Behind the Eight Ball (30 page)

“Dolf. Alpha.” Marshell nodded to the two men.

Alpha Armonty returned the nod. “Marshell.” Then he glanced at the truck. “So I take it we’ve had another visit from our less-than-friendly werewolf?”

“Yeah. Dammit,” Remi said. “Clawed it all to hell.”

Dolf leaned a little closer to the marks and sniffed. “Well, at least Kirk wasn’t in it this time.”

Remi’s laugh sounded a little on edge. “There is that. I swear to God, what is it with me and vehicles?” Remi scowled at the truck. “First my car burns to the ground, and now this.”

“The vehicle gods don’t seem to be very happy with you.” Heller slapped Remi on the back.

“Huh. I wonder if those gods are related to the parking lot gods who dislike me,” Dolf said.

Remi let out a long breath. “This is just too much. I guess… I’m just glad I didn’t replace my Mustang yet. A new car getting clawed up would’ve pissed me off more.”

“Pissed you off
more
? Did you somehow miss the implied threat behind this?” Marshell asked, his voice rising. “That truck is meant to represent
you
.”

“I
know
that. I just don’t know why.” Remi stuck his finger in Marshell’s chest and hissed softly. “It’s been a long night, so don’t start with me.”

Well, it appeared Marshell didn’t intimidate Remi, not if the way Remi was drilling his finger into Marshell’s chest was any indication.

“Gentleman, if we could return to the subject at hand…,” Alpha Armonty reminded everyone.

“You’re right, Alpha.” Marshell clasped Remi’s hand, his voice dropping. “I… I’m sorry, Remi. I, ah, I didn’t mean to yell. It’s just the thought of you being hurt makes me crazy. And watch that pointy thing. I bruise easily,” Marshell joked as he brought Remi’s hand up to his lips and kissed the finger that had tried to punch a hole in his chest.

“Yeah, right,” Remi sighed, tugging his hand away from Marshell. “You’re built like a tank.”

“Yeah, right,” I echoed, and then laughed. “He is, isn’t he? Seriously, though, I asked why too when my stuff was destroyed.”

“I want to point out that the scent’s the same as the one at your old house,” Heller said. He looked at Marshell. “I smelled it as soon as we walked out the door. It’s that werewolf again.”

“Yeah, it is.” Marshell scrubbed his hands over his face.

Heller continued speaking. “Marshell, you seem to be the common denominator in all this.”

“Yeah, Heller, I know.”

“He must know you found your mate. But how did the fucker even find out?” Heller looked around.

“He? Who is ‘he’?” Remi interjected.

“You mean you don’t know?” I asked.

“He must have been watching us here at the house,” Heller said slowly. “How else could he have known Marshell was even here? He must’ve seen him and Remi leave together. Hell, he might have even followed you home, Marshell.”

“If so he got an eyeful of Remi and me together on the couch.”

“You did
not
just say that,” Remi hissed at Marshell.

“Gods, I hate this,” Marshell griped.

“Hate
what
?” Remi exclaimed. “Know what I hate? Not knowing what’s going on—so could someone please tell
me
what the deal is? I’m the one with the truck clawed all to hell.”

“You haven’t told him?
How
could you have not told him?” Heller demanded.

“Told him what?” Dolf asked.

“Yeah, told me what?” Remi crossed his arms over his chest. “Man, I’m about to go ninja cat on someone.”

“I just found my mate, and there were other things we… I was distracted by…. So maybe I wasn’t thinking clearly. Give me a break!” Marshell huffed.

“What’s. Going. On. Marshell?” Remi demanded.

“We think the werewolf that’s been stalking Lawson was doing it because of me. I slept with this wolf a couple of times, but I broke it off when he got demanding. He has it in his head we’re mates, even though we aren’t. When he trashed Lawson’s stuff, he didn’t bother to hide his scent. As soon as I smelled it, I knew it was him. We just don’t know where he is.”

“Well, that’s not good.” Remi glared at Marshell. “How long ago was this, anyhow?”

“Before I knew about you.” Marshell took Remi’s hand. “I stopped sleeping around as soon as I smelled your scent on Heller.”

“Okay.” Remi sighed. “Okay. That’s fair. Can’t really blame you for that, then. It’s not like I haven’t had my fair share of ass through the years too.”

“If you want those people to live, it might be best if you don’t give me names,” Marshell growled.

“This might be a good time for me to interject that in the morning, I’ll call with the name of the shifter who worked on Kirk’s truck after it was scratched,” Dolf said to Remi. “At least we can get started on that.”

“Thanks, Dolf,” Remi said. “I appreciate it.”

“There are other things to discuss, but it’ll all wait until later. Good night, everyone,” Dolf said. Everyone waved good-bye as Dolf and Alpha Armonty left.

“What are you two going to do?” I asked.

“Go home,” Remi said.

“With me,” Marshell added.

Remi rolled his eyes. “I didn’t say that.”

“Well, I’m sure not leaving you alone,” Marshell retaliated.

“Oh, for crying out loud, I’m a beta, Marshell. I’m not helpless, you know.”

“Didn’t say you were. But you can’t expect me to turn my back when my mate has been threatened.”

