Lorie O'Clare Lunewulf 06 Full Moon Rising

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FULL MOON RISING

An Ellora’s Cave Publication, August 2004

Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

PO Box787

Hudson,OH44236-0787

ISBN MS Reader (LIT) ISBN # 1-4199-0019-6

Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned):

Adobe (PDF), Rocketbook (RB), Mobipocket (PRC) & HTML

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or
dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. They are
productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

Edited byBriana St. James.

Cover art bySyneca .

Full Moon Rising

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Page 1

Lorie O’Clare

Chapter One

Beth Parks slammed the file onto her desk harder than necessary. Loose papers
scattered to the floor of her office. But she didn’t care.

Stepping over them, she walked to her large office window and stared down at
people hurrying around downtown. Everyone moving with purpose. Business men
and women hurrying to get a bite to eat. Teenagers on the prowl. The sidewalks
always seemed to be full, no matter the time of day. Humans everywhere.

This was your choice to work among humans.

And for the most part she didn’t mind humans. They were paranoid and tended
to make mountains out of molehills, but none of that had bothered her. Until
now.

“Why the hell did they have to choose me?” She scowled at the window, no
longer seeing the hectic downtown area. Crossing her arms over her chest, she
wondered whose idea it had been to ask her to prosecute. “Well I won’t do it.”

She couldn’t do it.

It wasn’t Beth’s nature to panic. She always had the upper hand, knew how to
handle herself in any situation. No one bullied her. No one told her what to
do. She had worked her ass off to gain that authority, and she wouldn’t have
it taken from her now.

The smell of Frosted Flakes filled the office a good five paces before her
secretary did. Beth had never understood it. Her legal secretary always
smelled like the cereal.

“You dropped some things.” Lacey entered her office, immediately squatting
down to retrieve the scattered papers.

Beth turned around, her hands on her hips while she started pacing. It was a
habit her mother always claimed made her look too intimidating.

No wonder you haven’t captured a good werewolf yet. You come across too
strong, my dear.

She shoved her mother’s voice out of her head. It was easier to think, to
brainstorm, when she paced. And what else was she supposed to do with her
hands?

“Tell me, Lacey,” she began, her own irritability floating in the air around
her. “Why is it that Anderson, Hunt and Anderson would choose me to lead this
case against theWater Lanegroup?”

Lacey looked up from where she knelt on the floor, her mouth open, the
sweetened corn cereal smell almost as strong as her own emotions.

“Because you are the best,” she said quietly. It wasn’t meant to flatter.
Lacey showed no sign of enthusiasm about the fact. “And they know with you in
charge they will be able to continue with their plans.”

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And that right there was the problem. If Anderson, Hunt and Anderson
succeeded in silencing theWalter Lanegroup, a predominantly werewolf
organization, the large district of land just outside ofLincolnwould be turned
into a subdivision and shopping centers. She stopped pacing, feeling the dull
throb of a headache coming on.

Talk about conflict of interest. Her pack would have her hide if she
represented the organization more intent on destroying prime running land than
any other group in the area.

“Well, I don’t want the case.” She glared at the file lying on top of
everything else on her desk.

Lacey straightened. “Okay.”

That was what she liked about her newest legal secretary. Lacey didn’t argue.
No matter what, she went along with whatever Beth said. Which was how it
should be.

Beth nodded, wishing that was all it would take to settle the matter. “Call
their office first thing in the morning and let them know I simply can’t fit
them into my workload.”

No attorney in their right mind turned down a case from Anderson, Hunt and
Anderson. Again Lacey just nodded, more than likely thinking the exact same
thing. She would have a fight on her hands not representing the largest
takeover corporation in theMidwest. But the hell with it. She was Elizabeth
Parks, highest paid corporate attorney inLincoln,Nebraska. She had handled
cases throughout theMidwest, flown to many of the major cities to do
consulting. She could pick and choose the cases she wanted.

Lacey cleared her throat, turning to straighten the papers on Beth’s desk.
“Is there anything else that you needed done this evening?”

Beth glanced at her grandfather clock in the corner of her office. Damnit.
Where had the day gone? It was already almost six in the evening.

“Go on home.” She waved her hand at Lacey, a dismissive gesture.

Lacey never seemed to mind Beth’s overly aggressive nature, another thing she
liked about her. She turned and smiled at Beth. “I’m taking the kids shopping
for Halloween costumes this evening. If we wait too long, all the good ones
are gone.”

Beth smiled, Halloween being the least of her concerns. Such a silly human
holiday. “Well, good hunting,” she said, her boredom with the task coming
through with her tone.

Lacey smiled, Frosted Flakes again becoming the predominant scent in the
room, and headed out of Beth’s office.

Beth’s thoughts drifted to theWalter Lanegroup while she made sure her filing
cabinet and desk drawers were locked. Headed up by several pack leaders
inNebraska, the group had taken a quiet stance in trying to ensure certain
land be safe from developers. They had kept a low profile, a wise move ever
since the scandal over some human fanatic going on national television
claiming his mass murders were legitimate since all he was doing was killing
werewolves.

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“Ed and I are having a Halloween party next Friday night.” Lacey got a
hopeful look on her face. “We would love it if you could come.”

Beth licked her lips. “That’s very nice of you to invite me.” She might be an
aggressive bitch, but she had her manners. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Sounds good.” Lacey retreated, turning at the door. “I’ll see you in the
morning.”

Traffic seemed worse than usual and she still didn’t feel relaxed when she
reached her driveway. Usually the drive home was enough to help her unwind, at
least a little. Pulling into the paved drive, she focused on her country home,
the spread out brick estate she’d fallen in love with the moment she saw it a
year ago.

Sure, it was a statement of her success. But she wasn’t stingy about it or
pretentious like some of the people in town. Beth Parks remembered where she
came from, not only how tough it had been growing up, struggling from day to
day, but how hard it had been to make the name for herself. She had earned
every brick in her twenty-five hundred square foot home.

She avoided the bikes lying on their side in front of the three-car garage.
Alicia’s cubs had just got the bikes this past spring. She would never hear
the end of it if she ran over them.

Voices filled the house when she entered.

“Is that you, Beth?” Alicia appeared holding her youngest cub who looked like
she’d just been bathed. “There are chops on a plate in the fridge for you.”

“Thanks. I might eat later.” She half-smiled at the cub who buried her face
in her mother’s neck. “Right now I just want to head up to my room.”

Alicia nodded, turning to look into her room when her mate said something.

Beth liked her house always full of activity. Having her housekeeper’s den
live with her had proven a wise decision. It would have been silly to live in
this huge place all by herself. Turning away from her housekeeper, she let
Alicia get back to her den.

Joe Pendal, Alicia’s mate, had proven his worth when he secured her end of
the second floor, the west wing, giving her a small part of the world where no
one could intrude upon her space.

Unlocking the large wooden door halfway down the upstairs hallway, Beth
entered her little sanctuary. She walked over to her bedside table and pushed
the button on her phone to listen to her personal messages.

“Thought I’d see what you were doing this weekend,” the deep masculine voice
said through the machine.

She’d thought of contacting Bart, the older werewolf from her pack who
sometimes serviced her. A widower, with most of his den grown and out on their
own, Bart still could fuck. At least he fucked well enough to make her come.

Beth kicked her shoes off into her closet, listening to the series of beeps
before the next message played.

“Just thinking about you, sweetie.” Her mom sounded tired.

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Beth frowned while watching herself in her full-length mirror.

“I’m settled into a nice duplex and would love it if you could find time for
a visit.” Her mother blew kisses into the phone before hanging up.

Beth stripped down to her bra and underwear, staring at her short legs. She’d
never been much of a beauty, and was too aggressive for her own good. She
cupped her breasts. They were big enough that they filled her hands, but
certainly nothing so amazing to turn heads. Pretty much, she was the textbook
definition of plain.

Beth sighed, wondering if a hot bath or a run would be best.

The bottom drawer of her dresser caught her eye and her insides quickened.
Hot juices immediately coated her pussy, anticipation running through her
without warning.

“Maybe I should call Bart,” she mused. If the thought of her toys, nestled in
the bottom drawer of her dresser had her almost coming, it was probably time
to get laid.

But making time to see him, when her toys were right here, sounded like such
a hassle. Moving closer to her dresser, she ran her toes over the handle to
the drawer with her toys in it. She was a sad case if having sex with an
actual person had become too much of an effort.

If her mother ever saw the contents of this drawer, she would have a heart
attack. Varieties of dildos, long and short, thick and thin, lay on top of
each other. Some battery operated, some not. All of them were different
colors. She chose one that had a suction cup on the bottom, then stood and
moved the simple kitchen table chair she kept in the corner in front of her
mirror.

The chair was here for this very purpose, although she used the excuse that
she kept it up here to change light bulbs. Its smooth wooden surface worked
perfectly to hold the suction of the dildo.

Her heart began pounding as she secured the large flesh colored dildo in
place, stroking it affectionately while she imagined her dream man. Looking in
the mirror, she wondered how one looked submissive. Her dream man would see
her that way. And he would be stronger than she, more aggressive, able to put
her in her place with a glance.

Her breasts began to ache, her large nipples hardening while she imagined him
watching her, waiting while she prepared herself for him.

Her bottom drawer remained open, and she studied the other contents inside.
Tonight she would use her handcuffs. Black and fluffy, they wrapped around her
wrists easily enough. She put her hands behind her back, having used them
enough that she could master the Velcro without looking.

The restraints made her feel sexy, ready to be taken, her dream man hard as a
rock while he gave her a dark look of approval.

She straddled the chair, watching herself in the mirror, seeing what her
dream man saw, her pussy hovering over the large dildo.

Slowly, painfully slow, she lowered herself over her dream man’s large cock,
feeling him press against her entrance. A hot rush of desire spread over her
like wild fire when her dream man entered her. She lowered herself over the

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pretend cock, never taking her gaze from the action in the mirror.

“Oh hell yes.” Her dream man was pleased.

She closed her eyes, working his cock, feeling him fill her, spread her tight
pussy apart while he reached for that one spot that she loved. He would please
her, satisfy her, but always demanded she do exactly what he said. Not once
could she talk back, express how she thought things should be done. He was in
charge and he would have it no other way.

Her thigh muscles tightened, her efforts focused on keeping her body
straight, just the way he liked it, while she moved faster over his cock.
Pressure built every time that one special spot was hit deep inside her cunt.

“That’s it, baby,” she murmured.

She opened her eyes, seeing her white cream soaking her dildo, the flushed
expression on her face, her short brown hair falling around her face. Her body
was sexy, could be sexy, at least that was how her dream man saw her. His
perfect little lady, willing to pleasure him whenever he wanted, always there
when he needed her.

“Oh. Damn.” Hot liquid soared through her, filling her pussy, adding fever to
her pleasure.

No man could please her like this, not like her dream man. He made her feel
special and never turned weak on her. Always the stronger of the two, no
matter what she said, his unbreakable presence made her ache to come whenever
she was around him.

The pressure built until she thought she would die if she didn’t explode
soon. But her dream man didn’t succumb to her demands for release. He always
made her work for it, beg to come before allowing her to slip over the edge,
into sweet and perfect bliss.

She moved faster, the muscles in her thighs burning, her breathing coming in
pants while her hair fell over her face. She would please him, make him happy
with her, and his satisfaction with her would fill that void she ached to have
filled.

Her pussy muscles clamped around the dildo, threatening to break the suction
on the chair. But she made it, just in time. She exploded, drenching her pussy
and dildo with her hot white cream. Her insides clamped down, releasing the
pressure, emptying her and filling her with the ultimate satisfaction of
knowing her dream man was pleased.

“If only you were real,” she sighed, staring at herself through her hair.

But men in the real world didn’t stand up to her. She told them what to do
and they jumped to behave. Never had a man tried to stare her down, challenge
her knowledge on a matter, or put her in her place.

She closed her eyes, holding on to her dream man for just a moment longer
before she resumed her life as the pillar of her pack.

Chapter Two

It was still dark out when Beth returned from her run, the sun just beginning

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to change the shade of the sky on the horizon. Padding up the back walk,
sniffing in the fresh smells of morning, the honeysuckle, patches of mint and
wild onion, she enjoyed her last few minutes of peace before she started
another day.

Her brick patio was cool under the pads of her paws and she rolled over on to
it, enjoying the hard, cold surface against her body. The run had been a good
one, the wildlife plentiful on her land. Even as a werewolf her legs were
short, but she’d been able to catch a few rabbits for breakfast and the fresh,
cold, pond water had washed them down nicely.

Rolling around on the brick, she stretched, arching herself while she
scratched her back. Tension seemed to seep its way right out of her soul on
mornings like this. Maybe she should retire early, enjoy this life she had
worked so hard for. That would be one way to get out of working cases that she
didn’t want to do.

The thought of Anderson, Hunt and Anderson ruined her moment. Standing and
stretching, she realized nothing would happen until she took the matter into
her own hands. Nothing ever did.

Her bones popped and stretched, muscles contorted, while the cold air of the
morning wrapped around her skin eagerly as her fur faded. Straightening, she
stretched her arms while her paws changed into hands, the numerous tiny bones
in her fingers clicking into place.

Suddenly it was very cold outside. She hurried toward the back entryway,
grabbing her floor-length terrycloth bathrobe. Wrapping it around herself, she
slipped her arms through the holes and entered the kitchen.

“You look like you had a good run.” Alicia reached for a coffee cup, pouring
the hot brew for Beth before placing it on the table by her laptop. “The
office has called, and I have a few messages for you from pack members.”

Alicia smiled at her mate when he strolled into the kitchen. “We’re headed
out to mend the fence on the south border this morning,” he told Beth,
ruffling his mate’s hair before heading toward the back door.

“Good.” Beth had almost forgotten about that. “The school called me last week
asking when it would be fixed. They want to let the cubs run in that area but
the dens want assurance that the area is secure.”

Joe nodded, his hand on the back doorknob. He turned to his mate. “I’m sure
there will be several of us showing up for lunch.”

Beth sat down in front of her laptop, immediately attacking the coffee. Check
email and then it was off to the office. She glanced at the slips of paper
Alicia had set next to her—phone messages. Problems needed to be solved,
questions answered. Pretty much the same old thing. She could have her
secretary respond to all of the human issues, and Alicia could call back the
pack members. She jotted down the answer on the first message and then flipped
to the next.

