by Lynn Hagen
“My son seems to have lost his way. If he loses his mate, then he will turn into a coldhearted killer, something I had been grooming him for his entire life. You, Darcy Lagrange, are the only thing that stands in my way.”
Darcy had a bad feeling about this.“And who is your son?” “Raven. Now, do you accept my offer?”
Darcy sat back down, crossing one leg over the other, and then rested his hands on his knee.“How much do you think Raven is worth?”
The man chuckled, but the sound wasn’t humorous.“Shrewd businessman. I can respect that. Name your price, and we can negotiate.”
Darcy leaned back, tossing his arm over the back of the chair.“I don’t think there is a dollar amount on priceless.”
The man’s eyes narrowed, the edges rimming in anger as he gripped the back of Cody’s chair, his fingernails elongating as they cut into the soft leather, reminding Darcy that he wasn’t dealing with a human. How could he have forgotten so easily? This guy could probably drain him dry, but Darcy held his ground. Raven meant more to him than any dollar amount. He was being honest when he said Raven was priceless.
“You are a pitiful fool. The last man who tried to mate one of my sons dealt with Raven. He’s not at all what he pretends to be. Raven is bloodthirsty. He has participated in hunts where we’ve killed shifters for the pure joy of the sport. Whatever fanciful notions you have about him, they are all delusional. Now, take the money before I remove the offer from the table and just kill you.”
Yeah, Darcy was pretty damn scared right about now. The man looked like he would deliver on his promise. But then again…
“You can take your bullshit and get out of my boss’s office,” he replied furiously, the thought of anyone trying to separate him from his mate making his temper not only rise, but explode.“I don’t care if you threatened to disembowel me. I’m not letting Raven go. There is no fucking price you can name that will make me walk away.” Darcy just prayed it didn’t come to disembowelment. The man looked as if he could do just that.
Darcy ran around the chair, trying his best to get away from Raven’s father, but the man was quicker. He reached an arm out and grabbed Darcy’s collar, yanking him back.“Then we can settle this matter a different way.” Darcy had a feeling he knew what that different way entailed, and he tried his best to cover his neck with his hands.
“Darcy, I thought I told you—Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Cody snarled as he stepped into the office, his eyes shooting from Darcy to Raven’s father.“Get your damn hands off of him.”
“And what are you going to do if I refuse, shifter?”
Darcy was shocked at how the man sneered the word shifter. He really wasn’t liking his father-in-law very much. The man was an asshole, and Darcy was glad Raven had gotten away from the jerk when he did. He shivered at the thought of how Raven would have turned out if this man had gotten his wish.
Cody grinned, but the smile was anything but polite. If the man wasn’t his boss, and Darcy already knew he was a kind man, he would be praying that Cody wouldn’t come after him. The grin was downright evil.
“Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”
Own size? Cody was like, twice the man’s size. Of course, Darcy wasn’t going to point that out. He hoped Cody wiped the floor with this asshole. It still angered him that Raven’s father could put a price on his son’s happiness. There wasn’t enough money in the world to make Darcy leave Raven.
He’d learned his lesson the hard way of what it felt like not to have his mate at his side. He never wanted to experience that soulwrenching feeling again.
“Admit it,” Raven’s father said as he curled his fingers tighter into Darcy’s shirt collar, the fabric tightening in the front, making Darcy very uncomfortable. The man could strangle him this way.“All you shifters are savages.”
“Some days, but aren’t we all?” Cody replied.
Darcy’s father-in-law let out a low chuckle as he pulled Darcy closer. Closer was not what Darcy wanted. He wanted the asshole to let go of the back of his damn shirt so he could move as far away as possible.
“I proved shifters are nothing but barbaric savages. How do you think those wolves found the bears?”
Darcy stiffened, and slowly turned his head toward Raven’s father.“You sent them?”
“My little gift to Raven for his mating.”
“Is there a problem in here?”
Darcy gaped at the man standing in the doorway. He had to be damn near seven feet tall—not as tall as Maverick, though—and well over three hundred pounds of pure muscle. He sure as shit hoped this guy was on his side.
Sterling’s head appeared by the newcomer’s side, grinning at Darcy and giving him a thumbs-up.“I brought you very big help,” he mouthed and then pointed up the man.“His name is Tank.”
Darcy rolled his eyes. Sterling was such a damn dork. But Darcy would have kissed his brother right about now for sending the guy here. He could use all of the help he could get.
“Uh, can someone help me out here?” Darcy asked.
“Sure,” Tank said as he walked into the office and backhanded Raven’s father so hard that Darcy was instantly released. He quickly scrambled to the other side of the office, standing next to Sterling.
“You’ll pay for that,” Darcy’s father snarled, glaring at Tank as if he were already a dead man.
“Not if I tell the prince you’re starting your shit again, Magnum,” Cody snarled.
The man narrowed his eyes at Cody and then disappeared, but not before giving Darcy a withering glare. Damn, his father-in-law was creepy as hell.
