Hungry Like a Wolf (Claws Clause 1)

It was a good thing that there was a pretty simple fix to that solution. In Para circles, the bonding license was like a “get out of jail free” card. With the notarized certificate that said that Maddox and Evangeline were bonded mates, the laws regarding unbonded mates no longer applied. She wasn’t completely human anymore—as a Para’s mate, she was technically a Para herself now—and the bonding license gave Maddox every right to use his paranormal abilities to protect his mate.

That was why a bonding license could only be given to a pair that pledged under oath that a bond existed. Laws and rights flew out the window when they got their license notarized. It meant everything, especially since bureaucratic red tape ensured that a bonding license could only be signed after the couple presented themselves in front of a Para office who could tell if they were lying.

To keep Maddox from the Cage—or worse—the first thing they needed to do was go and get their bonding license. Every Bumptown had an office onsite to take care of that, so at least they didn’t have to take a trip to the D.P.R. In and out, they could have the license by mid-afternoon if they hurried.

There was a tiny problem when it came to that, though. Because Evangeline was, well, drugged and sedated every time he moved her, first from the coffee shop to the cabin, then the cabin to their old home, Maddox didn’t know about her phobia when it came to riding in a car.

Turned out, with the memories of the crash more vivid and realler than ever, her phobia only grew worse. Just the idea of willingly climbing inside of Colton Wolfe’s truck for the hour trip to the Bumptown from Wolf’s Creek erased her euphoric mood.

In fact, it nearly caused a nervous breakdown.

She just couldn’t do it. Maddox didn’t push it, either. He told her they could figure something out, and if Adam showed up before they got the license, they’d figure that out, too.

The only thing was, with more and more memories becoming clearer, Evangeline remembered Maddox. She remembered his personality, his likes, his desires. How he wore shades because he didn’t want to deal with humans judging him for his beast, even though he radiated such a dominant power, most people recognized him for what he was—a born Alpha—without such an easy clue.

She remembered his position in the pack, his former role as foreman at his father’s construction company, and how he doted on his younger brother. Maddox was loyal and he was stubborn and he was strong.

If Adam came with the might of the Grayson PD behind him, Maddox wouldn’t be carted off to the Cage that easily. He would fight for her, and one of the two men in her life would be hurt.

Evangeline could be stubborn, too. And while she might feel like throttling Adam herself, she wasn’t going to let anything happen to him until she gave him the chance to explain what he thought he was doing. Because he loved her, she had no doubt that he loved her, and with fresh memories filling her brain, Evangeline knew people did stupid things when they were in love.

Which was why she asked Maddox if he still had that baggy full of white powder.

Sugar-free sugar, her ass. Her Maddox had a sweet tooth and he’d never give up the real stuff. But she gave him credit. As an explanation for what he was doing when she nearly caught him dosing her coffee, she had to admit he thought quick.

Evangeline never thought she’d see the day that she’d gladly swallow a laced drink. But if it came down to a choice between waiting around for Adam to show up or getting the protection a bonding license would afford her mate, she knew what she had to do.

30

Maddox was getting better at figuring out how much of the drugs to use.

Just a pinch this time. A teensy tiny drop in a glass of water that Evangeline swallowed with a nervous chuckle and a shaky, “Bottom’s up.”

It took a little bit longer for it to affect her. By the time they cleaned up breakfast, then grabbed a few changes of clothes from the musty closets—Maddox because he needed to be prepared in case he had to shift, and Evangeline because he had every intention of bringing her to the cabin for a belated honeymoon—Evangeline was starting to yawn.

Maddox stayed close to her. When she gave the sign that it was affecting her, he swooped her up in his arms, slung the duffel bag holding their clothes over his shoulder, then slipped out of the house.

It was the middle of the afternoon. He was taking a

huge risk, heading out in the daylight with a noticeably sleeping Evangeline stretched out in a bridal carry. His nosy ass neighbors would call the cops in a heartbeat if they caught sight of them together. He didn’t give a shit. So long as he got to Colt’s Bumptown before Wright found him, he’d be fine. No Ant police officer would ever dare separate a bonded shifter from his mate inside of a Bumptown.

Wolf’s Creek was about a half an hour’s drive from the opposite direction. He kept to the speed limit, not wanting to catch the attention from his local police department. The boys in blue were another kind of pack; Wolf’s Creek might be an integrated community, equal parts human and Para, but the cops would partner up with Grayson PD if Wright called in a favor. Maddox’s best bet was to cross into Para territory.

Everything worked according to plan. He brought Evangeline to Colt’s house, shooing Dodge away when the phantom made an appearance to tell Maddox that Colt was out for the day. Dodge wanted to stay and say hi to Evangeline—as a phantom, he had perfect recall, and he said he was happy to tell her any number of embarrassing stories about Maddox that she might’ve forgotten—but Maddox told him to come back later. It had been less than twenty-four hours since he claimed her, and though she proudly wore his bite, it was going to take some time before the possessiveness dialed it back a little.

So maybe he shouldn’t have snapped his teeth at Dodge. He was such a pain in the ass, Maddox always seemed to forget he was not only dead, but transparent, too. None of his threats would work on the ghost. Didn’t stop him from trying. Eventually, Dodge grew bored with teasing Maddox and drifted back to where he came from.

Maddox waited for his mate to wake.

It only took another hour. The sedative had been enough for her to miss the entire drive over, and she seemed sheepish that it had been needed. Maddox brushed her worries aside. He was so in awe that she wanted to get the bonding license squared away enough that she willingly went under because, otherwise, her phobia regarding a car ride meant that they’d have to wait.

Maddox would do everything he could to support her in the future. He totally understood the source of her fears, and was willing to help her any way he could. Therapy? Sure. Hypnosis? Okay. Asking a witch for help? Well, the head witch had already been way overpaid by Colt. Maybe she knew someone.

And if it meant that Evangeline never could ride in a car again, then he’d fucking shift and give her a ride on his back if that’s what she wanted. She was his life. His world. And, about an hour after she woke up, groggy but happy to see him, Evangeline was his fully bonded, fully claimed mate.

No one could take her away from him—

—at least, that’s what he thought.