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A Bite of Love

Ally Summers

Prologue

There was a beautiful girl in my bed.

A dead body outside.

And a shifter war in my backyard.

One

Case

There were a lot of reasons I should have stayed. Maybe another king would have. The kind of king who could stare heartbreak in the face and not give a damn. The kind of king who put leadership over his pride. The kind of king I wasn’t anymore.

That place couldn’t be my home. The reason I was drawn to it, didn’t exist anymore. The life I was supposed to have there had been ripped away.

The Tribe would find its way in a new place. I didn’t know where that was yet, but my warriors would wait until I had the answers. They were loyal to a fault. That’s what it meant to be soldier in the Maddox line.

I couldn’t pass by streets and remember her anymore. I couldn’t run by the field where we were married. I couldn’t explore the woods and not remember what it was like to see her green eyes light up like wildfire. How I held her. How I kissed her. How for one tiny second she was completely mine.

She had said “I do.” She had pledged her life to me. And what now? It was gone? The laws of the panther and jaguar shifters were dissolved. Her loyalty evaporated with them, and any love I thought she had for me faded with every second, as our laws became a thing of the past.

I pressed my foot to the gas pedal, urging my truck to go faster. The engine revved with a fervent chug as I forced it to push the limits. The red needle tipped a five and I backed off.

Anywhere was better than that city. Anywhere was better than the town that held nothing but pain and agony. The bitterness had gripped me. The anger was palatable with every breath. I couldn’t exist where she did.

I had to get the hell out of there.

Three months of living in the shadows had fed the darkness in me. It was more comforting than light and warmth. I knew I had retreated to a place that turned my soul a shade of black. 

It was late, but I didn’t want to stop. I had to keep going until I knew she was a safe distance behind me. Part of me realized there wasn’t such a thing as enough distance. A shifter’s bond with his mate didn’t dissolve with miles. It didn’t lessen with a new address. But it was the only chance I had if I was going to survive.

I had to leave before they returned together. If I saw her with him, I’d challenge him. And there was no way to co-exist without running into them. I woke up this morning and decided I had to leave before someone paid for the pain I felt.

Eight hours later I turned onto a ruddy red road lined with divots and chunks of rock. The headlights on the truck lit the driveway as it tunneled toward the house. I hadn’t been here since I was kid.

But maybe this was the place that would make me whole again. Maybe this was where I needed to be until I realized my queen wasn’t coming back. That the woman who had taught me to be a better man hadn’t chosen me. Being a better man wasn’t enough. Being a better man was a mistake. There wasn’t enough humanity in me.

I gritted my teeth, thinking about how I had turned my life upside down for her. How I had sacrificed everything for her. Gone to war. Risked the lives of the Tribe.

I put the truck in park and looked up at the dark windows.

The house wasn’t much like I remembered it. Smaller in fact. I guessed childhood memories had a way of making things seem exaggeratingly bigger than they were in reality.

I stepped from the truck, scanning the perimeter of the property for any visitors.

There was a wide wraparound porch. It didn’t look like the swing had been touched in years. One of the center boards dangled from the seat. I peered at the door. The handle was rusted and it looked as if someone had tried to get inside, but failed. I ran my fingers over the claw marks. They were scratched into the trim around the windows too.

As a boy I had run through the forest on this property, learning how to be a predator. Learning how to take command. I was born a prince, but became a king. Tennessee was home, but Grayslake, Georgia was where I had spent some of the most memorable summers of my life.

I was in werebear country. Even though they didn’t own this land, there was no question this was a territory run by the bears of Grayslake. It was one of the reasons it had been such a great place for a young jaguar to be trained. My family could come and go in peace. This was my grandmother’s refuge. The one place she said felt most like home. She didn’t care about the other weres here. And she made friends with the bears.

Their Itan, the bear clan leader, kept a tight rein on shifter activity. I wasn’t here to get involved in politics. I didn’t care about shifter problems right now. I wasn’t going to jump from one war into another. My battle wounds were still fresh. You don’t change shifter history and walk away without a few scars.

I was in Grayslake for one reason and one reason only.

Forget that Dare ever existed, and that for one moment in time I thought there was a woman worth risking everything for.

Two

Cadence

I was tired. Exhausted really. I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, caking it with a fine layer of sifted flour. I had at least two more dozen bruschetta bites to go before I could start packing the order for delivery.

Living in werebear country was good for business. There weren’t many caterers who could say they had the kind of clients I did.

I knew that was the deal living in Grayslake. Werebears had unbelievable appetites and when they had a party or special occasion, the order was almost enough to make my profit for the entire month.

The bad part of catering for them was I had to work my butt off to get enough food for their voracious hunger. I learned to put up with it though. It was worth all the sweat and tears to stay in business. There just weren’t enough humans here to keep things going for me.

I had built Achording to Cadence myself. It was my dream. After losing my mom, it felt as if it was the only link I had left to her. It was the foundation for the entire inspiration.

One day she was here laughing and joking about who had been kicked off Dancing with the Stars and the next Ty Abrams was at my door with the devastating news that someone had crossed over the double-yellow line. A drunk driver. A kid who had partied at prom.

After the funeral I went through her house, selecting the few items I couldn’t part with. The rest I had to sell. I walked away with her engagement ring, photo albums, and her recipe box.

I straightened my shoulders. No time for a pity party right now. I had to get this order finished and headed to the Bear Clan Den. If there was something I knew about werebears, it was don’t show up late with the food.

I turned my attention to the neatly folded white boxes and began to layer them with parchment paper. After filling them with stuffed croissants I folded them and began to load the back of my catering van. I slammed the back of the van until the latch locked.

The drive to the clan den was twenty minutes from the shop. I turned on winding roads and drove deeper into the north Georgia mountains. I loved the forest, but there was something about the shifters here that kept me from even thinking about buying a place outside of town.

It wasn’t as if they were completely unwelcoming, but there was a clear division between the weres and humans. The outskirts of Grayslake seemed like they belonged to them.

For now, I lived above my shop.

There was always something peaceful about this drive. It might have been the utter fatigue settling into my muscles after working my ass off for this order, or maybe it was the one spot of newness I always found on my way to the Clan Den.

I passed a field of wild flowers in bloom that was green last month.

Yeah, Grayslake wasn’t a booming metropolis and it wasn’t ever going to have huge malls and movie theaters. No twenty-story high rises here. But I was ok with that. Shifters and all, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

I took a careful turn onto the entrance that marked the drive to the werebears home.

I was especially cautious on the bumpy path. I didn’t want any of the pie crusts to crack or the cannolis to shift in the back.

The clan den was like something out of a movie.

I pulled up to the front of the house and made a circle in the driveway so I could back up the van.

As soon as I jumped from my seat, I was greeted with a big hug.

“What did you bring us this time, Cadence?”

I smiled. “Basically everything I have on the menu.” The bears would eat everything and love it. It was another reason I loved them as clients.

I always liked Keen. He was one of Ty’s brothers. Hot, with brown eyes and shaggy hair, but completely off limits.

“Can I help you get the food inside?”

I looked around him. Usually by now there would be ten bears bounding from the massive house ready to help.

“Sure. I could use the help. Where is everyone?”

He pulled a few of the trays into his massive arms.

“Getting ready for the party,” he answered.

“Ohh.” I learned growing up as one of the few humans in a shifter town that prying into shifter business wasn’t a smart idea. I let the answer go. He’d tell me what he thought I had a right to know.

I had a special arrangement with the clan. I was allowed to know about their existence without the usual rules that were enforced. They made an exception for me as a provider. Otherwise, I’d have to either marry into the clan, or … well, they didn’t let humans in on their secret.

I followed Keen up the stairs and inside the house. With as many times as I had set up for parties here, I knew my way to the kitchen.

After a few trips inside, the van was empty. Keen closed the doors and ushered me behind the wheel. He handed an envelope to me full of cash. I didn’t bother to count it. The Clan always tipped well.

“Thanks for driving out, Cadence.”

“Of course. No problem. I guess I’ll see you next month. I’ll stop by at the end of the week to pick up the containers and burners.”

“Yeah, well I think you’ll need to talk to Gigi about that.” He shifted back and forth on his feet.

“Is there something wrong?” There was a slow pit of uneasiness starting to spread in my belly. I didn’t like what Keen implied.

“No. No. It’s just. Hey, I’m not in charge of the food. You’ll need to talk to someone else. We might not need the order next month, that’s all.”

That’s all? That’s all? Oh God, my face probably went completely white from shock and fear. He might as well just told me I could no longer pay my rent, or order any more produce. That I’d have to put the electric bill on a credit card. And there was no way I could upgrade to that stainless steel industrial refrigerator I’d been eyeing. I felt sick.

“Oh, all right. I guess I’ll talk to Gigi later then.” I didn’t know what else to say. Things had gone from friendly to awkward quickly. “I hope you enjoy the food.”

I put the van in drive and pulled away from the house.

As I turned onto the main road my back wheel hit a pot hole and I heard something rattle behind the seat. I pulled over on the shoulder and turned to see a pan of lasagna that had slid across the floor.

“Crap,” I muttered.

The last thing I wanted was an entire bear clan missing an entrée from the order—especially if they were considering cutting me loose.

I tapped Keen’s number on my screen.

He answered gruffly. “Hello.”

“Hey, it’s Cadence. I’m headed back with a pan of lasagna. I’m so sorry. I guess we missed it when we were unloading.”

“No, don’t do that.”

“Really, it’s no trouble. I’m just on the main road now.”

I was about to make a three-point turn at the next gravel driveway when his voice shot through the phone.

“Keep it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yep.” He hung up before I could talk about a refund or crediting the clan’s account.

I sat, puzzled and confused for a minute. What in the hell was going on with them?

My phone immediately rang and I answered it without looking at the screen.

“Change your mind?” I asked with a smile.

“Is this Achording to Cadence?”

Shit. It wasn’t Keen.

“Yes. Yes, it is. I’m sorry I thought you were someone else. How can I help you?”

“I need meal delivery.” His voice was crisp and deep. He sounded nothing like the clan brothers.

I fished a notepad from my oversized leather bag. I felt a rush of panic I hadn’t felt in forever. If there was a chance I was going to lose the clan as a client, I needed to find new ones quickly. Every phone call from here on out mattered. It felt like I was starting from scratch.

“All right? When is your event?” I asked.

“There is no event. I need meals prepared and delivered to me.”

“You realize this is a catering company? I do large parties, dinners, weddings—that sort of thing.”

I whispered a small prayer under my breath that this was some sort of wealthy, powerful, big-shot business man who needed a magnificent caterer for all of his corporate functions. I could switch from clan to corporate in a heartbeat. Please, God open a window for me, quickly. I was in deep trouble if the werebears didn’t need me anymore.

“Are you interested or not?”

I was taken aback by his impatience. “Of course, but I still don’t know what you need. I’m confused. I’m sorry I’m out on a job right now and—”

“Food. Tonight.”

I thought I detected a growl. I thought I knew all the shifters in this town. Who in the hell was this guy and why did he have such a bee in his britches?

“I’m not actually a food delivery service,” I answered carefully. I saw the silver foil pan in the rearview mirror, remembering I had an entire lasagna I could deliver. “But I do have something I could bring over. It’s the last dish for the night. Why don’t you text me your address?”

“Fine.”

Before I could tell him where I was, the line went dead. A minute later the address popped up on my phone. I pressed the map app on my phone and examined the location.

That was the Maddox plot. No one had been there in years. Come to think of it, I didn’t know if the family even used the house anymore. I’d never met anyone from the family. There were all kind of rumors about them. I knew better than to believe half of those stories.

Apparently someone was using the house now though. I put the van in drive.

3

Case

I pried the last screw from the slat in the swing. It was rusted just like all the others were. It didn’t make sense to try to repair the splintered boards. I glared at the swing. There was a pile of boards on the floor. I had spent the entire day taking it apart and keeping busy. Using my hands to build and repair. But it was nothing but a pile of twisted wood and splinters.

The sweat dripped from my brow. My shoulders were sunburned. Working in the heat stoked my annoyance at the old swing. It was no longer the place I used to sit and talk to my grandmother, or where I would line up my miniature race cars and push them off the end to see which one hit the floor first. It wasn’t a place of solitude and thought. It was a fucking pain in my ass.

I kicked the armrest, dislodging the chain from the ceiling and what was left of the swing came crashing to the porch. It banged and clattered in a heap.

“Damn it.”

I picked it up and tossed it over the railing, hurling it into the woods, losing sight of it behind the thick foliage. I gathered the stacks of boards I had spent the day stripping, and hurled them in the same direction.

I heard someone clear their throat behind me. “Mmmhmm.”

I turned instantly. My eyes landed on a petite girl with shoulder-length blond hair and pale blue eyes. How had she snuck up on me? I hadn’t heard her drive up to the house.

She extended a wide aluminum pan. “Did you call about a dinner order?”

I wiped my hands on my jeans, reaching for my T-shirt. It dangled on the banister.

I threaded it over my head, covering my bare chest. I had worked all day without a shirt. I saw how her eyes raked over my skin.

“Yeah. I did. What did you bring?”

“It’s lasagna.”

I could tell she was studying me. She had seen me haul the swing off the porch. She was trying to assess how dangerous I was.

I shook my head. “I hate Italian.”

Her eyes flared. “Who hates Italian?”

“I do.” I barked back. “What else do you have?”

My stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten since yesterday and had barely taken enough of a break to search for a catering number. I wasn’t planning on cooking here, but a man had to eat. I stumbled upon her website and dialed the number listed.

“This is it for the night. I told you I’m not a dinner delivery service. This was from a party that didn’t need it.” I noticed how her eyes darted to the ground. “It’s all I have. If you’re hungry, it’s yours. If not, I’m headed back to town.”

She took a step backward with the food.

“Wait.”

The hunger pains had ratcheted up a notch with the whiff of home cooked food.

“I’ll try it.”

Her eyebrows rose. “I thought you hated Italian.”

“I do, but I’m hungry enough to eat an arm, so I might as well try it.”

There was sudden fear on her face.

I shook my head. “Not your arm.” It made me chuckle. I was so pissed; I didn’t know I had a smile left in me. It came out of nowhere.

I yanked on the screen door and turned. “Are you coming?”

“With you? Inside?” There was alarm in those baby blues.

“Yes. I’m not going to bite.”

She looked hesitant. “I pretty much know all the shifters in Grayslake. There have always been rumors about the Maddoxes. After I heard the growl on the phone and now the stunt with the swing, I’m putting two and two together. But we’ve never met. I need to know what you are.”

“You are kind of blunt aren’t you?” I asked, standing in the doorway.

Where I had lived for two years, humans didn’t know about shifters. It was one of the bittersweet parts about living there. We kept our identities a secret, but at the same time it gave us a kind of freedom shifters in open towns didn’t have.

