(Stanley Gale) Undercover Lovers

Urban Affairs 1
Undercover Lovers
Two undercover agents weave a web of deceit when they bed their
target.
Undercover Were-agent Slade Wolfe works for the Department of
Shifter Affairs. He's on special assignment to take down Jaxon
Castle, a resistance leader. Slade's contact in New York is a
human cop, Mike Donovan, who's hiding his real relationship with
their targethe and Jaxon are lovers. When Slade beds Jaxon so
he can plant his surveillance equipment, a jealous Mike freaks out.
Both agents suspect the charges have been trumped up by the
Feds and they're reluctant to take Jaxon down, but the director of
DSA is getting antsy and he orders Mike to kill his partner and
frame Jaxon for the murder. Getting rid of his competition is
tempting, but Mike can't kill an innocent man, even if it means
he'll end up in DSA's crosshairs with his rival and his boyfriend.
Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Mnage a Trois/Quatre, Shape-
shifter
Length: 36,501 words

UNDERCOVER LOVERS

Urban Affairs 1

Gale Stanley

MENAGE AMOUR
MANLOVE

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www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Mnage Amour ManLove

UNDERCOVER LOVERS
Copyright 2012 by Gale Stanley
E-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-785-5

First E-book Publication: June 2012

Cover design by Harris Channing
All cover art and logo copyright 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

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PUBLISHER

Letter to Readers

Dear Readers,

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Stanley from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you.
Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy

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DEDICATION

For my readers ~
I hope you have as much pleasure reading as Ive had in the writing.

UNDERCOVER LOVERS
Urban Affairs 1

GALE STANLEY
Copyright 2012

Chapter One

A spotlight came on, illuminating one end of the plywood stage,
and a disembodied voice came over the loudspeaker. Get ready to
drool, men, because tonight we have a new dancer and hes gonna
turn up the heat. Here he is, for the first time on our stage, or any
stage for that matter. Lets hear it for Slade. The crowd went wild
and men started moving toward the platform to catch a scent of the
newcomer.
Jaxon Castle took a seat at the bar, and Quinn slid a bottle of
mineral water in front of him. Jax never drank anything stronger than
water at his club. He knew what the other shifters called him behind
his backcontrol freak. They didnt mean it as a compliment. Jax
preferred to think of himself as a detail-oriented manager. Things
tended to go wrong if he didnt attend to every detail himself, and he
needed all his animal instincts functioning at their peak in case of
trouble. That meant staying stone-cold sober.
The bartender leaned over to make himself heard over the noise.
Fresh meat, huh?
Yeah. All the way from Los Angeles.
Whats he doing here?
Undercover Lovers 9

The same thing all the strays are doing, Jaxon grunted.
Running from the law. Dogtown is turning into a fucking dog
pound.
You dont give them all jobs in your club. Whats so special
about this one?
Jaxon shrugged. His timing was good. Korey didnt show up
today. The little prick left me high and dry, and on a Saturday night.
Fucking unbelievable. Then this guy walks in, fresh off the bus, and
looking for any kind of job, and a place to stay. I sent him over to
Benjamin to see about renting an apartment and told him to come
back tonight for an audition. I sure hope hes good.
You didnt check his credentials? Quinn feigned a surprised
look but couldnt hold back his laughter.
I didnt want to scare him off.
He doesnt look like he scares easy.
It was true. With a six-foot-four, muscular frame and rugged
features, the newcomer looked like he could hold his own. Jaxon took
a big swallow from the bottle.
Well, I wouldnt worry about it, boss. The men like a variety of
inventory. Quinn winked. I know for a fact most of the guys would
like to see you up on that stage.
Jaxon choked and spewed water across the bar.
Quinn smirked and wiped his face with the back of an arm. You
all right, boss?
Fuck you. Jaxon scowled at him, swiveled on his stool, and
leaned his elbows back on the bar. He heard Quinn laughing behind
him, but he focused on the stage. The men were more than curious
about his private life, but the subject was strictly off-limits.
Not that he had much time for a life. The Kennel Club took up
most of his waking hours. The club wasnt fancy, but it was all his.
The bar was here when he bought the place, dented and scarred like it
had been through a war and almost as long as the room. Wood and
leather stools lined the length, and there were also a number of tables
10 Gale Stanley

scattered around the room. Between the bar and the stage there was a
small dance floor and a side room with two pool tables and some
dartboards. Jaxons office and apartment were upstairs. Downstairs
there were private rooms where a wolf-shifter could take a fuck buddy
if he got lucky.
Jax had added a few modern touches over the years. Hed put in a
small kitchen where he served up a simple menu including burgers,
hot dogs, and fries. But when hed put up a stage and added a dancer,
business had really taken off. It had been Koreys idea. The young
wolf needed a job, and jobs were scarce in this economy, especially
for shifters. Humans didnt hire Weres, and most shifters in Dogtown
couldnt afford to pay employees.
Korey was one hell of a dancer with a sexy little body that drew
attention. He offered to work for tips, and his gig went so well that
Jaxon hired him on the spot and paid him a small salary. It wasnt like
him to not show up, but Korey wouldnt be the first kid to take off
looking for greener pastures. Still, it would have been nice if he had
given Jaxon some notice.
Yeah, the bar had grown since he took it over, and he had big
ideas to make it even better, so it benefited him to hang around to
make sure thered be no trouble. If he wanted trouble hed have
stayed in his apartment in Chelsea where he had to hide his identity as
a Were or deal with discrimination and hostility. He couldnt wait to
get out and live among his own kind. Shifters had been buying up
abandoned properties for years and finally took over a blighted
section of the city and rebranded the area as Dogtown. Any humans
still living in the area had moved out when the wolves moved in. His
people had started co-ops and businesses that catered to their own
kind. They kept to themselves, satisfied to live a parallel, peaceful
existence with humanity, and for the most part humanity stayed away
from Dogtown.
So any trouble in Jaxons club was caused by the wolves
themselves, and those kind of scuffles he could handle. The shifters
Undercover Lovers 11

were horndogs. Ingesting a little too much alcohol caused all those
pent-up animal instincts to rise to the surface. It was the nature of the
beast. Whoever said an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
hit it right on the nose. Hiring a big, beefy doorman helped a lot, but
most dogfights broke out on the dance floor, so Jaxon had recruited a
few enforcers and stationed them around the room, while he sat at the
bar. The precautions had saved him from a mountain of trouble and a
big loss of revenue. Maintaining a testosterone-friendly atmosphere
was cheaper than paying for renovations every time somebody started
a fight.
Finally, his dancer stepped into the light, and the shifters
appearance brought a fresh round of cheers and applause. The animals
are restless. I hoped theyre not disappointed. The man was packing,
but a stripper needed more than a pretty face and a big dick. It didnt
hurt to be a flamboyant showman. Personality and people skills were
a must if a performer expected good tips. Jaxon decided hed reserve
his opinion until the end of the performance.
Electronic music came over the loudspeaker. Whoops and wolf
whistles accompanied Slade as he flipped his waves of black hair and
strutted across the platform to the primal, erotic beat. His black
leather pants encased his muscular thighs like a second skin. The
spotlight followed him like an adoring puppy. So did every pair of
eyes in the room.
Slade stopped center stage and flashed the crowd a wicked grin.
Jaxon knew even a wolfs keen sight couldnt see past the blinding
spotlight, but he could swear that smile was meant for him and his
heart lurched. That was a mouth meant for sin. Jaxon pictured those
full lips wrapped around his cock, sucking him off until he popped.
Where did that come from? Jaxon was not easily impressed, but this
man was one sexy motherfucker. Slades intense amber eyes framed
by long, black lashes peered out from a sculpted face with high
cheekbones and an angular jaw. The wolf possessed a rugged
masculinity that Jaxon found extremely appealing. The tight leathers
12 Gale Stanley

hinted at a good-size package to go along with the shifters movie-star
looks.
Slade started unbuttoning the white silk shirt, one button at a time.
When he reached the last button, he grinned and pulled the edges of
the shirt apart, revealing a hard chest with a patch of dark hair
between chiseled pecs. His cinnamon-colored nipples begged to be
squeezed and sucked.
Jaxons dick started pulsing to the beat of the music, and he
started panting like a dog in heat. Damn wolf genes. Slades unique
scent had captivated him the minute they met. It had been a long time
since hed felt like this, but he couldnt deny the primal attraction
between him and the other wolf. He never lost his cool, and he looked
around, thankful the other shifters hadnt noticed. They were as
worked up as him, their eyes glued to the stage.
The beat picked up, and Slade took his shirt partway off a
shoulder and covered it back up. Then he lowered the other side and
covered up again, teasing his appreciative audience.
Jaxons gaze followed the dark treasure trail that disappeared
under the mans leather pants, and then he focused on the impressive
bulge at Slades crotch. He glanced over at Quinn. The bartender was
salivating, his hand rubbing his own bulge.
A wave of unreasonable jealousy ripped into Jaxon, surprising the
hell out of him. All wolves were territorial, but this was crazy. Hed
never experienced anything like it, even with his mate. Of course,
Mike had never been the focus of a room full of randy wolves. Jaxon
kept his human lover well hidden from the pack. He tamped down his
testosterone-fueled emotions. This man was nothing more than a stray
dog whod come to him for a job.
Catcalls and screams of take it off filled the room, and finally
Slade removed his shirt and let it slip to the floor. Then he turned his
back and bent to pick it up.
The crowd went wild at the sight of Slades tight, firm ass
positioned so temptingly in front of them. Jaxon was as mesmerized

as all the others.
Slade finally straightened up and threw the shirt off to the side.
His handsome face was flush with excitement, and his sweat-slick
torso gleamed under the light. Jaxons tongue itched to lick the
moisture from his chest.
Hands clasped behind his head, Slade rolled his hips in circles.
This man bumping and grinding in time to the electronic music was
completely confident in front of the crowd. Slade had told Jax he had
never stripped before, but from the looks of it, he liked parading
around in front of a mob of drooling shifters. He sure knew how to
please his audience.
Jaxon drew in a breath when Slades fingers hooked in the
waistband of his leather pants and inched them down. Then the shifter
flashed another sinful grin and tugged the leather down a little lower,
teasing the crowd with a glimpse of wiry pubic hair peeking over the
waistband. The crowd screamed for more, and the scent of wolf
pheromones and testosterone filled the room.
Slade slowly worked a zipper on his right pant leg. It came down
inch by agonizing inch. Jaxon couldnt take his eyes off the mans
leg. He had never been so turned on before. Slade started on the other
leg, and Jaxon wanted a closer look. He had to force himself to stay
seated.
Finally both zippers were down, and Slade spread his legs. The
pants hung between them like a very long loincloth. Jaxon admired
Slades muscular thighs, imagining what else hung between them.
Slade turned his back to the audience and they went silent,
anticipating what hed do next. He didnt disappoint, pulling on the
snaps at his waistband so the pants fell to the floor. Slade bent over to
retrieve them, shamelessly showing off his firm, round ass. The
shifters howled, and hot blood coursed through Jaxons body, straight
to his cock. His wolf clawed at his gut, wanting to rim this guys ass
right here, right now. Suddenly, Slade turned face front, and Jaxon
thought he might come in his pants just from looking at the mans
14 Gale Stanley

fully erect penis bobbing from a nest of dark curls.
Jaxon heard growling from the shifters around him and suddenly
felt protective of the man on the stage. Cool it, Jaxon. Slade is a big
boy. He can take care of himself. In fact, from the look of things, hed
probably be pissed if Jaxon interfered. Slade was crouched down on
the stage giving the men an eyeful of his assets and collecting a small
fortune in tips. The guy was hot as hell, and obviously in great
demand. Hed have his choice of bed partners tonight. The thought
sent a stab of something else through Jaxons body. Jealousy? His
wolf liked a challenge. Completion was hardwired into his genes. He
took a deep breath to control it. Forget it, Jaxon. You have a
boyfriend. He turned away to ask Quinn for a beer.
The bartenders eyes were glued to the stage, and he was licking
his lips.
Quinn!
Yeah. Sorry, boss, Quinn said sheepishly as he took Jaxons
empty water bottle. Cant blame a guy for looking.
No he couldnt, but Quinn was on duty, and Jaxon frowned his
displeasure. Shit, did every wolf in this room want to claim the new
guy? Jaxons own inner wolf growled his displeasure and curled up in
his gut to sulk. Gimme a beer.
Quinn threw him a funny look, but he set a bottle down in front of
him. Jaxon picked it up, took a big swallow, and choked on it when
two muscular arms circled him and two big hands planted themselves
on the bar, trapping him in place. Slades scent overwhelmed him as
the other wolf leaned over Jaxons shoulder and whispered in his ear.
Is the hired help allowed to have a drink with the boss?
Jaxons cock leaked like a drippy faucet. There was no hiding his
arousal from another wolf. Quinn, get the man a drink, he said
gruffly. Jaxon looked at the man sitting next to him and tilted his
head, indicating he wanted him to vacate the seat.
The shifter got up reluctantly and Slade, bare-chested but wearing
his leather pants, took the stool. Ill have whatever the boss man is

drinking, he said to Quinn.
Your shift is over, Slade. You dont have to call me boss.
Thats a relief because I want to dance with you, and I was pretty
sure it would be a mistake to flirt with my employer.
Potential employer. I havent hired you yet. Jaxon snorted.
Flirting wont get you the job. Find another partner.
Slade leaned in close. Youd be doing me a favor. The natives
are restless, and if they see me with you, theyll back off.
Slade wasnt kidding. Jaxon glanced around and saw a number of
men eyeing the new dancer and edging closer to the bar. It was
nearing the end of the night, and inhibitions were being left by the
wayside. He almost laughed out loud. Slade isnt as tough as I
thought if he wants help fending off the wildlife. Hell no. Jaxon didnt
want to send the wrong message to the crowd. He played his personal
life close to the vest. In all the time hed owned the club, he made it a
point not to dance with any of the men. If Slade wanted to live and
work in Dogtown, hed better learn how to handle himself. Sorry, I
dont dance.
Your loss. Slade picked up his bottle, stood, and started to walk
away.
Arrogant prick. Slade. Jaxon yelled, stopping the man in his
tracks. Were not open on Sunday. Come back the same time
Monday night.
Slade saluted with his beer bottle and made his way toward the
pool room.
Fuck him. Who does he think he is Gods gift to a shifter? Jaxon
downed the rest of his beer and slammed the bottle on the bar. It
shattered, and Quinn was there immediately with a rag. He really
needed to take his raging hormones to bed. Unfortunately, he
wouldnt mind taking the new guy as well. Damn, the control freak
was off his game tonight. He might as well go upstairs to his
apartment.
16 Gale Stanley

Jax took a walk past the pool roomjust to make sure everything
was quiet. Slade was leaning over the table, lining up a shot. A well-
built man with a blond ponytail came up behind him and edged closer
until his hips brushed Slades ass. Slade straightened up and growled
over his shoulder. Back off.
Jaxon had never seen Ponytail before, but the big shifter looked
like trouble. He hung in the back watching the scene play out in front
of him.
Ponytail ran a hand down Slades arm. You looked a hell of lot
friendlier on the stage.
Yeah, well that was then, this is now. Youre ruining my game.
I can think of a better game. His eyes traveled below Slades
waist. Looks like youre up for it.
Fuck off. Slade snarled.
If you dont want the attention, you shouldnt shake your ass in
front of a bunch of hungry wolves.
It was a show, asshole.
Maybe Id like a private show. He put a palm on Slades hip
and started a slow slide to his crotch. Ill make it worth your while.
Slade gave him a hard elbow to the chest.
Fucking tease. Ponytails face turned ugly.
The hair stood on the back of Jaxons neck, and he tensed, ready
to jump in if Slade needed a hand.
Slade caught Jaxons eye and winked, and then he turned and
blocked Ponytails sucker punch. A big, ginger wolf picked up a cue
stick and moved in on Slade. Before the prick knew what hit him,
Jaxon slammed him to the floor. He planted a booted foot on the
mans chest and looked from him to Ponytail. I want you both out
now. Two enforcers appeared, as if by magic, and pulled the redhead
to his feet.
Ponytail put his hands up in surrender. We dont want any
trouble. He nodded to the redhead, and they followed the enforcers
to the door.

Okay, boys. This show is over. Jaxon nodded to Slade. How
about that dance you promised me?
The other men looked at each other, surprised at this new
development, but they shrugged and went back to their game. Jaxon
not only owned the club, but he was the closest thing to an Alpha in
Dogtown. Somebody had to step up because no one else wanted the
job.
Slade grinned, and Jaxon got the distinct impression the man had
planned the whole thing. Too late to back out now. Hed committed to
a dance. One dance. He held up a forefinger. And then Im
packing it in.
Thats all I want. Slade led the way, and the next thing Jaxon
knew, they were on the dance floor and the sexy wolf was moving to
a slow beat.
In hindsight, I should have put my shirt on, but I was hot and
sweaty.
Still are from the looks of it. Jaxon eyed Slades chest. But I
dont think a shirt would have helped, he added. For a first-timer,
youre pretty damn good. How do you do it? You make it look easy.
Nothing to it, Slade said, smiling. Put your arms around me
and just feel the music. Take it slow and easy.
Jaxon was keenly aware of everyones eyes on them, and he
hesitated but finally let Slade pull him closer. Only one beer, but it
had been enough to loosen him up a little. Besides, Slades moves
oozed sex and were hard to resist.
Slade nuzzled his cheek. You smell good. He licked Jaxons
neck. Hmm, taste good too.
Slades sweat and animal musk filled Jaxons nose, and following
the mans sensual moves was all too easy. Slades lips were inches
from his. Jaxon had a momentary lapse of sanity, and he let Slade kiss
him. Their tongues danced, and Slades hard prick rubbed against his
own. Visions of their hot, sweaty bodies doing a tango on his bed
danced behind his closed eyelids.
18 Gale Stanley

Slade came up for air, nipping Jaxons bottom lip as he pulled
back. Feel what you do to me.
Only too well. Good sense prevailed. He already had a lover.
Keep that shit up and youll attract a lot more unwanted attention,
Jaxon warned him.
I only want your attention.
Slades words made his blood burn a hot path to his dick. What
the hell had he started? Sorry, I never mix business with pleasure.
Neither do I, but Im ready to make an exception in this case.
Fuck! Slade wasnt going to make this easy. Its a cardinal rule.
Okay then. I quit. Slade forced Jaxon closer still. You dont
even have to pay me for tonight.
Jaxons head spun. Being this close to Slade took his breath away,
not to mention his will to argue. I thought you needed a job. And
youll be leaving me without a dancer.
I dont want to leave you at all. Just think about it. Wed be good
together. I know it.
Thats the problem. Jax knew it, too. But he already had a partner
he loved, and he didnt want to screw up their relationship, not any
more than he already had. It wasnt easy maintaining a relationship
with a human boyfriend.
As de facto leader in Dogtown, Jaxon would lose all cred with the
pack if they knew he had a human mate. Humans were for fucking
only, and preferably outside of Dogtowns boundaries. Letting them
get too close to Were business wasnt tolerated. He and Mike
maintained separate residences and always met at Mikes apartment in
the Village. Jaxon could pass as human, but a human could not pass a
sniff test in Dogtown. So Jaxons time with Mike was limited, and
lately Mike had been getting distant. Jaxon was afraid the frequent
absences and deception were wearing his lover down. He didnt like it
either, but what could he do?
Hed told Mike to find someone else. They could still maintain a
relationship, just see other people. It was unnatural to abstain from

sex for long periods of time when they couldnt see each other. Mike
said he wasnt sure he could handle a relationship that wasnt
hermetically sealed. He didnt want anyone else, so Jaxon remained
monogamous, too. Only it was harder for a wolf
Jaxon possessed a shifters biological imperative, the need to
perpetuate their existence, to survive. He might be gay but he still had
the high sexual appetite that was inbred in every Were. Like attracts
like. It was the law of the universe. Somewhere out there was a wolf-
shifter meant for him alone but with his people scattered all over the
world, it was unlikely they would ever meet. But somehow hed been
lucky enough to find a kindred spirit in Mike, a human male. Right
from the first, they had connectedboth feeling as though they had
known each other forever. Their feelings went way beyond the
physical. Most humans believed Jax was nothing but an animal. Mike
saw beneath the surface and made him feel worthy of the love he
lavished on the shifter. They had forged a connection that went
beyond genetics.
So what do you say? Slades hands slipped under the waistband
of Jaxons jeans and his fingers found their way to the crease between
his bare cheeks. Do I have a chance?
Jaxon couldnt help the moan that escaped from his lips. Wolf
claws raked his gut and he found himself losing control. His lupine
spirit had never threatened to come out on its own. Who was this man
who excited his wolf into such a state of heightened emotional and
sexual receptivity? Is this the wolf-shifter I was meant to meet?
Slade murmured in his ear, I know you dont want me to stop.
His fingers pressed deeper. Promise me youll think about itabout
me.
Fuck! He wouldnt be able to think about anything else after
tonight. Damn, he wanted this man. Yes, he hissed. Promise.
Good. Slades voice was rough with hunger. Thats all Im
asking. Slade stepped aside, and the extent of Jaxons
disappointment shocked him.
20 Gale Stanley

Sleep good, baby. Ill see you Monday night.
Fuck. Jaxon knew he wouldnt sleep at all. He needed to see Mike
and try to get this wolf out of his head. It was 3:00 a.m., but he didnt
give a fuck. Needier than hed been in a long time, he needed to see
his lover.

