Rough River Coyotes 5

Seducing a Reluctant Mate

The truth won’t set him free…

Cassidy Williams was known for his great cooking and his unshakable honesty. But when he discovers Storm Hoffman asleep in the garden, he’s possessed by a fierce need to put an end to his loneliness. Against his better judgment, he lies and claims Storm is his mate. Since Storm has been drenched by an angry skunk, Cassidy knows he has a few days before Storm’s true alpha can pick up on his pheromones.

Professional hockey player Storm is hiding plenty of his own secrets, and running from a past that could get his new friends killed. Despite everything against them, Storm begins to fall for the gentle cook who sees beyond the hostility that has become Storm’s trademark on the ice

But when their need for one another shatters their restraint, they will have to fight both inner and outer demons if they want to stay together. Can Cassidy make his lie the truth? Or will he have to surrender his mate to another?

Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal, Shape-shifter Length: 36,475 words

SEDUCING A RELUCTANT MATE
Rough River Coyotes 5
Anitra Lynn McLeod

EVERLASTING CLASSIC MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc.

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic ManLove

SEDUCING A RELUCTANT MATE Copyright © 2012 by Anitra Lynn McLeod E-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-915-6

First E-book Publication: September 2012

Cover design by Les Byerley

All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

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DEDICATION

For those who believe the kitchen is the heart of a home.

SEDUCING A RELUCTANT MATE

Rough River Coyotes 5
ANITRA LYNN MCLEOD

Copyright © 2012

Chapter 1

Cassidy Williams had never smelled a worse smell in his life. It was one of those scents that would cling to him for the rest of the week no matter how many times he washed his curly brown hair. Holding his breath, he peered into the garden trying to locate the skunk. If it was still there, he’d come back later. What he found instead made him gasp and cover his mouth with his hand. A beautiful man with gray hair was sleeping curled up in the clover. He was naked but tucked around himself almost as if he couldn’t escape his modesty even in slumber.

Sighing, Cassidy checked around the rest of the garden, but he didn’t see any black-and-white, long-tailed kitties, so he opened the gate and stepped inside. The closer he came to the stranger, the stronger the aroma of skunk. Cassidy realized the poor man had likely been sprayed. That was no way to be welcomed onto the Rough River Ranch. If it happened during twilight last night, he might have tried to get to the farmhouse, gotten confused, and passed out in the garden.

Cassidy dreaded waking him but would nonetheless. Another naked man turning up on the ranch meant some lucky cowboy was about to gain a mate. With a sigh, Cassidy tried not to be envious. He knew his mate would come, but waiting and watching everyone else was getting ever more difficult. As the chief cook and bottle washer, Cassidy saw almost everyone on the ranch several times a day. They gathered at the long wooden table in his kitchen to eat. Since there were so many men now, they had to do this in shifts. Watching the alpha ranch hands play footsie with their beta mates had sparked such a craving in Cassidy he was almost creating more baked goods than the men of the ranch could handle. But cooking was the only thing that helped him focus on something other than his lonesome self. When he baked pies, cakes, and cream-filled cookies, he found release from his longings for love. Sweets for the sweethearts somehow soothed his sad heart.

In his own unique way, Cassidy loved every man on the ranch. By feeding them the very best foods he kept them healthy and hearty. The confections were just a bonus. Every time he set down a tray of goodies, the smiles of the men warmed his soul. He knew they would work off the excess calories with their physically demanding jobs, whereas Cassidy simply loved to make the creations but didn’t care to eat them. Sugar wasn’t his downfall. Coffee was. And perhaps potatoes, but his craving for them might be a holdover from his Irish and Scottish roots.

Still, since he’d found the lost mate, he would take on the task of getting him cleaned up and presentable so he could find his alpha. Although, since alphas and betas came together because of pheromones—subtle chemical scents—this little guy was going to have a devil of time finding his mate when he was covered in the ripe scent of angry skunk. Even after using a very good chemical formula, the essence would linger for days. Just being this close, the funk had gotten onto Cassidy and would cling to him for all it was worth.

Since skunks were active primarily during dawn and dusk and the stench was remarkably profound, Cassidy thought the man might have only recently been sprayed. Such a terrible scent would wake most people instantly, but if this man had traveled a long distance like most of the betas had, he might simply be too exhausted to awaken.

Loathe to rouse him, Cassidy spent another moment simply looking at him. Like all the betas so far, this one was shorter than six feet. Assessing him, Cassidy figured he was probably about five foot six and one hundred fifty pounds. His body was sleek with little fat but lots of smooth muscles. Even though he was small, he was probably very strong. Like all the other betas, he had an allover tan that highlighted the features of his form, like his strong calves and rounded buttocks. But what Cassidy could not stop staring at was his hair. It was gray. And not a phony dyed color but true, shiny gray like the color of clouds. A long time ago, Cassidy’s brother had been friends with a boy who started going gray at fifteen. Cassidy wondered if the same thing had happened to this man. He wondered if the slight snarl on his face was from his trip here, the curious nature of his hair, or if the stench started to penetrate into his sleep. Something about the young man’s angular features was angry. Still, Cassidy couldn’t wait for him to open his eyes. He wondered if they complimented or contrasted the color of his hair.

As i f he’d summoned him to do his bidding, the man opened his eyes, causing Cassidy to gasp and inadvertently take another draw of the oily skunk scent. His eyes were the same color as his hair. Like angry storm clouds threatening to let loose a deluge, his wicked eyes pinned Cassidy where he stood.

After a brief flickering of his lids, the beta’s entire face scrunched up and he shot to his feet, coughing and gagging. “What the hell is that smell?”

“Skunk.” Cassidy continued, “Technically, it’s made up of mercaptans, but most people would describe the aroma as a mix of burnt rubber, rotten eggs, and garlic.”

“It’s ghastly!”

“I know.” Cassidy held out his hand. “Come with me and I’ll get you cleaned up.”

He glared at Cassidy’s hand, and then his eyes went wide as he looked down at his naked body. Just like the other betas, he had absolutely no hair lower than his nose.

“What the hell happened to my fucking clothes?”
“Now, now. There’s no reason for that kind of language.” It was on the tip of Cassidy’s tongue to tell him he’d lost all of his clothing when he shifted into a coyote, but then he realized with his beta amnesia, this man wouldn’t remember any of that. Mentioning the shifting and the whole “eternally bonded mate” thing was a guaranteed way of making him freak out. The last beta, Micah, had tried to run from his mate because he was convinced he was a nutterbutter just like everyone one else at the ranch, Cassidy included. The only thing that had convinced Micah of his heritage was the fact he’d shifted in midrun and when his mate caught up to him they frantically fornicated.
“Who the fuck are you?” He put his hands on his hips and glared at Cassidy with all the pent-up hostility of a man who was damn sick and tired of being kicked around by life.
“I’m the guy who is trying to help you.” Although at the moment, with his snarky attitude, Cassidy’s generosity was running a little thin.
“You’re probably the pervert who stole my clothing and nuked my hair!”
“Your hair wasn’t gray?” As soon as the question left Cassidy’s mouth, he realized he had the wrong hair. He was talking about his lack of pubic hair, not the hair on his head.
“You’ve got about two seconds to tell me what’s going on or I’ll…” His voice trailed off as he tried to summon a suitable threat.
Cassidy waited with his features open and calm.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” It was too bad that such a gorgeous man could knock half a dozen points off his attractiveness quotient with his attitude alone. Cassidy could understand to a degree, since just about no one would like waking up in a strange place, naked, with an allover tan, no body hair, and a decimated memory, but the guy could at least try to get along.
“I’m not into guys even if they have long, curly hair like a girl.”
Cassidy’s brows went up. At six foot six and two hundred eighty pounds, it wasn’t often that someone told him he looked feminine, even in this lad’s very left-handed way. His cinnamon-brown hair was a bit on the long side but only to his shoulders, and at the moment he had a fairly advanced beard and mustache from a reluctance to see his lonely face in the mirror each morning. No way, no how did he look anything like a woman unless it was the bearded lady from the circus.
“Wait.” Everything in Cassidy’s mind came to a screaming halt. “You don’t like guys?” That was definitely a new wrinkle, as all the betas had been gay without any issue over their orientation. If this one was saying unequivocally he didn’t like guys, then maybe he wasn’t a mate for one of the hands after all.
“No, I don’t, so you can stop looking at my cock since you’re never going to get your pervy hands on it.” Defiantly, he placed his hands on his hips as if daring Cassidy to take another gander.
Slowly and deliberately, Cassidy looked him over again. Apparently, his gaze was enough to wipe the snarl off the man’s face and make him take his hands from his hips and place them over his cock. Still, all the hallmarks of a beta shifter were there. Maybe the universe screwed up. Or maybe the man just forgot that he was gay. So far the path of true love among the mated pairs had not run smoothly. Not at all. The universe seemed bound and determined to try to mix oil and water. So far everyone had worked things out, but the ride had been a bumpy one.
“Do you remember your name?” Cassidy had tweaked him quite enough, so now he kept his gaze above his waist.
“Yeah.” He spit the one word out without honestly thinking on his answer. From the baffled expression on his face, Cassidy was fairly certain he didn’t remember his name at all, but he’d be damned if he would admit to that fact.
“So what is your name?”
“What’s it to you?”
“Look, if I’m going to help you get cleaned up and dressed so you can be on your way, it would be nice to call you something other than ‘hey you,’ okay?” Normally, Cassidy’s down-home magnetism could charm even the surliest man but not this one.
“Who says I’m going to let you help me do anything?”
Stunned by his ridiculous defiance, Cassidy considered turning around and going back inside. It was early, he was tired, and he had to cook breakfast for over thirty men. If this guy didn’t want his help, then who was he to force his hospitality on him?
The beta stood there with his face like a mask of defiant fury, yet there was a curious heat within his eyes that searched Cassidy, hoping for…something. But what? When Cassidy relaxed his own irritation, he thought he sensed that the man was so afraid he couldn’t lessen his defiant posture for even a second. If he did, he ran the risk of being hurt. It seemed to Cassidy he was willing to hurt other people first so they would be long gone before they even thought of hurting him.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” By contrast, Cassidy kept his voice calm, his posture open and accepting. It struck him suddenly that the ranch vet, Dooley, could soothe animals with his trancelike murmurings, but it had always been Cassidy who could work the same magic with men. Something about him and his personality made them realize they were entirely safe in Cassidy’s care. He’d taken most of the betas under his wing while their mates were out working. But like all baby chicks, they eventually found their own place on the ranch, and Cassidy was once again solo. He felt like a man who was constantly suffering from empty-nest syndrome.
“Damn right you’re not going to hurt me.” The man lifted himself up so that he was standing as tall as he could, but his shoulders were curled in slightly, almost as if he was anticipating a rain of blows. All at once, the fierce warrior in Cassidy, something that rarely reared its head, came screaming to the surface. Someone had hit this man. He was sure of it. His posture, his hostility—he was so determined not to be hurt he would drive everyone away before he’d allow it to happen again.
“Do you want me to go and get someone else?”
Panic widened his eyes, and that was when Cassidy realized he wanted help almost desperately, but he’d be damned to hell twice before he’d ask for it. Even accepting help without asking for it scared the crap out of him. His fear of a friendly hand touched something very tender in Cassidy’s soul. This man may not recall all his memories, but someone had hurt him so badly he carried the fear around under his very skin.
“I know you don’t need my help.” Cassidy nodded and looked toward the farmhouse, wondering if anyone else was up yet. The last thing this guy needed was an audience. “I know you don’t want my help, but I’m not going until I know you’re okay. So grouse all you want, but I’m not going to abandon you.”
For a brief moment, something like relief flashed in the young man’s eyes, but he quickly covered it up with disdain. “Fine. But I’m not doing anything for your ‘help,’ so don’t get any sick ideas in that moptop head of yours.” He made quote marks in the air. When he did, his cock and balls swayed seductively.
“Fair enough.”
There was a moment of silence between them and then, very softly, the young man said, “I think my name is Storm.”
“It suits you.”
Instantly alert for any kind of taunt, Storm examined Cassidy’s face but realized he wasn’t being cruel. Not at all.
“With your hair and eyes, it’s really a perfect name for you.”
A soft blush washed over Storm’s cheeks, and something cracked inside Cassidy’s heart. Here was a damaged man who would need a lifetime of tender reassurance. He hoped to God that Storm got a compassionate mate.
“What’s your name?” Like a flash of lightning, Storm was back to being suspicious. Just the way he asked the question made it obvious he expected Cassidy to lie.
“Cassidy.”
“Cassidy?” Storm made a face. “Isn’t that a girl’s name?”
“I suppose,” Cassidy offered evenly. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard that particular question, but this time, given the circumstances, he refrained from whipping out his cock and proving he was all man. “Cassidy was my mother’s maiden name, and she liked the ring of Cassidy Williams.”
Storm gave him a look like he was bored.
Rather than turning his back on the grumpy little beta, Cassidy let compassion fill his heart. Out of all his weaknesses, his fondness for the underdog had to be the one that got him in the most trouble. This snarly, snapping little beta belonged to someone, and Cassidy was duty bound to help get him ready to meet his mate. Whichever alpha he belonged to, he was in for one hell of a surprise.

Chapter 2

Storm had never been so terrified. Standing naked in a place he didn’t recognize with a man he found surprisingly attractive made him so overwhelmed he wanted to sink down to the ground and cry himself back to sleep. He would have done so but for the fact that now the horrible scent clinging to him had awakened him there was no way he could fall back into blissful slumber. He had no memory of the last few days at all. It was the most curious form of amnesia because he knew what he liked and didn’t like, but he simply couldn’t remember where he’d been or what he’d been doing.

“Follow me.” Cassidy turned on his heel and strode over to the back of the massive white farmhouse. His faded jeans cupped his fanny, and there was a little hole under the right-side pocket. When Storm caught himself staring and trying to determine what color underwear Cassidy was wearing, he forcefully turned his gaze to the house.

Storm had a vague memory of seeing the structure from a distance. All he’d been thinking was shelter, food, companionship, and water. He’d been so thirsty he was almost mad with it. Even now his mouth tasted like the floor of a movie theater, sticky and disgusting. But nothing, absolutely nothing was as bad as the funk that clung to him.

“ You must have gotten sprayed deadon.” Cassidy walked over to what appeared to be a three-sided wooden box.
It was on the tip of Storm’s tongue to say something nasty, but he deliberately held back. He’d hit this man with bucket after bucket of snarky attitude, and he hadn’t stomped off. Storm realized his greatest defense—his mouth—wasn’t going to protect him from this man. It seemed the ruder he was, the more he sparked Cassidy’s compassion. What had terrified him beyond the stunning realization that his face was like that of some kind of hippie angel was that his eyes were so sweet and kind he was lost before they even got started. Cassidy had the eyes of a man who would never willingly harm another. He was a big man, a strong man, but he was also gentle as evidenced by the way he’d handled every jibe Storm had thrown.
“Go ahead and step in.”
Storm peered into the box and realized it was an outdoor shower. It was pretty basic with three wooden walls held off the floor by some stilts, but someone had taken the time to make a nice floor out of river-smoothed rocks. There was no drain. From looking at it, Storm guessed the floor was slightly tilted so the water would run away from the farmhouse and toward the small cluster of rosebushes that made a privacy hedge. All in all, it was a pretty slick setup.
“I know it doesn’t look that impressive. I mainly make the hands use it if they’re really filthy. After cleaning the bathroom one time too many—never mind.”
“There’s no soap.”
“You can at least warm up while I go and mix up some antiskunk soap.”
“This happens a lot?”
“Enough that I have the formula memorized.” Cassidy tapped his curly head, making Storm wonder if his curls were soft or stiff. Not that he was going to find out. He wasn’t gay, and therefore he wasn’t going to be touching this guy. Ever. Which begged the question of why in the world did he think he had to keep reminding himself?
When Cassidy turned and started to walk away, every nerve in Storm’s body fired, making him shiver. He had a terrible fear that Cassidy was going to disappear and he’d never see him again.
As if he knew, Cassidy looked over his shoulder and smiled. “I’ll be back. I promise.”
“Whatever.” Apparently, he’d become so accustomed to acting like he didn’t care he couldn’t stop.
Rather than frown, Cassidy laughed. “Well, then.”
Storm frowned. “What does that mean?”
Cassidy didn’t respond. When he turned around the corner, Storm bit his bottom lip and decided that he had to trust he’d come back. Besides, he was thirsty and he was freezing. Storm turned on the water, got a long drink while it was cold, and then adjusted the temperature so he could step in.
“Ah.” Hot water flowed over his back, and he closed his eyes from relief. His feet were so cold they developed little pins and needles as they started to warm up. Ducking his head under the spray, he turned this way and that, warming up his ears and neck. He must have slept in an awkward position because he had a crick in his neck that no amount of him rubbing seemed to soothe.
Out of the blue, he thought of Cassidy’s big hands kneading his neck. Some of the pain abated, melting right out of his shoulders and down his body. And then his mind pictured Cassidy’s hands sliding down and making those same soothing strokes over his back, and then his buttocks, and then—
“Oh, God.” Storm looked down and almost cringed. His cock was hard. And not just semi but full-on. Raging, even. How the hell had that happened? It was weird enough to wake up with all his pubic hair mysteriously vanished, but now he was a total queer, too? All he’d been thinking of was a backrub for crying out loud. He hadn’t even thought of the man’s hands on his prick. To his shock, his balls tightened. What in the world was going on? How could the mere thought of that man’s hands push him right to the edge of orgasm?
“Okay, now we’re going to start at your head and work downward.”
Storm spun around so fast his hard cock flung water at Cassidy. There was simply no way he didn’t notice, not when Storm’s prick continued to bob. For what felt like a million years Storm stood there, mortified. He wanted to say something, anything, but his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth.
“Now this stuff will sting if you get it in your eyes, so be careful.” Cassidy held out a plastic container with a handle. He didn’t stare at Storm’s obvious arousal or make a comment or even show a sliver of embarrassment. Cassidy simply moved on. Almost like he’d seen a thousand erections and the fact that Storm had one simply wasn’t that big of a deal.
“What’s in it?” Storm asked as he peered into the cloudy and slightly fuzzy water. A beige sponge bobbed along the surface.
“Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid hand soap.”
Up went Storm’s eyebrows.
“I know, it sounds weird, but it’s the only way to effectively remove the smell of the skunk.” Cassidy grinned. “If you want all the technical, chemical details, you can ask Paul. He’s our resident chemist. Well, chemist and cowpuncher.”
“He punches cows?” Storm had a horrible vision of some bully out punching sweet-looking cows in the face for no reason whatsoever.
“Ah. He doesn’t actually hit the cows. Paul likes the rhyme of chemist and cowpuncher, but what he really does is just herd them along like the rest of the cowpokes.”
Now he had a vision of the same man poking the poor creatures in the eyes. “You’re making fun of me.”
Cassidy looked deeply hurt by the accusation. “No, I’m not. There are just a bunch of different names for cowboy, and each hand seems to have his own personal favorite.”
“So this is a dude ranch?” Storm had a vague idea of what that was. “Where tourists come to ride horses and pretend to be cowboys?”
“No. The Rough River Ranch is a bona fide cattle ranch. We have more cows than I can count. What we do is fatten them up and then take them to market.”
“Are you a cowboy?” Storm thought it would be a tragedy to put a cowboy hat, or any kind of hat, really, on the man’s cinnamon-brown hair.
“I’m the cook, but I do occasionally pitch in if they need my help.” Cassidy grinned. “Do you ride?”
Consulting his memory, Storm had no impression of ever being on or around horses, so he shook his head.
“You’ve simply got to try it before you go.”
“Right.” Why did the thought of going send his adrenaline rushing through his body like crazy?
“But you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
“No?”
“Nope.” Cassidy grinned. “We can always find work for another man.”
Storm turned away. He was oddly touched by Cassidy’s kindness in not mocking him. Why was he being nice when Storm had only been rude to him? Maybe he was one of those weirdoes who tried to live like Jesus or something. Or maybe, much more likely, Cassidy was just a nice guy.
“I hope it doesn’t bleach your hair.”
“It might?” Storm peered into the plastic pitcher.
“Here, let me see if the smell is in your hair. Maybe we don’t have to treat it.” Cassidy tapped Storm’s shoulder. “Lean forward.”
To do that Storm would have to turn around. He debated whether he should or not, what with his still hard and bobbing cock, but in the end he turned and bent over.
Cassidy leaned close and sniffed him. “I think you’re okay, actually. I think he just got your body.”
“You wanna smell that, too?” Storm almost bit his tongue clean through. He simply couldn’t stop antagonizing this man.
“Maybe later.” Cassidy placed a small basket on the ground. From it he removed shampoo, conditioner, and a bar of soap, setting them on a little ledge inside the shower. “I’m going to put your towel on the hook right behind this wall.” Cassidy tapped the wall. “What you need to do is turn off the water, scrub yourself thoroughly with the solution, rinse, and then shower like normal.”
“Will it burn?”
“No. Just don’t leave it on your skin for too long or get it in your eyes. If you want to do your hair, just don’t let it sit on there for any length of time.” Cassidy reached out and slipped his fingers through Storm’s hair. “It would be a crying shame to ruin such a beautiful color.”
Storm closed his eyes and found himself utterly enraptured by the simple stroke.
“Sorry.” Cassidy pulled his hand away and turned aside. “While you clean up, I’m going to go in and find you some clothes to wear, okay?”
“Yeah. Okay.” Storm squeaked the words because his throat closed up at the idea of Cassidy walking away again. Intellectually, Storm knew he was going to come right back, but some childish part of his heart was terrified he’d simply disappear.
Cassidy took half a dozen steps.
“Hurry.”
Cassidy stopped but didn’t turn around.
“I want you to wash my back.” Holy shit! What the hell was that? He wasn’t gay. Not at all. So why in the world was he so attracted to this man? His touch, the simple stroke of his fingers through Storm’s hair, had energized every cell in his body. He wanted more. He wanted to feel that strong yet gentle hand fisted around his cock.
“Maybe I should do that before I go and get your clothes.” Cassidy turned around but held his position.
“Maybe.” The way Storm said the word it was half question and half demand.
Cassidy grinned and strode toward him with the easy stride of a confident man. “I promise I’ll be gentle.”
“What if I like it rough?”
“Then you’ll have to find another man.” Cassidy took the pitcher from him, grabbed the sponge, squeezed it out just a bit, and then murmured, “Turn around.”
Dazed, Storm turned away. When the sponge touched his skin, he jumped just a little.
“Sorry. It’s a bit on the cold side.”
“It’s okay.” But the cold wasn’t what made him jump. It was the knowledge that Cassidy’s hand was so close to touching him. If he dug his fingers into the sponge just a little, his fingertips would trace over Storm’s back. He sucked in a breath and tried to hold still, but each stroke of the sponge heightened his arousal. “Let’s do my hair just to be safe.” The last thing Storm wanted was to keep smelling this horrible smell. When he leaned into Cassidy, he wanted him to smell anything but skunk. His mind hiccupped over that idea, but he refused to dwell on why he would be snuggling up to Cassidy in the first place.
“Sure.”
Was it Storm’s imagination or was Cassidy’s voice a little strained?
“I think it would be better if you faced me.”
Storm turned. When his gaze collided with Cassidy’s, he felt a curious whoosh wash through his entire being. His ears, mind, eyes, body—everything—surged toward him as if they could merge into one.
“Lower your head.”
Storm did. Before he closed his eyes, he noticed that, just like him, Cassidy had an erection. For the first time since he’d woken up in this strange new land, Storm smiled.

