Carter’s Devotion

Reading Order

Big River Pack:

Gray’s Wolf

Micah’s Match

Emory’s Mate

Reed’s Girl

Tristan’s Voice

Blackwater Bears:

Colton’s Kitty

Noah’s Fire

Carter’s Devotion

Carter’s Devotion

Lynn Howard

@2019

Published by Twisted Heart Press, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Your non-refundable purchase allows you to one legal copy of this work for your own personal use. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload, or for a fee.

Disclaimer: This book may contain explicit sexual content, graphic, adult language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable. This e-book is for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Lynn Howard will not be responsible for any loss, harm, injury or death resulting from use of the information contained in any of its titles.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, businesses, and incidents are from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual places, people, or events is purely coincidental. Any trademarks mentioned herein are not authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks used are specifically in a descriptive capacity.

Chapter One

Carter sat staring off into space as his Clan and his friends from Big River chuckled and joked. He was restless. And bored. And he had no idea why. It’d been kind of nice over the last year with zero drama. He fucking hated drama.

The bullshit they’d gone through after Shawnee’s family Pride had attacked, then the rogue Fairy and her Shifter buddies trying to steal Hollyn, were bad enough to keep Carter from ever wanting to leave his fucking house. Not completely true. He didn’t want any of his people out of his sight. He liked when they were all together, whether it was at Moe’s or down in Big River territory during cookouts. That way, he could keep an eye on everyone at one time.

Bear Clans didn’t have Alphas, yet he’d been shoved into the leadership role almost immediately. Carter had been the last to join Luke, Noah, and Colton, yet they’d looked to him for almost everything. Maybe because he was the oldest by almost ten years.

Carter was pushing forty and he’d yet to find his mate or start a family. He figured it wasn’t in the cards for him. He was only meant to find women here and there to sate his needs and fill his lonely nights before moving on to whatever lay ahead. It wasn’t like he was using women; they were using him for the same reason - to scratch an itch.

A loud, feminine laugh caught his attention and had him seeking out the owner of that sound. His eyes zeroed in on a woman with a full body and curves like Nova, but she appeared taller, even in her seated position. Her dark hair hung all the way to her waist and swayed across her back as she talked in an animated fashion to the women sitting with her.

And then she turned and looked right at him as if she could feel him watching her. Gray eyes. Her eyes were so light gray they were almost surreal. Ethereal. Like a freaking angel or something.

His heart began to slam behind his ribcage and his dick stood up and paid attention.

Before he had any time to think about what he was doing, he was on his feet and moving closer. And she never looked away, as if she expected him to come to her, as if beckoning him forward like a fucking siren.

And then he was standing right in front of her, looking down into her beautiful face.

“Hi,” she said in a raspy, throaty voice. And his dick thumped the back of his zipper. “I’m June.”

“Carter.”

“Ha! June Carter!” Reed guffawed from behind Carter.

Ignoring the wolf, Carter kept his eyes on June’s face.

“Want to join us?” June asked, her full lips tilted up on one side. And damn if he didn’t want to lean down and run his thumb over their softness.

“Yeah,” he said. Why was he so breathless? He must’ve had too much to drink because he was contemplating ways to get this woman out of the bar and into his bed.

June pulled the chair beside her out and Carter lowered into it, his eyes never leaving her face.

“Is he drunk?” Shawnee asked someone back at his table.

“Must be,” Colton said. “Never seen him act like that.”

“He’s probably horny,” Reed said.

At that comment, June’s lips stretched into a grin. Carter closed his eyes and shook his head. And just like that, the spell was broken. Turning to look over his shoulder, Carter said, “Shut the fuck up, Reed,” and then turned back to the gray-eyed beauty still smiling at him.

“Hey, he’s trying to help,” June said with a sexy chuckle.

Okay, then. Looked like Reed hadn’t completely ruined his chances. Not that he needed to be thinking about one-night stands and all that. And he definitely didn’t need to bring a stranger back to his territory, not after what they’d already gone through. Yet, he’d just about give his left nut to be naked with this woman. Already, he couldn’t wait to feel those curves under his hands. He couldn’t wait to feel how soft her skin was or how heavy her tits would feel.

Finding his inner coolness and control, he shot her a crooked grin. “Is it helping?”

Her smile was demure as her eyes lowered and then she looked up at him through her lashes. “And what would you do if I said it was?”

“Can I buy you another drink?” he asked, then realized she was sitting with two other women. All three were Shifters, but he had no idea what kind. They all had eyes in varying shades of gray, but none as pretty as June’s. “Let me buy you ladies the next round.”

The two other girls giggled while one of them nudged June with her shoulder.

“That’d be nice,” June said, no giggle in her voice and she didn’t even seem to notice her friends whispering behind her.

Carter’s eyes dropped to her pillowy lips. They were only inches apart. He could easily lean in and taste her. But she leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs at the knees, pretty much closing Carter out. Was this woman a tease? Was this some game to get free drinks?

And if he got some of her attention for the next hour, did it really fucking matter?

With a smirk, Carter pushed his chair away from the table and stood. He shook his head at his friends as he passed, not really wanting to get into a conversation about what he was doing. It was none of their business. He did his job every day, Monday through Friday. He protected his Clan and their friends any time he was needed. He spoke to the Alphas of other Shifter groups, representing the four bears, lioness and Fairy of his Clan whenever the situation arose.

He needed this. Even if he never saw June past this night, past these four walls, he needed to feel like he was more than a middle-aged Shifter with nothing to look forward to but his Clan brothers creating families.

Not that he wouldn’t be happy for them. But the reality was, he was jealous. Each time a member of Big River found their mates, green fog slithered in his gut. It was even worse when a couple of them had pups. Then Colton and Noah had paired up, leaving Luke and Carter as the extra wheels.

He was middle aged. Next year, he’d hit the big four-oh and would probably still be single.

So, fuck it. He’d be an eternal bachelor. He could never be a womanizer, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t date periodically.

Noah frowned at Carter as he pushed four beers across the bar top. “Shawnee could’ve brought ‘em over,” he said.

It was bad enough that his Clan and the Pack were close enough to hear anything and everything Carter and June said to each other. He didn’t need his newest Clan sister getting in on the conversation, too. She’d been on him lately to find someone and settle down. She had this dream of their Clan filled with couples and kids. Shame they were going to be one chick and at least one kid short of her dream. Hollyn winked at Carter before he turned away from the bar.

June’s back was to Carter as he made his way through the bar, snarling at Reed when he held up two thumbs.

“Damn, man. I’m just trying to cheer you on,” Reed grumbled and turned back in his seat.

His pink-haired mate, Lola, wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Maybe a little less obvious next time,” she said with a soft chuckle before pressing a kiss to his cheek.

June glanced over her shoulder as Carter neared and gave him another of those soft, closed-lipped smiles. He hadn’t even asked if she was single. It was hard to imagine a woman like her didn’t beat guys away with a stick every fucking day.

Setting the beers on the table, he scooted one to each of the women before taking one for himself.

“I’m going to play pool. Carol, you in?” one of the women asked.

With a wink and a smile at June, Carol nodded and stood. The other woman bent and whispered in June’s ear. “You know the code.” Either she didn’t realize Carter could still hear her or she didn’t care.

June’s friends left with one more backward glance. And then Carter was finally alone with June. Well, as alone as he could get in a bar full of Shifters.

“So,” June said when it was just the two of them.

“So,” Carter repeated.

“Smooth, man,” Micah grumbled from the other table.

“Hush. Leave them alone,” Callie, Micah’s mate, said.

“You don’t get out much, do you?” June asked, then pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and smiled.

“What makes you think that?” He got out every damn day, whether to work or to Moe’s.

“Your friends are intent on either getting you laid or paired up,” June said. Then she leaned close until her lips were touching his ear and Carter wondered if he wouldn’t blow his load right then and there. “I’d go for the former if I were you.”

Heart racing, palms sweating, Carter couldn’t form a word as June pulled back. Her eyes held the faintest hint of a glow as she tilted her head. “I live less than five minutes away.”

“You serious?” Carter asked barely above a breath. There would be a shit load of questions if Carter jumped up and took off with this woman. But if he had the chance to touch her, to taste her, to bury himself deep inside of her, he didn’t give a shit what kind of talk there’d be in the morning.

“As a heart attack.”

For some reason, those words coming out of her mouth amused him. He released a surprised bark of laughter. She raised one brow at him, but she didn’t look upset by his outburst.

And that made him want her even more.

“My truck’s out front,” Carter said.

“Constance,” she said, barely raising her voice above conversational. “I forgot to feed my cat.”

June stood and grabbed her purse from the back of the chair.

“Call me if you need help feeding him,” Constance said with a wide grin. The other friend, Carol, didn’t look as excited. She looked a little worried. Shame Carter couldn’t put her mind at ease. He was too busy trying to keep from passing out from all the blood leaving his brain and going straight to his groin.

Keeping his eyes straight ahead so he didn’t have to see the look on his friends’ faces, he raised a hand and flipped the bird when a series of catcalls followed Carter and June out the door.

With a hand on June’s lower back, he led her to his truck parked three down and right up against the front of the building. He opened her door and helped her up, groaning at the feeling of her wide hips in his hands. How any man wanted a skinny woman never made sense to him. He liked curves, full tits, and a full ass. He loved the softness and feminine feel of a full-figured woman.

And June was perfect.

“I heard that,” she teased as she settled in her seat.

“Couldn’t hold it in,” he said with a wink as he closed her door and rounded the back of the truck, situating his cock so he wouldn’t have a permanent zipper mark on his shaft.

June was leaned against the door, her elbow propped with her head in her hand, when Carter climbed in. Her smile widened. “You sure about this? You can still back out.”

“Minx,” he muttered under his breath as he started the truck. The sound of June’s throaty chuckle filled the cab.

Giving directions, June seemed so relaxed and casual in his truck. She looked like she belonged there. Or like she’d be comfortable and could take charge of any situation no matter where she was. She had this air of confidence about her.

She hadn’t been lying; her place was less than five minutes away. In fact, it was three minutes. There were six single-wide mobile homes lined up in a row down a one-way road. Three of them looked vacant.

But the one she directed him to was well cared for, had flowers planted everywhere, and was freshly painted. “That’s home,” she said, then removed her seat belt.

He hurried out of his seat and jogged to her door just as she was stepping onto the running board. Hands on her hips, he lowered her to the ground and let his touch linger even after her feet were firmly planted on the gravel.

“Thanks,” she said, once again looking up at him through her thick, dark lashes. She was wearing makeup, but it was natural enough he could still see her beauty through it.

Releasing June, he let her take his hand and lead him to her place, up the stairs and through the front door. The second the light was on, Carter took a second to take in his surroundings, including noting the places where others could enter and exit. It was a habit he’d developed early in life and had only become stronger after each attack on his friends and family.

“Nice place,” he said. It really was. And feminine without being girly. She seemed to like the same bright colors the women of Big River enjoyed. There were no frilly, lacy things hanging anywhere, no floral patterns. But it definitely looked and smelled like a woman’s house.

“Thanks.” She tossed her purse onto a small, round butcher block table and opened the fridge. “Can I interest you in a drink?” she said, pulling out a beer and holding it up.

“Sure. Appreciate it,” he said, and wondered if she was stalling. Maybe she was the one having second thoughts all of a sudden. It was probably best if he bowed out, told her he was tired but he’d like to see her again.

“I’m nervous,” she blurted out, carrying the beer to him and letting her hand linger when he took the bottle in his own.

“About what?”

“I’ve never done this.”

With a sharp intake of breath, Carter stepped back. No way was he taking anyone’s virginity. That wasn’t his style. And she deserved better than a one-night stand for her first time. A woman like June deserved candlelight and a bed of roses.

“Look, I’m not…I can’t do that. You don’t want me to be your first,” Carter said, setting the unopened beer on the kitchen table.

Her dark brows pulled down and her eyes narrowed on him. And then those brows popped up to her hairline and her pretty gray eyes widened.

“What? No no no. I’m not a…I’m not a freaking virgin, Carter,” she said on a giggle. “I mean, I’ve never had…you know.”

He raised one brow at her. “A one-night-stand?”

“Yeah. That,” she said. A pretty pink blush washed over her cheeks and she ducked her gaze.

Carter tilted his head and studied the woman he wanted more than he’d wanted anyone in a long fucking time. Up until about five minutes ago, she’d seemed like a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and didn’t let anyone get in the way of getting it. Now? Now she looked like she wanted to hide under the table until it was over.

“We don’t have to do anything, June. I’d be just as content hanging out,” Carter told her, leaning his hip against the half wall separating the foyer from the rest of the house and watching for any sign that she wanted him to leave or make the first move.

That no longer confident, sure woman blinked a few times as if she wasn’t sure what to say next or as if she were trying to figure out if he was feeding her a line.

“Want to sit?” she offered, nodding her head toward the table. “Are you hungry?”

Well then. The night went from fiery and sexy as hell to a little domestic. Screw it. Even if they didn’t get naked, he’d at least get to hang out with this siren. And give his friends something to gossip about while he was gone.

“I’m good. Thanks,” he said, pulling out an older looking chair and lowering into it.

June took the chair to his right instead of across from him. She popped the top of her beer, then clutched it between her hands like a lifeline.

“June. We don’t have to do a damn thing but talk,” Carter said, touching her forearm lightly.

The muscle under her skin tensed, but then relaxed as she released a breath she’d been holding. “Sorry. It’s been a long time since another man touched me,” she admitted, giving him a self-deprecating smile.

“Been single for a while?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head slowly. “Newly single. With the same guy for almost two years.” Her eyes squeezed shut. When she peeked open one eye to look at him, Carter couldn’t help but chuckle. “I have a habit of saying what’s on my mind before my brain has a chance to catch up with my mouth.”

“I have a couple of friends like that,” Carter said before popping the cap off his own beer and taking a long swig. “I like it.”

“Good. ‘Cause it’ll happen a lot as long as you’re hanging around me.” He loved the fact she was already thinking about seeing him again.

June finally leaned back against her chair and smiled up at Carter.

“What?” he asked, returning her smile, when her look turned mischievous.

“Do you know how to play poker?”

Frowning through the smile, Carter shook his head. “Nope. Sorry.”

“How about Go Fish?”

“Pretty sure everyone knows how to play Go Fish.”

She stood, leaving her beer on the table, and retrieved a deck of cards from the top of her refrigerator. “I’ve got an idea.” A light glow entered her gray eyes. “How about a game of strip Go Fish?”

And there went his dick thumping the back of his zipper again. “You sure?”

She set the deck on the table and sat down on the edge of the chair, leaning closer to Carter. “Look, I really want this. I really want to see your hot ass naked. But I’m nervous. I’m a big ol’ flirt, but when it gets down to it, I’m a little on the insecure side.”

That wasn’t something he’d have guessed back at the bar if someone had paid him. But the second they were behind closed doors, he started to see a shyer side of this curvy beauty.

“What the hell do you have to be insecure about?” He let his eyes roam her body and pictured her naked, pictured those big tits in his hands.

Her eyes dropped to her body and then lifted back to his face. “Seriously? You do see me, right?” She held her arms out to her side and shook her shoulders, which made those drool worthy boobs jiggle.

“Uh, yeah,” he said, and could see the glow of his own eyes in the reflection of hers. “You’re perfect.”

That pink washed over her cheeks again. She was still unbelievably sexy and beautiful in his eyes. Now, she was becoming endearing and he felt this need to protect her and make her see her own worth. Which was stupid; they’d both admitted this was nothing more than a one-night stand. A way to assuage a need. After tonight, he probably wouldn’t see her again unless she happened to pop into Moe’s. Or maybe they could become friends with benefits. She was single. He was single. And they both had needs. Why the hell not?

“Let’s play strip Go Fish,” he said with a wink.

Her smile widened, and then she jumped back up. “Let’s make it really interesting,” she said, pulling a bottle of Jägermeister from the freezer. Could she get any more perfect?

She set the bottle next to the cards and grabbed two shot glasses from a cabinet next to the sink. Lowering back in the chair, she did this little wiggle thing like she was excited. All it did was bring Carter’s attention right back to her swaying tits.

“How you wanna do this?” he asked, raising his eyes back to her face before he jumped her bones right then and there.

“Any time you have to pull a card, remove one piece of clothing and take a shot.”

“Ice breaker?” he asked.

“Something like that.” Her eyes went to the bottle and she fidgeted with the cap when she twisted it off.

He wasn’t real keen on the fact she was trying to get drunk to work up the nerve to have sex with him, but who was he to tell her what she should and shouldn’t do with her own body? It was obvious she wanted him as badly as he wanted her. She was just trying to find the courage. And he hoped it wasn’t the courage to get naked in front of him, because he knew he’d never see anything as lush and beautiful as June laid out bare before him.

Carter took the bottle, poured two shots, then shuffled the deck of cards. “Ladies first,” he said after dealing out a hand of cards each.

“Do you have a…five of hearts?” she said, her eyes raising from her cards.

He felt the smile stretch across his face and his heartbeat picked up in anticipation. “Go fish.” He wasn’t naïve; everyone started with a mundane piece of clothing.

But not June. She picked up the glass, threw back the shot, then pulled her t-shirt over her head and sat there in nothing but a pink, lacy bra that left little to the imagination.

His eyes were riveted to those tantalizing mounds. He wanted to touch them. He wanted to fondle them. He wanted to taste them.

“Hellloooo,” she sang out with a giggle. “Your turn, Pervy McPerverson.”

Carter threw his head back and laughed. That seriously sounded like something one of the women from Big River would say. Maybe if tonight went well, he’d try to talk June into hanging out more often. She’d get along great with his people.

Holy shit. He was thinking about seeing her on a more regular basis. Not something one tended to do with friend with benefits.

He couldn’t stop grinning as he glanced at her over his cards spread out in front of his face as if they were playing high stakes poker. “Do you have any three of spades?”

Her smile matched his as she raised one brow. “Go…fish.”

Carter released a deep chuckle as he threw back his shot and followed June’s lead, pulling his shirt off by the back collar. Her eyes dropped to his chest and moved up and down his torso until her smile faded.

Suddenly, June sat up straighter and rested her arm across her stomach.

“Nope. No hiding that body from me,” he said.

This time, the flush to her cheeks wasn’t followed by a shy smile. She was sincerely embarrassed by the way she looked.

Carter reached forward and grasped her arm lightly, pulling it away from her belly. “You have no idea what the sight of your body does to me.” He took her hand and rested it on the boner he’d had since he’d laid eyes on June back at Moe’s.

Her eyes widened, her hand tightened around the outline of his shaft and her smile was slow and sexy. “Okay, then,” she said, pulling away slowly, her fingernails grazing the jeans over his length.

He hissed through his teeth. “Keep that up and this game is over.”

That sexy, strong woman from earlier returned. Her shoulders went back, her chest went out and she did another little shimmy. “My turn,” she said with a flirty smile.

This woman was going to drive him nuts.

“Minx.”

They took turns, sometimes getting a match, but mainly taking shots until they were drunk as skunks and down to nothing but underwear, with June’s arm the only thing keeping him from seeing absolute heaven.

The only problem Carter was having was seeing straight. It had been years, since his freaking teen days, when he’d drank so much. As long as he could stay awake, keep his hard on, and refrain from puking he was golden.

“Do we really need to pull more cards? I’m ready to get naked,” June slurred, and then busted out laughing.

Tossing his long row of cards onto the table, he leaned forward to press his lips to hers. She leaned forward at the same time and they smacked foreheads.

Carter rubbed at the knot on his head and chuckled. “We’re smooth,” he said.

“Yeah, but we’re obviously made for each other,” she blurted, rising to press a kiss to his boo boo.

Of course, that just put her tits in his face. And he sure as hell wasn’t going to waste the opportunity. He figured if she didn’t want him to dive between them, she would’ve kept them hidden behind her pale arm.

Clumsily, he cupped both into his hands and squeezed. And then they were a tangle of arms and legs, falling to the floor, grabbing at each other, touching, licking, nipping.

He’d thought he knew what he’d get with June; he’d had no idea how good she’d feel wrapped around him.

Or how perfect sex with her could be.

Chapter Two

June rolled over and groaned. The room spun with every motion and her head and stomach were a mess. What the hell was she thinking drinking so much?

Carter snored beside her. At least she remembered his name. And she’d totally gone through with it. After getting her heart and feelings crushed by her ex, Jackson, she needed something to pick her back up. It had been Constance’s idea; Carol had been totally against it. She was a romantic at heart and thought June should find another guy. She thought June should hold out until her true mate came along. But June was thirty-eight and that hadn’t happened yet. Why would it happen now?

Two more years and she’d be forty. Constance and June had come up with the code about feeding her cat to let her friends know she’d found someone she wanted to sleep with. Maybe it was time she really did get a cat. At least then she’d have some company.

Who was she kidding? She was a freaking predator Shifter. A leopard. Any domestic cat she tried to bring home would freak out the second she was nearby. It was like animals knew Shifters weren’t normal and could detect those who could turn them into prey.

Scooting away from Carter, she sat up and stretched, wincing at the various pops throughout her body. Yep, thirty-eight and her body was fully aware of it.

Her neck burned along with the ache. Lifting her hand, she touched it, searching for a rug burn or something. They had been a little freaky last night, or at least what she could remember had been super naughty.

And then her heart damned near stopped when she felt it. And the memory of what had happened a few hours earlier slammed into her consciousness and got her to her feet within a half second and running for the bathroom.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” she yelled when she threw her hair over her shoulder. Carter had marked her. During the second round of sex, he’d actually sank his stinking fangs into her flesh and marked her. “Carter! Wake your ass up!” she yelled.

Stomping into the living room, she glared down at Carter who frowned up at her in confusion from the floor they’d turned into their bed last night.

“What the hell were you thinking?” she yelled.

He winced and pushed onto one elbow. “You’re going to have to be more specific,” he said with a grunt as he dropped his head into his hands. “I feel like shit,” he mumbled.

“This! This is what I’m talking about,” she said, holding her hair back so he could get a good look. When he sat up fully, her heart tripled and her breath caught in her lungs. “Oh shit.”

“What?” he said, squinting. And then his eyes flew open wide. “Oh shit,” he repeated her words.

“Look,” she said, pointing at his chest where a matching scar helped her fill in the gaps of her memory. “We marked each other,” she whispered. Her knees shook and she lowered into a sitting position to keep from falling over. “Holy shit. We marked each other, Carter.”

Carter tucked his chin to his chest and tried to get a good look at the bite mark on his chest. He climbed to his feet, swayed, then hurried down the hall. “Which door?” he yelled.

“Second one on the left,” she said, laying a palm over her mark. She’d had four serious relationships, two of them lasting more than a year, and she’d never let any of them leave their mark on her.

She’d known Carter for less than twelve hours and already…

“Shit,” she muttered, dropping her face into her hands as she fought tears.

What the hell had she done? She’d have to wear her hair down every day for the rest of her life if she had any chance of dating or finding her mate again.

“Fuuuuck,” Carter growled from the bathroom.

His footsteps shook the mobile home as he made his way down the hall and stopped right in front of her. “What the fuck happened last night?” he asked. When she didn’t answer, he lowered to his knees in front of her. “Hey, look at me.”

She raised her head. His face was blurry from the tears she was struggling to hold back.

“It’s okay. I can wear a shirt, and you can wear makeup and your hair down or whatever. It’s okay.”

“Okay?” she said softly, then anger welled up. “Okay?” she yelled. “How is this okay, Carter? I don’t even know your last name and I’m carrying your fucking mark!” she said, pointing at the scar with one finger.

His lips moved like a fish out of water, but no words came out.

“That’s what I thought.” She pushed to her feet and began to pace from one side of the room to the other, not that she had a whole lot of room to move. “It was supposed to be one night,” she said to herself. “You were supposed to be a release, a boost to my self-esteem. Now, I’ll be fucking untouchable.”

A glow flashed in his eyes as they roamed her body.

“Seriously? How can you even think about sex right now?” she said, stopping by the table to pull her t-shirt and panties on.

“I mean, you’re naked,” he said with a shrug as if it should be obvious.

“Carter! Focus.”

The corners of his lips twitched.

“Don’t you dare laugh,” she said, but suddenly, she had the urge to chuckle right along with him. “It’s not funny.”

“It kind of is,” he muttered sort of under his breath. “This kind of shit would happen to me.”

“Yeah, well, join my club. Life is a bowl of soup and I’m a freaking fork.”

Carter couldn’t hold back his smile. It spread and stretched across his lips and then he threw his head back and released a deep guffaw until she couldn’t help but join him.

“We’re a mess,” she said, dropping her somewhat bare ass onto the cool wooden chair. “One night and I’m marked by a…what are you, anyway?”

“Bear. You?”

“Leopard,” she said with a shrug.

“You don’t owe me anything, June. You told me last night you had no desire to be tied to another man. We can just be friends who happened to make a huge fuck up.”

He stood and pulled his jeans on and June took the opportunity to ogle his package one more time. She barely remembered last night, but she did remember how much he’d stretched her when he’d pushed into her. She really remembered crying out his name when he brought her. Three times. No wonder she’d let him mark her. She’d been drunk and high on endorphins.

“Friends,” she said with a snort.

“Sure. Why not?”

The glow in his eyes was gone and he seemed to be having a hard time making eye contact with her. He regretted it. He could act like he was attracted to her all he wanted, but it was so obvious she wasn’t his type. The man was built like a freaking Greek statue and was so tall he had to duck his head to avoid bumping it when he walked in. And she…

Jackson’s words ran through her head as she ticked off all the reasons someone like Carter could only want her when he was drunk: fat, plain, she lived in a trailer, she worked at a freaking diner. Hell, he even loved to point out how she finished high school through night school. She got herself a ‘good enough diploma’. Or that’s what Jackson had called it.

“Can I have your number?” Carter said as he tugged on his boots. He couldn’t get out of her place fast enough.

June released another snort. “That’s not necessary,” she said, grabbing the blanket from the back of the couch and covering herself with it. In their drunken stupor last night, they hadn’t even bothered to cover up, just passed out naked, tangled in each other’s arms.

“Why not? I thought we were going to stay friends.” He pulled his shirt over his head and took a step toward the door.

“You’re good, Carter. You’re off the hook. Look,” she said, pulling her hair until it covered her neck. “Invisible. And like you said, a little makeup and no one will know.” But she would. For the rest of her life, she’d carry the mark of her first and probably only one-night stand. Served her right for thinking she had to seek acceptance from another male to erase the emotional scars left by the last few.

“June,” he said, taking a step away from the door and toward her, his hand outstretched.

“Time to go. I have to get ready for work. It was fun. Thanks,” she said, slamming every barrier she had in place and schooling her face until it was as cold as she felt.

His hand dropped to his side and he stood frowning at her, a mixture of confusion and hurt all over that sexy face. If nothing else came of last night, she had one hell of an experience to file in her naughty thought rolodex.

Carter’s head dropped with a heavy sigh. He turned and headed to the door, hesitating with his hand on the knob. “I really did have fun. And I really do want your number, June. I was serious when I said I wanted to be friends.”

Friends with benefits, more than likely. But would that be so bad? Would having Carter on speed dial to take care of her when she was frustrated be the worst that could happen?

“Fine,” she said.

Carter turned and his brows were high. “Yeah?” he asked, pulling his phone from his back pocket. She rattled off her number and couldn’t suppress the smile at his excitement as he held up his phone to show her his nickname for her –June the Minx. At least he still remembered her name.

“Hey,” she called out when he moved to step outside. He turned with his brows raised again. Last night, he’d been sex on a stick. This morning, he was charming and boyish. She wasn’t sure which side she liked best. “What’s your last name?”

“Simpson. What’s yours?”

“Gillespie.”

“June Gillespie. Even your fucking name is sexy.” His smile was crooked as he winked at her and pulled the door shut behind him, leaving her half naked and checking out the mess they’d made on her living room floor.

By the way her coffee table was pushed across the room, the cushions and pillows from the couch strewn everywhere, pieces of clothing hanging from almost every surface, and the three used condoms tossed close to – but not in – the tiny waste basket…they’d had a hell of a time.

Friends. She carried that man’s mark and he thought they could be friends? That one night might have ruined any chance she had of finding her true mate for the simple fact that if a man saw it, he’d give her a wide berth and avoid her, thinking she was already claimed.

Laying her hand on the wound, she shuffled to the bathroom for a quick shower, then she had to get ready for work. What did Carter do for a living? By that body, it had to be something physical. No one looked like that from sitting behind a desk.

Tilting her head under the spray, she tried to conjure as much of last night as she could, but it was a drunken blur, playing in flashes, images and sounds. Maybe breaking the ice with so much liquor wasn’t such a great idea. As her stomach churned with the urge to puke, she realized it was a terrible idea.

“Oh no,” she grumbled, and barely made it out of the tub without falling on her face and hung her face in the toilet. She hated puking. Since Shifters didn’t get viruses or bacterial infections, puking tended to be pretty rare for them. So she always felt like she was drowning when she drank too much and ended up worshipping the porcelain goddess.

Once she was confident nothing else could possibly come up, she climbed back in the shower to rinse off the soap, then groaned every step as she turned off the water, dried off, then made sure she brushed her teeth. Twice. She still felt gross. But she had a feeling no number of showers or toothbrushes would erase that feeling.

And then there was the anger and confusion over getting scarred by probably the hottest guy she’d ever laid eyes on in her life. Maybe it was like he said, no big deal. She could hide it with concealer and leave her hair down when she was on the prowl. If she ever met her true mate, she’d just explain what happened. If the bond was nearly as strong as she’d been told growing up, he’d understand. And since she’d always planned on pairing with a fellow leopard, he’d mark the back of her neck, anyway. Or maybe she’d ask him to cover that mark with his own. Why not change things up? The laws had changed, so why couldn’t tradition change right along with them?

June found an old bottle of Pepto-Bismol she’d bought the last time she’d imbibed a little too much and downed half its contents. Then she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She was glowing, but that did nothing to help with the circles under her eyes or the puffiness. She was a mess. Whatever. She was just going to work at a local greasy spoon, not walk the runway in New York.

The problem she’d always had with being a Shifter was trying to navigate life as someone else. She’d had to search hard for a job that would pay her cash so she wouldn’t have to file taxes or anything else that would require a full identity. Other Shifters tended to open their own businesses, but like her, they had to come up with fake crap to get around the whole tax thing when the time came. Her kind always had to stay as far under the radar as possible.

While other Shifters might not be able to work with the public, June had never had that problem. Her leopard was fairly submissive. Not to the point where she feared everything or would let anyone walk all over her, but June tended to be the more protective one, the one who did most of the thinking, and her cat just kind of went along for the ride.

She’d heard her friends talk about their leopard talking inside their heads, or about fighting their animal to keep their skin. Not a problem June ever had. She could Shift on command and her leopard stayed silent. The way she saw it, she had a pretty easy life as a Shifter.

At least it’d been easy before she’d taken Carter home last night.

Carefully, she applied a thick layer of makeup and concealer over the already healing marks and positioned her hair to cover them. What the hell had he been thinking? What had she been thinking? It would be way easier to blame Carter for taking advantage of her drunken stupor, but she’d marked him, too. And, obviously, he’d been just as toasted as she had been, because he had just as little memory of the night before as she did.

Carter slammed his hand against his steering wheel as he pulled his truck to a stop outside of his cabin. He’d marked June? She was a complete and total stranger. A fucking one-night-stand. Oh, and not only did he mark her, but she’d marked him. At least his was easily hidden…as long as he didn’t get naked to Shift in front of anyone.

But what happened when he found his mate and got naked in front of her? Could she possibly understand why he’d allowed some stranger to mark him for life?

