About Pack Mates
Author: Sean Michael and Julia Talbot
Word Count: 44700
Page Count (pdf): 165
ISBN: 978-1-942831-26-6
Price:$4.99
Pairing: MM
Genre: Paranormal
Date Published: 09/06/2016
Publisher: Turtlehat Creatives
Heat Rating:
File Types available: pdf, epub, mobi
Summary:
Newly bitten werewolf Keith can’t figure out what’s happening to him, and he’s freaking out. When he meets Seamus, he gets both a lover and a teacher. Seamus has a lot to deal with when his remote wolf packs sends him to the big city to raise some pups as an experiment. He can’t just leave Keith to die, though, so he takes on teaching him to be a wolf.
Between fighting off gay bashers, dealing with some very active puppies and trying to learn to love each other, Keith and Seamus have a lot to overcome, but ultimately, it might be the pack that tears them apart…
This book was previously published in an anthology Shifting Vol 3.
Excerpt:
He was never going on another blind date in his life. When Les had called, it had sounded cool enough – new guy on campus, friend of Vic’s, GLBT mixer first, then dinner and drinks at Lucy’s Bar and Grill with all four of them.
Okay, cool. Except…
The guy was way older than him and sort of scary in a leather strappy pants sort of way and he was, well, he was a geek, wasn’t he? And Les had a migraine before the mixer started and there were lots more than a few people and then Vic had to take Les home and now he was at Lucy’s with this Jason guy.
Alone. Watching the dude eat damned near raw meat with a scary sort of gusto and, well, it wasn’t fucking Halloween or anything, but it sure seemed that the guy’s eyes were shining.
Gleaming.
Glowing.
Whatever.
So, basically? Not cool.
Keith picked at his chicken and potatoes, drinking his diet coke and trying hard not to stare. “So, uh… What do you study?”
The Jason guy licked his lips, gave him a scary damned smile. “Biology. You?”
“Education.”
That got him another smile – one that made his balls pull up. “Oh? You a little teacher wannabe? That’s just delicious.”
He nodded, eating a green bean. “Yeah. I like kids a lot, like teaching. You going to do research?”
Jason laughed and nodded. “Yep. I study canine habitats, social behaviors, that sort of thing. You like dogs, Keith?”
“I guess.” He shrugged. “I mean, who doesn’t like dogs?”
“Exactly.” Jason leaned back, watching him. “I mean, they run in packs, have stable family-type units with an alpha. Simple rules, basic rules. Real rules.”
Keith nodded. “And they make cute puppies and catch Frisbees.”
His date made the oddest sound – low and rumbling and unhappy, it was almost a growl, almost animalistic.
“You… you okay?”
“Yeah. Something in my throat.” Those eyes flashed again and Keith looked behind him, looked out the window, wondering if something were out there shining in. Maybe neon lights or something.
“You looking for someone?”
“No. Some light’s hitting your eyes, making them glow funny. I was trying to figure out what it was.” Keith felt his blush deepen, gave Jason a sheepish grin. “Sorry. It makes you look sort of creepy.”
The wolfish grin widened. “No problem at all. So, you want to go get something to drink, maybe do some dancing?”
No way. Not a chance. Gag. Ick. Blech-o. “I can’t, I’m sorry. I have to work in the morning. 6 a.m. shift.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. I’d like to spend some more time with you tonight. You never know what’s going to happen, yeah?”
‘Cause I’d be devastated if you found someone else to grin at. Christ. “Yeah, but work’s work, you know?”
They finished their dinners, splitting the check. Keith got up and shook Jason’s hand, Jason’s really big, really strong, really long-nailed hand. “Nice to meet you, Jason. Maybe we can get together sometime, yeah?”
His hand was squeezed tight, almost hurting. “Yeah. See you.”
Keith walked out of the restaurant, heading for the campus at a fair clip. No more blind fucking dates for him. None. Christ.
He heard the growling as he passed 18th Street, low and rumbling. He turned to see a dark figure following him, eyes shining in the lamplight.
Oh. Oh, fuck. Panic flared in him deep and he started running, legs pumping as he headed for the library. For lights. For safety. For anything.
A heavy weight landed on his back and he screamed, falling into the circle of the streetlights. Something sharp and hot pierced his shoulder, piercing deep, burning him.
Biting him.
Biting him.
Oh, fuck. Fuck, no.
The next few seconds where wild, insane, filled with lights and sounds and shots and screams and when the world righted itself? He was shaking, sitting on the sidewalk, blood pouring over his arm and Jason was in handcuffs, snarling at him.
“You relax, son. We got him. The paramedics are on their way.” The lady cop was petting him, avoiding the blood. “You’re lucky. He’s a strong one. He’s in custody now, though. You’re okay. You’re going to be okay.”
He blinked up. “I saw a dog.”
“Yeah? Well, I didn’t, but he was already on you and you were screaming when I came out of the car. We’ll look for your dog. Later. Now, just sit tight.” She looked over at her partner. “That EMS team coming?”
“Yeah. Hold on, kid. You’re okay.”
Jason snarled low. “No. No, you’re not. You’re a dead man. You just don’t know it.”
“Christ, don’t let him bleed on you, Mike. He might be sick.” The pretty little lady cop looked back over at him, but she didn’t pet him anymore.
He nodded, closing his eyes as he slumped to the ground. Going to be okay.