Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

F ull moon

In his Seattle hotel room, one of the Colonel's burner phones rang. Rising, he grunted as the ache in his chest reminded him of how close he'd come to dying last month.

Goddamned abominations. The injuries had laid him up for too long, requiring he stay completely hidden. In the meantime, everything had gone to hell.

He picked up the phone labeled "Baton." The operative was assigned to a bumfuck town near Mt. Rainier. "Speak."

"Baton reporting in."

"Go on."

"There has been a…" The operative swallowed audibly.

Such poor bodily control indicated a doubtful future in the Scythe. Typical. Women simply weren't as strong as men operatives. However, women spies were the last to be suspected. "Spit it out, Baton."

"Tuesday night, the Director attempted to eliminate Patrin and Fell. The operation failed. Badly."

"How badly?"

"I wasn't on site but observed the aftermath through a telescope. The creatures were disposing of bodies and vehicles. The Director was one of the bodies."

The Colonel shook his head in disgust. The Director had been so worried about losing his reputation and position in the Scythe, he'd undoubtedly barged ahead with little to no planning. There was a reason the man had babysat the compound with the female hostages rather than conducting operations.

Because he was an idiot.

Fucking wonderful. The Pacific Northwest division couldn't afford disasters like this. The loss of the Director and his operatives couldn't be covered up.

The Colonel rubbed his face. If the Committee heard how the shapeshifters broke free, he'd lose everything he'd worked for. He'd lose his future. And his life.

The Scythe didn't condone failure.

He was out of options. It was time to share everything he'd learned about the shapeshifters, including how they could best be used. But, without a sampling of the abominations, the Scythe Committee would laugh at him.

To re-establish himself, he had be able to demonstrate the shapeshifter's skills. Using some of the soldiers they'd groomed over the years in a critical operation. Preferably the best—Patrin and Fell.

But only if he had a way to hold them.

He tapped his fingers on the desktop. "Were Patrin or Fell damaged, or are they still in place?"

"Still available, sir."

"Good. And their possible romantic interest?"

"The relationship seems to be deepening."

Kidnapping the woman might work. Unfortunately, the female abominations were weak and liable to waste away. "Are there others we could use as leverage? Friends, family?"

"A couple of teens hang around them. They've protected the boys from bullies."

Of course, they would. Patrin and Fell had often been disciplined for trying to protect younger mutants from being killed or even beaten. Seemed to think it was their job.

Fools.

"I've identified others who are probably mutants." Baton paused and then asked, "Couldn't we separate brothers and use one as a hostage?"

"A brother isn't as effective. The abominations will obey to prevent a child or sister from being hurt. But they won't protect their brothers. In fact, they're far more dangerous then since they'll do suicidal attacks."

"Oh."

He tapped his fingers on the desk. "The young boys are a good option. We managed to keep them alive and…"

The idea he had right then was momentous. Brilliant. Years ago, the scientists told him all the infants and adult mutants had died from being imprisoned in metal cages underground.

Which meant, they could capture adult mutants and keep them alive.

"Sir?" The operative's voice was tentative.

"Wait one minute, Baton." He glanced at his laptop with the update of current events. The Scythe had invested heavily in some bumfuck country with rare earth exports. Unfortunately, the corrupt, bribable government was in danger of being overthrown by insurgents using guerilla warfare.

No military camp would survive the abominations. If he could lay his hand on a sufficient number of them, he'd have the finest demonstration possible. And a win over his worst rival.

Yes.

If he obtained cubs, he'd have a new generation to train, and in the interim, could use them for hostages…and bait.

Oh, yes. Bait.

"All right, Baton. Plan to acquire all the young creatures you can, human or mutant. We'll scoop them up along with Patrin and Fell and the bitch they favor—and sort them out afterward.

Once they had a way to get the bait, he'd work out how to obtain the adults.

"Yes, sir. I'll have the information ready."

"Good. Move to the next phone in line. I'll contact you when I have everyone we need for a quick strike."

"You're coming here?" There was a pause. "Um, sir?"

"Yes. I'll supervise this directly so there are no mistakes." Because if he didn't capture the abominations to show off to the Committee, he'd be dead.

I'll see that town burn first.

Brushing his hands off, feeling the sting of his scraped knuckles, Fell walked back into the Gathering House. "That felt good." A shame they had to return inside. The entire fucking place was filled with shifters in heat.

Beside him, Patrin huffed a laugh. "Yeah. I needed an outlet. Thumping an idiot male works well."