Her mother had called early this morning while she had been out on her run.
She stared at the phone number, remembering that her mom no longer lived in
the house she grew up in. Her pack had moved. Her childhood memories of Duluth
were just that. No longer would she be able to return home to the den she grew
up in. She stared at the northern Minnesota phone number. It was unfamiliar
and didn’t seem to fit her mother.

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You’re being silly.

“Did my mom say why she called?” she asked, while opening the screen to her
email.

“No. She sounded tired though.” Alicia grabbed a bucket of cleaning supplies
and headed toward the dining room. “She probably just wants to see her
daughter.”

Beth glanced up at her housekeeper who disappeared into the other room.
Looking back at her inbox, she hoped all was well with her mother.

A mixture of e-mail from work and friends downloaded. It seemed everyone was
having a Halloween party. She would probably have to send Alicia out to buy
candy. What would the townsfolk think if they learned their most prominent
citizen was actually a werewolf? Surely they wouldn’t let their precious
children come out in hordes to trick or treat her house if they discovered
that well kept secret.

Not to mention the fact that she was a closet pervert, too. Her body tingled
with memories of fucking herself the night before. Maybe she could sneak
upstairs before work and use her favorite vibrator for a quickie. She almost
laughed out loud. What a lost cause she was.

Her cell phone rang, ruining that wonderful idea all to hell. This wasn’t her
house phone, or her business line, but her personal number that was seldom
called unless some emergency had just come up.

Glancing at the phone, her heart stopped when she recognized the area code
where her mother now lived. She looked at the message from her mother. No. It
wasn’t the same number. What the hell…

“Hello,” she said, trepidation creeping through her.

“Is this Elizabeth Parks?”

She didn’t recognize the woman’s voice on the other end of the phone.

“Yes. How may I help you?” She took a drink of her coffee, the hot brew
bubbling its way down to her stomach.

“You don’t know me, but I’m in your mother’s pack. She is with the pack
doctor now. I think she needs you.”

Beth was still talking on her cell phone when she boarded the plane an hour
later. It was impossible to just drop everything and leave town, yet that was
what she was doing.

“Just make the calls I’ve told you to make,” she instructed her secretary,
nodding to the stewardess who gestured to her seat in first class. “Tell them
what I’ve told you to say. If they have questions, write them down and call me
back.”

She sighed, a headache coming on. Her mother had collapsed, no further
information offered. The pack was still getting settled, and Beth just knew
all of it had taken its toll on the older bitch. Maybe she should hire a
companion for her mother, someone to keep an eye on her. Leaving town like
this had thrown her pack into an uproar. Her cell phone rang again. This time
her pack leader’s number appeared on the screen.

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“What about the Halloween party we have planned for all of the cubs?” the
queen bitch asked. “We had planned to have it in the party room out at your
house.”

Beth sighed, knowing Alicia must have committed the room. “You may still use
the room. Let Alicia know what you need. She can charge everything to my
account.”

She was on the phone with her office for the third time when she walked into
the small terminal an hour later. A college-age werewolf held a sign with her
name on it, and she gripped her overnight bag, listening to her secretary on
the line, while nodding her greetings to the young werewolf.

Beth clutched her bag on her lap, feeling the roundness of her two favorite
dildos through the soft leather. She was living proof that a woman could be
addicted to sex yet hardly ever have the good fortune of actually being with a
man.

“Is this all there is to this town?” She sat in the front seat of the old
station wagon, while the werewolf drove a little too fast through a very quiet
downtown. “And the speed limit is fifteen miles per hour.”

He gave her a show of irritation before applying the brakes. “The shops don’t
open until noon, not that the pack frequents any of them.”

“Why is that?” She looked out her window, the stores seeming decent enough,
just quaint, the small-town atmosphere giving the downtown a picturesque feel
to it.

“Because humans don’t like werewolves.” He made it sound like he thought her
from the dark ages or something.

She turned to stare at him. “And why is it that this town knows about your
pack?”

No wonder her mother had collapsed if the pack leader couldn’t provide a
decent home for the dens. Obviously she would have to have a talk with the
local pack leader.

“Where have you been, lady?” The pup turned and gave her a look of disbelief.
“When that human, Christopher Hordan, got arrested for all of those murders,
he announced to the media the location of all the packs he knew.”

“And your pack leader didn’t have the sense to dispute any local challenges,
or contact Werewolf Affairs if he couldn’t handle the matter on his own?”
Which obviously he couldn’t, if what this pup told her was true.

The young werewolf glared at her, bringing the station wagon to a quick stop.
He pointed out her window. “That is where our pack healer lives. Your mother
is in there.”

He immediately turned up the radio, an annoying song bombarding the inside of
the car. Without another word to her, or look, he began drumming with his
fingers on the steering wheel, intentionally ignoring her.

Her ride took off before she could even shut the passenger door. Obviously
she needed to contact Lacey about getting her a rental car.

“Oh my.” Sandra Parks almost leapt off of the couch when Beth entered the
small house. “Beth. You’ve come home.”

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The sight of her mother’s eyes welling with tears brought emotions to a head
inside Beth. She embraced her mother, holding on tight while she fought back
the urge to cry like a child.

“Of course. I came as soon as I got news you were sick.” Beth took a step
backwards, holding her mother at arm’s length, studying her. “You don’t look
sick.”

In fact, her mother had never looked better. She’d inherited her stubby body
from her mother, although she always thought her mother got the better end of
the deal. The woman looked slim, jeans and a sweatshirt giving her a casual
air. Although her hair was no longer the same color as Beth’s, the streaks of
gray running through it gave her dignity. Remnants of a rose scented perfume
and soap filled the air around her mom. Beth narrowed her gaze on the older
woman.

“You’re supposed to be sick.”

Her mother waved her hand in the air. “I believe you were told the truth. I
collapsed.”

“I thought you needed me here.” When she thought of all of the schedules she
had turned upside down in order to make this trip…she put her hands on her
hips. “Do you realize my schedule?”

She hadn’t seen her mother in over two years. Her work just hadn’t allowed
her time to visit. And the crushed look her mother gave her made Beth’s heart
sink. She felt like an ass.

“Tell me why you collapsed,” she said, calming herself down, taking her hands
off of her hips, and standing still, not pacing.

Sandra turned and acknowledged a woman sitting on the couch. The older lady
was thin, frail, with a body so fragile-looking her flesh seemed to wrap
around her bones. She stood with more grace than Beth expected and moved
silently across the room. The straight-cut dress the older bitch wore fell
almost to the floor, its colorful pattern bringing out the blue in her
otherwise colorless face. Smells of herbs and a hint of almond drifted around
her.

“So you are the daughter.” The older woman scanned Beth from head to toe.
“She looks just like you.”

Beth watched her mom beam. Whoever this older bitch was, her mother valued
her opinion.

“Elizabeth Parks.” Beth held out her hand, the older pack member glancing at
it for only a moment before taking it in a brisk handshake. Even the woman’s
strength surprised her. You simply couldn’t judge a book by its cover.

“And I am Greta Hothmeyer,” the old bitch said. “Your mother collapsed
because she didn’t know how else to get you here.”

“Greta.” Sandra sounded shocked. “That isn’t quite true, Beth.”

“I will make tea.” Greta released Beth’s hand, moving silently into the other
room.

Beth stared at her mom. “I’ve missed you too, Mom. But if you needed to see

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me so desperately, I wish you hadn’t made me believe you were sick.”

Worry brought out the wrinkles in her mother’s face, showing her age. “I kept
having this dream,” she confessed. “We need you here. I just know you can
solve everything.”

Beth studied her mother for a moment, wondering if she exaggerated the
situation, a trait her mother had displayed on more than one occasion, or if a
problem really did exist. She turned when someone knocked on the door.

Greta either didn’t hear the knock, or assumed one of them would answer. Beth
looked at her mom, who was staring at the door like it would bite her. When
had her mother become so skittish?

“Would you like me to answer that?” She turned toward the doorway where Greta
had disappeared and found the older lady filling a teapot with water.

“Yes. Answer the door.” Greta didn’t look away from her task.

Beth opened the front door and stared at a human wearing a sheriff’s uniform.

“Are you Elizabeth Parks?” the human asked, the strong smell of onions on his
breath not covering up that undeniable human smell.

“What can I do for you, sheriff?” She glanced at the human’s nametag, noting
he was just a deputy sheriff.

“You need to come with me.” The human stepped to the side, his hand moving
like he would grab his gun if she protested.

Beth wasn’t bullied that easily. “And why is that?” she asked. “Have I
committed some crime?”

“All werewolves must be identified and printed. County law.” He sounded bored
now, but she smelled the nervousness crowding around him.

No wonder her mother had collapsed. This town…this county…was out of control.
Beth narrowed her gaze on the deputy sheriff. “Unless you have arrest papers,
I am not going anywhere with you. Not to mention, if you hover around this
front door any longer, worrying the women in this house, I will have you
charged with a harassment suit so fast you won’t know what hit you.”

The deputy sheriff looked surprised, but only for a minute. He put his hand
on his gun barrel, narrowing his gaze on her. “The law is the law. All
werewolves must be tagged. You may come peacefully, or I will take you by
force.”

Beth put her hands on her hips, taking a step closer so that the sheriff was
forced to take a step backwards. “I suggest that you give very careful thought
to your next move. Unless you have a search warrant, you may not enter this
home. And unless you have arrest papers, you have no grounds to take me
anywhere.”

The deputy sheriff licked his lips, his nervousness now smelling like
something akin to panic.

“Good man.” Beth tried not to sound too condescending. “Now turn around and
head back to your office. And I suggest that you let your sheriff know that if
he sends his men out to harass the people of this town one more time, I will
file more than just harassment charges against him and his office.” She waved

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her hand at him, dismissing him. “Head on out now, and do as you are told.”

After closing the door, she turned around, half expecting the sheriff to
pound on it. He didn’t. And she found herself staring at two pleased-as-punch
older women.

“I knew she could do it.” Her mother clapped her hands together and then
hurried forward, hugging and kissing Beth.

“All she’s done is light the fire,” Greta pointed out.

And she was right. Beth studied her mother’s proud expression, her cheeks
aglow with color, her eyes dancing. She looked ten years younger than she had
when Beth arrived. The humans had clamped down on this pack, and the
suppression was killing her mother.

“Who is your pack leader?” Something needed to be done about this mess
quickly and efficiently.

“Ethan Masterson, dear.” Her mother beamed at her. “You remember Ethan, don’t
you?”

Beth’s stomach twisted into a painful knot.Hell yes. She remembered Ethan
Masterson.The creep. And unless her mother had grown senile over the past few
years, she knew damned good and well what Beth thought of him, too.

Chapter Three

Ethan Masterson had hoped for overtime this week. He knew the second Ralph
Hipp called him that wouldn’t happen. But what he didn’t understand was the
reason why Ralph had called.

“Who said what?” he’d asked in disbelief.

After all of his work with the humans. He found himself gaping, his jaw
hanging, while he stood in the break room at the plant and listened to Ralph
Hipp tell him how Sandra Parks’ daughter had mouthed off to the sheriff.

“What did you say her name is?” He didn’t remember Sandra having any den as
long as he’d been pack leader.

Even in Duluth, before moving his pack to this larger territory, Sandra had
lived by herself. Her only cub had moved away a long time ago.

“The sheriff said her name is Elizabeth Parks.” Ralph had sounded more than
irritated. He knew like no other werewolf the amount of work they had
accomplished with the humans.

There had been some rough times adjusting his pack to this small town
setting, with so much open land for them to run as opposed to the city life
they had before coming here. Not to mention, they had moved the other pack out
of town. It had been a tough decision, and one he’d not taken lightly.
Rendering a werewolf homeless was not his style. But now that they were here,
he would see that they made the best of it.

Sure it was a slow process, and suspicions and prejudice still ran strong on
both sides. Now the humans knew that werewolves did exist, there was no
turning back. At least not the way Ethan saw it. He would take the bull by the

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horns, work with his pack and with the humans, and make this community
stronger for it. There had been progress. And he didn’t need a blow like this
to set them back ten paces.

Knowing the previous pack had found a good home, and that his pack would now
have the freedom to live as werewolves should live made it crucial that no one
ruin all the work they had accomplished.

“Elizabeth Parks?” The name rang a bell, although he couldn’t place it.

“She’s all over the society page, if you read that sort of thing.” Ralph
wouldn’t be one to read something like that. Which meant this was worse than
he thought. The rest of the pack had already heard about this and Ralph was
relaying the general opinion given to him. “They say she is some hotshot
lawyer.”

“Elizabeth Parks,” Ethan said again.

“I guess she was known as Beth Parks when she lived with her den.”

Ethan’s stomach did a flip-flop, the steak he’d eaten earlier suddenly not
sitting well.

Even now, pulling his hog into the driveway at Greta Hothmeyer’s home, he
growled at the nervous streak that ran through him. He stared at the group of
cars parked around the pack healer’s home. A normally quiet street, it was
apparent that the house was full of activity. Cubs ran around in the backyard,
and he could hear his pack members talking inside. Five minutes in town, and
little Miss Beth Parks had managed to stir things up. Not a damned thing had
changed.

On the night of Hollow’s Eve…

While your soul dances to be free…

Your life mate will come to thee…

With the full moon rising.

The age-old werewolf mating song entered his mind without bidding. He thought
back to his youth, to the Halloween party he’d attended with the other
teenagers in his pack. Drinking and partying in the open field, he didn’t
remember who had started the chant. But one of the frisky young bitches had
been blindfolded, while everyone sang the ancient mating song, and she had
pulled him out of the group—and pushed him right into short, little Beth
Parks.

He remembered her being small, looking younger than the other girls. But
there had been an independence about her, a strength she possessed that the
other bitches in his pack hadn’t. She moved like she could take on any
werewolf, and would enjoy doing it. Always unapproachable, yet alluring, she
had caught his eye more than once as a cub. Yet she’d never been willing to
give him the time of day.

It had been so humiliating for him. Already feeling his oats, and having most
of the young bitches in his pack at his beck and call, he remembered everyone
laughing out loud when he’d seen the startled expression on Beth Parks’ face.

“I’d rather die a virgin than spend one moment with a slut like you,” she’d
yelled loud enough for everyone to hear. She’d made a sickening face while she

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looked him up and down. “I’d probably catch fleas.”