Remi and Marshell were still discussing—arguing might be a better description—what they planned do when they left. I noticed Marshell didn’t take the turn that would have led him toward home. He followed Remi instead. Looked like Remi was having company whether he wanted it or not.

Heller and I went back inside, and Heller put the gun up. We undressed and went back to bed.

“Those two are going to kill each other,” Heller said, pulling me close.

“I have to admit, I always figured Marshell would end up with someone more… submissive, I guess.”

Heller laughed. “Oh, this should be fun to watch. Remi doesn’t have a submissive bone in his body. He’s laid-back and easygoing, but the truth is, he’s actually the strongest of the betas. I wonder which of them is more dominant.”

I turned in Heller’s arms to face him. “It’s not our problem. We’ll be there for them and we’ll help any way we can with the werewolf problem or whatever else they need, but they’re mates. They’ll have to work this out on their own. Of course that does
not
mean we won’t have the option of helping, like the way Marshell helped us out, if it’s needed.”

“Yeah, I like that idea.” Heller’s grin was positively evil, but then he let out a deep breath. “We haven’t seen the last of that werewolf, have we?”

“I seriously doubt it. If we’re right and he’s going after anyone he thinks is in a relationship with Marshell, then no, there’s no reason to think he’s just going to go away.”

“I hope Remi will listen to reason.”

“Hey, if all else fails, we’ll sic Janelle on them.”

Heller snorted. “Should be fun. But seriously I hope it works out for them. I didn’t realize how lost I was until I practically fell at your feet that day in your store. I looked into your eyes, and that was it. I was a goner.”

I nodded. “The world stopped for just a second. You confused the hell out of me that day, but I knew you were worth fighting for.”

“Thank you for not giving up on me.”

“Never. I will
always
stand with you. Always, Heller. You’re no longer alone.” I knew then if I wasn’t in love with him, I was fast getting there. He might not be what I thought I wanted as a mate, but he was exactly what I needed. And he was mine.

There were issues looming on the horizon: the biases against humans, Marshell’s power, and the uphill battle it looked as if he was going to have with Remi and maybe even the clowder, Heller’s insecurities, the waves Janelle was sure to make when she figured out just how old-fashioned and rigid this clowder was…. We’d deal with all of it together.

We’d make changes. We’d love, laugh, and live our lives to the fullest. And hey, if we had the chance to needle Marshell about his mate… well, then, all the better. Heller was certainly looking forward to it.

As I drifted off to sleep, I thanked God, Fate, Bast—whomever happened to be listening—for allowing me to meet my hellcat.

A snowstorm in the South—on New Year’s Eve—is a perfect recipe for a catastrophe. After two soul-crushing bad breaks, Kirk’s waiting for disaster number three to strike when, naturally, two stray cats arrive on his doorstep during the storm and decide to make themselves at home. Tenderhearted Kirk lets them stay even though there’s something decidedly odd about his overly friendly felines.

Out of the punishing weather and full of tuna, Dolf and Tal are happy to be snug in Kirk’s house. But then their human goes outside for firewood and suffers a nasty fall that leaves him unconscious. Now the two cats have no choice but to reveal themselves.

Kirk wakes up to find the two kitties are actually Dolf and Tal. They’re cat shifters—and his destined mates. Being part of a feline threesome is enough for Kirk to grapple with, but soon he learns they come from a clowder that doesn’t believe humans and shifters should mix. Kirk knew those two cats would be trouble. Little does he know the real trouble lies ahead.

To celebrate his decision to take the next step with his boyfriend Ian, Toshi Baylor plans a romantic evening at their favorite steak house. Toshi starts the special weekend with a bang by surprising Ian at home with lunch. There’s a bang all right, but it’s between Ian and another guy.

Jase Taylor’s auto repair shop and the BDSM club, Wrapped Up, keep him busy while he waits for Mr. Right, instead of Mr. Right Now. He’s a Dom, but playing with the club’s submissives isn’t providing the usual stress release. After a day from hell, he deserves a good meal at his favorite steak house.

Toshi and Jase find a mix-up with their reservations: a table for Baylor, not Taylor. When Toshi invites Jase to dine with him, they discover a mutual affection for leather and a shared belief that trust must be earned.

Before they can explore their common interests, Toshi suffers a series of attacks by vandals. Jase’s protective instincts kick in, but both wonder if it can lead to anything permanent.

Sparks ignite when Cupid takes aim at two mortals in Las Vegas: Randy Jones, an average guy on a company vacation, looks into Garrett’s eyes at a craps table and time stands still. Throwing aside everything he believes, Randy engages in a torrid two-night affair with Garrett—only to panic when he realizes he’s fallen in love.

Cynical billionaire Garrett Shiffler has everything money can buy, and most of his dates can’t see past the dollar signs. Life has taught him that innocence and love are figments of the imagination. But when Randy disappears, taking with him feelings Garrett thought he’d never know, Garrett wages the most important battle of his life to win Randy’s love—but this time he fights with his heart, not his bank account.

Meanwhile, Cupid wonders what happened. His golden arrows never fail unless the Fates interfere. If Garrett wants to win Randy back, he’s going to have to do it on his own, because the Fates have other plans for Cupid.