The public office for Kagan Industries used to be the living room of a house belonging to one of their older shifters. Hannah’s pack had converted his Georgian-revival style home into their headquarters. The place, with its large two-level front porch set off with massive columns, dominated the street. An English-style garden complete with a small pond, fantastical statues, and brick-lined walkways added to the image of sophistication.
Little of their work was conducted in the building, however. It sat inside the human town that bordered their pack lands. Too many of their pack mates who held positions within the company had to stay out of the public eye, but human society demanded certain norms. A physical address for their conglomerate of businesses was one of them.
The second-floor room, which overlooked the pond, belonged to the graphic design team. Hannah met with packaging engineers there and some of the artists who developed their ads. By no means did she work alone. None of the shifters did. The multibillion-dollar company that had their hands in many businesses was a community effort. She loved being a part of it, even if she was the only person from her group who ever met with their suppliers and had to deal with the hassles that came with it.
Hannah turned in a slow circle and surveyed the front office. The large oak desk greeted those who entered. A high-back sofa and a couple of Queen Anne chairs offered a spot to wait, while floor-to-ceiling windows draped with lace curtains bathed the space in a warm, soothing light. It was beautiful. Too bad she wouldn’t see it again, at least not as member of Kagan Industries.
Her long weary sigh betrayed her mood. She didn’t want to quit.
The side door leading from the patio opened. Nic strode in. Dressed in black slacks, a white button-down shirt, and a tie, he’d slipped into the role of businessman with ease upon returning to shifter life. He’d also stepped into the position of alpha without missing a beat, despite the animosity he’d been dealing with from outside packs. Many didn’t approve of his bond to Riley, his human mate, nor did they believe the babies she carried were his. The members of the Kagan pack knew the truth. According to Nic, he didn’t need anybody else’s acceptance.
Nic yanked the leather strap from his hair, releasing the ponytail he’d worn. Black strands brushed his shoulders. He ran a hand through his hair, then glanced from where she stood in the middle of the room to the boxes at her feet. His brows pinched. “Where are you taking that stuff?”
“Back to the house.” She still lived in her family’s home, while Nic had moved into Riley’s after mating her.
“Why? Don’t you like working from here?”
“I do.” Hannah looked out the windows. While still a day away, the pull of the full moon tugged at her. Her skin itched, and her body burned. She wanted to rip her clothes off, shift into her wolf, and run. “It’s just that tomorrow night I mature. I won’t be a member of the pack after that. I figured I should start moving my stuff out.”
Nic grumbled and stormed closer. He grabbed one of the boxes, carried it to the sofa, and dropped it on the cushions.
“You are not quitting. Don’t think about it. I’ve got some European chocolate company coming next week. They’re bringing a new candy bar to the States, and you need to meet with them about their wrappers.” He glared at her. “I am not discussing the pros and cons of color choices. Blue is freaking blue to me.”
She grinned. “I love you, Nic. I also love working here, but this is a Kagan business, run by Kagan pack members. Once I mate Ethan, I won’t—”
Nic crossed his arms over his chest. “You will always be a Kagan. I don’t care who you mate. When you die, your wolf returns to our pack. To me.”
Not unless Ethan soul-bonded to her. Then, she’d belong unequivocally to his pack. The likelihood of that happening was slim. Few males took the ultimate step of soul-binding their mates to them, guaranteeing their souls remained linked in life and death. Even being true mates didn’t always justify the risk in many males’ eyes. If their female died, so did they. It made it too convenient for their enemies to kill them.
It wasn’t only alphas who had to worry about holding on to their positions. The hierarchy of the pack was always in flux. It was odd when she thought about it. Their communal bond was strong. They’d do anything for each other, yet they constantly rearranged their ranking to gain the top spots. Their animal sides demanded it. Power was everything in their world.
How many times had she heard that?
She focused on Nic’s left hand. The wide platinum wedding band on his finger offered another perspective. Strength might dictate their pack roles, but it wasn’t the most important thing. Love was.
Nic dropped his arms and stepped forward. “Does Ethan plan to soul-bond to you?”
Her heart raced. She couldn’t quite decide if excitement or fear sped it. The idea of being tied to Ethan for eternity should’ve made her happy. She’d fallen in love with him sometime between when he first made her smile and kissing him. So why wasn’t she thrilled with the possibility of forever?
The answer to that was both simple and complicated. She’d met Noah. Soul-bonding to Ethan would cut him out of her eternity. She bit the inside of her cheek. Or would it? True mates always found their way back to each other, even if it was in another life. Or in heaven. And Noah claimed to be her true mate.
