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  “Are you talking about changing me?” He caught the hitch in her voice, saw the way her bottom lip quivered. “I didn’t think you could do that.”

  “You’d be right. I can’t change you. Not in the way you think.” Attempting to soothe her obviously rattled nerves, he brought his hands to her temples and played with her hair. “But I can share a part of what I am with you.”

  “How?” He could see she was frightened, although she tried to hide it.

  And the moment of truth has arrived. “It’s called bloodbonding.”

  “Bloodbonding?” she repeated, as if making sure she heard him correctly, sliding her tempting pink tongue along her even pinker lower lip.

  “When we make love the wolf inside me will start the process of merging with you.”

  “Merging with me?” She sounded skeptical. “How would that change me exactly?”

  He hesitated before he admitted, “A part of my wolf will remain inside you.”

  The scent of panic—sharp and peppery—hit just as she shoved at his chest, forcing him away. He sighed but gave her what she wanted despite his feral half’s protest. Rolling off her, he moved and sat at the side of the bed. She shoved her elbows into the mattress and pushed herself upright against the headboard. Then she faced him and ran a shaking hand through her hair.

  “It will be a part of me?”

  “In a manner of speaking.” Sugarcoating wouldn’t help, so he didn’t bother. “It will merge with you, remain with you and unite us as one.”

  “Will I…What I mean to say is…”

  “Would you be able to change?” he asked, picking up on her question easily enough. “No, you wouldn’t. You’d have the soul of the wolf inside you, not the form.”

  “That’s a lot to process. I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say anything.” He bit back a curse when he reached for her and she shied away from his touch.

  “I need to think.”

  His stomach churned and it felt as though his heart plummeted to his feet. He’d known she might react this way but a part of him had held out hope that she’d accept him immediately despite the fact—a stupid, arrogant pipe dream.

  “I understand.”

  She didn’t stop him when he rose from the bed, retrieved her shirt and handed it to her and walked to the door. He paused as he gripped the knob, waiting to see if she’d say anything. The silence was so profound it was deafening, an empty wail in his ears that was only interrupted by the sound of her sliding into the garment he’d given her. His mate was so close yet so far away. He knew the moment she pulled away from him, sensed the way she put up a wall between them.

  “You’re safe here,” he finally said, unable to leave without saying something—anything. He glanced over his shoulder and saw she was staring at the hands she’d placed in her lap, her fingers wrapped together to form one large fist. “I’ll come back later with Doc so he can make sure you’re okay.”

  She nodded but didn’t look at him. The rejection hit him square in the chest. Of everything he’d considered, the one thing he hadn’t counted on was how vulnerable he’d feel if she turned him away, how lost. His life had no meaning until he met Mary. Without her there would be no reason to exist, no light in the darkness that was his world.

  Despite the wolf’s agonized howl in his head, he stepped from the room and closed the door—but he didn’t leave. Instead he waited outside, protecting her in the only way he could, and gave his mate the space she asked for.

  Chapter Four

  Sadie Dumus remained in the shadows as she studied the object of her obsession. Trey reclined in a lounge chair on the back patio of the fire station, drowning his sorrows with a bottle of Jack Daniels. He was delectable even when he looked like shit, his dark hair a mess on his head, the heavy growth on his face almost thick enough to be considered a beard. The last time she’d seen him he’d taken more care with his appearance.

  Now it seemed he no longer cared.

  She reached out to him with her telepathy, listening to his thoughts. The fury that assailed her almost broke her veil—the only thing that prevented the shifters all around her from detecting her presence. She tamped down the fury that consumed her, separating her feelings from Trey’s. He was an absolute mess, full of self-loathing and misery. The alcohol helped, dulling some of his grief. But it wasn’t enough, not nearly enough. Long gone was the proud male who could be powerful one minute and playful the next. In his place was a man who recognized only revenge, death and retribution.

  Guilt slammed into her, the impact hard and direct.

