《Mated to the Wilde Bear》


 Chapter 1: Laurel

    Chapter 1: Laurel


    ¡°If you want to move up in thispany, you¡¯ve got to go down.¡±


    Laurel read the note onest time¡ªhandwritten andplete with a little smiley face and a penis


    hanging out of the mouth¡ªbefore tearing it into tiny little pieces with her fingernails. When she was


    done, she carried it to the trash can and lit the damn thing on fire with the lighter she¡¯d stolen from her


    assistant. Screw Jones and his disgustinge-ons. The next time he sent her a nasty note like that


    one, she¡¯d shift inside his office and w his balls off.


    After eleven years with the Wyoming Department of Transportation, she was sick of the kind of men


    who ran the workce. But she was even sicker of ignoring them. Notes like these made it almost


    impossible not to give in to her animal. She needed to shift. And fast.


    Another wave of heat washed over her. Sweat broke out on her brow and lip before she wiped it away,


    a sure sign she¡¯d resisted her animal for too long now. God, these hot shes were making it hard to


    see the words on the paper. She could not afford this. Not today, with her monthly reports due by


    midnight.


    At the door to the conference room, someone cleared their throat. Laurel looked up to find Scott, her


    administrative assistant, casting furtive nces around the room. Great, he probably thought she was


    trying to get freaky with herself or something. As the only woman in management, Laurel knew what


    they said about her. About what she must have done to ¡°climb thedder¡± to get here.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Laurel snapped.


    ¡°Um, Gerald called for you,¡± Scott said in a nasally voice. He had a habit of looking everywhere but at


    Laurel.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take it in here,¡± she said, already reaching for the phone in the center of the table.


    ¡°He¡¯s already gone. A ne to catch,¡± Scott exined.


    ¡°Then what did he?¡ª¡±


    Scott shoved his sses higher up his nose and finally met her gaze. ¡°An emergency call out on


    Highway Six. Near Cripple Creek. Mountain biker went down in a gorge. Boss wants you to handle the


    field report and coordinate with Blue Bear Search and Rescue.¡±


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    Laurel frowned. ¡°Why Search and Rescue?¡± she asked. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we call the Ranger¡¯s office?¡±


    ¡°Like I said, he¡¯s stuck in a gorge, ma¡¯am. No human can get in there.¡± He practically sneered at that,


    and Laurel quickly realized the unspoken meaning behind his words. Of course. Gerald wanted a


    shifter. Scott despised them, as did a number of others whom she¡¯d met here. The world as a whole


    might have epted the existence of shifters, but individually, there were always exceptions.


    She¡¯d been extra careful to keep her animal hidden around Scott. Around everyone, actually. In her


    experience, sharing that part of herself always ended in hurt and disappointment¡ªand usually


    someone leaving for good.


    ¡°Right.¡± She closed the folder containing the budget reports she¡¯d been assembling and pushed to her


    feet. ¡°Radio whoever¡¯s on site. I¡¯m on my way.¡±


    Scott nodded and scurried off. Laurel packed up her paperwork a little slower than she probably should


    have. A mountain biker¡¯s life was at stake, after all. But she¡¯d avoided this particr part of the DOT¡¯s


    job for years, and she dreaded having to do it today¡ªeven if she was only filling in for Gerald.


    Being on site for emergency calls meant dealing with Blue Bear Search and Rescue. And they weren¡¯t


    just any Search and Rescue, but the Wilde Mountain Crew. Just thinking about them brought on


    another hot sh. Abination of anticipation and panic. What if it was Wilde Bear himself?


    She¡¯d only ever seen the alpha pr bear from afar, but he was breathtaking and terrifying even from a


    distance. And he was rumored to be a party boy back in the day, although she hadn¡¯t seen him with a


    single female since she¡¯d moved herest August. Maybe he kept his partying behind closed doors.


    Heat rose along her neck as she pictured what sort of partying that might be.


    She quickly shook it off again. She¡¯d carved out a very sheltered life for herself here in Blue Hole these


    last couple of years. Private, careful, always professional. And now she was going to be face to face


    with the one group of people who could ruin it all for her, who could easily figure out her


    secret.

 Chapter 2: Laurel

    Chapter 2: Laurel


    Laurel made her way back to her corner office and allowed a quick nce out the window. It was


    August, too early for snow even this high up. Too early for tourists, too, and she was grateful for that. In


    fact, she caught herself leaning toward the ss. The urge to blow off everything and just disappear


    into the summer foliage for a few blissful hours was an ache in her chest.


    Her reflection in the tinted ss made her frown. Out of habit, she smoothed her skirt suit and took


    inventory. Her heels were low, practical but not shy. Her suit was tailored nicely but still didn¡¯t hide


    the fact that she was curvier than she¡¯d like. Then again, it kept most of the pervs at bay. Apparently


    not Jones, though.


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    Her zer pulled taut at the single button below her cleavage, but she left it sped, knowing how


    casual she¡¯d appear otherwise. Her dark brown hair had started out hanging in a glossy ¡¯do parted on


    the side, but now it was tangled where she¡¯d run her hands through it too many times.


    She didn¡¯t often wear skirts, not wanting to remind anyone of her femininity in an office full of


    masculinity, but she¡¯d forgotten to pick up her dry cleaningst night. Already, she¡¯d seen some of her


    co-workers take notice of her today, but she kept her head down and her boss face on. She¡¯d been


    burned too many times bye-ons in the break room or working lunches that turned out to be


    attempts at quickies. Laurel hadn¡¯t gotten where she was by screwing bosses and asking for favors. In


    fact, she did everything she could to appear equal.


    But she was a working girl among men, and that meant she would never be seen aspletely equal.


    Not as a human woman. And especially not if they knew what she really was.


    So she kept to herself as much as possible. Snapped orders to her subordinates. Pretended


    confidence when she had none. And above all, she always remained professional. Just like she would


    today with the Blue Bear Search and Rescue. She¡¯d worked too hard for her department manager


    position. She wasn¡¯t about to let a bunch of bear shifters intimidate her into messing it up. She was a


    fox, after all. They were supposed to be sly, right? Keeping her fox a secret was priority one.


    She¡¯d already been fired once before, two years ago, when her boss had found out. Women thought


    feminism was the real hurdle, but they had no idea. Anti-shifters had made sess for a woman in the


    workce even harder. Laurel wasn¡¯t going down that road again. So she¡¯d gone into the closet,


    determined to nevere out again.


    Resolute, Laurel grabbed her purse and keys from her desk and headed out, giving silent chin nods to


    the co-workers she passed in the hall. She was friendly without being friends with a single one. No one


    could ever use her of crossing that line. There was a job to do, and Laurel nned to do


    it.

 Chapter 3: Xavier

    Chapter 3: Xavier


    Xavier scanned the resumes on his desk, picking out relevant keywords like ¡®prior experience¡¯ and


    ¡®first-aid qualified.¡¯ He kept those in a separate pile and threw out the rest. If they didn¡¯t have


    experience, they wouldn¡¯tst on his mountain. That was just a cold, hard fact.


    The rest of the building was quiet, and while he usually enjoyed the rare silences, he couldn¡¯t wait to


    have the full crew back. August was vacation month, so they weren¡¯t here today.


    Lucas and Nash were probably lounging in the hot tub at the Lodge. Jake¡ªhis second¡ªand Harley


    were shooting pool down at Mack¡¯s, the local brewery where they all hung out off-duty.


    He frowned, remembering Jake¡¯s text. Harley wasn¡¯t easy to be around, but he¡¯d noticed Jake hanging


    with him down at the bar more and moretely. It didn¡¯t fit. Xavier had known Jake since they were


    kids, and the gentle pr bear didn¡¯t typically jive with bad-tempered shifters, especially goris. Hell,


    maybe he¡¯d been in this damn office so long, Harley had mellowed it.


    Xavier snorted at that. Yeah, right.


    He rubbed his two-day stubble, irritated to be missing out on down time with his crew. He wasn¡¯t a


    partier like he used to be. Wilde Bear wasn¡¯t so wild anymore. Not unless you counted the lengths he¡¯d


    go to make a rescue. But still¡­ a soak in the hot tub sounded damn nice. He¡¯d settle for a pool game


    and a cold beer, though.


    The oldndline on his desk rang, startling him, and he yanked it up with a scowl. ¡°Blue Bear Search


    and Rescue,¡± he grumbled.


    ¡°Yes, hello, this is Blue Hole Emergency.¡± The girl sounded young, probably starstruck and trying to be


    flirty with the breathy way she talked. Xavier conjured an image of big tits and round ass, but her face


    morphed fast into that of his ex, and he blinked it away. It was no use.


    ¡°What¡¯ve you got?¡± Xavier asked, shifting straight into responder mode.


    ¡°Stranded mountain biker. Up off Highway Six near Cripple Creek.¡±


    He grabbed a pen and paper and jotted down the details, his shoulders slumping. Summer was


    habitually a slow time for the crew. He missed the action of ski season but not enough to want to take a


    call today. He had other things to do. Like, hire a sixth. Or get drunk and argue with Harley over a game


    of pool. But he didn¡¯t have anyone here to send in his ce.


    ¡°I can be there in fifteen,¡± he said and hung up.


    Xavier fired up the truck and hit the gas, taking a fast right out of the station and onto the empty road.


    Eleven minutester, he pulled up behind the local sheriff¡¯s car, its lights shing.


    He hopped out and jogged up the road past a DOT vehicle to the small group gathered. ¡°Sheriff


    Williams,¡± he said and nodded once at the older man. He angled to include the woman who stood


    beside him but kept his eyes on the Sheriff. He didn¡¯t have time for introductions or pleasantries. The


    rescue was all he could think of now.


    ¡°What have you got so far?¡± Xavier asked.


    ¡°Mountain biker went up that way,¡± Sheriff Williams said, pointing at a narrow trail winding up into the


    hills above them. ¡°He went off the path about a half-mile up. Seems like his tire wedged into a ravine.


    He shot over the handlebars and ate it at the bottom of the gorge there. Broke his ankle. Can¡¯t climb


    out.¡±


    ¡°Equipment?¡± Xavier asked, squinting up at the trail before it disappeared around an outcropping of


    boulders.


    ¡°Too slick with the loose rock up there. We need a climber. We need your bear, son.¡±


    Xavier whipped back and eyed the man. He didn¡¯t mind the man¡¯s easy reference of his animal. They¡¯d


    known each other a long time and Xavier knew Williams supported the shifters here. But the woman


    beside him was DOT, if he had to guess. He wasn¡¯t sure how friendly she would be toward him shifting


    to make a rescue. And he didn¡¯t need to hear it right now, not when that biker needed help.


    As if sensing Xavier¡¯s hesitation, Sheriff nodded sideways at the woman. ¡°This is Laurel Adams from


    DOT. She¡¯s going to take the report and coordinate anything else we need up here. I¡¯ve got to run to


    another call. Damn teens spray painted our town sign at the base of the mountain with the word corn


    before the word hole.¡±


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    Sheriff Williams tipped his hat again and started for his car. ¡°Get me on the radio if you need anything,¡±


    he added before he was gone.


    Shoulders taut, Xavier finally turned to look at the woman from DOT.

 Chapter 4: Xavier

    Chapter 4: Xavier


    She stared back at him coolly, eyes assessing, and despite her cold wee, he couldn¡¯t help but


    stare. Her dark hair hung over her forehead in a casual flip, framing blue eyes that pinned him where


    he stood. Her full mouth was pressed together in a tight line, but even that didn¡¯t stop him from


    continuing his perusal of the rest of her. Cleavage strained sexily against the single button of her jacket


    and curves practically screamed sex appeal.


    Her stare might have been cold, but everything else about her was scorching hot. Xavier¡¯s dick


    hardened at the thought of all that heat pressed up against him.


    He shook his head to clear it. Where the hell had thate from? He hadn¡¯t reacted to a woman like


    this since¡­ well, he wasn¡¯t going there. No matter how unexpected or strong an attraction he had,


    Xavier Wilde didn¡¯t date. Or mate.


    He cleared his throat, ready to stop whatever was happening before it could go any further. ¡°Laurel, I¡¯m


    Xavier Wilde, head of Blue Bear Search and Rescue.¡±


    He extended his hand and was surprised to find her grip just as firm as his. Their palms connected and


    a rush of energy shot through Xavier, up his arm and into the rest of his body. He heard Laurel¡¯s gasp


    and met her eyes just as she yanked away.


    That was interesting. And not what he wanted here. Deep inside, his bear rumbled at the dismissal, but


    he ignored it. He¡¯d never felt anything quite like that. Attraction but¡­ more. And he didn¡¯t trust himself


    with any of it.


    Besides, Laurel was frowning and smoothing her skirt, scanning her precious clipboard as if it had


    never happened. Back to business.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Gerald?¡± he asked.


    Laurel¡¯s chest expanded with a deep breath. Xavier was hyper-aware of the way her cleavage rose,


    shoving toward him, before falling away again. ¡°He¡¯s on vacation. Few days in Tahiti. I¡¯ll be filling in until


    he gets back.¡±


    Xavier barely registered the exnation.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± she asked.


    He forced himself to focus. ¡°No, we just have a system is all.¡±


    Her eyes narrowed. ¡°I¡¯m just as capable as Gerald. I¡¯ve been doing this job a long time, Mr. Wilde. I can


    handle whatever system you need.¡±


    Any other time, he would¡¯ve appreciated the innuendo in her words, but something about her stance


    and her authority here rubbed him wrong.


    The alpha in him snarled. At the sound deep in his throat, Laurel¡¯s eyes widened. He drew himself up


    to his full height in a charge of alpha energy. ¡°I¡¯m going in,¡± he said sharply,


    ¡°Oh¡­ Right. Okay.¡± Laurel bit her lip and fumbled with a clipboard she held in one hand. She stared


    down at it and Xavier studied her, catching the way her cheeks flushed. She was disoriented. Well, that


    made two of them.


    Laurel¡¯s eyes widened, and she simply nodded. He took that as permission enough to head out and


    made his way up the trail without another word.


    The scent of a human and then blood led him into the gorge. He found the biker easily enough, but


    stalled when he caught sight of the awkward way the man¡¯s ankle was twisted against the rocks


    scattered around him. His sharp sight honed in on the imprint of a boulder and the disturbed dirt up


    above the man¡¯s head. Probably created a slide when he fell.


    He climbed carefully down, calling his bear up just enough to help keep his footing, and then sent it


    away again when he neared the bottom. Humans couldn¡¯t smell the animal, but they could sense


    something dangerous when he let his animal that close to the surface around them. He didn¡¯t want to


    spook his patient and cause further injury.


    Rocks rolled under his feet, but Xavier managed to reach the man without much trouble. He was


    relieved to find the man conscious.


    ¡°I¡¯m Xavier, head of Blue Bear Search and Rescue,¡± he said. ¡°Can you stand if I help you?¡±


    The man nodded, his eyes already giving away his exhaustion. ¡°I think so,¡± he said.


    With Xavier¡¯s help, the man stood, and almost immediately, his knee wobbled. Xavier caught him just


    before he went down and hoisted him up and over his shoulder as easily as a sack of flour. ¡°Just lock


    your hands around my neck. Don¡¯t let go,¡± Xavier told him. ¡°I need to climb.¡±


    The man grunted an agreement and Xavier began to make his way out of the gorge. It took three times


    as long as the trek in; he stopped often to make sure the man was conscious.


