by Crissy Smith
Table of Contents
Legal Page
Title Page
Book Description
Dedication
Trademarks Acknowledgement
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
New Excerpt
About the Author
Publisher Page
Pack Law
ISBN # 978-1-78651-023-5
©Copyright Crissy Smith 2016
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright March 2016
Edited by Sarah Smeaton
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2016 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 2.
Were Chronicles
PACK LAW
Crissy Smith
Book fifteen in the Were Chronicles series
It’s the case that will change everything for shifters.
Mike Riley likes his small-town life and his job as an attorney in Clear Creek. When he’s asked by his Alpha to take on a case involving a shifter that has been fired for no reason other than for being who he is, Mike has no idea how big the case will become or how much it will affect every shifter around the world.
Shelby Holt is a reporter on the upswing of her career, and has secretly been sleeping with Mike for the last several months. As her feelings for the wolf shifter grow, she pushes them down, knowing he doesn’t fit in with the image she wants to show to the public.
She can no longer avoid him and her growing feelings, as the case Mike is working on collides with her career. When friends from the past join the wolf shifters in Clear Creek, Mike realizes how important the outcome of the trial truly is, and Shelby begins to crave the same fierce love she sees in their friends’ relationships.
Dedication
For the fans, the readers, and those who believe. It’s been an awesome ride and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks for your support.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
BMW: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Sprite: The Coca-Cola Company
Twitter: Twitter, Inc.
Chapter One
Shelby Holt slammed her front door as hard as she could. The decorative windowpanes shook but she didn’t give a damn. With a scream, she launched her purse from the hall into the living room as she stomped farther into her home. A lamp crashed to the floor and she smiled. If she wanted to wreck her entire place, she would and no one could stop her.
“I hardly think throwing a temper tantrum is going to help anything.”
She whirled around, shocked at the audacity of the man who had followed her. Of course he wasn’t going to let their argument go. She should have paid attention as she’d driven home, and why hadn’t she locked the front door? Hands on hips, she glared at him. “I didn’t invite you in,” she snapped.
Mike Riley grinned—a wide grin with perfectly straight white teeth, which never failed to make her stomach flutter. Even as pissed off as she was at him, he still affected her. He stalked forward, and like prey caught by the big, bad wolf—because wasn’t that an accurate description?—she backed up slowly.
“Unlike vampires, I don’t have to be invited in but even if I did, you’ve done that plenty of times.”
Like she needed to be reminded! Shelby had no problem admitting her role in the disaster of their relationship, or whatever the hell was going on between them. Until now she’d enjoyed every minute of her time spent with Mike.
The only light came from the kitchen. She didn’t like coming home to a dark house, so every morning she left one room lit. In the dim glow, she could still see the scorching need in his gaze. Shit, just one look from him and she wanted to forget their fight and climb up his hard body. Mike was so damn solid and strong. At six foot one, with a body built from lots of hours at the gym—and his soft blond hair and bright blue eyes—he called to every part of her. But she wouldn’t give in so easily this time.
“Stop.” She pointed one perfectly manicured nail at him.
Mike raised an eyebrow then took another step.
“I mean it, Mike.”
“No, you don’t,” he said smoothly.
Christ, he was right. As angry as she was, Shelby still wanted him. “You should have told me.” It was a weak argument but she wasn’t going down without a fight.
“That’s not our deal,” he reminded. “Your rules. We get together whenever one of us wants but we don’t share the details of our lives.”
Shelby knew the agreement and didn’t appreciate him throwing it back in her face. “Well, you still should have told me!” she yelled.
Mike strode closer while Shelby backed up until she had run out of space. She either had to stop or sit in the large overstuffed chair. Shelby stopped—there was no way that she’d drop low enough to have his cock anywhere near her mouth. Not yet anyway.
“I’m just obeying your rules,” Mike said. He reached out and placed his palms on the sides of her neck.
She repressed a shudder. The heat from his touch warmed Shelby from the outside in. It was always like this when Mike had his hands on her. She closed her eyes as she fought herself.
Had it only been two months since they’d started sleeping together? Shelby had known Mike through their professions but it wasn’t until two mutual friends had started dating that Shelby had really gotten to know the handsome wolf shifter. He’d given her quotes and once an exclusive interview, but before her best friend Julie had mated with Mike’s buddy they’d never spoken of anything other than the law or his firm.
“My rules?” she asked.
“You know the way you try to keep business and pleasure separate,” he said.
