Mountain Wolf

by Amber Ella Monroe

  "Ha!" He chuckled. "We can discuss some extra compensation considering what you've been through."

  On a serious note, she wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her palms at the back of his neck. He looked down at her, his smoky grey eyes swirling with adoration.

  "Dane, I was scared. I don't want anything like that to happen again.”

  "Trina, I promise to be completely truthful and loyal this day forward. I'll protect you with my own life. I'm Alpha of my Pack and I've been given a great many responsibilities and sometimes there is opposition. There has never been quite an opposition like this coming from an outside threat. I can promise to keep you safe as long as you understand that when I caution you against straying that you have to listen."

  She nodded. "I understand now. Even if you'd told me before, I probably wouldn't have believed that someone could be that greedy to want to take something like your home from you."

  "It's my responsibility now to help you understand, Trina. You are part of my Pack now," he said. "You're part of my Pack family."

  Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Brock nod in agreement. That was all the acceptance she needed, knowing that Dane and his brothers would have her back. And she would have their’s. In her heart, she knew she would have died here in this cave if it meant protecting her Dane and all he held dear—including his possessions.

  She lifted up on her tip toes and kissed him, longingly and passionately. This time, when the mate mark on her throat pulsed hotly against her skin, it only served as a reminder that Dane Magnus was meant for her and she was glad that she had stepped out her comfort zone to find him.

  Chapter 19

  Ten Days Later…

  Her father's laughter rang out from the other end of the mansion into the small office where Trina was looking over the monthly bookkeeping for the dry cleaning business. The tone of her dad’s happiness carried throughout the large high foyer, filling her heart with warmth. She hadn't heard her dad laugh like that in years. Marcia's gentle voice followed his laughter. It sounded like they were in the kitchen, probably preparing dinner or discussing the latest mystery thriller. It was so cute the way Marcia wheeled him about throughout the mansion while she cleaned and they talked for hours on end about just about everything under the sun. It pleased her even more that her father had accepted that Marcia was a shifter before he'd been aware that Dane was. Marcia revealing herself first made things easier when it came time to tell her father about Dane and his Alpha status.

  Trina put down her pen and leaned back in her chair. Several moments had passed before she realized the house had suddenly gone quiet. She frowned and then got up to peek out of the window over into the back courtyard. To her relief, she spotted Marcia and her father moving away from the house and along the path outside. Her father had a picnic basket sitting on his lap and two fishing rods laid horizontal across his thighs. Fishing was another thing the couple enjoyed together.

  She sighed. Her dad was going to be just fine. And so was she…

  "Trina…"

  Dane's voice entered the room and so did he. Trina turned around to revert her attention to the man she'd come to cherish.

  "You're home early," she said. "I thought you were taking care of business in town."

  "I was and I did." He slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her up against his body. "I couldn't wait to get back to you…to this." He kissed her sweetly.

  “Your father and Marcia went out to the lake again,” he said.

  “Yeah, I saw that. We shouldn’t be expecting those love birds back anytime soon. Did you get everything sorted out?" she asked, lifting her chin to allow him better access to press delicate kisses into her throat, right against their mate mark.

  "Yes. I also had some time to meet with the Pack officiant. Our mating confirmation is set for Friday. Soon we'll be official. My Pack mates are excited."

  She smiled. "I am too. I'm excited about our future together, but you know what else I'm excited about?"

  Trina grabbed his shirt by the collar, pulled him closer into her body, and then deepened the kiss. Her core instantly heated in avid need of him. His cock was already erect, the hard length pushing against her belly.

  "Mmmm…" he groaned.

  "And do you know what I'd like now that you're home?" she whispered, dragging her lips across the veins on his neck.

  "I can take a wild guess…or would you like to show me?"

  He slid his fingers into the waistband of her jeans, gripping at the tops of her ass cheeks. She dipped her hand down the front of his pants, moaning when her fingers met thick, solid muscle.

  "Why don't we start with your cock…" she demanded.