He’d fucked up. Royally. And it wasn’t like he could tell any of his Clan brothers; they all looked up to him to make all the responsible decisions. They’d think he was weak as fuck if they ever found out.

Rubbing the mark on his chest, he pushed the truck door open and tried to get inside before anyone saw him. He knew there would be a shit load of questions the second anyone realized he was home. And of course, no matter how quiet he tried to be, every single member of Blackwater, except for Noah and Hollyn, heard his truck pull up and hurried onto the porch.

Luke smirked and shook his head, feigning disappointment. Colton had a wide, shit-eating grin, and Shawnee looked hopeful.

“Well? Do I have a new sister-in-law?” Shawnee asked, bouncing down the stairs with a wide smile on her face.

He’d barely even made it to his front porch and they were all ready for details.

“It wasn’t like that,” Carter said, seriously not wanting to have to tell a female member of the Clan it had been a one time fuck.

“Sure looked like you two were into each other to me,” Shawnee said, trying to follow him up the stairs. “And I can smell her all over you.”

Carter looked to Colton for help, raising his brows and widening his eyes. He really, really didn’t want to talk to Shawnee about his one-night-stand.

“Leave him alone, honey. He’s doing the walk of shame. No one likes an audience for that,” Colton said, his grin as wide as it had been from the start.

Shawnee looked over her shoulder at her mate, one hand on the railing, then back up at Carter. “Wait…did you just hit it and quit it?”

“What? Since when do you talk like that?” Carter asked as his cheeks lit on fire. It was like hearing your sister talk about sex; uncomfortable as hell.

“Well? Did you? Was that a booty call?” Shawnee asked, slapping her hands on her hips. “She seemed really nice and you just dragged her off somewhere and—”

Carter held up his hand. “It was her idea and we went back to her place. I didn’t hit it and quit it,” he said with a chuckle. “I stayed the night. And now, I’m tired and need some more sleep.”

Shawnee crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “You boys are impossible. We need more females. And cubs.”

“So, go have a couple of cubs,” Carter said as he pushed open his front door.

“You know what I mean.” She turned and stomped off his porch. Why the hell was she up so early, anyway? She’d been there when Carter had left, and that had been fairly late. Noah and Hollyn were, no doubt, still sleeping.

When a moan came through the walls of Noah’s cabin, Carter shook his head and hurried into his own place. They were definitely not sleeping. And the last thing he needed was a reminder of last night. The night that would go down as his greatest conquest and his biggest fuck up.

He thought about taking a quick shower before lying down, but he wanted to keep June’s scent on him for a little while longer. Who knew if he’d ever get the chance to feel her under his hands again. He might’ve fucked that chance up royally. But she’d marked him, too. At some point, they’d been so lost in lust, they must’ve decided they were mates. Shame he couldn’t remember much.

Carter searched his memory, but everything came in flashes: her bee stung lips, her light gray eyes contrasting beautifully with her caramel colored skin, burying his face in her full tits, that plump ass in his hands. Maybe he didn’t remember everything, but he sure as fuck remembered some of the best shit.

His dick was hard again and Carter was tempted to wrap his hand around his shaft and relieve the pressure. That wasn’t what he wanted, though. He wanted June again. Only this time, he’d make sure he was sober as a preacher on Sunday.

Eventually, exhaustion caught up with him and he fell asleep. But it was restless and didn’t last long. It was Saturday, his day off work. He should get out of bed and do something. Anything other than once again obsess over the woman who’d made his blood boil with a bat of her lashes.

She’d said he was supposed to be a boost to her ego. And she’d immediately covered her belly when he’d taken off his shirt. How could a woman like her not see how fucking hot she was? Maybe she didn’t wear a size four and her belly wasn’t concave, but that wasn’t what he’d wanted. He liked curves, he liked the softness of a full woman, he liked the big tits, the big ass, the wide hips of a woman like June.

Did that mean someone had convinced her she was less than beautiful? Otherwise, why the hell would she need anyone to boost her self-esteem? Although, it was kind of flattering that she’d used him for that. He’d loved the way her eyes roamed his body as they played the game, the way she’d tightened her grip around the ridge in his pants when he’d shown her exactly what her body did to him, the way she’d become a wild cat the second her inhibitions were lowered.

He’d give just about anything to see her like that while he was sober. He’d give just about anything to remember a single orgasm from last night. There had been three rubbers tossed toward a trash can as if neither of them had the energy or desire to get up and throw them away properly.

He’d been awake for ten minutes and he was already back to obsessing over June. He had to get the fuck out the house. He needed something to keep his mind occupied. Because even though she’d agreed to be friends, he wasn’t sure if he could be around her and keep his hands to himself.

A truck rumbled to life and crunched on the gravel outside. A glance at the clock let Carter know it was Noah and Hollyn heading into work. Noah had been a workaholic before Hollyn had been hand delivered by one of the panthers of Ravenwood. Now that Hollyn worked alongside him every day, the dude had become almost pleasant. Almost. He was still a grouchy bastard when he was at the bar.

That was what he should do, head to Moe’s. It was a little early, but he could drink a beer, have some food, and play some pool. No. That wasn’t a good idea. It would be obvious as hell how desperate he was if she showed up there now. And, just like with every fucking thing else, the Clan looked to him to be the wise one, the mature one, the one with the answers.

He could always go into Big River territory. But again, it would look odd if he showed up alone in the late morning. They hung out a lot, had cookouts at least once a week, but he’d never show up alone unless he needed to speak with Gray. There was no reason to get everyone upset or freak them out for no reason.

“Oh Carrrrterrrr,” Shawnee sang from outside his cabin.

With a groan, he pushed from the bed, stomped through his house, and yanked his door open. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”

“Nope. I don’t go in for another two hours.”

He crossed his arms and waited for what exactly she wanted.

“I’m hungry,” she said after a few silent seconds.

“So? Tell Colton to make you something.”

“I’m in the mood for some bad-for-me food.”

Shawnee had been told by her parents she was too heavy, had been told her whole life to lose weight. But she had curves, too. Not quite like June did, but to Carter, and obviously Colton, she had a perfect body.

Aaaand his mind was back on June.

“Okay?”

“I want you to take me,” she said.

Carter leaned against the doorframe with a deep frown and narrowed his eyes at her. “What are you up to?”

She huffed out a breath and shoved her hands in her pockets. “I just wanted to talk to you. Away from everyone else. And then you could drop me off at Moe’s after.”

Carter looked toward Colton’s cabin. The youngest member of their Clan sat in a wicker chair with his feet propped up on the railing. “You cool with this?”

Colton knew damn well Carter would never make a move on his mate, but he wouldn’t be disrespectful and assume Colton knew shit, either.

He waved his hand in the air. “Take my girl out for breakfast. But don’t hit on her, asshole.” Even without looking at Colton, Carter could hear the smile in his voice.

“I might just steal her away,” Carter teased back. “Let me take a shower.”

“I’ll meet you here in ten,” she said, then practically skipped back to her own porch.

Carter hurried through his shower, not bothering to shave, leaving a little scruff along his cheeks, chin, and jaw. He hated to shave. If he thought he could pull it off, he’d grow a beard like Noah.

A pair of worn in jeans, a t-shirt, and his favorite boots and he was ready. It would be too cold for a t-shirt soon. It was already late October, but it had been a warm ass October in Missouri. For now, though, he’d roll down his windows in his truck and enjoy the scents of country life.

“You ready?” Carter asked Shawnee as he stepped onto his porch.

“Yep,” she said a little too cheerfully, pressed a hard but quick kiss to Colton’s lips, then yelped when he smacked her ass as she walked away. “Love you. I’ll see you tonight,” she called to her mate.

“Love you more, Kitty,” Colton said in his deep voice, the slight twang stretching the words.

Shaking his head at the sappiness of those two, he held the door for Shawnee and only offered his hand to her as she tried to climb up into the passenger seat. No way would he put his hands on her hips.

Once she was situated, he closed her door and rounded the hood. “Where we going?”

“Into town,” she said, looking through the passenger side window with a smile and a wave for Colton.

“Which town?” Depending on who you asked, going into town could mean the heart of Cedar Hill, into House Springs, or even further up into Fenton. Fenton was really the only place for shopping and had pretty much every restaurant and fast food place one could think of.

“Cedar Hill. I want to check out Havanah’s. I heard good things about their breakfast,” Shawnee said, her eyes on the side mirror as she watched Colton fade behind them.

“I didn’t know they served breakfast,” he said, flipping his turn switch when they got to the end of the long, gravel driveway.

“Only on Saturdays.” She finally straightened in her seat since she could no longer see Colton or her cabin and grinned wide as she looked through the windshield.

“Why the hell are you in such a good mood?” He turned and looked at her and realized she was glowing. “Holy shit! Are you pregnant?”

Shawnee frowned over at him. “What? No. Why would you think that?” She shook her head, her red curls bouncing around her shoulders, and turned back to watch the road.

He glanced at her again as he rolled to a stop light. “You’re glowing. And acting weird.” He turned back in time for the light to turn green and headed toward Havanah’s. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Well…you,” she said, chewing on her bottom lip. “I just thought…” She sighed dramatically. “Okay, so you and that girl looked like you really liked each other last night. And I’m tired of seeing you and Luke all lonely.”

“I’m not lonely,” Carter lied. So he was. Didn’t mean he wanted the short redhead to worry about him.

The parking lot was partially full already. “The restaurant’s in the back, but we can go through the bar. They serve food in both rooms. We’ll pick the one that’s less packed,” Shawnee said, her hand on the door handle, as if ready to jump from the truck the second it was parked.

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine,” Carter said. He put the truck in park, then locked it with a fob when they were both out. There had been a crap ton of addicts walking around that area lately. He had no desire to have one of them stealing shit from his vehicle.

He stayed fairly close to Shawnee, his hand hovering over the small of her back. He’d grown protective over her in the time she’d been with Blackwater. She was truly like a little sister to Carter.

The front part of the place, the bar side, was pretty empty, but the restaurant looked pretty packed. “We can eat down here,” Shawnee informed him, leading him to the bar.

“Why don’t we get a table?” he asked, pulling her stool out as she did a little hop to get up on it.

“What can I get –”

That voice. Carter’s eyes slowly lifted and landed on the woman who’d occupied his thoughts since he left her house this morning.

“Holy shit,” June breathed out barely above a breath. “I mean, what can I get you to drink?” she asked, quickly schooling her face and erasing the shock out of her eyes. Her hair was down and hanging directly over the damned mark Carter had left. His own throbbed as his eyes were immediately drawn to that spot as if he could see through the curtain of her hair.

“Coffee,” he said, his voice a little gravelly.

“I’ll have a Coke. Or Pepsi. Whichever,” Shawnee said, her grin wide.

June finally turned and looked like she’d just noticed Shawnee sitting there. Then she turned narrowed eyes on him and he could’ve sworn she was trying to kill him with that glare.

Turning quickly, she grabbed a cup of coffee for him and filled a glass of soda for Shawnee. When she set them down, she scooted two menus over. “Let me know when you’re ready to order,” she said sharply and walked down the bar to take someone else’s order.

“You knew she worked here,” Carter said, turning an accusing eye on Shawnee. He might not be their official Alpha, but he was the oldest and looked at her like a misbehaving child. She wilted a little under his glare.

“I just want you to be happy,” Shawnee said, her voice so small Carter felt a little bad.

He had to remember she had no idea about the marks. She didn’t know they’d gotten rip roaring drunk, had crazy ass sex, and sank their fangs into each other. She’d merely seen the way June and Carter looked at each other, saw the way they ran out hand in hand. She was trying to play Cupid.

Dragging a hand down his face, Carter tried to calm down. They weren’t at Moe’s. He couldn’t let his eyes glow. He had to keep his shit together as long as they were there.

“Do you know what you want to eat?” Carter asked her, trying to soften the moment with a forced smile.

Shawnee’s grin was back and she finally opened the menu. Carter could barely focus on the words on the laminated page. He could almost feel June shooting daggers from her eyes from across the room.

Lifting his head, he confirmed that she was, indeed, glaring hard at him, a scowl so deep on her face he wondered if it might cause permanent creases. He raised his hand to call her over. She had no reason to be so pissed at him; she’d done the same stupid ass thing he’d done.

Carter let Shawnee order first, then told June what he wanted. She barely said two words, glanced at Shawnee, then turned with her head high.

And then it hit him; June thought Shawnee was his girlfriend. She must not have noticed the way Shawnee interacted with Colton when she was there.

The second June returned to give them their drinks, Carter took the opportunity to set her straight. “I forgot to introduce the two of you. Sorry. That was rude. Shawnee, this is June. June, this is my…brother’s wife,” he said, making sure to avoid using words like Clan or mate.

June’s brows popped up to her hairline, the crease between her brows instantly smoothed, and those full lips of hers popped open in surprise.

“This is your sister-in-law?” June said, barely glancing at Shawnee as she pointed a finger at her.

“Yep,” he said, popping the p.

June’s cheeks went so red so fast, Carter couldn’t hold in the snicker. She’d assumed and was now embarrassed. And she was cute as hell with her cheeks all pink. He barely resisted the urge to reach forward and brush her hair off her shoulder. There was a part of him that wanted his mark seen. But humans wouldn’t understand why their bartender had a huge, animal bite looking scar on her neck.

And he had no right to want anyone to know she was taken. Because she wasn’t. And neither was he.

But as June turned and walked down the row to wait on someone else, Carter couldn’t keep his eyes off her plump ass swaying with each step. He’d had that ass in his hands. And he couldn’t remember shit.

Then and there, he decided he would see June naked again. And this time, they’d both remember every single earth-shaking moment of it. Even if he had to beg her.

Carter gripped the steering wheel hard enough his knuckles were white. For some reason, leaving Havanah’s caused him a little discomfort. In fact, he felt like he was having a fucking heart attack. Could Shifters have heart attacks? They didn’t get sick, but surely their hearts could stop beating in their chests like a human’s.

But he knew he wasn’t having a heart attack. He just wanted to touch June. He wanted to drag her to a back room, even a closet, and take her against the wall. Something about June made him feel insane, insatiable. He was officially addicted to that woman’s body and he barely had any memories of the first time. It must’ve been good as hell if he’d marked her. And vice versa.

Shawnee huffed out a sigh as she sat with her arms crossed.

“I take it Colton knew exactly why you wanted to have breakfast with me,” Carter said, glancing at her as he rolled to a stop light. He was taking her to Moe’s for work. And then he’d head back home and spend the rest of the day alone until they all decided to meet up at Noah’s bar.

She shrugged but didn’t say anything else.

“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Shawnee, but…don’t. Just don’t.”

Shawnee finally turned to frown up at him. “What? Don’t find you a mate? Don’t make sure my brothers are happy? Don’t keep my lioness from going crazy with the need for cubs? You realize if there aren’t some children around soon, I’ll be the one that has to get pregnant.”

Carter snickered but didn’t outright laugh. “Why would you have to get pregnant if Hollyn doesn’t have kids. Or if Luke or I magically find our mates and choose not to have kids.”

Carter was almost forty. And if he remembered right, so was June. He really had no desire to start from scratch middle-aged.

“Because my lioness is driving me crazy!” Shawnee said, throwing her hands in the air as if it should be obvious.

“I thought you and Colton talked about having a family.”

He pulled his truck into the gravel parking lot of Moe’s, put it in park, and turned to look at her.

She was chewing the inside of her cheek. “You realize it’s highly likely I’ll have multiples. You ever seen a woman pregnant with twins? Triplets? Quadruplets? It’s miserable.” She was back to pouting with her arms crossed. “And I’d have to stop working. It’s not like I can enroll the cubs in daycare. My luck, they’d Shift into their animals their first day there.”

“You know we don’t tend to Shift until puberty,” Noah said.

“Like I said, it would be my luck.”

Shawnee climbed down from the truck and slammed the door so hard the vehicle rocked. Good thing his was a work truck and beat up or he’d have been pissed.

Carter rolled down his window. “Hey,” he said. She stopped and looked back at him. “Even if you have multiples, you know there are enough people who would dote on you. And I’m sure Nova, Callie, Peyton, and Lola would love nothing more than to play with your babies a couple days a week so you could still work.”

A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips and she looked to the side like she was thinking. When she looked back, her smile had grown. “Thanks Carter. You’re the best Alpha.”

As she stepped into the bar, Carter yelled, “I’m not your Alpha.”

He knew there was no use, though. They all looked up to him. Maybe he should tell them about what he’d done. Then they might finally believe him that he wasn’t the best choice to lead their rag tag group.

Putting the truck in reverse, Carter looked behind him as he backed up and headed home. He could still use a little more sleep. He was more than just physically tired; he was mentally exhausted, as well. If he hadn’t known as a fact June was a Shifter he’d have wondered if she might be a witch. Because he definitely felt like he was under her spell.

As he drove toward home, he passed Havanah’s. Carter rubbernecked as he passed the place, wondering which of those cars was hers.

He should text her, tell her it was great to see her. Ask her if they could hang out again. Or maybe he’d come up with a reason to go to Havanah’s again when she was working. He’d been there plenty of times, but they usually sat up in the restaurant area. Had she ever waited his table and he’d never noticed her? No fucking way. He’d remember someone like June. Her body reminded him of that model…oh what the fuck was her name…Ashley Graham. Round and lush and so fucking curvy. Only June had bigger tits. And longer hair. And was way prettier.

“Fuck,” he growled out as his truck hit the first foot of gravel leading to Blackwater territory. Obsessed. He was fucking obsessed.

He had to get her off his mind. And finding ways to run into her again wouldn’t exactly help. Maybe he should let Shawnee set him up with someone to keep his head occupied with someone other than June.

Who was he fucking kidding? Neither of them remembered marking each other, but there was only one reason their animals would’ve allowed it when they were so out of their head; they were fucking mates.

There had been stories of males forcing their marks on females as a claim, but this wasn’t the same thing. They’d done it to each other. At some point last night, their animals had taken over and pushed them toward a life together.

And that might just be the scariest thing he’d ever faced.

Chapter Three

June went home after her shift and immediately got into a hot bubble bath complete with candles. Her feet throbbed, her back ached, and her mind was a jumbled mess. Seeing Carter so soon after the incident - as she’d begun to call it in her head - had been jarring. When she’d spotted the short, pretty redhead beside him, her anger boiled. How dare he fuck her, mate her, all while he had a girlfriend who had no idea June was carrying her man’s mark.

But it had turned out to be one of his Clan brothers’ mates. Relief washed through her so fast she’d been dizzy. The humiliation of not only jumping to conclusions but also the immense amount of jealousy and protectiveness surprised June. Hopefully, Carter thought all the anger was because she thought she’d been used to cheat.

The two of them stayed at the bar top at Havanah’s for close to an hour and June fought herself to talk to him, reach over the space separating them and touch him, anything to leave her scent on him. Instead, she’d checked on him a few times and stole glances his way every chance she got.

The man was a hunk. More than a hunk. He might have been the hottest man she’d ever seen. Definitely the hottest man she’d ever slept with. She wasn’t naïve; she knew what she looked like. Instead of a size four, she sported a size fourteen. And she wasn’t cute and petite like the woman with him, Shawnee. At five-foot-ten, she tended to tower over almost every woman she encountered. It had been difficult to date with her size, both height and weight.

But even at her height, Carter was a good six or seven inches taller than her. She’d originally figured he’d had sex with her because she’d made it easy for him, plus he’d been as drunk as she was. Yet, she’d caught him more than once checking out her butt or boobs. Even if she was a little on the plump side, Carter was obviously attracted to her.

When the water grew cool and the bubbles all died down, June climbed from the tub and pulled the drain. She’d hoped to find a trailer with a garden tub, but the single wide was the only thing she could afford, just like the rest of her tiny Pride. Oh well. It got the job done, even if she did have to bend her knees the whole time.

As June rubbed the scratchy, no longer soft, been washed too many times towel across her body and wrapped it around her middle, she couldn’t stop her mind from going to Carter. Like it had since he’d left that morning.

What was he doing right now? Had he thought about her anymore since he’d left after breakfast? He’d asked for her number. Did he plan to use it for anything more than a booty call? And honestly, would she be pissed if that was all he wanted from her?

She knew the answer to that; she’d take Carter naked any day. Maybe she didn’t remember all the sex, but she’d gotten an eyeful of what he had to offer when they’d discovered their marks. And she’d seen the lust in his glowing eyes when he’d taken in her naked body.

Just thinking about it made her body warm and her lady parts ache. She was half-tempted to pull out her favorite battery-operated toy before bed. But that wouldn’t sate her need. It would only give her momentary relief. No. What she needed was someone tall, thick, and occasionally furry.

Chuckling to herself at her little joke, she tossed the towel into the hamper then stood in front of the tall mirror hanging from her walk-in closet. She was thick, there was no doubt about that, but she was strong. And she was healthy. Her mom used to tell her she had a woman’s body and birthing hips. At the time, that had rubbed June the wrong way. She’d felt like her mom was telling her she was fat in a nice way. But as she turned side to side, she had to admit – she was kind of hot.

Jackson hadn’t thought so. He’d told her time and time again that she could use to lose a few pounds. She could count on two hands how many times they’d had sex in the last six months. And she didn’t remember screaming his name the way she’d screamed Carter’s last night, not a single time. In fact…she couldn’t remember ever actually orgasming with him either. As she chewed on her bottom lip, she tried to remember the last time she’d had an orgasm during sex with any of her boyfriends.

None. She’d literally never had an orgasm during intercourse. Yet, Carter had brought her three freaking times.

“Ugh!” She groaned, throwing herself backward onto her bed with a bounce. She wished she could remember every single detail. Like what kind of sounds did Carter make? Was he a grunter? A moaner?

Nope. June sat up quickly and jerked on a pair of pajama pants and t-shirt. She did not need to be thinking about Carter when she was naked. It made her want to touch herself while thinking of him.

June pulled the covers back and crawled into the cool bed. Her place was always on the chilly side, but she used a bunch of blankets to stay warm, especially since the weather was getting cooler every day. October would be over soon. And she hadn’t even decorated for Halloween. Why bother? Wasn’t like anyone other than her Pride sisters would see her place. They didn’t get trick or treaters or really any company unless one of them happened to be dating.

Like last night.

Well. She hadn’t really been on a date, but still. She’d technically had company. Shoot. What if they’d been super loud and Constance and Carol had heard everything. She’d never live it down. Whatever. It had been Constance’s idea to get Jackson out of her head. Carol would give her shit, though.

Rolling onto her side, June cuddled one of her six pillows to her chest and closed her eyes. Just as she was drifting off with thoughts of Carter filling her weird, not-quite-asleep dream, her phone buzzed on her nightstand and jerked her awake.

With a groan, she reached over and grabbed her cell, bringing it to life.

What r u doing? the text read.

June frowned at the phone and then checked the time. It was almost eleven at night.

Who is this? she sent back.

She watched the conversation bubble as the person wrote back.

Carter. From last night. And this morning.

Oops. She hadn’t saved his number. Honestly, with as quick as he tried to get through her front door this morning, she really hadn’t expected to hear from him again. And she sure as hell hadn’t expected to see him sitting at her bar.

Sorry. Didn’t save your number this morning, she wrote back.

Ouch. And he sent a crying emoji. Okay. That was kind of cute. A few seconds went by before the bubble appeared again. June pictured his big thumbs typing out a message. Maybe he was lying in bed like she was. Oooh. Maybe he wanted to sext her.

Is it too late?

For what? she sent back.

To talk. Did I wake you up?

She typed out a few things but kept deleting them. I was just thinking about you. Delete. Wanna have phone sex? Delete. I thought about you in the bathtub tonight. Delete.

Finally, she sent, No. I was awake. It was only a half lie. She wasn’t fully asleep when he’d texted.

And then the screen went blank again like he wasn’t sure what to say. Or maybe he was doing like she’d done and writing several dirty messages before deleting them again.

Do you remember much from last night?

June groaned in frustration, from not remembering, from him bringing it up, and from the pressure growing down below. Just knowing he was on the other side of the conversation was enough to make her body come to attention.

A little. Not much. I definitely remember coming, though. But she kept that to herself.

I cant remember much at all. Another span of empty conversation. And then, Id love to see you again.

That statement could have so many meanings. He’d said he didn’t remember much. Did he mean he’d love to see her so he’d have a memory of being with her? Did he want to do her again? Or was he asking her on a date? And did she actually want to date?

She was still hurt from being dumped by Jackson. His cruel parting words still echoed in her mind. But she’d barely thought about him all day. She’d been too preoccupied with Carter.

Thumbs hovering over the screen, she tried to think of something cool to say, something that would make him want more. Of course, she came up blank and did what she usually did and said what was on her mind.

For a date? Or friends with benefits?

A few seconds passed and then, Both?

That didn’t really clear it up for her, but she sent a winking emoji and set her phone on her nightstand. She hadn’t agreed to anything and she hadn’t rejected him. She wasn’t sure what she wanted, exactly. She wasn’t sure she could take another rejection, not after having her heart stomped on so recently.

Maybe they could just hang out. She could always use another friend. But how could they be real friends when she was already picturing him naked? Friends with benefits was always a lie to her. You can’t truly be friends with someone you constantly see naked. One way or another, someone was going to get their feelings hurt.

Her phone buzzed on her nightstand again. She grabbed it and was smiling in the dark before she even read the message from Carter. That wasn’t good. She really didn’t want him to make her smile like a teenage girl with her first crush.

Can I call you tomorrow? he asked. That was more date talk than booty call talk. And again, she found herself wanting to cut this off before it went too far. From the tingling in her mark from Carter, she had a feeling she wouldn’t survive a breakup with him.

June stared at the question so long her eyes began to burn. She’d literally stopped blinking and held her breath as she ran over every reason why she should stay away from Carter Simpson. The ache between her legs hadn’t ceased. In fact, it had only grown since she’d been talking to him. One taste and she was addicted.

Yes, she replied, then set the phone back down. When it buzzed again, she forced herself to roll over and ignore it. She wasn’t sure she could handle much more without touching herself.

****

What the fuck was he doing?

Carter tossed his phone onto the bed beside him and lifted both arms over his head. He needed to stay away from June, but there was this fucking rope pulling them together. He needed her like he needed air and that shit scared him. He was hooked on her body. He needed more. He was pretty sure he’d never find the kind of ecstasy he had with her, even if he had almost zero memory of it.

But if his animal had broken through to latch onto her neck, that must’ve been some mind-blowing sex.

She’d said he could call her tomorrow. When he’d sent good night through text, she hadn’t replied. She was done with the conversation.

Problem was, he was hard as a fucking rock now. And all it took was texting that minx. He tried his damnedest to think about something else, but all that filled his mind was June this morning when she’d walked around her living room stark naked. Her large tits swayed and bounced with each step, her ass jiggled when she’d turned. She looked good clothed, but she was unforgettable naked.

His dick twitched in his boxers and he was pretty sure he’d die from blue balls. Reaching down, he released himself and wrapped a hand around his shaft. This time, he let memories of her body roll through his mind and fantasized about weighing those tits in his hands before sucking a dark pink nipple into his mouth.

He pictured her lying on her back, her arms outstretched as she beckoned him down. He was dizzy as he came on his stomach, each jet making him grunt. If he came this hard by thinking about her, he could only imagine the fun he’d had last night.

Unwilling to get out of bed, he grabbed the shirt he’d pulled off when he’d gotten into bed and cleaned himself off. Tossing it across the room toward the hamper, he rolled over and for a moment, he pictured June lying beside him, her dark chestnut hair fanned out on the pillow as she looked at him, her hands folded under her cheek. It wasn’t long before he fell asleep and dreamed of June Gillespie.

When Carter finally woke, the sun was shining through the curtains he’d forgotten to pull closed. It was Sunday. He was off for the weekend. Which meant he had nothing to occupy his time. Or mind. He’d asked if he could call June today, but he hadn’t bothered to ask if she worked or what time he should call.

It was too early right now. They’d texted until almost midnight and it was barely seven thirty. He’d let her get her beauty rest, not that she needed it. Well, she probably needed the rest, but she couldn’t get any more beautiful if she tried.

What the hell was it about June that had him so mesmerized? She was gorgeous, sure. And her body was the kind of his dreams. But he’d seen beautiful women before. He’d slept with and had relationships with beautiful women. And he’d never found the need to find them, follow them around, and constantly rub himself against them to keep them covered in his scent.

Maybe hanging around June was a bad idea. She’d asked if he was looking for a date or friends with benefits. He’d jokingly replied both, but really, he wanted to spend every second he could worshipping her body, doting on her, trying to make her giggle the way she’d done last night before they’d gotten drunk.

That part, he remembered. She’d been so sure of herself at Moe’s. Then when they got back to her place, she’d gotten nervous and suggested playing strip Go Fish as an ice breaker. She’d been so funny, so fun. When it was his turn to remove a piece of clothing, he’d taken off his shirt, just like she had. And then her eyes got sad and she’d tried to cover herself from him. Something he was still trying to figure out: Why the hell did she cover herself after she’d seen him? She’d said something along the lines of him being built like a statue or some shit, but why should that matter? And why did she look so sad?

A thought occurred to him. She’d said something about sleeping with him being an ego builder or boost or whatever. Was it possible she’d used him to get her confidence back after someone had hurt her?

He’d let her feel his boner at the sight of her body; surely, she couldn’t think that was faked.

His phone dinged beside him and made him start. Grabbing it, he squinted as his sleepy eyes tried to adjust. Aging sucked sometimes. Just because Shifters didn’t get sick didn’t mean they didn’t age, complete with deteriorating near vision.

You sure about this?

Carter blinked a few times. June the Minx. That was the name across his screen.

Sure about what?

Hanging out, she texted. We’ve already made a huge mistake. You sure you want to risk another?

So many things ran through his mind as he looked at her text. Was he sure? Yes. And No. He was scared if he kept hanging out he’d do something even worse than marking her, like falling in love with her. He didn’t know if he wanted a serious relationship and was terrified of the mate bond. And at the same time, he couldn’t think of another person he’d rather have full time in his life.

Even with the little that he knew about her, Carter knew she’d fit in perfectly with the rest of his Clan and friends. She reminded him so much of Emory from Big River, sassy and funny. She was curvy like Nova. But she was taller than every single woman, including Hollyn, Noah’s mate, who stood at five foot six-ish.

It seemed he was talking himself into being with her. His bear was paying attention to the whole thing, pawing at his brain for a say.

You already had a say and look what you did, he mentally told his bear.

Just hang out. Maybe play cards. No Jager this time, he finally wrote back.

When she didn’t reply for over five minutes, he set his phone down and threw his legs over the side of the bed. His body popped and cracked with every move. Elbows on his knees, he inhaled deep and willed his body to its feet. Even on his days off, Carter was sore. It was like his body never fully rested or healed or whatever. Or maybe as he was getting older, it was taking his body longer to heal from the damage. After the fight last year with the Fairy who’d been responsible for trying to kidnap Hollyn for sex trafficking, it’d taken him weeks to fully heal. He’d returned to work as a construction worker three days after. Probably wasn’t nearly enough time.

Colton, on the other hand, seemed just fine. But he was still in his twenties. Noah got it. He was pushing forty himself.

As Carter pulled a pair of jeans on, his phone chirped the most annoying sound in the world. He needed to change his fucking ring tone. He hated the factory setting.

Yanking it from the bed, he realized it was June calling.

“Hello?” he answered, aware his voice was a little scratchier than normal with sleep.

“Just cards,” June said in that throaty, sexy voice of hers.

“What?” Carter sat back on his bed and looked through the window overlooking the stretch of grass behind the cabins.

“Just cards. Nothing else. I can’t…I can’t be your mate, Carter. I don’t even think I can do dating. Just cards.”