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    When they finally made it out of the gorge, Xavier paused long enough to adjust the man on his back


    and then began the trek back down. A crew with a stretcher met him halfway, but he waved them off.


    The rocks still slipped underfoot, and he didn¡¯t trust the squeaky-wheeled contraption not to dump the


    guy. Besides, the weight was nothing for him. He¡¯d carried three outst winter during a rock slide and


    hadn¡¯t broken a sweat. This was nothing.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got him, just get the ambnce ready,¡± Xavier told the emergency workers.


    They hurried ahead to do as he asked.


    A minuteter, he rounded the bend and caught sight of the small crowd that had developed along the


    roadside. Two news vans were being redirected to park further down, and several bystanders were


    pressing close but being roped off by uniformed officers.


    One of them, a woman he¡¯d seen in Mack¡¯s often, smiled at him invitingly, but he pretended she was


    too far away to notice. Not happening,dy.

 Chapter 5: Xavier

    Chapter 5: Xavier


    He scanned faces, feeling like he¡¯d been thrust on a stage. Nerves pulled at him as he watched them


    pointing at him, whispering amongst themselves. He hated the spotlight. Dreaded what the


    townspeople said about him, the bear shifter Blue Bear Search and Rescue boss who¡¯d partied so hard


    he¡¯d killed his father.


    But this crowd wasn¡¯t carrying pitchforks. Mostly, they all looked curious. Impressed, even.


    All except for Laurel.


    She red at him, not backing down even when he passed right by her and continued over to where


    the stretchery waiting just outside the ambnce doors. He leaned over slowly, careful with his


    human passenger as hey the man out on the thin mattress.


    The medics followed close, hovering. ¡°We¡¯ve got the gurney all set up,¡± one of them said for the third


    time. A younger guy, probably newer, scared to break protocol. His partner didn¡¯t look thrilled, but at


    least she didn¡¯t argue. Margie had been at this a while. Probably knew better than to argue with him


    about it.


    Xavier waved them both off and walked around them. ¡°I¡¯ve got him,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve carried him this far,


    and those wheels aren¡¯t going to roll properly on this terrain. You¡¯ll just jostle his injuries further.¡±


    The man muttered something about procedure, but otherwise fell back and let Xavier do it his way. He


    felt someone standing over his right shoulder. Another medic, probably. He ignored them.


    But then heid his patient down, and the wind caught a scent, and he knew who it was. He could


    smell her perfume, mixed with a hot temper, bearing down on him.


    ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Laurel hissed at his back.


    He finished arranging the patient and watched as the emergency workers began their once-over. Blood


    pressure cuffs, heart rate monitor on the pointer finger. Damn, he wished his crew were here to do this.


    ¡°Are you going to answer me or just ignore me all day?¡± Laurel was close enough he could feel her


    energy over his shoulder.


    ¡°Is he stable?¡± Xavier asked the medic.


    He waited until the young one closest to him nodded curtly. Then and only then did he exhale the


    breath he¡¯d been holding and turn back to the woman behind him.


    The moment he rounded on her, he felt the ze from her re, but like before, he was drawn to the


    hardness in her blue eyes. The challenge of breaking down the uptight wall she¡¯d put up against him.


    To top it off, her damned perfume invaded him. As overbearing as it was, it only filled him more with her


    presence.


    In response, he took a step toward her, invading her personal space. She stiffened, and he hid a smug


    smile, pretending not to notice the way her mouth fell slightly open at the sight of him so close.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, her tone acidic. ¡°You ignored the medics and the stretcher provided, choosing instead


    to recklessly continue with the injured man thrown over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes.¡±


    ¡°Is there a question in there somewhere?¡±


    She huffed. ¡°Why did you ignore the medics?¡±


    ¡°The stretcher¡¯s wheel was loose, and I didn¡¯t want it going sideways on the gravel and pitching the


    guy, broken ankle first, into another ravine.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that¡ª¡±


    ¡°Look.¡± He pointed and watched her eyes narrow and then widen as the medics gave the wheel a


    shove. With a wobble, the leg copsed, and they slid the stretcher into the ambnce. But he knew


    she¡¯d seen what he did. A loose wheel over gravel could have been bad news.


    He turned back to her and lifted a brow.


    ¡°You could have just said so,¡± she said coldly. God, why was she wound so fucking tight anyway? He


    couldn¡¯t be to me. He didn¡¯t even know the woman. Had never seen her before today.


    ¡°Are you new in town? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen you around the mountain before.¡± He was being vague.


    He knew he hadn¡¯t seen her. If he had, he¡¯d definitely remember her face. That body. The smug, chilled


    expression she wore.


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    ¡°I¡¯ve lived here for almost a year now,¡± she said. ¡°You make it sound like you know everyone in town.¡±


    ¡°Mostly,¡± he admitted.


    She snorted. ¡°Well, they certainly know you,¡± she said, and the friendly introduction he¡¯d been about to


    offer died on his tongue. Of course she¡¯d heard the gossip. And of course she fucking believed it. No


    wonder she¡¯d been so cold to him.


    He did not need this shit. He had work to do. ¡°You need anything else from me for that report of yours?¡±


    he asked.


    She blinked a few times and finally nced down at the clipboard again. He waited while she looked


    over her own notes, and caught himself admiring her long, slender fingers as she used them to keep


    her ce while she read. What would that hand look like wrapped around his cock?


    ¡°No, I have everything I need,¡± she said, her words yanking him out of his dirty daydream. What the hell


    was his problem?


    ¡°See you around then.¡± He turned on his heel and headed straight for his truck. His destination was


    already settled. Whether his crew was down at Mack¡¯s Brewery or not, he needed a drink.

 Chapter 6: Laurel

    Chapter 6: Laurel


    Laurel parked and stared through her windshield at the crowd spilling out of Mack¡¯s Brewery. It was


    barely dinnertime and not even close to tourist season, but the ce crawled with people. No, not


    people. Shifters, she realized, as the faces filling the outside eating area came into focus. She¡¯d heard


    they liked to hang here. It was how she knew where to find them outside office hours.


    And true to the gossip mill, here they all were.


    Five men, all of them built and toned and straining against the fabric of their cotton tees with the Blue


    Bear Search and Rescue logo printed across the left breast. She knew them all from the DOT meetings


    she¡¯d sat in on, had spoken to one or two on the phone even. But she¡¯d never allowed herself this close


    to them. Xavier¡¯s rescue earlier today was the one and only run-in she¡¯d had with the Wilde Crew, and


    it hadn¡¯t been anything like she¡¯d expected.


    She¡¯d walked into that rescue determined to remain professional, in control, and politely aloof. Between


    her chilly demeanor and the ridiculous amount of perfume she¡¯d sprayed in the car beforehand, she¡¯d


    hoped it would be enough to keep him from sensing her animal. If he¡¯d outed her in front of the rescue


    crews, she would have lost it. Thirteen months she¡¯d lived here and managed to keep her animal a


    secret. Outing herself now would have devastated her and possibly cost her a job.


    But the perfume had worked. He¡¯d grown more and more curt with her, and by the end, she¡¯d sent him


    retreating. A funny oue, considering he¡¯d almost knocked her over with his dominant alpha when


    he¡¯d let it rise to the surface. But Laurel couldn¡¯tugh. Not when she still felt the spark from their


    handshake all the way into her bones. And then tingles he¡¯d sent through her middle, straight between


    her thighs, with a single look¡­ no, she definitely wasn¡¯tughing about that.


    Xavier Wilde was noughing matter.


    She¡¯d almost prefer never to see him again. When she¡¯d realized she¡¯d missed his signature on the


    report, she¡¯d been tempted to delegate it to her assistant, but Laurel was no coward. Besides, if the


    men in her office found out about her pushing her duties off on others, she¡¯d never hear the end of it.


    Laurel got out of the car and squared her shoulders. In and out, she told herself. Just be quick.


    She took the stairs resolutely, bypassing the front entrance and heading straight for the deck. The


    noise increased as she got closer, and when she rounded the corner, her breath caught at the sight of


    him.


    Xavier¡¯s navy shirt was tucked, straining against the muscles underneath and entuating his big


    biceps. His shaggy brown hair was messier than it had been earlier. She remembered because she¡¯d


    spent the better part of the day wondering what it would feel like to run her hands through it. As if he¡¯d


    sensed her thoughts, Xavier ran a hand through it himself. He leaned back, nodding and grinning at the


    man seated across from him. They both raised their sses and clinked them together in a quick toast.


    Laurel watched in fascination as his lips touched the mug and he gulped his beer. Lord, he was


    beautiful.


    Laurel shook away the thought and gripped the papers in her hand even tighter. She started forward


    again.


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    When she was only a few feet away, Xavier finished draining his ss. He set the empty mug on the


    table and his gaze leveled on her. His eyes narrowed fractionally, and again, Laurel stopped in her


    tracks.

 Chapter 7: Laurel

    Chapter 7: Laurel


    One by one, the conversations at the table died off. Still, Xavier continued to simply eye her. She


    shifted but held his stare as long as she could. When another of the men cleared their throat, she finally


    nced down and away, secretly proud of how long she¡¯d stood up against the alpha¡¯s stare.


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    ¡°I¡¯m Jake,¡± the man across from Xavier spoke up. His hair was lighter than Xavier¡¯s, and longer too. But


    more importantly, his expression was friendlier. He smiled up at her with light brown eyes and Laurel


    rxed.


    ¡°Hi, Jake.¡±


    Jake put out his hand, and Xavier scowled as Laurel shook it.


    ¡°This is Nash,¡± Jake said, pointing to the golden-skinned one next to him. Laurel smiled at the threaded


    bracelets and the tunic-style shirt he wore. Nash, the hippy, she recalled from the little she¡¯d heard


    about him. ¡°And that¡¯s Lucas,¡± Jake continued. From next to Xavier, Laurel caught sight of dark eyes


    obscured by jet ck hair that hung over his brow. Lucas half-waved and then stared down at his


    ss. Something about him reminded her of Eeyore. ¡°And that¡¯s Harley,¡± Jake finished, pointing.


    At the far end of the table, Harley scowled at her.


    ¡°Hi,¡± Laurel said to the group. Her knees felt weak, and she had to remind herself to y it cool,


    professional. These guys were practically celebrities in this town and here she was, getting casual


    introductions.


    ¡°And you are?¡± Jake pressed.


    Laurel opened her mouth to answer, heat rising to her cheeks as she realized how utterly awkward she


    was being. But Xavier beat her to it.


    ¡°This is Miss Adams,¡± Xavier said. ¡°She¡¯s from DOT.¡± Jake raised a brow at Xavier, and Nash and


    Lucas exchanged a nce. Xavier ignored them and swiveled back to her, his blue eyes melting every


    solid surface of her body. ¡°Can I help you with something?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ yes, I need to follow up about earlier.¡± Laurel felt her cheeks flush at the way she¡¯d stammered.


    What was wrong with her? She was usually so confident¡ªor at least good at pretending.


    Xavier growled. ¡°You couldn¡¯t wait until tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Geez, man, ease up. She¡¯s just doing her job.¡± Nash shook his head.


    But Xavier¡¯s scowl only deepened and he stood, shoving back from his chair so hard it teetered. Lucas


    caught it before it could fall.


    Xavier gestured sharply to the far end of the deck. ¡°We can talk over there.¡±


    Laurel cast ast nce around the table and was met with sympathetic smiles. She waved and


    hurried after Xavier, her humiliation only growing with each step.


    Xavier reached the far end and turned, leaning his elbow on the wooden railing. His blue eyes pinned


    her to where she stood. ¡°Now. What is it you need so badly, you¡¯de all the way out to Mack¡¯s to


    hunt me down?¡±


    He was using his alpha bear on her again. Just like earlier. He wanted to see her sweat. And darn it, it


    was working.


    Laurel swallowed. ¡°I forgot to have you sign the official report detailing the rescue effort earlier.¡±


    Xavier¡¯s brows lifted. ¡°You came all the way out here for one signature?¡±


    Laurel held up the paperwork, still gripping it too tightly. ¡°Without it, we¡¯d be open to all sorts of things


    likewsuits and safety vitions. It¡¯s very important that I file it correctly.¡±


    His eyes softened, and he rxed, leaning closer. ¡°Of course it is.¡±


    Laurel wasn¡¯t sure what she¡¯d said to make him change his mind so suddenly, but it was better than


    fighting. Already, her skin was beginning to tingle with that heated look he gave her. His eyes were blue


    magma.


    ¡°I just wanted to¡­ do my job right,¡± she said. Crap, why did her voice sound so breathy? How was he


    doing this to her with just a look?

 Chapter 8: Laurel

    Chapter 8: Laurel


    ¡°Are you always so persistent about your job?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Are you always so hard to work with?¡± she shot back. Heughed.


    Laurel leaned in, drawn to the way he seemed to let all his walls down when heughed. She wanted


    to be the one to make himugh.


    ¡°Not always,¡± he admitted. ¡°Only for you, it seems. You bring out the grumpy alpha in me.¡±


    She felt her lips curving. ¡°Funny, I was hoping only to bring out the grumpy alpha in myself.¡±


    His brow quirked. ¡°You like being in charge, huh?¡±


    She tried to decide whether he was poking fun at her, but he looked serious enough. ¡°I guess I like


    being in control of things,¡± she admitted. ¡°Probably a little too much sometimes. It¡¯s a gift and a curse.


    But I¡¯m pretty sure my boss calls it management material.¡± In fact, her boss, Gerald, was the only friend


    she¡¯d made here and the only one she let joke with her like that. Until now.


    He grinned. ¡°You¡¯re way more fun when you¡¯re not trying to piss people off.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t¡­¡± She frowned because he¡¯d nailed it. She had been trying to ward him off from the


    beginning. And now, standing so close she could practically feel his hot breath on her face, she couldn¡¯t


    remember why she¡¯d want to make him mad enough to leave her alone. ¡°Maybe I was,¡± she finally


    admitted. ¡°Sorry about that. upational hazard when you¡¯re a woman working in an office full of


    men.¡±


    Xavier¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What do you mean? Did one of them threaten or hurt you?¡±


    ¡°No, no, nothing like that,¡± she said quickly. She put her hand on his chest to stop him from getting so


    riled up and the same jolt shot through her again. Just like earlier, she tried yanking her hand away, but


    Xavier grabbed it and held it in ce.


    ¡°You make me feel strangely alive,¡± he murmured in her ear.


    ¡°Funny. You scare the crap out of me.¡± She felt her cheeks heat at the sound of her words.


    She hadn¡¯t meant to admit that¡ªFear made you vulnerable. It made you more easily hurt or exposed¡ª


    but Xavier just gave her a crooked smile. ¡°You don¡¯t seem like the type who scares easy,¡± he said.


    She considered making a joke or even lying. She¡¯de here determined to keep her secret safe, and


    here was her opportunity. If she shut him down now, she was sure he wouldn¡¯t try again. But in the end,


    she couldn¡¯t. Something about Xavier Wilde called to her. And not just her animal, but her; the woman.


    She wasn¡¯t ready to walk away just yet.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared constantly,¡± she admitted. ¡°Of everything. People getting to know me. My past. Rejection. I


    guess that¡¯s why I piss people off. Keeps them from getting too close.¡±


    Something shed in Xavier¡¯s expression. Regret? Pain? It was gone before she could be sure, but


    she had her suspicions. People at work talked. Rumors, mostly, since none of them knew Xavier


    personally, but she¡¯d heard about his past. The parties and the women when he was younger. But


    since his father had died, he¡¯d been a recluse. No parties. No women. Not much wild anymore about


    Wilde Bear, so they said.


