Travis frowned. He wasn’t entirely comfortable with Jordan knowing her history. Partly because he liked when it was a secret between them. “I’m not sure you should have told Jordan all those…stories.” Even if it’d impressed the other Alpha and left Travis feeling proud.
“I thought you wanted me to find a legitimate way to use my skills,” she said. “Besides, you know how it is when you’re spending the day trying to find a senile Lycan visiting Glacier Peak. There were downtimes. And I like to talk. At least it wasn’t a surly bear hunt he’d brought me over there for. Plus, it really was good practice.” She tucked her head under his chin.
He hugged her and kissed her forehead. She and Jordan had a weirdly fraternal relationship—which he kept reminding himself of. There was nothing to be jealous of. Jordan could replace Ross in her life. That was fine.
“So, we can go on patrol?”
The moon was full and it was night…both of which had some pull on a Lycan’s shifting. In the month they’d been together, she hadn’t shifted once.
Despite what Jordan had said about never speaking to Travis again, he’d called to ask about LeAnn and find out if she really was shifting. His wife was human, but had a degree in psychology and might be able to help.
If she did shift, he wasn’t sure that he’d tell anyone until she was ready.
But she had to be able to shift, and the moon tonight might be enough to loosen up her control of it.
He rubbed his chin back and forth across the top of her hair. She felt so good in his arms. “We could go on patrol. Not far, though…I’m kind of tired.”
She tipped back to look at him. “Really?”
“No. I’m planning on spending a good long while checking out your new tattoo. Up close and personal.” Beyond it being sexy as hell, it was another sign that she belonged with him and with the pack, and he wanted to show her how much that mattered to him.
“You like where I got it?”
“Yeah, and I like that you had a female do it.” He’d never known he had this jealous side to him, but he’d never had anyone he was this possessive and protective of. Maybe when more of the pack had paired off, he’d ease up.
She started unbuttoning his shirt. Her fingers were teasingly slow, and a smile played around her lips since she knew what she was doing to his heart rate—among other things. Tugging his uniform shirt from his pants, she tossed it aside. LeAnn slid her hands under his white T-shirt, skimming her nails up his stomach and ribs until he helpfully tossed that on the floor, too. He loved the sight of her hands on him. Leaning in, she kissed the white lines of healed claw marks on his chest. Okay, he liked the sight of her mouth on him even more. Leaning to the side, she kissed the spot where he’d had the tracking chip removed.
“You’ve been a good Alpha,” he voiced the thought aloud.
LeAnn shot him a skeptical look before going back to pressing her lips against his skin. “You don’t think I contradict you too often?”
“No. You give our decisions more weight…because you think of angles I’ve never considered.” His life was more vibrant with her opinion and emotions coloring his perspective. And the pack trusted her to have their best interests at heart. Their leadership felt balanced and complete—like he’d literally found his other half. He reined in her impulsivity, and she pushed him out of his rut. Maybe if Josh had lived, he’d have found someone to balance him out, too. “The pack looks to you to confirm or…uhh, clarify my judgments.”
She laughed; her breath tickled his skin with heat. “I speak for the underdog…from a non-canine view of course.” She nipped his side with her teeth in a shallow bite. All the air hissed out of his lungs. His wolf sat up and took notice as she kissed that new mark, also. “You know what I was just thinking?”
“I wouldn’t even presume to guess.” Well, he could hope, in light of her actions, but between her rapid subject changes and the different way she thought, it was almost guaranteed she’d keep him guessing until he was in his eighties.
She kissed down along his ribs where he had pink nicks still. Mm. Then, the one on his side that was taking much longer to heal…which considering she took the “kiss it better” approach, didn’t bother him too much.
“Maybe we could take a vacation around Saint Patrick’s Day. Do the honeymoon thing then.”
She hadn’t wanted to do a honeymoon so soon after Ross’s death. He hadn’t pushed it.
“You’re a big celebrator of Irish holidays involving getting pinched?” Travis asked.
When she kissed the mark on his lower stomach, he was momentarily grateful her brother had given him that one before he shook off the memory of Ross.
“Honey, this is going south real fast for someone planning on going out tonight.” She had about two more seconds before he threw her over his shoulder and dragged her to the bedroom.
“I like holidays involving getting pinched, but also I get a little…hot around that time of year.” She looked up at him with raised eyebrows and licked her lips.
She went into heat.
He grinned. Lycan females could be insatiable when they went into heat—and it lasted three or four weeks. It was considered heaven on earth among mated men. He’d suspected her time was coming, but it was harder to sense this far in advance. It’d felt like her hormones were increasing, but he hadn’t ruled out that maybe they were both making up for lost time. Her going into heat was yet another box checked on the side of her being a Lycan.
