Mate or Meal 1 The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Lunch or lover? That Brody s mind when he easy.

Simply looking that the lamb is his both enjoy it. is the question that appears in werewolf meets lamb shifter Carson. The answer is into Carson s innocent blue eyes tells him mate. If he s going to eat Carson up, they ll

Carson has been isolated by his flock due to his inability to grow into a strong ram. When he is unexpectedly attacked by his halfbrother, he does not expect being rescued by a wolf let alone falling in love with him. But in spite of Brody and Carson s feelings, there are other forces at work, and people who don t agree with Brody s new plans and diet. If Brody can t find a way to save their bond, Carson might become lunch, after all. Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Shape-shifter, Vampires/Werewolves Length: 36,464 words

THE LAMB WHO CRIED WOLF Mate or Meal 1 Scarlet Hyacinth EROTIC ROMANCE MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at legal@sirenbookstrand.com

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove THE LAMB WHO CRIED WOLF Copyright 2011 by Scarlet Hyacinth E-book ISBN: 1-61034-977-6 First E-book Publication: October 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of The Lamb Who Cried Wolf by Scarlet Hyacinth from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book. Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Scarlet Hyacinth s livelihood. It s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Hyacinth s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION For my readers. I hope you enjoy the story of the lamb who cried wolf ..

THE LAMB WHO CRIED WOLF Mate or Meal 1 SCARLET HYACINTH Copyright 2011 Chapter One And so the boy learned that nobody believes a liar, even when he is telling the truth. And in the future, he would know not to cry wolf when there wasn t one. Carson smiled as all the children around him scuttled closer. And did the villagers find the sheep? a little girl asked anxiously. Carson ruffled her hair. Of course they did. The kids didn t have to know the real world didn t work that way. Wolves didn t give back lambs. But the villagers had a lot of trouble because the boy lied. The children nodded in understanding. Carson ushered them to get up from the floor. Go on now. Go to bed. But Can t we stay up for another tale? a boy asked. Carson shook his head at the child. Your parents are going to be very angry with me if you don t get enough rest, and they won t allow you to come visit again. We wouldn t want that, would we? Sighing, the children retreated to the sleeping area. Carson hugged them all and tucked them into bed. After he made sure they all slumbered quietly, he returned to the living room. Just as he d expected, he found his mother, Annabelle, waiting for him there.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf You know, you shouldn t tell the children that story, It gives them nightmares. Carson laughed. It s just a story, Mother. she said.

She sighed, and Carson knew what she was thinking. Perhaps the lambs were safe in Annabelle s home, but their parents were forced to deal with an increasingly difficult situation. Lately, their little community had received many losses, and Ramston, the town that had once been their sanctuary, was more and more looking like a prison and a death sentence. In the circumstances, the elder rams and ewes had left to Los Angeles, intending to prepare to move there. Do you think Father will find a new place for us to stay? Carson asked her. His mother grimaced. I don t think we have much choice, baby boy. We can t take many more attacks. We ll die out. Carson looked toward the bedroom where the children were sleeping, his heart hurting at the thought that tomorrow, those lambs might be attacked by a rampaging wolf. His gaze then went to the window. Night had fallen, and soon, the predators would be out to hunt. Once, they d been safe from it, but not anymore. Now, they d been found out, and it was only a matter of time until the wolves broke through their defenses. The younger, stronger rams were left in charge of Ramston. For Carson s part, he should have been on guard duty like the others, but unfortunately, he seemed to be a late bloomer at best. His horns hadn t even fully emerged, even if he d reached his twentieth year. In fact, he didn t look much different than he had at fifteen. As such, he d been delegated some of the tasks that traditionally went to the ewes. To a certain extent, he didn t mind, since he liked the lambs, but it still hurt when the young rams teased him. He knew his family was disappointed in him, and he himself would have liked to be a stronger support for the flock. Even if his mother did her best to hide it, he knew the truth. In the current circumstances, though, he would merely be in the way if he tried to help the guards.

Scarlet Hyacinth Shaking himself, Carson went to his mother and hugged her. I m going home, he told her. Ray should be there in the morning, and he ll be angry if I m away. His mother frowned, visibly upset. You shouldn t be out in the streets after dark, baby boy. Your brother will understand if we explain No, Mother. Carson shook his head. I ll be fine. Besides, I m twenty. I can take care of myself. She didn t look convinced, but thankfully, didn t comment. She knew he was as stubborn as a mule quite ironic, given that he was, for all accounts, a lamb. Besides, having him stay the night would just make the snickering voices louder. They said their good-byes, and Carson left the safety of her home. He waved at the guards set around all the homes holding the lambs of the flock. Predictably, they ignored him, and Carson pushed away the brief pang of hurt and headed toward his own house. He had no desire to see Ray, but his brother already teased him relentlessly. He wished he could have earned the right to get a home of his own. As it was, he was forced to share the home that once belonged to his grandparents with his brother. The chill wind blew through his hair as he walked, and Carson pulled up his coat, wishing for the comfort of his wool. It was so much better to be in shifted form. But these days, he only changed to his second shape when he was alone or when he had no choice. His many lacks made him feel inadequate, but at least like this, he could pretend there were no differences between him and the rest of the young rams. Shape-shifters had always lived among the humans, secretively, of course. Humans destroyed what they couldn t understand, so all shifter races kept to themselves. Unfortunately, their lives rotated around the same conflicts that existed in the wild, and alas, Carson s kind were the target of many predators, simply for existing.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Carson would have thought that, since they had a second shape, they would also have different feelings, different needs. But he knew no one who thought like him. They were sheep, and their enemies wolves. The course of nature was clear, with the difference of the new methods they used to hurt each other or protect themselves from harm. He rubbed his arms, feeling lonely and cold. Sheep naturally craved the proximity of their own kin, yet another reason why Carson liked being around the lambs. Most everyone else rejected him. He was unusual, and in their flock, unusual spelled isolated. Sometimes, that seemed almost all right. He loved the children and loved telling them stories. Seeing their cute eyes widen at his words made it all worthwhile. Growing up, he d dreamed about the day when he d have a family of his own, lambs he could pass on his stories to. But now, he couldn t help but think that storytelling wouldn t help Ramston if the wolves attacked. It wouldn t save the lambs from their fangs and claws. Carson was so lost in his thoughts he missed the approach of another person until he ran into a wall of solid muscle. He cursed and backed up, only to find himself colliding with another man. Much to his dismay, he realized the man in front of him was his brother. Look who s out at this hour, nursing the lambs? Ray said. Shouldn t you be

They ve gone to bed, Carson replied, holding his spine ramrod straight. And what about you? Shouldn t you be guarding the outskirts? He knew he d made a horrible mistake in talking back when Ray s sarcastic expression twisted into one of anger. Don t talk back to me. Carson backed up, but ran into yet another person. In that moment, he realized he d somehow become surrounded by Ray s friends. There were at least four young rams, other than Ray, all giving him disdainful looks.

Scarlet Hyacinth We re going to teach you a lesson you ll never forget, fiercely. Carson tried to escape, but he emanating from the much larger of self-preservation ingrained into anger, and he charged his of winning. Ray said

was surrounded. The hostility men around him roused the instinct in each living being. His panic morphed brother, even if he knew he had no way

To his satisfaction, he managed to get in a few decent blows. However, moments later, Ray pushed him off and Carson fell, his body colliding painfully with the cobblestone path. What are you doing? Ray sneered. Get him. The other four rams obeyed There was no place to hide Distantly, Carson realized but alas, in Ray s case at the older Ray and jumped on Carson. from the blows, no way of dodging them. that yes, shape-shifters had other feelings, least, they were all wicked and mean.

He would have been able to accept the blows as something passing if the touches hadn t suddenly turned lascivious. For whatever reason, the rams began tearing Carson s clothes off. Ray just stood there, laughing, watching them, encouraging them and spouting insults at Carson. That s right, he said. Carson can be your little ewe. What a great idea. A sob escaped Carson at the realization that he would be raped by his brother s friends. He d never shared his body with anyone. Ewes focused on strong rams, not underdeveloped ones like him, but Carson had never felt the need to couple with them anyway. He d come to think himself as not only weak, but also asexual. Still, the thought of his virginity being stripped of him in such a vile manner made his entire being rebel. Ray, he tried to beg, help me. Please.

But Ray didn t help. Just as Carson thought all was lost, a wolf howl sounded somewhere to their right. It was close, so very close. The rams froze and stopped their abuse of Carson. They got up, taking up a fighting stance.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf On all fours, Carson crawled away from them and looked toward the general area where he d heard the wolf howl come from. He half expected the beast to lunge at them from the shadows. Instead, when it emerged, it walked slowly, as if it had all the time in the world and was just taking a stroll through the park. Carson trembled as he watched the beast approach. It was huge, gray fur covering a massive body and pale green eyes studying them with interest. Carson didn t doubt the beast could have easily taken a cougar on its own. It was precisely for this reason why their guards stuck together, to fend off such threats. Carson had assumed someone else had taken over the responsibility if Ray and his cronies abandoned their posts. But there were only so many rams, and it seemed Ray s stupidity left a hole in the defenses. They hadn t even brought their guns along. Fuck. The wolf took a few more steps, and just like that, the courage seemed to drain out of Ray and his friends. With similar screams, they turned and ran, fleeing as fast as they could and disappearing into the night. Carson would have very much liked to do the same, but his body hurt and he didn t even think he could move. He stared at the wolf, frozen. Oddly, he felt thankful the predator had shown up. At least if he died, he would do so with dignity. Another wolf appeared from behind the first one. For a brief second, it seemed as if the two were communicating, and then, the second one went chasing after Ray. Great, just great. Apparently, this huge animal wanted Carson for himself. At any rate, it didn t matter anymore. As much as Carson would have liked to flee, he couldn t make his body move. He was doomed. * * * * Brody watched the beautiful youth on the ground, conflicting emotions passing through him. On the one hand, his mouth watered at

Scarlet Hyacinth the sight of the man naked and at Brody s mercy. Clearly, the lamb didn t intend to flee, too panicked to do anything but stare. In spite of the desire, however, anger and confusion warred inside Brody anger at what the stupid rams had almost done to the lamb and confusion because he even cared about it. After all, the lamb was prey. By rights, Brody should be eating him now. Instead, he found himself analyzing the young man in front of him like he would a bitch in the pack. As he approached the gorgeous, succulent treat, his nostrils were invaded by an amazing scent. Brody s instinct to feed was replaced by the one to copulate, to fuck, and to mate. He wanted to claim this little lamb as his own. The impossibility of such a thing crossed his mind as a distinct notion. The wolf knew what it wanted and it didn t care about limits. It didn t understand the concept of forbidden. He needed, and he would take. Distantly, he acknowledged the fact that his mission was compromised, but whatever. He d found out enough, and his Alpha would just have to deal with it. Right then and there, Brody couldn t care less. Without further hesitation, Brody pounced, shifting midleap. Now that his eyes could see color, he took in the true extent of the lamb s beauty. He was gorgeous, white-blond hair reaching his slender shoulders and wide blue eyes analyzing Brody in obvious fright. The youth made a sound that seemed a cross between a baah and a scream, but didn t move. Brody landed on top of his delicious prey, shocked at himself when he paid close attention so as to keep their bodies from colliding painfully. Well, hello there, little lamb, he growled in the young man s ear. It seems I have you at my mercy. The lamb gulped. A Are you going to eat me?

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Sinful images popped inside Brody s mind, showing sweat-slick bodies moving together, his own and the lamb s. Oh, I ll eat you all right, but you ll enjoy it. The lamb looked confused, but Brody didn t have time to explain. He saw Liam heading back toward him in his shifted form. Brody gathered it was time to go. The rams must have finally gotten their act together, or alerted the rest of the guards inside the town. The damn sheep used guns with silver rounds, and Brody couldn t risk getting hit by one. He shot to his feet and grabbed the lamb, draping the young man s unresisting body over his shoulder. Grinning to himself, he followed after Liam as his friend led him back the way they d come. The stupid sheep had left a hole the size of Europe in their defenses possibly because of the same rams who d attacked Brody s lamb. Brody growled as he remembered the bastards. He wished he could have taken them out, shredded their flesh and tasted their blood, but his priorities lay with his mate. His mate? Seriously? How could a lamb be his mate, and a male one at that? And yet, even as he thought this, Brody knew it was true. He d have a very difficult time convincing the young man of it, though. For the moment, his sweet prey remained paralyzed with fright, but Brody intended to make that change. Perhaps he could woo the little lamb by bringing him a piece of his attackers as offering. Then again, perhaps not. Brody and Liam escaped Ramston with relative ease. Once they were at a safe distance away, Liam shifted into his legged form. Brody placed his mate down and turned to his fried, waiting for the explosion that was bound to occur. Indeed, moments later, Liam shouted, What the fuck, Brody? What was that back there, and what in the world are you doing with the lamb? Brody realized his behavior would draw his friend s attention. Liam knew him well, and knew how much the pack meant to him. It was one of the reasons why they d been selected for the scouting

Scarlet Hyacinth mission in the sheep lands. Their Alpha and Brody s brother, Soren wanted to know if the sheep truly meant to move into human territory. Brody could safely say the rumor was correct, judging by the motions in the town and the absence of the elder rams and ewes. Still, he and Liam would have paid more attention and scouted more thoroughly, if not for running into the little lamb. Brody couldn t bring himself to regret it. He shrugged at Liam. along. I have my reasons for bringing the lamb

Liam stared at Brody s mate speculatively. Perhaps you re right. I m sure the pack would love a lamb dinner tomorrow. Brody cursed at his friend s words, knowing they would frighten his poor mate again. Indeed, the young man made that baah sound again and, before Brody s shocked eyes, turned into his animal form. Liam rubbed his hands together. He s making it easier for us. Oh, would you look at that? Don t

Brody snarled and pushed his friend away from the lamb. you even think about it. He s off-limits.

He knelt next to the terrified lamb, gently caressing the soft wool. The lamb s blue eyes fixed on him, as if asking him a silent question. Don t worry, little lamb. No one is going to harm you. Liam gaped at him. Okay, have you lost your mind or what? He s fucking prey. He is also my mate, Brody snarled. He had no intentions of denying the connection between him and the lamb. Sure, he d have liked to explain things to the young man in private, but unfortunately, he could not do that, not in the circumstances. He had a feeling he would need Liam s help. Your mate? Brody Liam repeated, looking dumbfounded. But,

Brody frowned, silently telling Liam this wasn t up for discussion. As always, Liam understood him. Fine. I won t question you, or

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf touch your mate. But you have to realize, my friend, that the pack won t like this. Brody knew his friend was right, just like he knew that, at this stage in his life, he needed to make a choice. It was really a nobrainer. He couldn t take his mate to the pack, and he didn t intend to leave the lamb to fend for himself. Therefore, it followed as natural that Brody would have to leave the pack. Sure, his family wouldn t be happy about it. In fact, Brody would bet money his father would be furious. Hopefully, his brother would help him. For the moment, he picked up his mate in his arms, all the while continuing with his caresses. In the end, the lamb began to relax a bit, as if finally acknowledging the fact that Brody didn t intend to hurt him. Brody began to walk back to their car. Liam followed behind him in silence, seemingly musing over the situation. Once they reached their vehicle. Brody opened the back seat and gently placed his mate there. The lamb didn t protest, as if dazed. Brody could feel his mate s exhaustion irradiating from him like a cloud, both physical and emotional. The urge to shield him from everyone was so strong that Brody almost keeled over. He did his best to temporarily leash it and pulled his clothes on. The sheep in the back seat would be strange enough. It wouldn t do for humans to see two naked men with it. He and Liam dressed and entered the car. Usually, Brody would drive or take shotgun, but now he sat next to his mate. Drive, he told his friend. Liam took the driver s position and closed his door. As Brody secured himself and his mate in the back seat, Liam started the car and drove off. The sound of the engine startled Brody s lamb, and the young man shifted back into his human form. The transformation made it so that Brody ended up with a lapful of naked mate. On instinct, he wrapped his arms around the lamb s waist, pulling him closer.