“Thanks,” Darcy said as he tried his best to straighten his shirt, but it was a hopeless cause. The back was stretched out of shape. What was with Raven’s family and ruining his damn shirts?
“Next time scream,” Tank said as he walked from the office. “Come on, Sterling, let’s go finish our debate on wolves versus bears.”
Sterling bounced with eagerness as he followed Tank from the kitchen. Darcy would never understand how Sterling made friends so damn quickly. But thank the gods he had.
“Are you okay?” Cody asked as he gazed at Darcy’s mangled shirt.
“No worse for the wear.”
Cody was giving him that strange look again. The one he had given Darcy the day he had walked into the diner.“Is something wrong?”
Cody shrugged.“A lot of men would have taken the million dollars and run. Why did you choose your mate over the money Magnum offered you?”
“How much would it take for you to leave Keata?”
Cody growled.“There isn’t enough money in the world for me to leave my mate.”
“Exactly,” Darcy said as he turned toward the door, only to see Raven standing there with a smile that could light up the entire world.
“Thank you.”
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Cody said as he slid past Raven.
“Dude, I swear, you know exactly when to show up. Do you have some kind of radar that goes off whenever I spill my guts about you?”
Raven chuckled, walking into the office and pulling Darcy into his arms. Darcy had to lean back in Raven’s arms to see the man’s face, and damn if his mate’s lips didn’t look kissable.“No, but I’m glad I know where I stand with you.”
Darcy dipped his head, feeling his face heat up.
“Awww,” Sterling said from behind them.“You better give that man a kiss.”
“Get out, Sterling,” Darcy growled.“Why aren’t you harassing Tank?”
Sterling laughed as he walked back into the kitchen area, leaving Darcy and Raven alone to kiss. And damn if Darcy wasn’t enjoying every second of it.
“Is everyone who isn’t human nuts? It seems every paranormal person I run into needs therapy. I’m surprised Taylor isn’t booked for the next ten years.”
Raven chuckled as he kissed Darcy on the tip of his nose.“I came to give you a ride home.”
“In a vehicle or—” Darcy clung to Raven as his mate
popped them back to the ranch. He should have known Raven would do things the weird way.
Chapter Ten
Kenway walked up to the front door of Alpha Maverick ’s home. He wasn’t in the least bit surprised when a wolf came around the side of the house, giving off a low warning growl. From the rumors that had reached Kenway’s township, Maverick had a fortress here in Brac Village. Only a suicidal fool would try to break in.
“ I’ve been invited here by the alpha,” Kenway said to the wolf, but that didn’t make the wolf back away. It stood its ground, watching Kenway closely. Kenway knew it was his size that intimidated most shifters, and even humans, but if they only knew what a big softie he was, they would probably laugh their asses off.
His size was the reason the alpha of the wolf pack who had come after him and his small pack had started shit in the first place. The man feared not only Kenway, but the mixer of breeds who had lived happily in town.
It still angered Kenway to think of the losses they had suffered just because someone feared them. They were senseless killings that some of his group were still trying to recover from.
The door swung open, a human standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, and piercings in his ears and lip. The man wore black jeans, a black T-shirt that read When I snap, you’ll be the first to go, and black boots that laced up all the way to the man’s knees. Chains hung from various belt loops, trailing off somewhere behind the man.“Town is back the way you came.”
Kenway sighed. This Goth man looked at him strangely? Wasn ’t that the pot calling the kettle black? “I’m here to see Alpha Maverick.”
The man raked Kenway with his crystal-blue eyes and then dropped his arms to his sides.“This way, but if you try anything, I’ll open a can of whoop ass on you.”
Kenway hid the chuckle as he was escorted down a long hallway. It amazed him how large the place truly was. It was huge from the outside, but inside…damn.
“ He’s in his office.” The guy pointed toward a closed door.“I’d warn you not to do anything stupid, but I’m pretty sure Maverick can take you down.”
Kenway ignored the strange-ass human. He was used to reactions like this to his massive size. He just wasn’t used to a puny human threatening him. It was kind of comical. He gave the human a onefingered salute before stepping into Maverick’s office.
“ Kenway,” Maverick said as he waved to a chair in front of his desk.“Having fun with Oliver I see. Did you bring me the list?”
Pulling the piece of notebook paper from his pocket, Kenway handed it off to Maverick.“That’s everyone.” Kenway still had a dreaded lump in his stomach that Maverick was going to change his mind and tell them to get out of town. It wouldn’t be the first time they were asked to leave their homes or even forced to do so.
Maverick sat back in his chair, pulling at the small patch of hair under his lower lip as he scanned the paper Kenway had given him. “Very interesting.”
Kenway knew the alpha would think so. Some of the breeds on that list were extremely rare. He hated to even reveal what his small group consisted of, but if they were going to settle here, it was a fair trade. Somehow Kenway knew Maverick wouldn’t betray or exploit them.
“We have two cheetahs, two white Siberian tigers, and a polar bear?”
Kenway nodded.
“An impala, a coyote, and…a rhino shifter?”
“That sounds about right,” Kenway said nervously.