No fucking lie. The full moon was driving Fell mad—and all for one female. He and Patrin wanted to spend as much time with her as possible—something frowned upon during Gathering Nights—so they were waiting to be her last choices for the night.

But under the light of the full moon, the need for her became an intolerable compulsion. She was so beautiful, her rich brown hair loose over her shoulder, her dark eyes pulling him in. Her skin…

Stop, gnome-brain. He sucked the blood off his fingers, growling under his breath as the scents of females in heat and of far too much testosterone clogged his nostrils. High voices, throaty with need, filled the air.

And he was listening for only one. For a warm, melodic voice.

For Moya. No one else had interested them all evening.

"I wish we could tell her why we haven't approached," Patrin muttered.

"Yeah." But simply seeing her was driving him mad with desire. If he went over there… If her heady scent held interest for him, any chance of waiting would be over. He'd have her over his shoulder and upstairs before the next breath.

So, stay out of scenting range. "Over there." Fell pointed to a place at the island, as far away from the little wolf as they could get.

Patrin gave him an understanding glance. "Agreed. My self-control is in shreds."

It had grown intolerable before they'd even been inside a couple of hours. So they'd asked the Cosantir to let them work as his Gathering House bouncers…preferably outside.

Many Daonain enjoyed flirting around the firepits in the gazebos. However, too many males ended up fighting over the females out there, away from the Cosantir's watchful gaze.

He and Patrin got a chance to work off their frustration by breaking up the fights.

But it was close to the time when they could be with Moya. They needed to be in here.

As growing impatience simmered inside Fell, all he could do was wait.

The light of the full moon shone through the Gathering House windows in a glowing reminder of why the room was filled with people. With her stocking feet propped on the coffee table, Moya lounged in a chair across from Talitha and Eileen who shared a couch.

None of them particularly wanted to be here, but here they were. For the good of their people, for tradition.

Wasn't it interesting how the stubbornest of Daonain accepted this coercion that'd been issued by the Gods. The humans sure didn't go into heat every moon.

Then again, without the full moon heat, the shifters would probably have died off. The population had declined every generation since the Fae left the world. The Gatherings did help. So, it was a toss-up between being coerced or the Daonain surviving.

Fine, I consent to the monthly annoyances.

"It's sure different without Brett or Caleb here," Moya commented. There'd still been male posturing and occasional loud voices, but she'd been able to—almost—relax. "They might not have brawled, but they sure made a lot of females uncomfortable."

"Good riddance to them," Eileen said. She'd dyed her spiky hair purple and blue—to fit the season.

"Why are our wolves sitting with a stinky moggy?"

The sneering voice made Moya stiffen and turn. Oh, fairy farts. Pavel and Ilya, a couple of Brett's followers, were glaring at Eileen.

Anger swept away any trace of the full moon heat, and she started to rise.

Until she saw Patrin. He walked up behind the two mangy mutts and smacked the back of each head as if they were cublings.

When they turned on him, the blast of alpha dominance made them actually cringe.

"I can't believe my own wolves would harass a female at a Gathering—or any other time." Patrin gripped their napes and moved them away, lecturing sternly enough that if they'd been in wolf form, their tails would be tucked under their bellies.

Leaning against a wall with his arms folded over his big chest, Fell watched his brother. If the young males didn't get their paws on the right trail, they'd get nipped.

Her alpha and beta were going to set the pack straight—and she loved it.

She didn't love how the commanding sound in Patrin's deep voice had made her heart turn somersaults. Or how she couldn't stop staring at the rounded bulge of Fell's biceps.

Down, wolf, down.

"I see the Cosantir put our alpha and beta to work," Talitha said.

"They volunteered," André said, having obviously heard the comment. "They have done an excellent job."

"I'm glad." Talitha smiled at him. "Gatherings feel so much safer with you and your bouncers around."

Moya knew her friend remembered all the past harassments she and Eileen had endured.

"That is why we're here." André smiled at Talitha, before turning to Moya. "Young wolf, have none here tonight appealed to you?"

Over the long hours, the musky scents and low notes of masculine voices had tingled through her. Yet whenever a male approached, she lost any interest in mating whatsoever.

"Um…"

"Huh, you're right, Cosantir." Talitha frowned. She and Eileen had done better than Moya in finding bedding partners tonight. The two had enjoyed their usual mating room visit together and later each found a male to enjoy. "Moya's always picky but has never rejected everyone before. Hey, Moya, did you switch your preference to females?"

Startled, Moya blinked, then laughed. "No, I just don't like the choices, I guess."

