I looked at the two Grahams and focused hard enough for them to come together. Hee hee hee, come together. "I don't want to make him go crazy by moving any of his stuff around."

"Why would he go crazy?"

"OCD?"

"Oh, right. Don't worry about it. I'll take care of everything." Graham stooped a little to pick me up off the bench upon which I'd pa.s.sed out.

I looped my arm around his neck and laid my head against his shoulder. "If you're sure."

"No worries, sweetheart."

"Okay," I muttered into his chest, fading back to sleep.

FOUR ~ Walt.

What is that? Ja'lyn asked using our bond to communicate her words.

What? I was focused on getting back to my bar, so I hadn't been paying attention to the cold, wet, dark, forest we were running through.

That!

What th- I could see a dull, pulsing yellow light in the distance. Oh, that.

Yeah, dumba.s.s, that. I could practically hear her roll her eyes.

You'd better watch what you say to your Alpha.

You'll always be my brother first. Alpha second.

Don't let that get around.

We should shift. There might be a human in there.

We were close enough to see that someone driving the ugliest painted car I had ever seen had gotten into a horrible crash on the driveway leading to the bar and lodge. I didn't recognize it; I could never forget that color. Ja'lyn could've been right about a norm being inside. I changed instantly back into my human form. Ja'lyn took a little longer. The last thing we needed was for a Bigfoot rumor to get started. I opened the pack I was carrying and handed Ja'lyn her clothes as the wind picked up.

She s.n.a.t.c.hed them from me and sniffed the air as she was quickly pulled up her pants, "What the f.u.c.k was George doing out here in this weather?"

"He's a polar bear; he loves this s.h.i.t... f.u.c.k! I hope he didn't inadvertently cause that." I nodded at the wrecked vehicle. "You recognize it?"

"Nope, I would have remembered that ugly-a.s.s color. How the h.e.l.l did someone get back here?"

"No idea. The camouflage has never failed before. I'd better call Pixie in the morning to check it out." Pixie was a water sprite and the Omega of the Fairies. They were just one of the groups umbrellaed under my clan, the Lupinski Clan. Pixie offered her magic services for a price to most but not for her Alpha. It was good to be king.

Ja'lyn finished dressing and approached the totaled vehicle. Only the nose stuck out into the road. The trunk had been crushed to the point of being unrecognizable, and the driver's side door was smashed, a large bush blocking its access.

"No one's in here," Jaylyn shouted as I b.u.t.toned my jeans and walked over. She opened the pa.s.senger's door, stuck her head inside, and inhaled deeply. "Definitely a human. Scent is old and faint. I don't recognize it. Do you?"

She moved away so I could come closer. The scent hit me before I even put my head in all the way. Sweet with a hint of musk. I put half of my body into the car and inhaled, which spurred my claws to emerge involuntarily. I inhaled again, and sparks of electricity coursed over my skin. I crawled in a little further to place my nose against the driver's backrest. My c.o.c.k hardened to the point of pain, my body morphing back into its original form. My body elongated and dark, coa.r.s.e hair sprouted from my skin. I felt my canines double in size and- "What the f.u.c.k are you doing?"

I growled deep within my chest, jumping backward and out of the car, barely stopping myself from lunging at my sister. Her eyes widened in shock at my uncontrolled state, her body paralyzed by the leak of my alpha power into the air around her. f.u.c.k! I needed to get a hold of myself. I dug my nails into my palms, closed my eyes, breathed deeply and focused on reining in my beast. f.u.c.k! Not good. Not f.u.c.king good at all. Thank G.o.d Ja'lyn had been the only shifter to witness my lack of control. There were some within the clan who'd love to see us displaced as leaders-which would ultimately bring about the ruin of the clan as a whole, not just for my family.