  "You were supposed to be a nice girl." He groaned as she undid his fly.

  His cock fell out into her hand and she knelt down on the floor in front of him. "Nice girls can be naughty too, especially when there's a big treat involved."

  She licked him from shaft to tip, noting how the veins along his shaft flooded with excitement. He pulsed against her tongue as she tasted and pleased him. Before long, he was pumping into her eager mouth with long drives. His balls grew taut against her fingers and he pounded into the back her throat, pushing her head against the desk to hold her steady.

  Trina's clit pulsed and her soaking pussy ached. Her fingers slid down her belly where she caressed herself, fully intent on joining him in his pending release.

  Dane had other ideas. He pulled his cock out of her mouth and backed her up until her front was pressed against the wall. Without warning or small talk, he dragged her jeans and underwear down her leg, pushed her hands up against the wall and entered her pussy from behind.

  She bit into her lip to keep from screaming as he fucked her with vigorous intensity. The pads of her fingers gripped the wall and she pumped her ass back, meeting him thrust for thrust. There was no mistaking that they had a common agenda. They both needed release almost constantly now.

  "I will make this quick now, Trina," he rasped into her ear as he drove into her, deep and hard. "But when I get you in bed tonight, I will play with, eat, and fuck this sweet pussy for hours. You are mine, kitten. And I will forever be yours."

  They came together in a frenzy. Bursts of light blazed against her eyelids. Hot seed coated her and ran down between her legs. Jolts of ecstasy seized her body, causing every nerve ending in her body to tighten and her legs to feel like putty.

  "Dane," she panted against his lips when he turned her around to kiss her. "I'm glad you came into my life when you did."

  "I share the same sentiments. From the moment I met you, my desire for you…my need to protect you and keep you safe has always been untamed. I will do whatever you want to make you feel comfortable. And I'll remain in your life forever, Trina."

  He kissed her softly, sealing his promise.

  Epilogue

  They stood in the middle of the courtyard, facing each other while dozens of pack mates looked on. Trina's heart was pounding…her veins were throbbing, and she was more nervous than she'd ever been in her life. Probably because she was about to start a life with the man she'd come to love. And finally, she'd get her wedding. A real wedding.

  Dane took her hands in his and peered into her eyes. He was grinning from ear to ear, even his cheeks were a little flushed. It was cute. She couldn't stop looking at him. They were both dressed in white. Her white gown was simple. A mermaid style decorated with lace embellishments and designed so that it was see-through at the waist and below the upper thigh. Dane looked handsome in his white pants and shirt. He was clean-shaven, making him look more younger and innocent.

  "Let us continue,” the officiant announced.

  She squeezed Dane's hand for comfort.

  "Do you, Dane Magnus, Alpha of the Aspen Valley Wolf Pack, take Trina Daniels to be your wife and mate?"

  "I do," Dane said, without missing a beat.

  "And do you, Trina Daniels, true and intended mate of Alpha Dane Magnus, t
ake Dane as your husband and mate?”

  "Yes, I do."

  "Have the mate marks been viewed and confirmed?" the officiant asked.

  Dane's brother, Brock, stepped forward and said, "They have. I have viewed and confirmed the mate marks on both our Alpha Dane and his true and intended mate, Trina Daniels. And I acknowledge this union."

  The officiant nodded. "Very good."

  "By taking this vow, you are forever marked as an Alpha family. The presence of the mate marks already binds you for life. Do you solemnly swear to hold your union sacred and remain faithful until your last day?"

  "I do."

  "I do."

  "Aspen Valley Wolf Pack, do you acknowledge the union of our Alpha Dane Magnus to Trina Daniels?”

  There was a chorus of yes's until every pack member who had attended the ceremony had confirmed.

  "Mr. Taylor Daniels, birth father of Trina Daniels, do you give your only daughter to this man?”

  "I most certainly do."

  Trina grinned.