Carter leaned forward, braced his elbow on his knee and rubbed his forehead. While it was a little early for this conversation, two things stuck out: she sounded panicked about being alone with him and she’d thought about him first thing in the morning.

Had she done like he had last night and touched herself while thinking about him?

He wouldn’t ask. At least not now.

“Just cards. I was serious when I said I wanted to be friends. I had a lot of fun with you last night. I mean, before we got drunk and pretty much blacked out.” He chuckled and smiled wide when a feminine chuckle met his ears.

“Are you busy tonight?” she asked and Carter’s heart tripled.

He straightened. “Nope. What time?”

“Six?”

“Want me to bring some junk food? Or Chinese?”

“Chinese food would be awesome. Orange chicken and a ton of crab Rangoon,” she said, then trailed off. “I mean, if you want. That’s a lot of food.”

“Shoot. You should see how much I can eat. I’ll see you at six,” he said, gripping the phone tightly.

“Okay…bye,” she said, her voice soft.

“Bye.” He pulled the phone away once he heard the tell-tale sound of June ending the call and stared down at the blank screen.

Just cards. No touching. No dating. No relationship crap. As long as neither of them got drunk, they should be able to control themselves. Should being the operative word.

Could he do it? Could he keep his hands to himself? Could he avoid touching June, kissing her, rubbing himself against her?

He had to. That was the only answer to those questions. He had to respect the fact she wanted to keep him in the friend zone. So, tonight would be about getting to know her more. Maybe in a week or so, he could introduce her to the rest of his Clan. Then Big River. Friends. They’d just be friends.

Maybe he could talk her into wearing a potato sack when they hung out. Who was he kidding? He’d find her hot as hell in anything.

He had about ten hours to kill until he headed over to House Springs to see June. He should’ve suggested earlier since he had to work tomorrow. His work days started pretty early, although now that it was getting cooler, they no longer started before the sun was up.

No one should be up yet. Noah and Hollyn would wake up around nine so they could head to the bar. Shawnee had been taking most Sundays off to spend with Colton. That left Carter and Luke as the odd men out. As usual.

Maybe he’d convince Luke to hit the streets with him for a while. Nah. Luke had been MIA so much lately. For the last few months, He’d had been disappearing for a few hours at a time, sometimes not even returning until dawn. The consensus was he had a woman he didn’t want his Clan to meet. But that didn’t feel right. If Luke had a woman, he’d want her to stay in his cabin, near his Clan, where they could all protect her. He was all about keeping females safe. Especially after Emory was attacked and he’d blamed himself for failing her.

Carter looked around his room. His place could use a good cleaning. Grossly enough, it had been a few weeks since he’d last washed his sheets. And the sink full of dishes needed to go into the dishwasher.

He got to work, cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, anything he could think of to make his place shiny. Hey. There was always a chance June would come to his house one day and he wanted to make sure it looked good.

Checking out his work, he wondered if the place was too masculine for someone like June. The walls were the raw wood that made up the cabin. He’d never drywalled the place, just made sure the gaps between each were fully sealed. Besides, he liked his place a little on the cooler side.

Would June be the kind of woman who got cold easily? Maybe he needed a few throw blankets for the couch.

And then Carter pulled up short as he sat down to make a list. What the fuck was he doing? He’d just seriously gone full domestic with June in mind. He wanted to make his place perfect for a mate he’d claimed but couldn’t have. Partial lie. His bear had claimed her. But Carter couldn’t make himself mad about that.

Pushing from the table, Carter pulled his shirt over his head and shoved his jeans to his ankles. He needed to Shift and run. Maybe even hunt. He needed to think about nothing but the woods and the ground beneath his paws.

The second he was on his porch, he let his bear have his body, hurrying down the steps as his body began to pop and rearrange itself until huge paws hit the gravel. He shook his head and watched through his bear’s eyes as he surveyed his surroundings. Unlike his Clan brothers, Carter didn’t lose control of himself. His bear and him were pretty much one entity, but had their own thoughts. Until the night he’d marked June, he’d literally never lost himself to his beast.

Trees passed in a blur, animals scampered out of his way and hid. He suddenly had no desire to hunt. He just wanted to run and run and run.

Until Carter caught the direction his bear was running.

Pushing to the front, Carter stopped his bear before he could get to the highway heading toward June’s.

What the hell are you doing? he berated his bear. Shifters were twice the size of regular brown bears. No way would he go unnoticed. If he didn’t get shot by a hunter, he’d be filmed and reported everywhere.

Mate. June. Mine.

Oh fuck.

Chapter Four

June cleaned every square inch of her trailer. Which was stupid since Carter had already seen her place. Still. She didn’t want to look like a slob. And she’d made sure to throw the pillows and blankets they’d used as their floor bed into her bedroom. She didn’t want him to get any ideas.

Why had she agreed to this? Friends? How the hell could they just be friends when they carried each other’s mark? And how the hell would she explain to anyone who ever saw the scar on her shoulder that she’d let a man she’d met that night permanently mark her? At least she hadn’t had to deal with Carol or Constance since that night.

Did she smell different to other Shifters now? No. Of course not. The change in her blood only came when she was bitten by her true mate. So. No. She wouldn’t. Right?

Once the whole place glittered like diamonds, she took a long, hot shower, taking time to shave her legs and her lady parts. She used her favorite apple body wash, perfect for this time of year. She’d applied a conditioning mask to her hair and finally rinsed it when she was smooth, clean, and smelled like a freaking orchard.

She then spent time blow drying her waist long hair and applied makeup, accentuating her gray eyes and plumping her lips with clear gloss.

June stared at her reflection. “What are you doing?” she asked herself. If she was determined to keep Carter in the friend zone, why the hell was she taking so much time to make herself sex ready? Why did she care about shaving or applying makeup?

Nope. Friend…zone. She grabbed her favorite pair of lounge shorts and a tank top and yanked them on a little too aggressively. After all, it was the cotton’s fault she couldn’t make up her freaking mind. Glancing at herself in the door mirror, she shook her head. She needed a bra. If she let the girls bounce free, he’d get the wrong idea.

She hated bras. She hated the way the weight of her boobs made the straps dig into her shoulders. But it was worth it if it reminded her to control her damn libido.

Five thirty. He’d be there within a half an hour. Unless he was one of those people who were always fashionably late. Personally, she hated to be any later than five minutes early. It made her anxious, otherwise.

June sat on the couch, crossed her legs, uncrossed them, then stood again. She paced her living room. Oh. She forgot to get the cards out. Crossing the space between her couch and the kitchen, which was no more than eight feet, she grabbed the stack of cards they’d used two nights ago from the top of the fridge.

Holding them in her hands, flashes of that night played in her mind like a movie reel. The smiles. The laughing. Pieces of clothing disappearing one by one. Then the memories got fuzzy. She’d had so much fun even before they’d started pawing at each other. No reason they couldn’t have fun tonight. Right?

Sitting at the table, June gripped the box of cards in her hands like a life line and did her best to keep her mind clear. He’d smell her arousal the second he walked in the door if she didn’t. And she was doing her best to just be friends. Friends. Friends. Friends. If she kept repeating it to herself, maybe her freaking animal would believe her and keep her fangs to herself.

The hard knock on the door made June jump with a squeal. Standing on wobbly legs, she headed to the door, turned back around and set the deck of cards on the table, then did a shuffle jog to let Carter in. He was ten minutes early. She liked that.

June pulled the door open and couldn’t help the smile that stretched across her face when he held up two huge paper bags with so much yumminess. She could already smell the chicken fried rice and her mouth watered.

“I got a little extra. Just in case,” he said with a wink as he just sort of invited himself in. Like a friend would do. Neither Carol nor Constance even knocked anymore; they had a spare key and let themselves in anytime they wanted. Good thing they’d known she’d taken Carter home that night or they might’ve walked in on a real life porn scene.

Then again, at least someone would have recollection of what occurred. Not that she wanted her friends to see her in that position ... or Carter. A slight anger rose up her spine at the thought of either Constance or Carol seeing her mate without clothes. No; she did not just think that. Carter was not her mate; he couldn't be

He set the bags on the table and then began to pull the containers out, setting them side by side before turning to her. “Plates?” he asked.

She pointed to the cabinet behind him and checked out the variety on the table. She’d totally wanted more than she’d asked for, but with her size, she was sometimes embarrassed eating in front of people. Apparently, he either didn’t care or had a huge appetite himself because her orange chicken sat amongst a container of General Tso’s, two large cartons of chicken fried rice, two bags of crab Rangoon, and eight egg rolls. She was suddenly starving.

Carter brought over two plates while June stepped back into the kitchen to grab some forks.

“I didn’t get any drinks,” Carter said, turning to her with wide eyes like he was sorry.

“I’ve got soda, juice, or beer,” she offered. And a brand new bottle of Jager, but that was staying in the freezer.

“Soda,” he said. And was that a blush? Yep. His cheeks had definitely turned pink. He was making sure to avoid the alcohol so they wouldn’t have a repeat of the incident.

June grabbed two cans out of the fridge and sat one in front of him. He’d situated the plates so they were next to each other instead of across from each other. Which meant Carter would be all in her space while she shoveled food into her mouth.

Carter leaned forward to grab the General Tso’s and June got a whiff of him. Oh crap, he smelled good. That manly, spicy soap men used, fabric softener, and something unique to just Carter. It was a woodsy, warm smell and she wanted to bury her face in his chest and inhale deeply.

“You okay?” he asked. He’d sat and was frowning up at her.

“Yep. Fine. Just dandy,” she said a little too quickly and a little too loudly. His frown deepened, but she tried to ignore it and began to pile food onto her plate. “I love Chinese food,” she moaned after she’d sat down and taken a bite of the orange chicken.

When Carter didn’t say anything, June glanced over at him. His eyes were glued to her lips and they held a light glow. Shit. She had to find a way to guide him back to friend land.

“Do you like sports?” she asked when she couldn’t think of anything else.

His attention jerked up to her eyes and the glow began to recede, leaving behind his dark brown eyes. He took a huge bite of an egg roll and talked with his mouth full. Yep. Something else a friend would do. “Yeah. Mainly baseball. But I like hockey, too.”

“Favorite teams?” she asked, splitting a crab Rangoon in half.

“Cardinals and Blues. Duh. As if there were any other choices.”

June didn’t even look up at him. She just shook her head and smiled. Die hard St. Louis fan. Even if they didn’t technically live in St. Louis – Cedar Hill was in a different county – he was still loyal to the home teams.

Gradually, they began to talk about little things, small talk but not quite small talk. Like, they never talked about the weather, but they did talk about their favorite seasons. Things like that. It was like they were trying to get to know each other better. Because they were friends. And that was what friends did.

Who was she trying to fool? How many times had she told herself that? Maybe she was just trying to hypnotize her leopard into believing they didn’t want Carter and the mark was a total and complete mistake. Like repeating the word over and over was her own type of metronome.

The conversation began to fade off as they both filled their plates again. She loved that he had a hearty appetite. It made her feel a lot less self-conscious about how much she was eating. Then again, he was also a large male. But she wasn’t exactly tiny. At five ten she was tall for a woman. She’d never been dainty, even as a child. She’d always been taller than the rest of her peers, had always wore bigger sizes, her breasts had developed by twelve. She’d been pretty popular amongst the local leopard boys and hated by the females, as if she had any choice in how fast her body developed.

“Have you tried that sushi place in House Springs yet?” Carter asked, breaking into her memories.

She swallowed her bite as she shook her head. “Not yet.”

“Let me take you. You’ll love it.”

June narrowed her eyes on him. It sounded like he was asking to take her on a date. “I thought we agreed no dating,” she said.

“As friends.”

“Then I’ll pay for my own. And I’ll meet you there,” she said, lifting her chin haughtily.

It seemed like Carter had leaned forward the slightest bit and his eyes were on her lips again as she spoke. Her traitorous tongue snaked out and moistened her lips and Carter’s eyes instantly flashed bright amber.

She needed to stand up. She needed to put space between them. She needed to ask him to leave. She didn’t do any of those things.

A purr sounded in her head a second before Carter closed the space between them, his hands raising to cup her face. She threw her arms around his neck and smashed herself as close to him as she could get the second their lips touched.

There was no easing into it, no chaste feather of the lips. They instantly wrapped themselves around each other as their lips opened and their tongues danced. It was heady and sexy and forbidden. Or it was supposed to be. But somewhere between the first touch of his hands and the second their lips locked, she was lost. Lost to the moment. Lost to Carter. Lost to her need.

They were moving, sliding from the chairs and onto the floor. Carter’s hands were roaming her body, stroking down her shoulders, her arms, up her ribs until his thumbs touched the underside of her breasts. She grabbed the bottom hem of his shirt and yanked up, needing to feel him, to touch him. She needed to be skin to skin. She needed his heat against her.

They broke the kiss only long enough to pull his shirt over his head and for him to yank her tank top off. But she was still wearing a bra. Kneeling on the floor, Carter lowered his head, pulled one of her bra cups down and sucked her pebbled nipple into his mouth, using his other hand to massage the breast he wasn’t laving with his tongue and pulling between his lips. A sharp pinch of his teeth made June hiss with pleasure. She gripped his hair hard and held him closer, begging for more.

June’s hands released his hair and ran over his shoulder, smoothed over his defined pecs, down his washboard abs. The man was like an underwear model. And he wanted her. It was obvious the moment her hand cupped his cock through his jeans. He was hard and ready for her.

His hips bucked forward when she touched him and she couldn’t help the small smile that tipped up the corners of her lips.

There was a thought somewhere in the back of her head. Why wasn’t she supposed to get naked with Carter? Who cared? Nothing could stop her from wrapping her legs around his waist and urging him to slide inside of her.

Carter released her nipple with an audible pop and June chuckled softly. His hands were on her face, cupping her cheeks as he slanted his mouth over hers again. They were kneeling on the hard kitchen linoleum.

“Bedroom,” she breathed against his lips.

Carter stood, dragging her up with him. He hooked his hands around her thighs, urged her to wrap her legs around his waist and carried her down the hall, kissing her silly the whole way.

He pushed open two doors before finding the right room. When his knees hit the side of her bed, he turned and sat, leaving June to straddle him, her breasts pushed against his hard chest, his hands cupping her full ass. Her size no longer mattered to her, not with Carter touching her like this, not with his arousal pushing up against her through his jeans, rubbing against her sensitive clit through her thin shorts. His hands urged her to move. She writhed against him, their tongues moving to the same rhythm.

Holy crap, she was close. Already. And they were still dressed from the waist down. That needed to be fixed. Now.

Reaching between them, June undid Carter’s button and ripped his zipper down, the sound mingling with their heavy breathing and moans. She slid her hand into his pants and wrapped her fingers around his shaft and almost lost her nerve. She couldn’t even close her fingers. How the hell had she taken all that without being sore the next day? She should’ve been walking like a cowboy after having sex with Carter all night.

Carter’s fingers wandered under her shorts and slipped right under her panties, pushing the crotch to the side. His thick finger slid into her with ease. She rolled her eyes closed. It felt so good.

Slowly, Carter worked his finger in and out of her, stretching her, preparing her for his size. Pulling his mouth from hers, he nipped along her throat and the sensitive spot below her ear.

“Condom?” he said against her flesh, his tongue making circles before he ran it over the mark he’d left on her.

That should’ve snapped her out of her stupor, but it didn’t. The tingling sensation made her want Carter all that much more.

“Nightstand,” she said, tilting her head back to give him better access.

He stood and carried her to the side of the bed, only laying her down so he could rifle through the top drawer. When he pulled the silver wrapper out, he ripped it open with his teeth and June watched in awe as he rolled the latex over his length, her mouth going dry at the size right there in front of her. She wanted to taste him. She wanted to swallow as much of his size down as she could, but Carter was beyond the foreplay stage.

Shoving his jeans to his knees, he knelt between June’s thighs and pulled her shorts and underwear to the side. His finger found her again. He added a second. “You’re so wet for me,” he growled out as his eyes flashed even brighter. She knew her own eyes were bright, too.

Carter pulled his fingers from her, gripped his shaft and guided his cock to her opening. Slowly, so agonizingly slowly, he pushed into her, his eyes squeezing tight and his jaw clenching. He was trying to keep from pounding into her. He wanted her to find her release first. She had no idea how she knew that, but it felt like he’d spoken it directly into her heart.

June lifted her hips and took him the rest of the way in. They didn’t know each other well, but she needed it hard and fast. That’s how she’d always preferred it, even though she’d never had the guts to ask for it.

But Carter read her like a freaking crystal ball. His hands gripped her ass to hold her in place, pulled almost to the tip and slammed back into her. She threw her head back and screamed. That made him stop.

“Please. Don’t stop,” she begged, her voice deep and breathy.

June opened her eyes and gasped at the intensity in his eyes, the heat, the lust. And something else she couldn’t name. A slow smile spread across his face and she mirrored it. She hadn’t been this hot and bothered in years. Even with Jackson. He’d never made her feel so out of her mind she’d do just about anything to feel him deep inside of her.

But with Carter, she was more than willing to beg.

She didn’t have to, though. Rough hands on her ass, Carter started a rhythm, slow at first, his length rubbing all the right places and pushing her toward the edge. Then that rhythm picked up. The sounds of flesh hitting flesh, mixed with Carter’s grunts and June’s moans as he brought her to the precipice, filled her bedroom.

Every muscle in her body tensed as her core clenched around Carter. A deep, long moan left her lips as she threw her head back and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Fuuuck,” Carter growled out until he slammed into her three more times, tensing as he came with June’s name on his lips.

And then he collapsed on top of her, his weight held up on his elbows, his face buried in her hair, his breath warming her neck, right over his mark.

****

As the endorphins wore off, reality slowly seeped in. Shit. He’d just screwed June. Again. After he’d promised they were just friends and were going to hang out and play cards. But she didn’t stop him, either. She was just as into it as he was.

Carefully, Carter pulled out of June. She sighed and released her grip around his back when he rolled to the side, keeping one leg draped over her thighs. Either the reality of what they’d just done hadn’t hit her yet or she was having a change of heart. He really hoped it was the latter. Now that his bear had claimed her, both verbally and physically, Carter couldn’t make himself walk away from her. She was like a freaking magnet and he was a huge sheet of metal. No matter how hard he tried to pull away, he was dragged right back to her.

Afraid to speak for fear of spoiling the moment, Carter sucked in gulps of oxygen as the air cooled the sheen of sweat covering his body. He rolled his head to look at June; her eyes were still closed and a tiny smile softened her expression. A rush of manly pride made his own grin spread. He’d taken care of his woman.

Not his woman. You can’t have her, Carter reminded himself. She said she didn’t want a relationship. Didn’t want to date. And he’d respect that. Or at least he’d try to. Unless she changed her mind.

Raising an arm, he slid it behind his head. And then he watched as June’s dark brows pinched together and her body tensed. He was watching her realize what had just happened. She was no longer floating on cloud nine. Nope. Now she looked embarrassed. And pissed. When she opened her eyes and rolled her head slowly to look at him, he could almost feel the daggers hitting his chest from her eyes.

“I told you I only wanted to be friends,” she hissed at him, sitting up and pulling her bra and panties back in place.

She stomped across the small bedroom and pulled a shirt from a drawer, pulling it over her head.

Carter removed the condom, tossing it into a nearby trashcan, and pulled his pants up his legs. Fuck. They hadn’t even gotten fully naked. This might be the last chance he ever got to be with June again and he hadn’t even seen her fully naked. He’d wanted to kiss every inch of her body, taste her, make love to her with his mouth.

Instead, he’d pushed her underwear aside and fucked her. No wonder she was so pissed.

But she’d been just as desperate as he had. She’d been the one to pull his shirt off. She’d held his head to her tits with a hand tight in his hair. She’d been the one to release his dick from his pants.

“Then why didn’t you stop it?” he asked, his own anger rising. “You seemed like you were enjoying yourself just fine.” He flinched when he almost caught the skin of his shaft in the zipper of his jeans.

June’s eyes were full of fire as her cheeks went bright pink and she slapped her hands on her hips. “I wasn’t the one who seduced you,” she said, taking slow steps toward him. “You kissed me,” she said, jabbing a finger into his chest, punctuating each word with a stab of her fingernail.

Oh shit. The madder she got, the more turned on he got, and the more the scent of her arousal filled the air. She could fool herself all she wanted, but her body was on a whole different page.

Her eyes dropped to the mark on his chest, the mark she’d left the first time they’d ever been together. When they raised back to his face, that glow was back. Her lips were pink and kiss swollen, her chest rose and fell with her deep breaths. And then she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck as her lips slammed onto his.

Carter had two choices: he could stop this now and leave, or he could let this woman dig deeper under his skin and into his heart.

When she wrapped one leg over his hip, opening herself for him, he knew damn well there was no way he could leave now. Not until he had her fully naked, under his hands, under his body, writhing against his tongue.

Within minutes, he had her clothes off completely and spread out on the bed like an offering. He kept his jeans on this time. That way, if she wanted him, she’d have to remove his pants and she couldn’t blame him for another round of banging.

She came with his name on her tongue, panting and moaning. As her aftershocks faded, Carter sat up and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and watched her. She was by far the sexiest woman he’d ever been with. She was sexy when she was merely eating, sexy when she was pissed, and beyond sexy when she was in the throes of passion.

Carter was kneeling on the bed when she pushed up, ripped his pants open and jerked them down his thighs. “Off. Now. All the way,” she said, her throaty voice deeper with a hint of growl.

She put her mouth on him the second he kicked his jeans off the bed. She was the one who rolled the new condom over him. She was the one who pushed him onto his back and straddled his waist. She was the one who gripped him and guided him to her core, dropping down hard and fast and taking him to the hilt in one motion.

Carter’s teeth clenched. She was so wet, so warm, so tight. Just the like the first time, he had to will the orgasm away. He wanted her to take what she needed from him before he let his body explode. If only he could feel her without the fucking rubber between them.

June rode him hard. He forced his eyes open so he could watch those tits he’d fantasized about for the last two days bounce and sway. He couldn’t help himself; he reached up and cupped them in both hands. They spilled over his large hands.

June’s head was thrown back as she continued to chase her orgasm. He figured he’d help her along. Releasing one of her boobs, he reached between them and used his thumb to stroke her clit. That did it.

June bent backward, her hands landing both of his thighs and cried out, her core clenching him, milking him, tearing his own release from him so hard he got dizzy.

When June finally straightened, that look of anger returned to her eyes. “What is wrong with us?”

She lifted, earning a groan from Carter and threw her leg over, climbing off him.

“Should I lay here and wait for round three?” he asked. He’d meant it as a joke.

June turned to him as she pulled a new set of clothes on, this time a pair of sweatpants and a thick sweatshirt, obviously chosen to cover her from head to toe. Her eyes glistened in the light coming from the hallway.

“That shouldn’t have happened,” she said, her voice so small it hurt his heart.

Sitting up, he discreetly removed the second condom, tossed it onto the first, and pulled his jeans on. He followed June back into the living room where he found his t-shirt laying beside hers on the kitchen floor. At least they’d made it to a bed this time.

Carter dressed and sat beside June when she lowered onto the couch and pulled her feet under her.

“Why not?” he asked when she sat silently for so long Carter grew uncomfortable.

Her brows pulled up and together as she turned to look at him. “Seriously? I literally told you twice today that I didn’t want a relationship. That I just wanted to be friends. Instead, I can’t keep my hands to myself when it comes to you. It’s like my body becomes possessed just being around you. Shoot, I even thought about finding a private room at Havanah’s so you could bend me over and take me there.”

Carter huffed out a surprised laugh but covered it with a cough. He’d had that same thought.

“What is this?” June whispered. Her eyes glistened again and wrecked Carter. He hated when women cried. And he really didn’t want to be the cause of those tears. “I was so pissed at you. And you were being such an ass. And then…” She slapped her hands together. “Boom! I was naked and riding you. It’s like hypnosis or something. I don’t know. I’m rambling,” she said, dropping her face into her hands.

He knew the feeling, though. He’d told himself he’d respect the fact she just wanted to be friends. Even though he’d already decided he’d still try to win her over. But the second her little pink tongue darted out and licked her bottom lip, he’d become a man possessed. Or obsessed. Maybe both.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. He had a theory, but he wasn’t sure June wanted to hear it.

Their animals had broken through and marked each other. And his bear had claimed June. What if what they were feeling was the pull of the bond? He knew his Clan brothers and the wolves in Big River were constantly touching their mates. He’d heard Noah and Colton making love to their wives on many occasions over the past two years.

“You should probably go,” June said, moving and putting her feet on the ground. She clenched her knees together and Carter scented her arousal on the air again.

Holy shit. His girl was insatiable.

“Apparently, I no longer have any control over my body. So, yeah. You should go before I do something stupid. Like get naked with you again.”

“Is that such a bad thing?” Carter said, trying to make his voice light and teasing. But there was no way to hide the growl in his voice. He wanted her. He wanted her again. He wanted her as badly as he did that night at Moe’s.

June smirked at him, but it was sexy. “Seriously, though. What the hell is wrong with me? With us? I have never wanted to boink someone as badly as I want to boink you.”

Another startled laugh escaped Carter, and this time, he didn’t cover it. “Boink?”

She shrugged and those cheeks went pink again.

Boink. That was a new one to him. Not that he’d never heard it before, but he’d never had anyone describe sex with him as boinking.

Carter leaned back against the couch and dropped his head back, looking up at the ceiling. “I have a theory,” he finally admitted. He’d already told himself he wasn’t going to say anything, but maybe it would make her feel a little better if she knew she wasn’t losing her mind.

“And what’s that?” she said, pulling her feet back under her as if she were starting to relax.

“The marks are real.”

June was silent for so long Carter picked up his head to see if she was still awake. “June?”

“You’re kidding, right?” she asked, still not looking at him.

“What?”

“You’re trying to say we’re true mates, that the marks are real, and I carry it in my blood. Right?” She finally rolled her head to look at him.

“Yeah,” he said with a shrug.

A small smile tipped her lips. Then it turned into a grin. Then she threw her head back and laughed loud. Fuck, he loved her laugh. It was so open and sexy. Everything about her was sexy, dammit.

Apparently, when Carter didn’t say just kidding or laugh along with her, her hopes of this being a joke fell. As did her smile. Like, her face instantly dropped and her eyes widened.

“It’s time to go,” she said, pushing to her feet, putting space between them, and crossing her arms. “Now.”

Carter leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. Fuck. He should’ve kept his mouth shut. Now, she was pushing him out, pushing him away. He might just have ruined any chance he’d have with June Gillespie in the future.

****

Carter sat on his porch, leaning back in the lawn chair with his feet on the railing. He hadn’t been able to sleep since he got home. He had to work tomorrow. Had to be up in four hours. Yet, there he sat, staring off into the dark night.

June had felt as good as he thought she would. The weight of her tits in his hands was perfect. She was perfect. The moment was perfect. Until it wasn’t. Until he’d ruined it by opening his big fucking mouth.

She’d told him she didn’t want anything serious and he’d gone and tried to convince her they were mates. Even if they were. Maybe her animal hadn’t claimed Carter. Could that happen? Could one Shifter find their mate while not being accepted by that person? And wouldn’t that drive a man insane?

He’d only been away from her for a few hours and already he was going through withdrawals. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Worrying about her. He wanted to keep her safe, although she was capable of protecting herself. He wanted to bring her more food and cook for her and play cards with her. He wanted to feel her wrapped around him again.

But most of all, he didn’t want her to hate him. He wanted to see that woman he’d met at Moe’s. He wanted to hear her laughter and see her smile.

Why had he opened his damn mouth? He’d probably ruined everything.

Headlights bounced up the driveway and washed over Carter. He squinted against the onslaught and shook his head as Luke parked his old, beat up truck and stepped out. Luke knew Carter was sitting there; he had to have scented him. But he didn’t look up, didn’t acknowledge him, didn’t offer any excuse as to where he’d been.

Something was up with Luke, but Carter had his own issues at the moment. How the hell could he help anyone in his Clan when his own head was so screwed up? They all looked up to him, expected him to take charge, to be responsible. If they only knew.

He was tired. Even if he had to lie in bed and stare at the ceiling, at least his body would get some rest.

Dropping the front two legs of the chair to the porch, Carter pushed to his feet and shuffled into his cabin. His body felt like it was full of lead. He didn’t even bother taking his clothes off, just toed his shoes off when he got into his room and fell face first onto the bed. He grunted on impact and barely turned his head, and that was to avoid suffocating.

Was this what happened when a Shifter couldn’t be with his mate? Was that what was happening? Or was it something else? Maybe he was just going nuts.

As he chased his thoughts in circles, he finally began to drift off. As his dreams began to take over and push consciousness away, he saw June’s face, her gray eyes, her bee stung lips. He heard her voice, felt her flesh, then saw her tears as she demanded Carter leave.

And asked him to never call or text her again.

Chapter Five

“That’s not even funny,” June said to Carol while Constance grabbed a roll of toilet paper and brought it back to the table.

Both women had heard every single noise she’d made while having sex with Carter. She refused to think of it as making love. That would infer there was anything between them. Which there wasn’t.

But according to Carol, she could smell the change to June’s blood. And that only happened if her true mate bit her.

Constance handed June the roll and took her seat beside Carol and across from June. “I think she’s right.”

“You’re supposed to be on my side, dammit,” June complained before blowing her nose. She ripped off another wad and dried her eyes and face. She’d been crying for hours. She never cried. She hated crying. It was exhausting and made her eyes burn and was a total waste of time. Crying never solved jack.

“I am,” Constance said, her brows to her hairline.

“This is your fault, you know,” June said, tossing the wad of paper in her hand onto the table.

“How the hell is this my fault?”

“You’re the one who told me to…how did you put it…get my freak on,” June said. Oh, she remembered exactly how Constance had said it. She just wanted to twist the knife she’d just dug into Constance’s chest.

“Hey. Not once did I ever tell you to let him mark you. All I said was to get back on the horse. Or get your freak on. Which is the same thing. We were tired of you moping around after Jackson.”

“Speak for yourself,” Carol muttered, grabbing beers out of the fridge and passing them out. “Have you talked to him about all this?”

“Hell no. I didn’t want to accept it to begin with.” But he’d brought it up. And she’d thrown him out. She’d told him to stay away from her, to never contact her again. And now she felt like death warmed up.

“Sounded like they did a lot more than talking,” Constance said into her beer bottle before taking a swig.

“You’re a perv,” June said with an eyeroll. For some reason, Constance’s comment eased a little of the anger and sorrow she’d been holding onto since Carter pulled away.

Like a sappy chick flick character, she’d stood at the window, tears rolling down her cheeks, as Carter had trudged down her stairs and climbed into his truck. His shoulders were hunched and he looked exhausted. When he’d glanced up at the window like he could feel her watching him, she’d stepped back enough to hide in the shadows of her dark room. Her heart had felt like it was shattering as he backed his truck up and left her territory.

She refused to acknowledge the pain, though. That would mean he was right. Which he wasn’t. Even if Carol and Constance thought they could smell a change to her blood. Nope. Not real. Not true.

But really, would it be all that bad to have someone like Carter as a mate? He didn’t mind she was way taller than other females or wasn’t thin. In fact, he seemed to love the way she looked. He was so sweet and gentle but passionate at the same time.

“This is such a freaking mess,” June said, dropping her head onto her forearms. “It was supposed to be a one night stand. A booty call. Not a freaking mating ritual.”

Constance huffed a laugh then sucked her lips into her mouth to hide the smile when June lifted her head to scowl at her. “Sorry. I was picturing animals going at it while drums were beating in the background.”

June just kept scowling at her.

Constance lifted her hands in surrender and leaned back in her chair. “So? What are you going to do? You know there’s no way you can stay away from him.”

