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Nehalem Pack 2

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Viktor Carsten has been a loner all his adult life. After witnessing
the death of his parents, he’s in no rush to fall in love for fear he’ll

lose them, too. A night out drinking and dancing leads him to the
one thing he’s been trying to avoid, his mate.

“Run!” was the last word Shane Pickett’s mother uttered to him

before she died, and he’s been running ever since. Shane being a
rare white tiger shifter makes him a valuable commodity to

hunters, and because of that he can’t afford to form attachments
or stay in one spot for too long, but all that changes when he

moves to Silver Creek. He’s finally created a life he doesn’t want
to give up and finds the mate he can’t live without.

When Shane’s past comes knocking on his door it’s up to Viktor to
rescue his mate, but will he be in time?

Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal,
Vampires/Werewolves
Length: 35,661 words

THE WOLF’S RUNAWAY TIGER

Nehalem Pack 2

AJ Jarrett

EROTIC ROMANCE

MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove

THE WOLF’S RUNAWAY TIGER
Copyright © 2013 by AJ Jarrett
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-720-8

First E-book Publication: March 2013

Cover design by Harris Channing
All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without
express written permission.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance
to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers

Dear Readers,

If you have purchased this copy of The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger by AJ
Jarrett from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you.
Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy

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This is AJ Jarrett’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms.
Jarrett’s right to earn a living from her work.

Amanda Hilton, Publisher

www.SirenPublishing.com

www.BookStrand.com

THE WOLF’S RUNAWAY

TIGER

Nehalem Pack 2

AJ JARRETT

Chapter One

As he walked through the double doors, he could feel the heavy

pump of the bass in his chest. A wave of heat met his skin, luring him
closer. The large room was filled with men. Some were dancing, and
the rest standing about talking in small groups.

Viktor took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of sweat in the air.

So many men with so many different aromas. A smile split across his
face.

“Heaven on motherfucking earth,” Viktor said with a smile.
As he walked toward the bar, his eyes ate up the scenery. Men in

all forms swayed to the erratic beat of the music. They looked so
carefree giving themselves up to the atmosphere of the club. Past
experience had taught Viktor that, at this time of night and in a place
like this, the men prancing about had lost all their inhibitions. The
perfect prey for what Viktor had in mind.

He flagged down the bartender and ordered a beer. While he

waited he turned to rest his back against the bar. The DJ switched to a
different song, and he watched as the crowd swayed in time with one
another. At this hour most were either drunk or high on some sort of
drug that would damage their human bodies, but what did Viktor

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

care? As long as he got his dick sucked or got the pleasure of fucking
one of these willing bodies, he couldn’t give a shit what happened to
them afterwards.

The bartender tapped him on the shoulder and Viktor turned

around to take the beer from his hand. Their fingers brushed alongside
each other, and the man gave Viktor a wicked grin. Viktor lifted his
chin in acknowledgement then slowly took a drink from the bottle. He
held the other man’s eyes and made a show of licking the ribbed rim.
The bartender was caught in Viktor’s trance, but it was broken when
the other bartender bumped him as he passed by. Viktor laughed as
the man stumbled as he got back to work. He liked messing with other
people. Did he want the man serving him his drinks? Why not? One
willing hole was as good as the next.

Viktor turned his attention back to the dance floor. He took

another pull from his drink and let his mind drift along with the
rhythm of the music. He needed to relax. The past few weeks had
worn his already-frayed patience even thinner.

It had been five weeks since his little brother had been taken.

Werewolf hunters had captured Erik only after shooting Viktor, his
brother, Devon, and his good friend, Josef. They got him back a week
later, but they had to kidnap one of the hunter’s kids, Aiden, to do
that. To add to an already-stressful situation, Aiden turned out to be
his older brother Devon’s mate.

Luckily it all turned out for the best for all of them. They got Erik

back, and Devon got to keep his mate. Plus, they had an insider now
on the hunters’ council. Aiden’s father decided to stay on to help keep
them safe. He was only doing it for his kid’s benefit, but Viktor would
take the extra help. It had been a living hell when Erik had been
taken. He already lost his parents to hunters. He didn’t want to lose
one of the most precious things in his life, Erik.

Viktor downed the rest of his beer. Alcohol didn’t have the same

effect on wolves as it did humans. It’d take him drinking a keg to feel

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any effect of the alcohol. But he liked the taste, so he didn’t care if he
got that all-consuming numb feeling running throughout his body.

Pushing away from the bar, Viktor sauntered toward the dance

floor. His height had him hovering over the majority of the occupants.
As if the humans could tell he wasn’t like them, they cleared a path.
More than half eyed him up and down, with their jaws hanging open.
They wanted a piece of him, and Viktor was more than happy to
oblige one man at a time or maybe two or three.

One confident man danced right up to him. Viktor grabbed the

man around the hips and spun him around to put his back to Viktor’s
chest. He bent his knees to accommodate the man’s short stature and
rubbed his half-hard cock against the upper curve of the stranger’s
ass. The human arched his back, pushing more into Viktor’s touch.

Viktor chuckled, ruffling the man’s hair. It was like taking candy

from a baby. Viktor knew he was attractive. Enough men over the
years contested to that fact. Was he conceited? Maybe, but as long as
everyone had fun, it was all good.

The song switched again, a slower one this time. The man in his

arms whirled around to face him. Viktor ran his hand up the man’s
back until he could fist the man’s silky black hair in his hand. He
yanked back until the man exposed his neck. Viktor grinned as the
man did just as he wanted. He bent his head down toward the tender
flesh. Just as he was about to run his tongue along the man’s pulse, a
sweet, musky scent flittered under his nose.

Viktor stood up to his full height and looked around. It couldn’t

be!

“Hey, lover, everything all right?” the man in his arms asked.
Looking down almost as an afterthought, he realized he still had

his arms wrapped around another man. He looked toward the crowd
one more time, and the smell smacked him across the face. Whoever
that scent belonged to was close, and it wasn’t the man in his arms.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

“No, it’s not.” Viktor stepped away from the man. He could hear

the other man cursing him as he walked away, but he didn’t care.
Something more important was to be found in this crowd.

Viktor pushed through the horde of people who were dancing and

talking. Some tried to grab him and pull Viktor’s attention toward
them. Silly humans. Viktor wanted to laugh in their faces.

He was just about to give up when a figure dancing by himself on

the dance floor caught his eye. A man with short black hair swayed
back and forth to the music. His hands were raised in the air as if he
were being pulled to the thump, thump, thump of the beat.

Viktor circled closer, trying to get a better look. The man’s eyes

were closed as if he were under a spell. His hips moved sinuously
from side to side without a care of the other people around him.
Viktor thought the man looked like sex in motion.

The man wore a very tight pair of jeans. How he was able to

breathe Viktor didn’t know and didn’t care, because it outlined his
round, firm ass quite nicely. The snug white tank top he wore glowed
in the dark lighting of the dance floor, beckoning Viktor closer.

Unable to control himself, Viktor strode up behind the stranger.

The man didn’t flinch. He just kept dancing like he didn’t notice
Viktor was there, and he couldn’t have that.

Viktor sunk his fingers low on the man’s hips and tugged back

until his back was flush to Viktor’s chest. The man stood a good five
inches shorter than his six-two frame, but that didn’t bother him.
Viktor liked being in control. He wanted to dominate in and out of the
bedroom.

The man only hesitated for a minute. After that brief moment he

went back to his erotic dancing. He grinded his ass into the now-very-
erect cock nestled between Viktor’s thighs. Viktor growled low in his
chest and brought his hands up to wrap them around like a metal vise
against the man’s chest. He dropped his head and breathed in more of
the stranger’s delicious smell. It was like honey and vanilla with a

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shot of spice. Viktor didn’t think he had ever smelt something so
wonderful.

The man pulled and tugged until Viktor released his grip, letting

his arms fall to his sides

He turned around and stood chest to chest with Viktor. The lights

flashed and made it difficult to see, but Viktor was a wolf with
excellent eyesight with or without good lighting.

“Close your eyes,” the man said softly. His eyes shined a brilliant

blue, reminding Viktor of sapphires.

Viktor did as he was told. He could feel the heat bouncing off the

other man’s body. The music picked up tempo, and a slight breeze
brushed against his skin. Something didn’t feel right. Viktor opened
his eyes to see that the man was gone. He spun around in a circle
looking for his mystery man with the intoxicating scent.

A faint trail guided him toward the bar then back toward the dance

floor. The man was leading him on a wild goose chase. But the man
didn’t know who he was dealing with. A wolf always got its prey.

The scent of vanilla grew stronger as he walked toward the back

of the club toward the bathrooms. Men filed in and out of the narrow
hallway. He worked his way through and saw the man with one arm
braced against the door. He used his free hand to finger wave Viktor
closer. Helpless to do anything else, Viktor kept walking.

When he got closer the man pushed open the bathroom door and

headed for a vacant stall. The room was packed. The sounds of
kissing, sucking, and fucking echoed in the tight confines of the room.
It only added to Viktor’s desire.

The man stepped into the last stall in the row, and Viktor

followed. There wasn’t much room, and they were forced to stand
chest to chest. A wild gleam sparkled in the man’s eyes. His features
were manly but delicate. His nose was straight and turned up just a bit
at the tip, and Viktor couldn’t help but think it added to this man’s
attractiveness. Viktor wanted to take in everything about this man and
commit it to memory.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Viktor shook his head hard. He never felt this way about his

hookups. That was all this was. Another man to expend his sexual
prowess on.

But something in the back of his brain called him a liar. There was

more to this stranger than a random fuck buddy.

“I guess you caught me.” The man looked up at Viktor and batted

his long eyelashes. “What now?”

Oh the possibilities. Viktor brought up his right hand and wrapped

his fingers around the smaller man’s neck. “Now I think I get a collar
and a leash so it doesn’t happen again, little one.” He could feel the
man’s pulse quicken under his fingertips.

“That’s a pretty big commitment for someone you just met.” The

man cocked an eye brow at him.

“Maybe, but you’ve got something I want.” Viktor bent forward,

his long hair draping around his face.

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?” the little minx said teasingly.
Viktor’s eyes darted from the man’s eyes to his lips and back up.

What good were words when he could show him?

The man gasped when Viktor brought his mouth down hard on the

soft, pliable lips. He forced his tongue into the wet heaven of the
man’s mouth. The man didn’t seem to mind. He opened wide and let
his tongue come out to duel with Viktor’s. Viktor sucked on the
spongy tongue and could taste a hint of strawberry bubble gum. He
growled and drew the man closer.

Not wasting any time, the other man went for Viktor’s belt buckle,

and then unfastened his pants. Warm fingers pulled Viktor’s
throbbing cock free. He let the man play with his length, but it wasn’t
enough. Viktor wanted more.

Viktor grabbed the man’s hands and yanked them upward. The

man gave an excited gasp when Viktor turned him around to face the
door and held the man’s smaller hands in his larger one. He used his
free hand to undo the man’s pants.

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“Don’t move,” Viktor whispered roughly. He squeezed the man’s

wrist tightly before letting go. His cock ached, and pre-cum dripped
from the tip. The need to be inside this man pushed his limits of self-
control.

He went to his knees and tugged the man’s pants down his thighs.

He bent forward and bit down, but not breaking the skin, on the firm
golden globe of the man’s ass. Viktor heard him yelp, but he didn’t
say stop or pull away. He licked along the red mark and sucked up a
mark beside the bite.

The man came up on his tiptoes and pushed against Viktor’s

mouth. He smiled as he gripped the tight little ass in his face and
kneaded the muscles within. As he massaged, he pulled the cheeks
apart exposing the tiny pink hole he so desperately wanted to plow
into. He blew a breath across the man’s entrance, and he jerked and
whimpered.

Viktor spat at the fluttering hole then licked along the crease. The

man cursed and pushed back further.

“You like that?” Viktor asked as he continued to tease the little

opening.

“Oh god yes,” the man said breathlessly. “Don’t stop.”
“Not planning on it, baby.” Viktor stood up and smacked the man

hard on the ass. He jerked and cried out. Viktor ran his knuckles along
the bright-red mark, reveling in seeing his handprint blooming on the
soft, tan skin.

Viktor reached in his back pocket to pull out a condom and a

packet of lube. Werewolves couldn’t catch human diseases, but when
partaking in sex with humans, it was best to play along with the part.
No wrap no tap, as one of his past sexual partners told him.

He ripped open the wrapper with his teeth then rolled it down his

length. Next he opened the lube and drizzled it on his fingers. He
ghosted his fingers over the man’s hole, and Viktor watched as the
man let his head drop forward to rest on the door. The man’s arms

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

were stretched above his head, and his fingers curled around the top
of the bathroom stall door.

One finger then two explored the man’s opening. He scissor his

fingers in and out in a rush. The man’s muscles clenched tight, but the
more Viktor played the more relaxed he became.

Viktor stood up and ran his lube-covered fingers over his length.

He lined up his cock then paused. “I’m going to fuck you so good,
you’ll beg for more.”

“Confident.” The man looked over his shoulder. “I like that, but

let’s see if your dick can cash the check your mouth just wrote.”

Viktor pushed forward, not stopping until he was buried balls

deep in the man’s silky heat. Like he expected, the man cried out and
bore down on the invasion stabbing into him. Viktor gave him just a
moment to get used to his thick girth then started to move. His fingers
dug in deep to the soft planks of the man’s sides. The man held still,
letting Viktor have his way.

Sweat broke out all over his body. The air in the bathroom was

riddled with sex and sweat, and Viktor sped up his hips.

He yanked the other man’s shirt up his back, exposing more of his

tan flesh. Viktor’s eyes landed on a tattoo along the man’s shoulder
blades. It looked like tiger strips. A dark black but with no specific
pattern.

“Harder!” the man grunted. “Give it to me.”
Not one to disappoint, Viktor snapped his hips forward hard

enough to knock his lover into the door. Viktor recovered quickly and
thrust forward again and again. His balls drew up tight, and Viktor
could feel his orgasm aching to be released.

Reaching around the man’s body, Viktor fisted the man’s cock in

his hand. Liquid ran down from the tip, and Viktor used it to jack the
hard cock off. Before he knew it, the man shot out his seed in long,
arching ropes.

The muscles surrounding his cock started to pulse. Viktor pulled

the man closer and brought his cum-covered hand up to his lips and

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licked away the salty goodness. The taste urged him forward, and he
rutted without any finesse. The man held still and let Viktor rock into
his body. A few more thrusts and Viktor shot his release into the
condom. His body shuddered with aftershocks as his dick emptied
deep inside this man.

Very gently Viktor pulled free and tossed the condom in the toilet.

The other man turned to the side so he could pull his pants up. Viktor
kept his eyes on his lover as he shoved his softening cock back into
his pants. There was something besides the alluring smell about this
man that sent the hairs on the back of his neck on end.

But what is it?
The man went to unlock the door, and Viktor’s hand shot out.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m thirsty.” He peeled Viktor’s fingers from around his arm.

“And you owe me a drink.”

“I do, do I?” Viktor slipped a finger into the man’s belt loop and

pulled him close. “And why’s that?”

“Because I let you fuck me.” The man winked. “Now let’s go, big

boy.”

The man grabbed Viktor’s hand and led him out of the bathroom.

Viktor followed him like a little puppy. This wasn’t Viktor’s typical
style. After the business was done he was gone, but this stranger was
different. It was different because this sexy man was his mate.

So this is how you treat your mate? Meet in a bar and fuck him in

a dirty bathroom stall? Devon was right. You are a cold bastard.

Viktor’s inner voice sounded remarkably like his brother’s mate,

Aiden. The man had only been around for a month, but still the guy
was on Viktor about everything. Either he wasn’t being nice enough,
social enough, or he needed to show interest in more than where he
was going to stick his dick next. Aiden said if he didn’t change his
ways he’d end up all alone. That thought scared Viktor. He didn’t
want to be by himself forever. It was just more convenient right now.

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And now he found the one person meant to be his in a freaking

night club and fucked him without even learning his name. Maybe
Devon was right. He was a cold bastard.

The lights dimmed, and a strobe effect started. The stranger’s grip

on his fingers started to slip, and Viktor found himself surrounded by
dancing bodies. He pushed and shoved his way through the wall of
bodies looking for his mate, but he didn’t see him. Viktor sniffed the
air and followed the trail to the main entrance.

Stepping out in the cool night air, Viktor scanned his eyes around

the front of the club. The scent started to falter in the breeze, and
Viktor walked faster trying to catch a hint of something, anything.

Viktor turned in a circle searching high and low, but the scent was

gone and so was his mate.

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Chapter Two

Shane kept a steady pace, every so often glancing over his

shoulder to make sure he hadn’t been followed. He breathed a sigh of
relief when his apartment building came into view. He ran up the
steps and didn’t stop until he reached the second floor. Once he was
safely inside his studio apartment, Shane slowly started to relax.

Thoughts of the man from the club raced through his mind in slow

motion. His long hair, intimidating stare, and a body made for fucking
were all Shane could think about. He never got the man’s name, but it
was for the best.

The minute the man walked in the club, Shane sensed him. The

man’s woodsy scent was strong, and Shane had been drawn to him.
He watched the man as he flirted with the bartender then when he
danced with another man. Jealousy had him seeing red, but Shane
wasn’t in a place in his life to deal with a mate. He had himself to
worry about, and if he had to up and leave in a moment’s notice, he
didn’t have anyone slowing him down.

Shane blamed his tiger instincts for wanting to be alone. Tigers

typically kept to themselves. It made hunting prey easier. Only cubs
stayed with their mother, but only until they were able to fend for
themselves. Shane’s human nature longed for companionship, but his
tiger reminded him what could happen if he let someone know his
secret. Shane wasn’t only a tiger but a white tiger. A rare shifter
species. Most of his kind had been killed for their fur. Even in the
wild white tigers were rare, so a hunter didn’t care if half the time that
tiger was human or not. As long as they got what they wanted, they
didn’t concern themselves with that little fact.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Checking the lock on the door one more time, Shane went to look

at the window. There wasn’t any sign of the mysterious man or
anyone else hanging around outside. Shane closed the blinds then
headed to the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. When he
was all done with his nighttime routine, he climbed into bed. He
couldn’t stop thinking of his mate, and he started to wonder if he was
strong enough to let him go.

Shane rolled over and stared blankly at the wall. All he ever

learned of his kind was from his mother, and she was gone now. He
knew the basics, but he didn’t know the ramifications for denying
one’s mate. It was times like this he really missed his mom.

Shane had moved to Silver Creek a few months ago. He worked in

the little café down the street, and he couldn’t be happier. For the first
time in the past three years he felt safe. Safety was something most
people took for granted but not Shane. He was on his own with no one
to help him or defend him when trouble came to call, and Shane
preferred it that way. If Shane had learned anything it was best to trust
no one and only to rely on himself. Maybe if he had thought that way
three years ago, his mother might still be alive.

Right before Shane turned eighteen his mother moved them to a

small town just outside of San Antonio. He never knew his father, and
being a single mother had been hard on her, but she did what she had
to do to keep them safe. That meant moving often so hunters didn’t
track them down. San Antonio had a nice nature preserve that they
could shift and run in without the fear of being shot at. They still had
to be sneaky about getting in unseen.

His mom took a job at a small diner. The owners were a nice older

couple who didn’t have any children of their own and welcomed
Shane and his mom with open arms. It was like being a part of a real
family. Shane was happy and most importantly so was his mother.

After a few months his mom met a man named Winston. He was

nice and treated her like a queen. Winston even accepted Shane. At

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times Shane felt awkward when left alone with Winston, but he just
brushed that off as not being used to having a father figure around.

Winston lived in Austin and drove down on the weekends to visit.

Shane had never seen his mother so happy. After living alone for so
long Shane felt his mother deserved it, so he kept his concerns about
Winston to himself. The man seemed nice on the outside, but there
were times he’d look at Shane with a crazed look in his eyes that
made him uncomfortable. He always looked for excuses to touch him,
and eventually Shane made himself scarce when Winston would come
to visit. He didn’t want his overactive imagination to cost his mom
her shot at finding love.

His mom and Winston had been together for close to six months

when Shane turned eighteen. He had made plans to go camping in the
mountains with his friends that Friday after school let out. He left his
camping gear at home and when school let out he swung by the house
to grab his stuff.

It was still early, so Shane didn’t think he’d have a run in with

Winston, but when he got home he was there, waiting. Shane
plastered a smile on his face and gave quick answers to all of
Winston’s questions. When he went to leave Winston stepped in his
path, blocking his way out.

Winston took a step forward then another until he had Shane

backed against the wall. When Shane tried to push him away, the
older man just laughed and pinned Shane’s arms behind his back.

“I’ve been looking for you for a very long time,” Winston

whispered next to his ear. “I remember when you were just a cub, but
now you’re a man, and I don’t have to feel guilty anymore.”

“Feel guilty about what?” His voice shook.
“Wanting you.” Winston licked his tongue along the shell of

Shane’s ear. He tried to pull away, but Winston was too strong. “The
men I work with agreed to give me you if I handed over your mother.
They need more females to breed your kind.”

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Rage fueled Shane and he was able to shove Winston away.

“You’re a hunter?” The word was like filth in his mouth. “She cares
about you.”

“That was the plan.” Winston edged closer. “I never wanted her,

only you.”