What did that make Ethan? She would’ve sworn he was her true mate.
“Well?” Nic prompted.
She shrugged, letting the confusing thoughts go for the moment. “How would I know what he plans? If I had to guess, I’d say he won’t soul-bond to me. Few males do.”
Nic studied her for so long, a drop of sweat trickled down her spine. She held Nic’s gaze, never wavering, but the intensity in his eyes stripped her raw. He sensed something wasn’t quite right with her, but she refused to offer him any clues. She couldn’t, even if she wanted to get his advice. Ethan had told her to keep their secret.
Nic broke their mini-standoff by cracking his jaw. “He’s possessive of you.”
Satisfaction skipped through her. “Is that so?”
“Yeah. I told him I hadn’t planned to take any advice or help from him in something as important as my family, but your conversation with Sean changed my mind.”
She stepped forward and rested her hand against his arm. “I’m glad you did.”
“He had some good suggestions. I won’t be signing the papers taking Sean and Jenna’s rights away, but blocking the loopholes others might use was my main goal. I was mostly concerned about what the Shifter Council might do once our kids are born and it becomes obvious they’re shifters.”
“The pack will support you. So will Ethan and I.”
He covered her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I know.”
“So”—she caught her lower lip between her teeth to stop her grin—“what did Ethan say to convince you he wants to mate me?”
“It wasn’t so much what Ethan said, but what Quinn told me.”
She waited for him to elaborate. He only watched her with a knowing smile on his face. “And that was?”
“He said Ethan looked at you as if he wanted to devour you.”
She didn’t bother trying to hide her satisfaction. “Did he now?”
“Yeah.” Nic chuckled. “So when I met with Ethan I happened to mention that several of my dominants had been fighting recently over who would be the lucky one to end up in your bed tomorrow night. Ethan immediately said none would, but I reminded him that you wouldn’t be able to resist their advances, not with the pull of the moon revving you up. He warned me if anyone touched you, they’d regret it. Then he stormed off.”
Nic gave a small shake of his head. “He wants you, and if you go to him tomorrow night, he’ll make you his. Just be sure he’s the male you truly want before things go any further. A male like Ethan won’t relent once he decides you belong to him, and if he’s not your true mate, you’ll come to regret being with him.”
“And how can I be certain? There’s no instant sign that the person we’re with is our true mate. Look at Sean and Jenna. It took them years to figure it out.”
Nic pressed a fist to his chest. “You feel it here. Call it peace or love, but you come to understand the depth of it once you find it, so does your wolf. Eventually, anyway. Then a flip switches inside you and you become one with your primal side. Some of us just make the connection sooner than others.”
He dropped his hand. “And some of us are too impatient to wait for our perfect match to cross our path before jumping into a mate bond. Make sure you’re not one of them and you’re with Ethan for love and not the alpha female position you think he can secure for you.”
“I’m with Ethan because I want him. He’s mine. Maybe that’s possession. Maybe it’s love.” She shrugged. “I don’t know the answer. I just have to trust in myself. That’s how life works. You make choices, then live with them, and I’ve decided I won’t let Ethan slip through my fingers.”
“I suppose you’re right, but this choice of yours to quit?” Nic picked up the last two boxes she’d packed and dropped them on the sofa with the first. “Is the wrong one. In fact, I can guarantee you’ll still be working here next week.”
She smirked. “Can you now? And how are going to pull that off?”
He matched her smile. “If you won’t stay on as a Kagan, I’ll hire you.”
“Umm…I already get a salary, and the point isn’t that I don’t get enough money. It’s that Kagans should be making the decisions. If I screw up, somebody might claim I did it intentionally. Things could escalate, and before you know it, we might have a pack war on our hands.”
“There’s always that possibility. I doubt it would happen. You’re good at what you do, but I was thinking along the lines of something different.”
“And that would be?”
“I’ll hire you as the manager of the new logging and lumber business I bought. Seems they recently contracted the sawmill owned by the Tanner pack to do some work for them. Having you in charge will be perfect since I don’t necessarily want to toss a Kagan pack member to the wolves.”
She shook her head. “Does Ethan know you dug your hands into his pack’s affairs?”
“Not yet. I’m sure he’ll learn of it soon.” Nic raised his hands. “Don’t worry. I didn’t do it to control his pack or anything. Despite the debt the mill is in, it has the potential to do quite well, and the contract I signed leaves all day-to-day stuff in the manager’s hands. It was purely a business decision.”
