QSFer Kaje Harper has a new MM Paranormal book out, Hidden Wolves Book 6: Undeniable Bonds.
Some bonds are strong enough to last a lifetime, and change the world.
Rory O’Sullivan has spent his life alone. Once upon a time, he made one real human connection as a gay man. That moment happened in Nazi captivity, and the wolf he escaped with was a Soviet soldier. They had a taste of what love might mean, but in 1944, personal happiness had to come second to survival.
Now, seventy years later, when he feels the presence of Nikolai, somehow close and needing him after all that time, no one— not gay Alpha Aaron of the Minneapolis West pack, or rising political threats, or even top Alpha Rick Brown himself— will stop him. Rory’s going to answer the appeal he’s waited a lifetime for. Some bonds can’t be denied.
This is a new novel in the Hidden Wolves series.
Get It At Amazon
Excerpt
Aaron Tremaine, Alpha of the Minneapolis West Pack, took a slow, calming breath through his nose and carefully did not crush his cell phone in his grip. “With all due respect—”
“Hah.” Rick Brown’s deep voice cut him off. “You always say that when you think I’m wrong.”
Aaron reminded himself that being interrupted by Brown was a compliment, in a backhanded way. The powerful Council leader was usually careful to give other Alphas every show of courtesy. Treating Aaron more casually was a sign of trust.
Didn’t mean Aaron had to like not having his say, though. “With all due respect,” he repeated, “our local lone wolf has been as low key and as isolated as one could ask for. He was given permission to run without a pack by some past Alpha, well before my time. I’m not sure there’s enough reason for me to abridge those rights.”
“I am sure.” There was no concession in Rick’s tone. “That lone wolf down in the Blueridge Mountains wasn’t known as a troublemaker, but he almost caused a riot. And that mess this summer showed the risk of having wolves with no pack ties. The Council has decided. Bind your lone wolf to your pack, or deal with him.”
“Kill him.” Aaron had no taste for euphemisms in this situation.
“I have faith in your powers of persuasion.” Rick’s voice turned to ice. “But our very existence hangs in the balance. Do what you have to do.” The line went dead.
Damn it. Aaron set the phone down gently.
“Let me guess. No exceptions.” His mate, Zach, gave Aaron a sympathetic look from where he sat at his computer.
“None.”
“Fuck them anyway! They’ve no right to keep asking you to be their hit man.”
“I hope it won’t come to that. I do understand the reasoning.” I don’t like it one bit, though. We should be better than this.
Zach glowered. “Tell me it won’t hurt like hell if you have to kill another innocent man. You’re finally sleeping most nights. Why can’t Rick Brown tap one of the wolves out there who don’t have your conscience?”
“I don’t want him to send someone else,” Aaron pointed out. “Especially not a wolf without conscience. If Whitefoot the lone wolf has to die in my territory, it will only be because I did everything I could and failed. Not because I hid behind my scruples and let some other wolf play assassin.”
Zach bit his bottom lip and nodded. With a couple of mouse clicks, he turned off his screen and stood, stretching. Despite Aaron’s anger and frustration, he felt a wash of pleasure go through him, seeing Zach’s lean muscles flex. Rick’s call had left him unsettled, but he was looking at the antidote in one strong, slender, wickedly brilliant package.
With a yawn, Zach locked his hands behind his head, riding his T-shirt up to reveal a hint of flat belly.
Oh, yes, all mine.
Zach chuckled, and Aaron realized his reaction had broadcast loud and clear over their shared pack bond. He’d shut out the rest of the pack to keep them from sensing his displeasure with the Council, but his emotions were wide open to Zach. Including that flash of desire. Too late to shut it down now, so he might as well take advantage. He strode over and threaded his fingers into Zach’s dark hair. His mate relaxed beautifully into his grip, tipping his head back to expose his throat.
Aaron nipped him under the jaw, then bent to apply teeth over Zach’s collarbone. Zach moaned, eyes fluttering shut as Aaron leaned back to look at him. Aaron tugged his silky dark hair harder, then let go suddenly, for the pleasure of watching Zach catch his balance and laugh.
“One good thing,” Aaron said. “This will get you out from behind that screen. You’re going cross-eyed.” Rick Brown had Zach working with other computer experts doing things too esoteric for Aaron to follow, and apparently important enough to cut into his boy’s rest time and put dark circles under his eyes. Aaron laid a hand on Zach’s cheek and brushed a thumb over his cheekbone. “We’ll take time for a run in fur while we’re up north.” If Rick was going to demand that Aaron take on the roles of judge, jury, and executioner— again— he could damned well spare Zach for a day.
Zach sighed. “Sounds too fucking good.”
Aaron cupped his face between both hands and kissed him. Kissing Zach sometimes felt as necessary as air. Soft lips parted under his as Zach welcomed his possession. When Aaron was done with the kiss, quite thoroughly, he let go and stepped back. “Bring clothes for a couple of days at the motel. We’ll ask around the local towns up there, see if anyone has a human name for Whitefoot, before we go barging into his space.”