Scarlet Hyacinth The young man tensed and started to fidget. W What s going on? he stammered. Where are you taking me? Be still, little lamb, Brody said. His mate s motions seemed designed to drive him out of his mind. The youth s pert bottom rubbed against Brody s cock, making hot lust course through him. His control hung by a thread, and it was only the knowledge of what the lamb had gone through that kept him from losing it. Squeezing his mate to his chest, he did his best to ignore his arousal. You re safe with me. The lamb didn t seem very reassured, not that Brody blamed him. I m Brody Wade, and that s my friend Liam Denning. What s your name? C Carson, the lamb answered. Carson Williams.

That s a gorgeous name, for a gorgeous man. Liam cleared his throat. I hate to interrupt, but I d like to know where we re going as well. As you realize, I don t expect him to be safe with the others, so I won t go back. So drop us at the outskirts of L.A. In the meantime, I need you to do something for me. Go to Soren. Tell him I ve found my mate and to meet me in front of the Griffith Observatory, two days from now, at noon. An awkward silence fell over the truck. Liam seemed tense, and so did Carson. Brody held Carson tighter. As much as he cared about his friend, he couldn t wait until they reached their destination. After all, Liam was a wolf, and didn t have the same connection with Carson Brody did. He would be inclined to hurt Carson. Finally, Liam spoke. I ll help you, my friend. Just be careful.

Even with Liam s reassurance, the trip seemed to take ages. At one point, Brody busied himself with providing Carson something to wear. They d brought along small packs, but, unfortunately, Brody s clothing proved to be unsuitable for the much smaller Carson. They ended up borrowing a shirt and a pair of jeans from Liam, who didn t

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf They circled around each other, and Brody assessed the way his brother moved, taking note of his stronger spots, of the way Soren would most likely attack. For a few moments, he just waited. Sometimes, it was better to allow the opponent to make the first move. His brother knew that as well, but nevertheless, he lunged at Brody. Perhaps he didn t think Brody could defeat him. After all, he was Alpha. He must consider himself the strongest of the pack. Brody dodged Soren s attack and answered with his own lunge. His paw hit Soren s shoulder, drawing first blood. Soren didn t seem bothered by this. He moved out of the way and, as quick as lightning, jumped Brody again. They collided against each other, jaws snapping, trying to reach vulnerable veins, claws scratching, drawing blood. Several times, Brody received a few well-placed blows from his brother. But at last, Brody saw an opening. He sunk his fangs into Soren s shoulder, clamping them down and tearing into the sensitive tissue. Soren howled in pain and tried to break away. Brody released his brother only when Soren s erratic motions threatened to injure him. He backed down and analyzed the situation with the instinct of the wolf and the intelligence of the rational shape-shifter. In his mind, Carson encouraged him. Soren, however, seemed to have lost that balance in realization of his imminent defeat. He lunged madly at Brody, but Brody dodged him, nipping his brother s side in the process. Soren s attacks grew more and more inaccurate. It seemed that the battle would be over soon. Soren was bleeding heavily from his shoulder wound and beginning to tire. Brody just needed to draw it out and go for the kill. Even so, he hesitated. His brother had lost, and he knew the others could see it as well. He heard it in the murmurs already rising in the crowd. It was only a matter of time until Soren fell.

Scarlet Hyacinth But then, Brody sensed something wrong. Pain assaulted him, not his own, but his mate s. Brody howled in anger, his wolf no longer caring about the already defeated foe. He went into protective mode, his entire being yearning to be by his mate s side and remove him from harm. Dodging his brother again, Brody ran toward the edges of the surrounding circle. He snarled at the pack, uncaring of the shouts that reached his ears, trying to stop him. At last, the crowd parted for him and Brody sped back in the direction of the mansion, where his mate was. Hang on, Carson, he sent to his mate. I m coming.

Brody, don t, Carson said weakly. Please, don t.

They ll just hurt you, too.

The words merely inflamed Brody further. He was so focused on his destination and his mate that he missed his brother s approach until it was too late. A heavy body landed on his back, and sharp fangs dug into his flesh. Brody struggled to release himself from Soren s hold, uncaring that in the process, he might be making the situation worse. But his despair made him vulnerable, and Soren applied several more wellaimed bites. Pain filled Brody s mind and body as the torture on Carson continued. Whenever he pushed Soren away, the other wolf returned with relentless persistence. Brody could still sense the weakness in Soren, but his brother must have realized Brody s as well. He didn t allow Brody to leave, and no matter what Brody did, he could not continue his flight toward Carson. Assaulted from two different directions, Brody found himself unable to even focus on anything else but the pure need to reach his mate. At one point, he couldn t even see his brother anymore. Only the sight of Carson s blue eyes appeared in his mind s eye, the way they d been that time when they d first met in Ramston, just a few days ago. Brody had failed him. He d promised to protect Carson and failed.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf At last, a final blow from Soren made his body surrender, and Brody fell to the ground, incapable of getting up again. He sensed his brother somewhere close, and then, a foot landed on his neck. This battle is over. Shift and yield. Brody didn t answer, his desperate gaze still on the mansion in the distance. He tried to crawl away, even if he knew he could not reach Carson. Do you want to die? already. Soren asked in exasperation. Yield

Somehow, even through all the pain, Carson s voice reached Brody. Yield, Brody. Live. Please, for me. The pained plea crushed Brody. His soul crumbled on itself, and he turned back into his human form. I yield, he whispered. Soren s foot vanished from on his neck, and Brody heard orders being given. Guards appeared and lifted him up roughly. They were carrying him in the general direction of the mansion, so Brody didn t bother to fight. Carlie joined them, and through his haze of continuing pain, Brody heard her ask, What happened to you? Why did you run like that? Brody didn t reply. He couldn t. He just focused on clinging to the connection between him and Carson. It remained there, still strong, and Carson seemed to be withstanding the pain of his attack. It was Brody s only comfort. Just take me to see my mate, least do that? he told his guards. Can you at

Carlie exchanged a couple of words with the men, and in the end, they agreed to let him see Carson for a bit. The Alpha hadn t said he couldn t, and they apparently believed Brody and Carson would die soon, anyway. Everyone deserved one last wish. At last, they reached the mansion and the guards carried him toward the second floor. The mansion didn t have cells, since wolves rarely, if ever, took prisoners. When someone broke pack law, the

Scarlet Hyacinth person in question was transferred to the elder s headquarters and his fate decided there. Brody wondered if he and Carson would even live long enough to reach his father s house. The feel of his mate got stronger with each passing moment, and finally, a door opened. His guards stopped and dropped him to the floor. What happened here? Carlie shouted.

Brody opened his eyes and saw his mate on the bed, full of blood, several bite marks covering his limbs and torso. There was some shredded wool around, a sign that Carson must have at one point become so terrified he d shifted into his animal form. Lester sat on an armchair, arching a brow at Carlie, while his brother, Geoff, just stood there, smirking and still covered in Carson s blood. What? Lester asked. I didn t hurt him. Something broke inside Brody. The need to kill invaded him, the desire to enact revenge. Whether or not he d die after this day, these wolves would not live either. Adrenaline coursing through his veins, he shifted again and jumped Geoff. The man changed as well and tried to fight him off. Another wolf Lester lunged toward Brody, but Brody dodged his attack. In several powerful rips, he tore into Geoff s jugular. Both Lester and Geoff tried to stop him, but the smell of Carson s blood urged him on, making him ignore the pain. One final effort, and Geoff s struggles ceased as life drained out of him. With one foe taken down, Brody turned toward Lester. Alas, he didn t have time to deal with Lester, as well. The other wolves jumped him, pinning him to the floor. Again, Brody tried to fight, but the burst of strength given by his anger and despair was beginning to lose its potency. He heaved and bucked against his captors, and perhaps he might have broken free. Unfortunately, in that moment, Soren entered the room, followed by more wolves.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf What happened here? he said, as if in echo of Carlie s earlier words. Are you mad, Brody? I thought you said the lamb was your mate. Soren approached Brody, and a distant thought made Brody realize his hypocritical brother suggested he d hurt his own mate. He shifted into his human form and spat in Soren s face. You fucking bastard. You know very well what happened here. I d have won the challenge. He d have lunged at Soren if the guards hadn t held him down. You set your cronies on Carson, knowing I would feel his pain, knowing I couldn t possibly focus on the battle with my mate hurt. I can t believe I was so fucking wrong about you. I don t know who you are, but you re not my brother. Soren looked dumbfounded. He turned toward Lester. the lamb was not to be harmed. Alpha, you said I shouldn t hurt him, anything. It was all Geoff. I told you I didn t do

Lester replied.

Brody strained against the hold the other wolves had on him. And he is dead now. I hope you know that I ll kill you, too, if it s the last thing I do. I haven t done anything wrong. Lester sneered. prey. His flesh is our right. The lamb is

To Brody s surprise, Soren punched Lester. Enough. What happens to the lamb is not your decision, and semantics won t change the fact that you disobeyed me. As my Beta, you should have known better. He nodded toward the other soldier. Take him. He ll be judged for breaking pack law. Lester was dragged out of the room, futilely trying to protest. Brody didn t fool himself, however. Lester s punishment didn t mean he and Carson would be off the hook. Brody closed his eyes. He just wanted to nuzzle close to Carson, to clean his wounds, to soothe his mate. Soren s voice drew his attention, and Brody found himself forced to look at his brother as the other man spoke. You sensed his pain?

Scarlet Hyacinth Brody frowned. not? Of course I did. He s my mate. How could I

Soren didn t say anything else. He just turned toward Carlie and said, Get a medic in here, and have him look over Brody and the lamb. And spread the word. I don t want any further harm to come to them. Carlie quickly nodded and left the room. Brody didn t know what to believe about Soren s sudden change of heart. He just wanted to be left alone with his mate. As if guessing his wish, Soren gestured the guards to release him. We ll allow you to stay here with him, but don t try to escape. The windows are barred and you re not in any condition to flee pack lands. Brody just sat next to Carson and pulled him close. Almost instantly, Carson s eyes cracked open. B Brody? he asked. you okay? Are

I m fine, little lamb, Brody said through their bond. They can t break me. Although they d come awfully close, just by hurting Carson. I ll be fine, Carson whispered back. I m still a shape-shifter. I may not be a wolf, but

Brody appreciated Carson s courage, but it didn t make him any less angry, desperate, and hurt. He felt Carson s wounds healing slowly, as did his own, but they were both still so weak, and he didn t think he could defend them should Soren decide to get rid of them. One thing he knew was that his brother spoke the truth regarding the defenses of the mansion. These rooms were especially prepared for holding lawbreakers, and the outside of the mansion would not be easy to go through even if Brody and Carson were in perfect physical condition. At last, they were left alone. Even if Brody sensed guards at the other side of the door, he supposed it was better than nothing. As soon as the other wolves granted them privacy, Brody released Carson

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf from his embrace and left the bed. Carson whimpered in protest. Where are you going? he asked. Just to the bathroom, Carson. He didn t know how long Soren s sudden bout of generosity would last, and he needed to get their wounds cleaned up. It would help them heal faster. He couldn t rely too much on Soren s medic, especially for Carson. As quickly as he could in the circumstances, he made his way to the adjoining bathroom and started the water in the tub. While it filled with warm water, Brody returned to the sleeping quarters. He picked up his mate from the bed and retraced his steps, going back in to the bath. Gently, he placed Carson in the water, then joined his mate inside. The temperature was just right, and it both hurt and soothed his wounds. Still, Brody felt clumsy, angry, and sad when he tried to wash his mate, only to find the previously flawless skin marred by angry bites and awful wounds. The water grew red by the time they were in at least a satisfactory condition. Carson leaned against him, and gradually, Brody felt him relax. The pain was still there, but more dim. Even so, Brody could not feel relieved. The moments when he d sensed Carson being hurt still passed through his mind, and his wolf s anger lingered there, just waiting to reemerge. Hey, it s okay, Carson said. I m fine. We re fine. We re going to get through this. Brody forced himself to nod, even if he knew he couldn t be very convincing. He got out of the bath and pulled Carson with him, finding with pleasure that his mate could stand on his own. As he rubbed them both dry, he heard the door open and felt the medic come in. Taking a deep breath to control his rising temper, he wrapped Carson in a towel. There were no robes around, so that would have to do. If the medic even breathed wrong in Carson s direction, Brody would deck him, injuries or no injuries.

Scarlet Hyacinth Thankfully, the medical examination was professional, with no useless, additional comments. Carson and Brody were prescribed plenty of rest and given a few salves that would speed up the healing process. Even if his senses identified them as genuine, Brody still tested them on himself first before applying them on Carson. Later, after the doctor left, they received food, meat for Brody and a vegetarian meal for Carson, and even a change of clothes. Of course, Brody hadn t forgiven his brother how could he? and he couldn t help but wonder what game Soren was playing out. Still, for the moment, he could do nothing but wait. He felt his strength returning with each passing second, but he couldn t take any chances. If only he could get a message out to Liam or Carlie. He still didn t know what happened to his friend. He didn t think Liam would abandon him. They d been through too much together. But then again, he couldn t rely on others. This whole fiasco had happened because he d trusted the wrong person. He needed to come up with a plan. But what? Leaving Carson to rest, Brody went to the windows and analyzed the bars. They were made out of silver and were quite sturdy and thick. Brody would never be able to break them by hand. Perhaps he could use one of the pieces of furniture as a tool, but then, the guards would hear and it would be pointless. He might be able to take them out, but it was very unlikely that even if he succeeded breaking out of the room, he and Carson would be able to leave the pack grounds without being detected. Carson sighed, having obviously caught onto his musings. Brody, come to bed, he said. You can t get us out. He continued to speak through their connection, Perhaps tonight we ll have more luck. Their vigilance might lower. Brody didn t say anything else. His mate had a point, and trying to escape now would indeed be futile. Brody sat down on the bed and wrapped his arm around Carson. I really messed up, didn t I?

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Don t say that, Carson answered. You couldn t have known your brother would react like he did. I should have known. Brody sighed. I just thought wolves valued mates more than they did their prejudice. I suppose I was wrong. He didn t know how much time passed while they just sat there, hugging. They didn t touch each other sexually it was not the time, or the place. Even if they were alone in the room, the guards outside would hear and feel anything. Still, it couldn t have been much later when Brody sensed a familiar presence approach. Brody tensed and broke away from Carson. Who is it? his mate asked. Brody sighed, once more cursing himself for putting Carson into this position. My father. Just stick behind me, little lamb. His problem is going to be with me. Or so he hoped. A few moments later, the door opened and his father walked in. The older wolf looked just like Brody remembered him. In many ways, he was an older version of Brody and Soren, his black hair having gone gray and the occasional line creasing his face. However, even with that, he still seemed as alert and strong as ever. No one would ever dare to challenge Elder Kevin Wade for his position. He sensed Carson s disbelief as his mate realized just how traditional and important Brody s family was. Brody wished he d had the time to explain it to Carson, but then again, he wished for many things, and none of them seemed to have any chance of coming true. Greetings, my son, his father said formally. I hear you ve gotten yourself in quite a distasteful situation. Hello, Father, Brody answered. I suppose it depends on what you would consider distasteful. Personally, I m not very fond of the way my brother has treated my mate.

