by Liv Brywood
“You won’t shift until I’m done, right?”
“I’ll wait for you. Just don’t eat me when I’m shifting, okay?” he asked in a joking tone.
“Eat you? Oh my God, am I going to want to do that?” Horrified by the prospect, she placed her hands over her belly.
“Probably not,” he said. “We hit the buffet before we came out here so you wouldn’t be hungry. I wasn’t going to take any chances.”
“I’m going to turn into a rabid monster,” she said.
What had she gotten herself into? The last few days had been filled with endless bouts of lovemaking and planning for their future together. They hadn’t addressed her need to shift until the compulsion had become so powerful, she couldn’t ignore it any longer.
“You’re not going to turn into a monster,” he said. “It’s going to be easy. A little painful, but easy. You’ve been holding back your wolf for almost a week. She’s going to burst out soon, so we might as well do it where you’ll be safe.”
“Okay.” She steeled her spine. She could do this. When did she ever turn down a challenge? Never!
“All you have to do is let your wolf take over,” he said.
“How will I turn back into a human? Do I need to do something special?”
“No. All you have to do is stuff her back down and you’ll shift.”
He reached for her and slipped his hands under her tank top. As he brushed his palms across her belly, she shivered with desire. Maybe they could just go back and have more sex instead.
“It’s going to be okay.” He leaned down to kiss her softly. “Just concentrate.”
She bit the edge of her lip and tried to summon her wolf. The damn beast had been clawing at her chest trying to escape for days, so she wasn’t surprised when the first, searing wave of pain radiated down her spine.
Fluffy white fur sprouted on her arms and legs. Her bones cracked, forcing her to all fours. As her body twisted and contorted into its new form, her senses sharpened. She stood on shaky legs like a new foal until she could get her bearings. An onslaught of scents filled her nose. Her ears twitched at the far-off rattle of a snake. A flock of birds batted their wings furiously as they flew overhead. A low hum emanated from the city.
She turned to find Jax standing next to her in his wolf form. His jet-black fur blended into the night sky. His golden eyes glowed in the darkness. When his mouth opened to reveal his long tongue, her body responded instantly. Desire rushed through her. She stalked toward him, sniffing the ground as she moved. Scents she’d never smelled in her human form intrigued her, but nothing was as interesting as Jax’s scent.
As she circled around behind him, she sniffed his haunches. She shoved her nose into his butt and inhaled the intoxicating aroma of his feral masculinity. A growl sounded low in her throat. She wanted to mate with him, but it was all still too weird. She was a wolf. An animal in a whole new world of sensations, and she wanted to experience everything it had to offer.
Her legs hummed with all of the energy she’d been fighting to contain over the last week. She wanted to run, so when Jax took off into the night, she immediately chased after him.
Hot wind whipped through her fur. The uneven, sandy ground shifted under her paws. Pebbles threw her off balance from time to time, but overall she could keep up.
Pride swelled in her heart. She was his mate in every way possible. Instead of feeling like she was something less, she’d acquired the same skills he used at the tables to win tournaments. Since becoming a wolf, she’d taken down more first-place prizes than another other time in her life. She was on a hot streak, not only at the tables, but in life. She had the man of her dreams, a baby on the way, and she could literally do anything she wanted.
Jax had been holding out on her. The man was a millionaire. Apparently he’d invested his money really well. Other than spending money on traveling, his expenses were low. Having a wardrobe consisting of jeans and black tank tops helped, but he was also very careful with his money. He didn’t go lose it at the craps tables like most poker players. And for that, she was grateful.
From the outside, he looked like a rogue, an unstable, womanizing gambler, but she knew his heart. He was going to be a phenomenal dad and a great husband. And she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with him.
As they trotted up the side of Mt. Charleston, her heart pounded. They were going to meet up with Lewis’ pack to see if they were compatible. Even though Jax had assured her that the pack’s alpha would accept them, she was nervous. She’d never met a wolf pack before, so she had no idea what to expect.
When they reached a line of tall evergreens, two gray wolves stepped out of the forest. They jerked their heads up in greeting before trotting over to sniff them.
Riley froze as they circled around behind her. No one shoved their snout up her ass, which was good, but they seemed particularly interested in her belly. When one wolf pressed his nose against her stomach, she growled low in her throat. She’d snap their faces off if they got anywhere near her baby.