“Why not? I’m a strong, independent woman. I don’t need anyone.”

“It has nothing to do with being strong or independent. It’d probably have been fine if you two had never slept together. And especially if you hadn’t marked each other –”

“That wasn’t my fault,” June interjected.

“But you’re officially official now,” Carol said. “I told you it was a bad idea. But neither of you ever listen to me.”

Carol was one year older than June and four years older than Constance. Yet she’d taken on the role as the den mother from day one.

June dropped her head back onto her forearms with a groan. It’d been so much better if she’d had to work today. Then she’d have something to keep her mind occupied. Instead, she was dwelling on every single aspect of not just Carter and the whole mating bond, but how she needed to break the bond and steer clear of Carter.

Jackson had turned her off to the idea of a serious relationship. After two years, he’d dumped her, telling her how he was tired of looking at her, that she obviously had no desire to grow as a person since she hadn’t bothered to lose a single pound in the time they’d been together. He’d called her trailer trash, thrown in her face about how she’d never finished high school. Just because Shifters were able to have schools for their kids didn’t mean there was any less bullying than there was in human schools. She’d gotten tired of being teased for being a giant. She’d gotten tired of the rumors the girls would start about her sleeping with all the boys just because she’d not only developed early, but had been cursed with double D boobs. She’d gladly get a breast reduction if she didn’t have to worry about a doctor finding out she wasn’t human.

Carter liked her boobs. She didn’t know if he was a boob man by nature or if it was hers he liked so much. If she got a reduction, would he still be obsessed with them? Would he still be attracted to her?

She knew the answer: Yes. A resounding yes. Because as much as she hated to admit it, they really were mates. Maybe she’d known when they’d met at the bar. No. Impossible. She knew if she’d had even an inkling of how the whole thing would go down she would run the other way screaming.

“I think you need to talk to him. Just talk,” Carol said, widening her eyes for emphasis.

Another groan. That was the problem. She couldn’t seem to be in the same room with Carter without her body catching on fire. It was like she forgot all the reasons they were supposed to stay away from each other and got busy ripping her clothes off.

“You should probably do it in public,” Constance said, humor in her tone.

June lifted her head just enough to side eye Constance.

“I’m just saying, that was pretty loud last night. I doubt you two will stay chaste if you’re alone.” Constance’s smile was mischievous as she winked at June. “Although if I had someone like Carter, I might not be able to resist seeing him naked, either.” June frowned. “What? He’s hot. You can’t deny that. Is he big everywhere?” Constance said, leaning closer and lowering her voice as if anyone else would hear. It was just the three women who lived in that territory. There was literally no one else to eavesdrop.

“I’m not answering that,” June said, but was sure the heat in her cheeks had made her blush and totally given her away. June sat up and plopped her face into her hands with her elbows on the table. “But every time I’m around him…I don’t know. I feel like a cat in heat or something.”

“Could it be because you’re denying him?” Constance asked.

“Trust me when I say I’m not denying him,” June said, uncovering her face and side eying the curly haired blonde beside her. Constance hadn’t bothered doing anything with her hair today so it was frizzing into a big ball of cotton candy.

“Not like that, perv,” Constance said with a wink.

“Pot calling kettle black, much?” Carol said with a roll of her eyes.

“I mean, maybe if you two stopped fighting the bond it’ll ease up a little. You know you’re miserable.”

She was. She really, really was. But she wasn’t sure how much was the bond being ignored and how much was just her emotions over what she’d done with Carter. Again. Could what she was feeling be guilt? She wasn’t like Constance; she didn’t have sex with someone unless she cared about them. Not that there was anything wrong with casual sex. She’d just never been able to bring herself to do it. Maybe it was guilt over her wanton behavior. Or maybe there was a touch of guilt because she and Jackson had only been apart for a couple of weeks before she was jumping into the arms of another man.

Why the hell should she feel guilty about either, though? Jackson was the one who dumped her, and cruelly, too. And she was a grown woman with a healthy libido. Why shouldn’t she sate her needs from time to time? And why the hell couldn’t she sate her needs with someone as giving and caring - not to mention hot as hell - as Carter Simpson?

June threw her hands in the air as her mind and heart warred with each other, going back and forth, round and round until she was dizzy.

“This is ridiculous. Why am I even considering it?”

“Because you don’t have much choice?” Carol said with a shrug of her narrow shoulders. Carol was the complete opposite of June. She barely hit five foot four, was thin, had small boobs and a pixie haircut. Almost like Carol was June’s evil twin, just without the evil side.

“And you don’t think that’s screwed up? Why the hell should our animals get to choose who we spend our lives with? Why the hell can’t we?”

“Pretty sure you’re the one who chose Jackson, not your leopard,” Carol said in that motherly tone of hers.

June glared at Carol, but she never looked away. She just held June’s gaze with a raised brow.

Giving up on her attempt to intimidate Carol, June shook her head as she flopped against the back of the chair. At least the tears had dried up. Even if her heart still ached just as badly as it had an hour ago. Just as badly as it had last night when she’d watched Carter drive away.

Carol was right; June had been the one to choose Jackson. And Rick. And Andy. And so on and so on. And they’d all turned out the same, although none of them were as cruel as Jackson had been that last day.

Was it time to give in to her animal side? She’d always prided herself on being so in control over that side of herself. She’d had zero problems working alongside humans because she refused to let anything cause her eyes to glow or her animal to burst through her skin. But maybe she should just give in and let her animal dictate her love life.

“This is stupid,” June said, pushing to her feet and pacing the small living room. “Why should I let my leopard rule my life? Shouldn’t I have some kind of feelings for Carter?”

Carol looked pointedly at the pile of tissue on the table. “I don’t generally cry over someone I have zero feelings for,” she said, her brows up as she pursed her lips.

June plopped down on the couch and dropped her head back, studying the dingy white ceiling. “What do I do?”

“You know what you should do,” Carol said.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t let him go. You’ll end up regretting it. If you don’t go insane first,” Constance said, rising to sit beside June. She leaned over and put her head in June’s lap, turning her head to bat her lashes up at June. “I could always help ease his misery if you don’t want him.”

When a dark green fog slithered through June’s belly along with the instant desire to Shift her claws and scratch Constance’s eyes out, June knew this was a lost cause. She wanted Carter. She wanted him. Not just her leopard. She hated the idea of having her life dictated by anything other than her own heart, but maybe Carol had been right. When June had chosen, the men had been a total waste of time. She was pushing forty. She’d probably never have cubs, which was fine since she wasn’t keen on starting from scratch so late in life, but she could still have a mate. She could still build a family. She already had her tiny, makeshift Pride, but if she went for it and stayed with Carter, kept him in her life, she’d end up family with his Clan, as well.

Pushing Constance off her lap, June jumped to her feet, grabbed her keys, and ran through her front door, leaving her friends to gape after her. She’d brushed her teeth and her hair, but that was about it. Her long, brunette hair was twisted up in a fat bun at the back of her head, she was wearing a pair of lounge pants with hearts all over them, and a tank top with a hoodie over it. No bra. Which could end up biting her in the ass, but she’d take the chance.

Unsure of what she’d say to Carter when she saw him, she aimed her car for Blackwater territory. She’d taken upon herself to learn where all the Shifter territories were before she’d moved into the area. She knew exactly where Carter and the rest of his bear Clan lived. She also knew the territories to avoid, which was exactly why she’d learned all that in the first place.

The closer she got to his area, the more nervous she grew. What if he didn’t want to see her? What if she’d successfully chased him off? What if they, once again, couldn’t keep their clothes on long enough to have the conversation that needed to be had?

June turned her car onto a gravel road and bounced along, rolling her windows up as a cloud of dust filled the space. She waved the dust away from her face and guided her car around a turn. Oh. It wasn’t a street. That was their driveway. Four cabins sat in a semi-circle. They didn’t have a front yard, just a lot of gravel until the tree line. The woods were so thick she could barely see into them even though the sun was at least an hour from setting.

There were no trucks lined up along the front of the homes. Well, shit. Carter and the rest of the Clan must still be at work. She checked the time on the dash of her little Audi and dropped her head against the seat. Should she wait or should she head home and talk to him another day? As far as she knew, he might have a date after work. Or maybe he’d go to Moe’s to drown his misery after June turned him away. Yeah. She liked the latter situation much better. Because the thought of Carter with another woman made her sick to her stomach.

June put her car in park and stared at the row of houses. Which one was his? The second one had a couple of potted mums lining the stairs. That wasn’t his. The third one had robin’s egg blue curtains in the window. Not Carter’s. So his was either the first or the last.

She had a moment where she wished she knew which one was his so she could break in and leave her scent everywhere. Just in case he brought another woman home. But that was a little too Fatal Attraction for June’s taste.

Glancing at the clock, she realized only ten minutes had passed. This was stupid. Why the hell did she rush over here? She could’ve just texted him and told him she was sorry for her behavior and wanted to talk to him whenever he got a chance. And that was what she was going to do. As soon as she was back at home and in the comfort of her own bubble.

June put her car in reverse and backed away from the cabins. She was only halfway down the long, gravel drive when the rumble of trucks met her ears. She’d been so close to a clean break. Now, she’d be caught by at least one member of Blackwater.

When two trucks rounded the bend, she either had to back up, pull into the grass to let them pass, or play chicken. Her tiny Audi would lose against their full-size trucks.

Trying to save face, she tipped her chin up and backed up until the trucks could get around her. Carter drove the second truck. His scowl was clear as day when he spotted her. Well, shit. There was no running from this now.

Pushing from her car, she waited until Carter was parked and climbed down from his vehicle. He stared at her, his brows pulled low for a few heartbeats. When he finally began to walk toward her, her heart thundered behind her rib cage and her palms began to sweat. And of course, her traitorous body reacted with nipples so hard she could cut ice and her lower half became warm and tingly.

Down girl, she told her animal. Because she had to assume the rush of hormones and endorphins were from that side of herself. June knew they had a lot to discuss and she couldn’t do that on her back with her legs wrapped around Carter’s waist.

“What are you doing here?” Carter asked, his voice deep and angry.

What did that say about her that she found him even sexier when he was all frowny like that?

“I wanted to talk to you,” she said, closing the space between them until she was standing about two feet away.

“About what? You made it pretty obvious you didn’t want anything to do with me,” Carter said, crossing his thick arms over his massive chest. The dude was built like a freaking dump truck.

Okay. Dude was sexy and cool and funny and really good in bed, but right then, he was being a total asshat. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Am I supposed to feel graced with your presence?”

Her anger built until her blood felt like it was on fire. “You know what? Maybe this was a bad idea. I came over to tell you I was sorry. That I should’ve tried to talk to you instead of acting like a jerk. That I’m not even that mad that you seduced me.”

“I seduced you?” he said, dropping his hands to his sides as his brows rose to his hairline. “I’m pretty sure you’re the one who climbed me like a freaking monkey the second time. And I don’t remember you trying to stop me the first. In fact—”

Just like the last time they’d started to fight, something snapped inside of June and she had zero control over her body. She lunged at him, her mouth slamming over his, cutting off the rest of his argument. Instead of pushing her away, he tangled his hands in her hair, smoothed them down her sides until he grabbed her thighs and urged her up, wrapping her legs around his waist.

He carried her to his cabin, only releasing her long enough to open the door and then kicked it shut. He carried her down the hallway, his mouth never leaving hers, his tongue dancing in her mouth, until he lowered her onto his bed, following her down. And once again, they found themselves naked and sweating and calling out each other’s names.

****

Carter stared up at his ceiling as he waited for his heart rate to return to normal. June was panting beside him. And they were right back to what had gotten them in hot water to begin with.

“What did you want to talk about?” Carter asked between gasps for air.

June chuckled softly, then rolled over to look at him. She folded her hands beneath her cheek. “Why the hell can’t we be around each other without ending up here?”

“That’s what you wanted to talk about? Maybe next time text it,” he said with a smile and a shake of his head.

“No,” she said with another giggle. “That’s not what I wanted to talk about. But it’s something to think about. This can’t be normal. I was mad at you and the next thing I know we were heading for your house. I couldn’t have stopped it if my life depended on it.”

Carter grunted and nodded. Yeah. That sounded about right. He’d been pretty pissed. He’d been hurt. Fuck. He’d been crushed when she’d made him leave and told him never to contact her again. He’d tried to think of a way to forget about her, even contemplated running out and finding someone to occupy his time for a few weeks. But he knew that would never work. The mate bond wasn’t something you could fuck away. No number of women would ever make him not ache for June.

“So? Now what?” he asked, rubbing his eyes with his finger and thumb. He’d been so fucking tired when he’d gone into work after having next to no sleep. The emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion was catching up to him.

“That’s why I’m here,” she admitted, her voice soft.

Carter rolled his head to look at her. Her cheeks were pink, even more than they were after having passionate sex. She’d pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and was chewing it. He waited for her to finish. When she didn’t, his irritation began to rise again. He wasn’t going to be the one to put his heart on the line. Not this time. Last time he’d tried with her had been a disaster.

“What, June?” he asked.

Her dark brows pinched together, causing a crease between them, and she slowly sat up, pulling the sheet with her to cover her body. He’d much rather stare at her body while they were fighting. But something about their ire always brought on sex. And they had shit to hash out.

“You don’t have to get an attitude,” she said.

And just like that, his dick was instantly hard again and he could smell her arousal.

“Get dressed,” he ordered, pushing from the bed in jerky movements as he fought his instinct to dive between her legs.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” she hissed at him, but she was up and pulling her clothes back on.

She needed more clothes. Or they needed an audience. Or something. Who was he kidding? She’d been wearing a hoodie and his Clan had been outside when he’d picked her up and carried her inside. Having witnesses hadn’t help.

Shit.

His entire Clan had witnessed that. No doubt they’d scented June on Carter, but no one had said a damn thing. Now? Yeah, now they’d know for sure something was going on with him and the dark-haired woman who was currently twisting her hair back into a knot at the back of her head.

He preferred her hair down. He loved the dark curtain it made around them when she rode him and lowered to kiss him.

Carter left his bedroom and waited for June in the living room. He jerked his chin toward the couch and sat on the opposite side of her, turning and leaning one knee on the cushion beside him.

“What?” she said when she sat and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I just thought we could actually have a conversation out here.”

She chewed on the inside of her cheek for a second. Her eyes darted to his crotch then back up. “Yeah,” she said, turning her face away from him and looking around as if checking out his place. “I was getting turned on, too.”

He huffed out a surprised laugh. At least she’d admitted it.

June relaxed little by little until she pulled her feet under her and turned to face Carter. “You said you think we’re really mates.”

He nodded but didn’t speak.

“My friends, my Pride…” She inhaled deeply and let it out in a rush. “They smell the change in my blood.”

Carter sucked in a sharp gasp. He blinked rapidly at her a few times while he searched his brain for something to say. He’d had a hunch, had felt and heard his bear’s declaration for her, but he hadn’t noticed the change to her blood. Could his friends smell that on their mates? Or was that something for other Shifters, to let them know the female was off the market.

“I think you were right. I think, when we got drunk, our animals just took over and claimed each other.” She shrugged and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth again, dragging his attention to her mouth.

No. He had to stay focused. If he dove across the couch to taste her lips, he knew exactly what would happen. He knew there’d be no way he could keep from burying himself inside of her again. It was hard enough to keep his hands to himself sitting on the opposite side of the fucking sofa.

“Now what?” he asked, turning his eyes away from her face to keep from staring at her mouth.

Unfortunately, she took that the wrong way.

“Well, it looks like you have no interest in pursuing it, so…whatever. I just wanted to tell you I think you’re right. But we can leave it like that.”

She pushed to her feet and was halfway across his living room before he realized what she was doing. He jumped over the back of the couch and stopped her before she could reach for the door.

“Why the hell do you always jump to the worst conclusion?”

“Why the hell can’t you make eye contact with me?” she threw back at him.

“Because you keep chewing on your bottom lip and it’s making me crazy,” he yelled, throwing his hands in the air.

Aaaand she was throwing her arms around his neck, smashing her lips against his.

They were on the couch, Carter weighing her down and one hand snaking up her shirt to cup one of her tits before his brain took over and pushed his need away.

“Shit,” he breathed out, sitting up quickly. He fixed her clothes and helped her sit up. “I swear we’re always either fucking or fighting.”

She blinked at him rapidly, her kiss swollen lips parted. She looked dazed. She was still in one gear when he needed her to switch to another.

“We’ve got to talk, June. That means we have to stay clothed.”

Maybe they should move to the kitchen table. At least then there’d be the whole piece of wood separating them. And then memories of what happened in her kitchen made his dick twitch.

He needed to talk to one of his Clan brothers, as much as he hated the thought. This shit couldn’t be normal. Or maybe it could. His brothers were always touching their mates. They made love every single fucking day. But somehow, they’d learned to control their urges long enough to have conversations and lives with the women.

“It’s because we haven’t given in,” June finally said.

“What?” Carter asked, bending a little to be directly in her line of sight. He loved that she was so tall, that he didn’t have to bend in half to kiss her, that he could bend her over the couch and reach her perfectly.

Baseball. Homeruns. Hockey. Toothless hockey players. But thinking about the least sexy things possible wasn’t helping his wood.

“We haven’t given in to the bond. It’s our animals. They’re trying to breed.” Her eyes moved to the side like she was thinking about a conversation. “Holy shit,” she breathed out.

“What?” he repeated, this time a little nervous.

“My leopard is in heat.”

Carter leaned back, putting some space between them.

“I told my friends I felt like I was possessed or in heat. I’m not, but my cat is. She’s trying to breed. She’s in heat.”

He felt like he’d been sucker punched. Her cat was trying to get knocked up. And his bear was going right along with it. But they’d used a condom every time they’d had sex. They were safe. They just had to remember to keep their wits about them enough to keep using protection each time. Carter was too old for cubs. It’s not that he wouldn’t be happy if it happened, but he’d like to avoid it if he could. He was at the age where he’d rather dote on his mate and spoil the pups in Big River and, someday, cubs in Blackwater. He’d be a super fucking uncle. He’d make sure they had all the best gadgets and were well stocked in candy.

But cubs of his own?

“I’m not ready to be a mom. I’m sorry if that’s something you want, but…I don’t know. I’m just too old. I mean, I know physically, I could have a healthy cub. But I’m at the age where I’d rather come and go as I please and maybe even travel someday.”

She’d spoken his thoughts and now he no longer had to have the uncomfortable conversation with her.

“Yeah. Same,” Carter said. They sat quietly for a while, as if both lost in their own thoughts. Until his stomach growled. Luke and Colton had talked about going to Moe’s for dinner, but Carter was just too tired. Colton had gone to the bar because his wife was working tonight. And for some reason, none of them ever wanted to ride together.

Actually, Carter was sure the reason was because Luke had a woman somewhere and didn’t want to admit it. As long as it didn’t cause his Clan any problems, Carter was fine with the dude keeping his secrets.

Carter had his own mindfuck to deal with.

Chapter Six

Carter suggested they leave the house. Which was probably a good idea since she was having a hell of a time keeping her clothes on. She’d never experienced anything like this. Why the hell was her leopard in heat now? She was thirty-eight freaking years old. Granted, she’d finally found her true mate, but she didn’t want children. Not this late in life.

June sat in the passenger seat of Carter’s truck. He’d said four of his Clan family – two of his Clan brothers and their mates – were already at the bar where he was taking her. The same bar where they’d met. She remembered seeing them, but the rest of the room had seemed to fade away when she’d laid her eyes on Carter crossing the room and heading her way.

Now, she was going to be introduced to his people. How would he introduce her? Someone he was dating? His girlfriend? His mate? And would any of those terms be better than the other? Since she had no idea exactly what they were or what she wanted, she wasn’t sure how she wanted him to announce her.

The problem with riding beside Carter was her need to touch him. Instead of fighting it, she undid her seatbelt, scooted into the middle seat, and pulled the lap belt into place. Carter winked down at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as if they’d ridden together for years.

She snuggled into his side and released a girly sigh. Inhaling deep, she breathed his scent deep into her lungs. Her leopard stretched and purred in her head. Apparently, being close to Carter made her cat happy. If only that was enough. But she knew the reprieve from her libido was short lived. Hopefully, she’d avoid making a fool of herself in front of all his people.

There were quite a few trucks, cars, and a few motorcycles in the parking lot in front of Moe’s. The place would be packed with Shifters having dinner or drinks after work. Carter parked the truck, climbed from his seat, and jogged around the hood. June was stepping onto the running board by the time Carter got to her. His hands went to her hips as she stepped onto the gravel.

“I don’t really need help getting down,” she said with a coy smile.

“I know. I just wanted to touch you,” Carter said, returning her flirtatious smile.

Carter wrapped his large hand around hers and guided her inside. He didn’t release her until they’d come to the table with another humongous guy, as well as a few guys who were a few inches taller than her. For once, she felt petite. At least she did until the waitress, who was also a member of the Clan, came over to take their orders. The tiny redhead made June feel like a damn ogre.

Carter didn’t seem to notice, though. His eyes were on her and only her. He only glanced up long enough to give the woman, Shawnee, his order. June remembered the woman from breakfast at her job.

“I’m Shawnee,” the red head said, her hand outstretched.

“June,” she said, slipping her hand into Shawnee’s.

“Nice to see you again. I wasn’t sure you’d remember my name from last time,” Shawnee said before glancing at Carter, a wide grin on her face. She hurried off to grab drinks for Carter and June.

June turned back in her seat and smiled as she looked around at all the people staring at her. Shit. The women sitting there were tiny, too. She really was the biggest woman amongst them. For once, it would be nice to have to look up to someone when she spoke. She did with Carter, though. He was quite a bit taller than she was.

“Colton,” a guy with a wide grin and a black Stetson sitting at the table across from her said. “I’m part of Blackwater.”

“Gray,” a guy beside Colton said. “This is my mate, Nova.”

And on and on and on. Apparently, other than Colton, the other people were members of Big River, the wolves who lived closer to Blackwater territory. They were all close and spent most of their free time together. There were a lot of names to remember and she was pretty confident she’d forget most of them by the end of the night.

“So,” the woman named Nova started, leaning forward on her elbows, her hands holding her face in a whimsical way. “Are you two officially official?”

“Oh my god,” Carter muttered under his breath. He shook his head as he dropped it. “Nova. Seriously. You don’t always have to say the first thing that comes to your mind.”

“Oh, that wasn’t the first thing that came to mind. The first was how long it was going to take you to announce that the two of you are mated. I mean, I can see her mark and smell it on her. Might as well just make the announcement.” Nova’s smile was wide as she batted her lashes at Carter.

June’s face was hot as she watched the interaction, her eyes bouncing between Nova and Carter.

“I don’t think—” June started, but Carter cut her off.

“Gray? A little help?” Carter asked, his brows high.

June was getting irritated. Not quite angry, just severely embarrassed. They were discussing her right in front of her as if she didn’t have a voice or a choice.

“We don’t know what we are other than fuck buddies,” June blurted out.

The entire table went silent, wide eyes and gaping mouths turned on her…and then Nova and a few others busted out into loud laughter.

“Oh, you and I are going to be best friends,” Nova said, reaching her hand across the table for a fist bump.

With fiery cheeks and a churning stomach, June bumped Nova’s fist with her own then withdrew her hand and folded it in her lap. She picked at her cuticles and fidgeted under all the attention. She’d hoped to make a good impression. Instead, it looked like she’d done exactly what she’d feared and made a fool of herself.

The guy who was laughing with Nova – Reed, she thought his name was – wiped a tear away and was barely breathing as he continued to guffaw.

“She’s going to fit in perfectly with this group. You need to bring her around more,” Reed said. A pink haired woman beside him, whose name June had already forgotten, smiled and shook her head at her mate.

Carter turned a sexy smirk on June and shook his head slowly.

“What? You gave me no choice?” she said, feigning innocence.

The longer he stared at her with those sultry brown eyes, the more her leopard paid attention and begged June to rub herself up on Carter. Not here. Not with an audience. She’d never been into voyeurism and she wasn’t going to start now.

Turning her face away, she tried her damnedest to focus on the conversation around her. But all she could think of was the way Carter smelled, the heat coming from him, or the way his fingers were stroking across her back and shoulder as he draped his arm over the back of her chair.

Eventually, she was able to push her lust aside and hold a conversation with the people Carter obviously cared about. She’d wanted to make a good impression, and apparently, her crass outburst had won them over. Who’d have known?

“So what do you do?” Nova asked, leaning forward.

“I tend bar and wait tables as Havanah’s. Been there since they opened.”

“Ooooh. We should tell Noah you can bartend so he and Hollyn can take a day off every once in a while,” Nova replied, looking over June’s shoulder toward the bar.

“Noah’s the owner and part of my Clan,” Carter explained, leaning in so close his breath blew strands of hair that tickled her neck.

A chill ran up her spine and made her shiver. She pulled away before she straddled him in the middle of his Clan brother’s place.

June focused on anyone and anything other than the imposing man beside her. When his friends had asked about their mate status, she’d been uber reluctant to answer that one. She was still having a hard time accepting it herself. But now, with him in her space, with him stealing glances at her and lazily making circles on the exposed part of her neck, she wanted to scream it from the mountaintops.

But she wasn’t some young twenty-something girl with her first relationship. Just because their animals had chosen, and just because her freaking leopard, whom June had always been able to control, was trying to get pregnant, didn’t mean the human sides of June and Carter had to jump into this thing with blinders on. She wanted to know Carter the man before they decided to move forward.

She knew she was fooling herself if she actually thought she’d be able to walk away if she decided she didn’t like Carter enough to spend her life with him. Her animal would drive her nuts. She’d push June into madness until she was near her mate again.

As each thought rolled through her mind, the first night she’d met Carter made her think of something. She snickered, pressing her lips together. But she couldn’t hold it in. Her body shook as she giggled, her nostrils flaring with each chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Carter asked, a curious smile on those sexy lips of his.

“June Carter,” she said, the words bursting from her lips on a laugh.

“That’s what I said and everyone told me to shut up,” Reed said.

“I just caught it,” June said, tears welling in her eyes as she laughed. Eventually, the entire table caught the giggles and were wheezing as they tried to calm down.

“How much have you assholes had to drink?” a big guy asked as he approached the table.

Carter was the first to calm down. “June, this is Noah, owner of Moe’s. Noah, June.”

Noah stared down at June with wary eyes. “I remember you,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “The two of you ran out of here like your asses were on fire.”

“Leave them alone,” Shawnee said, bringing a tray with another bucket of beers over. “They’re cute.”

June wasn’t sure how to react to that. Cute? Since when were middle aged wrecks considered cute? Because that’s exactly what June and Carter were. They were wrecks. Hot messes. Disasters.

“They’re laughing like a bunch of lunatics,” Noah grumbled with a shake of his head.

June hadn’t spent much time with Noah or Carter’s other Clan brother Luke, but Noah seemed a bit on the grumpy side. He also appeared to be close to her age, so at least she had something in common with him.

“Hey,” Shawnee said, sidling up next to June. “Want to see something cool?”

June looked at Carter then back to Shawnee. “Sure.”

“Order a cocktail.”

June’s brows pinched together and, once again, she looked to Carter for an explanation. He just shrugged with a smile. Turning back to Shawnee, June said, “What kind?”

“Any kind. Just make sure it’s a cocktail.”

“Ummm…” June wracked her brain. She wasn’t into the fruitier, sweet cocktails. “Jack and Coke?”

“Oh come on. Something cooler than that,” Reed said. “Just order her a Long Island Iced Tea.”

June narrowed her eyes on Reed but there was no heat behind the mean mug. Reed was just a likeable guy.

“Hey, Hollyn,” Shawnee called up to the woman behind the bar. Her hair was so dark it almost looked blue and it was almost as long as June’s. “Carter’s mate wants a Long Island Iced Tea.”

“I’m not—”

“You got it,” Hollyn answered from behind the bar, cutting off June’s protest before she could get the rest of the words out.

June blew out a puff of frustrated air. The air wasn’t frustrated, per se. But she sure as shit was. They hadn’t decided exactly what they were going to do, and she really didn’t want everyone assuming anything.

Although, they carried each other’s mark and every Shifter could smell the change in her blood. Of course they assumed. Not to mention they’re PDA when Carter had gotten home.

Shawnee grinned wide and jerked her head toward the bar. June turned and her eyes went wide. It looked like one of those scenes from the movie Cocktail. Hollyn twirled bottles, flipped them around her back and caught them over shoulder, and put on one hell of a show.

“Holy crap,” June said as her grin stretched as wide as Shawnee’s

People whistled and cheered as Hollyn continued performing tricks as she made June’s drink. When she was done, she slid a slice of lemon onto the side of the glass, dropped in a straw, and pushed the whole thing to the front of the bar.

Shawnee looked down at June, winked, then hurried to retrieve June’s drink. She was the waitress, after all.

“Here you go,” Shawnee said, handing June the drink with a little extra flourish.

“That was freaking awesome,” June said, smiling and shaking her head.

“Oh. You ain’t seen nothing yet,” Nova called from across the table.

As the night went on, the bar filled with more Shifters. She’d been told humans periodically trickled in, but not often. That was also how Tristan, the quiet wolf from Big River, met his mate. She and a couple teacher friends decided to come in for a drink after work. She’d been turned against her will by an asshole Shifter and since then, her wolf was volatile and unsteady.

Once the bar was almost bursting with people, Hollyn really began to perform. She’d stack shot glasses and mixed drinks that, when poured, looked like a rainbow in the different glasses.

And then…she blew fire. As in, she took a big gulp of liquor, lit a lighter, and blew a ball of flames into the air. June could feel the heat from where she sat. She glanced at Noah, Hollyn’s mate, as he watched her with so much respect and adoration all over his face.

Did Carter look at June like that? Did June look at Carter that way? Would they ever? They might never find out if they didn’t stay out of the freaking bedroom.

Eventually, Noah called last call. Actually, what he said was, “Last call, assholes.” Hollyn had looked mortified, but the rest of his friends and the patrons still left didn’t even flinch. They must be used to his surly personality.

June’s heart raced a little more when she realized she might just have to get used to his personality, as well. He was part of Carter’s Clan. If they continued and gave in to their animals’ wishes, she might be joining his Clan. But why? Why couldn’t he join her Pride?

As everyone stood and tossed twenty-dollar-bills onto the table, June tried to picture Carter’s big body crammed into her trailer every day. It was fine for a visit, but once he moved his stuff into her place, they’d be bumping into each other at every turn. His cabin was bigger and warm and cozy. Even though it was more masculine than she was used to, it still made her feel comfortable.

The entire group, except Colton who waited for his wife, exited at one time, raising their hands and calling out goodnights to Hollyn, Noah, and Shawnee.

“It was great to see you, June,” Shawnee yelled over the noise.

“Next time, we’ll talk without all the boys,” Hollyn said with a wide grin and a wave for June.

She smiled at them both and nodded. Every single one of Carter’s friends were so accepting and nice. Well, there was one guy whose name she couldn’t remember who glared at her with bright blue eyes all night. As in, his eyes always held a hint of a glow. If Carter noticed, he never said anything. And since he was obviously friends with the entire group, June figured he was no one she needed to worry about.

Carter’s warm hand was on the small of her back as he guided her out into the cool night and over to his truck. A few people from Big River invited them over for a cookout the coming weekend. Carter agreed to the plans as he opened the passenger door and attempted to help her inside.

“I think we’ve already gone over the fact I don’t really need help into my seat,” June said with a flirty smile.

“And I’m pretty sure I already told you I’m just using it as an excuse to touch you.” He winked at her before shutting her door and rounding the hood.

