by Kele Moon
“Amber, I would give up everything I own tomorrow if I thought it would convince you to be mine. Literally, I’d do it without thinking. I can make more money—I can’t get another mate. What do you think I’ve been telling you? I had already planned on dying lonely until you showed up. My wolf decided a long time ago who his mate is, and you think a steak is too much?”
Amber rolled back over, and her voice cracked with emotion as she whispered, “Your wolf has bad taste, then.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Desmon kissed her neck and ran a hand over her bare hip beneath the blanket as his cock stirred again. “You’re worth a steak, Ams. You’re worth the whole fucking restaurant, and I want to kill your ex-husband for making you question that.”
“You sound serious.”
“Trust me, if you knew how serious…” The growl was back in his voice. “It’s only because he has young that I’m asking you to make sure your ex-husband and I never end up in the same room together.”
“He doesn’t take care of his young.” Amber laughed bitterly. “He sends her a court-ordered check for that little boy, and that’s it.”
“I don’t understand human men,” Desmon admitted with a frown. “I thought it was a nature thing, but I guess humans are different than the rest of us if they don’t want young. Look at all the hell Albert put my family through for a son. Even the worst of our kind still want pups—especially male pups.”
Amber looked at him again over her shoulder. “Do you want male pups?”
“I can’t lie to you and say I don’t.” He caressed her hair again, tucking a strand behind her ear. “I’m not Albert. They wouldn’t have to be males. Any pup would be an incredible gift. I would love to have a daughter with you, even if she’d be more difficult to protect. It would be an honor. What about you? Is that something you think about?”
“I wanted children.” Her voice was soft. “Jeff didn’t, and I respected his wishes. I was glad later. It made it easier for the divorce, but I know I’m getting older.”
“You could have them for a long time if you mated me.” Desmon grinned at her. “Mary just gave her mate, Douglas, another daughter last night. Mary’s ninety-five, and that’s still young for a bitch.”
Amber smiled back at him. “That’s a compelling argument, even if you did just call her a bitch.”
“Bitch isn’t an insult in our world. You’d have time, that’s all I’m saying.” He shrugged. “You wouldn’t be tied to that human biological clock.”
“I’ll let you buy me a steak.” Amber’s smile grew wider. “We could even do it tonight if you wanted.”
“I wish, Angel.” Desmon winced. “I have pack obligations tonight.”
“The full moon.” Amber nodded. “I remember.”
“Yeah.” He ran a hand down her bare arm, admiring her soft skin. “And after tonight, I’m all yours.”
“Scared to be with me on the full moon?” she asked curiously.
“That too.” He flinched again, because it wasn’t a lie. “I do actually have to be on alpha duty tonight. Weres are well known for finding trouble during full moon—and they’re capable of getting in plenty of difficult situations without it. You honestly wouldn’t believe some of the shit that happens.”
Amber snuggled into him and pulled the sheet back over both of them. When Desmon dropped his head down on the pillow next to her and pulled Amber’s naked body more tightly against his, she said sleepily, “Sounds like you already have pups, a whole pack of them.”
He snorted. “If you only knew how true that is.”
9
“I know everyone says a Liberal Arts degree is useless.” Bea sat on a bench in the clothing store and leaned over to look in the mirror next to her in a way that was very typical for a seventeen-year-old girl. She tucked strands of her long, curly blonde hair behind her ears, and then studied her teeth. “The truth is, if money didn’t matter, I would love to be an English major. Crazy, right?”
“Not that crazy. And who’s everyone?” Amber pulled a dress off the rack and held it out. The red was bolder than she usually would’ve picked, but for some reason, she liked it, and it was in her size. “There are plenty of successful people with Liberal Arts degrees. If you want to major in English, then that’s what you should do, Bea.”
“God, I hope I get this foundation scholarship.” Bea closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall. “I know it’s just community college, but every little bit helps.”
“I already told you I would help with college.” Amber held the dress up to herself. “I’d pay for Katie, too, if she would consider going.”