The Lupinskis had been in charge of our multi-species shifter clan since leaving Europe in search of better lives, for reasons no different than the humans. The only difference had been that we'd teetered at the brink of extinction. All species of shifters were being hunted at the time we'd fled, due to the close-mindedness of dumba.s.s mead drinking motherf.u.c.kers and the irrational superst.i.tions of humankind in general. Before they made the trip, all shifter species kept to themselves and were always on the move, never able to plant roots and thrive. When news of the New World reached them, they all considered the land to represent a new start, separate from the humans. America had been rumored as quite vast, which meant a chance to finally establish roots and save themselves.

But the trip had proved deadly. Not only did the shifters lack adequate supplies, but they also began to fight amongst themselves. More animal than human, the fighters turned arguments into a fang-and-claw brawls until Joeseph Lupinski, my great-to-the-umpteenth-power grandfather, shifted into his natural state and exerted his Alpha power over every species. My family was unique in that way. No other shifter species can employ their Alpha power against a shifter of a different species, nest, or pack...or whatever. The whatever were fairies, vampires, and any other creature the humans deemed as things that go b.u.mp in the night.' My family wasn't as far removed from the magic of our ancestors as the other species, and that was the only working theory we could garner about how the whole thing worked. Needless to say, everyone was shocked to discover the Lupinski's ability to shift into many forms, all known forms. The number of choices rose in correlation with power, and Joeseph had a lot of power.

A solution had presented itself to shifterkind. They would have a much better chance of survival if they banded together under the leadership of one family, my family. The Lupinskis were also uniquely the only species of which every member was born with the potential to become an Alpha. Some, like me, were born with more power than others. I was the second oldest child born to my immediate family. Nate, my older brother by five minutes, relinquished his power to me three years ago. He'd discovered his pa.s.sion, which involved helping to bring our kind out of the shadows, but not without great sacrifice.

At present, I'd finally wrestled back control of myself, releasing my hold on Ja'lyn as I shifted back into human form.

My sister stood slack-jawed, still unmoving, though she now had the power to do so. After blinking a couple of times, she yelled, "What the f.u.c.k, Bro!" before punching me in the shoulder. It hurt, but I deserved it.

"Sorry, uh, really sorry."

"That better not have been what I think it was, or you are well and truly f.u.c.ked."

"I don't know what you're talking about; I thought I smelled a threat."

She quirked an eyebrow, not believing my bulls.h.i.t for a second.

"Let's go. It's f.u.c.king cold out here without fur." I turned and sprinted away before she could say anything else. Because she was right-I might be well and truly f.u.c.ked, and not in a good way.

There were a slew of cars and motorcycles parked in the lot, one of which was Eddie's tow truck. Must have been a great night for business if the clan had partied so hard they'd all needed to crash inside. It required a lot of alcohol for a shifter to become impaired, which equated to money in the bank. I wondered briefly what sort of event had brought on such a largescale party. I drew a little closer, shocked to discover that, by the sound of things, the party raged on. It was almost morning, so there were going to be a lot of grumpy shifters in a few hours.

Ja'lyn was right behind me, running past me as I slowed a good distance away in hopes that most of the shifters inside wouldn't hear our approach.

I'm going straight up. I don't feel like dealing with anyone tonight, I told her.

Really? It sounds like one h.e.l.l of a party.

I'll find out what kind of party it was when I have to clean up after all ya'll tomorrow.

What about the threat?' Don't you want to check it out?

They wouldn't be partying if there was any real threat. Dad and Abe are in there, and I'm sure there're one or two others sober enough to recognize what's going on around them.

Suit yourself. She smiled and shrugged, taking a couple of steps, and then turning around. Thank you for helping me tonight.

I growled deep in my chest. Ja'lyn's husband, Henry, was a drunken a.s.shole. This wasn't the first time I'd had to help her out, and I was sure it wouldn't be the last-unless I was able to amend our clan's rules. But maybe I couldn't, even then. My sister was too honorable for her own good. She took the good of the clan' to heart, and I'd never seen her make a selfish decision, which sucked, because she deserved happiness. Anytime Sis.

She gave me a half smile. You should go now if you don't want anyone knowing you're here.