André's lips quirked. "Perhaps I should ask other Cosantirs to send a sampling of their uninvolved males. To give you a better selection."

"I… No. No, no." Moya shook her head. The idea of meeting new males wasn't appealing at all. Be polite to the Cosantir. "But, ah, thank you for the thought, Cosantir."

"You've never turned down Daniel before." Eileen studied her. "I always thought if Tanner had been as into you as Daniel, you'd have them for mates."

"Maybe. When I was younger." Moya shrugged. "I don't know what's wrong tonight. Maybe I'm getting sick."

André's eyes narrowed as if he could tell it was a total bald-faced lie.

Because she felt fine. She just desired two specific males, and in wanting them, she couldn't find an interest in anyone else. The moon was well into the west now. In two or three hours, the night would be over, and they hadn't approached her.

Which made no sense. Yesterday, Patrin had said he'd be asking for her favor. So had Fell.

So many times tonight she'd told herself to stop being a cowardly cur and go ask them to join her upstairs. One or the other—or even both together, although she'd never mated two at the same time. Heather had told her it was fun, but…it sounded a bit frightening.

As it happened, having two wasn't a concern—since she hadn't attracted even one of them. Admittedly, they'd been outside for a big part of the night. Only they were inside now and…still staying away. Maybe it was because they had far more attractive options.

In fact, since they'd come inside a few minutes ago, the females had flocked over to flirt with the sexy, new alpha and beta. Moya had repositioned her chair to keep her back to them and the stairs. She wouldn't be able to stand seeing them take someone up to the mating rooms.

André studied her for a moment longer, looked over her shoulder at something, and smiled. He really did have a simply gorgeous smile. "Then I will simply hope these last hours of the evening will improve for you."

As he walked away, Moya dropped her head into her hands. Getting the attention of the Cosantir for a lack of mating? This night really was a steaming pile of bear droppings.

"Bugger off, Gretch." A female's loud voice stilled the room for a moment.

"Is someone cursing out Gretchen? This should be good." Talitha looked past Moya toward the other side of the room.

Moya turned, spotted Miss Blonde Perfection, and frowned. Gretchen wasn't her usual stunning self. Her eyes were red, lids swollen, face blotchy. What could have caused the normally reserved female to look almost…heartbroken?

"Isn't that Gretchen's sister?" Eileen motioned toward the short, curvy brunette beside Gretchen.

"Yes, that's Sarah," Moya sat back in her chair. "I thought she lived in the North Cascades Territory."

"She does." Eileen shook her head. "But she has to come here to see her sister. The North Cascades Cosantir won't let Gretchen into his territory."

"Right, I forgot." Moya felt her chest tighten. "If Sarah heard we have a new alpha and beta, she might be here for them. She and Gretchen compete worse than males trying to win a female."

Eileen wrinkled her nose. "If that's what sisters do, I'm glad I don't have one. It's surprising though. Male littermates don't battle; they share."

"Mmm, females are wired differently." Talitha shook her head. "And those two aren't exactly normal. Having two females in one litter is so rare, they were completely spoiled. Their mama convinced them they're more special than anyone else."

"They really are spectacularly beautiful though." Moya made a face. "If I'm near Gretchen, I feel like a gnome, all stunted and pudgy."

"As if." Eileen leaned forward and patted Moya's knee. "You're just a pocket-sized beauty rather than being stretched out."

Gaze on the other side of the room, Talitha murmured, "The drama continues."

Who could resist watching the show? Moya turned in her chair.

Oh no. This isn't fair.

Her heart sank.

Sarah wore a mini skirt that barely covered her crotch and a low-cut top to make the most of bounteous breasts. Unlike most of the shifters, she hadn't removed her footwear before coming inside. Her shoes looked incredibly uncomfortable with pointed toes and high heels.

And her obvious target was Patrin and Fell, who sat side-by-side at the kitchen island. With a lascivious smile, the curvy brunette wiggled between the two males, rubbing her hips against them.

With a shake of his head, Fell said something to her.

Her mouth dropped open. She shot him a vicious glare before running her hand up Patrin's arm and leaning against him.

Patrin's voice was louder than Fell's. "No, thank you."

"What do you mean, no?" Sarah set her hands on her hips. "You can't tell me no. It's full moon. I know you want me."

With a cynical smile, Patrin sniffed his own wrist. "Nope. No interest here." He stood and stepped around the brunette. "C'mon, brawd. We've waited long enough."

"'Bout time." Fell followed, leaving Sarah staring after them, mouth open in shock.