Scarlet Hyacinth His father ignored the comment. The problem with this lamb of yours is very upsetting. Your brother thinks we should just leave you alone, but I disagree. Brody s heart fell. If his father chose to be stubborn in this, he could very well ruin their lives. It was the second reason why he d remained close-by and not fled when he had the chance. It would have made them fugitives from wolf shape-shifters. Unfortunately, their kind was spread out all over the world, even in tropical lands not native to actual wolves. So unless people suddenly decided to have a colony on Mars, there would be nowhere for them to hide. So what do you suggest, Father? be left alone. he asked. We merely want to

I m afraid that s not possible. The older wolf frowned. You must understand, son, this mating you insist upon cannot be. He is your prey. That s the normal course of nature, and it cannot be disrupted. Soren entered the room, followed by a group of soldiers. The situation didn t look very promising. I will kill you if you touch him. Brody growled. His father let out an exasperated sigh. You do realize there is nothing you can do if I should choose to slay the lamb, don t you? By rights, it is what I should do. However, your brother pointed out a certain injustice inflicted upon you. Therefore, I have decided to spare your lamb, on one condition. Brody was torn between relief and anxiety. What condition? His father nodded, and the soldiers parted to allow a pretty bitch to enter the room. She didn t speak or introduce herself. Instead, she just met Brody s eyes and smiled shyly. If she thought she was fooling anyone with her demeanor, she was sorely mistaken. Brody knew she-wolves, and they were foes to be feared. At last, his father answered his question. You will part ways with the lamb. We will take him back to his town and drop him there. But he is my mate, Brody protested. You cannot be serious.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf I ve already thought about that. His father gestured toward the female wolf. This is Roxanne. She s agreed to help us out in this unpleasant situation. If you do have a bond with the lamb, claiming her should help you break it. Brody gaped. His father couldn t be serious. Matings couldn t be broken just like that, especially not between true mates. He realized his family didn t truly believe Carson and he were bonded in every sense of the word. And as he looked into his father s eyes, Brody understood that the man would never accept it. If he tried to explain it now, Carson would end up dead. There was no other choice than to accept his father s supposed generosity. To his surprise, before he could answer, Carson pushed past him and faced the gathering of wolves. No. No way. I won t allow it. Brody sensed how difficult it was for Carson to go against his nature and stand up for himself in front of a pack of predators. At the same time, however, he noticed the wolves immediate reaction upon seeing Carson put himself in the center of attention. Their nostrils flared and a sense of greed and anticipation filled the air. Carson tensed but didn t back down. I won t allow it, he said again. Brody s father looked at him. Brody, decide now. I m not discussing this with your lamb. You know your options. I m waiting. Yes, Brody knew his options, and only one of them would allow Carson to get out of here unscathed. All right, Father, he told his sire. You win. He felt sick to the stomach as he turned to his mate and said, Carson, you and I are predator and prey. This was nothing more than a huge mistake. Brody actually felt Carson s heart break. But, Brody, Carson protested through their connection, there has to be a way. You can t break our mating. You can t tie yourself to her. We belong together. That s what you said, remember? Yes, Brody well remembered what he d said, but his promises meant nothing in front of the odds they faced. Well, I was wrong.

Scarlet Hyacinth Don t talk to me through this bond anymore. It s off-limits starting now. Truly, he d been a fool to ever consider a mate bond with a lamb. Lambs were his lunch, not potential lovers. They lived in different worlds, and as much as it hurt, it was better to break up now than pay the price later. He stepped away from Carson and joined his father. The bitch took his hand, and Brody allowed it. I want to see him safely off to his town before I do anything else, he told his father. The older wolf didn t protest. Of course. I ll give the orders now. He clapped Brody on the shoulder. Congratulations. You made the right decision. Brody nodded, even if he felt numb inside. Whatever he might have claimed to his father, the connection with Carson remained there, as strong as ever. Once Brody bit Roxanne, however, it would be tainted, strained, or perhaps disappear altogether. It was the only known way to eliminate a mating, though, by replacing it with another one. Still, the mark of the first mating never went away, and the severing of the bond would affect Brody forever. The only thing that reassured Brody was that sheep did not mate like wolves, and Carson would find someone else with ease. The emotional pain that came from Carson didn t dwindle, however. The lamb allowed the wolves to manhandle him, never once protesting, as if lost in a dream. His eyes remained fixed on Brody, so blue and clear, and Brody again felt like he d let down and betrayed his mate. He followed after the rest of the wolves with Roxanne clinging to him like an annoying leech. As a small comfort, he caught sight of Liam appearing from a room and joining them. His friend gave him a look of regret, and Brody was thankful that at least, someone understood. I m sorry I couldn t help, Liam mouthed. Brody just nodded in distant acquiescence. He didn t blame his friend for any of this. Liam couldn t have changed Soren s mind or

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf influenced the outcome of the situation in any way. Brody was only glad wolves had not turned to shooting the messenger like they had with breaking mate bonds. The soldiers led Carson into one of the cars, but his father didn t let Brody climb into the same one. Perhaps the man feared Brody would change his mind. As if anything could be done at this point. He d taken this decision for Carson s sake and would not back down. Liam climbed into the car with Brody, but didn t speak. Everyone seemed to grasp Brody s foul mood. The trip back to the outskirts of Ramston took far too little time than Brody would have liked. They didn t go too far or too close to the sheep town. With the previous attack, the sheep must have strengthened their defenses, and the wolves had no desire of getting shot. Brody left the car and watched as Carson did the same. His lamb took one final look toward him then walked away from the vehicle and disappeared into the forest. There you go, Brody s father said. He s safe now.

Brody didn t feel quite satisfied. The forest might be full of animals that could hurt Carson. I ll rather see that for myself. The other wolf frowned. of men with you. That s fine, as long as you take a couple

Brody hadn t expected his father to trust him, so he wasn t surprised at the request. A couple of men turned to be five huge werewolves, led by his brother. Liam joined them, as always, by Brody s side. They followed Carson s trail into the forest, staying at a reasonable distance. At one point, Brody sensed Carson realized he was being followed, but didn t seem to care. Finally, they reached the edge of the forest, just in time to watch Carson enter his town. You see? Soren whispered. He s fine. Now let s go before anything worse happens. Brody went, turning his back on Ramston and the life he d hoped for.

Scarlet Hyacinth Chapter Five Two years later But Carson, I don t know why you re so adamant in staying away from us. It s been two years. We re willing to forgive and forget. Carson took a deep breath and focused on not slamming the phone against the wall. His mother didn t know about everything that had happened to him during those few life-altering days, or rather, chose not to know. After Brody s rejection, Carson had returned to his town, only to be faced with a new problem, his brother. Ray had invented some fucked-up story about how and why he and the other young rams left their posts. It involved Carson getting eaten by the wolves, and it had been quite believable, or so Carson gathered. And naturally, when Carson returned, claiming the wolves let him go, everyone turned against him, including his own mother. Disgusted and uncaring, Carson had left Ramston behind. Besides, he didn t think he could live in the same town as his brother and his cronies anyway. No one believed his story about his near-rape either, so Carson no longer felt any need to live in Ramston. He did miss the forest from time to time, but he d built a new existence here, something better than he d ever had in his home town. From time to time to time, however, he called his mother, just to check up on the lambs. Alas, she ended up throwing accusations at him and making him so angry he couldn t see straight.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Forgive and forget, he repeated in disbelief. Well, I haven t forgotten your rejection, or the way my brother instigated his little friends to rape me. At the other side of the connection, an exasperated sigh sounded. How many times do I have to tell you it was your imagination? It must have been the wolves who did that, and you merely replaced their images with Ray s because he was there. All the strength drained out of Carson. Whatever, Mother. I don t have the time or the patience to argue. I have to go to work now. Bye. Without further ado, he cut the his mother was only a half lie. he needed to leave for work. He again, his friend had been away connection. The reason he d given He still had a half an hour or so before needed to wait for Shiloh, since yet the night before.

All of a sudden, Carson heard the apartment door opening. Honey, I m home, Shiloh shouted in his typical exuberant manner. Carson shook his head at his friend s antics and went to greet him. As he entered the hallway, a slender body pounced on him, almost making him fall. The swan was taller, but slimmer than him, and at the same time, stronger than he looked, or even remembered sometimes. Carsie! I missed you. Carson arched a brow and extracted himself from the embrace. You just saw me yesterday before you went on your date. So, how was it? Shiloh shrugged and went into the kitchen. Carson followed behind him. Exactly as I expected, Shiloh said. Hot sex. He won t call me. Carson couldn t help but feel disappointed. Even if Shiloh didn t act like a normal swan-shifter, Carson knew that in his heart, his friend still waited for The One. Shiloh waved a hand, as if casting aside the bad thoughts. Tomorrow is another day, and many gorgeous hunks await.

Scarlet Hyacinth Carson smiled. of them. And you deserve better than each and every one

Two years back, Shiloh had been his proverbial savior when Carson didn t have any place to go, no friends, and no money. On impulse, Carson hitchhiked back to the city and with great difficulty, found the hotel where he d stayed with Brody. It had taken some stealth, but he d managed to slip inside their room. He d realized then that none of the items they d bought remained there, and understood that the wolves must have come and gotten rid of all the evidence that he and Brody had ever been here. But as luck would have it, whoever dealt with this task missed one little piece of paper, a paper that had been in his pocket when Brody tore the jeans off him Shiloh s phone number. Not knowing what else to do, Carson had called the best decision he d ever made in his entire life. Shiloh had given him a place to stay, helped him find a job, introduced him to all sorts of interesting people, and become his best friend. He was an amazing man, and perhaps Carson could have fallen for him, if he hadn t been still hung up on a certain wolf. Seeming completely oblivious to Carson s thoughts, Shiloh sighed. You know what we have to do? We have to pick up guys. We ll take Dani along. What do you say? Carson struggled to find an excuse to decline, but in the end, he couldn t bring himself to lie. You know I m not much for that sort of thing, and Dani isn t, either. In fact, their friend was very likely to have a heart attack if Shiloh suggested yet another club outing. Shiloh rolled his eyes. Too true. I don t know what to do with you two. Anyway, we ll just invite him over, eat lots of ice cream, and complain. How does that sound? Sounds great. Carson grinned. But now, we gotta go to work. Now, have a shower. I ll make coffee. Shiloh let out a moan of distress, but Carson ignored him, already familiar with all of Shiloh s tricks. Thankfully, his friend stole a look

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf at the clock on the wall and cursed. should find better jobs. Okay, okay, I m going. We

Or so Shiloh said, but truthfully, both of them were quite happy with their current employment. Shiloh had left the sex shop for the benefit of working in a music store, and found Carson employment in the bookshop section. As it turned out, Carson s storytelling skills proved to be quite useful. Their employer, another shifter named Nicolas, agreed to set up a special hour for children to come and listen to Carson s tales. Both parents and kids were thrilled, the shapeshifter community appreciated them, and the income of the shop was soaring. Still, that didn t mean they could afford to come in late. Carson made his friend the promised coffee, then retreated to his room and changed his clothes. As he stared at himself in the mirror, an image not his own appeared. Carson blinked and tried to push it away. Get out of my head, out. he willed his betraying mate. Get out. Get

It was very strange, really. Brody had broken his heart upon claiming that bitch, and only because of Shiloh s help did Carson manage to survive it. He couldn t hear Brody s voice anymore, and even after two years, he felt it like a missing limb. Even so, their bond remained there, Roxanne s presence having apparently been unable to break it. The saddest thing was that he knew Brody didn t intend any of this. Otherwise, they could have come up with something. Carson would have even agreed to be Brody s side dish, his dirty secret, just to have a little of Brody s time. But Brody had never once approached him, and as much as Carson wanted to see him, he didn t know how to find the wolf. He knew it wasn t entirely Brody s fault. His mate had been pushed into this choice by his father. The elder wolf basically threatened Brody with killing Carson. Carson might not know a lot about pack hierarchy, but he did realize Brody s father was like their overall leader, and a very powerful man. That didn t make the entire

Scarlet Hyacinth thing any less painful, though. Wasn t love always supposed to win out, to be stronger than anything? Carson sat on the bed and buried his face in his hands. Would he ever be free of the past? Did he even want to? Sometimes, he looked at the calendar and marveled two years had already passed. How could time fly like that, when he still remembered Brody s caresses so vividly? They d just had forty eight hours together, not even that, to be true, and yet, Carson relived those moments every day, yearning for Brody s scent, for his touch. A knock sounded at the door, and Carson absently told Shiloh because it could only be Shiloh to come in. His friend slipped inside, and his voice sounded concerned as he asked, Are you all right, Carson? It happened again, didn t it? Carson nodded, appreciating the fact that Shiloh knew when to be serious. Is it ever going to stop hurting, Shil? It s been two years already. Shiloh plopped down on the bed next to him. I m afraid you re asking the wrong person. You know I ve never fallen in love. But I can tell you this. All things happen for a reason. If Brody and you were meant to be, he ll return to your side. If not, fuck him. You ll find your true destiny. Carson couldn t help a smile. Thanks. I appreciate it. Shiloh nudged him with his shoulder. Don t mention it. Now get a move on. Work, work, remember? Carson nodded, thankful for the distraction work would provide. He and Shiloh left their shared two-bedroom apartment and exited the building just as a car pulled over and honked. Carson immediately recognized it and grinned as their friend Dani lowered the driver s window. Greetings, my friends, Dani said. In a rare development, I ve been granted permission to take out the family vehicle. I decided to visit and perhaps facilitate your arrival to your workplace.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf The words might have sounded stuffy and strange, but the speed with which Dani spoke them made most of it impossible to understand for the casual listener. All squirrels spoke at this rhythm, Shiloh had told Carson once, but only Dani bothered with long words. Thanks, Dani, Shiloh replied. He grabbed Dani s head through the window and pressed a sloppy kiss to their friend s cheek. I always knew you loved me. When Shiloh released him from his clutches, the squirrel still looked unruffled. And how are the canto lessons going, Shiloh? Dani asked pleasantly. I understand your current teacher is a nightingale renowned for his beautiful voice. Carson wished Dani hadn t mentioned that. Alas, the squirrel also had a propensity for foot-in-mouth conversations, making all sorts of gaffes. Case in point, Shiloh. For whatever reason, Shiloh s lifelong ambition, other than his eternal quest for the ideal man, was to learn how to sing. How Shiloh planned to do that was a mystery, since, like all swans, the man was tone-deaf. But Shiloh didn t look discouraged or even upset by Dani s words. He s an arrogant jerk, just like I expect. But I m not worried. I ll find the right teacher yet. Between the good-natured bantering and Shiloh s recount of his nighttime adventures, they navigated through traffic without losing their tempers. In no time, they reached the shop, and Carson and Shiloh got out. Thanks again, Dani, Shiloh said. You re a gem.