Chapter Two

Jaxon let himself into Mikes apartment. Although he had his own
key, he rarely used it. Hopefully, his lover would be pleasantly
surprised to see him. Jaxon undressed quietly in the living room,
planning to slip into bed next to Mike and spend the night. Maybe
hed get lucky and Mike would wake up. If not, he could wait until
morning. It was only a few hours off.
He left his clothes on the floor and tiptoed into the bedroom, but
hed barely gotten past the threshold when the light went on. Mike sat
up scowling. Do you know what time it is?
Not exactly the greeting I was hoping for. Sorry, baby. Jaxon
yawned and scrubbed a hand through his unruly chestnut waves. I
didnt mean to wake you. Jaxon sat on the edge of the mattress. I
really missed you, baby. He slipped a hand under the blanket. Damn,
Mike really was pissed. Go back to sleep. Ill just slide in next to
you.
Mike looked at him reproachfully. You smell like cinnamon.
You know I was at the club
Yeah, and some cinnamon-smelling slut was all over you. Mike
lay down and threw an arm over his face. Go home, Jax.
Jaxon pulled Mikes arm away and studied his face, trying to see
if he meant it. God, his lover really was more gorgeous than any man
had a right to be. I know you dont mean it. At least I hope not. He
and Mike had been together for over a year, and he couldnt imagine
being without him. Even though he didnt see Mike as much as he
would have liked, it felt good knowing Mike was there when he
needed him, like now.
22 Gale Stanley

I do mean it. Get out. But Mike said it in a halfhearted manner
and Jaxon stayed put.
Let me change your mind. Jax yanked the covers off Mikes
prone form and stared at his broad chest and narrow hips, the sight of
which never failed to turn him on. The dark blond hair on Mikes
toned body matched the hair on his head, cut short because he worked
for the New York Police Department. An image of Mike in uniform
flashed through Jaxons head. Damn, he loved a man in uniform.
Mike was working plainclothes now, but his blues still hung in the
closet for playtime. Punish me, baby. Put your uniform on and you
can handcuff me to the bed and spank me.
Mike scowled at him. Youre crazy if you think Im getting out
of bed and getting dressed.
No problem. Hed settle for a naked Mike. In or out of uniform,
he was hot. Even if Mike wasnt thrilled to see him, Jax was glad hed
come. Seeing Mike always settled him, reminded him how good it felt
to have somebody. He was lucky they met at all.
Quinn had been buying bar supplies, and hed gotten picked up
outside Dogtown on suspicion of armed burglary. Mike and his
partner had taken the shifter to the local precinct and allowed him to
call a lawyer. Quinn had called Jaxon, and he went down to the
station to bail him out.
They were ready to throw the book at the bartender when another
cop brought in the real perp, a human. It turned out to be a case of
mistaken identity. Mikes partner, a racist and a bigot, had put Quinn
through the wringer when he found out he lived in Dogtown. But
Mike had been apologetic and nothing but nice. Not all humans were
assholes. He and Jaxon had an instant connection, and Mike gave him
a card with his private cell number scribbled on the back. Jaxon had
pulled it out of his pocket a hundred times, intending to tear it in two
and toss it. Instead hed ended up calling the cop. Mike had met him
at an out-of-the-way spot for dinner, and the two men had been seeing
each other ever since.

For a shifter, a man like Mike was an exotic, blue-eyed treat, and
right now he looked good enough to eat. His lovers cut cock, long
and thick, and his big, low-slung balls made Jaxons mouth water. His
own cock came to life as he wrapped his fingers around Mikes
awakening erection. The gorgeous, heavily veined cock was already
leaking fluid, and Jaxon used it to lubricate the shaft.
Mike tensed, but he didnt pull away. I want to go to the club
tonight, he blurted out. No one has to know who I am. You dont
even have to acknowledge me. Ill come in for a drink, have a look
around.
Not a good idea. Jaxon started working on Mikes prick,
stroking from the top all the way to the bottom then releasing as his
other hand stroked from top to bottom, creating an alternating motion
that never failed to get a rise out of Mike.
Damn you. I want to sleep in your bed for a change.
I want that, too, but The Kennel Club is off-limits to humans.
You wouldnt even get past the door unless I brought you in. The men
get rowdy sometimes, and if they find out youre a cop His voice
trailed off. Mikes cock was filling nicely, and Jaxon really didnt
want to talk about the club.
Ive heard all this before.
And youll hear it again. Its for your own good. If anything
happened to you, Id never forgive myself. Jaxon couldnt wait
another minute. He needed to have Mike inside his mouth.
Oh, God. Jax!

* * * *

With no warning, Jaxon swallowed his prick until his nose was
rubbing Mikes pubes. Damn him. Mike had wanted to throw him out,
he really did, and for more reasons than one, but he couldnt do it.
First off, with all that hand action going on, it made it impossible to
24 Gale Stanley

think straight. Now Jaxons hot mouth had swallowed his anger along
with his dick, and he was lost.
Mike never meant it to happen, but somehow, hed fallen under
the shifters spell and become totally smitten with the wolf. He had
not an ounce of self-control when Jaxon got near him, and that was
part of the attraction. It was nice to give up control sometimes,
especially to someone a man could trust, and he trusted Jaxon
completely. Oh, he might give him a hard time once and in a while,
but he knew Jax would always be honest with him. They had
something good between them, and it made doing his job so much
harder. A job he now wished with all his heart that he could quit. But
once the Feds had a man under their thumb, they would never let him
go.
Mike had started service with NYPD as a probie, a probationary
police officer. After six months he was automatically promoted to the
rank of police officer. Ultimately he wanted to be a detective, and
hed already worked a few investigative assignments, but the budget-
conscious department had been dragging their feet on promotions. He
became increasingly frustrated until his Captain called him in the
office one day and offered him a proposition hed almost refused.
Hed been assigned to the Division of Shifter Affairs, better
known as the DSA, a fairly new branch of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. It had been set up as a watchdog for Were population
across the country, and right now they were knee-deep in the middle
of investigating the wolf-shifters in New York. The Feds believed that
the growing community of wolves had formed a resistance movement
and were preparing for an armed rebellion against what they
considered unfair practices against all shifters. DSA had asked for
help from the NYPD. In order to keep their investigation as quiet as
possible, the Special Ops unit was only asking for one man to join
them, but that man would have to infiltrate the Were community and
bring back whatever information he could gather. Mike had been
picked because his Captain knew hed befriended Jaxon. He didnt

know they were lovers, but if it helped the investigation, hed
probably encourage it. If Mike completed his assignment
successfully, hed be assured of a promotion to detective, or a
permanent post with the DSA, but that wasnt the real reason he took
the job. He accepted because he saw it as a way to help Jax. He
intended to prove that Jax had done nothing wrong. His new boss
warned him to keep his position a secret. He would have anyway
because he knew Jax would go crazy if he found out.
In hindsight, he felt he should have turned it down, but it was way
too late for second thoughts. Mike had nobody to blame but himself
for the permanent knot in his gut. It is what it is. Although his
superiors wouldnt believe him, Mike knew Jaxon was not a terrorist.
Now he consoled himself with the thought that at least he was in a
position to help Jaxon. And if the government decided to start pulling
in members of the shifter community, he could warn them.
Right now he just wanted to forget the job, forget everything but
how great Jaxons mouth felt on his dick. Most people, men and
women, didnt know the first thing about sucking cock. They thought
all they had to do was close their lips around a mans penis and bob
their heads up and down. But Jaxon was an expert cocksucker. His
hot mouth slid up the length of Mikes cock, tongue swirling around
the head. Then his wet heat engulfed Mikes length once again. Only
Jaxs tight hold on his hips kept Mike from thrusting into his throat.
Youre fucking killing me, he groaned.
Jax hummed around his cock and slipped a hand under his ass to
finger his hole, and his eyes rolled back in his head. There was no
point trying to string a few words together because hed lost the
power of speech. All he could do was moan his pleasure and hang on
for the ride. He gripped the sheets while Jax increased his suction and
tried to suck Mikes brains out through his cock. Sparks started
exploding behind his eyelids as Jaxons long finger finally pushed
past the tight ring of muscle and penetrated his ass. Jaxons mouth
slid down his shaft once more, and he couldnt hold back. Mike
26 Gale Stanley

slammed his head back against the pillows and shouted Jaxons name
as he filled his lovers throat with thick spurts of cum. Jax swallowed
his load, only releasing him when his muffled cries stopped.
Crawling up his body, Jax lay next to him and gripped the back of
his head, pulling him in for a deep kiss. He surrendered to the
demanding mouth, loving the hungry assault and the taste of his own
cum on his lovers lips. Jaxons kisses turned rougher and more
demanding. His tongue explored Mikes mouth while his hands
explored his body. It looked as if going back to sleep was not an
option. Didnt matter, Mike was wide awake now.
Love me? Jax whispered in his ear.
Love you.

* * * *

Lost in thought, Slade walked back to his apartment. The building,
a converted brownstone owned by Benjamin Wolfe, was only five
blocks from the club. Benjamin had Slades last name, but they were
not related. Way too many shifters were named Wolfe. Through the
years, many of his people had been wiped out, leaving orphaned
babies who had been given the name Wolfe and raised in so-called
adoption agencies. Of course very few were adopted. The humans
didnt want Were babies, and the shifters could barely care for
themselves.
Today, there were fewer babies in the human facilities because
shifters were more inclined to help their own. There were laws
protecting them as endangered species, and they were banding
together, forming their own segregated neighborhoods. Unfortunately
the politicians saw their actions as hostile moves. The government
wanted to maintain the status quo and would do anything to stop the
perceived threat of a rebellion by the shifters.
Slade reached the brownstone and walked up the six steps to the
entrance. The blue double doors with full-length frosted glass and

arch transom, so different from his very modern condo in LA,
brightened up the drab exterior of the building. The one-bedroom,
third-floor walk-up was small and sparsely furnished but clean and
comfortable. Ben had given him a month-to-month lease. Perfect.
Slade didnt plan on staying too long. This assignment disturbed him
more than he wanted to admit.
A few years ago hed been working security for one of the few
companies that didnt discriminate against Weres. His boss was
impressed with him because he didnt hide his identity when he filled
out the job application like so many others. One day his supervisor
called him in the office and introduced him to an FBI agent.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation was recruiting for a special
covert operation and they wanted him. At first he was shocked. Why
would they pick a shifter? He should have realized they wanted him
to spy on his own. The DSA, Division of Shifter Affairs wasnt well-
known, but then it was just in its infancy. It would grow and
eventually become the US governments official eavesdropping
service for Were affairs.
The act of undercover policing had proven tricky when it came to
investigating Weres. A shifter could sniff out a snitch easily.
Subterfuge was hard enough when spying on humans. With the
wolves it was near impossibleunless the spy was also a wolf who
knew how to blend in. Working security had taught Slade how to hide
in plain sight. Were operatives were few and far between. The Feds
were picky, and Slade actually felt flattered to be chosen. Still he
almost turned it down.
He should have. More and more he thought hed made a mistake
joining up, but they had promised him the worldbig salary plus
unlimited expense account and most important, the security of
knowing hed never be prosecuted by the human government. But the
biggie was a benefit the Feds werent even aware of. Slade wanted to
believe hed be helping his own people. That he could do more for the
Weres working inside the Federal government than outside.
28 Gale Stanley

He put everything into his work. No hobbies. No family. No men.
Just his career. But so far he hadnt done shit to help anyone but
himself.
At first hed been given short-term cases involving shifters,
vamps, and cats as well as wolves like himself. But his investigations
had been minor white collar stuff on the West Coast. Then he was
handed something totally different. The New York Police
Department, in collaboration with allied agencies, and the Feds had
been investigating Dogtown and alleged terrorist, Jaxon Castle, for
over two years. The Feds wanted Castle badly, but they couldnt get
anything concrete. It was then Slade realized theyd been grooming
him for this assignment. He didnt like it. This one didnt pass the
smell test. And he liked it even less when he had to relocate.
New York was like a foreign country to him. He needed to get the
lay of the land, so for two weeks prior to moving into Dogtown hed
passed as human and moved from hotel to hotel, sightseeing and
getting a feel for the surroundings. What he discovered, he didnt like.
The different neighborhoods all had one thing in common. The
residents didnt like shifters. Weres and humans had never gotten
along, but on the West Coast they were treated better. Here, bigotry
and discrimination were tolerated, even encouraged. Hed seen
enough to last a lifetime.
When he arrived in Dogtown yesterday, posing as a shifter with
legal problems who had to leave the West Coast in a hurry, he still felt
out of his comfort zone. Hed gone straight to The Kennel Club and
asked for a job. Expecting Jaxon to be suspicious and hesitant, Slade
had been pleasantly surprised at how quickly hed been hired. By a
lucky coincidence Jaxons dancer had not shown up, and Jaxon gave
him a chance to show his stuff. Hed expected to be bartending but
instead he ended up stripping. It wasnt the job Slade would have
chosen, but beggars couldnt be choosers. And it would make it a
whole lot easier to get close to Jaxon. The shifter was practically
creaming his pants when Slade shed his. Of course Slade was pretty

aroused himself, not a good idea when the target of his desire was the
target of a federal probe.
He really needed to keep his mind on the prize. The carrot
dangling in front of his nose was a promotion. Hed be a big shot in
the DSA and have the opportunity to select his own operatives. The
Feds wanted him to recruit other wolf-shifters, and he was on board
with that. The more of his people on the inside, the better it would be
for all shifters.
He had the full cooperation of the city, and it was his job to find
proof for the Feds orand that or weighed heavy on his mind. His
immediate superior had insinuated that if he didnt find anything
concrete he was to manufacture it. Its for the good of the country.
Thats what they told him. Only he wasnt so sure. In his line of
business, it wasnt smart to trust anyone, even your own bosses.
Supposedly, Castle was organizing a terrorist group to overthrow
the local government. One human operative had spent the better part
of a year getting close to Castle, but not close enough to get inside
Dogtown. Now that Slade had infiltrated the neighborhood, his next
step was to make contact with the human undercover agent, posing as
a cop in the NYPD. Between them they were to get enough on Jaxon
Castle to bring him in and make an example of him. Human or wolf, a
criminal was still a criminal, but something told him this case was not
clear cut. One way or another hed get at the truth, and then hed
decide what to do with it.
Slade climbed the narrow staircase to his flat, threw off his clothes
and sprawled on the bed, but sleep eluded him. His raging lupine
pheromones went into overdrive every time he got near his target. His
wolfen sex drive was going to get him into trouble if he didnt
develop a little more self-control.
Ever since he laid eyes on Jaxon Castle, hed been hot, horny, and
confused. Hed only just met the man, but as soon as he laid eyes on
the owner of the club, he turned into a giddy cub with his first crush.
His nipples had gone tight and a throbbing had started between his
30 Gale Stanley

thighs that threatened to make him pop right then and there. He was
so hot that he couldnt wait to get on the stage and take his clothes
off. Thinking about Jaxon while he danced made him feel sexy, and
the heat in Jaxons gaze told him the other wolf appreciated his
moves.
He had never felt such incredible lust for a man. If he didnt know
better, he might think the old legends were truethat a Were knew
his mate as soon as he caught his scent. But he did know better.
The stories were just thatfairy tales created by people searching
for origins obscured by the passing centuries. Refusing to believe the
scientific explanation of mutated genes, many wolf-shifters attributed
their abilities to King Lycaon, who had been turned into a wolf by the
god Zeus.
According to folklore, Lycaon and a human lover had spawned
the first wolf-shifters. Inbred with a need to survive, their biological
imperative inevitably pushed them toward reproducing with their own
kind. But the desire for sex was more than Mother Natures wake-up
call to spawn offspring. Fucking was an entirely pleasurable
experience with or without the chance of reproduction. It was said
that eventually even gay shifters became hard-wired with an
evolutionary need to mate with other male-shifters.
Bullshit!
What about wolf-shifters who fucked other Weres or humans?
What am I? Some throwback?
No one could tell Slade that he existed at the mercy of his
hormones. Greek mythology had no place in the modern world.
Still, there was no denying that Slades dormant wolf spirit came
out of hibernation when he got near Jaxon. The randy beast wanted to
hunt, capture, fuck, in a primal way Slade had never experienced
before.
Slade reminded himself, he was in New York to bring Jaxon
Castle down, not to fall for him. Unfortunately, hed always been
tempted by the forbidden, and Jaxon tempted him. Even if seducing

the man hadnt been part of his job, he might have gone after the dark
shifter. It was going to be hell trying to bring down a man he was
attracted to, a man who had already gotten under his wolfskin. Even
though Slade was working for the other side, he didnt want to see
one of his own get hurt. Sometimes he hated his job. This was one of
those times.
32 Gale Stanley

Chapter Three

Slade woke groggy and disoriented after a few hours of restless
sleep. He propped himself up on an elbow and glanced at the alarm
clock. Fuck! Only 5:00 a.m. Flopping back on the pillow, he tried for
a few more hours of shut-eye, but he was way too wired to go back to
sleep. Memories of the night before flooded his mind and started his
cock twitching.
Jaxon.
The man haunted his dreams, starred in his erotic fantasies, and
instigated the uncomfortable, sticky, wet spot under his ass.
Fuck. He hadnt experienced a wet dream since he was a cub.
Slade had experienced lust at first sight more than a few times.
There had been many men in his past, not lately, because now his job
came first. But in his younger days, hed felt his fair share of
chemistry and the desire to fuck someone the first time he laid eyes on
him. Love em and leave em. Hed been that kind of guy, and it
served him well, especially now in his line of work. Allowing
someone to get close was a recipe for disaster, but this time the
intensity of his want shocked him. He couldnt remember a time when
his desire for a man kept him awake and on edge like this. What was
it about Jaxon that tied him up in knots?
As soon as hed walked into Jaxons office, goose bumps had
risen on his body, his legs had gone weak, and a pleasurable
throbbing had started between his thighs that made him forget this
was an assignment. Jaxon had felt something, too. Hed smelled
arousal all over the other wolf, and knowing hed caused it had sent a
flood tide of anticipation through his body, quickly followed by a

sinking feeling of doom. This could be a good thing or a major snafu.
Situation Normal All Fucked Up. Hed seen a few of those in his
dayusually when an agent let his own feelings get in the way of his
objective. Slade wanted to use Castles attraction to his advantage, but
the attraction went both ways, and that could fubar the operation.
The wolf tempted him, and temptation had no place in special ops.
Letting distractions get in the way of the objective put him in as much
danger as his preymore. Slade always relied on his mental and
emotional detachment to get him through situations. It was one of the
reasons the bureau had hired him. Hed just have to use more control
to deal with this insane infatuation. He had no choice because he
needed to get inside Castles living quarters to plant his bugs. The
man lived, worked, ate, and slept in that damn club. Slade would
never get inside his apartment without an invitation. Seduction looked
like his only option.
Fuck! He hadnt planned on this complication. He wantedno, he
needed, to see Jaxon ASAP. The sooner he got this over with, the
better. If he had to wait until Monday night hed go stark raving mad.
His crazy wolf hormones wouldnt let him have a moments peace.
Usually one fuck was all it took to convince him the object of his
desire was not as desirable as he first thought. The sooner he could
get into Castles pants, the sooner he could start surveillance and get
the wolf out of his system. Then he could concentrate on collecting
his evidence and getting out of Dogtown.

* * * *

Slade waited until eleven before calling Castle. The club owner
seemed surprised to hear his voice but agreed to see him. Dogtown
occupied a relatively small area, as far as acreage went, but it was one
of the most populated neighborhoods in New York. Young punks
were already hanging in front of crumbling Brownstones and
boarded-up storefronts. Wolfen eyes scrutinized him as he passed, but
34 Gale Stanley

nobody bothered him. He wondered if a human would get the same
treatment. He doubted it. A low economy bred boredom and
alienation, a ripe atmosphere for wolf gangs to spring up, men
bonding to find identities and excitement.
Slade found the front entrance to the club securely locked, but
Castle had installed an intercom system. Slade pressed the bell, and
almost immediately Jaxons voice came through the speaker. He
identified himself, and Castle buzzed him in. The other wolf was
waiting for Slade in the small entry area where the bouncer normally
stood. Immediately, Slades pulse increased and butterflies migrated
in his stomach.
Whats on your mind, Slade?
Nothing like getting right to the point. Its about last night.
Lets talk upstairs in my office.
Slade nodded and followed Jaxon past the kitchen to a narrow
flight of stairs in the back. Castles dimly lit office needed a paint job
badly.
Have a seat. Jaxon motioned toward a chair and seated himself
behind a wood desk that took up most of the room. He threw a bunch
of files over a half-eaten breakfast congealing on a plate and leaned
back in his chair. His chiseled face looked like it could be on Mount
Rushmoreif he were human.
Castles face was inscrutable, but maybe Slade hadnt known him
long enough to be able to read him. Jaxon, on the other hand, didnt
seem to be having the same problem. His eyes bored into Slade as if
he were taking him apart piece by piece, discovering what made him
tick, and then putting him back together again. It was a weird
sensation, but short of knocking Castle unconscious or walking out,
there was nothing he could do about it. So he stared back, waiting him
out.
Finally, Castle sat up straighter and broke the silence. Whats on
your mind, Slade?
I was out of order last night. I want to apologize.

Apology accepted.
Thanks. If Im going to be working for you, I dont want any bad
blood between us.
There wont be.
And I appreciate the help with that ponytailed
Whats really on your mind, Slade?
The same thing thats on yours, Slade responded quickly.
Jaxon let the words hang in the air so long that Slade was afraid
the other wolf didnt catch his drift.
Finally he found his tongue. Not here.
Where?
My apartment.
Lead the way.

