Dylan unloaded groceries and put them away. Real food and not a bag of chips in sight, he grabbed a beer and headed to his office. This was his favorite room, his den. Eggplant colored walls, thick heavy drapes over the one window to block out the hot setting sun, highly polished furniture, oak floors, and a long desk that dominated the corner. There were four computers here, all internet connected, all top of the line, all set up to dance through servers all over the world so he didn’t get caught. Hacking was illegal. He had a feeling though that infiltrating the child protective services of Cedar Side, Virginia was not only going to be easy but effortless. Dylan started tapping keys once they’d all booted up. He watched the screens. One was watching the stock market in Japan, one in China, one in New York. The last was searching the Cedar Side Department of Children’s services for Cami and was coming up blank. He tried every variation of her name and still nothing. He needed more information on her before he would make any progress. Once he’d bought, traded, and sold stocks for a few hours he shut it all down. He’d made a nice profit for the day. His bank account was better for his efforts and so was the pack’s. Dylan stripped his clothes off and walked through the house naked. He tossed his beer bottle into the trash, his clothes into the laundry basket and padded to the bathroom to clean up. Recon at Frankie’s may be more effective than hacking Hicksville USA after all. Dylan looked good in his pink polo shirt. Women love men in pink, this shirt always got ladies into his bed. His hair now combed neatly, he was fresh shaven, bathed, and wore musky cologne that drove women crazy. He sat in his corner half round booth that gave him a good view of the back door, the bar area and the kitchen. Anywhere she went tonight, she would be in his field of vision. Recon was information gathering and tonight his target was a very alluring female. Frankie said she started at seven, two minutes to go. She came in the back door and focused on him immediately. He smiled at her, she stomped straight for him, and her eyes flashed. Her wolf? Uh-oh. This wasn’t good. She was angry. She climbed into the booth beside him up on her knees looking down at him, furious and trying to dominate him. Shit, she knew. “Why were you in my apartment? I don’t have anything for you to steal so why were you in there?” “What makes you think that I would steal from you?” You obviously don’t work but you can tip me huge amounts of money, thanks by the way, Turner dropped it by the library. So you must do something illegal or steal.” “I don’t steal.” Who the hell was she to accuse him of shit? “Then you do something illegal. Turner said that you just got back from a four month trip, what were you doing buying drugs or selling them?” “Drugs? I don’t buy or sell drugs honey. I don’t have to and I wouldn’t anyway. I’m a stand up guy. I told you that I wanted to take you out but you turn me down every chance you get, I was just looking for a clue as to how to break through that ice queen exterior.” She gasped and her eyes flashed again. Dylan smirked igniting her anger further. “I am not an ice queen!” Her chest was heaving and her pulse was dancing wildly. His head cocked and the corner of his mouth lifted. “I am not!” She grabbed his head with her nimble hands burying her fingers in his hair and holding on. Tipping his head, she planted her lips on his and kissed him passionately, her body leaned into his, her chest crushing against his. Dylan pulled her down into his lap and shifted so he was kissing her now. His tongue explored her and she moaned into his mouth. He tilted his head in another direction and crushed her lips beneath his. Dylan’s hand wrapped the ponytail around itself and tipped her head the way he wanted and buried his tongue deeply in the heaven of her mouth. His skilled tongue danced over hers and she sighed. “Cami, it’s time to work.” Frankie commanded loudly interrupting them. Her eyes were still closed when Dylan pulled away. The other wolves scattered around the bar hooted and wolf whistled at them. Dylan gave them his thousand watt smiled and the cheers got louder. You don't have to work. I can take care of you, protect you, and make you feel real good.” He murmured against her mouth in that smooth caramel tone he knew she loved. She gasped and scurried out of his lap. Her tongue darted out to taste him on her lips before