Dani said something in answer, but Carson didn t hear it. In his mind something else echoed, the voice of a screaming woman and a pain and a desolation not his own but that echoed in his heart. * * * *

Scarlet Hyacinth I ve had it, Roxanne shouted at Brody. I ve had it with you and your attitude. This isn t what I signed up for when I agreed to be your mate. Brody took another sip of his beer. Move out of the way. You re blocking my view, and the game s just getting interesting. It wasn t, not really, as Brody couldn t care less about who won the Super Bowl. Still, sports and liquor provided a welcome distraction, better than anything he d tried at least. Women certainly didn t help, and as a guard, he d become a liability for the pack. He was torn and broken, a shadow of his former self. He d been a good boy and done everything his father told him. He d claimed Roxanne, left Soren s pack, and come to live with the elder s pack. Perhaps the older wolf expected distance to help Brody get over Carson. It hadn t. Instead, the pain of their separation intensified with each passing day. Through Liam, he d learned that Carson lived in San Francisco with a swan-shifter named Shiloh Holden. Brody had of course, remembered the young man from the sex shop. After all, how many swans with that name could Carson possibly know? But even if he was jealous, he knew Carson still loved him. His father s plan had backfired. Claiming Roxanne might have destroyed his connection with Carson had the lamb not been his true mate. As it were, it only made three people unhappy. Of course, Brody had been unable to force himself to actually have a relationship with Roxanne. The claiming bite had been the full extent of their intimacy. He couldn t have gotten hard for her if he tried. Secretly, he found comfort in this. He knew he d betrayed Carson by breaking their mate bond, but at least he hadn t taken another to his bed. I want you to know I intend to report you to the elder, Roxanne continued to rant. I can t live like this any longer. I want a family, pups, not to waste away with an excuse of a wolf. Brody continued to ignore her, and eventually, she went away, like she always did. Once she left, Brody put the beer away and shut

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf off the TV. He agreed with Roxanne in one thing. He couldn t live like this anymore. But what else could he do? The alternative would be to go after Carson and try to get him back. However, even if Carson might be willing to forgive him for two years of pain and separation, the situation had not changed. They were still predator and prey. Brody s father still refused to accept the possibility of a mating between a wolf and a lamb. Hell, throughout these years, the man watched his every step and thwarted all his incipient plans of reaching out. Fuck. Roxanne was right. He was a sorry excuse of a wolf. How could he allow his father to separate him from his mate? How could he perpetuate this situation and turn into a couch potato with nothing to live for? Growling, Brody took the beer bottle and threw it against the wall. It shattered and left behind an ugly, damp spot that made Brody even angrier. He was so lost in his fury he only sensed his father approach when the man was already coming inside the room. Finished? His father crossed his arms over his chest, glowering. I m not at all pleased with your attitude toward your mate. Brody took a deep breath, barely managing to keep himself from throttling the man just because of calling the bitch his mate. I m afraid I can t do anything about that. And he couldn t care less about it, either. His father looked irritated. I gave you a good mate, and you re pushing her away. Why, Brody? Why can t you settle down, give her the family she wants? Sorry, but the equipment doesn t respond with her. Oh, he could get hard, but whenever he tried having intercourse, Carson s face popped in his mind, the way the lamb had been the last time they d seen each other, and he simply couldn t go through with it. He didn t want anyone else. He just wanted Carson. Can you be serious for once? his father bellowed.

Scarlet Hyacinth Brody cast aside all sarcasm and straightened his spine. Look, Father. You re an elder. You know as well as I do you can t give me a mate. It simply doesn t work that way. You realized this when you saddled me with Roxanne, so don t come throwing accusations at me. It s your own fault. His father bared his teeth at Brody. It s the lamb. You re still thinking about him, even after all this time. As if it weren t enough that you chose a male, he had to be a lamb. The elder wolf shook his head. I realize my mistake now. I should have killed the lamb two years ago. That way, you d have forgotten all about him by now. Something inside Brody snapped. He couldn t take it any longer. How dare his father threaten his mate? Brody s wolf emerged, demanding retribution. He d stayed quiet for two years, but not anymore. He d rather die than allow anything to happen to Carson. He didn t know what emotion urged him to attack. It could have been his anger, his despair, or his need for a mate who was no longer there. Either way, he found himself shifting into his wolf form, something he rarely did nowadays. In this second shape, his bond with Carson felt even closer and even more painful. But now, Brody reveled in that. The sorrow and the hurt made him even more furious, and he found strength in it. He pounced on his father, attacking with a savageness he d never expected to use against his own parent. The older wolf must have been surprised, because he didn t immediately retaliate. Brody almost backed down, since he found no pleasure in hurting someone who could not fight back. But the wolf did not care about such considerations. His beast s nature took advantage of a weakness and used it for an advantage, and the fact that his opponent was kin changed nothing. Still, a part of Brody was not surprised when his father changed his approach. He shifted into wolf form and twisted away from Brody, protecting the most vulnerable parts of his body. He then shot forward and, with a speed that should have been impossible for someone his

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf age, replied to Brody s attack with one of his own. The older wolf s paw scratched Brody s snout before he could dodge it. On normal conditions, Brody might have been deterred, not so much by the pain, but by the look in his father s eyes. They were wolves and obeying their Alpha was ingrained in their beings. But Brody s anger made him ignore all that in favor of fighting back. He didn t care about anything anymore. He just would not allow his opponent to hurt his mate. Snarling, he lunged again, sending the older wolf falling to the floor. He knew he didn t have much time before his father recovered, so he d have to settle for a quick kill. He might have actually gone through with it, but once more, Carson s eyes appeared in his mind. For the first time in ages, Brody heard his mate s voice in his mind. Brody, don t. He s your father. It came weakly, very much so, but it was there, and it made Brody hesitate. The older wolf had separated Brody from his mate, and he deserved to die for it. But they were still family. How would Brody ever be able to face Carson sweet, innocent Carson if he committed patricide? Still growling, he backed off and turned back into his human form. His father did the same and gave him a wary look. What did you mean to prove by that? Brody chuckled bitterly. Nothing. You should thank Carson, sneered. He saved your life, old man. His father blinked at him. You meant to kill me. as if the man never actually understood it. he

It was spoken

You separated me from my mate, my true mate. What do you expect, for me to go along happily with your master plan to fuck a bitch chosen by you, and be thankful? You blackmailed me into claiming Roxanne, and you even want to force my wolf to bond with her. And I might have accepted all that, but just minutes ago, you said

Scarlet Hyacinth you intended to kill Carson. I won t allow it, no matter what I have to do. Of course, the moment when he could have stopped it from happening in the most certain way had gone by, but if necessary, he d find a different solution. His father just stared at him, as if he d never seen Brody before. Fine. If that s the way you want it. You re claiming the lamb as your true mate, and I ve had it with trying to change your mind. If you can prove the truth of your words, I ll let you go. As the man spoke, Roxanne burst inside the room, followed by three other wolves. They must have heard the commotion. Stupid people. Their delayed help would have been futile if Brody had decided to finish his father off. Ignoring the new arrival, he arched a brow and asked, And how do you expect me to prove it? You didn t believe me the first time. If you can defeat your nature, and show me you see the lamb as a mate, and not a meal, I will agree to support you in whatever you may decide later. Why do I have a feeling it s not so easy? Brody narrowed his eyes. Important things never are, his father answered quizzically.

Brody wanted another chance, but he never signed blank checks. Tell me what I have to do first. He didn t fear for himself, but whatever his father had planned, it would involve Carson s presence, too. For the moment, the only thing you need to know is that no harm will come to you or the lamb by my hand, or anyone from the pack. Brody opened his mouth to ask for details, but his father stopped him. Don t question me, Brody. Now, come along and don t be difficult. We have a short trip to make. Brody looked into his father s eyes and, at last, understood his situation. Attacking his elder would be punishable by death, if it got

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf out. His father was offering him a way out, and Brody had no choice but to take it.

Scarlet Hyacinth Chapter Six Carson s day was not going well. It was the first thought he had when yet another stack of books collapsed on top of him. Granted, it had been entirely his fault. His hands were shaking and his heart beating so fast it threatened to burst out of his chest. Something was going on with Brody, and it drove him crazy to just see and feel bits and pieces. Carson, are you okay? his boss and friend, Nicolas, asked. You ve been acting strange all day. Carson just sighed, since Nicolas knew the answer to the question before he d even asked. Nicolas knelt next to him and helped Carson pick up the fallen books. Maybe you should take some time off, the other man suggested. You ve put a lot of effort into the bookstore lately. You deserve a break. Carson sat on the cold floor of the storage room and buried his face in his hands. If he went home, he d just have more time to think about Brody. If he stayed here, he d be in the way and might even damage the products. I d rather stay, if that s okay with you, he told Nicolas. Nicolas nodded, his expression suggesting he fully grasped the extent of Carson s need for distraction. Sure. Tell you what. Go help Shiloh in the front. I ll wrap up the inventory here. Thanks, Nicolas. great. Carson smiled and got up. That would be

If customers showed up, making nice would perhaps draw his mind away from Brody. Carson doubted it though. Too much had happened. He was still shaken from the day s events. Just earlier, he d

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf sensed the man trying to kill his father. He d managed to reach out to Brody and make himself heard, but the spark was gone now. Even so, he knew Brody s behavior couldn t have gone unpunished. He feared for his mate s life, and he felt more helpless than ever. Shiloh jumped him as soon as he left the storage room. How are you feeling? he asked. Still loopy? It comes and goes, Carson answered, not comfortable with telling Shiloh the true extent of the problem in public. It s stronger today. Shiloh hugged him. Have you tried shifting?

Carson groaned. It just makes it worse. I guess I ll just have to wait it out. It was what he always did, although today, it would not work. Carson didn t even want it to. He just wanted Brody. Shiloh released him from the embrace and nodded, regret painted on his face. I m afraid so. I wish I could help you, but All of a sudden Shiloh stopped speaking, and at the same time, Carson sensed something wasn t right. The bell announcing new customers rang, and his senses were assaulted by the smell of predator. Shiloh cursed and pushed Carson behind him. get out here. Nico, you better

As their friend and boss appeared from the back, the wolves approached the counter, their gazes fixed on Carson. Carson didn t know them, but it didn t take a genius to figure out this had something to do with Brody s anxiety. Hello, little lamb, one of them said.

Don t call me that, Carson shot back. Only Brody had the right to call him by the sweet pet name. The second man chuckled. Don t get your wool in a knot. We re merely here regarding a common acquaintance of ours. The elder has given you and Brody another chance. All you have to do is come with us.

Scarlet Hyacinth Carson s eyes widened. Could it really be true? Could they still be together, even after all this time? In his heart, Carson had never stopped hoping. But trusting the wolves would be just plain stupid. No way, Shiloh replied in his stead. He isn t going anywhere with you. And how are you going to stop him, or us, swan? asked. Oh, we have our ways, Nicolas piped up. The second wolf laughed. Right. A swan and a hummingbird. Some bodyguards you have, lamb. As quick as lightning, Shiloh and Nicolas retrieved two shotguns from beneath the counter. They were loaded and ready, Carson knew, the bullets of pure silver, and much like those used by the guards in Ramston. So far, Carson had never seen them used, but judging by the way his two friends held the guns, they must have had other unpleasant experiences with carnivores. Back off, fucking dogs, Nicolas said with a frown, or else we ll have to check if you re so clever with a round of silver inside you. The amusement vanished from the wolves demeanor and they tensed. You re playing with fire, hummingbird, one of them said. But even with the warning, neither of the two tried to approach him further. Instead, the second wolf added, Look, we re not going to push your hand, lamb. If you don t want to come, that s fine. But remember, you won t get this chance again. Carson bit his lip, more than ever yearning for his connection with Brody, needing a piece of advice. He couldn t trust these men, no. Still, he was afraid of what the wolves words meant, what they implied. Had he been right to fear Brody s behavior would be sanctioned, perhaps even with death? If so, Carson didn t think he could live without Brody. This might be his last chance of seeing his wolf. Okay, he answered. I ll come with you. the first man

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf What? Shiloh turned toward him, gaping in disbelief. You can t be serious. Once you re out the door, they ll kill you. I ll be fine, Carson answered with more certainty in his voice than he actually felt. The hell you will, Shiloh shouted at him. If you re insisting on this folly, I m coming with you, and so is my trusty shotgun. As much as Carson appreciated his friend s support, he didn t know how this would all turn out. If he did indeed die, he didn t want to drag Shiloh down with him. His friend had done too much for him and still needed to live, to love, to find his place and his purpose in life. No, Shil. Carson shook his head. This is something I have to do. He hugged both Shiloh and Nicolas. Thanks for everything, both of you, he whispered. Don t say good-bye, say good-bye. Shiloh murmured back. Don t you dare

So Carson didn t. Instead, he embraced his friends tighter, then broke away. See you later, he said. The wolves didn t comment and waited for him patiently. At last, they left the shop, whereupon Carson defeated his instinctual feel and inquired, Can I drop by my apartment to grab a few things? One of the wolves shook his head. You won t need them. That didn t sound very encouraging, but it was too late to go back. Suppressing a shudder, Carson allowed the wolves to lead him to a black van. His entire being screamed, No. Don t. Never get inside the van. But he guessed that those people who said sheep were stupid must be at least half-right, because he didn t back down. Then again, it might have been just his need to see Brody. Their connection however strained and dim had kept him going, as much as he hated to admit it. If he lost that, he might as well stop breathing altogether. The doors of the van opened, revealing a couple more wolves inside. Probably if Shiloh and Nicolas had insisted on keeping him inside the shop, the other predators would have burst inside. In fact,

Scarlet Hyacinth Carson would have bet money that even if he d decided not to come with the wolves after all, they d have forced him. In the end, it didn t matter. Either way, the result would be the same. Without protesting, Carson entered the van and sat next to the wolves. He willed himself to calm down, even if his every instinct shouted at him to get out of there. Thankfully, the predators ignored him, even if Carson could still sense their hostility toward him. The car started, but with the van having no windows in the back, Carson couldn t see where they were headed. He closed his eyes and focused on not having a panic attack. As a rule, sheep were taught from a very young age to avoid that sort of thing, but in such circumstances, it might prove problematic. He didn t know how long the trip took, too concentrated on not losing himself to the panic. He only became aware that it had ended when he sensed the car slow down and stop. Somehow, he managed to muster the courage to ask, Are we there? One of the wolves who d come after him inside the bookstore nodded. Good luck. You re going to need it. Carson blinked in surprise, unsure of how he should interpret the wolf s words. He didn t have much time to dwell on it, however. The door of the van opened, revealing even more predators. Great, just great. Taking a deep breath, Carson followed their instructions and left the car. He found himself in the middle of a grove. How strange. He must have been so lost in his musings that he didn t even notice the shift from asphalt to dirt road. With a mix of dread and curiosity, he looked around, trying to figure out his current location. His heart began to beat faster when he felt a familiar presence nearby. The wolves hadn t lied about one thing. Brody was here. Unable to contain his enthusiasm, Carson broke free of the wolves and ran in the general direction where his senses told him he could find his mate. He froze in his tracks when the tall figure of Brody s father appeared in front of him.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Stop right there, lamb, if you want to live, the older man said, narrowing his eyes at Carson. It s too late to change your mind or run away. I don t want to run, Brody. Carson answered. I merely want to see

Perhaps confessing his need for his mate s presence wouldn t earn him any points, but he doubted he d be able to hide it anyway. Oddly, the wolf didn t seem angry. Instead, he almost looked thoughtful. So you sensed he is here. Very good. Did my men tell you I decided to give you another chance? Carson nodded, even if he didn t trust the wolf. The elder had been the one to separate him and Brody in the first place. Why would he change his mind? I see in your eyes that you doubt me, Carson. That s your name isn t it, Carson? Carson just stared and, through a miracle, managed to reply, it is. And yes, I just can t believe what s going on. Yes,

Entirely justifiable. The wolf grabbed Carson s arm as if they were old pals intending to go on a walk. You know who I am, I take it? Carson suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. However stupid these wolves considered sheep to be, the connection with Brody and the time he d spent by the man s side two years back had given Carson a pretty good clue about the man s father. Yes, sir, he answered, the respectful word tasting bitter on his tongue. Very good. He paused, as if to heighten Carson s anticipation or highlight whatever he intended to say. You see, Carson, I m both a concerned father and an Alpha with a duty. I am forced to do certain things that might seem cruel to outsiders. Above all, I believe in nature following its course. The man stopped speaking again, and Carson took his cue to say, I don t understand. Where are you going with this?

