Chapter Eleven

There were aches on his pains when Shaun woke, but the physical ailments weren’t the first things to catch his attention.

Nope, it was the way Gem was all snuggled up tight against him, her cheek resting on his chest. One hand wrapped around his biceps as if she was never letting him go. The list of shit to figure out remained huge, but the list of things he liked about the mating deal grew bigger all the time.

He kissed the top of her head and eased himself away. She wiggled and sighed drowsily, burrowing back into the blankets. He didn’t have the heart to wake her since this would be her last day in civilization for a while. She refused to abandon her research project.

No matter how much he’d come to admire her, ensuring she knew the realities involved in their upcoming trip was going to be nasty.

Shaun stretched one arm, then the other, pleased with the result. The damage was minor relative to how he could have felt. He had been beat up, torn up and kicked around a lot worse before. If he had taken the time last night to change into his wolf and back he would have been less stiff this morning, but Gem hadn’t wanted to shift, and she’d been far too enticing in her human form to leave for long.

The sex had done wonders for making him feel better.

Add in the fact the pains were from performing a totally unselfish act of kindness—he was still grinning when he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He’d done something because it was the right thing to do. Not to screw anyone, or get screwed, even though that had been a bonus side effect. Yup, the fight had been pretty damn cool.

There was just one cloud hanging over his head. Somehow in the next couple days, he needed to decide both the best time and the best way to double-check that Gem understood the road was about to get a lot rougher.

 

He chose wrong.

“What do you mean ‘if I want to cancel the trip’?”

Shaun cringed, glancing around the hangar to see if anyone else had heard the outburst. So she did have a volume other than soft and gentle. “Gem, we can’t disturb the caribou. There’s a minimum fly-by radius we aren’t allowed to break—the cows are more susceptible to loud noises when they’re pregnant, so the government increased the permissible space between any public disturbances and the animals.”

Gem stepped back, crossed her arms and glared at him. “I’m not an idiot. I’m well aware of the rules regarding the herd. Research paper, remember?”

“Right. Then you know that while we can approach the birthing grounds ahead of time to get your information, we need to retreat to a protected location to make further observations. We can’t take the chopper. We have to land and hike in.”

Her eyes narrowed to evil slits. “Are you deliberately trying to be offensive, or is this just coming naturally to you?”

Shaun studied the ceiling in the hope inspiration would strike. He thought through all his words, attempting to figure out what he’d done to piss her off this thoroughly.

Nope. Nada.

“I can honestly say I don’t have a freaking clue what you’re so upset about.”

Gem gave her head a violent shake. “You basically told me that after being in the north for nearly two weeks, you don’t want me to complete the research I came to do. At least, that’s what I heard.”

“Wait, no, I just wanted to be positive you know the specifics. This isn’t going to be a one-day stroll in the park.”

“Shaun, I’m well aware the only way in and out of the area is on foot. Why do you think I brought hiking boots? Why I’ve been training for the distances we’ll need to travel?”

She had? “Really?”

“Why is that so impossible to believe?” Gem crossed her arms and glared at him. “Just because I don’t cuss and slouch all over the place doesn’t mean I’m not an intelligent, capable woman.”

“I never said you—”

“Asking me if I want to bow out at this point is like saying it.”

“But I—”

“And assuming because I have soft hands that automatically means I’m a spoiled, lazy creature is insanity on your part, not mine.”

“Right, and I’m sorry—”

“Plus, you did agree to guide me. If you had an issue there should have been a formal complaint made way back even before I arrived.”

“Yes, although—”

“Furthermore—”

Shaun couldn’t take it any longer. He picked her up and slammed his mouth over hers and kissed her. Hard. Gem stood motionless for a moment before she relented, her arms rising to wrap around his neck. Their lips remained in contact as he smoothed his hands up her back, grapping hold of her ponytail so that eventually he could pull her away gently.

He didn’t separate them for a good long time.

When he did, they stared into each other’s eyes, and that deep sensation of being one person in two bodies hit again. Upsetting her made him ache inside. Happy and content was what he wanted, not this frustrated, volatile creature.

Shaun cleared his throat. “I assume you’d like me on my knees to grovel and ask for forgiveness?”