Of course, Mike was right. It was important to her career to always put her best foot forward and he did the same. “I know I do that. I thought you didn’t mind,” she said.
As a reporter with the local news station, Shelby had covered a lot of Mike’s cases during her work in the last several years.
“I didn’t,” Mike replied. “That doesn’t mean things don’t evolve.”
They’d sure evolved, hadn’t they? “Yeah,” she agreed.
A week later they’d run into each other at a bar and had gone back to her place together. It had been amazing, so she’d suggested a deal. Mutual satisfaction that they didn’t tell anyone about and kept all feelings out of.
Shelby had plans and any romantic entanglement could throw off wha
t she’d worked years to accomplish. But her feelings had been changing and she didn’t know what to do about them. That was probably why she was so mad about his big case which she’d known nothing about.
She huffed before peering up at Mike. “Why didn’t you give me a heads-up? This is going to be the most important case we’ve ever seen in Clear Creek.”
“Because my job is to protect my client. You saw the circus today after the news got out,” he told her.
Mike had a point.
“But it was going to get out eventually,” she argued.
“Yes,” he agreed. “I wanted to give my client as much privacy as I could. We don’t talk about any of the cases I’m working on or what you’re doing, so if I’d brought it up, even just as a hint, you’d have known something major was happening.”
Shelby was still stinging from her producer’s accusation that she wasn’t doing her job and that he could easily replace her. Jake was always an ass and she knew better than to let his words bother her but if Mike had given her something she wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place. No, she wasn’t going to let his betrayal go.
“This is bigger than me and you,” Mike said.
Frustration started to build again. “It’s my job…”
“No!” Mike barked. “Don’t do that. You chose the terms of our relationship and I’ve gone along with them so far but I won’t allow you to use your career against me. I won’t put my case or my law firm in jeopardy, and you shouldn’t ask me to.”
Christ! Shelby dropped her head against his chest. Was that what she was asking Mike to do? Put everything he’d worked for on the line so she’d get a jump on the other reporters? Yes, that was exactly what she’d expected. Even though they never talked about work when together, Shelby was asking that Mike change things between them and that wasn’t fair. She blew out a breath. Maybe she was wrong and it would be better to just let it go.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Mike was a good man, and as much as she wanted to yell, he was right.
“I don’t need you to apologize. You can be mad and I understand. But I would still handle the press conference today the same,” he told her. His deep voice was calm and soothing.
She wasn’t sure if it was due to his shifter side that he was able to remain unruffled or if it was just part of his personality. Shelby envied how he always came across with a steady composure. She was highly strung and she knew it.
Mike reached out and grasped her arms, pulling her in close. Shelby melted against him.
“That’s better,” he murmured before he kissed her.
Unlike some of their rushed and hard kisses when they were short of time, now Mike gently moved his lips over hers. Shelby opened for him, and he swept his tongue inside, which made her shudder. She pressed her fingers into the muscles of his back and held on tight. With Mike, she was able to just let go and allow him to be in control. Since she spent every minute of every day fighting for top-dog status, the only time she could truly be herself was in these rare, intimate times.
He cupped her ass with his strong hands and lifted her off her feet. Shelby wrapped her legs around his waist as she gripped the back of his head and released every feeling she had into the kiss.
A rumble grew in the back of his throat but Shelby wasn’t afraid. Mike might be a wolf shifter but he was also one of the calmest men she’d ever met. As he carried her toward the couch, she rocked against him, letting his erection press close. She wanted him—hell, it seemed she always did these days.
Mike laid her gently on the soft fabric of the sofa as he loomed above her. He’d arrived without his usual suit jacket and tie, so he stood in just his trousers with his white button-down shirt. The top buttons were already loose and his sleeves rolled up. He was one sexy beast.
While Mike began to remove his shirt, Shelby removed her jewelry. Since she’d been on the air earlier she was still in full wardrobe. Mike’s gaze never left her as she removed item after item. By the time he’d tossed his shirt and tank onto the chair, she’d also kicked off her heels and reached back for the zipper of her dress.
“No,” he said.
Shelby froze. Mike grinned before he bent and removed his dress shoes and silk socks, leaving him just in his slacks. She had no problem at all having to watch him take off that last piece of clothing. She dreamed about his long, hard cock. She licked her lips in anticipation.
He chuckled while reaching for her. Confused, she allowed him to grasp her shoulder until he turned her over onto her stomach.
“Mike?”
“Shh,” he whispered as he unzipped her dress. The sound was loud in the quiet of the house.