Winston tackled him to the floor and tried to kiss him, but Shane

fought his advances, but it was no use. Even being a shifter didn’t
help the fact he was still a teenager not grown into his full strength.
He could feel Winston’s erect cock pressed into his hip, and bile rose
in his throat, threatening to make him sick.

“What’s going on here?” his mother shouted from the doorway.
Winston stood up and pulled Shane along with him. He had one

arm wrapped around Shane’s neck in an iron grip. “Wonderful, you’re
home. My friends will be here for you anytime now.”

“What are you talking about?” Shane watched as his mother’s

eyes jumped from him to Winston. He saw when the light went off in
her head. “You’re a hunter.”

“I prefer scientist.”
A tear escaped his mother’s eye, and Shane could feel her pain.

They’d been running for so long and had managed to never get caught
until now.

“Shane, honey, know that I will always love you.” She started

walking slowly toward them.

Shane could only stare at her. She was saying good-bye but he

didn’t know what for.

It all happened so fast. His mother attacked, shifting in midair.

Winston pushed Shane to the ground and pulled out a gun. One shot
rang out, then the sound of their bodies hitting the floor echoed in his
ears. Shane quickly climbed to his feet and hurried over to his mother.
She had been shot in the chest, but it didn’t stop her from ripping out
Winston’s throat first. He lay dead on the floor. His lifeless eyes
staring at nothing.

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“Oh, god, Mom, no!” Shane cried as she shifted back. Blood

pooled around the wound. The deepest crimson he had ever seen
spilled from her body to paint the floor.

“It’s okay, honey.” She started to cough. Blood oozed from the

corner of her mouth. “You’re safe, and that is all that matters. Now go
before they get here. Don’t let my sacrifice be for nothing.” She tried
to laugh, but it came out more as a wheeze. “I love you, Shane. Don’t
ever forget that.”

“I love you, too, Mom,” Shane whispered softly in his darkened

room. The memory every bit as vivid in his mind as the day it
happened. In a blink of an eye he lost everything. And ever since then
he’d been running.

His mind drifted back to the man at the club, and Shane started to

wonder if he needed to start running for a different reason.

* * * *

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Viktor shouted as he pounded his hand on the

steering wheel. He searched outside of the club for thirty minutes then
went back inside for another forty, but couldn’t find any trace of his
mate. It was like he was never there.

Viktor hit his blinker and took the dark road that led to his home.

He shared the house with his two brothers, his best friend, and now
his older brother’s mate, Aiden. The lights were off, so he’d be able to
get in unseen. He didn’t feel like discussing his disappearing-mate
issues with any of them. If they found out he fucked his mate in a
dirty bathroom stall then managed to lose him, they would never let
him live it down. He’d seen enough disappointment in their eyes over
the years. He didn’t need another dose of it tonight.

He parked his truck and walked up to the front door. Viktor

unlocked the door and shut it behind him. He jogged up the stairs and
went straight to his room. He got ready for bed then climbed under
the cool sheets.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Looking at the clock, Viktor saw that it was after two in the

morning, and he had to get up in less than five hours for work. If he
was late, Devon would ride his ass about responsibility and how he
didn’t take his seriously. Carsten and Son’s offices were located on
the same property as their house, so the trip to the office wasn’t that
far.

His older brother, Devon, and their childhood friend, Josef, ran

and procured work for Carsten and Son’s Construction, while Viktor
ran the job sights. He handled getting supplies delivered to the
workers and made sure everything ran smoothly. Viktor actually liked
his job. He wasn’t cooped up at a desk all day and got to spend the
majority of his time outside.

They did a lot of restoration business in the surrounding towns,

and the new work they did obtain mainly consisted of new homes
going up around the area. Upstate New York was a beautiful
landscape and now all the city yuppies wanted a piece of the pie.
They’d want huge-ass houses built as vacation homes that they might
stay in three times a year. In Viktor’s estimation it was a waste, but
money was money.

The minutes on the clock ticked away, but Viktor still couldn’t

fall asleep. The wicked grin his mate wore kept flashing behind his
eyelids taunting him. Viktor could almost feel the warmth of his
mate’s skin, the softness of his lips as he kissed him. But like smoke
the images faded away just like his mate did. He let the one man he
didn’t want to get rid of slip through his fingers.

If Viktor thought too hard on it, he’d find it funny. All the men

he’d been with over the years and not a one made him think twice
about sticking around. Then the one that he does want ditches him.
And what made it worse, Viktor felt used. Like a piece of meat that
man took advantage of.

It serves you right. All those men you’ve used over the years. It’s

high time someone gave you a good dose of your own medicine.

AJ Jarrett

“Oh shut up,” Viktor mumbled into his pillow as he rolled over.

He found it odd that his inner voice sounded a lot like Aiden.

His brother’s mate came to live with them under unusual

circumstances. He and Josef kidnapped that man when they went
looking for Erik. Aiden’s father was one of the hunters who took part
in his kid brother’s abduction so they took Aiden. It seemed fair at the
time, and little did any of them know that Aiden would end up being
Devon’s mate.

Viktor still felt a little guilty for how he treated the guy, but he

had been insane with worry for his brother. No one could blame him
for his actions, and he was thankful Aiden had forgiven him. And for
some reason that meant Aiden constantly poked his nose into Viktor’s
business all the time. He saw Viktor as a project that needed to be
fixed. Viktor didn’t want to be fixed or saved. He was a product of
what the hunters made him. They killed his folks and still continued
to hunt his kind. His inability to trust others and his cold attitude was
for self-preservation. Viktor didn’t like being a victim, and he’d be
damned if he felt that helpless ever again.

The wind howled outside his window, sounding like a lullaby.

Fatigue had finally started to set in. Viktor rolled back to lie on his
back and stretched his arms out to the side. The sun would be up
soon, and with any luck he’d think of a way to find his mate. If Viktor
was anything it was persistent.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Chapter Three

The alarm clock sounded way too early later that morning. Viktor

pulled himself out of bed and headed for the bathroom to take a hot
shower.

He tossed and turned all night. His mind hadn’t been able to shut

off. Thoughts of his sexy little mate kept him half hard all night. And
there was no way for him to comfortably sleep while in that condition.

Once dressed, Viktor went downstairs. He could hear voices from

the kitchen as he got closer. Skyler stood in front of the stove making
breakfast. The wolf had been with the pack since he was a kid. Like
Josef, Skyler was a childhood friend.

Aiden sat with his head in a book, probably trying to catch up on

his studying because he neglected it the night before. Ever since
Aiden and Devon mated, they’d been at it like rabbits in heat. Viktor
thanked the good lord Aiden couldn’t get pregnant. There’d be kids
all over the fucking house.

Viktor went straight for the coffeepot and grunted a hello when

Skyler greeted him. His head hurt, and his body ached. He needed that
first cup of steaming hot coffee before he could even begin to
function.

As he made his way to the table, he could feel Devon’s eyes on

him but didn’t acknowledge his brother’s presence. Viktor had gotten
up on time and was ready to go. There wasn’t anything Devon could
bitch at him about.

“Dude, you look like shit,” Josef said in between bites of his

pancakes. “When did you get in last night?”

AJ Jarrett

Viktor brought his coffee mug up to his lips and took a sip.

“Thank you for the compliment.” He flipped Josef the bird. “And I
don’t have to answer that. I’m a grown man.”

“He got in around two this morning.” Devon continued to stare at

him. “You better not let these late nights affect your work.”

“Does it ever?” Viktor said through clenched teeth. He hated how

his brother treated him like a child. As long as Viktor took care of his
responsibilities Devon had no room to talk.

“Well, sunshine, this rosy disposition of yours doesn’t help

matters. Just because you show up on time doesn’t mean you’re
there.”

Huh? Viktor stared blankly at his brother. If he was there how

could he not be there? “What the hell are you talking about?”

“What I’m saying is you better work on your attitude.” Devon

leaned across the table and pointed a finger in Viktor’s face. “I’ve had
more employee complaints about your ass than I can count. Just
because you’re having a shitty day doesn’t give you the right to take it
out on other people.”

Anger caused Viktor’s hands to tense, and the mug he’d been

holding shattered, spilling coffee all over the table. “Sorry I’m not as
perfect as you, big brother.”

“It’s has nothing to do with being like me. It has everything to do

with the fact you don’t care about anything.”

Viktor rose up from his chair. His brother had gone too far. He

cared about a lot of things. It wasn’t his fault he had a rage inside him
that consumed him day in day out. He couldn’t explain it to himself
let alone try and explain it to his brother. Devon thought him a fuck-
up and at times Viktor agreed with that assessment.

“Knock it off, you two.” Aiden pulled Devon back down into his

chair. “Devon, lay off Viktor. He’s an adult. If you have something
work related to discuss with him, you can do it in a more respectful
way.” Aiden put his nose back into his book. “You wouldn’t talk to
Josef that way.”

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

A grin quirked Viktor’s upper lip. “Thank you, Aiden.”
“Wipe that smirk off your face,” Aiden said without looking up

from his book.

“Aiden’s right,” Devon said after a few minutes had passed. “I’m

sorry to be on your ass all the time, but you’ve got to help me out
here, Viktor.”

There was soft pleading in Devon’s eyes that once again made

him feel like crap for letting down one of the few people in his life he
actually loved. “I’m going to try harder, Devon. I don’t want to let
you down.” And he didn’t.

“That’s all I can ask for.” Devon smiled at him before he went

back to eating his breakfast.

Skyler rushed over to wipe up the mess Viktor had made and left a

plate loaded with food. The sight of it made his stomach growl. The
sweet smell of pancakes and eggs met his nose, and he dug in.
Everyone sat quietly while they ate, enjoying Skyler’s hard work.

He had just pushed up from the table to take his plate to the

kitchen sink when a pain-filled howl ripped through the air. It was
low and rough.

“When will he stop moping around here?” Skyler voiced what

they all were thinking.

“Cut him some slack.” Aiden stood up and went to stand by the

back door. Viktor followed and stood behind him looking at his little
brother curled up in a ball in the yard. “He’s found his mate but can’t
be with him.” Aiden glanced over his shoulder to look at Skyler. “It’s
a terrible feeling to be without the other half of your soul.”

Aiden’s words hit Viktor in the gut like a solid punch. It took

everything in him not to whimper at his loss. He found his mate then
lost him. Would he become a shell of a person like his little brother
had become?

“It’s not like they will never be together.” Skyler scoffed as he set

about loading the dish washer. “He’s only sixteen. It’s against the law
for him to get physical with his mate.”

AJ Jarrett

“Then there’s the fact the guy’s a hunter, too,” Devon said from

beside Viktor. He never heard his brother get up. “I wish I knew how
it would turn out for our little brother.”

Viktor did, too. Erik’s mate happened to be one of the human

hunters that abducted him four weeks ago. No matter how hard Viktor
wanted to hate the guy, he couldn’t. Brandon kept the other hunters
from turning Erik over to the council and killed a fellow hunter when
the man threatened to shoot Erik. Not Viktor’s first choice for a mate
for his brother, but Brandon obviously cared for Erik, and that’s all
that mattered.

For the last four weeks when Erik wasn’t at school, he stayed in

wolf form. He spent more time as a wolf than a human. Hours would
pass when no one knew where he had gone, and Viktor often
wondered if he was sneaking off to see Brandon.

Brandon, along with Aiden’s dad, stayed on as hunters. They

helped keep the other hunters away from their property and kept them
up-to-date on what the hunters’ council was up to. As long as
Brandon was a hunter, he couldn’t be with Erik. It would be too risky
for both of them. The matter of Erik’s age was an obstacle they could
overcome in a couple of years, but Brandon being a hunter was
another challenge altogether.

“Okay, guys, I’m off.” Devon kissed Aiden on the lips and

playfully punched Viktor in the arm. “I’ve got a pre-bid in Silver
Creek.”

“Oh yeah?” Viktor asked. “What kind of job?”
“The public library building. It’s over a hundred years old and

needs a lot of work done to the outside. The brick is chipping away,
and the mortar is all but gone in some spots. Huge job if I can get it.”

“Sounds good.” Viktor followed his brother out the front door.

“Well I’m going to head over to the Matthews place. The driveway is
being poured today.”

They said their good-byes and headed their separate ways. Viktor

drove through town and headed east toward the Matthews estate. The

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

house was ginormous and set far back from the road. Mr. Matthews
was a bigwig plastic surgeon in New York and had this home built as
his weekend getaway. They had to construct a landing strip in the
back of the property. Mr. Matthews had a pilot’s license and flew
himself in whenever he wanted. Viktor thought it must be nice to be
so rich. He could do whatever he wanted when he wanted.

But Mr. Matthews wasn’t like most rich people Viktor had met.

The man didn’t talk down to them or treat them like something one
would find on the bottom of their shoe. He was very professional and
pretty much kept to himself. As long as he paid Carsten and Son’s
Construction on time, Viktor couldn’t care less if the man never spoke
one word to him.

As he pulled up to the house the guys were already there. He

remembered what Devon said about the employees complaining about
him. He had to be nice or nicer than he had been. Just because he was
a hot mess didn’t mean these men had to suffer. The five men
working this job were all human and didn’t have any knowledge that
they worked for a werewolf. And Viktor surmised that it wasn’t fair to
take his problems or anger out on them.

He got out of the car and spoke to the foreman. He followed the

older man around as he pointed out different things they had been
working on and things that still needed to be done.

In the back of the house, past the landing strip, lay thick forest.

The wind picked up, and a scent on the breeze grabbed Viktor by the
nut sack, and he stopped in his tracks. Vanilla and honey.

Viktor turned left then right, trying to catch the smell again, but it

was gone. It was so faint to begin with he started to think he’d
imagined it.

“Viktor, everything okay?”
He looked out toward the surrounding woods one more time then

turned back to the other man. “Yeah, everything is fine.”

They finished the walk-through, and as he was heading back to his

truck, his phone rang. “Hello?”

AJ Jarrett

“Hey, Viktor, I’m sorry to bother you, but my car won’t start, and

I don’t want to call Devon since he has that meeting in Silver Creek,”
Aiden said.

“Just borrow Skyler or Erik’s car.” Viktor popped the lock on his

door and climbed inside the cab.

“I would, but Erik has already left for school, and Skyler left right

after you guys did to go shopping. Come on, Viktor,” Aiden whined
into the phone. “I’m going to be late for class.”

Viktor breathed out a heavy sigh and started the engine. “Fine, I’ll

be there in about twenty minutes. Be ready to go when I pull up.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Aiden sang out the words.

“I’ll be ready.”

On drive back to the house Viktor scanned the side of the roads on

the off chance he would see his mate. It was a long shot, but he could
have sworn he smelt the man’s exotic scent. His dick twitched at the
memory.

The closer to home he got the more his enthusiasm started to fade

at seeing his mate. If his mate lived close to him, Viktor would have
sensed it before now.

He pulled into the drive and honked his horn. Aiden came rushing

out. He hopped up into the truck and shut the door. Aiden attended
Hemsworth University in Silver Creek. Silver Creek was the biggest
town in these parts, and that was mainly because of the college.

The drive took a good thirty minutes from where they lived in

Nehalem, but Viktor didn’t mind making the trek. Silver Creek had a
good night-life scene, and the town was big enough so he could move
around unseen and have the luxury of picking from a large pool of
potential lovers. Young and virile men. God how he loved college
students. They liked to party hard and more often than not were up for
anything.

“Thanks again for coming to get me.” Aiden’s voice pulled Viktor

from his thoughts. “I’ll call Devon and have him stay in town so I can
catch a ride home.”

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

“Not a problem.” Viktor looked to the clock on the dashboard.

“Are you going to be late?” He’d hurry as fast as he could, but time
seemed to fly when there was somewhere he had to be.

“Naw, I’ll be good. My class doesn’t start for another hour. I just

wanted to get up there early to attend a study group.”

“Still, I know the drive like the back of my hand, and I’ll have you

there in no time.” Viktor pushed a little harder on the gas pedal.

“Viktor, can I ask you something?”
He glanced over at Aiden then back to the road. “Sure.”
“Why do you act like you don’t care about anything? I mean we

all know you love your brothers, so we know it’s possible for you to
feel emotions.” Aiden rushed to explain. “But beyond that you seem
so miserable all the time.”

Viktor had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Aiden was going

to school to become a psychologist, and he always wanted to
psychoanalyze him. It drove Viktor crazy.

“Aiden, I’ve seen a lot of shit in my life, and it can change a

person.” It was true. If he had to guess why he pretended like he
didn’t need anyone, it had to stem from feeling helpless when his
parents were murdered. He didn’t want to have to need anyone, and
hopping from one bed partner to the next kept him on the right path.
Don’t fall in love and don’t grow attached. He had enough to worry
about when it came to his brothers and close friends. He didn’t want
to add any more people to the list.

“You say that, but Devon and Erik aren’t like that,” Aiden simply

answered.

“Devon’s a control freak, and Erik is so mentally fragile the kid

can’t seem to stay in human form for more than a few hours at a
time.” Viktor didn’t mean to shout at Aiden, but they were all
damaged in some way. Losing their parents and living with the
constant fear that hunters would find them had taken its toll.

“I’m not saying they’re perfect, but they try. Devon says Erik was

a pretty well-adjusted kid before the kidnapping, and we have faith

AJ Jarrett

that he’ll get back to that happy place.” Viktor tensed when he felt
Aiden’s fingers on his arm. “But you, I don’t know, you’re different,
Viktor.” Aiden gave him a sad smile, and Viktor hated his pity. “I’m
always here if you need to talk.”

The air in the cab of the truck was thick with emotion, and Viktor

felt like he was suffocating. It was in his nature when feeling trapped
to break free and run, but this was different. He couldn’t run from his
fear or from Aiden. Aiden forgave him for kidnapping and beating
him up. For no reason whatsoever this man wanted to help him and
saw potential where others had written him off as a lost cause. Viktor
wouldn’t shun the one person who wanted to help him.

“Thank you, Aiden.” Viktor pulled over in front of the Silver

Creek library. The college was only a couple blocks away, so the
walk wouldn’t be far for Aiden. “But until your name has doctor in
front of it, don’t try to shrink me. You might fuck me up more than I
already am.”

“You’re not fucked up, just a little rough around the edges.”

Aiden laughed as he got out of the truck.

Viktor didn’t flinch when Aiden came around the truck and

hugged him around the waist. With unsteady arms he hugged him
back. “How can you like me after everything I’ve done?” He hated to
ask, but he wanted to know how this person could be so good-hearted.

“You only did what anyone else in your shoes would have done. I

can’t fault you for that.” Aiden took a step back and shouldered his
backpack. “Now I’m off to go find my mate, maybe talk him into
buying me a coffee or something. You want to join us?”

“Nah, you guys enjoy the afternoon. I’ve got work stuff to do.”

Viktor said good-bye and watched as Aiden made it safely into the
building. He hopped back into his truck and drove off down the street.
He could have spared a few minutes to spend with his brother and his
mate, but seeing Aiden and Devon together only would make him
long for his mate. Part of Viktor wondered if he and the nameless man
from last night could be half as happy as his brother and Aiden were.

AJ Jarrett

Chapter Four

It was closing in on ten when the morning rush started to die

down. Shane worked the morning shift, and he loved it. Most people
hated the mass of people who bum-rushed the doors at 7:00 a.m. to
get their daily dose of caffeine but not Shane. His easy-going nature
and the ability to move fast kept the customers happy. He’d only
worked at the Early Bean Café for two months, but most of the
regulars knew him by name. They’d chat with him while he prepared
their orders, and it made Shane feel needed. He wasn’t curing cancer
or anything, but he felt valued for his job.

The café owner was a sweet older lady named Margie. She helped

open the shop with him in the morning, but her arthritis kept her from
helping make the variety of lattes and special brewed coffees they
offered, but it didn’t bother Shane in the least. He genuinely just liked
spending time with her.

When he first came to Silver Creek two months ago, he strode into

town with his backpack and maybe twenty dollars in his pocket. After
his mother died he roamed from town to town taking odd jobs here
and there. But when he saw the white and brown hand-painted sign
for The Early Bean he felt like he had finally found a place that would
welcome him.

As if god was looking out for him, a help wanted sign hung in the

window. He went inside and applied for the position. Margie sat and
talked with him and offered him the job right on the spot. She had a
gentle way about herself, and with her soft-spoken words and loving
touches, Shane was pouring his heart out to her within minutes of
getting the job. He didn’t give her specific details but told her his

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

mother had died a few years back and he’d moved from town to town
since then.

Margie listened and didn’t judge him for being a vagabond. She

said she could relate to feeling lost and that Shane had found a home
here in Silver Creek. The apartment he rented was in one of the
buildings Margie owned, and she gave him a great deal on rent. He
couldn’t have been more grateful for having met her. Her generosity
helped prove to Shane that not all was bad in the world.

“Hey, Marg,” Shane called out.
“Yes, dear.” Margie sat at the counter going over the supply list.
“I’m going to run the trash out.” He walked up behind her and

gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

Margie patted him on the hand and smiled at him. “I’ll be here.

I’ve got nowhere else to go.”

“Miss Margie, don’t you lie to me,” Shane teasingly chastised her.

“I’ve seen you on the phone more in the past few weeks than the
entire time I’ve worked here. I know you’re hiding a man somewhere
here around town.”

