“I’ve been talking to Zach about how I’d go about setting things up if I went that route.”

  God, he loved this woman. “It’s not money. If I never worked another day in my life, we’d have plenty. You only need to sew if you want. I’ll support whatever you want to do.” He understood her need for independence and admired her for it.

  “Then what is it? I catch you watching me sometimes like you’re afraid I’ll vanish if you look away.”

  “Maybe I am.” He huffed out a breath. “Forget I said that. I promised I’d give you space and time, not pressure you.”

  “This time I’m the idiot.”

  “What? Why would you say that? You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” He never wanted her to believe differently. It took all his concentration not to groan when she leaned forward and accidentally rubbed against his erection.

  “This is about mating, isn’t it? You mentioned it once but never brought it up again.”

  He thunked the back of his head against the tree trunk. “If it happens, it will be your decision.” It had to be. “You need to know you’re free to do whatever you want, to make your own choices.”

  “But I’m not free, not entirely.” She stroked the mark on his neck. “And I don’t want to be.”

  It took a second to process her whispered words. “What are you saying?” His heart thudded in his chest. Adrenaline raced through his veins.

  “I want to mate with you.”

  Every muscle in his body locked. His fangs dropped, even as his wolf howled inside him. “Be sure. Once it’s done, it can’t be undone.” Wolves mated for life. Hell, he’d felt mated since the day she’d bit him.

  She stroked the mark again, sending a bolt of desire straight to his dick. “I was certain when I did this. It just took me some time to admit it to myself.”

  Eli captured her lips. Blood pounded in his ears. Mine!

  ****

  Eli’s passion threatened to overwhelm her. It was an indication of how badly he’d been hurting. That had never been her intention. All the doubts that whispered in her ears vanished whenever they were together. Running on the mountain tonight, it had occurred to her that she never wanted to be anywhere else. This was home. Eli was home.

  That he’d tamped down his own wants and needs to protect her made her love him all the more. She either took this step forward or stayed locked in the prison of her past.

  Tongues tangled and breath mingled—the kiss hot and desperate. After a week of nights locked in passion, she knew his body as well as she did her own. They’d spent hours exploring, making slow, tender love, learning how best to please the other. Tonight wasn’t going to be slow or tender. Tonight was about a wolf claiming his mate.

  A shiver of excitement shot through her, followed by a blast of desire when he nipped at the curve of her neck, a precursor of what was to come. Big hands cupped her breasts, his thumbs teasing the taut nipples. She ran her hands over the broad expanse of his chest, enjoying the play of muscle beneath her questing fingers.

  His hands drifted lower, one of them sliding between her legs. Gasping, she surged up on her knees, gripping his shoulders. Her head fell back, pushing her breasts closer. He latched onto the tip of one and sucked. A single finger tested her readiness.

  “Eli,” she moaned.

  “Fuck, yes.” He fitted the head of his cock at her opening and pulled her down onto his hard length. Intense pleasure shot through her. Sucking air into her lungs, she tried not to come, wanting the moment to last.

  Shaggy brown hair fell around his face, framing eyes as dark as sin. His cheekbones appeared more pronounced. His jaw was tight. Huge wolf fangs glistened in the moonlight. This dangerous predator, this alpha male, was all hers. She pulled her hair to one side and tilted her head.

  He struck hard and fast. Sharp teeth sank into her skin, the flash of pain followed by intense pleasure. She cried out when he bucked against her, the base of his cock swelling as he came. Heat exploded throughout her body. Her wolf howled. Mating bonds should have snapped into place. It was a shock to discover they were already there and had been since she’d claimed him. But Eli needed this to be sure of her commitment, and frankly, so did she. It was a tangible and irrefutable sign of their connection.

  They were mates.

  He withdrew his fangs and licked the wounds, following up with tender kisses. She buried her face against his neck and lapped at the marks she found there. A shudder went through him, and his arms came around her. Silence enveloped them. Content to stay as she was as the pounding of her heart subsided, she gradually became aware of the leaves dancing in the breeze and the hoot of an owl.

  Eli nuzzled the top of her head. “I hate to leave, but if we’re too much longer we’ll have company.

  The Sin brothers were a protective bunch. Rather than feel hemmed in, it gave her a sense of belonging. She’d not only gained a mate who loved her but also six overprotective brothers. Rather than wanting to keep her down or hold her back, they were all ready to lend a hand to help her follow her dreams.

  She pushed upright and shivered at the dark possessiveness in his gaze. “The bond was already there.”

  “I know.” The fact he’d realized that when she hadn’t had to have contributed to his dissatisfaction.

  “We match.” She touched the healing scar at the base of her neck.

  “You’re mine now. Mine to protect.”

  “And you’re mine.” He’d best understand that worked both ways.

  A smile bloomed on his face. “I’m counting on it.” He lifted her off his lap and stood, pulling her up with him. “Ready to go home?”

  She went up on her toes and gave him a kiss. “Race you.” Shifting, she took off running. He could have easily beat her there, but stayed beside her the entire way. The lights were on in the kitchen, but there was no sign of the others. There would be time enough to tell them in the morning. She bolted up the stairs with Eli behind her.