“She won’t. Katie had a really hard time in high school. She would never want to take classes over at Conley.” Bea tilted her head and looked at the dress in Amber’s hand. “You should try it on.”
It wasn’t just brighter than she was used to wearing, it was also considerably tighter and shorter. She would’ve never gone out with Jeff in it, but the thought of wearing it for Desmon stole her breath. She kept remembering the way he watched her on the porch earlier, pupils dilated, feral and hungry, before he’d warned her that wolves could smell desire.
“Desmon will like it,” Bea added, as though reading her mind.
“That’s not the reason I’d buy it.” Amber gave her sister a firm look, but then completely ruined the lie. “I will try it on, but it’s just to see. It’s not about him, it’s about me.”
Bea bit her lip to hide her smile. “Okay.”
Amber was quick about trying on the dress. Once she had it on, the tight red material left her feeling exposed, but that’s what made it thrilling. She stood on her toes and turned sideways to see what she would look like in heels wearing this dress to Vigo’s Steakhouse.
It was certainly bold, but it was her first official date with Desmon.
She felt the warm tingle of lust wash over her when she imagined Desmon pulling the thin spaghetti straps down and kissing her shoulder. Amber touched the spot where he’d bitten her earlier and felt none of the tenderness. She looked in the mirror and discovered the mark was barely there now, when it had been a noticeable bruise before she’d left the house. He did something to heal her, which wasn’t nearly as unnerving as it should’ve been.
“Let’s see it,” Bea called out.
Amber opened the dressing room door. She stood on her toes, so her sister could get the full effect. Her legs weren’t as long as she’d like for this particular dress, but with the right heels, it could work.
Bea grinned. “That’s a dress to make a guy fall in love with you.”
Amber just sighed rather than respond. She couldn’t really argue when she was out shopping for a dress specifically for a date with Desmon. To hide her blush, she glanced around the shop, noticing a man standing next to the rack she’d gotten the dress from. He was tall, dressed simply in a red t-shirt and jeans, and the way he sniffed at the rack would’ve been bizarre if Amber didn’t know werewolves ran wild everywhere around here.
“Come help me unzip it.” Amber grabbed Bea’s hand and dragged her back into the dressing room.
Bea obviously saw the strange werewolf and understood. She didn’t argue or fight Amber’s pull. When the two of them were alone in the tiny dressing room, Amber whispered to her sister, “Do you know him?”
Bea shook her head and put her finger to her lips. Then she spoke casually, but pointed to the direction of the stranger. “The earphones work really well. They let you hear everything.”
Amber knew Bea was trying to warn her that the werewolves could hear well, so she nodded in silent understanding and turned around, letting Bea help with the zipper since she was there. Amber was quick about putting her clothes on, hoping to God that strange guy was gone when they got out.
“It’s okay,” Bea assured her, like this wasn’t the first run-in she’d had. “These things happen to Katie, too. They can tell who you spend time with.”
The man wasn’t there when they walked out
of the dressing room, and Amber breathed a sigh of relief. Needing a distraction, she decided, “I think I’m going to buy the dress.”
“You need that dress,” Bea agreed. “Desmon’s going to lose his mind when he sees you in it.”
“Well, don’t say that. We all want Desmon to stay sane.” Amber shuddered, thinking of Desmon’s fight with Jazz earlier. “Trust me, you don’t want to see the alternative.”
“What happened?” Bea seemed curious
“Nothing major, but it did remind me who I was dealing with.”
Amber searched for her credit card. The woman behind the counter smiled, rang her up, and put the dress in a bag. With Bea at her side, they left the shop.
She was closing her purse when Bea grabbed her arm as they reached the sidewalk. Amber glanced up and gasped as the man from the dress shop was suddenly right there, stepping between her and Bea like it was his place.
He sniffed at Amber’s neck.
“Excuse you.” She pushed him away. “You’re in my personal space, buddy.”
“Yeah, you’re being really obvious.” Bea added in a whisper, “And we’re protected. Desmon Nightwind’s a very good friend.”