* * * *

They walked back into the hall, and Jaxon led him to a door on the
left. He stood in front of it for a moment as if undecided. Finally he
unlocked the door and stepped aside so Slade could enter.
AhThe inner Sanctum, at last. The apartment dcor looked
pretty much like the officedark, old, and messy. Slade felt like Suzy
Homemaker next to Jaxon. But the overstuffed chairs looked
comfortable, and there were bookshelves lining an entire wall. Slade
studied the titles, an eclectic mix of mysteries, thrillers, science
fiction, and science fact.
Jaxon came up behind Slade, just close enough that he could feel
the steel rod at his ass.
Did you come here to read or to fuck?
Slade turned, his heart just about pounding out of his chest. You
dont waste any time, do you?
Im a man of few words. I think you are, too. We both know
what we want. Why beat around the bush?
36 Gale Stanley

Well said. Slade was eager for a taste of the wolf. He moved in
close and parted his lips in mute invitation. They met halfway, and
Jaxons prick rubbing against his burned like a stick of dynamite
waiting to explode.
Lets take this to the bedroom, Jaxon said harshly. He was
already unbuttoning his shirt. They left a trail of clothes behind them,
arriving at the king-size bed butt naked. Jaxon shoved Slade down on
his back and crawled between his legs. Before Slade could say a
word, his dick was in Jaxons mouth. He let out a surprised gasp and
dug his fingers into Jaxons scalp.
A very talented tongue explored the head of Slades penis and
then licked the underside of the shaft before attacking his balls. The
man was good. He kept his lips over his teeth for a smooth ride and
then uncovered them and grazed Slades sensitive flesh in all the right
places.
FuckJaxon Slade moaned and tugged at his hair. His hips
bucked up off the bed, his entire groin on fire.
Jaxon wrapped his hand around the base of Slades cock and
jacked him off while he sucked. One hand stroked in tandem with his
mouth and the other hand caressed Slades scrotum. Jaxon kept him
on the edge, and his frustration built.
Finally he bent Slades legs back and licked the sensitive area
between his anus and his balls. He nibbled around the opening and
then licked Slades puckered entrance. When Jaxons tongue probed
the hole, Slade grabbed his own cock. One tug and he was gone,
crying out Jaxons name and quivering as he shot his load.
Jaxon laid his head on Slades thigh and caught his breath. Then
he got to his knees and licked the cum from Slades belly.
Holy hell, that was good, Castle.
Jaxon lifted his head. I just sucked you off. Do you think you
could call me Jax, or at least Jaxon?
Slade busted out laughing.
Whats so damn funny?

Slade combed his fingers through Jaxons hair and held up his
forefinger. It was covered with his cum. Its a good look on you. He
grinned widely. Makes a good conditioner, too.
Oh, yeah. Well Id return the favor, but Id rather fuck you.
Slades heart skittered. Id rather you fuck me, too.
Good because I was afraid you might want to top.
Slade pulled Jax down and wrapped his long legs around him. I
donext time.
What makes you think therell be a next time?
I know there will. Youre enjoying this way too much.
Thats what Im afraid of. Jax lifted up and looked down at
Slade. How long has it been?
Too long.
Jax struggled out of Slades embrace and got off the bed.
Where are you going?
To get the lube. Im going to fuck you hard, and I dont want to
hurt you.
Jesus Christ. He was hard already. Everything the man said or did
turned him on. Hed never had such a quick comeback.
Jax climbed up on the bed and squirted lube in his hands. He
warmed it between his palms and stroked it over his dick. Slade
watched, hypnotized by Jaxons hands on his own shaft.
How do you keep from popping?
It hasnt been that long for me.
A spark of jealousy pierced Slade, surprising him. What did he
care who Jaxon fucked?
Okay, roll over and get on all fours.
Slade obeyed immediately, spreading his ass cheeks for Jax.
A big slippery palm caressed one cheek. Damn, you have a
beautiful ass. I wanted it as soon as I met you.
Slade liked the way Jax spoke and acted in the bedroom. He might
be a man of few words, but every word counted for something. He
wished he could be as honest and open as Castle. Its all yours. I
38 Gale Stanley

want this bad. Admitting he wanted Jax to fuck him was as far as he
could go. If not for the job, he probably wouldnt have gone that far.
Slade had never been any good at expressing his feelings. Hell, hed
always had trouble admitting his feelings to himself. Still couldnt get
past it. Hed always had trust issues but in his business it wasnt a bad
thing. Judgments about who to trust had kept him alive so far. Slade
felt a nozzle penetrate his ass, and cool lube lined his passage. Jax
leaned over and kissed his back as a long finger pressed past the
muscles of his anus. He groaned while the finger probed deeper and
then retreated.
Did I hurt you?
No, keep going.
This time two fingers entered him and struck a nerve. Jax tickled a
spot that started pleasure waves spreading out over his body. The
waves amplified and sensitized every part of him, his nipples, his
inner thighs An explosive current skimmed over his nerve endings
and each individual hair shaft on his body danced as if hed been
electrified.
Sweat beaded on his upper lip as he struggled to hold back
another orgasm. Oh, GodJaxfuck me, please.
Okay, stud. I think youre ready. Jaxon removed his fingers and
gave his ass a hard spank. Slade twisted his head to complain and was
surprised when Jax captured his mouth for a kiss. Jax nipped his
lower lip as he pulled away.
Then Jaxons hard length was filling him. The initial burn turned
to pleasure, and Slade shoved back until his lovers cock was buried
completely. Strong hands gripped Slades hips, and he was fucked
with long, slow strokes. The sensation of being filled was almost too
much, and Slade bit his lips to keep from screaming. The other shifter
seemed to know he was holding back, because he urged Slade on.
Scream for me, Slade. Show me how much you love to have my
cock buried in your ass. His hand reached around to Slades cock
and fisted the shaft. I wont last long, he growled.

It wouldnt matter because Slade knew he wouldnt either. Jaxon
ground his hips in a circle and his dick rubbed the sweet spot inside
Slade that set his nerves on fire. An orgasm built at the base of his
spine and spread. One more tug on his cock and he was over the edge,
spurting ropes of sticky cum on the sheets.
Ohfuck. Jax thrust forward one more time and exploded
inside Slade. He waited a few minutes then pulled away and collapsed
on the bed next to him. That was great. He pulled Slade in for a
soft, lingering kiss.
What the hell? Another kiss? Slade had never been much for
kissing. He thought hed have to fake it, but he responded eagerly to
Jaxons kisses. He didnt want to stop, but unwelcome thoughts
intruded on his pleasure. If he didnt plant his bugs now he might lose
this opportunity. HmmI thought so, too. Think, Slade. Use your
other head. Im dry as sandpaper. You have anything to drink?
Jax made a move to get up, and Slade stopped him. Ill go. I need
to check my cell anyway.
Jax lay back on the pillow. Theres bottled water in the fridge.
Juice, too. If you want something stronger
I dont. Water is fine. Ill bring some back for you.
Slade had what could be the worlds smallest wireless transmitter.
It was programmed to his cell phone. He only had to call in to listen
to the recording. No rings, beeps, or clicks would sound to alert the
target. And best of all, no distance limitation. Hed already picked his
spot the minute he entered the living room. The bottom of Jaxons
bookshelves was maybe an inch off the floor. Slade quickly slid the
device under it and went in the kitchen for water. He was trying to
decide between bottled water and apple juice when he felt Jaxons
arms circle him.
Tough decision?
Just wondering which one youd want.
40 Gale Stanley

Jax reached past him and grabbed a bottle of water. Slade took
one, too, and followed him into the living room. Jax sat on the couch
and looked around. Not much to look at, huh?
Slade shrugged. At least its home. I move around so much I
dont have a permanent place.
Thats too bad. Jax took a big swallow from the bottle. So tell
me, Slade, why are you on the run?
The usual shit. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. A
buddy put me up for a few nights, and his place got busted for drugs.
We got out on bail, and I booked. I didnt see any point in sticking
around to defend myself against something I didnt even do.
I hear ya.
I appreciate the job and the heads-up on the apartment. Benjamin
seems solid.
He is. You can trust him. Jax got quiet for a few minutes.
Youre great, Slade.
But
But we cant do this again.
Confused, Slade kept his mouth shut. He didnt need to do it
again. His bug was planted, and hed already hid one in Jaxons
office. And this was supposed to be a once-is-enough thing,
guaranteed to get Jaxon Castle out of his head once and for all. Slade
should be thrilled that Jax was the one saying we cant do this again.
So why wasnt he?
Slade had heard all the arguments against casual sex, but it had
never bothered him before. When he was a young man, most of his
partners were one-night stands he picked up in bars. Sometimes they
didnt even exchange names. He always rationalized it by telling
himself, Why not, who does it hurt?
This time it might hurt him. Deep down, he had a feeling thered
be no such thing as casual sex with Jaxon Castle. It appeared that
having sex with this particular man had caused Slades spark of
arousal to flame into some serious affectiona feeling that went

beyond the physical. He hadnt even left the apartment yet, and
already he felt guilty and lonely. Up till now, sex had been nothing
more than a physical release for him. This time it had felt like a close
encounter of the nth degree, maybe the most intimate one hed ever
had. Two bodies becoming one, thats what it felt like. Whether he
liked it or not there would be emotional consequences from this
coupling. Maybe thats why some people referred to sex as making
love. Well, he wasnt ready to go there, not by a long shot, but Slade
was beginning to see how sex could cause strong feelings for both
partners. Except in this case Jaxon didnt seem to feel that same
connection.
A penny for your thoughts? Jax asked.
I liked the sex. I think you did, too. Whats the problem?
I told you before that I dont mix business with pleasure. I dont
sleep with the men who work for me, or the men who come to the bar
to play.
Who the fuck is he sleeping with?
I keep my personal life personal. It makes things easier.
So why me, why today?
Jaxon looked away, frowning. I wanted you, my wolf wanted
you I thought if I got you out of my system I wouldnt go into heat
every time we got near each other. He shrugged and smiled
apologetically. I just want to move on to a working relationship. I
hope I didnt make things worse.
Ill be damned! He believes the old folktales. No. Its all good. I
know exactly how you feel. I dont do relationships. I dont do sex
with a man more than once. And I definitely dont want to complicate
my life any more than it already is. Slade started dressing.
Youll come to work tomorrow night?
Of course. I have to pay my rent.
Jax walked him downstairs and told him hed see him Monday.
There was no kiss goodbye.

42 Gale Stanley

Chapter Four

God, I hate Mondays. Slade had been awake for hours. Hed spent
another rough night tossing and turning on sweat-soaked sheets. He
couldnt get Jaxon out of his head. Every time he closed his eyes the
sex played over and over behind his eyelids, like a hardcore porn
video on repeat. Jaxons grunts and moans as he drove into Slades
ass. Jaxon sucking him off. Jaxon kissing him. It was all good. But he
hadnt expected to be thinking about it all night and into the morning.
They had fucked like sex-crazed teenagers. Hed come twice. One
roll in the hay with the wolf was supposed to cure his itch. Now he
wanted to scratch it again. Whats that all about?
Could there be something to this mating drama crap? No, it was
just plain old lust. He tried to push the erotic thoughts out of his head,
but they wouldnt go. Throwing back the blanket, he sat up and
swung his feet over the side of the bed. He grasped his morning wood
in his hand, gave it a few halfhearted tugs, and gave up. It was
Jaxons mouth he wanted on his dick.
He had work to do, and it didnt include mooning over another
man all day. The bugs had been planted, and he needed to monitor
them. And fuck it all if he didnt feel guilty as hell about it. He didnt
want to spy on Jaxonand for more than the obvious reasons. He
might find out who was sleeping in the wolfs bed, and that would
only piss him off more. But spying on his new fuck buddy was all part
of his job, and if Jaxon wasnt on the up and up, hed have no choice
but to bring him down. He bit back an urge to call the bureau chief
and resign. Telling himself he was doing important work here, he
decided on a course of action. First a shower, then hed listen to the

tapes and decide if there was anything he needed to report. He
expected a call from his contact with the NYPD and probably a
meeting later.
Slade headed for the bathroom. He frowned at the purple floral
design on the shower curtain. The previous occupant of this apartment
had shitty taste, but he hadnt changed the dcor because he didnt
plan on staying in New York too long. His boss had promised him the
next assignment would be back in Los Angeles, and that was a big
incentive to get things wrapped up in Dogtown as quickly as possible.
But this morning the ugly design bothered him more than ever, and he
made a note to buy a new curtain. He stepped into the combo tub and
shower and yanked the curtain closed behind him.
Slade stood under a cold stream until his erection went down, and
then he adjusted the water temperature until it was just the way he
liked ithot. The room might be small, but there was no shortage of
hot water. Steam fogged the room, and Slade tried to relax under the
pounding spray. It felt good and relieved some of his tension.
He lathered soap over his chest, down his stomach, and lower.
The soap had a subtle fragrance that reminded him of Jaxon. Must be
a popular brand. Unfortunately the minty scent brought back all kinds
of memories that aroused and excited him until his cock rose to half-
mast.
It wouldnt be the first time he had to take care of his own needs.
Taking his stiffening erection in hand, he gave it the attention it
craved. The soap allowed his thickly veined shaft to slide smoothly in
his fist, and he soon had it slapping against his stomach and weeping
for more of the same.
Fuck, he wanted more than his own hand getting him off. Hed
never felt so hungry for another man. When hed reached sexual
maturity and realized he was gay, he bedded a series of men, one-
night flings filled with wild emotionless sex. Just as well he never
found anyone he really cared for, because when he entered law
enforcement his number-one priority became work. Still was. So why
44 Gale Stanley

did he want to see Jaxon againand againand againIt was only
sex. Right? Maybe there was something to this heat business.
Slade groaned as a flash of memory brought back an image of
Jaxon between his knees, cheeks drawn as his talented mouth sucked
Slade to completion. His testicles drew up, and he cupped them,
moaning as he rolled the furred sac. Fuck. That feels good. Harder,
Jaxon. Suck me harder.
Now that was a first. He leaned back against the tiles. Muttering
to an imaginary lover? What the hell? So what, he told himself, no
one could hear him. His pretend Jaxon sucked him good, just the way
he had last night. Slade could almost feel his cock hit the back of
Jaxons throat as the man took him deeper. Thats it, Jaxon. Swallow
me.
His buttocks clenched as one hand found the crease of his ass and
fingered the entrance. He ached to have Jaxons thick length buried
inside him again, but for now hed have to settle for pleasuring
himself. His breath caught in his throat as he teased the puckered
hole. Finally a slick finger pushed past the tight muscle. His ass
clenched around it, begging for more, and a visual of a tall, dark wolf
with amber eyes almost sent him over the edge.
Flames raced up his spine, and he searched for that sweet spot
deep inside himself that Jaxon had found so easily. His hand moved
faster, and his knees went weak. Fuck! No longer able to hold off,
Slade let go. A howl came up from the depths of his chest, and he
came hard and fast. His cock exploded with the force of an erupting
volcano, spurting hot blasts of cum against the tiles, and he shook
under the warm water. The intense pleasure had rocked his body and
his mind. He leaned back against the shower wall until breathing
didnt require every ounce of strength he had left.
The evidence of his climax disappeared down the drain with the
water. Hed come three times in the last two days, a record for him in
the recent past, and he still wanted more, needed more. The water
turned cold again, but he couldnt bring himself to shut it off and get

out. He continued to stroke his cock, unwilling to give up the ecstasy
of his orgasm.
He couldnt stay in here forever. Finally, Slade shut off the water
and stepped out of the shower. He snatched a towel hanging from a
hook on the wall and dried off. Slinging the towel around his hips, he
walked into the bedroom. How could he still be hard? He sprawled
across the bed and wrapped his fingers around
The buzz of the cell phone jarred him back to reality, and Slade
made a grab for it before the second ring sounded.
Slade Wolfe?
Yeah. He sat up straight and waited to hear what came next.
My name is Mike Donovan. Can we meet today?

* * * *

Being new to the city, Slade left it to the cop to pick their meeting
place. He would know about places where it was okay for humans and
shifters to meet without raising eyebrows. Slade arrived at the Safe
Zone a little early so he could get a first look at Mike when the man
walked in.
True to its name, it was a bar on the boundary of Dogtown, a
place where humans and Weres could hang out without being
harassed. A place where they could be sure they wouldnt get knifed
in the mens room.
Inside the air was heavy with the smell of smoke and sweat. The
dingy interior was furnished with leather booths and tables that
looked like theyd been rescued from the city dump. The place was
empty and Slade had his pick of tables. He chose a corner booth under
a black-and-white print of old New York and ordered a drink. When
the door opened, he knew his contact immediately. Six feet, short
dark blond hair, square jaw, blue eyes, bodybuilder physiquethe
mans whole persona screamed cop.
46 Gale Stanley

Mike spotted him, nodded, and made his way to Slades booth,
navigating the maze of tables. He slid in opposite Slade, and the two
men sized each other up.
Im Mike Donovan.
Of course you are. Slade took the proffered hand and nodded.
Slade Wolfe.

* * * *

Mike felt a momentary spark when his eyes met Slades, but it
turned to a flame of anger when he smelled cinnamon on the man.
This is the motherfucker whos been all over Jaxon. When his
superior told him an undercover agent was infiltrating Dogtown, he
didnt think the Captain meant under Jaxons covers. He reminded
himself that this agent didnt give two shits about Jaxon. He was just
doing a job. Like youre supposed to be doing, Michael. If anything he
should be pissed at Jaxon for letting this stranger seduce him.
What can I get you? A barmaid stood by the table, waiting to
take their order. Mike listened to Slade make small talk for a few
minutes until she came back with their drinks. Slade waited until she
walked away before speaking again. This was a good choice, but we
probably shouldnt meet here again.
Youre right. There are other places Mike took a swallow
from his mug of dark amber ale and studied Slade over the rim.
Cinnamon with a faint hint of wet dog. It blew his mind and his blood
pressure. Jaxon had come to Mikes bed with Slades scent all over
him. He spoke through gritted teeth. You make any progress?
Slade shrugged. I got a job in the club.
Doing what?
Stripping. The wolf grinned at him. And doing a pretty damn
good job of it, if I do say so myself. Which I dont have to, if you
judge my performance by the size of my tips.

Motherfucker. Another surge of anger ripped through Mike. He
couldnt keep the sneer off his face.
Slade gave him a funny look. You have a problem working with
a wolf?
Yeah, if the big, bad wolf is after my boyfriend. Only if hes a
cocky bastard.
Slades face creased into an irresistibly devastating grin. I prefer
to think of myself as confident.
It might be the boredom of being stuck in a squad car for eight
hours a day with the same partner, but most cops spoke to each other
candidly about their personal lives, about everything. That wouldnt
be happening hereand not just because Mike couldnt reveal his
relationship with Jaxon. Mike had mixed emotions about Slade
Wolfe. The wolf might be the second sexiest man hed ever met, Jax
being number one, but his cocky persona gave off bad vibes.
Whatever you want to call it, it comes across as arrogance in my
book.
Whatever you want to call it, its purely a fundamental belief in
my own abilities.
Okay, Ill give you that one, but you still have to make me a
believer. Mike still wasnt sure how he felt about his new partner. He
had to admit he liked a man who was comfortable in his own skin,
and Slade appeared to be a man who would know how to handle
himself if the fur started to fly.
Believe me, Im doing my job, Slade said with a smile of male
satisfaction. I got inside Castles apartment yesterday.
That hurt. Mike had never been past the boundaries of Dogtown,
let alone inside Jaxons apartment. I dont like it. Understatement of
the year.
Why? Slade frowned at him. Im just doing my job. I already
planted a bug in the living room.
And hes not suspicious?
48 Gale Stanley

No. The man was obviously attracted to me. Getting inside was a
piece of cake.
Mikes heart sank. He couldnt blame Jax for being infatuated
with Slade. The man sitting across from him was intelligent and easy
on the eyes. More than that, he was a wolf. Hell, even he was
physically attracted to the guy. He was beginning to wonder if he
wasnt the tiniest bit jealous that Jaxon had bedded Slade first. So
now what? Mike said through gritted teeth.
Werent you briefed?
I want to hear it from you. Mike said impatiently.
All right. Slade snorted, clearly annoyed. Here it is in a
nutshell. The FBI has been watching the Weres for years and
Does that include you? Mike sneered. How could he trust a man
who spied on his own people?
Slade shrugged. Probably. Were all being watched. Even you,
Mike, and we have to choose sides. I chose the right one.
You mean the one thats paying you big bucks.
Slade regarded him carefully. I thought we were on the same
side. Whats your point?
Inwardly, Mike cursed himself for letting emotion color his
words. He agreed to this so he could help Jaxon, not make things
worse. No hard feelings. I just want to know that I can trust you.
None taken. You can never be too careful in our line of work.
The Were population has been increasing steadily, and like birds of a
feather each group tends to stick with its own speciesthe feline-
shifters in one area, the wolves in another, and so on and so forth.
Relations between them and the human population have been
relatively quiet.
Mike raised his brows. Obviously this guy hadnt been in New
York all that long. Race relations had never been peaceful here.
In the last year, disturbing intelligence reports have come back
indicating that communication channels have opened up between
these diverse Were neighborhoods. These groups have always

functioned independently from each other. A storm is brewing. The
Weres are talking about banding together in a hostile takeover.
Rebellion and riot is not the answer. If they want equality and
integration, theyre going about it the wrong way. There are
politicians in Washington lobbying for their cause. They need to let
those supporters do their work.
Maybe theyre tired of waiting, Mike broke in. Maybe the Feds
are feeding you a bill of goods.
Slade frowned at Mike. The wheels turn slow, but they are
turning, and at least nobody is getting hurt. And thats why Im in
this. Its not all about money. I dont want my people hurt any more
than you want yours put in jeopardy. Castles name keeps coming up
as an insurgent, a radical supporter of revolution.
I think the term is patriot.
Slades brows rose. The government doesnt agree. If hes
allowed to keep stirring up the shifters, the Feds will send in the
military, and the Weres will be rounded up like cattle. We cant let
that happen.
Bullshit! If Jaxon was involved in subversive activities, Mike
would know about it. Would you? Maybe this is why Jaxon doesnt
want you in Dogtown. Hes says hes keeping you safe, but maybe
hes got secrets hes keeping safe. What about your secrets? He shut
off the voice of conscience in his head.
Earth to Mike.
Sorry. Mike focused on the conversation. Im listening.
So I planted the bug in his living room, and now I sit back and
listen. When I get something well pick him up.
Mikes chest went tight. He expected this, but hearing it out loud
made it real.
Fortunately, there are no problems over electronic surveillance.
In a terrorist situation, we dont need prior permission to plant
surveillance in private homes.
So did you bug the bedroom too?
50 Gale Stanley

Slade shook his head.
Whats the matter? Couldnt get inside the bedroom?
Oh, I got inside all right. So did he. In this case, fucking the man
was not a hardship.
Fucking wolves. They were all hound dogs. And what are you?
Judging by the boner trying to fight its way out of his jeans, Mikes
testosterone levels must be off the charts. He bit his tongue to stop the
hormone rollercoaster. If he couldnt control his libido hed fuck up
the assignment and his relationship.
So for now things are status quo until the bug brings in
something concrete. If not well go to plan B.
Which is?
Well talk about it when we need to. How can I contact you if I
need you?
Mike had a prepaid disposable phone ready for Slade. He really
hoped this would be over quickly. The sooner Slade Wolfe got out of
New York, the better.