Then she’d marched off, while his buddies had fallen on the ground around him
in a fit of giggles. The urge to run after her, force her to see how charming
he was, had warred with the urge to call out insults in return. But he’d done
nothing. Always the cool one. Always the one everyone turned to, Ethan
Masterson had stared after her, watching her tight little ass sway while she
marched away from the group. His night had been ruined after that, not one of
his buddies letting him live down the shunning.

The hell with you, Beth Parks.

Ethan forced the childhood memory out of his head. That had been a long time
ago. They were all adults now, and although his youthful pride had been
severely damaged that night, it had nothing to do with the matters at hand. He
had a pack to run. And he’d been doing a damned good job of it, too. That is,
up until Miss Beth Parks had stepped into the picture.

Parking his bike, he strolled up to the house, knowing a firm hand would be
needed to put everything right. Everyone turned in the living room when he
entered the house. There had been no reason to knock. He was welcome in
Greta’s den, and he doubted anyone inside would have heard him anyway.

“It’s about time you got here,” he heard instantly.

“Did you hear what she is going to do?” That question grabbed his attention.

“We’ll go down in history.” The pride in that exclamation had him looking
around to see who said it.

“Ethan.” Ralph appeared, munching on a potato chip. “You need to get a handle
on this before she takes over your pack.”

Ralph’s quiet warning didn’t sit well. He looked at his friend. The werewolf
could be old enough to have sired him. And maybe since Ethan had lost his own
father when he’d been a young cub, he’d bonded easily with Ralph. Whatever the
reason, the werewolf had his wits about him, and was usually a good person to
bounce ideas off of.

“Tell me what she’s done.” Ethan kept his voice low, knowing every werewolf
in the room probably got a tickle in their ear trying to hear his
conversation.

“I’ll tell you what she’s done.” One of his pack members spoke from behind
him. Ethan turned to look at Paula Rook, who adjusted her grip on the cub in
her arms while she beamed at him. “She’s filed a motion with the court so that
the city can’t force us to report when we leave and come into town. She says
it’s unconstitutional.”

Ethan swallowed, feeling like he was getting ready to be bulldozed. He turned
his attention back to Ralph. “Where is Miss Beth Parks?”

Ralph gestured with a nod toward the kitchen. “In there.”

It seemed the house grew quiet when he left the living room and walked into
the kitchen.

Something stopped him in the doorway though. His mouth went dry and it seemed
his heart forgot to beat for a moment, then picked up speed with a violent
thumping that had his blood rushing through him way too fast.

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There she was. After all these years. Miss Beth Parks had sure as hell grown
up. She was still short. But damn! Ethan sucked in a breath while he took her
in.

Pacing in the middle of the kitchen and talking on a cell phone, Beth looked
better than any woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Faded blue jeans clung to her
like they were sculpted on to her body. Her waist was so slim he bet he could
wrap his hands around it and make his fingers touch. Nicely curved hips
rounded into the most beautiful ass. It had to be nice and soft, perfect to
grab on to and spread so that he could see what treasures she had.

She turned toward him, glancing up and then continuing her conversation
without giving him a second look. She wore a simple blouse, tucked into her
jeans and buttoned up far enough for him to see the strain on the buttons
where the material stretched over her breasts.

Dear Lord. Miss Beth Parks had filled out nicely. He blew out a breath of
air, realizing he would start drooling if he didn’t take his mind off of that
small but perfectly shaped body. She would look damned good sprawled out on a
bed. He’d begun to wonder whether she shaved her pussy or not when he gave
himself a mental slap.

“Contact City Hall,” she was saying. “I don’t want to go in front of the
judge in a courtroom. It’s best to keep a low profile here. Let him know I’ll
meet with him in his chambers and we’ll keep this short and sweet.”

Ethan realized at that moment that Sandra Parks sat at the kitchen table,
watching him carefully. Greta Hothmeyer sat across from her, also watching
him, satisfaction filling the air from the two of them.

This had gone far enough. Intercepting Beth in mid-pace, he put his hand over
her phone. She looked up at him, possibly noticing him for the first time, or
maybe realizing for the first time who he was. Something akin to panic rushed
through her, the strong confidence that had swarmed around her a moment before
gone. It lasted only a moment before the spicy smell of irritation floated in
the air between them. And there wasn’t much space between them.

“Hang up that phone before I hang it up for you,” he whispered, enjoying the
worried expression his implied threat caused.

“You do not tell me what to do.” She matched his threatening tone quite well.

Amusement rushed through him, his loins tightening with the reminder of what
a spitfire she was. It made sense if she was some hotshot lawyer. But she
wasn’t so good that he couldn’t take her on. Maybe when they were cubs she’d
managed to get the better of him, making a fool of him in front of all of
their peers. But that had been a long time ago. He was in charge here. No
matter how many people she might be used to bossing around, this saucy little
bitch would learn here and now, she would do as he told her.

Squeezing down on her hand just enough to make his point, he removed her
phone, and pushed the off button. A look of disbelief crossed her face.

“How dare you!” She put her hands on her hips, her lips pursing in anger. Her
dark green eyes sparked with fire, but it was the telltale flush that spread
across her cheeks that gave him the urge to press her up against the counter
and show her exactly what he would dare to do.

He could have it out with her right here in the kitchen, but he needed some

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time. This wasn’t one of the sweet little bitches he was accustomed to who
drooled every time he walked into the room. Beth Parks didn’t appear the least
bit intimidated by him, even though she barely stood tall enough to reach his
shoulders. The fire in her expression let him see her passion. She lusted over
him. He knew it. But she had it well hidden. Just like she had so many years
ago when they were cubs.

There was only one thing to do.

Ethan grabbed Beth by the arm and turned to walk out of the house.

“What the hell are you doing?” Beth sounded alarmed, although if she was
trying to stop him, she wasn’t very strong. It seemed she followed him through
the house willingly.

“What’s going on?” Ralph asked.

Ethan ignored the group and stormed to the front door, dragging Beth behind
him.

“I’ll call you in a bit,” Ethan told him, knowing Ralph would be able to calm
the group.

Ethan needed time to sort things out, and to think with his brain and not his
cock.

The smells of the house faded quickly when they marched across the front
yard. He knew every pack member watched them but he didn’t care. He almost
threw Beth at his bike.

“If you think I’m going to get on that thing…” she began.

He grabbed her shoulders, fighting the urge to press himself against her,
just for a moment, wanting to see how she felt up against him. Instead he
simply looked her square in the eye, all too aware of the heat that surged
through his hands where he touched her.

“You can climb on, or I will throw you on.” He enjoyed how her eyes grew
wide, the all-knowing counselor suddenly at a loss for words. “But either way,
we are going for a ride.”

“How in the hell did you manage to become pack leader?” she mumbled, anger
seeping from her. The spicy scent of it lay cover to something more evocative,
more sultry. A scent he hadn’t noticed while they were in the kitchen grabbed
his attention now.

Beth Parks was more than aroused. She had to be soaking wet. What he wouldn’t
do to run his hand down between the crotch of her jeans, feel her heat.

Since she hadn’t moved, he decided she must want to be lifted on to his bike.
It was a large Harley, and she was a petite woman. Grabbing her by the waist,
he lifted her high enough for her to straddle the small passenger seat.

“How dare you!” Beth squirmed in his arms, her legs going everywhere but
around his bike.

Ethan heard definite laughter coming from the house. Well, the last thing the
counselor would do was make a fool out of him—again. Placing her back down on
the ground, before she kicked something that might really put him out of
commission, he twisted her around, bent her over his bike, and gave her rear

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end a quick swat.

“Shit!” she cried out loud enough to make everyone in the neighborhood aware
of their presence.

Beth turned on him with her fist raised, ready to do damage. Her dark green
eyes glowed with anger, those soft lips barely covering teeth that had started
to sharpen.

Ethan grabbed her fist, pulling her to him. He could feel her heart pounding
between her breasts. And those full round mounds pressed against him felt
better than anything he’d experienced in quite a while. He held on to her
hand, while pinning her other arm between them. His free hand strolled down
her back. And it took some effort not to cup that sweet ass of hers.

“Now,” he said quietly. “You may climb on, or I will lift you on. But you are
getting on that bike. I will not have a yelling match with you in the middle
of this neighborhood.”

Beth considered his words, her heavy breathing causing her breasts to move
against his chest. She struggled to free herself and he tightened his grip.

“What’s it going to be, counselor?” he asked.

“I will not be bullied.” Even captured in his arms she would fight him. “Let
go of me now, unless you wish to spend the night in jail.”

Ethan smiled. Her idle threats didn’t bother him a bit. There was no way
anyone would arrest him for taking on the mouthy lawyer. They might want to
watch. His grin widened.

“Are you accustomed to people backing down simply because you threaten them?”

“I’m accustomed to dealing with werewolves who have manners.” She fought
again to be released.

“I can be very polite.” He pulled her just a bit closer, her breath scorching
through his chest, burning his skin. “I don’t know why you bring out the beast
in me,” he whispered, lowering his head so that her face was inches from his.

Her dark green eyes were like emeralds, glowing and alive with a passion he
could smell burning through her. He could feel it too. Everywhere they touched
fiery currents rushed from her, taking over his system, his self-control. Her
mouth relaxed, her lips moving slightly like she would say something, but
hesitated. Her soft brown hair fell in layers, curving around her face and
falling to her shoulders. Just enough to grab on to so she could be held in
place.

He let his gaze fall below her face, to the point where her breasts pressed
against him. Her shirt parted perfectly at the top of her button allowing him
a wonderful view of her cleavage. Soft, round and full. Damnit. He would love
to rub his cock between those breasts. The thought had him hard as a rock
instantly.

Beth stopped breathing. He met her gaze, her eyes suddenly wide. Was she
surprised by his size? Or had she not realized he was attracted to her?

“Let me go,” she whispered.

He obliged. “Do you need help getting on the bike?” He decided he would show

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her he could be a gentleman.

She didn’t look at him. “I can manage.”

And she did. Barely. It was all he could do not to help her but he let her
struggle to mount the large hog on her own.

Climbing on in front of her, he knew he had a battle on his hands. It was
going to be hard as hell to discuss how her actions had been out of line when
all he wanted to do at the moment was fuck her silly. He started the bike and
backed out of the driveway, then took off just a little bit faster than he
needed to, enjoying how she quickly wrapped her arms around him, holding on
tight.

Chapter Four

The fresh air slapping him in the face helped Ethan clear his head. Beth
Parks wrapped around his backside didn’t help matters. But he’d dealt with
temptation before. Nothing would take precedence over the safety of his pack.

“Where are we going?” Her breath against his ear and cheek wreaked havoc with
his system.

“I haven’t decided yet,” he admitted.

“It better be somewhere public.” She shifted behind him, her thighs rubbing
against his. Even with the wind blowing around them, her scent seemed to
saturate through his skin.

“You giving the orders now?” He glanced over his shoulder at her in time to
see turmoil tighten across her pretty face.

“I always give the orders.” She tried to sound cold, unrelenting. He could
see that.

Her comment made it clear to him where they needed to go. Taking a sharp
left, he headed home.

“Where are we?” she asked, when he slowed to a stop in his drive alongside
his house.

“My place.” He got off his bike, and then offered his hand to help her get
off.

She simply stared at him, while slowly crossing her arms over her chest. He
loved that look of defiance she gave him. And the way she straddled his bike,
her legs spread wide accenting her narrow waist. Damn, what he wouldn’t do to
see her on top of him like that.

“I told you I would not discuss anything with you in a private place.” Her
expression hardened, anger seeping through the air. “You better pay real close
attention to who you are messing with here, mister.”

Ethan stared at her. For being so damned hot, she had an aggressive side to
her that needed to be toned down. He imagined she brought many a man to his
knees with the glare she was giving him. That or she chased them away. He
wondered suddenly if she might still be a virgin. Maybe she put up this
aggressive front because deep inside she didn’t have a clue how to act around

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a werewolf. He didn’t smell any uncertainty or fear. She was angry, and her
adorable righteous dander was up.

Well, he could handle her. He had no doubts. The last thing this sweet little
bitch would do would be to bring Ethan Masterson to his knees. Miss Beth Parks
had met her match. Once she had humiliated him. And she had been the only
bitch ever to do that. But it wouldn’t happen a second time.

“I’m going to point something out to you.” He stayed calm. He wouldn’t insult
her intelligence. “And I know I only need to say this once. You are an unmated
bitch and you are in my territory. That puts you under my jurisdiction, and my
protection. You will do as I say.”

Beth stared at him, either not understanding a damned thing he just said, or
in complete shock that he had the nerve to speak to Miss Almighty the way he
just had. Either way, she didn’t move.

“Get off the damned bike,” he growled, starting to feel irritated that she
wasn’t listening to him.

Gold streaked across the green in her eyes. If he hadn’t been watching, he
might have missed it. Little Miss Beth was doing everything in her power to
control her temper. He fought the smile that threatened his lips when she
swung her leg over and slid off of his bike.

“Happy now?” she hissed, just as her phone rang.

While she answered it, he took advantage of the fact that she needed to be
composed to talk to her office or whoever it was at the other end of the line,
and placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her inside.

“Lacey, I told you to tell them I couldn’t take the case.” She seemed to have
forgotten he was there while she reprimanded some woman on the other end of
her phone.

Ethan kept his hand on her back while he unlocked his back door and led her
through his kitchen and into his living room. Charges of electric heat made
him tingle where he touched her. Once inside she began pacing, leaving him
wishing he was still touching her. What was it about this petite stranger who
seemed to have turned his life and his libido upside down within the course of
an afternoon?

She had done it when they were children, and she was doing it again now.
Rendering him speechless, unsure how to react against the brick wall of
resistance she had built up around her. But why was she so cold? It made no
sense to him that she seemed to work at being evasive. He was a good man,
respected as pack leader by his own pack, and the other packs around him.

He took a seat in his favorite chair, an old recliner that should have been
hauled to the curb years ago but still seemed to help him relax. Stretching
his legs out in front of him, he watched Beth pace. Whoever spoke at the other
end sounded a bit frantic, as if they were trying to save themselves from an
ass-chewing. Beth must be good at putting people in their place.

She combed her hair with her fingers while she spoke. “Fine, Lacey. Patch him
through to this line. I’ll speak to him.” She noticed him when she turned from
pacing, her pose all professional. “I’ll be with you in a minute,” she told
him.

Had she forgotten where she was? This was his den. The urge to take that

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phone away from her again crossed his mind.