she gave him a nasty look. He smiled at her, undaunted. Cami rushed away to the lady’s room and Dylan chuckled to himself. Nope, no woman could resist the pink shirt or his extra smooth panty dropper voice. “Leave her alone Dylan. I’m begging you man.” Frankie looked like he’d just bitten into a lemon. “I know that you’re in love with her Frankie but I told you, she’s my mate. You know what that means. Go find yourself a nice human. Cami is wolf and she’s not for you. Nature made her for me and brought her to me. She’s mine and she’s starting to realize it.” Frankie shook his head sharply. “Get out of my bar Dylan. You are no longer welcome here, your privileges are cut off, and you will not be served anymore.” Frankie played the only card he had left because Dylan had been right about one thing. Frankie was in love with Cami. Frankie knew that Dylan would take her away from him the same way he’d lured Sheila away in high school. All of the women fell for him and Frankie did not want to lose a second female to the big arrogant wolf. If Dylan had left Sheila alone, she and Frankie would be married. They would be raising children and Sheila wouldn’t have swallowed that bottle of damned pills. It drove her over the edge when Dylan dumped her for Linda in the middle of lunch senior year. “Frankie, if I go, I take the pack with me. Without us, there is no bar. I suggest that you reconsider my privileges.” Dylan said as calmly as if he was discussing the weather. Frankie shook his head. “Get out.” Frankie’s fists clenched at his sides. Dylan nodded. The bar was full of wolves, thirty of them easily. Dylan stood and looked around. “Gentlemen, we are no longer welcome here. Our rights and privileges have been revoked. Pay your tabs.” Dylan waited. Money was left on tables and pack members filed out with their heads high, each nodded to their beta. “Just his rights and privileges are revoked. Everyone else can stay.” Frankie said desperately to the men leaving, his voice high and frightened. Most shook their heads. They were pack and pack stuck together. “I told you Frankie, if I go, they go and without us you have no business. When you are ready to discuss it, you know where to find me.” “Where did everyone go?” Cami said when she came out of the ladies room into the quiet empty bar, only Frankie and Dylan remained. “Frankie kicked me out. Everyone else left out of protest. You aren't going to make any money tonight sweetheart.” Dylan tucked a twenty into her front pocket. “See you around.” Dylan eased passed her and out of the front door. “When you’re ready to close it down for good Frankie, I’d love to have this door. Like I said before, you know where to find me.” Dylan let the door close and went to his truck. The parking lot was empty now. If Frankie didn’t man up in a few days, he would open a pack bar. The single men needed somewhere to blow off steam. They could take turns working it and that may work out for the better. “Wait.” Cami came outside. “What happened? I was in the bathroom. Frankie won’t tell me.” “Let me take you out and I promise to explain it.” She stood there with her forehead wrinkling and her perfect white teeth working her lip. “Tell Frankie that you are taking the night off.” “He told me to take the night off already.” She shoved her hands into her pockets. Dylan ran a hand through his hair. “Are you coming? You've got the night off anyway, let me take you out.” She still stood there. He started the truck and she hurried around to climb into the passenger side. Dylan pulled out his phone and texted someone then reached across her and pulled her seatbelt into place. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He smiled at her. Cami rolled the window down and breathed the air from outside before his scent overwhelmed her again and she embarrassed herself. “Now what happened? What happened in the bar? Where did everyone go?” She was nibbling her lip again. God he wanted to taste her again. His midsection was stiff and uncomfortable. “Frankie asked me to leave.” He pulled out onto Main Street and headed south. She had no idea where they were going and didn’t care right now. Right now, her curiosity was piqued. “But you didn’t, everyone else did.” She was watching him. “Everyone in there was a friend of mine, when he asked that I leave, they all felt… obligated to leave as well. They won’t feel welcome to return until Frankie apologizes to me.” “You’re a bully. You’re bullying