Gem fought from smiling. He saw it, the corner of her mouth twitched. Twice. “You are good in that position.”

He snickered. “Dirty girl.”

She let go of a little more of her rigid control. “I’m still mad at you.”

Shaun fell to his knees. She shrieked as he clasped her hips and hauled her close. He buried his face against her belly, rubbing from side to side. “I was terribly mistaken. Forgive me.”

A tug on his hair brought his gaze up to meet hers. “I don’t want teriyaki muffins. Not even fluffy ones.”

What the…?

She grinned outright. “Whatever you just said was muffled. I doubt you were really talking about indigestible breakfast food.”

Shaun grabbed her hand and yanked, catching her by surprise. She fell without a sound and he caught her on his lap. He kissed her cheek then nuzzled the side of her face. “I’m sorry. Really. The only thing I have in my defense is that long line of southern bookings who freaked when they couldn’t see an outhouse for miles.”

“Ick. Okay, I kind of sympathize with them regarding that issue, but Shaun? I’m not everybody.”

“You’re right. You’re not.”

Gem tapped her long fingers on his arm. “If that’s the usual you get, then I understand the whole ‘insane’ thing you were talking about better. I’m sorry I snapped at you, but really, I understood this project would take physical work.”

Pride swelled inside him. “And I’m sorry I ever doubted you. We’re going to work together, right?”

She nodded rapidly. “It’s just another example, though, of me not feeling in control of my own life. I’m getting tired of it, Shaun.”

“You stepped forward and took control damn well the day of the fight.” He rearranged her so he could kiss her more easily, enjoying having her rest on his thighs.

The smile on her face lit the area. “I did, didn’t I?”

He chuckled, and she hit her fists against his chest in mock anger. He caught her hands and kissed her fingers, making sure they made eye contact. He wanted the words to sink in deep. “Listen. I want you to do this. I know you can do this. I’m going to help you any way I can, and in the end you’ll have everything you need to finish your research.”

Gem smiled before eyeing him with suspicion. “Why did you decide to wait until now to have this discussion?”

Oops. “I didn’t say anything before because…”

“You hoped I would give up, right?”

Busted. “Honest truth? At first, when we were back in Whitehorse, and even in Dawson? Yes, but for the last few days, no. I’ve discovered you’re more than capable, but…” He stroked her fingers, sighing lightly. “I guess I’m guilty of wanting to protect you, when you don’t really need it.”

Comprehension lit her eyes. “That’s what you were doing the other day, isn’t it? You were keeping secrets about northern politics to protect me?”

Damn, she was good. Full-out confession seemed the only way to redeem himself. Shaun nodded slowly. “There is so much about the north that’s wild and out of control—I was trying to make sure you saw the positive parts.”

Gem wrinkled her nose. “Like bloody brawls in the streets?”

Shaun snorted. “I’m obviously not a very good spin doctor. In some cases, what you see is what you get.”

She wiggled, and he set her free, rising to his feet as she paced over to the pile of camping equipment he had laid out. She stared at it for the longest time before turning. Her beautiful face was smooth, but there was a fire in her eyes he was coming to love. The stubborn determination that made his body squirm with desire as she made a decision that was all hers.

“Teach me.”

He nodded as he stepped forward. “I can pack for us—”

“No, teach me.” Gem caught him by the arm, and this time she pulled him against her body. “If I don’t know how to do a task, I’m more than capable of learning how, but only if you trust me enough to let me try.”

Something inside him got up on its feet and cheered. “I trust you.”

She tugged off her sweater and folded it over the back of the chair. “So, what’s the best way to get all our gear into the pack?”

 

 

A trickle of sweat ran down her back. How could it be this warm? They were in the north—the barren land should be cold, challenging. If they actually held a true Survivor contest somewhere other than where the women could wander beaches nearly naked, Gem had always imagined the event would take place in the north.

She really didn’t want to be the one voted off the island today.

In front of her, Shaun slowed, waving a hand. She waved back and motioned him on.

Yesterday he’d given her lessons on packing. When he’d snuck the extra heavy objects into his own pack, she hadn’t said a word. That kind of help she would accept, for a few days at least. No matter how many Pilates classes and P90X workouts she’d done, it wasn’t the same as carrying all her possessions on her back.