Shane liked to joke with her, but he already knew who she was

seeing. He could smell the man on her clothes when she came into
work in the mornings. Apparently she’d been spending time with the
retired sheriff of Silver Creek. Word was they used to be high school
sweethearts, but when she moved away he married another woman,
and Margie ended up marrying a man she met at college. With both of
them widowed now, they were free to date. Shane always got a goofy
grin on his face when he thought of how romantic it was that they
found each other again. Call him a sap, but he was a fool for love
even when he didn’t want to factor it into his life. He wanted others to
be happy.

“You’ve got your secrets, my dear, and I have my own.” Margie

winked at him over her papers.

Shane chuckled as he picked up the bags of trash and headed for

the back door. He pulled the lock free and propped a box in front of

AJ Jarrett

the heavy door to keep it from shutting. Shane threw open the
Dumpster’s lid and tossed the bags inside. When he was done he
reached up and pulled the lid closed.

He was dusting off his hands on his apron when he felt someone

watching him. The hairs on his arm stood up, sending off warning
bells. He felt this way before, and that only meant one thing. They’d
found him.

Shane kept his head down and slowly turned from side to side not

wanting to make it too obvious he knew someone was watching him.
He gave the air an experimental sniff. Tigers had above-average sense
of smell, but with the different aromas of coffee The Early Bean
brewed, he couldn’t decipher a thing.

Very slowly and as naturally as he could, Shane walked back to

the door. He kicked the box back inside and pulled the door shut.
With the door safely locked behind him he waited. Usually when the
hunters had found him they would attack within seconds of spotting
Shane. A good few minutes had passed, and no one came pounding
on the door. Everything was as it was.

The bell that hung over the front door chimed, and Shane let out a

yelp. He started to laugh at his own foolishness. Three years on the
run and doubting every little thing was a hard habit to break.

“Shane, honey,” Margie called for him. “We’ve got a customer.”
Shane pushed away from the door and headed back to the front of

the café. “What can I get for you?” he asked over his shoulder as he
washed his hands at the sink. When no one answered, Shane turned
around, drying his hands off on the towel, and looked at the man
standing in front of him. “Can I get you something?” he said slowly.

“Oh, yes.” The man shook his head. “Sorry about that.” He

cleared his throat. “You just have so many choices.” The man smiled
at him across the counter, and Shane smiled back.

“Yes we do.” Shane turned to look at the hand-written menu that

hung on the wall. “What do you like? Something different, a little out
of your comfort zone, or a cup of old reliable?”

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

“I’m that obvious, huh?” The man’s cheeks pinked, and he

dropped his eyes to stare at the counter.

“Oh no. You just look a little overwhelmed.” Shane rushed to

reassure the man.

The man slowly looked back up, and his brown eyes peered into

Shane’s, and he couldn’t look away. The man was handsome in that
tall, dark, built-like-a-football-player way. And no matter how
attractive Shane thought this man was, he lacked in comparison to the
tall, muscular blond he met at the bar the previous night, his mate.

“How about I just get a regular cup of coffee today.” The man

shrugged his shoulder. “Maybe tomorrow I’ll be more daring.”

“Okay, sounds like a plan.” Shane grabbed a cup and headed for

the coffeepot. “So are you new in town?”

“You could say that.” The man took a seat at the high countertop.

“I moved here about a week ago. I just finally finished unpacking, and
now I’m exploring my new surroundings.”

Shane turned around and set the cup in front to the man. “I’m

new, too, and I must say Silver Creek is a town you’ll just fall in love
with. Where are my manners?” Shane held out his hand. “My name is
Shane.”

“Dakota,” the man said as he grasped onto Shane’s hand. “I’m

definitely seeing the appeal of Silver Creek.” Dakota very lightly
caressed his thumb over Shane’s knuckles.

A weird churning sensation brewed in Shane’s gut. Dakota was

flirting with him no doubt about it, and maybe any other time he’d be
willing to peruse the attraction, but he couldn’t. It felt too much like
cheating on his mate. A mate he didn’t even know the name of.

Shane searched for the right words to say but couldn’t make his

mouth work. The bells chiming over the front door saved him from
having to say anything else. Dakota released his hand and stood up.

“It was nice meeting you, Shane.” He laid a few dollars on the

countertop. “I’m sure I’ll see you again.”

“You, too, Dakota.” Shane gave a small wave. “See you around.”

AJ Jarrett

He quickly deposited the money in the cash register and released

the breath he’d been holding. Shane had never been one to let another
man’s advances shake him up before. He could only assume it had
something to do with him finding his mate.

Stupid fate!
Shane shut the money drawer a little harder than he’d meant to,

and the machine rattled on the countertop.

“Everything okay?”
The man’s voice sounded familiar. A little deeper but the

underlying tone was the same. Shane slowly turned around to face the
newcomers. He about doubled over in relief. Where the man staring at
him had similar looks to his mate, he wasn’t him. In fact he stood
holding hands with another man, who was gazing up at the menu.

“Yes, of course.” Shane scoffed at his concern. “What can I get

for you gentlemen today?” His eyes wandered back down to where
the two men held hands. They were touching with such ease as if they
didn’t care who saw them. The two men began to talk to one another,
and Shane looked back up at their faces. The tall blond looked
lovingly down at his boyfriend, and Shane envied the man.

“I’m going to have a hot chocolate with a shot of pumpkin spice

and a piece of that banana bread. What do you want, Devon?”

“Hot chocolate with pumpkin spice flavoring?” The taller man

quirked an eyebrow at the little guy. “That sounds awful.”

“Oh shut the hell up. I’m starving, and it’s the holidays.” The man

grinned up at his boyfriend. “Makes me get into the spirit.”

Shane giggled as he went about filling their order. He could hear

their playful banter back and forth, and Shane had to admit it was
funny. They teased each other, but never took it too far to hurt the
other’s feelings. It was disgustingly cute.

He handed over their orders, and the two men went and sat at a

table by the front window. Shane finished stocking the sugar packets
and napkins then went to wipe down the countertops.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

As he worked he kept his ears open to the two men’s

conversation. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but he was curious about
the pair. He learned the taller man was named Devon and the smaller
one Aiden. Aiden attended Hemsworth University. And apparently
Devon worked in construction and was starting a job at the old library
across the street. Which Shane thought a good thing. The damn
building was falling apart one chunk at a time.

The timer on the oven beeped, and Shane jogged behind the

counter to pull out the muffins Margie stuck in there before she left.
The sweet smell of cinnamon and sugar filled the café. Shane went
about putting them in the display case when the sound of a phone
going off disturbed him.

He saw Devon fish his phone out of his pocket. “Shit, it’s Viktor.

I have to take this, babe.”

Aiden waved to his boyfriend. “I’m fine. Take it. I’ve got class in

ten minutes anyway.”

“Okay, Aid.” Devon leaned over the table and kissed Aiden full

on the mouth. “See you in a few hours after your classes. I’ll be
waiting for you out front.”

“I can’t wait.” Aiden gave Devon one more peck on the lips then

Devon turned and walked out the front door.

Damn, Shane wished he could have a relationship like that. To be

able to live a normal life he’d give anything.

“He’s cute, huh?”
The sound of Aiden’s voice pulled him from his pity party.

“Excuse me?”

“Oh come on!” Aiden hopped up onto one of the barstools. “I saw

you staring. I’m not jealous or anything. But you have to agree that is
one hot-ass piece of man meat.”

Shane’s eyes rounded at Aiden’s bluntness. They had just met,

and this guy was discussing his boyfriend’s hotness with a complete
stranger.

“Don’t look so offended. I’m not.”

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“I’ve never met anyone like you before.” Shane rested his elbows

on the glass countertop and looked at Aiden. “You’re both so open
with your relationship.”

“Eh, not everyone is as accepting of two men being together, but

who cares. Fuck them.” Aiden smacked his hand down on the
counter. “We’re in love, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to hide.” He
pointed over his shoulder. “Like I said, did you see my boyfriend?
He’s freaking hot!”

Shane couldn’t stop the peals of laughter that bubbled out of his

mouth. His sides started to ache. “Yes you have every reason to be
proud and to show off your man.”

“Thank you.” Aiden crossed his arms over his chest. “So,

stranger, what’s your name?”

“Shane.” He offered Aiden his hand.
“I’m Aiden, and that was Devon.”
Shane just nodded his head. He didn’t want to tell Aiden he

already knew their names. It would have given away his excellent
hearing ability, and it was just plain rude.

“Well it’s nice to meet you, Aiden.”
“You, too, Shane.” Aiden’s smile was contagious, and Shane

couldn’t help smiling back just as brightly as the other man. “I have a
feeling we’ll become good friends.”

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?” Shane gave Aiden a funny look. He

wasn’t into threesomes or anything kinky like that.

“This is the first time I’ve ever come into this café and I freaking

love it. That banana bread is the best I’ve ever tasted.” Aiden leaned
over the counter and whispered, “But don’t tell my friend, Skyler,
that. He’d totally lose his shit.”

“Promise.” He didn’t know if he’d ever meet the man in question,

but he hoped to see Aiden again. Aiden was funny and made Shane
feel like his age. Over the past three years of running, he felt old and
weathered.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

“Oh shit!” Aiden grumbled as he looked down at his watch. “I

better scoot. I’ve got three minutes to get to class.” He turned around
and grabbed his hot chocolate and downed the remainder in one gulp.

When Aiden pulled the cup from his mouth, he had a dark

chocolate-colored mustache on his upper lip. Shane shook his head as
he rounded the counter to stand in front of Aiden. He brought his
hands up and used his thumbs to wipe away the cocoa. Aiden’s eyes
went wide and a breath escaped his lips.

“Relax, Aiden.” Shane laughed. “I’m not putting the moves on

you, but you have a seventies porn stache gracing your upper lip. I
don’t think you want to go walking around town like that. Plus you
might attract bugs.”

“Oh.” Aiden smiled. “Thanks.” When Aiden reached the door he

turned back around. “See you later, Shane.”

Shane waved as Aiden left the café. He hoped he’d see him later.

Shane didn’t have a lot of friends, and Aiden was a nice guy, easy to
talk to, and funny as hell. Maybe if Shane made some friends, he
wouldn’t desire his mate as much. It was worth a shot.

AJ Jarrett

Chapter Five

“Home sweet home,” Viktor said to himself as he pulled into the

drive. It was after six, and the sun had already gone down and
darkness marred the sky. All the lights in the house were on, and no
doubt everyone had congregated in the kitchen for supper.

Viktor turned the engine off to his truck and gazed up at the house

for a moment. They had lived in this house for the past ten years. It
was the home they made after their parents had been murdered. But
after meeting his mate the other night, Viktor couldn’t help but feel
that something was missing. The place that had once been his safe
haven seemed not as comforting.

As he walked up the stone path to the front porch he saw a large

gray mass laid out on the dying grass, staring up at the starry night.
Erik. Viktor headed over to his brother and sat down next to him. He
stretched his legs out in front of him and rested back on his elbows.

“So.” He looked from the sky back to his brother. “What’s going

on, pup?”

Erik let out a soft yelp and shook his head. He made no move to

shift back to talk. Viktor hated seeing his little brother so sad, but
there was nothing they could do to fix his problem. He was only
sixteen, way too young to partake in a mating to an older man. Erik
would have to find a way to suck it up and deal with his problems. In
two years he could by all means claim his mate. The hard part would
be having to wait, and Viktor understood that. Hell, he waited twenty-
nine years to find his mate. Not long but long enough.

“Erik, you can’t stay like this forever. Brandon wouldn’t want you

to.” Viktor wasn’t the most patient of individuals, but for his brother

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

he’d try. “I saw the way he looked at you. He would want you to
enjoy life even without him in it.” Viktor sat up and crossed his legs
underneath him. “You’re too young, man. Don’t let your sadness
consume you.” He shook his head. “Let me tell ya, it’ll eat you alive
until there’s nothing left.”

The air around Erik started to shimmer followed by the sound of

popping bones. He smiled when Erik’s baby blues looked up at him.

“But it hurts, Vik.” Erik’s voice sounded so wounded and lost.
“Sometimes love does. It’s how we know we’re still human even

when others think were just animals.” Viktor took off his flannel shirt
and handed it to Erik. Once Erik had it slipped on, Viktor wrapped an
arm around Erik’s shoulder and pulled him close. “It’s okay to be sad,
Erik, but you can’t let it rule you.”

“You let it rule you.” A tear ran down Erik’s face, and his voice

cracked.

Viktor blew out a hard breath. He didn’t want Erik to take after

him or pick up his brooding habits. Erik was young and had his whole
life ahead of him. Sitting around depressed would only make him
become jaded like him. Viktor wouldn’t wish his life on anyone.

“You’re right,” Viktor answered honestly. “But you’re not me,

and I don’t want you to be like me. You’re kind and so smart. You
deserve a lot more out of life than sitting around letting it pass you by.
When the time comes Brandon is going to want a man, not a lost little
boy.”

“I am a man,” Erik said as he wiped away his tears.
“Eh, still a kid,” Viktor teased. He ruffled up the thick blond hair

on Erik’s head. Erik slapped his hand away but started to laugh. The
sound was music to Viktor’s ears.

Viktor climbed to his feet and yanked Erik up by his hand. “Let’s

go have dinner with the family. I’m sure they’re waiting on us.” He
wrapped his arm around Erik and led him to the house.

“I’m going to go throw on some clothes,” Erik said as they

stepped into the house. Viktor watched as he ran up the stairs. Erik

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wasn’t going to get over not being with Brandon overnight, but
hopefully he could start to cope. Two years wasn’t a long time, and
Erik had other things to occupy his time. He had school, and he was
on the track team. If Erik let go of his anguish time would fly by.

Cheerful sounds floated out of the kitchen, and he headed in that

direction. The delicious smells of fried chicken fanned across his face,
and his stomach let out a loud growl.

When he entered the kitchen he saw Aiden sitting on Devon’s lap,

and they were laughing about something. He rolled his eyes. The pair
was so lovey-dovey it bordered on disgusting. If he weren’t so hungry
he might have lost his appetite.

Skyler stood at the stove, putting the mashed potatoes into a large

bowl. He then carried it to the table with the rest of the meal. Viktor’s
mouth started to water when his eyes landed on the golden-crusted
chicken.

He walked toward the table with his eyes on the large platter. He

ignored Skyler when he said hi. Viktor was on a mission, and it
involved stuffing his face.

“Here, Skyler, let me help you,” Aiden said.
As Aiden passed, the wind stirred up a breeze. Viktor stopped

dead in his tracks. A light scent of vanilla and honey tickled under his
nose. He turned and watched Aiden as he stood talking with Skyler at
the counter. His feet carried him toward Aiden. The closer he got the
faster he walked. When he reached Aiden the man gave out a shout as
Viktor cornered him against the cabinets. He dropped his nose and
started to sniff along his brother’s mate’s neck. The smell was faint,
but it was there and he never smelt that on Aiden before. But why
now?

“Viktor,” Aiden said as he tried to push him back. “Devon!”
Viktor grabbed Aiden by the wrist and sniffed along his jawline.

His nose twitched the closer to Aiden’s lips he got. “Mine.” The word
came out garbled.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

“Viktor,” Devon shouted. He could feel his brother’s hand pulling

on his shoulders, but Viktor couldn’t let go. He could smell his mate.
“Let go!”

Unable to control himself, Viktor pulled Aiden to his chest and

spun around and growled at Devon.

Devon put his hands up. “Brother, calm down.”
Viktor could feel his teeth lengthen and his claws were poking

out. His actions weren’t making sense even to him. He held no
attraction for Aiden, but that smell coming off of Aiden was his
mate’s.

“Viktor, please let me go,” Aiden pleaded.
Very slowly he inhaled a deep breath. He reined back in his wolf,

and his body returned to human. Viktor loosened his grip on Aiden
and turned the man around to face him. If Aiden had his mate’s smell
on him, he had to have come in contact with the man. For the smell to
have left such a mark, his mate had to have touched Aiden.

“I’m sorry but—” Viktor didn’t want to mention his mate because

then his family would make a big deal out of it, but he had to get
answers. “Where did you go today after I dropped you off?”

Aiden stepped away from him and walked right into Devon’s

embrace. “I was with Devon.”

“Viktor, what’s going on here?” Devon asked as he moved Aiden

behind him and walked closer to him. “I know you would never harm
Aiden, and I know you don’t find Aiden attractive.”

“Hey,” Aiden shouted. “I’m standing right here.” He plopped his

hands on his hips and tapped his foot.

“I just need to know who he came in contact with today,” Viktor

persisted.

“Why?” Devon narrowed his eyes at him. “And why did you say

mine?”

Shit! Viktor closed his eyes. Devon wasn’t stupid. Of course he’d

figure it out. “Because.” Viktor looked around to all the eager faces
staring at him. “Because he smells like my mate.”

AJ Jarrett

“No shit,” Devon said as he looked between Aiden and Viktor.

“But how?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking him.” Viktor focused on

Aiden. His eyes kept drooping to stare at Aiden’s lips where the scent
was the strongest. “You didn’t kiss another man did you?” Jealousy
had him biting out the words.

“You kissed someone else?” Devon rounded on his mate.
“What? No!” Aiden threw his hands in the air. “Have you all lost

your fucking minds?”

“You smell like him.” Viktor pointed at Aiden’s mouth. “Right

above your upper lip.”

Aiden stood there silent for a moment, and Viktor wanted to shout

for the man to think. Then as if a light had come on in his head,
Aiden’s eyes widen. “Shane.”

“The guy from the coffee shop?” Devon asked. “You kissed him.”
“No, you dumb ass. He wiped away my chocolate mustache.”
“Excuse me?” Viktor shook his head. No one was making sense.
“After you dropped me off today, I met up with Devon. We had

some time to kill before my first class, so we went across the street to
a little café. That’s where Shane works. We got to talking, and he’s
super nice.” Aiden turned to Devon. “And when I went to leave he
used his fingers to wipe away the hot chocolate that was on my upper
lip. Nothing sexual to it, I swear.” Aiden held up his left palm in the
air.

Shane. Viktor kept repeating the man’s name in his head. He liked

the sound of it.

“I believe you, babe.” Devon pulled Aiden in for a kiss. “But what

I can’t believe is that Viktor has a mate.”

“Thank you!” Skyler said excitedly from beside Viktor. “That’s

the weirdest thing about this whole situation.”

Everyone turned their inquisitive stares on him. Viktor tried to

swallow, but his throat had gone bone dry. He knew his mate’s name
and where to find him. But he also outed his secret.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

“When and where did you meet Shane?” Aiden asked.
Viktor pushed away from the cabinet and took his seat at the table.

He had no desire to discuss when and how he met his mate. All he
knew about the man was how sexy his body was and how good he
could kiss. Not a lot of information to disclose to the family. Plus he
wasn’t sure he wanted to lay claim to Shane. The man already proved
he would run away, so why should Viktor go chasing after a man who
didn’t want to be caught? Viktor didn’t need any more heartache in
his life.

“None of your business.” Viktor reached for the platter of

chicken. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I didn’t even know his name until
five minutes ago, so let’s just drop it.”

“You don’t want to claim your mate?” Devon asked as if he

couldn’t possibly conceive of the notion. Viktor thought of all people
Devon would understand, but it looks like love short-circuited his
memory.

“Devon, I don’t even know him that well. I hooked up with him

last night, but then he ditched me.” Viktor shrugged his shoulders. “I
just don’t think Shane and I are meant to be.” He was just about to
take a bite of his chicken when the piece of meat was wrenched from
his hand. “Hey!”

“You tactless asshole!” Skyler snapped at him. “You met him at

Club Sin last night, didn’t you?”

“So?” Viktor reached for another piece of chicken but Aiden

snatched the plate away from him. “What the hell?”

“Please don’t tell me you hooked up with him then were going to

ditch him like you usually do, were you?” Devon said as if the
thought had been painful to even ask.

Viktor thought about it, and he wasn’t, or so he thought he

wouldn’t. He liked Shane. They were mates for Christ’s sake. But the
fear of losing someone else he loved kept him guarded. He didn’t
want to deal with this right now.

“No,” he said just to get them off his case.

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“Then what’s your plan? Because you know you can’t run from

this, Viktor.” Devon moved to sit next to him.

Good question. He liked fucking Shane. Maybe they could work

out an arrangement of some sorts. One where Shane only dated him
and didn’t run from him. Also he’d make Shane move in with him for
good measure. He couldn’t trust his slippery mate not to get away,
and Viktor wanted to keep him. He had to protect Shane because he
loved the little shit.

“Oh fuck,” Viktor whispered under his breath then dropped his

head to rest his chin on his chest. How could he already love Shane?
He knew nothing about the man.

“You need to go talk to him, see where you two stand,” Devon

said. “The need to be with your mate will only get stronger until he’s
all you can think of. You don’t have to suffer like that.”

“You don’t think I know that?” Viktor picked up the knife sitting

next to his fork and threw it at the wall. The blade pierced the wood
and the handle stood out. “Devon, he ran from me.” He pointed a
finger into his chest. “Not the other way around. It’s obvious he
doesn’t want me, so why should I let him break my heart? I’m not
going to give him the chance to reject me.” The room fell silent at his
confession.

“How can you be so selfish?” Erik’s tear-riddled voice broke the

silence in the room. “You can be with your mate, but you’re choosing
not to? I’d give anything to be with mine, but I can’t. And look at
you.” Erik waved a hand in Viktor’s direction. “Just sitting there like
you could care less. I’d give anything to be in your shoes.” With that
Erik took off out of the kitchen. The front door slammed as he ran out
it.