    Was he guilty of pushing people away just like she was? Hard to believe someone like Xavier Wilde


    was scared of getting close to anything. But if the expression on his face currently was any indication,


    maybe they were more alike than she¡¯d realized.


    Sheid a tentative hand on his arm. ¡°Xavier?¡± she asked softly.


    Xavier cleared his throat, and when he re-focused, he studied her so intently she knew there was no


    other thought on his mind besides her. ¡°I know what you mean about keeping people out,¡± he said


    quietly. ¡°I know a thing or two about that.¡± He cast a quick nce behind her, probably at his guys. She


    had no doubt they were watching and listening to the entire exchange. But she didn¡¯t care. Not when


    Xavier was staring at her like she was the sun. ¡°My crew taught me that¡¯s no way to live, though.


    Maybe we can help each other get over the fear of letting someone in.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± she said, and his smile widened.


    ¡°Have dinner with me,¡± he said. It sounded like a question, but even as she shook her head yes he¡¯d


    already slid his arm around her hip and led her back to the table with the rest of the guys.


    She weed the warmth and pressure of his hand against her, and there was that delicious tingling


    again. She had to bite back a whine of disappointment when it fell away. He grabbed a chair from the


    empty table behind them and set it down next to his.


    ¡°Take a seat,¡± he said, gesturing.


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    ¡°Boss?¡± Jake asked, brows raised as Laurel slid into the empty chair.


    ¡°Laurel¡¯s joining us for dinner,¡± Xavier said simply.


    He might as well have said she was their new sister. That was all it took for them to whoop and p


    Xavier on the back. They smiled and greeted her as if they¡¯d known her forever.


    ¡°Finally,¡± Jake hooted, Nash echoing him. Xavier rolled his eyes, but she wondered. Maybe the rumors


    were true. Xavier Wilde didn¡¯t bring girls home. Or at least, not until her. The idea warmed her.


    Lucas nodded at her with a shy smile. ¡°d to have you,¡± he said quietly.


    Harley shoved back abruptly, ring down at her. She paused, certain he was going to tell her to piss


    off, but he just grunted and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go get you a beer.¡±


    She murmured her thanks as he disappeared inside.

 Chapter 9: Laurel

    Chapter 9: Laurel


    ¡°So, you¡¯re DOT. That means you¡¯ll be on site for the rescues this season?¡± Nash asked.


    ¡°Gerald¡¯s still around,¡± she assured them. ¡°He¡¯ll be back from vacation in a few days. I¡¯m filling in until


    he¡¯s back and then who knows. I wouldn¡¯t mind it, though. Today was fun to watch.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    ¡°I bet.¡± Jake gave her an exaggerated wink and Xavier growled.


    Sheughed. ¡°I meant the crowd. Your alpha caused quite a stir when he refused the medic¡¯s help and


    opted to carry the guy all the way down.¡±


    ¡°Show off,¡± Jake said, and Nash shook his head.


    ¡°No wonder you didn¡¯t call us,¡± Nash said. He leaned in and whispered to Laurel. ¡°He just loves the


    spotlight. Doesn¡¯t want any of us to get the attention.¡±


    She shot Xavier a wry smile, remembering the way he ducked away from the crowd of women who¡¯d


    shouted for him as he¡¯d walked away from her. ¡°Definitely a diva,¡± she agreed.


    Jake and Nashughed, and even Lucas smiled at that. Here it was easy to see how theirmunity


    was so epting of a crew of bears living so openly as shifters. When they turned on the charm, it was


    hard to dislike a single one of them.


    Throughout a dinner of fish and chips, Laurel smiled more than she had in ages, but she didn¡¯t fully


    rx. She¡¯d have to be extra careful now not to show her fox, she realized, looking around the table as


    the guys allughed and joked. More than once, she had to remind herself all she stood to lose if


    anyone at work found out about her animal. She¡¯d lost a job before. Friends, family even, over her


    being a shifter, and she¡¯d promised herself she¡¯d never let that happen again. No matter what. Sitting


    here around the table with these guys made it tempting, though. They were so easy to be around and


    clearly wouldn¡¯t care if she was a fox.


    But others might. Anti-shifter talk had been growing in this town. A shame, since she¡¯d moved here to


    escape where it was happening in the bigger cities.


    She frowned at that and caught Xavier watching her before she could cover it up.


    ¡°You finished eating?¡± he asked. She nodded. ¡°Walk with me.¡±


    She took his offered hand, following him back to the far end of the deck where they¡¯d stood earlier. This


    time, he led her around the corner so that they were out of sight of the rest of the crew. She stared into


    the trees that lined this side of the restaurant and inhaled the scent of pine appreciatively.


    ¡°Having a good time?¡± he asked.


    She nodded. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I got out like this,¡± she said. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Xavier stepped toward her, closing the distance between them, and Laurel¡¯s nerves rattled all over


    again¡ªfor a different reason. She¡¯d been fine in front of the group. Even when Xavier¡¯s hand had


    reached for hers under the table, she¡¯d let him touch her and kept her thoughts mostly ordered. But


    standing here alone, without an audience, she couldn¡¯t catch her breath. What was it about his touch


    that made her feel like a freshman in the backseat of a car all over again?


    Her animal went crazy as desire rose. She inhaled again, and this time, it wasn¡¯t pine or forest she


    smelled. She froze. Pheromones. God, he¡¯d smell her and realize her animal for sure now.


    ¡°Well,¡± Xavier said, tucking a loose lock of hair behind her ear. ¡°In case you don¡¯t remember how it


    goes, it¡¯s tradition to let your date kiss you at the end of the night.¡±


    Laurel looked up at him, wide-eyed in fear mixed with anticipation until it was all she could smell in the


    air between them. But God, she wanted this. And when he leaned in, she was already too far gone to


    even argue. In the end, she didn¡¯t get a chance anyway. Xavier closed the distance and kissed her.


    Laurel held still, too stunned to pull away, but then Xavier¡¯s mouth moved over hers, and she could only


    sink into it. She pressed against him, both arms winding up and around his neck. Her fingers tangled


    eagerly into his hair just like she¡¯d wanted to do all day. Xavier deepened the kiss, his tongue darting


    out to trace her top lip.


    Laurel clung tighter, and a small, high-pitched yelp escaped her throat. He let her go in surprise, and


    the blood drained from Laurel¡¯s face. She hadn¡¯t meant to do that and now he would know. He would


    figure out her secret. The very thing she¡¯d forgotten to hide from him was now undeniable; she was


    sure of it.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡­¡± Laurel didn¡¯t even know how to fix it. She definitely didn¡¯t want to stand there and take the


    usation that would surelye next.


    Panicked and near tears, she shoved the papers at him and fled.


    How could she have been so stupid? So thoughtless? So forgetful of what she was protecting? Xavier


    Wilde, it seemed, was bad for her memory.

 Chapter 10: Xavier

    Chapter 10: Xavier


    Xavier rubbed his eyes and shuffled through the stack of applications once more. But pawing through


    them again didn¡¯t change facts. Not a damn one of them was more qualified than the resume he¡¯d


    already set aside.


    He picked it up just as Jake and Nash entered his office.


    ¡°Hey, boss.¡± Jake fell into the cushioned chair opposite Xavier¡¯s desk.


    ¡°Hey.¡± Nash followed suit and between the three of them, they filled the empty space inside the small


    corner office.


    Xavier grunted back at them. He hadn¡¯t been in the mood to shoot the shit since dinner. Or, more


    specifically, since that earth-shattering kiss he¡¯d had with the DOT chic. After that horrific night senior


    year, Xavier had spent thest ten years steering clear of women. Somehow, after a perfect record of


    avoidance, Laurel Adams had gotten under his skin with almost no effort on her part, and he had no


    clue what to do about it.


    ¡°It¡¯s not even ski season, and you¡¯re burning the midnight oil?¡± Nash asked.


    ¡°Yeah, boss. I thought August was vacation month,¡± Jake said.


    Both men watched him carefully. He knew that look too. They were worried about him but knew better


    than to ask. ¡°I want to get it right with this new hire,¡± he said.


    And because he knew he had to start somewhere, Xavier waved the resume at them. Jake snatched it


    first. He read the first few lines and then looked back at Xavier with wide eyes. ¡°No fucking way.¡±


    ¡°Let me see.¡± Nash grabbed the paper hard enough to make Xavier wince.


    ¡°Kyra Gold,¡± Jake said.


    Nash looked up at Xavier in disbelief. ¡°You can¡¯t hire a chick.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Xavier asked, even though he¡¯d already known this argument wasing. ¡°She¡¯s clearly


    the most qualified out of all the applicants. She¡¯s first aid qualified, field medicine trained, she¡¯s led


    survivalist and tracking workshops¡ª¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a girl,¡± Jake broke in. As if that settled everything.


    Nash nodded. ¡°He¡¯s right. We can¡¯t bring a girl into the crew. You know how women mess up the


    dynamic. Think about that crew in Montana we heard aboutst year. They broke up over it. Broke up,


    man.¡±


    Xavier rose, temper ring as his bear reached its limit for the day. ¡°No, I don¡¯t know. Neither do you.


    We only know stories, but nothing firsthand. We¡¯re a strong crew, and a well-qualified patroller would


    make us stronger. End of story.¡±


    He sidestepped his desk, resisting the urge to smash through it instead, and headed for the exit. He


    didn¡¯t need to be ragged, not again. God, what a fucking day.


    The boys didn¡¯t say another word as he stormed out the back door and straight into the woods. The


    night was clear, the moon bright and full, and Xavier gave into his animal the moment he was clear of


    the office.


    He shed his clothes, tossing them into a pile at the base of a tree, and shifted fast. The moment his


    bear¡¯s paws hit the ground, he ran. It felt good to move. To give in to the pent-up frustration today had


    brought.


    If Jake¡¯s and Nash¡¯s reactions were any indication, that new hire situation was going to get ugly. He


    needed some distance.


    But even as a bear, he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Laurel and that kiss. He told himself it was just


    because he hadn¡¯t been with anyone else in so long. But deep down, he knew it was more. He wanted


    her. His bear wanted her. No, scratch that. His bear needed her. And that scared the shit out of him.


    He¡¯d been on his own way too long. He didn¡¯t want to need anyone.


    The familiar scent was so subtle he thought he¡¯d only imagined it. He was thinking about her too hard.


    But then the wind shifted, and he knew it was really there. He came to a stop and sniffed harder. It was


    definitely Laurel, without all that mind-numbing perfume she usually wore.


    What the hell was she doing in the woodste at night?


    He sniffed again, and this time, the scent of an animal hit him hard. Shit. Was something out here


    stalking her?


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    He broke into a run, dodging trees, using the moon and the scent to guide him. His heart pounded as


    he thought of her injured or worse. A screeching bark broke the quiet and Xavier¡¯s heart clenched.


    He sped up.


    The trees finally gave way, and he stopped short at the edge of a clearing. In the center stood the


    largest red fox he¡¯d ever seen. It sat in the grass, mewling and screeching as if it were crying. He


    looked frantically right and left for Laurel, but he saw only the fox. As he watched, the fox screeched


    again and suddenly shifted.


    The fox vanished and Laurel stood in its ce. She stood naked, her hair hanging in her face. The


    moonlight glinted off her tear-stained cheeks as she spun in a slow circle, searching the trees. She


    looked utterly lost, and Xavier¡¯s protective instincts kicked in.


    In the shadows, Xavier shifted and climbed to his feet. He rushed to her, grabbing her and pulling her


    into his arms before she could protest.


    ¡°Xavier? How did you find me?¡± she asked, and before he could answer, she was sobbing against him.


    His bear¡¯s heart broke for her, and he felt the pull he¡¯d fought earlier turn to yearning. And then it


    settled, and Xavier knew. She was it for him. There would be no one else. His bear had imed her


    right here in this moonlit clearing.


    Laurel¡¯s sobs turned to sniffles, and still, Xavier held her, rubbing circles over her back and hair to


    soothe her. ¡°Sshh. I¡¯ve got you,¡± he murmured.


    But the truth was she had him. Xavier¡¯s bear was hers now, and it would be for as long as he


    lived.

 Chapter 11: Laurel

    Chapter 11: Laurel


    Laurel pulled back from Xavier, swiping at thest of her tears. She¡¯d cried herself out and now her wits


    had returned enough to leave her mortified both for herself and her fox. She wasn¡¯t sure how he¡¯d


    found her out here, but then, she didn¡¯t really remember how she¡¯d gotten here either. Staving off the


    change for so long always did that to her. When she finally did give over to her fox, it was always a blur


    of panic as her animal raced for the safety of thickets and burrows. She didn¡¯t even remember shifting


    or leaving her house.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The breeze pricked at her bare skin, raising goosebumps along her arms and breasts. But the way her


    nipples hardened into tight peaks had nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with being


    on disy for the hottest man she¡¯d ever seen. First, he¡¯d seen her fox and now¡­ her everything else


    was exposed. Goodness, she wasid bare in the worst way right now.


    She felt Xavier¡¯s eyes on her face but couldn¡¯t bring herself to meet his gaze. Her cheek burned as his


    eyes flickered down to the rest of her. ¡°This is so embarrassing,¡± she said, but Xavier¡¯s hungry gaze


    made it clear he felt no remorse in his perusal of her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m enjoying the view.¡±


    He stood back just far enough to give her the same vantage point of his body. His broad shoulders


    tapered into a toned waist and below that, thergest cock she¡¯d ever seen pointed directly at her.


    Every inch of him looked hard as stone. Delicious. She wondered what he tasted like.


    Laurel¡¯s mouth curved because she couldn¡¯t help but agree. This view wasn¡¯t all that bad. Then she


    realized how disheveled she must lookpared to him. She really hoped her nose wasn¡¯t running.


    ¡°Sorry for falling apart on you like that.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What made you so upset?¡± He looked away into the woods, searching. ¡°Did


    something frighten you?¡±


    ¡°No, there was¡­ it was me. I resisted the urge to shift for so long that when it came on me today, I


    couldn¡¯t fight it any longer. I shifted and panicked and ended up way out here. I can¡¯t even remember


    how I got here. And then you startled me, and I lost it. Sorry.¡±


    He hooked his finger underneath her chin and forced her to look up at him. She braced herself for


    judgment, or worse,ughter, but he only looked at her with concern. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize for what you are.


    I¡¯ve never seen a red fox before. You are beautiful, Laurel. Why do you hide it?¡±


    She hesitated, terrified to share her secrets. She¡¯d hidden her true self from everyone for so long.


    Xavier watched her with such earnest caring as if he really wanted to help. Besides, he was a shifter.


    He knew what it was like. Maybe she¡¯d been wrong about him being the one to ruin her life. Maybe he


    was the only one who could help her keep it all together.


    ¡°I grew up in an anti-shifter house. My dad was human and thought shifters were unnatural. My mom


    was a fox, but I could see how she hated that part of her. Probably ingrained from her own parents.