Thanks. I kissed her forehead and flashed up to my apartment. Why walk when you can teleport?

I was hard as a rock as soon as I materialized. The same smell that had filled the car was here, and if the smell was here, she was here. All the shifters downstairs knew she was here and would soon realize, with the appearance of Ja'lyn, that I was here too. It would only be a matter of time before they came crashing through the door to protect my mystery guest. I had to find her; my body was going to rip itself apart if I didn't. My d.i.c.k was getting harder; I'd never been so hard in my life. It pressed painfully against the zipper of my jeans to the point where I was certain I'd have a permanent zipper mark if I didn't free it. I breathed a sigh of relief as I did so.

My body switched to autopilot. I locked the door and took off my shirt as I stood in the doorway to my bedroom and took in the scene. She lay in my bed, though I couldn't see her, since she was completely covered with the blanket from head to toe. I looked down to find my d.i.c.k had sprung from my boxers. I grunted as I tucked it back inside. f.u.c.k that hurt! Go downstairs, Walt, and ask the guys what's going on, I said to myself as I moved closer to the bed. I could hear everyone downstairs; some were coming closer. They must've been afraid of what I'd do to a stranger I found sleeping in my apartment. I could have waited for the others, but yet again, my body wasn't listening to me. I carefully lifted the blanket to see who lay beneath.

I couldn't see all of her, but she had an a.s.s that could stop traffic-and it was covered in ruffles. I wanted to take those off with my teeth as I swallowed the drool that had begun to slide over my tongue. She had a slim waist, the tattoos on her lower back partially hidden by the ruffles and her brown-silky hair. Very carefully, I tried to move her hair so I could take a closer look. She smelled human, but her tattoos gave me the hope she might be a shifter-one never knew.

She stirred immediately and screamed as her hand swept out from under her pillow with lightning speed. It flashed up the next moment to punch me in the nose, right before she slid out of bed, landing on the other side in a crouched position, as though poised to attack. She was also probably trying to hide her perfect, barely-dressed body from me. Several shifters were running up the stairs and had begun pounding on the door. She glanced out of the corner of her eye in the direction of the noise but didn't move or take her focus from me altogether.

When she looked back at me, her big blue eyes widened and her gaze darted over my body. I didn't need to, because my body was perfect, but I flexed a little as she did. The only part of her body un.o.bstructed by the bed, other than her head and neck, was the top of her chest, which began to rise and fall rapidly; it was mesmerizing to me. Her gaze drifted down, her eyes stretching open even further when she noticed my c.o.c.k primed to explode from my pants. Her Cupid's bow lips opened, her pink tongue snaking out briefly before she bit her bottom lip.

A growl echoed from deep in my chest as her scent hit me, and I knew she was wet, so very wet... I had to dig my nails into my palms to stop myself from teleporting to her side and burying my head between her legs.

She screamed when my apartment door crashed open, but sighed with relief when my dad, Abe, Sam, and several others ran into the room. After glancing down, she quickly pulled the comforter off the bed and wrapped it around her before she stood. Then, Ja'lyn strode into the room, and the mystery woman's eyes went gla.s.sy and filled with tears.

FIVE ~ Andy.

I ran faster. Tree branches cut into my face and arms. Sticks and stones tore the bottoms of my feet apart. But I didn't care. All I knew was that I had to get away from whatever was chasing me. Fog rolled in around me, trying to slow me down...but I kept running.

I couldn't hear anything behind me, but I still knew something was there. The woods around me grew denser, literally, as I watched the trees grow in girth and height until they eventually blocked my escape with a wall of sharp branches covered in thorns, like something you'd see in a Disney movie. I skidded to a stop right before I would've slammed face-first into it. I glanced around. The wall was closing in, which made me panic as I searched for some way to escape my fate. There was one opening I might be able to make it through in the direction from which I'd come, but before I could take a step, yellow eyes lit up the dark opening. I couldn't see anything other than the eyes. I was terrified, and the creature was coming closer.