Chapter Five

Slade did a lot of walking when he left the Safe Zone. Walking
always calmed him down and helped him think. Mostly he thought
about Mike Donovan. Something about the cop was off. Slade didnt
trust him. Apparently the feeling was mutual. All through their
meeting Donovan acted sullen and angry. Slade kept expecting him to
snap any minute.
This was bullshit. Slade usually worked alone, and thats the way
he liked it. He didnt need a sullen cop on his ass. Donovan had been
forced on him. According to his superiors, he needed a contact that
was familiar with the area, and who better than a member of the
NYPD, a man who could call in the calvary if needed. More likely
they didnt trust a wolf to bring in another wolf, and they wanted a
human to keep an eye on Slade. Whatever the reason, Donovan
wasnt going away. They were stuck like glue.
If he had to have a partner, he wanted a man whod be willing to
risk his life for him. He didnt see Donovan sticking his neck out for a
wolf. Danger usually created a bond between men and helped them to
overcome differences. When an agent put on the cloak of law
enforcement he wasnt human or Were. All agents were created equal,
but it appeared Donovan didnt agree.
In that respect, he was like most humans. They all had
preconceived notions about Weres. All shifters were dishonest, lazy,
drunked-out animals who liked to fight and fuck. The men in
Dogtown were a rowdy bunch, but they didnt fit the stereotypes that
were being thrown around by the media and his own employer, the
United States government.
52 Gale Stanley

Donovan lived here in New York where there was a big shifter
population. He must deal with wolves all the time. Couldnt he see
that, just like in the human world, no shifters were the same? He
should know better than to believe the hype. Maybe it was something
else. Maybe he just doesnt like me. If thats the case hell just have to
deal with it until were finished here, which hopefully wont be too
long because working with someone you dont trust is hell.
His superiors had told Slade that Donovan was a stand-up cop,
recommended highly by his captain who thought hed be good in
undercover work. Donovan would disarm a target with his all
American good looks, and then take him out when he least expected
it. That might be true, but hes not a good fit for me. Slade would put
his life on the line for Donovan, but he didnt trust Donovan to do the
same, and that would color his actions in future situations.
Slade stopped in his tracks. Am I the target? It wouldnt be the
first time the FBI took out one of their own. Hed seen it happen. The
unlucky shifter had been a double agentor so they said when Slade
replaced him. The Were agent had been spying on a group of wolf-
shifters who were operating a drug cartel in California, but in fact, he
was a member of the target organization himself. A human friend on
the LAPD told Slade the agent had been framed, that drugs had been
planted in his home, and not by the cartel. A SWAT team had been
called in to pick the agent up, and hed been shot trying to get away.
Murder? Hed never know for sure, but he didnt plan on suffering
the same fate. Now, he had Donovan in his crosshairs as well as
Castle. Until Slade knew Donovans real motives, hed be walking on
eggshells around the man.
Slade navigated beer cans, hypodermics, and fast-food containers
as he walked around the neighborhood. He looked for trouble, but he
didnt find it. Dogtown had a reputation for being a high-crime
district, but the more Slade saw of the neighborhood, the less
evidence he saw of violence. The area was depressed with a lot of
abandoned and boarded-up buildings, but the wolves were slowly

fixing them up. Sure, this ghetto didnt compare to the upscale area of
Los Angeles he lived in, but then few areas did. The human media
always exaggerated reality to sell papers.
He stopped at a diner for coffee, bought toiletries at a corner store,
and watched a group of kids play ball in the street. He even talked to a
few people on the pretense of asking for directions. When he brought
up the subject of crime or drugs, he heard a common refrain. People
here wanted the same things humans wantedsafe streets. For the
most part they policed themselves. The cops were slow to respond to
calls. Either they were afraid to enter the wolf ghetto, or they didnt
give a shit about protecting its people. Either one didnt bode well.

* * * *

Days in Dogtown passed slowly. Wednesday felt like it should be
Friday. Before Slade left for the Kennel Club he listened to the
surveillance tapes again. Not a damn thing on them. This kind of
operation took time, and he swore hed go stir-crazy by the end of it.
Even Jaxon was MIA, so he had no eye candy to inspire him when he
danced. There wasnt one other man in the club who appealed to him
on the same level.
For the past two nights Jaxon had been conspicuous in his
absence. Maybe he was on vacation. Maybe he was trying to avoid
Slade. Somehow hed given him the slip. Slade couldnt even tail
him. Jaxon had taken his car, and driving didnt leave a trackable
scent. It annoyed the hell out of him.
Slade threw on old jeans and a sweatshirt for the walk to the club
and managed to arrive just before he was due to go on. He looked for
Jaxon, but once again the man was nowhere to be seen. According to
Quinn, the clubs owner had ducked out early in the day and told him
to hold down the fort. Where the fuck was he going? Probably to meet
the others in his terrorist organization. While Slade was shaking his
ass, Jaxon was plotting to overthrow the government.
54 Gale Stanley

Slade wished he could duck out as well. In spite of Jaxons
alleged crimes, Slade still wanted him. He danced for Jaxon. Without
him in the audience, Slade had no desire to strip. He heard the music
start, and he made his way to the stage entrance, four steps leading up
to a curtained doorway. Just in time too. The announcers tinny voice
came over the mike.
All right, boys, heres the man youve all been waiting for. Give
Slade a hand.
This is it. Slade stepped out to wild applause and wolf whistles,
his heart pounding in time to the music. The crowd appeared larger
every night. Hope Castle appreciates all the money Im bringing in.
Slade ignored the cheering men, putting everyone out of his head
except his boss, pretending he was dancing only for him. Moving
slowly and sensuously, he walked to center stage and scanned the
room, filled with disappointment when he didnt spot Jaxon.
The crowd showed their own disappointment at Slades slow start,
and he picked up the pace, moving along the front of the stage and
playing with the buttons on his shirt. Strutting his stuff, he tried to
keep out of reach of the men who were pressing forward in an attempt
to yank him off the platform.
Slade removed his shirt, tossed it, and danced from one side of the
stage to the other, still scanning the room. Finally he had to admit
Jaxon wasnt going to show, and he cut a few minutes from his
performance. Dressing in record speed, he hightailed it out of the club
before any of the men could speak to him. Slade went straight to his
apartment, hoping to hear something on the tape that would tell him
where Jaxon had gone. The recording device hadnt caught a thing
other than a game show on the TV. Next he checked the phone tap.
Nada. Either Jaxon was super careful or he led a very dull life. Maybe
Donovan had something. Slade pulled out the cell phone the cop had
given him. He wasnt answering his phone. Slade slammed it down on
the dresser, and then picked up his own cell to check his messages.

Only one. He listened to his superior officers voice with a rising
sense of dread.
Richard Graham, the FBI officer responsible for DSA, was also
responsible for putting him and Donovan together. Graham wanted to
know why Slade hadnt called in since he met with Mike Donovan.
He expected a call immediately, and he ended by saying if Slade
thought he couldnt make the case, it might be time to implement Plan
B.
56 Gale Stanley

Chapter Six

Plan B, backup plan, meant one thingif you have nothing on
your suspect, frame him. And if a wolf was accused of terrorism, hed
get the death penalty.
Forget civil rights. Forget the Constitution.
The Feds would go to any lengths to protect their reputation. If
they said someone was guilty, then they were guilty. End of story.
Since Grahams call last night, Slades stress level had reached
epic proportions. He had extensive training in a number of areas such
as surveillance, firearm training, explosives, hand-to-hand and knife
combat, and military strategy and tactics. He could function as an FBI
assassin easily. Hed killed men in combat situations without batting
an eye, but they had posed a threat to national security.
He did not want to take down an innocent man. Grahams
directive was completely off base. For one thing, it was too soon. He
hadnt been here long enough to get his evidence. Why were the Feds
in such a big hurry to get Castle? Slade could not believe Jaxon
presented that big a threat, and he had no intention of getting him
arrested until he knew his intended target was really a threat to
national security. Maybe if hed been doing his job, hed know
already.
Where was Jaxon going? He should have been tailing him around
the clock. Graham had been right about one thing. Slade had been lax,
letting his attraction for the other wolf override duty and good sense.
If he had been able to report on Jaxons whereabouts, Graham
wouldnt be on his ass about Plan B. So, okay, hed follow Castle
today and report back to Graham with something solid, buying

himself and Castle more time, maybe saving the mans life in the
bargain.
Slade walked by the club at 8:00 a.m. and saw Jaxons Toyota
parked behind the building. The one car rental agency near Dogtown
opened at nine, and Slade was waiting at the door. He leased a
nondescript Subaru and parked it in a spot where it wouldnt be
noticed but hed be able to see the Toyota if and when it pulled away.
Slade settled down in the drivers seat, determined to wait all day if
need be.
At one in the afternoon, the Toyota pulled into the street and Slade
followed a discreet distance behind. Castle headed toward Greenwich
Village, and Slade dug out his cell phone to call Quinn. The bartender
wasnt thrilled to hear that the star performer felt sick and wouldnt be
dancing that night, but he wished him well and ended with, Ill see
ya tomorrow. Slade ended the call and concentrated on the Subaru.
Slade pulled into the same parking garage as Jaxon. From there,
tailing him would not present a problem. As long as the other wolf
traveled on foot, Slade would be able to track his scent.
The quirky neighborhood, known as an artistic center, captivated
Slade. Hed missed this section on his earlier trips around the city.
Walking along the crooked cobblestone streets, Slade checked out the
brownstones, antique shops, and upscale boutiques as he followed
Jaxon to a midsize apartment building. He ducked into a shop across
the street and made note of an intercom by the entrance. Jaxon pulled
a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. Slades heart sank. It
was beginning to look like Castle might be meeting some bohemian
types who were sympathetic to shifters.
There were few high rises, which probably accounted for fewer
pedestrians out and about, but Slade couldnt take the chance of
someone confronting him while he tried to break in. He took a
shortcut through an alley to the rear of the building and looked for a
window. There were none at street level, but the backdoor looked
promising.
58 Gale Stanley

Covert agents were a unique breed. Given a challenge, they would
always do whatever it took to overcome an obstacle. Slade intended to
gain entry while creating the least damage. He tried the door first. A
man in his training class had once made a mess of forced entry only to
discover the door had been unlocked the whole time. This door was
locked.
The old technique of jimmying a door, spreading the door away
from the jamb without damaging the lock, didnt work on the stronger
doors and more formidable locks that were made today. With his
good working knowledge of various locks and a basic understanding
of how they operated, Slade wasnt concerned. Using a few simple
tools, small enough to fit in his pocket, he forced the mortise lock
open.
Slade slipped inside and found himself in a storage area with a
door that led to a first floor foyer. No elevator. It actually made his
job easier. Tracking Jaxon in a five-story walk-up would be a piece of
cake. He scanned the mailboxes to see if any name rang a bell.
Michael Donovan 404. Motherfucker!
Slade took the steps two at a time. Sure enough, Jaxons scent led
him straight to 404. Slade waited outside Mikes apartment long
enough to know this was a private party for two. No rebel insurgents,
human or otherwise, showed up. He pressed his ear against the closed
door and was certain he heard sounds of lovemaking. The scent of
aroused wolf seeped around the jamb and excited his own need to
mate. He wanted to howl. His wolf wanted to bust through the door.
Down, boy. When had he gotten so proprietary about Jaxon Castle?
Hed do better to concentrate on business and figure out what the hell
his target was doing in his partners apartment. Cross that out. He
knew what they were doing. But why? Were Jax and Mike partners?
Or was Mike playing the same get close to the target game as Slade?
If he is, he damn well should have told me. Much as he wanted to,
Slade couldnt go charging in there until he had all the facts. He
didnt like Mikes methods, but he wouldnt screw up whatever the

hell his so-called partner was doing. At least he had Mikes address
now.
Slade walked back to the parking garage. Images of a dark-haired
wolf fucking a sexy blond flooded his mind and stiffened his dick.
Fuck. He had the night off and nowhere to go.

* * * *

Jaxon had come flying into Mikes apartment like a bat out of
hell. Mike barely had time to say hello before his lover slammed him
against the living room wall and captured his mouth with a punishing
kiss. Mike submitted to the forceful domination of his lips and
returned the passion eagerly. His thoughts fragmented as Jaxons
tongue trailed a path along the side of his cheek and down his neck
while his hands fumbled with the buttons of Mikes shirt. Jax
smoothed a hand over his chest, and Mikes muscles quivered under
the shifters touch.
Jax spent long minutes teasing Mikes nipples with fingers then
tongue. Meanwhile his nimble fingers worked on Mikes zipper,
reaching inside his slacks to free his cock. Mike groaned, kicked off
his shoes, and helped Jax yank his pants and boxers over his hips.
Then suddenly, Jax was on his knees and licking a path up the
side of his hardening erection. Mikes head fell back against the wall,
drops of precum beaded at the tip of his cock. Jaxons tongue
searched the slit then swirled around the head.
Jaxons tight grip on his hips kept Mike pinned to the wall and
unable to thrust deeper into his lovers mouth. Mike groaned out his
frustration, but then Jax swallowed his length and he felt his prick hit
the back of Jaxs throat. Hot lips slid back up his cock, teeth lightly
scraping his sensitive flesh. Jax released Mikes hips giving him free
rein, and Mike started to fuck Jaxons mouth in earnest. When Jax
pressed a finger to his ass and pushed inside, Mike slammed his head
back against the wall and shouted through an embarrassingly quick
60 Gale Stanley

orgasm, shuddering as Jax swallowed and licked away any traces of
his climax.
Mike slid down the wall to join his lover on the floor, who kissed
him senseless. When Jax finally let him go, he took a moment to catch
his breath. Are you trying to kill me?
What a way to go, huh? Jax grinned at him. Wanna shower,
eat?
Eat then shower.
Jax stood and reached out a hand to pull Mike to his feet.
Hours later, they lay in bed, Jax sprawled on his stomach, Mike
lost in thought. Jax seemed a little more relaxed now, not edgy and
wired like he had been for the last week. Jax wouldnt talk about it,
but Mike had a few ideas about what was on his mind. Today had
been all about the physical, and it seemed to relieve some of Jaxs
tension, but it left Mike more anxious than ever. Every time he closed
his eyes while Jax was sucking his cock, he imagined him doing the
same thing to Slade. The thought of watching the two wolves only
heightened his own arousal. The image of Slades naked body
between him and Jax took root in his mind and made Mike harder
than hed ever been in his life. If only he and Jax could talk about it.
But that would mean coming clean about everything. He would have
to confess that hed been spying on his lover. Jax would accept a
threesome, but hed never accept a human spy in his bed. Mike felt
like they had lost something important between them
communication.
Relationships ended all the time and for a variety of reasons
incompatibility, boredom, a new piece of ass that catches the eye, and
most of the time the breakup wasnt mutual. But in Mikes experience
hed always been the one to initiate the split. Heartbreak was a way of
lifefor other guys. But being with Jaxon put a whole new spin on
things. He was crazy about the man, and his biggest fear was that Jax
would break it off.

When Mike met Slade that fear had overwhelmed him. Not only
was Slade extremely good looking, he was a wolf, one of Jaxons
species. Hed been in Jaxons club, his home, and his bed. Places
Mike could only dream about. It hurt.
Mike had so little of Jaxons time that thinking about his lover
seeing Slade every day fueled his inner demons. He tried to hide his
anger from Jax, but couldnt always do it. Then suddenly everything
changed. Jaxon started spending more and more time at Mikes
apartment. Mike suspected he was enjoying more of Jaxons company
because his lover felt guilty about deceiving him, but Mike refused to
look a gift horse in the mouth. He didnt care why Jaxon was here,
only that they were together. Besides, he had his own secrets he kept
from Jax.
And Jax could hardly be blamed for being taken in by a deceiving
undercover agent who just happened to be a sexy fuck and would use
his body to get what he wanted. Mike could imagine him parading his
bare ass in front of a bunch of salivating dogs. Hell, Mike knew who
and what Slade really was, and yet he himself, felt physically attracted
to the man. Yeah, he felt some lust for Slade. Much as he hated to
admit it to himself, Slade had wormed his way into Mikes head, and
he wouldnt leave. Unfortunately, a man couldnt always choose who
or what attracted him. Life would be much simpler if he could, but a
guy never knew what was going to catch his fancy. Mostly, it just was
what it was. The first time he saw Jax, he wanted to bed him. Real
love came as he got to know the real person.
On the outside, Slade just reminded him too much of Jax. Tall,
dark, and walking a fine line between handsome and rough. There
was just something about himMaybe Mike was addicted to wolves.
Whatever, he felt guilty as hell over itand over his part in the
investigation. He tried to brush it aside by telling himself that hed
taken the assignment for one reasonto help Jaxon.
Mike looked over at Jax. His eyes were closed, dark lashes fanned
out over his cheeks. All this time together and Mike had never noticed
62 Gale Stanley

just how long Jaxons lashes were. He breathed in his lovers familiar,
musky scent, and thought about how devastated he would be if Jax
walked out on him. And walk he would if he found out Mike had
withheld information about the investigation. No question he would
split.
He wished he could tell him what was going on, but he feared an
enraged Jaxon might do something that would get him into even
bigger trouble. He was already drinking way too much, a recipe for
disaster if he ever saw one. Mike felt guilty about the drinking as
well. Their relationship was stressful for both of them. If he wasnt on
the force and a health nut besides, hed be drinking right along with
his lover. No, the best thing he could do for now was to play this close
to the vest.
Mike felt Jaxons hand on his genitals, and his cock stirred with
interest. Up, up, and away! Thats all it took to get him excited, just a
touch from his lover and bingo, instant hard-on. Jaxon continued to
stroke him until he let out a soft moan and rolled closer. His erection
throbbed in Jaxons hand as his lovers fingers played over the
sensitive skin, his thumb circling the tip and spreading pre-cum over
the shaft.
Mike was hot, and in Jaxons hands, well on his way to melting
clear through the mattress. Suddenly Jax hauled him in for a deep,
demanding kiss and ground his rising erection against Mikes. Feel
what you do to me, he whispered in Mikes ear. Another fierce kiss
rendered Mike speechless. Mike had never seen Jax so hungry for
him, so needy, like he was trying to exorcise his demons through his
cock. This new Jax scared Mike a little, but he also drove Mike to
heights they hadnt reached before. Sliding his hands around Jaxons
body, he gripped his ass and rocked his hips against his lovers.
Want to fuck you, Jax groaned, and his fingers dug into Mikes
arms hard enough to leave prints.
Yes! The words sent hot blood pulsing straight to Mikes dick.
Fuck, yes, he hissed and rolled to his back, pulling Jax with him.

Jax leaned over and pressed two long fingers slick with pre-cum
into his ass. At first the penetration burned and had Mike clenching
his teeth. But the pain soon turned to pleasure, and Mikes muscles
contracted around the intrusion. Moaning, he pushed back against
Jaxons hand, wanting more.
Jaxons fingers left him as quickly as theyd entered him, and
Mike groaned with frustration until Jaxon guided his cock to Mikes
hole. The naked lust in Jaxons eyes kicked Mikes desire out of
control.
Beg me, baby. I love to hear you panting and moaning for me.
Jaxons breath came in quick, shallow gasps.
Give it to me, Jax. Mikes heart pounded an erratic rhythm,
sending hot blood pulsing through his veins. For Gods sake. Fuck
me. Mike drew in breath as if he were drowning and gasped in sweet
agony when Jax finally buried his length inside him in one hard
thrust.
Mike urged him on, and Jax started moving in hard, hot thrusts
that drove Mike wild.
Yes, just like that
Jax leaned over and planted a rough, passionate kiss on his mouth
then worked him hard. His lovers dick felt hot as a blowtorch, taking
Mike higher and higher with each forceful thrust. Beads of sweat
covered Jaxons brow and the drops fell to Mikes stomach,
practically sizzling on his heated flesh. Mike held on for the ride.
Unintelligible sounds came from the back of Mikes throat as his
orgasm boiled up, and his body told him it couldnt hold back his
release much longer. His need to come so great, it consumed him.
Jax wrapped his hand around Mikes dick and tugged. Then
cupped his balls and squeezed. Thats all it took.
Fuck! Mikes orgasm was explosive.
One more hard thrust and Jax came, releasing his seed and
collapsing on Mikes body.
64 Gale Stanley

All over. Except Jax was still embedded between Mikes legs, and
thats exactly where Mike wanted him, for as long as possible, for
always. Mike licked his lips, swollen from Jaxons kisses. Their
bodies, slippery with sweat and semen, were tightly bonded. He felt
as if Jax owned him, body and soul. Then suddenly his lover pulled
away and sat up, leaving him with an empty feeling. Come back
here. Mike made a move to grab Jaxons arm, but he was already
leaving the bed.
Get some sleep, baby. I need a drink to relax me.
The empty spot next to Mike grew cold long before he finally
drifted off to sleep.

* * * *

Jaxon Castle had one hell of a hangover. He forced his eyes open
and the room started to spin. A headache pounded behind his eyes and
his mouth was dry as toast. The smell of vomit hung in the air. He lay
back on the bed and waited for it to stop moving. Too tired to think
straight, he tried to piece together the previous night. Where did I go,
what did I do, who did I do it with?
As if hed heard him, Mike appeared in the doorway of the
bedroom. Well, that answered one question. At least he hadnt landed
in some strangers bedor worse, Slades.
What time is it? he managed to croak.
6:00 a.m., Mike responded. Whats going on, Jax? Ive never
seen you drink this much before.
You never spent so much time with me before.
Mike had a worried look on his face. Im not joking. You cant
function like this.
Give me a break. Im fine. Jaxon sat up on his elbows and
shook his head. Big mistake. The headache came back full force, and
he flopped back on the pillows. Coffee. He croaked. I need
coffee.