    They were hard on her about her animal. Always making her feel guilty. Even as a kid, she taught me


    to be stronger than my fox, to resist the shift. She said giving in made me weak, and a shifter¡¯s


    weakness was discovery. When I couldn¡¯t help it, she taught me to keep it out of sight. Keep it a secret,


    she said, so no one could use it to hurt me. Most of the time, I did that, but sometimes, the fox would


    slip out, and my dad would scream at me. I walked around in constant fear I¡¯d shift by ident and


    others would find out and degrade me in the way my dad had. I left as soon as I graduated and I¡¯ve


    been doing my best to keep it hidden since then. I only shift when I can¡¯t stop it, and I always try to get


    away before anyone notices.¡±


    A life of hiding,¡± he murmured. ¡°That couldn¡¯t have been easy.¡±


    ¡°I moved around a lot.¡±


    ¡°Sounds lonely.¡±


    ¡°I decided a long time ago; I¡¯d rather be lonely than be with people who can¡¯t ept my fox. Before I


    came here, I was in the city, which made it hard to keep my fox out of sight.¡± She gestured around them


    to the moonlit woods. ¡°When DOT offered the transfer here, I jumped at it. I thought I¡¯d have more


    space and maybe even people who could ept me as a shifter.¡±


    ¡°Gerald¡¯s got no problem with shifters. He was friends with my dad.¡±


    ¡°I know. I guess I¡¯ve been too scared after everything in my past to even tell him, though.¡± She blew out


    a breath; still half-terrified Xavier would scoff at her secret life. But he only stepped closer and stroked


    her hair, tucking it gently behind her ear.

 Chapter 12: Laurel

    Chapter 12: Laurel


    ¡°You¡¯ve always hidden yourself,¡± Xavier said. He sounded awed by it but underneath the words, power


    rumbled.


    Laurel ducked her head. ¡°Until now,¡± she admitted.


    ¡°You don¡¯t ever have to hide yourself from me,¡± he said, and the authority of his alpha rang through the


    words. Laurel¡¯s animal curled around the protectiveness in him, cuddling closer.


    The way he spoke of letting her animal be seen¡­ she¡¯d dreamed of this but never had it with anyone.


    She found herself smiling softly.


    ¡°What is that look for?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Say it again,¡± she said, inching closer to him.


    His arm tightened around her. ¡°You don¡¯t ever have to hide from me,¡± he said and pulled her close.


    She sank against him, her nipples brushing his chiseled chest. She sighed, reveling in the delicious


    tingle that ran through her. How long had it been since she¡¯d let herself be like this with a man? Years,


    certainly.


    ¡°I know we got off to a rough start, you and me,¡± Xavier said, his voice gravelly and breathy against her


    temple.


    ¡°I was cold to you. It¡¯s my version of professionalism, a way to remind men I¡¯m equal. I¡¯m sorry I was


    rude.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to start over,¡± he said.


    She ran a hand up his arm, trailing her fingertips over his massive bicep. He shuddered, and she


    thrilled at the reaction she¡¯d pulled from him so easily. ¡°Me too,¡± she said.


    He drew her chin up, so their mouths hovered an inch apart. ¡°I mean really start,¡± he added. ¡°I didn¡¯t


    want to, didn¡¯t mean to feel this way for you, but my animal, it¡¯s¡ª¡±


    ¡°Drawn to you,¡± she finished for him, and his eyes danced, the blue darkening to a steel gray.


    ¡°Show me all of yourself, Laurel. The real you, no pretending. No hiding anymore.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Laurel¡¯s breath caught. Her fox rose up, practically begging for this. In the back of her mind, fear


    threatened to ruin it. To make her second-guess the trust required to give herself this way. But in the


    end, she knew she couldn¡¯t resist. Not when her animal had so clearly already made the choice for her.


    Desire was a physical ache inside her. Besides, there was no denying it. She knew Xavier could smell


    her pheromones on the air.


    She leaned against Xavier and dragged her bared breasts across his chest as she drew herself up


    against him. Friction sent delicious waves down her body, and she pressed harder until they were


    aligned from chest to knees. Xavier¡¯s erection pressed against her belly, taunting her with its pressure.


    If only she could feel its weight a little lower¡­


    His hands still hovered, cupping her elbows, giving her plenty of room to make the moves. He was


    barely touching her, not even guiding her along, and still, her knees shook with how badly she wanted


    him. She¡¯d had boyfriends, sure. Nothing serious. And none of them had ever made her feel like this.


    Like being here, showing herself, giving herself to him was everything.


    The rest of the universe faded away. In that moment, it was only them. Only Xavier. He wanted to see


    her so she would show him. And she wouldn¡¯t hold back.


    She wound her arms up and gripped his shoulders, letting her expression convey all of her feelings.


    She held tight and rolled her hips against his hard-on, a reflexive reaction to the need building between


    her thighs. Xavier¡¯s mouth crashed over hers. He took her fast, iming kisses, and Laurel offered


    herself eagerly for more. She kissed him back recklessly, half-terrified this would end any second, and


    she¡¯d have to go right back to the solitary life she¡¯d lived before tonight.


    When his tongue dipped inside her mouth, tracing lines over her lips, she whimpered. ¡°Xavier, you have


    me,¡± she said, breathless, as he trailed kisses over her jaw and down her throat. ¡°All of me, please.¡±


    Her center ached, and already she could feel the wet heat gathering. She needed him inside her. She¡¯d


    beg and plead if necessary.


    Xavier growled from deep in his throat and scooped her up, lowering her on her back underneath him.


    The grass was cool against her skin, but Xavier¡¯s hands lit a fire everywhere they touched. Laurel


    shivered from the heat that burned at her center, practically sizzling the dew against her back into


    steam.

 Chapter 13: Laurel

    Chapter 13: Laurel


    It had been too long since she¡¯d offered herself and never like this. She felt like a volcano ready to


    erupt.


    ¡°I need to feel all of you,¡± Xavier said in a ragged breath. His hand ran down the length of her, stopping


    to brush her already hardened nipple, and she moaned. He dipped his head and captured it in his


    mouth instead, and she closed her eyes, floating as he licked and sucked.


    His hand wandered lower, fingertips trailing over her hips and thigh until he found her wet center. His


    thumb brushed over her clit. Laurel could only writhe against him in anticipation.


    It wasn¡¯t enough. Everywhere he touched left a trail of tingles, a promise to please, and still, it wasn¡¯t


    enough. She gripped his hips and yanked him close, bucking her hips to his even as his finger pushed


    inside her. ¡°This is what I want,¡± he told her, his breath hot against her ear.


    ¡°It¡¯s yours,¡± she promised him, her breathing just as ragged as she began climbing toward the peak.


    His rhythm stalled and she could have cried. ¡°Can we¡ª?¡± he began.


    ¡°I¡¯m on the pill,¡± she managed to get out, already knowing what he meant, and Xavier stole her breath


    with another kiss. He went back to work on her with his hands and Laurel sank even further into the


    cool relief of the grass at her back as the fire continued to build inside her.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Like an answer to prayer, Xavier repositioned himself so that he was directly over top of her and she


    closed her eyes, breath hitching in anticipation. ¡°God, you¡¯re so fucking wet. Where have you been


    hiding, woman?¡± he grumbled. But instead of the usual shame and fear, she felt at living in hiding,


    Laurel grinned.


    ¡°I¡¯m right here,¡± she said, drawing him down for another kiss. When the head of his cock brushed her


    folds, she almost cried out in release. Years¡¯ worth of sexual frustration already had her at the brink.


    Xavier slowed the pace and pushed into her slowly the first time, but Laurel bucked, encouraging him.


    ¡°Please,¡± she whimpered, her desire giving her courage. ¡°I want all of you, too.¡±


    Xavier mmed into her, and she bent her knees, hooking her ankles around him to hang on. She lost


    herself in the fast pace, the wildness of it. With each new thrust, she inched closer to the edge. She


    could feel the freefall waiting for her on the other side, and she sprinted for it. Desperate to fly.


    Xavier hovered just above her, whispering encouragement as he drove into her. His broad shoulders


    practically shone in the moonlight, and she ran her hands over them to his back, hanging on as he took


    her higher and higher. She¡¯d never felt more beautiful, more wanted, than here and now. Completely


    epted. And he waspletely hers.


    She reached up, running her teeth over the smooth skin of his shoulder. Unmarred. Unmated. But not


    for long. Her fox urged her to do it, to give him the bite she knew his bear would consider a mating


    mark.


    ¡°I¡¯m going toe,¡± Xavier said, his voice ragged, and she eased back. She didn¡¯t need to bite him to


    know her fox already thought of him as hers. Instead, she dug her fingernails into his hips and


    squeezed her ankles, riding the tension as it built inside her. Just knowing he was close was enough to


    send her up and over.


    ¡°Come with me,¡± he said as the first shot of warmth spread inside her.


    Laurel flung herself off the edge, her body soaring as the orgasm rocketed through her. Xavier bucked


    over her, his thrusts slowing as he held himself taut, shuddering with each new wave. Laurel heard


    herself cry out with the intensity, and when thest of it had ebbed, she let her hips fall back to the


    grass. Full of him. Full of Xavier Wilde.


    She¡¯d barely caught her breath when his lips found hers again, trailing tiny kisses across her mouth


    and over her cheeks and nose. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± he murmured, dipping low to nibble on her


    earlobe.


    She smiled as his breath and teeth tickled her skin, edging away until he found a spot on her shoulder


    instead. He nted warm kisses everywhere he could reach, and shey there, floating on a buzz of


    happiness.


    She couldn¡¯t believe it. He¡¯d seen all of her, and he¡¯d wanted her even more afterward, red fox and all.


    She closed her eyes, a happy smile spreading over her face. This was what it was like to be epted


    completely.

 Chapter 14: Xavier

    Chapter 14: Xavier


    Xavier bent to retrieve the shirt he¡¯d discarded earlier and handed it up to Laurel. She smiled and


    pulled it on while he yanked on his jeans. Although he definitely preferred her bared to him, he saw the


    gratitude in her eyes as she mumbled her thanks. What the hell was it about this dominant woman¡¯s


    submissive side that made him putty in her hands?


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    He¡¯d gone to her in that clearing without conscious thought. His bear had wanted only to protect and


    comfort. But somewhere along the way, it had be more. She had be more important than he


    could have imagined. And now, he was in too deep. There was no turning from her, not even if he


    wanted to.


    That scared the ever-loving shit out of him.


    He¡¯d known for a while now that his bear craved a mate. But he denied it. Just like Laurel denied her


    fox. He couldn¡¯t have that responsibility on his shoulders again. Not when he¡¯d handled it so badly the


    first time. Putting a mate first meant possibly putting his other loved ones in danger. He couldn¡¯t¡ªno,


    he wouldn¡¯t¡ªdo that ever again.


    ¡°Xavier?¡±


    He found Laurel watching him uncertainly and knew he¡¯d let his dark mood show in his expression.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you home,¡± he said, guiding her along the tree line with his hand on her back.


    ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± Her voice was too damn small and vulnerable and he cringed. Underneath


    all that alpha-woman bravado, she was so sensitive. He¡¯d seen it when she¡¯d told him about her


    childhood. And he hadn¡¯t been brave enough to share his own secrets back.


    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t do anything,¡± he said.


    ¡°Then what¡ª?¡±


    He grabbed her wrist and stopped them just inside the tree line. From here, he could see the station.


    His truck was parked near the wall, and thankfully, Jake¡¯s truck was gone. At least one thing was going


    right. ¡°There are things I haven¡¯t told you about my past. Things that make it hard for me to¡­¡±


    ¡°To what?¡± She frowned, and he had to resist the urge to smooth those lines from her delicate mouth.


    ¡°If you knew, you¡¯d change your mind about me. I¡¯m not who you think.¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re not making any sense.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t heard people talk in town. The Wilde Bear alpha, head of Search and


    Rescue. How I used to party hard and fuck even harder, right?¡±


    ¡°They say you don¡¯t go out. You don¡¯t date anyone. It seems like I¡¯m not the only one hiding,¡± she said.


    ¡°So you think you know me.¡± He snorted, and Laurel flinched like he¡¯d pped her.


    His pr bear reared up, furious at him for the way he was acting, but he couldn¡¯t make himself stop. It


    was the first time he¡¯d ever tried exining himself. The first time he¡¯d felt the need to, dammit. Of


    course, he was going to be an ass. His guilt wouldn¡¯t let him do anything except hurt and be hurt when


    it came to his past.

 Chapter 15: Xavier

    Chapter 15: Xavier


    ¡°Look, the rumors are true. I was called Wilde Bear for a reason in high school and it¡¯s not because of


    myst name. But that¡¯s my past. It¡¯s not my present and it¡¯s sure as shit not my future.¡± Guilt and


    regret rose up so fiercely he couldn¡¯t breathe for a moment. His vision blurred as memories he¡¯d buried


    long ago broke the surface, threatening to cripple him. ¡°Tonight was fun, but it¡¯s not a part of the n. It


    can¡¯t be.¡±


    Laurel¡¯s face swam in front of him and he grit his teeth to keep it together. When she came into focus


    again, a single tear tracked down her cheek.


    He hated himself for hurting her. His bear wanted to roar and stomp at watching her cry. But better she


    heard it from him rather than someone else. The drawback of growing up in a small town: there was no


    escaping your mistakes. In fact, given long enough, they became you. It was only a matter of time


    before someone else told her and who knew what version she¡¯d get from one of them.


    Xavier shoved his hands into his pockets, hating himself for what he was about to say. ¡°I¡¯m telling you


    all this because you told me your stuff. And because my bear wants you.¡±


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    Laurel¡¯s eyes widened at that and he felt that pull tugging at him. The same one he¡¯d felt the moment


    they¡¯d met. And every damn time he touched her. Earlier, when he¡¯d been on the brink ofing, he¡¯d


    wanted to bite her. Just a nip at her shoulder, but it would¡¯ve meant so damn much. A iming mark.


    He snorted at the impossibility of that choice. His bear was just itching for a mate, craving it, actually.


    But he couldn¡¯t do it. Not to himself and not to someone else. It wouldn¡¯t be fair. His job would always


    come first andst.


    Now, he felt the urge to im her just by looking at her. She was killing him.


    ¡°As in¡­?¡± She trailed off.


    He nodded. ¡°im you, yes. As a mate. It¡¯s all I can think about. And it¡¯s all I can do to resist. But¡­ I


    don¡¯t know if I can pick you, Laurel. I can¡¯t pick anyone. I¡¯ve chosen already. My job, my life is about


    rescuing people. No matter what time of day or night or what else I¡¯m doing, I have to go when I get


    called. Doesn¡¯t leave room for anyone else. Especially not a mate and honestly, not even for¡ª¡±


    He broke off and Laurel¡¯s eyes shed, cutting him. ¡°For a quick screw,¡± she finished for him.


    She huffed and he knew he¡¯d fucked up. She shoved past him, nudging his shoulder as she went. He


    hurried to catch up with her, determined to somehow make it right. He couldn¡¯t change how he felt, but


    he could still take care of her tonight. ¡°At least let me give you a ride home.¡±


    ¡°No thanks. I¡¯ll walk,¡± she said, still striding toward the road.


    He stared after her a minute, taking in the short hemline of his shirt¡ªmore like a mini-dress on her¡ª


    and her bare legs and feet. Like hell he¡¯d let her walk.


    He rushed her from behind, scooping her up and tossing her over his shoulder. She squealed and


    kicked her legs, but he held tight. ¡°Woman, I¡¯m taking you home.¡±


    ¡°Put me down,¡± she demanded, practically screaming the words, but Xavier held fast. Laurel gave one


    last yell, and then her body shook and trembled violently in his arms. With a final pop, her torso and


    legs disappeared and he lost his grip on anything firm.