A fluttery feeling tickled her stomach and she wrapped her arm around her middle to try to calm it. It didn’t help. As Carter climbed into the driver’s seat, crossing his wrists and draping them over the steering wheel, June couldn’t help but stare at him. He was so hot and masculine and yummy. Even if her leopard wasn’t in heat, June was pretty sure she’d want to jump his bones every chance she got.

But that was the problem; they were constantly fucking or fighting. They still hadn’t gotten to know each other very well. And she was adamant about making her own life choices rather than having some cosmic force push them together.

“What are you thinking about?” June asked when Carter continued to sit there, his arms resting on the wheel with the engine still off.

“Us,” he answered, ghosting her with a quick glance before looking back at the building.

And, once again, he went back to being silent. It was maddening. “And?”

Carter sat back and dropped his head against the rest on his seat and rolled it to look at her. “I’m trying to decide whether I want to stay the night with you or go our separate ways for the night.”

Okay. Not what she’d hoped he was thinking about. And, honestly, it stung a little. Even though she’d been thinking along the same lines.

“It’s not that I don’t want to wake up to your face, but…” He dragged a hand through his hair. “What are we doing, June?” he asked. His eyes looked tormented. “I like you. A lot. And obviously, so does my bear. It’s just…I still don’t really know a damn thing about you.”

That made her smile as she shook her head. She’d literally been thinking that same thing just moments ago. It was like he was reading her mind.

“Take me to my car,” June said, making up his mind for him. “I have to work tomorrow.”

Carter’s brows pulled together. “Are you mad at me now?” His tone was pissed.

She could either react to his sudden attitude or try to deescalate the situation before they ended up in a tangle of arms and legs. Because that was what seemed to happen any time one of them got mad at the other.

“I’m not mad. I just think we need to slow down. And sleep in separate beds. And maybe have a chaperone when we go out.” She winked to soften her words and to let him know she was half teasing. But only half. Because more and more she missed having so many eyes on them. At least then, she knew she couldn’t rip his clothes off and climb onto his lap right in the middle of the parking lot.

“You’re right,” June said. “We don’t know anything about each other. And I’m not going to be forced into a pairing just because my cat wants it. I think we should have the chance to choose our own forever people. And we can’t get to know each other and decide if that’s what we want if we’re always naked.”

Carter watched her for a few seconds. Then his lips slowly pulled into a crooked, sexy boy smile. “Yeah. I was kind of thinking about you naked all night.”

“Exactly. Until my cat is out of heat, we should just date. You know, go into public, hang out, play cards…no. No cards,” she said as heat rushed her cheeks at the memory of their first card game. “I just think we should avoid being alone for a while.”

His head nodded up and down slowly as he pulled his lips into his mouth. He looked deep in thought as his eyes roamed her face. “You really are so fucking beautiful,” he whispered, the soft sound loud in the quiet of the truck cab.

June ducked her gaze. He made her feel beautiful. He made her almost forget all those hurtful words of people like Jackson and other exes who’d made fun of her height and size. Neither seemed to bother Carter. He was still way taller than June, even if she wore heels. Something she hadn’t been able to do for a while for fear of hurting the delicate ego of her ex. And by his constant boner, she knew he liked her body, like the curves and softness of it.

Turning back in his seat, Carter started the truck and backed out of the parking lot. They didn’t say anything the whole ride back to his territory, but June could feel his eyes on her every once in a while, even if she didn’t turn to see him. His gaze was like a caress everywhere it touched. And that just made it all that much harder to climb from his truck and walk to her car.

Carter stepped into her space, his body heat beating against her, warming her, waking up her leopard. His hands raised and cupped her face, tilting her head back. He lowered his head slowly, as if giving her a chance to stop him. Why the hell would she want him to stop?

When his lips touched hers, she sighed against his mouth. Every time they touched, it felt perfect. Right. As if they’d been born to be together. Which, according to her animal, was the way the universe saw it.

He stepped closer, lining his body against hers, pressing his hardness against her lower stomach. June threw her arms around his neck and tangled her fingers in his hair as his tongue licked the seam of her mouth. She opened for him instantly and moaned at the heat and taste of him.

June’s animal stretched in her head and began to purr. She thought they were going to end up in a bed. Or bent over the car. Nope. Before June had a chance to pull away and stop them before they went any further, Carter broke the kiss, leaving soft, sexy pecks to her lips. He then kissed her forehead and stepped away so she could open her car door.

June’s body was tight and warm and full of jelly. She smiled, drunk with lust, and pulled her door open, practically dropping into her car. Carter held onto her car door at the top and waited as she pulled her seat belt into place.

Leaning into her space, he pressed his lips to hers once more. He didn’t deepen the kiss, didn’t touch any other part of her. Just pulled away and leaned his forehead against hers.

“Can I see you tomorrow?” he asked, his voice deep and growly. That sound vibrated through her and landed directly between her legs.

Like a dunce, she nodded with her mouth hanging wide open. Shaking her head to get her wits about her, she nodded again. “Yes.”

Carter smirked the sexiest half smile she’d ever seen. He tapped on the hood and stepped back, gently closing her car door. He stood with his hands shoved into his pockets and watched as June backed her car, turned around, and headed down the long gravel drive. She glanced in the rearview just before she turned the corner; he was still standing there watching as if he couldn’t move from that spot until she was no longer visible.

June’s heart raced and she still felt loopy from his kiss. Yet they’d been able to end the night with their clothes on and skin bereft of sweat. Win for them. Well, for their idea to slow down a bit. Totally not a win for her libido or her leopard’s need for her mate. Could women get blue balls? ‘Cause June sure was feeling a lot of pressure in her lower belly and it had nothing to do with cramps.

It was quiet in her car as she headed back to her Pride. She didn’t bother turning on the radio; she kind of wanted to be in her thoughts for the drive home. There’d been enough noise the last few hours to last her the week.

Memories of the night, of Nova and Reed joking and teasing, of Carter absentmindedly touching her, of being called his mate more than once, played in her head. And made her smile. She could definitely do worse than Carter Simpson. That was for sure.

Carol and Constance were already home. Their trailers were dark. The whole area was quiet save the few insects who hadn’t burrowed into the ground for the upcoming winter. Fall was great and all, but in Missouri, it didn’t tend to last long. There tended to be a couple of weeks of fall before winter bullied its way in. Same with Spring. There were only a couple weeks of perfect weather before the heat and humidity slammed into the Midwest.

June’s feet crunched on the falling leaves. She tilted her head back and inhaled deeply, drawing the cool air into her lungs. She loved the smells of Autumn. There were hints of drying leaves, rain, and smoke from the locals burning wood in their fireplaces.

Another scent hit her nose. It was familiar. But not at all welcome. She glanced at her house and finally noticed a light on in her living room. She’d been so deep in lala land she hadn’t even noticed the extra car when she’d pulled up.

Shoving the door open, June stood in the foyer, arms crossed, brows pinched, and daggers shooting from her eyes.

“What the hell are you doing here, Jackson?” she spit out. He’d ruined her high with his mere presence.

“I made a mistake. I’m sorry. I want you back,” he said, standing from her couch. He’d made himself at home, pulled leftovers out of the fridge and even drank one of her beers. His feet had been up on her coffee table and her remote was in his hand.

“Too bad. Leave,” she said, crossing the room and tossing her purse onto the kitchen table.

“June. Please. Just…can we please talk?”

“About what, Jackson? I’m still a high school dropout, I still live in a trailer, and I haven’t lost a single ounce since you left. Am I missing anything else?”

His face crumpled and he looked ashamed. Good. He should. How dare he show his face after the way he’d treated her. How dare he let himself into her home while she wasn’t there. What if she’d asked Carter to come home with her? Then what? Would he have tried to be a badass and challenge Carter? Because Carter would wipe the floor with his face.

“I never should’ve said any of that. I didn’t mean it. I was just…” He huffed out a breath and pushed a hand through his hair. He’d always tried so hard to look like he was from a different area, as if he was too good to have come from a little town. His hair was gelled and sprayed into place just like usual, but he messed it up with his nervous gesture. “I was scared. We were moving so fast and I got scared.”

“Too fast? Jackson, we were together for two years,” she said, throwing her hands into the air. “You know…it doesn’t even matter. I’m over it. Thanks for the apology. But it’s time to go.”

Jackson’s brows slowly lowered until he was glaring at her. “I’m trying to tell you I’ll take you back, June.”

June’s head snapped back and her brows shot to her hairline. “Take me back? Are you serious right now?” She whipped her hair off her shoulder. “I guess you were so self-absorbed that you didn’t notice I smell different. I’m mated, Jackson. You’re too late. I found someone who truly cares about me, someone who likes me just the way I am.”

Jackson took a couple of steps closer, his eyes glued to the spot where Carter had marked her. “You let another man mark you?” he asked, his eyes flashing silver. “What the hell is wrong with you?” His voice was full of too much growl.

June wasn’t a small woman, not by a long shot. But Jackson still had a couple of inches and a lot more muscle on her. If he hit her, he’d hurt her. Oh, she’d fight back, even if she had to Shift to rip into him, but she’d still fight.

“Who is it?” he asked, taking another step closer.

“None of your business,” she said.

“Wolf or bear?”

June’s brows pinched together in confusion and question.

“Feline Shifters don’t mark there. If he’d been a cat, he’d have marked the back of your neck. Only bears and wolves mark where others can see. It’s like they have to make sure everyone knows who the women belong to.”

“Bear,” she said, her arms crossed, her head held high.

“You mated with a fucking bear. What? Couldn’t find another leopard who’d touch you?”

“Get out,” June said, her voice low and angry.

“I’ve heard bears have lower standards. Just as well. You were lucky to have me.”

“Get…out!” June yelled at the top of her lungs. She knew Carol would wake to her yelling. At least there’d be one witness if Jackson got stupid.

The smirk on Jackson’s face was nothing like Carter’s. Carter looked hot as hell when he did it. Jackson looked cruel, as if he had a million insults racing through his mind and was ready to unleash them on her.

“Bitch,” he muttered and headed for her door. He hesitated as he stepped out, his hand on the knob. “Just remember I gave you another chance.” His eyes roamed her body. “Guess bears are into chubby chicks.”

He pulled the door shut the same time she grabbed the closest thing she could and threw it at the door. A glass knick-knack shattered against the wood and dropped to the floor and carpet.

“Asshole!” she screamed at the door. It didn’t matter. She could hear his vehicle pulling down the packed dirt they used as the driveway. She’d walked right past his car and had been as blind to it as the fact a light was on in her house. She’d probably just seen it as one of her Pride sisters’ cars and hadn’t thought twice about it. She’d been in such a good mood, floating on cloud nine and all that.

Now? Nope. That floaty, lusty, fluffy feeling was long gone. In its place, doubt. So much doubt. She looked down at herself, at the way her belly stuck out, the way her thighs were thick, her hips were wide. Carter liked the way she looked, right? It hadn’t been him saying stuff just because they’d been forced into a pairing by their animals…right?

Doubt. So much fucking doubt.

Chapter Seven

Carter smiled up at the ceiling. They’d finally hung out and kept their clothes on. Okay. So they fooled around earlier in the day, but that was earlier. They’d spent hours together and had been able to talk and joke. And she got to meet the rest of his Clan, minus Luke once again, as well as Big River. She’d fit in beautifully.

She’d also tried to argue when a couple of his friends had referred to her as Carter’s mate more than once. That part kind of sucked, but they were still in that stage where they had no idea what they were going to do. Which was stupid. They both knew there was no way to fight the mate bond. But he agreed with her; this was moving way too fast for two middle aged people. He wanted to get to know June the woman. He wanted them to decide whether or not they’d live together. Although he couldn’t see himself living in her trailer. It was nice enough, just a little small for a bear Shifter. He had to duck through every door frame. His home, just like the rest of Blackwater’s homes, had been built by their own hands to fit their needs. And that included taller door frames.

He could picture June in his cabin, though. He could picture her shoes next to his at the front door, her clothes lined up next to his in the closet. Hell, he’d even let her paint the walls whatever color she wanted. As long as it made her happy.

Why the hell was he feeling all sappy from that last kiss? Actually, he knew why. It felt like they were dating and falling for each other rather than being shoved together by fate or the universe or whoever decided who should be mates. They’d made out a little, and then she’d left. Of course, she’d left him with blue balls, but whatever. He’d taken care of that in the shower. Now, he laid in bed picturing her lying beside him. Someday. Someday they’d get to that point.

He hoped.

As he was dozing off, his phone chirped twice. He grabbed it and squinted against the bright light to read the message.

“What the fuck?” he whispered. Hitting June’s saved number, he lifted the phone to his ear and listened to the rings before her voice came over the line. “What was that message supposed to mean?”

“It means what it means, Carter.”

Was she crying?

“Am I really attracted to you? Seriously? We’ve gone over this. I think you’re the most stunning, beautiful, sexiest woman I’ve ever seen. Period. What’s going on?” He rolled onto his left side and kept the phone to his right ear, staring at the wall as he listened to her sniffle. She was crying. What the hell had changed since she’d left his house? It had been just over an hour.

“Are bears usually attracted to chubby girls?” she asked, her voice thick with tears.

Carter sat up and leaned against his headboard. “What?”

“Shawnee has curves. I mean, she’s not at all chubby, but she’s not as thin as a couple of those girls from Big River. Are bears generally attracted to chubby girls?”

“Where is all this coming from?”

“Just…please answer me.”

“I have no idea what other bears are attracted to, June.” His anger was rising with this line of questions. He was both defensive and angry she was accusing him of something. Although he had no idea what yet. “I just know that I want you more than I’ve ever wanted another woman in my life. Period. Now tell me what the hell is going on.”

June sniffled again. “Nothing. It’s nothing. I’m an idiot. Sorry. Go back to sleep.” She ended the call before he could say anything else.

Carter stared down at his dark phone. Something had happened. Neither he nor any of his friends had given her any reason to doubt the way he felt about her. She had to know he wanted her. Shit. They’d made love every single time they were alone. And he realized lying there in the dark that’s what they’d been doing; they’d been making love. Not fucking. Not boinking, as June called it. He was making love to his mate each time they were together.

Setting his phone onto the nightstand, he continued sitting up. No way could he fall asleep now. His mate was hurting. He just didn’t know why. He couldn’t just lay there and not do anything. His bear was already scratching at his skin to get out. He wanted to go to his mate, to comfort her, to hurt whatever had hurt her.

Throwing his legs over the side of the bed, Carter grabbed a pair of jeans and tugged them up his legs. He plucked a t-shirt from the floor and pulled it on. Slipping his feet into his boots without lacing them, he grabbed his keys and headed out the door. Just in time to see Luke pulling in. Just like last time.

And just like last time, Luke didn’t say a word to Carter. Just parked his truck and headed into his cabin. And just like last time, Carter filed it away in his deal-with-that-shit-later folder. Jogging to his truck, he tried to refrain from throwing gravel and making too much noise as he left the territory. Everyone was home from the bar and in bed for the night. They all had to work in the morning; he didn’t want to be the one responsible for their exhaustion.

Carter clenched his teeth as he drove five miles over the speed limit. He wanted to go way faster than that, but since there were very few vehicles on the road this late at night, cops would spot him in a heartbeat. Last thing he needed was a ticket from the human police.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, Carter pulled his truck up the hill and straight up to June’s trailer. The lights were on inside. As in, every single room was lit up. Why wasn’t she in bed?

Closing his truck door as softly as he could so as not to wake up the other women in the Pride, Carter made his way up to her door and knocked lightly.

“Go away!” June yelled through the door.

He took a step back and frowned at the door.

“I mean it, Jackson. I’m two seconds away from having someone come kick your ass.”

“June,” Carter said, moving closer to the door again. “It’s Carter.”

Footsteps hurried to the door and then she was standing there, her eyes puffy and red. “What are you doing here?”

Carter took in her appearance and stopped when he got to her shoe clad feet. She was still wearing the same thing she’d had on earlier. And she was standing in what looked like broken glass. Carter’s bear put pieces together: broken glass, someone hurt her, she was crying. Fuck.

His bear started trying to push forward until Carter’s mouth was crowded with fangs.

“Shit. Please don’t Shift, Carter,” June begged, tears welling in her eyes.

That did the trick. His bear receded so quickly Carter stumbled and caught himself with a hand on the side of the trailer.

“What the fuck happened?” he gritted out.

June stepped back from the door and let Carter in. Her Pride sister, Carol, was sitting at the table, anger bright in her gray eyes.

“Her ex, Jackson, happened,” Carol said.

“He did this?” Carter asked, gesturing toward the broken glass. He would find the fucker and beat the living shit out of him.

June followed his line of sight and shook her head. “I threw that at the door when he was leaving.”

Well then. Maybe Carter wouldn’t have to kick his ass. Sounded like June had almost done that herself.

“Why was he here?” Carter asked and couldn’t help the suspicion and possessiveness that burned his gut.

“He said he wanted to get back together,” June said, moving to sit at the table with her friend.

“He also told her that bears liked fat girls and made fun of her,” Carol said, narrowing her eyes on June. “He was a dick to her, just like he’s always been.”

Now her phone call made sense. That didn’t help the slow burn of rage roiling through Carter, though. He was back to wanting to beat the piss out of this Jackson fucker. What a piece of shit.

“I told him I was mated,” June said, barely glancing up at Carter. He didn’t miss the hint of pink to her cheeks. “I showed him your mark. That pissed him off. He said I only got you because a leopard male wouldn’t want me. And that you wanted me only because bears liked chubby girls.”

Carter’s nostrils flared as he breathed deep, trying to keep the growl building in his chest from bubbling up his throat and through his mouth. He knew his eyes were glowing; there was no way for him to control that part of himself.

“Where is he?” Carter asked and was fully aware of how deep and growly his voice had gone. His bear was right there, right on the surface, just waiting to burst free and lay into this Jackson fuck.

“Gone. Good riddance,” Carol said, grabbing a beer from the fridge. “Here. You look like you could use this.” She popped the top and handed it to Carter, then grabbed two more for her and June.

Carter took a long pull from the beer, emptying half of it. Of course, that just made him belch. Carol and June both turned and gaped at him with wide eyes. Carol started giggling first. June followed. Before long, all three of them were cracking up. That was way better than the heartbroken look June had all over her face when he’d first gotten there.

Lowering himself into the chair beside June, he turned to her as their chuckles died down. “You know that’s all bull shit, right?” he asked her, taking her hand into his.

“Which part?”

She’d only told him a little about her ex. That piece of shit had done a real number on her self-esteem. When Carter finally found him, this Jackson asshole better be the next Brad Pitt or some shit. Otherwise, how the fuck did he think he had the right to judge anyone. Last of all June. He wasn’t bullshitting when he told her he thought she was the most stunning woman he’d ever seen.

What he hadn’t told her was how fucking happy he was that she’d chosen him back. She could have anyone and she took a chance on Carter.

“All of it. You’re an amazing woman. You’re gorgeous. Strong. Smart and funny. Witty. You’re the dream woman. You’re definitely my dream woman.”

Carol was leaning forward, her face in her hands as she watched him with a mushy look on her face.

“What?” Carter finally asked after both June and Carol stared at him for too long.

“That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard,” Carol said with a sigh that reminded Carter of something Nova would do.

“Carol,” June said, her eyes on Carter’s face. “Could you excuse us?”

Carol didn’t say a word, just grabbed her beer and headed for the door. “Just remember to use protection,” she called over her shoulder as she pulled the door shut behind her.

The sound of Carol’s feet crunching on the gravel snapped June back to the here and now. For a second, it looked like her leopard had taken over and was ready to try to breed again. But that sound, the reminder of Jackson’s visit, pulled her right back to reality.

“He’s such an asshole,” June said, pushing to her feet. She grabbed a broom from between the fridge and a counter and headed for the foyer.

Carter grabbed a trash can and dust pan and helped her clean up the mess. He then went looking for a vacuum to get that crap off the carpet so his sweet woman wouldn’t cut her feet. He plugged in the ancient machine and ran it over the carpet again and again until he was confident he’d gotten every last shard.

They worked side by side, cleaning and putting everything away. When they were done, June turned to him and that sad look was back on her face.

“Will you stay with me tonight? Just sleep. I just…I really need you to hold me.”

Carter’s face softened and he led her to the bedroom and helped her out of her clothes. It was hard as fuck to keep his eyes and hands off her body, but they were taking this slow. And she’d been pretty straightforward with what she was looking for tonight.

Once she was in her pajamas, he pulled the blankets back and waited for her to settle in before rounding the bed and climbing in beside her. The thought of living there was back in his mind. Her bed was so much smaller than his. His feet actually dangled off the end by quite a few inches. But he wouldn’t complain. His mate needed him. She needed the comfort only he could give her.

When she rolled over and laid her head on his chest, her arm draping over his middle, Carter wrapped both arms around her and hugged her tight. He kissed the top of her head and breathed in her scent. “Sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her breath hitched on the remnants of her tears but she sighed and nuzzled closer. It wasn’t long before her body relaxed against his and her breathing became steady. And once again, he found himself smiling up at the ceiling.

****

Morning rolled around too soon. His arm was asleep and he was pretty sure June had drooled on him overnight. But he had to get up and head to work. By the amount of light already shining through June’s sheer curtains, it looked like he was going to be late.

As gently and carefully as he could, he pulled out from under June, situating her on a pillow. He checked the time and bit back a groan; he was going to be late. He didn’t have enough time to head home and change. Looked like he’d wear dirty clothes and no socks to work. Fuck that. He’d just stop at a store close by and buy some cheap ones. His feet would be raw by the end of the day, otherwise.

Tiptoeing from the bedroom, he sought out a pen and paper. The best he could find was the back of an envelope.

Dear Beautiful,

Had to go to work. Text me when you get up.

I’ll miss you.

Ps. You snore.

He then drew a smiley face and scribbled his name at the bottom and left it next to her purse so she’d see it. He rushed into the bathroom and used her toothpaste on his finger and finger brushed his teeth. Kind of nasty, but the best he could do for now. He wouldn’t use June’s toothbrush, not without permission. She might be one of those people who thought it was gross.

Shame he didn’t know where her asshole ex lived. He’d happily be even later to work so he could pay him a visit. If he was lucky – and by he, Carter meant Jackson – he’d stay the fuck away from June. No way would Carter let anyone treat her the way that asshole had.

Carter was a mixture of emotions as he rushed to work. It wasn’t easy with morning rush hour in full effect. He was elated at spending the night with June. Just sleeping. Nothing else. That was one step closer to truly getting to know each other. Like the fact June snored. It wasn’t anything loud, just the lightest rumble. He hoped that little part of the note didn’t embarrass her. He was going for flirty.

He was the freaking Alpha, kinda, yet he found the need to talk to his Clan brothers. Specifically, Colton and Noah. They’d both found their mates. How the hell did they deal with leaving them each day? Well, Noah didn’t. Hollyn worked alongside him every day. But it wasn’t even just leaving June’s side. It was not being able to be there to protect her twenty-four/seven. He wanted to stand in front of her like a shield and keep any and everything from hurting her.

Colton and Luke were already at the work site. Luke scowled at Carter as he parked his truck beside the others. They used to ride in together or take two trucks. But Colton always went straight to Moe’s to be with his mate while she worked. And Luke had been disappearing more and more lately. Eventually, Carter needed to find out where he was going and make sure whatever the moody fucker was doing wouldn’t endanger the Clan.

“Nice of you to join us,” Colton called from the bobcat, a shit eating grin on his face. He knew where Carter had been, even if he couldn’t smell June on him from where he manned the big machine.

“Sorry,” Carter said. The word felt a little odd on his tongue. He wasn’t used to apologizing. He was the one who was always on time. He was the levelheaded one. He’d always been the one with the answers.

Colton’s grin stayed in place as he shook his head and went back to work. Luke was shaking his head, but there was no grin.

“Problem?” Carter asked as he passed Luke, putting his hard hat on.

“Why’d you rush over there last night?” Luke asked, his eyes narrowed.

“There was an issue. Just wanted to make sure she was okay.”

Luke reached out and grabbed Carter by the arm, pulling him to stop. “What kind of problem?”

Carter looked down to where Luke’s hand was wrapped around his forearm. A glance at Luke’s eyes and Carter realized he wasn’t pulling a Micah and being wary of June; he felt protective of his Clan brother’s mate. He wanted to know if she needed to be protected.

“It’s nothing. An ex made her feel…it’s nothing. I’ve got it under control.”

Luke grunted and nodded. He walked away.

It was cool to know his people had his back. Even if they didn’t know June well, they were all willing to keep her safe, simply because Carter cared about her.

The day dragged on forever. He just wanted to get back to June and make sure she was okay. Wait. He hadn’t even asked if she worked today. Damn. They really didn’t know much at all about each other. At least he knew what she drove now. That way, when he drove past Havanah’s, he could look over and see if she was there. Someday, she’d tell him her schedule for the week. He had no idea whether it changed weekly or if she worked the way he did and had a set schedule.

He knew being a bartender/waitress she probably worked some weekends. That sucked. He wanted to spend every second he could with her. And they spent most of their time off at Moe’s. If his woman was bartending, he’d much rather sit at her bar, though.

What had she thought of the way Hollyn worked last night? He’d seen the excitement when she did all those tricks, especially when she’d blown the ball of flame. June didn’t know Hollyn wasn’t human or a Shifter. And it wasn’t Carter’s place to tell her. That was Hollyn’s secret. If she wanted it known past their tight circle, she’d tell June herself.

Carter had only seen June at work once, and that was only for a few hours while he and Shawnee had breakfast. He’d been peeved when he realized what Shawnee had been up to, but now…now, he was kind of thankful for her pushing him.

They were taking it slow, yet Carter damn near sprinted to his truck to get to her. She’d texted him this morning with a smiley face. The kind with its tongue sticking out. So, hopefully, that meant she found his note cute. Fuck. He was pathetic. All he could think about was June. June June June. His thoughts were filled with her face, her body, her beautiful eyes. Her laughter. And her tears. That last part made his bear snarl in his head. His heartrate kicked up and adrenaline burned through his veins. He really wished he could find Jackson. Maybe he wouldn’t kick his ass. But he’d make damn sure that asshole never came near June again.

“I take it you’re not going to Moe’s,” Colton called after Carter as he pulled his truck door shut.

Carter rolled down his window and raised his middle finger as answer.

He’d cruise by Havanah’s to see if his June was working. Then maybe he’d run home for a shower before heading in for some dinner and some time with his mate. No. He should text her first, make sure that was okay. If she was at work, she didn’t need to be distracted by an overprotective boyfriend. Or…whatever he was to her.

Shit. His mind was back and forth. He hated it. He hated not knowing exactly what to do. That had been his strong point for the last twenty years, always knowing the rational and most logical answer. And here he was, questioning his every thought and action. This mate crap was confusing as hell.

Carter decided to shower and text June before showing up at her job. Just because Noah didn’t mind everyone hanging out at his bar didn’t mean she’d want her personal life mingling with her professional life.

Nova mentioned something about June tending bar at Moe’s. Would she consider that? How awesome would it be if Noah really could have a day off work? And she’d have someone there to watch over her all day while he was at work. Not that she needed or wanted his constant protection. She was a Shifter and wasn’t a slip of a woman like the ladies in Big River. She’d stood up to her ex last night and he knew her leopard had to be as fierce as she was.

When he got out of the shower, there was a text from June waiting for him. Sure. Come on down. Would love to see you.

He remembered how it’d felt as a teenager when he’d had his first crush. He totally felt like that now. Something tickled his stomach and he couldn’t stop smiling as he dressed and pushed his fingers through his hair. Maybe he should shave first. Nah. That would be more time before he could see June’s face. And yeah, he realized how goofy he sounded, but he didn’t care. No one but Carter knew what was going on inside his head. So…whatever. Ugh. Even in his head he sounded like that teenaged boy from so many years ago.

As he tugged his shoes on, he realized he was literally middle aged. His teen years were far behind him. And if June was on board, he’d have someone to spend the rest of his life with, someone to dote on, someone to grow old with. Or older.

With a little extra pep in his step, Carter stepped outside and jogged down the stairs.

“Where you going?” Luke asked from his porch. At least he was home for once.

“To see June at work,” Carter called back as he headed to his truck.

Before Carter had a chance to say anything, Luke bounded down his steps and ran for Carter’s truck. “I’m coming. I got to get out of here.”

Carter frowned at Luke as he climbed into the passenger seat. Luke had hardly been home lately, yet he needed to get out of the territory? And the scent of fur was a little stronger than Carter would prefer when heading into the public with so many humans around. Havanah’s wasn’t like Moe’s; the place would be full of humans instead of Shifters. Luke couldn’t lose control of himself or even let his eyes glow with his bear’s amber color.

“You sure you’re cool? June’s job is all humans. You can’t go in there and freak out,” Carter said before backing out of his space directly in front of his cabin.

Luke nodded, but a muscle ticked in his jaw as he clenched his teeth.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?” Carter asked.

Luke turned and locked eyes with Carter. “Not yet,” he answered after a few tense moments of silence.

At least Carter had his confirmation that there was, indeed, something up with Luke. And as deep as he’d sank into his own head since Emory’s attack and what Luke saw as his failure to protect her, Luke was a good man. He was loyal and protective. And Carter had a feeling part of the reason Luke wanted to join him was to check out the place and see if June needed his protection.

Carter’s bear bristled at the thought of another male protecting his mate, but the human side knew it was just Luke’s need for redemption.

With a nod, Carter started his truck and headed into what the locals called downtown Cedar Hill, which consisted of a smattering of locally owned businesses. There were more Shifters living in the community than the humans would ever know. Unfortunately, they tended to congregate at Moe’s, hence Carter’s reluctance to walk into Havanah’s once he pulled into the gravel parking lot.

“We going in or she coming out?” Luke asked as he stared at the front of the building, his brows knitted together.

“You got to keep your shit together in there, Luke. Even if some dude flirts with my mate, you can’t get all protective or whatever the fuck you do. No growling. No glowing eyes.”

Luke’s jaw was clenched again. “I’m cool.”

He pushed his door open and stepped out, slamming Carter’s truck door a little too hard. Once the vehicle stopped rocking, Carter inhaled deeply through his nose and blew it out in a rush through his mouth. He’d already been nervous about seeing June. Excited and nervous. Now he was nervous for a whole other reason.

Carter walked into the place ahead of Luke and looked around. The scent of old cigarettes and the cloud of smoke floating in the air tickled Carter’s nose. Even the pungent odors in the air didn’t dampen his excitement to see his woman.

Within a half second, he found her standing behind the bar. Her arms were crossed, her dark brows were pinched together in a deep scowl and she was glaring at a dude sitting on a stool against the bar.

Carter’s feet were eating space and taking him closer before he had a chance to think. Even without introductions, Carter knew the asshole earning June’s ire was Jackson. His scent had been at June’s and now riled up Carter’s bear.

Mine, his bear growled in his head a second before Carter’s hand slammed down on Jackson’s shoulder.

Chapter Eight

June’s anger grew as she stared Jackson down. That jackass had the nerve to come into her job. Granted, he was trying to apologize. But still. She didn’t need his apologies and she didn’t want him. She didn’t want to ever see his face again.

After he’d left last night, June had been crushed. She’d doubted everything about herself and about Carter. And then Carter had shown up at her door like a damn knight. Only there was no horse. Just his beautiful, sexy self. He’d comforted her and held her all night. She hadn’t missed his erection poking her in the side all night, but they’d kept their clothes on. It was intimate and sweet and kind of romantic.

She’d found his note when she’d finally crawled out of bed around nine thirty. Her eyes were swollen, and she was still tired. But she couldn’t stop smiling.

Until Jackson walked through the door.

“I just…” Jackson pushed his hand through his hair then dragged it down his face. “I lashed out. I didn’t mean a single word of it. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. And that I hope we can stay friends.”