Mike wrinkled his nose like he smelled something bad and
dumped a handful of vitamins on the nightstand. This is better for
you. He held out a tall glass of something that was most definitely
not coffee.
What the fuck is it?
Fruit, soy milk, water, salt, and cayenne. Take a few swallows,
then the vitamins.
Jaxon shook his head. Christ my head hurts. Just get me coffee
and put a shot of something in it.
Youve had enough to drink. Your eyes are bloodshot, and your
skin is looking mauve-gray.
Jaxon stretched his neck to get a glimpse of himself in the mirror
over the dresser. Fuck, I look bad. I admit its not my color, but I
dont think I look that bad.
Mike rolled his eyes, and the telltale vein in his temple throbbed.
He opened his mouth to speak but shut it again immediately.
Okay, okay. Im never drinking again.
Ive heard that before. Mike snorted derisively.
Why did he ever get mixed up with a health nut? Oh yeah. Maybe
it was because Mike was six foot two, two hundred pounds of solid
muscle, and loved to suck cock. Where did that come from? One
night with the wolf and his thinking was all skewed. Yeah, Mike gave
a great blow job, but they had a lot more than the sex going for them.
Jaxon loved the intimacy and caring that came with a relationship. It
was definitely worth putting up with Mikes nagging and the fact that
he was a human cop. What he couldnt understand was why Mike put
up with him. He was better off without him. Hed only fuck up
Mikes life. He was good at that. Look what hed done to his own.
Id love to stay and argue with you, but I have an early shift. You
can stay and sleep it off.
No, Im getting up. Jaxon tentatively swung his feet over the
side of the bed and sat with his head in his hands. When the nausea
stopped, he looked up at Mike. Thanks for the hangover remedy, but
66 Gale Stanley

I dont think my stomach can handle it. He stood up and looked
down at his very early morning wood. His dick was standing at
attention and telling him, Youve ignored me long enough and now
Im going to piss all over your feet. Im gonna grab a shower and
head out. Ive been neglecting the club. I cant keep dumping
everything on Quinn.
Okay, Jax. Mike leaned over to kiss him. Will I see you
tonight?
Ill call you later.
Lock up when you leave.
Will do.
Jaxon combed his hair with his fingers. Binge drinking wasnt his
thing. He never drank at the clubwell, not until Slade showed up.
Ever since the dancer came into his life, hed been off-balance and
feeling guilty as shit. He should just fire the guy. Then maybe he
could go back to his club with no worries. Right now he knew the
minute he laid eyes on Slade again hed want to drag him off to bed
and fuck him senseless.
For the life of him, he couldnt figure out why. Well, yeah, he did
know why. Slade was a sexy fucker and lupine genetics had brought
his wolf out of hibernation and set off a magnetic attraction between
them that could not be denied. Hed hoped doing time in the sack
would have been enough to scratch his itch. Instead, it made him want
the other wolf more.
The first six months with Mike it was all butterflies and nonstop
fucking as soon as they saw each other. Pretty much the way he felt
now when he saw Slade. But he still loved Mike, and he was as
territorial and monogamous as any other wolf. Human or not, he saw
himself with Mike for the rest of his life and vice versa. So what was
the problem? Too much predictability? Too little spontaneity? What?
Something was missing. If only he could bring Mike to the club
They never saw each other enough. He thought spending this extra
time together would fix things, and it didsort of. But he still wanted

Slade, wanted to be at the club watching the mans sexy ass shake on
the dance floor, knowing he would be inside it later that night. Hed
gone over this again and again. Finally he had to admit this had
nothing to do with Mike. Fate had worked its magic and brought him
the mate he was meant to have. Suddenly the fog lifted and the light
bulb went on.
Why hadnt he seen it before? Humans were a repressed society
when it came to sex. Jax wasnt human, but he had a human lover and
he was putting constraints on his behavior that werent natural for
him. His kind believed in monogamous relationships too, but nobody
ever said the bond couldnt include more than two people. Ruling out
sex with a third man was unrealisticfor him. He wanted to bring
Slade into their bed without fear of destroying what he had with Mike,
but deep down he knew Mike would never go for it.
He heard the front door slam shut as Mike left for work, and he
got up to use the bathroom. He took care of business and stepped into
the shower stall. The first shock of cold water sobered him up. Some
people questioned the therapeutic value of a cold shower, but it
worked for him. Alternating cold and then hot and then cold again
was the key. A few minutes of shivering under the icy spray and he
turned up the heat, adjusting the water until billowing clouds of steam
filled the bathroom. The water pounding on his shoulders and back
eased his tense muscles, but he felt incredibly depressed. At least now
he knew why. He wanted something he could never havea triad.

68 Gale Stanley

Chapter Seven

As a result of his new assignment, Mike now reported directly to 1
Police Plaza, the NYPD Police Headquarters. His new superior,
Richard Graham, was an FBI officer who had been in place for the
past year in an advisory capacity. Due to the rising unrest in the Were
communities, Grahams duties had steadily grown, and hed been
made director of the DSA, Division of Shifter Affairs.
Now, Graham informed Mike that the FBI was planning to
increase the scope of the DSA. He gave Mike the standard lecture.
You know why Im here, Mike. My position was initially created to
improve information sharing and cooperation between the various
groups of the FBI, the CIA, and the NYPD. Federal affiliations with
state and local law enforcement organizations were found to be
extremely helpful in dealing with terrorism.
Graham stopped to pour a glass of water from the pitcher on his
desk. He offered a glass to Mike.
No, thank you, sir.
Graham took a swallow and continued. The Department of
Shifter Affairs was originally designed to prevent acts of Were
terrorism before they occur. The DSA functioned in a watchdog
capacity only. In these troubled times, in order to provide humans
with the best protection against threats, its essential for us to be both
reactive and proactive. Our objectives are identification, investigation,
and now apprehension and prosecution. To that end we need a larger
and more permanent team. Im now in the process of selecting and
training other NYPD officers to join us as undercover operatives,
ready to infiltrate and integrate Were neighborhoods when the time is

right. Rest assured, Weres will not be targeted in a discriminatory
manner. Any actions taken will be strictly preventative at first, but the
team will be trained to fight the sinister menace posed by animal
shifters. The scope of cooperation
Grahams voice settled into a buzzing drone. Mike found his mind
drifting. Graham liked to talk. He could go on and on and on about
the valuable work of the FBI.
Mike knew most of this already, and hed expected that he
wouldnt be the only cop recruited for this special duty. Of course the
Weres would not be happy about the increased security. Once this
information got out, and it would get out eventually, relations
between the Were community and the humans would only get worse.
They already felt their rights were being violated. Mike tended to
agree with them and he feared this would be seen as an aggressive
move. Damn, there were no rules when it came to shifters
Wolfe is slated for termination. Hes been derelict in his duty
and disobeying my orders to collect evidence on the target, Jaxon
Castle, a known Were rebel. Slade hasnt reported in, and Im afraid
hes gone rogue.
Whoa. Hearing Jaxons name in the same little speech with the
word termination made Mike sit up and pay attention. The blood
drained from his face. He tried to speak and couldnt, tried to breathe
and couldnt. II, uh, dont understand, he stammered. Im still
working this case.
Not anymore. Your objectives have changed. As Wolfes
superior I have it on good authority that hes been collaborating with
Castle and has taken himself off the radar. He may have been
operating as a double agent all this time.
Good authority, my ass. The FBI had no problem spying on its
own, especially when the agent was a Were. Of course they were
watching their man. Wolfe himself knew it. So what could they have
they discovered? That hed bedded Jaxon. So what? Surely the Feds
70 Gale Stanley

expected their agent would use any available method to get close to
his target. How did that make Wolfe a double agent?
Unless they heard something incriminating between the two
wolvesNo. Jax might have been swayed by a pretty face, but Mike
knew in his heart he was no terrorist. Organizing anything that might
kill others, even human others, was not in Jaxons character. Who
would know better than me, his human boyfriend? But of course he
couldnt tell any of this to Richard Graham. First off, his superior
would want to know why Mike hadnt disclosed his relationship
sooner. Before he knew what hit him, Graham would accuse him of
being a double agent, and hed be on trial for treason.
Your orders come straight from the executive office. Slade
Wolfe is to be terminated. Youll leave evidence linking Jaxon Castle
to his death. When its done, youll call me and Ill send in a SWAT
team to pick up Castle. His motive will be revenge. Castle discovered
Wolfe was a double agent and couldnt be trusted. He became
enraged. A fight ensued, and he killed Wolfe. End of story. We get
two birds with one stone.
How did this operation spiral so out of control and turn into a
cluster fuck of major proportions? And how was he going to handle
it? Damn, he had no choice now. He had to go to Jaxon. Between the
two of them they might be able to fix this and come out smelling like
roses. If the Feds were calling Wolfe a double agent, killing him
could work to their advantage. Mike had a reporter friend who could
be convinced to help. The man could put him and Jaxon on the front
page. Mike Donovan and Jaxon Castle take down Slade Wolfe, a
dangerous double agent, a man working against the humans as well as
the Weres. It could work
No. It couldnt. Jax would never go for it. Slade is one of his kind.
And in all probability, Slade has done nothing wrongexcept fuck
Jax and I cant arrest him for that.
You were initially chosen for this assignment because we saw a
friendship develop between you and Castle. I appreciate the lengths

youve gone to in order to get closer to the man. It couldnt have been
easy for you. Unfortunately, it wasnt close enough. If you had been
able to get into Dogtown, we wouldnt have needed Wolfes
involvement. But thats water under the bridgeAfter the successful
completion of your mission, youll be promoted to team leader with a
significant pay raise and the usual benefits. Understood?
Yes, sir. Oh, he understood all right, but the scenario wouldnt
play out the way Graham and his cronies expected it to.

* * * *

Slade paced his apartment. It wasnt all that big, and his pent-up
anger had him ready to punch the walls down. He needed to confront
Mikelike nowbut when he tried to call, he got voice mail. Was he
still fucking with Jaxon?
This is bad. Very bad. He still hadnt called Graham back. The
FBI waits for no manor wolf. At this very minute Graham could be
making plans to take Slade off the case in the quickest and easiest
way possible. He had no delusions that he was indispensable to the
Feds. There were any number of wolves, both good guys and bad,
who would jump at the chance for money and immunity.
The sudden buzzing of the cell phone Mike had given him made
Slade jump and he grabbed it eagerly. Wolfe here.
For a moment there was complete silence on the other end of the
line, then Mike said, We need to talk right now.
Damn right we do. Where?
Mike mumbled something about the Andrew Green memorial
bench in Central Park and broke the connection without waiting for a
reply.
Slade stared at the receiver for a moment in disbelief then
slammed it down. Whats with all the cloak and dagger stuff? He
thought Mike gave him an untraceable cell. And who the hell is this
Green fellow? Slade picked up his New York Guide Book from the
72 Gale Stanley

stack of papers on the coffee table. Andrew Hassell Green was a city
planner who was responsible for the consolidation of the five New
York City boroughs. A memorial bench was placed in Central Park to
honor him. The guide book had a map of Central Park. Slade found
the location of the monument and committed it to memory. Then he
put both phones in his pocket, grabbed his car keys, and left the
building.
He felt the need to hurry, and he dived into the car and leaned
forward to insert the key in the ignition. The bench was located at the
site of Fort Fish, at East 106th Street, and Slade drove until he found a
parking garage near that section of the park.
Thank God for the guide book because the memorial would have
been impossible to find. Considering the mans contributions, Slade
figured the memorial would have been given a better home than a
lonely knoll. At last it came into view, and Slade saw Mike already
sitting on the stone bench waiting for him. He tried to form his
scattered thoughts into a coherent dialogue as he sat beside him. But
Mike started talking before he could get his mouth open.
I think were being used.
Oh, fuck. Being who I am, it was first thing I thought of, but I
convinced myself our superiors were on the up and up. Whats going
on?
Mikes square jaw tensed visibly. Were supposed to be
gathering evidence on alleged insurgents. He stopped, seemed to be
thinking over his next words. I saw Graham this morning, and he
ordered me to take a proactive stance in this operation. No more
watching and waiting for evidence to turn up. He wants to bring
things to a head.
Not surprising, but why didnt I get the memo? When I took this
assignment Graham insinuated hed look the other way if I had to
manufacture evidence. Is that what youre talking about?
Mike cleared his throat nervously. Not exactly. He wants you
terminated, Slade. Dereliction of duties. He says youve gone rogue.

Slade froze. He felt like Mike had dropped a bridge on him.
Keenly aware of the peril surrounding him and Grahams displeasure
in his performance, hed known he was in the doghouse, but to be
accused of going rogue
Slade? Mike said softly. Youre his target now.
Slade knew exactly what he was up against. Hed seen other
agents in the directors crosshairs. Then suddenly theyd be gone,
supposedly retired to some south sea island. A cemetery more likely.
How is this supposed to go down?
Im supposed to get you and Jaxon out of Dogtown. Graham
knows hed been to my apartment
Yeah, so do I. Slade swore under his breath.
Whats that?
I followed Jaxon to your place. Just trying not to be derelict in
my duties, Slade said sarcastically. You should have told me you
were playing him.
Mike raised his chin, a defiant gleam in his eyes. Were not
playing.
The words hit Slade like bullets. Youre a couple?
We met accidently and became friends then lovers. Its why
Graham recruited me in the first place. I didnt want the assignment,
but the more I thought about it, it seemed like a good idea. I figured I
could help Jax more if I was working inside the DSA.
And the hits keep coming. And Jax knows all this?
No. He has a temper. I was afraid if he knew about the
investigation hed do something stupid and get in real trouble.
Theres no way you can keep him out of it now.
I know. In hindsight, I wish I had been honest with him. Hes not
going to be happy.
Neither am I. I wish you had told me sooner.
I wasnt sure I could trust you.
And now you do?
74 Gale Stanley

Mike shrugged. I have no choice. I want to keep Jax safe, and I
need your help.
Slade laughed bitterly. So if it wasnt for Jax, youd kill me
without blinking an eye?
Youre fucking my boyfriend. Give me one reason why I
shouldnt kill you.
You got it all wrong. Hes fucking me.
Mike was on him in an instant. You bastard! He threw a fast
roundhouse that connected with Slades jaw.
The thrill of the fight and repressed sexual tension loosened the
tight control he held over his beast. Slades muscles started ripping
under his skin. His face twisted, and his gums ached as his teeth
lengthened.
Mikes expression changed from anger to shock to fear in a matter
of seconds.
Frightened prey turned Slades killer instinct on like nothing
elseexcept jealousy. This human was a rival for his mate. Slades
wolf wanted his blood. Bones snapped. His body contorted. The wolf
dropped to all fours and cornered Mike against the bench. Baring
long, sharp fangs, he snarled.
The blood drained from Mikes face, and he put his arms up to
protect his eyes. Slade. For Gods sake dont do this.
Whose God? Not mine. Slades wolf had been restrained for far
too long. The predator was out, and the prey was crying like a baby.
He would have preferred a chase, but hed settle for a quick kill.
Please. This will make things worse for all Weres. We can work
it out. Mike sank to his knees until he was eye to eye with Slade. He
crossed himself. Theyll frame Jaxon for this. You know it. Together
we can help him.
Jaxon. Slades wolf stilled. He forced his brain to work. His mate
would be captured, caged, killedHe could stop all that. Fur
retreated, and the animal body shrunk into itself. Dazed, Slade shook

his head. He was on all fours, his clothes hanging from his body in
shreds.
He looked up at Mike as if just awakening from a deep sleep.
Mike let out a deep breath and raked a hand through his sweat-soaked
hair. Slade stood on two feet and did what he could to fix his tattered
shirt. Finally he took it off. Did anyone see us?
Mike shook his head. No. Hardly anyone comes to this area.
Thats why I picked it. He grabbed his crotch. I think I peed
myself.
Slades gaze went below the belt. You wouldnt be the first. His
blood lust had disappeared and left him empty of spirit. Didnt you
ever see Jaxon shift?
No. I asked, but he didnt want me to see him like that.
He was right. Im sorry. When you hit me I lost control. It should
never have happened.
I shouldnt have hit you.
I deserved it. You and Jax are a couple. Im the interloper here,
Slade said gruffly. I just want you to know I only moved in on him
because of the assignment. It meant nothing.
Mike looked back at him with a mixture of relief and skepticism.
Still want to kill me?
I never did. You just pissed me off.
Well, thats a relief. Just to assure you, I had no intention of
killing Jaxon, not unless he was involved in terrorist activities, and I
dont believe he is.
Just to assure you, hes not. I know him too well to believe that
kind of crap. He stays out of politics, but if he did get involved hed
be all about peaceful integration.
So. What now? Any ideas?
Maybe. I think we need to go public.
Slades jaw dropped. Are you fucking kidding me?
76 Gale Stanley

Its the only way. The Feds are trying to swing public opinion
against the Weres. We need to swing it back. Believe it or not, there
are a lot of human sympathizers out there.
And how do we get them to hear our side?
I know a man on the Hoboken Bulletin. Its a local newspaper
from Hoboken, New Jersey
A local rag wont help us.
Just hear me out. It covers local, regional and national news, but
bulletinreport.com can serve the world. Our story will be picked up all
by the major news portals. Well be on the front page of Yahoo!
News, Google News, as well as nytimes.com, USA.com, and a host of
others. Mikes face grew animated as he got more excited. Think
about the bloggers. Well go viral.
What about negative publicity?
Sure, there will be some, but the point is well be untouchable.
The Feds wont make a move on us while were the center of
attention.
And what happens when were not big news anymore?
Believe me, this story isnt going away any time soon. It will
inflame your people and their supporters. Help your cause.
And maybe start a war.
Change always comes with collateral damage. Well try to keep
it to a minimum.
And youre sure your friend will go along with this?
Yes. He doesnt know about me and Jax, but he hates the
government and the way they treat the shifters. Besides, his career is
assured with this. He could win a Pulitzer.
Okay, Slade said with some reluctance. Well play it your way.
But we need to get together with Jax. After all, two wolf heads are
better than one. He managed a grim smile.
Mikes face fell. This is the part I dread most. He has no idea
who I really am.
Let me talk to him first.

I dont know
He can take his anger out on me.
Okay, do it. Ive seen enough wolf for a while.
Well meet tonight. Do you know a good out-of-the-way place?
The Sleep Inn. Its a motel in Hoboken. Ill be registered as Mr.
Lycan. Mike winced when Slade started laughing. Private joke. Ill
check in at midnight and wait for you to bring Jaxon. Stay safe.

78 Gale Stanley

Chapter Eight

When Jaxon finally got back to The Kennel Club, he went straight
to his office and the desk drawer that held his bottle of scotch. He
poured himself a tumbler full and took a big swallow. He felt like shit.
Too much drinking led to hangovers and heartache. Alcohol just
complicated everything else, and he couldnt think straight. Worst of
all, it did nothing to help him get Slade out of his head. If Slade
remained a fixture at the club, theyd end up fucking again. He had no
doubt about it. The man was just too damn tempting. In all the time
hed been with Mike, hed had no one else and hed forgotten how it
felt to be with another wolf. When he made love to Mike he always
held back, just a little, afraid hed hurt him physically. With Slade he
could let go and not be afraid of anything. A shifters body mended
quickly. Too bad the mind couldnt heal as fast. Stop being so
maudlin. Are you a wolf or a wimp? Its the damn booze. This
drinking has to stop. And it will stop, just as soon as I fire Slade.
A little voice of reason started a conversation in his head.
Dont look for someone else to blame, look for a solution.
Isnt that what Im doing?
No. Analyze the situation and then take the necessary action to put
things right.
But I am putting things right.
Yeah, at the expense of someones livelihood. Isnt there a better
way to handle this? And I dont mean drinking and staying away from
the club.
This is the only way I know how to get my life back to normal.

Finding the right man was next to impossible, and yet he and
Mike had found each other. Mike was honest and loyal to a fault.
Hed been nothing but good to Jax and would do anything for him.
But Jax knew damn well Mike would never accept another man in
their bed, and he refused to jeopardize what they had for the sake of a
threesome.
He heard Slades footsteps outside his office, and he took another
drink. How did the man know he was here? He must be spying on
him. Fuck. If Slade wanted repeat sex, he was barking up the wrong
tree. Jax wasnt going down that road again.
But this was as good a time as any to get the unpleasant business
of terminating Slades employment over with. Slades presence in
Dogtown had turned Jaxons life upside down, and it could not
continue. He couldnt run the man out of town, but he could get him
out of his club. Once that happened hed make sure they didnt run
into each other again.
Slade rapped on the door and Jax yelled, Come in.
Slade walked in, slamming the door behind him.
Sit
Slade pulled something out of his pocket. A cell phone? He
walked around the room with the object in his hand and a serious
expression on his face.
The man is fucking crazy. What are you doing?
Looking for bugs. Slade sat on the chair in front of Jaxons
desk. He place one foot flat on the floor, the ankle of his other leg
resting on his knee.
I dont believe this. Since when are you so paranoid? Nobody
comes in here. Jax shook his head. What happened to your face?
You look like shit.
Thanks. You should see the other guy. By the way, you dont
look so good yourself.
Jax ignored the compliment. You look like you need a drink. He
held out the bottle.
80 Gale Stanley

Slade took it. Jax pulled out another glass and slid it toward Slade,
who poured a stiff drink. The man really did look like hell. Quinn
tells me you were sick last night. Jax tried not to seem too interested.
Feeling better?
Slade knocked half of his scotch back before he answered.
Yeah.
Good. Ive been meaning to talk to you. Jax hesitated, his
tongue felt swollen and dry in his mouth, and no more words came
out. His own reluctance to finish their relationship and get Slade out
of his life tormented him.
Yeah, so whats on your mind?
Im firing you. There, its out.
Slade looked poleaxed, as if the words were the last thing he
expected to hear. Why? Is your boy back?
No. Jax made a mental note to check up on Korey. It had been
days, and the young wolf had never called him. Im doing away with
the dancing. It stirs the men up too much, and they get into trouble.
Well, I was going to quit anyway.
Now it was Jaxons turn to be surprised. Leaving town? His
heart actually twisted at the thought.
Maybe. Maybe you are.
Jax narrowed his eyes at that.
Ill cut to the chase. Slade banged his glass on the desk.
Jax kept his mouth shut. Slade had something on his mind, and
Jax wanted to hear what it was. He refilled Slades glass, slid it over
to him, and waited to hear what the man had to say.
Where did you go yesterday? Slade asked abruptly.
Thats none of your business.
Make it my business, Jax. We need to cut out the shit. This is
important.
Whats so important, you arrogant prick? Im waiting for you to
say your piece, and you keep talking riddles. As for me, I have
nothing to say to you except youre fired.