Chapter 3

Cassidy’s hand shook as he squeezed the sponge over Storm’s stunning gray hair. If the mixture damaged the color, he was never going to forgive himself. And then Cassidy had to forcefully remind himself that Storm did not belong to him. There was no way their attraction was anything more than simple arousal. No way was it alpha and beta because pheromones simply couldn’t breach the overwhelming stench of skunk. Funny, though, that the longer Cassidy was exposed to the scent, the less he smelled it.

Besides, Storm said he wasn’t gay, so for all Cassidy knew he’d been touching himself in the shower. His erection certainly had nothing to do with Cassidy, and Cassidy’s erection had to do with the fact that Storm was a beautifully built man. Lately, just about everything had been giving Cassidy a hard-on. Hell, kneading bread was starting to turn him on because he kept picturing high, tight buttocks, just like Storm’s.

After soaping up his hair and working a bit down to his neck, Cassidy said, “Go ahead and rinse that off.” He held his breath until he realized the concoction hadn’t damaged Storm’s hair.

“Is it okay?” Storm looked up to Cassidy, and in that moment, he realized he was a little vain about his hair. Good. Cassidy didn’t like the idea of him hating something so unusual and interesting.

“It’s beautiful.”
Storm blushed and turned away. “Will you get my back?” “Right. Yes.” Damn it. Cassidy was having a devil of a time

focusing on the task at hand. Speaking of hands, his trembled so badly he frothed the mixture over Storm’s back without actually using the sponge. Cassidy was thoroughly distracted by tracking the line of little bubbles down Storm’s surprisingly muscular back, to his gently nipped waist, then down the thrust of one buttock. If he could lick that path, he’d be an eternally happy man.

“Are you done?”

Cassidy shook his head hard enough to shake his curls. “Almost.” Focusing solely on the task of cleaning Storm, Cassidy reminded himself repeatedly that he belonged to another. That was the only way he was able to finish cleaning him. “Here.” Tapping him on the shoulder, Cassidy handed him the sponge. “I’m going to go and get you some clothes.”

Before Storm could say anything, Cassidy set the pitcher on the floor of the shower and practically ran around the side of the farmhouse. Once he was out of sight, he stopped, pressed his hand to his chest, closed his eyes, and did his best to calm himself down. Never in his life had Cassidy ever been selfish, but the idea of watching Storm go into another man’s arms just about made him crazy.

For the first time in his life he wanted to be self-centered. He wanted to dress Storm up, toss him in the nearest vehicle, and then drive until they were in the middle of nowhere and then…

“I’d claim him.”

Cassidy had a crystal-clear vision of his body rising ove r Storm’s, his long, strong legs wrapped around his hips, his heels digging into Cassidy’s buttocks. They would start out slow and sweet, and then at the very end they would turn rough and hungry. Cassidy would ride Storm with his breathless encouragement,and then they’d find release with grunting growls of bliss. Cassidy saw it so clearly he could practically feel Storm’s body submitting to his. His mouth against his ear, panting, and then Storm would say—

“I’m not gay.” Cassidy sighed. “That’s exactly what he’d say.” Damn it all to hell. Even in his fantasy Cassidy couldn’t get a mate.

As soon as he got himself under control, Cassidy continued on into the house. In the laundry room, he grabbed a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. He considered the shirt. It was one of Elliot’s. Marshal’s mate had been very generous in sharing his clothing with the beleaguered betas who had ended up on the ranch. But Cassidy didn’t want him wearing Elliot’s shirt. From the pile of laundry he found one of his own shirts. It was a little tight on him after a wash, but it would be big on Storm. Still, the rich charcoal color would contrast the bright gray of his hair. Moreover, the shirt undoubtedly had traces of Cassidy’s scent. Would it be enough to fool the nose of Storm’s rightful alpha?

“No coffee yet?”

Cassidy jumped about a mile in the air. He spun around, clutching the sweats and his shirt to his chest. “Marshal.”
“God, Cassidy. I’m sorry.” Marshal reached out and put a steadying hand on Cassidy’s shoulder. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just wondering what was up with the coffee. It’s usually the first thing you do. Hell, I think you get that brewing before you even get your eyes all the way open.”
“Sorry. It’s been one of those mornings.”
“Whoa.” Marshal stepped back. “You get sprayed?”
“No.” It was on the tip of Cassidy’s tongue to tell Marshal about Storm, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to keep Storm all to himself. He wanted to find a way to make the beautiful beta his. But Marshal owned the Triple R. Not telling him what was going on was wrong and Cassidy knew it. In the end, his moral compass pointed the right direction and he said, “There’s a new beta.”
“Ah.” Marshal grinned. “Another naked, lost man.” Marshal’s head tilted to the side. “And he got sprayed by a skunk as a welcome?”
“Sadly, yes. He’s in the outside shower with Paul’s skunk-wash formula.”
“Who do you think he belongs to?”
“Me.” The word slipped out before his moral compass could correct him.
“That’s wonderful!” Marshal’s arms came open and he was on the verge of hugging Cassidy, but the skunk funk pushed him back. Instead he thrust out his hand, which Cassidy shook. “I’m so happy for you. What’s he like?” Marshal waved off his own question. “Never mind. I’ll get to know him once he’s comfortable. Now go on and don’t worry, I’ll get the coffee going.”
“Thanks.” Cassidy turned away before Marshal could see the shame on his face. He’d lied to his boss and friend. Cassidy had never lied to Marshal before. Not even little white lies. Priding himself on his honesty, Cassidy would rather remain silent then let a falsehood pass his lips. Until now. It was sad how lust could turn him away from a lifelong vigilance to honesty.
Holding the clothing, Cassidy returned to the outdoor shower. How in the world was he going to carry this off? Maybe if he kept Storm covered in clothing that had his scent and kept him away from the other alphas…Cassidy considered the possibilities. And then the solution hit. Well, there were two solutions. The first involved him telling thetruth, and he didn’t want to do that. So he chose the second idea, which involved keeping Storm close, keeping him cloaked with his own scent, but also obscuring Storm’s smell by keeping him in the kitchen and cooking with things that were decidedly strong scented. Every recipe Cassidy knew that involved onions and garlic came up in his mind as he walked toward the shower.
Cassidy almost dropped the clothing.
Storm was turned away so that all Cassidy could see was part of his back and part of his side, but what riveted his attention was the rhythmic motion of his left arm. Back and forth his elbow moved against his side. Storm’s head was down, his eyes closed, his lips slightly parted. And then the motion of his arm sped up, his head went back, and he let out a low gasp of pleasure.
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what had just happened. Cassidy stepped back and hid behind the side of the house. The last thing he wanted to do was cause Storm any embarrassment. Cassidy glanced down. His cock was rubbing against the zipper of his jeans. In his blearyeyed haste this morning, he hadn’t bothered to put on underwear. Normally, this wasn’t a big deal, but with Storm around he should probably put on a cup. Or chow down on some saltpeter. Or go in the house and find his own release in the shower. One interesting thing he’d learned was that they were both left- handed.
After waiting a sufficient time for Storm to recover, Cassidy came back around the side of the house. “I’ve got some clothes for you. I’m going to hang them on this wall on the second hook.” He tapped along the wall. “When you’re done and dressed, go around and come right on in. I’m going to go shower, and then I’ll be in the kitchen making breakfast.”
“Wait!”
Cassidy paused in midstep eventhough he really didn’t want to.
“Can’t you just wait for me?”
“Sure.” Cassidy spoke even though that wasn’t what he wanted to say. He wanted to tell Storm what he’d done and then run away. Although confessing that he’d claimed Storm as his beta wouldn’t mean much if anything to him since Storm still didn’t know that he was a coyote-shifter driven to the ranch to find his alpha.
“I’m almost done.”
After a few moments, the shower turned off and Storm reached around for the towel. Another minute passed and the moist towel was returned to the hook. Storm reached and grabbed the clothing.
“Sorry that the shirt is a little big.” No, he wasn’t, but he thought he should offer some kind of explanation.
“It’s great. Really.”
Cassidy’s eyes went wide. Storm seemed to have dropped his snarky attitude.
“I love wearing shirts that can double as dresses.”
A grin crept over Cassidy’s face. It seemed the snark hadn’t died after all. It had just been tamed a little bit. Or delayed. “Have you ever heard the idea that beggars couldn’t be choosers?”
“I sure have, but I don’t remember begging you for anything.”
“Fine.” Cassidy came around the side wall. “Give it all back.”
Storm was in the process of pulling the shirt over his head. Somehow, him partially dressed was even more arousing than when he’d been buck naked.
“Fine.” Storm whipped the shirt right back off and handed it over.
Cassidy accepted the proffered shirt then nodded. “Now the pants.”
Storm’s defiance melted away. “Maybe I should leave these on.”
“Why?”
“To protect me from your prying eyes.”
Another grin lifted the edges of Cassidy’s lips. How in the world could he find this man so damned attractive? It was crazy. He was everything Cassidy wasn’t, yet he found himself enchanted by him. And it wasn’t just his physical form, which was damn near perfect, but his attitude was rude and surly and Cassidy liked him anyway. He wondered what had made Storm the way he was. He would have asked, but that wouldn’t do him any good until Storm got his memory back.
“Here.” Cassidy handed the shirt back over. “You should probably wear this, too, or I might become so aroused I won’t be able to control myself around you.”
A flicker of a smile tugged at Storm’s mouth, but he forcefully squashed it by pressing his lips together. “Fine.” He pulled the shirt on. “I’ll help save you from yourself.”
“Gosh, you’re so generous.”
“I am.”
“Damn.” Cassidy looked down at Storm’s bare feet.
“What?”
“Shoes. I forgot shoes.”
“That’s okay. You can carry me.” Storm extended his arms.
Cassidy’s mouth dropped open, but he recovered quickly. “Sure.” Carefully, waiting for him to jump aside or deliver another rude comment, Cassidy was surprised when Storm allowed him to scoop his perfect body up. Storm even wrapped his arm around Cassidy’s shoulder to hang on. Cassidy was immediately struck by how good Storm felt in his arms. His weight was perfect, and the distribution was, too, because he felt perfectly balanced while Cassidy carried him.
“Hey, do I still smell like skunk?”
“I don’t think so, but it’s hard to tell. The skunk smell is oily and it clings to the little hairs inside the nose. Everything for the next few hours is going to smell like skunk to the both of us.” Cassidy easily carried Storm from the shower at the back of the house around to the front. Once they reached the porch, he set Storm on his feet.
“Thanks.” Storm whispered it low and very fast, almost like he was embarrassed to show gratitude.
“Welcome.” Cassidy returned the courtesy in the same low, quiet way. “I’m going to go in and shower before I get started on breakfast.”
“Can I come with you?”
Cassidy pictured him in the shower with him, but he had a feeling that wasn’t what Storm meant. “Sure.” Cassidy entered and went down the central hall to the kitchen.
Marshal was at the table, sipping coffee. When he saw Storm, he stood up and offered out his hand. “I’m Marshal Roberts.”
“Storm Hoffman.” Storm shook his hand and then stepped closer to Cassidy.
Cassidy and Marshal exchanged a quick surprised look. Most betas didn’t remember their names. It was curious that Storm had. Or, given his attitude, it was more likely that he was lying. The name did sound rather made-up.
“Do you want some coffee?” Marshal moved over to the pot and poured a big mug for Cassidy. When he looked at Storm, he shook his head that he didn’t want any. “Okay.”
“I’m going to shower before we get started making breakfast.” “We?” Storm asked loudly.
Marshal looked at Storm, and his brows rose. When Marshal turned his intense turquoise gaze onto Cassidy, his brows rose another notch.
“You don’t have to help if you don’t want to.” Cassidy didn’t mind dealing with Storm’s issues in private, but this might get embarrassing around the other men.
“Good. Because I don’t cook. I’m not a girl.”
Cassidy sighed and then looked at Marshal, who was trying desperately not to laugh.
“Fine. You can wait here while I go shower.”
Panic infused Storm’s face.
“Or you can come see my room.”
Relief eased the worry out of his features, but just as quickly, a look of bored disdain covered his face likea mask. “Okay.”
Marshal mouthed lucky you as Cassidy walked past him. Marshal then settled back at the table with his coffee and a stack of paperwork. From the looks of pile, Marshal was sorting out the bills for the month.
Coffee cup in hand, Cassidy walked down the back hall to the very end. Since he practically lived in the kitchen, he was the only one to have a room on the main floor. As he stepped inside, he held the door open and watched as Storm looked around. Next to the kitchen, this was Cassidy’s favorite room. It was a seafoam green with rosecolored accents. He was fairly certain back in the day it had been a guest room, one probably reserved for female guests, given the soft colors and frilly lace curtains, but Cassidy didn’t care. He fell in love with the room at first sight. It was soothing, warm, and thoroughly comfortable.
“Wow. Talk about girly.”
“Yep.” Cassidy nodded to the tangled bed. “You can sit there or look around or whatever. I’m going to be in there.” Cassidy nodded to a door that was about ten steps from the bed.
“You have your own bathroom?”
“One of the benefits of being the cook.” There weren’t a lot of perks for his job, but that wasn’t why Cassidy had come to the ranch. He’d been working in Scorpion as a short-order cook when he met Marshal. He’d raved about the food and hired Cassidy on the spot. And he hadn’t even offered out money, not at first. Just a farmhouse to live in, great guys to cook for, and the hopes of sharing in the ranch profits once things got rolling. Cassidy had never made a lot of money, but he didn’t need to when he had everything he wanted or needed. The only thing he’d been hungering for lately was a mate. Cassidy’s gaze automatically went to Storm.
Storm wandered over to the bed and settled on the edge. He looked small against the king-sized bed. As Cassidy entered the bathroom, all he could think of was Storm in the bed, not just sitting on the side. How would it be to come to bed after setting the kitchen to rights and there was Storm, his sleepy eyes blinking slowly as Cassidy undressed? Once he crawled inside the bedcovers, Storm would press his sleep-warm body against him, warming him up, and his hands would seek lower on Cassidy’s body until he grasped his cock.
“Holy mother of pearl.” Cassidy looked down. His cock was straining against the fly of his jeans.
“You okay in there?” Storm’s voice came through the partially closed bathroom door.
“I’m overwhelmed by my own awesome body.”
“Well, you’re the only one.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to retort about catching Storm jacking it in the shower, but he didn’t because he had no idea what he’d been thinking while he was stroking himself. For all Cassidy knew, Storm had a girlfriend and he’d been thinking of her, so Cassidy kept his mouth shut. He reached out to close the door but stopped. So far, Storm had seemed to panic when Cassidy was out of sight, so he left the door open to reassure him. Cassidy was certain there was a story behind that behavior just like there was one behind his rude comments.
Cassidy stripped down and then stepped into the claw-foot tub. Two clear plastic shower curtains encircled the bath. Once he had them closed he got down to business. He turned on the water, set the temperature a little cooler than he liked, then pulled the plunger to force the water up into the shower unit.
“Yikes!”
He wanted it cool but not cold. Hastily, he adjusted the temperature. After soaping up his hair, he got a handful of suds then stroked along his cock with his left hand. He tried to picture someone other than Storm, but he simply wasn’t able to. Into his mind popped Storm in the shower, stroking himself. Cassidy matched the rhythm Storm had set, and within half a dozen strokes he was on the verge of climax. Out the corner of his eye he swore he saw the bathroom door move ever so slightly. Cassidy tried to stop what he was doing, but he couldn’t, not now. His orgasm had reached the point of inevitability. Besides, if Storm wanted to watch, let him. Right now Cassidy simply didn’t care.
Increasing his pace, Cassidy turned so that if Storm was watching from the doorway, he would have a pretty clear view of what Cassidy was doing. Just in case he couldn’t see well enough through the plastic curtain, he added some sound effects. Growling low and deep, Cassidy kept right on fisting himself until he tossed back his head and climaxed.
By the time he returned to reality, he swore the bathroom door was now closed more than it had been before.
“Well, let’s just hope Storm enjoyed the show.”

Chapter 4

Storm stepped back from the bathroom door and settled on the edge of Cassidy’s bed. Had he sparked that reaction in him? Storm doubted it after the way he’d been behaving. Not that he wanted Cassidy to think of him while he was jacking off in the shower. Not at all. Just, well, it would be interesting if he was. Storm sighed. It was far more likely Cassidy had been thinking about that giant Marshal while he was in there. The two big men could fuck like wild animals and not hurt one another. For some insane reason, Storm pictured them naked on a wrestling mat, covered in oil, and each trying to mount the other.

When the idea aroused Storm, he desperately tried to think of something else. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who liked to take the edge off in the shower. And left-handed, too. How interesting that they were both lefties when only ten percent of the population was a southpaw. Storm frowned. How did he know that little tidbit? Maybe his memory was returning. That thought filled him with terror, and he wanted to run into the bathroom and straight into Cassidy’s strong arms. But he didn’t. He wasn’t a sissy. He could take care of himself.

Glancing toward the bathroom door, Storm wondered if he’d closed it enough. Or had he pulled the door too far closed? Maybe Cassidy wouldn’t notice. Desperate for distraction, Storm rose and made Cassidy’s bed.

“Man, he must toss around like crazy.” Storm had to practically strip the bed to straighten out the sheets, blankets, and comforter. By the time Cassidy came out with a light green towel snug around his hips, Storm was back to sitting on the edge.
“Hey, thanks.”
“Welcome.” Storm glanced down at the floor and found himself