“One that’ll help out Ethan’s pack.” While not in a poverty state, they struggled. The wealth they’d amassed under the previous alpha’s rule had been lost to one poor business investment after another.
He gave her hair an affectionate tug, the same way he used to when they were kids. “Or one that’ll help my sister’s new pack.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Nic.”
He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. “And I love you. Remember, we don’t need to abide by tradition. The strict boundaries packs follow are ridiculous. There is no reason why our packs can’t interact more. We’re not completely ruled by our animals.”
“There are good reasons for the separation. We’re territorial and don’t like sharing our space with the humans, let alone the times when other shifters visit. We tolerate it only if they have a good reason for being on our land.”
“True, and keeping our loved ones close is a good reason in my book.”
The front door opened before she could respond. Every inch of her body came alive with the first whiff of the shifter who’d entered. She turned and found Noah in the entryway. No flash of recognition or need showed on his face. He didn’t even look at her. His gaze focused on Nic.
“Good afternoon, Nic.”
“It is.” Nic placed his body between her and Noah. “So, what brings you out here?”
“I came to see Hannah. I have business to discuss with her.”
Nic moved to the side and crossed his arms over his chest. “Good ahead, then.”
One corner of Noah’s mouth rose. He slid his gaze to her. Lust didn’t show in his eyes. Amusement did. Her curiosity spiked, but he turned his attention to Nic before she could decide why he looked so pleased with himself. “It’s private, actually. I have a proposition to discuss with her.”
“And that would be?”
The annoyance in her brother’s voice was clear. He didn’t appreciate games.
“I plan on opening a flower shop. I want Hannah to create a logo for me.”
“Hannah is not a freelance artist. If you want graphic work done then—”
“I’d love to discuss it with you.” She stepped in front of Nic and let him see the warning in her expression not to start anything. He narrowed his eyes. It wasn’t the best confirmation that he’d back off, but she took it anyway. She faced Noah. “Come up to my office. Nic was just leaving anyway.”
“Wonderful.” Noah closed the door behind him. “Lead the way.”
“Call me when you leave, Hannah. I’m running to the—”
“Good-bye, Nic. I’ll lock up. Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl.”
She headed to the hallway and climbed the stairs without looking to see if Noah would follow. His gaze bored into her, setting her on fire. She quickened her steps before it became obvious what his presence did to her.
Noah settled into step with her once they reached the upper level. “Thank you for seeing me, Miss Kagan. I know you’re busy.”
“You’re welcome. Besides Nic, I’m the only one here at the moment. Everyone else left early to get ready for the full moon tomorrow.” She opened the door to her office. “We have a day of celebrations planned starting with the wedding of one of our—”
Noah kicked the door closed and yanked her close. She gasped. His mouth was on hers a moment later. He kissed her hard, nipping at her lips and demanding her passion. She gave it, needing him as much as he did her. He twined his tongue with hers and ran his hands over her back, pulling her flush against him. His hard muscles pressed against her, and the growing evidence of his arousal sparked an equal need within her, but guilt rose. She didn’t know if it was appropriate to give in to it without Ethan.
She turned her head, breaking their kiss. “What are you doing here?”
He slid his hand under her shirt, then skimmed his fingers up her spine. “I needed to touch you. Love you.”
He gripped the hook of her bra. Awareness settled low. She slipped from his embrace before he could release the clasp and dragged her fingers through her hair. “Not here. This is where I work. Besides, Ethan’s not with us.”
Noah flashed her a lopsided smile. “I’m not talking about sex. Ethan has special plans for that, but it’s going to have to wait until after he becomes alpha.”
She froze and focused on Noah, all naughty thoughts gone. “He’s going to take Michael out tomorrow night?”
Noah raised a brow. “Of course. Didn’t he tell you?”
“He’d hinted that he didn’t like how Michael ran his pack but never came out and said he’d challenge him.”
“And you were content mating only a dominant? You have alpha written all over you. I didn’t get the impression you’d settle for less than a male who could give you the top spot.”
“I had planned to convince Ethan to challenge Michael after he mated me.” She went to Noah and trailed her fingertips over his stomach. “And I won’t settle for less than what I deserve. Ethan is mine, and I’ll do anything to keep him. I thought I’d made that obvious last night.”
He grabbed her wrist and tugged it behind her. The sharp pull tore a whimper from her. “You only accepted my touch in order to heal Ethan. Is that what you’re telling me?”
Noah’s expression almost forced out a lie. She enjoyed the hunger and possession in his eyes and wanted him to act on it. But not without Ethan. She wanted them both.