Frankie into letting you come back. Why did he ask you to leave?” She was a lot calmer than he expected. Her voice was soft and controlled so he kept his the same, soft and controlled. He had the feeling that this discussion would end with him telling the pack to go back to Frankie’s and he would, for her. “Because he wants you for himself and you’re mine.” Dylan glanced at her to gauge her reaction to that. Uh-Oh. “I’m not anyone’s. You say that like I’m property.” Cami was getting pissed. “I don’t mean it that way. Please don’t take it that way.” He reached across the seat and squeezed her hand. They were leaving town she noticed. They’d just passed the library which was the last building on Main Street. “Where are we going?” She was already unfamiliar with the area. “ToLupo’s Restaurant, they have the best Italian around. I could’ve made you spaghetti with a little warning but we’ll have to settle for theirs tonight.” He smiled at her. “It’s not far.” “I’m not dressed for that.” She pouted. “Its fine, I promise.” *** “Mister Ellis, it is so nice to have you again sir. Who is this lovely young lady?” “This is Cami, my date.” Mario, Dylan suspected that wasn’t his real name but had never heard any different, walked around her, sniffing. “Cami what?” Mario inspected her head to toe. Cami watched him watching her. “Montgomery.” She said and Mario nodded. “Not your real name though is it? A mother doesn’t name her child Cami.” Mario walked around her again. Dylan was getting curious now because he’d never seen the old wolf act this way. His graying hair was as bushy as ever and so were his eyebrows. His tuxedo was old and slightly wrinkled. Where else could you get a waiter that was wearing a tuxedo in Fern Valley though? “My name is Cambridge, Cambridge Montgomery. Isn’t that awful?” She tittered nervously. Mario smiled. Cambridge? Cambridge was a variation he did not try with child services earlier. Who named a kid after a city? It was nice. He rolled it around in his head and smiled softly. “I think that it’s lovely Principessa, how long will you grace us with your presence?” She giggled and obviously knew that he’d called her Princess. Mario offered her his elbow and led her to the small private table that Dylan reserved by text a few moments earlier. It was a private dining room surrounded by heavy velvet drapes to ensure their privacy from other diners. There weren’t many people in Lupo’s tonight but he didn’t want curious eyes on his mate. Mario knew something that Dylan didn’t and Dylan never liked that. He and Mario were going to have a conversation very soon. Mario came here from Italy, maybe he could scent her or something, and he was from a long line of old wolves so it was possible. He followed them and slipped through the drapes behind them. Dylan refused the menu. “Cantaloupe and prosciutto, calamari,” Cami made a face and shook her head, he grinned. “Salad?” She nodded. “Steak Pizzaiola with a side of spaghetti.” “And bread?” Cami asked. “Very good, Principessa, Mister Ellis. Right away.” Mario studied her a few more seconds then left their dining room. “So, Cambridge Montgomery, what brings you to Fern Valley?” Now he was going to get as much information out of her as he could. “I met a man when I was waiting tables near Atlanta. Business was slow and we spent the evening talking. He told me all about this place, about how lovely the people were, how safe it was, and how beautiful it was. He said it wasn’t anything like Atlanta. I headed out the next day and here I am.” “You’re from Atlanta?” Dylan watched her, she shook her head. “I’m from Cedar Side, Virginia. As soon as I could, I left.” “Why?” He took her hand and brushed his thumb over the pulse point in her wrist. “Why leave the only home that you ever knew?” “I didn’t have any family, I was a foster kid. The last couple that I lived with was old. The lady, Miss Grace, she died and Luther was nearly blind and had cancer. He gave me the keys to his truck and told me to go find myself, I was sixteen. I took the keys and bolted. I hated it there, I never fit in. I couldn’t stay in Cedar Side, they would’ve just put me with another family, and I wanted out of the foster care system.” Mario brought them a bottle of red wine and filled their glasses then slipped back through the curtains discreetly. Dylan saw his nose twitch before he left. “How long have you been on your own now?” He wanted so much to take her home and keep he safe from