Mates: Prequel (Claws Clause 0)

Snap.

In a daze, Maddox landed bare-assed naked in a heap on the dirt. He fell onto his belly, a shooting pain coursing through his body when he crushed something long and hard and super sensitive beneath him; it felt like he landed on a steel bar that had only the smallest amount of give to it. The pain was sudden and fierce, enough to tear a howl out of his human throat.

He flopped like a fish, going from belly to back, his chest heaving as he tried to get a grip on what the hell had just happened to him.

Because it shouldn’t have.

Ever since he was a young pup, Maddox had no problem controlling his shift, and for a good reason, too—when your mother snarled at you for ruining another pair of pants, you learned how to keep from shifting in place and turning your clothes to tatters real quick.

Then there were the ridiculous rules, laws, and ordinances that dictated when and where and how a shifter could change shapes, like no shifting within twenty-five feet of a government building. To keep from pissing off—or, more accurately, terrifying—the humans, controlling a shift was essential. Plus, it was the mark of an alpha, having complete dominion over every part of his body no matter the shape.

So to snap like a rubber band, going from fur to skin in a heartbeat without giving his body the command? That was one hell of a surprise because it shouldn’t have happened.

But that wasn’t the only surprise. Or, he realized an instant later as his eyes were drawn to his cock, even the biggest one.

In spite of what he was seeing, Maddox still couldn’t believe it. The scent was one thing, the sudden shift another. But this—

Propping himself up on his elbows, he looked down at his crotch. And he stared.

Nope. He wasn’t imagining it.

For the first time in his life, he had an erection.

That… that wasn’t supposed to happen, either.

Good thing he knew what to expect when it finally did or he might’ve thought his cock was suddenly possessed. He was a shifter, sure, but he was also a man who wanted to make sure he could please his future mate. He’d been intimately familiar with porn for years, even if he considered the videos more instructional than anything else, and if he was surprised to discover his hard cock could put any porn star to shame? At least his mate would be pretty damn pleased with him.

He’d always known what he could do with an erection, though it had been impossible to get one until he found his mate. Didn’t mean he wasn’t curious. Hell, it had been a game for him and his brother when they were just past pup age: who could find their dad’s girly mags and snatch one without leaving a scent trail.

Of course, he discovered them every time they tried, more put out that they left traces of their theft behind than the fact that they had gone snooping in his office in the first place. Considering Terrence Wolfe also wanted to prepare his boys for life as an alpha wolf when it came to all things, Maddox long ago decided that his father left those magazines out on purpose just so he and Colt could get a clue.

It was still a bit unbelievable, though. Was this really happening? Now?

Maddox kept staring as his cock bobbed and twitched, moisture seeping out from the head. He reached a finger out, the tip of his claw grazing the sensitive crown.

He shivered and, throwing his head back, he groaned. Alpha, that felt fucking amazing. So he did it again.

He couldn’t help himself. In the back of his mind, he was glad that he’d chosen to run in a secluded, thick part of the woods so that no one else was around. Not only could he explore this newfound pleasure in private, but it would make it so much easier to finish his search at last.

In the forefront of his hazy, lust-filled brain, he struggled to accept what this meant.

Everything had just changed.

Sitting on the ground, brittle grass scratching his ass, he marveled at his lower half in silence, tempted to stroke the length from root to tip, eager to experience his first orgasm.

It would be a shadow of what mating his female would be like, he knew. Still, even that first touch was almost enough to blow his mind with the sensation.

Maddox placed his hand against the dirt, thrusting into the air as he tried to get the sudden rush under control.

His cock was hard, almost painfully so, the normally tan skin gone ruddy as the blood rushed south. He’d tripled in size, his girth easily doubled. It pointed skyward, the head weeping gently as it begged for it mate. No doubt that this was an erection.

Which meant one thing and one thing only.

The truth beat at his brain.

Mate.

His mate. She was there. Somewhere close.