  Once the door was closed behind them, they shifted back and fell onto the bed. “Now I plan to make love to my mate.” He stole her breath with his words and his kiss. For a deadly Sin, he tasted like Heaven.

  Epilogue

  “Did you order anything?”’ Eli set a box on the dining table. He’d gone into the nearby town of Jackson earlier to run errands. They’d been mated several days now, but this was the first time he’d left her alone. Of course, she wasn’t truly alone. Zach was in the office, and Silas was around somewhere.

  Curious, Kinley wiped her hands on a towel, leaving the cookie batter she was mixing, and came over to the table. “No, I didn’t. Maybe Zach ordered more t-shirts.” She was currently sporting the white t-shirt with Thank You emblazoned across the front.

  “You need clothes. We should plan an overnight trip to a major city. If you want to start sewing, you’ll need supplies.”

  She’d hesitated to spend the money in her account, but that was a reflex action—the need to never again find herself in a situation without resources. But her home was here now. It was time to fully leave the past behind and settle in. “You’re right. We need to decide where I can set up a workspace.”

  There was no return address on the box. She caught an end of the packing tape and ripped it off.

  “You can have a corner of the office for now. I’ll build you a studio out back.”

  The piece of tape fell to the floor. “You’ll what?” He’d mentioned it casually, like it was no big deal when it was huge.

  “Build you a studio.” He pointed out the window to an area behind the house. “That part of the yard gets the best natural light, if that matters, but it can go wherever you want.”

  His generosity was overwhelming. “Have you discussed this with your brothers? It’s a big change.” And there’d been so many lately.

  “Cyrus suggested it before he left.”

  “Cyrus suggested it?” If he’d said Zach or Levi, even Noah or Silas, she wouldn’t have batted an eye. “And he suggested it before he left on a job?”

  Eli chuckled and gave her a quick kiss. “Yes, big brother wants you to settle in. Plus, it moves your sewing stuff out of the office.”

  That made her laugh. “That, I’ll believe.” She wrapped her arms around Eli. “Thank you.”

  “It’s my pleasure. Now open the box.”

  “Right.” Mind cluttered with plans of what she’d need in her new studio, she folded back the flaps. She lifted her hand to her mouth and took a step back.

  “What it is it?” Frowning, Eli yanked the box over in front of him. He glanced at her as he removed an unframed picture of a smiling couple. “Kinley?”

  “It’s Mama and Daddy.” And the only picture she had of them. “What else is in there?” She began to pull out more, finding her small box of jewelry, which included her mother’s pieces, several more pictures that had been in her daddy’s room, and other small treasures from childhood. “It had to have been Rufus.” There was no one else who would have bothered.

  “Maybe this will tell you.” Eli held out an envelope that had been mixed in with the rest.

  Her hands shook as she took it. Taking a deep breath, she opened it. A key fell out and bounced on the table. She ignored it and began to read the note that came with it.

  “Kinley, I’m sorry to say your bedroom was trashed, your clothing shredded, but I packed everything I could salvage. It’s in a storage locker in Tennessee. It’s paid up until the end of next month.”

  “That’s about halfway between Alabama and here.” Eli picked up the key.

  She continued reading the note.

  “I didn’t think you’d want your daddy’s clothes, and most of the household furniture was destroyed.”

  She sucked in a shaky breath and met Eli’s concerned gaze. “It was likely Holden having a temper tantrum. Maybe Duke.”

  “Probably. What else does the note say?”

  “I salvaged anything I thought you might want. It’s the least I could do for the daughter of my oldest friend. I wish I could have saved him, saved you both. Be happy. Rufus.”

  She folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope. “I can’t believe he did that.” She picked up the picture of her parents and set it back down. “It used to be framed. It must have gotten broken.”

  Eli’s strong arms came around her. “We’ll get another. If you want it, we’ll get your things out of storage. If you’d rather let it go and buy all new, that’s good, too.”

  She’d won the lottery when it came to mates. “I’d like to see what’s there. Maybe my sewing machine and supplies survived. It was my mama’s machine.” Practicality aside, it had sentimental value.

  “We’ll leave tomorrow morning. We might as well make an overnight trip out of it. You should start making a list of clothing and whatever else you’ll need.”

  “Do you think your brothers will let us go on our own?”

  “Not a chance,” a voice yelled from down the hallway. “I have to stay here and monitor everyone out on a job. I’ve already texted Noah and told him he’s going. He’s been wanting to hit a bigger grocery store to stock up on supplies, so he’s more than happy to tag along.”

  “It’s like hearing the voice of God,” she whispered in Eli’s ear before giggling.

  “Don’t let Zach hear you say that. He’s got a big enough ego as it is.”

  “I really like your family, Eli.”

  “They can be a pain in the ass at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “I love you, Eli Sin.”

  “I love you, Kinley Sin.” A thrill went through her. She’d decided to change her name, wanting to truly belong to her new pack.

  “Get a room,” Zach shouted. “Better yet, use the one you’ve got upstairs. Some of us are trying to work.”

