Tempted (Two Marks 1)

“Um… yeah. Sure. Okay.” I seriously didn’t understand what was happening. I knew he was into me. Why wouldn’t he stay, especially after he’d taken care of my needs?

I tried not to let the disappointment and hurt threatening the edges of my bliss to seep in. I’d had the best man-made orgasm of my life. Heck, probably even solo, too.

He lowered my leg from his shoulder, ensured I was stable on my feet, then stood. I watched as he adjusted his cock.

He wasn’t unaffected. In fact, based on the thick bulge, he had to be seriously uncomfortable. Then why?

Oh God. It was my pussy. He hadn’t liked it. His hard dick was an automatic response. Was that it, or was I insane? When he kissed my forehead and let himself out of my apartment, I didn’t know what the hell had happened.

4

LANDRY

Present Day

Whoa.

Just, whoa. Caitlyn Shriver, the pain-in-our-ass scientist, was hot as hell.

Fuck, she was even prettier than Wade had described. Prettier than the pictures I’d seen of her online. A tiny thing, she didn’t even reach our shoulders. I caught the strawberry-spice scent of her Wade had described on the soft breeze. One inhale, and that was it.

We were so fucked.

Wade had been right. One hint of her scent, and I knew she was the one. Our mate.

I’d known pairs to find their mate. It happened often enough—my parents included. Still, it hadn’t seemed possible for me. But Wade had found her in Granger. Or, better yet, she had found us. Which meant Fate had intervened. If one believed in shit like that. Which, after today, I was inclined to.

And what an ironic bitch she was, too. Fate, that is.

What were the chances that our one true mate would be the very same wolf biologist who was going to put our entire pack at risk with her research? Who’d refused our alpha’s orders to stay away?

Gib had left me in charge of the pack while he was gone, a job that shouldn’t have been too difficult to manage. Ben had tasked Wade with looking into our sexy scientist. That, too, shouldn’t have been too hard to handle.

But Fate sent us a curve-ball.

Just like that—one look, one whiff, and our lives changed. At least I wasn’t in this alone. Wade and I stood shoulder to shoulder in the clearing, and had a stare-down with this defiant little firecracker of a woman. The one who could wreak havoc on our peace and safety.

Our female.

She wasn’t meek. She was brave, and clearly passionate about her work.

Which was all about wolves.

Gib was going to lose his shit when he found out. I was only filling in as alpha, and based on the fact that I’d already let Caitlyn onto our land with a tranq gun and microchips, I was doing a shitty job.

She stared at me with a mixture of arousal and wariness—the perfect combination, in my book. It meant she knew who was in charge. We were. And her mates would give her exactly what she needed.

We’d stated plainly to her that we took a woman together. That we had a mutual desire for her.

“What… what kind of punishment?” she asked, her voice soft. Her cheeks were flushed from her hike, but also from interest. Wade had said we would never harm her. I’d agreed immediately because I’d do anything to keep her safe.

“Oh, I don’t know.” I sauntered closer to her, taking in the way her nipples poked through her bra and t-shirt, the way her breath rose and fell rapidly in her chest. “I’m thinking something like leaning you against that fence post and smacking your ass… until you’re good and ready.”

“R-ready for what?”

I glanced at Wade. “Us.”

Her pupils dilated, and my dick hardened. She liked the idea. Whether she was a masochist or just liked someone taking control, I didn’t know. Yet.

We’d find out before we left this field. She’d know who was in charge. Me.

I watched as her tongue flicked out and licked her lower lip. I stifled a growl. Wade had had a taste of her, and my mouth watered for one of my own.

When he’d returned from Granger two weeks ago, I’d expected him to tell me his mission had been accomplished. Since he was filling in for Ben, he’d been tasked with making sure the nosy scientist was going to leave us alone—not getting on his knees and pleasuring our supposed mate’s pussy.

I’d been equally jealous and frustrated because I’d had to wait until she showed up to know if Wade’s scenting was accurate. She had to come here, threatening our pack, before I’d discover the truth.

I knew it now.

But what did I do with her? I wasn’t the real alpha. Gib was. In his absence, I needed to ensure the pack’s safety, and he was relying on me. I had enough dominance in my genes to feel the strength of the role myself. My father had been alpha, and I would take over from Gib if something ever befell him.