staring at Cassidy’s feet. How in the world did the man have sexy feet?
“I’m not going to dress in here. I just need to grab some clothes.”
“It’s okay.” Storm thought if he dressed in here he could have a way better look at him than what he’d gotten through the wavy distortion of the plastic shower curtain. Not that he was into the guy or anything, just that he was curious.
Cassidy said nothing, but the next thing Storm noticed was his towel falling to the floor around his ankles. Swallowing hard, Storm slowly lifted his gaze. Cassidy’s back was to him as he dug around in a chest of drawers. From the top one he took out a pair of briefs that were dark green. Turning to the side, Cassidy bent over and stepped into them, pulling them up his hairy legs until the hunter-green fabric stretched around his strong but pale buttocks and his…oh.
Storm tried to look away, but he couldn’t. In slow motion, he watched as the clinging fabric cupped Cassidy’s cock and balls. Unlike Storm, he wasn’t hairless. Not at all. His body was lightly dusted with the same cinnamon-brown hair just like on his head. His prick was nestled in a tuft of curls that Storm found himself wanting to touch to see if they were crisp or soft.
“Normally, by now I’ve got half the pancakes made and the bacon going.”
“I guess I’ve really messed up your schedule.”
“I don’t mind.” Cassidy looked over at him and flashed a kind smile that Storm was beginning to trust. This was a man who would never lash out in anger. He was sweet, honest, and caring.
“I can help.”
Rather than remind him of his earlier remark about the word we, Cassidy simply said, “I can always use an extra pair of hands, so that would be great.”
“Probably not.” Up came Cassidy’s gaze onto Storm. “I don’t think I have any kitchen skills.”
“I’ll be more than happy to teach you.”
To Storm’s disappointment, Cassidy moved down to the third drawer and extracted a pair of jeans that he worked up his legs, cutting off Storm’s view of his lower half. He still had a good look at his chest and back, but what distracted him now were Cassidy’s arms.
“You must really work out your arms a lot.”
“Bread.”
“Money?”
Laughing lightly, Cassidy shook his head, causing his dark curls to fling drops of water all over his chest, back, and those massive arms of his. With the light spilling in through the white-and-rose-colored curtains he looked for a moment as if he were covered with dozens of little blooms.
“From kneading bread. It’s one hell of a serious workout.”
“I guess.”
Cassidy flexed his arm.
“Holy shit!” Storm stood and walked over to him. “All that from making bread?”
“Hey, don’t judge something until you’ve tried it for yourself.” Cassidy pulled open the second drawer and peered in at the T-shirts.
“That one.” Storm pointed to the hunter-green one that would match his underwear and contrast his hair.
“Okay.” Cassidy pulled it out, gave it a little shake, and then pulled it over his head. “Good?”
Storm didn’t trust himself to speak, so he just nodded, but it was more than good. In fact, it was the best shirt ever. It showed off the beautiful color of Cassidy’s eyes and hair.
“Come on. I’m going to show you just how manly working in the kitchen is.”
Storm followed along, wishing the lingering scent of skunk would get the hell out of his nose so he could smell Cassidy. He imagined he smelled like spices and herbs. And Storm just bet Cassidy had lips that were firm but almost unbearably soft. Storm tripped a bit over his bare feet. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe he was gay. Or maybe he was just attracted to Cassidy because he’d been so determined to help him no matter what he said or did.
“Finally!”
A veritable chorus of the word broke out as soon as Cassidy entered the kitchen. Storm was so startled he stopped right on the edge of the archway that went into the huge room. When Storm peeked around the corner, he discovered half a dozen men sitting at the table. They were all almost as big as Cassidy. A shiver of terror went right down Storm’s spine until he realized Cassidy would protect him. He didn’t even have to ask. No way would that man stand aside as some giant man pawed at him and tried to make him…do things.
Storm felt the fringes of a memory in his mind. He didn’t recall the event in any kind of detail. All he had was an impression of big men with grabby hands and his heart slamming in his chest so violently his body hurt. But that wouldn’t happen here. Not with Cassidy close. Feeling assured, Storm looked at the men again and felt no fear this time.
At the head of the table sat Marshal, who nodded to Storm then looked back at his stack of papers. Storm watched him out the corner of his eye, but he didn’t see Marshal paying any undue attention to Cassidy. Good. Storm didn’t think he could compete against a guy like that. Confident in his safety, Storm entered the kitchen.
All the conversation at the table ceased.
“A new one.”
Storm looked over and his gaze connected with several of the men. Most of them had dark hair and pale eyes. They all smiled at him as they examined him. They didn’t seem mean, just curious and interested. Unsure what they meant by a new one, Storm glared at them and snarled, “Take a picture. It lasts longer.”
Every single brow lifted except for Marshal’s. He just grinned but kept his attention on his work.
“Only if you take your shirt off first.” The man who had spoken looked right into Storm’s eyes and licked his lips.
“Fucking fag.”
Every single brow now lowered ominously. Marshal’s head came up, and he darted his gaze from Storm to Cassidy, who came over, gripped Storm’s arm, and started to pull him down the hallway toward his bedroom.
Before they could get even two steps, Marshal rose. “Get to work on breakfast before there’s a riot. I’ll have a chat with our guest.”
“He doesn’t know anything.” Cassidy’s grip on Storm’s arm tightened. “I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”
“I’m sure.” Marshal gently but determinedly pried Cassidy’s fingers off Storm.
Pure terror raced through Storm’s body. If he lost sight of Cassidy, he feared he’d lose him for good.
“I just want to talk to you in private.” Marshal placed his hand on Storm’s back, and just like he had with Cassidy, he exerted gentle but firm pressure until Storm walked forward.
“I’m sorry.” Storm hung his head.
“I don’t think you really are.”
Two doors up from Cassidy’s room and on the other side of the hallway, Marshal pushed open a door to a good-sized office. Storm entered even though he didn’t want to. He figured if he didn’t Marshal would just make him go in anyway.
“Have a seat.”
Storm lifted his head and opened his mouth, but he didn’t get any further than that.
“I promise you that if you give me a snide comment, I will put you over my lap, pulldown your pants, and spank you.”
Storm’s mouth shut with an audible click.
“Cassidy is a nice man. A very nice man. I am less inclined to indulge your issues.”
“I don’t have ‘issues,’” Storm said while making mocking air quotation marks. Nonetheless, Storm settled in a seat in front of the desk while Marshal took the seat behind it. Somehow he looked even bigger, but Storm felt safer with the big block of wood between them.
“Trust me. You’ve got more issues than I have cattle.” Marshal sighed and settled back. He peered at Storm as if he could read his entire life simply by looking at him, and maybe he could. “I get that you protect yourself from getting hurt by pushing everyone away before they can even get close.”
Storm wanted to wrap his arms around himself for protection.
“I also know that out of everyone on this ranch, Cassidy is probably the only man who can tolerate you until you get your damage under control. And that’s fine. I’m willing to give him and you a lot of leeway.” Marshal drew a deep breath as if he were deliberately trying to calm himself. “But what I simply will not tolerate is you spouting any kind of homophobic crap at me or my men.”
Storm had the good grace to look ashamed. And for once, he really was. Those men hadn’t done anything but look at him, and he’d reacted with a vicious slur. He wasn’t even sure why. It had seemed an instinctual response to being looked at in that way.
“If you have an issue with your orientation, that is your problem.”
“I don’t have an issue with that at all. I’m not gay, and that’s that.” Storm still couldn’t explain his fascination for Cassidy, but he figured it was like Marshal said. Storm obviously liked Cassidy because he could tolerate his mannerisms. For some reason, Storm thought Cassidy was the only man who had ever been able to do that.
“Fine. But you will respect the people on my ranch regardless of their color, creed, religion, or sexual orientation.” Marshal sighed. “I’m an equal-opportunity employer, so we’ve got a bit of every kind of person here, but one thing I offer everyone who works for me is the freedom to be who and what they are without fear of being harassed.”
Rather than argue with what was a perfectly sensible edict, Storm nodded.
“If you can’t say something nice, I suggest you say nothing at all. Got it?”
Again, Storm nodded. “Are you gay?” The question popped out of his mouth before he could stop it.
“I am, and so is my mate.”
“Mate?” Even though Storm didn’t have all of his memories together, he’d never heard anyone refer to his lover like that.
“Elliot.” Marshal leaned across the desk and dropped his voice to a low, rumbling growl. “And I swear, if you ever call him a fag, I will personally beat your ass so hard you won’t be able to sit down for a week. Got it?”
Storm nodded before Marshal even stopped speaking. If he got nothing else from this meeting, he grasped the fact that Marshal Roberts wasn’t a man to be fucked with.
“Now, I want you to get up and go into the kitchen, apologize to those men, and then you will do whatever Cassidy tells you to do.”
Storm was up and out of his chair before Marshal finished. He moved down the hall as fast as he could, but he didn’t really calm down until he saw Cassidy. Bent over the sink, Cassidy seemed focused on something there. His arm was flicking away from his body in a curiously familiar way.
When Storm came around the archway, all the men riveted their eyes on him, their eyebrows high.
“I’m sorry for what I said.” Storm made sure to look into each man’s eyes. He wasn’t even certain what had prompted him to say such a horrible thing in the first place.
In turn, all the men offered him a curt nod, but it was clear Storm had started off on the worst foot possible. Storm thought it was a damn good thing he wasn’t going to be staying.

Chapter 5

“What do you mean we have to go and cook again? Didn’t we just finish making breakfast?”
Cassidy understood Storm’s surprise. “A cook’s work is never done.”
“But when do you get a chance to relax?” Storm dutifully followed Cassidy from the front room, where they’d been sitting and talking about the ranch, and back into the kitchen.
“After supper I have a few hours to myself.” Cassidy opened the enormous walk-in refrigerator and started pulling out sandwich fixings. Since he dealt with so many men, he used a small rolling cart to carry things from cold storage to the main part of the kitchen. Cassidy hadn’t had a chance to ask Marshal what he’d said to Storm, and he’d refrained from asking Storm directly, but whatever Marshal had said to him had worked like a charm. Since their little chat in the office, Storm hadn’t mouthed off once. Ironically, Cassidy kind of missed his snarky little comments. To Cassidy they were funny. Except for the homophobic slur. That was far too close to the crap the local sheriff spewed whenever he was around, and no one needed a reminder of that idiot.
“But that’s hours from now!” Storm protested.
Cassidy grinned. “It’s my job.” He rolled the cart over to the pantry and retrieved several loaves of precut bread. For Christmas last year, all the hands had pitched in and bought Cassidy a bread slicer. It saved him hours of work. They’d tried to get him a bread maker, but he flatly refused. One of his greatest joys was making bread by hand.
“But they don’t work all day like you do.”
“How do you know?” Cassidy trundled the cart into the main part of the kitchen. He plucked a clean washrag from the top drawer under the prepping counter, moistened it at the sink, and then wiped down the area where he would put the sandwiches together. While the area dried, he assembled the fixings.
“What can I do?”
Cassidy turned to find Storm watching him with hungry eyes. And no, he didn’t seem to be hankering for food but for something far more filling. Acceptance. Love. A place to belong. Apparently, he really was just like all the other betas. Cassidy realized that far too soon he was going to watch Storm walk away when he and his true alpha connected. The only thing that had short-circuited that was Storm’s slur and the lingering essence of skunk. But eventually, the pheromones would ensnare them both, and Cassidy would be alone again.
“I’d love it if you could prep the ham.”
Storm cast a dubious eye at the huge chunk of precooked ham.
“Trust me, it’s easy and fun.” Cassidy took the ham from the cart and placed it by the industrial slicer. With just a few movements he had the ham set and the device turned on. “Lucky us that we’re both lefties. All you have to do is just move the ham back and forth. The spinning blade does the rest.”
Storm stepped closer but didn’t actually touch the slicer.
“It’s totally safe. You can’t slice your fingers off. Just keep your hand right here.” Cassidy showed him how to use the slicer and stayed near until he was comfortable. “You’ve got it.”
Storm smiled happily and then went to town slicing the ham while Cassidy took the bread he’d already sliced and started laying it out on the now dry counter. He took a deep sniff, but all he could smell was the skunk. It would probably be another day before it faded from the inside of his nasal passages. Probably longer for Storm. But ultimately, the oily stench would dissipate and Storm would smell his alpha.
“Should I slice all of it?”
“Yep. If you need another plate—”
“They are right up there.” Storm pointed to the cabinet where the plates were kept.
“You’re getting good at this after only one meal.”
“Good memory.” Storm tapped his temple then frowned. “Except for the last few days.”
Cassidy could explain why that was, but he didn’t want to dump a bunch of what Storm might perceive as crazy talk on him, so he tried to swing the conversation a different direction. “Do you remember what you did for a living? Or rather do, I suppose.”
“I’m a professional hockey player.” Storm’s eyes went wide, and he stopped moving the ham over the blade.
“Wow. Really? That’s unusual.”
“What? Because I’m so short?”
Cassidy certainly didn’t get long to miss Storm’s snarky attitude as Storm dropped into like it was a dirty habit he simply couldn’t give up. “No, because I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who did that for a living. Why in the world do you always think everything people are saying to you is negative?”
“I don’t know.” Storm started back in on the ham. “I’m sorry. Really. I guess I’m just defensive.” Storm looked genuinely confused by his own behavior.
“I think I get it.”
His uplifted brows asked the question.
“Well, hockey is a rough sport. Violent, even. I don’t imagine most guys can play without a pretty tough attitude.”
“Makes sense.” Storm’s gray brows lowered.
“What?”
“I just think it’s weird how I can remember what I do but not details about what happened in the last few days.”
It was on the tip of Cassidy’s tongue to explain, but he didn’t want to make Storm’s transition any harder than it had to be. “I think sometimes we remember what we need to.”
“Like maybe there’s a good reason I can’t recall?” Storm finished slicing the ham then brought the piled-high plate over to the sandwich-making station.
“Maybe.” Cassidy nodded to the utensil drawer. “Grab a knife and we’ll get started.”
They worked in silence for a while, slathering mayonnaise on the bread.
“Mayo only?”
“These are for the guys out on the range, and none of them like anything else.”
“How do you keep everything everyone likes and doesn’t like straight?”
“Good memory.” Cassidy tapped his temple just like Storm had done. “It seems like a lot, but it really isn’t. I’ve known all the guys since they came here.”
“So you were one of the first?” Storm considered the bottle of mayo. “Hey, there’s no label.”
“Because it’s homemade.” Cassidy grinned at Storm’s surprise. “And yes, I was one of the first. The kitchen grew as the number of hands grew.”
“No wonder you’re so at home here. It’s like you built this place.”
Cassidy nodded. “I can’t imagine leaving. It’s my home.”
“And you have a crush on Marshal.”
Frowning, Cassidy removed the two heads of lettuce from the cart. “What makes you think that?” It was clear to him Storm was on a fishing expedition. Maybe the infatuation between them ran a little deeper and far more mutually than Cassidy had originally thought.
“Well, um, he’s like all big and powerful.” Storm considered the neat rows of bread. “Should I put the ham on now?”
“Yep. Give each one about an inch of meat.” Cassidy smacked the heads of lettuce against the counter, breaking out the tough inner stem. Once he removed the harder bits, he placed the cored heads in the sink to rinse.
“Seems like a lot,” Storm said as he started layering meat on the bread.
“They’re all big guys like Marshal.”
“Oh.” There was a long pause. “So Marshal isn’t…”
Cassidy waited for Storm to finish his question, but he didn’t. “Did you forget something?”
“Marshal said his mate’s name is Elliot. That’s not you.”
“Nope.”
“So then, who…”
Rather than let him twist in the wind, Cassidy quietly said, “No one.”
“No one?” Storm’s gaze leapt from the sandwiches to Cassidy. “But you’re so cute and nice.”
“Thanks.” Cassidy almost blushed. “But I just haven’t met the right guy yet.”
“So you are gay.”
“Totally.”
“Do you like big men?”
“Not particularly.” Cassidy thoroughly rinsed both heads of lettuce then started tearing them into individual leaves and placing them in the salad spinner. “I tend to like my men smaller than me.”
“I’m smaller than you.” Storm piled ham on another piece of bread.
“But you’re not gay.”
“Right.”
As soon as the lettuce was dry, Cassidy brought the leaves over to the sandwich prep area. “About two or three leaves for each except one. When you’re done, go ahead and close them up, and then put them in this.” From the upper cabinet, Cassidy removed a plastic bin.
Storm nodded and proceeded to dress the sandwiches.
From the bottom of the cart, Cassidy took out a bushel of gala apples, rinsed them, and then put them in another plastic bin. He then filled a large carafe with coffee and one with lemonade. Once the food was assembled, he put everything onto the cart then wheeled it toward the back door.
“I’m going to go get the truck.”
“Can I come with?”
“Sure.” Cassidy considered his feet. “I’ve got some cheap flip- flops that will fit you.”
Once they had shoes on their feet, they took the old blue truck around to the back, loaded up the food, and then drove out to the far end of the ranch.
“God, this place is huge. Marshal owns all of this land?”
“Yep.”
“Do you take them lunch every day?”
“Normally, I have it made and ready to go with them when they go out, but I was a little distracted this morning.” Cassidy grinned at Storm.
“I really messed up your schedule.”
“Not at all.” Cassidy met his gaze briefly then returned his attention to the dirt road. “You made my morning way more interesting and a lot more fun.”
A brief, happy smile transformed Storm’s face from cute to devastatingly handsome. Cassidy’s heart clutched at the idea of watching him go into another man’s arms. But maybe he was meant for him. They certainly seemed to be attracted to one another.
As quickly has the change happened, it disappeared when Storm frowned. “After this, can you drive me to the nearest town?”
“Sure. I imagine you’d like to get some of your own clothes.”
“No. I have to get back to Ottawa.”
“Canada?”
Storm nodded and turned his face toward the side window. “I have to get back to my team.”
It was as if Storm reached out and crumpled up Cassidy’s heart like a used tissue. Bad enough to have to watch him walk into another man’s arms, but to witness him walk away entirely? No. That was too much.
“Do you have to go today?” Why was he prolonging the agony? And then Cassidy realized that letting him go without having him at least meet his alpha was wrong. “I mean, I’d like for you to stay for a day or two. I’ve grown to really like you.”
“You’d be the first.”
“Maybe that’s all you need. Sometimes when you just have one person like you, it starts a domino effect and then a bunch of people like you.” Heaven help him. Now Cassidy was babbling. If he didn’t get a hold of himself, he wondered what else he’d do to try to get Storm to stick around.
Storm stared out the passenger-side window for a long time. He was silent the rest of the way to where the men were working, quiet all through passing out the food, and silent almost all the way back. Cassidy tried not to get worried, but he did.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Cassidy asked.
“I can stay for a day or two.”
Relief eased the tension right out of Cassidy’s shoulders. “Good.”
“But one condition.”
“What’s that?” Cassidy pulled the battered blue Ford up to the front of the farmhouse.
Storm looked right into Cassidy’s eyes. “I want to sleep in your room.”
Swallowing hard, Cassidy tried to summon his ever-present moral compass to tell him what to do, but it was surprisingly absent.
“But don’t get any wrong ideas. I’m not gay.”
“Right.” Cassidy was about to open the door when Storm placed his hand over Cassidy’s free hand, stopping him.
“I’m not.”
“Okay.” Cassidy wasn’t going to argue with him on that.
“I just think I should stay and see what it’s like here. Maybe someday when I retire I’ll move to a place like this.”
“Maybe.”
“You’ll show me around?”
“I’ll show you anything you want to see.”
Another all-toobrief smile flashed across Storm’s face. “Good.” He looked around the yard then back into Cassidy’s eyes. “How long do we have until we have to start the next meal?”
Hesitantly, Cassidy explained that they had to make lunch for the men who were nearer to the house and then they had a bit of a break before starting supper.
Storm’s fingers traced over the back of Cassidy’s hand as he listened. “So nighttime alone in your room is a very long time away.”
“I guess.”
“We’ll just have to be patient.”
When Storm pulled his hand away, Cassidy got out of the truck and immediately started counting down the seconds until he was going to be alone in his bedroom with Storm.

Chapter 6

“It’s a really big bed.” Storm slid in one side while Cassidy took the other, but suddenly, the spaciousness compressed until he was very close to Cassidy. Close enough to smell that he did indeed have the essence of spices and herbs pressed into his very flesh. The skunk funk had faded to almost nil just in time for bed.

“Do you like to sleep with a light on?”