Scarlet Hyacinth My men told you I intend to give you and Brody another chance, yes? When Carson nodded, the elder wolf continued, Before we go on with anything, I want to ask you a question. Do you know what happened earlier today? Carson hesitated, uncertain what the wolf expected or wanted him to say. In the end, something in the other man s eyes told him to go with the truth. About what Brody did? Yes. The elder pulled him away from all the other wolves, then in a whisper, asked, Tell me exactly what you felt. The wolf s attitude confused and intimidated Carson and he stammered through an answer. I uh In a way, I sensed it when he attacked you, and sort of Well, tried to The other man nodded, thankfully not requiring him to be more coherent. I see. And you did what? Carson gulped. Should he tell the wolf that he d spoken to Brody and pleaded with his mate to stop? It seemed like an advantage in the circumstances, but the man might interpret it in a bad way and make an additional accusation toward his son. Then again, the others didn t seem to know about Brody s actions. The elder had pulled him away to discuss it. Perhaps the wolf truly was a concerned father, as well. Gathering his courage, Carson went with the truth again. I I managed to speak to him, and told him to stop. Once more, the wolf looked thoughtful. I appreciate your honesty, he finally said. It is very important. His penetrating gaze fixed on Carson. First of all, I want you to know you passed the first test. I don t know if you re aware of this, but there s a difference between a claimed mate and a true mate. Brody believes you are his true mate, his other half, as it is. As I gather, in spite of his bond with Roxanne, they cannot talk to each other telepathically. This supports his claim that you are the one for him. I had not actually trusted his words until today. Hope coursed through Carson. then? So you ll allow us to be together,

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Don t be hasty, lamb. Great, Carson was back to being a lamb. What you and he are trying to do defies everything we know. As such, I want to complete a test. If you pass it, you will be free. Carson didn t think he d like this new plan, and his suspicion was confirmed seconds later, when the wolf pulled him toward the very edge of the grove. As they walked, he sensed Brody s presence grow more and more powerful, but he couldn t see his mate anywhere. At last, they stopped and the elder pointed at something Carson hadn t originally noticed a hole in the ground covered with bars. It seemed deep, and even if he was a shape-shifter, Carson couldn t see to the bottom, but still, he knew Brody must be in there. He knelt on the grass, desperately trying to break through the bars. Brody, he called out. Brody! Brody s voice answered him as if from the distance, Carson? Oh, God, you shouldn t have come. You shouldn t be here. The elder pulled Carson up and forced him to meet his eyes. You will stay in there together for one month. You will occasionally be given food, but not Brody. If he lives through this without trying to eat you, it means that you really are true mates. Carson gaped. You can t be serious. He ll die. The other man shook his head. Wolves can live without food for a long time, and you will be under close supervision. But I don t think it will get to that. Clearly, no matter what the wolf had said earlier, he was still convinced Carson and Brody couldn t be true mates, and that, if pressed, Brody would eat Carson. The elder waved his hand in the general direction of the grove, and some wolves made their way to their position. They removed the grate, using thick gloves. The bars must be made out of silver. Before Carson could say anything else, the elder pushed him into the pit. Carson fell through the darkness, hearing himself screaming, not knowing if he was going to even survive the landing. Shape-shifter or

Scarlet Hyacinth no, he could still break his neck. He closed his eyes, unwilling to see his demise coming. And then, all of a sudden, strong arms wrapped around him, catching him. His nostrils were invaded by a spicy, familiar scent. Carson cracked his eyes open, and for the first time in two years, met the beloved gaze of his mate. * * * * Carson looked just as beautiful as Brody remembered him. He d changed very little, barring a more fashionable hairdo probably the result of Shiloh-the-swan s intervention in Carson s life. He was both happy and dismayed to see his mate. In fact, he felt thrilled at holding Carson once again, but the danger he d put the lamb in shadowed that glee. As if forgetting all about the horrible place they were in, Carson buried his face in Brody s neck and took a deep breath. I didn t think I d ever see you again, he mumbled. He broke away and glared up at Brody. How could you just leave me like that? How could you claim her? Carson sounded furious, and his eyes sparkled with genuine anger and jealousy. Brody s mouth went dry with the desire to kiss the hell out of his mate. And for once, he saw no reason to deny himself. Even if there were dozens of wolves above them, it didn t matter anymore. The decision had already been made, and Brody s father would not change his mind no matter what Brody did. With that in mind, Brody pressed his lips to Carson s. His mate s flavor hit his taste buds, and Brody groaned in ecstasy. It felt as if he d been a man wandering in the desert for two years, and he d finally found his oasis. He didn t know how he d even managed to survive without the ambrosia of Carson s kisses and caresses. It seemed impossible now.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Carson entangled his hands in his hair, moaning lightly, parting his lips to allow Brody entrance. Their tongues entangled as they reacquainted themselves with each other, and Brody lowered Carson to the ground and covered his mate s body with his own. He plundered the recesses of Carson s mouth, rubbing against his lamb as he did so. His prick responded to Carson s proximity in a way that it never had to anyone else, especially not during these past years. He groaned, already aching to tear Carson s clothes off and fuck his mate. They broke apart to breathe, and Brody met Carson s gaze again. His mate s glare was replaced by an expression of awe. Don t try to quiet me down with that, Carson murmured, but he didn t sound upset at all. Sorry. Brody smiled gently. Okay, that s a lie. I m not sorry. I don t

Carson smiled back. Me either. His expression sobered. want you to be with her anymore.

A fist clenched around Brody s heart at the pain in Carson s gaze. Whatever happens from now on, we won t part again, he promised. This time, he d keep his word, no matter what happened. Carson nodded, seemingly believing his words. Do you think your father will really let us go? Brody released Carson from the embrace and rolled over. They sat together on the cold ground, with Carson leaning against him. He s a man of his word, Brody answered, but I m not sure how he ll react next. This whole thing is crazy. Carson bit his lip, looking anxious. Did he tell you about the plan? Brody sighed. That he means to starve me? Yes. It s not too farfetched. Wolves can go a long time without eating. But it s beyond my power of comprehension how he can think I would ever eat you. He doesn t believe we re really mates, Carson replied. I suppose that s a good thing for us, though. We might have a chance at this.

Scarlet Hyacinth Carson seemed to be trying for optimism, but Brody could sense Carson s fear, not for himself, but for Brody. Hey, little lamb, don t worry. I can handle it. Wolves are resilient creatures. I ll be fine. He grinned. Now, let s just not think about it for a while, okay? We ll figure something out, I m sure. He fixed his gaze on Carson. I know it s not the most romantic setting, he said, but God, I ve missed you. You have no idea how much. Carson beamed gently, his blue eyes so deep that even in the gloom of the pit, they lit up Brody s soul. I think I have a pretty good clue. The message hidden in those simple words and the emotion Carson said them with cast aside all the shadows in Brody s heart. He didn t care about where they were anymore. He just needed to touch Carson, needed it so badly it hurt. Without waiting for a second longer, Brody took Carson s lips once again. He d run out of patience. He yearned to be inside Carson, to have his mate s body wrap around his prick. He had to have Carson, now. Desperately, he fumbled with his mate s clothing. The rational part of his mind kept him from tearing them, since he knew they wouldn t get a wardrobe change for quite some time. They undressed as quickly as they could and put their clothes into a pile, forming a make-shift bed. When they finished, they lay down together, with Carson under Brody. Brody s hands traveled over the expanse of Carson s naked skin, exploring everything he d missed throughout the past two years. Carson s nipples perked up as Brody brushed his fingers over them. His mate gasped, a beautiful, needy sound that made Brody s cock throb. He peppered Carson s face with kisses, then advanced down Carson s neck, nibbling on the sweet skin. He didn t bite down, not yet. The bite would cancel out his already strained connection with Roxanne, and he didn t want her there, between them, while he made

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf love with Carson. But he wanted to give his mate a bit more pleasure first, and he had to ask for permission before he went along with it. Carson seemed to have understood the situation, but that didn t mean he would immediately agree to the bonding. Carson, however, must have guessed or sensed his doubt. I want you to claim me again, he said, panting. I want you back. Brody licked down Carson s chest, stopping when he reached his mate s nipples. He suckled on the buds of flesh, loving the way Carson arched against him. He caressed his mate s sides, the soft silken skin he d missed so much. Carson spread his legs, giving Brody access to his genitals. Brody took Carson on his silent offer and reached between their bodies. First, he wrapped his hand around Carson s dick, moving it up and down the thick shaft. Carson s cock twitched in his fist. The lamb moaned, his voice a pleading rasp, Oh, God. Brody. Touch me. I need you. Brody briefly abandoned Carson s nipples and continued to press kisses on Carson s chest and abdomen. As he traveled lower down, he stopped fisting Carson s prick, choosing to tease his mate s taint instead. He rubbed at the lovely hole hidden between Carson s cheeks, already yearning to be inside. Instead of just thrusting inside Carson, though, Brody lowered his mouth over his mate s dick. He put everything he had in the suction, not teasing, just going for the prize that was Carson s pleasure. Carson cried out in euphoria, his hands entangling in Brody s hair, forcing his mouth lower down. Brody chuckled, Carson s need for him awakening his darkest instincts. He wanted to spank Carson s ass and remind him who was boss. But that would have to wait for a different time. Brody just went with the moment, moving his mouth up and down on his mate s prick, occasionally swirling his tongue around the glans. All the while, he started massaging Carson s testes and continued to tease his lover s ass with a dry finger.

Scarlet Hyacinth Carson bucked against him, as if torn between sensations. Brody didn t prolong their torture for much longer. He himself needed to get to the main event. Removing his mouth off Carson s cock, Brody returned to his previous position over Carson s neck. Carson? he asked. Even in the darkness, Brody saw his mate nod. Do it. I told you I want it. Perhaps Carson s decision might be influenced by the sexual chemistry between them, but Brody s wolf told him what to do. Brody pushed their bodies close, so very close. His fangs dropped, and without waiting another second, he sunk them in the soft flesh of Carson s neck. Ecstasy coursed through him the moment his mate s blood hit his taste buds. Shots of electricity coursed through him and he found his peak, his cum splashing against Carson. At the same time, he felt Carson come as well, his mate s seed mixing with his between their bodies. The intensity of their joint climax wiped away the bonds that kept Brody tied to Roxanne. The artificial connection burst into a million pieces and immediately, Brody felt liberated. A sense of complete happiness filled him as his bond with his mate was back in place. For a few moments, Brody just allowed himself to revel in the renewed connection and in the aftermath of the orgasm. He almost couldn t believe he had his mate back. The bond he d yearned for through two years of tortured solitude returned. All of a sudden, Carson s voice emerged in his mind. Brody?

He sounded tentative, almost fearful, and Brody couldn t help but kiss Carson once again. I m here, little lamb, he whispered through their bond. I m never going away again. In their kiss, Brody tasted both arousal and release. His beast howled inside him, yet again demanding that he consummate their union and mark his mate as his own. Even if he d come mere seconds ago, his prick was already rock hard.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Brody gathered his and Carson s semen and used it to lubricate his cock. With the excess seed, he proceeded to prepare Carson as thoroughly as possible. He inserted a finger in his mate s hole, hissing at the tightness that engulfed his digit. I was waiting for you, Carson sent through their bond.

Brody s wolf growled in satisfaction at Carson s explanation. He knew Carson had not slept with others. Even with their bond damaged, he d still been able to sense it to a certain extent. Still, it felt good to hear it out of his mate s mouth. Gently, Brody added another finger and scissored the two digits inside his mate. He probed deep inside his mate, seeking for the spot he knew would make his mate fly. Seconds later, his fingers hit the spongy gland and Carson cried out, the sweet baah -moan that Brody remembered so well. Oh, God, Brody, he gasped. Please, please. Fuck me.

Brody added another finger, continuing to prepare Carson s hole. Patience, Carson. Good things come to those who wait. But even as he spoke these words, he knew he could not wait any longer. He d been waiting for too long already, and he d reached his limit. Focusing to control his passion, Brody finger-fucked his mate, until at last he deemed Carson as prepared as he could get. He removed his digits and positioned his prick at Carson s entrance. In one single thrust, he pushed inside. Tight heat engulfed him in a velvet fist, and he stilled, just barely managing not to come again on the spot. Carson whimpered, their connection flooding with his emotions. Brody, he practically sobbed. Move. His mate s words seemed to work magic on him. Brody pulled out of Carson and thrust back inside, gritting his teeth at the pleasure so intense it almost fell into pain. Over and over, he fucked Carson, and his mate pushed back, impaling himself on Brody s cock. They moved together like they d never been parted, like time hadn t flown

Scarlet Hyacinth over them. Nothing else mattered except this moment, their reunion, and their true bond. Who cared that they were lamb and wolf? Certainly not Brody. It would take more than that to separate them this time. He d learned his lesson. Carson belonged to him, and Brody would never let his lamb go again. Mixed emotions swirled inside of him as the scent of sex and sweat assaulted his nostrils. There was so much he wanted to say, so many explanations and apologies, and Brody tried to tell his mate everything through his soul and body. Their connection buzzed with sensations and feelings. Carson s eyes filled with tears, and the sight of it, and the knowledge that his mate truly understood made Brody awed and humbled. But deep inside, he was a wolf, not a man, and he needed to reassure himself of their continued bond. He pushed in and out of Carson, never once letting up, each moment increasing both his desire and his need to come. Carson s cries echoed around him, beautiful and pure like the man himself, and Brody s mind spun as his senses were assaulted from every direction. Sight, touch, hearing, smell, taste, and so much more, blended in a cocktail that made Brody drunk, no, high. Not even in his darkest times when he d tried to drink himself under the table to just forget had his mind been so fogged. This time, however, it was because of pleasure, not pain, and Brody embraced the nirvana, opening himself to Carson and the beauty of their bond. Soon, his balls began to ache with the need to come, and his orgasm threatened to take him over again. But he didn t want to climax before Carson. He yearned to feel his mate come around his cock, and to see the ecstasy painted on Carson s face. Increasing the pace, he always aimed for Carson s prostate. Lowering his body over Carson s, he pressed their lips together once more. When he broke the kiss, he whispered in Carson s ear. Come for me, little lamb.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Instantly, Carson s body tensed and with a choked cry, his mate found his release for a second time. The feel of Carson s climax was even more incredible than Brody remembered. Burying himself one last time inside Carson, he flooded his mate s passage with his cum. Exhausted, he collapsed on top of Carson, somehow remembering to roll off his mate and not squash him. Carson cuddled by his side, sighing in contentment. I love you, Brody, the lamb said. Brody froze. In their short time together, words of love had never been spoken. Brody had been too busy worrying about finding his mate, then protecting the man from the rest of the wolves. After that, they d been parted so quickly they didn t even get the chance to know each other. And yet, matings. had been From his Brody s wolf knew Carson so well it rivaled long-term Against all odds, their bond had persisted, and even if Brody unable to speak to Carson, he d seen it in Carson s heart. point of view, their souls were one. I love you too, little lamb.