Goosebumps rose all over her body as he bared her flesh to the cool air. His lips trailed down her spine as he exposed each inch. Shelby arched her back, pressing into his lips.
“That’s right,” he urged. Mike opened the ends of her dress before he pulled the smooth fabric down her body.
When he climbed between her legs, she pushed back against him. Mike gripped her hips as he rolled his. Why the hell wasn’t he buried inside her yet?
“Please,” she murmured.
“I’ll take my time,” he said.
“Come on,” Shelby whined.
He nibbled on the back of her neck instead of responding verbally. His cock pressed against her as she pushed back. Mike didn’t stop her, so she moved faster. His nips grew sharper.
“I know you want inside me,” she said. “Just take me.”
“When I’m ready,” he replied.
Very rarely, Mike would make her wait like this. Because of their busy schedules, most of the time they had to meet in his office for a quickie or one of them had to rush out after they were finished. Shelby enjoyed the times that Mike had her begging and pleading in need.
She dropped her head back on his shoulder as Mike dragged his right hand down her stomach to the edge of her panties. He slipped his fingers inside the silk to brush through her wet folds over her clit. He slid a finger inside, and she moaned.
“Make all the noises you want,” he told her. “I’m not going to stop until you’re screaming my name.” He added a second finger then plunged both digits in deep.
“Yes!” she cried.
Mike moved his body in the same tempo as his fingers. As much as she enjoyed what he was doing, she needed more.
She lifted one hand to circle his wrist and squeezed. Mike licked the shell of her ear. The assault of so much pleasure all over her body was still just a tease. Shelby groaned in frustration.
“Better,” he said before he pushed her back down.
She didn’t have time to do more than brace her palms on the couch as Mike ripped off the last piece of clothing. At least now they were getting somewhere.
Shelby lifted onto her hands and knees as she felt Mike fumbling to undo his slacks. When his bare cock pressed against her pussy, she’d never been happier that they didn’t have to use condoms.
At the beginning of their relationship they’d discussed their options. Mike couldn’t get or pass on human diseases. And since she was on birth control, they didn’t have to worry about pregnancy.
She could just enjoy the feel of his cock filling her with no barrier in the way. He was so hard as he pushed in. Shelby helped by pressing back so that he slid in deep with his first thrust. Mike gripped her hard, and Shelby clawed at the cushions under her. He withdrew as gently as he’d entered.
Growling, Shelby might not have sounded like a shifter but her human sounds still got her point across. Mike laughed then plunged deep.
“Yes!” she shouted.
Mike pulled out then thrust in again. Over and over until Shelby had a faint layer of sweat covering her and she was panting hard. Mike’s rhythm faltered, and from experience she knew that he was close to coming.
A little more, just another something harder and she’d be able to… There! Mike ran his finger over her clit then pinched. She screamed as she climaxed. Her vis
ion actually darkened around the edges for a moment. She could hear Mike’s howl in the background as he also reached orgasm.
Shelby collapsed onto the couch with Mike still buried deep. She wiped her bangs from her face as the sweat had made them cling to her damp skin. Mike’s weight pinned her but she wasn’t going to complain. It felt good to have him covering every inch of her.
“That was fantastic,” he murmured.
She would have laughed if she’d had the energy. Instead she just nodded. Mike kissed her temple, and she decided to just enjoy the few minutes of post-coital pleasure before she’d be alone again. She closed her eyes as the events of the day floated away.
There was nothing she could do to change what had happened. Mike was involved in the biggest high-profile case that the county was ever going to see. A case of a wolf shifter suing his employer for terminating his contract without cause. Or, as Mike claimed, because the employer had found out that the employee was a shifter.
With the laws for the newly public shifters still unclear, what Mike was trying to do could define their generation. If all went as planned, Mike would be a part of the law team who fought for and won equal rights for all shifters. Shelby would be there every step of the way, reporting all the details to the public.
Sure, the bigger networks would send their own correspondents, but Shelby had an edge. Not only had she lived in Clear Creek her entire life, but these were her neighbors and friends. She’d find a way to get any lead possible.
Mike might not be able to help her but there were other ways for an intelligent and determined woman to get ahead.
* * * *
Mike closed the door quietly behind him. Shelby had passed out on the couch not long after he’d pulled out and cuddled her against his chest. She’d been furious earlier but he’d known that Shelby wouldn’t hold his secret against him for long. She was a woman full of passion but she was also fair.