  Laughing, Eli scooped her off her feet. “Every now and then he does have a good idea.”

  “What about the cookies?” She pointed at the bowl and ingredients on the counter.

  “They’ll still be there when you get back. Or Noah will finish them.”

  Then he kissed her and she forgot all about the cookies and everything else. Sin had never tasted so sweet.

  The End

  www.njwalters.com

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  BONUS SAMPLE CHAPTER

  WOLF IN THE WOODS

  Salvation Pack: The Next Generation, 1

  N.J. Walters

  Copyright © 2021

  Sample Chapter

  Billy Gallagher peered up at the mountains and inhaled the crisp air. Spring had come to Kentucky, but the day was still cool. Birds trilled their songs, and a crow cawed his annoyance. In the distance, a small animal rustled a bush as it hurried by. Leaves were unfurling, the woods coming awake after their winter nap.

  He loved being outside. Always had. It was his good fortune that he’d grown up in the middle of a wolf pack just outside of Salvation, North Carolina. He’d literally run wild with the wolves.

  He veered off the path and into the surrounding trees, as at home here as he was in his living room. His stepfather, Elias, had taught him how to survive in the wilderness, how to track and find food, how to mark his trail.

  The incline grew steeper, but it didn’t slow him down. He kept up the punishing pace for almost an hour, pushing himself to his limits. His lungs were sucking in air when he finally stopped and sat on a moss-covered outcrop that gave a beautiful view of the countryside below. It was peaceful and quiet.

  Exactly what I need.

  He opened his knapsack and pulled out a bottle of water. As he took a long pull, he let his gaze travel over the landscape. Something about the rustic countryside settled the slight dissatisfaction that had crept into him as of late.

  He loved his life and living on Salvation Pack land, but it wasn’t always easy being one of only two people there who were full human. The rest were either pure werewolf or half-breed. Having to keep such a large secret meant he didn’t have any friends outside the pack. Sometimes it got lonely.

  Every now and then, he just needed to get away.

  He dug into his backpack and found an energy bar. Since it was chocolate, it wasn’t half bad. But it wasn’t nearly as tasty as whatever was being whipped up at home for lunch.

  Pack life was communal. He’d spent his childhood running in and out of all the homes in the compound. He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. But he wasn’t pack. Not really. He was human.

  He stuffed the bar wrapper back into his bag and pushed himself upright. The restlessness that had plagued him was back in full force. He was determined to silence it one way or the other.

  Leaving the pack was an option, but not one he really wanted to consider. They were his family. And if he went, his mother would be the only human among wolves. The alternative was to do what he was doing—spending time alone in nature, soaking up its peace and tranquility. And if that didn’t work, he’d sweat his restlessness away, pushing himself harder.

  Billy swung his knapsack onto his shoulders and continued the climb. He’d hike for another hour or so and then set up camp. Being early May and with him so far off the beaten track, he wouldn’t run into anyone else.

  And that was exactly how he wanted it.

  ****

  Addie Fuller glanced over her shoulder, not slowing her pace. Hurry! Her paws barely made any sound as they landed on the forest floor, cushioned by moss and downed pine needles. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. Her heart pounded. She dug deep and pushed herself to go faster.

  Even in her wolf form she was tiring. She’d been running flat out and hiding for what seemed like hours. Simon should have given up by now. He had to know if he did, she’d sneak home and keep her mouth shut about what he’d done.

  If she told her daddy, he’d feel honor-bound to fight Simon. And he’d also never let her out of the house on her own again. She’d be basically a prisoner until she allowed herself to be mated.

  But Simon Jones and Jude Gordon didn’t care what she wanted.

  Her options were severely limited.

  Addie stopped beside a large overgrowth of bushes and listened. She was panting so heavily it took a couple of minutes for her to be able to hear anything above the pounding of her heart.

  The woods were silent.

  The birds had stopped singing. The squirrels and other small animals were still.

  Damn! She hadn’t lost him.

  “Come on, Addie. I was only kidding around.” Simon sounded both condescending and cajoling. He was also much closer than she was comfortable with.

  She hunkered down low to the ground, barely daring to breathe.

  “Let’s go home.” Jude was obviously trying to talk some sense into his friend. “Addie doesn’t want you, man.”

  Jude was right. She wouldn’t mate with Simon if he was the last man on the planet. Too bad he couldn’t seem to get that through his thick skull. What had started out as a friendly outing with packmates had ended up with her running to keep from being mated by force.

  “She will.” The certainty in Simon’s voice sent an icy shiver down her spine. This was not a man ready to give up. She was tempted to take a peek to see how close they were but didn’t dare. She shifted her weight and a leaf crunched beneath her right paw.

  “There she is!” Simon yelled.

  “Come back!” Jude called after his friend.

  She took off, running harder than she thought possible, but Simon was a male werewolf, several years older than her. He was bigger, stronger, and faster.

  He’s going to catch me.

  It was only a matter of time until he overtook her. There was only one thing to do. There was a clearing up ahead, and she went straight for it. It would be easier to fight if she wasn’t hemmed in.