"Oh, that was oddly satisfying to watch," Eileen said.

But Moya couldn't answer…because Patrin's gaze had met hers. Trapped hers. The two males headed straight for her, covering the space quickly with their long-legged strides.

For the first time that night, heat bloomed inside her.

"Moya." Patrin stood in front of her, and the glorious masculine scent of him made her heart dance like a rose-intoxicated flower fairy.

She swallowed. "Um, hey."

Talitha made a snickering sound.

Patrin's darker-than-dark eyes were piercing. The feeling of his callused hand closing around hers sent a surge of heat through her.

Gods, what was happening to her? She hadn't felt this out of control since her first full moon heat.

Maybe not even then.

"Come upstairs with us, little wolf," Patrin murmured.

" Us …?" Her gaze jerked up.

Fell stood beside Patrin, his blue eyes holding hers.

The chair beneath her seemed to dissolve, leaving her floating in air.

A corner of Fell's mouth tipped up, and he touched her cheek with gentle fingers. "Both of us."

Patrin pulled her to her feet and stopped. "Aye?"

Because the decision was hers.

"Both of you. I've never…" She breathed in, and when Fell's compelling forest scent mingled with Patrin's, there was no way she could say no. "Aye."

Fell's smile grew. Taking her free hand, he kissed the palm, sending tingles all the way up her arm.

Hand-in-hand-in-hand, they escorted her up the stairs.

Tucked as she was between them, she breathed in their scents…and stopped.

Patrin looked down at her. "Are you changing your mind, blodyn ?"

"No. Not at all. It's just…" She sniffed him, then Fell.

She'd learned that despite showering after mating, a faint scent would always linger afterward. On Patrin and Fell, she could smell where the females downstairs had touched them, but nothing else. "Neither of you smell like you…mated. Earlier."

Patrin raised an eyebrow. Oh, oops, her question was borderline rude. One didn't ask about previous matings, after all. Then a corner of his mouth tipped up. "Good nose, little wolf. You're the first tonight. The only tonight."

"But…" She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to wrap her head around what he meant. "I've been downstairs all night."

Waiting. All. Night.

Her question came out with a growl. "Why now ?"

Fell tugged on her hair. "It's close enough to moonset."

"Huh?"

Patrin said, "This late, no one will be upset if we keep you to ourselves until moonset."

Oh . Shifters weren't supposed to linger together after a mating. There were always others wanting to mate with the participants or needing the room. But this close to dawn, no one would care.

"I'm sorry, Moya. We wanted to explain, only if we got near you, we wouldn't've been able to wait." Patrin leaned down and breathed her in. "Gods, you smell good."

"It's why we had to go outside." Fell bent and kissed the top of her head. His voice came out a low growl. "But now… We plan to take our time with you."

Mother of All. The surge of desire made her head spin.

Her heart was pounding as they led her down the long line of mating rooms that ran around the open center of the house. She glanced over the railing down to the first floor, saw Sarah staring up spitefully, and let the animosity bounce right off.

Nothing mattered at this moment other than being with Patrin and Fell. Desire hummed in her blood.

At a door half-open, Fell looked inside and winced.

Moya leaned forward. Right, the citrus room. The walls were a bright orange with equally vibrant, colorful cushions on the floor.

"Gods help me, I'm blind. We are not using this room." Patrin moved her past the door so quickly, she started to giggle. "I've been wondering—why are all the rooms different?"

Fell caught up to them, still looking appalled.

"It was one of the Cosantir's ways of getting the clan involved in fixing the Gathering house. He and Heather had groups pick rooms and choose the décor. Everyone had a wonderful time."

Fell eyed her with a small smile. "Which ones did you work on?"

Would she get to mate in a room she'd decorated? Looking down the line of rooms, she bounced on her toes, and heard Patrin chuckle.

The moon room door was closed, but really, they'd like the one farther away even better, and its door was open.

"This is one of them." She stopped in the doorway, surprised at how much she wanted them to like it.

After a moment, Fell muttered, "Oh yeah, this one."

Patrin entered. "I've never seen a mating room like this."

"I've visited a lot of houses—and it's fascinating how shifters decorate to suit their animals. And, right then, the book club was reading historical romances."

"Medieval period?" Fell turned in a circle taking it in.

"Mmmhmm. I wanted it to look like a bear's cozy den…in a castle. Eileen painted the walls." And she'd done such a good job that the dark gray walls really looked like stone. "She did the stained-glass window too."

The full moon glowed brightly through the window, scattering beams of glowing colors across the velvet, damask, and brocade cushions.