  "Then let it be known on this and all days going forward that you are true mates and the wife of the Alpha. Mr. and Mrs. Dane Magnus. And for the record…the Alpha couple. You may kiss your lovely wife."

  Dane pulled her face toward his with gentle fingers and kissed her softly. When their lips met she forgot about everything around her. Her only focus was Dane. He didn't seem to mind the crowd either. He kissed her with burning need and hunger.

  When they parted, he pressed his forehead against hers.

  "I love you, Trina…my kitten."

  "I love you too, Dane Magnus."

  Wolf Unbound

  DOWNLOAD NOW ON AMAZON & AMAZON KINDLE UNLIMITED

  Autumn North would never marry a man for money or mate a shifter she despises. Although, she doesn’t have a lot of options and she's been backed into a corner one too many times. To save herself and protect her family, she just might have to give up what she can’t bear to let go of.

  Garrett Justice will do anything to protect Autumn—even from the dangerous shifter who has already laid claim to her. But if he can’t contain the mating urges of his inner beast when he’s with her, how can he keep her safe indefinitely?

  Garrett and Autumn don’t exactly meet on peachy terms, but once they discover just how much they need each other, nothing will tear them apart—not even an arranged mating for which she’s become obligated to fulfill.

  CHAPTER ONE EXCERPT

  Garrett Justice pulled his motorcycle to a halt in front of Cross City Country Tavern and shut off the engine. About a dozen other cars and bikes were scattered about the parking area. Blaring music and lively chatter could be heard from all the way across the lot as the patrons pushed their way in and out of the building. Cigarette smoke, engine oil, and strong wolf pheromones wafted through the air when a light breeze passed over him.

  After taking off his helmet and securing his bike, Garrett walked a short distance to the entrance and pushed through the door. The sound of the band music, shouting, and laughter hit him full force. Pool tables sat off to the right in a separate section of the tavern where most of the noise was coming from. In the main area, excessively seasoned beef burgers grilling over an open flame and the aroma of savory bacon grease had his belly rolling in hunger all over again. A big screen television was hung high in almost every corner of the room, airing everything from a live sports broadcast to the evening news. But Garrett wasn’t really expecting quiet anyway. Just somewhere to eat a meal, drink a beer, unwind, and—if he was lucky—gain more intel where his mission was concerned. But first…the food.

  When no one came over to greet him at the little hostess stand near the door—which was inconveniently unmanned—he took it upon himself and slid into the first empty booth he came to.

  The clerk who worked the front desk of the motel had recommended the place. As the only eatery on this side of the city that remained open late into the night, he hoped the food and service lived up to its reputation. Eating packages of cheese and peanut butter crackers and bags of beef jerky from the motel vending machines once again tonight wasn’t going to cut it. And hunting for food on the territory of another Pack without their knowledge was just asking for trouble.

  Nonetheless, Garrett hadn’t visited Cross City for pleasure. Not in the least bit. He was here on business—business that entailed tracking down the leaders of the Cross City Wolf Pack. So far, everywhere he’d ended up resulted in false leads. Either the leaders were out of town, on vacation, or just plain AWOL. Hardly anyone was willing to speak on Pack matters either as if they’d been forbidden.

  Something told Garrett that the leaders of the Cross City Wolf Pack didn’t want to be found. Their Alpha had been discovered dead on the side of the highway not too long ago, so one would think they’d be more apt to being present in their community rather than so apprehensive when a visitor came to help them. Something just didn’t add up, and Garrett’s stay was long overdue. The deadline to report back to his own Alpha and brother—Dane Magnus—had come and gone.

  Time was more of an issue for his brother than it was for Garrett. Just the month before, Dane had received an offer from the Alpha of Cross City Wolf Pack. An offer that, if accepted, would unite the resources of both Packs. Garrett’s understanding was that Dane had been seriously considering the offer. But not too long after that, the Cross City Alpha had been found dead.