“Not that good. She’s not very protected right now,” he hissed back. Then he sniffed at Amber again before tilting his head, studying her. “Bored with you already? You’re not bad for a human.”
Amber didn’t want to upset the stranger, because she’d seen firsthand how mindless werewolves could get when truly angry.
She glanced around the street they stood next to, and then looked at the werewolf in warning, trying to convey that she would scream out if he did anything stupid. He was a big guy, easily as tall as Desmon, just not nearly as broad shouldered. He had short brown hair that was neatly styled, and the brush of a five o’clock shadow on his chin, but he wasn’t any hairier than that. It should’ve been reassuring, but his pupils were dilated like Desmon’s got when he was feeling more wolf-like.
Amber tugged on Bea’s arm, making her younger sister stand behind her, away from the stranger.
“My name’s Gary, and I’m your friend.” Gary’s eyes seemed to normalize, as though he knew seeing his wild side had scared Amber. “Desmon Nightwind’s the one who’s not your friend. They kill human females, you know. Even the ones they call pack. Not the best pack to bed hop in.” He raised his eyebrows in warning. “It’s true, ask anyone. They killed that human girl who lived with them some years back. That’s a big risk for a cute little thing like you.”
Amber snapped, “Desmon would never do that.”
“Sure he would, because guess what, princess? Desmon Nightwind is a dick.” Gary laughed, before he suddenly sobered. “My sister would’ve made a strong mate to him. Bonding with her would’ve brought peace to this entire area, but he rejected her after he screwed her. He humiliated her, just like he’s humiliating you.”
Amber felt her cheeks burn for a different reason when she realized this werewolf was smelling Desmon on her. Nothing was private with these wolves.
Bea leaned past Amber and glared at the werewolf. “We’re protected by the Nightwinds, and that’s exactly how we like it.”
“It doesn’t smell like she’s protected.” The werewolf’s voice was a low growl. “I bet you don’t even have a wolf to spend the full moon with, do you? The most romantic night of the month.” Something must’ve showed on Amber’s face, because Gary snorted in knowing. “I told you they’re not worth your loyalty.”
“He has responsibilities.” Amber stood tall, keeping her shoulders back even though she remembered making the same type of excuses for her ex-husband.
“I dare you to follow Desmon to the edge of Hader Ravine tonight, on the north end, just past Mike’s Quick Mart. Follow the fence behind the gas station about a half mile. There’s a spot at the edge of the woods where they use the clearing to start the run. Wait until the full moon is cresting, and see how loyal he is to you.”
“He’s lying.” Bea gave Amber a look of warning. “Mike’s Quick Mart is the marker for the woods between Nightwind and Goodwin territory. Desmon wouldn’t be stupid enough to start the run there.”
“You’d think not, but he does. Every single month.” Gary didn’t look too bothered by it as he directed his attention back to Amber. “They don’t want you out there, ’cause they only fuck bitches for the full moon—and they don’t change their human whores. They keep you weak and leave you home for the party. Go see what I’m talking about tonight, human, then decide who you trust.”
“Okay, maybe we will,” Amber lied, as she grabbed Bea’s arm. She kept walking, wanting to get away from him to reach her car. “Nice talking to you.”
Bea followed Amber across the street before Bea asked, “Is he gone?”
Amber finally dared to glance back. “I don’t see him.”
“I know he’s one of the Goodwins.” Bea stopped in front of a bakery shop and looked around quickly before she went on. “There’s a really dangerous territory standoff happening with them right now, Amber. Desmon is going to freak when he finds out we came into town alone after we promised we’d stay on pack land. Katie says alpha wolves aren’t used to their orders not being followed. It doesn’t matter if we’re pack or not, it’s safer to do what he says.”
Amber threw up her hands. “I don’t want to hear about Desmon needing to be obeyed.”
“It’s part of their pack mentality. That’s how it all works. The wolves in his pack obey him. It’s nature. Katie says to always follow orders when Desmon gives them, so we don’t stand out as different.”