  This was her fault, the blame settling directly on her shoulders.

  If only she’d known he would deteriorate to this state, she could have made different decisions. Such as entrusting her coven to protect the city, handing over the reins for once. But no. Instead she’d focused on Aldon Frost—the power-hungry vampire who was a threat to all of humanity—and allowed her responsibilities to overcome her emotions. Making things worse was the fact she hadn’t learned a damn thing about Aldon. He’d covered his tracks too well, making his actions impossible to predict.

  The human male who had recently been accepted into the pack approached Trey, his movements almost as smooth as a shifter’s. Sadie knew to avoid his thoughts, recalling only too well the heartache and loss the man had suffered. The deaths of his wife and unborn child had changed him, leaving his heart as hard and cold as ice. She’d always been told you could see death in some people, and Caden Stone was the personification of a mortal grim reaper, as likely to kill you as look at you. The man would cut someone’s throat, leave their body where it dropped and sleep like a baby when he went to bed hours later.

  “Good evening, Cade.” Trey acknowledged his guest with the dip of his chin, his words slightly slurred.

  “Is it? I didn’t notice,” Cade responded and took a seat across from Trey, resting the beer bottle in his hand on his knee. “Not in the mood for a family reunion, I take it.”

  “Nope,” Trey retorted and took another swig of Jack.

  “Can’t say I blame you.” He glanced at the bottle in Trey’s grasp. “But I’m not sure drinking is the solution to your problems.”

  “Is that right? Funny, I don’t recall asking for your opinion.”

  Cade smirked. “When has that ever stopped me?”

  Trey shrugged and gazed into the trees lined along the property. “It was worth a shot.”

  “Want to discuss what happened upstairs?” Cade inquired casually and nursed his beer.

  “A dispute between siblings,” Trey muttered, shifting his weight in his chair. “It happens.”

  “My understanding is you threatened the girl we brought here.” Cade’s voice changed, becoming deep, a warning evident. “Scared the hell out of her, so I’m told.”

  “Then your understanding is shit and you need better snitches to keep you informed.” Trey snorted. “I only wanted to ask a few questions.”

  “She’s got enough to deal with without pressure from you.” Cade leaned forward and rested his elbows on the arms of his chair. “You’re going to have to get past who her family is and think about what she means to Emory.”

  “A Shepherd in the fucking pack.” Trey laughed, the sound cynical. “A constant reminder of what we’ll never get back. That’ll be real easy to get past.”

  “Everyone is going to take cues from you on how to treat her,” Cade said quietly. “If you turn your back on her, they will too.”

  “What the fuck would you know about it?”

  “Enough.”

  “Don’t worry so much.” Trey waved absently toward the house. “Diskant and Ava have already welcomed her to the fold. She’s officially a member of our big happy family. None of the pack would dare fuck with that female. Not if they know what’s good for them.”

  “Maybe not,” Cade agreed, nodding slowly, “but just because they’re polite doesn’t mean they’ll accept her or make the
transition any easier.”

  Trey whipped his head around and studied Cade, grinning in a smug manner that Sadie detested. “Just look at you, protective and pissed-off over a female. I didn’t think you had it in you. Maybe I should warn my brother that he’s got competition. Shifter rule number one: never trust a human male around your mate. They don’t understand the concept of keep your hands to your fucking self.”

  Cade’s gray eyes narrowed. “She’s human, one of my kind. If you think I’ll let you shit on her because you’re holding a grudge against the world, you’ve got another think coming.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  “Do you want it to be?”

  Sadie’s heart sped up. She watched the men, feeling the tension intensifying between them. Although Trey was a shifter, Caden had years of extensive physical training under his belt. The glimpses she’d gained from the mortal’s head warned her he would be a danger, someone who wouldn’t go down easily. With the way Trey was behaving, as well as his current state of intoxication, it could go from a brawl to a bloodbath in minutes.