I dont mean to beat around the bush, but Im usually as closed
mouth as they come. Its not easy for me to come clean, especially
about this, but things have spiraled out of my control.
What things? What the fuck are you talking about?
Slades face went even more serious. I have a story to tell you.
Im listening.
Im not who you think I am. Slade paused, suddenly pale and at
a loss for words.
Why am I not surprised? Who are you? I want the truth.
Im an undercover agent working with the Division of Shifter
Affairs. He looked up, saw Jaxons face, and looked down again.
Division of who?
Shifters. DSA is an offshoot of the FBI. The various Were
groups have always lived in their own segregated neighborhoods. The
FBI kept an eye on things and all was relatively quietuntil recently.
Reports of civil unrest and meetings between the various Were groups
kept coming in, so the Feds started this new division.
Jaxons shock had dissipated. Now his head swam with the
implications of what this could mean. What kind of meetings?
The different groups have always functioned independently.
Now theyre banding together and talking riots. Your name came up
as being a leader in the community and a supporter of organized
rebellion. According to the FBI youre a subversive who wants to
overthrow the government.
Jax started laughing.
This isnt funny, Jaxon. Theyre going to make an example of
you. They want your head on a plate, and they picked me to deliver
it.
Jaxons eyes flashed. Get out.
Dont shoot the messenger. Im telling you all this because I
want to help you.
You can help me by leaving me the fuck alone. Im as far from
being radical as a palm tree in Antarctica.
82 Gale Stanley

Did you hear what I said? This is the FBI. If they say theres a
palm tree growing in Antarctica, nobody is going to argue the fact.
I can take care of myself.
You cant fight the whole damn government. Its a battle you
cant win.
And you care because why?
You think I like spying on my own kind? Im an outsider
working on the inside. I put my own life on the line because I think I
can help my people more this way. Slade shook his head. Cut me
some slack. Ive been agonizing over this assignment ever since I got
here. Slade stared at Jax intently. Say something.
Im being set up.
Yes. You are. And so am I. Theyre claiming I went rogue. Im a
marked man.
Why us?
My guess would be because Dogtown is a high-profile Were
ghetto in a town thats terrified of terrorists. Theres a big shifter
population living here. The Feds have no trouble manipulating reality,
and humans are already off-balance, scared, and anxious. Making an
example of a bunch of worthless shifters would be easy. It would be
all over the internet in a matter of hours, sooner.
Why are they so damn anxious to bring us down?
Were different. Humans automatically assume that anyone who
is different is dangerous. It would be great if everyone felt
comfortable in their own skin and accepting of each others
differences, but its never going to happen. There will always be a
minority group that the others can gang up on, and right now its us.
Theyre afraid their days are numbered, that before long theyll be the
minority race. Think about it. Were stronger, we heal faster
I am thinking about it. If they keep ganging up on Weres theyll
drive some of the fringe element to acts that will be dangerous and
lead to loss of lifeon both sides.

Yeah, well, I kept telling myself that as an agent of the law, I
could help to keep the scales of good versus evil weighted on the
good side. I thought I was in a position to keep things in balance, but
its a losing battle. No matter what the government says in the media,
theyre not friendly to our kind. I had to learn the hard way. You gotta
believe me, I dont want to hurt you, and I dont want any trouble.
Yeah? Well, I dont either, and it seems to me you brought the
trouble with you. If you get out of Dogtown, maybe it will disappear
with you. So get out.
Jax got up from behind his desk, intending to throw Slade out if
he had to, but Slade stood immovable in front of him, like the
mysterious monolith that appeared with the chimps in 2001: A Space
Odyssey. He reached out to shove Slade, but the other wolf grabbed
his hands and pulled him in. Its too late, Jax. Were in this together.
I have it on good authority.
Whose?
Michael Donovan.
You ignorant, self-serving, loathsome son of a bitch. Jax
growled. Why bring him into this? You dont know shit about Mike,
but youll say anything to involve me in your scheming bullshit.
Slade gripped his jaw with one hand and held his face steady so
Jaxon had to look in Slades eyes. Listen to me. Mike Donovan is
my contact here. He works for the director of DSA, just like I
Jax drove a knee into Slades groin and slammed him against the
wall.
Umph. Slade grunted. His head made a satisfying thud when it
impacted with the hard surface. He grabbed his crotch and gasped.
No fair taking a nut-shot.
White-hot anger blurred Jaxons vision. Who the hell do you
think you are? Where do you get off making up shit like that? He
pressed his muscular forearm across Slades throat and pushed.
Jax cut off his airway, and Slade didnt even try to fight back. He
started choking, and his eyes went buggy.
84 Gale Stanley

For good or bad, this man meant something to him. His wolf
pulled back. Suddenly Jax came back to his senses and pulled back.
Slade staggered and started sliding down the wall. Jax came up close
and held him up. Damn you, Slade. Why dont you fight?
Breathing heavily, he shook his head no then leaned back and
closed his eyes. The scent of his sweat mixed with arousal made
Jaxons own groin ache, but in a good way. Jax couldnt resist the
urge to touch his cheek. Slade opened his eyes cautiously as Jaxons
fingers traced his mouth. Slades lips parted and sucked at Jaxons
finger.
Slade A slow and smoky ecstasy came over him, and he
couldnt resist pressing his lips to Slades. As much as Jax wanted to
taste him, he wanted the closeness more. This is what hed been
missing so desperately. Slade moaned in encouragement, but his kiss
was soft and chaste. Jax deepened the kiss, teasing Slades lips until
he opened for him. The kiss went from sweet to something more,
something wild and hunger-driven. Slades hands on the small of his
back held him close, and they ground their bodies together as if
dancing to their own seductive tempo.
The scotch made Jaxons head spin, or maybe it was because
Slade was pressing his rigid erection against Jaxons groin while his
tongue explored Jaxons mouth. The man was an aphrodisiac. His
musky scent make Jaxons cock leak.
Slade slipped his hands inside the waistband of Jaxons jeans and
squeezed his ass as he pulled Jax closer still. Jax moaned at the
friction between them, all thoughts of the trouble they were in gone
like so much drifting smoke.
Slades hands kneaded and caressed his flesh. One long finger
circled his hole. Slades lips moved over his cheek, his jaw, his neck,
licking and sucking his sensitive skin.
Slade Jax seemed incapable of stringing two words together.
All he could manage was Slades name.

What, baby? Slade murmured. Tell me what you want.
Slades finger teased Jaxons hole. His tongue teased Jaxons ear.
Jax shuddered and ground his hips against Slades body. Slades
finger penetrated his hole, and Jaxons legs went weak. A moan
slipped past his lips.
Slade held him up. He pulled his finger out then thrust back
inside.
Youre gonna make me come, Jax muttered harshly.
Do it. Slade pushed his finger deep, searching for Jaxons
prostate. He stroked the sweet spot at the same time he sank his teeth
into the tender skin between Jaxons neck and shoulder.
Jaxons knees gave way, and he held on to Slade as he went off
like a rocket, howling out his release. Oh, fuck. That was new. Hed
never in his life come without touching his dick or someone touching
it for him. I think I need another drink now.
I think weve had more than enough to drink. Slade kissed him.
And I dont want to fight with you again.
Sorry. I shouldnt have taken my frustration out on you.
Better me than Mike.
Damn, hed almost forgotten about his mate. So now what?
Now we meet Mike and figure out how were going to get out of
this shipwreck.
Jax pulled back. Dont know if Im ready to see Mike.
Hes pretty torn up over this.
Hes been lying to me all along. Why should I believe him
now?
Whatever he did, it was because he loves you.
Jax sighed. Where?
Do you know how to get to Hoboken?
Yeah, I can get us there.
Good. Slade kissed him again. We have some time. Whatta ya
say we rest a few hours. You can kiss my booboo and make it all
better.
86 Gale Stanley

Chapter Nine

It was 1:00 a.m. in Dogtown, and inside The Kennel Club the
wolves still partied. Nobody danced on the stage, but electronic music
played and men weaved and swayed with their partners in a mating
dance. Foreplay, thats all it was. Pressing up against a sexy partner,
caressing and stroking his body, it all led to the bedroom. Sometimes
a guy couldnt wait. Sometimes he didnt want to wait. If a couple
liked to be watched, there was always somebody who would enjoy the
show.
Slade watched for a few minutes then slipped out the back door
before anyone saw him. The streets were dark and empty. Perfect.
There were day people, and there were night people. Slade was a
night personbut then most predators were. The city was quiet. All
his wolfish senses were sharper because there were fewer distractions.
He was in his element.
Slade started up Jaxons Toyota and pulled around the front of the
building to wait. Despite the mess they were in, Jax insisted on doing
his last-minute bullshit and giving Quinn orders on locking up. Slade
happened to glance up at the abandoned warehouse across the street.
His keen eyesight picked up a mans shadow in a second-story
window. A human wouldnt notice it, but few could hide from a wolf.
Hurry the fuck up, Jax. Finally, Jax walked out of the club and
Slade leaned over to open the passenger door. Get in the car, he said
through clenched teeth.
Jax leaned down and looked at him. What?
Get in the fucking car, Slade said louder. Now.

Jax got in, and Slade pulled away with a squeal of tires. He looked
at the building as he passed, but all the windows looked dark and
empty. Still, the knot in his gut didnt go away. Keep your eyes
open, Jax. Someones watching us.
Slade glanced over at Jax in the passenger seat of the Toyota. The
man looked exhausted. He wished they could just go somewhere safe
and sleep for a week or two, but that wasnt happening. It looked to
be a long night.
The glare of headlights in the rearview mirror told Slade he was
right. They were being followed. Shit. Spotting a tail wasnt difficult
when the streets were empty, and Slade knew all the tricks. He ran a
red light, and the dark sedan behind him followed. When he drove the
wrong way on a one-way street and the sedan did the same, he knew
for sure. Speeding up, he cut across sidewalks and drove through
alleys. As soon as he had a chance, he made a bootleggers turn and
took off in the opposite direction. Jax clutched the seat and hung on
for the ride.
Slade slowed down and checked the rearview mirror. It looked
clear. I think I lost him. He pulled his cell out to call Mike then
circled around and drove toward the Holland Tunnel.

* * * *

The Sleep Inn, a bare-bones motel five miles from the Holland
Tunnel, had a queen-size bed with a pink, orange, and green spread, a
recliner, a dresser, two night stands, and a small desk with a straight
back chair. Jordan Kendall turned the desk light on and shuffled aside
the stationery and takeout menus to make room for his tape recorder.
He nudged his glasses up the bridge of his nose and looked at Mike.
Mike reflected for the hundredth time on how nerdy Jordan
looked with his flattop haircut, horn-rim glasses and preppy clothes,
khaki pants, and an Oxford shirt. He hoped his friend wouldnt get
88 Gale Stanley

freaked by the big bad wolves. Sorry about the accommodations,
Mike apologized profusely.
Ive seen worse. As long as were not bothered its okay with
me.
Mike sat on the bed and checked his watch for the hundredth time.
Its still twelve thirty, Jordan told him.
Yeah, sorry.
Stop apologizing. Youre doing me a big favor. This article will
make me a household name. Just promise me I get all the exclusives
coming up.
Yeah, if we live that long. Sure. Its a promise. His head jerked
around at the sound of footsteps, then a rap on the door. Its gotta be
them. Slade had called to say they were on the way, but for a few
seconds he didnt move. He didnt know how Jax had reacted to
Slades confession, and he was afraid to find out. Cant put it off
forever. Forcing himself to get off the bed, he looked through the
peephole. Only Slade was visible, and his expression gave no clue to
Jaxons mood. Mike opened the door and Jax slipped in behind Slade.
He tried to catch Jaxons eye, but the man wouldnt look at him, so he
introduced them to Jordan and stepped back.
Jordan approached Jaxon with a smile and an outstretched hand.
The wolf ignored him.
Slade stepped between them and shook the reporters hand. Im
sure you can understand our reluctance. Weres dont normally get a
fair shake in the media.
I do understand, but Im only interested in the facts and my
article will be an unbiased account of them. Have you ever been
interviewed before?
Both Slade and Jax shook their heads.
Make yourselves comfortable. I have a lot of questions, and I
assure you Ill report exactly what you tell me without changing or
embellishing a thing.
Why? Slade asked.

Jordan gave him a blank look. I dont understand.
Youre putting your life in danger. Why are you doing this?
My grandfather was an old-school reporter. He taught me that a
good story is powerful enough to overcome adversity. This is a good
story, and Im a good journalist. Im not afraid to challenge authority.
I can help you, and your story will help me. Newspapers are in a
death spiral. Readers are migrating to the Internet, and theres a lot of
competition online. This story will have them buying my paper and
logging in to our website.
Okay. Lets get started then.
Jordan gestured toward a spiral notebook and a pen on the desk. I
take good notes, but I dont know shorthand. Id like your permission
to record this interview as well, so I can keep all the facts straight.
Slade and Jax looked at each other and nodded. Turn on your
recorder, Slade told Jordan.
Good. Anybody want coffee? Jordan pointed to a Box OJoe
from Dunkin Donuts sitting on the dresser.
Thanks. Jax walked over to fix a cup while Slade chatted with
Jordan.
Mike approached Jax with a lot of apprehension. Jax
Im not angry. He turned to face Mike. Ive done a lot of
thinking on the way over here, and I understand why you didnt tell
me. But it still hurts. I need a little time.
Ill make it up to you. He put a hand on Jaxons arm. Jax looked
down at it, and Mike pulled back. Im going to get you out of this,
get all of us out of it. His voice broke. Thats why I took the
assignment in the first
Fuck. Jax pulled Mike against him. Jaxons mouth covered
Mikes, swallowing a moan. When they broke for air, Jax shook his
head. This is crazy. The only reason youre in trouble is because of
me. You should run as far and as fast as you can.
Im not leaving you.
90 Gale Stanley

Behind them, Jordan was clearing his throat. We really should
get started.
Mike looked at Jax. Are we okay?
Were good.

* * * *

If the public doesnt know about the corruption behind closed
doors, how can we fix it? Jordan was sitting on the desk chair talking
to Slade, who was pacing the small room like a caged tiger. Tell me
about your childhood.
I just dont understand why you need all the personal stuff.
Theyd been at it for a brain-wrenching hour and a half. The others
seemed to be holding up better than him. Slade felt as empty as an
exhausted oil well. He needed to pack it in, but Jordan wouldnt let
up.
Putting a real face with the story will get readers sympathy. Isnt
that what you want? To win more supporters to your side?
Of course its what Slade wanted, but he never talked about his
roots, not to anyone. He didnt have much of a childhood. Hed grown
up in a hostile environment. A kid grew up fast when he had to take
care of himself. His education consisted of learning how to fuck
people over when he had to protect himself, and hed grown into a
distrustful loner. Strange that he ended up in law enforcement, but he
always had this need to make things better and take care of the
underdog. Somehow it all made sense.
I dont like talking about my feelings.
Jax got up off the lounge chair and came over to rub his cheek.
Why is that?
Ive always been a lone wolf. When I was a kid we were put into
an internment camp, rounded up like cattle. I buried it all a long time
ago.

Dig it up, Jordan said, his voice high with excitement. This is
exactly what we need to tell the world.
Jax had a sad look on his face. So did Mike, sitting on the bed,
propped up on two flat pillows. He didnt want them feeling sorry for
him, but if his story got them out of this jam, so be it. It was the
seventies. Weres had been migrating from overseas for years but in
small numbers, and they were scattered around the country.
When did you come here, Slade? The recorder was on, but
Jordan still wrote furiously.
I was born here. My parents came in 1970 and settled in
Wyoming He put his hands up. Dont ask me why, I have no
idea.
Jordan nodded and he went on. I was born in 1976. Thats when
the trouble started. Persecution and economics abroad got worse, and
shifters came here in greater numbers. Suddenly the Feds took notice.
Quotas were imposed, but more and more illegals still managed to get
over here. God knows why they came. They didnt fare much better
here than in their homelands. Hope springs eternal, I guess. A
sudden wave of sadness flowed through his body, and he had to stop.
Do you want to take a break? Jordan asked him.
No. Lets get this over with. If he didnt keep going, he
wouldnt get it out. The humans were scared. The politicians were
more scared. We were poor, but physically stronger and healed faster.
Those of us who were legal could vote. That was first thing they took
from us. The young people were incensed. They held protest
demonstrations around the country. There were riots and arrests. State
politicians lobbied for internment, and everyone jumped on the
bandwagon. They were forced to move into camps.
I wasnt born then, Jordan said, almost apologetically. Therere
all kinds of stories on the Internet, but the history books say the
shifters were living in districts.
Districts? Slade laughed. Thats what the Feds called them.
Abandoned military bases that were turned into prisons. Civilian
92 Gale Stanley

contractors made a fortune building camps based on designs for
military barracks. They were essentially concentration camps.
Christ. How did they get your people to move into these places?
Shifters were rounded up by marines with stun guns, the same
kind used to stun cattle in slaughterhouses before theyre processed.
These marines had been taught to never question their orders and their
commanding officers told them if anyone resisted, kill them.
Sometimes they made examples out of innocent people. Sometimes
they killed for the hell of it. Many shifters never reached the camps
alive.
This is good stuff.
Good stuff? This is my fucking life. Slade bit his tongue. Jax,
sprawled on the lounge chair, watched him intently. The other wolf
was nodding. No doubt Jax had some stories of his own. Slade took a
swallow of cold coffee and went on. We were placed in a relocation
center in a remote area far from any human population. Our camp was
surrounded by barbed wire. We lived in tar-paper-covered barracks
with inadequate plumbing and cooking facilities. We slept on cots and
ate food rations. Armed guards were posted all over to keep us in line.
Buildings were cramped and poorly equipped for family living,
so families were split up. I was a baby. My parents tried to hide me,
but eventually I was put in a building with other kids and a few
human caretakers with assault rifles. My parents died shortly after. I
found out later that my mother had been raped and sodomized by
security guards. My father had been shot when he shifted and went
after her attackers. Slade lapsed into silence. He might appear calm on
the outside, but inside his guts were in turmoil. Talking about his
family was akin to driving a knife into his heart.
I think you have enough. Jax told the reporter harshly.
No. Im okay. Slade raised a hand in a gesture of reassurance. If
telling his story helped someone else, it would make this worthwhile.
I was a kid, but there are documented instances of guards shooting
Weres who reportedly violated the rules or tried to leave. Medical

facilities were poor, and a lot of shifters died in the camps. We lost a
lot of our people.
But what about your constitutional rights? Mike asked.
Slade snorted. The constitution is for the people. Were not
people, not according to your government. The fact is we were
incarcerated for five years, for no good reason and without due
process. The military created fear in the shifters so that they hesitated
to rebel.
Jax sighed. At least my family was able to stay together. When
the new president came into office and closed down the camps we left
Texas and headed east for Pennsylvania. My parents were killed in a
house fire. It was arson. Somebody didnt like shifters. They never
caught the bastard. I was eighteen and out carousing somewhere. I
moved to New York, never forgave myself for not being there.
It wasnt your fault, Slade said. Times were bad for all of us. I
ended up in a state-run orphanage. As soon as I turned eighteen I
headed west.
No one said a word, and the silence spoke volumes. They all
stared into space, lost in their own private hells.
Slade had seen urban warfare at its worst, and he knew it wasnt
over. Not by a long shot. More conflict was coming. He hoped it
wouldnt be soon. His tension, and a desire to leave this place, had
been growing steadily as the minutes ticked by. He had a gut feeling
that something was wrong and impending doom waited just around
the corner, or on the other side of the door. Paranoia was a way of life
in his business, but through the years hed learned to trust his gut
instincts.
Right now, he tried to chalk his anxiety up to interview fatigue,
and he glanced over towards the coffee. Hed already had four cups,
black, the way he always drank it. No wonder Im wired. The coffee
had to be ice cold by now. He decided to give it a pass. He was about
to ask Jordan if they were done when his gut feeling turned into
reality. He smelled them an instant before all hell broke loose.
94 Gale Stanley

Three men with assault rifles kicked in the door. Freeze.