  Dane had sent Garrett to send condolences and to offer support until they could agree on the new direction of the Pack. Extending support was the right thing for allying Packs to do, and Dane Magnus’s faculty for keeping his word and helping other Packs was what gave him a most trusted reputation among the wolf shifter population.

  Somehow Garrett had found himself in the middle of it all…all because he couldn’t and wouldn’t say no to the Alpha who he currently served. Not only was Dane Magnus his brother, he was the youngest of four siblings—all male wolf shifters. The four of them had stuck together through thick and thin, and nothing—not even the death of their father and decision over who would lead the Aspen Valley Pack—had torn them apart.

  As he turned his focus to the menu on the table, a waitress sauntered up to his table. He noticed that she was a fellow shifter right off the bat. Her smell and the Cross City Wolf Pack insignia tattooed on her arm was what gave her away.

  “Hi handsome.” She sported a preppy grin and had her hair braided to the back, which gave her a younger, studious look. “What can I get you?”

  Garrett fumbled with the menu for a bit but settled for what he usually ordered when dining out.

  “I’ll have a half pound burger, medium rare, and a mug of beer?”

  “Bottled or draft?”

  “From the tap is fine,” he replied.

  She held a small pad and pen in her hand but didn’t write anything down. “Are you enjoying Cross City?” she asked.

  He looked up, a bit perplexed by her question, which was out of context and out of the blue. She pointed to the Aspen Valley Wolf Pack insignia, which was engrained on the inside of his left wrist.

  “I’m not really here to enjoy the views, but I’ve been getting around the city just fine,” he replied.

  “You’re here with others, aren’t you? The blond haired fella with the silver Harley came through this afternoon. Are you guys staying a while?”

  “No, I doubt we’ll be here very long after today.”

  He hoped he was right. He was anxious to get back to Aspen Valley and hang out with his brothers. It wasn’t often that they were all back home at the same time. Dane was always tied up in Pack business. Raoulf was known for causing trouble in the state—the kind of trouble that had him under investigation by the police and almost always on the run. Raoulf, just like himself, conducted a lot of business while on the road. They all had a lot of catching up to do.

  “Pack business?” She gave him a knowing look. “I take it that since you’re on Cross City territory you mean business concer
ning our broken Pack…?” She looked around carefully and then lowered her voice. “Is it true that our Pack will soon be forced to disband? I mean…what’s left of us?”

  The roundabout way she asked the question could only mean she knew a lot more than was standard.

  “I’m in no position to discuss the health of your Pack.” Garrett sat back in his chair and unfolded his cloth napkin. “Add a side of fries to that order. And that’ll be all.”

  She must have taken the hint because she told him she’d be back with his food and left. After she was gone, Garrett took in his surroundings. The tavern was pretty busy for a late weeknight, but the establishment was nowhere near as crowded as it would be on any given night at LIVE nightclub, a shifter bar in Aspen Valley—his hometown. Not ten feet away from where he sat, the lounge area of the tavern was bustling with life. A band played live music in a distant corner of the bar. A couple of pool tables were also visible from where he sat. About a half dozen shifters crowded the small area with cue sticks in hand. He was already getting strange looks from most of them, and as a shifter of another Pack, he didn’t blame them. Even though both Packs were on friendly terms, they were still wary of his presence in their city. Usually, Garrett and the crew who was sent to assist him would roll together, but they had a lot of ground to cover in a limited amount of time.

  The waitress walked back over and plopped a chilled mug of beer down on the table. “Here’s your beer, sir. This first round is courtesy of the guy on the far left side of the bar.” She pointed.

  Garrett looked up in that direction. No one was sitting near the left side of the bar. However, two women were seated on the right far side, laughing up a storm. “Which guy? All I see are women.”

  The waitress turned around to confirm. “Well, he was just there.” She shrugged. “He paid for his meal and his drinks, including yours. He must have left. I’ll be back with your food in a minute. We’re short-staffed tonight and I’m also serving the lounge area tonight, so I gotta split. Can I get you anything else in the meantime?”