“What about the rest?” she asked, leaning against the cooler as she continued to glare at him.

“Rest of what?” he asked.

“All of it. Everything you said to me when we broke up. I mean, when you dumped me. Did you mean all that?”

Jackson actually looked sheepish as he pushed his hand through his hair again, a nervous habit she’d seen him do multiple times through the years. “No. I just…” He huffed out a breath. “I was upset about us breaking up and lashed out. It was childish and I’m sorry.”

“If you were so upset about breaking up, why the hell did you dump me? That doesn’t make sense, Jackson.”

“I was worried one of us would end up meeting our true mates and we’d end up hurting each other. But I realized you’re my mate. I can just cover that guy’s mark. We can pretend it never happened.”

June had begun to feel sorry for Jackson and came so close to forgiving him for being such a dick the last two times she’d seen him. Until he’d thrown that last part in.

“You can’t just cover his mark. He’s my mate. I found my true mate. Now, you can go find yours.”

“You really believe some bear is your mate?” he asked. He’d sat at the end of the bar and they were keeping their voices lower than any human ear could pick up, but that didn’t stop June from looking around to make sure no one heard Jackson.

“Keep your voice down,” June hissed at him.

“He’s not your mate. I am. You know that.”

“It’s time to go,” June said, stepping away and refolding her arms over her chest.

“I’m not going anywhere. Not until you say you’ll take me back.”

June opened her mouth to once again tell him to leave, but the door opened and the light was blocked out by the huge body coming in. Without even seeing his face she knew it was Carter. She knew that body, she knew that scent, and she could feel the anger rolling from him when he spotted Jackson sitting at the bar.

Carter had never met her ex. But he must’ve recognized the scent from her house last night. As he drew closer, she began to pick up on the scent of fur and her anxiety skyrocketed. The four of them were literally the only Shifters in Havanah’s. They couldn’t Shift. Not there. Not in front of so many human eyes.

Before June could say a word, Carter’s hand clapped down on Jackson’s shoulder.

“Time to go,” he growled out. They were gaining too much attention.

“Carter,” June warned, widening her eyes at her mate. “Not here,” she whispered barely above a breath.

His eyes jerked to her face and something like betrayal flashed through them. Wait…did he think she didn’t want him to remove Jackson? It totally wasn’t that. She wanted Jackson gone, but she couldn’t risk either of the men Shifting into their animal forms. And the guy behind him – she assumed it was Luke, the Clan brother she’d yet to meet – didn’t look all too calm, either. He’d be no help in talking Carter down.

“Please,” she said, the back of her eyes burning with unshed tears. No way would she let her mate, the man her heart was quickly claiming, to reveal their entire species to the humans.

Carter released Jackson and took a step back. Then another. Then he turned on his heel and left, shoving the door open so hard it hit the side of the building.

“Can you watch the bar?” she asked Julie, one of the waitresses.

Her eyes were wide as she stared at the door and nodded.

“Why bother?” Jackson asked, getting to his feet and chasing June to the door. “Pretty sure he just gave you any answer you’d want.”

“Why are you still here?” June asked. She was pulled to a stop by Jackson’s hand wrapped around her bicep. “Let go,” she growled out and, for the first time, had to fight her animal for control. She couldn’t let her eyes glow. She couldn’t growl. She couldn’t let anyone there know she was anything more than a human.

“There a problem, June?” one of her regular old guys said, slowly standing as if to intimidate Jackson.

June kept her eyes on Jackson, just in case he decided to push his weight around and hurt the sweet guy.

“Nope. He was just leaving. Right?” June said, cocking one brow at Jackson.

Jackson smirked and released a huff that sounded more like a snort. “Yeah,” he said, and stepped away from her.

June rushed through the door, but Carter was long gone, only a cloud of dust floating where he’d peeled out of the parking lot. “Shit,” she ground out and kicked a rock onto the road running between the different businesses.

Gravel crunched as Jackson walked past June. “Great guy. I liked the part where he ran through the door and completely ignored you.” He pulled the car door open and shook his head at June.

“Why are you such an asshole?” she said, the last word coming out in a scream as she balled her hands into fists.

“Hey, I’m not the one who left you standing in the parking lot. At least I came to apologize. I came to tell you I want you back. I want to make things work between us. And you chose that?” he said, gesturing toward the highway. “I meant what I said, June. I miss you. Everything I said before…that was just me lashing out. I didn’t mean it. I think…” He sighed heavily and dropped his head. “I think you’re perfect. You’re perfect for me. I’m ready to make a life with you and have cubs and the white picket fence and all that.”

June had no desire to even entertain that idea. She didn’t love Jackson. She never did. She enjoyed some of the time they’d had together, but for the most part, he’d always made her feel as if she didn’t deserve him, as if he was out of her league.

But not Carter. He was proud to have her by his side. He was attracted to her just the way she was. He wanted her, curves, rolls, and all.

And he’d also just freaked out and left without saying anything to her. She’d told him she would be happy for him to come by her work. Honestly, she wanted to see him. As stupid and juvenile as it sounded, she’d missed him all day. She didn’t even care what that said about her, either.

“Bye, Jackson,” she said, turning her back on him and heading back inside. She needed to call Carter and find out what the hell that was all about. She knew he was going to throw Jackson out. He probably thought June felt cornered. And why wouldn’t he after she’d been a total mess last night. But she couldn’t have her boyfriend fighting at her job. She didn’t want to risk getting fired over something like that. Or worse. One or both men could’ve Shifted or even let their eyes glow with their anger.

June shook her head at Julie when she raised her brows in question. She didn’t want to talk about it. She wasn’t even sure how to talk about it. All she knew was she had to make sure Carter didn’t think June wanted Jackson there. She wasn’t mad at Carter. Had they been at Moe’s, she probably would’ve let Carter throw Jackson out on his ass.

Instead of calling him, she typed out a quick text and shoved the phone back in her pocket. She told him they needed to talk after work, that he’d overreacted, and she’d thrown Jackson out. That was the best she could do until they were face to face.

She struggled to get through the rest of the day. Constantly checking her phone, she cursed Carter for not replying and herself for obsessing. They were two grown adults. They’d work through this, talk through the confusion and they’d be fine.

But, what if…

There was always that niggling sense of self-doubt. It’d been put there by so many people through the years, so many people telling her she wasn’t good enough, wasn’t smart enough, or thin enough, or pretty enough. What if he decided she was more trouble than she was worth? What if that was why he hadn’t replied yet?

She was being stupid. She was building things up in her head, or borrowing trouble as her mom used to say. There was a completely logical reason as to why Carter had taken off so quickly. She knew it. Her leopard, however, was begging her to run off and find him now. She was terrified they’d just lost their mate. And she needed to breed. Again. Nope. Carter and June had already decided to slow things down, and that included constantly screwing.

When quitting time rolled around, she grabbed her purse and came close to knocking a few people over to get to her car. There was a rose under her windshield and a note.

I meant what I said. Let’s try again. Call me.

Love you forever,

Jackson

June threw the rose on the ground and crumpled the note in her hand. That went to her floorboard; just because she was pissed didn’t mean she needed to litter. As much as she wanted to floor it and throw gravel like she’d seen other people do, she didn’t want to risk pinging rocks across everyone’s cars. Pretty sure that would get her in a lot of trouble with her boss. As well as her customers.

So, she eased onto the road and aimed her car for Blackwater territory. When she didn’t find him there, she knew of only one other place to look for him and that was at the Shifter bar where they’d met. It seemed like months ago and days ago at the same time.

****

Carter clutched the beer between his hands as Shawnee brought him and Luke another. Colton was apparently on his way, as well, thanks to either Noah or Shawnee. He was slightly surprised they hadn’t called in their entire group of friends to calm him down.

His jaw ached from clenching his teeth as he fought for control. This wasn’t him. He was the calm one. He was the mature one. Yet, at that moment, he trembled with the urge to Shift, hunt down that Jackson fuck, and bitch slap him. He didn’t even want to kick his ass. He just wanted that prick to feel as small as he’d made June feel all that time.

She’d texted Carter shortly after he’d peeled out of the parking lot. He’d winced when he heard a few pings and wondered if he’d ruined anyone’s paint jobs. Not something he could think about at that moment. All he could think about was getting as far away from humans as possible before his bear burst from his skin and tore into Jackson.

“You want a shot of something stronger?” Shawnee asked. Her knuckles were white as she gripped her tray. He was making her nervous and it just pissed him off all that much more. The last thing he wanted to do was scare anyone, especially a member of his own fucking Clan.

“Jack,” Carter said, glancing up at her and forcing his face into a semblance of a smile. Although he was sure it came across as a sneer or grimace.

Shawnee forced her own smile and nodded, hurrying to the bar. She was whispering to Noah, keeping her voice low enough so Carter wouldn’t hear her. But the way Noah was shaking his head at Carter told him they were definitely talking about him.

Noah said something to his mate, grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniels, and carried it to the table, slamming it down in the middle. “Do not get drunk and act a fool in front of my mate,” he grumbled in his gravelly voice before heading back behind the bar.

Hollyn’s eyes were on Carter, but they weren’t judgmental. They were concerned and a little sad. She’d only been with the Clan for less than a year and she’d never seen Carter act this way. Hell. None of them really had. He’d never had a reason to almost lose his shit in front of humans before.

“You going to call her?” Shawnee asked. She resembled the scared, broken woman she’d been when she’d arrived at Blackwater. He much more preferred the meddling, pushy woman she’d become when it came to her new brothers.

“Not yet.” He needed to cool off. The last thing either of them needed was for him to be full of rage. Not to mention every time they argued they ended up naked and sweaty.

Shawnee hovered a few more seconds then walked off to wait on another table. She didn’t need to worry about him. None of them did. Or maybe they did. Fuck if he knew the answer. That’s how it seemed lately, like there were too many questions and not enough answers.

Carter had finished off a quarter of the bottle of whiskey and was feeling the effects by the time Colton arrived. He kissed and loved on his mate before he came over to sit with Carter and Luke.

“Rough day?” he asked, holding up the bottle of Jack and swirling it in Carter’s face.

He just snatched the bottle from Colton’s big paw and tilted it back, taking another huge swig. His thoughts were getting fuzzy but at least the anger was dying down. It was more of a low simmer now. Maybe he should’ve stuck around. No. That hadn’t been an option. His bear had been too close to the surface. He hated that that fucker was near his mate. He hated the fear on her face when she watched as he grabbed Jackson by the shoulder and prepared to physically remove him. And he hated the way she’d begged him to stop. But why?

That was what was killing him. He wanted to believe it was because she was at work. That was the logical answer. He knew that. But that other part, the part that he hadn’t even known he’d possessed, taunted him and told him she didn’t feel the same way about him that he did about her. He’d already begun to fall hard for her. He’d already decided he’d do everything he could to keep her in his life.

She, on the other hand, had been appalled when she’d noticed the marks on her shoulder. She’d been heart broken, devastated that that mark might have ruined her chance of finding her true mate.

Well, he was her true mate, dammit. He knew that as much as he knew his own fucking heart. He’d never wanted anyone as badly as he’d wanted her from the moment he’d heard her throaty, sexy-as-sin laugh.

Carter dragged a slightly numb hand through his hair, working through the knots. He needed a haircut. He’d showered before heading to Havanah’s, but had only finger combed his hair in his hurry to get to his woman. It used to be short enough that, just weeks ago, there would’ve been no knots.

“I need a haircut,” he mumbled. Why were his thoughts so all over the place? What the hell had been thinking about before he’d ripped a few strands out of his head.

Oh. June. Right. Shit. Maybe drinking the half the bottle of Jack wasn’t the best idea. No. There was no way he’d drank that much. Luke must’ve been taking some drinks. Carter didn’t overdo it. He never had. Always the responsible one. Always the mature one.

“Blah blah blah,” he said out loud.

“What the fuck is that about?” Luke asked, frowning and twisting his face up at Carter as if he’d lost his marbles.

Well, maybe he had. Maybe it was his turn to become all unpredictable and crazy. His asshole Clan could be the ones to clean up after him for once.

If there was ever a land called Pity Partyville, Carter would officially be the fucking King.

“I’m a fucking mess,” he told Luke who was still staring at him with a scowl.

“No shit,” Luke muttered, ripping the bottle out of Carter’s hand and setting it closer to himself. As if Carter couldn’t just reach across the table and grab it. “What the fuck is going on with you?”

“Me? What about you? You think we haven’t noticed how often you just disappear? Then show up late as fuck? I mean, I guess it’s better than sleeping on Noah’s front porch, but at least you could let us know what’s going on. Is there someone who needs us?”

“What are you? Captain fucking America? We’re not the Avengers? We’re not some military police force. It’s not our job to protect everyone.” That was the most words Carter had heard Luke string together in…shit, years. Since Emory of Big River was attacked when Luke was supposed to be watching over her.

Luke stood so abruptly his chair toppled. Carter reached for the whiskey, but Luke yanked it out of his reach and carried it back to the bar. “Cut that fucker off. He’s had too much. And you better take his fucking keys.” Luke slammed the bottle on the bar top so hard both Hollyn and Shawnee jumped. But at least the glass didn’t break. That meant more whiskey for Carter.

He stood to make his way to retrieve the bottle, but the fucking ground started rocking. Since when was the bar on the water. Sitting sounded much better. He didn’t really need more whiskey. He’d just have Shawnee bring him another beer.

Before he had a chance to wave the redheaded Clan member over, the door opened and a familiar scent hit his nose before he could focus on the person walking in. Ahhh. His mate had finally arrived. Wait. Was she meeting him there? Or was he supposed to meet her somewhere? Dammit. This was why he’d always ended up being the designated driver; he hated losing complete control over his thoughts.

“Hey,” June said as she pulled a chair out and sat across from him.

“Hey yourself,” Carter replied, leaning forward on one arm. He leaned a little too hard and table started to tip.

“Whoa!” June said, righting the table before it could crash to the ground, Carter along with it. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked, her eyes all squinty as she stared at him.

“Not a damn thing.”

“Wow,” she breathed out. “You’re drunk.”

He held his finger and thumb up in front of his face. “Just a little.”

June looked around and sat back with her arms crossed over her chest. Who was she looking for?

“Who are you looking for?”

She turned her attention back to him and her dark brows knitted together. He’d never noticed that her gray eyes became almost a gun metal gray when she was pissed. But why was she pissed? Because he was drunk?

“No one.” She leaned forward and crossed her arms on the table. “I came to talk to you about earlier. But maybe it should wait until later.”

Earlier. She’d come to talk about earlier. What had happened earlier? Oh. That’s right. Her ex had shown up and she’d gotten mad because Carter was going to kick him out. Was that who she was looking for?

Even as he had all these irrational thoughts, his bear was snarling and growling in his head. And Carter realized the bear was growling at Carter, not a threat. Oh well. He was in control, not his bear.

“Apology accepted,” Carter said, leaning back against his chair and looking for Shawnee. Where the hell was his beer? Did he actually ever order another one? He couldn’t remember. He’d meant to right around the time June had shown up.

“Apology accepted?” June said, a confused frown on her face. And then that confusion turned to anger and her gray eyes got darker. Or maybe it was his imagination. Hollyn’s eyes changed with her mood, but she was a Fairy. June wasn’t. So…her eyes couldn’t really change colors.

Dammit. His thoughts were so fucking all over the place.

“Why don’t you call me tomorrow when you’re sober,” June said, raising to stand.

“Where are you going?” Carter asked, standing too quickly and grabbing her arm. Of course, the quick movement made him sway and he almost jerked June right off her feet.

Colton was there so quick it made Carter dizzy and righted June and laid a hand on Carter’s shoulder. “Maybe you should get some water, brother,” Colton said, leaning down to speak low in Carter’s ear.

Colton was right. Carter was a little thirsty. And confused. And honestly, a little nauseous. “Shit,” Carter said, lunging to his feet and weaving the entire way to the bathroom. He burst through a stall, dropped to his knees, and lost his breakfast, lunch, and dinner into the toilet. He was pretty sure he saw a lung in there, too.

“Gross,” Shawnee said from behind him.

“I’ve got him,” June said. Her soft hand was on his back making small circles. She pulled away, and, when she came back, pressed a cool, wet stack of paper towels to his neck. “What the hell is wrong with you, Carter?” she said, but it sounded more like she was talking to herself.

Carter couldn’t speak. Well, he probably could but was worried if he even tried, he’d just barf again. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d drank so much. Probably back in his teen years. He was going to pay for it tomorrow.

“I fucked up,” he grumbled after a few deep breaths. His voice echoed in the toilet. He reached up and flushed the toilet, keeping his eyes closed and holding his breath against the stench.

“I see that,” June said, helping him to his feet.

“Why was Jackson at your work?” At least he had a rational thought through the drunken fog that felt like it’d never go away.

“Is that what this is about? You think I asked him there?” Her voice was accusing and annoyed.

Carter leaned against the wall and tried to make the room stop spinning. He tried to focus on June’s face, but there were more than one of her. Not that he minded the thought of having two June’s, but neither of her would stop swimming. He was going to end up puking again.

Swallowing hard, Carter leaned over the sink and splashed cold water on his face, then cupped his hands and used them as a cup. He rinsed his mouth out and spit in the sink.

“I need to go home,” he said, pulling his keys from his pocket.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” June said, plucking the keys from his hand and shoving them deep in her pocket.

“Is that a dare?” he asked. Maybe he could push the nausea away long enough to make love to his mate. He was so crazy about her. But he was mad at her. Wasn’t he? He thought he was but couldn’t remember what the hell he was so pissed about.

Wait. Yes, he did. Jackson. Her ex had been sitting at the bar when he’d shown up and she’d made him stop from kicking his stupid ass out the door.

“Can I have my keys back?” he asked. At least he knew his bear would stay put. He was too drunk to even pretend to understand a word it was saying.

“I don’t think so,” June said, jerking the door open and walking back into the bar.

“Hey!” he called, following her through the door.

She glanced back at him but kept walking.

“June!” he called. “Give me my keys back.”

Why wasn’t she listening? He needed to go to bed and sleep this shit off. Or puke again. One of them. And he couldn’t do that without his fucking keys.

“Carter,” Luke said with warning in his voice.

“What?” he yelled back a little too loud.

Everyone froze and stared at him, June included.

“Here,” Noah said, bringing Carter a cup of coffee. “Sit your ass down. Drink this. And keep your fucking voice down.”

“She has my keys,” Carter said, pointing at June as she stood just behind Noah with her brows pulled low.

He was irritated, but honestly, he still wanted her. Even pissed, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. And she was his. Unless Jackson stole her away. That fucker had her before Carter. And he still had the ability to hurt her feelings. Did that mean she still had feelings for him?

Anger built in Carter’s system until he was shaking with it. “He can’t have you!” Carter yelled, pointing at June around Noah.

“What?” she said, her brows furrowing deeper.

“You’re mine. Jackson can’t have you.”

“You need to calm down,” Luke said, standing and moving closer to June.

Why the fuck was Luke moving so close to June. Was he trying to steal her away, too? Carter looked around to see if anyone else was checking out his woman.

“Carter,” Colton said, standing and laying a hand on Carter’s shoulder. “Sit down, brother. You’ve had too much to drink. You’re being an asshole.”

“Fuck you,” Carter growled out, shoving Colton’s hand away. His entire Clan was on Jackson’s side.

Wait. That didn’t sound right. None of his thoughts made sense. His brothers would never try to take his mate away. But Jackson would. But, Jackson wasn’t there. Shit.

Carter lowered onto the chair, grabbing the sides when he almost toppled to the side. He gripped his head in his hands and propped his elbows on the table. “Fuck,” he muttered.

“Get him some food,” Noah said, probably to Shawnee.

Food did not sound good. His stomach roiled at the thought. “June,” he groaned out. “Where’s June?”

He saw her sit beside him from the corner of his eye.

“Can I please have my keys?”

“No,” she said. He could hear the anger in her voice but couldn’t raise his head to look at her.

He tried. And it had been a mistake. The last thing he remembered was her eyes wide as he swayed to the left and hit the floor hard.

Chapter Nine

June’s mouth hung open as Luke, Colton, and Noah hoisted Carter to his feet and pretty much dragged him outside. She ran out behind them and opened the passenger door on his truck. “I’ll take him home.”

She’d have preferred to have her own vehicle, but there was no way his big body would fit very comfortably in the back seat, let alone the front.

“I’ll ride with her,” Luke said. Good. Because there was no way June could get Carter into the cabin by herself. She wasn’t small or weak, but Carter was huge.

June waited by the hood as the three male Clan members shoved Carter’s body into the back seat and closed the door.

“What the hell was that all about?” Noah asked.

“June’s ex was at her job. Carter wanted to beat his ass. June stopped him,” Luke said as he took the keys from June and climbed into the driver’s seat of Carter’s truck. June had planned on driving, but whatever. She’d just follow in her car if Luke was driving. That way, she wouldn’t be stuck at his house until the morning. Because she really had no intention of staying the night. She was pissed. She was beyond pissed. She was hurt. And confused. And sad.

Colton and Noah frowned at June.

“Why was he there?” Noah asked.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but he was trying to apologize.” And June didn’t believe his apology for a second. But that was none of their business, either. These guys could be her allies, and even, someday, her family. She just didn’t want to talk about it now. She wanted to talk to Carter about it. That wasn’t going to happen tonight.

Noah and Colton exchanged a look. Luke started the truck and pulled out of the parking spot while June was still standing there. Well, then. Maybe she wouldn’t bother following to help the jerk get Carter into the house.

“Do you want him?” Colton asked. Colton was harder to be mad at. The guy always seemed so happy. And he was sweet.

“Jackson?” June asked as she pulled her own keys from her purse. Colton nodded. “No. I don’t. But Carter didn’t give me a chance to explain what happened. It wasn’t that I didn’t want Carter to kick Jackson’s ass. I didn’t want either of them going furry in the middle of my job.”

Colton nodded. Noah nodded. They both looked as if they understood. In fact, there was a ghost of a smile on Colton’s face. “Yeah. That would’ve been bad,” Colton said.

“You think?” She pulled her door open. “I’m going home. Will Luke be okay with Carter?”

“They’ll be fine,” Noah said as he turned and headed back into the bar.

“I’ve never seen him act like that,” Colton said, his eyes on the spot where Carter and Luke had disappeared down the street. “He must be crazy about you.”

“That’s how he acts when he’s crazy about someone? That’s how to push me away,” she admitted as she dropped into her car and started to pull the door shut.

Colton stopped it and bent at the waist to look into the car at June. “He’s in love with you. Trust me. I’ve known the dude for a long time. He might not tell you that, but he is. Let him sober up. He’ll feel like shit tomorrow but take it easy on him.” Then he pushed the door shut and tapped the top of her car.

He didn’t need to say all that. Wasn’t like she’d have a choice. Already, her leopard was begging her to rush over to Carter’s house and check on him. Her animal wanted to make sure their mate was okay. Oh, and she wanted to rub herself all over his body and cover him in her scent. And get him naked.

June sighed heavily as she pulled out of Moe’s parking lot and headed home. Constance and Carol were both home. “Girl time!” she yelled as she pushed through her front door.

Within minutes, both women were stepping through her door, their arms full of junk food. She should really lay off the junk, but not tonight. Tonight, she was going to drown her sorrows in calories and saturated fat.

“What’s going on?” Carol said, spreading the food on the coffee table. Instead of sitting at the table, all three women crowded around the coffee table with Constance sitting on the floor.

“Carter’s such an asshole,” June said, ripping open a bag of tortilla chips.

“Why? What happened?”

June told them everything, from the way Carter had held her all night, to the note he’d left, to Jackson’s appearance, to the moment Carter was driven away by Luke.

“Wow,” Carol said.

“He was that drunk?” Constance asked before popping a chip into her mouth.

June nodded. Her heart hurt. Really, she’d wanted to go to Carter’s and be his nurse. But she didn’t want to reward his behavior. He was beyond old enough to know better. He was middle-aged, but God’s sake. How did he think he could drink that much anymore? The last time they’d drank that much they’d screwed for hours and marked each other. One would think he’d learned his lesson.

“What are you going to do?” Carol asked. She popped the cap off a beer and handed it to June. Constance carried the other four to the fridge.

June shrugged as she shoved a guacamole covered chip into her mouth.

“Bull shit,” Constance said.

“What?” June said.

“You know damn well what you’re going to do. He’s your freaking mate. You two can’t avoid it.”

She hated that. June hated that she had no control over her future. She was really into Carter, but seriously…was this how he was going to behave every time something pissed him off? She’d thought he was more in control than that. She’d like the idea of finding…love?...so late in life. She figured they’d be mature and could avoid all the games. Oh. But noooo….

“I hate this,” June said, flopping her head back against the couch and stared up at the ceiling. Popcorn finish. With glitter. Who the hell does popcorn finish on their ceilings anymore? And why the hell was she focusing on that? Probably because it was way easier than focusing on the fact her mate got rip roaring drunk, acted a fool, puked, then demanded June give him his keys so he could drive home drunk.

“Why don’t you just go back over there?” Constance said, a wry smile crinkling the corners of her eyes.

“Why? So I can watch him puke or pass out?” June said, wagging her head side to side as she kept it rested against the cushions.

“So you can take care of him,” Constance said, her brows waggling up and down.

“Ew. No. I’m not into drunk dudes,” June said. “I’m just going to eat until I can’t move, take a long, hot shower, then go to bed.”

And that’s exactly what she did. She ate so many freaking tortilla chips she got overly thirsty. By the time Carol and Constance left, she’d drank at least four glasses of water. Which, of course, just meant she had to get up three times throughout the night to pee. Didn’t matter. There was no way she’d be able to sleep, anyway. Her thoughts went in circles, chasing each other. She wanted to be in Carter’s arms but refused to play these juvenile games. She was pissed at Jackson for causing it, yet thankful that he’d helped her to see another side of Carter. Sure, he had the right to want to protect his mate and even pissed at the guy who’d caused June heartache, not just the night before, but for the past two years.

But he didn’t have the right to treat her the way he had tonight. Was that an indicator of their future? Was that how he would act every time he got pissed? She couldn’t handle that. She didn’t want to deal with that.

Yet…

Her heart ached from being away from him. After sleeping in his arms, her heart had grown closer to him. She wanted him. She…loved him? Was that possible? It hadn’t been long, but she knew she’d never felt this strongly for another man. With or without the mating bond.

****

By the time June’s alarm went off, she’d been staring at the wall for at least an hour. She’d barely had any sleep and felt it in every cell of her body. She was pretty sure even her hair was exhausted.

With a groan, she turned off the incessant buzzing and shuffled to the shower. With her head hanging down, she washed off the night before and finished getting ready for work. The stupid bar was open for breakfast on Saturdays. Which meant she had to get up earlier than normal. She’d have much rather taken the day off, stay in her PJs, and sulk for the rest of the day. But nooo. She had to be responsible and make a paycheck.

She sighed as she stared at her swollen eyes and dark circles. Life seemed so much easier in her twenties when she could just call in sick and borrow money from her parents.

Grabbing a jacket and her purse, she stepped out and pulled the door closed. And froze when she found Carter sitting on her porch, his head resting on his forearms.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve been here all night,” he said, his voice muffled. He didn’t even raise his head to speak.

“What do you mean you’ve been here all night?” June asked as she climbed down the stairs. She stopped at the bottom and leaned against the railing.

He finally raised his head and motioned toward the truck. “I made Luke bring me last night. I was scared my bear would force its way out.”

June turned toward the truck and frowned. Luke was asleep in the driver’s seat, his head tilted back, eyes closed, mouth hanging open.

“What? Why?”

“I’m sorry,” he grumbled. His voice was scratchy and deep. He was definitely feeling the effects of his overindulgence from last night.

“Not good enough,” June said as she turned and headed toward her car.

Every boyfriend had apologized each time they’d hurt her in the past. Those two words were just that to her – words. They meant nothing. Because every single time someone would apologize, they’d repeat the behavior, only telling her they were sorry either because they’d been caught lying or they were trying to assuage her feelings.

June glanced up at Carter as she pulled away. He was watching her, his blood shot eyes filled with so many emotions she had no desire to interpret. She had to get through the day and dwelling on his feelings and how he’d behaved last night wouldn’t make that any easier.

Of course, not dwelling didn’t make her any less awake or the day any easier. She was tired. Her brain and heart were tired. When she was a child, she’d naively believed that everything would be simple if she found her true mate. She’d believed all of life’s mysteries would be solved when she’d become mated to someone she truly loved and was meant to be bonded to.

But life wasn’t simple. At least her life wasn’t.

By the time she’d waited on her last customer and clocked out for the afternoon, she was dragging. Her eyes felt full of grit and her arms and legs felt heavier than normal. She just wanted to get into some comfy clothes and become a zombie in front of the TV. Maybe even watch a chick flick or two until she fell asleep on the couch.

June’s car bounced along the gravel road leading to her Pride territory and she almost slammed on her brakes and threw it in reverse when she spotted Carter’s truck still parked outside her trailer. Had he and Luke stayed all freaking day? Why not go home and wait for her to call?

Luke wasn’t there. Carter was by himself, which meant he’d taken Luke home and come back. Had she told him at some point what time she got off today? Or had he just waited all day for her to return?

And should she give him a few brownie points either way?

Carter stood the second June pulled close enough. His eyes were still a little swollen and the shadows under them matched her own. But he no longer looked like he was still feeling the effects of the alcohol. At least not the fun effects. He definitely looked hung over. And…sad?

“Hey,” he said when she got close.

June hoisted her purse higher on her shoulder and crossed her arms under her breasts. “What are you doing here?”

Carter shoved a hand roughly through his hair, causing it to stick up all over the place. She couldn’t tell if he’d showered or not, but she didn’t exactly plan on sniffing him any time soon.

“I’m sorry, June. Please believe me. I don’t even remember half the night. Luke had to fill me in.”

“Oh. You mean like the part where you assumed I had something to apologize for? Or was it when you almost fell out of your chair? Oh, I know, when you raised your voice at me for taking your keys away so you wouldn’t kill yourself or someone else.”

His eyes dropped to her feet and she could’ve sworn they were glassy. Like he was holding back tears. “For being such a dick and disrespecting you. I wish I had an explanation, but I don’t. I just…” He inhaled deeply and his bottom lip quivered slightly. Was he holding back tears for real? She’d never seen a man cry before. Surely not over her. “When I saw Jackson there and saw how upset you were, I almost lost my shit. When you begged me to stop, my bear…I don’t know. He freaked out. I was scared I was going to Shift. But worse, the way that fucker looked at me when you asked me to stop. All smug and shit. And then I started wondering if all this…” He huffed out a breath and put his hands on his hips. “I’m ashamed to say I felt doubt. Not about the way I feel about you. But the way you feel about me. And then I freaked out. And I tried to drown my sorrows like some cliched country song. And the rest,” he said, his voice softer. “Well, you know the rest. None of it is an excuse. I just wanted to explain why I left and promise you I will never behave the way I did last night. Ever.”

June continued to stare at him. “How am I supposed to believe that, Jackson?”

“Carter,” he said, his voice going deep and growly.

“What?”

“My name is Carter.” The tears were gone. His brows pulled together so low they cast his eyes in shadows. “You called me Jackson.”

Well shit. That was the last thing she’d meant to do. And it wasn’t like she didn’t know his name. Really, it was because she was so used to Jackson hurting her and making excuses, giving her reasons for his behavior. But Carter wasn’t Jackson. He’d just made a bad choice and she’d gotten to be witness to it.

“I know your name. I’m just used to having this conversation with him. I never believed I’d have to have it with you. I thought you were different.”

She turned and stomped up her stairs and threw her door open. Just before she slammed it shut, she looked back at Carter. Those tears were back.

“Please don’t shut me out.”