“No.” Storm watched as Cassidy rea ched out with one powerful hand and flipped off the bedside lamp.
They had talked all day while they finished up lunch and made dinner. They talked about everything and nothing. Storm found himself feeling safer and closer to Cassidy than he’d ever felt with anyone else. But he clung to the idea he wasn’t gay. Cassidy had pointed out that in his profession such an attitude was entirely fitting.
“It’s a manly sport, and you share a lot with your teammates, including a locker room. I imagine if you were gay it would be very stressful for you and them.”
“Yeah.” But there was another reason beyond that.
“I think it also explains why you’re so hostile.”
“Hostile?”
“Your rude comments. Your perpetual frown.” Cassidy rolled to his side, facing Storm. Even though the room was pitch dark there was enough moonlight slipping in through the window near the bed so Storm could see Cassidy’s face. “Since you’re probably the shortest guy on the team, I imagine you have to act twice as manly as the rest of your teammates.”
“Are you saying I’m not manly?”
“No.” Cassidy grinned. “You’re all man. There’s no question in my mind. But you don’t need to keep reminding me and everyone else about it.”
“I thought I was doing better.”
“After Marshal’s chat you did. But the closer it came to bedtime, the more hostile you became.” Cassidy fluffed the pillow below his head. “If you want me to sleep somewhere else, I—”
“No!” Storm reached out and cupped Cassidy’s face. His beard was amazingly soft, compelling Storm to stroke along his cheek to his neck. “I don’t want to be in here alone.”
“Okay.”
Storm slid closer. “I like you.”
“I like you, too.”
Storm waited for Cassidy to kiss him, but he stayed right where he was. If one of them was going to make a move, it was going to have to be Storm. Leaning closer, placing their mouths near to one another, Storm whispered, “I’m not gay.”
“I know.”
And then Storm closed the distance between them. Cassidy’s lips were just as he thought they would be, firm and yet soft. Stunned by the surge of electricity he felt when they connected, Storm pressed into Cassidy, moving his body close. Cassidy’s mustache tickled across Storm’s upper lip as his arm slid around Storm’s waist, cupping into the small of his back and pulling him forward. When their bodies were tight together and Storm’s cock was against Cassidy’s belly as his cock was against Storm’s upper thighs, he pulled back from the kiss to gasp at the sheer pleasure of finally feeling the masculine power in Cassidy’s body.
“I’m sorry. God.” Cassidy was up and out of the bed so fast that Storm was chilled by the breeze he made. “I’ll go sleep in another room.”
“Please don’t go.”
“This is a very bad idea, Storm. I don’t think I can control myself.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to.” Maybe Cassidy was right and he just acted all tough and kept insisting he was straight because he was a hockey player and that was the image he had to live up to.
“If it were only that simple.” Cassidy shook his head, and his curls bounced along his shoulders, making Storm almost desperate to feel them in his hands. “You don’t belong to me.”
Storm didn’t understand at first, but then it dawned on him that Cassidy wasn’t a man who would engage in a meaningless one-night stand. He was the kind of man who wanted someone to be there every morning and every night. Much like Marshal, Cassidy wanted a mate.
“Maybe I don’t have to go tomorrow, or the day after that, or…ever.”
Cassidy closed his eyes and exhaled a long, slow sigh. “I would like that very much, but you see, there’s something you should know.”
“Tell me later.” Storm lifted the covers and patted Cassidy’s side of the bed. “Tell me in the morning over coffee.”
Cassidy stood at the end of the bed debating for so long Storm almost released the covers, but eventually he returned to bed.
“Just for tonight.”
“Okay.” Storm had a feeling this was Cassidy’s version of I’m not gay. By saying he was only going to be with him just for tonight it seemed to Storm he was trying to distance himself emotionally. And then Cassidy did the last thing Storm was expecting. Cassidy climbed into bed and turned away from Storm.
“Good night, Storm.”
“Good night,” Storm echoed as he stared at the back of Cassidy’s head. He knew that if he touched him he would get up and find another room without saying anything. Storm couldn’t help himself. He smiled. What were the odds that he’d fall so quickly for such a moral man?
Storm turned away from Cassidy and settled in. Sleep was a very long time in coming. Knowing Cassidy was right there, but that he’d made his wishes clear, just ate at Storm. And then a glimmer of hope. Cassidy wiggled across the bed until his back pressed against Storm’s. The feel of flesh against flesh aroused Storm but also gave him a measure of peace. He was safe. With Cassidy against his back, Storm thought that for the first time in a long time he could doze without fear. He had no idea what he was afraid of or why, but he didn’t care. Carefully, moving as slowly as he could, Storm pressed into Cassidy until their backs were touching everywhere. With a sigh, he fell asleep.
Storm woke up shivering all over. His body felt strange, and when he looked down, he screamed, but what emerged was a keening yip.
“Storm?”
He looked over at Cassidy and realized he looked different. It was as if the moonlight was amplified somehow and he could clearly see every feature of his face.
“Relax. I can explain.”
When he told him to relax, Storm tried to move away, but his body didn’t respond the way he was anticipating. Instead of sliding away, he shoved himself right out of bed. He landed on the floor with a thump. Storm tried to stand, but his paws were slick against the polished hardwood floor and he kept falling onto his belly.
Paws?
Storm looked down and sure enough, he had two paws sticking out in front of him.
“I can explain.”
When he looked up, he saw Cassidy above him, his face so worried, so concerned, he was afraid Cassidy was going to burst into tears. Storm wanted to ask what the hell had happened to him, but what emerged was a questioning yip.
Cassidy’s face disappeared from the bed, and then he heard his feet hit the floor on the other side. Looking underneath, he saw his feet as clearly as if the lights were on. He heard, felt, and smelled Cassidy coming toward him. He smelled like herbs, spices, and a minute trace of skunk still clung to his curls. As Cassidy came around to where Storm was lying, he crouched down and reached out his hand.
“I should have told you, but I didn’t think you’d believe me.”
All Storm could do was look at him.
“You’re a coyote-shifter.”
Storm would have laughed or rolled his eyes, but he was sitting on the floor with two hairy paws sticking out in front of him.
“So far, mates have come to the ranch in coyote form. That’s how they seem to travel to us. They come here looking for their partners. When I found you, I…I wanted to keep you.” Cassidy closed his eyes and looked away, clearly ashamed. “I know you’re not mine, but you were so beautiful and I was so lonely and—never mind. It doesn’t excuse what I did. I think you shifted into a coyote so you could track your alpha.”
Storm shook his head. He didn’t want to go to anyone else. He wanted to stay right here with Cassidy. If he had to pick a mate from among Marshal’s men, then he’d already found him.
“I can’t just pick who I want, and neither can you.” Cassidy settled on his fanny and leaned his back against the edge of the bed. Since he was wearing sweats, Storm couldn’t see his body, but he could smell him. And damn, he smelled good. Really good. He carried the scent of food with him since he simply handled it all the time, but he also carried another scent that just made Storm feel a little crazy. Not with hunger, not with thirst, but with want. Pure, raw, animal lust filled his entire being. Unable to speak or even to stand and move closer to Cassidy, Storm wriggled across the floor until he could put his head in Cassidy’s lap.
“Is this your way of saying you forgive me?”
No, it’s my way of saying I want you. But sadly, nothing came out of Storm’s mouth but a mournful whimper.
“I swear, tomorrow, first thing, I’m going to get you to your rightful mate.” Cassidy swept his hand over Storm’s head, stroking slowly down along his body. Nothing had ever felt so good. His hand was warm, his touch gentle. “Normally, when a beta comes to the ranch—and they all come here just the way you did—naked, tan, hairless from the nose down—they usually know their mate because they can smell them. Pheromones, you know?”
Storm shook his head against Cassidy’s lap. He had never heard of pheromones.
“Oh. Pheromones are like scents that you don’t smell on a conscious level. According to Paul, our resident chemist and cowpuncher, pheromones are chemical messages. I guess the beta and alpha pairs use them to communicate so that those pesky human things like basing a decision on looks or money or something equally superficial can’t interfere.”
Is that what had prompted Cassidy to try to keep him from his mate? It had to be looks because there was no way it was money. Now that he was back in coyote form everything came flooding back and he knew exactly how and why he’d ended up here on the Rough River Ranch. He even knew Cassidy wasn’t his mate. Bad enough that Storm no longer had the luxury of trying to pretend he wasn’t gay when even the universe knew he was, but worse, he now remembered his frantic run, his desperate bid for freedom, and his ultimate failure.
Soon, far too soon, his true mate would track him here. Storm had fooled him once by crossing the dangerous Colorado River, but that trick wouldn’t keep Russell at bay for long. But maybe by the time Russell showed up at the ranch he would be too late and Storm would be bonded to Cassidy.
“Relax, Storm.” Cassidy stroked his hand over Storm’s head and body with his gentle, loving touches. For a moment, Storm considered staying in this form because then he wouldn’t have to talk and therefore couldn’t lie. As much as he wanted to tell Cassidy everything, Storm feared a moral man like Cassidy would feel honor bound to return him to his rightful mate even if that man was a macho shithead from the fifth elliptical ring of hell. But he wouldn’t be able to try to forge a link with Cassidy in coyote form.
Slowly, surely, with a light shimmer over his entire body, Storm returned to human form. He looked up, and there was Cassidy peering down at him, smiling gently, making Storm fall into love with a soft easiness that was like sinking into a comfy overstuffed chair.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” Storm lifted up, wrapped his arms around Cassidy’s shoulders, and then pulled him close for a deep kiss.
Cassidy carefully eased Storm back. “We shouldn’t do this.”
“Yes, we should.”
“I don’t think I’m your mate.”
“I do.” Storm straddled across Cassidy’s lap so that their cocks were pressed together. Storm was bare, but Cassidy wore soft sweatpants. Somehow, being so close but not actually touching completely was far more erotic than actual contact would be. “All we’re doing is kissing and rubbing together. There’s no harm in that, is there?”
Cassidy frowned, and Storm worried that he would put a stop to everything before he could have his protective scent on him. Storm pressed close, his lips frantic against Cassidy’s. For a timeless moment, Cassidy continued to resist, but then he gave in with a growl of defeat.
Hungrily, Cassidy cupped his massive hands to Storm’s buttocks and pulled him tight as he rocked his hips up, rubbing their cocks together. Friction created more heat between them as they ground against one another. The closer Storm came to climax, the more he lowered his moans until he was making a submissive beta whimper. It should have driven Cassidy out of his mind, and perhaps it did, but his mating call still didn’t prompt Cassidy to lay his claim to him.
Frustrated yet impressed by his refusal to take what wasn’t rightfully his, Storm fell a little more in love with his gentle giant. Cassidy was all the things Russell wasn’t. Where Russell was loud and pushy, Cassidy was quiet and persuasive. Where Russell was a man who took whatever he wanted regardless of the consequences, Cassidy was respectful of the rights of others. Where Russell saw no problem raping his mate, Cassidy would never perform such an abusive act. In this moment of clarity, alone with Cassidy in his room, their bodies rubbing frantically for release, all Storm wanted was a chance for happiness. Russell would never be anything but a monster. Cassidy could and would be a real and honest mate. Together, Storm and Cassidy could be truly, deeply, and blissfully happy. If only Storm could get Cassidy to claim him before Russell tracked him to the ranch.
“We should stop.” Cassidy tried again to separate their bodies, but he was sitting cross-legged on the floor with his back against the side of the bed. Storm was in his lap, his legs wrapped fiercely around Cassidy’s hips. To get him to let go, Cassidy would need a crowbar.
“Please,” Storm whispered, pressing his lips close to Cassidy’s ear so he could feel the heat of his breath. “I’m afraid I’m going to burst.”
“Oh. God.” Cassidy rocked his hips up.
Storm realized Cassidy was in the same situation. Just a bit more rubbing and pressing and they’d find release. “This won’t hurt anyone. Please. Finish. I need—”
Cassidy bowed his head, kissing Storm passionately as his fingers dug into Storm’s buttocks. Using his powerful arms, Cassidy literally lifted and lowered Storm against his rocking hips. If not for the sweatpants, he’d be slipping his cock in and out of Storm’s bottom with delicious intensity. But no. Storm had to content himself with this mimic of sex. Still, it was better than nothing and put him one step closer to actually getting Cassidy to claim him.
Desperate to mark himself with his new mate’s scent, Storm rocked and wiggled until he pushed Cassidy’s sweats down. When their bare cocks rubbed directly against each other, they let out a simultaneous moan of bliss.
As Cassidy reached the crest, he tore his mouth from Storm’s. Lowering his lips to Storm’s neck, he murmured, “I can’t resist. I can’t stop. You feel so good, so perfect. I want you. I want all of you.”
When Storm whimpered and climaxed, he apparently pushed Cassidy over the edge.
Grabbing his buttocks, Cassidy ground their bodies together as he orgasmed.
Clinging to his shoulders, Storm rode out the most powerful release he’d ever experienced in his life. Cassidy climaxed against his body, his scent infusing his skin, marking him at least partially. As good as the orgasm had felt, and as pleased as he was to reach this first step in claiming his new alpha, Storm knew he had to fully seduce Cassidy if he wanted to keep him as his mate.

Chapter 7

Cassidy pulled up his sweats. He knew what he had done was wrong, but he didn’t want to burden Storm with his guilt. Tenderly, he lifted him up and placed him in his big bed. “Go to sleep, Storm.”

“Are you going to leave me now?”

Cassidy had planned on showering and going into the kitchen to work, but he realized if he did that he would hurt Storm’s feelings, so he shook his head, walked around to the other side of the bed, and slid between the sheets. When Storm curled up against his side, Cassidy wanted to warn him back, but he didn’t. One night. Couldn’t he pretend that just for one night Storm was his and his alone? Unable to decide if that would make giving him up more difficult or not, Cassidy decided that maybe he deserved to suffer for lying about Storm in the first place. Come morning, he would set everything straight with Marshal, and then he’d let Storm go no matter how badly it hurt.

“Why didn’t you claim me?” Storm’s voice was unbelievably soft. Gone was the desperately posturing male who had to prove his masculinity at every turn. In his place was this vulnerable man who simply wanted to be reassured that he was desirable.

“Because you aren’t mine.”
“I am. I know it.” Storm lifted up so he could look Cassidy in the eye. “Just a few moments ago, when I was a coyote, I could smell you and you smelled so good to me. Didn’t you say that I’d know my mate by his smell?”
Hope chased away the frightened part of Cassidy’s soul. Maybe Storm was his mate. But he had to be certain before they went any further. “If you are, we’ll know soon enough.”
“But I want you to claim me now.”
“You are without a doubt the most impatient man I have ever known.” Cassidy kissed Storm and pulled him against his chest. He felt good and right pressed there, but that wasn’t the proof Cassidy needed. “If you and I are really, truly mates, then waiting a day or two won’t matter.”
Storm sighed, but it wasn’t frustration so much as it sounded like he was afraid.
“Why does it worry you so much that I want to wait?” Cassidy eased Storm back so he could see his face. His brows were lowered, and his gaze seemed to dart everywhere but to Cassidy’s eyes. Gently, Cassidy brushed Storm’s gray bangs off his forehead, trying to soothe away his worry. “Tell me the truth.”
“If you don’t claim me now, I’m afraid you never will.”
“Why?”
“Maybe someone—something would stop you.” Storm’s gaze darted away and then back very fast. If that wasn’t an indication of guilt, Cassidy didn’t know what was.
“Storm, if you shifted tonight because you smelled your alpha, you must tell me.”
“I didn’t. I shifted because…I wanted to run.”
“Run?”
Storm’s gaze met Cassidy’s, and his features looked utterly tormented. “Run away so that if I can’t have you, then no one else can have me.”
“Oh, Storm.” Cassidy pressed Storm’s head against his chest. “This is all my fault. I’m so sorry.” If he had just stayed true to what he knew was right, none of this would be happening. He wouldn’t be in torment and neither would Storm. Undoubtedly, Storm’s true alpha was probably hurting at least on a subconscious level. “I swear I’ll fix this.”
“Just claim me and make it all go away.”
“It doesn’t work like that.”
“How do you know?”
Cassidy’s eyes went wide. He didn’t know anything, really. What they had now were suppositions about how things worked. Like with the shadows that were created when the men shifted. The knowledge they had about them came from their interactions with them, but they didn’t have any hard and fast rules. So far, each beta who had come to the ranch had latched on to his alpha very quickly. But who was to say if that process couldn’t be interrupted or circumvented entirely? Speculating about taking Storm when he might not be his…well, it only made Cassidy’s dilemma worse.
“I’ve never stolen anything in my life.” Cassidy’s moral compass was far too strong.
“Never?” Storm sounded surprised but not as if he didn’t believe Cassidy.
“Not once.” Cassidy kissed the top of Storm’s head, loving the feel of his silky, soft hair across his lips. “I can’t start with you.”
“You can’t steal something that is being given to you willingly.” Storm moved back enough so he could look up at Cassidy. “I am telling you honestly that I want to give myself to you. How is that stealing?”
“Because I think you belong to another man and taking you, even if you want me to, is wrong.” Before Storm could argue with him, Cassidy pressed his finger against Storm’s lips. Not aggressively, but firmly. “Please don’t push at me anymore. I’m begging you to let me maintain my honor and my sense of right and wrong. Without that I’m nothing.”
Storm blinked away sudden tears. “Everything you just said only makes me want to give myself to you more.”
“Then you understand that I need to wait.”
“I do.” Storm kissed him. “I don’t like it, but I do understand.”
After that, they snuggled close and fell into slumber.
Cassidy woke just as dawn started to break over the mesa. As carefully as he could, he slipped from bed and padded his way to the kitchen. He got the coffee going and then grabbed some clothing from the laundry room and took a shower in the main bathroom. Once he was clean and dressed, he returned to the kitchen and found Marshal at the table with two cups of coffee.
Cassidy settled across from him. “I lied.”
Marshal took a longsip of his coffee. “About?”
“Storm. I said he was mine when he wasn’t. I thought because of the strong smell of skunk on him and on me it would confuse his true alpha.”
“Oh, Cassidy.” Marshal sounded more worried than hurt.
“I’m sorry.” Cassidy couldn’t even look into Marshal’s eyes. “I saw him, and he was so beautiful and just lying in that clover—”
“In need, and you are nothing if not a man who wants to take care of everyone.” Marshal sighed. “Does Storm know?”
“He shifted last night in his sleep. I think it’s because he smelled his true alpha.”
“Did you…”
“I didn’t claim him.” Cassidy left out the fact that he’d come terribly close to doing so because close only counted in hand grenades and horseshoes.
“Well, good. I don’t think you’ve really caused any harm but to yourself.” Marshal sipped his coffee then settled the mug on the table. “And I’m not going to beat you up over it because I know you’ll do enough of that yourself.”
Cassidy nodded. “I just wish I hadn’t hurt Storm.”
“Wait. He stayed with you?”
“He did.”
“Well, then maybe you arehis mate.”
Up came Cassidy’s head. “You think so?”
“Maybe he shifted because the smell of you penetrated his sleeping brain through the residual essence of the skunk.”
Cassidy didn’t dare hold out hope. It was simply too dangerous. He’d already set his mind to letting Storm go, and he didn’t want to start believing only to have to have his heart crushed again.
“I can see it in your eyes that you are simply miserable. Don’t beat yourself up too badly. I understand why you did what you did, and if you aren’t his mate, I believe his true alpha will understand, too. And you do have that skunk funk on your side.”
“But I used that as an excuse.”
“And it’s a good one.” Marshal rose and plucked his cup off the table. “Let things shake out, Cassidy. Give him space, see where the pheromones lead, and then go from there.”
“Thanks.”
“For what it’s worth, I forgive you.”
“Thank you.” Cassidy met Marshal’s intense turquoise eyes. “You know I’ve never lied to you until that impulsive claim about Storm being my mate.”
“I know. I appreciate your honesty in telling me now.” Marshal left Cassidy alone with his thoughts. After a moment, he rose from the table and started to put breakfast together.
“I have a right to choose my own mate.”
Cassidy looked over his shoulder to find Storm standing in the archway. His hair was wet, and even from where he stood, Cassidy could smell the clean scent of his recent shower. But he didn’t smell the irresistible essence of a mating scent. Storm looked good and he smelled good, but Cassidy wasn’t driven to claim him. They may not know all the particulars about how the alpha and beta pairs came together, but that urge to mate was very clear. As much as Cassidy wanted to say he felt that toward Storm, he didn’t.
“You do have rights, but there also seem to be inescapable laws about the shifter kind. Mates, true eternally bound mates, are driven to be together.” Cassidy had been craving that kind of soul-searing connection his whole life.
“Are you saying you don’t want me?”
“I want you but not as intensely as I would if you were my beta.” Cassidy imagined that was a lure that took his craving and multiplied it by a factor of one hundred.
“Maybe you’re just afraid of finally getting what you want.” Storm entered the kitchen and without being asked started to peel the pile of potatoes in the sink.
“Not likely.” Cassidy had been hungering for a mate for a long time.
“You said you thought you knew all about me and why I did things because of my job as a hockey player. Well, I think I can speculate about you, too.”
“Feel free.” While he shed the skins of the tubers, Cassidy started whipping up pancake batter.
“You’ve always been so careful to be kind and not make a fuss. You’ve never fought for what you want because you wouldn’t dare step on anyone’s toes.”
Cassidy considered.
“It’s true,” Storm insisted, dropping the now-naked spud into a water bath. “You would rather walk away from me than fight for me.”
It was on the tip of Cassidy’s tongue to argue with him, but Dooley entered the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee.
Storm dropped the peeler and the potato into the sink, marched up to Dooley, stuck his face right into his chest, drew a great big sniff, and then stepped back. “Nope. It’s not you.”
Dooley just stood there looking at Storm with his head cocked like a curious puppy.
“He’s looking for his alpha.” Cassidy thought someone should explain what Storm was doing.
“Ah.” Dooley drank some of his coffee. “Lucky guy.”
“I thought so, but he doesn’t.” Storm glared at Cassidy then went back to work on the spuds.
“Wait…he’s yours?” Dooley cradled his cup as he peered at Cassidy.
“He’s not.” Cassidy was not going to compound his error by lying to anyone else.
“I am.” Storm kept right on working as Dooley stood there considering them with a half smirk.
“Well, then.” Dooley looked right at Cassidy, and his smirk became a full-fledged smile.
“Go away, Dooley.” Cassidy waved him away with flicking fingers. “Breakfast won’t be ready for another half an hour.”
“Well, then.” Dooley turned and left before Cassidy could say anything else. Inadvertently, he found himself breathing a sigh of relief that Dooley was not Storm’s alpha. Cassidy loved Dooley like he did all the men of the ranch, but somehow the idea of seeing Storm in Dooley’s arms every day would just be too much. If he had to go to someone, let it be someone who rarely set foot in Cassidy’s kitchen.
“Why did he keep saying that?” Storm asked.
“Because it’s something I say to other people.” That Dooley was tossing it back in his face only made Cassidy laugh. Nothing like karma coming back to bite him on his butt.
“Well, then,” Storm said, dropping another potato into the water.
“Oh, don’t you start now.”
“Fine. But I’m going to sniff every guy who comes in here to prove to you that none of them are my mate.”
Cassidy wanted to point out that the process of elimination still didn’t mean he was Storm’s mate, but it seemed the more he argued with him, the more determined he became. So he didn’t. Let him sniff every man on the ranch. It was no never mind of Cassidy’s.
They worked in silence for a while, yet Cassidy found himself constantly drawn to Storm. He watched the way his hands slid over the spuds, the way his smooth, sleek muscles moved under the pale strength of his skin. As his hair dried, the gray color lightened and then started to shine. When Storm was done with the potatoes, he used the food processor to shred them, pressed the water out of them, and then started cooking them up on the flat grill. He did all of this without any instruction from Cassidy. It was as if he’d been cooking in mass quantities all his life.
Cassidy made flapjacks on the regular stovetop, and then put them in the smaller oven to keep warm while he simultaneously made a huge pan of scrambled eggs and cooked bacon that would be kept warm in the larger oven.
True to his threat, Storm deliberately sniffed each alpha who entered the kitchen. It was a curious rendition of Cinderella and the glass slipper. Rather than the prince trying to fit a shoe to him, he tried to fit a smell to his prince. Each man stood for inspection, and Cassidy kept holding his breath, waiting for the spark of recognition to fly, but so far, not a single man won the prize that was Storm. What was equally sad were the hopeful looks on the men’s faces, and seeing that expectation dashed broke another part of Cassidy’s heart. Every single one of those men would have eagerly welcomed Storm as their mate.
“They say misery loves company, but I have to say I don’t.” Cassidy set a plateful of pancakes on the table along with some eggs and bacon while Storm served up the hash browns to the first wave of men.
“What?”
“Please stop sniffing everyone. You’re leaving a string of broken hearts.”
Storm looked over at the table full of men. Normally, they were quite boisterous, but today they were all subdued. Each man kept unnatural attention on his plate.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”
“Stop.” Cassidy leaned close to Storm. “Just let it happen on its own.”
“Fine. But let me smell you.”
Wincing, Cassidy didn’t want to take this farce any further, but he couldn’t deny Storm a last desperate bid.
After setting his spatula aside, Storm stepped close to Cassidy, pressed his nose to his chest, and breathed deep. At the same time, Cassidy lowered his nose to Storm’s head and did the same. And then a miracle. Lust unlike anything Cassidy had ever known infused his flesh. Storm smelled so damn good he didn’t hesitate. In one swift move he had Storm up on his shoulder and strode from the kitchen toward his bedroom.
“What about breakfast?” someone asked with all the frantic worry of a clueless man examining the bewildering array of cooking equipment.
Cassidy didn’t stop. He couldn’t. Now he understood exactly what the alphas had been talking about. The scent of his mate was overwhelming. Nothing else could get into his mind. As Cassidy pushed open his bedroom door, he heard Marshal taking control in the kitchen. The last thing Cassidy heard before he closed and locked the door was Marshal calling, “Take your time and have fun. I’ve got this under control!”

Chapter 8

Storm was unceremoniously stripped out of his clothes and tossed on the bed. Gone was his gentle giant. In his place was Cassidy as an animal driven to mate. Storm had no idea what he’d done, but it was almost as if he’d flipped a switch that turned Cassidy from man to beast. Hunger flared his nostrils and made his quick exit from his own clothing almost frantic. And then Cassidy was above him, pressing him into the bed.

Hot kisses rained down on Storm’s face, neck, and upper chest. When Cassidy was assured that Storm was his and only his, he locked their lips together and now his hands swept over Storm’s trembling body.

“You’re shaking.” Cassidy pulled away.

For a moment, Storm feared he meant to get off him, so he forcefully wrapped his arms and legs around Cassidy’s body. “I’m excited.”

“Not afraid?”