I slowly examined the wall for a way out, from the corner of my eye, because I couldn't look away from the animal who held me captive by his gaze. A slight breeze at the back and right of me broke the spell the creature had cast upon me. I turned and began tearing the branches apart with my hands. I might die in the next moment, but if that happened, I'd die trying. A roar sounded when my hands began to pour blood onto the ground. Then, I felt something touch my back- I awoke instantly, screaming and sliding my right hand under my pillow, searching for my knife which had always been there. f.u.c.k! I felt nothing, but used my momentum to roll slightly and punch whatever had touched me a second before. Next, I sprung to the floor on the other side of the strange bed, placing its solidity between me and the lurking danger. I crouched low, ready to spring into action while attempting to hide my body at the same time. Where the f.u.c.k are my clothes? Where the f.u.c.k am I? The events of the previous day started to replay through my mind in flashes, starting with Ken's pale white a.s.s and ending with the now, which included a half-dressed stranger who stared at me from the other side of the bed.

I heard a noise but only took my eyes off him for a second to glance at the door to the apartment toward the noise, while also plotting an escape route. When I looked back at the half-naked h.e.l.la-hottie, my body reacted instantly, even though my brain was screaming, Stranger danger!' My heart began to race as I took in his disheveled brown hair and handsome face. My p.u.s.s.y clenched as the image of his head between my thighs came to me. I almost moaned at the thought of what the stubble, running along the line of his strong jaw, could do to my skin. My gaze took in his broad, defined chest covered in tattoos. G.o.d, I loved tattoos, and his were spectacular. I bit my lip to prevent myself from drooling. I wanted to trace every beautiful line of his body with my tongue, but realized that could end badly, since there was a strong chance I'd cut my tongue on his sharply-defined abs. He was the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. I had to take a peek further south. He was wearing jeans-which were unb.u.t.toned-and his erect d.i.c.k was trying to escape. I wanted to free him and suck him within an inch of his life. Holy s.h.i.t! What the h.e.l.l has gotten into me? Just looking at this guy made me wet. But I couldn't stop myself, not even as the dirtiest thoughts I'd ever had played through my mind, making me even wetter, and I felt a drip escape and run down my inner thigh. He growled low in his chest, and I was startled from my leering and momentarily got caught up in his big blue eyes.

The door crashed open, prompting me to scream, but I stopped short when a bunch of the guys from downstairs ran in, ready to tear any invaders apart, given the looks on their faces. After glancing down and noticing my nearly-naked state again, I quickly pulled the quilt off the bed and wrapped it around my body so I could stand. I half chuckled, realizing the move to be pointless since one of them had stripped me before placing me in bed. I supposed I'd given them all insight into exactly what Ken's creepy fantasy might be. I had to smile, because no one could've made my s.h.i.t day up, and no one would believe the truth of it.

I looked up, and the guys blocking the door parted to allow the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen into the room...and I felt like my heart ripped in two.

Figures this beautiful man would have someone...here with him-oh s.h.i.t!

"Oh my G.o.d, I am so sorry," I said to her. She shot me a confused look, and I began to ramble. "He's never seen me before; nothing is going on I swear." I pulled the quilt tighter. "I know finding some half-naked woman in his bed looks bad, but I swear I-" I stopped talking when she let out a bark of a laugh, her eyes sparkling with amus.e.m.e.nt.

"Sweetie, he's my brother."

I felt my cheeks heat with embarra.s.sment and thought I heard the hot guy growl again, which prompted me to glance at him from the corner of my eye. He was staring so intently at me with a look I couldn't and honestly, at this point, didn't want to understand. I rolled my eyes at him and looked at Graham, who stood next the woman, his daughter, Ja'lyn.

She c.o.c.ked her head and said, "Huh."

Not this again. I shook my head before saying, "I'm going to get dressed. Is it okay to put the clothes you lent me back on?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Graham asked.

"Didn't you say he has a problem with his stuff being touched?"