“Yes. Mr. Anderson.” Beth turned from him. He watched her, imagining what it
would be like for her to run her fingers over him the way she did when she ran
them through her hair.

She stopped pacing. “And our firm will continue to give you the best
representation. It just won’t be me. I’m sorry.”

Her nervous energy cluttered the air around them. A thick smell but it still
had the sweetness to it that he’d learned to recognize as her unique scent.
And it called to him.

She seemed lost in thought when she hung up the phone and he took advantage
of the moment to stand and approach her. Her defenses were down, giving him a
glimpse of the petite lady who glowed with fire and sensuality.

“It sounds like you have a lot on your plate, counselor.” He didn’t speak
until he was right behind her and she jumped, turning quickly and backing up a
step or two.

“I have a job.” Her defenses were right back up, her scent fading while she
worked to stuff her emotions behind her defiant expression.

“And so do I.” He wanted to get past this little upstir she had started,
soothe it back into place, and focus on getting to know her better. “From now
on, I will do my job and you will do yours.”

Her mouth twitched, those gold flecks dancing around her green eyes again.
The amount of energy this tiny little female possessed, her drive, her refusal
to submit. All of it turned him on more than he ever would have guessed. Just
looking at her sent a rush through him, his cock threatening to harden if he
didn’t keep it under control.

She took a deep breath, her eyes lowering, taking him in. It was a quick
motion. But he saw her interest, the desire that made her cheeks flush. His
heart pounded while the urge to touch her made his fingers itch.

“I came up here because my mother collapsed. When I get here I find she is
living in a pack exposed to humans by its leader.” Her breath came hard and
fast while she spoke, her gaze scanning his shoulders, his chest, his face.
“She has to tell the humans everywhere she goes. No wonder the poor woman got
sick.”

He hadn’t noticed Sandy Parks looking ill at all. “I decide how to handle my
pack. You don’t make those decisions. And I don’t answer to you on how the
pack is run.” He took a step toward her, her eyes continually moving over him,
taking in his stance, returning to his face and then looking him over again.
“But you will answer to me for your actions.”

“I don’t answer to anyone.” She didn’t back up. Her hands went to her hips
and her jaw set with a determined expression.

He couldn’t keep from touching her any longer. Gripping her neck, sliding his
fingers up her soft skin, the heat from her body almost scalded his senses.
She looked up at him wide-eyed, not fighting him, but mentally daring him with
a look he was sure had sent many werewolves running with their tails between
their legs.

There was no way he could resist any longer. Lowering his mouth to hers, he

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watched her eyelids flutter closed, and then open again, never looking away
while he brushed his lips over hers.

She tasted better than he’d imagined. Her body was rigid though, her hard
breathing the only clue he had to her arousal. That and the intense emotions
steaming the air around them. She would submit to him. Her challenging gaze
made him want her to accept his domination even more.

Gripping her jaw, he kissed her hard, stealing her breath, demanding her
compliance. She gasped, causing fire to rush through him with enough ferocity
to turn his cock to steel.

He dove into her mouth, piercing it with his tongue, relishing her heat and
sweet addictive taste.

Beth pushed against his chest, breaking the kiss. Her cheeks were an adorable
shade of pink, the gold in her eyes a wonderful contrast against the green.
She almost panted, her mouth parted, her lips glossy from their kiss.

“Don’t try that again.” Her words came out on a breath, her flushed
expression and heavy breathing making her demand sound weak.

“Are you challenging me?” He moved in on her, itching to grab a hold of her
breasts that strained against her shirt.

Her lips quivered, her mouth moving to say something but then she hesitated.
She backed away, while pointing her finger at him. The urge to grab it, suck
it into his mouth, just to see what she looked like when she came, overwhelmed
him.

“I’m…not interested in you.” She looked away from him, only for a moment.

But it was enough for him to see she was lying. He grabbed her under the
arms, lifting her, pressing her back against the wall.

“Don’t ever lie to me, Beth.” He pressed his body against hers, let her feel
his hard cock press against her.

“Oh.” She gasped, crying out in surprise.

Beth Parks didn’t have werewolves handling her this roughly very often. And
he had a feeling that might be her problem. Her size had nothing to do with
her strength. And she needed a werewolf stronger than she was to break the icy
front she put out, and allow her to feel the passion he sensed rushing through
her.

Ethan crushed his mouth over hers, no longer polite, but demanding. She
needed to be shown an authority stronger than her own. His blood boiled when
her tongue swirled around his, slowly at first. It was as if she needed to
touch him, but feared the level of submission he demanded. He was certain he
asked a first of her, but knew she could do it. Beth needed to know he was in
charge, and she needed to learn to trust his authority.

She struggled only for a moment and then slowly he felt her relax into him.
Opening her mouth further, her tongue darted forward, daring to taste what he
offered. He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, crushing her to
his chest. Her heart pounded against him, matching the driving beat that
already rushed through his body.

Her fingers pressed into his shoulders, not necessarily holding on, but

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possibly testing his strength. The heat of her touch scorched through his
shirt, adding to the blaze already burning straight to his soul.

Moving to his chair, never once breaking the kiss, he relaxed into it,
cradling her into his lap. The softness of her ass caused all blood to rush
straight to his cock. He was almost dizzy with the urge to come, to explode.
More than anything he wanted to rip her clothes from her, bend her over, and
impale her, filling her with his hot cream while she screamed out his name.

A gasp escaped her lips, her body curving around his. She adjusted herself,
pulling her mouth away, breaking the kiss. He heard her struggle to breathe.
He ran his mouth over her flushed cheeks, feeling the fever burning there.
Every inch of her was on fire, her lust pent-up way too long. More than likely
few men had been strong enough to allow her the true freedom of releasing.

The hardness of her nipples, stabbing his chest, distracted him. Her skin
burned though him, branding his soul when he pushed his hand under her shirt.
Her breath was hot against the side of his head, boiling his brain, fogging
his senses. He needed more of her.

Charges of electricity rushed through him when he brushed his fingers over
her skin, tracing a path toward her chest. A staggered breath escaped her when
he cupped her breast through the soft material of her bra.

“Damn. Beth.” He could hardly contain himself. Her surrender in his arms, her
intoxicating aroma of lust, made the beast within him begin to emerge.

Moving the fabric that covered her nipple, he rubbed the hardened nub between
his thumb and finger. Something primal, raw, more intense than his human body
could handle threatened to break through.

“God.” She cried out, her body stiffening on his lap.

The smell of her cum filled the air so quickly he wasn’t ready for his
reaction.

He pinched her nipple, twisting it just a little while her body twitched,
jerked, her orgasm rushing through her with the strength of the change.

“No.” She jumped off of him.

Ethan tried to grab her but she had moved too fast. She was breathing hard,
her teeth extended while she looked at him with wild, green-gold eyes.

“No.” She said it again, her tone stronger this time, her wits slowly
returning to her.

Her mouth resumed its human shape although her eyes continued to glare at
him, the wild creature inside her unwilling to recede.

“This will not happen,” she told him then turned around, raising her hands in
an exasperated gesture before she marched out of the room.

Once again, the little spitfire marched away from him. But there was a
difference between now and when they had been cubs. A very big difference.
This time, he’d won the battle.

Ethan sat there, not moving when he heard the back door open and then slam
close. He would let her go, for now. Beth Parks didn’t submit, or she never
had before. He would allow her time to digest what she had just experienced.

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She had done well, and she would come around. He leaned back, smiling.

“Yup,” he said out loud, liking the decision he’d just made. “You will be
mine, Beth. In fact, you already are.”

Chapter Five

Beth sat up and tossed the covers off of her legs. Her mother’s living room
was dark, the only light creeping in around the closed curtains from the moon
outside. Her mother’s soft breathing in the other room reminded her of another
time, a simpler time, when the burden of responsibility hadn’t always fallen
in her lap.

The buzz of her cell phone tickled her ear. Looking down at the glowing blue
screen, she scooped her phone off the floor and stared at her home number.

“Is everything okay?” she answered quietly, not wishing to disturb her
mother.

“I was going to ask you that.” Alicia sounded worried. “We’ve had reporters
here all day. Joe won’t let them on the property, and there are a few other
pack members standing guard now.”

“What?” Beth jumped off the couch. “What are you talking about?”

There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment. “The reporters
claim you declared you were a werewolf today. They have been hounding us for a
statement.”

Beth couldn’t believe it. Why would reporters be at her house when no one had
bothered her up here? She walked through her mom’s house to the door, needing
fresh air.

“I did not claim to be a werewolf to anyone today,” she said.

“Should we tell the reporters that you deny the charges?” Alicia asked.

Beth frowned. “No.” She needed time to think, but denying her true nature
didn’t sit well with her. “I guess I’ll be coming home sooner than I planned.
I’ll have to make a statement.”

She hung up the phone, her thoughts immediately drifting to Ethan. Her dream
man had come to life, and she had told him no.

“Story of my life,” she mumbled, walking barefoot around the side of the
duplex, the cold ground helping soothe the fire in her just a bit.

Now duty called. She needed to get home. Her mom appeared to be okay. Once
this mess was cleared up she would find out why her mother had gone to such
efforts to get her up here. There had been some plan, and Beth wondered if it
had something to do with Ethan Masterson.

But it was just as well that she didn’t have to be here that much longer.
Just thinking about that hard body of Ethan’s, those strong hands touching
her, exploring her. She clutched her stomach, balling the long nightshirt she
wore into her fist. Thinking of how he had grabbed her breast, squeezed her
nipple hard enough that shockwaves had riveted through her, she almost came
again. Just like she had earlier when she’d been sitting on his lap.

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On his lap. She couldn’t believe she had ended up on his lap. No werewolf had
held her like that before—like a cub. Walking further into the yard, the
brightness of the moon calling her, she could still feel his hands on her
skin, the roughness of his touch while he gripped her.

Maybe she could get to her toys, relieve the ache that still pulsated between
her thighs. For some reason, the thought of riding her dildo, imagining what
could have been, didn’t sound as appealing as it usually did. The answer was
obvious. She wasn’t stupid. Horny and deprived maybe, but not witless. None of
her toys would measure up with that overbearing alpha’s scent still on her.

The way he had grabbed her, thrown her up against the wall and ravished her.
Beth walked into the shadows of the yard, the urge to change filling her just
so she could roll in the grass, cool her overheated body. Ethan had been wild,
unstoppable. And she had turned to liquid in his arms. She blushed in the
darkness, remembering how he had carried her to his chair, run his hand over
her and caressed her breast. The fire in her cheeks spread throughout her
body, an ache building inside her.

She wanted to find him, demand he fuck her, order him to take away the pain
he’d created that continued to pulse without mercy throughout her.

A breeze floated around her, his scent still on her skin, in her hair. Her
mother’s new home was in town, but it was a small town. She looked past the
neighbor’s yard, across the street, at a field that disappeared in the night
into a group of trees. She didn’t know the area, wasn’t sure where it was safe
to run. And with humans in town aware of the werewolves, she didn’t know how
safe she would be.

But damnit. She needed to get Ethan Masterson out of her system. He was
everywhere. In her thoughts, in the air she breathed. Somehow she needed to
put him back in her past, and resume her life.

The field past the neighboring homes beckoned to her. Glancing down, all she
wore was her long nightshirt, hardly appropriate attire to walk down the
street. This wasn’t home. She didn’t have the advantage of being able to
change in her own backyard.

Frustrated, she turned back to the house—and froze.

Ethan Masterson stood at the side of the yard, silhouetted by the lights from
the surrounding houses, watching her. She cursed herself for not being more
attentive. No wonder his scent had been so strong.

And you’re standing here half-naked looking very much like you might change
right here in the middle of the town.

“In the mood for a run?” He moved toward her easily, his stroll lazy and
relaxed.

She found herself staring at how sexy he looked. His jeans showed off his
long powerful legs, muscles bulging through, not an ounce of fat anywhere. The
T-shirt he wore stretched over roped muscles that she already knew were as
solid as a brick wall. The moonlight reflected off of his straight black hair,
which had a windblown look about it.

Why hadn’t she heard his bike pull up? How long had he been here?

“I think I’ll just go back inside.” Her mouth was too dry. And her legs

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suddenly seemed wobbly when she started to move around him.

Ethan didn’t touch her, but he moved in front of her, blocking her path. She
took in a deep breath, the smell of male and leather soaking through her to
her lungs.

“Why are you out here if you didn’t want to go for a run?” He sounded like he
really wanted to know, quiet sincerity ringing through in his tone.

She decided he was easier to battle when he was on the prowl instead of being
friendly.

“Why are you here?” she asked instead of answering his question.

She sounded very annoyed that he would just barge in on her, consume her
space as if he had some inner knowledge that she preferred him this close to
her.

And she was annoyed. She was annoyed with herself. Never had a werewolf
gotten to her like Ethan had. He was less than a foot away from her and she
had to fight not to reach out and touch that virile body. Her body burned with
need, ached from her very core for him to touch her. The throbbing in her
pussy matched the pounding beat of her heart. And she knew he could sense the
desire running rabid through her.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay.” He moved his hand to touch her face,
and she dodged around him, knowing if she let him touch her, if she felt his
flesh against hers, she would lose all ability to fight him.

This wasn’t like her. Her mind and body were in complete turmoil. More than
anything she craved his touch. But if she gave in to temptation, she would
lose control. That wasn’t familiar territory for her and she had no idea how
to handle it.

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” She started toward the house, her knees shaking
although she wasn’t cold. Far from it, if anything her insides were on fire.

And what of your dream man? Doesn’t he dominate you? Control you? Isn’t that
the kind of man you’ve always wished you could find?

“There have been reporters buzzing through town all day.” His words stopped
her in her tracks. “I wanted to make sure none of them got to you.”

“Why didn’t I know about this?” She turned around, irritation flushing
through her.

“I guess that answers my question.” Moonlight made his black hair shine like
silk.

He pulled her to him, capturing her before she had a chance to escape. Those
powerful hands of his wrapped around her waist, her nightshirt not enough
defense against his fiery touch. His lust consumed her, violated her senses,
making it impossible for her to fight him.

“But you didn’t answer my question.” She tried to stand up to him, worked to
maintain her control on the situation.

Ethan’s hands branded her skin, pressing her to him. She braced herself,
spreading her fingers over the steel muscles of his chest. She could feel his
heat, his power. It seeped through her skin, rushing through her bloodstream.