Patrin studied the wrought iron chandelier with the myriad of candle-like bulbs and used the rheostat on the wall to dim them slightly. "Your imaginary bear shifter must have been wealthy."

"Totally." Moya smiled at the faux stone walls where she and Talitha had hung tree of life and stag tapestries in colors of burgundy and muted green. "I'd just finished rereading Lord of the Rings and might've been unduly influenced by Gondor."

Fell grinned. They'd discussed the books before—and how much Tolkien's dwarves resembled real ones. The author must have had the Sight.

With a slight smirk, he pulled her into the room. "I can pretend to be rich." Tilting her chin up, he kissed her, long and slow.

The full moon heat, delayed for a moment by their talk, flared to life.

When he released her and stepped to one side, Patrin pressed her against the wall, taking his own kiss.

Fire roared upward in an unstoppable demand. By the Mother, I need to be mated. She gripped the bottom of his shirt and pulled it over his head.

He stared at her, surprised at her audacity, then smiled. "Full moon heat. I forgot."

Beside him, Fell caressed her cheek. "So demanding. You up to it, brawd?"

Patrin backhanded his brother in the stomach, and his grin flashed at the pained grunt. Taking his turn, he pulled Moya's shirt right over her head and off, then hummed in happiness. "I thought these were unfettered."

When his hands covered her breasts, callused and demanding, it took a moment for her to get past the wave of sensation to realize what he meant. No bra.

Right now, she was totally happy to be…unfettered.

It wasn't easy, but Patrin managed to release the little wolf's soft, soft breasts and take a step back. His every breath brought him her scent, filled with desire.

She wanted him and Fell. The knowledge was heady—and made him harder than an oak tree.

Stop and think, wolf. We need her naked. Yes, that was the priority. Pulling her forward, he kicked the door shut and nodded at Fell.

As usual, his littermate understood exactly what Patrin intended. Coming up behind her, Fell pulled her back against his chest—and took advantage of the position to fondle her breasts.

Patrin smiled at the way her face flushed pink. Simply lovely. Bending, he undid her jeans. "Lift, brawd."

Hands around her waist, Fell lifted her up.

Patrin stripped off her socks and jeans and, unable to resist, nuzzled her groin. Sweet, silky curls were trimmed short enough to see her pink folds. The fragrance made him want to bury himself there immediately.

Control, wolf.

Instead, he exchanged smiles with Fell. On mission for the Scythe, they'd shared a human female a few times. And now, during Gatherings, if a female was amenable, they'd both mate her, even if it usually meant one of them didn't get off.

They'd looked forward to sharing Moya.

After his brother disrobed, Patrin pointed to the cushioned floor beneath the chandelier where the colored moonlight through the stained-glass window would spill over their beautiful female. "There."

"Nice." Fell swept her up in his arms, and Patrin grinned at her startled squeak—and at the second " Eep ," when his brother dropped her six inches onto the squashy cushions.

After stripping off his own clothes, Patrin knelt beside her, smiling at how her nipples made hard peaks. When he rubbed his knuckles over one, her eyes went half-lidded. And his restraint went out the window.

"You have the prettiest breasts I've ever seen," he murmured and flattened her on her back. Bending, he licked around one nipple, closed his mouth over it, and sucked.

Her gasp shivered down his spine and straight to his balls.

Was there any nicer sound in the world? "Brawd," he prompted, "she has two breasts."

Fell's low laugh sounded before he knelt on her other side and started kissing her other breast.

Patrin saw her hand curl around Fell's head, pulling him closer before small fingers closed in his own hair, gripping and holding him to her chest.

She was definitely going to be demanding this night—and they would enjoy the fuck out of it.

He smiled against the soft, warm flesh, then started teasing and licking and simply savoring the finest task given to a male.

Eventually, when he could feel how hot and swollen her breast was, he moved to kiss her.

Fell repositioned himself near her hips, and Patrin considered what to do next. His brother was very good at satisfying a female—but not this time.

"Fell, stop." Since it was the twenty-second—an even day—Patrin would mate her first. But it'd be more fun to share, especially since Moya had learned about what the humans called a blowjob. "Kneel up, brawd."

Giving Patrin a puzzled stare, Fell did as ordered.

Smiling, Patrin rolled Moya and set her on her hands and knees with her head pointed toward Fell. "Remember what I taught you, blodyn ? Can you show Fell what you learned?"