the world. “Since I was sixteen.” Cami nibbled her lip. “How old are you now?” Dylan squeezed her hand. Her pulse was off the charts and he decided it would be best if he gave some space. “Oh,” she chuckled. “I’m going to be twenty four next week. How old are you? You don't look much older than me but you seem old.” He smirked. “I’m twenty seven and I feel old sometimes.” The corners of his mouth drew up seductively and she trembled. She would be his with just the slightest amount of convincing. “What Turner said earlier, you never explained. What is a beta? I looked it up at the library and it’s not slang for anything like he said. The only thing about beta that I could find was in wolf hierarchy, the Greek alphabet and fish species.” Dylan watched her knowing his eyes flashed amber. She gasped, it finally dawned on her. “They aren’t real.” She whispered. “Are they?” He flashed his eyes at her again and nodded. “You’re eyes, they…” “Are like a wolf’s?” Her brows knitted and her chin quivered. He took her hand again. “Are you okay Princess?” “Why did he call me that?” Cami was getting scared. “I suspect because you are werewolf royalty.” The laughter bubbled out of her. “Henry has been studying it but we aren’t coming up with much. We realize that you are not aware of your abilities and that you have probably never turned in your life because either you don’t know how, or you don’t want to, but I think that you can. I saw your eyes flash, it probably wasn’t intentional like when I did it, but they flashed just the same. We don’t know what else you are capable of and we aren’t sure how you ended up here without protection or guidance. I can protect you and I can take care of you. You won’t be safe on your own for long especially if it gets out that you are a Princess or something.” “You keep saying that you’ll protect me but what does it mean? Why would you want to protect me or anything else? We just met, you don’t know me.” Her face was a pale mask of confusion. “Because you are my mate, I knew the second you walked into the bar the other night. I scented you and every cell in my body jolted awake. When you kissed me earlier I knew that I was home.” Her eyes widened. Mario was suddenly there with the fruit. “Mario.” Dylan said without looking at him. “You called her Principessa, why?” Dylan’s gaze never left her face. “Oh Mister Ellis, because she is a Principessa, she is the picture of her mother.” He tsked. “The Queen Francesca Ilaria Giordano, it is a shame how they were hunted down like common animals, the Queen and King Alajandro. A bigger shame that it was all covered up. I am not so sure of the details but I think the way the story goes is that some of the King and Queen’s loyal subjects stole their newborn daughter away and hid her from the world. I never knew what happened to her but you do look exactly like Queen Francesca except your hair. Her highness had golden blonde hair.” Cami’s eyes were filling with tears. “I apologize, I thought that you knew. It would be best if we kept this quiet, just us need to know. She may not be safe. If you need help protecting her Mister Ellis, you let Mario know. Eh?” He gave her a deep bow and slipped out of the small private room. Cami wiped her cheek. “Come here sweetheart.” He pulled her into his lap. “Oh baby that was not the way to get that news was it?” He stroked her hair smoothing the stress away. Dylan kissed her temple and held her close letting her get it out. “It’s stupid.” She sniffled. “People I’ve never heard of and I am crying like a kid. I didn’t know them. I don’t know if he’s right either. I may not be the Principessa. But if it is true, I won’t ever meet my parents and I hoped all of these years that I got separated from them by accident and that they would come back for me. I may not even be a werewolf. Jeez, that sounds so stupid. An hour ago, they didn’t exist.” Dylan squeezed her. “We’ve existed for as long as time. We stay hidden and we stay safe. We stick together and we stay safe. I don’t know if you are who he says, you may not be. I’ll have Henry look into it, but Princess or not, you are wolf, and you are my mate. That much I am positive about.” He offered her a slice of cantaloupe and she nibbled. “Is it good?” She nodded and Dylan kissed the top of her head. He wanted nothing more than to hold her and feed her, protect her. She eased off of his lap leaving him bereft. Perching on her seat, she sipped her wine and had another