  Trey threw the bottle of Jack into nearby bushes and rose from his chair. “That’s it. Put away the beer. Let’s see if your pussy ass can cash the checks your mouth writes.”

  Cade didn’t move. “I’m not going to fight you. You don’t deserve the satisfaction of getting your ass kicked.”

  “You? Kick my ass? I’m going to enjoy making you eat those words.” Trey cracked his neck and swayed from side to side, his equilibrium obviously affected by the alcohol he’d consumed. “I’m going to rack your balls so hard you won’t be able to walk for days. You’ll be lucky to bust a nut without crying like a girl when I’m done.”

  “You’re so wasted you’d be lucky if you touched me at all.” Cade lifted his head, meeting Trey’s gaze. “Go find a room and sleep it off. You don’t want your family to see you like this.”

  Trey snarled and had stepped toward the human when feminine giggles brought him short. He lifted his gaze, nostrils flaring, and studied the small group of shifters who approached—all of them female.

  “Why don’t you put that energy to better use?” One of the woman tottered forward in skimpy leather pants, a matching corset and boots with spiked heels. The drink in her hand sloshed around the rim of the glass as the red liquid swayed from side to side.

  “I’m out.” Cade stood, avoiding eye contact with the women as he started walking toward the house.

  “Not so fast.” Another woman stepped in front of Cade, this one tramped out in her best slut gear. Her blonde hair was smooth and slick down her back, her face caked with makeup. She placed her hand on his chest, batting her lashes, and gazed up at him. “How about we go somewhere private?”

  Sadie was at a perfect vantage to see Cade’s face harden when he wrapped his large fingers around the woman’s wrist, forced her hand away and let her go. He took a step back, eyes hard. His disinterest was apparent when he replied, “How about we don’t?”

  “Fuck you,” the shifter female snapped.

  “I don’t think so. Why don’t you go inside and find someone else to scratch your itch?”

  “You think you’re better than me?”

  “I don’t think anything, Andrea. I know.” When she flicked him off, Cade cracked a grin and glanced at Trey. “You coming?”

  “I’m not sure yet.” Trey’s gaze traveled up and down the frame of the female who’d stopped in front of him. The gesture was the rudest thing Sadie had even seen and she felt her temper surface when he asked, “Am I coming, sweetcakes?”

  “Definitely,” the female whispered, smiling. “More than once if you’re lucky.”

  Cade shook his head, muttered, “To hell with this shit,” and stepped around Andrea. He walked away and didn’t look back, his leather coat shifting with each step, displaying the hard muscles beneath. Andrea stared at Cade’s back, her blue eyes shifting to a dazzling aqua color. She fisted her hands, arms trembling, and started to growl.

  The female in front of Trey moved closer until they were nearly touching. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Trey grinned, staring at the shifter’s breasts. “Lead the way.”

  Hell no.

  Anger and jealousy colored everyone in a hazy shade of red, removing rational thought. Sadie didn’t realize she had moved until she slapped the drink in the shifter’s hand and sent the contents all over the woman’s corset. Red liquid splashed on tanned skin, spreading down to join the mess dripping down the female’s chest.

  Take that, bitch.

  The shifter gasped, stunned and outraged as she gawked open-mouthed at Trey. “What do you think you’re doing, asshole?” she snarled, swiping at the stained white lace above the black leather. “This is vintage!”

  “It was coming off anyway.” Trey shrugged and combed his fingers through his hair, giving her an unsympathetic grin. “Buy another one.”

  “I don’t want another one.” The shifter stopped running her hand over her chest and nailed Trey with a hateful sneer. “On second thought, this isn’t your lucky night. If you want to get lucky, you’re going to have to do the five-knuckle shuffle.” She turned and looked at Andrea. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice.” Andrea glanced at Trey with open disgust. “The males here are all talk and no action.”

