I want to talk to the alpha about keeping an eye on things tonight with the moon being out. Male shifters get a little on edge with other unmated males around. After that I was going to head home and get things ready for when Ruby sees her new home. I can’t wait to show her where we’ll raise our pups.

But right now I feel like I’m choking. I can’t breathe, and suddenly my wolf is growling, “Need her now”. My jaw clenches, and I feel my teeth start to lengthen. Maybe I went too long without touching her. Maybe the little taste I got last night only added fuel to the fire—the fire that’s now raging inside of me—now that I’m so far away from her. I need to get back to her. Now.

I feel fur start to coat my face. My wolf is winning the battle, and I suddenly don't care if he does. My baser instincts are kicking in and taking control.

I bolt for the door, but before I can reach it I’m flung back. I hit the wall, and it knocks the air out of my lungs. Pieces of Sheetrock hit the wooden floor beside me, but I’m not fazed.

“Mine,” I growl, getting up, my eyes locking on Stone. He’s blocking the front door, standing between me and what’s mine. I bare my teeth in rage.

“Get it under control,” Stone growls back at me, but my wolf is so far gone it doesn’t recognize the alpha command.

“You keep me from my mate?” My voice is so deep I’m not sure my words can be understood. What the fuck is there to understand right now? I want my mate, and everyone needs to get the fuck out of my way.

“I would never keep you from your mate, but you’re losing your skin, and I can’t let you out of here until you’re under control. A human could see you.”

“Then the answer is yes, you’re keeping me from my mate.” The last word leaves my mouth as I lunge from my crouching position on the floor. I feel my nose elongate, fur bursts through my skin, and I half-shift as I try to attack the alpha.

Hitting Stone with my own body is like hitting a fucking brick wall. We both fall to the ground, making the old farmhouse rattle. I move quickly, going for his neck, my wolf wanting the blood of anything keeping his mate from him. We need her more than we need anything else. We feel like we can’t breathe without her now.

Stone has me by the back of my neck, his fist full of my hair as he yanks me away before I can sink my teeth into him.

“Goddamn it, Dom, I’m not keeping you from your mate!” he snarls at me. “Don’t do this. You’re in mate withdrawal, and we could end up killing each other.” Stone’s own wolf starts to push to the surface, his eyes melting into full black.

I snarl at his words.

“Dom, you’ll upset Ruby if you show up tonight looking like you’ve been in a bar brawl,” a woman’s voice says from behind me, making me loosen my grip on Stone. Hearing the words ‘upset Ruby’ makes something in me stop.

I glance to the side, seeing Gwen approach me. Her hand is extended like she plans to use it to comfort me.

“I’m not yours to touch,” I snap at her, not even feeling guilty. The thought of her hand on me makes my stomach cramp. My need for Ruby is hitting me harder and harder, making me throw my head back and howl. My wolf can take no more, and I start to shift.

Suddenly, I feel a sharp sting in my back. I look over my shoulder, seeing a syringe sticking out of me. Gwen jumps back, leaving the needle stuck in place. My body goes lax, black spots dot the room, and a vision of Ruby’s face comes into view. I want to reach up and touch her, but I can’t move my arms to pull her to me.

“You can’t keep me from her.” I force the words past my lips.

“Get the chains,” is the alpha’s only response.

7 Ruby

I look out the front window of the bakery, the once kid-filled streets are now empty as I flip the sign on the door to signal that we’re closed. Disappointment and agitation roll through me; I haven't seen Dominic all day.

I was sad when I woke up this morning and didn't find him in bed with me. I’d thought maybe I’d had too much to drink last night and just had had one of my very detailed dreams about him again.

That was until I looked in the mirror when I was getting ready for work and saw the hickey on clear display for all the world to see. With my fair complexion I knew no amount of makeup was going to cover up that mark. For some reason the thought of covering it up didn’t sit well with me. I found myself touching the mark all day. Each time I did, a ping of desire would shoot through my body.

Now I’m just pissed. He’s been standing outside my bakery every day for three weeks, and the day after he face plants into my crotch he disappears?

What’s worse is my body doesn’t care at the moment. If he walked in the door right now, I’d probably climb him like a tree and beg him to do it again, not caring that he slipped out on me in the middle of the night and avoided me all day.

I had no idea it could be like that. He made me feel like I was the best thing he’d ever touched. That he was starved for me. That he’d never get enough of me, but clearly he did.

Sighing, I make my way back behind the counter and start closing down the displays while Gwen handles the kitchen, trying to play catch up after she was late this morning.

A few minutes later she comes strolling in from the kitchen with a basket full of Halloween cookies in hand.

“I don’t think we’re getting any more kids,” I say, nodding to the front window. Main Street has cleared out. The kids did a walk in while wearing their costumes earlier today. I’d heard someone say the kids were going to the neighboring town to trick or treat this year because of the full moon, which didn't make any sense to me, but that seemed to happen to me a lot around here. I didn’t think I’d have to deal with a language barrier moving from Northern California to Colorado, but it seems I do.