“I’m not blunt. I just want to know whose house I’m walking into. The Maddoxes are kind of a mystery around here.”

“Jaguar,” I answered. “And I don’t think humans taste very good. Now will you come in? I’m hungry.”

She pulled her shoulders back. I had to give it to her. I could tell she was nervous. And yet, she marched forward, carrying that huge pan of food. Was she brave or stubborn?

I flipped on the kitchen light and pointed to the counter. She slid the dish across the yellow Formica countertops. The house had never had a makeover. Maybe I’d have better luck ripping out the countertops than I did with the porch swing.

I dug through the drawers looking for a fork.

“Let me help.” She started opening cabinets and retrieved a white china plate. “Wow, this is gorgeous.”

She held the plate delicately between her hands. It was long enough for me to notice her left hand was bare.

“It was my grandmother’s set,” I explained.

“Are you sure we should use it?”

I shrugged. I didn’t give a shit about the china. “There’s no one here but me.”

“Right.” She rinsed it off and dried the plate.

I watched while she sliced through the lasagna and scooped a large helping onto the plate.

“I take it your Cadence?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Yes, I’m Cadence. Cadence Hathaway and yes, this is my business. I’m the only caterer in Grayslake.”

“Really?”

I didn’t remember much about the town. When I was a kid I stayed in the woods or in the house. Every once in a while I’d ride into town and we would stop for a piece of candy or I’d get a chocolate ice cream cone. But training to be a royal leader didn’t leave much time for county jots out.

“Yes, but I’m trying to add to my client base, so if you know anyone throwing a party or anything.” She smiled, serving me a plate of one of my least favorite foods.

“What about you? You have a name or do you go by tall-dark-and-mysterious-jaguar?”

“Case Maddox.”

I cut into the pasta and brought a bite to my lips, inhaling the first sample bite. “Hey, it’s not bad.” I chewed another mouthful.

“Thanks I guess.”

“Compliment, actually for someone who hates Italian.” I took another bite.

“Possibly.”

“How do you know about the weres here?” I didn’t detect anything magical about her. She wasn’t a shifter.

“The clan made an exception for me. I’m a provider and I’m considered neutral. I don’t get involved in any were business. I make the food—that’s all.” She crossed her arms. “So if you’re thinking about getting me involved in any kind of shifter issues—”

I cut her off. “I’m not. It was a simple question.”

“Oh, ok.” She rocked back on her heels. “Well if that’s everything I’ll let you have your dinner. I’ll leave my business cards here.” She dropped a few glossy cards next to the pan. “Maybe you’ll have a house warming or something when you’re done moving in.”

“What’s for dinner tomorrow night?” I asked.

“Excuse me?”

“Tomorrow. What are you bringing me?”

“I-uh-I don’t have anything planned. This isn’t my usual business.”

“Surprise me.”

She tilted her head a little and I saw just how many layers of blue were in those pale eyes of hers. She was pretty.

“That’s not really what I do. I keep trying to tell you.”

I pushed back from the table.

“Well, I’ll tell you what I do.” I stared at her. “I’m a king. King of the Tribe. And I want you to surprise me with dinner tomorrow night. Seven o’clock works for me.”

Her face froze in shock. “But, I—”

I walked her to the door.

“See you tomorrow, Cadence.”

“I just don’t…”

I closed the door behind her and returned to my plate of lasagna.

4

Cadence

I stood on the porch not sure if I should turn around and beat on the door, explain the situation, or just get the hell out of here.

I opted to not give Case a piece of my mind. I couldn’t lose a potential client on the first night. I walked to the van calmly. There was something about Case Maddox that I couldn’t put my finger on. Maybe I was too used to the werebears. I knew nothing about jaguar shifters. Nothing.

He was broody, dark, and mysterious. I got that after just being around him for five minutes. Oh, and he was hot as hell. That was the part about him I couldn’t overlook if I tried.

He was tall with broad shoulders and the most athletically toned body I’d ever seen. I had to keep from letting my tongue hang out when he spun around on the porch without his shirt. His arms rippled with every move he made. And the eyes. I’d never seen green eyes that shimmered. I knew that was a cat shifter thing, but I’d never actually witnessed them in person. They were incredible. I imagined how they would glow at night.

Get it together, Cadence, I scolded myself as I climbed into the van and started the engine.

His bad attitude was bigger than his sex appeal. He was bossy, cocky, and commanding.

He was not someone to get hung up on. I knew it—I just had to convince my hormones of that.

I tried to tell myself as I cranked up the radio to a country song and maneuvered onto the main road that Case was off limits. Absolutely no flirting permitted. Jaguars were unknown territory and if it wasn’t for the fact that I was in possible dire need for new clients I’d turn down the job for tomorrow night.

I realized I still could, but I’d be an idiot. I couldn’t let Achording to Cadence fall into a hole because of the weres in this town. But what did it mean that Case was here? Were there more jaguars on the way? Did the bear clan know he was here? Should I tell them?

I felt slightly protective of my town, as if his being here could somehow shift the balance of what I had grown accustomed to. That was ridiculous. One man couldn’t possibly have that much power to change Grayslake.

I had shivered when he told me he was a king as if a sudden icy breeze had coated my spine. A royal jaguar. I let that idea roll around in my head. For one of the few humans in a shifter town, I realized there was still so much I didn’t know.

I drove through sleepy Grayslake, turning on streets I had driven on my entire life. Everything felt as familiar as my own skin. I put the van in park at the back of the shop and traipsed upstairs to my one-bedroom apartment. I loved it. Small, quaint, and everything shabby chic I loved. My mother always told me if I didn’t have such a passion for cooking I should go into the refinishing business. I winced at the thought that I might have to pick up something on the side like that to keep the money coming in.

Every piece of furniture in my home was something I had painstakingly stripped, sanded, and either painted or stained myself. It wasn’t as if that career wouldn’t be something I could love too—it was only that catering had become my life.

I saw how parties brought people together. How sharing meals could end arguments, or welcome in a new family memory. What I did was important in Grayslake. I threw in dashes of happiness and joy when people least expected it.

I had a sudden memory of Case throwing a dilapidated porch swing over the side of the house. It was a shame, too. I could have whipped that piece of furniture into shape with a little elbow grease. It would have been extra cute with a few brightly colored throw pillows.

I wondered what had him so worked up. What could make someone who seemed to have such a cool exterior fire off like that?

I dropped my bag on the console table, another one of my artsy projects, slumped onto the couch, and reached for the remote. If nothing else, I could always binge-watch some of my favorite shows. My neck ached and my feet were tired from being on them all day. The clan orders always took a lot of my energy. The list on my DVR was piling up.

Somewhere after the third episode of Fixer Upper I fell asleep. I wasn’t certain, but it felt as if a pair of dark green emerald eyes were the last things I saw before I started to dream.

5

Case

There was a separate workshop behind the house where my grandmother had kept her tools. Over the years she had added a potting shed, and accumulated a supply of anything you could possibly think of for building or gardening. I was going to need something more powerful than what I started with yesterday if I was going to rip the kitchen apart.

I had decided the yellowed Formica needed to come out. It might be the only thing that wouldn’t remind me that my wife was on her fucking honeymoon with someone else. Fuck, I had to stop calling her that. I didn’t have a wife.

I looked up at the wooden building, lined with a tin roof. Ivy climbed the sides and on one end tree roots had started to work their way under the foundation. I waded through the tall grass in the back yard. I could add that to the list of things to do around here. I doubted the tractor was in operation.

The barn door creaked open and a scurry of wild cats ran through my legs.

“Mother f—” I bit my tongue.

They were only kittens. No telling how many wild things lived out here. There hadn’t been Maddoxes in Grayslake in a long time.

I don’t know why it hurt when I walked inside, but it did. I was flooded with memories. Memories of my brother. Memories of swinging off the loft using a rope. Memories of watching my grandmother do amazing things in this shop. She made furniture for people in Grayslake.

It was ironic I had always been surrounded by strong women, yet somehow I wasn’t prepared for the strongest one of all.

The one who had the power to grab my heart, seize it in her hands, and slowly watch as she squeezed every ounce of blood onto the ground. When had I given Dare that kind of power? When had I let her become anything other than another one of the wives on my list? She wasn’t the only one that I was meant to be with. So why did it fucking hurt so much still?

I wanted to blame her. But there was no one to blame but myself. I was the one who had convinced her to go along with my plan. I asked her to marry me. It wasn’t the other way around—it never had been.

I picked up a rusted wrench and flung it across the room before a tear fell down my cheek and betrayed me. I hastily smeared it with the back of my hand. I was a fucking king. I didn’t cry. I didn’t mourn the loss of a queen. And like hell if I was going to spend more time agonizing about how she had chosen a human over me.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I retrieved it.

“What is it?” I answered.

“Your majesty, I wanted to let you know we have a situation.”

It was Donovan, the regent I had put in charge of the large territory in South Carolina. Our families had a long history of challenging each other. He was a reluctant member of the jaguars I ruled in the Tribe, but ever since I had given him the Charleston region things between us had worked.

“What’s going on?”

“Things had been quiet until yesterday,” he reported.

I nodded. “Ok.”

“One of my guys spotted a jag in the market. He was being guarded by two others. It definitely looked like they were working as his security detail.”

He had my complete attention.

“Who was it?” My gut told me I already knew who it was.

“We lost their scent on the other side of the market.”

I rolled my eyes. My good will toward Donovan just took a hit. What the hell?

“The only reason there are jaguars in Charleston is to establish some sort of presence there.” I knew they weren’t on vacation.

“Of course. We’ll track them again today. I wanted to give you a heads up. And I didn’t want to falsely identify them.”

“Just find them. I want names. Things are moving quickly.”

“I agree.”

I didn’t know how long we had until the Litchfield line tried to take hold of the territory in the southern region. They had been planning a war for over a year. I still didn’t have the complete details on their plot and it was pissing me off.

I hadn’t been able to expand my own territory, and they were fucking insane if they thought I’d give up what I’d inherited. Charleston was mine.

“Take care of it and call me back,” I ordered.

“I will. How are things there?”

“I’m out of town for a while.” I never felt the need to explain myself to the Tribe.

“Vacation?”

“No,” I snorted. This was a shitty trip if it was one.

“All right. I’ll call you tonight or in the morning with an update.”

“No matter what time,” I instructed.

The call ended and I returned to the task in the shop.

I sorted through the pile of tools on the bench and on the shelves. I needed a saw. Yesterday the screwdriver had barely been enough. But today I was going full-strength with power tools. I didn’t know how up-to-date they would be, but as long as they could cut through shit, I didn’t care.

I grabbed a circular saw wrapped in an orange cord and plugged it into a nearby outlet. It came to life as soon as I flicked the switch. I grinned. This would work.

I looked for a few more things. There was a chisel and a sledge hammer. I grabbed them, swinging the hammer over my shoulder. I headed for the house, ready for day two of demolition.

***

I hadn’t looked up to see what time it was all day. There were cabinets and chunks of Formica at my feet. The sink was filled with dust, and there might have been a few handles in there too.

I snarled when I heard a knock at the front door. Who was here?

“Knock. Knock. It’s Cadence.”

Shit. I had forgotten about the catering girl. I had plowed through another day without eating.

I pulled open the door.

“What happened?” Her mouth dropped open.

I glanced down at my shirtless chest where her eyes were planted. I was coated in sawdust. It stuck to me like sand on the beach.

“Working on a remodeling project.” I moved out of the way so she could drop off the food.

“And in here?” Her head pivoted from one side to the other, taking in the disaster that was now the kitchen.

“The project.”

I stood, observing my work. I had obliterated the place. I was proud of what I had done. A full day of complete destruction.

“What about the china?” She looked horrified.

“It’s in the guest room.”

“Oh. Are you going to put this back together somehow?” she asked curiously, taking in my work.

I hadn’t gotten that far with the plan. Right now my only focus was on tearing away everything that was broken. Ripping out what was chipped and cracked. I didn’t know how to make it right yet.

“Eventually,” I answered.

“I see.”

She placed a large tray on the coffee table in the next room. There was an open hallway between the kitchen and the living room.

“What’s for dinner?” The familiar hunger pangs had returned and I was suddenly ravenous. I worked all day without thinking about food.

I realized I made Cadence uncomfortable. For the most part I didn’t give a shit, but then there was a new part of me—the one Dare had awakened that knew I was being a complete asshole.

The new man in me had only just begun to value friendships. This man realized fighting alongside someone far outweighed fighting against them. It was the part of my humanity she had nurtured. I hadn’t been able to stifle it ever since it had emerged. It was a pain in the ass to start to give a shit.

She apprehensively tucked a curl of golden hair behind her ear. I had to admit it was sort of cute how she was nervous around me.

“So, what is tonight’s main course?” I asked, ready to tear through the foil. I was hungry enough to eat a bear.

“Well, it’s … it’s … I hope you like Tuscan. I loaded it with bacon.”

“Not really.” I shrugged, but I was willing to eat it. Ok, the new man in me wasn’t that nice.

There was a look of disappointment on her face that would have probably broken some men’s hearts. Too bad mine was already broken and shattered.

“Then what do you like?” she huffed. “Maybe I shouldn’t have done the surprise thing.”

I sat on the couch, clearing the rest of the coffee table. Cadence unwrapped the container in front of me. I noticed it wasn’t as huge as what she brought last night. This was a special tray, made for one.

I shoveled in a huge bite. The pasta was creamy and rich. I swallowed before answering.

“How about steak? Ribs? I don’t know. Something a man eats.”

“Are you saying my pasta is too girly for you? Should I throw a raw slab of meet on a platter?”

“Just do something different tomorrow,” I barked more roughly than I intended.

She pulled a ticket from her bag and placed it on the arm of the couch. I noticed just how much dust had traveled from the kitchen to this room. I hadn’t bothered to put up any barriers.

“I don’t think another order is such a good idea. This is what you owe me for tonight,” she announced.

I looked at the slip. “And where else am I supposed to get food?”

“Cook it yourself.” I saw the blaze of defiance in her eyes. “Grayslake has grocery stores.”

I glanced over my shoulder at the kitchen I had spent the day destroying.

“And where do you propose I do that?” It wasn’t her problem I had taken a sledge hammer and wedge to my grandmother’s kitchen, but I wanted it to be.

“I-I…” She pressed her plump lips together. It was the first time I had noticed them. They curved and dipped and were fucking kissable. “Maybe you should just eat it raw then.”

“I think you’re going to do a better job than me.” I wasn’t letting her out of this that easily.

“It’s going to cost you,” she finally answered.

“Name your price,” I challenged. “Money isn’t a problem.” It was true. I didn’t give a shit how much I spent. I was a king. I had more money than any shifter in this town. Unlimited funds meant I was willing to pay whatever the expense to not have to cook.