“I welcomed your touch because I want you too.” She brushed the fingertips of her free hand over his jaw. He’d shaved, but short hairs tickled the pads of her fingers. By nightfall, he’d have a full five-o’clock shadow. “Actually, it’s more than want. I need your touch. Walking away from you yesterday was incredibly hard. I couldn’t shake the feeling that without you close, I’d lose you.”
He released her hand and mimicked the caress she’d given him, mapping the contours of her face. “You’ll always feel that way. I’m sorry about that. You’re my true mate, but I will never be able to claim you.”
“You keep saying that. Part of me believes you, but I love Ethan. More than that, I think he’s my true mate. I have from almost the moment I met him.” She looked imploringly at Noah, needing his take on their relationship. As much as she wanted to trust her instincts, the single night with Alex had scarred her. “It’s why I never gave up on Ethan even after he told me he didn’t want a mate. It had nothing to do with him becoming alpha. I simply knew I needed him and couldn’t let him get away. I figured everything else would work out after I had him tied to me.”
“Oh, Hannah.”
Noah dipped his head and kissed her, not as aggressively as he had moments before but with affection, even reverence. His kiss didn’t come close to matching Ethan’s all-consuming one. She was glad. Never had she been kissed the same way by a male as Ethan had. She didn’t want to share the sensation with anyone else, even Noah.
Was that wrong? She wasn’t sure, but with Noah’s lips on hers and his hands on her body, she realized she didn’t have to worry about losing the uniqueness of Ethan’s kiss. Noah’s was beautiful and special in its own right. She sighed and arched into him, letting him love her exactly as he’d promised.
He eased back enough to look into her eyes. “I believe you, and I wish I could explain how it’s possible to belong to both of us. I can’t. I only know what I feel, and although Ethan hasn’t come out and said so, I’m pretty sure he believes the same about you being his true mate. You’re the only female who…”
His words trailed off. A conflicted expression tightened his brows and thinned his lips. Noah stepped away from her and walked toward the window without finishing his statement.
She followed him and rested her hand against his back. “I’m the only female who…?”
He turned and drew her into his arms. “I won’t be the one to share Ethan’s secrets. You’ll have to ask him tonight.”
“I tried calling him earlier to find out what his plans are, but I got his voice mail. He never called back.”
“I know. He deliberately ignored you.”
“Why?”
Noah rubbed his thumb over her lips. “Don’t look so annoyed. The full moon is coming fast, and he has a lot to deal with before he challenges Michael and mates you. He sent me to talk to you and to make sure you knew he still wants you in our bed.”
She still had questions about how the three of them would work, but her anxiety flared. “What do you mean? What is he dealing with, and why don’t I know about it?”
“His issues are part of his secret. I won’t betray it, not to you or anyone. I promised Ethan years ago I’d keep it. As for why you don’t know…” He stepped back. “I can only say our lover is stubborn. He’s fought his instincts, thinking he was sick to want both of us, and wasted time we could’ve spent getting to know each other. You can punish him for it. I’ll help you when we come over to your house tonight.”
The heat in his gaze promised it’d be a lesson they’d all enjoy. She licked her lips. “I’m sure you will, but don’t you think you should ask my permission to come over?”
Noah tipped up her chin and leaned close. “We’re past playing silly games. You belong to us, body and soul, and we’ll take you whenever and however we want. Deny it, and you’ll be the one to feel the sting of my hand on your rear.”
She wanted to, if only to feel his reprimand, but she didn’t doubt he’d find some reason to spank her. There was no sense encouraging him, especially when neither of them could give in to it now.
“What time should I expect you?”
He grinned. “I don’t know, maybe not until very late. It all depends on Ethan. We’ll be there. I promise you.”
“I’ll leave the door open, then.”
He caught her lower lip between his teeth and nibbled, tearing a soft sigh from her. “Good. I can’t wait.”
The distant sound of door banging shut jerked them apart. She hastily straightened her clothes and made her way to the door. “I need to find out who that is.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tonight.”
She stopped him from slipping past her and pointed to the rear stairs. “Go out through the back. If Nic is downstairs, I don’t want to watch the two of you fight.”
He opened his mouth. She shook her head and lowered her voice. “Don’t push it, Noah. I don’t want Nic to suspect your interest in me is anything more than physical.” She motioned toward herself. Her wrinkled clothes and the heavy scent of her arousal would easily clue Nic into what she and Noah had done in the few minutes they’d spent alone, and it had nothing to do with logo designs.
“This I can explain away as being close to the full moon.”
For a moment, she’d thought he’d argue, but he finally nodded. “Call me if you need me.”