Her boots were killing her.

There was no way she was going to tell him that.

Instead, she looked over the terrain, taking deep breaths of the clean air, following the narrow game trail Shaun had found that led in the direction of the birthing grounds. They had a week to get in and out. Plenty of time for her to take soil samples and gather all the other data she needed before they retreated to a distance to make observations while not disturbing the herd.

A week of camping out under a sky that remained light after midnight. Every step of the experience was a new adventure. Would the stars even appear? Would she be able to keep up physically?

Would she survive without running water and a flush toilet?

Shaun whistled, and she snapped her attention up to see him lower his pack and stretch his back. Another rest break—every one felt wonderful and every time it was a little more agonizing to pick up the pack again and start all over.

She pasted a smile on her face and focused on the things she was enjoying.

I will not whine. I will not whine.

“That’s it for the day.” Shaun reached to help her, dropping her pack to the ground and lowering his hands to her shoulders. The quick massage he gave felt so incredible it hurt.

“Really? No more hiking? It’s still early.” Idiot! What was she saying? Stopping now was a wonderful idea.

Shaun twisted her toward him, a wide grin splitting his face. “We need to set up camp, and the first couple days that will take longer.”

Gem nodded. Logical, and a great excuse to boot. She leapt at it. “Tell me what to do.”

She had practiced back home, but every tent was different. Shaun’s was dome-shaped with long poles that arched and crisscrossed, and by the time they had three of them inserted in the straps of the main frame, she was totally confused as to which way she was supposed to turn and ended up zigging when she should have zagged. His solid torso connected with hers, and she teetered precariously before he grabbed on and held her upright.

Shaun didn’t seem to mind she was a klutz. “We must stop meeting like this.”

She attempted to untangle herself, but he trapped her, leaning down to press their lips together and kiss her tenderly. Warmth poured from him, and for a minute she forgot all about trying to make a good impression.

Kissing was so much fun. At least, with Shaun it was.

He licked her lower lip, tugged it lightly between his teeth before dipping back into her mouth with his tongue. Gem let go of the straps she’d been clinging to, instead, catching hold of his shoulders and keeping her balance by using his strength.

They would have continued for a lot longer if the wind hadn’t chosen that moment to pick up and flap the loose edge of the tent.

Shaun slipped away. “Whoa, I’m not being a very good teacher. Make camp first, fool around second.”

“Is that in the official rule book?” Gem followed his pointing finger and tugged the fabric until it settled into its proper place.

He laughed out loud. “Oh, darling, you can’t ask me about anything official. I’m afraid the only reason I ever found out the rules was so I could break them.”

Now that was just silly. “That’s not true.”

Shaun paused in the middle of unzipping the tent flaps. “Sure it is.”

Men. Gem raised a brow. “So you didn’t register our flight? And you don’t do safety inspections on the helicopter?”

He sat back on his heels. “Of course not. I mean, of course I did. I mean…”

She giggled and he smiled sheepishly.

“See? Rules aren’t all bad.”

Shaun nodded. “I guess. I usually just do what I think is right. It’s not always what others have in mind.”

Gem settled on the rock he’d brought over for her. That sentiment wasn’t as foreign an idea to her as he imagined. “I know you might not believe it, but I agree with you. At home when I disagreed, there were occasionally better ways to get what I wanted than out-and-out rebellion.”

Shaun pulled out the rolled-up mattresses and set them to inflate on the floor of the tent. “You said your father wasn’t pleased with you taking the trip north.”

Gem sighed. “No.”

“Then how did you manage to get the project approved?”

“Signed up without him knowing.”

He squeezed her shoulder, approval in his tone. “Sneaky.”

Guilt mixed with satisfaction. She was glad she’d done it, but… “Devious. Deceitful—”

“I like sneaky. Sneaky has its place.” Shaun patted the ground beside him. “Come on, I’ll show you how to link together our Therm-a-Rests and our sleeping bags. Then from now on that will be one of your chores when we make camp.”

A burst of spontaneous joy hit. Gem wrapped her arms around him and squeezed as tight as she could. Her off-balance hug forced the two of them to tumble to the surface of the still uninflated mattresses.