“Just you and me?” Zach asked. “Like a holiday?”
The idea was tempting. They hadn’t had any real one-on-one time yet, to explore who they were to each other without the pack. And probably won’t for God knows how long. Since becoming Alpha, survival of the pack had trumped Aaron’s own needs. Someday we’ll get away, just the two of us, as men in love, as Dom and sub. But not this time…
Author Bio
Aaron Tremaine, Alpha of the Minneapolis West Pack, took a slow, calming breath through his nose and carefully did not crush his cell phone in his grip. “With all due respect—”
“Hah.” Rick Brown’s deep voice cut him off. “You always say that when you think I’m wrong.”
Aaron reminded himself that being interrupted by Brown was a compliment, in a backhanded way. The powerful Council leader was usually careful to give other Alphas every show of courtesy. Treating Aaron more casually was a sign of trust.
Didn’t mean Aaron had to like not having his say, though. “With all due respect,” he repeated, “our local lone wolf has been as low key and as isolated as one could ask for. He was given permission to run without a pack by some past Alpha, well before my time. I’m not sure there’s enough reason for me to abridge those rights.”
“I am sure.” There was no concession in Rick’s tone. “That lone wolf down in the Blueridge Mountains wasn’t known as a troublemaker, but he almost caused a riot. And that mess this summer showed the risk of having wolves with no pack ties. The Council has decided. Bind your lone wolf to your pack, or deal with him.”
“Kill him.” Aaron had no taste for euphemisms in this situation.
“I have faith in your powers of persuasion.” Rick’s voice turned to ice. “But our very existence hangs in the balance. Do what you have to do.” The line went dead.
Damn it. Aaron set the phone down gently.
“Let me guess. No exceptions.” His mate, Zach, gave Aaron a sympathetic look from where he sat at his computer.
“None.”
“Fuck them anyway! They’ve no right to keep asking you to be their hit man.”
“I hope it won’t come to that. I do understand the reasoning.” I don’t like it one bit, though. We should be better than this.
Zach glowered. “Tell me it won’t hurt like hell if you have to kill another innocent man. You’re finally sleeping most nights. Why can’t Rick Brown tap one of the wolves out there who don’t have your conscience?”
“I don’t want him to send someone else,” Aaron pointed out. “Especially not a wolf without conscience. If Whitefoot the lone wolf has to die in my territory, it will only be because I did everything I could and failed. Not because I hid behind my scruples and let some other wolf play assassin.”
Zach bit his bottom lip and nodded. With a couple of mouse clicks, he turned off his screen and stood, stretching. Despite Aaron’s anger and frustration, he felt a wash of pleasure go through him, seeing Zach’s lean muscles flex. Rick’s call had left him unsettled, but he was looking at the antidote in one strong, slender, wickedly brilliant package.
With a yawn, Zach locked his hands behind his head, riding his T-shirt up to reveal a hint of flat belly.
Oh, yes, all mine.
Zach chuckled, and Aaron realized his reaction had broadcast loud and clear over their shared pack bond. He’d shut out the rest of the pack to keep them from sensing his displeasure with the Council, but his emotions were wide open to Zach. Including that flash of desire. Too late to shut it down now, so he might as well take advantage. He strode over and threaded his fingers into Zach’s dark hair. His mate relaxed beautifully into his grip, tipping his head back to expose his throat.
Aaron nipped him under the jaw, then bent to apply teeth over Zach’s collarbone. Zach moaned, eyes fluttering shut as Aaron leaned back to look at him. Aaron tugged his silky dark hair harder, then let go suddenly, for the pleasure of watching Zach catch his balance and laugh.
“One good thing,” Aaron said. “This will get you out from behind that screen. You’re going cross-eyed.” Rick Brown had Zach working with other computer experts doing things too esoteric for Aaron to follow, and apparently important enough to cut into his boy’s rest time and put dark circles under his eyes. Aaron laid a hand on Zach’s cheek and brushed a thumb over his cheekbone. “We’ll take time for a run in fur while we’re up north.” If Rick was going to demand that Aaron take on the roles of judge, jury, and executioner— again— he could damned well spare Zach for a day.
Zach sighed. “Sounds too fucking good.”
Aaron cupped his face between both hands and kissed him. Kissing Zach sometimes felt as necessary as air. Soft lips parted under his as Zach welcomed his possession. When Aaron was done with the kiss, quite thoroughly, he let go and stepped back. “Bring clothes for a couple of days at the motel. We’ll ask around the local towns up there, see if anyone has a human name for Whitefoot, before we go barging into his space.”
“Just you and me?” Zach asked. “Like a holiday?”
The idea was tempting. They hadn’t had any real one-on-one time yet, to explore who they were to each other without the pack. And probably won’t for God knows how long. Since becoming Alpha, survival of the pack had trumped Aaron’s own needs. Someday we’ll get away, just the two of us, as men in love, as Dom and sub. But not this time…