His little brother had every right to be mad at him. Erik knew

what it felt like to have a mate but couldn’t do anything about it. And
here he sat idly by doing nothing to claim his.

“Viktor,” Devon said gently. “I know you’re scared you’ll lose

your mate like we lost Mom and Dad, but we couldn’t have prevented

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

what happened to them. You letting your mate get away is something
you can prevent.” Devon nudged him in the arm and smiled. “Don’t
let your chance at happiness get away.”

Viktor looked into his brother’s eyes and nodded his head.

“You’re right, but how do I convince Shane?”

Aiden stepped up to stand behind Devon. “If he’s feeling anything

like I was, he’s probably missing you. He works at The Early Bean.
It’s the café across the street from the library. I think you should go
talk to him. See what happens.”

Viktor stood up and headed for the door. He was just about to

walk out of the kitchen but turned around. “Thank you.” That was all
he could say.

He was out the front door and down the steps in a flash. A hurt-

filled howl sounded in the distance, and he stumbled to a stop. Viktor
looked out across the yard, but didn’t see his brother. Doing the only
thing he could think of he shouted, “You were right, Erik, and I’m
going to make it right. Don’t lose faith in me, little brother.”

There was no answering howl in return, but Viktor hoped his

brother had heard him. He got into his truck and sped down the
driveway. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a streak of gray
running alongside the truck. It was Erik. He gave a couple sharp barks
then eased up his speed until he stopped.

Viktor smiled as he looked in the rearview mirror. He didn’t need

to hear the words to understand what Erik said. He just had to hope
luck would be enough.

AJ Jarrett

Chapter Six

He broke every speed limit from Nehalem to Silver Creek, but

Viktor made it in record time. He pulled his truck up alongside the
curb across the street from the café.

His breath caught when he saw Shane standing in front of the

window writing something on the glass. Viktor smiled as he saw the
earnest look on his mate’s face as he did his best to write the words
backward so when people passed by the window they’d be able to
read what he wrote. Shane’s tongue stuck out to the side as he moved
his hand. When he was done he stood back and grinned at his
handiwork.

The joyful look on Shane’s face made Viktor smile even harder.

His cheeks were beginning to ache from all the fucking smiling he’d
been doing the whole drive up.

Shane turned around, and Viktor saw an older woman standing

behind him. She must have said something funny because Shane
began to laugh, his head tilted up toward the ceiling. Viktor thought
his mate looked so young when he laughed like that. The previous
night there had been no time for humor, and he was starting to regret
that. Viktor would have loved to have the magnitude of Shane’s
happiness aimed at him if even for a minute.

The lady hit the lights, and the building went dark. Viktor watched

as Shane walked the woman out, gave her a hug, then helped her into
her car. Shane stood there waving as she drove off down the street.
Shane looked right, looked left then started across the street.

Viktor shifted around in the car and watched as his mate wandered

the street like he didn’t have a care in the word. Shane wasn’t a very

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

large man, and it angered Viktor to watch his mate be so careless with
his safety. Viktor needed to warn Shane of the dangers of walking by
himself and never to do it at night of all times.

Not wanting to give himself away, Viktor stayed in his truck. If

Shane went farther than he could see, then he would get out of his
vehicle and follow on foot. But he didn’t need to do that. Shane
walked up the front stoop of some older apartment building. Viktor
shifted and watched as his mate walked inside.

Viktor hopped out of his truck and hurried down the sidewalk. He

kept watch on the building, waiting for Shane to turn on a light. He
didn’t have to wait long. A light on the second floor flickered on. He
stood back and waited to see if Shane would come to the window.

On the drive up he tried to formulate a plan on how to woo his

mate. But nothing came to mind. Not even a decent way to break the
news to Shane that they were mates. Viktor had never been a romantic
kind of guy. When he got horny he went looking for a man to fill his
need. Never ever did he have any preconceived notions about falling
in love. Viktor had written off finding love a long time ago, and he
was happy with that arrangement until now.

The light in Shane’s apartment went out. It was only a little after

seven. Way too early to call it a night and go to bed. Viktor kept his
eyes on the front entrance expecting to see Shane come out any
minute, and when he did Viktor would be ready. He would just
approach Shane and ask him on a date. That was easy enough. If what
Aiden said was correct maybe Shane would be happy to see him
because he, too, couldn’t get Viktor off his mind.

Viktor looked down at his watch. A few minutes had passed and

still no Shane.

What could he be doing?
Throwing caution to the wind he crossed the street. He had a

strange feeling something wasn’t right. As he got closer to the
building, a stiff wind cut through the alley beside the building, and he

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paused. A concoction of vanilla and honey with a heavy dose of
coffee drifted under his nose.

Viktor rushed down the small alley and was met by a high

wooden fence. He bent his knees and leapt over the barrier.
Sometimes being a shifter paid off. He landed easily on the other side.
The building backed up to and open field, and beyond that led to the
woods.

He followed Shane’s scent through the field and stopped when he

got to the tree-lined edge. Viktor closed his eyes and smelled the air.
The smells of trees, dirt, and wildlife bombarded him. But underneath
those strong aromas lingered Shane’s.

“What could he possibly be doing in the fucking woods?” Viktor

quickly removed his clothes and set them near a large tree. He could
cover more ground in wolf form. Bears and coyotes had been spotted
in this area, and those were only the animals that had been reported.
What was Shane thinking walking alone in the woods?

His shift came on fast, and he was running in no time. He

followed Shane’s trail until he found himself deep in the woods.
Viktor couldn’t help but wonder how Shane got this far this fast. The
trees were so dense and not all the leaves had fallen to the ground. It
was black as pitch out here. Had Viktor not been a wolf he probably
would have gotten lost.

Viktor continued to run at an easy gait, keeping his eyes and ears

open for any sign of Shane. Stopping at the top of a hill, Viktor took a
moment to catch his breath. He’d been running for a good thirty
minutes with still no sign of Shane.

A loud roar rippled up from the ground below. Viktor blinked

open his eyes. What he saw seemed unreal. A large white tiger
pounced on a deer. The animal was so large compared to the deer.
The poor animal didn’t stand a chance.

As Viktor sat there marveling at the kill of this creature something

dawned on him. Why was a tiger, even better yet, a white tiger in
upstate New York? Tigers weren’t indigenous to the area.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

The tiger hadn’t caught Viktor’s scent yet, so he slowly moved

down the hill. The closer he got the stronger Shane’s smell grew. He
looked frantically from side to side trying to see if Shane lay
somewhere bleeding to death from this beast.

He could hear the tiger purring as it ate on the deer. When it

started to move Viktor dropped to his belly and didn’t move a muscle.
The beast was close to his wolf size, but the tiger had a mouthful of
razor-sharp teeth. By far deadlier than his own.

The tiger walked a ways until it reached a stream of water. It bent

its furry head down and proceeded to clean itself up.

Viktor took the opportunity to get even closer. The flow of the

stream masked any noise he made. The closer he got he could smell
Shane on the tiger’s fur. If he were lucky the animal would lead him
to Shane.

Small rocks lined the creek and as Viktor journeyed closer a few

pebbles shifted and he stumbled forward. The tiger looked up, roared,
then took off through the stream and up the hill on the other side.
Viktor gained back his balance and took off after the animal.

The tiger continued to roar and scream as he ran. Viktor thought

this to be a technique to scare him away, but it didn’t work. This
animal had his mate or in the very least came in contact with him. He
wanted Shane back and he’d be damned if he let this beast get away.

Sick of playing a game of cat and mouse, for lack of better words,

Viktor took the high ground above the tiger. Once he caught up to the
large cat, he jumped off the side of the hill and tackled the tiger to the
ground. It hissed and swiped at him as they rolled further down the
hill.

When they finally came to a stop the tiger lay across from him.

The wind had been knocked out of him, and by the looks of it the
tiger was suffering from the same effects.

Viktor lay there trying to catch his breath.
“What the hell was that?”

AJ Jarrett

Viktor rolled to his side and saw Shane, naked, on his knees

resting on the ground. Not giving to much thought about it Viktor
shifted back to human form.

“Oh my god!” He couldn’t believe his eyes. “You’re a fucking

cat.”

* * * *

Shane worked later than usual. Well he really didn’t consider it

work. Margie brought him dinner, and he helped her prepare the
dough for the breads, muffins, and cakes for the next day. They
finished up and called it a night after he wrote tomorrow’s special on
the front window.

He walked her to her car and said good night. When he got home

he was just too wired to sit around and watch TV. Margie had tried
out some new flavors of espressos and Shane had one too many
samples. He needed to burn off some excess energy.

The apartment building where he lived bordered along some

undeveloped woodlands. He scoped out the area when he first moved
to Silver Creek, and it was gorgeous. Plus it was so close to town, no
hunting was allowed. That was music to a shifter’s ears.

Shane went about his usual routine. He stripped off his clothes,

shifted, then ran until he could feel the burn in his muscles. After a
while he found a comfortable spot to lie in wait until his prey made
itself known. A medium-sized deer frolicked around in the grass, and
he pounced, disabling the animal instantly. Once Shane ate his fill he
went to the water’s edge to clean up.

The smell hit his nose long before the sound of shifting rock under

foot did. Granted the scent of the animal was faint, but he knew
something trailed behind him. After a day’s work in the café it took a
solid night’s rest to clear his nose of the strong coffee-bean odor.

Shane turned around to see a large white wolf. Doing what was

only natural for a shifter to do, he ran. He was full from his kill and

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

didn’t want to get into a fight with this wolf. He’d have cuts and
scrapes afterwards, and he didn’t really feel like having to explain
those to Margie at work the next day.

Being a shifter wasn’t as romantic as books and movies made it to

be. They could be killed from regular gunshot wounds. It didn’t take
something fancy like silver or iron to cause the deathblow. They
could develop cancer or die in a car wreck. They weren’t invincible.
The only difference between humans and shifters was that a shifter
could turn into an animal of some sort and they did heal a little faster
than a human.

He thought he lost the annoying wolf when it attacked from

above. As they rolled down a small embankment, he tried to paw at
the wolf and shake himself loose, but the prick wouldn’t let go.

They came to a stop with a hard thud. Shane lay there trying to

replace the oxygen in his lungs the fall had stolen from his body.
After a few gulps a very enticing and familiar smell filled Shane’s
nose.

He rolled over and quickly shifted back to human form. If

lightening were to strike him right now, he wouldn’t have been more
surprised. The smell coming from the wolf was a scent he’d never
forget. It was the man from the bar.

Recognition lit the wolf’s eyes and he shifted, too. “Oh my god!

You’re a fucking cat.”

What? Shane let out a bitter chuckle. “Cat? Are you for real?”

Shane waved off the man’s response. “Well you’re a dog.” It was
petty, but he was just called a cat. There was a big difference between
a normal everyday house cat and a tiger, for one the size.

“Okay, that might have come out wrong.” The man climbed to his

feet and walked toward him.

Shane’s eyes fell immediately to the half-hard cock bouncing

between the man’s legs with every step he took. It lay loose, the skin
not drawn tight from arousal but still every bit as magnificent. The
other night in the club he hadn’t gotten a good look at the man’s

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equipment, but now, now he got a full-on show and it was nice. No,
he thought. Better than nice, magnificent.

“If you keep staring at me like that I’m not sure I’ll be able to

control myself.” The man teased as he knelt down beside Shane with
an evil twinkle in his eyes.

Shane very painfully pulled his eyes away from the man’s crotch.

It was impolite after all to stare so blatantly. He ran his hand through
his hair then wiped it down his face. He had to get his mind off of sex
because the man he fucked last night, the man who was his fated
mate, just so happened to be a shifter as well. What were the odds?

“Who are you?” First things first a name would be good to have

so he knew what to call this man.

“Oh, baby, I think you know who I am.” He lightly dragged his

knuckles down Shane’s cheek. Shane leaned into the warm, gentle
touch. He couldn’t help it. “You came hard with my cock deep inside
you. And you loved every minute of it.”

It was like a bucket of ice water thrown on his growing erection.

“Like I said.” Shane pushed the man’s hand away. “Who are you? As
in what’s your name.”

“Viktor, Viktor Carsten.” Viktor eased down to sit next to him and

relaxed back on his arms.

“Viktor.” When he repeated the name it came out sounding more

like a purr. “I like that.”

“Thanks, Shane.”
Shane’s eyes opened wide. He hadn’t given his name to Viktor

yet. How did he know it?

“Don’t look so freaked out.” Viktor chuckled. “You met my

brother’s mate at your little café earlier today, Aiden. He told me your
name.”

“That explains it.” Shane smacked his palm across his forehead.

“That tall blond is your brother. I knew I wasn’t going crazy. You
guys look alike but not identical.” Shane looked to the ground and
mumbled, “I wasn’t attracted to him like I am to you.”

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

“Thank god for that. I’d hate to have to rip my own brother’s

throat out.”

Shane laughed at Viktor’s joke but kept his attention fixed on the

ground. What happened now? Did he let Viktor claim him or did he
run again?

“Hey.” He looked up when Viktor’s strong fingers tugged lightly

on his chin. “Don’t even think about it. If you run, I’ll find you. No
matter where you go I’ll always find you.”

His eyes gave too much away. His mother had told him when he

was a child that the eyes were a window to his soul, and that they
gave Shane away every time.

Not wanting to have this talk on the dirty ground, he stood up.

They needed to talk, and he needed a warm cup of tea, maybe with a
shot of whiskey, to have this conversation. “Let’s go back to my
apartment. We need to talk.”

AJ Jarrett

Chapter Seven

Shane suggested that they shift and run back to the clearing that

they entered the woods at. It’d take less time than walking on their
human legs.

When they reached the tree where they left their clothes they

shifted back into their human form and got dressed. Viktor followed
Shane through the field, then to the break in the fence. He led his
mate up the back steps of the apartment building and went inside.
Viktor still hadn’t said a word, just followed in silence, and that made
Shane’s skin prickle in goose bumps.

When he reached his front door, he unlocked it and walked inside.

He dropped his keys on the side table and went across the room to
turn on a lamp. When he looked back to Viktor, the man stood
looking at his surroundings, and Shane wondered what he thought.
How did his apartment look through his mate’s eyes?

He looked down at the second-hand couch Margie had given him

and the milk-crate coffee table. It wasn’t much but it was his. No
matter what Viktor thought Shane was proud of his little apartment.
He had a roof over his head and food in his belly. That was loads
better than some people had.

“Would you like something to drink, water, milk, tea?” Shane

didn’t wait for Viktor to answer. He went into the kitchen, filled the
tea kettle with water, and put it on the burner.

“I’ll have whatever you’re having.” Shane had his back to Viktor,

but felt when the man stood directly behind him. Heat bled through
the other man’s clothes and warmed his back.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Shane went about preparing their drinks rather awkwardly with

Viktor standing so close. He dropped a tea bag into each mug then
poured hot water over it.

“I swear I’m not going to run off.” He turned around and held the

mug up for Viktor to take.

“Can’t be too careful with you. You’re fast.” Viktor grinned down

at him then grabbed Shane’s hand, escorting him back to the couch.
When they were both seated Viktor turned his attention on him. “So
what brings you to Silver Creek?”

That was an easy question. Shane cleared his throat. “After my

mother died three years ago I didn’t have anywhere else to go so I
traveled from town to town until I found one I liked.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Viktor rested a hand on Shane’s thigh.

“My parents were murdered by hunters when I was nineteen. I’d like
to say the hurt lessens in time, but it doesn’t. It’s a void that can never
be filled.”

“Hunters?” Shane zoned in on that one word. Hunters killed his

mate’s parents like hunters killed his mom. Did that mean hunters
lived in Silver Creek? His heart started to race. He hadn’t seen anyone
suspicious, but that didn’t mean shit. Hunters looked like everyone
else.

“Hey, calm down, Shane.” Viktor tried to sooth him.
“Calm down?” Shane stood up so fast the tea in his cup sloshed

over the side. “There are hunters around here. I need leave town.”

* * * *

“Stop,” Viktor said firmly. When Shane continued to rush about

his apartment, Viktor grabbed him by the shoulders. “Shane, stop,
Silver Creek is safe.”

“How can you say that?” Shane shouted as he tried to break

Viktor’s hold. “Hunters killed your parents. How can you say with
absolute certainty that it’s safe?”

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“Because Aiden’s dad is on the hunters’ council. He keeps tabs on

their location and steers them clear of us. If hunters come to town, he
informs us and we lie low until they leave.”

Shane visibly started to relax. “Aiden’s dad is a hunter?”
Viktor laughed as he hugged his mate to his chest. With regret

Viktor pulled away from Shane and eased him back down on the
couch. He explained about how Erik had been kidnapped by hunters.
They took him for studying purposes, and when they were done with
him they planned on killing him. But a wrench was thrown into their
plans when one of their fellow hunters turned out to be Erik’s mate.

Erik had been gone for a week, and there had been no luck in

finding him. After a little research they located one of the hunters
involved in the attack. Phillip Stefano. Viktor, with the help of Josef,
raided the house. They hadn’t expected to find Aiden at home but
seized the opportunity that sat before them. They took Aiden as a
bargaining chip to get Erik back. But things didn’t go as planned.
Aiden being Devon’s mate complicated things.

In the end though Aiden stayed with Devon, and Aiden’s dad was

beginning to accept the mating. He had planned to retire from hunting
but decided it best to stay on so he could keep Devon and the rest of
the pack safe but more importantly his only son.

“So living in Silver Creek is probably one of the safest places you

could be.”

“Really?” Uncertainty riddled his mate’s voice.
“Really, really.” Viktor leant forward and brushed his lips across

Shane’s forehead.

Viktor recognized Shane’s reaction to hunters. He didn’t want to

drudge up any painful memories, but he had to know what happened
to his mate. “Baby, is that how your mother died?”

Shane pulled up his legs and wrapped his arms around them. He

rested his head on his knees and after a moment turned to look at him.
“I never knew my dad. My mom took care of me, and because of the
fear of hunters we moved around constantly. Right before I turned

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

eighteen, we moved to a nice little town just outside San Antonio. We
rented a house, my mother found a job right away, and there was a
protected nature preserve we could run in. It was perfect.” Tears
glistened in his mate’s eyes.

“Life was the best it had ever been. I felt like we finally found a

home.” Shane wiped away a tear that broke free. “That was until my
mom met Winston. They started dating, and she was so happy, god
she was so happy. I’d never seen her like that before.”

“But?” Viktor could sense something about this man had bothered

his mate.

“I got weird vibes from him. Whenever we were alone together

he’d find any reason to touch me, and he stared at me all the time.”

“Why didn’t you tell your mother?” Viktor’s knuckles cracked as

he squeezed his fist tight.

“How could I? She thought she was in love. And at the time I

thought I was just imagining that shit. I wasn’t use to having a man
around the house, so I blamed it on that. Eventually I just avoided him
and it worked for a while.”

“What happened?” Viktor rested a hand at the nape of Shane’s

neck and lightly massage the stiff knots.

“It was my birthday, and some friends from school had planned to

take me camping. I went home straight from school that Friday to get
my bag. When I got there Winston was waiting for me. He said how
he had wanted me for so long and how they promised me to him if he
turned over my mom.” Shane started to cry. “He forced himself on
me. I tried to fight him off, but he was to strong.”

Viktor scooped Shane up and put him in his lap. Tears overcame

his mate, and Shane cried so hard he could barely breathe. Viktor
rocked him back and forth and spoke soft, loving words to him.

“My mom came home and stopped Winston. He laughed at her

and mocked her for loving him. She lost control when she heard what
his plan for me was.” Shane paused to take a deep breath. “It all
happened so fast. She shifted and lunged for him. Winston pulled out

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a gun and got one shot off before my mom tore out his throat, but that
was all it took. Before she died she told me she loved me and to run.
So I did, and I’ve been running ever since.”

“Oh, baby.” Viktor placed his hands on either side of Shane’s face

and kissed his eyelids closed. “She sounded like a remarkable woman.
I wish I could have met her. I owe her a debt of gratitude.”

“For what?” Shane croaked.
“For bringing you into this world and for sacrificing her life to

save yours.” He spoke the god’s honest truth. The woman gave him
his mate, and he’d be grateful to her until his dying day.

Shane wrapped his arms around his neck and pulled Viktor down

to his mouth. Viktor accepted the silent invitation and pressed his lips
to his mate’s. The kiss started out slow. Just openmouthed caresses of
lips against lips, with little force. It was sweet. Then Shane grew more
aggressive, and Viktor followed his mate’s lead.

He nibbled on Shane’s full bottom lip and snaked his tongue

inside as his mate started to pant. Viktor licked his way into the hot
cavern, soaking up his mate’s taste. Shane’s hands pulled at his shirt
until it was wrenched halfway up his chest. He broke the kiss and
yanked the offending material out of the way. As Shane’s eyes
traveled along his chest, Viktor urged his mate backward until he lay
on his back. He shoved Shane’s shirt upward and lowered his head to
kiss along the thin, yet well-defined torso of his mate’s body. The
bronzed skin grew flushed as Viktor teased Shane’s nipples with his
tongue.

So many emotions were raging through his body and the only

thing he wanted to do was make love to Shane. Viktor sat up, pulling
Shane as he went. When he stood up Shane wrapped his legs snugly
around Viktor’s waist.