Shaun laughed and kissed her nose. “What’s that all about? Can’t wait to jump me?”

Hmm, yes. But the sexual heat rolling through her veins was less intoxicating than the happiness spreading tiny tendrils that tangled all around her.

She did like learning new things, and trying new adventures, even if her feet throbbed like crazy. She rolled up on an elbow and smiled at him. “Thank you for escorting me on the trip. I’m glad I get to do this with you. Very glad.”

His cheeky grin lit the whole tent.

 

 

The flames crackled, and Shaun added another branch, pushing the glowing embers together to make the coals flare upward with the extra fuel. The air around them was full of soft noises—the shifting of birds and small animals in the scattered brush. The gentle trickle of the creek running along the perimeter of the rise behind them.

The sound of a contented sigh as Gem relaxed at his side.

“You okay?” He’d been impressed. The entire hike she’d never once complained, even though he knew she had to be dying.

His princess had more steel in her spine than he’d ever expected.

Gem rested against him as they stared into the fire. “I’ve never done this before.”

Shaun chuckled. “Not many people have. Which particular new experience is catching your attention?”

She tilted her head back, and the dark stars in her eyes twinkled. “It’s bright daylight out and yet we’re sitting by a fire. I always associate fires with darkness. Something to look at and fill your senses.”

“Ahhh, but you’re talking about southern fires. Here in the north, our fires are multisensory.”

Gem wrinkled her nose. “Go on.”

“Don’t look with just your eyes. Look with all your senses. Then it won’t matter that the sun is shining, you’ll have the whole picture.”

He settled her against the backrest he’d made, then reached to unlace her boots.

“What are you doing?” Light suspicion hovered in her eyes.

“Just relax. Check out the fire. I’m fixing your feet.”

She leaned back, and as he pulled off the boot she groaned, a pure unadulterated sound of pleasure.

He worked the massage, pressing his thumbs into the arch of her foot, smoothing the cream he’d grabbed over the places where her footwear had rubbed. She had fewer hot spots than he’d expected. He lifted her foot and examined it closer. A newbie hiker and no blisters? Impossible—the boots had to be more than two days old.

“You said you’d worn these boots around Whitehorse.”

Gem cracked open an eye. “I did.”

“These boots were broken in more than that.”

She waved a hand in the air. “I just meant I’d worn them recently. Ever since I got approval for the project, I’ve been all over the estate grounds to do conditioning walks. I went out first thing in the morning before my father got up.”

“Sneaky again. Well, you did great.”

Her pleased expression warmed him. She relaxed and let him take care of her, and he enjoyed every second. Watching her face, seeing the minute responses to his touch. Then she took a big breath, staring up into the still-light sky.

“There are strange things done under the midnight sun…” she recited. “The poems make a lot more sense, having seen how light it really is.”

Shaun grinned. “Robert Service. Now there was a man I could relate to.”

She wiggled upright, wrapping her arms around her legs. “I read a bunch of his work in preparation for this trip. I enjoyed some of it, but the occasional bit that—”

A shiver shook her whole frame, and Shaun laughed. “Didn’t like the part with the sizzling bonfire?”

She poked him. “No. Definitely not.”

Shaun stared at her. The fire was dying down, but he didn’t want to go to bed yet. She had to be sore, and there was one sure way to cure some of those aches.

His wolf pranced with excitement, nudging closer to the surface. Gem’s smile faded slightly, changing to awe. He sensed her wolf wanted to come out as well. Wanted to meet his. They’d been denied for long enough.

“Gem?”

She swallowed hard. “I…I don’t know why I’m feeling like this.”

“It’s our wolves. Don’t you think it’s time that they got to meet? Got some time to play?”

She nodded slowly.

“Changing will make your feet feel better. A couple shifts can help cure the little things like rising blisters and muscle aches.” And he’d get to see her. See the colour of her fur and the way she moved—to appreciate how her human dignity and power would adapt as she shifted into her animal form.

He didn’t want to wait any longer.

He rose, tugging her by the hand.

“Shaun—I don’t know about this. I mean, yes, I know it would help, but…”

“What’s wrong?”

