When you fall out of step, that’s when everything falls into place.
R.J. Blake begins a new session tutoring young werewolves in the old ways—before the introduction of the shift-suppressing drugs that allow their kind to live secretly among humans. He expects nothing out of the ordinary. Until sexy, smart, aggravating-as-hell Corey Wilson arrives. Older than the others, son of a powerful Los Angeles pack leader, Corey is an instant temptation he cannot afford.
The last thing Corey wants is three months stuck in the Yellowstone wilderness, followed by the stifling life his father has all mapped out for him. One glimpse of R.J., though, sparks a determination to seduce the older man before he leaves. Yet as R.J. guides him through the sometimes terrifying process of rediscovering his heritage, a deepening respect calls to his artistic soul and fuels a burst of creativity.
When their time comes to an end, Corey senses hesitation behind R.J.’s insistence that theirs was simply a summer fling. Inspiring him to take a leap of faith with consequences neither of them saw coming. A dangerous plot that reaches from the heart of their love to the highest office in the land…
Product Warnings
This book contains a young werewolf intent on seduction, an older werewolf determined to resist said seduction, werewolf politics and brutality, a little spilled blood, and hot, naked manlove in the great outdoors.
The orientation meeting started with Hal running through the rules. “You will follow every direction issued by either me or R.J. This is for your safety.” He paused to scan the kids. “There will be no sneaking into the cabins of the opposite sex. R.J. will make bed checks every night.”
R.J. hid his amusement when he saw the consternation on a couple of faces.
“Everyone will have a chore assignment. You’ll take turns to help with meals and the cleanup afterward.” Hal nodded at him.
R.J. took over. “We’re going to wean you off the suppression drugs gradually and help you learn the skills to control your wolves before the drug leaves your systems. We will teach you to track and read your surroundings using all your senses. At the end of the month, we’ll start camping out overnight. The goal of the program is to get back to nature and to embrace your wolves. At the end of the three months we expect you to each make a kill.”
“We have to kill an animal?” The young girl gaped at him in disbelief.
Hal glanced at R.J., silently indicating he should jump into the conversation again before mass hysteria erupted.
“Making a kill is a natural thing and part of nature’s controls,” R.J. said. “The game populations swell to unnatural numbers if the regular cycle isn’t adhered to. It’s a fine balance.”
Another one of the girls raised her hand. “You mean we have to kill a Bambi?” Her voice rose to a squeak toward the end of her sentence.
“Killing prey to eat is a natural thing,” R.J. repeated in a firm voice before any of the other eleven kids offered their opinion. “There will be no discussion. Your parents have paid us to give you this experience.”
“Any other questions?” Hal scanned their faces and waited.
Corey put up his hand. “Yeah, what can we do in our free time? Are we allowed to leave the camp?”
“You can join in with any of the park activities,” R.J. said. “You’re free to interact with humans, keeping in mind they aren’t aware of the existence of werewolves. If you wish to leave the camp area for any reason, you must tell either me or Hal. No alcohol allowed since you’re under age. If we catch a whiff of alcohol, we’ll kick you out of the program. No second chances. This is the only warning you’ll receive.”
“I’m legal.” Corey leaned back on his chair until the front legs left the ground. “I’m an adult.”
R.J. met his challenging stare. “Act like a mature adult and I might believe you.” Instead of arguing, the kid scrutinized him thoughtfully before nodding. The tacit agreement should’ve reassured R.J., but instead an alarm fired to life. The kid’s attitude implied he liked to flout convention rather than follow along with everyone else. Not that R.J. could do much about his mind-set. No. He’d impose the camp rules and take appropriate action if or when any of the kids broke one.
He shoved his trepidation aside. “Any more questions? No? Good. Hal will pin the chore roster on the notice board in a few minutes. We’ll split you into two groups and start your training tomorrow. Meantime, I want you to collect the correct dosage pills from me before you leave.”
R.J. dispensed the pills, ticking off names as the kids received their tablets. The last one to receive medication was Corey. Of course.
“Where do you go to get a drink around here?” The kid’s eyes gleamed with challenge, and R.J. found himself wanting to grin. The makeup didn’t bother him now that he’d become used to the startling effect of stark black against Corey’s pale skin. He stared a fraction longer, and when he wondered what Corey looked like without the makeup, he admitted the kid had reeled him in like a curious trout.
“We told you earlier, you don’t get a drink around here.”
Corey clicked his fingers. “Well damn. I’ll have to settle for sex.”
The minute the kid mentioned sex, the vague element of trouble rumbling in R.J.’s gut solidified. He forced himself not to react to Corey’s smirk. Instead, he stared at Corey’s mouth. Normally sexual attraction came and went. Sex was like scratching an itch—a momentary thing he took care of when the need arose. This weird…fascination…had struck without warning, pouncing out at him.
Aware of Corey’s amusement, R.J. forced his mind back to business. He couldn’t let the kid rattle him. “Take the blue pill tonight and the pink pill tomorrow night. The medication will ease you down and help you keep better control of your wolf until Hal and I can run through some exercises and give you more information tomorrow.”
Corey nodded. “Blue then pink. Got it. You didn’t answer my question.”
“You didn’t ask a question.” R.J. cursed silently. Talking about sex with Corey Wilson wouldn’t help keep his mind straight.
Corey glanced over his shoulder, confirmed they were alone and leaned closer. “I’d like to have sex with you.”
His words hung between them, inherent with promise. R.J. wanted to turn away and couldn’t. The kid didn’t mince words. No, like any good wolf he went for the throat.
“You can’t say that.”
Corey’s too-black brows rose. “Why?”
“It’s inappropriate.”
“But not impossible,” Corey countered. “See you tomorrow.”
He strode away with a real swagger, leaving R.J. staring after him in consternation.
“Something wrong?” Hal returned from the kitchen and came to a halt beside R.J.
“No. This intake of kids seems like a good group.” A lie, but if all else failed, denying everything worked for him. Corey Wilson was a problem waiting to happen.
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