Chapter Ten

The intruders were dressed in solid black jumpsuits with zippered
pockets. They wore black caps and flak vests, and they carried big
guns. They stood in a silent row, three against four, each man
measuring the other.
The predator was now the prey. But the prey would not make it
easy for them. Slade shook with repressed rage and blood lust. His
wolfish eyes saw red as if he were looking through a camera lens with
a red filter. The beast clawed at his gut, wild to get out, ready to fight,
to kill. What are you waiting for? Attack! Slade put all his energy into
subduing his wolf. If he wanted to live he had to keep the animal
under control. Maybe he could buy a little time by talking. Whats
this all about?
But there was no answer, no movement at all from the enemy. The
men simply watched and waited with weapons raised. Richard
Graham appeared between two of the men, smiling, a smug look on
his aristocratic face. This is very accommodating of you gentlemen.
Getting everyone together like this makes my job so much easier. He
smoothed back his silver hair and looked at Mike. Tsk tsk. But I am
disappointed in you, Michael. I had high hopes for you once you got
all this bad business out of the way. One should never allow their
personal life to interfere with their duty. He walked over to the desk,
picked up Jordans notes, and glanced through them. Lies, all of it. I
cant allow you to print this.
The reporters expression clouded in anger. Ever hear of the First
Amendment to the US Constitution? You know the one that says we
96 Gale Stanley

can gather, publish, and distribute information and ideas without
government restriction. I want a lawyer.
You wont be needing one. Unfortunately, you and these three
domestic terrorists died while we were trying to resolve a hostage
situation. But dont worry. Youll die a hero. You were following a
lead and gave a heads-up on this location. Were very grateful.
Graham walked away and spoke to one of the armed men. I have
a prior engagement, but Im sure you men can take it from here. He
disappeared through the door.
He cant do this, Jordan spurted, his pale cheeks so suffused
with blood his face appeared nearly purple.
I think he just did, Mike responded impatiently, without turning
to look at him.
Slade said nothing, but merely looked at an equally silent Jaxon.
Understanding passed between them.
One of the men in black pointed his rifle first at Slade, then Mike,
and then Jordan. On your knees. Hands behind your heads. He
barked. You. He pointed his weapon at Jaxon. Face down on the
floor. He motioned to one of the other men. Tie him up.
So Slade, along with Mike and Jordan, was about to be executed.
And Jaxon would be arrested for their murders. His pulse elevated.
His wolf wanted out, ready to rip these guys apart. Slade saw himself
crushing the mans throat. Rage is a powerful emotion. It made him
stronger. He vowed he wouldnt die. Not tonight. Not this way, in a
seedy motel room in New Jersey.
Mike and Jordan looked terrified. Slade knew he couldnt expect
much help from them. It was really four against two. Slade smiled
inwardly. An unfair fight. These SWAT guys should have brought
more men. From the corner of his eye Slade caught Jaxons eye. He
gave the tiniest of nods.
Slades senses magnified. The slightest scent and the smallest
sound took hold and kept him alert to everything happening around

him. Adrenaline pumped through his body and his wolf sat waiting
for the battle to begin.
The big beefy human came up behind him and Slade felt a cold
gun muzzle press against the back of his head. His focus centered on
the click of the hammer. Jaxon growled. A man screamed. Slade
made his move.
Slade could shift in an instant when his wolf smelled blood. He
crouched and went for the man by the door. Two huge black paws
landed solidly on the humans chest. Slade pinned him to the floor,
enjoying the terrified look in his preys eyes. Slade bared his canines,
dripping saliva on the humans face. He wished he could make the kill
last, but there was no time. Behind him gunshots sounded. Quickly,
he sank his fangs into the mans throat and crushed his windpipe
between powerful jaws. Gurgling noises came from the mans throat
and then stopped in a few seconds. Slade watched the last breath leave
his lungs. Satisfied, he sat back, licked the blood from his muzzle, and
looked for his mates.
Jax made a magnificent wolf, massive and gray. He stood over his
prey, panting and staring back at Slade from intense amber eyes.
Mike had an assault rifle in his hands. Hed taken it from Jaxons
kill and managed to get off a few shots. The last bullet went through
the mans skull, killing him instantly. Slades wolf made a mental
note to thank Mike. He had taken down the third man and saved
Slades life.
Jordan, shaking badly, muttered, Dear God and backed into a
corner. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. The
reporter had bitten off more than he could chew for sure.
A feeling of pins and needles prickled Slades skin. His body
contorted and bones realigned. Animal and human merged. One last
low growl escaped before his muzzle shrunk, and suddenly his human
form was sitting on the floor, his clothes bloody and torn.
Slade looked at the man next to him. Half of the humans face was
gone, and the throat torn out. His wolf had done this. Bile rose in his
98 Gale Stanley

throat. For many years hed been killing with human weapons. It had
been a long time since he had used fangs and claws.
There was no way this man could be alive, but he made himself
check anyway. No breath sounds, and the pupils were blown. He was
most definitely dead. Slade moved away, not wanting to be near him.
Jax had shifted, and he was checking his victim. He looked up at
Slade and shook his head. Slade leaned back against the wall and
sighed heavily, tried to relax and allow the sensation of being alive
wash over him. It was usually a good feeling. Not tonight. The inside
of the motel room looked and smelled like a slaughterhouse. And they
werent home free. Not by a long shot.
He wanted to be back in LA. Hell, he wanted to be anywhere but
in this seedy motel room with the coppery smell permeating
everything. For years he had hoarded the money he made, stashed it
away, striving for the day he would have resources to quit DSA. He
should have done it sooner. Gotten out when he had the chance. He
wasnt sure they could escape this. There was no flying under the
radar now. They hadnt made waves, theyd made a tsunami.
Lost in his own thoughts, Slade didnt notice Jax approach until a
hand came down on his shoulder. The other shifter crouched down
next to him. Slade stared into eyes as amber as his own and just as
confused. He didnt know what to say. Thanks seemed inadequate,
but it always worked. You saved my life.
Just returning the favor. Jaxons eyes glittered with lust, and he
ran his fingers through Slades thick, black hair with a low growl of
appreciation. We make a pretty good team.
Slade felt heat slowly creep up his cheekbones. Nothing like a kill
to heighten a wolfs sex drive. If they were alone, hed throw Jax on
the bed and fuck him senseless. A dark brow rose, and one corner of
Jaxons lips lifted in a faint smile, as if he knew exactly what Slade
was thinking. Of course he did. They were the same. Him and Jax.
Enough time together and theyd be finishing each others sentences.
He pulled away with an effort. We need to get out of here.

Jax stood and gave him a hand to help him up. Youre right.
There could be others. He walked over to Mike and hugged him.
You okay?
Yeah, Ive had SWAT training. Jordans a little freaked.
Im okay, the reporter blurted out. Ive been in war zones
covering worse. But I have to admit I panicked when I saw you two
shift. That was a first for me.
Still want to do our story? Slade asked him.
Jordan nodded and tightened his mouth grimly. More than ever.
He turned off the recorder and collected his notes. Mike, you know
where the Bulletin Building is. Meet me in the back. He pulled a
small digital camera from the briefcase hed brought with him and
started taking pictures.
What are you doing? Slade asked.
Documentation. The reporter grinned and jerked his head
toward the recorder. Your boss isnt as smart as he thinks he is. The
recorder was running the whole time he was here. This is going to be
one hell of a story.
Slade felt almost detached. The whole scene was so surreal. Lets
just speed it up and get out. The story wont leave the room if another
SWAT team shows up.
Gotcha. Jordan packed camera, recorder, and notes in his bag.
Ill see you in a few.
Be safe, Mike said. He gave him a quick hug.
Ill be okay. You guys be careful. And then he was out the door.
Jaxon looked around at the carnage. Should we clean up?
Are you crazy? Slade frowned at him. You can be sure a
cleanup squad will be arriving, and believe me, we dont want to be
here to greet them.
Jax shrugged. You guys know more about the cloak-and-dagger
stuff than I do. Ill follow your lead.
Good, then lets get the fuck out of here. Slade ushered them
out, hoping the death squad hadnt destroyed the Toyota.
100 Gale Stanley

They hadnt. Mike knew the way, so he drove. Slade sat in the
back and kept an eye out for trouble. He breathed a sigh of relief
when they arrived at their destination without any.
The twelve-story Bulletin Building included first- floor storefronts
and housed commercial offices as well as the publishing facilities.
Mike drove by the recessed main entrance and parked behind Jordans
hybrid in the back. Jordan unlocked the door and punched in a
security code. He led them over to an elevator and rode up to a staff
lounge on the deserted fifth floor.
The small carpeted room was furnished with a sturdy table and
chairs, and a few fake plants. Make yourself comfortable. Jordan
threw down his bag and walked over to a kitchenette area with coffee
machine, microwave and a small fridge. Going to make coffee.
Slades stomach growled in protest. Not for me.
There should be some juice or ice tea in the fridge. Help
yourself.
Jax stood behind Slade as he rooted through the fridge. Nothing
appealed. Slade shut the door. He had no appetite.
Mike flopped on a chair. When will the staff show up?
Theres a few of us here already. We work long hours. I have the
dogwatch tonight.
Mike gave him a funny look.
Its just a name they gave to the lousiest shift. We practically
work around the clock. Jordan chewed on his nails while he waited
for the coffee to brew.
Why dont you sit down? Mike asked him. Youre making me
nervous.
Jordan poured his coffee and started toward the door. Im going
to see if the editor is in.
Mike stretched out his legs, leaned his head back and closed his
eyes. Jax sat down next to him and put a hand over his. Slade watched
them warily, wondering if hed see either man again after tonight.

Jordan returned forty-five minutes later accompanied by a very
tall, very excited man sporting a handlebar mustache.
This is Bill Butcher
Pleased to meet you. Bill shook everybodys hand. Mike
briefed me and showed me a few photos. Jesus, I cant believe this is
happening here. Im going to run a short version on the Internet so we
get the story out immediately. Once its out there, the Feds wont be
able to touch you, not without putting themselves in the crosshairs.
Well get the complete story out later.
Mike ran a nervous hand through his hair. Is there a decent hotel
around where we can hole up until we figure
No way. Bill pulled a set of keys from his pocket. I have a
cabin in upstate New York. Youll be safe there. Stay as long as you
like. He tossed the keys to Mike. Theres an old Volvo out back.
The GPS system will take you home.
Slades jaw dropped. I dont know what to say.
No need. Bill grinned at him. I should be thanking you. You
guys are gonna sell a lot of papers for me.
102 Gale Stanley

Chapter Eleven

Slade was pleasantly surprised by the cabin. Small but peaceful
and homey, it had natural wood walls and floors, a combination living
room, dining room with a wood burning stove, and a full kitchen.
Slade wasnt interested in food. He only wanted to sleep, but the loft
had only a king-size bed, and he didnt want to hijack it when the
other two men were a couple and he could just as well sleep on the
couch. He flopped down on the overstuffed sofa and looked up at
them. If you guys dont mind Im gonna sack out here for a few
hours. Im beat.
Jax eyed the couch. On that? Its not big enough.
Ill manage. You guys take the loft.
Jax and Mike looked at each other and back at him.
What? He stretched out, just to show them he was okay. His
long legs hung over the arm. Im exhausted. I could fall asleep on the
floor.
Suit yourself. Jax headed for the kitchen and Mike followed.
Slade curled up in a fetal position. Two minutes later he sat up
and stretched his legs. Another five minutes passed. Slade got up and
pulled a chair next to the couch to rest his legs on. Finally he stood
and walked over to the window. Too damn uncomfortable to fall
asleep, he stared out at the moon. Or maybe it was the images in his
head of Jax and Mike in the big bed upstairs.

* * * *


Jaxon sat at the small square table in the kitchen and watched
Mike check out the cabinets and the fridge. Of all the fucking things
to happen. He wanted to get Slade out of his life, and now they were
all stuck here together. How could he possibly get through this?
Its fully stocked. I cant believe it. Mike turned to face Jax.
Want me to warm up somewhats wrong? Mike sat down across
from him and waited.
Nothing.
I can read your face like a book, and Im not buying it.
Im just tired. Okay?
I know you slept with him.
Jax blew out a resigned breath between gritted teeth. I really dont
want to go there.
Look at me, Jax. I already apologized for not being honest with
you. I was hoping we were done keeping secrets from each other.
Youre way off base.
Am I? Stop lying to me. I heard it straight from the wolfs
mouthand before you get pissed at Slade, it was before he knew we
were together. I already knew anyway. I smelled him on you. That
damn cinnamon shit he wears.
Okay, I admit it. Happy now? You and I werent seeing much of
each other, and then he came along and one thing led to another. It
just happened. It didnt mean anything.
Dont bullshit me. It meant something. Youve been acting
strange for days. All of a sudden you were practically living at my
place. Were you feeling guilty or trying to get him out of your head?
IuhLook, we hooked up. Its over, end of story.
Mike was looking over his shoulder, and he turned and caught
Slade staring at them.
Sorry, I couldnt help overhearing. Hes right, Mike. Slade
remarked matter-of-factly. I seduced him because I had a job to do.
He was needy and fell for the bait. It didnt mean a thing.
104 Gale Stanley

Needy! Jax leapt to his feet knocking the chair over backwards.
He didnt know what bothered him morebeing called needy or
hearing that he meant nothing to the other shifter.
It is what it is.
Despite Slades closed expression, Jax sensed the mans
vulnerability. He wanted to dig deeper and find out what was really
going on in Slades head. Hed lied when he told Mike that Slade
meant nothing to him. Maybe Slade was lying too. But this wasnt the
kind of conversation he could have in front of Mike.
If you and Mike are uncomfortable with me here, Ill leave. I can
go feral and live in the woods. They wont find me.
No way! Jax blurted out. Some asshole hunter will take a shot
at you and take you out quicker than the FBI. Youre not going
anywhere. He felt his face flame, and he turned to Mike. He doesnt
deserve to go out like that.
I agree, Mike said softly. Its settled. We dont want you to
leave.
Okay, Ill stay the nightor whats left of it. I wont get in your
way. If you dont mind, Id like to go upstairs and use the shower.
Jax nodded and watched Slade turn and walk out of the kitchen.
Go after him.
Mike, cut the crap. Jax snarled at his lover. He was way too
tired to play these games.
I saw the way you look at him.
Okay, theres something there. And it doesnt matter, because to
Slade I was nothing more than a job.
Mike shook his head sadly. Its true. Love is blind.
This was beyond Jaxons exhausted comprehension. But not
deaf. You heard him. He wanted into my bed so he could spy on me.
I dont care what Slade says. Any fool can see he loves you. His
eyes betray his lies.
What do you want from me, Mike?
I want you to be happy.

I love you.
I know. And I love you. But Ive been selfish about a lot of
things. You gave me the option to leave the door open for another
partner and instead of considering your needs, I slammed it shut. I
was wrong.
Youre all I need
Wait. Let me finish. Mike said firmly. I measured our
relationship by rigid human standards. I was conditioned to believe
that you can only love one person at a time, but now I know thats
unrealistic. Slade gives you something I cant, but its not an
insurmountable issue.
Jax frowned at him. What are you saying?
Our bond is real and opening it up to another man wont threaten
it, not nearly as much as betrayal and loss of trust would. I say we
make our own rules and decide how we want our relationship to work.
Slade is hot as hell. When I met him, I was attracted to him myself.
He grinned at Jax. Dont snarl at me. Im trying to have an honest
conversation. Ive never had a threesome before. It might be fun.
Youre joking?
Did you think I would let you fuck another man and not want in
on the action?
Jax finally smiled. Mike never ceased to surprise him. This felt
good, really good. He and Mike had never been able to talk like this
before. What makes you think hed be interested?
You can be very persuasive when you want to be. You go up
first. Ill give you a little time to convince him.

* * * *

Slade appreciated the well-appointed bathroom. Good size
shower, double vanity sink, and a Jacuzzi tub big enough for three. He
pushed the thought out of his head. Jax would be enjoying the tub
with his boyfriend. Boyfriend. Fortunately, Slade had never wanted
106 Gale Stanley

one. They only complicated a mans life. Hed had a number of sex
partners through the years, men to blow off steam with, but there had
been no one he trusted enough to share his feelings or confide in and
after joining the FBI, no one at all.
He tossed his bloody and tattered clothes on the floor. He hated
the thought of putting them back on after his shower. Maybe hed try
to wash them later. Sliding the shower curtain aside, he turned on the
water, hot, just the way he liked it. White mist filled the bathroom and
he stepped under the spray, already relaxing under its comforting
heat. He adjusted the shower head until the water came down in a
pulsating heavy stream.
Slade smiled wryly. In the space of a day, he had shared his
deepest feelings with not one, but three men. They knew more about
him than anyone else in the world. Well, after what they had been
through together, they deserved his trust. He had to admit, hed been
glad for the company. He usually preferred working alone and
thought he liked it that way. Today hed discovered hed been kidding
himself. It felt good to have men covering his back, especially when
they saved his life.
A bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap were on a caddy. Thank
you, Bill. He poured a large amount of shampoo on his head and
lathered up. Bending his head and closing his eyes, he let the stream
wash off the shampoo and pound out the kinks between his shoulder
blades. His mind wandered in warm, steamy languor.
A sound jarred him out of his dreamy state, and his head jerked
up. He yanked the curtain back and poked his head out for a look.
Jaxons clothes were lying on top of his on the floor and the mans
bare ass was temptingly displayed as he leaned over the tub.
Slade swallowed hard and tried to find his voice. You dont need
to use the tub, Ill
Is that an invitation? Jax straightened up and walked toward
him. Because that shower looks big enough for two wolvesand
maybe even a human.

Mike
Will be up in a little while. You gonna let me in or not?
It would be a shame to waste all this hot water. Slade stepped
aside to make room for Jax. He didnt know what to make of this, but
he was willing to see how it played out.
You mind washing my back? Jax leaned forward, put his palms
on the tile, and spread his legs like he was about to get frisked.
It was an invitation Slade couldnt resist. He reached for the soap.
Slade started at Jaxons shoulders and worked his way down.
Washing the shifters strong muscular body was not a hardship. Jax
seemed to enjoy it as much as Slade. His muscles quivered under
Slades hands. When Slade reached Jaxons firm buttocks, he paused
for a minute, trying to decide if he wanted to pull Jaxons hips toward
his body or press him up against the shower wall and fuck him.
Decision reached, he slid his hands around Jaxons chest and
played with his nipples, pinching and twisting them. When they
tightened into stiff little points, Slades hands traveled lower, over
Jaxons belly and down, encircling his cock and cupping his balls. Jax
groaned and leaned his forehead against the tiles. Seeing the effect he
had on Jax combined with the heat of their bodies surrounded by the
warm steam drove Slades excitement higher. He pulled Jax back
against his body until his engorged cock rode the crease of Jaxons
ass.
Slade had wanted this so badly he couldnt believe it was really
happening. He was afraid to speak and spoil the moment. Instead he
buried his face in Jaxons neck, kissing and sucking the sensitive
flesh. The stubble on Jaxons face created a sweet friction that turned
Slade on as much as the other shifters taste.
Slades stomach and chest pressed against Jaxons back and still it
wasnt enough contact. He needed to touch as much of him as he
could. His hands roamed over the mans body and he felt Jax go tense
with anticipation. Jaxons hips moved against his, and Slades cock
nudged Jaxons hole, pressing for entrance. Slade was so engrossed in
108 Gale Stanley

the intimacy of the moment everything around him disappeared. He
was desperate to fuck the other shifter, and Jaxon seemed to want it
just as badly. Slade reached down to guide
The door opened. Slade pulled the curtain aside, and there was
Mike. All three men froze in a silent tableau.

* * * *

Mike knew it would be hard to see them together, but he didnt
figure it would be this hard. They were so into each other that it really
hurt. Hurt bad. He felt like a third wheel. Jealousy washed over him
like a cloudburst of despair. Did I make a terrible mistake suggesting
this? But at the same time, the sight of their wet naked bodies pressed
together made him hot and hard. Sorry. Do you want to be alone?
Jaxon turned his head and looked at Slade. Its your party, Slade
told him.
Hurry up, Jax said to Mike. Were running out of hot water.
Excitement overrode anxiety and Mike grinned at the two men. I
dont mind a cold shower if you keep me warm.
I think we can manage that, Slade said huskily. He watched
Mike undress with great interest and whistled appreciatively when he
finished. Well, what are you waiting for? I want to see if you taste as
good as you look. He glanced at Jax, as if for permission. If your
boyfriend doesnt mind.
He doesnt. Jax said in a low husky voice. He moved back
against Slade to make room for Mike.
Mike stepped under the water and shivered. Jaxon was
sandwiched between him and Slade. As if by unspoken agreement,
their mouths met over Jaxons shoulder. Slades kiss was gentle at
first, but turned fierce. He attacked Mikes tongue with his, and
Slades obvious hunger sent hot spirals of want through Mike.
Without warning, Jax reached down and squeezed Mikes sac, making
him moan into Slades mouth. It was his lovers hands on his balls,

but it was Slade Mike wanted more contact with. One taste of Slade
was all it took to prove Mikes attraction was not a momentary lapse.
It shocked the hell out of him. Would Jax be upset or happy that his
lover was so turned on by another man? Probably the latter. Jax
wouldnt want him to submit out of pressure to please. Making this
threesome work was all about balancing everyones needs so all three
men enjoyed every minute of this connection.
The pressure on Mikes lips lessened as Slade broke for air.
Suddenly the pulsing water turned ice cold, and Mike squealed like a
baby. The wolves held him steady and prevented him from jumping
out. Jaxons eyes bored into his. Do you want more?
Fuck yes. Hed never wanted anything more in his life. But
Im freezing. His teeth actually chattered.
Want to move this to the bedroom? Jaxon asked.
Two pairs of predatory eyes bored into him. Suddenly Mike
hesitated. He felt like Red Riding Hood facing down the big, bad
wolves.
A wicked grin split Slades face. I dont bite. Not unless you
want me to.
Heat coiled in Mikes belly and he shuddered. Bite me
please.

