughing as Styles turned
back toward the large mob that had shown up.

He wasn’t sure what to make of all this. A large part of him

smiled on the inside. He had no idea these men had considered
him friend. He had been the meanest, surliest man around. It
wasn’t like Styles had extended his hand of friendship to anyone.

But it seemed they had extended their hand to him.
“Let’s get this party started,” Frisco shouted. “Bonfire!”
Styles shook his head. That human was a nut job.
To Styles’s surprise, more people were showing up. The

Lakelands pulled in, Chauncey on his motorcycle, Curtis behind
him, holding his mate tight. His property was beginning to look
smaller and smaller as more people gathered.

The sun had already set, and the crew had been cleaning up.

Styles walked over and placed his hand on the foreman’s
shoulder. “You guys are more than welcome to stay.”

The man chuckled and nodded. “Nothing wrong with having

a good time after a hard day’s work.”

The bonfire was lit, the flames looking toward the sky as

everyone laughed, and had a good time. He watched the children
run around, chasing fireflies, and squealing in delight. Steele had
his son cradled in his arm, as Diablo stood behind his mate and
talked with Malcolm Lakeland.

The scene was so surreal. Styles wasn’t sure what to say or

what to do. A large part of his hatred chipped away and fell at
his feet as he stared at the men around him, men who lived and
worked in Brac Village and called this place home.

worked in Brac Village and called this place home.

Robby walked up to him, sliding his arms around Styles’s

waist. “It seems like I’m not the only one who refused to give up
on you.”

Standing there, the flames of the bonfire reflecting off of

Robby’s eyes, Styles felt his heart fill with joy, happiness, and all
the love he felt toward his mate. He swallowed around the lump
in his throat as he ran his hand over Robby’s head. “I–I love
you.”

Robby winked up at him. “I know. I’ve known all along.”
Styles threw his head back and laughed as he wrapped his

arms tightly around his mate. He spotted Tryck heading toward
him and mockingly snarled at the man.

Tryck stopped at his side, a wicked smile on his face. “This

still doesn’t make us friends.”

No, but this went a long way in healing Styles. He knew that

loving him hadn’t been easy, but Robby had stuck by his side,
never giving up, and making Styles see that loving a wolf wasn’t
an impossible feat, that he could be happy and content with
Robby for the rest of his life.

“Nope,” Robby answered Tryck for him. “It makes us

family.”

“Hell no,” Styles and Tryck shouted at the same time, but in

Styles’s mind, he knew he had found the perfect place to live
and the perfect place to heal.

THE END

THE END

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but

lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough
edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart.

You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop

and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their
story.

For all titles by Lynn Hagen, please visit

www.bookstrand.com/lynn-hagen

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com