I must have said the magic words.

“Fine. But I need a list. A very specific list of what you won’t eat because I’m not wasting all this food or time again.”

I rose from the couch. “I think you’ll figure it out.”

Her lips did that thin-line thing again. “Why don’t you just help me out? I’m cooking for you. You could make this a lot easier for both of us.”

I spun on my heels, almost knocking into her. “Because.” My teeth gritted involuntarily. “I’ve tried helping before and it got me nowhere. I don’t waste my time with it anymore.”

She thought it was a waste of time making an extra pot of rigatoni? Try two years on a girl.

“You sound like someone who has been hurt very badly,” she said softly.

I bristled. I didn’t want pity. “Doesn’t matter.” I brushed it off. “It’s over. It’s been over. I’ll see you tomorrow night,” I responded, dismissing her. I didn’t want to get into it.

My personal life wasn’t any of her damn business.

I turned my back to her, and when I heard the door latch behind me I knew she was gone.

6

Cadence

I knew better than to fall for it. I knew better than to get sucked in. But one look in those green eyes filled with depths of pain and I was a goner. A complete and utter sucker for anything he said. Sexy and smoldering didn’t begin to describe Case Maddox.

Someone had hurt him. Without him saying another word it all made sense. He was in Grayslake to heal. He was on a one-man mission to find himself again. I could see it as clear as day. And I was going to be the girl to help him.

I sat on one of the barstools at the island in the center of Achording to Cadence. I usually knew exactly what to do when I was in my kitchen. It was basically the equivalent of an artist’s studio. Although, I was an artist with a blank palette and no idea what to paint. And I had one heck of a moody muse.

I stared at the massive stacks of binders I had painstakingly organized for years. They were categorized by: appetizers, side dishes, entrees, and desserts.

I was O for two so far on these dinners. I needed tonight’s meal to bring a smile to his face. If he was gorgeous wearing a frown, I could only imagine how he would look with a cocky grin of satisfaction.

So that was my new mission—make Case Maddox smile.

As I flipped through the notebooks I stopped every few pages, wondering who had wounded him so badly. I should have focused on the recipes, but that jaguar had my curiosity at an all-time high.

And it was stupid really. He was a shifter. Whatever problems he had were out of my league. But I also knew the power of food could cure a broken heart. I knew how a meal with a good listener could suddenly make a lonely and bleak situation turn into one that had warmth and hope.

He needed a friend—that was obvious. He needed someone to remind him that life was better lived without a permanent scowl on your face.

My finger landed on one of my mother’s recipes. I grinned. It was perfect. Exactly what I needed. I felt giddy unclipping the page from the binder.

***

When I pulled up to the house I looked for signs of construction.

Case met me on the porch.

“I’m surprised you didn’t take the house down to the studs overnight,” I joked, giving him one of my biggest smiles. I knew I was already overdoing it.

“Not today. More kitchen demo.”

“Ahh.” I might have actually batted my eyelashes. “Can I see?” I asked.

He opened the screen door, leading inside.

I was met with a cloud of dust. I waved my hands to clear the air.

“Cabinets?” I coughed a few times.

“Yeah. I guess it is a little dusty in here.” He ushered me back to the porch.

“Maybe we should eat out here instead,” I suggested.

“We?” His eyes darted back and forth, searching my face for an answer. I didn’t know if I had crossed a line, but I marched right over it anyway.

I held up the basket I prepared. “Yes. We. I thought I’d eat with you tonight. You don’t seem to know anyone else around here.”

We hadn’t gotten around to what his relationship was to the clan. As a neutral party I thought it might be better if I didn’t know anything, but I had always been too curious for my own good. Ty Abrams probably hadn’t calculated that into offering me provider status. The werebear leader had always been generous to my family and me.

I knelt on the porch and began to unpack the contents: two plates, linen napkins, wine glasses, and the blue checkered china serving pieces covered in heavy paper. That set was my mom’s favorite.

Case stood over me, watching with his arms folded. I held my breath, expecting him to stop me at any second.

“Oh, I left something in the car.” The wine was in its own cooler.

“I’ll get it,” Case volunteered.

I couldn’t help but smile. I tried not to sound too surprised. “Thanks. Front seat passenger side. You’ll see the cooler tote.”

I watched as he jogged down the stairs. He had to have one of the most perfect asses I’d ever seen on a man. I turned my head before he caught me staring.

I placed the silverware next to the plates, wondering what woman could walk away from a body like that. So far I had seen his chiseled chest and sculpted arms, and I could only imagine what the rest of him looked like.

Two seconds later he dropped the cooler next to me. “Here you go.”

“Thanks. I have a plate ready for you.”

I remembered all the times in culinary school when the master chef would stop by my station to taste a sample, and how my stomach would flip with anxiousness. As Case dipped his fork into the chicken stuffing bake I had the same reaction. My palms were instantly sticky.

I knew it wasn’t a gourmet meal. But my mother always said comfort food went a long way. And this guy was hurt. I couldn’t think of anything better to feed him.

If he didn’t like this, I was in trouble. It was the Hathaway men’s favorite. My mother swore no man could turn it down.

I didn’t know if a jaguar fit into that category, but as I held my breath watching him take that first bite, I hoped he did.

His eyes turned to mine. “It’s good.” I saw the crack of a smile on the edges of his lips.

I exhaled deeply. “Thank God.”

“What?”

“Oh nothing. I’m just glad you like it.”

I unzipped the cooler and pulled the chilled bottle from inside.

“I’ll get that.” Case’s fingers brushed over mine when he grabbed the bottle.

“Thanks.” I held up two glasses for him to pour into. “So how long do you think you’ll be in Grayslake?” I asked.

“I haven’t decided. It’s an open plan at the moment.”

“I see.” I took a sip, relishing the crisp pear flavor. I had chosen everything to complement each other perfectly.

“And your duties as king? Does someone do that while you’re away? I don’t know how that works. A prince or duke or something?”

I saw the furrow on his brow reappear. Damn it.

“I keep forgetting some of the humans in Grayslake know more about shifter business than they should.”

I took offense. “My family has been here for five generations. We have as much history here as the weres. The clan chose me and all the members of my family to be providers.”

I wasn’t about to recount what happened the other night at the clan’s den. I had no idea what happened at their parties or meetings. The fact was, I was clueless about were business. My feelings were still a little hurt that Keen had rushed me off so quickly.

He sighed. “Sorry. I’m not used to it. Where I’ve been the past two years, humans are kept in the dark about all things were and shifter. All,” he emphasized.

“Why is that?” I tore off a piece of French bread and took a bite. I learned to steer completely clear of Italian.

Case stared into the woods. “There’s a lot of magic there. And for some of those with magic it’s dangerous for them if their truths are revealed.” I realized he was being selective with his words as if we were having this conversation in that town.

“Are you one of those? Is it dangerous for you there?”

He reached for the loaf of bread. “I’m not afraid of humans, but they have a certain interest in cat shifters in that town. One in particular.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” His green gaze drifted in my direction. “My ex. She was the main target, but people don’t know the difference from a panther versus a jaguar so it made it dicey for all of us. We all had to take precautions.”

“Oh.” The bread was a little harder to swallow. I reached for my wine glass. “Your ex was a panther.”

I don’t know why it bothered me. It shouldn’t have. I’d know this guy all of three days and in that time this was the longest-running conversation we’d had.

But as soon as I knew she was a panther I could picture her. Tall, graceful, long, dark hair. My polar opposite. And she had a hold on him—that bothered me the most.

“What about you? Why do you live in a town run by weres?” he asked.

I still hadn’t gotten over the visualization of the ex. “I … uh … well, my family has always lived here. It’s home. And once I started Achording to Cadence I decided this was it. I’m all in. I’ll never leave.”

“Never?”

My breath caught as he said the word. It was the piercing gaze. I’d never get used to how green his eyes were.

I guessed it was the word “never” that made me pause. What did that mean? That I’d end up living and dying in Grayslake without experiencing the rest of the world? That I’d never have new cultural experiences? That if I stayed here my only choices for a husband included a long list of distant cousins or a werebear? Did that mean no kids? Was I destined to be the town’s spinster caterer? Always at the weddings, but never the bride?

“Cadence?”

Case’s deep voice lulled me out of my thoughts.

“Sorry. I do that sometimes,” I apologized.

“Where did you go?”

It was the first time Case asked something when I thought the answer might actually matter to him. There was a dark intensity in his eyes. A look that cut through me.

“It’s going to sound crazy.”

“Try me.”

I chewed on my bottom lip. “Sometimes when I think about something, my mind wanders. It’s sort of a bad habit. But it’s hard to break because I don’t even realize I’m doing it. And before I know it everyone around me is staring and I’m in my own little world and I didn’t know I left everyone else behind.” It sounded as ridiculous as I thought it would.

“What made you go there this time?”

I felt silly letting him in on my little quirks and even sillier with what simple word took me there.

“The idea of never leaving Grayslake. I guess I always found comfort in it until I heard the way it sounded when you said it.”

“Didn’t mean to do that.”

Once I started talking I couldn’t stop.

“What if that’s true? What if I never do anything else? What if I never go anywhere? What if this is it? What if there isn’t more meaning in life? What if I turn into the Grayslake spinster?”

I felt the tiny sting of tears begin to well in the corners of my eyes, but before they bubbled and spilled over my lashes, Case slid his hand against my cheek, drawing my lips to his with a firm pull.

His hand was warm and strong, cradling my face while he took my breath away with a kiss that would forever be seared onto my lips.

His mouth moved against mine and I sighed.

My eyes fluttered open. “What was that for?”

“I don’t know shit about this town. But I do know you, Cadence, will never be a spinster.”

7

Case

I don’t know why in the hell I kissed her. Pouty lips. Glistening blue eyes. I don’t know.

I broke away and stared into the woods. I could taste the wine from her lips as I swirled my tongue. What the fuck was that about?

This thing. The dinners. The wine—it wasn’t happening. I needed to treat it like a Band-Aid and rip it off before it was any more complicated.

I wasn’t a wounded heart that a sweet girl like Cadence could heal. There was too much damage done.

I needed to cancel the arrangement we had. I’d figure out a way to feed myself. Cadence was a nice girl. A beautiful girl. And maybe another time I’d let those baby blues seduce me, but I wasn’t there. Not even fucking close.

“Look, Cadence…” I started to explain, but my ears perked when I heard the leaves rustle in front of me.

The branches broke and I jumped to my feet as a man stumbled out of the forest. Not what I was expecting. His shirt was ripped and I saw a jagged streak of blood smeared on his cheek. My eyes did a quick scan of the woods behind him. He appeared to be alone.

He pointed a finger at me, wagging it unsteadily. “You! You, git the hell off my land.”

I pushed Cadence behind me, who had risen to her feet. I could smell the alcohol wafting off the guy’s breath and he was five yards away.

“You’re lost,” I stated. I had an instinct to dive head first into his chest and take him to the ground, but he was just a stupid drunk, staggering through the woods.

My claws were aching to be freed and my fangs were ready to piece skin, but not like this. I wasn’t willing to risk a fight on a lost and confused plastered camper.

He lunged forward, falling onto his knees next to the sidewalk. “I’m home. You need to git yer girlfriend and git the hell outta here. Go on. Git.”

My chest widened as I took a large step forward. I kept my voice calm, but there was no mistake he would know who I was. I didn’t have to hide my jaguar in Grayslake. Not on my own land.

“Pick your drunk ass up and walk out of here.” I grabbed him roughly by the shoulder. “I’d hate for you to get hurt any more than you already are.”

He didn’t take the warning and threw my arm away from his body. He spat from the side of his mouth, something foul and brown. “This is my land. My home. I will fight you for it.”

I looked over my shoulder at Cadence. Her eyes were wide with worry.

I put my hand up. “I’ve got this,” I assured her. I wasn’t going to rip his throat out, although that would make the whole thing much easier and more satisfying.

I’d play devil’s advocate for a minute. Give the old man a chance to make his case. I was curious why he was confused. I assumed it was too much booze.

“Why do you think this is your property?” I quizzed him.

He started wagging his finger again. This time the line was zig-zagged. “I claimed it ten years ago. It’s Shepherd land you’re on.”

I scoffed. “Claimed it? From whom?”

“For myself.” He stumbled slightly. “There was no one here to challenge me.”

I folded my arms. “This land has been a part of Maddox territory longer than you’ve been alive, old man. You don’t have the right to challenge anyone for it.”

“But I did. I sure did.” His eyes seemed to cross every few seconds.

“You didn’t,” I growled. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll give you another opportunity to turn around and go back to whatever bourbon-filled hole you crawled out of before I remove you myself.” I knew my eyes were glowing. I wanted him to see how serious I was.

He didn’t know what a real challenge was. He was too drunk to see what an idiot he was being. He had no idea the implications of fighting a king. He was insane. This was my way of granting him mercy. He should have taken it.

“Case, maybe we should call Ty Abrams. He might be able to help with something like this. He is the Grayslake sheriff.”

“I can handle it.”

“I know him really well and I know he’d—”

“I said I’ve got it,” I cut her off. I faced my challenger again. “So what will it be? Ready to go sober up somewhere else?”

His eyes glowed yellow. Damn it. He wasn’t going to back down.

“Cadence, get in the house,” I ordered. Drunk or not, I didn’t know how this guy was going to act in a fight.

“But…”

“Get in the house.”

My fingers twitched. My pulse thumped in my ears.

She ran from the porch, slamming the door behind her. I knew she was probably watching from the front window, but as long as she was inside I wouldn’t have to worry about her being a casualty. Shepherd was so wasted he wouldn’t know what he was doing.

It took a while, but I watched as the drunkard shifted from skin and tattered clothing to something resembling a mountain lion. He looked as bad in cat form as he did as a human. His fur was yellowed and grew in patches. Part of his ear was torn and he seemed even more unsteady. For a second I thought about taking him out just like this, but I wasn’t that reckless. He could still cut me with his claws.

I pulled the T-shirt over my head and hung it preciously over the railing. It was one of the only things I had brought that reminded me of where I had been. The seal for The Grove was printed on the faded gray shirt. I’d worn it so many times it was thin on the tops of my shoulders. College didn’t seem important at the time—getting the girl did. But I kept the shirt. It was a small memory.

He hissed at me, but it didn’t hurry my process. I wasn’t ripping these jeans either. I slung them up next to the T-shirt.

And then I let my jaguar take over. I shifted quickly and forcefully, feeling skin become fur. Ears point. Claws emerge.

I swiped with sudden power, knocking him on his hind legs. His crooked teeth barred at me, but I kept at it, hitting him with another punch and a kick from my back legs. He croaked and gargled, but I didn’t let up.