Hair spilling over her naked back, she looked over her shoulder at him, eyes half-glassy with her heat. She was breathing hard and obviously wanted to demand he take her immediately. Fuck knew, most females insisted on a straightforward mating with no delays.

Fell stared at him in surprise.

But this was Moya who was as generously giving as anyone Patrin had ever met.

She pulled in a breath, then her mouth curved. "Of course." Her voice was husky with desire. Balancing on one hand, she wrapped the other around Fell's cock and took him in her mouth.

Fell's low groan of pleasure made Patrin grin.

"While you do that, I'll give you what you want, little wolf." Patrin pushed her knees apart and knelt between them. He ran his hands over her gorgeous ass, massaging the delightfully plump cheeks, and felt her shiver. Moving his hand down, he savored the wet heat between her legs. So slick and ready.

He slid his fingers between the soft lips of her pussy—just to provoke her enticing whine. He could feel her tremble as her need increased.

She was going. To. Die. As Patrin's fingers eased her open, she was swamped in pleasure—and it set off an overwhelming urgency.

The arm she was balanced on was shaking, and she blinked. Her hand was wrapped around Fell's cock.

Right. Concentrate. She sucked gently on the thick shaft, savored the so-very-masculine musky taste, and swirled her tongue around the tip.

He made a most-gratifying sound, and his hands closed in her hair. His hips tilted forward even as he pushed down. She froze for a second, but he wasn't shoving, just…encouraging. Wanting more.

Much like she'd done in holding his and Patrin's heads against her breasts.

Laughing under her breath, she obediently bobbed her head up and down, and oh, the sound of his raspy growl melted her insides.

Removing his fingers, Patrin bent over her. His long hair swept over her back in a cool caress. She felt the brush of his beard on her cheek as he whispered in her ear. "You are so beautiful." He nipped her shoulder in a wolf's possessive gesture before straightening slightly.

Reaching around her, he rubbed over her clit.

"Aaaah." Shocking pleasure swept through her. She gripped the base of Fell's shaft harder and heard his choked laugh. What was she doing again?

"Now, Moya, let's have fun." The head of Patrin's cock pushed at her entrance and slid in an inch as if to warn her. She managed one breath before his implacable penetration turned her mind blank with the incredible sensation of being filled completely.

Mouth filled with Fell's cock, she couldn't do anything but groan in pleasure.

Fell sucked in a breath. " Mmm. That felt great."

She was pinned between them, one in her mouth, one in her pussy, helpless to do anything. Fell guided her head, up and down, as behind her, Patrin thrust in and out. When he leaned forward and started rubbing her clit, the vise of need grew so fast, she was moaning with every breath.

Then…right when she near to climaxing, Patrin moved his slick finger between her buttocks to circle the rim of her ass.

She lifted her head, releasing Fell. "What…?"

With a huffed laugh, Fell slid down to lie beside her. With hard hands, he fondled her dangling breasts, and the unexpected shock of pleasure made her back arch.

But…Patrin's finger. "Patrin?" Her voice shook with the word.

"There may come a time we want to take you here, cariad ," Patrin murmured. "Would you be interested in that? Do you like this?"

His finger circled without intruding. And the shivery feeling was tempting. Would more be better? "I don't know. Maybe?"

"Want to try, little wolf?" His cock was motionless, deep inside her, even as the light brush of his finger outside her backhole wakened new nerves.

He waited patiently, letting her decide.

"Yes."

Slowly, so slowly, he pushed a finger inside.

The feeling was different, incredibly intimate, and so very hot. More sensations added to the nerves already singing.

Her need rose higher and higher.

Pulling his cock back, he began thrusting again, alternating with his finger, and her whole lower half felt submerged in pleasure.

Fell rolled her nipples, and the sparks zoomed straight to her clit.

Oh, I'm going to come. Going to ? —

Patrin slowed, so damned slow, keeping her there, right on the edge, the pleasure almost too much, and the need to climax was almost painful.

"Not yet," he murmured. Fell had stopped, his hands simply cupping her hanging breasts. She could hear herself panting, whining.

Needing.

The slow thrusts were just enough to keep her on the razor's edge. Her muscles tightened, tightened…

Mean as a wolverine, Patrin made a huff of a laugh. "Now, let's get you off, little wolf."

He began to drive into her, hard and fast and merciless. Between her buttocks, he added another finger, stretching her painfully, wonderfully, and the two fingers thrusting rhythmically.

When Fell pinched and tugged on her nipples, she gasped and shook—and everything shoved her right off the cliff. She plummeted into a lake of sensation, rolled over and over, and drowned in pleasure.