piece of fruit. He tried a piece and realized just how hungry he was. They ate in comfortable silence. Cami had never had steak this way and found it to be very good, but you couldn’t beat Frankie’s steak off the grill. “You’re very beautiful.” Dylan said, sipping his wine. Cami made a face and he laughed. “Youaren’t used to compliments?” She shook her head and took another bite. She was stuffed but she was not letting steak go to waste, she could rarely afford to have it and only had it when Frankie took pity on her. “Do you want a box for that? Youcan take it home.” She looked over at his plate, he’d finished his. Cami leaned back and held her belly. “I think maybe I should. I am going to bust. I can’t believe that I ate as much as I did and a ‘Big and Sloppy’ earlier. I’ll need new pants if I don’t stop eating this way.” “But you’ll be hungry again in a couple of hours, won’t you?” She blushed and he smiled at her. “Wolf.” He murmured. “Will you do something for me?” Her big green eyes were leery. “Will you try to shift?” “I wouldn’t know how.” She kept her eyes down. “I’ll help you. I want you safe and part of being a werewolf is being able to call your inner wolf out to protect yourself.” She nibbled her lip. “No one will see, I don’t mean for you to do it here, I have a safe place for you to try.” Cami took a deep breath and looked up at him, her face serious. “Only if you tell your friends to come back to Frankie’s bar, please don’t put him out of business. He’s looked out for me and took care of me when nobody else cared.” He paid the bill and had her food boxed. “It’s a deal. Come on.” He took her hand and led her out to his truck. With her seat belt secure, he pulled out onto the road and followed it home. “What is this place?” Cami looked out over the front yard at the impressive house sitting behind a circular drive. The circle and yard surrounding the large grey stone one level house was full of huge trees that would shade it during the day. “It’s beautiful.” Her face was leaned out of the window, her breath fogging a small cloud on the passenger side. “This is my home, I live here.” She looked over at him, doubt filling her eyes. “Really.” He parked at the front door and got out. “Come on.” He said when he came around and opened her door. “I don’t think I should.” He sensed her anxiety. “Have I ever made you feel unsafe?” Cami smirked. “Ok, have I ever lied to you?” He reached for her hand. “Come on. If you want to leave, I will take you home. I promise. Come inside, let’s see what you are.” She had to admit, even she was curious about that. Cami took his hand and followed him to the door. He pushed numbers into keypad and the door swung open. He turned the lights on. The polished wood foyer was softly lit by recessed lighting high above her head. “It’s beautiful. Whose house is this? Really?” He laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Come.” They followed the hall to an intersection. The kitchen was to the right. He put her food in his refrigerator. “That’s mine.” She said, suddenly defensive. “Yesma’am.” He smiled wolfishly for her. “Come.” He held out his hand to her and she took it letting him lead her. “This is the living room,” he pulled her further, “dining room,” She gasped at how nice it all was, so not the mountain man who came into her bar. This was…elegant. Much too elegant for Dylan. “Recreation room.” She ran her fingers over the Italian leather back of the sofa and looked up at the huge TV on his wall. She couldn’t afford one, not that she had time to watch anyway with working four jobs. There was a pool table beyond the sofa group and a bar. “Wow.” Her brows were up high with surprise. “Want to see the rest?” He murmured in her ear making her tremble again. “I don’t want to get caught in here. We could get into trouble.” “I promise you it’s mine.” He walked over to the book case and took a framed certificate from one of the shelves. “Here, see. It’s the deed to the house, see here is my name.” He pointed to it. “I own the house and the surrounding fifty acres. The house was old and beat up when I bought it but the pack and I fixed it up.” She held the frame and read the document. “The pack are the other werewolves in the area by the way.” “This really is all yours? But you’re so young and you own it outright? How did you afford all this? Are you sure that you aren’t doing anything illegal?” Her small white teeth were worrying her bottom lip again and she