I felt the power mingle with the darkness and pulse through me. I hit him again. I growled with every attack.

I could hear a voice behind me. “Stop! Stop! You’re going to kill him.”

I looked down. The old man was balled into a mound of fur. He whimpered in between coughing fits. I closed my eyes. I’d made my point. I stepped back as he unraveled from his position. Eventually, he stood on all four legs.

I growled at him. “Now, get off my land. You aren’t welcome here, Shepherd. And if you do come back, I do not have to show mercy a second time,” I roared.

Cadence might know her fair share of were information, but I doubted she could translate the cat shifter language we exchanged.

He moved shakily, tucking his tail between his legs and slinked back through the woods. I didn’t bother to follow him.

Cadence looked worried. Her hand still gripped the screen door. I yanked the clothes from the railing and darted around the side of the house to shift and change. Maybe she was used to shifter life, but I sure as hell wasn’t used to humans being a part of it.

I dressed and strolled to the porch.

“Are you ok?” she asked.

“Of course.” I actually felt good. Better than I had in a long time. It was as if I had released something that had weighed on me.

I smiled at her. “What do you think about finishing that bottle of wine?”

8

Cadence

I knew I wasn’t supposed to feel electrified from what I had seen, but that’s exactly what it was. There was some new kind of thrill coursing through me. I knew Case wasn’t defending me per say, but he was so authoritative and protective. Commanding. It was hot as hell.

Then again, maybe that glass of wine had gone straight to my head, or my hormones.

I watched from the window as he won a deciding victory. Although, there was that little part where I had to step in so he didn’t kill the guy. I didn’t want to have to explain that to Ty.

“Do you think you’re up for it? The wine?” I asked. “Do you need to sit down or something?”

He laughed as he leaned down and scooped up the bottle. “I’m fine. And I’d like another round.”

He poured both of our glasses to the top and handed one to me.

“I’d offer you a porch swing, but it’s at the bottom of the ravine.”

I let a giggle slip. “So it is.”

“And my kitchen is trashed.”

“Yep.” I took a sip.

“But I do have a screened in porch around back. Want to check it out?”

I felt the little tingles again. Tiny surges of current.

I nodded. “I’d love to see it.”

I followed him down the stairs and around the house. On the back was a screened in porch. I could tell it was a later addition to the rest of the home. The roofline didn’t quite match up and the foundation wasn’t the same as the rest of the house, but it was cute.

He opened the door and I ducked under his arm.

There was a set of wicker furniture that had seen better days. The paint was chipped and the cushions were mildewed.

Case crinkled his forehead. “Hold on. Let me get some sheets. This hasn’t been cleaned off in years.”

He jotted inside and returned with a long sheet and a folded quilt. I expected him to throw each over an individual chair, but instead he covered the loveseat with the sheet.

“For you.” He smiled.

I took a seat. Even though it was summer, sometimes the night temperature dropped in the mountains. It was the perfect night for a cold glass of wine and a light quilt.

Case tucked the corners over my legs. I looked at the fireflies lighting around us.

“I don’t think you told me the story about this place,” I mused. The wine was starting to make me feel at ease despite the fact I had just witnessed a cat shifter fight.

“No, I didn’t.”

He seemed to already be back to his sharp responses. I took a sip of wine. It was going to take more than dinner to help this man heal. He was dealing with something stronger than what my best recipe could ease.

It was strange how we had gone from the skirmish in the front yard to something so magical and peaceful in the backyard. But it also somehow felt right.

“I take it you aren’t related to that guy or anything. Not a long-lost uncle? Uncle Shep?”

“A Maddox like that? Hell no.” He chugged the wine. “I’m from a line of royalty. That shifter didn’t know what he was talking about.”

I was relieved he didn’t know Shepherd. And even more relieved they weren’t actually related. From what I overheard the old man was way too intoxicated and out of line. But why should it matter? Why was I so interested in Case’s life?

He stood with his forearm against the pillar on the porch, leaning so that his body was a shadowed silhouette. I could only make out the width of his broad shoulders and just how perfect the lines of his body were. I inhaled deeply to try to steady myself.

I could stare at his ass all night.

He looked at me over his shoulder, his eyes glowing green. I shivered.

“I used to come here as a kid. This is where I learned how to fight like a king.” He turned his entire body around, leaning against the pillar. I was quiet.

“When I needed to get out of town it was the first place that popped in my head. Kind of strange don’t you think? I haven’t been here in fifteen years.”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t think it’s strange. You had good memories here. It makes sense to me. Grayslake is a special place.”

He walked toward me and I made a place for him on the rickety loveseat. When he sat next to me I thought I heard a few of the pieces break.

“Since I’ve been here I’ve done nothing but tear the place down. My grandmother would have grabbed me by the ear and pulled me out to the woodshed.” He laughed. “She wasn’t a shifter anymore when I was a kid, but damn if she wasn’t strong.”

I wondered if I had crossed paths with Case’s family as a child. I didn’t remember meeting any Maddoxes. I couldn’t think of a single story about them, other than there was an abandoned house up here with their name on it.

“What do you mean anymore?”

He shook his head. “I don’t want to get into it.”

I had a feeling this wasn’t one of those times when my nosiness would get me any further. I knew I needed to change the subject, but all I could think about were the hundreds of shifter questions floating through my head.

What did a jaguar king do? Did he have something like a court? And the one question that kept haunting me: was the ex part of royalty? Was she still involved in his kingdom?

I didn’t expect it when Case leaned back and stretched his arm out behind my shoulders.

“Hmm.” The murmur slipped from my lips as I nestled into the crook of his arm.

He was strong and emanated masculinity, decisiveness and the kind of power I guessed came from being a royal cat shifter.

But in this one single moment, I knew there were more layers to the king. The problem was the one I wanted to get to know was his heart—and that was badly bruised and broken.

9

Case

Between leading the Tribe into battle, losing my wife to another man, and taking a break from conquering more territories I hadn’t thought about this possibility.

I squeezed Cadence’s shoulder. She smelled like coconut and fresh rain. The combination went straight to my head.

The adrenaline from fighting the mountain line was still pumping through me.

I felt as if I could tear through the woods on an all-night run, or I could take this pretty girl to bed.

There was a slight rumble in my chest. It felt fucking incredible to feel so alive.

I hadn’t thought it through. What it would feel like to want someone again. What the moment would look like when I saw desire in another woman’s eyes. When I tasted a kiss that made me thirst for more.

It was getting old—staying away from women. But there was no way in hell I wanted more than one night.

Only tonight.

I turned toward her. I tangled my hands in her hair, dragging her lips to mine. I groaned as my tongue dipped insider her mouth. I had a new need to drink every last drop of wine off her lips.

Her hands moved to my neck as she spun and adjusted to sit in my lap. It was fucking hot that she straddled me without a second thought.

Holding her, I couldn’t seem to remember why I’d been avoiding this. I pulled her waist tighter toward me, grinning when she rocked into me. I growled.

Her innocent eyes lit with something primal. Something fiery. Her lips crashed against mine. I forgot everything as my jaguar began to awaken. There was something about Cadence he liked. Her softness. Her patience. And she was sexy and gorgeous.

I’d noticed her blond hair and her beautiful eyes the first time she dropped off that awful lasagna. I’d have to be a monk not to notice her breasts and her hips. And there was something about the fact that she was human. It was as if she was wrapped in innocence and pureness. A combination I’d been fighting to ignore.

“Ohh,” she whimpered as I kissed her neck. I cradled her head with my hand, nipping as I explored the smoothness of her throat with my teeth.

I moved to spin her back against the loveseat when it began to crack. I knew what was coming next. I tried to get Cadence away, but it splintered into a thousand pieces as we landed on the floor.

“Damn it,” I muttered.

Cadence looked up at me.

“You ok?” I asked.

We sat up together. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

I could hear the swiftness of her pulse. Her cheeks were flushed. And I felt the urge to pull her back under my body and kiss the hell out of her edible lips.

I took a solid breath. Things spiraled fast.

“It’s getting late isn’t it?” Cadence asked.

The fire we started seemed to have cooled down.

I scratched the back of my head. She was right. I needed to let her go home.

“I’ll walk you out,” I offered.

I helped her up from the wreck of a loveseat. One more thing I would have to replace. She took my hand and stood slowly.

“I-I…” she stopped.

“What?” I led her away from the back porch and around to her car.

“I want to be your friend Case.” She looked up at me innocently. As if that were even possible.

I chuckled. “I like how you show your friendship.” I winked, but I didn’t know if she could see as well as I could in the dark.

“Not—that’s not what I meant.” She looked at the ground. We had reached her car. “I know you’re going through a lot. I want to help you.”

“Good to know.”

“Really, Case.”

She had no idea what I was going through. “Why? Why do you care so much?”

“Because it’s not always going to be this awful. You’re not always going to be hurt. Because I’ve been there—I know what it’s like.”

I laughed. “I’m sure you do.”

She was cute, but she couldn’t come close to the experience I had with Dare. My fated mate had been ripped from my life. That relationship was over. A human would never understand.

“Are you mocking me?”

“No, darlin’. But I think you’re right. Time for you to go home.”

She pressed her lips together, adding an irritated glare to her expression.

“Fine.” She pulled on the car door. “I was only trying to be a friend. But you could stand to be a little nicer.”

“You’re not the first person to tell me that.”

I retraced my steps. It didn’t take long for me to put the walls back up. I was good at it. An expert.

She groaned, “Ugh!”

“Good night, Cadence.”

I started up the stairs before she was even in the car. I’d had enough.

But enough of what? Someone being nice? Someone who was interested in helping me? A pretty girl who wanted me to kiss her? I hung my head. I was being a complete asshole. Once I started, it seemed easier to be a dick than to let her chip away at the barriers.

Hell, I was an idiot.

I turned. “Wait up, Cadence.”

I owed her an explanation. She didn’t need every gut-wrenching detail about how I ended up here, but she was willing to listen. She made me dinner. And underneath that creamy skin of hers was a sexy sassy hellcat ready to be unleashed.

But as soon as I jogged down the stairs I knew I had put the pieces together too slowly. The drunkard was back and he had his claws around Cadence’s neck.

She looked panicked as she tried to speak. Nothing came out. Shepherd held her roughly. The keys fell from her hand to the driveway.

I put my hands up. “Hey, hey. Easy there.”

“I want my land.” He spat.

He looked more banged up than the last time I saw him. I wondered if he had left here and gotten in another fight. I swore I had taken care of him. What was the bastard doing here again?

Cadence managed to squeak out my name.

“It’s ok, Cadence,” I tried to calm her. But I could see the claws digging deeper into her throat. If he pressed any harder, he could hit an artery. Shit.

Even if I could convince him to let her go, he might hurt her in the process. He was deranged and still drunk. The only chance I had was using my skills as a jaguar. I could out-maneuver him. I was faster. More agile. And younger.

“I want you off my land. Now,” he slurred.

“I hear you.” I took a step back. I just needed to keep him occupied for a minute so I could shift without him puncturing Cadence’s neck.

If he decided to do the same thing, she’d be caught between two big cats.

I was pissed. Angry that he’d come back. Angry he thought he had any stake in my family’s home. Angry that he was holding Cadence hostage as if she was a bargaining chip in his drunken tirade.

She didn’t deserve this. She was innocent. Her blue eyes were wide with fear. I wanted to tell her I’d take care of this. But there was no way to reassure her other than to save her life. Now.

The fur whipped through my skin. My claws extended. My clothes were shredded on the ground as my legs protruded in four directions.

I lunged as quickly as I could, aiming for the arm he had clamped around Cadence’s neck. She fell sideways as I knocked the old-timer flat on his back with a vicious tackle. His eyes lit with fury. He was slower than me, but within seconds I was staring at the raggedy mountain lion again.

“You don’t seem to want to listen.” I stood over him.

“Neither do you,” he snarled, showing his crooked teeth.

I looked over my shoulder. Cadence was lying on the ground with her eyes closed. Shit. She must have knocked her head when I shoved her out of the way.

My tail whipped to the side when I turned my attention back to the mountain lion.

I was angrier than before this started. Something protective in me had been unleashed. Seeing the fear in Cadence’s eyes. Watching her fall. Knowing she counted on me to save her.

I growled, bowing into my attack stance. He wasn’t leaving here alive. I had already shown more mercy than he deserved.

“Son, you should step aside.”

I huffed. “I’m the son of Gareth. I am the king of the Maddox line.” I circled him. He had no idea who he was dealing with.

He stumbled as he tried to cross one leg over another. That was my opportunity. I pounced without hesitation, pinning him to the gravel. My claws extracted and in one quick slash I had sliced through his neck. The blood pooled next to his body.

I jumped back as the mountain lion before me faded into the form of a crumpled old man. I pressed an ear to his chest, but I already knew the answer—he was dead.

I sneered at him, kicking dirt as I turned toward Cadence.

My favorite T-shirt was in tatters. My jeans were just as bad off. I shifted so I could pick her up and carry her into the house.

She felt light in my arms as I held her close.

I climbed the stairs, and nudged the door open with my foot. The only place that wasn’t a dust field was my bedroom. It was at the back of the house, down a long hallway.

I lowered her to the bed, making sure her head was cushioned with a soft pillow.

“Cadence?”

Her eyes fluttered for a second, but closed again. I walked to my dresser and chose a pair of jeans from the bottom drawer. I pulled them up over my legs before heading to the bathroom. I ran a washcloth under the cold water and returned to my room.

I didn’t know what else to do. I draped it across her forehead.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I was an ass.”

She took a slow breath.

Damn it. How did this happen? In one day everything had changed.

There was a beautiful girl in my bed.

A dead body outside.

And a shifter war in my backyard.

10

Cadence

It was dark and I could hear rain beating against the window. Where was I? I tried to push forward, but I had a killer headache.

“Whoa. Don’t move.”

I felt big strong hands press on my shoulders, urging me back on the bed.

“Case?”

“Yeah, you have a nasty scrape on your head. You hit it pretty hard when you fell.”

I reached for my temple. I winced. “Ouch.”

Other than the pain in my head, the rest of me felt fine. I wiggled my fingers and toes to make sure everything worked properly.

“How long was I out?” I asked.

“A few hours.” His brow furrowed. “I was worried, but I didn’t want to call an ambulance.”

“You were worried about me?” I saw how concerned he looked. It was cute and sexy. I held my giggle in, though. This wasn’t a time to be giddy. He looked too serious for that.

“I’ll get another cold washcloth. Hold on.”

He was gone before I had my bearings. It started coming back to me slowly.

Case and I had argued after a pretty amazing make out session on his screened porch. He walked away and then the old man was back, snaking his hands around my neck. I could still smell his breath. It was stale and potent with bourbon. He whispered terrible things in my ear about how I wasn’t going to leave.