Shane lived in a studio apartment, so the bed was only a few feet

away. He palmed Shane’s ass as he stumbled toward the queen-sized
bed. When his shins bumped against the metal bed frame he eased
down tucking Shane underneath him.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Viktor kept kissing Shane, and even the need for air couldn’t force

him away. He fumbled with Shane’s pants until he was able to push
his hand inside. Shane groaned when Viktor gripped the hard length
of his cock in his hand. Viktor gave a rough up-and-down tug then
pulled away.

“Clothes off now,” he ordered as he started to remove his own.
Shane stared at him with wide eyes as he struggled to remove his

pants. After a few attempts Shane was able to pull his jeans free and
lay with his legs sprawled open and stroked his cock slowly, almost
teasingly.

Viktor growled as he watched his mate pleasure himself. He

wanted to be doing that. Fuck! He wanted to be doing so many things
to Shane.

As he climbed up on the bed, like the predator he was, Viktor

slowly prowled closer. He dropped his head to nip at Shane’s bare
legs. When he hovered above Shane’s erect cock, he licked at the tip.
It twitched at the contact and a clear drop of pre-cum dripped from the
tip. Viktor quickly licked it up not wanting to waste a drop. Shane
tasted salty yet sweet, like a fudge-covered pretzel.

He needed so much more. Viktor went in for the kill and

swallowed Shane’s length down his throat, not stopping until his chin
brushed against Shane’s balls. Shane cried out and arched his back off
the bed. His fingers gripped tightly in Viktor’s long hair, but he didn’t
stop. Viktor licked, sucked, and lavished Shane’s beautiful penis with
his lips and tongue. He traced the underside, letting his tongue follow
along the heavy veins that lay inside.

His hard cock started to ache from rubbing against the blanket on

the bed and from pure, unadulterated need. “Do you have any stuff?”
Viktor looked wildly around the room like a tube of lube would stand
up and shout “over here.”

“Under my pillow.”

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Viktor walked up Shane’s body on his knees until his bottom

rested

lightly on Shane’s chest and his cock head pushed at the seam

of Shane’s mouth. “Suck me,” he ordered.

Shane licked his lips eagerly then began to service Viktor’s cock

with nimble licks and hard, suctioned pulls. Viktor’s body began to
tremble. He reached under the pillow, and his hand brushed against
the small tube.

Viktor eyed the pillowcases, and an idea formed in his mind. He

wanted to see Shane confined, unable to move while Viktor gave him
the best orgasm of his life.

You can’t do that to your mate! his inner voice chided him. But

Viktor wanted to see the red rub marks on Shane’s skin afterwards. It
would be like a claiming mark, only it would fade, giving him a
reason to do it again and again.

“Is everything all right?” Shane’s soft voice asked.
Viktor looked down to see Shane’s round eyes staring back at

him. He hadn’t realized he stopped rocking his hips forward into
Shane’s awaiting mouth.

He scooted down until he straddled Shane’s hips. His eyes kept

drifting from the pillow to Shane’s hands where they rested on
Viktor’s thighs. Shane followed his gaze, and as if reading his mind,
stretched his arms above his head.

“Do it.”
Not giving it a second thought, he pulled the pillowcase off the

pillow. He gazed down at Shane as he let his claws extend out and cut
the cotton material down the center. Shane’s eyes went wide. Viktor
ripped a piece off with his teeth, and Shane watched, riveted the entire
time.

He was just about to wrap the cloth around Shane’s wrist but had

some misgivings. “Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes,” Shane said breathlessly.
Viktor double-wrapped the soft material around Shane’s wrists

then tied it into a knot. Shane opened and shut his hands and tugged

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

slightly on the binding. His eyes were glazed over, and he rocked his
hips up against Viktor’s ass.

Viktor turned to his side and knelt beside Shane’s body. His mate

kept shifting from side to side causing the sheets to rustle. Shane
whimpered when Viktor trailed one extended claw down his hairless
chest. Viktor loved the wanton image Shane made laid out before him
begging to be touched.

“Please.” Shane spoke the one word with such need.
Any other time Viktor would have made his lover wait until he

begged, but he didn’t want to wait. Shane wasn’t like all the others.
They were mates, and Viktor wanted to love Shane so good that his
eyes crossed.

With quick reflexes Viktor flipped Shane over and pulled him up

to his knees. Shane pushed his ass back toward him, offering Viktor
all he had to give.

Viktor grabbed handfuls of Shane’s ass cheeks and squeezed the

taunt muscles. He licked his way down Shane’s crease until he
reached his tiny opening. Viktor swirled his tongue, once, twice then
pulled back. He grabbed the lube off the bed and eased the clear gel
into his hand.

Shane kept his arms stretched high above his head as if he were

reaching for the headboard. His hips swayed from side to side as he
waited for Viktor to fill him up. Viktor didn’t waste any time. He
covered his straining cock in the slick liquid then came up flush to
Shane’s round bottom.

Viktor rubbed the rounded bulbous tip up and down, eating up

every tense-filled jump of his mate’s body. Shane started to roar as he
tried to thrust back, impaling himself on Viktor’s stiff member. Every
time Viktor would pull back just a bit.

Feeling he’d played long enough, Viktor guided his cock forward,

breaking past the tight-muscled entrance. Shane moaned loudly but
didn’t pull away. If anything he pushed back more aggressively,
threatening Viktor to spill prematurely.

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When he was seated to the hilt, he rested his chest over Shane’s

sweaty back. He ran his fingers up Shane’s sides then down his arms,
until he wrapped his fingers around Shane’s bound wrist.

“You’re fucking perfect,” Viktor said as he licked along Shane’s

ear.

With shallow thrusts Viktor fucked Shane nice and slow. The feel

of Shane’s velvet smooth inner walls was unlike anything he’d felt
before. He could get lost inside Shane both mentally and physically.

Viktor pushed forward with more force with each inward thrust.

Shane turned his head to the side and worked his mouth up and down,
but no words came out. Viktor licked along the side of his face as he
plowed into his mate.

Viktor so desperately wanted to be looking into Shane’s eyes

when his mate came. Pulling his thick cock from Shane’s hole, he
urged his mate to roll over. Shane flopped to his back and pulled his
knees up to his chest flashing his twitching hole at Viktor.

Not waiting a moment longer Viktor moved up Shane’s body and

thrust, hard, back into Shane. Shane screamed toward the ceiling.
Viktor watched as Shane pulled at his cotton bindings. He could see
the pleasure building in his mate’s eyes and reached between them
and jerked Shane’s cock in time with his hips.

Shane started to purr, and his mouth fell open. Viktor saw all the

sharp pointed teeth that shined bright white. Shane had partially
shifted as he neared his release. Viktor kept moving, and his grip on
Shane’s hips began to falter. He was close but wanted Shane to come
first.

Before he knew it, Shane roared out his release as warm cum

splashed onto his chest and coated Viktor’s hand. The smell was like
a drug to Viktor’s body and soul. He started to move faster and faster.
His fingers started to transform into claws, and his teeth lengthened in
his mouth. It was his wolf wanting control. Wanting to claim its mate.

Viktor leaned down covering Shane’s body with his own, using

one hand to keep Shane’s bound hands high above his head and the

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

other to grab along Shane’s jawline. He tilted his mate’s head to the
side, rearing down to bite and complete the claiming.

“Please don’t bite me,” came Shane’s weakened voice.
Viktor pushed up on his hands to stare down at his mate. Fear

radiated out of the clear blue depths. Shane was afraid. But of what?

His body moved of its own accord as Viktor held Shane’s gaze.

He couldn’t believe Shane didn’t want him to claim him.

Pounding harder into Shane’s soft body, he surged forward two

more times. His balls tucked tight to his body as his seed shot into
Shane’s body. As he continued to rock forward, his cum oozed out,
drenching the blanket underneath.

When he was done Viktor rolled to the side then lay down on his

back. He stared at the ceiling, trying to collect his scrambled thoughts.
Having sex with Shane made him forget anything and everything, but
now that the foggy haze in his head started to clear Shane’s words
“don’t bite me” were on replay in his brain.

“Viktor?” He looked up. Shane sat up and tore off the pillowcase

binding with his razor-sharp teeth.

“Yeah?” That was all he could offer to say. He was hurt. Shane

didn’t want to carry his mark. Being mated was like a badge of honor.
He’d gladly wear Shane’s mark. Well that was if tigers left a mating
mark. He knew that the possibility of other shifters existed but he
never met one. The questions he could ask his mate would be endless.

“Don’t be mad at me. I’m…” Shane’s voice trailed off as he

buried his face in his hands.

Viktor sat up when he heard the small little hiccups coming from

his mate. He pulled Shane’s hands away and looked into the red, tear-
filled eyes. But Viktor still had no words for his mate. Just because
Shane was the one crying didn’t mean Viktor wasn’t hurting as well.

“I’m just not ready for that yet.” Shane crawled into Viktor’s lap.

“Don’t be mad at me. I just need some time to get used to all this.”

He could hear the honesty in Shane’s words. Viktor wrapped his

arms around Shane’s back and rocked him back and forth. Their

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bodies pressed so tightly together he feared the sticky cum on his
mate’s stomach would seal them together. Not a bad idea but a man
needed to have some freedom.

“It’s okay, Shane.” And it was. Shane had been through a lot and

so had Viktor, but he had more time to come to terms with his loss.
He still had trust issues, but he was going to make a valid effort to put
faith in his mate. “I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

Shane leaned back to look at him. “You mean that?”
“With all my heart.” Viktor smiled. “Now let’s go take a shower.”

He stood up with Shane in his arms then set the man on his feet. “If I
plan on getting any sleep, my skin needs to breathe, and right now
between our sweat and your jizz, I feel like a sticky mess.”

Shane smiled brightly up at him then turned around, pulled on

Viktor’s hand, and led him to the bathroom.

Their shower lasted until the hot water ran out. Viktor toweled his

mate off first then himself. They walked back to the bed where Shane
tossed the cum-covered blanket to the floor. They were shifters and
their body temperatures ran a little higher than humans, so they
wouldn’t need the extra blankets.

Shane pulled back the sheet and motioned for him to get in first.

Once Viktor was situated Shane climbed in beside him and balled up
next to his side. He ran his fingers through Shane’s hair
absentmindedly where his head rested on Viktor’s chest.

This was good. Viktor could get use to this. He was never one for

a cuddle after a hard fuck. Some men tried, but Viktor always
managed to push them away long enough to make his exit. Never had
he wanted to spend his nights with just one man, but things had
changed. Shane had come into his life unexpectedly, and Viktor was
going to spend every day proving to his mate that they were good
together and to not fear that something would happen to him, because
Viktor wasn’t going anywhere.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Chapter Eight

The room grew lighter as the sun rose in the sky. Shane yawned

and tried to roll over and stretch, but something warm and very solid
lay flushed against his back. Doing his best, Shane turned his head
around to see Viktor’s face buried into his neck. He was still sleeping,
and half his face was covered in his long white-blond hair.

Shane blew at the strands as they dropped in his face. His lips

became wet from the constant blowing that the hair was now sticking
to him.

“Hey.” Shane nudged at Viktor’s chest with his elbow, but Viktor

only responded with a muffled growl and tightened his arms. “Viktor,
let go. I need to go pee.” The extreme cuddling was sweet and all, but
the situation had become urgent.

“Oh, sorry.” Viktor’s said around a yawn. “You’re just so soft and

warm. I didn’t want to let go.”

“That’s sweet, but I seriously will wet the bed if you don’t let go.”

Shane jumped out of the bed and headed to the bathroom to do his
business. When he reemerged his mate lay on his back with his arms
behind his head. A picture of total relaxation. Viktor, even with his
disheveled hair and sleep-creased face, was still the sexiest thing
Shane had ever seen. He had to wonder how he got so lucky.

“So what’s the plan for today?” Viktor asked as Shane climbed

back into bed and lay across his mate’s chest.

“Well it’s Saturday, and I have the day off.” Shane dropped a kiss

to the center of his mate’s chest. “So I wouldn’t mind hanging out in
bed all day with you,” Shane said in the most seductive voice he
could muster. He sat up and straddled Viktor’s hips.

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“As much as I’d love to do that, I’d like to take you to meet my

family.”

“Family?” Shane cocked an eyebrow at the one word. He’d met

Aiden and Devon the other day, but would they treat him differently
knowing he was Viktor’s mate? The mate that wouldn’t allow their
brother to claim him.

“Yeah, they texted while you were in the bathroom. They were

worried about me and you, so I had to explain what happened.”
Viktor rubbed his hands up and down Shane’s back.

“Worried about me? Why?” They barely knew him. Why should

they care what happened to him? Shane didn’t understand how that
was possible. He only ever had his mom, and she meant the world to
him and him to her.

“I’m kind of a dick sometimes. I think they thought I’d have taken

my frustration out on you. I’m a bit of a yeller.” Viktor chuckled.

“Well if your actions last night are how you’d like to take your

frustrations out on me, then I’m up for it anytime.” Shane humped his
hips up and down against Viktor’s thickening shaft. Viktor’s family
thinking that he’d hurt Shane seemed ludicrous to him. He hadn’t
known Viktor long, but he knew the man would never hurt him.

Viktor’s fingers gripped his hips tightly, stopping Shane’s

movements. “What’s the matter?” Shane pouted.

“Nothing, but if we start this we’ll never leave this bed, and I

promised my brothers.” Viktor sat up and closed the distance to
Shane’s awaiting lips. “Is today your only day off or are you off
Sunday as well?”

“I have the whole weekend off.” Shane followed Viktor off the

bed and started to collect fresh clothes to dress in. “Margie hires high-
school students to work the weekend hours since I work Monday
through Friday.”

“Great then pack a bag. You’ll stay over tonight, and I’ll bring

you back home on Sunday evening.” Viktor said it like his decision
was final.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Shane stopped in the process of pulling on his T-shirt and just

stared at his mate. “Are you at least going to ask me? Or do you just
think ordering me around is how this mating is going to work?”

“First off, we’re not mated,” Viktor teased, but Shane couldn’t

stop his chin from starting to tremble as tears built up behind his eyes.
“Ah, babe, I’m sorry. I was just joking. I didn’t mean to make you
cry.” Viktor walked up to him and wrapped his arms low on Shane’s
waist. “Will you please come stay the weekend with me?”

Shane answered with a nod. “I’d love to,” he said softly.
Viktor kissed him on the lips then turned back around and

snatched his shirt up off the floor. Shane watched as Viktor moved
about in an easy gait, not looking to be upset by the previous night’s
events at all. Maybe he really was okay with Shane wanting to wait.

Once they were dressed, Viktor carried Shane’s bag as they

walked to his truck. It was parked a few blocks up from his apartment.

The sun shined bright, but there was a stiffness to the cool

morning breeze. Fall was upon them and before long winter. Shane
couldn’t wait to run in the snow. His mom and he had always lived in
warm climates. She wasn’t a fan of cold weather or snow, so he’d
never actual seen the white, fluffy stuff.

“So where do you live, Viktor?” Shane asked as he hopped into

the passenger side of Viktor’s truck.

“My brothers and I live in a town about thirty minutes from here,

Nehalem.” Viktor shut his door and started the engine. “We moved
there after our parents died.”

On the way out of town Viktor stopped at a fast-food restaurant to

grab some breakfast sandwiches and coffee. They talked a little about
his brothers and their friends that lived on the property, but they
didn’t speak one word about last night. Shane thought it for the best.
They talked easily, laughed, and joked like they’d known each other
for years. It was perfect.

Viktor turned off the main road and headed deeper into the forest

with only the road they were on separating the tree-lined view. Shane

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looked out the window to admire the scenery. Large trees lined the
road, their leaves turning shades of red and gold. Over the hum of the
engine he could hear birds singing in the distance and the occasional
hoot from an owl.

He cracked his window and took in the scent of wild grass and

dying leaves. The crisp, cool breeze wove through the cracked
window, and Shane closed his eyes, marveling at the chill. He could
see why Viktor and his brothers wanted to live out so far from town.
They had their privacy and plenty of wooded territory to run.

“Here we are.” Viktor turned the truck up a long driveway.

“Home sweet home.”

The house was huge. It stood two stories tall and wide. The wrap-

around porch surrounded the perimeter of the house, adding to its
rustic appeal. The house was a deep olive green with dark wood
accents. It looked warm and inviting, and Shane couldn’t wait to see
the inside.

“It’s gorgeous,” Shane said as he gazed up at the house.
Viktor shrugged. “It’s home.”
Viktor brought the truck to a stop, and they got out. Shane turned

in circles looking between the house and the endless amount of forest
around them. He could easily see himself living here.

Not yet! Shane shook his head at his inner thoughts. Yes, he liked

the house and location and even his mate, but he still had the small
voice inside him that said to keep one foot out the door. If the hunters
found him he’d have to leave again. Mate or no mate.

A loud bark had him turning around. “Oh, shit!” A large gray wolf

came barreling at them. Just as it reached them it jumped, and Viktor
caught the beast in midair, but it was no longer a wolf. His mate had
his arms full of another man, and by the looks of it one of Viktor’s
brothers.

“I’m so proud of you,” the naked man said as he hugged Viktor

around the neck. Shane watched the brothers embrace with a kind of
envy. He never had any siblings, only his mom, and now she was

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

gone, and there was no one missing him when he wasn’t around. No
one to hug him close when he returned.

“I told you not to give up on me.” Viktor set his brother down.

“Erik, this is Shane.”

“Shane, I’m so glad to meet you.”
Before he could say anything Erik wrapped him in his arms and

gave him a hard squeeze. Shane wasn’t use to strangers hugging him,
but it was nice. It was a genuine embrace with no motive behind it.
After a few seconds had passed, Shane got his mouth to work. “Nice
to meet you, too.” He brought his arms up to hug Erik in return. Shane
glanced up at Viktor, and his mate just stood there smiling.

The front door creaked open and Aiden, Devon, and another man

stepped onto the porch. Erik released his hold on him and ran up the
front steps. He hollered over his shoulder he’d be back after he put
some clothes on.

Aiden hustled down the stairs and gave him a quick hug. “Had I

known you were Viktor’s mate, I’d have said something.”

“Hey, it’s okay.” He dropped his gaze and blushed. “Viktor and I

met under some pretty strange conditions, so please don’t feel bad.”

“Anyway, I’m glad it’s you.” Aiden took a step back to stand next

to Devon.

“Yeah, that’s my brother.” Devon winked over at Viktor and his

mate rolled his eyes. “Quite the charmer.”

“Fuck you,” Viktor said but started to laugh.
Shane grabbed Viktor’s hand and gazed up at his mate with caring

eyes. “I wouldn’t want you any other way.”

Viktor leant down and kissed him on the lips. Shane smiled into

the kiss. He’d never tire of Viktor’s kisses or the affection he offered.

“So you’re a tiger?” a man Shane hadn’t met yet asked. The man

looked at him as if he expected Shane to turn into a tiger right there
on the spot.

Pulling away from Viktor, Shane answered. “Yes. A white tiger.”

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“This is Skyler. The resident house mom.” Viktor pointed to the

man. “And pain in the ass.”

“Let’s see you say that when you want dinner, smart ass,” Skyler

snapped. He turned back to Shane with a smile. “A white tiger? I just
read an article on how that species in the animal kingdom is really
rare. Is the same true for shifters?”

“Yes, my kind is very rare. I only knew one other, and that was

my mother, but she passed a few years back.” Shane clamped his
mouth shut before he blurted out his whole sordid past.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Devon said. “But you have us now.

Tiger, wolf, it doesn’t matter were all family here.”

“Thank you.” Shane could feel his throat start to tighten. These

men didn’t even know him, and they were ready to except Shane into
their family and home. He’d never met people like this before. Their
kindness made him want to spill his guts about his life and confess he
turned Viktor away when he would have claimed him. But he held
back for fear they’d reject him for rejecting Viktor.

They went inside and took a seat in the living room. Erik came

down and had a million questions for him. The young wolf like the
others had never seen another shifter that wasn’t a wolf, so Shane was
an anomaly to them.

Shane sat and talked with Viktor’s family for hours and didn’t

realize how much time had passed until his stomach began to growl.
He couldn’t hide it from the others. Being wolves, except Aiden, they
could hear it.

“I’ll go start lunch,” Skyler said and got up to go do so. Aiden

excused himself to go help Skyler.

“I’m going to go check my e-mail. I’m waiting on the plans for

that library in Silver Creek to come through.” Devon stood up,
promised to be back for lunch, and left the room.

“Well I’m going to go help Aid and Sky.” Erik jumped off the

couch with only the energy a teenage boy would have.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

“It’s nice to see him happy again,” Viktor said when Erik had left

the room.

Shane remembered that Viktor had said Erik had found his mate

but couldn’t be with him. “What do you think brought the change
about?” This was the first time he met Erik, but he seemed like any
other boy his age. But being a shifter and him finding his mate only to
be separated from him had to suck, but the kid seemed to be doing
fine to him.

“I’m not sure.” Viktor sat up and rubbed one hand down his face.

“But I’m fucking grateful. He’s far too young to be depressed all the
time. Erik’s young, smart, and extremely athletic. The odds are all in
his favor, except that he’s a wolf. I just wish he hadn’t found his mate
yet.” Viktor held a hand up, gesturing to where Erik just left. “The
kid’s only sixteen, and the older he gets the harder it’ll be. And to be
honest I don’t know what Brandon has planned.”

