Third Time Lucky

you?”

He ignored her blush of embarrassment at the question, and Harris shook his head. “Not in the first twenty-four hours. Sometimes after that.”

Interesting. Ethan had never heard that heat killed an appetite for food, but why would he?

The only woman he’d touch during that time always put him off, so he’d never questioned what was normal or not.

“Is it almost over then? Since you want to eat?” The idea disturbed him. He wanted a couple of days of mind- blowing sex. It might help mellow her outside of bed. Might convince her to give them a chance.

She scowled. “I should be that lucky,” she muttered before continuing in a firmer voice.

“This is the beginning. I have no idea why I’m suddenly hungry. I shouldn’t be.” He looked her over, assessing the little he knew. She was in heat so she was fertile, but even if they’d gotten her pregnant, her body wouldn’t be adjusting to those needs so soon.

Besides she would have taken steps to prevent pregnancy before she came to Harris. Lupines never used condoms. They were immune to the diseases that plagued mankind, and pregnancy could be prevented with a simple herbal brew. There was only one other explanation for her unexpected appetite, then. He hesitated to bring the subject up, but… “You haven’t been with your mate during heat before.”

He got an angry look for that, and she covered her neck with her hands, like she was afraid he’d marked her and she’d somehow missed it. “I doubt that’s it,” she grumbled. “And don’t get any ideas. This is not a permanent arrangement.”

Yeah, we’ll see about that. He exchanged a look with Harris and knew he was thinking the same thing. They had no intention of letting her walk away. She belonged with them as much as they belonged with her. Going back to the way things were would cause a soul-deep pain he doubted he’d recover from. So they’d fight for her. It was a fight he couldn’t contemplate losing.

He didn’t want to make her angry enough she’d leave before they set their plan in motion, though, so he only nodded. By then they’d reached the pub, and he steeled himself to enter. He could already smell them. Men. Young, old, available and not. And under that, sinking talons into his mind, was Gabby’s scent. The intensity of the heat.

This was a bad idea, but she entered before he could stop her. He had no choice but to follow. Only the werewolves looked up at their entrance, and those gazes lingered over Gabby a moment. How many knew she was in heat? How the hell did he control his wolf’s instincts to grab her up, toss her over his shoulder, and get the hell out of here?

She didn’t give him a chance. Her gaze swept over the crowded space, and she set off for a booth on the back wall. He followed, managed to return the bartender’s nod as he passed, and took a seat with the wall at his back. Harris sat across from him and Gabby to his left, exposed to the room. He repressed a growl and nudged her to stand. She’d be by the wall where he could protect her. When she was on her feet, she glared and was anything but obliging.

“I’m going to say hi to Harper. Order me a beer, will you?” She took off before he could protest, and Harris grabbed his arm so he couldn’t follow.

“She’s fine,” he said softly as a waitress approached and set down three mugs. Was it good or bad the bartender knew them well enough to anticipate their drink order? Once she’d gone, Harris pulled the potion from his pocket and put an equal amount in every beer. He returned the bottle to his pocket and lifted the glass, tipping it toward Ethan. “Ready?” Ethan was not as eager, but he picked up the drink at the same time Gabby returned. This time he bullied her into the inside of the booth, but he got the feeling she was just humoring him and not accepting the protection of a mate. The waitress returned for their order, and they all drank. He didn’t breathe easy until, mostly done with her glass, she ordered another beer. There was no way she could skip drinking her whole share of the potion now.

They ate the meal with small talk, nothing of consequence, but it filled him with a sense of contentment even as he felt the heat rising in Gabby, faster and harder until it was consuming.

Harris paid before they were finished, and as soon as she took the last bite of steak, Gabby rose.

There was no lingering, and it was a damned good thing. Much longer and he’d take her on the table, demonstrate his mastery of her and show everyone she was already claimed.

Fortunately, it didn’t come to such a public loss of control. She’d probably scratch his eyes out if he attempted it. He let a grin slip as he followed her out. Maybe he should try. He suspected the resulting confrontation would be hot as hell.

Chapter Four

Gabby led the way back to Harris’s. If she had any sense, she’d get there, get in her car, and drive like hell. But despite knowing that would be the best thing to do, she couldn’t, and she couldn’t even blame it on the heat. She was curious. They were up to something. Something subtle and devious, and she had a sneaking suspicion she knew what it was. Inside the house, they tried to urge her in the direction of the bedroom. Her libido was all for that, but not until she had some answers.

She walked into the living room instead and sat on the couch. “So what did you put in my beer?” she asked Harris, then turned to Ethan. “And why the hell did you agree with it?”

“How did you know?” Ethan asked.

The confirmation enraged her, but the feeling of betrayal was so much worse. She’d trusted them with her body at the time she was most vulnerable. Her wolf side scratched at her mind, furious and spitting. It was much angrier than the woman. All it understood was her faith had been violated.

Gabby fought the urge to lash out, struggled to remain calm when she really wanted to scream. This was exactly what she’d tried so hard to avoid, leaving herself vulnerable to two men who believed they had the right to rule her life. To make her decisions.

“What was it?” she asked evenly.

They both had the grace to look guilty and contrite, which calmed the wolf a bit, but the feeling of treachery remained. It threatened to overwhelm her anger.

“It’s nothing so bad. We all took it,” Harris said, squirming under her glare for just a moment before his expression changed to one of resolve. “It loosens inhibitions.” She snorted. Right. Because during heat she was so inhibited. “Try again, bubba.”

“That’s it, really. It’ll…just make you open to possibilities a little bit more.”