June hesitated, her hand wrapped around the thin wood of the door. Dammit. Shoving it open all the way, she stepped into her house and assumed he’d follow her in. She wouldn’t outright invite him in; this was the best she could do.

Carter’s steps were slow and heavy as he trudged up the stairs and into her foyer. He closed the door softly behind him and stood with his hands shoved deep in his pockets, his head hanging low.

Tossing her purse onto the kitchen table, she turned and leaned her hip against the counter and crossed her arms. He still didn’t look up at her. She could see the shame in every line of his face.

“Carter,” she said, keeping her voice low. He raised only his eyes to her face. “You should’ve just talked to me.”

His head nodded up and down quickly but in smaller movements. “I know.”

June looked around, not sure what to do or what to say. She was tired, though. And tired of being on her feet. Without offering him a seat, June took the few steps from her tiny kitchen and into her small living room. She dropped onto her old, run down yet incredibly comfortable couch with an exhausted and slightly frustrated sigh.

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I know you probably don’t believe me, but I am. I’ve never behaved that way.” His hand dragged down his face, pulling the skin around his eyes. “Fuck.” The curse was muttered barely above a breath.

“Sit down,” she said, jerking her head toward the seat beside her when he made eye contact with her.

Carter’s movements were stiff and almost pained. He sat with a groan, his knees popping loudly. It was another reminder of their age. June almost chuckled at the sound and the thought that they were two middle aged Shifters fighting like teenagers.

“What can I do to make this right, June? Tell me. Anything. I’ll do it,” he said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and turning his head to look back at her. “Do you want me on my knees? I’ll do it. I’ll beg and grovel. Just…don’t leave. Don’t shut me out. I swear it’ll never happen again.” He did one of those hiccups people did after drinking too much and winced. “I can promise you on everything I have and am I’ll never do that again.”

She was sure he meant the way he’d behaved, but wondered if some of it was the fact he didn’t plan on getting so ripped. She knew he was hurting. Both physically and emotionally. She hated that his heart hurt, but was kind of happy he was so freaking hung over. Served him right.

“What the hell happened, Carter? I mean, I get that you were scared you’d Shift. But…don’t you trust me? Don’t you believe me when I tell you how I feel about you?”

Carter’s eyes roamed her face and narrowed. “How do you feel about me?”

It was her turn to narrow her eyes at him. “You know how I feel.”

His head wagged side to side a couple of times. “I know we’re mates. I know you’re attracted to me. I know you like me. But you haven’t been real open with me.”

She hadn’t? She racked her brain, trying to remember their conversations. Had she never really told him how she felt deep down in her heart? And was she brave enough to let him that far in? Every time she opened herself to another man, she got hurt. But how could she expect the same open honesty from him if she couldn’t give him the same.

“You’re everything to me,” she blurted out after a few seconds of chewing on the inside of her cheek. I’m falling in love with you. I don’t deserve you. Why couldn’t she make herself say those words?

****

Carter hated life. Not true. He hated today. He hated the way his head throbbed, and his stomach roiled and he couldn’t even think about food. Probably not for a few more weeks.

But what hurt the worst was his fucking heart. He’d hurt June. He’d broken her heart. She could hide it behind anger all she wanted but he could see it all over her face.

Last night, he’d woken up as Luke was trying to drag him into his cabin. His bear began to growl at their Clan brother as he thrashed around, trying to get out of Carter’s skin. But the human side of Carter was a little too drunk. He wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or a fucking disaster. While he was too drunk to control a Shift, he wasn’t sure if he could control his bear from Shifting. He needed to get back to June. He had to protect her. He had to make sure she was safe.

Although, Carter was pretty sure he was the only one she needed protection from. Not that he’d ever physically harm her, but he’d been the one to crush her spirit. He’d seen how she’d looked after Jackson had cut her with his words, but it’d been nothing to the way she’d looked with his behavior. And he’d never forget it.

She’d found him on her porch first thing this morning when she was leaving for work. By the time she’d stepped outside, he was mostly sober. Just miserable. Luke had slept in Carter’s truck while Carter just sat his ass on June’s porch all night. He could smell her on the breeze, or at least he thought he could. He even convinced himself he could hear her crying softly in her bedroom.

After she’d left for work, he’d taken Luke home, showered and brushed his teeth – twice – then headed back to June’s to wait for her to get off work. He wouldn’t bother her while she was trying to make a living. And he didn’t feel like he deserved to be near her, not without her invitation. He’d sat on her porch and waited for hours, willing anything that might be left in his stomach to stay there.

She’d looked pissed when she’d spotted him. And hurt. Still hurt. Because of him.

When she’d gone off, he just sat there and took it. He wouldn’t blame her if she slapped him. Or punched him. Or kicked him in the junk. Instead, her eyes had welled with tears and her cheeks flushed. He didn’t even know if she realized she was so close to crying.

And then she’d moved to go inside and lock him out. He couldn’t take it. Granted, he would’ve kept his ass right on that step if she’d continued inside, but instead, after he’d begged, she’d pushed her door open in a silent invitation for him to join her inside.

Something else he didn’t deserve. He didn’t deserve her forgiveness or kindness, but fuck…he needed it. He needed her. If nothing else came out of last night, he realized he wasn’t falling in love with her. He was head over fucking heels with June. She was life. She was air. She was everything.

“I know we’re mates. I know you’re attracted to me. I know you like me. But you haven’t been real open with me.”

She turned to him and chewed on the inside of her cheek, her pretty eyes on his face. She’d asked him to sit with her, but he kept a cushion’s space between them. He sat on the edge of the seat, his elbows on his knees, as he looked back at her.

Her full, pink lips parted. “You’re everything to me.”

His heart stopped. Then sped up. Then he was sure the fucking thing exploded inside his chest.

“I love you,” he said before he had a chance to think about it. “I love you so much. I don’t care how long it’s been. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it all up to you. I’m not like that. I guess…I don’t know. I guess I freaked out. It’s stupid and immature and not a good enough reason. But…yeah.”

Those bee stung lips he was addicted to pulled into a slow smile. “I love you, too,” she whispered.

She leaned toward him and Carter met her halfway, his lips crashing onto hers so hard their teeth bumped. She could feel his smile as he tried to kiss her. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her closer, scooting across the cushion to feel her body against him.

June moaned and shifted, throwing one leg over his lap and straddling him, her core going directly over his growing erection. His hands immediately went to her ass, urging her even closer until her full breasts were mashed against his chest.

No. They’d said they were going to take it slower. Take time to get to know each other. Take time to build something unbreakable.

Pulling back, he bit back the smile at her groan. “Hold on,” he said, pulling back when she leaned forward again. “Let’s talk about this.”

“About what?” she said, her eyes glazed over with lust as she panted. When her breasts heaved like that it made him almost lose his shit. Fuck, he wanted her. He always wanted her. But they’d talked about it. And at that moment, they were both out of their minds with everything that had happened. And June’s leopard was in heat. This wasn’t June. This was her animal.

“Baby,” he said, chuckling when her lips puckered and she moved in again. He took her hands into his, holding them both against his chest. “I want nothing more than to strip you naked, carry you to the bedroom, and make love to you for the next few hours.”

“Sounds good to me,” she said. Her lust was making her forget her anger. Which, or course, was good for him. But he didn’t deserve it. Not yet.

“Baby, hold on.” He was chuckling again. She was so cute. Hot. Sexy. But at that moment, mainly cute. He lifted her hands and kissed the knuckles on both. Her eyes followed the movement then raised to his face. Some of the heat left those pretty grey depths and she inhaled deeply and blew a breath out between pursed lips.

“You’re right.” She threw her leg off him and climbed over to her seat. “I’m still mad at you. That won’t go away with an orgasm.”

Oh. He had no intention of stopping with one orgasm. Wait. No. They weren’t having sex. He was groveling for forgiveness.

“Move in with me,” he said without giving it any thought.

She rolled her eyes. “Be serious, Carter. I’m not moving in with you. We’re not twenty year olds jumping into this.”

“I could move in here,” he offered. Why was he pushing this? They were taking it slow. Moving in wasn’t taking it slow.

“Right. Because you’d fit in this little place.”

He looked around. The place wasn’t that small, but neither was he. And his mate wasn’t some petite slip of a woman, either. They needed space. Space where he could explore her body on every surface of the house.

When June looked up at him, he shrugged with a smirk.

“Be serious.” She was fighting a smile, her lips pulled into her mouth. This was way better than her anger.

He wanted to lay her down, but he still felt like death warmed up. And by the crescents under those gorgeous eyes, he knew she hadn’t slept much, either. They needed rest. And holding her while she slept sounded like heaven.

Carter turned, resting one knee onto the couch, and threw an arm across the back cushions.

“Ugh,” June said, flopping back against the couch. “I’m so tired.”

“I know.”

“And it’s your fault,” she said, but shot him a look from the corner of her eye, her lips quirking the slightest bit at the corners.

“Were you crying last night?” Carter asked, taking the chance to play with her long hair as her head rested against his arm.

She barely looked over at him and shrugged.

“I think I heard you.”

She turned away and looked across the room. She wasn’t going to answer him.

“I’m so, so sorry, June. I never want to be the cause of your tears.” She nodded. “Please say you forgive me.” He kept his voice soft, scared to ruin the moment.

The moment had gone from terrifying, to heartwarming, to heated, and now…

“I forgive you,” she said, closing her eyes.

He didn’t say anything else. He didn’t want to ruin the moment. He didn’t want to end up shoving his foot in his mouth. He just sat there and stared at her so long he watched as she drifted to sleep.

Carter leaned his head against the cushion and continued watching June. After about an hour, his own eyes grew heavy. The couch wasn’t bad, but he didn’t want his mate to fall asleep sitting up and end up sore when she woke up.

Moving slowly and carefully, Carter stood, scooped June into his arms, and carried her into her bedroom. He laid her on top of the unmade bed, pulled her shoes off, and pulled the blanket over her. He then laid on top of the bedspread and folded his arms under his head and drifted to sleep to the sound of June’s steady, slow breathing.

Chapter Ten

June had rolled over at some point and thrown her arm across Carter’s chest. He needed more sleep, but her restless sleep kept waking him up. It was fine. As long as she got enough sleep. Half lie. He really wished he could’ve gotten more, too.

His brain hadn’t shut down from the second his eyes had opened. June loved him. He’d finally said the words out loud and she felt the same. He was the luckiest bastard on the face of the planet. He’d been prepared to crawl on his knees and grovel for as long as it took. But she’d forgiven him. Didn’t mean he’d ever stop trying to earn any amount of her trust he’d lost during his stupidity.

Carter rolled his head on the pillow to look at June. Her full lips were parted and that soft snore was pouring from them. She looked so sweet and innocent like this. So vulnerable. If it weren’t for the tiny crease between her brows, he’d even say relaxed and carefree.

Sliding out from under June’s arm, he sat up and dropped his legs over the side of the bed. His body popped and cracked with every movement, reminding him just how very tired he really was. And how old. Maybe he wasn’t as old as his parents, but every day wore his body out just that much more. It probably had nothing to do with age and everything to do with the way he’d been pushing himself the last five years. He worked his ass off on his job, then stressed and worried about his Clan and the rest of his friends. A vacation was beyond wanted. It was quickly becoming a necessity.

June sighed and rolled onto her back, her hand resting on her belly. They were past the age of really considering children, but how beautiful would she look with a belly rounded with his cub? He didn’t even care if the child came out leopard or bear, as long as they made the baby together. But that wasn’t in their future and there was no reason to even entertain the idea.

He needed to get home at some point. Talk to his brothers. Maybe even his two new sisters. He was so far outside of his comfort zone. Not only did he need to apologize for his behavior Friday night, but he needed their advice. He didn’t even care if one of them was close to fifteen years younger. Colton had been the first of the Clan to pair up with a female. A female who ended up being his true mate. He knew how lucky the three of them had been to find their soul mates. They knew it, too. That didn’t stop him from doubting his every thought and move.

Moving as quietly as someone his size could, Carter hurried into the bathroom and showered, then used his finger to brush his teeth again. He’d do a better job when he got back to his own cabin. He pulled his dirty clothes back on and wondered if she’d be receptive to him leaving a few changes at her house. Maybe she could leave a few at his cabin, as well. She’d been right about moving in so soon, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to leave his mark on her home and wanting to see her stuff lying around his place.

Did she have to work today? Would she be open to joining him in his territory? Yeah, he needed some answers, but he’d much rather be with his mate all day. Actually, he’d rather have her naked body under his hands all day, but…fuuuck. This whole going slow thing seemed like a good idea at first. Now, it felt like fucking torture.

When Carter rounded the corner into her room, June was sitting up against the headboard, the sheet pulled up over her chest even though she was fully clothed. He hadn’t removed her clothes or attempted to put on her PJs for her. It felt too much like an invasion of privacy.

“You’re up,” she said after a few moments. She looked dazed. “Did you make coffee?”

“No. You want some?”

She groaned and wiggled until she was back under the blankets. “It’s too cold to get out of bed without a cup of coffee.”

He smiled and shook his head, even though she was currently burying her face in her pillow and trying to get comfortable again. Either she was getting ready to go back to sleep or was serious about refusing to get up until she smelled coffee. He’d be more than happy to make her as many cups of coffee as she wanted. He’d be willing to do just about anything after the way he’d behaved. And no matter how many times he reminded himself she’d forgiven him, he’d continue to do everything he could to make it up to her and earn one hundred percent of her trust back.

Carter located her can of coffee and filters, then stood with his hands resting on the counter, leaning forward to watch the steady stream of black gold pouring into the carafe. The rest of her place was a mishmash of furniture, as if she’d inherited it from various family members, but her coffee maker looked sleek, and new, and top of the line.

Once the carafe was full, he found two mugs, filled them to the brim, then realized he didn’t know how she took her coffee. “Did you want sugar or cream?” he said, raising his voice just a tad.

“Black,” she said from just behind him and to the left.

Carter actually jumped and spun around. No one ever snuck up on him. And he wasn’t distracted enough to blame anything else. His woman was just super light on her feet. Must be the feline in her.

Carter handed her one of the mugs and watched as she shuffled across the small space of the kitchen and sat on one of the chairs. She sipped at the coffee, then sat it on the table and wrapped both hands around it. His mate was not a morning person. Where she was usually friendly and even flirty, she was silent, her eyes a little puffy with sleep, and had barely looked at him since she’d woken up.

“So, hey,” he said, taking the chair beside her. “I need to head home for a while, but I was wondering if you’d maybe want to come with me. Hang out with the Clan. Unless you have to work, of course.”

“I’m off today,” she said, her voice still hoarse with sleep. “When do we have to leave?” She lifted her mug and took another sip.

“I can wait if you wanted to wake up a little and take a shower.”

She gave him a side eye. “Are you one of those people who are super chipper and bounce off the walls the second you wake up? ‘Cause this might not work if you are.”

His grin was wide as he shook his head. Nope. June was definitely not a morning person. “No. It takes me a minute and a shower. But I’ve been getting up early for work for so long I’m used to it.”

“I hate early mornings. If I had my choice, I’d stay up late and sleep in every day. All the fun stuff happens at night, anyway,” she said, her eyes on her coffee. But if he wasn’t mistaken, a hint of pink washed over her cheeks. She must be thinking about the fun things they’d done at night. To be fair, they’d also done those fun things in the middle of the day, too. Just not lately. And fuck if he wasn’t having a hard time keeping his mind off her body and what he’d like to do to it.

It took June a full hour to wake up, shower, and get ready to head into Blackwater territory. Carter had fought his own body from jumping in that shower with her. He wanted to run his hands all over her soapy body and then carry her into the bedroom so his tongue could finish what his hands had started.

Instead, he’d sat on the couch, stared at the opposite wall, and thought about every other person he knew. There was no way he could get a boner while thinking about Reed Peterson or Gray Harvey. And he sure as fuck would never tell them he’d used their faces to keep his dick at half-mast.

June emerged from her bedroom in a pair of tight jeans, knee high boots, and a sweater that hung off one shoulder.

“You look beautiful,” he said, moving to kiss her and then looking at her shiny lips. Would he smear her makeup?

She closed the space and pecked his lips quickly before pulling away. “I feel overdressed. I was going to throw on a hoodie, but kind of feel like I need to make a good impression on your people or something.”

“Shoot. You could’ve shown up in your PJs and they still would’ve loved you. Every single person you’ve met so far has liked you.”

“I don’t think Luke does,” she said as she followed him through the door and locked up her trailer.

Carter looked around and realized how isolated and closed off she was from the rest of the world. She had her Pride sisters, but that just made three women out here on their own. Maybe it was chauvinistic of him, but he wished she lived closer so he could protect her better. He hated the thought of some nomad group stumbling upon three lone females. Especially with fuckers out there looking for women to sell in the trafficking ring. That was how Hollyn had come into Noah’s life. She’d been snatched off the street. Luckily, Aron, the Alpha of Ravenwood Pride, had found her before she could be sold off. The rest was their own personal romance story.

He couldn’t help but wonder if he told June about Hollyn’s story if she’d be more receptive to moving onto his territory. But if she did that, it would just leave the other two women alone. Two lone women were even worse odds.

Holding his truck door open for June, he waited until she was in and buckled before he closed it and jogged around the hood. As stupid as it sounded, he hated even the few seconds away from her that it took to get back into the truck. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to spend with her. He was becoming more and more addicted.

It wasn’t addiction. He was a man in love. He felt so full of energy. The words they’d shared last night had given him this boost, like his life was finally starting. Like he was nothing, like his life meant nothing before she came into it.

Carter finally understood all those sappy love songs he’d heard through the years. He finally understood the goofy behavior of the characters in those rom-cons Reed loved so much. He finally understood why all his friends acted like fools the moment they’d found their mates.

The drive back to Blackwater only took around twelve minutes since the traffic was so light on Sunday mornings. June was fairly quiet beside him, but she was in a better frame of mind.

“Just an FYI,” she said, breaking the silence.

Carter reached forward and turned the music down.

“Me telling you I love you doesn’t excuse your behavior the other night. I don’t want that kind of stuff to happen ever again. I don’t want to hear about doubt or anything like that again. Got it?” she asked, rolling her head on the seat rest to look at him. When his brows pulled together, she winked.

Carter’s smile was slow, but he still felt like an asshole that she even felt the need to say those words. She might forgive him, but he’d cracked her trust in him. And he’d do everything in his power to superglue that shit back together.

****

June admitted she was looking forward to spending the day with Carter. What neither of them had expected was the line of cars and group of people sitting outside the cabins.

“I thought we were just hanging out with your Clan,” she said, looking at Carter before turning her attention back to the group watching them park.

“Yeah. So did I. I texted Colton and let him know we were heading home. He must’ve texted one of the guys from Big River. Or Nova. This reeks of Nova,” he said with a groan as he put the truck in park and stepped out of the truck.

“About time,” Nova yelled across the space.

He’d more than likely been one hundred percent correct about Nova being the one to throw the impromptu cookout. But it was either Colton or Shawnee who’d contacted her. He wasn’t sure which one to be mad at.

Truth was, he wasn’t mad at either. He liked the idea of everyone he cared about being in one spot. He liked the idea of his Clan and his friends spending more time with and getting to know June.

Stealing a glance at June, he relaxed even more when he spotted her smiling at Nova as she hurried over with Rieka on her hip.

“Hey girl,” Nova said, giving June an awkward side hug so they wouldn’t smash the little girl between them. “I was wondering when I’d see you again.”

“It’s been, like, two days,” Carter said, placing a hand on the small of June’s back and guiding her toward the cabins and throng of waiting people.

“Still,” Nova said, a pout in her voice.

Callie, Emory, Lola, and Peyton all had matching grins on their faces, and moved forward to welcome June, minus the awkward hugs. Reed held little Grace in his arms as he watched Colton start the grill.

“Dude! That’s too much charcoal. Why don’t you get a gas grill like a normal person? Do you want me to go get ours?” Reed asked, shifting Grace to his other side so he could manually move some of the briquets around.

Colton slapped Reed’s hand with a pair of grilling tongs. “Either keep your hands to yourself or hand the baby over so I can whip your ass,” Colton said, pointing the aforementioned tongs in Reed’s face.

“Fine. Whatever. You burn them, it’s on you. I’ll be the hero who has to go get McDonald’s when you try to serve up hockey pucks.”

Carter led June to his cabin. “I need to change and brush my teeth real quick,” he said.

“Why didn’t you just use my toothbrush?” she asked, her attention divided between the women who were trying to get her to come sit with them, Reed’s and Colton’s bickering, and her conversation with Carter.

“Didn’t know if you’d appreciate that. Go sit. Have fun. I’ll be back out in a few.”

She didn’t argue or wait for him to try to persuade her, just hurried over to where the women had arranged the lawn chairs they’d brought with them in a circle. She looked so at home with his people. She looked like she’d always been there, like she was meant to be right there amongst his family.

Carter rushed through brushing his teeth and changing his clothes. He wanted to get back out to his mate. He wanted to hear that throaty laugh of hers and touch her, even if only to hold her hand.

When he stepped onto his porch, he stopped and his heart swelled. June was holding Rieka on her lap. The toddler was standing on June’s legs, her chubby little fingers wrapped around June’s. A big slobbery smile was stretched across her face as June played with her. June and Carter had already agreed they were too old to start a family, but seeing her with the child just made him want ten cubs with her.

He had to get that shit out of his head and just enjoy the sight of her with the kid.

“Are there sides? Do I need to go into town for anything?” Carter asked as he stepped down from his porch and crossed the space to where the men were standing behind their mates.

“Nah. Nova spent a fortune this morning,” Gray said, jerking his chin at his mate.

“Oh, whatever. A hundred dollars for this many people is not a fortune!” Nova said, looking over the back of her chair to stick her tongue out at Gray.

Gray smiled and shook his head. Every time Carter was around the two of them it was the same thing. Nova would say something silly or snarky, Gray would tease her, and everything would end up with Gray smiling like a love sick pup and shaking his head.

He realized every male standing around was staring at their mates with so much awe and adoration. Was that how he looked? Did he have that same look every time he looked at his curvy beauty? Because he sure as fuck felt it.

“Want to sit?” June said, moving to stand so Carter could take her chair.

“No. You sit. Enjoy the girls.”

“Women,” Emory said without turning to look at him over her shoulder.

“What?”

“We’re women. Not girls,” she corrected him. When she glanced back at Carter and winked, he did just like Gray and smiled and shook his head. Not even her mate and she was giving him shit.

The next few hours went exactly the same way every cookout went, only they were in Blackwater territory instead of Big River territory. June teased and talked and played right along with everyone, swelling Carter’s heart until he felt like that green dude on that Christmas cartoon.

“Does anyone have a guitar?” she asked, looking around at the circle of women and their guys who all sat at their feet, including Carter who sat between June’s knees, his ass planted on the hard ground, his knees raised and his elbows resting on them. It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but he was near his mate. And he refused to let her give up her seat for him.

Everyone looked from person to person, shaking their heads or shrugging.

“None of you play the guitar?” June asked. “This many people and not one of you are musically inclined?”

A few chuckles answered her.

“We could sing? Do like that movie, Pitch Perfect, and sing acapella,” Reed answered. Emory picked up a leftover piece of Rieka’s hot dog bun and threw it at his head. Unfortunately, it hit Lola in the chest.

“Hey!” the pink haired woman said as she laughed.

“Sorry. I was aiming for your mate’s head,” Emory said, raising one brow at Reed. “Can we go one day without a movie reference?”

Reed held up his hands in surrender, but he couldn’t stop laughing when he turned and brushed the crumbs off his mate’s lap. Both little girls were sound asleep in a playpen near Lola and Reed at the end of their lopsided circle.

Peyton began to hum something softly, then turned a teasing eye to Reed. The second he caught on to the song, he opened his mouth and began to belt it out. Until Lola slapped his shoulder.

“You’re going to wake up the girls.”

“Oh. My bad.” And then he went back to singing the song from that movie he’d mentioned, only quieter.

One by one, the women joined in, including June. A few of them could actually sing, including his mate. Someone was hitting the high harmony, while someone else was hitting the low spots. And all Carter could focus on was the angelic sound coming from behind him.

He wanted to turn and watch her lips move, but he was afraid she might stop. So instead, he closed his eyes and just enjoyed the sound, memorizing the tone of her voice and the slight giggle that escaped her every once in a while.

Before the night was over, the women – and Reed – entertained the group with three more songs, including a Janis Joplin song. That one really highlighted the throaty sound to June’s voice and made his dick stand up and pay attention.

“You ready for bed?” Carter asked when the last song ended and June yawned wide enough for her jaw to pop.

“Yeah. It’s too early for bed, though,” she said.

Now, while he knew damn well she just meant it was too early to go to sleep, Carter couldn’t help but hope she’d meant she wanted to rush their relationship again. For fuck’s sake; they’d declared their feelings for each other. Wasn’t that enough?

Down boy. He had to mentally will his dick to calm down before all the blood rushed from his brain and made him do something stupid. He’d respect her desire to take their time getting to know each other. Whether he liked it or not.

“It’s actually after twelve,” Callie said as she stood and folded her lawn chair. “We’re headed home. Thanks for having us over, guys.”

“Talk to Nova. She’s the one who invited you all over here,” Colton teased with a wink for Nova.

“Stop flirting with my mate, asshole,” Gray said, more than likely out of habit.

“Got my own mate, asshole. Don’t need to flirt with yours.”

There was no force behind either of their words, but June still tensed the tiniest bit behind Carter.

Gray lifted Rieka from the playpen while Reed lifted little Grace. They all waved, carrying their lawn chairs to their various trucks, and bid everyone a goodnight.

“I’m going, too,” Luke said, the first words the dude had spoken since Carter and June had arrived.

“You ever going to tell us where you’re going?” Shawnee asked.

Had any of the bears asked him, he would’ve popped off with some dickhead comment. But since it was Shawnee, Luke’s face softened a tad. “Maybe someday,” he said with a forced closed-lipped smile.

And then he lumbered to his truck and took off without another word.

“We really do need to find out where the fuck he’s going,” Colton said, giving Carter a worried look.

“He hasn’t said anything to Noah?” Colton shook his head. “I’ll talk to him when he gets home. Or tomorrow morning. It’s too late tonight.”

Carter pushed to his feet, his knees and back popping in too many places, then offered a hand to June.

“I feel like I should’ve stood and helped you up,” she said as she slipped her cool hand into his. Her arms were cool to the touch, too.

“Are you cold?”

“A little,” she said with a shrug.

“Should’ve said something. We could’ve built a bonfire.”

“Not with the pups so close,” June said as Shawnee and Colton waved their goodnights and headed into their cabins. “I’m fine. You were keeping my legs warm, anyway.” She winked at him and his dick woke right back up.

Her hand still in his, Carter led her to his cabin. “Stay with me tonight?” he asked. He’d take her home if she said no, but he’d rather have her body snuggled up against his while he slept.

She dipped her head and looked up at him through her lashes. “Okay.” Was her voice deeper? Huskier?

Yep. That was her arousal he scented. It hadn’t been there before. She’d gotten turned on at the idea of sharing his bed. Maybe he’d get his way, after all.

Carter led her up the stairs and through the door of his cabin. He pulled his hand, ready to grab her a glass of water and a change of clothes to sleep in, but she tightened her grip.

“Remember how you said you loved me?” she asked. He swallowed hard and nodded. “And I told you I loved you, too?” Again, he nodded. “You think we took it slow enough? I mean, we’re officially in love, right? So…I was just thinking.”

Carter couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. He needed her to be one hundred percent sure and upfront with him. He didn’t want to assume he knew what she wanted and end up hurting her again.

When he didn’t make a move, June sighed dramatically and released his hand so she could grab the bottom hem of her sweater to pull it over her head. She stood there, chest heaving, and bared for him. Not naked enough, though.

June reached down, grabbed both his hands and put them on her tits. And that was the last thread of control he had.

Chapter Eleven

June’s heart jackhammered in her chest when Carter’s big hands squeezed her breasts. His lips crashed down on hers, pulling a gasp from her. She couldn’t help but smile when their teeth bumped. He was so hurried, so desperate for her. It was one more thing that helped to dispel any thoughts that her body wasn’t enough for him.

She parted her lips for him, swiping her tongue across the seam of his mouth, but he pulled back and looked down at her with lust drunk eyes.

“Are you sure? I can wait as long as you need. I don’t want to hurt you ever again or make you regret anything.”

So her mate needed a little persuasion. Sliding her hand between them, she gripped the long, rigid length beneath his jeans and gave a little squeeze. His hips bucked forward, pushing himself more into her hand.

June smiled up at him, hoping the smile was as sexy as he made her feel. “Does that answer your question?”

And then his lips were back on hers, kissing her until she almost forgot her own name. He left her mouth and nipped and licked a path down her jaw, to her throat, before dropping to his knees, her breasts still in his hands. He kissed her full mounds, his breath warming her. He looked like he was worshipping her, worshipping her body.

Carter’s shaky fingers pulled the cups of her bra down, releasing her into his hands. His breathing hitched, and then he leaned forward and sucked one of her pebbled nipples into his mouth. June threw her head back with a moan. Her mate had the most wickedly talented mouth. She was tempted to beg him to move further south and make love to her with his mouth.

Instead, she just focused on what Carter was doing, the pleasure he was bringing her. They didn’t need to rush this. For once, she wanted to enjoy every second of her mate’s body, his hands, his tongue, his lips, and his cock. She really couldn’t wait to feel his cock buried inside of her.

As her body began to tighten, and Carter stood, undoing her pants and shoving them down her hips, June searched deep inside of herself. Was this her leopard once again trying to breed? Nope. Her cat was no longer in heat. This was all June. This was her need to be with her mate, to bond them even further.

June stepped out of her pants as she went to work undoing Carter’s pants and pulling his shirt over his head. He raised his arms for her, but she couldn’t reach high enough to pull the shirt off.

With a chuckle, Carter helped her and shoved his own pants to his ankles. She loved the sight of Carter’s body, loved the way his thick cock seemed to be reaching for her.

She loved him. Every inch of him, heart, mind, and soul.

His arms went around her and pulled her against his chest. He was so warm and hard all over. Such a contrast to her curvy softness. His pecs were like stone pressed against her full, pillowy breasts. And they were the perfect height together. Standing the way they were, he was able to shift just enough so that his shaft slid between her thighs and rubbed against her swollen, sensitive clit.

If he kept that up, they might never make it to the bed. Then again, there was always the couch, the floor, the counter, or even the kitchen table. Hell, they could explore every square foot of the cabin as far as she was concerned.

She liked the idea of leaving her scent in his home so he’d have no choice but to think about her when she went back home.

Move in with me. His words clanged around inside her skull. Could she live here with him? His place was definitely bigger than hers, but she really didn’t like the idea of leaving Carol and Constance alone in their territory. Not that June was some big bad ass, but safety in numbers and all that.

“June,” Carter breathed against her lips.

His hands smoothed down her back until they cupped her ass. And then he lifted her, urging her legs around his waist. June wiggled and moved until the head of his cock was lined perfectly with her sex. She pushed down, guiding him inside. Their moans matched as he pushed his hips forward, sheathing himself fully inside her.

June’s arms were wrapped around Carter’s shoulders, her fingers tangling in his hair as he leaned forward and took her lips in a bruising kiss and carried her across the room. He lowered onto the couch, sitting with her straddling his lips, and rotated his hips, sending June into a whirlwind of sensations. Each pass of his hips pushed his pubic bone directly against her clit, pushing her closer and closer to her release.

Carter pulled from her mouth and kissed and nipped her collar bone, right over the spot where he’d marked her. June took over and began to ride Carter, lifting and lowering onto his thick cock. She loved the feeling of him, the warmth of him, the way he stretched her and filled her. She loved the frantic movement of his hands all over her back, squeezing her ass, moving around to cup her heavy breasts.