“Do you think he won’t accept Erik?” Shane wouldn’t wish that

on anyone, even though he was doing exactly that to Viktor.

“I don’t know. If he doesn’t I can always rip his throat out,”

Viktor said with a seriousness in his tone that told Shane he’d do it
too.

“Only time will tell, right?” Shane stood up and held out a hand

for Viktor to take. “Let’s go help the family with lunch.”

The words flowed out so easily that he hadn’t realized what he

said until they were already laid out there. He tried to keep walking,
but Viktor tugged on his hand, pulling him back to stand in front of
Viktor.

“Family?” Viktor asked with raised eyebrows and the start of a

small grin on his lips. “They’ve already grown on you.”

“Don’t make a big deal out of it, okay,” Shane huffed out.
Viktor shook his head. He smiled so big all Shane could see were

teeth. “I didn’t say a word.”

Skyler called them for lunch, and Shane took the escape from

having to say anything else. The longer he was around these men, he

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did feel like part of their family. He could only surmise that it had to
be a mating thing. Once a shifter found their mate, they grew close to
each other’s families as well.

After lunch Viktor had to help Devon with some work stuff,

things Shane lost interest in listening to when Viktor tried to explain
to him. Shane stayed back to hang with Aiden, Skyler, and Erik.
Skyler popped some popcorn, and they retired to the TV room.

Once they entered the large, windowless room Shane knew why

they called it that. The biggest flat screen TV he had ever seen hung
in the center of the wall. Large reclining chairs ran the length in front
of the screen. It kind of reminded him of a movie theater, just on a
smaller scale but not by much.

When the movie was over, Shane helped prepare dinner. Erik

wanted steak, so Skyler planned around that for the main course.
Shane made the salad while Aiden peeled the husks from the corn.
Erik made himself comfortable by taking a seat on the counter,
stuffing his face with cookies.

“What was that?” Aiden asked.
Shane looked up from chopping an avocado to look around. He

heard the distinct ping of someone getting a text message.

“Oh it’s me.” Erik hopped off the counter and left the kitchen.
“What is he up to?” Skyler asked as he came back inside from the

grill. “He’s been all doom and gloom for a month, and now he’s all
happy-go-lucky again. What gives?”

Shane looked between Aiden and Skyler. He had nothing to

compare to in regards to Erik’s condition prior to today.

“I’m not sure. But he’s been carrying that phone around like a

lifeline since he came back today. He was out all night and Devon
would have throttled the little shit had Viktor and Shane not arrived
when they did.”

Shane had taken a bite of a tomato wedge and damn near choked.

Erik was just getting back when they got home? Where would a
sixteen-year-old wolf shifter, who had a mate, be at all night?

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

“Dude, you okay?” Aiden rushed to his side.
“Yeah.” Shane took a drink of water from the cup Aiden put in his

hand. He set the glass down after he took another sip. “Does Erik do
that often? Leave overnight like that?”

Aiden looked over to Skyler. “Not since I’ve been here. Skyler?”
“Nah, that kid is as straitlaced as they come. You know how every

family has one do-gooder? Well that would be Erik.”

“You don’t think?” Shane stopped himself for stating the obvious.

He wanted the two men to draw their own conclusion. Shane being an
outsider it was easier for him to figure it out.

“Oh my god!” Aiden shouted. “Devon would lose his freaking

mind if Brandon touches Erik. He’s under age.”

“I’m not saying that he did anything illegal,” Shane rushed to say.

“But maybe they’re spending time together, trying to get to know one
another better. If it helps Erik cope, then what’s the harm in it?”

“Shane’s right,” Skyler agreed. “From what your father says

Brandon’s one of the good guys.”

“Still, I don’t like Erik keeping things from us.” Aiden went back

to his corn shucking and didn’t say another word.

Skyler glanced at Shane and shrugged his shoulders.
Devon and Viktor came back right before dinner was finished.

Erik strode in a few minutes after them with his cell phone tucked into
his back pocket. Shane eyed the kid questioningly, but what could he
say in words of advice? Use plenty of lube? Erik was sixteen. He was
going to do what he wanted to and there was no stopping him. It
wasn’t his or Erik’s brothers’ place to get in the way. Brandon and
Erik were mates, so eventually down the road they’d be doing the
things they shouldn’t being doing now anyways. Not that Shane
agreed with an older man being sexually involved with a minor, but
fate was a bitch, and it dealt poor Erik a blow way too early in his life.

After dinner he, Aiden, and Skyler sat back while Devon, Erik,

and Viktor cleaned the dinner dishes. The brothers moved in a
comfortable rhythm with one another. They laughed and joked as they

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worked. Just by looking at them Shane would never have guessed
these three men had lost their parents tragically like they had. The loss
of their parents and time had made their bond grow stronger, and once
again Shane found himself envying the trio.

Once the kitchen was cleaned to Skyler’s approval, they all went

outside through the back door. The moon wasn’t quite full but still
cast a soft glow to the earth. A cool wind blew across Shane’s face,
making his eyes water.

“Everyone remember the property lines I mapped out?” Shane

watched as the other men nodded. “Good. Stay within those lines.
Shane, stay with Viktor. He’ll keep you from going off our property.”

Shane nodded his understanding. He understood and respected the

dangers they, as shifters, had to deal with on a daily basis. And the
most important thing was to be able to move unseen by the public
eye.

“Well, I’m going back inside,” Aiden announced. “I’ll be in bed

when you get back.” He reached up to kiss Devon on the mouth.

“You better be waiting for me naked.” Devon gave Aiden a

playful swat to the ass.

“Get a room,” Skyler said with a fair amount of disgust in his

tone.

Shane giggled as he took off his clothes. Shifters weren’t modest

beings. It was natural for them to be naked. Shane concentrated and
brought on his shift. The tickling sensation ran throughout his body as
his fur grew in, and he felt the slight stretch of pain as his bones grew
and popped into new angles to make his tiger body.

When he was done he looked around at the others. Four wolves

stood staring back at him. They hadn’t met any other shifters before,
plus, coupled with that fact he was a rare breed, he could understand
their curiosity.

Viktor trotted over to him and nudged him with his snout. Shane

licked his long rough tongue out to swipe across Viktor’s nose. His
mate growled low and moved closer.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

A series of loud barks ripped through the air, and they were off.

Shane ran alongside his mate. Viktor was a little bit bigger than
Shane’s tiger, and was able to eat up more ground quicker than him,
but Shane made up for it with enthusiasm.

When Viktor got too far ahead Shane let out a roar that shook the

trees. Viktor spun around and started to chase him again. Shane leapt
around tree roots that stuck up from the ground and small bushes to
get away from his mate. They played chase back and forth until a loud
howl grabbed their attention.

Viktor motioned with his head for Shane to follow. They ran back

toward the house. Erik and Skyler were the last to make it back.

Shane shifted back and before he could stand up Viktor had

moved to hover over him. Shane’s eyes fell to his mate’s swollen
shaft. He looked up and the sheer lust burning in Viktor’s cobalt blue
eyes sent a chill down his spine. His cock started to answer in kind,
and he was embarrassed to stand up.

“All right, fellas,” Devon said as he started for the door. “See you

in the morning.”

The others said good night and Shane still hadn’t moved from his

perch on the ground. Viktor reached his hand down to him, and Shane
took it. He pulled Shane to his chest, and when bare flesh met bare
flesh, Shane moaned and lifted a leg to rub up and down on Viktor’s
outer thigh.

“I want you,” Viktor said as he proceeded to kiss along his jaw.
“Me, too, but not out here.” Shane pulled back. “Let’s go to your

room where we can be alone without prying eyes.”

“I’m down with that.” Viktor kissed him slowly, and Shane lost

his breath.

Shane followed his mate as he led him back to the house. They

could have done it outside, but he just met Viktor’s family and didn’t
want to give them a show that they could tease him about later.

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Viktor walked slowly up the stairs, and it was torture for Shane.

He wanted to feel Viktor’s hands and mouth on his skin then his
heavy cock thrusting into his body.

Viktor walked to a door halfway down the hallway. He pulled

Shane inside, and he went willingly. He kissed Viktor like his life
depended on it. Their tongues clashed for control. Shane had full
intentions of letting Viktor run the show, but he was overwhelmed
with emotions from Viktor’s family’s easy acceptance of him and the
natural high from shifting. All combined caused Shane to have his
mind on one thing, fucking Viktor. And lucky for him his mate was
just as eager.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Chapter Nine

The night came and went, and the day was nearly over when

Viktor, with a heavy heart, ushered his mate out the front door amidst
good-byes from his brothers and friends, to his truck. Shane had to be
at work early the next morning, and Viktor didn’t want to be a dick
and order his mate to quit the job he loved so that he never had to
leave Viktor’s home or be from his sight.

Shane was overly independent, and it was understandable. He’d

been on his own since he turned eighteen, and three years of that had
conditioned Shane to take care of himself and to not trust others.
Viktor use to be that way until he met Shane. Now Viktor was all
about making changes in his life for the better. He no longer wanted
to let his hate and fears of the unknown consume him. Shane was like
a beacon of hope, and Viktor never wanted to let his mate down. He
needed to be worthy of Shane.

You keep saying mate, but it’s not real, yet. Keep trying to kid

yourself, my friend, but you’re delusional. No matter how much you
love him, he still has one foot out the door, ready to bolt.

“Shut up,” Viktor muttered to himself. His conscience had been

beating the shit out of his psyche, and all Viktor wanted to do was
throw in the towel. Yes, Shane wouldn’t let him claim him that first
night or the three times since. But it would all come in time. Shane
needed to realize Viktor wouldn’t leave him. Once his mate had that
reassurance, he was gold.

“Are you talking to me?” Shane asked as he tossed his bag in the

back of the truck.

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“Huh?” Viktor stopped from opening his door to look across the

hood at Shane.

“You just said shut up. Are you talking to me or to yourself?”

Shane flashed him a wink then hopped up into the truck. “My mom
always said it’s okay to talk to yourself as long as you don’t answer
yourself back.”

“Geez, thanks.” Viktor leaned over the center console and kissed

his mate. “But to answer your question I was talking to myself. I
guess I’ve just been thinking too much is all.”

He put the car in reverse and turned it around. Shane didn’t say

another word until they reached the outer road.

“Thinking about what?”
Viktor looked from the road to his mate then back. “It’s not

important really.” It was, but he had already told Shane he’d wait as
long as it took for his mate to allow Viktor to claim him. He couldn’t
go back on his word, but it was getting harder and harder to be
understanding, the more time he spent with Shane. He was in love
with Shane but too afraid to utter the three little words for fear Shane
would run off.

Shane blew out an exasperated breath. “It must be important

enough to have you talking to yourself.” Shane glared over at him,
and Viktor could see his steely gaze from the corner of his eye.

Knowing Shane wouldn’t let it drop, because over the past day he

learned Shane didn’t let anything go, he had to say something.
Chewing on the inside of his cheek, Viktor tried to formulate the best
response without upsetting Shane.

“Do you really want to know?”
“Yes,” Shane said, annoyed. “I really want to know.”
Viktor pulled the truck over to the side of the road, killed the

engine, and turned to look at his mate. It wasn’t his ideal location to
have an argument, but here went nothing.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

“It’s about you not letting me claim you.” Shane rolled his eyes

and let out a groan. “I know I said I’d wait, but how long do I have
to? Do you not feel the same way about me?”

“How can you say that?” Shane smacked his hand to his chest like

he was shocked.

Viktor wasn’t a patient man, and Shane’s avoidance of the issue

just ruffled his fur. “I don’t know, maybe because you keep avoiding
the issue. Every time we make love you refuse me what is in my God-
given right to do.” Viktor banged his fist in frustration against the
steering wheel. “I’d gladly accept your mark, but you haven’t even
asked if I want it. How’s that supposed to make me feel?”

“I should have known.” Shane turned in his seat to stare out the

front windshield. He crossed his arms over his chest, and Viktor could
see that the man was barely reigning in his anger. “You said you’d
give me time and wait as long as it took. I guess your word means
nothing. Just take me home. I need some space from you, like now.”

Viktor’s lips drew into a thin line and he turned the key, and

pushed a little too hard on the gas pedal. Gravel went flying as he
sped down the road. “Gladly.”

Not another word was spoken until he pulled up alongside

Shane’s apartment building. He started to get out, but Shane held up
his hand and said, “Don’t bother.”

He watched as his mate stormed up the front steps, not turning

back. Shane was upset, and it was all Viktor’s fault, but what was he
supposed to do? Was he the only one feeling the pulls of the mating
bond? Did Shane lie about feeling things for him?

All the possible scenarios of why Shane was reluctant on

confirming their mating ran rampant like a stampede through his
mind. Viktor could relate to Shane’s fears, but eventually he’d have to
get over them or he’d spend the rest of his life alone and condemning
the same fate unto Viktor.

The whole way home Viktor fought the urge to turn his truck

around and go apologize to Shane. If his mate needed more time he’d

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gladly give it as long as he had Shane in his life. But in the end he
kept himself from going back. A good night’s rest would do them
both a world of good. If he went back now he might say something
else he’d come to regret.

* * * *

Shane tossed and turned all night. Every time he closed his eyes

he saw Viktor with his long blond hair whipping around his face as
the wind blew and his strong, fit body glistening with the afterglows
of sex. The way Viktor’s eyes would lose focus just before he’d
come, bathing Shane’s body in warmth.

“Goddamn it,” Shane grumbled. He tossed back his covers and

got out of bed. The stiffness in his cock ached with every step he
took. He still had an hour before his alarm clock would go off, but he
was in no mood to sleep.

After Viktor dropped him off last night, Shane was steaming mad.

He wasn’t purposely stalling the claiming bite, it was just…it was
just…

Shane shook his head, trying to find a reasonable excuse for his

cold feet. The very real fears he had a few days ago didn’t sound so
convincing now. Viktor had proven through his words and actions
that he was a standup guy. Granted the little outburst yesterday took
him by surprise, but Shane couldn’t blame him for confronting him.
They hadn’t known each other long, five days to be exact, but that
was all it took. When two mates found each other, it was like
someone set off a bomb of love and need. The more time that passed,
the more aggressive the need to claim would become.

He felt it, too. Viktor didn’t realize it, but he did. Shane wanted to

bite deep into Viktor’s muscled shoulder right where the neck and
shoulder met. He wanted to taste the sweet lifeblood flow across his
tongue as it left his mate’s body. Then when all was said and done,
he’d find pleasure at seeing the scar upon his mate’s neck for the rest

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

of their lives. Nothing could compare. But he had to go and let his
messed-up head fuck everything up.

Shane finished getting ready and headed for work. Margie was

already there when he arrived. He plastered on a smile and went about
his morning work routine.

The whole time he was having an internal debate on what to do.

He needed to apologize to Viktor and he needed to rectify the whole
claiming thing. The need to mark Viktor grew stronger by the minute.
He realized without that mark others wouldn’t know Viktor had been
spoken for, and that one little thought caused him to see red. The
distinct prickle in his gums warned him to calm down or his tiger
would take over and hunt down its mate and in the process scare the
shit out of the nice lady who had treated him like family since he
moved to town.

Margie turned over the open sign, and the morning rush filed

through the door. He made cup after cup of coffee, espresso, lattes,
and hot chocolate while Margie rang up the customers.

A young couple came in, and Shane couldn’t tear his eyes from

them. They shared innocent stolen little kisses while they waited for
their order to be taken. Their hands were clasped so tight like they
were afraid something would break them apart. The man gazed down
at his lady love, and her eyes were filled with nothing but admiration
and loyalty for her boyfriend.

Shane’s eyes started to water. He wanted what those two had, and

he already found it. He just needed to call Viktor and make it right.
They deserved to be every bit as happy as the couple standing before
him.

He decided the first break he got he’d call Viktor and tell him how

sorry he was and that he was ready.

Shane breathed a little easier as he went back to work. A three-ton

weight had been removed from his shoulders, and he felt lighter on
his toes.

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The morning crowd died down, and Shane had his back turned

toward the next customer who came through the doors. He called out
a greeting and that he’d be with them in just a moment.

He tossed the rag into the sink and whirled around to help the

customer.

“Hey, Shane, right?” It was the man from the other day.
“Yep, that’s me.” Shane shook the offered hand. “Dakota?”
“You remembered.” The man smiled at his ability to remember

his name.

“Of course,” Shane answered simply. The man was new in town,

and Shane remembered how that could be and wanted the man to feel
at ease and accepted in the community of Silver Creek. “What can I
get for you today?”

Dakota sat silent just staring at him for a minute, and Shane

started to squirm from the seriousness of the other man’s gaze.

“I’ll try the apple-cinnamon-spiced coffee.” Dakota let go of his

hand, and Shane took a step back.

“Trying something new I see,” Shane said. He blew out the breath

he’d been holding and went about grabbing a cup and filling it to the
brim. He didn’t understand what the look Dakota gave him meant, but
whatever had the man taking pause was gone.

“Well someone I used to know said I need to be more daring.” He

shrugged. “So why not start that with my coffee choice?”

“Who was that?” Shane kept up the easy conversation.
“My partner.” Dakota took a slow sip from his mug. “He used to

ride my ass for being too cautious. Said life was short, and I needed to
live my life like every day was my last.”

“Sounds like good advice.” Shane hadn’t missed the use of the

past tense. His caring nature had him reaching over to console
Dakota. “What happened to him? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“He was murdered,” Dakota said without any emotion in his eyes.

His voice was cold, and his stare had gone hard.

Shane slowly eased his hand back. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Dakota brought up his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring this up.” He gave Shane a tight smile.

“No worries. I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. So

how’s Silver Creek been treating you?” Shane did his best to change
the subject.

“Good. Nice town.” Dakota gave him a small smile. “But being

new and all, I don’t have a clue as to what the best restaurants are or
what to do for entertainment around here.”

“Silver Creek has a lot of must-eat-at restaurants you have to go

to.” Shane grabbed a pen and a piece of paper. “And for
entertainment, it’s like any other town. We have a movie theater,
recreational sports you can sign up for, and we also have a nightlife
that is pretty spectacular. Let me just write some of the places I like
down for you.”

Shane started to jot things down. His hand was jerked to a stop.

He looked up from the paper to see Dakota stretched over the
countertop with an unreadable grin on his face. Dakota had a tight
grip on his wrist, and Shane looked from where he had ahold of him
back to Dakota’s face.

“Sorry.” Dakota let go. “What I meant is would you like to go out

with me sometime. You know, show me around and all.”

“Oh.” Shane’s mouth rounded. Any other time he’d welcome

these advances, but he had Viktor now, and no other man would ever
compare. It was nothing personal, but Shane’s heart belonged to
another. “I’m sorry, Dakota. I’m flattered, but I’m actually involved
with someone.”

Dakota’s jaw went tight, but he quickly shifted his lips into a

smile. “My mistake.”

“No really it’s okay.” Shane couldn’t hide the happiness he felt at

finally admitting he belonged to another. “It’s new. We just started
dating.”

AJ Jarrett

“That’s the best time.” Dakota took another drink from his cup.

“The getting to know one another, sharing your first kiss, the
excitement of seeing each other. It only gets better with time.”

Shane couldn’t mistake the sadness in Dakota’s voice. His heart

went out to the man. He recognized the loneliness in Dakota and was
just about to offer a comforting shoulder, but then Dakota’s phone
began to ring.

Dakota pulled out his cell and looked at the flashing screen.

“Sorry, I need to take this.”

Shane nodded his head and went about restocking the napkin

holders and replenishing the sugar and creamers. Dakota stepped
outside to continue his conversation.

Seeing Dakota and hearing his story was another reminder for

Shane that people didn’t always stick around and not always to a fault
of their own but from death. He spent the last three years running
from any possible chance at finding love, but now all he wanted to do
was call Viktor and tell him just how much he loved him. If he was
already planning for when Viktor left him, he would miss out on all
the good stuff. Even being a shifter, deep down he was still human.
Like Dakota’s friend said, life was short and every day should be
lived to its fullest.

“Margie,” he called out as he washed his hands in the sink. “Can

you watch the front? I need to make a call.” He was already starting to
head for the back door.

“Sure, sweetheart.” Her brow creased as she gave him a curious

look. “Everything okay?”

Shane spun around and kissed her on the cheek. “Everything is

perfect. I’m in love.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Margie pulled him down for a tight hug. “That’s

the best news I’ve heard in a while.” She pulled back and moved her
hands up to brace on each of his cheeks. “You deserve to be happy.”

“Thank you.” Shane kissed her one more time then headed for the

back door.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Once he was out back, he tapped the screen on his phone and

brought up Viktor’s number and hit send. The phone rang once, twice.
On the third ring Viktor picked up.

“Shane?” Viktor’s rough voice asked.
“Hey.” Now that he had his mate on the phone, nerves swamped

his stomach. He anxiously gnawed on his lower lip until he could
taste the coppery taste of blood.

“Is everything okay?” Viktor asked when Shane didn’t say

anything else.

“Yes.” Shane breathed a sigh of relief. “In fact better than okay.

First off, I’m sorry for how I reacted last night. I was letting my own
messed-up shit fuck with my head.” Viktor tried to interrupt him but
he said, “Just let me get this out.”

