Rebel’s limbs ached and his temple throbbed as he rode through the darkened mountain paths. The moon shone overhead as his horse climbed the beaten trail, heading to where he knew Murtagh would have set up camp and guarded the children.
He and his men had managed to hold off the bloodsuckers long enough to give Lily, Murtagh, and the ranch’s smallest shifters a head start. They’d been so outnumbered they hadn’t managed to kill all the vamps, but they’d taken out their fair share before they made their escapes. Each wolf had taken a different escape route—a tactic meant to confuse their enemies. The bloodsuckers likely wouldn’t catch up with them before daylight.
Still, now that they’d been sold out and the vampires knew Rebel had her, that would limit the rebels’ movements. To complicate matters further, the knowledge would spread and her packmates wouldn’t be far behind. With the additional challenge of their
When Lily woke and emerged from the cave the following afternoon, Rebel was nowhere to be found. It was nearly nightfall by the time he returned to the campsite. The sun hung low in the sky, quickly disappearing beneath the mountain pines. The smell of burning wood and smoked meat filled the campsite. Fortunately for Lily, she and Daisy had spent the afternoon foraging, and they’d found a few raspberry and johnsonberry bushes not far from the camp. Murtagh had also given her a handful of granola and protein bars from the ones he kept in his pack for the children.Lily was biting into one of the protein bars as Boone dealt out another hand of johnsonjack when Rebel made his appearance. He tore into the campsite, wearing little more than a pair of jeans, which hung so low on his hips that the bones and sinew muscle were visible leading down to…She tore her gaze away.Even after everything they’d done last night, she still wanted him, and she&rs
Dry desert dust coated Rebel’s boots as he and Lily approached the Gold Tooth’s entrance. Flashing neon signage illuminated the hard Texas ground, and the loud sounds of country music mixed with dinging slot machines filtered through the front doors. He couldn’t believe he’d allowed Murtagh to talk him into this. When the Scottish wolf had tracked him down in the middle of the Salmon Challis National Forest, he’d gone on a rant so long, Rebel had nearly fallen asleep halfway through—something about feminism and bodily autonomy and how he needed to allow Lily to make her own choices, even if those choices involved putting herself in a dangerous situation beside Walker Solomon. It had all sounded very reasonable at the time.Rebel gripped Lily’s shoulder, stopping her short. “Are you sure you want do this?”“You have a reputation to uphold. Ask me that once more, and I might think you care about me.” She smi
Poker. The murderous bastard wanted to play poker. Lily strode toward the poker tables, drink in hand, her heels jabbing into the plush carpet with each angry step. She hadn’t expected to feel so much hatred and anger toward Walker Solomon, but the moment he’d sauntered up to the bar, she’d been hit with the full force of her rage.Not only had he killed one of her pack members in cold blood, but he was the sole wolf standing between her and the fate of their species. If he had even an ounce of loyalty to his kind, she and Rebel wouldn’t have to work for the information. The antidote would save the lives of thousands of pack and rebel wolves alike, but Solomon didn’t give one flying fuck. He only cared about how he could benefit.And that meant he was not only a cold-hearted killer but also a selfish, disloyal bastard.Lily slid into the seat across from Solomon at the poker table. The casino owner was babbling at the dealer—som
With Lily finally headed toward safety, Rebel dove back into the melee. Sterling, Boone, Daisy, and Yuri had managed to hold off Solomon’s men as Murtagh extricated Sophia from the wolf’s clutches. She was still alive, thanks to the Scot.Rebel couldn’t say the same for Solomon. At least not for long.Not with what Rebel was about to do to him.Rebel prowled toward Solomon’s office. He had watched the bastard escape there, bloodied and wounded, after his men had joined the brawl.It’d take more than a penknife to kill a wolf like him, and Rebel wouldn’t hesitate.Rebel prowled into the office. As he entered, Solomon’s back was turned toward him, his massive shoulders heaving with the excitement of battle. Blood trickled from his neck, but it was a second knife wound at his side that Solomon clutched. A pool of blood grew beneath his hand. But not enough to kill the bastard. From the look of it, Murtagh had left
Lily stood on the balcony of Rebel’s Southern California mansion. The hacienda-style architecture overlooked the Pacific Ocean. She leaned out over the balcony ledge, staring at the sea. The gentle rush of the tide rolling over the sand, coupled with the occasional squawk of seagulls in the distance, put her at ease. The sunset painted the soon-to-be night sky in various shades of orange, blue, and yellow as a cool saltwater breeze coated her face. She closed her eyes and took it all in. She’d never been to the ocean before. Hell, she could count the number of times she’d left Montana on one hand.A pair of footsteps approached. The sound of cowboy boots clopping against marble.Lily glanced over her shoulder as Rebel slid next to her. He leaned over the balcony beside her, resting his weight atop the ledge. She was surprised he was still here. She’d thought she was alone.“I thought you were headed down to Tijuana with Murtagh and yo
To say Rebel had dreaded this day for the past twenty years was an understatement. He’d always known he would return to Wolf Pack Run to claim his rightful place, but he’d expected to feel triumphant, righteous. And he couldn’t.Not when it felt like losing her all over again.He never should have involved her in this plan, but when he’d heard about the antidote, he’d seized the opportunity as a means to an end but also because deep down, he’d wanted to protect her, be close to her again, and that had been his mistake. He never should have tempted himself. He’d thought he could resist her, but he’d been a goddamn fool to ever think that he could. But now that he was here, it was already too late.And the dread that consumed him left him sick to his stomach.No. Not dread.Dread failed to capture the intensity of the vise grip that constricted and strangled his insides until he found it hard to speak.