I thought he was going to kill me.

I started to shake.

“Hey, hey. You’re all right.” Case returned with the washcloth, but placed it on the table and sat next to me. I didn’t expect him to pull me into his arms. “He’s gone. You’re safe. I promise.”

“But—he—” I couldn’t finish the thought. Tears streamed down my cheeks.

I’d never been close to death before.

“Shh,” Case soothed. He stroked the back of my hair. “It’s over. He’s not coming back.”

I realized I was crying on his bare chest. I sat forward, seeing my tears glisten on the broad planes of his muscles. I touched my tears on his skin.

My eyes lifted to his. I saw them glow with emerald flames.

“Cadence,” he whispered.

I suddenly felt aware of how alive I was. If it weren’t for Case I would be lifeless. I’d have puncture wounds in my neck and would have bled to death in the driveway. Tomorrow wouldn’t exist.

But he saved me.

He challenged the man. He protected me. Every part of me felt a new appreciation for the way the blood pumped through my body. How my lungs inhaled new breaths, one after another. How Case’s skin felt under my fingertips. How his lips tasted. How his voice sounded. It all started with a whisper, and now I didn’t know how any of it would end.

“I think you might need some more rest.” He studied my eyes. “You’ve been through a lot. You can sleep in my bed. I’ll leave.”

I shook my head. “That’s the last thing I want. I almost died.”

My palm rested over his heart and I could feel the certain thump thump as I pressed my hand, absorbing the heat that radiated from him. His eyes closed.

“I almost died once. More than once.” His long lashes lifted. “I know what you’re feeling right now. The need for closeness is almost consuming. But I’m not the guy for that.”

“I’m not afraid to get close to you.”

“You should be.” His fingers tilted my chin upward, holding my gaze.

“Don’t try to push me away now.” I felt the intensity building between us.

The rain beat against the glass. There was a low glow coming from a candle on the dresser. I realized the power must have gone out sometime when I was asleep. I wondered how bad the storm had gotten.

“It’s my fault you were hurt. I’m not in a place where I can give you what you need.”

My chest heaved. What did he know about what I needed? We barely knew each other. But it seemed that ever since Case had moved back to Grayslake we had been pulled together. Tonight was no different.

“This is exactly what I need.” I leaned toward him, brushing my lips over his.

I could feel the growl vibrate through his chest. His hands gripped the back of my head, kissing me deeply and strongly. I moaned when I felt his tongue flick against mine. Damn, he was an amazing kisser. An expert kisser. The kind of kisser I didn’t know existed in this world.

And I had been falling. Falling all along. Aching for him. Wanting him.

His hands coasted over my shoulders and down my sides until he tugged on the hem of my shirt. I readily lifted my arms so he could drag it over my head.

He kissed my shoulder, running his heated tongue over my collar bone.

“You’re beautiful, Cadence.”

I sighed, running my fingers through his dark hair. Each one of his kisses seared into my skin. With a quick flick he unclasped my bra and the straps slid off my arms.

My nipples hardened under his stare. I rubbed the peaks against his chest, watching his stare. The friction of skin against skin drove both of us crazy. His mouth crushed mine with a fiery kiss. I climbed into his lap, wrapping every part of myself around his body.

There was no way to control my breathing, or my heartbeat. I was on fire for this man. The man who had saved me. The mysterious brooder who needed help healing his broken heart. He pulled my bottom lip between his teeth and I felt a rush of electricity race straight to my core. Did he do anything that wasn’t hot?

I gasped when the kisses trailed down my throat. He rocked me back and latched onto my breast, sucking my nipple in his mouth.

“Ohh,” I whimpered, holding onto his neck for dear life. My body writhed and twitched in his arms.

“We should stop,” he growled, taking the other nipple in his mouth as if he owned it.

My hips jerked forward. “Don’t.”

“I don’t want to.” I could hear the anguish in his voice. His kisses led to the V at the base of my throat. “But you’re hurt, and I don’t want that to be how this happens.”

All I could think about was how much I wanted it. I wanted him. I didn’t have the words to convince him I was ok.

He raised his head, and stopped to brush a strand of hair off my shoulder. “I’m not a project you can fix. And I already know you deserve better than that.” He kissed my shoulder. “As much as I want this to happen, as much as my jaguar wants you, the good guy buried in me says I shouldn’t.”

“I never said I wanted to fix you, Case. I want to help you. I want to be your friend.”

Couldn’t he tell I was genuine? I wasn’t the kind of girl who would hurt him. I would never do what she did. I didn’t know how else to show him.

I ran my fingers tenderly along the angles of his jaw.

“Friends do this?” He kissed me roughly until I whimpered for him to release my lips.

I touched my fingers to his mouth. “I do want more than that.” I lowered my eyes.

Whoever he was hung up on, had done a number on him. I didn’t want to be the get-over-her girl. I didn’t want to be his rebound. I wanted a lot more. I’d seen enough shifter love in this town to realize how powerful it was. I wanted a shifter of my own. I wanted love. Amazing sex. Glances that made me melt. A growl in my ear that belonged only to me.

“And tonight it wouldn’t be more than that.” His eyes glowed. “I can’t take advantage of you like that.”

It was as if the words broke the spell.

I wiggled backward. None of what I wanted was going to happen if I slept with Case because he had rescued the damsel in distress. I didn’t want him to see me as weak and helpless. I never wanted him to think he took advantage. All of it made me shudder with hurt.

I reached for my shirt and threaded my arms through the sleeves.

Case kissed my forehead gently. “Get some rest. I’ll drive you home in the morning.”

He rose from the bed, blew out the candle, and closed the door behind him.

11

Case

I leaned against the door. My heart beat out of my chest. I shoved my hands in my pockets. What in the hell was I doing?

Every part of me wanted her. My jag was about to break through my skin. Cadence was everything I needed. Exactly what I needed.

I put my hand on the doorknob. I could turn back around and tell her I’d changed my mind. I wanted her as badly as she wanted me. I wanted the warmth and tenderness of her lips. I wanted to feel the silkiness of her hair and the closeness of her body.

She was possibly the only woman who was ok with the fact that I needed to be put back together. She still wanted me despite everything I had told her. I didn’t scare her away. It didn’t seem like anything scared the girl off.

I was used to head-strong and independent women. Panthers were a force to be reckoned with. Cadence had a different kind of strength. An inner resolve that came from making her own place in a town full of shifters. A stick-to-itiveness that grew over years of making it alone. And she was kind and gentle. Beautiful and soft. She wasn’t a fierce warrior and she never would be, but there were other ways to show fortitude. And that girl had it.

I pressed my forehead against the door. My body ached to be with her. My jaguar wanted to tear through the wooden planks.

I clenched my fists as I let the doorknob slip from my grasp.

I retracted from the door.

Not like this. Not this way.

***

A few hours later Eli and Ronan knocked on the front door. I cracked it and ducked onto the porch. Cadence had eventually fallen asleep. I didn’t want to wake her, nor was I interested in her meeting members of the Tribe.

I couldn’t help but feel as if I had crossed a line with her I wasn’t ready to cross. Bringing more people into my world would only complicate things. The humans in Grayslake might be used to shifter activity, but I wasn’t used to involving them. Couldn’t say I ever would be either.

“Your majesty.” They bowed formally. They were here on official business. I appreciated the respect they always gave me.

“He’s over there.” I pointed to the side of the driveway where a row of overgrown bushes hid Shepherd.

“We’ll take care of it,” Eli assured me.

“I doubt he’ll be missed, but just in case anyone from his clan comes looking for him make sure there are no signs of him.”

“Understood,” Ronan answered.

Although, the bastard had made his mark all over the place. I realized the scratches at the door and around the windows more than likely belonged to him. He had his eye on the place for a while.

I went inside while they disposed of the mountaineer’s body. I had moved the coffee maker to the living room. I made a pot and poured a few cups into mugs from that precious china Cadence liked so much.

I sat on the porch when Eli and Ronan emerged from the forest.

“Coffee?” I offered.

“Thanks.” Eli took a cup and sat next to me.

“What’s the report back home?” I asked. I knew there wasn’t anything dire.

Ronan’s shoulders slumped. “The Nox are still hanging around. I thought they would leave.”

I wasn’t the only one who had to deal with an ex in a small town. Both Ronan and Eli thought their futures were secure with Sloan and Abi. The revolution Dare had started with her army of she-panthers, the Nox, had affected more than we anticipated. And I had forced the Tribe to help them. I never asked permission beforehand, nor forgiveness after. I didn’t need either as their king, but the sliver of humanity in me that kept revealing itself, told me the decisions I made altered their lives.

Eli growled, “It’s like they want us to see them. They don’t even try to hide.”

The coffee was dark, almost bitter-tasting. “They don’t have to anymore,” I reminded them. “We aren’t after them. They are free now.”

“Sloan’s not seeing anyone. I know that much.” Ronan sighed. “I tried to call her yesterday.”

Eli’s gaze was distant. “Abi and Tegan—well you know that’s still strong.”

God, this was turning into a fucking nightmare. I wasn’t hosting a counseling session. I had to get them back to warrior status.

“Forget the Nox.” I almost screamed it over their heads. Didn’t they see they were half the men they should be? “They aren’t your concern anymore.” I continued, “Donovan is going to need reinforcements. Things are heating up in Charleston. I could use you two there.”

It made sense. He needed help, and these two had to get the hell out of that town for a while.

Did I look as bad as they did? They looked like hell. Dark circles under their eyes. Shoulders rounded. They weren’t the same members of the Tribe that I had trained and conditioned. They looked like love-sick fools and that had to change. Immediately.

“If you need us there, just say the word.” Eli looked to me for the official order.

“Go. And when you get there let me know. I’ll call Donovan this morning and check in with him.”

They both stood, stretching their backs and long limbs. They left their half-filled coffee cups on the railing.

“Good to see you both.” I rose next to them. “Thanks for the help.”

“Sure thing.” Ronan hopped from the top step to the sidewalk.

It was as if they each had a sudden spring in their stride. I had given them a new purpose. I didn’t realize how badly they needed it. They didn’t have kitchens to demolish. They had been back home pining away for girls who didn’t want them back. I was a dick for not seeing this sooner.

I watched as their dark figures disappeared behind the trees. They must have parked on the edges of the property and hiked in. I had taught them well.

It was clear now. They needed their king.

I had work to do before they’d get him back completely.

My chest rose with the realization. I better get started.

12

Cadence

I touched the side of my head. It was tender and swollen and there was a definite lump near my temple. I sat up. Shit. I was still in Case’s bed. I cringed, remembering just how awkward things had become last night. I had basically thrown myself at him and he walked away. I was embarrassed. And at the same time my body was flooded with sensation at the memory of his tongue gliding over my skin. I tingled.

Those kisses were the kind a girl would never forget. He said he was a king, but holy hell, he was the king of kissing as far as I was concerned.

I was grateful to be alive. There was no way to thank Case for what he had done for me. He had taken out the old mountaineer without hesitation. As if saving me was as easy as breathing.

And sex wasn’t the payment. No, I’d never do that. But he was right about wanting to feel close after something horrific happened. I wanted closeness with him. I wanted to share that experience with him.

But he held back. It was almost chivalrous. Gallant.

I pulled the covers away as my feet slid to the floor.

The rain had stopped and the early morning light peeked through the faded curtains. I had no idea what time it was.

I was going to have to leave this room eventually. I took a big breath as I reached for the door. I had no idea how to face Case.

I tiptoed down the hall. The front door was open and I could see him sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee. His head turned. He must have heard me. I froze.

“Good morning.”

“Hi.” My voice was small.

I pushed open the screen door to join him.

“How is your head?” he asked.

I could only imagine how horrible I looked. My head was gashed. I hadn’t showered. I tucked my hair behind my ears as if that would help.

“I think it’s going to be fine.” It was only throbbing a little.

“Do you want me to take you to get it checked?” he offered.

“No. I’m fine really. But, I do think we need to call Ty. We have to tell him about what happened with Shepherd last night. He can help us.”

Case’s softened expression became authoritative. His brows knitted together firmly. “There’s no reason to involve anyone else. It’s taken care of.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s not clan business. This was a Tribe issue and I handled it.”

“You’re in Grayslake. Anything that happens here is clan business,” I tried to explain. Did he have any idea what he was saying?

He stopped short of snarling at me. “Cadence, it’s over. There’s nothing else to discuss.”

“How can you say that? You killed someone last night. Clearly justified, I’m not arguing that, but you can’t cover this up.”

His eyes landed on mine and I knew with one look I shouldn’t utter another word about it. Case had made a decision as king. He wasn’t acting in accordance with clan laws—he was the leader of his own clan. With one fierce stare, he made his point. I could either accept that I was dealing with the jaguar king, or start an issue between him and Ty.

I pressed my lips together. “Fine.” King or not, I wanted to get the last word in on the topic.

We sat in silence for a moment.

I didn’t know how two people could experience what we did and have this amount of space between them. I felt incredibly tied to Case, but right now I knew I shouldn’t be here.

He seemed preoccupied. He wasn’t in the same place I was.

“I guess I should go.” I stood to leave.

“I can drive you.” He towered over me when he rose from the step.

“That’s ok. I’m fine. Really.”

The picnic basket I had so carefully planned and packed yesterday was on the edge of the step. Case must have loaded everything back inside when I was sleeping.

“Cadence, about last night…” He ran his hand through his jet-black hair. “I’m glad you’re ok.”

“Oh.”

I thought he was getting ready to make some kind of astonishing confession. Maybe that it meant something to him. That kissing me made him want more kisses. That he loved talking to me. He wanted to get to know more about me. He wanted me back in his bed.

I picked up the basket and started for the car.

I didn’t feel like I needed to say anything about dinner tonight. We both knew I wouldn’t be back.

I slid behind the wheel and started the car. Case watched me drive away, and as hard as I tried I never took my eyes off him in the rear-view mirror until I made the last turn and he was gone.

13

Case

I ran the sander over the top of the counter one last time and stood back to admire what I had done. Two weeks of kitchen construction and it finally looked fucking awesome. I knew my grandmother would be proud.

I wiped off the dust with a heavy cloth, working a shine into the surface. I needed to seal them next and then I could move on to the cabinets.

I tossed the rag in the sink and headed for the workshop. Over the past two weeks I had stocked it with almost every conceivable supply I could think of for the kitchen. The countertops were huge slabs of wood I had reclaimed from an old farmhouse.

Working with my hands wasn’t something I was used to, but it came naturally. I thought I was better at destruction, but I had found something that calmed the darkness when I built with my hands. It channeled the raw hurt I felt.

I walked across the yard, knowing I breathed lighter. I didn’t look for shadows to crawl into. I was focused on getting the house back to the way it should be.

The sealant was in gallon containers against the back wall. The kittens jumped from one pail to another. I scowled at them, but they had stopped running from me.