Viktor went silent, and Shane took the reprieve to gather his

thoughts. “I’ve been on my own for the past three years and only had
myself to look out for. I push people away for fear they’ll leave me.
But the more I think about all the things that have been holding me
back, they just don’t seem that important anymore. I love you, and I
don’t want to push you away or run from you. I want to be with you,
Viktor.”

His words came out in a flurry. He didn’t mean to out the fact that

he was in love with Viktor, but he wasn’t going to wish it back.
Viktor was his mate. The one perfect person put on this earth for him
and only him.

“Did you just say you love me?” Shane could hear the tremble in

his mate’s voice.

“Yeah,” he croaked out. He was confident in saying Viktor felt the

same, but Shane didn’t want to get worked up until he heard what
Viktor had to say.

“Oh god, baby, I love you, too.” Viktor’s voice sounded muffled

as if he had the phone clutched tight to his face. “I’m sorry about last
night, too. I just love you so much, I want the world to know you’re
mine and I’m yours.”

AJ Jarrett

“Me, too.” Shane could feel the swell in his throat as tears of relief

and joy burned his eyes.

“I want to see you. I can be to Silver Creek in an hour,” Viktor

said.

There wasn’t anything Shane wanted more, but he still had to

finish his shift. He couldn’t leave Margie shorthanded. “Viktor, as
much as I’d love that, I can’t. I work until six tonight.” He heard
Viktor groan on the other end of the line. “Don’t pout. It’ll fly by in
no time.”

“Bullshit it will.” Viktor huffed.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t leave Margie all by herself. I love you, but I

still care about her, too.” Shane prayed his mate could understand
that.

“Fine, but I’ll be up there when you get off,” Viktor promised.
“I’ll hold you to that, mister.” Shane smiled wildly. He hopped

from foot to foot in an excited little dance.

“You do that, babe. I’ll see you in a few hours.” The line went

silent, and Shane thought he lost connection. “Shane, I love you.”

Those were words he didn’t think he’d ever tire of hearing. “I love

you, too.”

They said their good-bye, and Shane walked back into the café.

He had a little bounce to his step and felt like there was nothing in the
whole world that could drag him down.

“Your friend said to tell you he’d see you later,” Margie said

when Shane got closer.

He tilted his head and tried to think about who she was referring

to. “Friend?”

“Oh, I didn’t get his name. He was tall.” She raised her hand high

in the air to emphasize her point. “Handsome man with dark hair.”

“Oh you mean Dakota.” Shane knew exactly who she was

referring to.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

“I guess that was his name. He didn’t give one.” Margie turned

around to finish changing the coffee filter. “So I must ask what has
you so happy.”

He had told Margie when she hired him that he was gay. He didn’t

want to surprise her just in case she wasn’t comfortable with that. She
only laughed and said she could relate because she had a thing for
men, too.

“I met someone.” Shane hopped up onto one of the barstools and

used his toe to push the stool from side to side. “His name is Viktor,
and he’s perfect.”

“He better be.” Margie stood facing him with her hands on her

hips. The smile on her face couldn’t hide her concern. “Just be
careful, my dear.”

Shane promised he would, and they set back to their daily routine

of preparing the baked goods for the next day. He also found time to
put out the Christmas decorations. He had been avoiding it since after
Thanksgiving. The holidays hadn’t meant much to him since his
mother died, but now, now he had Viktor, and he couldn’t wait to
spend their first holiday together.

AJ Jarrett

Chapter Ten

Time didn’t go by as fast as he thought it would. It drug by one

slow second at a time until Shane was ready climb out of his skin.
Then to top it off Viktor called to tell him he was running late.
Something about a job needing his attention and that he’d be there as
soon as he could.

He helped Margie out the front door and to her car. They said

their good-byes like they always did, and he stood there waving until
she was out of sight.

A cold wind cut through his body, and his eyes started to water

from the cool burn. He looked up at the sky, and something wet
landed on his chin. Shane blinked his eyes a few times and saw that it
was beginning to snow. He started to laugh and spun in a circle as the
icy particles fell from above.

Shane pulled out his stocking cap he had tucked into his pocket

and put it on his head. He started down the street the short distance to
his apartment. When he started moving he heard the scraping of shoes
against the pavement. He turned around to see who it was, but no one
was there. He tried to sniff the air, but it was pointless. A day in the
café always left his nose paralyzed to smell.

Shoving it off as his imagination, Shane started to walk again.

There it was again. Shane turned around, expecting to see someone,
but the street was empty except a few people down a block coming
out of a store. He started to move backward, keeping his eyes peeled
for an attack of some sort. The feeling of being watched only came
when they had found him, and Shane prayed he was wrong. He didn’t

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

want hunters to find him and inevitably cause Shane to have to go on
the run again.

“Hey.”
The sound of the loud voice accompanied by strong arms around

his middle had Shane crying out in fear.

“Baby, it’s just me.” Viktor turned him around to face him.

“What’s wrong?”

Shane took deep breath after deep breath. The cold air stung his

lungs with every gulp. “Nothing, you just surprised me is all.” He
moved closer to Viktor and hugged him close. Shane looked over
Viktor’s shoulder, darting his eyes back and forth looking for any
signs of a person who might be following him. Nothing obvious stood
out, but that didn’t mean anything. Hunters could move unseen or at
least the ones he’d gone up against.

“I’m sorry.” Viktor bent down to kiss him, and Shane let the soft

touch of his mate’s lips chase away his concerns. “Let’s get inside
before we get drenched from the snow.”

He’d almost forgotten about the snow. Shane held his hand out

palm up. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

“The snow?” Viktor asked as he tugged on Shane’s hand to get

him moving.

Shane nodded his head. “I’ve never seen it before.”
“Never? Ever?” Viktor stopped walking abruptly, and Shane ran

into his back. When Viktor turned around, his face was scrunched up
at the absurdity that he’d never seen snow before.

“Never. My mom didn’t like the cold, so we always stayed in the

southern states.” Shane started to walk forward, matching his pace
with Viktor’s. “That’s why I headed north after she passed. I wanted
to experience a white Christmas.”

“Then you came to the right place.” Viktor held open the outer

door for him then followed Shane inside. “We’ll probably at least get
an inch or two by morning. The perks of living in the northern
region.”

AJ Jarrett

“Amongst other things,” Shane said as he brushed past Viktor as

he held the door open.

Viktor followed him up the stairs and didn’t say another word.

Shane unlocked his door and walked inside, not bothering to turn on
any lights. He took off his coat and tossed his gloves and hat on the
table, and just that fast Viktor was on him.

The air left his lungs in a gasp. Viktor roughly grabbed him by the

shoulders and spun him around. Shane was like putty for Viktor to
mold. He’d do anything this man wanted. Viktor started to pull off
Shane’s clothes, and every brush of hand on skin, skin against skin,
was like a branding mark. Shane’s toes curled in his shoes as his
arousal built up.

Once Shane stood totally naked, Viktor held his gaze as he

removed his own clothes. Shane licked his lips as inch by inch smooth
skin was revealed to his hungry eyes. The prongs on the zipper
seemed to echo in his head as they came undone. Viktor wasn’t going
fast enough, and yet he was going too fast. Shane felt like he would
explode if Viktor didn’t touch him soon.

“Come here.” Viktor curled up his finger, motioning for Shane to

come forward.

Shane kept his hands to his sides as he slowly walked to his mate.

Viktor’s eyes were dilated, and his muscles trembled as he watched
Shane move. The energy in the room was thick with lust and desire,
and Shane could barely control his need to climb Viktor and impale
himself on his thick cock.

“Get on your knees,” Viktor ordered.
He went down on his knees, raking his eyes down Viktor’s body

as he did. Once he was eye level with the crisp, tight curls
surrounding Viktor’s cock he glanced up at his mate.

“I want you to kiss it.” Viktor guided the stiff shaft until the

smooth, rounded head bumped Shane’s lips, leaving a wet mark.

Shane licked around the rigid crown then sucked at the tip,

catching the pre-cum leaking out. The taste was like a shock to his

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

system, and he quickly swallowed Viktor’s entire length until it was
lodged snugly in his throat. He groaned around the warm thickness,
taking pleasure with every little growl Viktor released.

“That’s it, don’t stop, baby.” Viktor’s fingers dug into the back of

his head as he thrust his hips forward fucking Shane’s mouth.

A mixture of drool and cum oozed down his chin from Viktor’s

rapid movements. He started to slurp it up as Viktor’s cock left his
mouth, but just when he was about to swallow, Viktor reared back in
for more.

Shane wrapped his arms around the back of Viktor’s thighs and

cupped his rock-hard ass with his fingers. He felt like his world was
spinning out of control, and he held on tighter to his mate.

“Get up.”
Shane pulled off his cock and looked at his mate. Viktor’s cheeks

were flush, and his chest rose and fell in heavy sequence from his
breathing. He went willingly when Viktor grabbed him up from under
his arms until he stood.

“Get the lube and come right back here.”
Shane ran off to get the small tube and rushed back to his mate.

He stumbled to a stop right at Viktor’s feet. His mate sat, with legs
spread, on the couch stroking his hard length. An evil grin played on
his lips as he looked at Shane.

“Come here, Shane.” Viktor kept rubbing his hand up and down

his length.

He stepped up between Viktor’s spread legs and held out his hand

for his mate to take the tube.

“Good boy.” Viktor sat up and patted Shane on the ass. “Now turn

around and bend over.

Shane did as he was asked and turned around. He bent at the

waist, leaving his ass exposed for whatever Viktor wanted to do. The
soft click of the cap opening had him squirming as he waited for
Viktor’s skillful fingers to find his entrance. One hand caressed his
bottom, gently pulling on his cheek, opening him wide. Shane

AJ Jarrett

whimpered as two fingers entered at once. Viktor made quick work of
greasing him up then swatted his ass hard.

“Stand up.” Viktor’s voice sounded gravelly as if he had a mouth

full of rocks. Shane stood up and turned back to his mate, waiting for
the next order. “Come have a seat.” Viktor smiled as he used his hand
to hold his cock upward. There was no mistaking where Viktor
wanted him to have a seat.

Shane climbed up to straddle Viktor’s lap and rested his hands on

his shoulders. He came up high on his knees and started to lower
himself on the slick cock. Viktor rested his free hand on his hip,
helping to guide him down. Shane let a small cry at the first initial
burning stretch, but by the time his ass rested against Viktor’s balls,
he wanted more.

He rose up and down as fast as he could, feeling the electricity

course through his body as his orgasm wound tighter and tighter. If he
were a string being cut, he’d fly out of this orbit from the pressure
building in his balls.

“That’s right, ride me. Make me come, Shane.” Viktor’s fingers

curled into his hips, urging him on. “Faster, harder.”

Shane did as his mate asked. Sweat slickened his skin, and he kept

losing his grasp on Viktor. He focused and allowed his claws to come
out. He sunk them into the soft skin of Viktor’s shoulders.

Viktor released a howl so loud the windows shook. Viktor started

to thrust his hips upward off the couch, fucking Shane’s stretched
hole even harder.

The feel of Viktor’s cock head brushing against his prostate had

tears welling in his eyes. His release was within seconds of rushing
out of his body. This was the moment he’d been waiting for. “Bite
me.” He tilted his head to the side, giving Viktor free reign to do as he
wished. “Make me yours, please.”

“Gladly.” Viktor growled loudly right before sinking his long

teeth into his flesh.

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

Shane gasped as hot cum rushed from his balls and out his shaft,

splashing across Viktor’s chest. His body shook with aftershocks, and
his ass pulsed around the swelling cock in his ass.

Viktor released his jaws from his shoulder, and Shane pounced.

He grabbed Viktor by his long hair and pulled his head to the side.
His teeth slid into Viktor’s skin with ease, and he drank down the
sweet blood of his wolf mate. The taste woodsy and wild, just like the
man it belonged to.

Shane pulled his teeth out of Viktor and licked the wound until the

bleeding slowed down. He sat up and looked down into his mate’s
glassy blue eyes. A small trail of blood lined the side of his mouth,
and Shane couldn’t help but lean forward and lick it away.

“You’re mine.” Viktor wrapped his arms around Shane’s waist

and pulled him close.

“And you’re mine. It’s a two-way street, my friend,” Shane joked.
“That it is. That it is,” Viktor said softly as he looked into Shane’s

eyes. “And I couldn’t be happier about it.”

Shane leaned into Viktor’s touch as his big strong hand cupped his

cheek. All the things he been running from seemed to evaporate into
the mist. Shane couldn’t think of one good reason why he ever wanted
to avoid falling in love because right now he’d never felt more alive.

They sat on the couch for a few minutes more than Viktor carried

him to bed. Viktor’s cock still tucked up inside him. The hardness
never went away after Viktor came, and Shane wasn’t surprised as his
mate laid him down and started to move inside him again.

After they both came again, Viktor got up to clean himself then

Shane up. Shane lay in bed, reveling in his euphoria. He’d never been
happier in his entire life. There was nothing that could happen to take
away this feeling in his heart.

* * * *

AJ Jarrett

“Baby.” Shane pulled the blankets up higher covering his head,

ignoring the persistent voice of his mate. “Shane, wake up. I need to
leave.”

Huh? Shane sat up and squinted his sleep-hazed eyes at the clock.

“It’s only five in the morning. Where do you have to go?”

“The foreman running the job on the Matthews estate called in

sick. So I have to go meet the guys and get them set up. Mr. Matthews
wanted to expand his garage, so the crew is doing an add-on today.”
Viktor shrugged his shoulders. “Pretty basic stuff. I won’t be gone
long. What time do you have to be at the café?”

“Seven,” Shane said around a yawn.
“Damn, I was hoping to come back and snuggle with you after I

was done.” Shane started to laugh as his big strong mate stuck his
bottom lip out in a pout. “What?” Viktor asked.

“Nothing, honest.” Shane tried to control his laughter. “It’s just so

cute seeing you pout like a little kid. I love it.”

“Good.” Viktor tackled him to the bed and covered Shane’s mouth

with his.

Shane sighed into the kiss. He wished they’d never have to leave

this bed, but that wasn’t realistic. The world didn’t stop just because
they became mates.

“You better go,” Shane said. “Or you will never leave.”
Viktor kissed his lips once more then climbed out of bed. “You’re

probably right.” Viktor snatched up his car keys. “I’ll see you when
you get off work?”

“Of course you will.” Shane smiled up at his mate.
“Okay then I’ll see you at six.” He bent over and kissed the breath

out of Shane then headed for the door. “Love you!” he shouted over
his shoulder.

“I love you, too!” Shane shouted back. He smiled to himself when

he heard Viktor reply “I know.”

Shane snuggled back under the covers and grabbed onto the

pillow Viktor slept on the previous night. He hugged it close

The Wolf’s Runaway Tiger

breathing in his mate’s familiar scent. Before long he drifted off to
thoughts of Viktor and the future they would have together.

Thump, thump, thump.
Shane sat up in bed and looked over at the clock. It read five after

six. He rubbed a hand over his eyes, trying to wipe away the sleep.

The sound of someone knocking on his door had him kicking his

legs over the side of the bed. He yawned and stretched his arms over
his head.

He wondered who’d be at his door this early. Maybe Viktor got

done earlier than he expected and was coming back for a little cuddle
time. Smiling, Shane stood up and grabbed the sleeping pants he had
draped over the back of one of the kitchen chairs. He pulled them up
just as he reached the door.

“Miss me already?” he asked as he opened the door.
“No, not really,” answered a gruff voice.
Shane jumped back in surprise at seeing Dakota in his doorway.

His handsome face that usually held a smile was sneering down at
him.

“Dakota, what are you doing here?” Shane asked calmly. He just

met this man and didn’t know him all that well, but it didn’t take a
genius to see the anger on his face.

“I’m here for you, tiger.” Dakota cocked his head to the side, and

his upper lip curled up.

Shane tried to still his breathing. If he wasn’t careful he’d pass out

from shock. How did this man no what he was?

“I think you should go.” Shane started to shut the door, but

Dakota stopped it with his foot.

“Not going to happen.” Dakota laughed as he pushed himself

inside.

Shane being a shifter made him a little bit stronger than an

average human, but he couldn’t think at the moment. Terror pooled in
his gut, and all he could think was he needed to get away.

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AJ Jarrett

“What do you want?” Shane walked wide to the right, trying his

best to sneak past Dakota.

“What do I want?” He started to laugh, and Shane leapt over the

end table and bolted for the door. “On no you don’t.”

Dakota grabbed him around the waist, and Shane instantly started

to claw at his arm. Dakota spit out a few curses but didn’t let go.
Shane called his tiger to the surface. He didn’t want to shift in his
apartment building, but he didn’t have a choice. Just as he felt the
welcome tingles of his body beginning to change, a sharp poke
followed by numb warmness flooded his neck. He slumped forward,
unable to hold his own body up.

“There we go.” Dakota patted the top of Shane’s head like he was

a domesticated animal. He propped Shane up on the couch. Dakota
gripped his chin in a tight hold. “You know what I want, Shane?” He
could only blink his eyes in response, and it was a miracle he could do
that. Whatever Dakota gave him was strong. “I want Winston back.
Can you do that for me?” He spat the words down at him.

His eyes went wide, and a knot formed in his throat. They’ve

found me. A tear ran down his cheek as dread filled him.

“See you and your bitch mother killed my partner.” He smacked

Shane across the face, and he fell into the couch. “And now I want
payback.”

Shane blinked open his eyes and watched as Dakota stood up and

walked behind him. He could hear the other man’s heavy footfalls as
he walked around Shane’s apartment. Every sound echoed in his head
like a steady beat of doom. It was like in those scary movies, the
tempo would rise and fall as the poor victim awaited their death.

“By the looks of it your boyfriend is a shifter, too,” Dakota said as

walked back around to the front of the couch carrying a blanket. “If
that mark on your neck is anything to go by.”

Shane could only stare in response. Whatever was in that injection

Dakota gave him took away his ability to move and to speak.

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101

“I’m sure he’ll come looking for you, but by the time he does it

won’t matter.” Dakota very gently rubbed the back of his knuckles
down Shane’s cheek. “He’ll get to know what it’s like to live without
his mate, but the more I think about it I might just kill him and let you
live.” The man let out a bitter chuckle. “That sounds like a more
appropriate punishment.”

Shane cried as he silently begged for help from god, his

neighbors, anyone.

“But I think I’ll stick with my original plan. I’ve waited too long

for this.” Dakota stood up then bent down to pick him off the couch,
pulling the blanket around Shane’s shoulders. “By nightfall you’ll be
dead.”

He lay there helpless while Dakota carried him down the stairs.

The man stayed silent and held Shane in a tender way. It was
probably to keep people from asking questions if they saw Dakota
carrying a half-dressed man out in the bitter cold.

Dakota shoved the door open with his foot and stepped outside.

Around the edge of the blanket, Shane could see the snow on the
ground. Viktor was right. They did get at least a couple of inches. It
was a shame this is all he’d ever see of it. He didn’t doubt for a
moment that Dakota would follow through with his threats.

Shane’s heart started to hurt as he thought of the life he’d left

Viktor to live. Viktor had lost his parents, too, and now he’d have to
suffer the loss of losing his mate. Shane thought his fate was much
better than Viktor’s because there was no way he could live without
his mate. He’d rather be dead.

“Shane? Is that you?”
Shane knew that voice. It was Devon. He tried to move any part of

his body, but it was pointless. All he could do was make little
whimpering sounds. Nothing to flag down his friend.

“Excuse me.” Devon’s voice grew louder.
Dakota stopped and turned around. Something solid and cold

pressed again the back of his head.

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“Come any closer and I’ll blow his head off. Not the way I

planned, but it’ll still have the same end result.”

“Put him down.” Shane could hear the fury in Devon’s voice.
“I don’t know exactly what you are, but all I have to do is make

one call, and this place will be swimming in hunters. So think very
carefully before you take that next step. Besides, he’ll be dead before
you ever reached me.”

Dakota opened a car door and laid him in the back. He heard

Dakota say something else to Devon but couldn’t make it out. His
mind like his body had grown tired. He could no longer keep his eyes
open. From a distance he heard Devon shout that they’d find him, but
that might have just been his imagination, wishful thinking on his
part.

Shane fell into a nice, cozy slumber as the car drove down the

road rocking him to sleep. Thoughts of Viktor had him pulled under
in seconds.

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103

Chapter Eleven

He got the call around six thirty. Devon was in a state of panic

going on about someone kidnapping Shane.

Viktor left the jobsite without a word. He ran for his truck and

drove to the family estate in record time. When he arrived, Devon was
in his office pacing the floor, Aiden was dialing his father on speaker
phone to ask for help, and Dominic, their pack computer genius, was
searching for information on the man who took Shane.

“Dad, we need your help,” Aiden’s tear-filled voice asked his

father.

Viktor moved to take the seat next to Aiden. He flopped down

into the chair as his adrenaline wore off as numbness set in. Shane
was gone and he didn’t have a clue on how to find him.

“What’s going on?” Phillip, Aiden’s father, asked.
“I saw a man carrying my brother’s mate out of his apartment. He

must have had him drugged or something because Shane wasn’t
moving.” Devon brought his fist down hard on the desk. “I could see
the fear in his eyes, and I couldn’t do a damn thing to help.”

Viktor sat quietly listening to the sordid details one more time.

When Devon had called him he’d only comprehended half of the
conversation. Once he heard Shane and kidnapped his ability to hear
or to even think ceased to exist.