Smiling to himself, Brody answered,

The words came with striking ease, and even in the darkness of the pit, Brody felt happier than he had in years.

Scarlet Hyacinth Chapter Seven Time passed as Brody and Carson remained stuck down inside the pit. Carson was, indeed, thrown the occasional bale of hay, and in order to eat it, found himself forced to shift into his lamb form. Not that it made any difference. Given the low temperature inside the pit, they spent more time in their second shapes, using their clothes as bedding. Brody seemed to be quite adept in coming up with food out of nothing, but the strain was beginning to show. More often than not, both he and Carson spent their days digging into the hard ground, looking for the occasional worm. It was gross, but the animal inside Carson acknowledged these things were, for Brody, food, and it would help his mate survive. Carson s only comfort was that they were carefully watched. Each day the wolves above looked inside the pit, checking on Brody s condition. Brody snarled at them, and Carson would have considered telling his mate to tone it down if the situation didn t look so dire. As it were, he doubted any change in their behavior other than a severe health problem could convince the wolves to let them out. Perversely, he was glad he had Brody with him, because otherwise, he d have lost his mind. They had little food, no way to bathe, not to mention that they needed to do their private needs in the same place they slept. Of course, such sensibilities faded when compared to Carson s worries about Brody s welfare. Brody tried to distract him, and somehow, in that way, they ended up telling each other of the time they d spent apart.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Shiloh really helped me out, Carson told Brody one day. I d have never thought he could be that sort of person when we met him in the sex shop. Brody chuckled. Goes to show you not to judge people. Carson sighed and pressed himself close to Brody. He didn t know how much time they d spent here. The days and nights were so very similar in the pit. That was probably the worst thing about their incarceration. Shape-shifters did have an internal watch, and Carson judged something like a week must have passed since they d seen the sun. It seemed like more. How could Brody s father possibly allow this to happen? For a while, Carson thought the man would abandon them here to die. Sure enough, Carson didn t think he could survive without Brody, and with each passing second, his mate was weakening. But just as he thought this, something happened Carson hadn t anticipated. So far the only motions above them had been those belonging to the wolves guarding them and providing feed for Carson, but all of a sudden, Brody tensed. Something s going on up there, he said. Indeed, if Carson paid close attention, he could hear the dim sounds of a struggle above them. Hope surged inside him, but then Brody whispered, It s Soren. I can feel him. What would your brother want with us now? Carson asked, biting his lip. Soren hadn t been very nice to them. In fact, the last and only time Carson had seen him he d hurt Brody in the challenge. Carson hoped only circumstances pushed Soren into doing so. He supposed they would find out soon. As if in answer to his dilemma, the grate above the pit lifted. Brody? Soren s voice came from up above. Are you in there? Why? Brody shot back. or what? You want to throw in hand grenades,

Soren didn t answer the sarcastic comment. A rope fell down, almost reaching the ground, but not quite.

Scarlet Hyacinth Carson and Brody pulled their clothes on. Whether for good or ill, Soren clearly intended to meet with them. They got up and made their way to the rope. Brody tested it to see if it was safe. It held, but they still looked at each other in doubt. My brother has disappointed me before, Brody said. Everybody deserves a second chance, Carson answered, and in the end, it s not like we re missing out on the Ritz down here. Good point. He took a deep breath and said, Okay, you go first. In case you fall, I ll catch you. Carson shook his head at Brody s concern. Contrary to what Brody might think, sheep were actually good climbers, something they must have caught from their distant cousins, goat-shifters. But it did feel good to be fussed over, and besides, if it made Brody feel better about it, who was Carson to question it? Wait, Brody said, having apparently changed his mind. Let me go up first and see if it s clear. Then I ll come back down and get you. Carson rolled his eyes. Whatever happens, happens, Brody. If they d wanted to kill us, we wouldn t be able to do much from down here anyway. They have no reason to get us out. With that said, Carson gripped the rope and began climbing. His own doubt stemmed from something different, rather than the fear he d get hurt. If they left this enclosure, would they be forfeiting their last chance to be together? Would the time they d spent down there be for naught? He didn t know, but he wasn t willing to lose the opportunity to get out either. Seeing Brody get weaker and weaker had to be the hardest thing he d ever done. Truth be told, he feared the starvation Brody had suffered through might prevent him from being able to climb the rope. It was a long way, after all. Perhaps he should have been the one to go up second, since he d kept most of his strength and could catch Brody if something went amiss. But he needn t have feared. Brody kept comforting him with soft words through their bond as they climbed.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Sooner than Carson expected, he was out of the pit. Seconds later, Brody joined him, taking his hand and squeezing it as they breathed fresh, free air once again. For a few moments, Carson s eyes struggled to get used to the sun after the time he and Brody spent in almost complete darkness. When his vision adjusted, he caught sight of Soren and Brody s friend, Liam, standing in front of them, looking uncomfortable. Three other men, probably the guards who d been in charge with holding post over Brody and Carson s prison, lay at their feet, unconscious. Soren wordlessly offered Brody some food, and, after sniffing it a bit, Brody fell upon it like the starving wolf he was. Carson had not expected the two men to bring him anything, but Liam provided him with a vegetarian meal as well. A diet of hay, while enough to keep him alive and healthy, wasn t exactly his choice of gourmet meals, and he felt thankful for the gesture. Water was next. The wolves thankfully provided the needed supply during his and Brody s enclosure, but somehow, it seemed to taste different up here, with the wind blowing through his hair and the sun s rays shining on his face. But of course, the moment of simple glee could not last. Brody finished his own meal and turned to his brother. As much as I appreciate this, Soren, why are you here? Soren sighed. I came as soon as I heard. I assure you, I didn t know about this, Brody. Had I been told, I d have never allowed it. Brody narrowed his eyes at Soren. And how did you find out? I m assuming Father isn t exactly forthcoming with the information regarding our imprisonment, and besides, you don t live with us. Soren hesitated, then pulled Brody and Carson away from the pit. Liam proceeded to bind the still-motionless guards to trees, while Soren whispered, Okay, first of all, no one is supposed to know this except us four. Father acknowledges the fact that his decision was extra-harsh, and told me and Liam to bust you out.

Scarlet Hyacinth Carson blinked, not understanding anything anymore. couldn t he just waive the sentence? But Why

Soren looked pained, while Brody rubbed his eyes. I hate to say it, but I actually understand, Brody said. He s an Alpha, the elder Alpha. If he did that, he d look weak. His position would be in jeopardy. Soren nodded. I know it doesn t set things straight, but it can t be helped. Oddly, it made sense to Carson as well, even if he would never forgive the elder Alpha for what he d done to him and Brody. He very much doubted Brody s father wanted his forgiveness in the first place, anyway. So where does that leave us then? he asked Soren. Are we on the run from other shifters? Will we be hunted down? In answer, Soren retrieved two envelopes from his jacket and offered one to each of them. From Father. I haven t read them, but I do know that he means to let you go. More confused than ever, Carson opened his. In a clear, masculine penmanship, a few lines sketched the elder wolf s message for him. You win, lamb. Wolves aren t going to be a problem for you and Brody any longer. But remember, your task won t be easy. Brody traded his pack for you, and you re going to have to make up for that. Good luck. You re going to need it. It didn t say anything else. Brody s letter, however, seemed longer, and as Carson folded his own piece of paper, the other man continued to read. Carson was curious, but he didn t prod in Brody s mind. His mate would tell him when he felt ready. Finally, Brody tore his eyes from the piece of paper. It seems he s allowing the use of my old accounts. We re free to go, but I don t belong to any pack anymore.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Once more, Soren seemed saddened. I know. I wish things could be different, but Hey, no one s stopping you from contacting Brody from time to time, Carson piped up. And then, there s Liam. Perhaps he could not offer Brody a pack yet, but it was a beginning. Soren nodded hesitantly. Of course, if Brody agrees to see me. For a few moments, Brody just gazed at his brother in silence. You re my brother, he said finally. I haven t forgiven you yet, but perhaps in time Soren s away to chance. We need eyes shone with emotion, and Carson considered slipping give the brothers a moment of privacy. He didn t get the Liam made his way to their side and said, Come on, guys. to go before the sleeping beauties awake.

It seemed everyone agreed with Liam s assessment. Between Soren, Liam, and Brody, they tossed around vials holding something that smelled suspiciously like urine. They were masking their scent, Carson realized, so that the guards would not later know who d attacked them. When the distasteful job was done, Liam and Soren led Carson and Brody out of the forest and to a car. It seemed they d come on foot through the woods, probably to avoid leaving more traces. Together with his mate, Carson climbed into the vehicle and leaned against the bench. The slight weight of the envelope sent to him by the elder wolf seemed to burn in his pocket. Would they really be left alone from now on? God, he hoped so.

Scarlet Hyacinth Chapter Eight A few months later Fucking hell! Brody tossed the hammer on the ground as once again he failed in the simple task of securing two boards together. Damn it. Perhaps they should have stayed in the city after all. Better yet, maybe they should have used contractors. It seemed shape-shifters might be good at hunting, but not so much at fixing homes. He and Carson had bought a beautiful property in the Rockies. The first time they d seen the old house in the middle of nowhere, they d fallen in love with it. Sure, the building needed work, but Brody and Carson trusted they would manage. Together, they d be able to create a home for whatever pack or family they would gather in time. Carson had confessed to being sick of the town and yearning for greenery and pasture. But the price for the land and the house had been quite a strain on Brody s accounts, and they d decided to go with fixing their place, themselves. Unfortunately, neither Brody nor Carson knew too much about construction work. Since they d refused accepting help from either of their friends, it was also damn slow. Okay, so it had its advantages, namely having a certain lamb close at all times, but still, Brody felt like an utter failure for not being able to provide Carson with the home they both dreamed of. Frustrated with himself, Brody jumped off the stairs and landed on the grassy ground. He took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh mountain air. It was lovely out here. Perhaps he should just take a break and

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf enjoy the day with his mate. He and Carson had been through so much. They deserved some time off. All of a sudden, Brody sensed his mate approaching, as if Carson had guessed his thoughts. Grinning, he turned, and found himself facing an unlikely sight. A beautiful white lamb stood in front of him, watching him with big blue eyes. Carson s white fleece shone so white it almost hurt Brody s vision. Brody had a flashback of the moment they d first met, only this time, there was no terror in Carson s stance, or his heart and mind, just expectance. What are you up to, little lamb? walking toward Carson. Brody asked, as he started

Still in animal form, Carson began to back away. As Brody approached more, Carson turned and started running. Surprised and amused at his mate s behavior, Brody chose to go along with it. So, Carson wanted to play. Brody would show him the rules of the game. He shifted into his wolf form and began to chase after his errant mate. His senses immediately tracked down the scent of his oh-sosweet prey. Because yes, Carson was his prey, but not in the way any of the wolves of Brody s pack had judged it. He was the prey Brody could never get enough of, the one he loved to catch over and over, and who d managed what no one else had, to tame the beast inside him. Inwardly grinning, Brody ran through the greenery, following the occasional flash of fleece he spotted in front of him. However skilled Carson might be in some physical aspects, he remained a domestic animal, and one not meant to blend in with the environment. He didn t have much chance to escape Brody. But Brody knew that Carson didn t even want to outrun him, not really. The game was about the delicious moment when Brody would catch Carson and devour him in a way most pleasurable for both of them.

Scarlet Hyacinth For a little while, Brody allowed Carson to elude him, enjoying the simple glee of the chase. He loved it out here, because from time to time, he could actually go and hunt without being bothered by anyone. But this hunt held a far greater prize, and impatience began to grow inside him. He sped up, and within seconds, was gaining on Carson. With a lunge, he jumped on the still-fleeing lamb. They went crashing down to the ground, rolling into the soft, green grass. Instantly, they both shifted. It seems you caught me, my big bad wolf, Carson said in a breathless tone. Now, what are you going to do with me? Instead of replying, Brody crushed his lips to Carson s. The adrenaline of the hunt still coursed through his veins, and his beast howled in demand that he claim his mate. They were both naked, courtesy of the change, but unfortunately, they also didn t have any lubricant. Besides, Brody enjoyed rolling around in the grass as much as any wolf, but there were benefits to a home namely, some sort of furniture he could tie his mate to. They hadn t decorated the inside of their house yet. Mostly, they used portable cooking utensils and things like that. However, Brody had made an exception with regard to their bed. It had been the first, and only item they d brought inside the house. Thankfully, the sleeping quarters were well preserved, and no one had made a comment as to why he d insisted on a certain type of headboard. His mind already on the many things he could do to Carson, Brody separated their lips and gave his mate a heated look. going to get it now, my lamb. You re

He shot to his feet and pulled Carson up. As he draped his mate over his shoulder, Carson baah -giggled, his hands exploring the muscles of Brody s back. Arousal coursed through Brody at the feel of his mate touching him like that, as if he couldn t get enough. His lamb cupped his buttocks, experimentally squeezing the cheeks. Brody growled in frustrated lust and slapped Carson s ass. Careful

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf now, little lamb, or I might lose it. You wouldn t want me to fuck you right here and now, would you? Carson moaned, his cock twitching against Brody s skin, and Brody gathered that actually, his mate did want to be fucked, and fucked hard. Brody started running, heading back the way they d come. He reached their house in record time and burst through the front door, up the stairs, and toward the bedroom. The floorboards protested to his thumping as he sped, and Brody made a mental note to reinforce them as soon as possible. At last, he reached his destination. He ran into the room they shared and dumped his mate on the bed. Before Carson could even say a word, Brody joined his mate on the mattress and covered his lamb s body with his own. Once more, their lips met in a delicious, mind-melting kiss. Brody explored every recess of Carson s mouth, and, as always, his mate surrendered so beautifully that Brody almost came just from it. But he owed Carson a little something for the chase, and he knew his mate expected it. Damn lamb was more manipulative than a fox. With great difficulty, Brody tore himself away from Carson s mouth. Moving as quickly as he could, he rummaged into the bag they kept next to the bed for such occasions and retrieved a paddle and a vibrating butt plug. The toys weren t like the ones they d bought for their first few times together, but they didn t have to be, either. Brody and Carson were starting a new life, and here and now, they brought everything that made them who they were, including their kinks. Brody hastened to the adjoining bathroom, where he proceeded to clean the butt plug. It should have been somewhat problematic to keep their toys here, but they d lucked out. The house had running water and electricity, thank God, alimenting itself from its own private supplies, and strikingly, the piping didn t have any significant problems. It had sealed the deal for Brody and Carson, and Brody was even more thankful for it now.