“What?” Amber stopped next to her car and gripped her sister’s arm. “She told you to follow Desmon’s orders, no matter what? This man she barely knows? She thinks you should just do whatever he tells you to, so you don’t stand out as different?”
Bea nodded. “Because we can’t afford to lose pack protection.”
“I don’t know where Katie got such awful, unhealthy ideas, but it’s probably part of the reason she was with Merl. Bea, you do not have to follow Desmon’s orders—or anyone else’s, for that matter. Never do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
“She didn’t mean it like that.” Bea rolled her eyes. “It’s Desmon. She knew he wouldn’t try to take advantage of me like that.”
“I know.” Amber sighed, because she did know it. “Thank God Desmon’s the one in charge. She could’ve sworn both your loyalties to someone like Merl. Katie’s survival instincts suck. Let’s take off, unless you need anything.”
“Let’s just go,” Bea agreed quickly. “Are you going to tell Desmon?”
“No, I’m not going to call him and have to apologize for not obeying him. I’m trying to like Desmon this week.” Amber gave her sister a smile and admitted. “I kind of want to give him a fighting chance for this whole mate thing.”
“That’d be awesome.” Bea grinned too. “Then you’d have to stay.”
“Desmon or no Desmon, you won’t lose me that easily.” Amber wrapped an arm around her sister, pulling her close once more. Despite the run-in, she was in an incredibly upbeat mood, and she didn’t want werewolf drama to ruin it. “Let’s get back to the house before he knows we left. What happened today…we’ll just keep Gary to ourselves.”
Bea nodded. “Works for me.”
10
Desmon skipped the pack house and showered at home after he left Amber’s. He didn’t want to deal with all the single men in the pack house teasing him over how strongly he smelled of sex—like they had the first time he and Amber had gotten together. Usually, it wouldn’t bother him, but right now, he didn’t trust himself after attacking his best friend. Jazz was right, on the day of the full moon, with an unclaimed human mate, Desmon was dangerous.
He didn’t spend much time in the two-story house his father built with the help of his pack. Even if it was beautiful, everything about the house hurt him. He had been happy there as a pup, but Albert destroyed everything the day
he and his group of new enforcers killed their alpha, five on one.
Since his mother and sister left, Desmon rarely slept there. Even more so than usual, Desmon couldn’t get out of the house fast enough. He was running from a lot of things, but fortunately, the work of an alpha was never done.
He threw himself into solving problems for the rest of the afternoon, and even went so far as to meet with the accountant, something he had been putting off for a week. That ended up being a bad idea. Their pack accountant was a wolf, so he understood it was a bad time of the month, but Desmon’s growling, short temper still wasn’t a good mix for discussing their rising property taxes.
Desmon looked out his window, watching Harvey get into his car. He was still so abnormally frustrated, and angry at Harvey, even though it wasn’t his fault the property taxes in California were insane.
Desmon had to give up on work, at least for a little while. “I’m going for a run.”
“Okay, Alpha,” Janie, his secretary, called back. “Should I send all the phone messages to Alpha Jazz?”
Desmon winced, remembering the fight earlier. “No, just the important ones.”
The constant smack of Janie’s gum stopped, and Desmon came to his office door to see her sitting at the front desk looking at him with concern. “How will I know which ones are the important ones?”
Desmon arched an eyebrow at her. “How do you usually tell if it’s something I need to pay attention to? Like a war declaration from the Goodwins, or a California tax lien on the pack houses?”
Janie stared at him, green eyes wide, pupils dilated as she popped her gum again, letting her wolf show while she thought over his words. Janie was only nineteen. She hadn’t learned to disguise herself as well as some of the other young wolves in the pack, so Desmon kept her close, more so because she lost her father as a pup. Janie was one of the few unmated females in the pack. She also had a damsel-in-distress, omega-wolf-in-need-of-a-protector vibe that male weres went nuts for, particularly beta wolves. Alpha males tended to go for females with stronger personalities. Stubborn, determined, spines of steel, could manage a pack if needed…independent.