Lily twisted toward him. Rebel. Anthony. Whoever he was to her.Past. Present.But not future as he’d said. Not now.He was watching her. Everyone was. Him, his men, her brother, the entire Grey Wolf Pack. They were waiting to see what her reaction would be, to see what she was made of, if she would crumble like the princess they all thought she was. She’d never liked the nickname he’d given her, but now her feelings for it bordered on hatred—and those feelings grew more intense with each second.She was no princess, and she’d show them that.“What do you mean, we’re not through?” she asked. She didn’t bother to swipe her tears away, but she wouldn’t allow any more to fall. Not in front of everyone. Not for him.“There’s still the matter of our deal.”She stepped several paces back toward them all. “What could you possibly ask of me?”&ldquo
That night, as Rebel was supposed to be sleeping, he lay awake, staring up at the explosion of stars that stretched for eternity across the forests of Big Sky Country, recollecting every subtle detail of Lily’s kiss. The slap he’d expected. He’d anticipated it even. He deserved it. He knew that, but the kiss she’d gifted him with had been unexpected.And the pain he’d felt from her during that kiss was slowly eating away at his insides.He was sprawled across the forest floor outside the small camp they’d erected just across the border of the Grey Wolf territory. He was supposed to be resting. Come sunset tomorrow, he was supposed to bring himself to fight the battle of his life, to reclaim his place as packmaster, a role that had been stolen from him, and when he won the battle, to change the lives of rebel wolves everywhere.But none of that seemed to matter anymore.Not without her.“Ye’ve finally re
LILY WATCHED AROUND, STUNNED. ANTHONY WATCHED READY TO GROWL ATRose, but his face showed deep concern.“What do you mean?” Lily questioned, turning the heart-shaped locket over a few times to show how ordinary it was. As a sentimental keepsake, the locket was invaluable, but it wasn’t special in any other sense.Other than the sea breeze stirring the bougainvillea that grew along the porch, nothing moved, and no one said a word. It was Rose who finally jutted her chin toward the locket and spoke.“I suspect Moira may have wish Josua to procure it for her. May I ask what’s inside?”Lily undid the clasp to show how harmless its contents were. “It’s nothing, really. Just this.”She laughed as she said it, then froze. Why was everyone staring? “Whoa,” Harry muttered, taken aback. “Wow.” Hailey’s eyebrows flew up.“Ho-ly shit,” Jeremy said, drawing out
LILY SMOOTHED HER HANDS OVER HER SHIRT AND CHECKED HERappearance for the third time. Her French braid watched fine, but her hands wouldn’t stop skittering nervously over her clothes. When she caught herself sniffing the air, she chuckled.“What?” anthony questioned, coming up beside her. The moment he touched her shoulder, her jumpy nerves eased.“Look at me, sniffing the air. Soon, I’ll be howling to the moon.”She hadn’t shifted yet, but she’d experienced a change the moment anthony had bitten her. That had been three days ago, and she was still tingling from the high. Of course, they had been shagging wildly at all times of day — and night — ever since.“Howling to the moon with me,” anthony said, looking pleased. The notion made her blood race. But then she wrinkled her nose andfrowned.“Yikes. We smell like sex.”“We smell like mates,&rdq
ANTHONY WOKE SLOWLY, STILL NOT QUITE READY TO BELIEVE. A WEEKhad passed since that awful day on the rocks — the day he could have lost Lily. He could be forgiven for holding her close all night long and not wanting to let her go now that it was morning, right?“Mmm,” she sighed, snuggling near.Nola and Boris snuggled near too, and anthony sighed. But, hell. He could deal with a couple of hounds at the foot of the bed.“Heya, buddy,” he said, reaching down to pet Shelly, who didn’t even flinch. In fact, he seemed to like it.The little Jack Russell had spent the night on a pillow directly beside the couch — the plushest, biggest pillow to be found. It was huge, and the golden tassels at the corners made Shelly look like a goddamn maharajah. Ish had brought it over sometime after the fight, and Lily had spent the first forty-eight hours afterward fussing over both him and the hound.anthony watched up at t
LILY FLIPPED JUST IN TIME TO SEE ANTHONY BEING THROWN AGAINSTthe rocks. His wolf body was battered, and Vucovich bled from several deep wounds too. But the grizzly had the upper hand, and it was closing in for the kill.“No!”She grabbed a rock and rushed forward, hurling it at the grizzly. The mighty beast flipped and growled at her, ignoring anthony. So she threw another rock and another. Each successive blow drew a greater reaction from the grizzly, who winced, ducked, and roared.One little part of her mind registered that she shouldn’t be able to make such an impact. That something other than pure panic might be fueling her. But then the grizzly came straight for her, and she froze, staring death in the face.Then Shelly — dear little Shelly, limping up like a canine Napoleon who didn’t know when to quit — sank his teeth into the grizzly’s back leg. The beast twisted around to anthony him away, leaving its