“I don’t have your number.”
“You do. I programmed it into your phone before you left last night.” He brushed his lips over hers before walking away. “Think of me.”
She followed his retreating back with her gaze until he disappeared down the old service stairs that led into the kitchen, then she hurried to the main staircase to greet whoever had entered. At the bottom, she stopped dead in her tracks. Another Tanner male stood in the office, one she’d never met. Her wolf sat up, alert and cautious. She shared the animal’s thoughts. Something about the male made her skin crawl.
He turned and flashed her a smile. His light brown hair and hazel eyes marked him as housing a gray wolf, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t strong or dangerous. Not all dominants held the rarer wolf types. It only meant those who didn’t had to be more vicious. The vibes radiating off the male in front of her held a malicious edge that suggested he embraced that side of his persona.
She straightened her spine. “May I help you?”
He swept his intense gaze over her, and lust flared in his eyes. “You are beautiful. Other males had said you were, but I didn’t believe them.”
Hannah inclined her head. “Thank you, but you didn’t answer my question.”
He focused on her breasts. “And that was…?”
She clenched her jaw and motioned toward the empty room. “As you can see, our secretary left early. Unless you have a pressing need with Kagan Industries, I’d suggest calling on Monday. We’re closing for the rest of the week.”
“I do have a pressing need, but it’s not with your pack’s business. I came here to see you, Hannah.”
“I’m at a disadvantage. I wish I could say I know your name, but it’d be a lie.”
He stalked closer and stopped inches away from her. His nostrils flared, and she silently cursed. Although Noah’s scent hung in the air, it was stronger near her.
“Greg. My name’s Greg.” He brushed a lock of her hair off her shoulder, letting his fingers linger on the delicate spot where Ethan’s bite would soon mark her as his mate. “I must say I worried that I lost my chance with you after one of my pack mates told me he’d seen you leave Ethan’s house last night. I guess there was no need for my concern, not if you’re willing to turn to a widow for attention.”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t look at me like that, Hannah.” He loosely wrapped his hand around her throat and brushed his finger over her vein. “I didn’t mean to upset you, and you shouldn’t feel bad that Ethan dismissed your advances. He prefers his human whores to what a shifter female can give him. Probably because he doesn’t know how to tame one.”
She took a slow breath and focused on her heartbeat until it slowed. “What chance? I don’t know you, and I—”
“My chance at claiming you as my mate. It is why you were sniffing around Ethan, isn’t it? You’re looking for a mate.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I went to talk to him about business, nothing more. And as for claiming me as a mate, you can forget it. I’m not shopping for one.”
He grinned. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Then why was I told you planned to join our pack tomorrow night for the mating run?”
“I don’t know, but I won’t be spending my first night as a mature female with a bunch of horny shifters who are more interested in an easy lay than meeting their mate.” Even though she’d contemplated doing so for months.
“Then do make sure you stay off our pack lands tomorrow night. Any unmated female found outside once the moon reaches its peak will be considered fair game.”
She wrapped her fingers around his wrist and let the tips of her claws dent his skin. “Is that a threat?”
He released her throat but snatched her hand before she could drop it. He traced her fingers with his.
“Of course not. I’m merely warning you not to find yourself alone on Tanner lands tomorrow. Our males aren’t like the ones you’re used to. They’re wicked, uncivilized, even. They’ll see seducing you as a challenge, and if they have to push you a little until you’re too crazed to deny them, they will.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “Even the ones like Ethan, who appear cultured, aren’t.”
“Even you, Greg?”
His grin turned into a sneer. “I never said I was refined. I don’t hide my hungers like Ethan does. When I see something I want, I take it.”
She leaned closer and held his gaze, letting him see her disdain. “If you think to take me, you’ll regret it. Is that clear?”
Heat flared in his eyes. “Sure thing, Hannah. When I take you, it’ll be because I have the right to do so, and you’ll enjoy it. I promise you that.”
“I think you should leave.”
He dragged his hand down the front of her body before stepping back. “I agree. I wouldn’t want to prove myself a liar.”
He made his way to the door. With his hand on the handle, he glanced over his shoulder. “Remember my warning. It’s the only one you’ll get.”
The door clicked closed. She curled her fists. “And I hope you remember mine, because I won’t be held responsible for what my lovers would do to you if they ever found out what you said to me.”
Since Hannah didn’t want to see any bloodshed, she’d make sure Noah and Ethan didn’t learn of her visitor. But if Greg decided to pursue her? She’d turn her back and let nature take its course.