I hauled two gallons in my hands back to the house. When I was inside, I realized I had left the brushes in the barn. I jogged outside again just as my phone rang.

It was Donovan.

“Tell me.” I stopped outside the doors. One of the kittens tried to bat the laces on my boots.

“We have confirmation. It is the Litchfields.”

I looked at the sky. I knew it. They had been eyeing Charleston too long to let someone else try to engage with me instead.

“I want Eli and Ronan working with you day and night to get a definite count.”

“Got it,” Donovan confirmed. “I have moved my guys to the perimeter of the city to try to see who comes in at night.”

“They are going to attack from the inside out.”

I knew how the Litchfields worked. They would lie low as long as they could. Maybe even years, creating a stronghold inside Charleston and on the border of the city. They would start an attack that ran inside and out. It was tactical brilliance.

What they didn’t recognize was that I had studied more strategies and had training surpassing anything they knew.

I had an army at my disposal. With Donovan as regent, I had another advantage.

“I’m going to send Noah down there.” That meant I was leaving Dare’s city under Trevor’s watch, but things were becoming more serious in Charleston. I could move more guys around if I had to.

My brother was playing house. I could easily pull him into this.

“He’ll be useful here. Caroline is trying to work the perimeter contacts she has.”

I realized I didn’t flinch when he mentioned his panther mate.

“Do you need anything else?”

“No. I wanted to fill you in. Now that we know it’s the Litchfields for sure, I think we can make headway cutting them off.”

“Exactly.”

A second kitten had joined in on the game to grab my boot laces.

I searched the workbench for the brushes I had bought for the counter sealant.

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“No problem, brother.” I smiled. It had been a while since I had felt like using that expression.

“I’ll call you later.”

We hung up. I needed to get Noah on the phone and let him know he had to get to Charleston by nightfall. He also had the responsibility of telling Trev that his party planning business would have to become second to keeping an eye on the town.

He’d groan and complain, but he would do it.

I wondered if Trev and Cadence would want to work together. What would she think about the jag who spent his time designing center pieces? I could only imagine how he would critique her food presentation. I chuckled, thinking about it.

I stopped in the middle of the yard. What in the hell was I thinking? What was I doing going down a road where Candence and Trev would collide?

It had been a couple of weeks since I had seen the pretty blonde. I almost called her a few times. More than a few times.

Last night I fell asleep thinking about her gorgeous eyes and those cute little sounds she made when I kissed her.

I almost called her right then.

But something stopped me.

I wanted to see her again, but it wasn’t the right time. I walked into the kitchen and used a screwdriver to open the sealant.

I didn’t know when I would see her.

14

Cadence

God, how many éclairs could one girl make? I iced another dozen and slouched on the barstool, exhausted and cranky.

Apparently, Keen didn’t know what in the heck he was talking about. The clan had put in another order for this month. I was working my ass off to get the desserts ready before I delivered dinner to them tomorrow night.

I set the timer on the oven and decided I could take a thirty-minute break. I had been on my feet all day. The problem with breaks was they gave me a chance to slow down. And slowing down meant I could think. Think about Case.

It had been almost a month since I left the Maddox house.

And silly me thought Case would come to his senses. He’d figure out that he’d let the best thing in the world walk away. He’d realize he was being an ass and call me.

I had these ridiculous day dreams where he showed up at my door with flowers and a sexy grin, telling me how much he missed me. That after watching me drive away, he realized he was a complete idiot and he needed me.

I sighed. I was the idiot. He was a king. I was a caterer—and a human. Where did I think this could possibly go?

I prepped another batch of pastries. Sitting was bad.

***

I pulled up to the clan den. The van was loaded with all the house favorites. I hopped from the driver’s side and slammed the door.

There were two young guys I hadn’t met before in front of the house.

“Gigi sent us out here to help you.”

I smiled. “Thanks. I have a lot of trays. I can go inside and set up the burners if you want to start bringing them in,” I instructed.

I grabbed the bag that held all of the gel canisters and the frames for the pans. Tonight’s party was particularly spicy. I decided to steer clear from Italian for a while.

The kitchen was empty. I started filling the base pans with water and assembling the frames. I turned and almost dropped the first one on Lauren’s feet.

“Oh, you scared me.” I caught the pan just in time before it hit the floor.

She laughed. “Sorry. I heard you were here and wanted to see if I could help.”

“Thanks. I’m getting the frames set up while the guys bring in the food.”

Lauren assembled one. “Like this, right?”

I nodded. “That’s it. Easy peasy.”

I wasn’t used to seeing Lauren in the main house. She and Van had their own place on the clan compound. I realized this meeting might be pure coincidence, but she was the perfect person to run into. Human, really.

I’d known Lauren most of my life. We were never close friends, but we’d always been friendly. I was getting ready to dive headfirst into something extremely personal.

“Hey, Lauren, can I ask you something?”

“Hmm?” She turned from the silver posts. The guys made another trip from the van and we were alone.

I bit my bottom lip. I didn’t know how to phrase it exactly. “You’re human.”

She laughed. “Sure am.”

“Obviously. Umm, what I mean is … I’m human and we live in a town of weres. And you actually are with one.”

Her eyes lit. “Ohh, do you have your eye on someone in the clan?”

I shook my head. “No.”

She looked disappointed. Crap.

“But I do have my eye on someone. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind giving me some shifter advice.”

“Who is he?” She sat forward. Her blond curls bouncing on her shoulders.

“You know the old Maddox place?” I asked.

She nodded. “Him?”

“How did you know someone was there?”

“The Abrams know everything.”

Why should I expect anything less? “Of course. So it’s him. Case.”

Her eyes widened. “The jaguar? Wow.”

“It is wow, isn’t it?”

“So you know him? How far has it gotten?”

It didn’t take long for our friendship to become intimate. We were girls talking about boys. Nothing brought women together faster. I was at work, and this was completely unprofessional, but I needed her perspective. I needed help from one human who had a thing for a were to another.

“I started making dinner for him and delivering it to the house,” I started my story. I told her about the conversations we had. The kiss on the front porch. The make out session on the back porch and in his bed. I conveniently skipped over the part where Case had killed Shepherd.

“But he was hurt badly by a panther. She broke his heart. And I don’t know what to do. Do I give up? Do I pursue it? Am I crazy for wanting to be with him after all this time has passed?” I was desperate for a compass. I needed direction.

I could tell Lauren was considering how to respond. She waited while the bears brought in another few trays of food. I might have overcooked this time. There was more food here than last month.

“That sounds complicated.”

“It is,” I agreed.

“Ok. So here’s what you do.”

Thank, God. I needed advice.

“I’m listening. Anything you suggest I’ll try.” I was eager for wise human relationship tips on how to deal with a jaguar.

“You’re going to have to let him get over the girl.”

I twisted my lips together in a frown. “That’s it?”

“Yep. You don’t want him if he’s still grieving his broken heart. And if you’re talking about two mates—that’s another mess you don’t want to be in the middle of. He needs to be over her before he can even think about claiming you.”

“Claiming me?” I realized how horrified I sounded. I covered my mouth in case someone else in the house heard me.

She giggled. “That is what you want isn’t it? You want him.”

“What does claiming involve?” I sounded like a complete virgin. But shifter rules when it came to this stuff was foreign to me.

“I don’t know anything about jaguars. You’re going to have to ask him.” She eyed me and leaned closer. “But as far as bears go—it’s amazing.” She smiled. “And I wouldn’t want to be with anyone other than Van.” She winked.

“Oh.” I got everything she implied.

Did I want that? Did I want Case to claim me? Did I know after a month that he was someone I wanted that level of commitment with? And what did it mean for a jaguar? My head spun with all the questions.

“And don’t forget, honey.” She leaned in close. “He has to come to this all on his own. If he wants you, you’ll know it. A man will take the mate he wants. Does that help?” she asked.

The bears had started to file in for dinner. Our conversation had to be over anyway.

“Yes. Thank you.” I hugged her. It felt like the right ending to our talk.

“Good luck.”

“Thanks, Lauren.”

I made sure the rest of the food was set up, before heading to the van. After our girl chat, I suddenly had a lot to think about.

15

Case

I sat on the new swing and pushed off the porch. I didn’t try to rebuild the old one that had plummeted over the edge. I ordered this one online and installed it yesterday.

I took a sip of my coffee.

It had been a week since Donovan’s last report on the Litchfields. Noah, Eli, and Ronan were all working with him closely. I knew something was wrong. I could feel it under my skin.

The birds chirped in the forest. Sitting here in the remote stillness you’d never know there was a war brewing. But there was. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. The Litchfields were going to try to take the Charleston territory soon.

I pulled the phone from my back pocket and called Noah.

“Case,” he answered on the first ring.

“I haven’t heard from Donovan. What’s going on down there?”

“He doesn’t want us to update you until things are confirmed.”

I shook my head and tossed the coffee off the railing and walked inside to rinse out the china cup. “That’s not his call.”

“He is regent.”

“Fuck, Noah. I’m the king.”

“Sorry.”

Noah was one of the few members of the Tribe who treated me as a best friend and not a ruler.

“So what’s happening? What’s the Litchfield count?”

I sat at the kitchen table. Everything in this room was completely new. Refinished hardwoods. Reclaimed countertops. Open cabinets that displayed my grandmother’s china.

“Donovan won’t say more than the three we confirmed last week, but I say twelve,” he grumbled.

“Twelve? What the hell?” I growled. The activity had ramped up. So much for them taking their time to infiltrate.

“Caroline thinks she has identified six on the outskirts of town and Eli and Ronan picked up two. I found one.”

I ran my hand through my hair. “I’m coming down there.”

“No. We’ve got it, Case.”

“Like hell you do. There are twelve members of the Litchfield clan there.”

I didn’t know if I could assemble more of the Tribe quickly enough. Josh and Drew could be there by tonight. They were in driving distance.

“Not confirmed,” he reminded me.

“I don’t give a shit if Donovan confirmed them or not. I’m driving down.”

“All right. You’re the king.”

“It is my territory. Apparently I need to keep an eye on it myself.”

“Come on, he’s doing a good job. He’s trying to keep you out of the details. What if you get here and there are still only three Litchfields?”

“Then I’ll enjoy my time at the beach,” I snapped back.

“I’ll buy you a drink.”

“That I can agree to.” It had been too long since the Tribe had been together. After the war we had all taken time to lick our wounds. Four months later and we needed to get our shit together.

“See you tonight, your majesty.” Noah liked to mock my title. He was the only one who could get away with it.

“I don’t know what time I’m leaving. Don’t tell Donovan. I want it to be a surprise.”

“You sure? He’s going to want to know.”

“I’m sure. Don’t tell anyone. I’ll text on the way.”

Noah paused. “It’s good to hear you like this.”

“What?”

“You’re back aren’t you?”

For an instant I was angry. Angry he was calling me out for ever being anything but myself. However, this time he was right. I had been gone a long time. Searching for peace. Needing shadows. Craving light. I was a jumbled wreck of hope and despair. A heart that stopped beating. A leader that stopped caring.

“Shut up, Noah.” I said it with a grin.

He laughed. “Glad to hear it. See you later.”

I hung up. It didn’t happen all at once. I didn’t flip the switch and cure the pain. It had been months of mistakes. Months of torturing myself. Months of wanting something to be different than it ever was going to be. Months of running from the truth.

But not anymore. When I wasn’t looking, it had lifted. The pain was gone. The misery had been replaced by certain calm.

I walked to my room to pack the bag I had brought with me. I had moved my room to the top floor a couple weeks ago. I liked the view out of the back windows. I could see the creek that ran along the edge of the property from up here. It also had a private bath.

But I had forgotten to grab the suitcase when I moved all my clothes. It was still in the lower level room. I rushed in the room and opened the cedar closet, stopping suddenly when I spotted the silver earrings next to the bed.

Cadence had left the pair there. I hadn’t touched them since she had spent the night in my bed.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled for the number to Achording to Cadence. I was suddenly hungry for a going away dinner.

16

Cadence

Sundays were my days off. I sat on the couch watching another episode on how to turn a dresser into a half-bath vanity sink. I took notes in my journal. One day I’d have a huge house and I’d devote my extra time to remodeling it.

I wondered how far Case had come with his place. It wasn’t my fault was it that I could picture all the ways to fix it up? He had two extra bedrooms and a sitting room I hadn’t even seen. There was a small staircase that led to an upstairs I was dying to get my eyes on.

I scolded myself for even thinking about it. Another week had crept by and not a word from the broody jag. He had forgotten about me. Totally.

I turned off the TV and padded off to the shower. I had worn my pajamas way past lunch.

I took my time, shaving my legs, and using this new boutique shampoo I ordered online. It smelled heavenly. I lathered my long hair and rinsed it before doing the same routine with the equally expensive conditioner. This stuff cost a fortune, but it guaranteed to make my hair glossy and thick. I needed some luxury in my life.

Even if things with Case were over, I knew he had opened a sliver of doubt in my mind. I’d like to think it was a sliver of dreams. But it had kept me up more than one night. Was I going to be content in Grayslake? Was this the life I truly wanted?

I rinsed the conditioner out and turned off the shower. I wrapped a towel around my body and dressed. I slipped into a pair of jeans and a tank top. Sundays were my junking days. I liked to browse the antique markets outside of Grayslake and see what I could find. I’d come home with treasures. My arms loaded with blue mason jars, porcelain drawer pulls, milk glass serving pieces, and whatever frame I thought I could turn into something extraordinary.

I walked to the side of my bed, unplugged my phone, and looked at the screen. I had a missed call. Holy shit.

I covered my mouth. It was Case.

***

I stared at the number. Underneath was the voicemail symbol. I pressed the button and held the phone to my ear and listened.

“Cadence, it’s Case. Call me.”

I blinked.

My fingers trembled as I hit redial. I knew I wanted this to be more than a question about a recipe. Or a friend who needed a recommendation for lawn care. I didn’t want him to call because he had a bear clan question, or couldn’t find his way to Miller Grocery. I held my breath. I wanted him to call for every other reason in the world.

“Hey,” he answered, his voice smooth and steady.

I almost melted on the spot.

“Hi.”

“I have a question for you, darlin’.”

My chest was tight. I had to fight to make myself breathe.

“Sure. What is it?” I tried to sound light and happy, as if for the past month I had thought of things other than him.

“Would you like to have dinner with me?”

“Wh-what?”

“Dinner. You and me? My place. Let’s say seven.”

“Sundays are my day off,” I wanted to explain that I wasn’t going to cook for him. He had to know that. A month after our last meal together and I couldn’t take myself back there like that. It had to be different.

“Perfect. Then you’re free. I’ll have dinner ready.”

“You will?” I was stunned.

