Kody shook his head at Nathan. "You are such a fucking idiot sometimes." Nathan glared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" "I think he means that bragging about how you fucked a ton of women and telling Dana she should accept it because it was her fault crossed a line," John replied. Nathan scrubbed a hand through his hair. "What the hell else should I have done? Lied?" John shook his head in disbelief. Nathan's male arrogance sometimes knew no bounds. "You could have tried playing it down instead of flaunting it. Couldn't you see how hurt she was to find out?" "Dude, she is seriously upset," Kody added, peering with a frown in the direction of the stairs. "What do you both care?" Nathan growled. "You heard what she said. She doesn't want me anymore." Nathan poured himself some more wine and took a swig of it. "Give her time-" John started saying. Nathan threw his wineglass at the wall, where it shattered, spraying the red wine. "I'm

Dana slept spooned with John-my mate-after making love a second time. Held in his protective embrace, the hum of their bond almost visible, she discovered inner peace. Even better, she'd lost her anger and hurt over Nathan's actions of the past. After talking with John, she could more clearly understand why Nathan had done it, and she regretted her jealous reaction of the previous day. Now here's to hoping he's not too pissed about me marking John first. Even if he was, she'd practice patience. They'd both hurt each other, and the time had arrived for it to stop. She loved Nathan, and he loved her. The past needed to be pushed aside in favor of the future, a bright future with her back in the heart of a pack and surrounded by love-both the mental and physical kind. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize John had woken until a firm poke against her backside announced his ready state. She wiggled against it. "Minx," he growled in her ear, tugging the lobe with his tee

Sitting in a dark movie theater with a mate on one side and a man she planned to mate with on the other proved interesting. Make that titillating. Dana held the popcorn bucket on her lap, and every time they dug into the buttery box, she couldn't help wishing their hands were diving for a different snack. The darkness thankfully hid her blushes, but it couldn't stop her arousal. John draped an arm over her shoulder and bent to whisper, "Are you okay?" She turned toward him and leaned in close, but instead of speaking, she kissed him. His body went rigid for a moment before he kissed her back. When she moaned against his mouth, frustrated that he wasn't stripping her for more, he pulled back, his breathing ragged. "Behave. We're in public." Dana made a face at him and slumped in her seat. A hand brushed her thigh from the other side, and she peered sideways to see Kody watching the screen as his hand flattened itself on her thigh then began sliding her skir

Nathan dropped his duffel bag by the large oak in the clearing where, a lifetime ago, he'd made love to Dana. It seemed only fitting to him that he make his stand in the place where his life had changed and shaped him into the man who now needed to escape. The irony of the situation didn't escape him. She ran because she didn't want to be shared, and now it's my turn to run because my jealousy couldn't handle it. But he wouldn't leave until he could assure himself of her safety, and that meant clearing out the rogues. A part of him screamed at himself for stupidly coming to face them alone. How many times had he drummed into his pack the need to not leave the compound at night unless they were in large groups? What made him think he alone could handle the menace? Sure, he possessed more strength than his brothers of the fur, and he had the unique ability to half shift into a beast-an ability that only the ones with the most control could achieve--but still, he was only one wolf a

Nathan held Dana and marveled that, after everything that had happened, she still wanted him. She'd saved him, not just from his monster of a father but himself. Nathan set her down and, when John cautiously approached, dragged him in close for a hug, a quick one. They were naked, after all. "Thanks for coming, brother," he whispered. Kody had no problem with a naked hug, and he tackled the two of them in his enthusiasm. "Woo! The terrible trio back in action again." It was only when they realized that Dana watched their naked huddle with twinkling eyes and a smirk that they broke apart with a lot of throat clearing and back thumping. "Um, guys, where did Roderick go?" Dana's hesitant words made them all whirl and peer, only to see that not only had Roderick disappeared, but the rogues had slunk off too. The question she wondered was did Roderick get up on his own, or did the rogues carry off their leader? The rest of the pack took that moment to show up,