“We don’t shift very often back home. Special occasions only.”

Shock socked him in the gut. “You’re shitting me.”

“Shaun!”

He was too surprised to apologize for his language. “Special occasions? I can understand not shifting outside where you could get shot, but really? Are you talking like once a month or only in formal settings? That’s insane.”

She tossed him a dirty look. “I thought we agreed that word was not allowed into this relationship.”

“Gem, no matter what else we have to deal with, our wolves are the pair that need to be free, not formal.”

She shook her hands in frustration. “I know that, but it’s tough, okay? Changing on a casual basis is not what I’m used to.”

He held her tight, resting his forehead against hers. They breathed slowly for a few minutes, the embers of the fire giving a final last gasp before fading away to nothing. Shaun didn’t want to push, but damn it, this was not an issue he was willing to give on.

They were wolves. He would not deny that, and she shouldn’t either.

Still, in the interest of attempting to not caveman her, he offered an out. “If you really don’t want to, we can wait.” He stroked her fingers lightly, thrilling at the smoothness under his fingertips. “But, Gem, I want to see your wolf. I want a chance to admire and run with you. To show you the north through your other eyes.”

She clung to him for another moment before stepping back and squaring her shoulders. “I want that as well. To run with you.”

He stripped, the entire time watching her take off her own clothing. It wasn’t an erotic striptease, but every article she removed, folded and placed on the blanket added to the pressure building in his body.

His wolf snapped at him, reminding him sex would have to wait.

She was beautiful, standing naked in the twilight of the midnight sun. Then she shifted, and he smiled even harder. She was so tiny compared to the wolves of the north. Dainty, delicate.

So Gem.

He squatted and held out his arms. “You’re just as beautiful as I thought you’d be.”

She strolled over slowly, her nose wiggling like crazy. All the different scents of the north—it must be like a smorgasbord to her. His hand brushed her head, and she stilled, letting him stroke her from nose to back.

When he tugged at her front paw, she sat, head tilted to the side as he caressed her.

“So elegant, fragile almost—”

Gem leaned against him, hard, until she’d pushed him to the ground. She planted both front paws on his chest and growled as she stared into his eyes.

Okay, ix-nay on the fragile bit. He laughed, wiggling to free himself and cursed instead as a twig dug into his bare backside. “Hey, no fair. Fine, you’re not delicate. You’re a Viking. An Amazon. The most incredible example—oof.”

She lay on top of him, her meager weight still enough to make him feel each and every rock poking into his back.

Gem lowered her nose to the crook of his neck and sniffed, her teasing growl changing to one of satisfaction. Shaun trembled as he fought to maintain control, but he couldn’t hold back his wolf any longer.

He rolled as he changed, the sensation of limbs and bones transitioning from human to wolf in one easy flow. There was an almost erotic pleasure in the shift, and as he came up on his feet, knowing his mate waited for him made it even better.

She’d rolled with him, finding a safe spot to rest as he stood and took a deep breath in through his nose. If he’d thought she smelled good before, the aroma was nothing compared to now. The extra strength of his wolf nose not only thrilled at their connection, but was ecstatic to find they shared a scent. Shaun threw back his head and howled in delight.

From a distance, a series of long and short yips answered him, and he grinned. Those weren’t shifters—just natural wolves, but it was always exciting to be able to appreciate a good songfest.

Gem sat silently, staring at him.

Was it too much? The unfamiliarity of the change now, or was it that this was the first time their wolves had met? He walked over and nudged her, stroking her side. Silky soft, there was no other way to describe her. Shaun wrapped himself around her and finished by resting his head along her back, the wolf equivalent of a hug.

She wiggled, and he rose to allow her freedom. Once she was on her feet, she shook then walked up to the highest ridge overlooking their camp. She waited, one paw landing on the trail, before pulling back.

Shaun understood. He stepped past her, making sure to brush her as he went by. Then he picked up the pace and ran. It wasn’t a race, but it was far quicker than they’d traveled in human form. The intriguing scents of the night crossed and crisscrossed their path. A covey of ptarmigan. The trickle of the stream much louder as they approached. There had been arctic hare in the area not even an hour ago by their lingering scent signature, and for a moment he considered tracking one down just for the fun of seeing what Gem would do when they spooked it up.