  Sadie remained where she was beside Trey—watching as Andrea led the women away—deliriously gratified by what she’d done. Jealousy and a bitter sense of victory evaporated when Trey’s scent hit her nose. Despite the whiskey on his breath, the woodsy smell of him was enough to make her knees weak. Goddess, he smelled good. Unlike any male she’d ever encountered. It was hard to remain angry when all she could think about was having one look—one small touch—of the man next to her.

  “Fucking tramps. Good riddance,” Trey grumbled and spun on his heel to return to his chair. A gust of wind rolled off him, bringing that luscious fragrance of pine and leather, man and wolf, rushing to her. The fragrance ventured from her head to her toes, surrounding her in a sexual cocoon, making her warm and tingly in all the right places.

  Oh Goddess.

  He’d taste so good. She knew he would. All the power he possessed would be evident in his life’s blood, something that would transfer to her. Sugary and sweet, spicy and masculine.

  Perfection.

  She closed her eyes and imagined licking his throat, bathing the area clean with her tongue, creating a winding path along his jugular. He’d grasp her hips and settle his leg between her thighs so that the pressure he placed on her pussy would rev up her sexual hunger. She’d lap at his skin, teasing him, drawing the moment out for as long as possible. When her gums burned from denying herself, she’d let her fangs drop, carefully so that they didn’t pierce his flesh. He’d tell her to drink, to take him into her body, to nourish her life with his. Then she’d give him what he asked for, taking them both to the bliss that only the bite of a vampire could bring. They’d climax together without ever joining their bodies but there would be other times, other opportunities.

  Another fantasy replaced the first, a recurring visual that left her breathless, forcing her to greet each day with a reminder of what she had long denied herself.

  This time they were nude on the bed with Trey’s hands grasping at the sheets, his muscles flexing beneath her, his skin flushed with desire. Right after she’d sucked his cock dry, taking every last drop, she tapped the vein on his thigh, claiming him entirely as hers. In her dreams she always left a scar behind, a permanent mark so he would always remember who gave it to him—forcing him to think of the woman responsible for the twin punctures. Trey was a male who would ruin her for all others, so it was only fair she returned the favor.

  She licked her lips, wondering exactly how he would taste, knowing the discovery would change her entire life. Once she’d sampled the sweetness of his blood, no one else’s would do.

  The reminder set her back, rippin
g through her arousing daydream, bringing her slamming down to reality. A shocking sensation—as though ice water had been dumped over her head—removed any traces of desire as cold, hard reality took its place. What the hell was she thinking? Trey had only been home one night and she was already thinking about biting him, about what their sex life would be like. She’d forgotten why something like that could never happen.

  Damn it, you know better than this! Do you want to die slowly? Is one taste worth the risk of slowly starving to death? Would you sacrifice everything you know for a man who won’t want you when he learns what you are?

  Damn, it hurt, knowing she could never have what she wanted most. The ache of emptiness was something she’d told herself she’d get used to, but she knew that despite her best efforts she never would. After all, vampires mated too, although it was in a different fashion than shifters. Once they found the one person meant for them, that was it. Deep down, something in them changed. The person a vampire linked with became their entire purpose. They could deny it, turn from it and run from it—but they could never escape it.

  I’m so fucked.

  She stumbled as she stepped backward, tripping over the shallow brick barrier into the grassy lawn. Gawking at Trey, she held her breath, forcing back panic as she focused on her veil. He lifted his head and his radiant amber-colored eyes stopped on her, despite the fact she was invisible. His nostrils flared and he froze, going eerily still.

  “It’s you,” he whispered and rose from his seat, hands gripping the arms of the chair so tightly his knuckles turned white. This was the danger of coming to Trey, of watching him from the shadows. Each time she risked exposure, and tonight she’d taken the game too far.

  Shit.

  He had to have caught the scent of her fear. The smell was all over the place, swamping the air. She had been so swept up in the moment she had only worried about her physical form, not that Trey would be able to track her with his nose. Movement was impossible. He might figure out exactly where she was. The only thing she could do was phase to a location he couldn’t follow, putting distance between them.