Leaning back and arching her back, June rested her hands on Carter’s knees, locking her elbows, and enjoyed the sensation of Carter’s lips wrapping around her nipple as she continued to ride him until her body became overheated and tight and the first tingles of orgasm rippled through her.

Opening her mouth, June released a loud, long moan as explosions went off behind her closed lids and her core spasmed around Carter, pulling his own release from him. They hadn’t donned a condom. But Carter had enough forethought to pull from her and trap himself between their bodies, spilling on her stomach, on his stomach, each pulse of his cock mimicking her own clenching sex.

When they were both spent and Carter spilled every last drop of his release, he pulled her forward and rested his forehead against her shoulder blade. His breaths came in pants that both cooled and warmed her skin where moisture had bloomed from their lovemaking.

“I love you so much,” Carter breathed against her shoulder.

Wrapping her arms around Carter’s back, she lowered her head and rested her cheek on his damp shoulder.

“I love you, too,” she whispered into the quiet room.

After a few minutes, Carter stood, still holding June, still buried inside of her, and carried her to the bathroom. He set her on the fuzzy bathroom mat and started the shower, testing it with his arm. When he was satisfied with the temperature, he helped her into the stall and stepped in behind her. They showered quickly, neither of them bothering with their hair. It was just to get the sweat and release off of them more than anything. They’d both showered that morning. But she, for one, didn’t want to go to sleep and wake up sticky.

Once they were done, Carter gently dried her off before drying himself off, then lifted her back into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. June wasn’t light. She knew that. Yet Carter carried her as if she were no bigger than one of the tiny women from Big River. He didn’t grunt or strain or complain about her weight. Just laid her out on the bed, still completely naked, and raked his eyes over her body, his touch feeling like a caress from his hands.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he said, his voice deep and growly again. As much as she’d love to go for round two, she was getting tired. His eyes raised to her face. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“I could say the same thing about you,” she teased, her own eyes admiring the peaks and valleys of his muscular form.

Raising her arms, she beckoned him into bed. He flipped off the light and scooted in behind her, pulling her to him so her back was against his chest and her ass was cradled in the nook of his legs. She felt his hardness growing again, but he didn’t make a move, didn’t try to take her again. Not that she would’ve turned him down.

She fell asleep to the sound of Carter’s slow, even breathing, and the light rattling snore that rumbled in her ear. He could tease her all he wanted about her snoring. He snored just as much.

****

Three weeks later, June once again woke up in Carter’s bed. After that night with Big River and Blackwater hanging out, she’d pretty much stayed at his cabin every single night. She’d even began leaving clothing and some extra toiletries so she wouldn’t have to rush home every morning before work.

Of course, she still went back to her Pride as much as possible. She loved her friends and didn’t want them to think she was abandoning them. That, and she was still nervous about leaving the two of them there alone.

“Have I told you about Hope Pride?” Carter said one night when he was making dinner.

“The lionesses up the hill from Big River?”

Carter had told her how Big River, Blackwater, and the panthers from Ravenwood had fought the hierarchy to ensure female Shifters were free from the antiquated laws that had kept them enslaved to the male species for the last century. It was just one more thing that raised her respect for her mate. And all his people.

“Yeah,” he said, plating the fat, greasy burgers he’d just finished frying.

“What about them?”

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as he carried the plate of burgers to the table while she laid out the buns, condiments, and a big container of potato salad she’d bought on her way home from work.

Home. His cabin really was feeling more and more like home.

“I was just thinking, a few of them are still living together in those little homes. There are four empty trailers in your Pride territory.”

“Three. There’re only three empty trailers. I still technically live there.”

Carter sat and built a heaping burger complete with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and all the rest of the toppings she’d set on the table.

“But if you lived here, with me, there’d be four. And the lionesses could build a life, a Pride, with your friends. They could have their own place for the first time in their lives.”

“Way to make me feel like shit,” she muttered as she took a bite of her burger. She chewed and watched Carter. He was doing everything he could to not look at her. She swallowed and set the burger down. “You realize if I move in, we’ll have to see each other every day.”

“We already see each other every day,” he said with a shrug. “I like that. I like waking up to your beautiful face every morning. I like feeling you curled up against me every night. And I like seeing you dripping wet when you step out of the shower every day.”

“Perv,” she said as she tried to hide her smile, pulling her lips into her mouth. Scooping up a forkful of potato salad, she jabbed it toward him as she spoke. “So you’ve got it all planned out. I move all my crap in here, a couple of lionesses move into my Pride territory, then we all live happily ever after.”

Carter pushed his plate away, stood, and rounded the table. He sat in the chair beside her and pulled her hand into his. “Don’t you think we deserve happily ever after? I know the lionesses do after everything they’ve been through. And you and I spent half our lives trying to find happiness. Literally half our lives are over. If we’re lucky. Which I hope we are because I really want at least another forty or fifty years with you.”

June turned in her chair so she was facing him fully. “Are you sure about this, Carter? That’s like…a really big commitment. What happens if you decide you don’t want me here and I have nowhere to go?”

“Never going to happen,” he said without missing a beat.

“How do you know?”

His eyes roamed her face and then he dropped them to where their hands were joined and fiddled with her fingers. “Marry me.”

June blinked a few times. “What?”

He raised his gaze back to her face. “Marry me. We can go to the courthouse this week. Just you and me. Make it official.”

“Be serious, Carter.”

“I am. Unless you want some big wedding with a white dress and all that. Nova got married in a sundress in Big River territory.”

“I think I’m a little old for the princess gown and all that.”

“So you’ll marry me?”

“Carter. Do you even hear yourself?”

“Truth?” he asked.

“Of course.”

“I’ve wanted to ask you since the first morning I woke up with your mark on my chest.”

“Bull.”

“I knew I wanted you. I knew I wanted you in my life. I knew you were it for me, even if we agreed to go our separate ways. That morning, I laid in bed and tried to figure out how to get you in my life for good.”

June chewed on the inside of her cheek as she watched Carter speak, watching for any little tells or signs that he was teasing or moving ahead of his own thoughts.

But he was steady, his shoulders pushed back, confident in his decision.

“Okay.”

His brows popped up his forehead. “Yes?”

“Yes.” Her smile was slow and wide. And then she squealed in surprise when he jumped up and pulled her up with him, moving away from the table and swinging her in circles, his face buried in the crook of her neck.

When he finally set her on her feet, his hands on her shoulders to keep her steady, everything became awkward. Were they just supposed to return to their dinner as if nothing had just happened? Share the news? Book a photographer for engagement photos? No. That last part was ridiculous since they weren’t doing the whole engagement then wedding thing. They were just two middle aged adults agreeing to spend the rest of their lives together.

Wait. They couldn’t go to the human court to get married. “How is this going to happen? We can’t exactly go into Hillsboro for a judge to marry us.”

“Alan can do it. Nova’s dad. He’s a member of the Council. He can perform the ceremony legally.”

“We don’t have to get married. I mean, we’re already mated, marked, and bonded. It’s as close to married as a Shifter can get.”

“Yeah, well. I want you to carry my last name.”

“And if I want to keep my last name?”

Carter sat in his chair across from her and narrowed her eyes. “How about June Gillespie-Simpson? Hyphenated.”

She actually kind of liked that. It was pretty and sounded fancy and royal. “Deal,” she said, then shoveled more food into her mouth. Mouth still full, she asked, “when?”

“When’s your next day off?”

“Wednesday.”

“Then Wednesday. Get a pretty dress. Get your nails and hair done and all that stuff girls do before something exciting.”

June giggled as he listed off everything, his excitement palpable and contagious. “And you go get your hair cut and buy something nice to wear.”

He looked down at his soft, worn in t-shirt and jeans. “You don’t like this outfit?” He winked at her, his smile still wide.

And that was how she became engaged to her mate and the love of her life. It was sweet and awkward yet so romantic. And now, she couldn’t wait until Wednesday.

****

Carter vibrated with energy. She’d said yes. June had actually agreed to marry him. She’d carry his name. So what that she’d keep her last name, as well. As long as he was represented. And now, they were headed into her former territory to pack up her belongings with Colton and Shawnee, Luke, and the entirety of Big River – minus the pups – to haul everything back. She’d decided to leave her bigger furniture like her couch, table, even bed for the next lioness. She wanted them to be able to build a life there. And if they didn’t want the stuff, she planned on having the local thrift store come pick it up.

He would’ve welcomed all her stuff into his home, but his stuff was newer and chosen by him rather than being a hand me down like her stuff. Not that there was anything wrong with that.

“I’m so excited,” Shawnee said as she carried a box to one of the trucks. “Now I just got to get Luke paired up and everything will be perfect.”

“Keep dreaming,” Luke muttered as he passed her.

“So who gets your place?” Nova asked, carrying a lamp and a duffel bag as she walked beside June.

“Luna asked to stay,” Colton answered. “And I think Amber’s taking one. We got to get her some stuff.”

“I’ll do it!” Nova yelled a little loudly, almost dropping the lamp when she threw her other arm in the air, waving her hand around. “No one will let me buy them anything anymore.” The woman pouted and caused her mate to once again smile and shake his head.

“I can help,” June said. “I mean, I don’t have the big bucks you do, but I’ve got some saved up.” Of course his woman would want to help someone else.

“Oh no. No way. I’ve got it. I’ve been dying to go on a shopping spree.”

“We went on one with Hollyn,” Emory said, a box bigger than she was in her hands.

“That was a year ago. You guys are killing me with this crap,” Nova said, setting June’s stuff in the back of Gray’s truck and heading back inside for more.

“I don’t know why everyone brought their trucks. Without my furniture, we could’ve fit it all in the back of my car and Carter’s truck.”

“Yeah. But then we wouldn’t have been in on the gossip,” Peyton said, pulling her white-blonde hair out of the ponytail and pulling it back up in a bun. “Let’s hear it all.”

“All of what?” June said, a soft pink flushing her cheeks.

“We’re getting married. Wednesday,” Carter blurted out as he walked back inside for more of June’s belongings.

“Carter,” June admonished as he stepped inside. “You realize now –”

Before she could finish her sentence, a squeal erupted from one of the women and echoed inside of June’s trailer, causing Carter to cringe from the high-pitched sound.

“Are you serious?” Emory’s voice broke through the screaming. “Nova! You’re killing me.”

The screaming stopped abruptly. “Sorry. Are you serious, though? You two are getting married?...Wait…I didn’t get a wedding invitation.”

“We’re not having a wedding. We’re just going to have your dad marry us.”

“Are you saying my dad knew about this and didn’t say anything to me?” Nova said. When Carter stepped outside, her arms were crossed over her chest, her eyes were narrowed, and June was doing everything she could not to laugh.

Carter carried over another box of June’s knickknacks, including one of her favorite coffee mugs she couldn’t part with, and set the box in the back of his truck. “We haven’t asked him yet. It was all decided last night.”

“What are you going to wear?” Callie asked, handing a bag of clothes to her mate, Micah.

“I haven’t decided yet. I need to go shopping.”

“Okay. What time do you get off tomorrow?” Nova asked.

“I’m off the rest of the week. My boss let me have the time off to get settled in to my new house. He thinks we’re going to the courthouse to get married,” June said with a shrug. She instantly wrapped an arm around Carter’s waist when he moved to her side.

“We’ll be here at nine,” Nova said with a nod as if it were final.

“I can do your hair,” Lola offered. “I’m actually really good at that stuff.”

“I can help with your makeup,” Peyton said with a wink.

“This is going to be so much fun,” Emory said, clapping her hands together.

June’s blush didn’t fade as she headed back in to grab more of her stuff. And she’d been right; all of her stuff would’ve fit in their two vehicles. But he appreciated everyone’s help. And he finally got to brag that he’d won the best woman in the world.

While the women huddled around, making shopping plans, Colton, Luke, and the men of Big River circled around him, congratulating him and clapping him on the shoulder.

“Any cubs in the future?” Gray asked.

“Nah. We’re both too old for that shit. We’re just as happy spoiling all of your kids. But…” Carter lowered his voice until it was barely above a breath and made sure June wasn’t paying attention. “I do need your help with something.”

As he made plans with his friends, his family, he couldn’t help but get more and more excited. Three days seemed so far away. He couldn’t wait until Wednesday. He couldn’t wait until Wednesday night. He couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when she saw what he was planning for her. For them. For their wedding night.

****

Carter and Colton headed into town to start grabbing supplies while Shawnee, Hollyn – Noah let both women off Tuesday to help with the shopping – and the women of Big River kept June distracted with shopping and a bunch of girly stuff in anticipation of their big day tomorrow.

“You sure she doesn’t know about this?” Colton asked.

“If she does, she’s a remarkable actress,” Carter said with a soft chuckle.

His mate was definitely nervous. She’d asked him a dozen times already if he was sure about being stuck with her for life. He’d comforted her by letting her know she was the one getting stuck with him. He was lucky she’d even noticed him that night at Moe’s.

“You have any idea what she’s going to wear?”

Carter shrugged as they headed toward the men’s department for a new shirt and maybe some new jeans. He knew she wouldn’t be wearing a white, frilly gown. That wasn’t June’s style. He just hoped she bought something that hugged that body he was so addicted to.

He ended up just grabbing a button up and some dark jeans and heading out to meet up with Gray, Reed, Micah, Tristan, and even Eli. It was up to the guys to get all the decorations they’d need to make June’s wedding night one she’d never forget. Sure, it was his wedding night, too, but she’d already made his dreams come true by saying yes.

“They meeting us at the store?” Colton asked as they climbed into Carter’s truck.

“Nah. Noah wants us to come by for a beer before we all head out and pretend we’re wedding planners or some shit,” Carter said with a grin. He was pretty sure he hadn’t stopped smiling since the night June agreed to be his wife. Now he understood why Colton was always grinning.

Big River’s trucks were three, as well as Luke’s. Which was odd. Carter would’ve figured he’d be the last person to want anything to do with this lovey dovey crap. As sweet and kind as he was to the women in their family, he’d become an asshole to the guys the last few weeks.

“There he is!” Reed yelled, holding a beer up as the wolves erupted in applause.

“This better not be a bachelor party. We got shit to do,” Carter said, taking the beer Gray offered.

“Nah. Just wanted to turn you into a spectacle for a second,” Reed teased and ducked to the side when Carter threw a square, paper coaster at his head. The thing veered off to the side like a wayward frisbee and hit someone in the back. Oh. Not just anyone. But fucking Jackson.

What kind of luck did Carter have that June’s asshole ex just happened to be at Moe’s the night before Carter tied June to himself in every way possible? She already carried his mark and his scent. After tomorrow, she’d carry his name, as well.

Jackson looked over his shoulder to see what hit him. Then did a double take when he caught Carter glaring at him.

“What the fuck are you looking at?” Jackson said with a sneer.

“Not much,” Carter said. He realized how childish he was behaving, but really, he didn’t give a fuck. This man had hurt June. He’d made her feel unimportant, undesirable, unlovable. And if Carter got his wish, he’d make sure Jackson felt like total shit before he walked out of the bar.

Jackson turned back to his friends. Then a few seconds later, he looked back at Carter to find him still glaring. Carter hadn’t had a drop of alcohol, so he couldn’t blame his irrational behavior on inebriation. Nope. His petty ass attitude was spurred on by the piss ant mother fucker who was currently growling in Carter’s direction.

“If you show up to the wedding with a black eye, June’s going to kick your ass,” Colton said. He didn’t bother lowering his voice. Meaning, he wanted Jackson to hear that Carter and June were getting married. Which meant his Clan brother had his back if Jackson’s three other buddies decided to jump in to help their friend when he started getting his ass kicked all over the bar.

A shitty smirk spread on Jackson’s stupid face. “Marrying my mate, huh? Didn’t know you were into sloppy seconds.”

Low and deep. That’s how the growl felt. But in Carter’s ears, it was like thunder as it poured from his mouth.

“You might want to keep your fucking mouth shut,” Luke said from beside Carter.

“Fuck you, bear,” Luke said.

“Don’t start shit in my bar!” Noah yelled from across the room.

“That’s June’s ex. The prick who told her she was fat,” Reed told Noah as Carter and Jackson continued to stare each other down.

“That’s him?” Noah grumbled, his tone pissed and curious at the same time.

Out of Carter’s peripheral, he saw Noah round the bar, step up to the front door, and heard the lock clicked into place. Noah knew what was about to happen and wanted to make sure no humans happened to step inside, just in case either or all of the men decided to Shift into their animal forms. Although, if that happened, they would likely tear the shit out of Noah’s bar. Three bears – four if Noah decided to join in – four wolves, a male lion, and four leopards were bound to take up just about every space of this place.

Jackson’s eyes left Carter’s face long enough to watch Noah’s movements then returned. “Guess you’re real big with your crew around, huh?”

Carter snorted. “You really think I need my friends to fight my battles?”

“You’re really willing to get your ass kicked over a fat ass trailer trash bitch?”

“Well, shit,” Reed muttered a second before Carter lunged from his chair and at Jackson.

Jackson only hesitated a half second, but that was all Carter needed. Carter had him dangling a couple of inches off the ground, his hand wrapped around the fucker’s throat.

“What did you call my mate?” Carter growled. It was more bear than Carter, a testament to how pissed both sides of him were.

Chairs scraped from Jackson’s group. Carter didn’t pay them any attention; his friends were right behind him. They’d make sure this shit stayed fair. Not that he didn’t think he could take the four males, but he had nothing against them. This whole thing was between Carter and Jackson.

“You’re going to kill him. And then June will be pissed because you’ll be late for your wedding. You know, since you’ll be sitting before the Council,” Reed said.

“Brother,” Colton said from beside Carter, laying a hand on his bicep. “Let him go. He’s turning blue.”

With one quick shake, Carter opened his hand and let Jackson fall into a heap at his feet.

Jackson stayed on his knees for a few seconds, his hand rubbing his throat as he wheezed and sucked air into his neglected lungs. Then the idiot had the balls to stand and square off with Carter, standing so close they were practically nose to nose.

“You can have her. She’s not worth it. Did she tell you she didn’t even finish school? Dumb bitch had to do night classes. Her fat ass couldn’t even –”

Carter had no idea what else Jackson had to say. He didn’t give a fuck. He shut the fucker’s mouth with a back hand across his face. It wouldn’t knock him out, but it sure as fuck humiliated him.

Jackson’s face turned purple as he straightened and glared at Carter, his jaw clenched so tightly a muscle ticked in his cheek.

“Let’s go, man,” one of his friends said.

Carter didn’t need to look behind him to know all his friends were on their feet. Definitely not good odds for the leopards.

“You never deserved her. You’re nothing. Trash. Shit on the bottom of my shoe. If I ever hear you came around her again, I’ll beat you to a pulp. You hear me? I’ll make sure your jaw no longer works so she’ll never have to hear another word out of your mouth.”

Jackson’s nostrils flared. He didn’t say anything. Didn’t argue. Didn’t have any more insults. He just backed up until his ass hit a table. One of his friends clapped a hand on his shoulder and urged him around the table and toward the door.

Noah clicked the lock out of place and shoved the door open. “You want him barred?” Noah asked Carter.

“Nah. Let that fucker come back in and see how a real man treats his mate,” Carter taunted, his eyes glued to Jackson’s. He might be mistaken, but it sure as fuck looked like Jackson was about to cry.

Even after Jackson was gone and the door was closed, Carter continued to vibrate with anger. He should’ve slapped him around, done everything he could to make Jackson feel as small and insignificant as he’d made June feel through the years. He should’ve dragged his dumb ass to wherever June was and made him get on his knees and apologize.

“I warned Lola in case they run into Jackson,” Reed said from behind Carter.

He turned and narrowed his eyes on Reed. “Fuck. I didn’t want June to know what happened.”

“I told her not to say anything. As long as Nova doesn’t find out, it should stay a secret,” Reed said with a wide grin as if he was proud of his joke.

“He’s not lying,” Gray said with a shrug as he lifted his bottle to his lips.

“You good?” Luke asked. His eyes were glowing bright amber and his nostrils were flared. He’d been ready for a brawl and was probably a little peeved he didn’t get a chance to crack someone’s skull.

“Yeah. I’m good,” Carter said, clapping a hand on Luke’s shoulder as he passed to lower into his seat.

“Hell yeah, he’s good! He’s getting married tomorrow!” Reed yelled, causing his friends and a few surrounding tables to whistle, catcall, and clap.

****

“You did what?” June said, her voice a tad shrill in Carter’s ear.

“Hey. I didn’t kick his ass. That was a lot more challenging than you’d think,” Carter said, staring up at the dark ceiling in Colton’s spare room and wishing he was lying beside June. Even if she was just a cabin over, it felt more like miles away.

A sniffle came over the line and Carter sat straight up.

“June?”

“You’re so damn sweet,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.

Okay. Those were happy tears. He still didn’t like them, though. He preferred her smile. He preferred the glow to her skin after they made love or when she threw her head back and laughed that throaty sound he fucking loved so much.

“He really cried?” she asked, a soft giggle in her voice.

“I mean, there weren’t tears streaming down his face, but his eyes sure as hell looked glassy to me.”

This time, her giggle turned into a full belly laugh. Much better. He liked that sound way better.

“I miss you,” he breathed into the phone as he laid back down. He really should end the call so she could get some sleep. He needed her to be full of energy and well rested for the day he’d planned for her.

“You just saw me an hour ago,” she said around a laugh.

“And? That was an hour ago. That’s a long time in dog years.”

“Except neither of us are canines,” she teased.

The line went quiet and Carter pictured her lying on her side, smiling, her hand under her cheek.

“We should get to sleep. Big day tomorrow,” Carter said, closing his eyes and pretending she was lying beside him on this tiny ass bed.

“Yeah,” she said, her voice a whisper. “Carter?”

“Yeah, Minx?”

She giggled at his nickname he’d called her in the very beginning.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Carter said.

“Good night.”

“Night, baby. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

It took a second for either of them to end the call. Carter waited until her end of the line went silent before setting his phone on the nightstand.

He couldn’t fucking wait until morning.

Chapter Twelve

June stood in the bedroom, turning from side to side, checking her reflection in the mirror over the dresser. Peyton and Lola had done an incredible job on her makeup and hair. She looked elegant without being too fancy. She’d chosen a simple navy colored dress that cut in at her waist, then flared out at her hips. It was slimming and flattering, and frankly, made her boobs look awesome. And according to all the women, the color made her eyes pop.

She looked like herself, just polished and ready for something special. Like her wedding day. Or marriage day, as she and Carter had begun to call it since there would be no wedding or celebration. That was something she kind of regretted. Maybe they should’ve put it off a couple of weeks so they could at least plan a party at their cabin after. It wasn’t like they knew all that many people. All of Big River and Blackwater would fit comfortably in their home, and they could grill outside.

Whatever. She wouldn’t let that dampen her mood. She was beyond excited. When Carter first brought it up, she’d thought he was teasing or just caught up in the mood. But the more he talked about it over the last three days, the more excited she grew, as well. June Gillespie-Simpson. She couldn’t wait to start practicing her new signature.

She couldn’t wait to see him. Shawnee demanded he sleep at her and Colton’s house last night while Shawnee stayed with June. And then all the women showed up on the front porch just after dawn. They brought breakfast and made mimosas and just had fun while getting June ready. June didn’t even know if Carter had bought new clothes or if he’d just show up in his usual sexiness. Really, she didn’t care. She loved him just the way he was, rugged, run down clothes and all.

“My dad’s here. You ready?” Nova asked, unusually subdued. June had expected her to be bouncing off the walls and crowding June all day. Instead, once she was ready, Nova had disappeared and left June to get her mind right. Whatever the hell that was supposed to mean.

June looked at her reflection once more, blew out a shaky breath, and nodded. “Yeah. I’m ready.”

Sliding her feet into a pair of pumps – it was so nice to wear any kind of heels and still be shorter than her man – June followed Nova through the cabin and onto the porch. And then she froze. In the time June had was inside, getting ready and working up the nerve while waiting for Alan, her people had turned the territory into something out of a magazine. There were lights crisscrossing over a space where they’d arranged a few tables and chairs. The tables had what looked like plastic cloths in varying autumn colors. There were potted mums everywhere. And they’d even arranged a faux aisle for her to walk down.

And at the end of that aisle was Carter in a navy shirt almost identical to her dress, dark jeans, and a new pair of shoes making him look even hotter than normal. She was surprised that was even possible. A smile bisected her face as she tried to take it all in and stepped off the porch.

Noah and Luke moved to either side of her while Lola moved forward and handed her a bouquet of mums. June frowned up at Noah, surprised he and Hollyn were there instead of at work.

“Shut the place down. Only get married once,” he grumbled when he caught her confused look.

She wasn’t aware she could be any happier, feel any more loved, until Noah uttered those words. Carter’s Clan accepted her in as one of their own without batting an eye. Her Clan. This was her Clan now, too.

June couldn’t take her eyes off Carter as she walked toward him, her arm looped through Noah’s arm while Luke gently cupped her other elbow. Colton stood beside Carter, acting as a best man or witness. Well, she needed a bridesmaid.

Slowing her steps, June looked at all the women watching her. She couldn’t choose just one of them. They’d all been so kind to her since the beginning. And then her eyes fell on little Rieka who was waving her chubby hand at June, her slobby smile revealing two teeth.

Pulling away from the guys, she moved closer to Rieka. “Want to be my maid or honor?” she asked the toddler to a chorus of ‘awww’s from the girls. Rieka looked to her mom, who smiled and set the girl on her feet, then held her hand up to June.

The two of them walked slowly toward Carter, Colton, and Alan. Her mate’s smile was so wide and his body vibrated with chuckles at June’s choice in bridesmaid. She’d rather have had all of them standing as her witnesses, but then that would only leave the guys standing there watching. Too awkward.

Within in moments of Alan’s speech, Rieka became bored and hurried back to her parents. That was fine. The statement had been made. She smiled to herself as she wondered if anyone had caught a picture of the baby standing up there with the bride and groom in her frilly burgundy jumpsuit and sweater.

Carter’s smile never faded as Alan went through the whole we are gathered here deal. He mouthed I love you twice and she swore his eyes were glassy with unshed tears. She got it. She was feeling overly emotional, too. But the girls had spent way too much time on her makeup for her to ruin it with a few tears.

June didn’t really hear most of what Alan said. All she could focus on was the man standing in front of her, his hands gripping hers, his thumb gently making circles on the back of her hands. He was hers. Forever. They’d marked each other before they even knew each other, but their animals had known. They’d forced them to get to know each other better. And she was so thankful for that.

By the time the ceremony was over, the sun was setting behind the trees and the air was growing cooler. Apparently, Carter and the others had thought of that, too. Four firepits had been arranged around the space and Reed and Hollyn moved to light them.

June’s eyes flew wide when she realized Hollyn wasn’t using matches or a lighter; she was lighting it with her bare hands.

Hollyn straightened and caught June staring. She looked around then shrugged. “I’m a Fairy. Elemental Fairy. My gift is fire. You’re a part of the family now, so might as well know everything.” Then she moved on to the next fire pit as if what she’d just said was nothing. Guess to Hollyn and anyone else who knew, it wasn’t. Shocked the crap out of June, though.

Like a choreographed dance, the women went into Colton’s and Shawnee’s cabin and carried out platters while the men all filed into Noah’s and Hollyn’s and carried out more platters along with bottles of champagne and glasses.

“When did you all do this?” June asked, in total awe they were able to pull this off right under her nose. Whenever she left the territory to go shopping, she’d been with the women from her Clan, Big River, and even Carol and Constance her former Pride, and Luna and Amber from Hope Pride.

“It was Carter’s idea,” Callie said with a sweet smile as she pulled the plastic off the tray she’d carried.

The food was nothing fancy, just some simple dollar sandwiches and sides. And the champagne flutes were plastic. But it was perfect. It was all perfect.

June turned to Carter who stood behind her, a mushy, loving look all over that handsome face she loved.

“When did you even have time?” she asked, moving into his chest when he held his arms out to her.

“It was mainly the girls,” he admitted.

“Women,” Emory corrected, but Carter kept talking.

“They made sure you were gone long enough for us,” he said, waving his hands among himself and the guys, “to get everything here and hidden. Nova, Callie, and Peyton got the food and Lola and Emory put it all together and arranged it on the trays. We all decorated.” He looked around at the simple yet romantically elegant decorations.

“Thank you,” June said, feeling a tad weepy. “All of you. I love it.”

Swiping the tears away, June smiled wider when music began to pour from a speaker on Colton’s porch. They ate and drank and laughed. Then they danced and drank some more and laughed some more. Even Rieka busted a few moves on the makeshift dance floor.

When everyone finally bid their farewells, Nova carrying Rieka who was sound asleep and Lola nestling Grace against her chest, it was close to midnight. And the guys all had to work the next day.

June was whipped. Her feet hurt and she’d eaten too much and drank too much champagne. It had all just tasted way too good.

Carter scooped her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. “Got to carry my bride over the threshold,” he said and kissed the tip of her nose.

“Thank you, Carter. For all of it. It was so perfect.”

“You liked it?” he said, carrying her through the house, down the hall, and into the bedroom.

“Loved. I loved it.”

“I love you.” He sat with her cradled in his arms. “It took me a lifetime to find you. And now I’ll spend a lifetime earning you.”

####

If you enjoyed Carter’s Devotion, Lynn would be over the moon if you left a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. You can also find her on Facebook here.

About the Author

Lynn Howard lives in Cedar Hill, MO, where all her sexy Shifters exist. She lives and breathes hot Alpha males and sassy brassy females. She feels the most at home knee deep in mud and chicken muck and prefers to be outside under the stars, cuddled up under a blanket in front of a bonfire than in the big city.

When not typing away or feeding her chickens, you can find her fantasizing about hot country boys for her next book or wandering the woods in search of wildlife. She loves all animals and insects…except spiders. Her favorite foot accessory is barefoot and she owns at least twenty sets of salt-n-pepper shakers, yet only uses one.

Gray’s Wolf is the first in the Big River Pack series. And just like in Gray’s Wolf, there are more hot country boy Shifters just waiting to their turn for a little love and romance.

Character Index

Big River Pack

Grayson (Gray) Harvey – Alpha – wolf

Micah Matthews– Second – wolf/coyote hybrid

Reed Peterson – wolf

Tristan – wolf

Peyton Mathes – wolf – mate to Tristan

Nova Harvey – wolf – mate to Gray

Callie Taylor – mate to Micah

Lola Braun – wolf – Reed’s mate

Blackwater Clan

Carter – bear

Colton Barnes – bear

Luke – bear

Noah – bear – owner of Moe’s Tavern

Shawnee Baker aka Fancy Pants – lioness – mate to Colton

Hollyn – Elemental Fae – Noah’s mate

Ravenwood Pride

Aron – Alpha – panther

Mason – panther

Brax – panther – brother to Daxon

Daxon – panther – brother to Brax

Deathport Pack

Anson – Alpha – wolf

Felix – Second – wolf

Barrett – wolf

Kaleb – wolf

Tanner – wolf

Tammen Pride

Rhett – Alpha – lion

Trever – lion

Brent – lion

Brian – lion

Chuck – lion – owner of Dodson’s Garage

Council Members

Alan Price – wolf - Nova’s biological dad

Frank – wolf – Colton’s dad

Hope Pride

Eli – lion - Alpha

Emory – wolf – Eli’s mate

Luna – lioness – sister to Eli

Amber – lioness

Petra – lioness

Remsen Pride

Jace – lion – Emory’s former mate

Morse Pack

Eric Branes – wolf – Second

Koda – Alpha

Carl Braun – wolf – Lola’s dad