Under Cover of the Moon [Lunar Mates #1] by Loribelle Hunt

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In book one of the Lunar Mates series, Darius Stewart is banished and offered the leadership of a new pack. He has a new pack to settle and a rogue wolf terrorizing the local population, threatening to expose their species. The last thing he needs is a mate further complicating his life. That's just fine with Meg O'Reilly. A witch, she knows something is not right in her town. Good werewolves, bad werewolves, and the possessive, bossy, sexy Alpha wolf trying to order her around. Life's never been so complicated. WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT AND MILD VIOLENCE.

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She was his. And it was not something he was entirely comfortable with. He hadn't thought he was in the market for a mate. The last month had been hell. Biology's a bitch.

He had located his pack in this small town on the boundary of a state park in southern Alabama, just as he had been ordered. It was the perfect location--a successful small town on the edge of wilderness. There would be work and room to run. A man could stretch his legs here. So could a wolf.

One month of banishment had eased his anger at Jackson, and his old friend was now in charge of the home pack. It had come close to full out war before the council had stepped in to banish Darius. He regretted that too.

But things had worked out for the best. They were a small group. A were hated change above everything else, but ten males, with six mated, had decided to make the move and form a new pack. He had one year to settle the clan and be officially recognized. One year to prove his capabilities before someone tried to wrest the pack from him. He relished a good challenge and was certain he'd come out on top. How could he not? He was strong and in his prime.

All those praying for his failure, and there were many, were in for a disappointment. If the council did not approve his leadership at the completion of the year, any male could try to take it. But that wasn't going to happen. He wouldn't let it. He had eleven months left.

A mate will strengthen my position as Alpha.

He grimaced. Weres looked forward to finding their mates, to settling down to monogamy and having cubs. What was he doing? Worrying about securing his power. It beat thealternative--figuring out how to claim the woman he wanted. He knew trouble when he saw it, and she was it. With a capital T. Stubborn. Sexy. Independent. Smart as a whip. And did he mention stubborn?

She was Meg O'Reilly, owner and proprietor of O'Reilly's Bar and Grill. He dragged a deep breath of air into his lungs, trying to resurrect her scent--sweet and spicy, and meant for him alone. Her skin was pale and clear, and he knew it would be smooth beneath his fingers. She was perfect, small and curvy, with flowing chestnut brown hair. He couldn't wait to discover how she tasted. It was time for her to stop running.

He had walked into O'Reilly's for the first time four weeks ago. She was the first person he saw when he pulled open the heavy wood door and crossed the threshold. Standing behind the long bar on a sidewall, she was laughing and flirting with a customer while pouring a beer from the tap. Her hair was knotted on top of her head, tendrils hanging around her face, the elegant line of her neck exposed. A wall of unfamiliar emotions--jealousy, lust, possessiveness, and many he didn't dare try to name, hit him. It was unsettling, and she stiffened as if sensing his uneasy entrance.

Afraid she'd bolt, he approached her with the good-natured newcomer façade he'd put forth for a week. Her eyes were brown--the first thing he noticed on close inspection. What should have been warm chocolate gave him a frigid reception. With cool politeness, she returned his introduction and welcomed him to town.

He was more accustomed to women throwing themselves him, than making a point of ignoring him. She should feel the same emotions he did, raging lust at the very least. Then he noticed the frantic pulse beating in her neck, and got faint whiff of her fear. He was amazed she had such control over her responses and realized with a thrill she was not as unaffected by him as she wanted him to believe. Later he heard the rumors that she was a witch and wondered how much that had to do with it.

But she was skittish. It was okay. He had time. Or he had had time. He thought between charm and lust he would overcome her fears in a matter of days, but except for a few stilted conversations she'd avoided him since their first meeting. She'd put him off for a whole month, and the full moon was coming. With any other woman it wouldn't matter. No other woman brought out the proprietary nature of the wolf in him, the animal instinct to claim his mate. For the first time in his life he doubted his ability to control it. Her damned stubbornness put her in danger.

Tonight he would end it. Tonight he would stalk her as he would any other prey. And God help her if she put him off again. He was too tempted to spank her mouth-watering ass as it was. For the first time in days, he smiled. That was a plan with merit.