1 Chapter 1

Roarak Halfhide of the Halfhide pack grabbed the hem of his T-shirt to wipe the sweat off his forehead. “I’ve had enough. Let’s call it a day.”

He dropped his hammer on the ground and unbuckled the tool belt. The sweltering heat made him dizzy. If it didn’t rain soon, he’d go mad.

“Are you sure?” Zev Nightfall, Roarak’s beta, was staring at the playhouse they’d been hired to build. “There’s not much left, a couple of hours overtime and we’ll be done.” His icy blue eyes met Roarak’s for a moment before looking away as any lower-ranking wolf should. Some had a hard time meeting his gaze at all, but Zev was strong, and he glanced away out of respect, not because he had to.

The Halfhide pack was small and most of the neighboring packs didn’t acknowledge them as a pack at all. They were a band of outlaws, each with their reasons for not fitting in anywhere else. Reasons they didn’t share. Reasons Roarak never demanded they explain. Everyone was entitled to their secrets as long as they didn’t endanger the pack.

Their loyalty was all he demanded.

“We’ll finish tomorrow. I need a drink.” Roarak grabbed his things and put them in the rusty pickup truck they’d bought from a used car dealer who’d agreed to take cash. They always paid in cash if they could, and when it wasn’t possible, they used the company card.

Roarak didn’t ask questions but knew that some of his guys were on the run and needed to stay hidden. Cards left trails.

Looking up the street, he sighed. He couldn’t see over the hedge, but he automatically turned in the direction of Cup o’ Sugar, his favorite cafe. The only cafe he’d ever consider entering. Huddling in a cramped space filled with humans wasn’t his idea of fun, but he’d push through any crowd to get a glimpse of Sammy. Sam—not listed anywhere, no last name to be found—was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on. His scent had called Roarak in from the street and enslaved him on the spot. Not that it ever could be, but his heart and soul belonged to Sam

They had never spoken to each other. Sam hid in the kitchen every time Roarak entered the cafe, his heavenly scent souring in fear every time he glanced in Roarak’s direction.

Someday he’d find the reason for Sam’s fear and he’d take care of it.

“I’m gonna grab a cup of coffee.”

“Coffee! Are you insane?” Zev frowned at him. “I’m serious, have you gone mad? I thought we were ditching work for a beer, a nice cold beer.”

Cup o’ Sugar didn’t serve beer.

“No, I want coffee.”

“Yeah? Well, I’ll see you at home then. And I’m taking the car.”

Roarak almost groaned. Walking home in this heat would be a nightmare. They’d manage to purchase a property right outside the city. It was in bad condition, but since they were carpenters, at least most of them, they’d fix it up.

As soon as they got some money everything would turn out great…as soon as they managed to scrape together a few bucks. This constant worry about money. He wiped his neck.

The good thing about the property was the acres of land—not nearly as much as his old pack had, but enough for the six of them to run on.

“Fine, take the car, but you’re cooking dinner.”

Zev gave him the finger—not very beta like. Had the beta in his old pack done that, Roarak’s father would have had him whipped. But Roarak wasn’t his father so he simply returned the gesture before walking out on the street and turning in direction of the cafe.

“Hey, asshole.” Zev rolled down the window as he cruised up next to him. “When are you gonna claim her?”

Roarak winced. Her

“You’re fooling no one, you know. We can all scent the desire on you, and that desperation in your eyes—you’re not hiding it well. Plus you hate coffee and you never eat any of the stuff they have in cafes. Just snatch her up and bring her home. She’ll adjust.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Zev sighed. “Fine. I’m making burgers, invite her over for dinner, make it a date. I’ll even clean some before you arrive.”

Roarak rolled his eyes and walked in the opposite direction of where Zev was going.

Her.

They would never understand. It had nearly cost him his life when his father had figured out what he was, he would not risk losing his place or his pack for something as trivial as love.

It didn’t matter that Sam was his mate, he was both human and male. They would never understand.