“I will. See you at seven, gorgeous.”

He was gone before I could ask what was going on. I sat on the edge of my bed. I think Case Maddox just asked me on a date.

17

Case

There was a first time for everything. And this was the first time I had cooked dinner.

I looked at the casserole dish baking in the oven. It had an hour to go. In the meantime, I could take a shower.

I showered and dressed. I pulled a T-shirt over my head. Water droplets soaked through the shirt in spots. I pulled on a pair of jeans and jogged downstairs. The entire house smelled like garlic. I hated it, but I hoped it proved a point.

I pulled a pair of candlesticks from the cabinet and took them to the back porch. I lit each one. There wasn’t much breeze back here. Fall was starting to settle into Grayslake. The nights were getting cooler. I grabbed a couple of quilts and tossed them over the new porch furniture.

I observed the setup. I was pretty damn impressed with myself.

My ears perked up at the sound of tires on the driveway. I rushed to meet Cadence at the front door.

As she stepped from the car, I propped myself against the railing and watched her walk toward me. Damn, she filled in those jeans in all the right places. Her eyes were bright and clear. God, had she always been this beautiful?

Her blond hair hung loosely over her shoulders. I could almost taste her creamy white skin on my tongue. I repressed a growl.

“Hey, you.” I winked.

She blushed. “Hey.”

“Hungry?”

She nodded. But I could tell she was cautious. I didn’t blame her. A month ago I was a different man. Tonight was my chance to show her just exactly how different I was.

I took her by the hand, feeling the warmth of her palm slide next to mine. “Right this way.”

I led her through the house and onto the back porch. I smiled when I heard the gasp come from her mouth.

“Wow. You did this?”

“For you. Yes.”

I pulled out one of the chairs for her. She looked up at me, her eyes full of questions. I’d answer all of them before the night was over.

“It’s beautiful. I don’t know what to say. You’ve been busy.” Her head swiveled to take in the porch renovations.

“I’ve gotten a few things done since your last visit.” I worked on uncorking a bottle of champagne.

Her eyes landed on the swing on the far side. “Oh my God. I’ve always wanted one of those.” She stood from the table and walked toward the massive hanging piece. “You put a bed swing out here?”

“I like to sleep outside sometimes,” I admitted.

“It’s amazing.” She tested it out. “It does need some pillows, but for a guy you’ve done a pretty good job.” She smiled at me, and I felt the chilliness between us melt.

“You know I love to remodel and I refinish furniture when I’m not working. I don’t think I ever mentioned it. Why didn’t I mention it?”

I don’t know why, but it made me smile. “Of course you do.”

She tilted her head slightly. “What?”

“I’m not surprised you have one more line of perfection Cadence Hathaway.”

And it was true. This woman was perefect. Perfect for me.

I walked toward her and handed one of the chilled glasses.

“And champagne?”

“Thought we could celebrate.” I took a seat next to her on the swinging bed.

“And what is it we’re celebrating?” she whispered.

My eyes glowed. “A new chapter.” I clinked my glass to hers and inhaled until the champagne was gone.

“Case…” She was hesitant. “What’s the new chapter?”

“Don’t you know?”

She shook her head. I wanted to kiss that look of doubt off her pretty face. I wanted to tell her what an ass I was. But I needed to be an ass for a while. I needed that time, so that I could be here now.

I held out my hand to help her off the swing. “Let’s talk over dinner,” I suggested.

“What are we having?” she asked.

“Lasagna.”

18

Cadence

I sat at the table while Case jogged off to the kitchen to get our dinner. I felt as if I were starring in some bizarre and wonderful dream. He was different. Still sexy. Still smoldering. But a total flirt. And mysterious in an incredibly charming way. Holy hell, I had already fallen off the wagon and I’d been here fifteen minutes.

He walked onto the porch carrying a glass dish of lasagna. He placed it on a sideboard. He disappeared inside and returned with a loaf of bread under his arm and a salad bowl in his hands.

“I thought you hated Italian,” I teased.

“I do. But I thought it was the most obvious olive branch I could feed you.”

God, he was sexy. Cool it, Cadence.

“Oh.” My heart fluttered and something distinctively electric pulsed in my core.

He served me while I sat dumbfounded. The candles. The night closing in on us. The amazing food. It was all surreal.

I took another sip of champagne, wondering how much the silky bubbles had impaired my judgment.

“How have you been?” he asked, sitting in the chair across from me.

I forked a sliver of cucumber. “You mean since the last time we saw each other?” Damn it. Why did I have to bitchy about it? I closed my eyes immediately regretting the way I had said it.

“It’s ok. I deserve a few punches tonight.”

I put my fork down. If I didn’t start asking the questions, they were going to eat me alive. I wanted to be wined and dined, and heck even seduced by this man. But there was too much left unsaid between us.

“Case, what is going on? What have you been doing for the past month? Why am I here?”

“We are having dinner.” He smiled wickedly.

He poured another glass of champagne for both of us, taking his time to not spill a drop on the white linen tablecloth. I was temporarily distracted, wondering if this was another antique piece of his grandmother’s. I was curious how many antiques were in the house. Did Case like doing the refinishing projects or was it his way to pass the time?

“Cadence?”

“Hmm?”

“You were doing that thing where you disappear.”

“Sorry.” I bit my lip.

“Don’t be. It’s cute.”

I blushed. I couldn’t let him sidetrack me. I needed answers.

“I just have to put this out there because I can’t pretend it’s not already between us. Has something changed?”

I almost jumped when I felt his hand slide along my thigh and squeeze. “Everything is different.”

“Tell me,” I whispered.

He leaned back and took his hand with him.

“I don’t know where to start really.”

“The beginning?” I suggested.

He chuckled. “You are a little smartass at times, aren’t you?”

“I am n-n … ok I am. But I want to know. Why did you ask me here tonight?”

His playful look turned serious. “A couple of years ago I received my list.”

“List?” I didn’t know the beginning would take us back years.

“Yes. You sure you want to know everything?”

I swallowed hard. I thought about my conversation with Lauren at the clan den. I thought about all the nights I couldn’t sleep because of Case. I thought about how my body responded to him. How when I was with him I wanted to get lost. How no matter what I tried, I never forgot our last night together.

I nodded. “I do. Everything.” I was certain.

“Ok. I want you to know. This is important to me.” He exhaled. “There are different laws that apply to cat shifters,” he explained. “Jaguars gain territory and property from their mates.”

I had to keep my non-judgmental face on. The one the clan had thought was worthy of neutral status. Because right now I was certain Case was describing some kind of ancient dowry system.

“But those mates are predetermined by a council. The council gives a jaguar his list of mates. I received mine two years ago and that’s when I moved to take my first mate, Dare.” He paused and I tried to keep my reactions as minimal as possible while he told me their story.

It was a tumultuous two years. He wanted me to know exactly what happened.

“I’m not going to lie and tell you I was in love with her like she was my soul mate. I wasn’t. She was a means to grow my territory. I know it makes me sound like a bastard. But that’s what I was raised to do. I told you as a kid I spent summers here with my grandmother, learning about the she-panthers. My uncles taught me how to fight. I learned tactical strategies. It was in my blood. I didn’t care who Dare was—I wanted her territory and that was it.”

I needed more champagne for this. I held my empty glass forward for him.

“And I wanted hers in particular.”

“Why?” It was my first question.

“Because she was a queen.” His eyes fell on me. “Queen of her own she-panthers, and somehow it made it even more critical to gain control of her lands.”

“She was a queen?” My voice sounded small and insignificant in the middle of this story.

“She was. She is.” He kept going. “Eventually my interests changed.” His jaw clenched. “She stopped being a target, and she became my world.” He slung back the glass. “I tore up the list the council gave me. What I wanted changed. Anyway. It didn’t work out between us. It turned out that she married me because of the magic. I had to let her go.”

“M-married? Did you say married? Like rings and a ceremony and a big poufy dress?”

It felt as if there were nothing but stale air on the porch and we were locked in a room lined with plastic, not breezy screens. I couldn’t breathe.

“Hold on. Let me get some water for you.” Case stood abruptly and returned a few seconds later with a pitcher of water and a glass. “Here. Take a sip.”

I did as he ordered, and felt a slight sense of relief. “I’m fine. Really.” But how was I going to wrap my head around this? Case had been married.

“It wasn’t a marriage.” He sat next to me, watching me drink. “I never claimed her, Cadence.”

“Oh.” I thought back to the conversation I had with Lauren in the bear clan kitchen. The pit that had formed in my stomach loosened slightly.

“It never got that far.” He shook his head.

I resisted the urge to reach for his hand. I could tell there was more, but I was having my own happy dance party inside my head. If he didn’t claim her, maybe that meant they never …

He looked at me. “When I showed up in Grayslake I was pissed. I was angry at her. Angry at the world. Angry that the future I thought I had was destroyed. So I decided to destroy everything around me. I barely spoke to the Tribe. I wrecked the house. And I pushed away the most beautiful caring girl I’d ever met.”

I was afraid to breathe. I wanted to know what he was going to say next.

“But I wasn’t ready, Cadence. I needed more time. I needed to destroy everything before I could build it again. My own way. In my own time.”

I nodded. “And how do you feel now?”

He smiled. “Like a new jaguar. Like one who walked through hell and survived.”

“And her? What about her?” I didn’t think I could bring myself to say her name in front of him.

He shook his head. “I’ve let that idea go. I let her go somewhere between ripping out cabinets and using the floor polisher.” He cracked an irresistible grin.

“Really?” I needed to know for sure. I wanted to throw some kind of logic into this equation.

“There is only one girl I’m interested in.” His fingers curled to the inside of my thigh again and I inhaled sharply. “And she happens to have beautiful blue eyes and the most fucking edible lips I’ve ever tasted.”

Who was I kidding? Logic was never going to play a role in this.

Case’s eyes flared with green flames and I felt the beckoning draw to him. He had poured out his heart to me the way he knew how. He had done everything he could tonight to show me he was ready for a new chapter. That all this time apart from each other was time he needed to be here with me now.

“Are you going to kiss me?” I whispered.

But Case wasn’t the kind of man to share his strategies. He was steps ahead of me.

In the breaths it had taken me to utter the question he had pushed back the chair and swept me into his arms. In two long strides he rested me on the bed swing.

“So much more than that,” he growled.

My entire body shivered with his promise as his lips brushed over mine. My lips parted as I felt the pressure of his tongue glide between them, twining and flicking. I’d missed these kisses.

One knee came down on the swing, floating us over the porch before his entire body hovered over me. I liked the sensation of gliding at the same time I felt the heaviness of his chest press into my breasts. My hands wrapped to his back.

“Tonight I want you to know all sides of me.” His eyes glowed green. They took my breath away.

I ran my fingers along the ridges of his toned muscles. “And what does that mean?” I felt playful and serious at the same time.

His hand slid to the roundness of my ass and he squeezed. I trembled. “Ohh,” I whimpered.

“It means you’re not getting out of this bed until my jag is satisfied.”

My teeth sucked my bottom lip in. Holy crap. How could that make me turn into a complete puddle? My pulse raced. My core twitched. I wasn’t taking one step off this porch until that happened either.

I’d never wanted a man like this before.

Our pasta dinner was long forgotten. The bottle of champagne slowly warmed. The candles dripped with heavy layers of wax. Nothing else mattered, but Case, me, and what our bodies could do together.

My hips lifted with eagerness as he tugged on the denim, wriggling it over my hips and off my thighs. He deposited the jeans on the floor. He pushed my shirt forward until it was over my head and my breasts peaked over the lining of my bra.

“You smell so good.” He nuzzled behind my ear. Thank God I showered earlier, taking extra time to use all my favorite scents. My legs were smooth.

His expert hands unclasped my bra, tossing it on the porch. And with one snatch my panties were gone. I looked down at my naked body. How had he done that so quickly?

His mischievous grin was going to get me in so much trouble. My eyes darted to his gaze, but he wasn’t looking at my face. He was feasting on every part of my body with a ravenous stare.

He cupped my breast, squeezing until my nipple perked and hardened for him. My hips jolted and rocked at the same time. With a slow lick over the peak he made me moan. And then suddenly he slipped his fingers inside me.

“Ohh.” I gripped his shoulders as he began to intensify the swirling motion of his fingers, dipping and curling with intense strokes.

“So. Fucking. Sexy,” he whispered.

But I was lost in every sensation. The night air around us held us in a private sphere of sexual bliss. We soared through the air, back and forth, encased in the coolness of the fall. And Case drove my body to ecstasy, pumping, sliding, and grinding until I felt the twinge in my core. The tiny blast of heat that told me I was going to tumble hard in his arms.

It was as if he could read my body language. His lips pressed into mine just as the orgasm began to rip through me. His tongue jutted inside and I sucked and moaned. Moaned and clenched, riding the pleasure he gave me.

My breathing slowed and my eyes lifted to his. I wanted more. There was a new spark spiraling through my nerves. A spark that set me on fire.

I grabbed the buckle on his jeans, yanking it away and unbuttoning the denim as fast as I could. If I didn’t have him, I might suffocate. I would thirst to death. I would starve without him.

He sensed how desperately I wanted him to sink inside my walls.

He threaded his T-shirt over his head, exposing the perfect sculpted abs and chest I had admired all those weeks ago. Every time I came to the house he was a sweaty filthy mess, but it only seemed to make him hotter. He’d never looked as gorgeous as he did right now.

My hands landed on the band of his boxer briefs, hurriedly shoving them out of the way. The fire fueled me. The need for him made everything seem like life or death.

I didn’t think about cat shifter laws or his broken heart. I didn’t care that he was a king and came to Grayslake to escape. What was between was thick and tangible. It was magical and passionate. It was primal and hot.

Case rolled me the side while he dug something out of the pocket of his jeans. I heard the ripping sound of a foil packet.

I tried to catch my breath. This was happening.

I felt Case pry one knee to the side and then the other as he settled between my legs. His kissed me roughly and it stoked that spark again. I bowed from the bed.

“Case, I want you. I want you to do whatever it is …” My words trailed as he kissed me again.

But I didn’t need to say another word. With a sudden thrust he was inside me and our bodies joined in an explosion of feverish heat.

I felt his teeth clamp against my shoulder. “Fuck,” he roared.

He thrust again taking me into a realm of desire I’d never experienced. With each rush of passion, I knew we were being tied together with an invisible thread. It wrapped around us, looping our limbs and bodies together. There was something new and carnal blistering under my skin. I pushed against him, needing him, wanting him.

“Ohh, Case,” I whimpered.

His fingers threaded through mine, taking them over my head as he met my body’s rhythm with certain power. He pushed deep and I cried out, relishing the intimacy we shared.

The sweat dripped from his chest.

“Cadence, I want you. Only you. This bond.”