    The shirt she¡¯d been wearing went ck. He grabbed at the fabric but it was empty. Arge red fox


    leaped from his shoulder to the ground and shot off into the woods, giving a high-pitched bark as it


    went.


    ¡°Dammit!¡± Xavier cursed and considered going after her, but she was already gone. His alpha fox had


    disappeared into the night, and true to his worst fears, taken his heart with her.

 Chapter 16: Laurel

    Chapter 16: Laurel


    Laurel let herself into her apartment as silently as she could. The sliding ss door was already


    unlocked, and she sighed in relief, d she wouldn¡¯t have to bother with the noisy deadbolt on the front


    door. She only vaguely remembered leaving the house earlier. Her fox had been in a frenzy from too


    many weeks of not shifting, and she¡¯d almost cked out when she¡¯d finally shifted.


    She couldn¡¯t even remember if she¡¯d undressed first or where she¡¯d stashed her clothes to retrieve


    them now. She hoped it wasn¡¯t an outfit she liked.


    She didn¡¯t bother with light as she crept across the tiny dining area she shared with her roommate.


    Kelly was a light sleeper, and thest thing she needed now was a bunch of questions about why she


    was creeping inside after one am. Kelly was friendly enough, but she was also Laurel¡¯sndlord, and


    she was a ¡°no bullshit¡± kind of girl. Laurel had met her when she¡¯de to town for the interview with


    DOTst year. Kelly had been working in HR, doing background checks for new hires. These days,


    she¡¯d graduated to working for a local bounty hunter¡¯s office downtown that had an owner known for


    being anti-shifter. Even though Kelly had never said anything one way or the other about the subject,


    she was not someone Laurel wanted to cross.


    Besides, Kelly was bound to have questions, including why Laurel was currently dressed only in a size


    XL men¡¯s tee. Not a conversation Laurel was dying to have. After everything that had happened


    tonight, she just wanted a shower and bed. She¡¯d sort out Xavier and everything he¡¯d said tomorrow.


    ¡°Ow!¡± Her foot came down hard on something sharp, and she yelled out before she could stop it.


    A secondter, the hall light came on, and Kelly appeared, disheveled from sleep and wielding a


    wooden bat. ¡°What the¡­?¡± Kelly didn¡¯t rx at the sight of a familiar face like Laurel expected. Instead,


    she switched her shocked gaze from Laurel¡¯s face to the apartment around them.


    For a split second, Laurel stared in shock too, too distraught to understand. The apartment was


    trashed. Utterly andpletely. Books and shelves all littered the living room floor. A floormpy on


    its side barring the front door, and the bulb shattered into tiny pieces across the entryway.


    Beside her, the kitchen chairs had all been upended andy upside down and sideways on the tile


    floor, which was covered in something white. Flour? Sugar? She ran a toe through it to check, but red


    liquid stained it and she examined her foot closer.


    Blood.


    She yanked a shard of something sharp from her foot and held it up. Themp that used to sit by the


    back door. The end table it sat on was now on its side. Above it, the window had shattered, leaving tiny


    shards of ss in a pile on the windowsill.


    ¡°Oh my god,¡± Kelly shrieked. ¡°Were we robbed?¡±


    Laurel opened her mouth, ready to specte that very idea along with her friend, but then dread


    washed over as she realized what had really happened. Her fox. In her panic over shifting against her


    will, it had done all but tear the walls down.


    She hadn¡¯t done damage like this since she was a kid. Seventeen, to be exact. Her parent¡¯s house. It


    was thest time she¡¯d seen her parents. But even then, it hadn¡¯t been this bad. Everything that could


    possibly be broken was. And it was all her fault. What was she going to say to Kelly?


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°I think we¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ssh!¡± Kelly crouched, knees bent, as she turned left, then right. ¡°We need to call the police. We can¡¯t


    touch anything, we¡ª¡± She broke off, and her eyes narrowed as she zeroed in on something across the


    kitchen floor.


    She crept toward it, tiptoeing over the flour, and Laurel held her breath.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Kelly demanded as she bent over something. ¡°What is this?¡±


    Laurel could see it from here. She already knew.

 Chapter 17: Laurel

    Chapter 17: Laurel


    Kelly whirled, eyes wide, as she pointed down at the animal print caught in the pile of flour. ¡°Is this a¡­


    paw print?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Laurel squeezed her eyes shut in resignation. After tonight, she wouldn¡¯t deny it. Xavier might be


    aplete and total ass, but he¡¯d shown her one thing: she couldn¡¯t possibly continue this double life.


    Not in her own home. And she wouldn¡¯t lie. Not after Xavier had just basically done the same thing to


    her.


    Okay, maybe not an actual lie, but he was hiding something. And now that she knew how it felt, the


    shoe on the other foot sucked. Besides, she didn¡¯t have the mental energy to even think of a good


    excuse right now.


    She sighed. ¡°I think it is.¡±


    Kelly¡¯s eyes narrowed to slits, and her head cocked sideways, her cropped brown hair bouncing. ¡°Why


    are you wearing a man¡¯s shirt?¡± Her expression changed as she finally noticed Laurel¡¯s bare feet and


    the half-open back door. ¡°Are you just getting home?¡±


    Laurel nodded. ¡°Kelly, I¡¯m sorry about the damage.¡± She swallowed the lump in her throat. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for it


    all.¡±


    ¡°What? Why would you do that? It¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    Laurel didn¡¯t answer, but she felt Kelly¡¯s suspicion finallynd on her.


    ¡°What is going on here?¡± Kelly demanded. She looked down at the paw print in the flour and then back


    to Laurel¡¯s feet. The cut from themp shard had already stopped bleeding. It had probably already


    healed. Kelly¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°Tell me now.¡±.


    ¡°I¡¯m a shifter,¡± Laurel said quickly before she could change her mind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t tell you, but I try


    very hard not to shift unless I¡¯m far away from home and town and everyone. I¡¯ve been busy at work


    and fighting it, and I think I waited too long this time and¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll pay for everything,¡± she


    repeated, and because she knew she was rambling and Kelly hated that, she shut up.


    Kelly stared at her for a long, wretched moment, and for a second, Laurel thought maybe she¡¯d let it go.


    ept it. Maybe she¡¯d finally found a human who would let her be herself. But then Kelly¡¯s face went


    red, and she stabbed a finger in the direction of Laurel¡¯s bedroom. ¡°Get your shit and get. Out.¡±


    ¡°Right. I understand if you want me to give notice. I know the lease says thirty days¡ª¡± Laurel began.


    ¡°Now!¡± Kelly screamed. ¡°You can get out right fucking now!¡±


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    ¡°You¡¯re really that mad at me for being a shifter?¡± Laurel yelled back.


    ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Kelly demanded, continuing before Laurel could answer. ¡°I¡¯m kicking you out for


    lying to me and for trashing my house. Yes, you can pay for it by mailing me a check tomorrow. But


    right now, you can get your shit and get out. I don¡¯t believe this.¡± She stomped out and a secondter,


    Laurel heard Kelly¡¯s bedroom door m shut.


    She held her breath and listened, waiting to hear if Kelly had decided to call the police or worse, her


    boss, but all she hearding from behind Kelly¡¯s closed door was muttering. Curses¡ªlots of them, at


    first, and then nothing.


    Shoulders slumped, she went to her room to change and pack.

 Chapter 18: Laurel

    Chapter 18: Laurel


    By eleven the next morning, the sun was shining, birds were chirping, and Laurel had to fight the urge


    to cry at the unfairness of such a beautiful day. She kept her head down as she made her way back to


    the car at the end of the block. The realtor¡¯s office had been herst hope, but in the end, it hadn¡¯t been


    an option. Just like the apartmentplexes and even the rent-per-week time share office she¡¯d visited


    this morning. All of them wanted a reference from Kelly. None of them were going to get it. Not after


    what she¡¯d pulledst night.


    God, why did she wait so long to shift every time her animal wanted out? It never ended well, and now


    she¡¯d ruined the little bit of friendship she¡¯d had with Kelly and she had to find a new ce to live,


    effective immediately.


    She¡¯d stood outside Kelly¡¯s door and tried reasoning with the girl one more time, but it hadn¡¯t worked.


    Thest thing Kelly had said to her before she¡¯d left the apartment: ¡°Even if you¡¯d paid a pet deposit,


    you¡¯d still be out on your ass.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t get the image of their trashed apartment out of her mind. Every time she closed her eyes,


    she saw the mess she¡¯d made.


    As of this morning, she was now homeless. If she didn¡¯t figure out something fast, she¡¯d be sleeping in


    her car tonight.


    Just in front of her, a bell chimed as someone exited a shop. The massive frame filled the sidewalk and


    Laurel pulled up short to avoid running into the person. His scent hit her at the same time she


    recognized the cut abdomen straining against the thin tee. She looked up at Xavier, relief washing over


    her for a split second before she remembered how things had endedst night. Dread crashed over


    her, and she looked away.


    She moved to go around him, but he put his hand on her arm, and she froze, unable to move away


    from his touch.


    ¡°Laurel?¡± He said her name like it pained him, but she ignored it. She was in pain too. ¡°What are you


    doing out here? I thought you¡¯d be at work.¡±


    She stared at her tennis shoes, the most casual pair she owned. ¡°I called in sick today.¡±


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    His shoulders tightened. She watched as the muscles bunched and she felt the air around them


    change. He was worried for her. ¡°Why? Are you ill? Did I hurt youst night? Was it something I did?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing you did. I¡­¡± She hesitated, hyper-aware of the people passing by them and the


    curious nces they were already getting just by standing there.


    Xavier slipped his hand underneath her elbow and led her along. ¡°Where are we going?¡± she asked,


    but she didn¡¯t resist. Her animal wouldn¡¯t have let her if she tried. Even after he hurt herst night, she


    still wanted him. Still chose him. What an idiot to choose someone who would never put her first.


    ¡°My truck,e on,¡± he said, heading for the lot where she¡¯d parked earlier. ¡°We can talk inside.¡±


    She let him lead her through the lot and helped her inside his jacked up Ford Raptor with the word


    WILDE on the license te. Xavier climbed in beside her and waited expectantly. She faced him


    knowing full well what a mess she was. Her eyes were puffy from a sleepless night and too much


    crying. Her cheeks were probably flushed from the visit with the realtor. No make-up. She hadn¡¯t even


    brushed her hair before she¡¯d rushed out of her house. No, not her house anymore.


    ¡°I called in to work because I need to find a ce to live,¡± she exined. ¡°When I got homest night, I


    found my apartment trashed. Brokenmps, shelves overturned, dishes shattered.¡± She took a deep


    breath as Xavier¡¯s frown grew. What would he think of her now? Not any less than she thought of


    herself. ¡°I told youst night that I¡¯d been resisting the change for a while now. Apparently, I resisted too


    long, and my fox went a little nuts. I shifted inside and broke a window to get out. That¡¯s how I ended


    up in the woods. I didn¡¯t even remember doing all those things. I was so out of it, so panicked when I


    shifted. But my roommate¡­ she didn¡¯t know I was a shifter. When she found out it was me, she kicked


    me out.¡±


    Xavier was quiet, just listening as she vented everything, and she appreciated it. She hadn¡¯t realized


    how long it had been since she had someone to just listen. ¡°I spent today going to all the rental offices


    in town, but they all want a reference from mystndlord. Kelly won¡¯t tell them about my fox, but she


    will tell them about the damage, and that¡¯s enough to ruin my chances.¡± Desperation wed at her as


    she added in a whisper, ¡°I don¡¯t have anywhere to go.¡±

 Chapter 19: Laurel

    Chapter 19: Laurel


    ¡°You can stay with me,¡± Xavier said.


    Her eyes whipped to his, but she couldn¡¯t detect a trace of teasing in him.


    ¡°Seriously?¡± she asked, and he nodded. ¡°No, that¡¯s a bad idea. Very bad. I can¡¯t just move in with you.


    We had one date, Xavier. And it ended pretty awful.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean with me,¡± he said. ¡°I mean at the Lodge with me and the crew. We have an empty room


    you can use until you figure things out.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Disappointment pricked at her chest. Of course, that¡¯s what he¡¯d meant.


    ¡°But if you wanted to stay with me, I wouldn¡¯t stop you,¡± he added.


    Again, panicked desire had her staring back at him with rounded eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t keep hiding my animal


    from DOT if I¡¯m openly living with a bunch of shifters,¡± she said.


    ¡°Well, you can¡¯t exactly sleep in your car. Or tell people why you got kicked out of your apartment. This


    sounds like it¡¯s your best option. Your only option.¡±


    He had a point, darn it. She bit her lip, thinking it over, and realized she had no choice. Exining to


    people that she¡¯d moved in with a houseful of shifters would be the lesser of two evils. She sighed and


    kneaded her temple, warding off a stress headache.


    Xavier cleared his throat. ¡°I want to say sorry forst night. We had a great time and then I really fucked


    it up there at the end. I didn¡¯t mean to make it sound like it didn¡¯t mean anything to me. I think we


    should start over. Again.¡±


    Her brow rose. ¡°Didn¡¯t we do that already?¡±


    He shed a smile that had undoubtedly melted countless panties. ¡°Third time¡¯s the charm?¡±


    ¡°You told me your animal chose me and followed it up with informing me that being chosen meant I¡¯d


    be second-rate to everyone else in the world.¡± Her temper flooded her all over again as she spit his


    words back at him. ¡°That I¡¯d never be first for you in case it meant someone else got hurt. What did you


    expect me to do?¡±


    ¡°Exactly what you did, I guess,¡± he grumbled. The air in the cab thickened and she wondered if he was


    angry with her or himself. His voice rose as he added, ¡°It came out wrong, all right?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re so sorry, why are you yelling at me?¡±


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    ¡°Because you drive me insane, and I just want to kiss you to shut you up. Damn, woman, you¡¯re killing


    me.¡± He grabbed her wrist before she could argue and pulled her across the slippery seat and into his


    lap. His lips curved as he brushed her hair away from her face, his fingertips trailing down her neck.


    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to think you just like to argue.¡±


    She shivered and wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°Nah. I only like it when I win.¡±


    ¡°Win this,¡± Xavier said as he kissed her.


    Laurel braced herself for the same rough and wild energy they¡¯d sharedst night, but Xavier¡¯s lips


    were soft on hers, barely moving and never pushing for more unless she offered it. She melted slowly


    against him, soaking up the gentleness in him. Equals. Right now, that was what they were. She loved


    this side of him just as much as the alpha, she realized. Her alpha, letting her have an equal say.


    For that alone, she knew, her animal¡¯s desire to im him had been right.


    Xavier stared down at her, his gaze a tumble of wild emotions. She wondered if he felt it, the tug of


    energy between them. When he spoke again, his voice was rough, and she loved that he was just as


    affected as she was. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s take you to your new home.¡±


    He started the truck, and she snuggled against him while he drove them over the mountain roads.


    Within minutes, the view outside her window changed from storefronts and homes to nothing but forest


    greenery. Trees, lush and full with summer¡¯s end, rushed by her in a blur, and she sighed in


    contentment.


    Tomorrow at work, a mountain of paperwork and probably nosy questions from Scott awaited her.


    She¡¯d never once called in sick before, and this was sure to make him wonder. On top of that, she


    wouldn¡¯t be able to hide it for long that her new address matched the home address for the Wilde Crew.