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“I didn’t tell you because I saw no reason to.” He didn’t allow her to
retort.

And she would have. Her mind swam with arguments why she should always be
kept informed about everything. This explained the reporters at her house. She
needed to plan, to figure out a statement for them.

But he captured her mouth, searing her lips with a fiery kiss. She went weak
inside, hot liquid rushing through her. She could barely stand. His grip
tightened around her, those powerful arms almost sweeping her off of her feet,
holding her to him, protecting her.

She pulled her mouth from his, gasping for air.

“Ethan,” she cried out before she realized she’d said his name out loud.

She gasped for breath, his intense blue eyes burning with lust while he
watched her try to regain some form of composure. Granted she was doing it
while leaning heavily against his rock-hard chest.

His hands stroked her back, working her nightshirt up until he cupped her
bare ass. She had to stop him. They were in her mom’s backyard, of all places.
Her heart seemed to add a triple beat while she did everything in her power to
stand on her own two feet.

“Tell me why I found you out here.” Ethan lifted her chin with a finger,
forcing her to look at him.

All the while he stroked her rear end, his long fingers probing dangerously
close to the tender areas that were the source of her need. Teasing her,
caressing her and then making her look up into those intense blue eyes. His
power and domination seemed to spear right through her.

She licked her lips. “I couldn’t sleep.” There was no reason to tell him
about the phone call. That was her problem.

His hand left her ass, moving up the inside of her shirt. “That, my dear, is
because you try too hard to control everything.”

He didn’t understand. She wasn’t trying to control things. Shedid control
many things. “I have many responsibilities,” she told him, allowing him to
hold her head up while she stared into that gorgeous face of his. She could
get lost in his intense good looks.

“Not here, you don’t.” He reached up, cupping the underside of her breast,
his thumb stroking her right above her nipple. “All you need to do is relax. I
am in charge here.”

A quivering rush of desire made her shiver when he brushed his thumb over her
nipple. She knew he meant more than life’s responsibilities. Ethan was talking
about right now, in his arms. He wanted her to submit to him.

The smell of his domination, rich and strong, filled the air around her,
consuming her with her every breath. It mixed with her own tangy scent almost
drowning her with an overwhelming need to fuck.

But fucking on his terms scared her. To let go, allow control to fall into
his hands. Sure, in her fantasies her dream man controlled her. But this
wasn’t a fantasy. This was real life. And she knew the difference.

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“I can’t be what you want, Ethan,” she told him, regretting it but needing to
face the truth, just as he did.

His finger and thumb clamped down on her nipple. He squeezed hard enough that
bolts of electricity shot through her straight to her pussy.

“Shit,” she cried out, worried she was too loud. She glanced around nervously
while grabbing his hand.

He didn’t let go of her nipple. The pressure built inside her with dangerous
speed, the hard stab of pain mixed with intense pleasure robbing her of her
ability to stand, to think, to speak.

“You already are what I want.” He released her nipple and at the same time
kissed her.

He grabbed her breast, squeezing, forcing the tender nipple to rub against
the material of her shirt. And at the same time he devoured her mouth,
stealing her breath. All she could do was open to him, offer what he already
demanded.

Pulling her shirt up, he released her mouth, his tongue singeing her skin
while he traced a hot, moist path to her breast. He sucked on the throbbing
nipple, dousing it with the heat of his mouth, licking and nibbling until she
thought she couldn’t stand it any longer. Her pussy throbbed, moisture seeping
through her, soaking her. The hot scent of her cum filled the air around them.

Ethan continued to suck and bite at her breast, holding her to him with one
hand, while the other pressed against her stomach, moving its way down to the
source of her desire. Her pussy exploded, her muscles contracting when his
fingers reached her small hole. He pushed his way inside, groaning against her
breast when her pussy clamped down on his fingers.

“That’s it, sweetheart. Let go and come for me. Soak me with your sweet
juices.” His brazen words made her wild with excitement.

She wanted to ride his finger, beg him to fuck her. If she told him to bury
himself deep inside her and let her ride him until she drained them both, he
would do it. She could still take the upper hand. She hadn’t given up control.

Her insides exploded. The intensity of it taking her breath away. Her legs
went out and if it weren’t for Ethan holding her to him, she would have melted
into a puddle of lust on the ground.

“Good girl,” he whispered, and then pulled his finger out of her.

Her pussy throbbed. She wanted more. Her body hummed with need, craving his
cock.

Ethan straightened her nightshirt. He ran his hand over her hair, stroking
her, petting her, the moistness of his finger dampening the side of her face.
She smelled herself on him.

His dark gaze captivated her, his black hair accenting his piercing blue
eyes. “When you are ready to give yourself to me then you may have more.”

She stared at him. She wanted more now. And if he wouldn’t give it to her now
then he wouldn’t have her at all. No one would control her.

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“I don’t think so, Ethan.” She ran her hands down her nightshirt, her palms
suddenly too sweaty.

He cocked an eyebrow. It dawned on her that he probably wasn’t used to being
told no. As sexy and demanding as he was, women probably begged him to fuck
them. Well she wouldn’t beg. And she wouldn’t submit to his decision on how to
manipulate the situation.

She straightened, doing her best to give him her best prosecutor’s look. “I’m
not giving myself to you. I’m going home.”

Chapter Six

Beth left her pack leader’s house drained. The past several days had been
full of dealing with one repercussion after another from her statement to the
sheriff the day she’d arrived to see her mother. All she had tried to do that
day was prove a point, show the sheriff he didn’t have a right to mark and
number her just because she was arriving in town. She had spoken on principle
and look where it had gotten her.

She almost groaned out loud when her cell phone rang. “What is it?” she
snapped.

“I’m sorry to bother you.” Lacey didn’t sound sorry at all. “But I’ve been
asked to call you and tell you that you’re needed here in the office
immediately.”

Beth didn’t like the sound of that at all. She wasn’t sure she could mend
another crisis today. Not to mention going home traffic had given her a
headache by the time she pulled into the parking building by her office.

Both of the Andersons from Anderson, Hunt and Anderson stood in the boardroom
when she exited the elevator. Several of the senior attorneys turned away from
her, whispering as they walked down the hall. She headed in the opposite
direction toward her office, giving Lacey a questioning look when she reached
her desk in the outer office.

“What is going on?” she asked, feeling the tension in the air from the moment
she’d stepped on to the floor.

“Brad Preston wants to see you.” Lacey looked a bit pale, and quickly opened
a file she had in front of her. She didn’t say anything else.

Something was very wrong.

Beth tapped on the door of the senior attorney’s office. Brad Preston stood
in his office staring out the window and turned to look at her. Fear and anger
swarmed around him. She frowned, not accustomed to seeing the older man
anything but calm and confident.

“Is there a problem?” she asked.

“Beth.” He didn’t move, didn’t ask her to come in, or to sit down. “I need
your resignation, effectively immediately.”

“What?” She couldn’t believe her ears. “Are you firing me?”

“You have an hour to clean out your office.” He looked behind her and she

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turned, the smell of a musky aftershave smothering the emotions of the
security guard who stood in the hallway. “Once you have your things together,
we’ll escort you from the building.”

Beth ignored the security guard and turned to glare at her boss. “What the
hell is going on here, Brad?”

Brad Preston backed up toward his desk, while the security guard entered the
office. Fear became the prevalent emotion in the room. Suddenly it all made
sense to her. The reporters at her house. Her confrontation with the sheriff
up north. Brad was scared of her. He’d heard the rumors that she was a
werewolf.

“Please, Beth.” His tone didn’t show his fear; she would give the older
attorney credit for wearing a good mask. “I’m allowing you plenty of time to
clean out your office. If you need help hauling anything down, just let us
know.”

He moved behind his desk, his usual dismissive motion. Beth threw her hands
up in the air in exasperation. This was just fine. If her law firm didn’t want
her, then she sure didn’t need them. Her reputation wouldn’t be tarnished over
this, she would see to it.

By the time she pulled into her driveway, passing the camped-out reporters on
the road by her home, she was beyond irritated.

“Well, I’ve just lost my job,” Beth announced to Alicia and Joe when she
entered her kitchen.

It was then she noticed the scent of another werewolf. Turning she took in
the man dressed in a plain-looking suit sipping a drink out of one of her
glasses.

“That might be for the best,” the man said, and she raised an eyebrow at him.

“Who the hell are you?” She wasn’t in the mood to be polite.

The man smiled, his manners remaining intact.

“Ben Smith. Werewolf Affairs.” He produced a badge from his inner coat
pocket, flashing it in front of her.

Beth stepped forward, taking the badge from him and studying it for a moment.
She should have guessed the Bureau would send someone out sooner or later. As
much as she hated to think she couldn’t handle this matter by herself, Beth
Parks had a solid reputation. Her name as one of the more successful attorneys
in the Midwest had appeared in many publications, on the news, in articles.
Humans everywhere knew who she was. Knowledge that she was a werewolf, whether
confirmed or not, was escalating. And her refusal to make a statement only
added to the paranoia among the humans. She should have seen her termination
at work coming.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Smith?” she asked, returning his badge.

“I wanted to know if I could speak with you for a bit. Werewolf Affairs has
some concerns.” The werewolf had absolutely no smell at all, an annoying trait
once she thought about it.

“Sure.” She gestured toward her living room and then looked back to Alicia.
“Why don’t you bring in some coffee?”

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Her housekeeper nodded quickly, concern written all over her expression.

“So the humans have terminated your position at your law firm?” Ben Smith
spoke like they were old friends, relaxing comfortably in one of her chairs.

Beth sat down on her couch, realizing as she looked around her living room
how seldom she actually came in here. She turned her attention to the werewolf
who sat across from her and nodded. She wished she felt as relaxed as he
looked.

“I’ve already spoken with your pack leader.” Ben accepted the cup of coffee
from Alicia with a gracious smile.

Her housekeeper turned and placed Beth’s cup down next to her. The worry in
the air around her had Beth giving her a reassuring smile. “Thanks, Alicia,”
she said.

Ben waited until Alicia left the room. “You made a big mistake confronting
that sheriff up in Minnesota. That pack leader had done wonders with the
humans in his district. We’ve been watching him and are very impressed.”

Beth swallowed. She couldn’t argue that Ethan Masterson was indeed
impressive. At the same time, she wasn’t used to a reprimand. Her stomach
slowly tied into a knot.

“I didn’t make a mistake. And I don’t regret that I made a stand for my
rights.”

Ben stared into his coffee, not commenting. He was the diplomat, sent here to
smooth things out, see that the humans calmed down, and that her pack didn’t
act up. But Beth knew her rights. Whether werewolf or human she had a right to
travel this country without being asked to account for her presence so a town
could keep an eye on her.

“I understand why you are here.” Beth’s mind began churning while she tried
to figure out what her best approach should be at this point. “Give me some
time to evaluate this situation, and I’m sure I can iron this thing out.”

“I have complete faith in your skills.” Ben smiled. “But I’ve already had
that time, and I think we’ve got a good plan laid out.”

And he was here to tell her what her part of his plan was. It took a bit of
effort to remain relaxed, not jump up and start pacing. She was in charge. She
called the shots.

Sighing, she wondered if she could allow someone else to hold the ropes.
“What do you want me to do?”

“I think your pack leader can calm things down here with little effort.” Ben
sipped at his coffee, watching her over the rim. “But it would be easier for
him if you were to disappear for a while.”

Beth stared at her cup, not picking it up. Disappear for a while. There was
only one place she could think of to go.

You’re going to run right back to Ethan.His last words to her hit her like a
punch to the gut.When you are ready to give yourself to me, you may have more.

“With Halloween right around the corner, humans tend to get a bit more

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superstitious. I think they will put this behind them faster if you aren’t
available for comment. Basically Elizabeth Parks needs to disappear, just for
a while.” Ben stood up, straightening his jacket with a smooth swipe of his
hand. “Think of a safe place where you can stay. And then let us know when you
are ready. We will see to it that your home is protected here.”

Several hours later, Beth had tied up all ends at her home. Alicia and Joe
would stay on, keeping the place in order, with instructions from her to allow
the pack to use the home and land as needed. She wrapped a small bundle of
clothing and fixed it to a collar that she secured around her neck.

The moon was almost full when she walked out into her backyard, naked, the
cold night air immediately attacking her bare skin. Her nipples hardened with
fury, reminding her of how Ethan had pinched her nipple. The same intense need
she’d experienced that night rushed through her. For a moment she couldn’t
catch her breath.

Slowly sucking in the fresh night air, she arched her back, staring up at the
glowing white orb in the sky. The moon would offer plenty of light for her
journey north. Anticipation rippled through her over seeing Ethan again.

The change stirred deep inside her, moving through her like rich syrup,
infiltrating her blood, hardening her muscles. She closed her eyes, enjoying
the wonderful experience of allowing the more primal beast within her to
surface. It was like freeing herself of all the burdens of the day, allowing
all stress and headache to glide right out of her. Her basic instincts took
over, allowing her to think more clearly, experience the true beauty of her
surroundings and not dwell on the preoccupations of her life.

Beth fell to all fours and immediately sprinted across the open ground behind
her home. She relished the cold night air as it combed through her fur,
cleaning her soul, invigorating her body.

Tearing across the countryside, pushing her muscles until they burned, she
laughed at the night, feeling more alive than she had in ages. When was the
last time she’d been so free of all responsibility? She couldn’t remember.

Now she could focus on doing something she never thought she would do. She
would tame an alpha male, and she would make him enjoy the experience.

It was well into the middle of the night by the time she’d reached the
northern half of Minnesota. The night air was so clean, so cold. Her body was
hot after running for so many hours and she considered taking a break, maybe
doing a little hunting. She could make it to her mother’s before dawn.

Slowing to a lazy stroll, she moved with her head low to the ground, enjoying
the crisp smells of the evening.

Suddenly something didn’t seem right. Beth quit moving, slowed her breathing,
stilled every muscle in her body, while she focused on the darkness, and
listened.

Voices. Humans. She heard them talking and they weren’t that far away. But
there was something else. She smelled werewolves too.

Her ears tickled at the sound of their talking. She’d been so absorbed in her
thoughts and the beauty of the night, she had just noticed them.

Beth hugged the ground, the night dew soaking her fur. She was in an open
meadow, the smell of water not too far away. On the other end of the grassy

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area, a group of men sat on and around an old truck. She couldn’t see it from
her position, but she could smell the water. Her guess was that they were
fishing.