I nodded eagerly. Whatever he wanted. Whatever he needed. My body was his.

“I’m yours, Case.”

The next kiss was rough, but I bit at his lips as if he was drawing the hellcat out of me. I didn’t want him to stop. We’d come so far together. Learning. Baiting. Flirting. And now loving.

A slow hiss escaped my lips as his teeth clamped over my breast. “Wh-what are you doing?”

“Taking you,” he answered lowly. “Fucking you until you’re mine.”

“Yes. God, yes. All of that.” I twisted wildly, feeling my core begin to unleash. “Case, I’m going to come again. It’s too intense.”

“Not without me.”

I looked in his eyes as they held me with more desire than I knew existed. All the hues of green sparkled as I tipped my hips toward him, offering him the deepest angle.

He grinned as his final thrust took us both over the edge. There was a glittery shimmer in his eyes as we both rocked in the pleasure of what we had given each other. I thought I might have even purred. I smiled at him as our breathing slowed to a normal pace and eventually he rested next to me. Our bodies twitched with aftershocks as the swing began to still.

He tucked me under his arm and I nuzzled against the heat of his chest. I’d never felt so exhausted or so happy.

19

Case

Cadence laid in my arms. I traced the line of her throat along her shoulder with my fingers. God, she was beautiful. She sighed and I moved my touch to the other side of her body.

My jaguar felt satisfied. His restlessness had finally been tamed, but not his desire.

The swing swayed gently with the breeze. I saw Cadence shiver and pull the quilt to her chest.

“Better?” I asked.

“Mmmhmm. I like the swing,” she giggled.

“I got it for you.”

“You did not.”

“Oh, I did, darlin’. For this exact occasion.”

“Seduction central?”

“Is there any other reason to hang a bed swing?”

She nuzzled against my chest. “I guess not.”

My fingers pressed gently against the skin on her shoulder. “Did I hurt you?” I asked.

“No? But I thought you were going to bite me.”

I laughed. “No. Not a cat shifter thing. I got a little carried away and got too rough, but no actual biting.” Her skin was bruised and might be purple tomorrow, but there were no puncture marks.

“Oh. I didn’t know.”

I tried to straighten my leg. It was pinned under her. I heard my phone vibrate. It was buried in my jeans pocket on the other side of the porch. I wasn’t going to move her to get it. But then I thought about who might be calling.

“Shit,” I murmured.

“What’s wrong?” Cadence tried to sit up. The quilt slipped and I growled at the sight of her perfect breasts in the fading candlelight. The candles were down to two wax stubs.

“Nothing.” I nipped at her neck and shoulder.

I couldn’t leave now. Not at the moment my jaguar had found what he had been looking for. My tongue eased over her nipple until it perked under my encouragement.

“Ohh,” she moaned.

I took the hardened peak between my teeth, sucking and biting at quick intervals until Cadence began to rock her hips toward me. She was fucking hot.

The swing moved faster as our movements became more hurried. I flipped her on her back so I could stare into those waves of blue. I knew now that blue had always been my favorite color. And I would watch those shades of blue sparkle and shimmer while I buried myself inside her. Making her mine, over and over.

***

I heard Cadence start the shower. She was humming something. I pulled out my phone to call Noah. He needed to know I wasn’t going to be in Charleston right away. My plans changed.

“Hey, man,” he answered.

“Anything new?” I asked.

“No. Donovan is still sitting on a numbers game.”

“I had something come up. I’m not driving to Charleston for a few days. I need you to handle this for me.”

“You aren’t?” I knew he’d be surprised.

“Not now. If Donovan needs me, I’ll be there. I’ll call Josh and Drew if you think it’s best.”

Noah waited for a minute. “No. We could be off on the sightings. That’s the problem. The Litchfields are sneaky bastards.”

“I know they are.” I didn’t have the sudden itch to pick up and leave Grayslake.

“You need any help where you are?” he offered.

I grinned. “No, I think I’ve got this covered. I just need some more time.”

There was a lot to sort out with Cadence. How in the hell were we going to make this work? I liked Grayslake, but it couldn’t be my headquarters. I had to travel to Charleston, eventually. I couldn’t put off the inevitable.

And what about her? Her entire life was wrapped up in this town. She even had special status from the bear clan. Her business was here.

Fuck. We were going to have to have one of those discussions.

“All right. Call if you need me, man.”

I shook my head. I didn’t want Noah anywhere near here. “I will. Thanks.”

The water turned off and I peeked my head inside the bathroom to see Cadence wrapping a towel around her chest.

“Hey, we need to talk.”

She bit her lip. “You sound serious.”

“I am.”

“Should I get dressed or is this an emergency?”

“Emergency or not, you are not getting dressed.” I lifted her from the shower, letting the towel fall between us to the floor.

“Case,” she squealed.

I changed my mind. We could talk later.

20

Cadence

I didn’t know it was possible to feel so connected to another person. When he breathed I breathed. His pain was mine. His happiness was my victory too. We faced each other at the kitchen table. Case had made coffee. We had finally worked our way down the stairs after another round of off-the-charts epic sex. Two straight days with Case and I felt like a completely different woman.

“So here’s the deal. I have to go to Charleston.” He stated it plainly.

“What?” I wanted to grab him and tell him to take it back.

“Shifter politics. It’s my territory. I have to protect it. I’ve been sending soldiers, but I think the situation is out of control. They need me there before it gets worse.”

“I see.” I chewed my bottom lip.

“And I can’t decide if you should go or not.”

My stomach flipped. “You want me to go with you?”

“Yes and no.” He sat back in his chair. “You’ll either be a complete distraction if I take you with me.” He winked. “Or I’ll be miserable with you here in Grayslake.”

“I want to go,” I blurted it out.

He laughed. “I think I want you to, too, but what about your catering? The clan?”

I don’t know how in that second I had forgotten about all of those things. I pressed my lips together. “I’ve got a month until the clan has another party. I can go until then. And then I need a few days to get the order together.”

“How often do you do these clan dinners?”

“One a month,” I answered.

His brow furrowed. “Ok. Done.”

“Done? What does that mean?”

“We’ll spend one week a month in Grayslake.”

“What? Wait. One week a month for how long? It’s just decided like that? You decided?”

He shrugged. “What else do you want to figure out?”

I scowled, apparently it was contagious. “I think you’re so used to being a king that you don’t realize there are other people to consider. This was not a discussion. Do I just do whatever you want now? Are we together?”

He folded his arms and looked at me. “I thought after the past two days that was decided.”

It was. He was right. I was completely and totally in love with him. I wanted him. I needed him. The thought of him going to Charleston even for one night almost gave me a panic attack. I had my shifter and I was being a complete idiot. I wasn’t used to his royal commands. But I wasn’t the kind of girl to follow a man wherever he went—or was I?

“Do not tell me you’ve changed your mind.”

His hard stare was replaced by something else. There was a sliver of panic. I saw the hurt. He was trying to hide it, but I could feel it.

“Oh God, no. No, Case. Not that at all. I’m sorry.” I crawled into his lap and wrapped my arms around him. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” Not only had I hurt him, but I had reminded him that relationships weren’t permanent. Shit.

“You didn’t.”

I held him, trying to soothe the pain I had caused. I never wanted him to think I was trying him out like a new pair of shoes. I had no intention of returning him or trading him in for another pair. I just wanted a say.

“I was only bringing up the point that we haven’t really talked about the future and this is new. New to me. I thought we’d talk more about our future. Together.”

“In my world, what we’ve done for the past two days seals the future.”

“It does?”

“Yeah, babe.” He traced over my bottom lip with his thumb. “You are mine. I am yours. It’s a done deal.”

“I am yours.” I smiled. “Done deal.” I kissed his cheek. “I want to be wherever you are.”

“Then we should pack. I told Noah it might be another week, but I think I need to get down there.”

“We’re going to Charleston today?”

“Ok. Yeah. We’ll swing by your place and pick up what you need.”

I nodded. “I’ve never been to Charleston.”

“Sorry to take you on the brink of a war.”

“It’s fine. I’m excited to go somewhere. And we still get to come back to Grayslake?”

He looked around the house. “Yes. I have a lot of work to do here. It’s not finished. And there are a bunch of damn kittens that live in the barn now. So I think that means we have to come back.”

“Kittens?”

He smiled. “Mmmhmm.”

“I want one of those with you,” I whispered.

“We call them cubs, baby.” He kissed me until I was breathless.

I didn’t know how that worked. Could I have a shifter child? Could he get me pregnant? What were the laws on that? More questions. More and more questions.

“But do you?” I stopped him mid-kiss.

“As soon as we get through this war there is nothing I want more than for you and me to start a family. And our cubs can spend all their summers in Grayslake.” He smiled.

“Me too. I want all of that.”

There was an undeniably flutter in my core. I wanted to be the one to give Case the Maddox legacy. I wanted to give him a baby more than I wanted anything. I pouted at the thought of having to wait because some stupid clan couldn’t keep their paws off Charleston. I wanted his baby now.

“Cadence, we’re going to put off packing for a little while.” His voice was stern. I thought something had happened.

“What’s wrong?” I searched his eyes for an explanation.

“I’m so fucking turned on right now I have to take you upstairs. Understand?”

I nodded. “Yes.” My chest heaved. There was an ache in my body. “Do we have to wait?”

His lips crashed against mine as he picked me up and carried me up the stairs. I clung to his neck, taking each kiss while he climbed each step.

He pressed his forehead to mine and I heard his heavy sigh. “After the war.”

I nodded. It made sense. It was logical and practical. And safe.

That was what good kings did. And good fathers. He wanted our future baby to be safe.

“But lots of practice, right?” I grinned.

He nipped at my throat while he shoved open the bedroom door. “Nothing but practice, baby.” He waggled his eyebrows, raking over my body with a hungry gaze.

Oh God. I was going to die from complete happiness. Somehow it had happened. All the things I didn’t think were possible, were. All the dreams I didn’t think could come true, did. Case Maddox was right. I wasn’t going to end up the Grayslake spinster. Not at all. I was his queen.

***

Hi Reader!

Thanks SO much for reading A Bite of Love. I really hope you enjoyed it, if so and you want to find out more about Case, Cadence and my cat-shifters, head on over to my Amazon Page to find more sexy shifter stories!

Or take a look at these other Grayslake Books….

UnBearable Secrets from Terra Wolf

Family drama and bear politics has driven Olivia Bradwick on a vacation to Grayslake. Finally, she can enjoy some peace and quiet, or so she thinks. When the handyman at the local B&B stumbles into her bathroom, she realizes he might be the escape she came looking for. But Sam isn’t as innocent as his seems and Olivia must decide if she can trust him at all.

Sam Hunter is running. He’s left home and all of his Louisiana comforts behind for a life of solitude. He truly believes it’s the only way to not end up like his blood thirsty father. But when a cute little werebear shows up at the B&B he can’t help but fall for her. He knows that if he claims her though, it’ll ruin everything.

Olivia and Sam both have skeletons in their closets. Together they must decide if they can overcome their past to be together in this Romeo and Juliet-esque landscape.

Dirty Lion Bastard from Renee George

Curvy tiger shifter Scottie Monroe, along with her mom and Aunt Tig, own the Pitch & Paw Bar and Motel--a neutral safe haven for shifters who want to avoid conflicts as they pass through the area. Scottie has a hard fast rule. No hooking up with the customers, but that was before tall, dark, and flirty Shane Largos walked through her door. 

Shane, a lion shifter, has travelled to Georgia to find the man who walked out on his human mother after getting her pregnant, leaving her with a bastard shifter son, and no pride to protect either of them. Shane plans to challenge his father, as is his right, even if it means he’ll probably be killed.

From the moment Shane meets Scottie, his animal and human side want her more than he wants air to breathe. A lie of omission leads to a night of scorching passion, but when Scottie discovers Shane’s real purpose for coming to Georgia, she is determined to save him from himself, even if it means putting herself in harms way. 

Can Shane’s love for Scottie overshadow his long standing anger? Or is hate and revenge stronger than a shifter’s instinct to claim his mate.

Bears Do It Better from Jessie Lane

Misha and Borys sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G …
Misha falls in lust at first sight with the big, sexy bear shifter, but she doesn't have time for his mating nonsense. Raised in Russia by tiger shifters, she came to America to follow up on her first real lead for finding her biological family.
Borys wants the smokin’ hot bear who recently wandered into town. Now all he has to do is convince Misha that she’s meant to be his. The stubborn woman won’t give him the time of day, though, saying she’s looking for her kin.
His biggest problem? He might be the family she's looking for.

Unbearable Love from K. Collins

Lily Love is running—from her father—from her future husband—from her life. When a message flashes across her computer screen claiming open season in Grayslake, she takes her only chance to experience life before her father drags her back to Montana to bear an heir for the clan. Once in Grayslake, her quest for anonymity vanishes when she’s forced to register at the sheriff’s office as a guest. It’s there she meets Eli Silver. Big, tall, and grumbly, Eli prickles her senses in ways she can’t explain. 
Werebear Eli Silver lives alone in the woods. After a painful betrayal, he’s sworn off love for good and is happiest when it’s just him and his bees. Or so he thinks, until a curvy, beautiful woman walks into his life and stings him right in the heart. Every roaring cell of his body wants to claim Lily, there’s only one problem—she’s not willing to commit. 
With the past swarming around them, can Eli and Lily dig deep to find the courage their love requires? Find out in Unbearable Love.

Bear Up from Mina Carter

Girl meets boy = classic love story. Girl meets bear... Wait, what?

Small town girl Kacie has always known there was something odd about Lizards Lick, but she doesn't expect that oddity to almost claim her life or land her in the arms of her long-term crush; hot veteran Dean. Okay, he's nuts but she can't argue with that, not with a body like his or when he's whispering things like 'fated' and 'destiny'. Even if he does claim to be a werebear...

She's his mate, but she's human. He's so screwed...

Leader of the Lizard Lick bear clan, Dean is between a rock and a hard place. His fated mate is human but he daren't claim her. The elitist asshats in the clan would have kittens. But when an attack brings her over into the bear world, he's out of time and out of options. Even worse, the town has an rogue bear problem and internal clan politics that put Kacie in the crossfire.

Forced to fight battles on all fronts, Dean must bear up or risk losing her forever...

Make Her Howl from Flora Dare

When you’ve loved and lost a fated mate, can you dare to hope for a second chance? 

After her human mate was tragically killed years ago, wolf shifter Magda fled Grayslake and all it meant. She only returned to protect her adopted daughter and she’s determined to stay out of local shifter politics. 

Marc has spent years protecting Grayslake’s shifters after a tragedy of his own. When Magda walks into his life, his inner wolf awakens. He never thought it possible, but she’s living proof that miracles happen. She’s his mate. 

Now he just has to convince her that everyone gets a second chance at love.