Dr. Collins reach for the box and opened it. "I had to go through hoops to get my hands on this outside of the hospital. I know shifters don't normally like to be admitted. Especially the males for some reason. I was able to reach a very prominent and well known shifter doctor here in town."
"Dr. Jacob Hayes?"
"Yes. Dr. Hayes."
"He says you'll need two shots administered about thirty minutes apart. You'll be able shift again by this evening."
"Sounds about right," Deacon said. "I've broken limbs before that required the same painkiller before I could properly shift without pain. There was even a time when I knew I couldn't afford the medication and had to shift without."
"You don't have to suffer." Dr. Collins switched sides, coming over to stand on the left side of the bed. He prepped the needed as he talked. "Tell me about that mark on your left forearm there. Not the tattoos…the one that looks like a scar."
Deacon was shocked that he'd asked about something so specific as a birthmark on his arm. "Um…it's a birthmark."
Dr. Collins chuckled. "I know that, Remy. I've seen many, many birthmarks."
"Every shifter has one. It's actually a mate mark, but when asked we usually tell humans that it's just a birthmark. Less explaining to do."
"Mate mark?" He held the needle against Deacon's skin less than a centimeter from the bullet wound.
Deacon grimaced as he drove the needle deep, administering the pain killer. "Yes. Mate mark."
"But you don't all have the same mark, no?" He slipped the empty needle into a plastic bag and put it back in the box.
The medicine was already working it's magic and Deacon settled back on the bed.
"No, every mark is difference. The reason it's call mate mark is because the mates carry matching marks."
"Oh…" Dr. Collins looked down at his hands and wrung them together.
The doctor was nervous about something. Deacon could smell it on him.
"Why the hummingbird?" Dr. Collins asked after a moment of silence.
"I don't know why my mate mark is represented by a hummingbird. I suppose that's what the fates decided for me when I was born. It just is."
"Monica doesn't know this, but she once had a birthmark just like that."
Deacon stiffened on the bed, all of his attention on Dr. Collins. "Once?"
"When she was born, she had a birthmark right behind her left ear. It was so tiny. My wife saw it first when she was breastfeeding Monica in the hospital. We looked at it and both agreed that it looked like a bird with a long narrow beak, specifically the hummingbird. The mark was red, a little raised, so we asked the midwife about it. She agreed that it wasn't a skin infection or rash or anything. Just a birthmark. When Monica turned three days old, the birthmark disappeared. We never saw it again. Ever. I took a picture of the mark on your arm and sent it to my wife's Skype messenger. I'm so sorry…I just had to know. She couldn't believe her eyes. She said the mark on your arm is an exact replica of the one she saw behind Monica's ear, only hers is over ten times smaller than yours. About the size of penny. Right behind her ear. Hiding in plain sight."
Deacon's mouth had fallen open in shock.
Dr. Collins continued. "She's a grown woman now and it would look foolish for me to go check behind her ears for a little birthmark that we never told her about. My wife nor I are shifters. We don't have it in our bloodline. We're certain. Can you tell me what that might mean?"
"No, you're not shifters. It doesn't mean she will become a shifter. I means that your daughter is my true mate, Dr. Collins."
"That's why you've been together," Dr. Collins said. "That's why she looks at you like that."
Deacon nodded.
"I don't know what to say. That sounds…surreal."
"Do you know the term love at first sight?" Deacon asked.
"Yes, it's why I married Monica's mother."
"It's the same. I'll love your daughter fiercely. Now that I've found her, nothing will keep us apart."
23
Twelve days later…
Monica stretched her legs outward, leaning back against the trunk of the tree. She had long abandoned the fashion magazine in her lap to close her eyes and enjoy the cool breeze and warm sun. The smell of the fresh lake flowed toward her with the wind. She thought she heard Deacon's wolf swimming at the water's edge. He'd been wading in and out of the lake all day in both wolf and human form. Except for the occasional tourists walking on the trail around the lake, they'd mostly had the lake to themselves all day.
"Deacon, is that you? We need to get back to the cabin. I left the cheesecake out on the counter because I didn't know we'd be out this long."
There was no answer.
"Deacon?"
Something rummaged in some bushes nearby and she scented maple and spice coming at her on the breeze.
She sighed, opened her eyes and rose to a standing position. "Are we going to play this game again?"
Apparently, his wolf like to play hide and seek, but she wasn't good at seeking.
Monica glanced over at his motorcycle where both of their helmets were still on the seat.
"Deacon, this is getting old. I'm not playing around this time. Last time you scared the heck out of me when I came to find you."
After he didn't answer, she sighed and gathered up the blanket from under the tree. She followed Deacon's scent as she'd become accustomed to doing whenever he ran off in wolf form and took the trail leading to the outer banks of the forest. When she found him, she realized why he hadn't answered.