"What?" The stranger, who had to be Walt, asked.

"Don't worry; I'll deal with my son. Bathroom's in there; clothes are folded on the sink."

I smiled and made my way around the bed, stopping in front of Graham. "Thank you." I kissed him on the cheek and heard Walt rumble. "Although," I added, "I have no idea why I'm not wearing them any longer. Who do I need to thank for that?" I queried with a slight laugh, making Walt growl louder than he had before. I quickly turned my eyes on him. "What is that?"

Walt took a step back wearing a shocked look. "What is what?"

"That growling thing you keep doing." He opened his mouth a couple of times but didn't say anything. "Listen; I'm sorry I was in your bed. I had a s.h.i.t day and drank too much. I'll pay for any therapy you need to get your OCD in check."

"OCD?"

"Oh for f.u.c.k's sake." I shook my head and walked into the bathroom. "I'll be out in a minute. Sam, is there any coffee left?"

"You can go back to sleep. Walt can sleep with the rest of us in the bulk house," Abe interjected.

"I can?" Walt asked, peering hard at him.

"No need; I'm awake. Just need coffee, and Eddie needs some too so we can pull my car out of the ditch as soon as possible."

"I'll brew another pot."

"Thanks, Sam." I smiled, and Walt rumbled again. I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I walked into the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind me.

"What the f.u.c.k was that, Walt?" I heard Ja'lyn ask as I grabbed the flannel shirt and slipped it over my head.

"Mine," Walt replied. I stopped what I was doing and stared wide-eyed into the mirror.

"s.h.i.t." Several people said at once.

That kind of stung, but at the same time, who the h.e.l.l did this guy think he was, saying something like that? I belonged to no one, let alone some guy I'd just met who'd almost scared me to death. I lifted the shirt and inhaled deeply. Yeah...who the h.e.l.l was this guy, and why did his smell make my most sensitive parts throb and ache? I'd never had anyone elicit such a reaction from me before. It scared me. I knew what happened when you gave your all to a man. You'd be left broken when they decided to leave. I had to get my s.h.i.t together. This could not happen.

I pulled the sweatpants up, and then rolled the waistband down. Everyone in the next room was speaking in hushed tones, so I couldn't catch what they were saying. And that p.i.s.sed me off. They were talking about me, after all. After donning the pink fuzzy bunny slippers, I took one last check in the mirror to make sure I didn't look like something out of The Walking Dead. As soon as I opened the door, everyone stopped talking.

"Oh, don't stop on my account." I spied my purse atop the dresser Walt was leaning on. I walked over, and he stared at me the entire time. The five steps it took to reach him felt like a mile. He didn't move even when I motioned with my head for him to step aside. I reached around him carefully, trying not to touch him; it didn't work.

My arm brushed against his, and I heard him inhale sharply. It took every bit of willpower I had not to do so myself. I refused to give him the upper hand. I refused to let the tingle that traveled straight to my throbbing p.u.s.s.y make itself known in any way. I grabbed the purse and took a step back, instantly turning and strode to the door, craving escape.

"Are you sure you don't want to go back to sleep?" Abe asked as I pa.s.sed him. I stopped and put my hand on one of the arms he had crossed over his chest. Walt growled again. I rolled my eyes at Abe, and he barked out laughter that accompanied my giggle as I headed downstairs.

Most of the guys were still present, and they all took a collective breath, appearing relieved to see me. Wow, my heart feels like it just grew ten sizes. Before me were a group of guys who barely knew me, yet acted like they cared, treated me like I was family. I couldn't explain the bond I felt with these not-quite-strangers, but I liked it. It felt...important.

I made my way over to the same barstool I had sat on earlier just as Sam was setting down a tiny cup of espresso.

I raised my brows. "You were holding out on me."

Sam shot me an expression full of mock horror and clutched at his chest. "I'm wounded. I would never hold anything back from you."

"You're going to regret you said that one day; I'll hold you to it."