The wolves backed up a few paces before shifting. Jax shifted and greeted Lewis and Carla, the alphas of the Mt. Charleston pack. All three turned to her. She knew they were waiting for her to shift, but she wasn’t sure what to do. She tried to push her wolf back into her chest, but the animal wouldn’t cooperate. She huffed and walked around in a circle before trying again. Northing.
“Honey, try to picture a cage and then stuff your wolf into it,” Jax said.
She visualized a box of steel bars with a door. She opened the door and tried to cram her wolf into it, but the beast wasn’t having it. It snapped and snarled, which only pissed her off. She kicked her wolf in the butt and then forced her back into the cage. The shift back to her human form happened immediately.
“Sorry about that,” she said. “It was my first time shifting.”
“You’ll get better at it,” Carla said. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. My husband said you’d be coming to meet our family, but he wasn’t sure when you’d arrive.”
“I would have called but there’s no cell service up here,” Jax said.
“It’s a blessing and a curse,” Lewis said. “We’re disconnected from technology which is great if you want to spend time with your family. But if we have an emergency, we can’t call out to get help.”
“We’re very self-reliant,” Carla said. “And the community is safe. It’s a great place to raise a family.”
As if on cue, two furry wolf cubs came bounding out of the forest. They yipped and howled as they chased each other.
“Ollie! Fiona! Have some manners,” Carla said. “I’m sorry. They’re at that age where they’re starting to want some independence. I try to give it to them, but they can be a handful.”
“I’m sure our son will be the same.” Jax slid his arm around her waist and pulled her against his side.
“I’m sure he will,” Riley said.
“Well, let’s go check out the den,” Lewis said. “I let the others know that you’d be coming, so you’ll get to meet most of the pack. A few members are still in Las Vegas, but you can meet them later.”
“Sounds great,” Riley said.
As they walked through the forest, she couldn’t stop smiling. She instantly liked Lewis and Carla and hoped that the other wolves would accept her too.
After meeting the rest of the pack, she couldn’t wait to join the group. For the first time in years, she’d finally have a place to call home. She had the most amazing fiancé in the world, and she was excited to start a family with her perfect mate.
~~~
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Wondering what to read next?
Try Rebel, the first book in the Lone Star Cowbears series.
Rebel (Lone Star Cowbears)
Description
If Kim doesn’t win the Bigger in Texas Barbecue Competition, the bank is going to take her house away. He
r mom’s medical bills are piling up and she’s desperate for a way to pay them. She can’t let anyone get in her way, especially not the cocky, naughty cowboy who thinks he can seduce her with his dirty mouth. He’s exactly the kind of distraction that will cost her everything.
Zack Grant loves his chicken wings spicy and his women scorching hot. If he can claw his way through the competition, he’ll win enough money to buy his dream home. But his sexy competitor is driving his bear wild. After one whiff of her alluring scent, his bear wants to claim her as their fated mate. But he needs to keep his hands off of his delectable opponent if he has any hope of winning the prize.
Excerpt
Consumed by his kisses, Kim threaded her fingers through his tousled hair. If the hay bales hadn’t been holding her up, she would have melted into the ground. As he pressed against her, warmth flooded her core. He tasted of beer and recklessness and the longer he kissed her, the more she wanted to surrender to his torrid heat.
As his tongue teased between her lips, she swirled hers in response. His demanding tempo dragged her further into an abyss of pleasure. The thick length of him poked against her thigh, giving her a hint of what he’d been hiding underneath those snug Wranglers.
His teeth grazed her lips as he pulled back. Her lips were tingling and swollen, but she wanted more. She tried to draw him closer, but he hovered right above her, close enough to feel, but just out of reach.
“We should stop,” he whispered.
“Why?” Her stomach plummeted as he moved to sit next to her.
“I don’t want us to do something we’ll regret later.”
“I won’t regret it.”
She tugged him back down. He reclaimed her mouth with a ferocious kiss, animalistic and wild. Wet and needy, she arched against him before wrapping one leg around his thigh. He ground against her before pushing away. This time he scrambled off of the hay bales.
She sat up and brushed a trembling hand across her swollen lips. She’d never been kissed so thoroughly in her life.
“You’re making it hard for me to be a good guy,” he said in a tone laced with carnal hunger.
“Then don’t,” she whispered. “Don’t stop.”
Buy Rebel (Lone Star Cowbears)
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Liv Brywood writes paranormal romance. Her scorching hot cowboy bear shifters love curvy women and aren’t afraid to show it. They’re loyal, brave, honorable, and above all — sexy. Liv’s stories are filled with passion, hope, and everlasting love.
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