110 Gale Stanley

Chapter Twelve

At first Slade thought this was just about the sexjust a shifter
with a willing playmate inviting him to join in so they could relieve
the stress of their situation by fucking their brains out.
But as he reclined on the king-size bed with Jax, their heads
propped on pillows, their eyes focused on the bathroom door, he knew
this would not be a purely physical act. He would have preferred not
to let emotion color their interaction, but Mike had saved his life after
all. And offered a way out that would keep them aliveat least for a
little while longer. Mike and Jaxon knew more about him than anyone
else in the world. Things like that created a lasting bond between
men.
Mike finally appeared in the doorway, a towel slung around his
hips. He was drying his hair with another towel. Slade could
understand why Jax wanted him. The blue-eyed blond, with his
flirtatious glances, was so fucking hot Slade could already feel those
sexy lips wrapped around his cock as he thrust into Mikes mouth.
But it was obvious that Mike was much more than just a human
playmate. Something in his eyes pulled at Slade. A look that said, I
care about you and Ill cherish you. It made his heart ache.
Slade averted his gaze from those eyes and turned to Jaxon. The
other shifter was focused on Mike, too. His long, thickly veined dick
pointed at the ceiling. He wrapped his hand around it and tugged.
Hurry it up, he urged Mike hoarsely.
Mike dropped both towels and licked his lips. Like a starving man
who couldnt decide what to eat first, his eyes shifted from Jaxons

leaking cock to Slades. He crawled up between the two men, licking
a path up Jaxons hairy thigh to his stomach then circling his navel.
Slades hand found its way to his shaft, and he stroked himself
while he watched. He was as desperate to lick the beads of cum
forming at Jaxons cockhead as he was to have the mans dick in his
ass later. It took a lot of willpower to stop himself from reaching over
and grabbing a hold of him, but not being sure of his place here, he
waited for an invitation.
Jax gripped Mikes hair and pulled him up. I want to watch you
and Slade.
Did I hear right? Slades erection dripped like a leaky faucet.
Knowing Jax wanted to watch him and Mike was incredibly sexy.
Knowing hed finally get his hands on Mike was even sexier.
Mike leaned in for a kiss then turned his attention to Slade. He
lowered his head over Slades chest and tongued each nipple, licking
and sucking until Slade let out a deep groan.
Jax groaned as well. Tell him what you want, Slade.
Suck me, Mike, Slade gritted out.
Good choice. He gives a mean blow job.
Without a word, Mike bent his head to the task and rubbed his
face over Slades cock. He hadnt shaved, and Slade relished the
scrape of his stubble on sensitive flesh.
Slade shifted into a better position, and he felt Jaxons lips skate
over his jaw to claim his mouth in a heated kiss. Slade opened to him,
and Jax traced Slades tongue with his. The kiss deepened, and when
Jax finally pulled away, Slade gripped the back of his neck and
stopped him. He wanted more. What the fuck? Slade had never been
big on kissing. Too emotional, it wasnt the connection hed been
after. That could have been because hed never been kissed by anyone
like these men. The wolf and his human knew how to lock lips, and
they obviously enjoyed it. Slade was finding out that he did, too.
Jaxon chuckled. Just going to the bathroom. I wont be long.
112 Gale Stanley

As Jax slid off the bed he bit Mikes ass. Mike yelped and
released Slades cock.
Couldnt resist. He grinned at Mikes shocked expression. Ill
kiss it and make it better when I come back. Jax headed toward the
bathroom. Get him hot and ready, but dont let him come, he threw
over his shoulder.
Hey?
But Mikes wet, warm mouth sucked Slade in and he hissed in a
deep breath. Mikes nose pressed up against his bush, and Mikes
talented tongue swirled around the base of his cock. Damn! Not too
many guys could take all of him. Not human guys anyway. Slade tried
to twist his fingers in Mikes short hair. Hes gotta let that hair grow.
Slade reminded himself that he wouldnt be around that long. Then a
hand cupped his sac, fondling one ball then the other, and his thoughts
fragmented. It was all good. Too good. Slade had a feeling hed shoot
before Jax made it back.
God, Mike. Yes, like that. Every tug on his cock brought him
closer to an orgasm. His hips lifted off the bed and rocked, sending
his cock deeper still.
Mikes lips slid up his shaft, and he twirled his tongue around the
head of Slades cock before opening his throat to swallow him deep.
Slade moaned when he felt his dick hit the back of Mikes throat. His
balls tightened. Ah, fuck. Im not gonna last.
Mikes finger played at his hole and sent him over the edge. A
growl rumbled up from his chest, and he came long and hard. Mike
swallowed his load like a champ.
Jax stepped into the bedroom just as Mike was licking his half-
hard prick clean.
Its about time, Slade muttered.
I thought you could last longer. Jax shook his head at Slade.
Good thing, I know you have a quick recovery. Jax glanced over at
Mike. What? Hes a wolf. We all have good staying power.
Convenient. You two can amuse each other when Im on empty.

Look at it this way, Jax told Mike. Youll be able to rest up,
and when youre ready, well still be willing.
Slade figured it was time to jump in and give Mike a pat on the
back. You were right, Jax. He knows how to suck cock. He pulled
Mike in for a kiss. Ill return the favor, promise.
Jax flopped down next to them. I know you enjoyed him. I was
watching from the bathroom.
Hey, no fair. Mike pouted.
Jaxons lips grazed Mikes ear. Loved watching you suck him. It
was hot. Their lips met in a real kiss. He tastes good on you.
The words woke up Slades cock, and he fisted it. He leaned back
against the pillows and savored the sight of Mike and Jax groping
each others muscular flesh. They looked so good together, one dark,
the other fair. They knew each others wants, knew all the sensitive
spots that would heighten arousal. Jax pinned Mike under him and
mapped his body with his tongue. Slade wanted those lips on his
body. He stroked himself faster.
Mike moaned and rocked his pelvis against Jaxons hips. They
played as if they had all the time in the world and nothing to worry
about. The green-eyed monster reared its ugly head, and Slade beat it
down. He didnt have the right to be jealous. He should be happy they
invited him to play and just enjoy it while it lasted.
Slade usually wanted to get down to business, to fuck and be
fucked, but there was something to be said for watching. It was sexy
as fuck. Hell, Im going to come again just from watching them.
Slades hand moved faster and his breath speeded up. What the fuck
Jaxons hand fell on his, stopped him. Im going to fuck him,
Slade, while he sucks you off again. Jax looked at Slades rampant
erection and snickered. If you can hold off, that is.
I can hold off. Slade grunted and looked down at Mike.
Im in. Mike said hoarsely. He pulled his legs back to his chest.
Thats my boy. Jax leaned over to kiss him and then held up a
tube of lubricant. I found this in the bathroom. He lubed his cock
114 Gale Stanley

and Mikes ass, inserted a finger to stretch him, then two. You
ready? he asked Mike hoarsely.
God, yes. Fuck me, Jax.
Jax guided his cock to Mikes entrance and pushed past the tight
muscle. Mike groaned at the contact.
Slade groaned, too, afraid hed go off just watching them.
Jax stared at him. Take it easy, Slade. We wont leave you
hanging.
Slade nodded, but he couldnt take his eyes off the spot where
their bodies joined. Mike looked up at him with glazed eyes. Want
you, Slade.
He didnt need to be asked twice. Slade straddled Mikes body.
His weeping dick nudged Mikes lips and Mike sucked his cockhead
greedily.
Jax leaned forward to kiss Slades neck. Fuck him good, he
whispered in his ear then pulled back. Wrap your legs around me,
lover.
Slade wished he could watch Jax thrusting into Mike, but soon the
pleasure of having Mikes mouth on his heated flesh again wiped out
everything else. Mikes groans around his cock heightened his
excitement and he fucked the humans mouth harder and faster. The
sounds and scent of sex hung over them, and Slade couldnt hold off
much longer. When he heard Jax howl behind him, he exploded in
Mikes mouth with a growl of his own. He pulled out of Mike and
twisted his head in time to see Mike shoot on Jaxons chest. Fucking
hot!
Slade settled down next to Mike and kissed him. Jax lay on
Mikes left, and they framed him like bookends. He reached over him
to run a hand lazily over Slades chest. We work well together.
Slade thought so, too, but he didnt answer. His eyes were drifting
shut

* * * *

Something woke Slade from a great dream. He was having the
best sex of his life with two hot men. He glanced over to his left and
saw Jaxon and Mike in a tight embrace. Hell, it was no dream. No
fair, he mumbled. You should have waked me.
Jax looked over at Slade. Youre awake now. He got off the
bed, grabbed Mikes ankles, and pulled him until his hips rode the
edge of the mattress. Put your feet flat on the floor. He glanced over
at Slade. Slade. Stand in front of him.
Unbelievable. Jax was like a fucking director positioning his
actors for a porn flick.
Maybe Slade should have been annoyed at being ordered around,
but he discovered he liked it. Sometimes it felt good to give up
control, especially when he knew where it was all leading. He stood
between Mikes thighs, his cock twitching with excitement, and
grinned down at him. I cant wait to get inside you, baby. All those
nights Slade imagined Jax and Mike together, their bodies hot and
sweaty, writhing and humping. Now it was reality. And he was an
active participant. Too good to be true.
Take it slow, Jaxon urged. I stretched him for you, but much as
I hate to admit it, you might be a little bigger than me. Dont hurt
him. His hard cock slipped between Slades cheeks, and Slade
rocked back against him as he pressed a tube into Slades hand.
Slade took the lube and nodded, but he didnt take his eyes off
Mikes.
Jax began kissing and sucking on his neck. Then he reached
around and tugged on Slades nipples. His cock grew harder than it
had ever been.
Mike raised his legs back, gripping his calves and pulling his
knees close to his chest, shamelessly baring his buttocks for Slade.
Thats a pretty picture, Slade murmured. He squeezed out some
lube and warmed it between his palms before pushing a slippery
finger up Mikes asshole. Mike moaned and writhed.
116 Gale Stanley

You okay?
God, yes. More.
Slade added another finger and warmed him up with some deep,
slow thrusts. He removed his fingers and got on the bed, placing a
knee on either side of Mikes hips. He lined up his cock and slid
home. Mike groaned and opened his legs wider.
Slade lowered himself to rest his chest on Mikes and as they
kissed Slade felt Jax behind him, running his hands over Slades back
and the cheeks of his ass.
Slade couldnt see Jax, and that in itself was a turn-on. Desperate
to be filled, he shoved his ass back. Want you, Jax. Slade muttered
hoarsely.
I know. Im gonna get you ready.
Slade didnt need the lube, but Jaxons cool fingers between his
cheeks felt good. His cockhead felt better. Once he was buried, Jax
ground his hips in slow circles.
Do it, Jax. Fuck me, he groaned as he thrust into Mike. Mike
clutched the sheets in his fists, moaning.
You want it hard or soft? Jax asked him.
Hard. Fuck me hard.
Jax gripped Slades hips already in motion, and he moved in long
strokes that raked Slades prostate on each forward thrust. Slade took
his rhythm, and together they formed a heated sexual wave from the
back to the front. Their three connected bodies felt right, and
unfamiliar emotions swept over Slade. What were these men doing to
him? Lust or love? He didnt know what love felt like. He
concentrated on the lust.
Jax groaned over his shoulder. Fuck him hard and fast, Slade,
like you want me to fuck you.
Mike exhaled in heavy pants. Behind Slade, Jaxons breathing
speeded up. God, you feel good. He grunted over Slades shoulder.

The scent of sex, and the sound of slapping flesh drove him on.
Slade sucked air between his teeth and fisted Mikes cock. Hows
this feel?
Fucking great.
Slade pumped and pulled, spreading pre-cum over Mikes shaft.
Yeah. Like that. Mikes eyes met his, and Slade wished he
could read that look. There was something needy there and something
elsethen Mikes eyes rolled back in his head, and he gripped the
sheets. As good as felt to have Jax inside him, it was ten times better
to see the pleasure in Mikes face and know he put it there.
Jax went deeper with each thrust. Unintelligible animal sounds
came up from his throat. It made no sense and perfect sense at the
same time. Mikes cries grew louder and louder. His hips jerked.
Jax grunted with every thrust, slamming into him harder and
harder. Pleasure burned a path up his spine.
Stroke him, Slade. Bring him with us.
Slades hand flew. He knew he couldnt hold off much longer and
wanted to get Mike off at the same time.
Mike was too far gone to notice. A string of curses spewed out of
his mouth ending with a bloodcurdling scream. His body rocked with
his release until he shot all over Slades chest. His muscles contracted
around Slades cock and squeezed the orgasm from his pulsing shaft.
Slade shuddered and rode out his climax, only dimly aware of Jax
exploding behind him.
Slade closed his eyes and collapsed over Mikes chest, pulling Jax
with him.
Damn. That was great, Mike muttered in Slades ear.
Hmm Youre great. Slade responded.
Jaxons weight lifted from his back as he pulled out of Mike and
they all collapsed in a tangle of sweaty limbs.
Jax kissed Mike. Thank you, he whispered to him.
What the hell was he thanking Mike for? Slade had fucked him.
Oh yeah. Mike probably did the threesome thing as a favor to Jax.
118 Gale Stanley

That hurt. So did the way Jax and Mike looked at each other. There
was a lot of feeling in that look, a lot of history between them. It made
Slade jealous. Hed never wanted that kind of relationship with a man,
but right now he envied that connection between them.

* * * *

Sunlight poured through the window, but Slade was in no hurry to
get up. It felt good lying here with Mike curled up against his chest
and Jax pressed up against his back. It felt better than good, it felt
right. He felt like he belonged here, surrounded by their hard, muscled
bodies, as if they were made for him. He hadnt grown up with family
and friends. This wolfish sense of belonging was new to him, but he
liked it, more than he wanted to admit.
Mike snuggled closer, and he breathed in his unique male scent. It
made his nostrils flare with appreciation.
You awake? Jaxons voice was like a low rumble of thunder in
his ear. His lips brushed the back of Slades neck, his breath warm
and moist, his stubble tickling the skin. Jax slipped a warm rough
palm between him and Mike and rubbed Slades nipples. The hand
slid down over his belly to grasp his morning wood and rub it against
Mikes ass.
Hmm Mike twisted his head and searched for Slades lips. I
could get used to this. You can be my alarm clock every morning.
He must still be half-asleep. He doesnt realize hes kissing me
and not Jax.
Mike started to turn over, eager for more connection, but Slade
stopped him. He adjusted his position, and Mike arched his back,
giving him a better angle to enter him. Slade moved his hand down to
Mikes stomach to brace him and pushed inside. A low moan escaped
Mikes lips, and Slade paused.
You all right?
Yeah, dont stop.

Slade felt Jaxons hard shaft behind him pressing for entrance. He
held himself motionless inside Mike, letting Jax take possession of his
body. Jax filled him, saying his name on a moan, and something
hitched in his chest.
This felt different. Not hot and wild like last night, but almost
unbearably intimate, a feeling of closeness and familiarity that made
his heart ache. He savored it, lazily stroking his hand over Mikes hip
as he squirmed against him. He pulled out, moaning as Jax went
deeper, then in a slow, controlled move, filled Mike again. He loved
the way they both responded to his touch, not holding anything back.
The sensations seared his senses and emptied his mind of
everything but the men and their pleasure. The tight muscles of
Mikes ass clung to his throbbing cock, and he groaned with pleasure
as Jaxon took possession of him.
Somehow they matched their rhythm and moved together as if
theyd been doing this for years. Slades strokes speeded up and
Jaxons followed. Mikes breath came in soft pants, and he reached
back for Slade. Jaxons breath was warm and moist on his neck, his
stubble rubbing the sensitive skin where his neck joined his shoulder.
The moist heat of Jaxons mouth closed over the spot, and he bit
down on Slades flesh. Hot arrows of excitement shot through him,
igniting the blood in his veins. Slade felt his climax boiling up. He
wanted to hold back. It was too soon. He needed to make this last and
imprint every sensation on his mind for the lonely nights ahead. But
Mike gripped his hand and wrapped it around his shaft.
God, Slade. Im so close
A few rough strokes, and Mike cried out his release. Behind him
Jax tensed and growled, sending him over the edge. He held on to
Mike, not wanting to give up the connection.
Slade felt warm, alive, connected. Happy?
Sex never made him feel those things. Sated? Yes. But that was
fleeting. This felt like something more. Get over it. He reminded
120 Gale Stanley

himself that this was just a pity fuck to Mike. Hed done it for his
lover, because Jax liked fucking another wolf. It meant nothing.
Jax tightened his hold, digging his fingers into Slades hips. I
need you, Jax whispered in his ear. He ran his tongue along the rim
and his teeth captured Slades earlobe, nipping it gently. With me,
with us.
Dont, Slade gasped. Dont make this harder for me.
Love you.
Slade reeled with shock. What did Jax want from him? He wasnt
sure he had anything to give. All the emotion had been beaten out of
him long ago. Hed sensed that Jaxon and Mikes emotions ran as
deep as his own. Hed seen it in their eyes and felt it in their touches.
But he hadnt expected them to give voice to their feelings. The words
terrified him. They made everything harder. And yet he hadnt
realized until now how much he wanted to hear them. But he held
back.
Finally Jax pulled out and Mike rolled over on his back. They lay
in a tangle of legs, sweat, and cum drying on their skin, Mike on
Slades right, Jax on his left.
Did you hear me? Jax asked.
Yeah, Mike answered him. But you werent talking to me.
Dont get pissed. You know I love you.
I still like to hear it once in a while.
Jax leaned over Slade to kiss Mike. Love you, baby.
Hmpf.
I mean it.
I know. Love you too.
Jax settled back and threw a leg over Slades. I meant it, Slade. It
wasnt just something I said in the heat of the moment.
Slade let out a long audible breath. I appreciate it, but you have a
good thing going with Mike. You dont need me coming between
you.

Mike propped his head on an elbow and looked down at Slade. I
dont know about that. I kind of like you between us.
Jax propped himself up on Slades left and looked over at Mike.
What are you trying to say?
He picks up the slack when you run out of steam.
Fuck you.
Sorry, he beat you to it.
I upheld my end over
Hey, guys. This was great, youre great, but it cant last. Your
reporter friend will be calling us any day to say we can come out of
hiding, but well never be completely safe. I know Richard Graham,
and hes not a man who will forgive and forget. As we speak, hes
probably trying to figure out how he can get rid of us. I plan to go
feral and hide out and you
Is that what you really want? To give up and hide? I thought you
wanted to help our people.
I thought I could do some good working with the Feds, but I
made a mistake. Its over.
Youre wrong. Were just getting started. I was never an activist
before, but the Feds plan backfired. Instead of getting rid of an
alleged rebel they created one. Im not running. Mikes coming to live
with me in Dogtown.
Mike shot up like a cannon. He is?
Its the safest place for you. Alone on the outside youre a sitting
duck.
So all this time youve been telling me its too dangerous for me
in Dogtown, you were lying?
No. Its still dangerous, but better than the alternative. If anyone
gives you any trouble, theyll answer to meor Slade.
So youre gonna be my big, strong protector. Mike batted his
eyes at Slade then looked up at Jax. Didnt I just save his ass
yesterday?
122 Gale Stanley

Hell, Slade didnt think he could do this. Hed been alone for most
of his life and gotten along just fine. Maybe not fine, but hed
survived. Hed been on his own too long. He had no idea how to live
with someone, especially a human someone. Are you done? Slade
popped up between them. Because I dont remember saying I was
moving into Dogtown.
I need you at my side, Slade. I cant do it alone.
Mike went tense and made a move to get up, but Slade grabbed
his arm. He doesnt mean it like that.
No, I didnt. Im sorry, baby. I meant it in the sense of having
another wolf working with me. Someone whos been through the
same shit I have.
And this is exactly why I cant do it, Slade said. I dont want
you fighting over me.
Mike pinned him with a look. But think of the fun well have
making up. Seriously, everybody fights. Were only human after all.
He smiled ironically. Well, some of us are.
I think what Mike is trying to say is that communication is key.
Jax is right. Thats exactly what Im saying. We dont need to
walk on eggshells around each other, not after what weve been
through. Even an argument is preferable to secrets. Mike spoke with
almost a touch of pleading in his voice. We both want you with us,
Slade.
Why me, Mike?
Because Im crazy for you. Besides, youre a part of Jaxon, and
that makes you my mate too.
You believe that mumbo jumbo and youre not even Were?
I trust my gut. I think its pretty obvious were meant to be
together.
Mikes pretty smart for a human. Sometimes I think he must be
part wolf. Jax said softly. What do you really want, Slade?
Slade shook his head. I wasnt looking for anything permanent.

I didnt ask you what you were looking for. I asked you what you
wanted.
What do I want? Slades chest tightened. To not be alone
anymore, to make a home with these two men who Ive come to care
for more and more every day
Its okay to accept love, Slade. Jax took his hand. We both
grew up being told we were worthless animals. When that kind of
crap is pounded into your head every day, you end up believing it.
Mike changed my life. He gave me the love and support I needed so I
could believe in myself. Let us give you that. Dont let your past ruin
your futurewith us.
Swept away by waves of protectiveness, possessiveness, and
passion, Slades heart felt as if it would burst through his chest. For
the first time in his life, he believed he might be capable of love. His
men watched and waited with uneasy expressions. I cant do it.
Mikes face fell. And Jax, well Jax looked like Slade had put a
knife in him.
I cant in good conscious leave you two alone to fend for
yourselves. You need me
You son of a bitch! Jaxon tackled him and Mike followed suit.
Hey. Slade gasped under their combined weight. Im not good
at pretty speeches But, well, this thing started out with butterflies
and sweaty palms but it goes deeper. A hell of a lot deeper. When I
look at you both, I feel happy. When Im not with you, I think about
you and all the things I want to do to make you happy. You make me
feel like a better person and I know I can trust you both in every way.
I cant imagine a future without you. If that cocktail of mixed
emotions is love, then I guess Im in love.
For a few seconds no one said anything and Slade was afraid hed
said too much.
Thats the prettiest damn speech I ever heard, Jax murmured.
What do you think, Mike?
I think Im the luckiest guy in the world.
124 Gale Stanley

Slade lay back and enjoyed the embraces of the two men he loved
above all others. When hed arrived in New York he never thought he
would end up staying, but Mike and Jaxon had changed him
foreverand for the better. As long as they were together, they could
overcome any obstacles fate threw in their path.

THE END

HTTP://GALESTANLEY.NET/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised in the City of Brotherly Love, Gale cut her teeth
on True Story magazines swiped from her mothers collection and
read undercover by flashlight. Her choice of reading material inspired
a lifelong love of romance and the desire to write her own stories.
Now she has the best job in the world. She can be anything she wants,
but she doesnt mind living vicariously through the smokin hot
alphas and strong heroines she loves to write about. Her books sizzle,
but at the heart of each story is a romance and each one is written with
love.

Also by Gale Stanley
Mnage Amour: Southwest Shifters 1: Hellfire
Mnage Amour: Southwest Shifters 2: Spitfire
Siren Classic ManLove: Southwest Shifters 3: Backfire
Siren Classic ManLove: Southwest Shifters 4: Crossfire
Siren Classic: Black Wolf Gorge 1: Call of the Wilds
Mnage Amour: Black Wolf Gorge 2: Mating Call
Mnage Amour: Black Wolf Gorge 3: Mating Call

Available at
BOOKSTRAND.COM


(Stanley Gale) Undercover Lovers

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