studied him. This is really all mine. I have a knack at the stocks, but yeah sometimes I do some light hacking and that’s illegal but, I earned all of my money legally, I promise. The feds aren’t going to rush in here and take it from me. Youhave nothing to fear, you are safe here with me.” The corner of his mouth curled up. “Well, mostly.” He held back a snicker but straightened up when she studied him. He could see the wheels turning in her pretty head so he dropped the innuendoes. “So, let’s see the rest. You should know your way around. I expect to see a lot of you here in the future.” Her eyes snapped up to his. “Why would you expect that?” She looked confused, which confused Dylan. “I told you that you’re my mate. That means we live together, have a life together, children, etc...” Cami burst into laughter and he was even more confused. “Uh, no. I don’t think so. I’m not anyone’s mate. One day I may accept a proposal from a suitable young man but no, no mate.” Dylan took a deep breath and exhaled. “I’m not.” She insisted setting her jaw. He let it drop for now. “Fine. Let’s see what you can do then.” He took her hand and led her to his workout room. The thick workout mats covered the floor in the large room. There was a heavy bag, a speed bag and a weight bench against the wall. He had no need for a treadmill. He would rather run outside, rain or shine. Dylan closed the door and shifted into his wolf. Cami screamed and covered her eyes. He shifted back and laughed. “You didn’t believe me did you?” Her head shook but she wouldn’t look. He pulled her hands from her eyes. “Cami, this is real. It is not a dream.” Her chin quivered. “It’s okay, you’re safe.” He pulled her into a hug and held her there for a long moment. She melted against him and all he wanted was to carry her into his bedroom and claim her but instead he said. “Now, please don’t be afraid. I’m going to shift into wolf. I want you to feel my fur, run your fingers through it, and look into my eyes. Okay?” She nodded and he slipped into wolf. He was very large and muscular, much like he was as a man. His fur was dark brown just a shade lighter than his hair. He had lighter fur around his muzzle and in his ears. He was quite beautiful as a wolf, she thought. She petted his head like she would if he were a dog. He stood up with his paws heavy on her shoulders. He was taller than her and bent his neck to peer into her eyes. His eyes flashed and she gasped then grabbed his head burying her fingers into the thick dark fur beneath his ears. She scratched and he licked her. Cami made a face. She hated dogs that tried to bathe you. Ugh. Stop Dylan.” Cami tried to push him away but she couldn’t budge him, he was easily two hundred pounds. His breath was hot and damp on her face. His huge furry head nuzzled her cheek then he hopped down and shifted back. “Now. Youtry.” Her lip lifted into almost a snarl. “Come on.” She threw up her hands. “Try what? I don’t understand what you want me to do.” “I want you to shift. Youfelt my fur, imagine yourself covered with it. Imagine yourself with eyes that flash, what it must feel like to walk on four feet. Close your eyes and concentrate.” Cami’s face twisted in disbelief but she closed her eyes and thought about what it would be like to be a wolf. Nothing happened. Dylan spent the next two hours coaxing, shifting, ordering, cajoling, begging, and explaining. “This is useless. I told you I am not a wolf person. In fact, I’m not entirely sure that I’m not dreaming all of this because I can’t believe that I got into your truck and left Frankie’s with you. Let alone came here to try and turn into a wolf. “It’s not useless and you are a wolf. We can all smell it on you. Even Turner knew that you were wolf. He thought you knew then begged me not to discipline him when he figured out that you really didn’t know. Frankie has figured it out and Henry has been studying you since you rolled into town. He can’t figure out why you don’t shift and why you aren’t aware of your abilities. Youhave us all stumped because the rest of us starting shifting during puberty. At first it just happens but eventually you learn to control it.” Dylan took a breath. “Do you want something to drink sweetheart? Beer? Soda? Bottle of water?” She was nodding. “Bottle of water, please. All of this concentrating has made me thirsty.” She smiled sweetly at him. “I’ll be right back.” Cami waited in the center of the room with her hands clasped