LILY FROZE AS ANTHONY HELD OUT HIS HANDS, SHOWING HE DIDN’Twant a fight. But his eokay glowed in a way she’d never seen before, turning the hazel into a fiery brick color. They were full of anger, but full of regret too. Why?“This is our territory, and you know it,” anthony barked at Vucovich and McGraw. Then he faced Josua. “You have no idea who you’re getting mixed up with.” He jerked a thumb toward the road. “Last chance to get out.”Josua laughed. “Or what?”“Or die.” anthony’s sound was bitter and worn. The sound of a man who’d seen enough death and destruction for one lifetime.“Oh yeah? You’re going to get rid of us all by yourself?”“No,” anthony said simply as Jeremy stepped into view near McGraw. Gone was the happy-go-lucky jokester; this Jeremy was a furious warrior, ready to do battle.anthony pointed. “H
A HEAVY SILENCE STRETCHED BETWEEN THEM, AND LILY WAITEDimpatiently for anthony to begin. Finally, he opened his mouth, ready to start, but then—His chin jerked up and to the side, as if he’d heard a phone ring. His forehead creased with deep lines, and his whole demeanor changed.“Damn it,” he muttered.Lily blinked. “Most things okay?”His shoulders drooped for a second, and his hands balled into fists. “Okay. No. Shit. I have to go check.”He watched at her for a long, hard minute, and she could see him warring with himself. He stand, reaching for his clothes, then took her hand.“I’ll explain most things, Lily. I swear.”He kissed her. She wish to kiss him back, but her mouth met thin air as anthony pulled away.“I swear, I will,” he muttered, pulling on his pants.She’d seen him turn on soldier mode before, but never as abruptly as
LILY FLIPPED SLOWLY, BARELY OPENING HER EOKAY BEFORE SHUTTINGthem again. It was morning — she could tell that much — but she was afraid the previous night had been a dream. What if she hadn’t just spent the best night of her life wrapped in a perfect man’s arms?But that weight on her leg wasn’t one of the hounds cuddled up alongside, and she wasn’t imagining the tough, wiry fingers intertwined with hers. Slowly, she opened her eokay. Then she closed them again, exhaling in relief. She really was cuddled up with anthony, and she really had spent the night in that cozy loft with him.The clock showed shortly past six. anthony was still spooned up behind her, snoozing peacefully. Was he wiped out, or would he awake all energized? She experienced a little of both, though she had the sneaking suspicion the energized part might take over again and lead them into yet another round of sex.A huge grin spread on her face as she
ANTHONY WRAPPED HIS ARMS AROUND LILY AND HELD HER CLOSE. Really close, the way you did with a dream you didn’t want to slip away. There was so much he wish to tell her — and so much he wish to hear her say. At the same time, he relished the sweet silence. He had his mate. What more did he need?Still, he was acutely aware that sooner or later, those words would have to come. Lily was right about having waited too long to have slept together. Had he waited too long to tell her about his inner wolf, too? “Lily,” he said silently, gathering his courage to spill it all at last.She smiled the sweet, hazy smile of a person who’d never experienced so satisfied. “Okay?”God, he loved her. Should he start with that?He kissed her shoulder, then her collarbone, and finally the upper part of her breast. Partly to buy time, and partly because he finally could. All those gorgeous curves, all that smooth flesh open for him to ex
LILY TOOK A DEEP BREATH. NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE WAS ABOUTto do, but because being lowered by anthony was like floating through a cloud. How a man that powerful managed to combine gentle with urgent, she had no clue. But boy, did it work for her.It was crazy, how badly she wish him. How much naughty there was hiding inside the nice girl she’d always been.“I want this,” she said silently in an echo of her own words.She’d had a hell of a day, and her nerves were still on edge. But anthony made the fear fade into the background, and the more she touched him, the more her world filled with joy and light. So she fumbled with his shirt until he helped her work it off, and wow — there she was, flat on her back with an acre of smooth, hard chest above her. Her hands go right on smoothing circles across his skin, unable to get enough of him. How was it possible that they hadn’t gone this far before?Not far enough, a need