Real Werewolves Don't Eat Meat 7
by
Finally back in Massachusetts, vegan werewolf Kyle Slidell hopes for a peaceful life with his mate, Anax Tobias Rogan. But the pressure of ruling all werewolves in the United States is getting to Tobias. Kyle worries that the gentle, compassionate man he fell in love with is becoming like the previous Anax: a power-mad ruler who is all too eager to kill.
An old friend comes to Tobias for help in rescuing his mate from an abusive Alpha. As the extent of the Alpha’s crimes comes to light and the Alpha flees, Tobias sentences him to death. And he seems all too eager to carry out the sentence.
As they and their guards search for the fugitive Alpha, Kyle will do anything to ensure that the power within Tobias doesn’t take control—including becoming the Anax’s enforcer.
This book includes an on-page death in a werewolf attack, the on-page execution of a werewolf, discussions of abuse and assault, and depictions of PTSD.
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 4
Romantic Content: 2
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Word Count: 81300
Setting: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
I really, really hated shifting. The process of having my body change shape, of bones lengthening or compacting, was agonizing. Zero out of ten, did not recommend.
But like the others, I had no choice. I wasn’t the only one who struggled with the change. Even as I finished and lay on my side, panting, as I recovered, others were still going through the process. Near me, Carlos, still in human form because the pack leaders wouldn’t shift until all of their wolves had, crouched beside his mate Brianna, who had the most difficulty shifting of anyone I knew. In wolf form, Brianna couldn’t even understand human language; her mate and her Alpha had to use mental images and tone of voice to communicate with her.
On the opposite end of the spectrum from Brianna, as a wolf, I retained full control of my human brain. That was how I managed to keep from eating meat even during a hunt. And it was how I noticed something I’d missed earlier. Connor isn’t here.
READ MORENo. Tobias hadn’t shifted yet either, though as far as I could tell our guards had. He should be. With Justin away, Connor’s second in command.
Carlos didn’t mention anything.
Carlos wouldn’t. Tobias walked over to Carlos and Brianna and knelt beside them. Amidst the noise of four dozen or so werewolves in various stages of shifting, I couldn’t hear what Tobias or Carlos said, but I assumed Tobias was asking where the City Pack Peacekeeper was and why he wasn’t present helping his Beta with their pack members.
Wherever Connor was, I really hoped he was away from humans. Shifting in front of humans was a death penalty crime in the werewolf world. I wasn’t Connor’s biggest fan, but that didn’t mean I wanted the guy dead.
After a few seconds, Tobias said, Carlos hasn’t been able to reach Connor. Not by phone, not by pack bond. Something’s wrong.
We don’t have time to figure out what. Not that it was our responsibility anyway, except for the fact that Tobias considered pretty much everything his responsibility. Maybe he’s just running late.
He would let Carlos know. Connor doesn’t break protocol.
Point. Connor was the biggest stickler for rules I’d ever met. If he wasn’t contacting or responding to his Beta, maybe something actually was wrong.
But there wasn’t anything we could do. Not with the moon ascending.
Once all of the other werewolves were in wolf form, Tobias, Carlos, and Harriet shifted. And then the hunt began.
Beside my mate and our guards, I ran. I would have preferred hunting with friends. I had the choice; during this monthly hunt, wolves could choose which group they ran with, regardless of pack or protocol. Spending time with Boston North wolves, Suzannah especially, would have been good.
Tobias needed me, though. He wouldn’t say so, but I felt it. He was worried, and the reminders of what had occurred a year ago threatened to put him back in that time. Staying with him, I could help him keep the memories and mental images at bay.
We ran, and the running was good. We flushed a deer out of the trees and took it down, and that was good too. Well, good for Tobias, Seth, and Quinn, anyway. Although I helped take the thing down, I didn’t partake. My wolf wasn’t happy about that, but as always, he dealt with it.
Around us, we heard other running feet, panting, occasional muffled growls and howls. Although the hunting grounds were large, humans were too close to risk making much noise. Seth and Quinn were alert to every sound near us in case of a threat. I doubted there was anything to be concerned about here, though. Not among friends.
Predicting the future was not one of my gifts.
As the moon moved across the sky and the running and hunting continued, rustling in the brush to our left caught my attention. Seth ran to see who was there, while Quinn put himself between the brush and Tobias. No one blocked me, but that was fine. I wasn’t the one whose life was threatened on an almost daily basis.
A dark brown wolf, larger than most, burst from the bushes as Seth reached them. The brown wolf leapt, knocking Seth to the ground. It didn’t pause to attack him. Recovering its footing, it ran straight toward Tobias and Quinn.
I let out a sound that would have been a scream from a human throat. We were safe here. We had to be. Tensed to fight, I almost lost my balance as the thin gray wolf that was Quinn ran to meet the brown’s charge.
Snarls filled the air. Quinn could fight. I had to protect my mate.
I ran to Tobias, taking Quinn’s place as Quinn bit and clawed at the other wolf, who didn’t appear to be fighting back. Staring, I realized this wasn’t an intruder. I recognized the brown. I had no clue why he would have tried to attack Tobias, but I knew who he was.
And so did Tobias. He pushed past me and got between the fighting wolves. Stop.
Not having a bond with Quinn, I couldn’t hear his response. But Tobias wasn’t happy about it. Stop. Ally.
The gray wolf backed away, but only a couple of paces. I moved up beside Tobias as he greeted the brown. Connor MacKinnon. Peacekeeper. Hold.
COLLAPSE