“No.” Storm kissed him with gentle hunger. “I can’t imagine ever being afraid of you.”
Cassidy lowered his lips and his body, but didn’t press his entire weight on Storm. He balanced himself on his elbows but continued to grind their bodies together. Storm had no idea what he’d done to spark Cassidy’s mating instinct. Was it from sniffing all those alphas and setting off their hormones? Or was it that Storm had deliberately thought about Cassidy claiming him to ramp up his own hormones? Either way, he’d accomplished his goal. Right now he didn’t think a bomb would stop Cassidy from claiming him.
“I’m so happy, so relieved.” Cassidy lifted enough so they could look at one another. “I wanted you from the moment I saw you.”
“So it wasjust looks?” Storm teased lightly.
“It had to be visual because it certainly wasn’t your scent.” Cassidy laughed lightly then his face turned serious as he worked their cocks together. “You can’t even imagine how happy I am.”
“Yes, I can.” Storm rocked his hips in time with Cassidy’s movements. “I feel the same way.”
As their mouths came together, Storm felt a pinch of shame. Cassidy would have no idea what he was getting into until it was too late to back out. But Storm couldn’t stop him now, even if he wanted to, and if he were very honest with himself, he’d admit that stopping Cassidy was the last thing on his mind. Storm wanted him with a desperation that was terrifying. He hoped that once Cassidy branded his scent on him, Russell would no longer be able to track him. And then Storm would be safe.
“You’re still quivering.” Cassidy brushed Storm’s hair back gently. “I swear I won’t hurt you.”
“I know.” Storm kissed him. “You would never hurt me. That’s why I…” The confession was right there on the tip of his tongue, but the words refused to come out.
“It’s okay. I’m falling in love with you, too.” Cassidy descended before Storm could correct him.
Love? Oh, God. Guilt grew and now he quivered with shame. This was wrong. If his plan backfired and Russell showed up, he would kill Cassidy to get Storm back. Right on the cusp of getting exactly what he wanted, he realized his needs would put the man of his dreams in danger.
“Cassidy.”
“Storm.”
Each time he opened his mouth to tell Cassidy everything, he kissed him again, and again, until Storm’s head was spinning. Just as he had been the first time with Russell, Storm was overwhelmed by need. He felt if he didn’t have Cassidy in him and soon, he was going to fly apart into individual molecules and then disperse into the air.
“I need you. I’ve never needed so much.” Storm clung to Cassidy, hoping to infuse their bodies, to become one, if only for a brief, shining moment.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” Cassidy lifted up and fished through a drawer in the bedside table. When he found what he was looking for, he held the bottle of lube aloft. “Storm? Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes.” Storm knew that even if it killed him, Cassidy would stop if Storm asked him to, but there was no way he could. His lust was multiplying in leaps and bounds until he was almost frantic to feel his new mate’s possession. “Please.”
Cassidy moved to his side, and with tender kisses he caressed Storm’s entire body, heightening his awareness of himself and his longing. As soon as Cassidy parted Storm’s legs, he teased a slick finger against his hole, making him lift and spread his legs wide.
“Okay?”
“Very okay. Better than okay.” Storm’s eyes rolled back as Cassidy eased his finger around the tight ring of muscles. When Russell had claimed him, he’d tossed him over the hood of his car and taken him from behind without any care or tenderness. Cassidy was completely different. He’d been rough when he stripped him, but after that he’d turned right back to his tender self. His touch was so soft, his finger sliding around and around before he even dared to breach the opening. When he did, he was terribly careful and beautifully slow, kissing Storm all the while. For a moment, Storm thought he would know he wasn’t a virgin, but something had changed. Perhaps his shifting had restored him to the way he was before Russell had used him so violently. Maybe this meant that Cassidy was indeed his rightful mate. Why else would he become a bornagain virgin? “Oh, Cassidy, please don’t stop.”
“I won’t stop, but I won’t rush, either.”
True to his word, Cassidy took his time preparing Storm for his possession. As he eased his finger in and out, Storm swore he was floating away on clouds of ecstasy. Never in his life had he ever felt like this. All his nerve endings were zinging with pleasure, and he swore he was melting into the mattress.
“That sound you’re making is driving me wild.”
Storm wasn’t even aware at first, but as Cassidy kissed his way down Storm’s chest, he caught himself making submissive whimpers of encouragement. When Cassidy took his cock in his mouth, Storm’s bottom clamped around his finger. Ever so slowly and carefully, Cassidy flicked his finger inside Storm.
“Oh!” The shock of pleasure was like an electrical surge in his body, lifting him off the bed. Just as he was about to climax, Cassidy pulled him back from the brink, brought him back to Earth, only to start all over again with two fingers sliding in and out. By the time he’d returned to fluttering his fingers over that secret inner spot, Storm knew without a doubt he’d met a true master of seduction. Rather than rush to find his own pleasure, Cassidy was far more focused on Storm’s. Each kiss of his lips, each magical touch of his fingers, increased his desire and his need for completion. But he knew even if he begged with his most persuasive voice, Cassidy wouldn’t hurry. And that made Storm falter. He should tell him. Cassidy needed to know the truth. He deserved that. If they were ever going to make it as couple, they should have nothing but honesty between them.
Just as he opened his mouth, Cassidy withdrew his fingers and slid between Storm’s legs. When Storm looked up, he looked right into Cassidy’s cinnamon-sweet eyes, and he fell so totally in love in that moment he started to cry.
“Oh, my sweet Storm.” Cassidy was there, comforting, loving him with his murmured words and caresses. “Do you need more time?”
“No!” Storm wrapped his body around his mate. “I just—you are so—I think I love you.”
A slow smile transformed Cassidy’s face. “I think I love you, too.” “Show me. Show me without words.”
His expression tender, Cassidy lowered his body until his cock pressed against Storm. Rather than merge them together, Cassidy held steady, pressing the thick knob of his prick tightly to Storm. But no matter how he wriggled and squirmed, Cassidy refused to go any deeper.
“Please, please. I need to feel you. I swear I will give myself totally to you and no one else. I’ll never—”
“Hush.” Cassidy cupped his face and kissed him. “Without words, remember?”
While holding his gaze, Cassidy eased his prick within the snug channel of Storm’s bottom. As much as his eyes wanted to roll back into his head with bliss, he maintained eye contact. This was so shockingly intimate, so intensely powerful, that Storm could never be with another. He swore he would rather die than return to the painful and brutal couplings with his old mate. In his own quiet and profound way, Cassidy had done exactly as he’d asked. He’d shown him love without words.
When it became too much, Storm closed his eyes and lifted his lips, melding together with his mate. Cassidy continued to slide inside him, his breath catching and releasing as he held himself back. Storm opened his eyes and saw that Cassidy’s eyes were closed, his face twisted with the pressure of restraining himself. Ever so slowly, he continued to fill him until he was finally as deep as he could go. Cassidy’s eyes came open, pinning Storm, and then he smiled.
“You feel so snug and hot around me.”
“You feel so damn big.”
“No pain?”
“None.”
“Move with me.”
Working together, they lifted and lowered their hips until Storm was overwhelmed with a need to climax.
“I can’t hold back.”
“Don’t. I want to feel you.”
“I want to feel you, too.”
“Stay with me.” Cassidy kept their eye contact going. “Breathe with me.”
When Storm matched his breathing to Cassidy’s, it was as if they synchronized their bodies. Each thrust brought him higher and closer to an orgasm that was so powerful he felt the fringes of it building along his skin. Faster they went, higher they went, until Storm reached the pinnacle. His body arched up into Cassidy, and together they reached the summit. Storm’s orgasm clenched him around Cassidy, who shivered as he found his release deep inside Storm’s body.
Storm wasn’t sure how long he trembled below his beautiful mate. All he knew was he was fully and irrevocably bound to him. Nothing would ever come between them. No matter what Russell said or did, he couldn’t break their bond.
“You are so beautiful.” Cassidy kissed the tip of Storm’s nose. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Really.” Storm smiled up at him. “Stop worrying.”
“I just—if I hurt you—”
“You were so gentle.”
Cassidy released a sigh of relief, but his eyes suddenly went wide, as did Storm’s.
“Do you feel that?” Cassidy asked.
“How could I not?”
“Should I pull out?”
“No!” Storm clenched his legs so tightly around him neither of them could move.
“Relax. I won’t. As long as it’s not hurting you, I think it’s just part of our mating.”
Storm held steady as the base of Cassidy’s prick swelled inside his bottom, locking them together. This hadn’t happened with Russell, but then again, as soon as he was done with his climax, Russell had yanked his cock out of Storm’s ass, slapped his buttock, and told him to get dressed.
“Hold tight.” Carefully, holding Storm close, Cassidy rolled to his side and then onto his back. “I want to stay locked together with you like this.”
Storm dozed against Cassidy’s chest. Every so often they woke, kissed, climaxed again, then drifted back to sleep. Never in his life had he felt such peace. For the first time, Storm knew he was exactly where he was supposed to be. He was safe. He was with a man he truly loved. But best of all, he was with a man who truly loved him back.
When there was a knock at the door, they both groaned, but Cassidy asked, “What?”
“Cassidy?” Marshal asked. “I’m sorry, I wouldn’t interrupt, but there’s a bit of a problem.”
Storm’s heart beat so fast he was surprised it didn’t go shooting out of his chest.
“What’s wrong?” Cassidy asked Marshal as he flashed Storm a curious expression. It was obvious to Storm that Cassidy could feel his sudden tension.
“Please, don’t let him take me.”
“Who? Marshal?”
“Cassidy? All I need to know is where’s the manual for the bread slicer? I tried cutting a loaf by hand, and, uh, well, let’s just say I killed the poor thing. I figure we can live on sandwiches for a day if I can just give the guys cut bread.”

Chapter 9

“It’s in the far right drawer. The one closest to the wall with the clock.” Cassidy chuckled. “Basically, plug it in, put the bread in, and press the green button.”

“Got it.” Marshal sounded so relieved Cassidy couldn’t help but laugh. “Now go back to whatever you were doing.”
Storm let out a long sigh and then collapsed against Cassidy’s chest.
“You care to explain that?” When Storm had heard Marshal saying there was a problem, he’d panicked so hard his entire body tensed. If not for the knot at the baseof Cassidy’s cock, he would have slid right out of him.
“Nothing. It was nothing.”
“You begged me not to let him take you. And I don’t think you meant Marshal.” Cassidy eased Storm’s face up until they were looking at one another. “Please, I’m your mate. You can tell me anything.”
Storm bit his bottom lip as he considered.
“You’re scaring the hell out of me.” Cassidy thought that once they put the issue of mates behind them they would have smooth sailing. Apparently not.
“I had another mate.”
“What?” All the joy drained out of Cassidy so fast he felt dizzy.
“Please, let me explain.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” They were locked together for the foreseeable future.
“I didn’t know until last night.”
Cassidy said nothing, but he felt so empty his heart hurt.
“Please don’t look at me like that.” Storm could barely hold Cassidy’s searching gaze.
“Tell me.”
“I didn’t shift because I smelled my mate. I shifted because I was afraid he would find me and take me away before I could mate with you.”
“Back up. What mate?”
“I had a mate in Ottawa.”
“Had?” Cassidy hated himself for wishing his old mate was dead.
“I ran away from him.”
“Why?”
“He hurt me.”
Every protective instinct in Cassidy’s body surged to life. His arms tightened around Storm to hold him and comfort him. “How? No, wait. Maybe I don’t want to know.”
“It’s not like I’m dying to tell you all about it.” Storm pulled his chin from Cassidy’s hand and tucked his cheek against his chest. “Let’s just leave it at he was abusive.”
Cassidy closed his eyes and kissed thetop of Storm’s head. Now he had another explanation for why he was so hostile yet afraid. “That’s why you clung to me so intently. You wanted my protection.”
“That.” Storm lifted his head to look at him. “But I also knew you were my rightful mate.” With a quick flickering of his muscles, Storm tightened his channel around Cassidy’s cock. “This never happened with Russell. He tossed me over the hood of his car, fucked me, and then pulled out as soon as he was done.”
Cassidy winced. “What an ass.”
“Russell is a worthless piece of shit straight from Satan’s puss- infected rectum.”
Against his best efforts not to, Cassidy laughed. “I’m sorry, but I’ve never heard such a colorful description of someone.”
“It’s part of my charm.” Storm managed a half grin. “But seriously, if I never see him again, it will be too soon.”
“I think maybe you’d better back up and tell me everything.”
“I don’t want to.” Storm clenched his bottom around Cassidy again. “Right now I’m happy and I feel safe. I’m finally with my rightful mate.”
“And you’re turning into a poet.”
“Apparently.” Storm settled his hands on Cassidy’s chest then rested his chin on the back of his hand. “Are you angry with me?”
“No.” Cassidy kissed the tip of his nose. “But if this guy is coming after you, we have to tell Marshal. I don’t want him getting blindsided by some pissedoff dude showing up and demanding his mate back.”
Every muscle Storm possessed went taut. “He wouldn’t turn me over, would he?”
“Marshal? God, no. He’s not that kind of man. And don’t even ask if I would because you know I wouldn’t.” Cassidy gave him a fierce squeeze. “You’re mine now.”
Storm grinned.
“What?”
“I like how possessive you are.”
“That did sound rather aggressively macho, didn’t it?”
“A bit.” Storm kissed him. “But I like it coming from you because I know you don’t mean it in a bad way.”
Another surge of passion built until they climaxed again.
“Holy mother of pearl. I have never had so many climaxes all grouped together like this.” Cassidy traced circles on Storm’s back. “It’s like I can’t get deep enough or mark you enough.”
“It feels good.” Storm sighed. “I want your scent fused to my skin.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah.” Storm swiped his tongue across Cassidy’s nipple, making him flick his hips. “I want every alpha within a fifty-mile radius to know that I belong to you.”
A momentary panic caused Cassidy to frown, but he dismissed the worrisome notion. There was no way that Storm had made his beta pheromones call to the alpha in Cassidy. It simply didn’t work that way. Or did it? Like Storm pointed out last night, they didn’t know all the hard and fast rules about how the mated pairs came together. What if Storm knew something that Cassidy and the rest of the men at the Rough River Ranch didn’t? Cassidy had been involved from the get- go, but he didn’t know about the swelling base of an alpha’s cock when he mated. He paused inside his mind. What if that only happened when an alpha stole a mate? What if he was now locked into Storm until his true mate came for him?
“If you get any tenser, you’re going to fling me up into the ceiling.” Storm tapped Cassidy’s chest with his fingers. “What’s going on in that curly head of yours?”
“How much do you know about shifters?”
“Not a whole lot. Why?”
“Tell me what you know.”
Now it was Storm who tensed. “You think I tricked you?”
“No. I think you know things I don’t. Please, Storm, I’m not angry but I need to know. I can’t help keep you safe unless I understand what’s happened.”
“The fact is I didn’t even know I could shift until I was running from Russell.” Storm closed his eyes and shook his head. “It started in the locker room after a training session. Russell was making his usual comments about how great he was and that I was pretty impressive for a runt.”
“Nice.”
“Yeah, he’s a prince.” Storm frowned. “And then, I don’t know what happened, exactly. I was walking across the parking lot to my car, and then Russell came up to me. He smelled really good, but I never liked him so I tried to ignore him, but he kept following me and talking at me.”
“Talking at you?”
“Russell doesn’t talk to people. He talks at them. It’s weird. The next thing I knew he was kissing me and…I just let him.”
“Did he smell good to you?”
“Not like you did in the kitchen, not like you do now.”
“Maybe he wasn’t your mate.” Cassidy continued to smooth the tension out of Storm’s shoulders. “If you didn’t want him…”
“But I did.” Storm looked as tormented as Cassidy felt. “And I couldn’t understand it because I didn’t like him. I’ve never liked him or even thought he was attractive. It was as if he started kissing me and everything else just didn’t matter so much. He kissed me and dragged me all the way over to where his car was. Since it was late, the lot was pretty deserted, and he just tossed me on the hood. He didn’t even take my pants all the way off. He just pulled them down.” Storm closed his eyes and stopped talking.
Cassidy did not want him reliving the moment any longer. “When it was over, did he stay with you?”
“He got in the car, told me to get in, and then we went back to his apartment. It was a pigsty, and he told me to clean it up. I said no, and he hit me.”
“Oh, Storm.” If he could take the memories from him, Cassidy would gladly do so.
“I didn’t know what to do because everything happened so fast. I tried to leave, and he just chased me down, so I did what he said. I started cleaning up. When he fell asleep, I ran.” Storm frowned. “There’s a patch of memory that’s a bit blurry, but somehow I got back to my car and started driving. I didn’t even know where I was driving to, but then I was out of the car and running for all I was worth. I was just so afraid of him catching me.” Storm described how he came to the Colorado River and thought if he swam across it, Russell wouldn’t be able to track his scent.
“You could have died.” The mighty Colorado was a dangerously deceitful river. It could look smooth as glass on the surface while violent currents churned below.
“I would have died if I stayed with him or he caught up to me.” Storm held onto Cassidy a little harder. “I remember seeing the farmhouse from a distance. I could smell food, and men, and I had this feeling that I belonged. I was so tired, and I was just dragging my paws across the field. I made it to the garden, but then I was confused by the fence. I kept going around and around trying to get free from the enclosure when I just passed out. I guess I shifted back to human, and then a skunk got me.”
“You poor thing.” Cassidy felt awful for all he had endured. If he had his way, Storm would never suffer such torment again.
“Please don’t make me go back there. I don’t care if I never play hockey again. I just want to be safe. I want to be with you.”
“You’re safe here. Really. You don’t have to go.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“You told me now.” Cassidy held him tight. “And I think I understand how afraid you were. But, well, we don’t really know if he was your mate.”
“What do you mean?”
“He didn’t shift, did he?”
“I don’t know.”
“You didn’t shift until when?”
“When I was…when…I don’t remember, exactly.” Storm frowned. “I was in my car, driving, and then something happened, but I don’t remember exactly what, but I woke up in my coyote form and I was running for all I was worth.”
“Do you remember him behind you, or were you only running from his memory?”
It was obvious from the frustrated look on Storm’s face he simply couldn’t recall.
“Relax.” Cassidy tried to soothe him with calming motions of his hands over his back. “It doesn’t really matter.”
“No?”
“No. Man or beast or both, Russell isn’t getting you back.”

Chapter 10

“So how do we know if he’s really a threat?” Marshal and his mate, Elliot, were sitting on the couch along with Jake Tanner and Nathan McAllister. Marshal and Jake were both bigger than their mates, but they were just as gentle toward them as Cassidy was with Storm.

“We don’t know that Russell is going to be a problem. I just thought it would be wise to warn everyone.” Cassidy was settled on the overstuffed armchair with Storm in his lap. Once the knot at the base of his cock abated, they’d reluctantly parted but stayed in bed, pressed together. Cassidy had confessed his fear that the base expanded to lock them together for his mate to find them.

Storm had been overwhelmed by fear, and Cassidy had done his best to soothe him. Most men might have gotten annoyed or upset at Storm’s clinginess, but not Cassidy. He understood and accepted Storm for exactly the way he was. His generosity of spirit made Storm love him even more. Luckily, it was Marshal who explained that so far every alpha’s prick had swelled at the base when they mated. That alone seemed to reassure Cassidy that his didn’t swell from stealing a mate that wasn’t truly his. So far, the consensus was that Storm rightfully belonged to Cassidy and therefore all the men of the ranch would stand behind their mating.

“Russell is one of those men who would rather destroy something that he wanted than let someone else have it.” Storm shivered and Cassidy wrapped his arm a little tighter around his belly. “I never saw him shift, but I swear he was behind me right before I jumped into the Colorado River.”

“You’re lucky to be alive.” Cole Roman and his mate, Joshua “Lucky” Green, were sitting in a rocking chair, with Lucky in Cole’s lap. “That river is deadly.”

“I was desperate.” Storm remembered the prickles of fear over his body, the way his fur stood on end, and the idea that the river would wash away his scent. “I thought if I didn’t get away from him then and there, he’d kill me.”

“I crossed the river, too,” Micah Grant said as he snuggled close to his mate, Dillion Palmer. “But I swam across because I smelled this wicked scent that I had to track down.”