Scarlet Hyacinth With his task finished, Brody returned to the bedroom and gulped when he saw what his mate was doing. Carson had two fingers up his own ass, thrusting them in and out of his body, writhing on the bed at his own touch. Their connection was flooded with desire and need, as Carson begged, Please, Brody. Please fuck me. Brody made his way back to the bed. That s mine, he growled. He pulled Carson s fingers and analyzed his mate s now-slick hole. Impatient, aren t you, Carson? Carson nodded with so much enthusiasm that Brody s arousal increased even more. He flipped his mate on all fours and caressed the tight globes with greedy hands. With a grin, he exposed Carson s hole, his mouth watering at the sight of the twitching opening that seemed to beckon him closer. Still, he resisted, remembering the punishment his mate had earned. He took the butt plug and slowly, ever so slowly, inserted it into Carson s anus. His mate whimpered, trying to push back against the toy. Hold onto the railing, Carson, and don t move, Brody ordered. I m going to make your ass glow. Carson obeyed, his body tensing even as he struggled to stay still. Brody took a few seconds to inspect his handiwork. Seeing Carson s sweet hole stretched by the plug made him yearn to be inside his mate even more. Instead, he pressed the button that activated the toy. He d bought the item on impulse, but the results told him that he d made the right choice. Carson cried out as the plug massaged his anus. Through their connection, Brody could feel his mate s pleasure increase more and more. Smirking, he grabbed the paddle and struck, keeping the blows aimed toward the area he knew would not hurt Carson. His mate actually howled this time, insofar as he could howl without being a wolf, at least. Brody might have even mistaken the sound as protest, had he not sensed all of Carson s emotions inside him. It brought a

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf whole new dimension to the sex, and Brody distantly wondered how in the world he d gotten so lucky. * * * * Carson tightened his hold on the headboard as Brody continued his sensual torture. As blow after blow fell, he began to fall deeper and deeper into a mind space reserved only for these moments, a space where the boundaries between pleasure and pain faded. The warmth that spread from his thighs and buttocks pooled straight into his prick, making him dizzy with want. The harsh kiss of the paddle drove him wild. His connection with Brody remained the only thing real and true. With every hit, Brody jostled the vibrating toy inside him, making the vibrations even more intense. It felt so good, and yet, not enough. Through their bond, Carson heard the order, Don t come, little lamb. Don t come until I tell you to. So Carson bit his lip and struggled to keep himself anchored when the wave of pleasure threatened to sweep him off his feet. He could no longer even speak, having become a being of pure emotion. Thankfully, Brody understood his desires. All of a sudden, the spanking stopped and the toy disappeared from Carson s ass. Carson shivered as his lover pressed kisses over his heated buttocks, then over his spine until he reached his neck. Brody was so close now, so close to where Carson wanted him to be. The toy had just whetted his appetite for something much better he wanted to have inside him. Carson ached to be filled by his mate, to feel Brody stretch his anus to capacity, to have the wolf touch him like only he could. He felt Brody inside his mind, and then, Brody s cock nudged at his opening. Carson clung to the railing as his mate slowly pushed inside him. His ass burned from the hits and the toy Brody had used

Scarlet Hyacinth on him. He trembled, his entire being focused on obeying his lover, his mate, his master. At last, Brody was fully inside him, his balls flush against Carson s ass cheeks. A myriad of scents surrounded them, assaulting Carson s senses. Brody was everywhere, inside him, around him, driving him deeper and deeper into that unique world where only their pleasure and love mattered. Brody pulled out of him and thrust back inside, hitting Carson s prostate. Carson cried out and arched against his mate, needing more, yearning for everything Brody had to offer. He pushed back against Brody, thrashing wildly, clinging by sheer force of will to the headboard. Oh, God, Brody. Please. Just More. Brody increased the pace, and Carson s ears filled with the sound of flesh slapping against flesh. His anus burned with the invasion and his balls ached with the need to come. His entire body buzzed with unfulfilled arousal. Each of Brody s motions rubbed against the stillsore skin of Carson s ass and thighs, and the slight tingle just added to the sensation. They fell into a wild rhythm, taking their pleasure in each other. Brody s almost violent fucking might have actually seemed callous if not for the intense love Carson felt coming through their connection. Before meeting Brody, he d have never thought he would experience such things, that the pain could translate into pleasure and the lust into pure, unaltered affection. Everything inside Carson reached out for Brody as his mate took him, on and on, never once faltering. He bit his lip in a desperate attempt to keep himself in check, but he couldn t take it much longer. As always, his mate was right there next to him. He reached for Carson s prick and pumped it a few times. And then, his fangs clamped down on Carson s flesh and through their bond, the order at last came, Come. Carson s blood turned to liquid heat. His vision went white as ecstasy coursed through him. Crying out Brody s name, he found his

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf peak. At the same time, he felt his mate thrust one last time inside his passage and fill him with his seed. His mind short-circuiting from the overflow of pleasure, Carson allowed himself his orgasm to take him over. He didn t know how long it took, how long he shook in the throes of climax. He felt it all inside him, but inside Brody as well. And when his consciousness began to return, the first thing he noticed was the heat. By his side, there seemed to be a real furnace Carson s very own personal one. His body still burned from the enthusiastic fucking, and inside him, in his very soul, the warmth of their bond lingered. Carson cuddled closer to his mate and smiled when a strong arm wrapped around his waist. Everything they d gone through was worth it. They could finally have the life they d dreamed of now. * * * * When Brody first opened his eyes, he didn t immediately realize what had prickled his instincts. He still felt exhausted from the earlier sex fest, but in seconds, he became alert and realized what he was feeling. Someone more than one person had invaded his territory. His home no longer only smelled of him and Carson. By his side, Carson stirred as well. Perhaps he d felt the wrongness, too, or maybe their connection alerted him. Either way, he didn t panic. Instead, he gave Brody an inquiring look and through their bond, asked, Who is it? What do we do? Brody tentatively sniffed the air. With each passing second the presences were approaching. But there was something strange that Brody had not quite expected to scent together ever again. Pack and prey. Brody hastily pulled a pair of pants on, and after Carson did the same, they slipped out of the room. Other than Carson, he sensed two people nearby. One of them had been the bane of his existence for

Scarlet Hyacinth two years, and he d have known her anywhere. He supposed there was some reason to that old saying. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. But how could Roxanne have found out where he and Carson lived now? And what was she planning? Did she really think she could just waltz in here? And do what? Whatever the case, Brody would not allow her or whoever she d brought along to hurt Carson. He bared his fangs, ready to protect his territory. All of a sudden, Carson gasped. Brody, wait. I think I think my brother is with her. Brody blinked as flashes of memory coursed through his mind. Carson s half-brother, Ray, was also the man who d instigated the other rams to hurt Carson two years back, the night Brody and Carson met. Brody had been steaming for quite a while to get revenge on the man, but Carson had let the whole story go, and the last thing Brody wanted was to open old wounds. It seemed, however, that Ray didn t share Carson s opinion. But how could Roxanne have met Ray? It made absolutely no sense. In any case, the appearance of Carson s brother meant Roxanne had come here not only intent on revenge, but also carrying weapons that wolves did not have. Their kind might use silver from time to time to punish or restrict lawless wolves, but they didn t have the proficiency sheep did. But Brody would not allow that to hold him back. I m not afraid of guns, he sent to his mate. I ll be fine. Carson looked worried, but didn t comment further. They had the advantage since they knew the house, and their smell was already on everything. The best thing would be to stay in the bedroom and wait for their attackers to come, then take them by surprise. Nodding to Carson, they retraced their steps and went back the way they d come. Hopefully, Roxanne and Ray had not realized Brody and Carson were awake. But they didn t get to reach the bedroom. An impending sense of danger assaulted him. He didn t know the reason, as his senses had already detected Roxanne and Ray.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Carson, however, seemed to know. Get down, his mate shouted. Carson lunged at Brody, and they fell to the hard floor just as a rain of bullets showered the hallway. As quickly as he could, Brody rolled them over and covered Carson s body with his own. He managed to push them into an adjoining alcove. By some miracle, the bullets missed Carson, but two of the rounds scratched him. Silver, the special kind of bullets sheep or other prey-shifters used against wolves. Just great. At least they hadn t actually become embedded in his flesh. That could have become a big problem. He took a deep breath and focused on his mate s wildly beating heart. Keep Carson safe. Keep Carson safe. That was what he needed to do. The litany gave him a surprising clarity of mind, and he realized what he d originally missed. There was another person in the house, a wolf soldier and one who d known what to do to disguise his approach. Without Carson, they might not have been able to realize it at all. It was a long time since Brody had smelled his opponent s scent, but he remembered it with crystal clarity. That day marked his separation from Carson, and something else the only time he d killed one of his own. He wondered how he d never thought it would eventually come to haunt him. True enough, he d never known what had become of Lester after being dragged out of the room by Soren s men, but it seemed whatever Brody s father had done wasn t enough. The man had returned and seemed quite keen on vengeance. Brody didn t have much time. Lester was at the other end of the hallway, and Roxanne and Ray were closing in fast. They seemed to have come equipped to fight an army, not just a wolf and a lamb. They needed to move. Brody thought fast. In the house, they were trapped, outnumbered, and outgunned. However, the forest and the mountain would protect them. The only way out would be through the window a few feet in front of him. To get there, however, they would have to run through Lester s line of sight. If with an emphasis on

Scarlet Hyacinth if they managed, it would be smooth sailing from there. They were only on the second floor, and the architecture of the building would allow them to land outside without too much trouble. We can make it, Carson said in his mind. Go. I trust you.

Even with all the doubts in his mind, Brody knew they didn t have much choice. He grabbed Carson and lunged forward. A shout of anger sounded from his right, but Brody ignored it. He had instants before Lester reacted. He moved faster than ever before. In a flash, he crossed the distance that separated him and Carson from the window and jumped. Glass shattered, scratching his face, and moments later, another rain of bullets followed. Thankfully, he landed on the ground without further injury and rushed away. However, as he reached the beginning of the forest, another shot rang out. Their luck didn t hold, and this time, the bullet hit Brody in the leg. It wouldn t have brought him down, but the shock of the impact and the extra weight he carried made him stumble. With the momentum, he tripped against a hole in the ground, and fell, jamming his knee against a big rock. Brody actually felt the bone break and go through the skin. Howling, Brody dropped his mate from his arms. cried out, scuttling closer. Brody, Carson

Go, Carson. Go. Get out of here. His mate would still be able to escape. Brody could stall and buy Carson time to run. But Carson didn t obey. Instead, he crawled even closer and lifted Brody s body, obviously intending to carry him. It was awkward, but Carson was stronger than he looked. He might have succeeded, but before Carson could do anything, Roxanne and Ray reached them. Stop right there, lamb, Roxanne sneered.

What do you want with us? Brody asked. You hated our supposed mating as much as I did. You told me yourself you d speak to Father to have it broken.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf Roxanne glowered at him. Yes, I did intend there s a difference between what I planned abandoned and humiliated me in front of the lamb, a lamb of all things. Do you have any to do that. But and what you did. You pack. You left me for a idea how that feels?

She didn t even wait for a reply. Instead, she pushed Carson down with the shotgun, and they fell back on the ground at her feet. Ray laughed. Why are you doing this, Ray? even know where we were? Carson asked. How did you

Oh, it was easy. Ray chuckled. All I had to do is ask Mother the phone number you called her from. Silly git still believes everything I tell her, including that I mean to bring you back home and save you from the awful wolf keeping you prisoner. Brody had known Carson kept in contact with his mother by the use of his cell phone, but it never occurred to him someone might use that to track them down. Fuck. Once more, he d been careless. I thought I d have trouble finding out who your enemies might be, but to my luck, everyone knows who you are, Ray continued. The paranormal world is absolutely abuzz with news of the wolf who mated a lamb. No wonder Roxanne was pissed. Being in the limelight couldn t be very pleasant. Since Brody and Carson left civilization behind, they seemed to have missed quite a lot of excitement. Brody wondered why their friends never mentioned it. Perhaps they hadn t wanted to encroach on Brody and Carson s happiness with such things. As Ray spoke, Lester appeared from the house. And when the ram contacted us, we simply could not resist. Brody glared at the man. Why don t you go crawl back to the hole you came out from? I m sure your Alpha would love to know you came after me.

Scarlet Hyacinth I don t care what the Alpha says. I m not his Beta anymore, Lester shouted. You killed my brother. Now, I m going to take your mate away from you, and then cut you into little pieces. And you really think you can get away with that? distracting Lester from his plan. Roxanne snickered. We have our ways. Brody had no clue what his mate planned, but he felt Carson s mind working furiously. They couldn t get out of here through brawn. Therefore, they d have to do it through brains. The weak link lay in two wolves having joined with a sheep. They didn t have the bond Brody and Carson shared, and as such, the alliance would be tenuous at best. The throwing around of piss thing, right? Carson grinned. might throw you wolves off, but not sheep or other races. That Carson said,

Brody had no clue if Carson s friends swans or squirrel would have the ability to distinguish scents in spite of the method his kind used to cover their tracks. He suspected no, but he couldn t be sure. Thankfully, neither could Lester or Roxanne. Their expressions turned from smug certainty to alarmed anger. Of course they wouldn t be able to feel us, Roxanne said with a nervous laugh. With the fear that she might be discovered, she d apparently forgotten all about her fury toward Brody. Really? Carson pressed his advantage. Go ahead and ask him. He nodded toward Ray. He knows I m right. Lester and Roxanne turned to Ray, whose blood drained out of his face. I uh I don t know. It s possible. Of course it is, Carson added. We are trained to sense predators, especially in forested areas. And in case you didn t know, I have many friends who won t take kindly to what you ve done here. The two wolves turned their anger on Ray. You fool, shouted. Do you have any idea what you ve done? Roxanne

It might have been stupidity or stubbornness, but Ray didn t back down. It s not like you disagreed with me, bitch. Of course, if he

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf tried to flee now, the hunting instinct would just kick in. Perhaps Ray had finally realized he d bitten off more than he could chew. Brody almost winced at Ray s words. He knew Roxanne had quite a temper and wouldn t take lightly to being insulted by a sheep. It was very different to be called a bitch by pack and to have prey do the same. As Brody had expected, Roxanne s form began to blur until she transformed into a wolf. This time, Ray didn t hesitate. He aimed the gun at her, frowning. You move a muscle, and you re dead. Unfortunately for Ray, he was two against one. Lester changed into his second form as well and lunged toward the young ram. Ray s gun went out, but it missed its target. In a panic, Ray changed into a ram, trying to use his sharp horns to push the wolves away. He managed to fight back for a minute or so. His horn landed in Roxanne s eye, and she howled in dismayed distress. She backed up, tossing her head around. Lester, however, wasn t in the least bit thwarted by her pain. He jumped on Ray, burying his fangs in the ram s throat. Taking advantage of their distraction, Carson jumped forward and snatched Roxanne s shotgun. Several bullet shots echoed in the clearing around their house, and Lester and Roxanne slumped down to the ground. Carson dropped the gun, as if in shock of what he d done. For a few moments, time seemed to stand still. Everything was just surreal. However, seeing Lester and Roxanne still on the ground forced Brody to snap out of his trance. He d been running on pure adrenaline and it had helped him ignore the pain, but now, he needed to direct his attention toward his own problem. The wound looked gruesome, the bone sticking out of the skin. Brody had to hurry or his shape-shifter abilities would work against him and his injury would close too early. Carson knelt by his side, looking worried. Oh, God, Brody. What do we do?