“Son, I can tell you there aren’t any wolf hunters in your area.

Brandon and I have been keeping close tabs on this region, and we’re
all clear.”

Shane wasn’t a wolf, and if wolf hunters only hunted wolves,

maybe tiger hunters only hunted tigers. It hit Viktor like a slap across

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the face. “Phillip,” Viktor rushed out. “Shane isn’t a wolf. He’s a
tiger. Your people might not be the ones hunting him.”

Phillip released a heavy sigh. “Well that explains it. I’ve met a

few hunters in my day that specialized in hunting specific species, and
typically that’s all they devote their time to. Let me see what I can dig
up. I’ll call you back within the hour.”

The line disconnected, and now all there was left to do was wait.

Viktor hopped up from his seat and paced in the opposite direction as
Devon. As his feet landed with solid thuds, he had to concentrate so
he didn’t fall to his knees and bawl like a baby. Being a wolf made
him an excellent tracker, but they had no clues where to start the
search. With uninhabited country land laid out before them, it’d be
like looking for a needle in a haystack.

“Dominic, did you find anything?” Viktor heard Devon ask, but

he didn’t turn around to see what the other wolf had to say. He had to
keep moving because if he didn’t he’d fall to pieces.

“Not a damn thing. No early checkouts from the local or

surrounding hotels. No car rentals returned or any checked out in the
last few days. There is not a single thing pointing to one person.”
Dominic continued to bang away on his keys.

Devon and the others kept talking, bouncing ideas off one another

and what they wanted to do when they caught the sick bastard who
took Shane. Viktor knew what he had planned to do. He’d first rip the
man’s arms off then very slowly rip out his fucking throat.

Forty-five minutes had passed when the phone rang to life.
“Hello?” Aiden hit the speaker button. Everyone crowded around

the phone.

“Son, I’ve got some news. A hunter by the name of Dakota

Langley checked in with our council. He said he was hunting a rare
tiger species. In accordance with the hunter bylaws he had to give his
name, number, and the address to where he is staying. It’s like when a
visiting wolf comes into your territory, Devon. They have to make
themselves known so there’s no confusion on what they are doing

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here and have the permission of the local hunters’ council to hunt in
their territory.”

“Oh that’s fabulous. They have to have permission from other

killers to kill us.” Dominic rolled his eyes at the phone. “How fucked
up is that.”

Viktor could sympathize with the young wolf’s pain and

frustrations. Hunters only saw them as evil beings needing to be
destroyed. It wasn’t right or fair, but the world wasn’t fair.

“Boys.” Phillip raised his voice. “I realize now how messed up

this all is, but I’m doing what I can. My son is elbow deep in all this
with you guys, so that means I am as well. We’re family, and I have
no intentions on abandoning you, but in saying that, I have no
intentions on trying to explain to all of you the methods the council
takes in handling situations. Had it not been for my son being mated
to your alpha and me meeting all of you, I’d feel the same way as the
council. Ignorance is blind.”

“We know you aren’t like them, Dad.” Aiden spoke for everyone

because it was true. Phillip had proven himself to them and had been
helping them. “But did you find anything out on this Dakota? Where
can we find him?”

Viktor stopped pacing and stared at the phone, willing Phillip to

give him the information he needed.

“I have a guy working on it.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Devon shouted.
“It means, if I call and ask them personally, and then, I’m just

assuming here, that when you kill this man, all fingers will point to
me. I’m no good to my son or to any of you if I’m dead. Plus with
Brandon being my right-hand man they’d kill him, too. And I don’t
think, for your little brother’s sake, you want that to happen.”

Phillip was right. They needed him, and more than that Erik

needed Brandon. If anything happened to Brandon, Erik would lose it
and Viktor feared his kid brother would find a permanent way to end
his suffering.

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“No, we don’t,” Viktor answered. “I most of all appreciate all you

can do to help us.” His voice hitched. “Please help me get Shane
back. I’d do anything.”

Devon wrapped his arms around him, and Viktor dug his face into

his brother’s chest and silently cried. It was in complete contrast to
the man he was. Viktor never cried. Not when his parents were
murdered and not when Erik had been taken. He let his anger drive
him and fuel this desire for revenge. But now, he’d just accept getting
Shane back without seeking the pound of flesh due to him for this
grievance.

“Viktor, it’s all right. I’ve recruited one of the council’s computer

guys. He’s good. Dare I say better than Dominic,” Phillip joked to try
and ease the tension, and Viktor appreciated the gesture.

“Better my ass.” Dominic sounded appalled.
“I’m just messing with you, kid. But this man is scanning the

council computers to backdoor their program and get this Dakota’s
information. Getting his name was easy. It’s pulling up his address
and phone number that is the hard part. Give it some time, and we
will find Shane. I don’t have any doubt about it.”

Before Phillip hung up he promised to call back as soon as they

had something to go on. Devon eased Viktor into a chair then hopped
up to sit on his desktop.

“Viktor, Phillip’s right. We’ll find him. You just have to keep the

faith.”

He looked up at his brother, and Viktor so desperately wanted to

believe him, but life had proven to him that it was going to kick him
in the teeth every chance it got. Viktor didn’t know if he had any
more fight left in him.

There was one thing Viktor was certain of, and that was if Dakota

killed his mate, the last thing he did before his heartbreak consumed
him, was to make the man suffer.

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107

What seemed like hours later the phone rang again. The sun had

started to lower in the sky, and before long night would set upon
them, making it harder to track footprints or tire tracks.

“We’ve found him. I’m five minutes from your house,” Phillip

said. “Get your gear and meet us out front.”

“We’re wolves, Phillip.” Devon chuckled. “We are the gear.”
“Whatever, let’s just get a move on it. It took my guy longer than

he thought. It would appear the council isn’t so trustworthy and puts
security coding on all their files now.”

Viktor was the first to hit the door. A large SUV was pulling up as

he stepped off the porch. Phillip rolled down his window and hollered
for them to get a move on it. They were delayed for a brief moment
when Phillip tried to make Aiden and Erik stay behind but relented, so
they weren’t wasting time Shane might not have. No one said it, but
the context was felt loud and clear.

They got on the highway and headed south. No one spoke a word

the entire time. The drive was just short of an hour, and darkness
surrounded them now. No lights decorated the streets this far out. It
was open country all around them and no specific indicators to
finding the house holding Shane, but Phillip had coordinates.

“Let’s park here.” Phillip pointed to the side of the road, and

Brandon did as he was instructed and pulled off onto the shoulder.
“We need to go on foot from here. I don’t want the asshole getting the
jump on us. If he opens fire we’re fucked.”

“No we’re not.” Viktor’s lips curled back as he snarled. “You got

a pack of wolves that can move fast and disarm him before he ever
gets a shot out.”

“Remind me never to piss you off.” Phillip held his hands up in

mock surrender. A bird called in the distance, and Phillip’s head
snapped in the direction. “Let’s go.”

Viktor, Devon, Josef, Dominic, Skyler, and lastly Erik shifted.

The six wolves surrounded Phillip, Aiden, and Brandon as they
headed in the direction Phillip pointed. As they made it through the

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dense trees, a dirt road lay on the other side. They stayed hidden
within the tree line and walked until they reached a small cabin.
Devon tipped his head toward the car parked outside, indicating that
was the car he’d seen cart Shane away.

His fur rose on his back, and he bared his teeth. Shane was inside

that little hovel, and the only thing keeping him away from his mate
was a dead man. Because when he was done, there wouldn’t be
enough pieces left to identify the body.

An agony-filled scream had them all coming to a halt. With his

superb hearing, he could tell it was Shane’s. A growl brewed in his
throat, threatening to seep out. His muscles were strung tight, ready to
attack.

Another cry for help carried along on the wind, and Viktor gave

one sharp bark and took off. He didn’t care if Dakota came out with
guns blazing. As long as Viktor or any of the others got to him first,
they could spare Shane any more pain.

* * * *

Shane came to a few hours later. His eyes felt dry, and his mouth

was barren of moisture. He blinked a few times, trying to focus on his
surroundings. What he saw had him cowering in fear. Dakota had
wrapped chains around his wrist, and the metal links connected to a
latch in the wall. His arms were strung tight and stretched above his
head. In his weakened state he couldn’t break away.

He tried to kick his legs, only to discover they were chained at the

ankle and anchored to the tiny twin bed he lay upon. A cold numb
feeling spread throughout his body, and he began to shake. He was
trapped with no way to escape. God only knew what dreadful things
Dakota would do to him before finally putting Shane out of his
misery. Terror like he had never known plagued him, chasing away
any hope he’d get out of this mess alive.

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109

He tried to call out for help, but his mouth felt thick with cotton,

and he didn’t have enough saliva to make his tongue work. His eyes
felt heavy, and he had to squint so he wasn’t seeing double. Whatever
drug Dakota gave him still coursed through his veins.

“I see that you’re awake.” Dakota sat in a chair in the far corner

just staring at him.

Shane gave a weak nod. What could he say? Nothing came to

mind because no matter what he told Dakota, it wouldn’t change
anything. Dakota blamed him for Winston’s death, and there was no
way to bring the dead back to life, so Shane was screwed. There was
no leverage to save him. And it wouldn’t matter that the sick bastard
Winston killed Shane’s mother and planned on keeping him for some
sort of pet.

The memories raced through his mind, and he yanked feebly on

his chains.

“You can try all you want.” Dakota stood up and walked toward

where Shane lay on the bed. “But you won’t escape.”

Shane hadn’t noticed Dakota was smoking a cigarette until the

man brought the bright red butt down to smother out the flame on
Shane’s chest. He writhed in pain as the embers melted away his skin.
A small whimper left his lips, and Dakota looked down at him,
smiling like he was enjoying the pain he caused.

“Just get it over with,” Shane mumbled. “You’re going to kill me

anyways. Just put the gun to my head and end it now.” He didn’t want
to give up, but a quick death was better than being tortured for hours
on end. He also didn’t want Viktor to have to find his bloodied and
beaten body, no doubt unrecognizable. Viktor didn’t need to live with
the guilt of not being able to save him. It wasn’t Viktor’s fault, it was
his. He should have been paying better attention to his surroundings,
then maybe Dakota wouldn’t have found him.

“And end our time together? I think not.” Dakota pulled out a

knife. It wasn’t big, but the edge gleamed in the low light from the

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one lamp in the small room. “I want you to suffer like I’ve suffered.
Do you know what it was like losing Winston? I was devastated.”

Shane had to rope in the urge to roll his eyes. Didn’t Dakota know

what Winston wanted from him?

“He was my best friend and lover. Now thanks to you and your

mother, all that’s gone.” Dakota’s voice began to rise.

“You do realize he wanted to keep me? Not for testing but

because he was attracted to me. That man wanted to rape me.” Shane
spoke frankly. If this was his last few minutes on earth, he wanted
Dakota to know what kind of man he was willing to commit murder
for.

“You lie,” Dakota spat out through clenched teeth. “Winston

loved me. You were just an assignment.”

“No.” Shane shook his head from side to side. “He forced himself

on me, kissed me, and I could feel him pressed up against me. He was
enjoying it.”

Shane could tell the moment he had gone too far. A wild look

flared in Dakota’s eyes right before he brought down the knife in his
hand. He cried out as it sliced deep into his stomach.

“You’re a liar and a filthy animal. I’m going to enjoy taking my

time with you. I know all the right places to inflict pain without
actually killing you.” Dakota’s once-handsome features had turned to
something evil and ugly. “Let’s get started, shall we?”

Shane screamed in agony as Dakota twisted the knife then yanked

the blade out of his gut. His muscles clenched tight as if he was
having a spasm. The warm flow of blood ran down his side as it
bubbled from the hole in his stomach.

Dakota brought the knife up and sliced it across Shane’s bare

chest. He yelped in pain but was too weak to fight the attack. Even if
he could, he was still chained down to the bed.

Giving in to his fate, Shane closed his eyes and welcomed death.

As long as the sick freak was only after him, then Viktor would be

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111

safe. That was all Shane cared about. He didn’t want to leave his
mate, but sometimes life had other plans.

As Dakota’s arms rose up and he brought them down swiftly,

Shane opened his mouth to scream, but nothing came out. His eyes
grew heavy. He couldn’t stay awake between the blood loss and his
abused body. Shane fell into the comfort of the haze that lingered
around his body.

I love you, Viktor, was his last thought before he fell from

consciousness.

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Chapter Twelve

Viktor was the first to bust through the door. He barreled into it

with his shoulder, and it gave away like a piece of wet cardboard. The
door flung open, and a man stood over Shane’s body with a knife. His
eyes flashed to the blade that dripped drops of deep crimson. He
slowly cast his eyes down toward his mate. Shane’s eyes were closed,
and his body was covered in blood. Over the pounding of his own
heart, he could hear the pitter-patter of his mate’s, faint but there.

He released a menacing growl toward the man holding the

weapon. The man finally looked at him and smiled, but it was without
humor. Rage like Viktor never felt came over him as his body forced
him forward.

“You came for him.” The man laughed. “Isn’t that sweet. Too bad

it’s not enough to save him. He has to pay for what he’s done.” The
man grabbed Shane by his soft brown hair and yanked his head to the
side. He had murder in his eyes as he started to bring down the blade.

Viktor didn’t give it a second thought. He leapt through the air

and caught the man by the wrist. He cursed and tried to pull away
which only caused more damage to his arm. But Viktor didn’t care if
he hurt this human. He was a hunter trying to take Viktor’s mate away
from him. He was going to die for his crime.

The man fell to the floor, and Viktor straddled his body. He let go

of the man’s arm and sunk his teeth into his shoulder. He growled
around the mouthful and bit harder as he tugged. A burning sensation
erupted from his side, and he jumped back.

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113

“Stupid dog.” Dakota laughed as he stood up, cradling his abused

arm to his chest. In his other hand he clutched the knife, now covered
in Viktor’s blood.

Viktor backed up a bit, trying to catch his breath and ignore the

pain. He’d been stabbed.

A sharp bark had him and Dakota looking toward the door. Devon

and Josef stood in the open doorway. Both had their teeth bared,
snapping their heavy jaws in Dakota’s direction. Their bodies tensed,
ready to leap into action at the first available opportunity.

Blood flowed down Viktor’s side, matting the fur. A jolt of

warmth started to embrace his body, starting from where he’d been
stabbed and flowing outward, engulfing his entire body. He tried to
push it away. He needed to stay aware.

He growled low and took a step toward Dakota.
Dakota turned in his direction then quickly back toward his

brother and friend. An almost serene smile curled Dakota’s lips.
“Maybe I was wrong.” The man raised the knife in front of him, and
Viktor watched as the man sliced the blade across his own throat then
fell to the floor.

Dakota lay there gasping for breath as his life slipped away from

him. The wound gaped open, and blood ran freely painting the
hardwood floor. Not the way Viktor wanted the man to die, but it’d
do. He watched as the life left Dakota’s eyes. There was a sadness
there that, maybe if this man hadn’t been hell-bent on killing his mate,
Viktor would have felt sorry for him.

“What happened?” Phillip came running toward them and skidded

to a stop. “Dear god!” His eyes widened, and Viktor felt the other
man’s shock. “He cut his own throat.”

“I would imagine that fate was more appealing than facing down

three very large wolves hell-bent on drawing his blood,” Brandon, his
brother Erik’s mate and wolf hunter, said from where he stood next to
Phillip.

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“What do we do now?” Devon asked. He and Josef had shifted

back to their human forms.

Viktor let the change crawl across his skin until he was kneeling

down next to where Shane lay chained to the bed. He stood and
yanked the chains free from the wall. Josef came over to help him free
Shane from his bindings.

“We’ll bury the body in the woods. Say a small pray then leave,”

Phillip said simply. “If we leave his body like this, and someone from
the hunters’ council comes to check on him, they will know a wolf
attacked him from the bite marks on his arm. We have to do it this
way.”

Viktor bent over Shane’s sleeping body. The stab wounds had

stopped bleeding, and Shane’s pulse beat normal. Shifters had the
ability to heal quicker than humans, but it didn’t mean Shane was out
of the woods yet. He wanted to get him home and into bed where he
could clean his mate up.

He wrapped his arms under Shane and started to lift up, but

choked in pain as fire shot out from his side.

“Viktor, you’re bleeding.” Aiden, who Viktor didn’t see at first,

rushed to him. “Dad, come look at this, and you better take a look at
Shane, too.”

Phillip looked at Shane first per Viktor’s request. He checked his

vitals and put his head to Shane’s chest, listening.

“He’ll be all right with a little rest.” Phillip looked down at

Dakota’s lifeless body, and Viktor felt the urge to kick it. “He knew
what he was doing, that’s for sure. He didn’t hit any major organs.
This man wanted to make your mate suffer for as long as he could.”

Viktor just grunted in response. His side hurt too bad, and he

wanted to leave this little house of horrors before Shane woke up.

Phillip poked at his side and Viktor groaned from the prodding.

“You’ll be fine. It’s shallow, but it did cut through the muscle. It’ll
hurt like the dickens, but you’ll live.” Phillip gave his shoulder a tight
squeeze.

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115

Viktor let Devon carry Shane back to the car. Aiden and Erik

assisted getting him back down the hill where they parked. Josef,
Phillip, and Brandon carted Dakota’s dead body out of the cabin and
about a hundred yards away from the house and buried him. Viktor
thought it was better than the man deserved, but Phillip was right. If
any other hunters found him first and saw the bite marks, they’d be
out for blood. It’d be open season on all wolves.

A few hours later they were back at their house. Devon carried

Shane up their stairs, and Aiden helped clean him and Shane up.
Aiden and Devon stayed encouraging as they chatted to him. His
wound had stopped bleeding, and was only a little tender now. When
his brother and his mate were done, he thanked them and turned on
his good side to cuddle his mate. Even in sleep, Shane’s body knew
his and snuggled closer.

Viktor combed his fingers through Shane’s hair absentmindedly.

He came so close to losing his mate, and that terror stung deep. They
were safe now, but it didn’t chase away that fear.

It was just after one in the morning, and Viktor pulled the blankets

higher and closed his eyes. He wanted to see Shane’s light-blue eyes
and all the caring that lay in their depths, but that could wait until
morning. His eyes drifted shut, and he was out like a light.

* * * *

Shane came to with a start. He sat up in bed and gasped for breath.
Where am I?
He slowly took in his surroundings then looked down and saw

Viktor lying next to him. Shane breathed out a sigh of relief and
flopped back on the bed. All his wounds Dakota inflicted had healed,
and only a small scar remained. One of the few perks of being a
shifter. They could heal quicker, but only if given the time to
recuperate. He still could have very easily of died from those stab
wounds Dakota bestowed upon him.

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“You’re awake?”
Shane rolled to his side to face Viktor. The solid heat of his

mate’s body warmed him, and the love in Viktor’s eyes caused
butterflies to flutter in his stomach.

“Thank you,” was all Shane could say. It didn’t sound like enough

to say to the man who saved his life, but that was all he could offer.

“For what?” Viktor scooted closer, and Shane went willingly into

his warm embrace.

“For coming for me.” His throat was thick with the emotions he

was feeling. The only other person who risked their own safety for
him was his mother, and she died in the process. Shane was beyond
thankful to the powers that be that Viktor wasn’t taken from him like
his mother had been.

“I’ll always come for you.” Viktor kissed him, chasing away any

fear that lingered in his chest. The soft press of his mate’s lips could
cure any of his ailments. All too soon Viktor pulled away. Shane
whined his displeasure, and Viktor only smiled in response. “Baby,
why was Dakota after you? I mean he was a hunter, but he talked as if
he knew you.”

Shane breathed out a heavy sigh and rolled to lie on his back.

“That’s because he did in a way.” He looked back to Viktor, and a
tear ran down his cheek. “He was Winston’s partner. He wanted
revenge for my mother killing Winston.”

“Oh my god.” Viktor cradled Shane to his chest, and Shane let

loose the dam holding back his grief.

After a good cry Shane explained to Viktor all that happened.

How Dakota had been visiting the café and how he came to his
apartment that morning. The man had been stalking him, just biding
his time until he found his opening. “He didn’t know what the man he
had loved planned to do with me. He called me a liar.”

“It doesn’t matter now, you’re safe.” Viktor soothed him.
Shane wiped his tears away and looked up at his mate. Love and

warmth surrounded him. “I know, and thank you for that.” Shane

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117

leaned up to kiss his mate. It started out slow then turned more urgent.
He licked and sucked on Viktor’s tongue and mouth like he would
never get the chance again. He learned twice now life can end in the
blink of an eye. It was time he started living each day to the fullest,
and there was no other person in the world he wanted to do that with
more than Viktor.

“God, I love you,” Viktor said in between kisses.
Shane smiled and mumbled back, “Right back at you, babe.”

THE END

WWW.AJJARRETT29.BLOGSPOT.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AJ Jarrett currently lives in the Midwest with her husband and

four children. A lover of M/M romances, she has started writing her
own stories for others to enjoy. She loves her characters to be
antagonistic toward one another but ultimately find their happy ever
after. She believes love can be found in the craziest of places and a
little humor along the way never hurt. To her, there’s nothing sexier
than two men finding their soul mate and falling in love. When she
isn’t chasing around her kids, she can be found sitting on the couch
with her trusted laptop giving life to the voices in her head.

For all titles by AJ Jarrett, please visit