behind her back, the picture of innocence. As soon as Dylan was out of sight, she followed the hall to another hall and managed to find her way to the front door. She really needed to get out of this nut house. Insisting that she was a werewolf, really, and he must be crazy if he thought that she was going to mate him just because his cells or whatever came to life. She would never tell him how her body and senses reacted to just the smell of him let alone how he made her feel when he got too close. Maybe he was right about he mate thing because there was definitely chemistry between them. Just thinking about him now, her core was moist and her heart pounding. But he just wasn’t a suitable possibility after all he’d only just bathed for the first time yesterday. She grinned at that knowing it wasn’t true but Mister Cocky deserved the insult. Cami slipped out into the dewy night and took off at a jog across the circular drive. She heard the growls and snarls before she saw them. Two sets of amber flashing eyes. Neither of them could be Dylan, she’d heard him in the kitchen before she slipped outside. Were they real wolves or werewolves? God that sounded stupid and what did it matter which they were, they were going to attack either way. She still doubted that they were real, didn’t she? They were huge, one was black and one was silver, he looked more like the wolves you saw on the nature shows on cable. They were advancing on her. She stood frozen to the spot where she’d stopped when she heard them. Time to move, feet! Cami thought. Their hackles were up and they were dividing and flanking her. Oh God. They may just eat her. Cami stepped backward but didn’t give either of them her back or the opportunity to get the better of her. She could hear Dylan inside calling her name. Shoot. She really should’ve stayed inside. She’d gone from the frying pan into the very hot fire. Two more steps backward. Where the hell was that front door? She didn’t remember running that far. The growls were deepening and getting louder, and more aggressive. Shoot, shoot, shoot. Two more steps, did someone move the damned house? Finally, she backed into something hard and reached behind her for the doorknob. Damn it! A locked truck. What now. Cami was really getting scared and they were only mere feet away and advancing. “No!” She held out her hands at them palms out in a ‘stop’ gesture. “Down.” She waved her hands toward the ground and both wolves went down flat and shifted into men. “Wow.” Cami watched them surprised and looked at her hands. Did she do that? Or more likely, they were friends of Dylan’s and they were messing with her. “I’ll say.” Dylan was beside her now she could feel his body heat. “What are you?” The dark haired one asked. He was heavily muscled, mid twenties and kind of cute. He had big blue eyes and a five o’clock shadow that was semi-sexy. He wore a blue denim shirt that was several shades lighter than his jeans but she could see the muscles shift under his shirt as he climbed to his feet. “I’m not sure what she is Pete but I can tell you who she is, she is my mate. Can you get up any slower?” Pete groaned and slowly lifted himself off the ground, Mike did the same. “Holy Jesus Dylan, I feel like I got hit by a damn truck.” Mike muttered. The blonde one was thinner but still looked strong. She considered his abs under the blue tee shirt he was wearing. His sandy hair was long and he wore a scruffy goatee. He was not as good looking as Mike or Dylan but he had a ready smile and an agreeable demeanor like Chris. “Do it again sweetheart. Can you?” Cami shook her head. “I don’t know.” Cami held her hands up and swatted them down again but nothing happened. “Youguys are playing with me. Very cute.” She crossed her arms across her chest. “And I told you that I am not your mate.” Pete and Mike both laughed and shoved Dylan. “I can’t believe it but it sounded like a she-wolf just turned down Dylan. Did you hear that Mike?” “Think we have a shot?” Mike asked. “No, you don’t. Any luck finding Junior boys?” Dylan asserted his dominance with the degrading title of boys. Both shook their heads. “Come in and have a beer. I was trying to teach Cami how to shift into a wolf. She thinks that I’m crazy.” Dylan turned and stepped toward the house. “Are you coming Cami-love or are you going to take your chances on nature not attacking you out there in the dark again?” She hurried to his side and walked with him to the house. Cami