But there was something wrong with the picture. Werewolves moved among the
humans. And the werewolves were in their fur.

Beth’s heart pounded against her ribs while she hugged the ground and watched
the scene playing out in front of her. The men were laughing, gathering
fishing supplies and putting them in the back of the truck.

Two werewolves were in their fur. She heard water splashing but couldn’t see
what they were doing. It appeared the werewolves were pulling something out of
the water. When they reached the bank, the humans moved among them, helping
them load whatever it was into the back of the truck.

Then it became clear what they were doing. She didn’t understand it, but the
men were simply fishing, loading supplies after they had secured their catch
for the day. The two werewolves moved to the side of the truck, changing into
their human form. They walked back around to join the humans, securing the
buttons on their jeans, all the while the men laughing and joking. Humans and
werewolves living among each other in peace. Had Ethan Masterson actually
pulled it off?

The grass was barely tall enough to conceal her. The men seemed fairly
distracted with their work but she worried they would notice her. Female
werewolves didn’t run by themselves. At least not ones with solid reputations.
And up until a few days ago, Beth’s reputation had been impeccable.

She didn’t move, didn’t dare breathe. Her heart hurt in her chest from
beating so hard while she waited until the truck pulled away. Even then, she
lay there praying all of them were gone. Wet dirt and the dampness in the air
made it hard to detect any specific smells. It appeared that she was all alone
in the meadow.

Hunting no longer appealed to her. All Beth wanted was a hot shower and some
of her mom’s good cooking.

She stood, her muscles cramped from lying still for so long. Slowly she began
moving around the area where the werewolves and humans had been. Every blade
of grass bending against the breeze made a sound. Crickets hopping on the
ground distracted her. The night offered so much noise, and her heightened
senses were overreacting to each sound.

The bright moon intensified the shadows, making them longer, distorting
images around her. She wasn’t afraid, but caution had her looking over her
shoulder every few seconds.

Maybe you should just haul ass and get the hell out of here.

She liked that idea. Beth broke into a full run, tearing across the meadow,
leaving the scent of the humans and werewolves well behind her. Her paws
pounded the ground, the vibration sounding through her. It took her a minute
to realize another sound vibrated through her as well.

When she turned to look over her shoulder, it was too late. Black fur lunged
toward her, flying through the air. The last thing she saw were shiny, long
white fangs before she went tumbling head over heels.

Beth came up fighting. She always had when bullied. It was simply her nature.

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Maybe she was small and her legs too short. But no one pushed her around.

Without thinking she rolled across the grass, the hard ground bruising her in
several places, and came right back up on to her paws. Leaping through the
air, she dove at her aggressor.

Someone needs to teach you some manners.She growled, doing her best to sound
deadly. Often attacking back made a bully back down. They only picked on the
smaller, cowardly werewolves because it built their own miserable self-esteem.
Well, Beth Parks wasn’t put on this planet to be a punching bag to some
insecure, overgrown werewolf.

It surprised her a bit when her attacker seemed a bit more irate when she
lunged back at him. She aimed low, her usual point of attack, trying to slice
through a shoulder, or other sensitive area that would slow the werewolf down.

Dagger-like teeth clacked in the air in front of her. The hissing growl was
more than a warning. Her attacker was issuing orders. She took a slap across
the face, causing her to stagger sideways.

Well, hell.

It took a moment to get her bearings, everything around her seeming to spin
for a moment. She gave herself a good shake and then focused on the black
beast in front of her. And when she did her legs about gave out.

Ethan Masterson!

Why hadn’t she recognized his scent sooner?

Shiny black coat flowed over bulging muscles. The moonlight reflected off of
him, making his fur look like smooth black silk. Images of rubbing up against
it, feeling that smooth strength all over her had her struggling for breath.

He moved in on her, slowly, his head lowered so his shoulder and back muscles
bulged and flexed in plain view while he walked. His sultry blue eyes were now
a captivating gold. And those golden eyes glowed as he stared at her with
fangs so long and thick they could kill with one strike.

Yet she wasn’t hurt. A bruise or two from tumbling on the ground, but they
would fade by the time she returned to her human form. Heat rushed through her
at the thought of the controlled power that sauntered toward her.

What cocky aggression. Never had she met a more pure definition of an alpha
male. This predator in front of her was at the top of the chain. Walking among
humans, leader of werewolves, he had no enemies and feared no one.

And she didn’t fear him. She lowered her head, matching his stance, and gave
him a low warning growl.You are going to learn some manners, my dear.

Ethan started panting, his long red tongue swiping over those pearly white
daggers with eager anticipation. She couldn’t help but notice his huge cock
between his legs, pointing at her like an armed weapon, ready to fire.

Her mouth went dry. He moved closer and she took a step backwards. Her heart
raced while hot tingles rushed through her.

Stepping closer, he brushed up against her, his strength almost knocking her
sideways. He bit at her, and she jumped back, the collar she had fastened
around her neck slipping off of her. She looked in horror as her personal bag

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spilled open onto the ground. Her clothing and her favorite dildo, the large
one with the suction cup, the one she used so she could fantasize about her
dream man, about Ethan, lay on top of her clothes in plain view.

Panic and humiliation rushed through her. She cursed Ethan, barking
furiously, and then turned tail and ran.

Chapter Seven

By the time she reached the edge of town, Beth realized her predicament. She
couldn’t enter the town as a werewolf, and she sure couldn’t walk down the
streets bare-naked to her mother’s den.

Now what the hell was she supposed to do?

She had run from Ethan on instinct. Embarrassed that he’d seen her most
precious toy, her savior at the end of a hard day. Now he would know the best
she’d been able to get was nothing more than a plastic sex toy.

Nestled in among the trees, she crouched against the cold, wet ground,
staring across the field toward the streets that lay beyond. The almost full
moon hung low against the black sky, dawn creeping closer. The town would wake
up, hurry to their jobs, and start their days.

For better or worse, she had no job. She’d been told to get out of town. And
now she’d just made a complete ass out of herself in front of Ethan.

His scent drifted through the air and she looked over her shoulder. His large
black presence approached slowly. All muscle, so large and powerful, and yet
capable of moving like air through the trees. She couldn’t take her eyes off
of him. His thick hide rippled over roped muscles.

Ethan moved toward her, no hesitation, no concern for anything around them.
His golden eyes remained fixed on her. Her bundle, once again wrapped tidily
and attached to her collar, hung from his mouth. He dropped it in front of her
and backed up a few paces.

Maybe he thought his reward for bringing her clothes to her would be watching
her change into her naked human form. She blinked, her mouth suddenly too dry.
The thought had its appeal. It would be fun to tease him, give him an eyeful
of what he couldn’t have at the moment. After all, they were on the edge of
town, and both of them had reputations to uphold.

Halfway through the change, her heart stopped beating when Ethan began to
take his human form as well. The ripe, thick smell of lust attacked her with
such a vengeance, she was immediately soaked.

“Not fair,” she whispered, the second her mouth could form words again.

Ethan Masterson stood before her, completely naked. And, oh dear God. She
almost dropped the bundle of clothes she had just picked up. Her heart raced
at the perfect man in front of her.

Ethan moved quickly, grabbing her bag, opening it, and shaking out her
clothes. She noticed immediately that her toy wasn’t in the bag. Her precious
dildo was gone. But that thought only stayed with her a moment when she got a
full view of Ethan’s cock.

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Hard and thick, Ethan was built better than any toy she could imagine
purchasing. Her fingers itched to reach out, take a hold of his shaft, feel
the soft skin that covered his erection. His cockhead was swollen, round, and
her pussy ached to feel it pressed against her.

“Here,” Ethan said, pulling her away from her lust-filled fantasy.

He pulled her shirt over her head, blinding her momentarily. While pulling
the material down, his hands slipped over her breasts, taking time to fondle
them.

“Oh,” she moaned, almost collapsing forward into him.

She wanted him more than she ever imagined she would. He squeezed her
nipples, his rough fingers teasing them. Currents of desire rushed through
her. Her breasts and cunt swelling, an ache consumed her faster than she could
control it.

Her shirt slid down while his hands brushed over her. Suddenly he seemed to
be touching her everywhere. She blew her hair out of her face, watching him,
while he looked down at her, inspecting her, as if making sure she was intact,
okay after the bruising he’d given her out in the field.

“I’m okay,” she murmured, suddenly aware of his cock pressed against her, its
hardness nudging her.

“Yes. You are.” His voice was husky, lust swarming around him.

His hands moved around her, down her back, over her ass, and then between her
legs. She couldn’t stop him. She couldn’t move. Within seconds his fingers
moved inside her, the moistness filling her pussy making his entrance easy.

“God. Ethan.”

His cock beat against her hip, reminding her of his carnal power. He could
ease that ache, soothe the fire burning inside her. With one quick thrust, she
knew he could make her explode, offer her satisfaction beyond any fantasy
she’d ever conjured up.

His fingers moved in and out of her, then pulled out, spreading her thick
cream over her smooth skin, coating her with her own desire. When he lifted
her leg, she had no power to stop him. Adjusting himself in front of her, he
pressed his cock against her cunt, her cum soaking both of them. All she could
do was grab his shoulders.

The intense heat from his skin scalded her instantly, bringing her to a boil.
The pain inside her needed appeasing. She held on to him, while he draped her
leg over his arm, and pressed his cock harder against her.

“Beth.” Her name came out on a breath while he plunged inside her.

Stars sprang in front of her vision. Her head fell back when she cried out,
his cock impaling her with so much force she would have fallen over if he
hadn’t held on to her.

He hit that spot, the spot she strived to connect with every time she used
her toys. Rivers of passion flooded through her, her orgasm so intense she
thought she would pass out. With one thrust he’d offered her better sex than
she’d experienced in a long time.

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And then without warning, he pulled out, straightening, standing before her
while she held on to him. Her mind wouldn’t focus, the intensity of what he’d
just done to her leaving her weak.

“Get dressed.” His command came from somewhere over her head.

She fought to get a grip on her senses. Why did he want her to get dressed?

“I’ll be back in a moment with the bike.” He let go of her, backing up, and
then turned to walk away from her.

“What?” She’d been left standing, on the aftermath of an orgasm, her pussy
throbbing while her entire body tingled with need. “What the hell was that?”

Ethan looked back over his shoulder while he walked away. His naked body an
image of perfection.

“From now on, that is the only toy you will need.”

His motorcycle must not have been parked that far away. She’d managed to get
her clothes on and walk across the field toward the town when he pulled into
the parking lot across the street from where she walked.

Her body screamed for him. With every step, her pussy rubbed against her
jeans, soaking her, adding to the pain that continued to grow from her
tormented and teased pussy. Every nerve ending in her body seemed swollen and
over-sensitive. With one thrust Ethan had made her a slave to him. She needed
what he had and would do anything at this point to get him to fuck her.

Watching him sit on his bike, his black hair damp and falling past his
collar, she’d never seen a more perfect werewolf. He wore a leather jacket,
which clung to his broad shoulders. His powerful chest couldn’t be hidden
under the sweatshirt he’d put on. And long, thick legs straddled that bike.
The corded muscles pressed against his jeans. Black boots simply added to the
bad boy image he offered. When he turned to stare at her, watch her approach,
she couldn’t imagine her appearance could do anything to impress him.

This man was a god. Perfect as a werewolf. Perfect as a human. Nothing could
match his carnal good looks. The power he had over his surroundings put her
ability to control a situation to shame. How she ever thought she would be
able to take him on and win was beyond her. With shocking clarity, she
realized she was no match for Ethan Masterson.

When she reached the parking lot, he pulled off his jacket, handing it to
her.

“This should keep you warm.” He waited until she was close enough, and even
though she reached for it, he lifted it around her, wrapping her in it.

She couldn’t think of a thing to say while she climbed onto the bike behind
him. Even if she told him to take her to her mother’s house, she knew damned
good and well he would take her wherever he pleased. There was no reason to
offer instruction. Ethan would do what he wanted.

So she wasn’t the least surprised when he pulled into his driveway a few
minutes later and parked his bike. Nor did she question him when he got off
and offered her his hand. Putting her small hand into his larger one, the heat
from his grip engulfed her, adding fuel to her fire. She burned with need for
him.

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Ethan didn’t bother to turn on any lights. She moved with him through his
house feeling as if she were walking through a dream. He led her up the stairs
and then into a large bedroom. She didn’t even bother looking around, her
attention simply on the large bed. This was where Ethan slept every night, the
heart of his den.

“Now I know how to tame you,” he whispered in her ear while he slid his coat
from her shoulders.

“What?” She fought to lift the fog of need that had descended on her brain.

Ethan smiled, tossing his coat to the side and then reaching for her. “You,
my dear.” He pulled her into his arms, pressing her against his virile body.
“Give you a little cock and I can keep you in line.”

Little was hardly the word to describe his cock. And he wasn’t keeping her in
line. She wanted this. And she would have told him as much if his lips weren’t
burning a path from her neck to her collarbone.

She ran her hands against his powerful chest muscles, wanting to feel the
steel under his skin, the power that matched her own. Never had she met a
werewolf so strong, not only physically, but mentally.

“I want you,” she murmured, grabbing his shirt and pulling on it.

His grip on her tightened, his hands pressing into her skin. “Did you get a
taste of something you liked?”

She didn’t miss his tantalizing tone. “Don’t tease me,” she groaned.

She could feel his grin against her skin. He lifted her shirt and she let go
of him long enough to pull it over her head. Tossing it to the side, she ran
her fingers through his hair, down his cheeks, and then over his shoulders.

His arms crushed her to him while he bent over and sucked in one of her
nipples. The sharpness of his teeth scraped over her tormented flesh, needles
of desire filling her with quick pricks while he nibbled and licked.

“Right now,” he said against her flesh. “I can do whatever I want to you. You
won’t stop me.”

He was right and she wondered how he knew. But if he thought she would be his
little slave of desire, she could set him straight there.

“You’re going to give me what I want, too.” She tugged on his shirt, wanting
his flesh against hers.

Ethan straightened, laughing. He didn’t hesitate in stripping in front of
her. “I can bring you to a point where you beg for my cock, and still you want
to control the situation.”

She didn’t remember begging for his cock. She would have it. He’d started
something and he would finish it. But she doubted she would have to beg.