Gods, gods, gods.

Patrin felt her tighten around his dick and then the infinitely wonderful battering as she spasmed around his shaft and his fingers. Her whining gasps were music to his ears.

And impossible for his control.

He met Fell's gaze—his littermate was grinning—and returned a wry smile of defeat at his inability to hold out longer. He pulled his fingers out, gripped her hips with both hands, and pounded into her.

Heat roared down his spine, into his balls, and he fought it off, savoring the burn before letting it all jet through him and out. Pleasure soared through him as he filled her with his seed.

Minutes passed as he recovered and, finger by finger, released his hold on her hips.

The moonlight streamed over her damp, velvety skin, and he took a moment to simply appreciate her beautiful body. And her generous nature. Leaning forward with his chest to her back, he nipped her shoulder— mine —then rubbed his cheek against hers. "Thank you, beautiful Moya."

She made a soft sound, almost a purr. "Mmm."

He knew the feeling. His brain might have melted too." Slowly, he withdrew, already regretting the loss of the soft heat.

Fell handed him a warm washcloth.

"Thanks, brawd." After cleaning her up, then himself, he and Fell gently rolled her onto her back.

Patrin lay down on her right and propped himself up on an elbow. He caressed her cheek, then ran a finger over her pink swollen lips. She'd given his littermate pleasure with that soft mouth. Unable to resist, he took a long, slow kiss.

Dark eyes gazed up at him, and a dimple appeared in her cheek. "You destroyed me, you two. Shame on you." The way her soprano had turned husky was fucking sexy.

Lying on her left, up on one elbow, Fell curved his free hand over her breast. "Can't think of anything I enjoyed more."

"Yeah," Patrin said under his breath in agreement. He circled one breast with a finger. Her nipples, reddened from Fell's teasing, were flat again, soft with satisfaction. Moving his hand down, he smiled. Her belly had a pretty—very bitable—curve.

Next time.

Right now, she was perfect where she was. Between them where she belonged.

He blinked and frowned. What was that thought? Where she belongs?

But just as he could feel her body against his, he could feel her in the pack bonds. Because one tie, brighter than the rest hummed joyfully: This is Moya .

There was no darkness in that bond, no deceit, no cruelty. She was just who she seemed to be. Warm and open and…precious. He wanted to curl around her and protect her with everything inside him.

Fuck, had he fallen in love with her?

Looks like I have.

He looked over at his brother.

Fell bent to kiss the little wolf, his expression gentle. Caring. Tender.

Yeah, I'm not the only one falling hard.

Lying on his side next to Moya, Fell had a hard-on that wouldn't quit, but he didn't mind in the least. It'd been worth it to feel her mouth around him. And he'd cherished her little glances upward to check if she was pleasing him, even when Patrin had done his best to distract her.

It'd been wonderful to watch his brother mate with her, hear her soft gasps.

Hearing she wanted to prepare to take both of them someday left him speechless. He and Patrin were always happier when they could share—and to share Moya? Nothing could be better.

Gently stroking up and down her curvy body wasn't helping his dick go down, but she was impossible to resist. Oh, he knew his cock wouldn't be satisfied tonight—she'd already climaxed, and on full moon nights, females needed a while to become aroused again.

Maybe that was the Gods' way to ensure females would move on rather than staying with one male for long periods of the night?

Whatever the reason, he was all right with not getting off.

But he couldn't stop touching.

"Do we need to get up and moving?" she asked, a tiny frown on her forehead. Reaching out, she rested a hand on each of their shoulders. Her fingers stroked over his muscles, the sensation intoxicating.

"No, blodyn, unless you object, we'll watch moonset from in here." Patrin kissed her cheek, then deliberately cupped her right breast, started to fondle it, and grinned at Fell.

All right then. Fell cupped her left breast, following Patrin's movements, fondling, kneading, tugging at the nipples.

He knew she loved having her breasts touched…as well as something else. He lifted his chin to get Patrin's attention, then sucked on one pink peak before using his teeth in a gentle nibble.

She pulled in an audible breath, and her nipples stood erect. Her scent deepened with arousal.

Being the observant male he was, Patrin caught on immediately. He grinned and began to use his teeth also.

"Ooooh." Her back arched up, offering her breasts for more.

Fuck, this was fun.

Even as Fell teased her breast with his tongue, teeth, and mouth, he slid his hand down her abdomen and then lower. When he ran a finger up and down her hot, slick folds, her hips wiggled.

Patrin, never one to be left out of the fun, added his finger on the other side of her pussy. When they each rubbed on different areas of her clit, she moaned, long and low.