“Wicked?” Dillion asked.
“Totally.” Micah grinned up at Dillion. It was clear from the expression on his face that he loved and lusted his mate in equal measure. “I would have gone crazy if I didn’t hunt you down.”
“Now those two are a little different from the rest of you in that Dillion shifted to coyote to claim Micah while he was a coyote. Still with the swelling, but that’s more normal in coyotes than humans.” Dooley, the ranch vet, had no mate, but he had been collecting information on their species in an effort to better understand their kind. “Everyone else mated first as human then in coyote form.”
“Which we still need to do.” Storm grinned at Cassidy, who smiled back at him, but Storm noticed his expression was rather tight.
“Well, first we need to get a picture of this guy together so I can warn the men who are on the far reaches of the ranch.” Marshal grabbed another cookie off the plate that was centered on the low coffee table. “Cassidy, these are really good. But to be fair, everything you make is really good.”
“Thanks.” Cassidy looked at the offerings on the table. “Do we need—”
“Keep your fanny in that chair, mister,” Marshal waved him off. “We have more than enough, and you need to slow down.”
“Do you have a computer?” Storm asked.
“I have a smartphone.” Jake Tanner offered out his phone.
“Leave it to the lawyer to have all the cool gadgets,” Nathan teased his mate good-naturedly.
“You’re just jealous.” Jake kissed Nathan quick before he could argue.
It didn’t take Storm long to get to the page where stats about the team, upcoming games, even purchasing memorabilia could be done. “Here.” Storm handed the phone back. “This is Russell.”
Nathan looked and his jaw dropped. “Russell Eugene? Will wonders never—hey, that makes you Storm Hoffman! I knew you looked familiar.” Nathan turned to his mate. “He’s the Storm on the Ice. No one moves like he does.”
“Being shorter is an advantage around all those big guys.” Storm tried not to look smug, but it was kind of nice to be recognized.
“Is Storm your real first name?” Jake asked.
“No.” Nathan chuckled.
“Don’t.” Storm begged him to keep his mouth shut.
“They’ll find out sooner or later.” Nathan nodded to the phone that they were passing around so everyone could get a good mental picture of Russell. “All they have to do is just look you up.”
“Fine. Stanley. Stanley Hoffman. Happy?” Storm hid his face in his hands. “The horror.”
“It’s not that bad,” Cassidy soothed. “And everyone is going to call you Storm, right?”
Cassidy must have flashed them his most fearsome expression because Storm heard a series of murmured agreements.
“Okay, Jake, work your magic and e-mail that picture to everyone on the ranch.” Marshal fed the second half of his cookie to Elliot. “Let them know who he is and what he’s likely to do if he shows up here.”
“What should they do if he does?” Jake asked.
“Just tell him he’s trespassing and he has to leave. If he refuses, we’ll call the police and we’ll do what we have to do in order to get him off the ranch.” Marshal paused. “Without violence or bloodshed,” Marshal added hastily. “The last thing we need is to give the sheriff of Scorpion County any more issues with us, my ranch, or—damn.”
“What?” Elliot asked.
“Are you listed as missing?” Marshal took the phone and checked. “Good. He’s not.”
“Why does that matter?” Storm asked.
“Just that the sheriff has been making waves that a lot of missing men are showing up on my ranch. It gives him an excuse to come sniffing around. The last thing anyone on this ranch needs is him digging around after the whole coydog thing.”
Briefly, Cassidy explained. “Our illustrious sheriff was trying to arrest Marshal’s mate and Marshal shifted and jumped on him, literally scaring the piss out of the man. After some very creative photography by Micah, we convinced the sheriff the evil coydogs were dead. He’s left us alone since then.”
“But it wouldn’t take much to get him sniffing around. God damned homophobic gasbag.”
Now Storm realized why his homophobic slur had so enraged Marshal. It was bad enough Storm had slurred men that he cared about, but he’d also reminded him of a man Marshal would much rather forget. “I’m sorry for the way I acted.”
“I know.” Marshal offered him an understanding smile. “Knowing that you played hockey and understanding how your teammate treated you makes your hostility far more understandable.”
“It won’t happen again.” Storm swore it wouldn’t. But what touched him was that Marshal didn’t call Russell his mate but simply his teammate. As far as all these men—these strong and protective men—were concerned, Cassidy was Storm’s one and only mate.
“Good.” Marshal nodded to the men in the loose circle. “And we won’t let him get anywhere near you.”
“Thank you.” Storm couldn’t recall every being truly grateful in his life. Pretty much he had to fight for everything he had, and then he had to fight to keep it. What Russell had done damaged him far more than he was willing to admit. But Cassidy, gentle, kind, and caring Cassidy had managed to wipe the bulk of the terror and shame from his mind with his calm confidence. Much softer, so that only he could hear, Storm turned to Cassidy and said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Cassidy kissed him. “I would do anything for you.”
In seconds, lust sparked between them, their pheromones setting off the other mated pairs.
“Okay, I can see this is only going to aggravate my hormones, so I’m going to go mosey on over to my office and make some notes.” Dooley bid them all a good night and then left. Storm couldn’t wait to see what kind of a mate he got. He was similar in some ways to Cassidy in that he was very gentle and caring. Storm supposed he had to be in order to care for animals the way he did.
“We’ve got to get out and run tonight.” Elliot turned to Marshal. “With this many, we could have a great run along the perimeter of the ranch.”
“Are we thinking of hunting?” Dillion asked, practically licking his chops.
“All we’ve got near are cattle, and I don’t want us to be spooking the herd,” Marshal said. “Later, when we have a few more pairs, we’ll go up into the La Sal Mountains and hunt elk.”
Storm had a vision of the pack working together to bring down a massive creature and then feasting upon him. Much like Dillion, Storm was practically drooling. However, Cassidy looked positively green.
“You okay?” Storm asked Cassidy.
“I’m just a little queasy at the idea of hunting.”
“But you handle meat every day.”
“Yeah, but I don’t butcher it.” Cassidy sighed and then whispered, “Don’t tell anyone, but I’m kind of a wimp in that regard.”
“Your secret is safe with me.” Storm kissed him, and their lust sparked again.
“Come on, outside!”
Everyone followed Marshal out, and in a matter of sixty seconds every one of the men had shifted, leaving behind their shoes and clothing on the porch.
All but Cassidy.
With his coyote eyes, Storm peered up at him.
“I can’t.” Cassidy’s face scrunched up as he struggled to shift. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Shouldn’t it just happen?”
Storm shifted back and waved the others off. He thought if the two of them were alone the pressure would be off. “Relax. I think you’re trying too hard.” Storm slipped his hand against Cassidy’s flannel shirt and slowly unbuttoned the buttons one by one.
“What are you doing?” Cassidy asked softly.
“Helping you.” Storm kissed the exposed expanse of Cassidy’s chest.
“Is that right?”
“Mm-hmm.” Storm spread the edges of the shirt until he exposed his nipple, and then he licked the flesh, making it pebble while eliciting a groan from his mate.
“You are so kind to be so helpful.”
“I try.” Storm leaned up and kissed Cassidy. His lips were hot and hungry against Storm’s.
“You make me crazy.” Cassidy lowered his hands to Storm’s naked buttocks, cupping them and then lifting him up along his body until Storm was balanced on his tiptoes. “I could take you right here.”
“Here?” Storm looked around the porch.
“I could bend you over the railing and mount you.”
“Ooh. Now that might make you shift. You getting all animal on me.”
Cassidy’s grin faded.
“What?”
“Maybe that’s the problem. I mean, why I can’t shift.” Cassidy frowned. “I’ve never been much of an animal.”
“You could learn.” Storm rocked his hips suggestively. “I’d be more than happy to help you.”
“I don’t think so.” Cassidy released Storm from his fearsome hold, and his feet once again settled on the worn boards of the porch. “I think I need some time on this.”
“Time to think if you want to be a coyote-shifter?” Storm couldn’t imagine anyone turning this amazing opportunity down.
“I’m sorry, I just didn’t think about what it would be like. The nittygritty details, and all the implications…well, I guess I just never thought it all the way through.”
“You mean the hunting thing?” Storm could just imagine what kinds of horrors went through Cassidy’s mind.
“That, and when I’m in that form, I worry that those baser instincts will take over, and…” Cassidy trailed off, and his gaze seemed to be following along the path their brothers had made through the high weeds around the edge of the pond.
“And?” Storm prompted.
“And I won’t be me anymore,” Cassidy finished softly, his gaze down on his feet.
“You’ll always be you. It’s just you in coyote form.” The idea of having only half a life with Cassidy filled Storm with a new and far more sharp kind of fear. He wanted to share everything with his mate. “Ups, downs, sideways—I want it all. And I want to experience everything with you. I want to do everything together.”
“I’m sorry.” Cassidy looked miserable. “I just need to think about this.”
“But you knew what the others were. You had to know that when you got a mate this would be a part of it.” Storm realized he was pressuring his mate and that wasn’t the way to go about getting him to shift. Still, knowing it intellectually and stopping his one-track mind when it got going were two different things.
“I know that this is part of it. I’ve been thinking about it. I thought maybe it would just happen and I wouldn’t have a say in my changing or what I did when I was a coyote, but apparently, I do have asay.” Cassidy held his gaze on the path the others had made. “Just go with them and have fun. I need to think.”
“Can’t you try it first before you decide?” Storm thought if he could just get him to shift once he would fall in love with the incredible sensation and want to do it again and again.
“No. I need…I need time. I’m sorry.” Cassidy lifted his gaze to Storm, and that was when Storm realized just how tormented Cassidy was. “I probably should have told you this before we mated, but I don’t think I can finish.”

Chapter 11

Cassidy left Storm sleeping in their bed. After the long evening he’d had, he needed the extra winks. Storm had apparently caught up to the pack and had been out with them all night. Since they hadn’t finished mating, Cassidy didn’t think Storm could mentally communicate with them, not that it mattered if he told them the truth. That nugget was going to be mined this morning. Cassidy was fairly certain Marshal was in the kitchen, waiting for him. Since the smell of fresh coffee pulled Cassidy from a frustrating dream where he had to cook for an important party but couldn’t find any ingredients where they were supposed to be, he knew someone was up and had put on the coffee. So far, Marshal was the only person who wasn’t intimidated by the oversized coffee urn.

After pulling on his sweats and a T-shirt, Cassidy padded his way into the kitchen. Sure enough, Marshal was at the table with two full mugs of coffee. Silently, he slid one of the mugs toward Cassidy.

“Thanks.”
“You okay?” Marshal picked up his mug and blew across the top. “Yeah.” Cassidy settled at the table across from Marshal. “I’m

sorry. I should have said something long before now.”
“Not really.” Marshal offered him an easy smile. “You don’t owe
anyone an explanation, especially not me.”
“I think I owe one to Storm.” Cassidy shook his head and then
brushed his curls out of his eyes. “I just couldn’t summon the stomach
to become an animal.”
“You know, we don’t just run around fucking and killing things.” “I know. I’m sorry if I seem to be putting you down. I’m not. Really. I’m just…” Cassidy couldn’t find the right word to describe
what was holding him back.
“Squeamish?”
“Maybe. But also, I’m a pacifist. You know I’ve never raised my
hand in violence. I’ve never killed an animal. I’ll cook them, but I
can’t harm them. And the idea of being a roving carnivore…” Cassidy
shivered so hard he sloshed some of his coffee to the table. He stood,
got a washcloth, cleaned up the spill, then tossed the cloth into the
sink and settled back down. “I just can’t get over the idea of not
having control of myself.”
“What in the world do you think you’ll do in coyote form?” It took a long time for Cassidy to answer, but eventually, he met
Marshal’s gaze and said, “I’m afraid I’ll rape Storm.”
Marshal’s eyes went wide.
“I saw what Dillion did to Micah.” Cassidy nodded toward the
window that faced out the back of the farmhouse. “He chased him
down, grasped the scruff of his neck in his mouth, and mounted him
without preamble right in front of you, me, and anyone else who
happened to be looking that way.”
“Well, wait. That’s not fair to Dillion at all. Micah was in heat.” “What if Storm is?” Cassidy thought back to how beautiful Storm
looked last night with the pale moonlight turning his gray fur even
more intense. “What if that’s what prompted me to pick up where his
other mate left off?” Cassidy remembered when the scent invaded his
mind and he’d picked Storm up and carted him off to his bedroom. “I
stripped him and tossed him on my bed and leapt on him before I
finally got a hold of myself and slowed down.”
“Well, then.” Marshal deliberately paused.
“Not you, too?” Cassidy made a face.
“Come on. There you go. You were able to gain control.” “But as an animal I would have less.”
“I don’t think so.” Marshal considered his coffee. “When I’m in
my coyote body, I’m still me. I have all my same thoughts and all my same feelings. I see things differently, but that’s because my eyes are physically different. I can also smell a lot more because my nose is
different, but I’m still me. I still have all my same morals and issues.” Cassidy considered his coffee. “I appreciate what you’re saying.
Honestly, I do. And thank you for getting up early to let me talk with
you about this, but I don’t think I’m ready.”
“You knew this was a part of it, right?” Marshal drilled his gaze
so intently into Cassidy he felt a little woozy.
“I did. And I thought when I got a mate I’d feel differently, or it
would just happen. I didn’t realize how much of a say I have over
things.”
Marshal was silent for a long time.
“You know you can tell me anything.” Cassidy didn’t want
Marshal to edit himself. “Even if you think it might hurt my feelings,
you should say what you think.”
“We have always been honest with each other.” Marshal took a
long sip of his coffee.
“We have.”
Marshal nodded. “You realize that without a full mating you’re
not going to have all the cool tricks that mated pairs have, right?” “I know. We can’t communicate telepathically with each other or
with the rest of you.”
“There’s more than that but, okay, so you’re willing to make that
sacrifice for yourself, but what about your mate?”
“What about Storm?”
“You realize he has a shadow out there without yours to pair it. Or
maybe he has Russell’s shadow to pair his. We don’t know enough
about them to understand exactly how all of that works.”
“Do the shadows have to have a pair?”
“We don’t know. When Jake refused to accept Nathan as his mate,
the shadows tried to trick him into mating with Nathan’s shadow.” “But now that we’re aware of the shadows, they haven’t been
causing us any trouble,” Cassidy pointed out. “Just knowing about them takes down their effectiveness to trick us. And no way would I
think Storm’s shadow was him when they don’t have heat or scent.” “True. But maybe that will change with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well,” Marshal began then sighed. “We don’t know all that much
about why we can shift, how it all works, and the full deal with the
shadows. When Jake refused Nathan, he opened up some doorways.
What if what you’re doing with Storm opens up some other
doorways?”
Cassidy realized Marshal was right. They really didn’t know what
would happen. Most of the matings had happened before either man
had much of a chance to think about it or they had delayed things long
enough to cause problems. Cassidy hadn’t thought that his refusal to
shift might touch so many people in negative ways.
“Look, I’m not trying to pressure you. I don’t think the shadows
really want to bother with us after what Cole did to them, but you
have to take your own mate into consideration. I don’t think you’re
giving him the full life that he could have.”
Guilt crushed around Cassidy with a solid grip. He hadn’t thought
about that, either. Cassidy was starting to feel like a self-centered jerk.
“Besides the mental communication, what else is there?”
“It’s different after you mate that way.” Marshal shrugged. “I can’t
really put it into words other than that. It’s just different. We were
closer. It’s like we fused together so firmly that—”
Marshal cut himself off, and Cassidy waited for him to finish. “God, please don’t take this the wrong way, but it was like nothing
could pull us apart.” Marshal finally braved a look at Cassidy. “I think
the reason you were able to claim Storm as your mate is Russell did a
piss-poor job of claiming him the first time. From what Storm said, it
was rather ‘wham bam later dude.’ Russell didn’t even tie to him. And
then he didn’t mate with him in coyote form.”
“You’re saying that if I don’t finish this, if I don’t claim Storm in
animal form, then I might lose him?”
“Maybe.” Marshal reached out for him, but Cassidy pulled his
hand back. “Goddamn it, Cassidy. Don’t shoot the messenger.” “Sorry.” Cassidy patted Marshal’s hand and then pulled his back
and settled it in his lap. He needed to keep to himself right now. He
needed to think. “I’ve got to get breakfast started.” Cassidy rose from
the table and left his coffee there untouched. “I need to clear my head
and focus on work so that I can deal with this later.”
“That’s not what you do.” Marshal rose and picked up his mug. “No?” Cassidy pulled down his largest mixing bowl.
“Nope. You put your issues on the back burner in your mind and
let them simmer there as you cook out here in the real world.” Cassidy laughed. “How do you know that?”
“I’ve known you for a very long time.”
Marshal’s quiet voice caused Cassidy to stop what he was doing
and look at him.
“You think a lot more deeply than you give yourself credit for. All
that cooking and cleaning is a way for you to free up your mind to
worry over major issues. It’s just the way you work, Cassidy.” “Yeah.” Cassidy considered the bowl and what he would put into
it. “Thank you for what you did yesterday. The place looks as good as
I always leave it.”
“You’re welcome. And you know we can survive around here
without you.”
Something about that broke Cassidy’s heart.
“Hey, whoa, let me finish. We can survive a day or two without
you. We won’t like it, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take time
off when you need it.”
“Whew!” Cassidy brushed his hand over his forehead. “I had a bit
of panic there.”
“We need you.” Marshal clapped him on the back. “I need you.
But we also need you at your best. It wouldn’t be the end of the world
if we had to live on sandwiches for a day or two.”
“Next time I’ll try to have some soup ready.”
“Always thinking of others. I guess you’re about due for thinking
about yourself.” With that, Marshal left the kitchen.
Cassidy started filling the bowl with flour, salt, baking soda, and
then added buttermilk as he whisked the batter around the edges of the
bowl. In short order, he had a thin pancake batter.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” Storm stormed into the kitchen with
the sleep barely out of his eyes. He looked at the bowl in Cassidy’s
hands. “You should have started the hash browns first.”
“Not enough potatoes.”
“Oh.” Storm frowned. “Pancakes and eggs, then?”
“Sounds good.”
“Bacon?”
“We’re out.”
Storm pulled down another bowl and set about cracking eggs into
it. “Are you mad at me?” His voice was very low, almost a whisper. “God, no.” Cassidy set his bowl aside. “What in the world would
make you think that?”
“You didn’t wake me.”
Cassidy hugged him from behind and kissed the top of his head. “I
thought I was being a good mate by letting you sleep in.” As soon as
the words were out of his mouth, he realized he wasn’t being a good
mate in other ways. By not finishing the mating process, he was
leaving Storm vulnerable. What if another alpha on the ranch caught
wind of some unfinished scent and tried to claim Storm? The very
idea made him tighten his grip on Storm.
“Hey, I’m getting squished here.” Storm wriggled in his arms until
Cassidy let go. “I just like to help you in the kitchen is all. When
we’re working together, it feels good, like we belong together.” “We do.” Cassidy returned to his own work. Since they wouldn’t
need the flat grill for hash browns, he heated it up for pancakes so
Storm could use the stovetop for the eggs. “We’ll work everything
out.” Or at least he hoped so. The thought of losing Storm to another
sent alternating waves of fear and anger down Cassidy’s spine. He wasn’t comfortable with either emotion. “I just need some time to
think.”
“It’s okay. I understand.” Storm cracked more eggs into his bowl
then added seasonings. “Just let me know what’s going on.” “I will.”
They went through the rest of the morning engrossed in cooking
for the men who came to eat in shifts. It was like any other morning
but for the fact the men seemed a little more grateful than normal. “They really, really missed you yesterday.” Storm scraped the last
of the scrambled eggs out of the pan then lightly oiled the surface.
With a satisfied sigh, he untied his apron.
“Us. They missed us.” Cassidy rinsed the last plate then set it on
the sideboard to dry. “Now, let’s get started on lunch.”
“What?” Storm gave him an incredulous expression.
“I know, I know, but we need to go shopping in town, and that’s
going to take several hours. I like to have their lunch ready to go on
grocery days.”
“You are way too good at this, you know?” Storm sighed and put
his apron right back on. “Okay, so, soup and sandwiches?” “You read my mind.”
Very quietly under his breath, Cassidy swore he heard Storm say,
“If you’d finish mating with me, I really couldread your mind.”