He was still in wolf form, sitting back on his hind legs looking up into the branches of a maple tree. A throng of hummingbirds were flying about, chirping and humming a tune. They sounded heavenly and Monica realized why Deacon found them so peaceful and entertaining.
He sensed her coming and he rose on all fours and welcomed her by his side. She stroked the soft fur on his back and one his head as he enjoyed the view. For what seemed like forever, they watched the hummingbirds dance in and out of the leaves. When the birds left, Deacon shifted back into human form seamlessly, appearing in front of her stark-naked. She was getting used to him walking around without clothes. She didn't mind at all.
"That was beautiful," she said, walking into his arms.
"That was my first time seeing hummingbirds since coming back to town," he said.
"You did say they were hiding in plain sight, didn't you?" She pressed a few kisses to his lips.
"They sure do. Just like someone else I know," he replied.
He reached up to capture her about her nape and his thumb momentarily stroked the hummingbird mate mark behind her left ear. When she parted her lips, their tongues danced together. She made him walk backwards until his back was pressed up against the tree trunk where the birds once played.
She reached down between them and wrapped her fist around his big, thick erection. He became hard in a matter of seconds right against her palm. Desperate to please him, she sank into the grass on her knees.
"Monica…you don't have to."
“Let me please you."
He groaned and closed his eyes the moment her fingertips trailed over his turgid shaft. She looked up at him, making certain that he was paying attention as she covered him with her mouth. She felt the moment that he relax back against the trees. He tangled his fingers in her hair, gently pulling it up into a ponytail so that he could see what she was doing to him. Her tongue slid over his broad cockhead over and over again until she tasted the sweet pre-cum coating her tongue. His pleasure was hers and every little reaction from him caused her pulse to quicken and her pussy to tighten. She moved her back and forth over him, allowing him to fuck her mouth.
"Oh my Fuck, you're gonna make me come," he whispered hoarsely.
Her fist closed over the leathery-hard length of him, pumping over and over again. Her mouth created just the right about of suction to bring him to completion, and her tongue driving up and down his shaft worked to ex
cite him even more.
When he pulled back, removing his solid length from her mouth and brought her to her feet, she grumbled.
She pouted. “I was enjoying that.”
"You knew where this was heading. I want to come while fucking that sweet tight pussy of yours,” he told her.
This time, he was one doing the leading, urging her toward the tree trunk where he placed her palms against the rough bark. She wore a dress today and her thong panties were easily pushed aside by his calloused hands exposing her sex to the breeze. Next he placed his heavy cock on the plumpness of her ass and ground against her. She moaned and arched backward, begging for entry. He cupped her ass with his big strong hands, parted her ass checks and entered her dripping wet pussy. She cried into the thick of the forest when he rammed himself to the hilt. Something feral ignited between them. Waves and waves of pure pleasure. He pummeled her, driving recklessly with pleasure-inducing strokes. He thrust hard, whispering against the back of her neck and lapping at the sensitive mate mark behind her ear. He took her higher and higher, making her scream at the top of her lungs. Her cries mingled with the leaves and carried on the wind.
"Deacon!"
"Come now. Come for me."
She exploded, her body convulsing with blinding pleasure. His release followed. Jets of his hot seed pierced her womb, most of it spreading through her like a tornado and some of it leaking down her quivering thighs.
He groaned through the last remnants of his orgasm and when they were both sated, he turned her around and captured her mouth with his.
"I love you, Monica," he rasped against her lips. "I needed to tell you that. I love you so much."
"I love you too, Deacon."
No one could ever come between Monica and her wolf—Deacon. She was certain of it. She would forever remain true to him. They were meant for one another and had found each other at just the right time. Deacon was rogue no more. However, Monica believed that everyone was born with a little rogue in them until they found the one place where they truly belonged.
Message from Amber Ella Monroe
MESSAGE FROM AMBER ELLA MONROE
Thank you for reading ROGUE WOLF. If you enjoyed the story, don't forget to leave a review and tell others what you loved about it. Even a couple sentences can say a lot.
I have another book coming out in this series. To find out more, visit Amber Ella Monroe on the web at amberellabooks.com.
Aspen Valley Wolf Pack
ARE YOU READY FOR MORE?
This copy includes two bonus books from the Aspen Valley Wolf Pack series, so keep reading for more of these wolf shifter alpha bad boys!
Wolf Unbound
WOLF UNBOUND (ASPEN VALLEY WOLF PACK)
A woman determined to save her tavern after the loss of her father and a sexy shifter outlaw who thinks he’s undeserving of a woman's love makes for one smoking hot, action-packed paranormal romance story.
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.
1
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 concerning 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.
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