had never met Mike or Pete and decided that they must’ve been out looking for the same fellow that Dylan was looking for like Turner said. These must be the other betas. They were walking behind her. Dylan stepped inside first. “Go to the gym guys, I’ll bring you beers. Cami, your water is already in there.” Cami led the way down the hall. Mike stalked up very close behind her and snarled then growled loudly. Cami shrieked and ran. “What the hell man?” Dylan was suddenly there at her side. “I thought maybe I could scare her into shifting, by the way why can’t she shift?” Mike chuckled. “We don’t know but cut it out.” Dylan headed back to the kitchen. Cami gave them both sideways glances while she sipped her water. “So, you’re Dylan’s mate huh?” Pete asked sitting down on the weight bench. “It’s good for him to settle down. He’ll take good care of you.” She was already shaking her head. “No he won’t or no you’re not?” “She said she’s not already. I’d love to take you out sometime Cami. What do you like to do?” Mike grinned at her giving her his sexiest smile. What are you doing asking her out? I got first dibs.” Pete stood up and towered over Mike. “Bullshit, since when?” Mike stood chest to chest with him. They both started growling and snarling. Mike’s eyes flashed first, his wolf was near. Pete shifted and pounced on Mike mid-shift, his teeth snapping. Cami put her hands in front of her when the ball of vicious fur and teeth rolled near her and shouted ‘Stop!’ They did. Both lay on their bellies panting and watching her, both wolves changed back into men. “Son of a bitch. Stop doing that, it hurts girl. Dylan came into the gym laughing and tossed beers at both of them. “Figured out how to do it then?” Dylan tipped a beer back while Cami shook her head. “No? You’ve done it twice though. “I told you I don’t know how.” She was getting cranky because she was tired and because she was suddenly not in charge of her own body. What was wrong with her? How could she make them change and how could she make them stop? They were both twice her size and both more powerful than her. This was all so disturbing. “I don’t know how to make them shift either, it just happened or they’re screwing with me.” Dylan decided to take a different tack. He put his beer down and turned to look at both of the betas. It made Cami nervous. What was he going to do? He kept saying that he would protect her and that he was her mate but she got the distinct impression that his mood had changed. She felt like she was in danger now. “Quit whining Cami.” Dylan flashed his eyes at her. She made a face and set her jaw. “I mean it. You’re supposed to be special, act like it.” His eyes flashed again. The other two betas backed away from him recognizing the tone. “Screw you Dylan!” She turned to walk away and he shifted then pounced. His feet hit her shoulder blades just hard enough to knock her down. Cami screamed and turned back to defend herself. The two betas were wolves again and flanking Dylan. They were coming at her like she was prey. Cami put her hands up. “Back off!” The two betas were thrown back across the mat groaning and Cami knew they couldn’t fake that. Not the way they flew through the air or the awkward tumble at the end. Dylan though kept coming, snarling and showing her long white canines. Cami whimpered when she felt her body change. Her bones repositioned, tendons stretched, joints popped, muscles seized and elongated. It hurt, not like she’d broken bones, but more like her whole body was over worked and exhausted even more than before. Cami was lower now. Everything in the room seemed bigger except Dylan who was now huge and standing over her. A strangled cry escaped her when she felt his warm humid breath. She looked away and down, submitting. Dylan’s head nuzzled her head and he licked her ear. She felt so…safe, so peaceful. He was hers. He wouldn’t hurt her. He would take care of her. For the first time in her life, she felt…calm. Home. She understood what he meant now, how he felt when he scented her. His scent was so reassuring. She wasn’t sure what was happening, she couldn’t speak, and it felt like there was a presence inside her skin with her, something ancient and wise. The beta’s shifted again and stood staring stupidly at her. They were talking and glancing at her. They were so tall, so far away. Cami watched them over Dylan’s shoulder. It was then that she realized that she was on all fours. She was wolf.