Chapter 12

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much food!” Storm jumped up into the truck and slammed the door. “Where to now?”
On the bench seat between them there was a clipboard with Cassidy’s neatly printed script running down the top page. If Storm hadn’t looked closely, he would have sworn it was a computer printout since the letters and numbers were so even, but he’d sat across from his mate as he’d written down what he wanted to make for the week. He also had a list of what needed to be used up and what they needed to get to make meals out of those things. Then there was a list of staples that he always had to replenish. Cassidy also had to consult a little calendar he kept tucked away with his list-making supplies to see if there was a special occasion coming up like someone’s birthday. There wasn’t, but if there had been, they would have gotten a gift and cake decorations. Storm had no idea running a large kitchen involved so much list making and planning.
“It’s not as complicated as it seems,” Cassidy had assured him. “It’s really about keeping most of the info up here.” He tapped his beautiful head and flashed Storm a big grin.
“Right. I have a feeling it only looks easy when you do it.” The very idea of being in charge of feeding that many giant men scared the hell outof Storm. “I swear, I worry that if I messed up even once, they’d eat me.”
“Naw, they wouldn’t eat you. You’re way too little.”
It took a moment for the teasing jibe to catch up to Storm’s brain. “Oh, you!” When it did, he rose and chased after Cassidy, who ran right into his bedroom. Joking turned to lust so fast they had barely gotten their clothes off when they were frantically kissing and tumbling together on Cassidy’s massive bed. Storm was delighted at his mate’s lusty animal ways until something compelled him to stop. It was so abrupt, so sudden, it was like brakes went off in his mate’s body. Storm couldn’t pinpoint what happened or what changed, just that Cassidy went from hungry animal with sex on his mind to a more gentle and loving mate.
As much as Storm hated the way Russell had just used him, he wanted Cassidy to be more passionate and not always so thoroughly controlled. When he tried to talk to him about it, Cassidy managed to change the subject, and then they were making love, and then they were in the truck driving into Scorpion with the list between them. Storm realized his mate was very clever in getting away from a topic he didn’t want to discuss. As much as Storm wanted to work everything out, now wasn’t the time. They’d already hit two stores and were on the way to the third.
“We’re going to our last stop.”
“And that is?”
“The butcher’s.” Cassidy nodded to his clipboard. “I e-mailed him what I wanted, so he should have everything ready to go.”
“Is that what those last two big coolers are back there for?” In the bed of the pickup truck they had loaded up six huge coolers that held only plastic bottles with ice in them. They would help keep everything cold until they got back to the ranch. They had filled four of them with produce, and then they had boxes of pantry staples.
“Yep. The men of the Rough River Ranch pack away a lot of meat.”
“Why doesn’t the ranch butcher their own meat from their own stock?” Storm had been amazed at how many cattle were on the ranch. They’d driven past thousands as they’d made their way out of the valley.
“Well, we don’t have anyone who knows how. But also, the cattle we have now aren’t old enough yet. It takes a while to get them big enough for market.” Cassidy looked distinctly uncomfortable. “Besides, this guy is really good and he does all the work. It’s just easier for now, I guess, but eventually, Marshal is probably going to have to hire a butcher.”
“Why does that bother you? You know that the bacon, the roasts, and the chickens you cook come from animals,right?”
“I know.” Cassidy flashed him a rather grim look. “I try not to think about it too much.”
“If it bothers you that much, why aren’t you a vegetarian?”
“I am.”
Storm’s eyebrows went up. “But I’ve watched you.”
“You’ve watched me cook meat, but think about what you’ve seen me eat.”
Storm did, and he didn’t recall Cassidy putting meat in his mouth once. “But you cook with it and make all that stuff for the guys.”
“Right. Because they eat meat. Like I said, I have no problem cooking it, and that includes handling it and prepping it and stuff, but I don’t want to eat it, and I sure as hell don’t want to kill it.”
Storm shook his head, surprised by the sudden realization.
“I suppose now you don’t love me as much.”
Storm realized Cassidy was only teasing. “I still love you. I just don’t quite understand you.”
“Well, that makes two of us.” Cassidy grinned.
“You don’t know why you’re a vegetarian?”
“Oh, I do. I just don’t fully understand everything about myself. But I became a vegetarian when I saw a man gut a fish. It just freaked me right the hell out. I was seven or eight. I just couldn’t eat any flesh after that.”
“Wow. I just…wow.” Storm really didn’t know what to say. “I guess your squeamishness about being a coyote makes more sense now.”
“Does it?”
“Yeah. Well, it does to me, anyway. I imagine there aren’t any vegetarian coyotes.”
“Probably not. But, well, it’s more than that. My reluctance to shift.”
“Please tell me. I won’t get mad.”
“I just don’t think I could handle controlling myself. It seems to me once the guys are in their coyote form they are, well, animals. Marshal told me he’s still himself, but there are more animal instincts pushing at him.”
“I guess.” Storm considered the shop they pulled in front of. “This is the butcher’s?”
“Yes indeedy-o.”
“There’s a church in the back.”
“Yep. Much like our men on the ranch, the butcher pulls double duty.”
“He’s a butcher and a pastor?”
“Minister, technically, but yes. Interesting, right?”
“This whole place is filled with curious characters,” Storm said, resting his hand on the door handle.
“That’s good!” Cassidy said, grabbing his clipboard. “That means you and I fit right in.”
Storm rolled his eyes, and they got out of the truck.
Cassidy reached the shop door first and held it open for Storm. “After you.”
As soon as he stepped in, his entire body went a little crazy. The whole place smelled so good Storm almost shifted. Crisp white cases with clean glass windows showcased dozens of cuts of meat. Beef, chicken, pork, even some elk and deer made him imagine dozens of dishes he’d love to prepare. Storm’s mouth was watering so badly he was afraid to talk because he might start drooling all over. Perhaps that was why everything was behind glass in the first place. Kind of like the sneeze guards at the salad bar.
“As I live and breathe! You’re Storm Hoffman!” A tall, thin man with a shock of coal-black hair and a white apron around his waist stepped out from behind the row of meat with his hand out. As soon as Storm offered out his own hand, the man pumped his vigorously up and down. “What are you doing in our fair city?”
Storm opened his mouth to explain, but the man kept right on talking.
“Doesn’t this just beat all, Junnie?” When he looked back at a woman behind the counter, Storm assumed she was Junnie and probably his wife. “I mean, just yesterday there was a feller in here asking around about you and flashing a picture. You know, the one of you in your uniform where you look as mean as all get-out? But I told him we hardly ever got any celebrities in here. Ain’t it great to be proven wrong!”
“Take a breath, dear, and let the man get out a hello.” Junnie came around the display cases and shook Storm’s hand with just as much vigor as her husband. She was shorter than her husband, a bit heavier, and her hair was so red it had to be a dye job, but her smile was one hundred percent genuine. “We’re transplants from Canada, so hockey is like life to us.”
“It’s always great to meet some die-hard fans.” Storm generally loved his fans since they usually had nothing but nice things to say. “Do you want me to sign something?”
“Would you? I’d love that. And no, Cassidy, I haven’t overlooked you or your order. It’s ready to go like always. Come in the back with me and tell me how you met Storm Hoffman.”
Cassidy flashed Storm a grin then went in the back of the shop with the butcher.
“Oh, heavens!”
Storm turned his attention back to the woman.
“His name is Ralph, and I’m Junnie. We’re the Quibbles. Although we generally don’t quibble much about anything at all.”
“It’s really nice to meet you. I don’t think I’ve ever met a butcher who doubled as a man of God.”
“My Ralph is a unique one. He says during the week he feeds their bodies and then he feeds their souls on the Sabbath.”
“Good plan.”
“You staying out at the Triple R?”
It took Storm a moment to translate that into the Rough River Ranch. When he did, he nodded.
“Such nice men living out there. But what kind of hockey can you play on a cattle ranch?”
Storm didn’t even know where to start explaining, so he took a page from Cassidy’s book and graciously skipped over the things he didn’t want to talk about. “Even hockey players need a vacation.”
“Oh, right. Course you do!”
“So who was this man looking for me?” Storm tried to look as innocuous as he could, but he had a bad feeling he knew exactly who was looking for him. “Was it just a curious fan?”
Junnie’s whole demeanor changed in the blink of an eye. “Not at all. This man was big, rude, and just about the meanest thing I ever did see. He started out nice, or that fake kind of nice, you know, like how someone who wants something from you will act?”
Storm nodded. He did indeed know that behavior. Junnie didn’t even have to finish describing the man for Storm to know that it was Russell.
“You didn’t recognize him?” Storm asked.
“Recognize him?”
“Wasn’t it Russell Eugene?”
“Eugene the Machine? Heaven’s no!” Junnie laughed. “We’d still be all twitter pated from his visit! To have you show up, too, would be cause for a major celebration!”
“Aw, you’re so sweet.”
Junnie talked about the few celebrities they’d had in the store. “Sometimes we get lots of actors since they film around these parts.”
“So who was the guy looking for me?”
“He didn’t say. But like I said, he was real mean. Oh!” Junnie thrust one careworn finger into the air. “He left this card and told us to call if we saw you or even if we heard anything about you.” From a thoroughly covered cork billboard, she removed something about the size of a business card and then handed it over to Storm. “Said there was money in it for us, but Ralph and I decided we didn’t want nothing to do with the man. We kept this in case the sheriff came by.”
Storm examined the card. In scrawled handwriting, it had a phone number but no name. “Do you know where this prefix is?”
Junnie looked at the cardagain. “Well, if it’s not 801, 435, or 385 then it’s not a Utah number.” She hummed as she looked at it. “It’s 775? Ralph?” Junnie went toward the doorway where Cassidy and Ralph had gone. After a moment she was back. “Nevada.”
“Nevada?” The only thing Storm knew about Nevada was that was where Las Vegas was. He’d never been there and had no interest in going since he didn’t gamble. “Who in Nevada would be trying to find me?”
“I can’t imagine. But you might want to steer clear of this man.” Junnie shivered. “Cold as ice and twice as rough.”
After living in Canada all his life, Storm knew all about rough ice. Sometime the edges got so jagged they could literally cut someone if he or she wasn’t careful.
“I’m not one to gossip, but…” Junnie leaned near with the air of a practiced rumormonger. “I think this man was some kind of a dick.”
“A what?” Given that her husband was a minister it wasn’t likely that she was swearing, but then again, Storm didn’t know what kind of faith they practiced. For all he knew they could be snake handlers.
“Private investigator. You know, a dick.”
Storm had never heard anyone use that particular word to describe a PI. “What makes you think that?”
“He was just so gruff and rude. Didn’t even try to be nice after it was clear we didn’t know anything.” Junnie made a face that seemed to say that decent folks everywhere should at least try to have manners.
“Do you mind if I write down this number?” Storm certainly didn’t want her to perceive him as rude.
“Oh, of course. Here!” She went back around the display counter and got paper and a pencil that looked like it had been sharpened by someone chewing on it. “I don’t think he’ll be back, but it couldn’t hurt for you to call. If you’re clever, you could figure out what he wanted without telling him who you are.”
“I think you’re right.” Storm wrote out the number and a quick description of the man. “I’d sure like to know what he was looking for me for.”
“I wish I could tell you.” Junnie frowned. “Come on, let’s help them load up the truck. MaybeRalph remembers something I don’t.”
Storm ended up signing an apron that Ralph had for famous people’s signatures. He had a pretty good collection for a small-town butcher and minister. Sadly, Ralph didn’t remember anything else about the man who’d been asking after Storm.
“If you hear anything or he comes back, will you call me?” Cassidy didn’t have to give them his number since they had it on the order sheet he filled out every week via e-mail.
“Sure will.”
As they drove off, Storm watched as Ralph and Junnie waved then went back into the store. “They have to be some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.”
“They are good folks.” Cassidy grinned. “And I’ve never seen Ralph so happy. Does that happen to you a lot?”
“Being recognized?”
“Yeah.”
“It does in Canada but not often in the States.” Storm frowned. “I wonder if Russell hired a private investigator. Sounds like something he would do. But I swear he was following me.”
“Maybe the two things are unrelated.”
“Maybe.” Storm sat pondering. “But why would anyone be looking for me here?”
“I don’t know.” Cassidy reached over and patted Storm’s thigh. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Storm had been convinced it was Russell who was trying to track him down. For some reason, the fact that he wasn’t actually bothered Storm more than it should. Maybe Marshal was right and his interlude with Russell had nothing to do with mating or coyoteshifting or anything other than some bizarre sexual itch they both got hit with and dealt with. “It’s just weird.”
“You’re not worried?”
“No. I’m more curious. It’s just strange, is all.”
“Do you mind if we make another stop?”
“Not at all.” Storm grinned. “I’m liking this town so far.”
“We do have a pretty great place here.” Cassidy waited at a red light, his attention on traffic.
Storm looked out the side window, and his gaze connected with Russell’s. He was in his fancy sports car, the same car he’d tossed Storm over the hood of. As their gazes connected, Storm’s eyes went wide. Ever so slowly, Russell’s smile got bigger until it turned downright gruesome.

Chapter 13

Cassidy was thinking a stop at the bookstore would perk up his spirits. He remembered seeing an interesting book about ways for lovers to explore each other that were beyond the strictly physical. He felt that he needed to deepen his connection to Storm without having to shift into an animal form to do it.

“I think you’ll like this place. They have books on every—”

A loud crunch sounded at the same time his truck was pushed to the side.
“What in the world?” Cassidy looked to his mirrors. Beside him and to the rear was a glittering, sleek blue car. “Damn. I think we hit each other.” Cassidy looked over to make sure Storm was all right, but his eyes were huge and his mouth was working without sound. “Are you—”
“Just go!” Storm screamed.
“I’ve hit someone’s car. Or they’ve hit me.” Cassidy pulled over as soon as he saw a clear space. He ended up behind the row of shops on Main Street.
“No! We have to go! Don’t stop!”
“Calm down.” Cassidy had never seen Storm so freaked out, but he couldn’t just drive off after an accident. It was against the law and against his moral compass. “I just need to exchange information—”
Cassidy never got to finish. His door was yanked open, and he was punched in the face so hard his ears rang. Dizzy and confused, Cassidy looked down and saw a big hand trying to pull him out of the truck, but he had his seat belt on. Storm was screaming and slapping at the man’s hands. In the struggle between the three of them, Cassidy’s belt came off and the man wrenched him right out of the truck. On the way out the door, Cassidy smacked his head on the edge of the cab, which made him even more befuddled.
“You fucker.”
Cassidy wavered, trying to hold himself up and figure out what the hell was going on. When he managed to get his eyes to focus, he realized he was looking at Russell Eugene. There wasn’t a doubt in Cassidy’s mind. The massive man standing in front of him matched the picture that Storm had shared with everyone last night.
“Stop it!” Storm didn’t bother to slide out his side of the truck. He slid across the bench seat and out the driver’s side door. “Go away, Russell. I don’t want anything to do with you!”
“You shut your fucking mouth and get in the car. Now.” Russell spoke as if Storm would obey him without question. He seemed to become enraged when he didn’t. Russell’s nose was wiggling like crazy as he sniffed deep. “You worthless shit! You let him fuck you?”
Russell picked Storm up by wrapping his fist around the bulk of his shirt. As soon as he had Storm dangling from the end of his arm he started to shake him while calling him names.
Cassidy reached out and gripped Russell’s arm. “Put him down.”
“Fuck off.” Russell shoved Cassidy with his free hand.
Cassidy went flying and landed on his ass on the tarmac. Stunned, Cassidy looked up and saw that Storm was gasping for breath. Russell had his shirt so tight Storm could barely breathe. As he sat there, stunned, he watched as Russell slammed Storm into the side of the truck. He hit with such force he left a dent in the side panel and Storm’s head smacked into the edge with a dull thud. When Storm’s eyes rolled lazily in his head, Cassidy realized Russell was going to kill Storm if he didn’t do something.
Terror for his mate overcame his ingrained pacifist leanings. There was no talking to this man, and Cassidy knew it. But he didn’t know how to fight. He made a fist and looked at it, wondering if he would be able to help Storm or if he’d just make matters worse.
“You are going to die for touching him.” Russell let go of Storm, who slumped down to his knees. “I’m going to kill you and then demolish your scent off my mate.”
Cassidy knew the only way Russell would be able to obliterate his scent off of Storm would be to fuck him. Repeatedly. He remembered how ashamed Storm had been when he talked about his mating with Russell. Cassidy remembered how afraid he’d been to tell him what Russell had done to him. Judging by the size of him, he’d probably ripped Storm when he’d claimed him. No wonder he was afraid when he showed up on the ranch. No wonder he’d felt safe with Cassidy since he never raised his voice, let alone his hand. But this was not a normal circumstance. If Cassidy didn’t do something, Russell was going to beat him senseless, and then crush whatever spirit Storm had left.
“He told me about you.” Cassidy hoped to distract the giant a bit so he could get up and get situated. It wasn’t often that Cassidy ran into men bigger than his own six-foot-six and two-hundred-eightypound frame.
“I’ll bet he told you how much he loved my dick up his ass.”
“Lovewasn’t the word he used.” Cassidy got to his feet but kept back, assessing the situation. Russell had chosen a good place to attack them since they were tucked around from Main Street. It was unlikely anyone would see them back here or call for help.
“I don’t give a flying fuck what he said. He’s my fucking mate, and he’s going to learn his place if I have to beat him three times a day.” Russell spat out the side of his mouth as he advanced on Cassidy.
“He’s not your mate. Not anymore.” Goading the giant was probably not the best idea, but Cassidy wanted to get him away from Storm.
“Go away,” Storm said as he used the side of the truck to help pull himself back to his feet. “I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“You don’t get a say.” Russell grabbed Storm by the back of his shirt collar and started walking him over to his car.
Cassidy knew if they got in that car he’d never see Storm again. Every flash of fear and anger he’d felt about not being able to fully claim his mate returned, and before he even realized what was happening, Cassidy had shifted. He let out a roar of fury that spun Russell on his heel. Russell’s eyes went so big they nearly ate his face.
“You wanna play it like that?” Tossing Storm aside, Russell shifted, his clothing falling behind him as he landed a foot away from Cassidy.
As they circled each other, Cassidy was overwhelmed by the plethora of scents invading his mind. He smelled cars, food, humans, heat, and even the clump of weeds breaking through the battered tarmac released their own unique scent. But the worst smell was the stench of his mate’s fear. Storm had been so terrified by Russell his body was drenched in sweat and the ripe essence of terror pheromones. The scent turned Cassidy’s stomach. His mate should never suffer such trauma again. Russell’s scent was almost as powerful. It was anger and determination and a self-indulgent righteousness that made him almost gaggingly sour.
Russell’s coyote form was pitch black. Cassidy couldn’t see himself, but he imagined his hair was the same as when he was human, cinnamon and curly. Not that it mattered. The only thing that mattered now was getting his mate somewhere safe. To that end, Cassidy circled around Russell, drawing him away from the truck, but Storm refused to get back in.
“I’m not leaving you!” Storm shifted into his coyote form, which distracted Russell.
As soon as Cassidy got a whiff of him, he knew why. Storm smelled so lusciously good that every alphamale fiber in Cassidy’s body started clamoring for him to mate, mate, mate. Cassidy resisted. If he wanted to claim his mate, he would have to fight off another to get him. Suddenly, the idea of being a beast and ruled by his animal instincts wasn’t such a bad one. Like Marshal said, he was still himself with all his human knowledge and intellect, but he was also a creature with base cravings and a crafty mind on how to meet those needs.
Russell seemed to have forgotten all about Cassidy as soon as he smelled Storm. Rather than fight with Cassidy, Russell tried to pounce on Storm, but Storm managed to elude him by ducking under the body of the truck. With his much smaller form, he was able to fit comfortably while Russell struggled. Using his mouth, Cassidy grabbed Russell by the haunch of his hind leg and yanked him away from the truck.
Roaring with pain, Russell flipped around and charged Cassidy. Waiting for the very last moment before impact, Cassidy stepped aside and bit Russell as he went by. Using his forward momentum against him allowed Cassidy to spin Russell around and onto his back. Frantically struggling to right himself, Russell wagged his head and tail, but Cassidy was on him, sinking his teeth into his throat.
Russell refused to relent and continued to try to wriggle out of Cassidy’s grip. As Cassidy closed his jaws, Russell kept fighting until Cassidy’s long, strong canines pierced the vulnerable skin below his thick fur. Whimpering, Russell went still. A part of Cassidy wanted to kill him for violating his mate, but the human part of Cassidy refused. Just like any other animal, Russell had been driven to meet his needs at all costs. Cassidy couldn’t fault him for that. Not when he finally understood that, rather than making a conscious decision about his own needs for food, a mate, all the basics, Cassidy had allowed himself to be driven by fear.
As soon as he released Russell, he flipped over onto his feet and backed away. His teeth were bared and he was growling, but he was also retreating. Cassidy didn’t take his gaze off him. Russell embraced his animal self far more than Cassidy probably ever could. It wouldn’t be beyond him to cheat, just like he had by punching Cassidy before he ever even bothered to call him out. Hockey was a violent sport, and the men who played it reverted to a more primitive state. They had to in order to score and win. That gave Russell a distinct advantage. One that he would use if he saw an opening. But Cassidy had an advantage as well. He was less inclined to follow his animal instincts. Keeping his mind clear of those distractions would serve him well.
Without looking, Cassidy knew Storm was still under the truck. He could hear him breathing, and he could smell that alluring scent. Apparently, Russell could smell him, too, because he advanced. Cassidy roared, and Russell slunk back. But Russell simply couldn’t help himself. He had no control over his baser needs, and he advanced again. This time, Cassidy roared and lunged, digging his teeth into Russell’s neck.
With a squeal of pain, Russell tried to shake Cassidy off, but he refused to let go. Each violent movement that Russell made only helped Cassidy to dig in his grip. To further his hold, he leapt up onto Russell’s back. To an observer it would look as if Cassidy was mating with Russell. And it seemed that was what Russell feared because he went still and whimpered. Again, Cassidy let him go and again Russell continued to attack. There was no way Cassidy was going to let him at his mate, and there was no way that Russell was going to stop trying to get at Storm. The mating scent he gave off was far too powerful. Cassidy feared the only way to make Russell stop was to kill him. Cassidy could not sink that deeply into his animal self. He was not a beast. Not entirely. There had to be another way to thwart Russell without killing him.
When the idea first came to Cassidy, he immediately rejected it. Without a doubt it was the craziest idea he’d ever had, and there was no way Storm would be in the mood for it. But the more Cassidy considered the situation, the less he could see any other option. If he wanted to end this situation peacefully, he really didn’t have any other choice.
Using a series of yips, growls, and head flicks, Cassidy tried to get Storm into the cab of the truck. He refused to come out from under the vehicle. Cassidy again tried to compel him to do what he was suggesting, but it seemed to Cassidy that Storm worried he was trying to send him away. He wasn’t, but he didn’t know a way to make that clear to his mate. If he shifted back to human to tell Storm his plan, he knew that Russell would pounce on him and rip him apart before he managed two steps. Staying in his coyote form, Cassidy continued to hold Russell back while instructing Storm to get into the truck.
After what seemed forever, Storm finally crawled out and jumped up into the cab. Before Russell could react, Cassidy followed him up and in, closing the door by grasping the handle with his mouth. He then turned his attention onto his mate. A rich, earthy, mind-blowing scent filled the cab and made Cassidy so desperate for mating he couldn’t wait any longer. He moved toward his beautiful mate and growled softly.
Sensing his need, Storm turned around and lifted his bottom while sweeping his tail to the side. Cassidy tried to be gentle, but as soon as he saw his target, the animal in him took over. Mounting his mate, he held him down by grabbing the scruff of his neck with his powerful jaws. He didn’t pierce the skin, but he wanted—no, he needed—to make sure he didn’t move. Before Cassidy was even aware of what he was doing, he felt his prick sinking into Storm. Never in his life had he ever felt anything as richly satisfying as claiming his mate. As good as penetrating him in human form had felt, this was a hundred times more intense. All hissenses engaged, where as a human he’d held so much of himself back. Not here. Not now. Storm was his for now and for always.
Letting out a low whimper, Storm went boneless below Cassidy’s powerful form. Each millimeter more that penetrated his mate further staked his claim, altering Storm’s alluring essence.
Baying with frustration, Russell jumped at the closed door, his frantic need to get at Storm lessening with each thrust of Cassidy’s hips. When Cassidy bottomed out in his mate, he lifted his head and roared as he pumped his release deep into Storm. Pleasure unlike anything he’d ever felt gripped his body so tightly he was only able to quiver above Storm as the base of his prick swelled.
The desperate paw scratches at the door ceased. Russell let out one last baleful sound of mourning and then fell silent as Storm found his release. Without the mating scent to compel him, Russell returned to his human form, yanked up his pile of clothing, dressed hastily, and climbed into his car. He drove off without looking back.
“There’s nothing for him now.” Storm’s voice was crystal clear in Cassidy’s head.
“I’m sorry it had to be like this.” Cassidy released his fearsome hold on his mate then tried to lie on his side so they could be comfortable while they waited for the knot to abate.
“It’s okay.” Storm wriggled backward, and then they went still. “I couldn’t figure out what you were trying to do. It thought you were trying to get me to get in the truck and leave you here with Russell.”
“That wouldn’t have worked. He would have kept coming after you until he either got you or killed you.”
“How did you know this would work?”
“I didn’t. I just hoped that it would change your scent. And it did. Once that urge to claim you and finish his mating was gone, there was no reason for Russell to stay. He’d lost his chance, and he knew it.”
“But how did you know that would happen?”
“I don’t know. It was instinct, I guess. I think when our kind mates we mate for life. For that to work it must be driven by scents.”
“I guess that makes sense.” Storm nestled firmly against Cassidy’s bigger body. “You know, you’re very cute as a coyote.”
“I am?”
“Yep. You have curly, cinnamon-brown hair and your eyes match the color of your coat. It’s quite riveting.”
“You’re beautiful, too. All gray like a wisp of smoke.” Cassidy licked him in lieu of a kiss.“I wonder what our kids will look like?”
“Kids?” Storm stiffened. “What makes you think we can have kids?”