Stepping out of her own jeans, she took a minute to adore the naked man in
front of her. Black curly hair spread across his tanned chest. Muscles bulged
and rippled clear down to his flat, hard abdomen. Touching him, she needed to
make sure she wasn’t dreaming. He flinched slightly against her touch, muscles
quivering under his skin. He fought for control and that knowledge fueled her
desire to have him.

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“Look at you,” he said, running his hands down her side.

She glanced up into his face, his blue eyes aglow, standing out against the
contrast of his black hair that fell around his face.

“Beth. You are beautiful.” He breathed her praise on a whisper, as if adoring
her.

She was stunned, her body throbbing from his touch. Her pussy, so recently
filled and now empty, craved him so desperately the intensity of it pulsed
through her like one large nerve ending. Breathing became a chore while he
stood in front of her, caressing her with his rough touch, running his hands
over her, never stopping anywhere long enough to offer satisfaction.

“Ethan. Please.” She couldn’t stand it any longer. If he didn’t fuck her
soon, her body would explode, her world would end, she would no longer be able
to think like a coherent adult.

She needed him. And she needed him now.

Chapter Eight

Ethan knew submitting didn’t come easily for Beth. She fought it every inch
of the way. But her body was on the verge of exploding, almost over the edge.
She shivered against his touch, the cream dripping from her cunt, her nipples
harder than he’d ever seen them before.

“Sweet Beth.” He lifted her, placing her on his bed, her eager body
stretching out before him. “You are going to get what you want. You just need
to be patient.”

He loved the tormented look she gave him. But he couldn’t rush. As
desperately as he wanted inside her again, he also wanted to enjoy every inch
of her, claim all that she had, put his mark all over her. Not one part of her
would remain unclaimed by the time he was finished with her.

He crawled over her, the rosy flush covering her cheeks making his blood
boil. No woman had ever looked at him with such complete passion. Beth not
only lusted after him, she was his perfect match. Submissive even though she
didn’t want to be, with her demanding nature struggling to break through, to
challenge him, keep him alert so he would stay in control.

He leaned forward, tasting her, running his tongue over her skin.

“Ethan. You’re killing me.” She cried out underneath him, grabbing his hair,
pinning him to her.

Blood rushed through his head, making him lightheaded while he breathed in
her scent. The outdoors still lingered on her. But her lust, her passion, her
intense desire for him filled his senses. His heart pounded so hard he thought
his chest would explode.

She held on to him, pulling his hair, while he traced a path down her
stomach, relishing the softness of her skin. Her petite body seemed so
delicate. But her grip on him reminded him of her strength. She pushed with
her hands, trying to control his actions.

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“Is there something you want?” He ran his hands down her inner thighs, which
she spread willingly for him.

“Damnit to hell.” She squirmed while he watched, her thick cream dripping
from her cunt with her movement. “You know exactly what I fucking want.”

His cock about exploded. The scent of her made him drunk. He had to taste
her.

“I’ll give you what you want.” He ran his tongue over her entrance, her rich
cream filling his mouth, sweet and powerful, just like she was.

“Damn straight you will.” But then she gasped, her hands grasping for the
bed, balling his bedspread into her fists while her legs tried to squeeze the
life out of him.

He drank her cum, not able to get enough of her. Holding her legs firmly,
keeping them spread, he buried his face in her cunt, her cream covering him,
consuming his senses, and still he wanted more. He’d wanted more that night so
long ago when they were cubs, and he wanted more now. This time however, he
was no longer an awkward teenager, unable to come to grips with how to control
a situation. This time he was in charge.

She arched up into him, offering all that she had, her shaved pussy spread
open for him. He ran his tongue from her small hole to the smaller one lower,
which puckered delightfully when he teased it.

“Damn. Oh God.” Her body clenched, and he knew she was on the verge of
another orgasm.

He could drown himself in her thick cream and be a happy man. But his cock
pounded angrily against the bed. He had felt the tightness of her cunt, and
more than anything wanted back inside her heat.

She stared at him wide-eyed, gold flecks dancing around the green of her
eyes. Her breath came in pants, her breasts rising and falling while she
gripped his bed. He came up to his knees, watching her while her lashes
lowered over her eyes, her gaze dropping to his cock. Just knowing she watched
him, ached for him, made him mad with need to fuck her.

He lifted her legs, spreading her wide open before him. Her shaved pussy was
a prize in itself. She was so small, so petite, and he knew by looking few
werewolves had pounded that cunt before.

He lifted her while he situated himself between her legs. When his cock
pressed against her heat, blood boiled through him, blinding him momentarily.
He had to maintain control, though. She had so much to offer him, and he
wanted every bit of it.

“Fuck.” He could hardly believe how tight she was, like a smooth glove
fitting perfectly around his cock. “You are so damned perfect.”

Her moist heat seared right through him, the beast within him stirring,
making him ache to take their lovemaking to a more primal level.

But he would start out slow, enjoy her, make sure he had her complete
submission.

As he moved in and out of her satin heat, she shivered, her orgasm tearing
through her, drowning him when her hot cream flooded her cunt, soaking his

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cock. The scent of her sex made him wild.

“Fuck me, wolf-man.” She couldn’t stand his slow torture anymore than he
could.

She fought underneath him, struggling to lower her legs. Unable to hold her
still any longer and fuck her the way he wanted, he let go, leaning over her
while she wrapped her legs around him, lifting herself closer to him. Her
movement against his cock about did him in.

He slammed into her, pushing her up the bed. She grabbed a hold of him,
digging her fingers into his shoulders.

“That’s it. Make me scream.” She held on to him, urging the beast within him
to take over, to fuck her so hard she wouldn’t be able to move.

But she was so tight, so small, his cock suffocated in her heat. Her inner
muscles gripped him so hard he feared she would drain the life out of him. It
took everything he had to maintain control of himself and not explode before
he had satisfied them both.

Tightening every muscle in his body, he rode her tiny cunt, diving deep
inside her, stretching her so she molded to his size, his shape, making her
pussy his own.

Pressure built inside him, her powerful heat crawling up under his skin,
taking over, his blood boiling with each thrust.

“Roll over,” he told her, pulling out of her while he still had a bit of
coherency left in his feverish brain.

Beth struggled to obey, flipping over on the bed and adjusting herself so her
sweet ass rose up in the air, her legs spread wide offering him an incredible
view of her soaked cunt and ass.

“Oh God.” She screamed and jumped when he ran his fingers over her pussy,
spreading her thick hot cream around her shaved cunt and then gliding her
moisture to her ass.

He grabbed his cock, stroking it carefully while he prepared her.

“Every bit of you, Beth.” He watched her body quake while he pressed his
finger against her ass, her moisture making it easy to enter her tight
puckered hole. “I told you I am claiming every bit of you.”

“Okay,” she breathed. “Yes.”

She was giving her consent. It wasn’t actually submission. He wouldn’t let
himself be fooled. Pressing his cock against her tight ass, he wondered for a
moment if any act he committed on her would warrant her complete submission.
Truly, he had met his match.

Her tight little hole parted, her body going stiff for a moment. He allowed
his cockhead to disappear inside her and then rested, the urge to thrust
himself completely inside her so overwhelming, blood vessels exploded inside
him while he fought to control his own actions.

“Relax, sweetheart,” he heard his own voice instruct her, soothe her, help
her to relax so she could enjoy the moment too.

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He heard her breathing, watched the muscles in her back quiver while she
worked to relax herself, give herself over to him.

“Good girl.” He rubbed her soft ass, while her tightness damn near took all
circulation out of his cock.

Moving slowly at first, he glided into the tight, small entrance giving way
for him. Thick hot cream eased his entrance, allowing him to move deeper
inside her.

“Ethan. Oh God.” She moved her ass, shaking it slowly from side to side.

“Hold still, darling, or I won’t last much longer.” He doubted he would
anyway. He began moving deeper inside her, feeling her crush the life out of
him.

With each thrust the heat from her sent a fever burning through him. He
fucked her ass, the friction burning him deeper than he ever imagined. And
when he knew he couldn’t last much longer it occurred to him that she was the
one pumping everything he had out of him. As much as he fought to capture her,
take everything she had, Beth was the one pulling his life clear out of him.

“God. Beth. I’m going to come.” He squeezed his eyes closed, wishing for just
one more minute to enjoy her incredible pleasures.

Beth pulled forward, causing his cock to slide out of her ass. She flipped
over before he could stop her, and he looked down at her, surprised.

“Come then, wolf-man.” Her smile was pure torture. “Come all over me. I want
to watch.”

Ethan exploded. For such a tiny bitch, with her pussy and ass so tight, he
knew she hadn’t been fucked that much. However, Beth still knew what she
wanted, and she knew how to get it. At the moment, all he could do was oblige.

He drained himself, his white, hot cream spilling out over her. Beth ran her
hands over herself, wiggling underneath him while she spread his cum over her
skin, across her breasts, and then brought her fingers up to her mouth. She
looked drugged, her eyelids half covering her hazy gaze while she smiled up at
him, licking her fingers.

“Good boy.” Her smile was beyond wicked.

Chapter Nine

Ethan woke with the sun blinding him and his phone ringing. He reached for
Beth and scowled when he realized she wasn’t there.

“Hello.” He answered the phone, swinging his legs over the side of the bed at
the same time.

Beth’s clothes were gone.

“Ethan. Ralph Hipp here.” The older werewolf who used to work at the
sheriff’s department and now did security work sounded worried.

“What’s up?” He left his bedroom, padding naked down his hallway looking for
Beth. It didn’t take a minute to realize she wasn’t in his house.

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“It’s the young bitch who riled up the sheriff’s department.”

Ethan stopped in his tracks. “Where is she?”

“She’s down at City Hall.” Ralph started talking quickly. “Apparently she has
organized some reporters and is announcing that she will be making a statement
here soon. She has the entire pack in an uproar.”

“Shit.” He wondered how long he’d been asleep. And there was no way he could
go anywhere before he showered. “Make sure she doesn’t say a word to anyone
before I get down there.”

“Okay.” Ralph hesitated. “I hope you realize what you’re asking.”

Ethan stormed into his bedroom, grabbing clean clothes before heading for the
bathroom. “Fucking sit on her if you have to. And make sure you let her know
you are following my orders. She doesn’t talk to a soul before she talks to
me.”

He took the fastest shower of his life, the whole time wondering what in the
hell his little bitch was up to. His hair was still damp when he started his
bike up and headed toward City Hall.

He had to park a block away when he reached the city building. Cars were
parked everywhere. This was his town, his territory. Beth would learn that she
didn’t make a move in the territory without clearing it through him first. He
would take the time to teach her that, but she wasn’t making it easy on him.
He should have known years ago, when she’d put her mark on him by walking away
when no other bitch had, that she would never make it easy on him.

“Please don’t try to stop her.” A small, cool hand clasped his arm.

Ethan looked down into the concerned eyes of Sandra Parks. For the first time
he noticed the similarity between mother and daughter. Sandra had a softer
edge though, more quiet spoken. He wondered how she’d raised a cub so
aggressive as Beth.

“I plan to find out what she is doing first,” he told her honestly.

Glancing around, it looked like most of his pack was here. Most everyone was
hurrying toward the courthouse, and to his dismay, he noticed several large
television stations camped nearby. Their vans loudly announcing their
presence.

“She is doing what she has to do.” Greta Hothmeyer spoke so softly he hardly
heard her. And he hadn’t noticed her standing there until she spoke.

“And what does she have to do?” Ethan stared at the old lady, knowing she
wouldn’t tell him a damned thing if she didn’t want to.

Greta smiled, patting his arm. “She has to prepare herself. Hollow’s Eve will
be here soon.”

Ethan had no idea what she was talking about. The sudden movement of
reporters caught his attention. He patted the older woman on the arm and
hurried up the street. He reached the building just as Beth came out of the
double doors, appearing at the top of the wide cement steps. Reporters flooded
around her, microphones extended through the air while everyone began shouting
at once.

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“What is your statement, Miss Parks?” a reporter next to him yelled.

“Does your announcement to the press that you have resigned as prosecutor
have anything to do with claims that you are a werewolf?” another reporter
nearby yelled over the rest.

Ethan noticed the man he’d spoken to earlier that week with Werewolf Affairs
approach him. The man didn’t speak until he was standing right next to him and
able to comment without being overheard.

“I told her to disappear for a while and so she decides to make an
announcement on national television.” Ben White shook his head, either
disgusted, or simply disbelieving.

“She doesn’t listen too well.” Ethan looked back toward Beth, noticing she
watched him.

Thoughts of hauling her away in front of national television crossed his
mind. She must have read his thoughts because she looked away quickly.

“I wanted to say something.” When she spoke a sudden hush fell over the
crowd.

Everyone pushed closer, boxing him in. Reporters struggled to get their
recording equipment as close to her as possible.

“The rumors that I am a werewolf are true.” She looked larger than life
standing there, professing to the world her true nature. “And from this point
forward I will be working to help maintain equal rights between werewolves and
humans. We’ve always lived among each other, peacefully. Knowledge of our
existence won’t change anything. And now I will ensure that it won’t steal our
freedom away either.”

Ethan felt a pressure swell inside his chest. Never in his life had he felt
more pride for her than he did right now. Little Beth Parks, in her simple
suit, with her brown hair curled around her face, looked more beautiful than
he’d ever seen her before.

That one little female, a werewolf so tiny she would hide in underbrush so as
not to be noticed by other werewolves, stood before national television,
sharing her true heritage without flinching.

He’d pushed his way through the crowd before he realized what he had done. As
if his movement was on cue, the group of reporters closing in around them
suddenly burst into questions. Each of them tried to yell over the other ones,
all the while pushing their recording equipment even closer.

Ethan caught the eye of the sheriff and with a nod, the local law enforcement
moved in.

“That’s all for today.” He made it to the top of the stairs, shielding Beth
while he turned to face the crowd. “Miss Parks has made her statement. No
questions.”

He was glad she didn’t fight him when he pulled open the doors and escorted
her back into the city building.

“It was nice of you to let me know what you were doing,” he hissed in her ear
while taking her arm and escorting her through the group of people inside.

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“It was a last minute decision.” And she didn’t sound like she regretted it.

Ethan looked around quickly, wondering how he would get them out of the
building without being stampeded. Anywhere they went in town right now, they
would be followed.

“This way,” she instructed, guiding him down one of the hallways.

She stopped in front of a closed door and turned to him, smiling, while she
held up a key.