    She didn¡¯t even want to think about the questions that woulde then. And Xavier. Whatever had


    happened because of his choice to stay with that girl all those years ago clearly still haunted him. And


    she would never settle for being second to her mate, not even if her animal had chosen him. It was a


    prospect that pained her to think about, so she shoved it aside.


    Right then, at that moment, she was okay. That would have to be enough.

 Chapter 20: Xavier

    Chapter 20: Xavier


    Xavier stood in the dining room at his home, the Lodge, and red at his crew. Nash stood against the


    far dining room wall, arms crossed, head down. Lucas was brooding in the corner¡ªnothing new there.


    Jake sat at the table beside where he stood at the head position, twiddling his thumbs. And Harley was


    mming around in the fridge as if making more noise would somehow produce a cold beer even


    faster.


    No one looked at the resume lying on the center of the scarred dining room table. No one except


    Xavier. He red at the name of his potential hire for the millionth time: Kyra Gold. And then he red


    back at the rest of his crew.


    Upstairs, he could hear the faint sounds of Laurel settling into her new room. Dresser drawers opened


    and closed lightly, only audible because of his bear¡¯s heightened senses. And with his temper ring,


    every damn sense was heightened.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t figure my crew for a bunch of chauvinists,¡± Xavier said quietly. ¡°Kyra¡¯s the best candidate by


    far. That should be what matters.¡± Xavier couldn¡¯t remember thest time his crew had pissed him off


    like this. Refusing a new hire because she was a woman was beneath them.


    ¡°What matters is keeping this crew intact,¡± Harley snapped, mming the fridge and popping the top on


    his beer.


    ¡°I hate to say it, but Harley¡¯s right,¡± Lucas said, shaking his head slowly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard it over and over


    again. A girl in the crew, not mated to one of us, I mean, is asking for trouble.¡±


    Xavier gripped the chair tighter and red at Lucas and then the rest. ¡°This is insane. It¡¯s the twenty-


    first century, guys.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re practically drooling with pheromones, man. You want that DOT chick bad, and now with your


    mating instincts kicking in, we¡¯re all wondering if ours will too.¡± Harley said. ¡°Thanks a fucking lot, by the


    way. I definitely don¡¯t need to be walking around sexually frustrated.¡±


    Jake¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Is that what¡¯s happening, boss? I mean, I felt something different, but I guess I


    just thought I missed the snow, the cold weather, ya know?¡±


    Harleyughed, almost spewing beer. Lucas smiled but ducked his head before Jake could see.


    Xavier sighed. He and Nash exchanged a look. ¡°You can¡¯t take it back,¡± Nash told him.


    Xavier knew Nash meant his bear¡¯s feelings for Laurel. He couldn¡¯t take it back or make it go away. He


    was too far gone. He knew it, and because Nash had an affinity for that kind of shit, Nash knew it too.


    ¡°I think we should meet her,¡± Jake said.


    Xavier eased his grip, surprised. ¡°You do?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Jake looked up at Xavier. ¡°If we all meet her, then we¡¯ll know, right?¡±


    ¡°Know what?¡± he asked.


    Jake shrugged. ¡°That none of us wants to mate her. She can just be one of the guys.¡±


    Xavier rolled his eyes. ¡°That shouldn¡¯t even be a question.¡±


    ¡°But it is, and you know why,¡± Harley said with a pointed look.


    Xavier considered ying dumb, but he knew it wouldn¡¯t get him far. His guys knew him too well. And


    even if they didn¡¯t, the animal senses gave him away. ¡°This is why you¡¯re all worried about bringing a


    girl in?¡± Xavier asked. All four of them nodded back at him. ¡°Shit. This is all my


    fault.¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.

 Chapter 21: Xavier

    Chapter 21: Xavier


    ¡°What¡¯s all your fault?¡± Laurel rounded the bottom of the stairs, and every one of them mmed up and


    stared back her as if they¡¯d been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Xavier wanted tough, but


    damn if he didn¡¯t feel the same.


    ¡°Nothing. We¡¯re discussing a new hire for the crew,¡± he said.


    Laurel reached for the resume and Harley snarled. Xavier silenced him with a look.


    ¡°Kyra Gold,¡± Laurel read aloud. ¡°She sounds like a bad chick. She¡¯s the new hire?¡±


    Xavier shot a look at the guys and then answered, ¡°Not yet. But she¡¯s the best choice so far.¡±


    ¡°Or would be if she didn¡¯t have a vagina,¡± Harley muttered.


    ¡°Dude,¡± Nash scolded him.


    Laurel¡¯s eyes widened, and she looked at Xavier. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of skipping over her because she¡¯s a


    woman?¡± she demanded.


    Her tone pricked at his temper, and he straightened, making sure to let the room know he was the boss


    here. ¡°I¡¯m talking to my crew about it,¡± he said pointedly.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Laurel red right back at him. ¡°Right. Because they¡¯re much more important than anything I have to


    say.¡±


    ¡°Uh-oh. Alpha against alpha,¡± Jake said under his breath.


    Laurel growled at him, spun on her heel, and headed for the stairs.


    Xavier ran to catch up with her. ¡°Wait,¡± he said, slipping in to block her path just before she could get


    away.


    ¡°Why? So you can list all the reasons women aren¡¯t equals in the workce? I can go to my own job to


    hear that,¡± she said. Underneath the t tone, Xavier could hear the sting he¡¯d caused.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that,¡± he said. ¡°The guys are worried that¡ª¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a girl. Got it, message received,¡± Laurel said.


    ¡°No.¡± He grabbed her by the shoulders and leaned in until she was forced to meet his gaze. ¡°The guys


    are worried about fighting because their animals are all ready to mate. Because my pr bear is ready


    to mate. Because you came along and, I can¡¯t get you out of my head. And I think my animal already


    imed you because I can¡¯t even stand to be more than three feet from you without being in utter


    misery. But then, I¡¯m in misery when I¡¯m with you because you argue so damn much that I don¡¯t know


    what the hell to do.¡±


    He wanted to yank his hair out when her surprise turned to a slow smile. She leaned in and kissed him


    on the mouth,pletely confusing him. ¡°I¡¯m in misery for you too,¡± she said.


    Around the corner in the dining hall, there was a collective mixture of groans and whistles. Laurel


    laughed. Confounded fucking woman. God, he loved herugh, though. He considered carrying her


    upstairs right now and christening her new room.


    ¡°Boss, we¡¯re hungry,¡± Jake called.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Harley put in. ¡°Can you and Mrs. Alpha finish up so we can go get some grub at Mack¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°Dude, give him a break,¡± Nash said. ¡°You know this is a big deal.¡±


    ¡°Gettingid is always a big deal,¡± Jake said. Harley snickered.


    Xavier looked at Laurel. ¡°You want to get some dinner with us?¡±


    A shadow of worry passed over her, dimming her smile, but she brightened, and Xavier let it pass for


    now. ¡°Sounds good. I¡¯m starved,¡± she said.


    The boys all whooped and made a stampede for the door. Xavier waited for them and then led Laurel


    out by the hand. He¡¯d never met a more infuriating woman, of that he was sure. But despite her


    penchant for arguing and calling him out, he couldn¡¯t escape her. Even when they were apart, she was


    all he saw. He¡¯d close his eyes, and there she was. Waiting for him to put the past in the past. To stop


    being afraid to choose someone, even if it meant sometimes putting them first.


    It was getting easier, though. The more time he spent with her, the more clearly he could see his future.


    His crew, his job saving people, and Laurel. His life could be a bnce. He could do all of those things


    and still love Laurel the way she deserved. One day very soon, he¡¯d find a way to tell her that. To make


    her believe it and let her give him a chance at it. She wouldn¡¯t make it easy on him, though.


    He already knew what he wanted. He wanted her. But if these past few days were any indication, it was


    going to be an all-out fight to get her.

 Chapter 22: Laurel

    Chapter 22: Laurel


    Mack¡¯s Brewery was loud and full of locals by the time Laurel pulled up with Xavier. He found a parking


    spot in the rear of the lot, away from the other cars and patrons. She cast him a quick look when he


    didn¡¯t move to get out and found him frowning at her in the twilight. His chiseled jaw and toned arms


    were taut as he studied her. She was struck again at how beautiful he really was. And nothing like the


    rumors imed. Wild, yes, but not in the way they said. Xavier¡¯s emotions ran wild, and he did


    everything he could to keep that part of himself locked away. She knew because she did the same.


    But now, seeing the concern in his eyes only made her want to reassure him, even if it meant letting


    her walls down. Baring herself was getting easier and easier with him.


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°You tell me,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯ve been quiet and distant since we left the Lodge.¡±


    ¡°Your bear wants a mate,¡± she said, her voice low. But it didn¡¯t help lessen the impact. The words felt


    huge and loud at any volume.


    ¡°It does,¡± he said simply, but she knew it was anything but simple. ¡°Does it frighten you to know that?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she admitted. ¡°But only because my animal wants the same.¡± She watched the delight register in


    his eyes and then fade again as a shadow passed over. Just as she¡¯d expected. ¡°You¡¯re still hiding


    something from me.¡±


    He stared out the windshield with a faraway look, at the trees that bordered the lot. She wondered if he


    was even seeing the bar full of happy hour customers in front of them or if he¡¯d gone somewhere else


    entirely. She¡¯d seen that expression on him enough by now to know whatever the memory was, and it


    haunted him.


    ¡°You know I used to party a lot,¡± he said, and she was too surprised he was actually sharing to say a


    word. She wasn¡¯t sure if he saw her nod, but he went on anyway. ¡°All the rumors are true. Hell, the


    truth is probably worse. I drank a lot, and I was always the one suggesting a bonfire in the middle of the


    drought, a midnight swim in dark water, drag racing in an ice storm.¡±


    He chuckled darkly and shook his head. ¡°I always guessed one of my dumb dares would do me in, but


    in the end, she was just a girl. And I was just a guy wanting what every guy wants.¡±


    She reached for him andid her hand over hisp. ¡°Xavier, you don¡¯t have to¡ª¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Heid a hand over hers and looked over. ¡°I need to,¡± he said, and the exposed cut of his words made


    her heart ache for him.


    ¡°She and I were out by theke one night, too far from any tower for proper reception. I¡¯d begun


    working for Search and Rescue the summer before so I knew the drill. I was on call. I should never


    have driven up that far, but she was ready, and I was far too willing and distracted. Hormones. Anyway,


    a call came in. A brutal ice storm on the peaks the day prior and the melt on such a warm day had


    caused a slide. A woman was trapped. When Dad couldn¡¯t reach me, he went up alone. He never


    made it back.¡±


    ¡°God, Xavier.¡± Laurel couldn¡¯t find the words. She hurt for him, for the guy he was then and the mistake.


    The guilt, probably. And she finally understood his reluctance with her. She squeezed his hand.


    Xavier cleared his throat. ¡°He and the woman both died that night while I had a mediocrey with a girl


    I never spoke to again.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for you. Losing your dad that way¡­ That must have been awful.¡± And the guilt¡­ that was


    what haunted him now. ¡°Thank you for sharing that with me,¡± she told him, touched.

 Chapter 23: Laurel

    Chapter 23: Laurel


    ¡°I figured when you knew, it would change things,¡± he said.


    ¡°It does,¡± she admitted and rushed on when she saw the uncertainty sh in his eyes. ¡°It makes me


    even more determined to be myself. To stop hiding who I am. From you and everyone else, because


    maybe then you¡¯ll do the same. We¡¯re both living in hiding. Hiding from people in my life who are anti-


    shifter is one thing. The world will always be full of people who don¡¯t like me for some reason or


    another. I¡¯m learning to ept that. But you. You¡¯re hiding from yourself, Xavier. From your future. I


    don¡¯t know how to fix that.¡±


    She thought he¡¯d push her away. Storm off or tell her to leave it alone, something an alpha would do.


    Instead, Xavier reached for her and pulled her into hisp, smoothing her hair and pressing kisses to


    her temple. She was too shocked to do more than let him.


    ¡°You¡¯re right about me but not about the differences in us,¡± he said.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The reasons we each have for hiding. The ones we are hiding from. They¡¯re the same thing, love. We


    can fix each other.¡±


    He kissed her then and any doubt she¡¯d had about his words melted away. She had no idea if she


    could be fixed. That meanting clean about her animal to the rest of the world. That thought still


    terrified her. Humans weren¡¯t nice after that. Hell, neither were shifters. She didn¡¯t know if she could be


    fixed, or if she wanted to. But here was her chance to find out.


    She wound her arms around Xavier¡¯s neck and held on tight as he deepened the kiss. Desire flooded


    her like a warm spray of water. When he parted her lips with his tongue, she rolled her hips reflexively


    against him. He growled into her mouth, and she prayed for the liquid heat to turn to fire, burning their


    clothes away. She vaguely hoped Xavier¡¯s truck windows were tinted enough to shield her if anyone


    passed by, but then she was swept away in his kiss.


    As if reading her mind, Xavier¡¯s hands wandered, picking wildly at the hem of her blouse before sliding


    underneath the smooth fabric.


    ¡°I need to touch you,¡± he whispered.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    She gasped as his fingers dipped inside her bra and brushed over her taut nipple. One and then the


    other and back again. With his other hand, he found his way to the seam of her pants and pressed his


    thumb against her clit. Laurel couldn¡¯t think, could barely breathe.


    ¡°Please,¡± she begged, writhing against him now, half desperate for him.


    She arched her back, tossing her head to the side and offering her neck without a thought.


    Xavier licked and nipped at her before trailing kisses down her corbone. She tried not to


    acknowledge the disappointment as he ignored her offering. She¡¯d let him im her right now if he


    wanted. But he didn¡¯t. Neither of them would be fixed overnight.


    Xavier unsped her pants and slipped his fingers inside, sliding them against her clit until she


    squirmed.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to make youe for me,¡± Xavier said, his hot breath against her neck.


    ¡°Please,¡± she begged, for what exactly she didn¡¯t even know. For him, for her orgasm, for everything.


    Xavier slid his finger lower, pushing inside her, and Laurel rolled her hips to meet him. He set an


    excruciatingly slow pace, and Laurel forced herself to slow with him. He dipped his tongue into her


    mouth, thrusting gently against her. Closer and closer to the edge, but only by inches. Laurel wanted


    power.


    When he slid a second finger inside her, she lost it. ¡°Faster,¡± she said against his mouth. ¡°Please.¡±


    She grabbed Xavier¡¯s wrist and squeezed, guiding him into a faster pace. He growled and gave it to


    her. Hard and fast and frantic, he thrust into her. His kisses became harder too, catching her lips in his


    teeth as he nipped and licked at her. With a final thrust of his hand, he sent her up and then crashing


    over.


    Laurel held on tight, her hips rocking as the aftershocks continued. Xavier stroked her softly,


    encouraging her to take her time riding them out. When she finally stilled, he was there, his kisses soft


    now. Inviting. Comforting. Easy.


    Laurel¡¯s limbs felt liquid. She hugged him, smiling as she stroked his scruffy cheek. Xavier was right,


    and they would fix each other. They had to; there was no going back for her.


    iming or no, she was his.