Straightening up, she unbuckled his belt.
“I’ll get the time off,” he said.
Cupping her face, he dipped his head to kiss her. LeAnn slipped her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes when she felt like he was being too soft. He bit her lower lip before kissing it better.
“Mm. I love you,” she whispered against his mouth.
He slid his hands back into her hair, pulling her mouth tighter against his. The wolf in him reared up. Mate. Mine. And he pushed back the intense desire to possess and tame.
“I love you, too,” he said, his wet lips brushing hers with each word.
Twisting, he pressed her back against his kitchen wall and pulled her legs up on his hips. Mm. They didn’t have to go out. His mouth slipped down to her neck to kiss and bite as his hands explored her soft skin.
“Travis,” she said, tipping her head back. “Mm. I want to go on patrol.”
“Tease,” he murmured.
“Stubborn Alpha.”
“Mouthy brat.”
“Stud.”
“Sexy.”
He wasn’t sure why she inspired name-calling battles with everyone she met, but he’d even interrupted one between her and Jordan right before their wedding. He’d yet to find out what that was about.
“If you shift, I’ll take you,” he said after one last kiss to her neck.
“If you take me anyway, I’ll do that thing you like with my tongue.” LeAnn could negotiate like a pro. “And I’ll even strip down for the patrol.”
He leaned back. “Will you try to shift…for me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. I will concentrate on becoming furry, but I think the closest I’ll get to that is if I stop shaving my legs.”
Laughing, he let her drop down against his body, enjoying every inch. This was going to be a very short patrol. The forest equivalent of around the block.
She cradled his face in her hands. “Travis, when…if I can’t shift, will you be disappointed?”
He brushed his nose against hers before kissing her lightly. “You could never disappoint me.”
“Jordan has this theory that if he insults your manhood enough, I’ll see it as a challenge and shift just to carve him up.”
Jordan was such an ass. “I’ve changed my mind. Now if you don’t do that, I’ll be disappointed.”
She grinned and tugged on his belt. “You’re in charge of your pants, because I don’t think we’d leave if I helped you with those,” she said, stepping away.
> He grabbed her hand and held her gaze. “Hey, if you do shift, we’ll take it slow. You and me. We’ll work together on helping you get used to it.”
She nodded.
A minute later, he’d shifted and was waiting on her.
She flipped off the kitchen light and stared down at him.
Mate.
Mine.
“Am I supposed to be feeling something other than silly?” she asked. She crouched in front of him. “I told you…I’d know if I turned into a wolf.”
He tilted his head and waited.
“Fine. See. I tried. Now do you want to go for a run?” She yanked off her shirt and tossed it to the side before shimmying out of her pants.
He felt protective of her when she was on two feet like this, and they wouldn’t be able to go as fast as he wanted. But she’d be on four feet soon enough. He could wait.
Discarding the rest of her clothes, she opened the door and stepped out into the moonlight.
Lifting her face to the moon, she inhaled. “Mm. I love the way the night feels.”
He bumped his head against her hand and watched her…and waited.
And waited.
His mate was full of surprises, but this wasn’t one of them. He’d known. He dipped his head down and brushed it against hers before nodding in the direction they were to go. She bolted off into the woods, moving as sleek and smooth as a river, and he chased after her.
Mate.
Mine.
Did you love this Entangled Select Otherworld? Check out more of our titles here!
And for exclusive sneak peeks at our upcoming books, excerpts, contests, chats with our authors and editors, and more…
Be sure to like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Acknowledgments
Stepping outside a world I’ve lived in for so long is more difficult than I’d imagined. It’s hard to believe this series is drawing to a close. Each of the books in this series contained characters with real issues, even if the world itself was fantasy. The time I spent inside their heads often left me dealing with emotions that seemed too strong to be fictional. Never was it more true than this final story.
Many live with post-traumatic stress disorder, and it’s a daunting task to push through the days when your past is so present. My deepest respect and empathy for those who do. I’m very grateful for so many people in my life who’ve helped me find peace with my own struggles.
As this book brought some of my emotions to the front, I’m thankful for my friends and family who were supportive either in real life or online on days when I was…cranky as a rabid Lycan. Special thanks to: Mom, Dad, my Sparrow family, Sarah Simonsen, Heidi Ludwig, Jamie Dix, Stephanie Summers, Amalia Dillin, Kait Nolan, Jay Donovan, Suzanne Lucero, Paul Baxter, Mary Williams, Brittany Marczak, Minerva Zimmerman, Judith Perez, Michael O’Day, Melody May, David Hickenbotham, Elizabeth Hill, Adam Hickenbotham, and Andrew Turner. I know I’m forgetting people. It’s difficult to adequately acknowledge everyone when you know so many wonderful people. Acknowledgments are a good part of why I keep writing. Eventually, I will thank you all.