Scarlet Hyacinth Brody looked around and found a stick. He couldn t ask his mate to do this for him. In fact, he d have much preferred if Carson wasn t here to see it, even if a selfish part of him found comfort in his mate s presence. He inserted the piece of wood in his mouth and leaned against his mate. In one motion, he snapped the bone back into place. Horrifying pain coursed through him, and he almost blacked out at the agony. It didn t help that the silver bullet was still lodged in his leg, polluting his blood. He breathed through it, focusing on Carson, on his mate s soothing voice. His abilities kicked in, and the pain began to diminish. However, just as Brody started to feel better, Lester stirred, trying to crawl away. I aimed for non-lethal injuries, Carson said, still gripping the shotgun. Whatever Carson had aimed for, the shotgun had done quite of damage from up close. Lester and Roxanne were unlikely recover soon, more so because of the silver now attacking bodies. Still, they would live, and as such, needed to be a lot to their watched.

The ram, however, didn t move at all. Carson seemed to be studiously trying not to look in his brother s direction. The sight of the savaged neck of the ram made Brody understand why. I m sorry. Carson sighed. My mother is going to be very hurt. He was always her favorite. Carson s voice didn t hold any resentment, just acceptance and regret. He shook himself. We should get you to a doctor, Brody, and call someone to help us with this. Go, Brody said. I ll guard our friends, he added sarcastically.

His leg would heal, but the silver was more of a problem. Brody hoped his body would be able to fight it for a bit longer. He needed to make sure Roxanne and Lester didn t try to attack them again. At last, Carson returned to him. Judging by his mate s expression and the worry that flooded their bond, Brody surmised he wasn t in a

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf very good condition. the way. Hang in there, Brody, Carson said. Help is on

Brody nodded. We need to take the bullet out. It s poisoning me. Okay. Carson breathed in deeply. it. Take the bullet out. I m on

Even with all the panic Brody sensed inside his mate, Carson managed to focus. He retrieved their first aid kit and returned to Brody s side. What do I do now? I m no wolf medic. I know a little about sheep medicine, but beyond that I ll guide you through it. Brody struggled to offer his mate a smile. It s not actually very different. He d have liked to spare his mate of this, but they didn t have much choice. In his current state, Brody couldn t focus enough to take the bullet out. Thankfully, Carson seemed more adept at this then he thought. He sanitized the wound, and with excruciating care, started the painful process of saving Brody s life. Brody managed to remain conscious just enough to watch Carson succeed in his task. Just as the bloody bullet hit the grass, his world became dark and he surrendered to unconsciousness. * * * * Carson paced in front of the room that held his mate. He knew Brody was still alive, since their connection remained in place. At the same time, the silver had done quite a number on Brody. His lover might not be in deathly peril, but he wasn t out of the woods yet, either. A voice drew him out of his musings. Brody will be fine, Elder Wade said. He s a strong man, and he has a lot of things to live for. Carson offered the wolf a weak smile. He d never have thought he would ever do that, given everything the elder had done. But Brody s

Scarlet Hyacinth father came through for them when it mattered. Perhaps they weren t exactly friends, but Carson could appreciate the man loved his son. Carson had called Liam, and Brody s friend had been quick in rallying additional troops. Much to Carson s shock, Elder Wade immediately provided medical assistance to Brody. Carson didn t know what happened to Roxanne and Lester, but he d asked the elder to keep Ray s body safe. Again, the man surprised him and respected his request. Thank you for your help, he told the elder. I just don t know what we would ve done without it. The wolf seemed thoughtful. To tell you the truth, we re not the ones who saved Brody s life. You did, at removing that bullet. My people merely hurt him. He paused, as if considering his words. I was wrong about you, he finished. It was the closest thing to an apology Carson could expect. As a rule, Alphas didn t admit their mistakes. It gave Carson hope that maybe, one day, his mating with Brody would not be condemned. At last, the door opened and a wolf medic appeared. Carson asked at once. How is he?

He ll recover soon, the doctor replied. Thankfully, we were able to eliminate the silver poisoning before it did too much damage. He gave Carson a penetrating look. The situation would have been much worse had the bullet not been removed before we arrived. The doctor cleared his throat. At any rate, he is awake and wishes to see his mate now. Excitement coursed through Carson. breathlessly. Is he well enough? Is that okay? he asked

You know I am, little lamb, a rough voice came through their connection. Now get in here. I want to see your beautiful face. Without waiting for the doctor to answer, Carson burst inside the room and rushed toward the bed where Brody lay. His mate looked a bit pale, and Carson knew he would be weak and feel his lingering

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf hurt for quite a while now. But the smile on Brody s face was very real, and overwhelming relief gripped Carson. Come here and give me a kiss, Brody said with a grin. And when Carson did, everything else paled except the knowledge that this bond was here to stay and no one would ever part them again.

Scarlet Hyacinth Epilogue A few months later Carson fidgeted on the chair, unable to contain his impatience. After three months of putting their lives back into place, they finally had a home. Roxanne and Lester had survived, but the silver had left lasting trails on their bodies. Roxanne s eye never healed, and Lester lost much of his mobility. Elder Wade guaranteed that the two, or anyone else for that matter, would not be a problem for Carson and Brody. With that out of the way, Carson and Brody had officially registered as mates. It hadn t been exactly easy, since the usual process entailed the involvement of the elders of both species. However, they d managed to find a way around that, through the shape-shifter agency that specialized in dealing with family relationships. They were now known as Williams-Wade, having gone with the hyphenating option, on the basis that it best suited their bond. His mother still struggled with the situation and with the truth of Ray s death and his attempt to kill Carson. However, she seemed to be trying to understand and making progress every day. Carson and Brody were beginning to build a new life together. As such, Carson had brought up the topic of adopting. Their home was far too big for just the two of them. Carson wanted a family, and since they couldn t do it the old-fashioned way, they d have to resort to the proper channels. After some deliberation, they d decided to submit an application to the adoption section of the agency. The same one that helped them

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf with their mate bond could offer them a baby to care for. It would take a while for their file to be processed. Even if they weren t quite ready to receive a child in their life at this moment, by the time their request was considered, they d be more than settled. But now, when they actually sat in the adoption agency, Carson s idea seemed more and more silly. Several other couples were waiting, some same-sex like him and Brody. There were no wolves, however, or any other carnivore among the homosexual pairings. More importantly, there were no predator-prey matings. In fact, most of the couples were of people of the same race, and they didn t seem happy about Brody and Carson s presence. Brody squeezed his hand, offering silent comfort. It s all right, he said through their bond. They hate what they can t understand. But we ve come such a long way. In time, people will accept us. On instinct, Carson leaned closer to his mate. He received several ugly well, uglier than before looks, but he ignored them. His mate was right. They d convinced Brody s father that they were true mates. Beyond that, everyone else could go to hell. Finally, their names were called by the receptionist and they were led into a spacious office. A stern-looking female owl-shifter sat at the desk. Brody and Carson Williams-Wade, correct? she said without preamble. Carson nodded. He opened his mouth to add something polite and appropriately impressive, but the woman didn t give him the chance. I looked over your file, and I found it quite surprising that someone like you would want to apply for adoption. Carson heard derision in her voice, and his heart fell. It would seem adopting wouldn t be as easy as Carson had hoped. Hell, she didn t even introduce herself. Why would you be surprised? Brody asked. I noticed other same-sex couples waiting in line. The owl glared at him. Don t be obtuse. They are real couples, not like you.

Scarlet Hyacinth I don t believe you have any authority to judge our bond, Carson shot back, anger flaring at her disdain. Very well. You might be right there. The owl smiled tightly. But either way, what I meant to say is different. We are concerned of what would happen to a child growing in such unusual circumstances. As you can imagine, a carnivorous child would grow up to try to eat you, Mr. Williams, while an herbivorous one would be eaten by Mr. Wade. The way she separated their names irked Carson, and also made him realize their pasts had been investigated. How can you say such a thing? he asked. We would be the most loving family for our children. I m afraid it simply doesn t work that way. The woman gave them a penetrating look. I m sure you ll come to understand it soon. Of course, once you find other partners, you are both welcome to try again with your respective mates. Brody looked like he was ready to lunge at her. Realizing that if they stayed, they d have more to lose than to gain, Carson pulled his mate out of the room. A fist squeezed his chest with the weight of his crushed dream. He d wanted so much to give Brody a real family. His vision blurred and he struggled to keep back his tears. Brody hugged him tightly. Hey, don t cry. There are other ways. What other ways? Shape-shifters only had the authority of this agency that ruled over all cases. Adopting a human was out of the question. They could try finding a wolf or a sheep to donate eggs for them, but what woman would be willing to agree to it? Carson forced himself to calm down and nodded. He couldn t give up, not so soon. You re right. There s always a way. Brody released him from the embrace and glowered at the other couples currently staring at them. What? What are you looking at? Carson felt a small measure of satisfaction as several of the people present winced. Still holding Brody s hand, he stalked out of the

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf adoption agency, head held high. They d find a way to complete their family, he just knew it. * * * * Later that day The shrill sound of the telephone woke Carson up from his slumber. By his side, Brody grumbled and got out of bed. Whoever it is better have a good reason for calling. It was only three in the afternoon, but both of them had succumbed to emotional exhaustion. Neither Brody nor Carson had been in the mood for sex, so they d just fallen asleep in each other s arms. They must have slept at least a couple of hours, but Carson still felt exhausted. He waited for Brody to get rid of their caller so that they could go back to bed. All of a sudden, Brody s voice came through their connection. It s from the adoption agency. This guy Skylar Pierce says he saw our file and he d like to meet us. Instantly, all tiredness fled Carson. He got up and stared at Brody in disbelief. The owl had been more than a little clear that they wouldn t have a chance in adopting. But perhaps Carson and Brody had just run into a bad person and they still had a chance. He nodded eagerly and hastened to put his clothes on. In his rush, he tripped and fell face-front on the floor. While he picked himself up, Brody finished making arrangements and headed toward him. Come on, Carson. Get a move on. We have a meeting in an hour. The following thirty minutes or so were a flurry of getting cleaned up, dressed, and making sure they didn t forget any detail. Carson couldn t be sure about the identity of the man who d called them. He

Scarlet Hyacinth hadn t met any Skylar Pierce while at the adoption agency. Why would this guy want to help them? They got to their destination with fifteen minutes to spare. As it turned out, Skylar Pierce was already waiting for them or at least, so they were told by the receptionist. Unlike before, she didn t give them an ugly look. Instead, she almost sounded respectful. A few moments later, Carson understood why. The office they were led to was huge and adorned with all sorts of expensive items. This must be where the big bosses of the agency worked. Oddly, a young man sat behind the desk. He got up when Carson and Brody entered the room. Hello, gentlemen. I m Skylar. Thank you for agreeing to meet me. He had a nice, kind smile, and Carson found himself smiling back. Thank you for calling us. They shook hands, and Skylar gestured them to the chairs in front of the desk. As they made themselves comfortable, Skylar sat down as well. First of all, I d like to apologize for Elsa s behavior. I assure you she will be appropriately reprimanded. Carson surmised Elsa was the owl. We appreciate that, he offered. Truth be told, he felt impatient to get to the subject. He wanted to find out why they d actually been summoned back. She said we could not provide a home for any of the children here, Brody told Skylar. What changed? Skylar winced at Brody s reprimanding tone. Nothing, not really. But there s a certain situation and when I stole a peek at your file, I thought you might be interested in it. Skylar got up from the desk and gestured for them to follow him. Come. I have someone I d like you to meet. Carson nodded and got up as well. He was thankful for Brody s presence. It gave him strength as they walked outside Skylar s office. On occasion, the sound of a weeping child reached his ears. This

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf building housed not only the main headquarters for the staff of the agency, but also a temporary crche and daycare center. Finally, Skylar stopped in front of a room with a large windowed wall. Inside, Carson could see a small lion and a baby antelope on the floor in shifted form, with two women watching over them. At first, it almost seemed that the lion was being aggressive toward the antelope, but soon, Carson realized they were playing. The lion held back his blows and the antelope looked very comfortable with the presence of the predator cub. Carson watched the sight in awe. He d heard of such things but had never thought he d be a witness. The antelope s mother was killed by a lion pride while in shifted form, Skylar explained. One of the lionesses ended up adopting the baby and raising it with her own. Unfortunately, the pride didn t approve, and the lioness died while protecting the two. Their luck was that the children s aunt respected their mother s memory and called us. Skylar sighed. At first, they just brought the antelope, but the lion cub kept running away and coming here. They refuse to be parted. He gave Carson and Brody a penetrating look. Do you think you can handle it? Carson gaped. Not one, but two children? Could they do it? He shared a look with his mate. What do you think? he asked through their bond. Brody s mental chuckle sounded in his mind. as I do these are already our kids. You know as well

Yes, Carson knew that. He didn t kid himself. The two babies would be demanding and a handful, but who could be better to raise them than him and Brody? They both understood how each other s lives worked and would understand the children as well. Could we meet them? he asked Skylar.

The young man smiled. Of course. He led them inside the room, and almost instantly, the children stopped playing. The lion shifted into a young blond boy, maybe three

Scarlet Hyacinth or four years old. giving Angel up. What do you want? he growled at them. I m not

It was both sweet and heartbreaking to see the lion protect his antelope sibling. Skylar smiled at the aggressive child. That s fine, Clark. No one s asking you to. These nice gentlemen just want to meet you. Clark gave Brody and Carson a suspicious look. Why?

Brody took a few steps forward toward the lion cub. We d like to take you home, you and your brother. Angel, is it? As Brody spoke, the antelope finally shifted as well and appeared from behind his protector. Wide eyes went from Brody to Carson. W Who are you? Brody gave him a helpless look, to which Carson just shook his head and chuckled. He made his way to the children and knelt next to them. That, my dears, is a very long story. Come, sit by me and I ll tell you all about it. As the two children obeyed, Carson began to speak once more. all starts with a lamb and a wolf THE END WWW.SCARLETHYACINTH.WEBS.COM It

ABOUT THE AUTHOR A native Romanian, Scarlet was born in 1986 and grew up an avid fan of Karl May and Jules Verne, reading fantasy stories and adventure. Later, when she was out of fantasy stories to read, she delved into her mother s collection of books and, of course, stumbled onto romance. As a writer though, Scarlet Hyacinth was born one sunny summer day, when a dear friend of hers the same friend who introduced her to GLBT fiction proposed they start writing a story of their own. As it turns out, the two friends never did finish that particular story, but Scarlet discovered she had a knack for writing and ended up starting to write individually. And so, between working on her dissertation, studying for exams, and reading yaoi manga, she started writing the Kaldor Saga. Along the way, Scarlet met a lot of wonderful people who supported her, and in the end, she found her story a home and, in the process, fulfilled a beautiful dream. Also by Scarlet Hyacinth Siren LoveXtreme Forever ManLove: Tides of Love 1: Saving Connor Siren LoveXtreme Forever ManLove: Tides of Love 2: Craving Owen For all other titles, please visit www.bookstrand.com/scarlet-hyacinth

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com