“What is this?” He could smell her pride, but had no idea what she was up to.

“My new office.” She turned and unlocked the door, then led the way into the
small room, a plain metal desk and filing cabinet being all the furniture the
small office offered. “Granted, it’s not much. But it will serve its purpose.”

He had heard her say that she’d resigned from her position when they were
outside, but it just now hit him.

“You are going to work here? In town?” Which meant she accepted the fact that
she was his now. Ethan smiled. Now all he had to do was get her to behave.

“You’re pretty quick for an overgrown werewolf.” She punched him in the
chest, grinning, and then turned to run her hand over her new desk.
“Werewolves need representation,” she told him. “And with all you’ve done with
your pack, bringing them together with the humans in town, I thought this
would be a good place to start work.”

“And what exactly is it that you plan to do?” He crossed his arms over his
chest, watching her while she walked around her office.

She turned to face him. “I’m going to ensure our rights as Americans are
upheld. Just because we are werewolves doesn’t make us any less equal.” She
matched his stance, crossing her arms over her chest as well. “Don’t try to
stop me, Ethan. I’ll fight you every inch of the way if you do.”

“I have a feeling you will fight me anytime I tell you to do something.” He
loved that determined expression she got on her face.

She smiled and his cock stirred to life in his jeans.

“Maybe,” she said, her grin turning impish.

He moved closer, needing to touch her. “I didn’t like waking up and you not
being there.”

It surprised him that she sincerely looked sorry. “You were so sound asleep.
And when I get an idea brewing, I have to go with it. This is the right thing
to do. I can feel it.”

Her face glowed with her enthusiasm, her happiness filling the small space
around them. And he realized with her reputation, his pack couldn’t ask for
better representation. He also knew keeping her in his bed might be his only
chance at controlling her. And he was beginning to wonder if even that would
work.

“You know.” He reached up to stroke her curled hair, capturing a lock between
his fingers. “I’ve always wanted to fuck a lawyer in her office.”

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“I’m sure you have.” She gave him a disgusted look, but he knew that scent,
it still lingered all over him. His words had just made her come.

Pulling her to him, he crushed his mouth over hers, letting her taste how
badly he wanted to fuck her again already.

A small tapping sound at the door made her jump. She tried to squirm out of
his hands when someone pushed it open. Ethan cursed himself silently for not
checking to see if it was locked. He would have liked ten minutes alone with
her.

One of his pack members, who also worked in the building, peeked his head
around the door. Noticing the two of them, and Beth in his arms, he smiled,
not looking a bit ashamed that he had just interrupted something.

“I think we can get you out of here now, Miss Parks.”

Ethan should have known it wouldn’t take Beth long to get his pack to back
her. For such a tiny werewolf, she sure packed a lot of power.

Chapter Ten

Beth didn’t like Halloween, and her mother knew that. But for some reason her
mom seemed intent on the two of them driving over to the pack healer’s house
to help prepare for a pack party.

“Why do you need me along?” She would much rather spend time in her office,
organizing things, setting up a phone system.

“Tonight is Hollow’s Eve.” Her mother handed Beth her car key as she headed
out the front door. “Greta needs help preparing.”

“All that will happen tonight is the cubs will run loose and party too much.
I’m too old for all of that.” She wondered where Ethan was. Surely he wasn’t
preparing for some party somewhere.

She drove her mom’s car over to the pack healer’s house, noting immediately
that no one else was there.

“What do we have to help her prepare for?” Beth followed her mom to the door,
sensing her mother’s excitement but not having a clue why she seemed so
anxious to prepare for something when no one was here.

“Good. She is here.” Greta Hothmeyer held her hand out to Beth. “Come along
child. The full moon will be up soon.”

Beth turned to stare at her mom, surprised to see her grinning from ear to
ear.

“What is going on here?” She smelled a rat. The two women were up to
something. Their enthusiasm was too strong. “I thought we were preparing for a
party.”

She noticed the clean kitchen, the counters spotless, no signs of party
preparation anywhere.

“Tonight we help to prepare you.” Greta gestured to her kitchen table.

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Beth looked to see a book open to a certain page. She glanced closer,
realizing it was a book of children’s fairy tales, not unlike the books her
mother read her when she was a cub.

“What is this?” she asked, captivated by the colorful pictures next to the
old fables.

“Read it.” Greta pointed to the book. “Read it out loud.”

Beth picked up the old book, its musty scent making her want to sneeze. But
then she noticed the poem that it was opened to. Her mouth went dry while she
looked up quickly, first at her mother, and then at Greta. Both women watched
her closely.

“Go ahead,” her mother prompted.

Beth could feel her heart begin to race in her chest. Her palms felt sweaty
while she remembered the night so long ago, another time, when she was just a
cub. It had been a teenage party her pack mates were all attending. She hadn’t
wanted to go, but knowing that the most handsome werewolf in her pack would be
there, she couldn’t resist. After all, he wouldn’t talk to her. Hell. He
hadn’t even known she was alive.

She had been so small, not tall and graceful like the other teenage girls in
her pack. All of them had started developing, their breasts growing ripe while
their scents had changed into something more evocative, more enticing. She
would watch the teenage girls drive the werewolf boys in her pack wild. None
of them had ever noticed her.

But one night of being closer to the man of her dreams. She would be able to
watch him, smell his rich scent. That would be good enough.

Beth glanced down at the book in her hands, memories of how that night had
turned bad flooding back to her, causing bile to rise in her throat.

“I don’t want to read it.” She sounded like the terrified child of that
night, her feelings hurt, her ego wounded.

“You have to read it,” her mother coaxed. “Tonight is Hollow’s Eve. This is
your night, and the circle will complete only if you read it.”

“What are you talking about?” She stared down at the fancy calligraphy,
already hearing the words being sung in her head, just like they were that
night so long ago.

“You are remembering the first time you heard the poem.” Greta’s words
startled her.

“How did you know that?” she asked in disbelief.

“Recite them again tonight, my dear.” Greta nodded, once again pointing to
the book. “Then you may go out under the full moon to your mate.”

To her mate? She stared at the two older women. What they were saying was
nonsense. This was nothing more than old superstition.

But what harm could there be? She looked down at the book.

On the night of Hollow’s Eve…

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While your soul dances to be free…

Your life mate will come to thee…

With the full moon rising.

She spoke the words out loud, her skin suddenly tingling.

“Now go.” Greta waved toward her back door. “Enjoy the full moon. Dance. He
will come to you. You’ll see.”

Beth decided there was no harm in enjoying the evening. The sky was clear,
thousands of stars shining while the moon climbed high, the perfect round orb
radiating its brightness across the sky.

She left her mother and the healer behind, walking down the street, the night
air cool against her skin. Even though, a fever seemed to run through her, the
poem still in her mind, the words creating a rhythm while she walked. After a
minute she realized she headed toward the field where Ethan had found her the
other night.

Would he be there again tonight? She had spent the day in her office, and
then running errands with her mother. More than likely he was busy with pack
business. Whatever he was doing, he hadn’t contacted her.

Tonight there were cars parked in the parking lot, many of the businesses
still open. She strolled around them, glancing toward the shops, not sure of
which direction she should head, or what she should do.

She turned her head at the sound of a motorcycle rumbling. Ethan coasted
toward her, his dark features adding to his sex appeal while his long legs
straddled the huge bike. He didn’t speak when he pulled up alongside her,
staring at her, his expression masked. Without speaking, she reached for him,
and he held her while she climbed on behind him. It felt so good to crush
herself against the heat of his body while he accelerated, pulling out of the
parking lot on to the main road.

Beth wondered why he headed out of town but decided not to question him. The
country sky was so beautiful, stars full and bright while the moon seemed to
grow in size, its brightness glowing across the sky.

Ethan pulled off the road, parking at a rest area. He shut the bike down but
didn’t climb off. She sensed his energy, anxious and overflowing. The night
had him weirded out, too. She doubted it was because of some stupid childhood
poem though.

Whatever the reason, she enjoyed feeling the strong muscles of his legs
pressing against her inner thighs, his firm ass brushing against her crotch.
She sat behind him, resting her cheek against his back, the smell of leather
consuming her. Holding onto him still, she could feel his breathing. Her hands
were clasped at his waist and after a minute he put his hand over hers, his
warm flesh caressing her.

She wasn’t sure how long they sat like that, in silence, being one with the
night, before he moved, implying they should climb off. Her legs had been
stretched over the bike for so long she took a minute to stand without feeling
wobbly.

“Why were you out walking by yourself?” he asked her, his hand moving to her

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cheek.

“I’ve taken care of myself for many years, mister.” She noted the concern in
his expression but ignored it. He wasn’t going to keep her from taking a night
stroll if she felt like it. “I can still take care of myself.”

His fingers slid through her hair. “Is that what you want?”

The poem chanted without permission through her head.Your life mate will come
to thee…

“What do you mean?” Suddenly she felt nervous. Looking up into his dark
expression, she licked her lips, her stomach tying into knots while she stared
at him.

“Do you want to be alone for the rest of your life?”

“I…” She hesitated. Her heart suddenly raced inside her chest, her breath
coming faster.

Ethan leaned forward, brushing her lips with his. “Why did you go out tonight
on the night of Hollow’s Eve?”

“Why did you say that?” Panic brushed through her. He had just quoted part of
the poem. But she was being foolish.

“I think you know what I mean.” He kissed her again, his lips hot and moist.
She leaned into him, running her hands up his chest, drawing from his
strength.

“You said, ‘On the night of Hollow’s Eve’.” She didn’t open her eyes, and
kept her face raised to his, her lips still tingling from his kiss. “Do you
know what that is from?”

“Are you referring to the poem? Or the night when we were teenagers?”

Now she did open her eyes. His face was right there. Those blue eyes more
intense than she’d ever seen them. His black hair shone under the moonlight,
falling around his face while he held her in his arms.

“I didn’t think you would remember that.” There was no way he could have
known how humiliated she had felt that night. She had no clue why it had stuck
in his memory.

“No bitch had ever turned me down before you, or since. You marked me as
yours back, then; I just didn’t realize it at the time.” He attempted an
impish grin, but the seriousness in his eyes held her captive. “And so I was
wondering if you were going to turn me down again?”

“Turn you down? Again?” She felt like the foolish teenager all over again,
stuttering over her own words.

“Yes. You remember the poem.”

“Yes.” It chanted itself repeatedly in her head. No matter what she tried,
she couldn’t get the words to leave her alone.

On the night of Hollow’s Eve…

While your soul dances to be free…

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Your life mate will come to thee…

With the full moon rising.

“You are my life mate, Beth.” He didn’t ask her. That shouldn’t have
surprised her. He stated it simply, like it was common knowledge. But his
heart pounded in his chest, she could feel it beating against her hands,
matching the same rapid pulse of her own heart.

“Yes. I think I am.” She watched the side of his mouth twitch, possibly a
smile threatening to appear. “And you, Ethan, are mine.”

She barely had the words out when he picked her up, crushing her to him while
he devoured her mouth. Her heart swelled, while she almost laughed into his
mouth. Relief washed over her and she realized the words to the poem had quit
chanting in her head.

“I want to fuck you, right here, right now.” He lowered her onto his bike, so
she sat sideways, his legs between hers.

She leaned back, grabbing a hold of the bike to brace herself while he
reached for her pants, tugging on them until he had them off of her.

“What if someone comes along?” she asked, a giddy rush of excitement soaring
through her. She couldn’t help but smile at his eagerness to get them both
undressed.

“Then I will tell them it’s a werewolf tradition to fuck your mate with the
full moon rising.” He looked serious.

And she realized he was. They were mating. His fucking her this time would
join them for life. That thought alone had her soaked. She reached for his
cock, taking the hard as steel shaft in her hands and stroking the velvety
flesh that covered his hard cock.

He bent over her, holding her in place while he pressed his cock against her
pussy. The large bike barely moved when he drove into her, offering a nice
seat for her to spread her legs, feel him penetrate her, the smell of leather
and lust filling the air around them.

Pressure filled her instantly. Wave after wave of passion drowning her while
she exploded, feeling the hardness of his cock stroke her inner pussy walls
while he fucked her hard and fast.

“No werewolf has ever come inside me before.” She had to let him know how
special this moment actually was to her.

He came quickly this time, his cock pulsating inside her while his hot cream
filled her pussy. She smiled, a rush of excitement filling her when he smiled
back.

“You saved yourself for me.”

The gleam of satisfaction in his eyes sent a rush of aftershocks through her,
her pussy quivering while she came some more.

And maybe she had. Ever since that night she had walked away from him, shoved
him out of her life, no other werewolf had come close to meeting her
standards. Only her fantasy man, who in actuality had never been a fantasy,

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could give her what she wanted. Ethan Masterson. He had been hers all along.

“You know, I think there is a full moon every month.” She grabbed onto his
leather jacket, pulling him toward her.

He resisted, instead grabbing her, and straightened while he lifted her into
his arms, his cock still buried deep inside her.

“I believe you are right, counselor. And if you don’t behave, I might bring
you out here with every full moon and fuck you silly.”

Beth laughed. “Sounds like a damned good reason to misbehave.”

Ethan growled, and she knew there was no mistake. The poem had worked. She
had found her life mate.

About the author:

All my life, I’ve wondered at how people fall into the routines of life. The
paths we travel seemed to be well-trodden by society. We go to school, fall in
love, find a line of work (and hope and pray it is one we like), have children
and do our best to mold them into good people who will travel the same path.
This is the path so commonly referred to as the “real world”.

The characters in my books are destined to stray down a different path other
than the one society suggests. Each story leads the reader into a world
altered slightly from the one they know. For me, this is what good fiction is
about, an opportunity to escape from the daily grind and wander down someone
else’s path.

Lorie O’Clare lives in Kansas with her three sons.

Lorie welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave
Publishing at P.O. Box 787, Hudson, Ohio 44236-0787.

Also available Lorie O’Clare:

Lunewulf 1: Pack Law

Lunewulf 2: In Her Blood

Lunewulf 3: In Her Dreams

Lunewulf 4: In Her Nature

Lunewulf 5: In Her Soul

Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple
award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or
paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an

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erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

www.ellorascave.com

About this Title

This eBook was created using ReaderWorks®Publisher 2.0, produced by
OverDrive, Inc.

For more information about ReaderWorks, please visit us on the Web
atwww.overdrive.com/readerworks

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