Cassidy explained about how the beta mates had both male and female genitals.
“Great. It’s my body and I didn’t even know that. Worse, I didn’t notice when I was with the others last night.”
“You were having fun, so it’s not much wonder you didn’t notice. Besides, I’d be a little concerned if you’d been looking that closely at their genitals. The only reason I know is because I was around when Dooley was talking about it.”
“Kids. Wow. I wonder how that’s even going to work.”
A new and far more compelling fear gripped Cassidy. Beyond the curiosity of what their kids would look like, he wondered what they would even be. Human? Coyote? Both? He’d chased the idea in his head as a curiosity when he found out that the beta mates possessed both male and female genitalia, but now that he’d mated, he wondered if he’d inadvertently taken the next step in all the mated pairs finding out just what would be the end result of their joinings.

Chapter 14

“Relax.” Dooley clapped Cassidy on the back. “He’s not pregnant.”
Cassidy slumped about three inches off his height. He looked as relieved as Storm felt. Storm loved his mate, and loved him fully, but kids? Yikes. That was something he wasn’t ready for as a human and certainly not as a coyote. Years down the road he’d like to do that but not at this time.
“For right now, I’m advising all the couples to hold off on that kind of mating until I can get some answers.” Dooley made a note on his chart, which he then put away in a safe.
“A safe?” Storm asked.
“Do you want outsiders taking a look at what we really are?”
“Good point.” Storm hopped off the table and started to pull his clothing back on.
“I’m trying to get the answers for all of you, but some of this we just won’t know until someone tries.” Dooley was watching Storm dress until Cassidy made a pointed throatclearing sound. “Sorry. It’s really not fromme being a pervert. I’m just tired and trying to puzzle out another way to get the answers we need without subjecting anyone to becoming a test subject.”
“And you need to stare at my mate’s backside to do your thinking?” Cassidy’s tone was mild, but there was an edge to him now that he simply didn’t have before he shifted.
“No, but his behind just happened to enter my line of sight.” Dooley turned and washed his hands. “Strip down, Cassidy. Shift over so I can have a look.”
Storm thought that for a moment Cassidy would refuse, but to Storm’s surprise he complied. When he turned, he was once again a large coyote with curly cinnamon hair and the most riveting cinnamon eyes.
“Wow.” Storm reached out and stroked Cassidy’s head. “You’re really beautiful.”
“Aw, you sure are!” Dooley knelt down and started rubbing Cassidy’s head.
Clearly, what Dooley was doing to him felt really good because Cassidy melted down to the floor and rolled over onto his back. Storm knew dogs didn’t do that unless they felt totally safe.
“Ha! You found his puppy spot.”
As Dooley rubbed a spot on Cassidy’s belly, his leg started waving in the air.
“He’s going to kill me when he switches back.” Dooley left off the magic spot and proceeded to check out Cassidy with the same thoroughness he’d used on Storm. Temperature, reflexes, everything was noted and then placed in the safe with the other charts. “You can change back now, Cassidy.”
“I wonder why I don’t have a puppy spot as a human?” Cassidy rubbed the same area on his human belly, but nothing happened.
“You have to be a puppy to have that spot.” Storm moved close. “Besides, I’ll bet I can find a spot that gives you an even better reaction.”
Cassidy’s grin widened.
“Not in here!” Dooley made shooing motions with his fingers. “Get thee gone, foul beasts. I’ve got other patients to see.”
As soon as Cassidy was dressed, they returned to the farmhouse.
“Foul beasts?” Cassidy grimaced. “I should have pooped in his exam room. That would have taught him.”
“Ew. That would have taught him you have no manners. Man, once you jump into something, you really go all out, don’t you?” Storm couldn’t believe his mild-mannered Cassidy was even thinking of doing anything so foul.
“I wouldn’t really do it. I’m thinking I could whip something up in the kitchen that looks like poo and then put it somewhere for Dooley to find.” Cassidy let fly an evil laugh. “More likely than not he’ll blame Doc. Everyone does.”
Storm stopped in his tracks. “Are you telling me that you’re responsible for the pranks that Doc gets blamed for?” Storm had been warned by more than one cowboy to be on guard for Doc and his jokes.
“Me?” Cassidy asked innocently, pressing one big hand to his own chest. “Why, whatever would give you that idea?”
“The rapid blinking of your long lashes, for one.” Storm laughed. “And to think I thought you were a simple vegetarian pacifist with only world peace on your mind.”
“Now don’t go thinking crazy thoughts. I might have pulled one or two pranks that Doc took the credit for.”
“Took credit for?”
“Okay, Mr. Picky. Got blamed for. But it was for his own good. The man needs to learn humility, and I was just helping him out.”
“You’re a sly dog, you know?”
“I’m also a horny dog.”
Before Storm knew what Cassidy intended, he was over his mate’s shoulder and being carried down the hall to their bedroom. Cassidy tossed him on the bed then waggled his eyebrows.
“There’s no escape for you, laddie.”
“Pirate talk?”
“Aye. Now, shiver me timbers and show me your booty.”
“Show me your plank first.”
Cassidy stripped down and watched with glittering eyes as Storm did the same.
“My, my, that’s one hell of a plank.” Storm grabbed a hold of Cassidy’s cock. “Do I really have to walk it?”
“Not if you’re a very good first mate and assuage all the captain’s darkest lusts.”
“I think I can do that.” Storm leaned over and sucked Cassidy’s cock into his mouth. Cassidy tried to say something, but all that came out of his mouth were the sounds of bliss. Storm eased off him a bit. He didn’t want his mate to go off too soon. That would take all the fun out of their afternoon delight. “Come to bed, Captain, and hornswoggle me.”
Cassidy burst into laughter. “Is that what hornswoggling is?”
“I don’t know. But I think we’re both creative men. We can make something up.”
“Oh, I’m certain we can.” Cassidy pinned Storm to the bed with his amazingly strong arms. After watching him knead bread dough for a solid hour, Storm had revised his opinion about kitchen work being manly. “I’m going to plunder you.”
“Promises, promises.”
Cassidy kissed him hotly as he lowered his body, rubbing their cocks together. Each pass seemed to make him a little wilder, a little more savage, until Cassidy nipped Storm’s neck, making him gasp.
Cassidy freed his hands, and Storm worried that once again Cassidy had reeled himself in, but one look in his eyes told him there was no wishy-washy man above him this time.
“Get the lube out of the drawer and slick me up.” Cassidy settled back on his knees, watching as Storm complied with his order.
Into his hand Storm poured a generous dose of lube, and then he slicked it up and down the shaft of Cassidy’s cock while he sucked gently at the tip. When he thought he’d pushed his mate just about as far as he could go, Storm coated his entire cock and then spun around, lifting his ass.
With a growl, Cassidy mounted him, plunging his prick inside Storm with one, solid thrust. The surge of possession caused him to lower his head and whimper submissively. The sound of his surrender only wound Cassidy up tighter. Digging his fingers into Storm’s hips, Cassidy held him steady as he pumped hard and fast into him.
“Is this what you wanted?” Cassidy asked with his wickedly aggressive voice.
“Yes.” It was exactly what Storm wanted. There was a huge difference between rough sex with a man he loved and being viciously violated by a man he hated. “Fuck me, Cassidy. Harder.”
Cassidy poured on the power. He used his mighty arms to lift Storm’s bottom up so that he had to extend his arms and dig his fingers into the mattress to keep steady. Cassidy moved him around like he weighed nothing. Each time he altered the angle of his penetration, Storm felt another part of his body grow sensitive. Eventually, he was nothing but animal cravings and brutal hungers. Faster Cassidy went until he sensed Storm was on the cusp of release.
“Come, Storm. Clamp down hard on me.”
As if his body had been conditioned by his mate, Storm came in a torrent. Clinging to the mattress, he hung on as Cassidy took three more powerful strokes and found his own release. Slowly, he eased Storm down until his knees were back on the mattress. Lower they went together until Cassidy was lying on top of Storm, holding the bulk of his weight up by using his elbows.
“God, for a vegetarian you really know how to fuck like a beast.”
“Don’t make me laugh! I don’t want to separate from you just yet.” Cassidy nuzzled Storm’s neck. “And eating animals has nothing to do with mating like one.”
“Are you sure?” Storm asked lightly. “I thought you were what you ate?”
“Funny boy.”
They lay together talking and laughing until Cassidy’s phone rang.
“Not now!” Storm should have turned the damn thing off before they got started. As a full-fledged member of the ranch, he would be getting one, too, something he didn’t look forward to. He liked being able to use the excuse that he hadn’t heard about the call because he didn’t have a phone.
“I have to get it. It’s the emergency ring.” Gently, Cassidy pulled out of Storm and then fished through the clothing on the floor to find his pants. As soon as he found them, he extracted his phone from the front pocket. “Cassidy here.”
It amazed Storm how Cassidy could effortlessly switch gears from a wild man to a tender lover. While he was on the phone, Storm slipped off to the bathroom and cleaned up. As he looked at his face in the mirror, he thought he was starting to change, too. Not in any big noticeable way, but in smaller ways. He wasn’t as jumpy or as nervous now that Russell had been dealt with. He felt his connection with Cassidy deepening every moment. And it turned out he had a real knack for working in the kitchen and he truly enjoyed it.
“Hey, Storm?” Cassidy tapped on the bathroom door. “We’ve got to get you out to the entrance of the ranch.”
“What? Why?” Storm opened the door and let Cassidy in. While he cleaned up, he told him what had happened.
“You remember that guy who was looking for you in town?”
“You mean the dick?” Storm snickered.
“Yeah.” Cassidy laughed then sobered. “He’s on the ranch. Well, technically, he’s right at the border. The man on duty at the gate wouldn’t let him cross.”
“What does he want?”
“He says he won’t speak to anyone but you.”
Storm nodded. “Makes sense.”
“Did you tell him you were out here?”
“No. After what happened with us in the truck and then getting checked out by Dooley, I didn’t have time to call the number Junnie gave me.” Storm checked his bedside table. “Number is still wadded up right here where I left it.”
“Call it now.”
“Okay.” Storm took Cassidy’s phone and dialed the number. “It’s just going to voice mail. I guess I’ve got to see the man in person.”
“Don’t worry. You’re going to be out there with over twenty cowboys.”
“Ooh. Sounds like the beginning of a really hot porn.” Cassidy laughed. “Not in my fantasy.”
“No?”
“No.” Cassidy kissed Storm’s nose. “In my fantasy it’s just you and me. Well…and maybe some leather.”
“Leather?”
“And some chains.”
“What the hell happened to you?” Storm asked teasingly. “You went from mildmannered lover to total freak.”
“Be careful what you wish for.” Cassidy uttered a booming laugh.
“Oh, I will. Chains, huh? Can we dress up like bikers?”
“Sure.”
“Awesome.” Storm dressed in normal clothing, and then they were off to the ranch entrance. Sure enough, when they arrived there was a group of at least twenty-five cowboys all staring at one big man who was kept firmly on the other side of the cattle guard.
Storm stepped out of the truck, and the man nodded.
“Stanley Hoffman?”
“I prefer Storm.”
The man nodded. “I have an envelope for you.”
Jake Tanner, cowboy and lawyer, went with Storm and Cassidy across the cattle guard.
“All he has to do is sign that I’ve delivered the package.”
“Is he being served?” Jake asked.
“No. It’s some legal thing but not a lawsuit.” The big man sighed long and hard like he’d been running for days without a break. “You are one difficult man to track down. If not for a lead I got at a gas station, I doubt I would have ever found you.”
“Lead?”
“Someone recognized you when you were filling up your car just south of Scorpion. I’ve been checking everywhere in a fifty-mile radius.”
Storm vaguely remembered getting gas before he was overwhelmed by the scent of Cassidy. At the time, he didn’t know it was Cassidy, just that he had found a smell that he had to track down. If not for stopping for gas, he might never have found Cassidy at all, and this man wouldn’t have found him.
“You know your car is still there at the station?”
“It is?” Storm was relieved. It was a good Honda and he’d like to get it back.
“Yeah. The owner even let me look inside since he had the keys and all. Said there was another guy who he called and was real worried about you.”
“Russell.” And now Storm knew how he’d found him. When he’d shifted, he’d left his keys and his phone in his car. The gas station owner must have called the numbers on his contact list. Not that it mattered now, just that Storm had been going crazy trying to figure out how Russell had found him. “What’s this about?” Storm looked at the large manila envelope in the man’s hand.
“I don’t know. I just deliver what they tell me to.” He pointed to the clipboard of papers that Jake was reading. “All you have to do is sign and show me some ID.”
Storm automatically reached toward his back pocket before he remembered. “That’s going to be a problem since I lost my wallet.” When he’d shifted, his clothes had fallen off and his wallet had been in the back pocket of his jeans. He hoped whoever found it didn’t start using them. Storm made a mental note to cancel everything. What a pain in the ass.
“Well, I can vouch that you’re you.” The man smiled in a friendly way thatbelied Junnie calling him a dick. “I don’t think there’s another guy your age with gray hair.”
“Probably not.”
“I can sign as well since I’m a trusted lawyer.”
The private investigator cocked his head. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard the word trust used in connection with the word lawyer.”
Jake laughed. “I’m the rare exception.”
“Oh, wait,” the man said, looking at Storm. “Can you verify the last four digits of your social security number?”
As soon as Storm did, Jake handed him the clipboard. “It’s legitimate. Just an acknowledgement that you’ve received that envelope there.”
After signing, Storm handed over the clipboard while the man handed him the thickly padded envelope.
“Have a good one.” With that, the man entered his rental car and drove off into the sunset.
“Gosh, it’s almost like a movie,” Jake said.
“But he’s not the hero,” Cassidy pointed out.
“Who is?” Jake looked at the envelope in Storm’s hands.
“Storm is.”
“I am?” Storm considered the envelope and then realized all the men around him were staring intently at him and the mysterious package.
“Sure.” Cassidy helped him across the cattle guard. “You won my heart, helped me banish the bad guy, and all kinds of other heroic stuff.”
“Like taking on the very dangerous task of cooking for the men of the Rough River Ranch,” Marshal said. “Why, my men have been known to hang a cook for not providing timely and tender vittles.”
“Good point.” Storm turned the envelope over, but all it said was his full name and his social security number.
“Well?” Cassidy nudged him. “Open it. We’re all dying to know.”
With trembling hands, Storm opened the envelope and then peered inside. “Papers and photographs. Here, help me, please.”
Cassidy held the envelope while Storm fished out some pictures. “I think they’re of me when I was little.”
“Did you have gray hair?” Jake asked.
“No. Not until I was fifteen.” Storm had vague flashes of memory when he looked at the pictures. “I kind of remember this house. We had a dog. And I had two…”
“Two?” Cassidy prompted.
“Dads.” Storm almost dropped everything in his hands when he came to the shot of the two men standing on the porch of the little white house. “I always thought it was something I made up to convince myself that I wasn’t gay by choice, but here they are.”
All the men clustered around to look at the photo.
“Hey, your dads were hot,” Elliot said.
“Now I know where you get your fierce good looks.” Cassidy stroked a hand over Storm’s back. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just surprised that it was real. I always thought I’d made them up.” As Storm dug through the envelope, he found more photographs but no explanation until he looked at one of the folded papers. “It’s a letter from my dads about why they sent me to my aunt and uncle’s place to live.” Storm peered up at Cassidy. “I knew they weren’t my real parents, but they never told me what happened to my folks, not exactly. They just said they died.”
“Does the letter say anything else?” Cassidy was close, but he wasn’t reading over Storm’s shoulder.
“They were afraid someone was going to find out what we were and hurt me.”
“What they—were they shifters?” Cassidy sounded as excited as Storm felt.
“Yeah. Holy shit!” Storm looked up into Cassidy’s beautiful eyes. “We can have kids. Human kids. I’m proof!”

Chapter 15

Cassidy Williams had never smelled a better smell in his life. His mate was in his lap, and his scent was permanently mingled with Cassidy’s. There was a wild celebration on the ranch that night. After a huge dinner with three luscious desserts, the bulk of the men were outside, sitting in a circle around the open pit where a huge fire had now dwindled to hot coals.

“Are you happy?” Cassidy asked Storm. His head was back against Cassidy’s shoulder as they watched the fire burn down to nothing.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy.”

Cassidy grinned and agreed. Storm’s fathers had wanted to keep Storm with them, but the danger was simply too great. There were those who knew about the shifters and would seek them out to kill them. It was an ancient fear that was still alive in the populace today. Just as Marshal had speculated, there was a reason so many shifters had been drawn to his ranch. Here they could build their numbers in safety, and they could raise their young. That was the most eyeopening information in the entire envelope.

According to Storm’s fathers, there were clusters of various animal-shifters, including coyote-shifters, all over the world. Each pack was a little different in culture, traditions, and even mating and breeding practices, but they were all part of the same cloth.

“I’m now doubly glad I didn’t kill Russell.”
“Me, too.” Storm turned his head to kiss Cassidy softly. “He was just driven by the same instincts that drove us. It’s just his are expressed a little differently.”
“So I guess he wasn’t really your rightful mate after all.”
“I don’t think so.” Storm considered. “I mean, he could have been if I had stayed.”
“You don’t think we belong together?”
“I do, but I think we can and do choose our mates in a way. Sure, there’s instinct and pheromones, but I’m proof we can escape that if we want to.”
Cassidy considered for a moment. He’d worried about there being another beta out there destined for him, but he wasn’t concerned any more. Now that he was mated, that beta would simply be driven toward another alpha. It wasn’t a one-shot, one-mate kind of deal.
“The only thing that makes me sad is that Russell will find another beta and he probably won’t treat him any better than the way he treated me.” Storm shivered and Cassidy wrapped his arms just a little tighter around him.
“Or maybe he’ll get a mate who will stand up to him and change him.” Cassidy shrugged. “I’d like to think everyone is capable of change. Both you and I changed by coming together.”
They’d all learned that, though they were driven by animal needs to mate, they retained their very human selves in doing so. Since Russell as a man was pushy and selfcentered, he’d been that way in his mating, too. He wasn’t a bad man, just a lousy mate. Cassidy was grateful that Storm had come to him and that he’d been compelled to embrace his animal self.
“If not for Russell, I wonder what would have happened to me.” Cassidy considered that he might not have shifted and left Storm vulnerable but also missed out on his chance at something truly magical.
“I think you would have eventually shifted.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. You’re human, and you’re a good human with a kind heart and more compassion than just about anyone I’ve ever met. But you also have this wild animal side.” Storm wiggled in Cassidy’s lap. “I like that you can be both tender and tough.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Cassidy felt there was something gnawing at Storm. “Is something bothering you?”
“I just wish my fathers had told me where they were going so I would have some idea where they are now.”
“We can try to find them.”
“I’d like that. I’d like to let them know I’m safe and happy. I’d like to know that they are, too.” Storm looked up at the star-riddled sky. “I don’t even know if they’re still alive since they put all that stuff in an envelope seventeen years ago then gave it to a lawyer who had the PI track me down.”
“Do you think your aunt and uncle know what you are?”
“I don’t think so. My dads wouldn’t have sent me to them if they had since they were worried about keeping me safe. I think they just thought I was a very angry kid. You know, that’s how I got into hockey. My uncle thought it would be a way for me to put all that rage to good use.”
“Why were you so furious?”
“I think I knew my fathers had to abandon me to protect me. I’m not angry at them. I understand they did what they thought best, but I’m angry that they were afraid enough of the shifter hunters to separate from their only child.”
“It will be different for us and our kids.” Even now, with darkness all around them, Cassidy felt utterly safe. The Rough River Ranch was a perfect place for their kind.
“Good. Because when I have them I’m not ever leaving them.” Storm turned to look at Cassidy. “But we’ll have them down the road, right?”
“Yes.” Cassidy kissed him. “I’m in no rush.”
They were silent for a long while until the last of the unpaired men left the fire. Without speaking of their intentions, all the mated pairs rose, got undressed, and then shifted. Using their mental communication, they prowled the edges of the ranch. They deliberately left markings to ward off the regular coyotes. From what Dillion, a former hunter for Wildlife Services said, most of the regular coyotes had moved away from the ranch for better hunting grounds. In this way, the men were able to protect the herd. Since they’d started making regular sweeps around the valley, they hadn’t had a single attack on any of the livestock.
Cassidy discovered he loved patrolling with his mate. Even when the moon was nothing but a sliver, he was able to see clearly. Everything was black and white and a million shades of gray, but the most arresting sight was that of his mate. Storm moved with a loping grace that intrigued both his human and animal selves. His scent was still alluring but not as overwhelming as it had been the day Cassidy claimed him. Now he was able to appreciate the essence without losing control.
Another stunning discovery came one night when they got close enough to the herd for Cassidy to smell them. A hunger for meat made him salivate and earned him a barrage of teasing comments. Cassidy took it all in stride. He understood now what had shaped him and why. Once he grasped his fear, pulled it apart, and examined it in every way he could, he found that he did indeed hunger for flesh.
After their patrol, he returned to his kitchen, cooked up several burgers for the group, and ate one. It tasted fine, and he was able to reconcile his disgust of hurting animals unnecessarily with his longing to eat them. If he could know that they were butchered with care and as much compassion as possible, that eased his mind. And Ralph Quibble was a man who would never cause undo harm.
With their bodies weary and their bellies full, Cassidy and Storm climbed into their bed.
“I have a confession,” Storm said softly in the dark.
“What?” Cassidy rolled to his side and pulled his mate close.
“I think I really am gay.”
Cassidy laughed, and Storm joined him. “I promise not to tell a soul.”
“I knew I could count on your discretion.”
“Ah, but there is this issue of payment.”
“There is?”
“Oh, yes.” Cassidy pulled Storm on top of him. “Remember that plank that I didn’t make you walk?”
“Yes.”
“You’re going to have to polish it every night.”
“Hmm…” Storm ducked under the covers, wrapped his hands around Cassidy’s cock, and stroked slowly up and down. “I think I can handle that.”
They laughed, and played, and switched positions so many times the blankets ended up on the floor in a heap. When they were finally sated, they pulled the bedclothes back up on the bed, spooned together with Storm’s back to Cassidy’s chest, and went to sleep whispering about all the wonderful meals they would make for their pack mates.

THE END

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Reading, writing, and white-water rafting are the three things Anitra Lynn McLeod enjoys the most. You can visit her at www.AnitraMcLeod.com.

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