Erin Crum, you are the most incredible copy editor ever. In a world of typos and mistakes, you are an undervalued treasure. Thank you.
Thank you to everyone at Entangled who helped with this series—you created a dream. These characters were close to my heart, and you brought them to life. Thank you, Lewis, for all your hard work. Thank you also to Sarah Yake, my agent, for keeping me sane enough to write.
And of course, I could not leave off the most supportive person I have in my life, my husband. Thank you, honey, for never letting me give up.
About the Author
After a childhood spent wandering as a military brat, Wendy Sparrow finally found her home in Washington State. She spends her days trying to convince her two kids she actually knows how to properly parent and her nights showing her husband all the cool things romance authors know…or goofing around online…or reading, but mostly the first thing. She’s active in the OCD and autism communities and writes on her blog to support awareness in both. With her whole heart, Wendy believes in happily ever afters and that everyone deserves one. If she’s not writing or wrangling kids, she’s on Twitter, @WendySparrow, where she’ll chat with anyone about anything.
Sign up for our Select newsletter and be the first to hear about new releases from Wendy Sparrow and other fantastic Entangled authors!
Reviews help other readers find books. We appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative. Thank you for reading!
Discover the Taming the Pack series…
Past My Defenses
Vanessa is the fastest Lycan around. In wolf form, the only threat she can’t outrun is her allergies. After a feline dander-bomb takes her down, she wakes up naked and in a cage, staring at a hot park ranger who had no idea what he’d trapped. When they learn that Lycans are being poached, and Vanessa is targeted, Dane will have to keep her close to protect her. But with Vanessa in heat and mad to mate, who will protect him?
This Weakness for You
Jordan is his pack’s Alpha. The Big Bad Wolf. When his rival’s little sister—a human—comes to his door, Jordan’s tasty little snack turns out to be something much, much more. To Christa, the dark shifter smells irresistibly like forever. But falling for a wolf who tried to kill her brother—twice—is bad news. Especially when in the unforgiving, shadowed world of shifters, there is no room for weakness…
Also by Wendy Sparrow…
Frosted
On His List
Cursed by Cupid
Discover more Entangled Select Otherworld titles…
Moonlight
a Moon novel by Lisa Kessler
As the heir to his Pack, sexy werewolf Adam Sloan’s biggest challenge is keeping his kin’s true nature under wraps. When a group of jaguar shifters threaten to reveal all, blasting into town killing humans in plain sight, Adam’s standing orders are to take out the enemy, including the frustratingly beautiful Lana Turpin. It should be a simple mission, but when he touches Lana, his inner wolf howls…mate. Now, the two must stop the people hunting her…and Adam must keep his own family from killing the only woman he will ever love.
The Queen’s Wings
an Emerging Queens novel by Jaime Schmidt
FBI dragon Reed’s disdain for humans can’t mask the magnetic attraction he has for Carolyn, but when she tells him she’s going to shift into a dragon he thinks she’s crazy. A female hasn’t been hatched, or shape shifted, in over a thousand years. He’s proven wrong after Carolyn shifts and is named the new Queen on the block. When the Cult of Humanity kidnaps Carolyn to sacrifice her, Reed must face his fears—and feelings, racing to save the woman he realizes he can’t live without.
Angel Kin
an Angel Assassins novel by Tricia Skinner
When a beautiful woman comes to The Bound Ones, half-angel assassin Cain is immediately drawn to her. But when Katie fingers him as the killer, he can come to only one conclusion. His twin, who he thought was dead, is very much alive…and sending him a message. Unfortunately, that message is: “You’re next.” Now, with Katie’s life in his hands, Cain must fight to keep them both alive. But Abel has just one goal: destroy his brother, starting with the woman he’s falling in love with.
Undying Destiny
an Enclave novel by Jessica Lee
Emily Ross just wanted a fresh start. She’s a survivor, coming off the tail end of an abusive relationship, and craves time alone to learn who she is and to save the home that holds her heart. The last thing she needs is a controlling, alpha male calling all the shots. Meeting Kenric might just change her mind, though. He is wrong for her in all the right ways. But in order to keep her heart from breaking, he has to keep the hordes of evil vamps from stealing her very breath.
Crazy Over You Page 26