“Let me ask you,” Maverick said as he laid the paper on the desk. “How did such a melting pot end up as a pack?”
Kenway knew this question was coming.“Reese, the polar bear, left the Arctic. With the climate change, he said it was too damn depressing to stay and watch all of the beauty melt away.” And Reese also was tired of not being able to find his mate in such a desolate place.“Steele and Paine, the cheetahs, are brothers and don’t have a coalition any longer. Their other two brothers were killed.”
“The rhino?”
Kenway should have known that was the breed Maverick was interested in. He was surprised the alpha hadn’t asked him about being a buffalo shifter yet. He sat there and explained to Maverick everyone’s story, leaving a lot of personal details out. It wasn’t his place to tell the alpha any of the men’s sorrows or hardships.
“And your story?” Maverick leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk, an interesting glint in his eyes.
“With all due respect, my story is mine to keep.”
“Fair enough,” Maverick said as he stood.“I’ll allow you men to stay. Bring them here tonight to swear their loyalty, and I’ll see what I can do about getting each of you men housing. I know the Manchester place isn’t big enough for all nine of you.”
Kenway inwardly blew out a relieved breath. He had worried the whole time since first meeting the alpha that Maverick would turn their request down.“Thanks.”
Maverick nodded as he waved a hand toward his office door.“Just don’t make me regret my decision.”
Kenway wouldn’t. But he wasn’t too sure about the rest of the men with him.
Those men were large predators after all. Well, except for the impala, Spencer. He just hoped they had more brain than brawn when it came to behaving in their new home.
Raven smiled seductively at his mate as he crooked his finger at Darcy. “Come on, just try it. I know you’ll love it.”
Darcy didn’t look convinced.“Let me think about it.” “You’ve thought about it for a half an hour now,” Raven pointed
out.“Just do it. Trust me, it’s worth it.” Darcy began to pace back and forth, looking over at Raven with furrowed brows, and then back down at the ground again.“I don’t know if I can do it. I’m scared.”
“ What’s there to be afraid of, Darcy? It’s just me. I promise not to scare you.”
“You promise?” Darcy asked as he looked back at Raven.“And don’t cross your fingers this time.”
Raven chuckled. His mate had him on that one. He had been trying his best to get Darcy to try new things, to stop worrying about everything so much and live in the moment. It was a slow process, but Darcy was starting to relax a little. It even helped Raven. He wasn’t so damn intense any longer. He found by helping Darcy to try and loosen up, he was doing so as well.
“I’m going to be old and grey by the time you make up your mind.”
“Liar.” Darcy laughed. “You live for eternity. There is no greying.”
“Then get in.” Raven walked out of the lake, heading toward his mate. It was hot as hell out tonight, and Raven thought it would be a good idea to go skinny-dipping. Too bad he had to coax his mate into stripping down in the middle of the woods.
Raven’s heart skipped a beat when Darcy licked his lips, staring directly at Raven’s cock.“Damn, you look good enough to eat with all of the water clinging to your sexy-ass body.”
“Are you going to show me your naked body, or am I going to have to toss you in fully clothed?”
Darcy narrowed his eyes.“You wouldn’t dare.”
Raven quirked one lone brow.
“Fine,” Darcy grumbled as he began to strip down.“It’s one in the morning. Who skinny-dips at one in the morning, and in the damn darkness?”
Raven waved toward the sky.“It’s not dark. The moon is out.”
“You know exactly what I mean, Mr. Constantinople.”
“Yes, Mr. Lagrange, I do. Now take your shirt off so we can go for a swim.” It was Raven’s turn to lick his lips as Darcy finished stripping down, revealing his tanned and creamy flesh. Shit, they might not make it to the water if Darcy didn’t stop letting his hard cock bob up and down like that.
Darcy held his hand up as he backed away.“I know that look, Raven, and the answer is no. We just had sex an hour ago.”
“And?” Raven said as he advanced on his mate.“You’re hard. I’m hard. What’s so hard about it?” He laughed at his pun.
“Dork.” Darcy chuckled and then raced toward the water.“You’r
e still not getting any ass.”
“How about a good blow job?” Raven shouted his question as he took off after his mate.
“If you catch me, I’ll give you one.” Darcy took off, jumping from the wooden dock and flailing his arms wildly.“Oh, shit!”
Raven raced down to the water, diving in and grabbing his mate around the waist.“You didn’t tell me you couldn’t swim, Darcy!”
Darcy sputtered as he came up, wiping the water and the hair from his eyes. His mate looked like a sexy water siren, plastered hair and all. Raven didn’t think he could love anyone more than he loved his Darcy.
“That’s because you haven’t taught me yet,” Darcy replied as he wrapped his arms around Raven’s neck, holding on with a death grip.
Raven wondered if he would ever figure his mate out. Darcy was an enigma that Raven was going to be trying to solve for the next hundred or so years. But until then… “Now, about that blow job.”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart.
You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story.
For all titles by Lynn Hagen, please visit www.bookstrand.com/lynn-hagen
Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com