"You are both evil mongrels." Her voice was breathy, her face flushed, and her fingernails were digging into his shoulder.

Fell lifted his head, propping himself up on one elbow. Her nipple was nicely wet and pink. He puffed a breath over it, fascinated at how it grew even more rigid. "Not evil. We just like touching you."

Wait…did she maybe feel as if he was trying to—what did the human men call it— score ? "We can stop, cariad , and go back downstairs."

Her eyes were dark and soft as she looked up at him. She laid her hand on his face, running her fingers along his jaw. "A while back, I asked Heather why she'd taken two males upstairs at a Gathering. After all, what good was a second male?"

Patrin leaned back and tilted his head. "Even if not wanting seconds, more hands and more mouths are nice, aye, little wolf?"

"Aye, so nice."

Fell released the breath he'd been holding. She wasn't unhappy with them. When she combed her fingers through his hair, he leaned into her touch.

Her lips curved. "Did you know your wolf coat is longer than your human hair?"

He snorted. "No, really?"

Her husky giggle made him want to kiss her again.

"Anyway, Heather said if the mating was wonderful, and she liked the males, she'd go again."

Fell's breathing paused. Had she implied…

Sitting up, she took his face between her hands and gave him a stern look. "You got me all aroused again. And needy."

"Huh. We can't have that," he murmured. Cupping the back of her head, he pulled her down for a long, satisfying kiss.

"How about I play backrest?" Patrin asked. Kneeling, he pulled Moya between his legs with her head propped against his stomach. His hands over her breasts kept her secured.

Her eyes went wide…but the scent of her arousal only increased.

Fell smiled. There was nothing like watching Patrin render a female helpless—if it was what she enjoyed. Her butt was on the floor cushions, her legs splayed. He pushed a pillow under her ass, putting her at the perfect height to be taken.

So pretty. He ran his hands up and down her thighs, feeling the slight quiver every time his thumbs neared the junction between her legs. Eventually, he touched her there, using his thumbs to open her folds. Her clit was pink and glistening, engorged with need.

Pinching a velvety inner fold between each thumb and forefinger, he tugged downward, forcing the hood to cover her clit. Pulling up, he watched the nub pop back out. Down and up, over and over, letting the hood do all the teasing.

Her clit grew more swollen, and her breathing quickened. "Ooooh, please." Knees bent, feet on the cushions, she lifted her hips in a very female demand.

Playing with her breasts, Patrin grinned at him. "Sounds like she's ready."

It did, didn't it? "All right, little wolf."

He set his shaft against her opening and teased her, pushing the head in and out, slightly farther each time until she was moaning. Until he was fully embedded.

Fuck, she was swollen and hot and so-wonderfully-tight around him. "Damn, you feel good."

Her eyes were only half-focused, but her mouth tilted up. "So do you. Faster, wolf. I want faster." She raised her hips, trying to pump him to get more speed.

She was just plain fucking adorable. And her attempt to push him wasn't going to work. "Here, bro. Make yourself useful." He took a foot in each hand and lifted.

Patrin's arms were long enough he could grip her ankles and hold her legs straight up. It removed any chance she had at control and let him go even deeper.

Her shivery groan almost made him come, right then and there.

He thrust in a steady rhythm. Deep—and slow. His balls hit her buttocks each time, adding a dancing counterpoint. Every few strokes, he changed the angle until…there. He could feel her shudder and contract hard around him.

Perfect.

Her eyes were closed, her breathing fast, her cheeks and lips darkened to a lovely red. Her breasts bounced with every thrust.

Fell's jaw tightened as he strove for control. She felt far too good—he wouldn't last much longer. "A little more open, brawd."

Patrin spread her legs wider apart, exposing her clit.

Gasping, she gripped his forearms…as if she could stop what was going to happen.

Fell slid his finger alongside her clit, rubbing upward as he drove in, downward as he pulled back. He could feel the ball of nerves grow firmer. Her nipples jutted into tight peaks.

Now, he sped up into hard, driving thrusts, keeping up the pressure on her clit.

Her hips began to buck. "Oh, oh, oh."

He could feel her spasming around his dick, hot and wet, as she came with a high cry.

Fuck, he wanted to start all over just to experience it again.

Instead, he curled his hands around her raised thighs, pulling her down hard onto his cock as he pumped short and fast and then held there, deep, deep inside her.

He came with a hard growl, giving her the essence of all he was.

Joining her in the most intimate way on this night of the full moon.