No, no threatening to do something bloody just to freak her out. That was totally immature and not how he was to treat his mate.

There was a crash behind him, and Shaun spun in time to see Gem’s backside disappear between two low bushes. He followed, paws light on the spongy turf of the tundra, scattered rocks lying in flat slabs below bushes that would be waist high on him in human form.

It made a dandy maze for his wolf, so he ignored everything but Gem’s scent.

A scream rang out, and he doubled his speed, bursting into a clearing in time to see Gem holding down a rather bloody hare.

She licked her muzzle then swiped it clean with her free paw, pushing a few strands of fur back into place.

Shaun chuckled and paced forward. The tilt to her head said it all. She totally expected him to be shocked she’d made a kill.

Well, he was. But that was beside the point. He was also tickled that she’d proven to be far more than a princess in lilywhite gloves.

He crouched in front of Gem, his tail doing all kinds of doglike things. Letting it pound into the dirt was undignified, but he simply couldn’t help it. And when she nosed the carcass in his direction, gifting him with the bunny, he sang again with satisfaction.

While the whole mystical wolf-mate thing might be out of his hands, it was good to discover that his wolf was one hundred and fifty percent in love.

And his human side? Not that far behind.

 

 

The Moonshine Pub remained crowded, minutes away from closing. Caroline knew all of them were wolves. They would simply take the party over to the pack house, and keep drinking and fooling around until the wee hours of the night.

One of Evan’s more persistent admirers was hanging all over him again. The outfit covering the woman was strategically arranged to ensure maximum legal exposure. A sour taste slicked Caroline’s tongue—the bitch was one of the pack who enjoyed making trouble and watching others clean it up.

The perfect opportunity had finally arrived. Evan wanted to know if she could handle being linked with him? Sex, along with the rest of it?

She’d start with the rest of it—and it appeared a little violence was on the agenda. Fine. All those years of training hadn’t been for nothing. She might lack wolf reflexes, but a third-level black belt and her stepfather’s instruction counted for a lot when facing someone who only had being a wolf on her side.

Caroline removed her jacket to cut down on loose objects for the other woman to grab. She tossed it over a nearby chair and shook her hands to loosen up.

It took a minute to weave her way through the crowd to the main bar. Evan sat on a tall stool, his back to the counter. He spotted her, his gaze following her approach. There was a bit of a challenge on his face. A dare. He was looking forward to her attempt, was he?

He’d better be damn well prepared for what she had on the agenda for later.

She lost sight of him as Ms. Trouble crawled between them, pressing her overflowing bosom tight to Evan’s chest. Caroline shouldered past the groupies clustered around Evan and the bar. The fact she was totally surrounded by people who could change into wolves barely made her pause.

This had to be done.

She reached out and tapped the woman’s bare shoulder. “You mind getting your paws off him?”

The heavy dye job in front of her—covering blonde, perhaps?—rotated oh-so-slowly as the brunette eased off Evan’s lap. Caroline caught a quick glimpse of Evan’s face, then he was blocked from sight again.

Bastard was enjoying this.

The theatrical posturing of the woman was for effect—only the intimidation factor was short-circuited by her rapid glances around the room to see if anyone was paying attention.

Buzzzz. Mistake number one. Don’t take your eyes off the enemy.

Caroline considered giving a second warning, but since her opponent was a wolf, having the upper hand could be the deciding factor in the fight. She snatched a thick handful of the woman’s hair and yanked. At the same time, Caroline slammed an arm forward, smacking the other woman’s shoulder.

The brunette spun in a half-circle before throwing out her hands to catch her balance. The bar cleared around them. Caroline used her free hand to catch hold of one wrist and shove it behind the wolf’s back. Using her full body weight, Caroline smashed them both forward against the suddenly empty counter.

Her opponent was pinned in one place, crying out in pain.

“I don’t think you heard me. I would very much appreciate if you’d not drool all over Evan in the future.” Caroline tightened her hold, all her attention on the woman. Waiting for her response.

When it came, she was ready. The brunette rocked her head back, attempting a head butt. Caroline ducked to the side and pushed the other woman’s arm as high as possible without breaking it.