 Chapter 24: Laurel

    Chapter 24: Laurel


    The sun had already dipped behind the mountains, throwing shadows over the parking lot as Laurel


    followed Xavier onto the deck at Mack¡¯s. She understood now why no one else bothered to use the


    deck out here. Only shifters wouldn¡¯t be bothered by the drastic temperature drop when the sun went


    down. Even in August, it was chilly with the sun gone.


    Her hand was in Xavier¡¯s as she walked. She spotted the Wilde crew at their usual table but stalled


    when she noticed Lucas wasn¡¯t in his seat. He¡¯d moved to the far end, leaving her the empty chair


    beside his alpha. Her heart panged, and she blinked back an unexpected tear.


    ¡°You all right?¡± Xavier asked in her ear.


    ¡°Better than,¡± she assured him. Who knew it could feel like this to have friends? To be epted.


    Lucas caught her eye. She smiled over at him in thanks as she slid into the chair Xavier held out for


    her. He ducked his head but not before she caught a returned smile of his own.


    ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Alpha have arrived,¡± Jake announced.


    Xavier scowled as he took his seat but squeezed her hand.


    ¡°Fucking finally,¡± Harley muttered before draining his beer. ¡°I¡¯m starving.¡±


    All of them already had a mug set in front of them, including her.


    ¡°I ordered you what¡¯s on tap,¡± Nash said. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll drink it.¡±


    ¡°Shit. I already called it,¡± Jake put in.


    Laurel smiled across the table first at Nash and then Jake. ¡°This is great, thanks.¡± She held her mug up


    and gulped while the boys looked on with widening eyes.


    ¡°Daaamn. Mrs. Alpha can drink,¡± Jake said in awe.


    Laurel emptied the mug and set it down, wiping the corner of her mouth as delicately as she could. She


    peeked at Xavier, self-conscious now. She¡¯d been parched after their little interlude in his truck but


    wondered if maybe she should¡¯ve sipped instead.


    Xavier blinked, shaking his head as if to clear it. ¡°That was¡­¡±


    ¡°Udylike?¡± she finished, wincing.


    ¡°Impressive as hell,¡± he said and nted a smacking kiss on her lips.


    The crew apuded her. Even Harley pped three times before scowling at her again.


    Laurelughed, the relief and happiness at their eptance was so overwhelming. Laughing was


    better than crying, she told herself. And she was tempted to do both. Geez, how had she lived this long


    without friends?


    A face across the deck caught her attention. She looked over and went still. Her heart dropped into her


    stomach as she recognized Scott, her assistant. He stood near the door, half-turned like he¡¯d been


    headed inside. He looked frozen in ce, just as shocked to see her.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Laurel?¡± Xavier¡¯s voice called her back, but she couldn¡¯t take her eyes from the wiry man¡¯s face.


    Scott¡¯s shock turned slowly to confusion. His brow wrinkled, and he swept a look over the rest of the


    crew before returning to her. Laurel stood quickly, almost knocking her chair over in the process. Lucas


    caught it like he had with Xavier¡¯s the other day. She ignored him, ignored them all, and rushed to Scott


    just as he disappeared inside the bar.


    ¡°Scott!¡± She caught up to him inside, grabbing his elbow and then dropping it again when she realized


    what she¡¯d done.


    Crap. Physical touch was not appropriate in a professional rtionship.


    ¡°Ms. Adams, what can I do for you?¡± Scott¡¯s voice was nasally as always, but there was a coldness


    he¡¯d never used at the office.


    Surprise, she told herself. Of course, it was weird seeing her outside the office. Especially in such a


    rxed setting.


    ¡°I just wanted to say hello,¡± she said, kicking herself foring over here in the first ce. What the


    heck was she supposed to say? Are you going to tell anyone you saw me with the most notorious crew


    of shifters in three states? Probably a little brazen.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Scott returned, still curt. He shot a disdainful look over her shoulder to Xavier and the others.


    Laurel grit her teeth. ¡°Look, I know it¡¯s probably a surprise seeing me with the Wilde crew. Or seeing


    me here at all.¡± Scott¡¯s brow rose, but he didn¡¯t interrupt. Something about that irritated her, and she


    went straight into bossdy mode. Her voice went hard as she said, ¡°I just wanted to be polite and say


    hello, but let¡¯s be clear. Our personal lives are our own, especially outside working hours. I trust you¡¯ll


    give us both the respect we deserve by not bringing this back into the office tomorrow. Or ever.¡±


    Scott¡¯s eyes narrowed, but Laurel¡¯s alpha act drained away. She knew if he argued or threatened or


    said anything but ¡°yes, ma¡¯am,¡± she¡¯d fold. That was not happening. So she made the only move left to


    a bossdy. She turned on her heel and strode away.


    It might not shut Scott up forever. Probably tomorrow, there¡¯d be consequences for her new alliance.


    Friends, she corrected herself. But tonight, she was determined to remain in control of her own


    choices. Tonight, at least, she would not hide.

 Chapter 25: Xavier

    Chapter 25: Xavier


    Xavier bided his time. Laurel had been polite but distant over dinner and drinks and then all through the


    drive home. He had a hunch about the reason too. She¡¯d gone white as a sheet at the sight of the kid in


    the sses at Mack¡¯s. She¡¯d torn out in a panic, and he¡¯d almost followed, but he knew her better than


    to barge into her problems. It would have only backfired on him. So he¡¯d stayed behind and turned his


    animal hearing up to full volume, listening in from a safe distance instead.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Her co-worker hadn¡¯t been overly friendly or epting of herpany, and Laurel was worried. He


    hadn¡¯t been surprised at that. Or the way she¡¯d tried going all alpha to cover up her fear. He knew now


    that was what she did.


    At the table on the deck, none of the crew said a word about it which let him know they¡¯d heard it too.


    Fuck, his woman wasplicated. And bossy. And too damn proud to admit when she wasing at


    a problem wrong.


    At the Lodge, he let her go up to her room without a fight. He went to his, just down the hall, and waited


    for her toe to him, but she never did. The evening turned to midnight and still, Laurel didn¡¯te


    to him. He should have guessed she wouldn¡¯t, but it still stung after everything they¡¯d shared.


    By one in the morning, he¡¯d tossed and turned enough. He couldn¡¯t take this shit anymore. He threw


    the covers back and padded to her room, flinging the door open without bothering to knock or tread


    softly. He stood over her sleeping form, his anger dissipating at the sight of her all tucked into the


    downyforter, hands curled under her chin.


    God, she looked so helpless.


    His bear took one look at her and wanted only to protect.


    He hesitated in waking her, warring with himself over why he was pushing her so hard in the first ce.


    He was just as scared as she was about what it would mean to im each other. A mate. He¡¯d been


    running from that idea for ten years now. He couldn¡¯t be that guy again. The one who shrugged off his


    duties for sex or love or whatever the fuck.


    Laurel stirred, and Xavier felt all of his reservations crumble. He eased in beside her, careful to not


    jostle her too much and wake her. She sighed as he pulled her gently against him, tucking her close.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± she mumbled, cuddling against his bare chest. The ends of her hair tickled but he didn¡¯t mind.


    He ran his hands over her hip, relishing the silky fabric of her nightie against his fingers. Of course, she


    had sexy pajamas. All the best things about her were hidden away from everyone else, and for the first


    time, he wasn¡¯t going toin about that.


    He ran his hand along her hipbone and down her thigh, and Laurel sighed. ¡°This is either the best


    dream I¡¯ve ever had, or the creepiest cop-a-feel anyone¡¯s ever given me,¡± she saidzily. There was


    teasing in her words, and again, Xavier shoved his earlier temper aside in favor of yfulness.


    ¡°How about we call it something in between,¡± he said, nipping her earlobe.


    Laurel squeaked, and heughed until she moved against him, rolling her hips forward. Hisughter


    died, and he tightened his grip on her, dragging her in and pressing them together.


    ¡°You want the sex of your dreams,e and get it, Mrs. Alpha,¡± he said.

 Chapter 26: Xavier

    Chapter 26: Xavier


    At his words, Laurel¡¯s body stiffened with surprised tension and then rxed, and he knew she was


    fully awake now. He wondered if she¡¯d object to hisbel for her, but she surprised him by slithering


    down his body instead.


    She disappeared underneath the covers, trailing warm kisses down his abs and belly until her mouth


    dipped lower still. When her lips closed over the head of his swollen cock, he held his breath against


    the snarl that wanted release. He¡¯d have to pace himself carefully, or a snarl wasn¡¯t the only thing that


    he¡¯d release too fast.


    Somewhere down the hall, a phone rang. He recognized his cell¡¯s ring tone. He nced at the bedside


    clock. It waste at night. Toote for work. What the hell?


    Underneath the covers, Laurel paused, and he could feel the friction where her mouth, hot and ready,


    hovered just over the head of his dick. She didn¡¯t move or speak as she waited for his reaction, and he


    cursed inwardly at the timing. There was only one reason his phone would be ringing sote. An


    emergency call. Someone on the mountain needed his help.


    God damn it all.


    All of his fears came crashing over him. He had to choose all over again. Laurel and a swift release, or


    saving a life. He groaned. He already knew it wasn¡¯t a choice. ¡°Laurel, I have to go.¡±


    Laurel made her way out from underneath theforter. Determination etched on her face in shadowy


    lines. ¡°A rescue call?¡± she asked.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    He nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the duty line. Thiste, it¡¯s got to mean a rescue call.¡±


    Somewhere in the house, a bedroom door clicked open. Another of the crew was already up.


    Laurel threw the covers back and went to her closet, yanking clothes out. Quiet, methodical. She threw


    her pants on and turned, her brows rising. ¡°What are you still doing here?¡± She gestured to the door.


    ¡°Go get dressed. We have to go.¡±


    He rose, his chest swelling with love and pride for his woman. She got it without him having to say a


    word. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he began.


    ¡°Xavier Wilde, you will not apologize. Now go answer that call. If it¡¯s an emergency, we¡¯ll both suit up


    and drive out and save somebody. Because that¡¯s our job. And even though you can love me more


    than your job, you will always save lives when they need saving. No matter what. Do you hear me?


    Now, go!¡±


    ¡°Hot damn,¡± Xavier breathed,pletely awed by her ferocity and passion.


    He rose and headed for the door, but he stalled and turned back to her. ¡°Laurel, I want to tell you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Later,¡± she said, practically shoving him into the hall. ¡°Go.¡± She pointed a slender finger at the door,


    staring down at him with fiery eyes, and Xavier knew then he¡¯d never loved anymore more than he


    loved Laurel Adams right now. His Mrs. Alpha. And as soon as he finished saving a life, he¡¯d be sure to


    tell her.

 Chapter 27: Laurel

    Chapter 27: Laurel


    Laurel surveyed the assembled mess of rescue vehicles and police cars that lined the road¡¯s edge. She


    chewed on her thumbnail, searching until she finally caught sight of the truck pulling in at the end of the


    row of cars. It was white, making it easier to spot the DOT logo on the side.


    She rushed for the car just as a man got out and came forward.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    ¡°Gerald,¡± she said, half-relieved but half-nauseous with nerves.


    ¡°Laurel,¡± Gerald greeted her. In that one word was a small thread of warmth. He¡¯d been the nicest man


    she¡¯d worked for and the friendliest, still careful to keep a professional distance but willing to rx. To


    talk and joke with her. He was the only boss she¡¯d ever had that let her forget she was a woman in a


    man¡¯s workce. For that, she was grateful and held a soft spot for him.


    He frowned when she got closer and cast a nce at the work crews assembled. ¡°What¡¯s the status?¡±


    he asked. ¡°Is it bad?¡±


    Laurel shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Blue Bear Search and Rescue went in about twenty minutes ago.


    No word yet on whether they¡¯ve spotted them or details regarding the extraction.¡±


    Gerald took a deep breath. ¡°Report said it was poachers. This party was a group of four. Someone


    heard shots fired. What the hell happened?¡±


    Laurel¡¯s stomach tightened for the hundredth time at the mere mention of gunshots, but she nodded


    and kept her game face on. If Gerald only knew she was more worried about the Search and Rescue


    crew, specifically their alpha, than about the poachers who¡¯d put in the emergency call.


    ¡°The details are still unclear,¡± she said.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s make them clear,¡± he grumbled. She ignored it, knowing he was upset at the situation, not


    her.


    ¡°Gerald, you¡¯re supposed to be on vacation. I told Scott not to worry you. You should get some rest.


    Enjoy yourst night off the clock.¡±


    Gerald pinned her with a look and unease skittered along the back of Laurel¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Look, there¡¯s something you should know, Laurel,¡± Gerald began. He took her elbow and led her


    toward his truck, away from the crowd. He lowered his voice and Laurel¡¯s nerves came rushing back


    with full force.


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been gettingints about the Blue Bear Search and Rescue here,¡± he said in a low voice.


    ¡°ims that these guys are cutting corners, making unsafe rescues, and putting people in more harm¡¯s


    way with their tactics.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± She shoved her animal aside as it rose up, temper ring at Gerald¡¯s words. ¡°That¡¯s ludicrous.


    These usations have no basis in reality. I¡¯ve seen the crew at work, and I¡¯ve spent time with them.


    They care deeply about the rescues they make.¡±


    ¡°I know, Laurel.¡± Gerald¡¯s understanding tone helped soothe Laurel¡¯s animal, and she managed to get


    herself under control. She hoped her eyes had returned to normal when she faced Gerald again.


    ¡°Xavier Wilde¡¯s a friend of mine. I knew his dad before him, and I have a lot of respect for both men.


    But these usations are being filed through formal channels. I can¡¯t ignore them. It¡¯s why I¡¯ve waited


    so long to delegate this on-site responsibility to you. It¡¯s also why I showed up tonight. To see for myself


    so there can be no question this was being handled properly. As soon as they radio in the details of


    their proposed extraction, I have to log it.¡±


    Laurel bit her lip, staring off into the trees where the crew had gone. When they¡¯d arrived earlier and


    found out about the poaching and the reported gunshots, she¡¯d made them all promise not to shift until


    they¡¯d assessed things. Illegal hunters on the mountain meant they¡¯d paint a target on their back by


    showing up as bears. But they¡¯d been gone so long, and all she could think about was Xavier. Her


    animal was literally hurting at having to stay behind and let him go out there alone.


    He had his crew, she reminded herself. Hopefully, that was enough.

 Chapter 28: Laurel

    Chapter 28: Laurel


    She turned back to Gerald. ¡°Theseints, are they because the crew is made up of shifters?¡± she


    asked him.


    Gerald didn¡¯t meet her eyes for a long time. When he did, regret was etched in the lines that had


    deepened around his mouth and eyes. ¡°Yes,¡± he said finally. ¡°Whoever this is, they aren¡¯t happy to have


    shifters in positions of authority in this town.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know who made theints?¡± she asked.


    Gerald shook his head. ¡°They¡¯re all anonymous. It¡¯s one of the reasons I¡¯m being so diligent. Could be


    anyone, including someone in our department. Hell, for all I know, it¡¯s Kemp.¡± Gerald grunted, and


    Laurel felt his temperature rise.


    ¡°n Kemp?¡± she asked. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he run the public transportation system?¡±


    ¡°Yep. Asshole wants my job and hasn¡¯t made it a secret for a while now. If he can prove the Blue Bear


    Search and Rescue are unsafe, he¡¯ll have my title pulled along with theirs. I¡¯m the one who approved


    them, after all.¡±


    The radio at Laurel¡¯s hip squawked, cutting off the rest of her questions. A crackly voice came through.