If Caroline had been watching the wolves circling them, she would have been knocked unconscious. Mistake number two on dye-job’s part—Caroline knew protocol. No one would dream of interrupting this kind of dominance fight without backlash from the entire pack. Until the brunette was incapacitated on the floor, or Caroline was, this was between the two of them.

When her head failed to connect, the brunette snarled in frustration. “Pitiful little human. You can’t be serious. He needs a wolf like me to be satisfied.”

Caroline mock gasped. “Oh, you’re a wolf? Sorry, I totally missed that. You being so weak and all.”

A sudden burst of energy freed the woman, and Caroline found herself facing a very pissed-off opponent. The brunette flipped her hair back, seemingly ignorant her breasts were one millimeter away from bursting free from her low-slung top. “Don’t make me laugh. You can’t expect to win a fight against me. You’re ugly too.”

Caroline snorted her disbelief. “Ugly? That’s as good as you can give? Chemically enhanced, silicon-stuffed, socially inept Luddite.”

The brunette’s jaw hung open. Then she moved.

It was scary exactly how quick wolves were. Caroline was ready, but not fast enough, and the woman’s first blow landed. Wincing in pain, Caroline ducked, swinging out her leg to kick the other woman’s knees. As she fell, Caroline rose to come crashing down on top, adding her weight to the full-body slam. The woman went wild, elbows flailing, hands moving constantly. One blow smacked into Caroline’s eye, one landed on her chest just below her neck.

If the fight went on too long, Caroline knew she’d be out of luck. She had to end it quickly or all her plans would be shot.

So she fought dirty. Grabbed the woman’s hair and slammed her head against the ground. When the body under her bucked hard enough to nearly throw her off, Caroline hooked her legs around the brunette’s waist and wrestled that arm back up again.

She didn’t stop pushing this time until she heard a sharp crack.

A sudden scream of pain cut through the noise and the entire bar went silent. The cheers and catcalls of encouragement faded as a pair of dusty-coloured shoes appeared in Caroline’s peripheral vision.

Evan.

His hand touched her shoulder. “Let her go.”

The woman sniffled softly as her friends helped her up. There were no heated glances backward, no veiled threats. Instead, the brunette shuffled away, cradling her injured arm. Caroline had won the fight fair and square, and there was only one thing left to do.

Evan held her elbow and lifted her to her feet. She kept her head high, making eye contact with as many of the pack as she could. Some faces showed admiration, some confusion. Curiosity grew by the second as Caroline finished her slow pivot to come face to face with their Alpha.

His dark eyes twinkled. “Don’t like her touching me?”

Final test. “I don’t share.”

Her words triggered an explosion of sound as all the voices swelled again with questions. Shouts. Then the noise disappeared, drowned in the rush of blood in her ears as Evan tugged her against him and took her lips. Right there in front of the entire pack, his warmer-than-human body pressed tight to hers. He lifted one hand to support her head, the other planted in the scoop of her back to control her.

It wasn’t just the heat, it was his kiss. The kiss she’d dreamed about ever since setting eyes on the shifter. There was only physical attraction between them, but only was pretty damn incredible. With their mouths fused together, his tongue explored and teased. Demanded a response, and, oh man, she gave it. She clung to his shoulders, buried both hands in his hair. Things grew a little foggy, but she might have lifted one leg and wrapped it around the back of his thigh. The reaction of his body was very clear, and very solid, and she canted her hips to make sure she stayed in contact with the bit of solid because it felt So. Damn. Good.

That’s about when she remembered they were still in the bar. Surrounded by the pack. Who had once again fallen silent.

She was really messing with their wolfie minds tonight, wasn’t she?

Evan eased off the kiss, his left hand smoothing over her leg, her ass, then back to cradle her thigh. He slowly lowered the limb, keeping them in close contact until she stood before him again. Only now her lips were swollen, her heart racing more than when she’d been in the midst of the fight.

He stared at her, approval the clearest emotion. Desire right behind it. He dug in his back pocket for keys, tossing them to someone without losing eye contact with her.

“Bar is closed. Everyone, have a great evening. I know I’m going to.”

Then he scooped her into his arms and carried her out.