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    ¡°Patrol one to base, copy?¡± Laurel¡¯s limbs almost became liquid as Xavier made contact.


    ¡°Base, go ahead,¡± she said.


    ¡°Two of the four hunters located and in custody,¡± Xavier said. ¡°I¡¯ve got Lucas with me to help bring them


    in. One has a gunshot wound, upper right thigh. Nash and Jake split up to track the other two. They¡¯ll


    radio in when they¡¯ve got something.¡±


    ¡°Alerting medics now,¡± Laurel responded, unable to hide her relief at the sound of him in one piece. She


    felt Gerald¡¯s gaze on her and gave him a nervous smile.


    ¡°You and Xavier, eh?¡± Gerald¡¯s brow quirked.


    ¡°Um, sort of,¡± Laurel admitted. ¡°It¡¯s very recent.¡±


    ¡°Huh. Well, good for you.¡± Gerald grinned and gave her shoulder a pat. Laurel¡¯s eyes bulged.


    ¡°You¡¯re not upset that we work together?¡± she asked. ¡°Or that he¡¯s a shifter?¡±


    ¡°What you do on your time is your business, Laurel. Besides, he¡¯s not DOT or anything, so it¡¯s not an


    issue in my book. As for being a shifter,¡± Gerald took her hand in his, a gesture so familiar it felt like


    he¡¯d done it many times before, ¡°Laurel, I can¡¯t imagine you being happy any other way. You need to


    spend time with your own kind.¡±


    Laurel almost fell over. ¡°What?¡± she squeaked.


    ¡°I know what you are,¡± Gerald said, ¡°And as long as you want it kept a secret, it¡¯s safe with me. But I


    don¡¯t hold it against you. Anding out with it won¡¯t affect your position at DOT if that¡¯s what you¡¯re


    worried about.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t believe it. She¡¯d been so sure Scott would out her, and she¡¯d be canned for hanging out


    with the Wilde crew. Maybe if Gerald had been anyone else in town, she would have been. Her heart


    warmed at the way he¡¯d so easily epted her¡ªall of her. He reminded her of a father. Or what her


    father should have been.


    ¡°Thanks, Gerald. I appreciate it very much.¡± She was about three seconds away from blubbering when


    a cheer rose up from the crowd behind her.


    She whipped her head around in time to see four figures emerging from the trees. ¡°Xavier,¡± she said.

 Chapter 29: Laurel

    Chapter 29: Laurel


    She forgot Gerald. She forgot everything else and took off for the trailhead where they descended.


    People parted for her with surprised murmurs, but no one stopped her. When she neared, she spotted


    Xavier and Lucas each leading a handcuffed man in front of them.


    She darted around the one Xavier was shoving along just as the medics came forward and took him


    away. Xavier spread his arms wide, and sheunched herself into them. He caught her, and she held


    on tight, tears stinging her eyes at the sweet relief of having him back safe and sound.


    ¡°If this is what I¡¯ming home to, hopefully, I get calls like these every night,¡± Xavier said on augh.


    ¡°Uh, no. You¡¯re definitely not doing another poacher rescue for a while,¡± she said. ¡°My nerves can¡¯t


    handle it.¡±


    ¡°God, I love it when you get all bossy on me.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Alpha!¡±


    Laurel focused on a figure rounding the bend over Xaiver¡¯s shoulder. She couldn¡¯t make out the face,


    but she knew Jake from the sound of his voice¡ªand his nickname for her.


    ¡°Hey, Jake,¡± she called, her arms still around Xavier. She grinned and leaned in, trailing kisses over


    Xavier¡¯s cheek, headed for his mouth.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Another figure appeared several yards behind Jake, and Laurel pulled away, ready to yell out a


    greeting to someone she assumed must be Nash. But the figure broke into a run and cut across the


    trail, sprinting away toward the trees at an angle. He sidestepped Jake, who didn¡¯t notice until the figure


    had blown past him, headed straight for Xavier.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Jake shouted.


    Xavier pulled away, turning to identify the intruder.


    ¡°It¡¯s thest poacher,¡± Harley called, appearing from around the bend in the trail. He pursued the man


    at a run, but Laurel knew he was way too far behind to catch up now.


    She watched as the hunter neared her and Xavier. She figured he¡¯d cut left and sprint for the forest


    again, but he was headed straight for them. Straight for Xavier, she realized, and he was close enough


    now that she could see the hateful determination zing in his expression as he barreled closer.


    ¡°Fucking bear shifters,¡± the man yelled. ¡°I came here to take you down, and I¡¯m not leaving without


    you!¡±


    Laurel¡¯s throat constricted as the man raised a pistol in his hand and aimed it at Xavier¡¯s chest.


    Everything slowed. The moment lengthened, and she could see it all spinning out of control. She didn¡¯t


    waste any more time.


    Shoving away from Xavier, she took off for the man at a run.


    ¡°Laurel!¡± Xavier called behind her.


    She growled in frustration, a quick noise that rose in the back of her throat, bringing her fox to the


    surface. She gave in, and it exploded out of her. She leaped just as her two legs became four paws,


    and soared through the air straight for the attacker.


    Shended with her paw¡ªws first¡ªin his eye and felt the satisfaction of his flinch as she pressed


    into the soft ce between his eyelids. He screamed and fell to the ground, sending Laurel tumbling


    with him.


    Shended hard on her shoulder and rolled with the shuddering pain of her bone hitting the ground at


    an awkward angle. The air was knocked out of her, and she rose on her front paws, scanning for the


    man. Her stomach retracted painfully until suddenly air whooshed back into her lungs. Pain radiated


    sharply along her shoulder, and even with deep gulps of air to fuel her, she fell back again, unable to


    carry the weight of her right side.


    A few yards to her left, the man, writhed on the ground as he moaned and held his eye. A giant white


    pr bear stood over him, jaw open and ready to take a chunk out of the man¡¯s neck. Another pr


    bear, this one slightly darker, and a brown grizzly hovered nearby, all of them watching intently as


    Xavier poked the man with a massive paw.


    Laurel wanted to go to him, but her shoulder was killing her. Xavier let out a deafening roar, his sharp


    teeth almost grazing the man¡¯s nose, before he backed away and rushed at Laurel. Her fox stared but


    unlike before, she didn¡¯t flinch at being charged by arger animal. When Xavier reached her, he licked


    her face, his tongue almost the size of her whole cheek.


    Big alpha pr bear,forting his mate.


    She nuzzled against him until the pain dialed back and eventually disappeared. When she could stand,


    she nudged at him to give her some space, and he backed up, still hovering as he watched her closely.


    Now that the pain was gone, Laurel¡¯s nerves returned full throttle. She cast a furtive nce over


    Xavier¡¯s shoulder. He was massive enough that he shielded her almostpletely from view, but when


    she craned her neck, she could see the crowd watching the entire drama with rounded eyes and quiet


    murmurs.


    They¡¯d seen her shift. Crap, there¡¯d be no going back now. She was outed, and she¡¯d never again be


    able to hide her animal from the people in this town. Maybe Gerald didn¡¯t care, but she¡¯d also be outed


    to people like Scott or worse, whoever was making these anonymousints about shifters. Would


    she be targeted now too?


    She looked up and found Xavier watching her. His pr bear had wrinkled brows as he worried over


    her. She went to him, nuzzling her nose over his soft coat. She felt him vibrate with a growling sigh, and


    she leaned into him. She¡¯d never touched another shifter before, much less a pr bear in animal form.


    It felt amazing, the power that rolled off him. And the security he offered with his massive frame bearing


    down on her. No more fear. Here wasfort and promises to protect. And Laurel realized it was the


    exact thing she¡¯d been looking for. The only thing worthing out of hiding to find.


    She stood up straighter and faced the crowd, a proud red fox. She would live as a shifter out in the


    open, and for the first time in her life, that thought didn¡¯t send her running. No more hiding. No more


    pretending. Xavier Wilde was worth it.

 Chapter 30: Xavier

    Chapter 30: Xavier


    Xavier stroked thest signature with a whoosh and then let the pen fall with a tter against his desk.


    He leaned back in his chair and rubbed at his eyes, gritty from a sleepless night. Damn, he hadn¡¯t


    pulled an all-nighter sincest ski season. He was rusty.


    Last night had been harder than any other rescue. Not just because he¡¯d had to yank four poachers off


    the mountain, all armed and looking for a pr bear head to take home for their walls, but because it


    wasn¡¯t just him anymore. Or him and his guys. He was now protecting a mate. Yeah, he¡¯d finallye


    around to the truth when his animal had almost lost it to realize the paperwork couldn¡¯t wait.


    Gerald had been nice enough when he¡¯d told Xavier and the guys about the formalints, but it


    didn¡¯t change the cold truth. Someone was after the Blue Bear Search and Rescue. Someone wanted


    him gone from this job. Maybe from town or even life, who even fucking knew right now. Gerald had his


    suspicions, but Xavier was at a loss. He¡¯d kept his head down all these years, too scared of a repeat


    performance after losing his dad to do anything wild or crazy. And now here was some asshole trying to


    rip away everything he¡¯d worked for.


    It wasn¡¯t fucking happening.


    So he¡¯d kissed Laurel goodbye and put her in the truck with Jake and sent her home. All he wanted


    was to go home and crawl into bed next to her. Make up for all the dumbassments he¡¯d made


    trying to push her away, because he knew what he wanted now, and after tonight, he wasn¡¯t going to


    run from it anymore.


    But he wasn¡¯t done yet. There was one more item left to do before he could call it a night.


    He stood up, making his way into the kitchen and pouring thest dregs of the coffee he¡¯d made earlier.


    Then he dialed Jake.


    ¡°Boss,¡± Jake said sleepily on the fourth ring.


    ¡°Crew meeting in an hour,¡± Xavier said.


    ¡°Boss¡ª¡± Jake protested. Xavier knew they were all exhausted. So was he, dammit. But he couldn¡¯t


    wait any longer for this. They¡¯d waited long enough.


    Xavier used his alpha voice, so Jake knew he meant business. ¡°Get them here, Jake. We need to talk.¡±


    Xavier hung up and went back to his office to drink the worst cup of coffee ever. An hourter, on the


    dot, the crew stumbled in. Jake¡¯s hair was rumpled and his shirt untucked. Behind him, the men¡¯s boots


    all clunked against the hard floor, and Xavier shook his head at what sounded like a stampede. One by


    one, they filed into the lounge where a sagging couch lined one wall. A couple of recycled chairs


    completed the set-up. Not fancy, but big enough for all of them to discuss.


    Harley was thest one in and Xavier nodded at him to shut the door, but then another figure darted


    inside, smiling at him.


    ¡°Laurel,¡± Xavier said, surprised. He shot a nce at Jake, who shrugged.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°She¡¯s Mrs. Alpha. What did you expect?¡± Jake asked.

 Chapter 31: Xavier

    Chapter 31: Xavier


    He looked from face to face, but none of his crew argued. Not even Harley.


    Laurel hugged him and nuzzled her cheek against his. ¡°I can wait outside if you need,¡± she said.


    ¡°No.¡± He shook his head andced his fingers through hers. ¡°Stay. You¡¯re one of us now.¡± He kissed


    her full on the mouth, just in case there was any doubt among them. When he pulled back, Laurel


    beamed up at him, and the rest of the crew whistled and cheered.


    ¡°Can we just get on with this?¡± Harley grumbled.


    ¡°Yeah, Harley needs his beauty sleep,¡± Jake said.


    Nash snickered.


    Lucas leaned his back on the couch and closed his eyes, but Xavier knew he heard every word.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the deal. We¡¯ve talked about it for a while now, and everyone¡¯s made their opinions clear,¡±


    Xavier began. ¡°But the fact of the matter is that we need to hire a sixth. And we need to do it before the


    season opens, so we have time to train properly.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t disagree, boss,¡± Jake said, and Xavier shot him a re.


    ¡°I¡¯ve looked over the applicants and fact is, no one¡¯s more qualified than this Kyra. I want to bring her


    in, and before I do, I need to hear from all of you that you¡¯ll bite your tongue against any¡­ opinions you


    might have about her joining us.¡±


    Harley shoved off the wall, arms crossed, ring. ¡°So we don¡¯t get to say what we think? I thought this


    was a democracy.¡±


    Nash sat up straighter in the chair by the window. ¡°I can agree to that,¡± he said.


    Jake nodded. ¡°Me too, boss.¡±


    Lucas slowly opened his eyes, also nodding. ¡°I think we need to meet her.¡±


    Xavier was stunned. Laurel squeezed his hand, spurring him to search for words. ¡°I thought all of you


    were determined to keep a woman out of the crew.¡±


    One by one, they all shifted their gaze to Laurel. ¡°We had a chat about that on the way home from the


    call earlier,¡± Jake said. ¡°Laurel shifting to protect you showed us we were being idiots.¡±


    Harley muttered something, but Nash cut him off. ¡°Laurel¡¯s as strong and fierce as any one of us. If this


    Kyra¡¯s anything like Laurel, we¡¯d be lucky to have her.¡±


    Jake murmured an agreement.


    ¡°Lucas?¡±


    ¡°I agree with Nash,¡± Lucas said. ¡°Woman or not, Laurel just proved how much stronger we are with six.¡±


    ¡°Come to think of it, boss, why can¡¯t Laurel be our sixth?¡± Jake asked. His eyes lit up, but Laurel shook


    her head, answering for herself.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told Gerald I want to keep my position at DOT,¡± she said. ¡°I think I can be of more help


    there with everything going on.¡±


    ¡°Theints,¡± Harley said, his eyes narrowing.


    Laurel nodded. ¡°I¡¯m going to try and find out who it is. And make sure they don¡¯t get any farther with the


    filings.¡±


    Harley lifted his chin, the closest to a nod Xavier had ever seen. ¡°Damn right,¡± Harley said¡ªthe


    equivalent of his blessing. Xavier smirked.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°All right, it¡¯s settled then,¡± Xavier said. ¡°I¡¯ll call her in for an interviewter this week.¡±


    ¡°Now can we go sleep?¡± Harley asked.


    Xavier squeezed Laurel¡¯s hand. ¡°Now, we can go sleep,¡± Xavier said.


    Everyone filed back out and headed for the truck. Laurel waited with Xavier while he locked up. Just


    before they reached the truck, she tugged him back, winding her arms around his neck.


    She reached on her tip toes, straining to be tall enough to hold on. He smiled and bent at the knees, so


    they were eye to eye. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Alpha?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I wanted to suggest you nap in the truck. Get some rest while you can,¡± she said slyly.


    ¡°And why is that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Because you and I won¡¯t be doing much sleeping when we get home.¡± She grinned, kissed him on the


    nose, and pranced to the truck.


    Xavier¡¯s bear sighed at the way she¡¯d called it home¡ªnot just his, but hers now too¡ªand then he


    picked up his pace in anticipation. He needed to feel her. Inside and out. And he needed to have her


    pressed against him. Reassuring, yes, after the scare she¡¯d given him, but mostly to cherish her. To


    show her that he could put her first, today and always. That he could love a mate, even with this job.


    And he could protect everyone he cared about while doing it.


    He watched her ass shake as she walked away from him and climbed inside the extended cab of the


    truck. She was beautiful and sexy and bossy. She belonged to him now, this fox. They¡¯d fight, yes, but


    he looked forward to that. In fact, his pants tightened just thinking about arguing with her and then


    making up again. He grinned at the thought. His foxy Mrs. Alpha.


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