Under a Mating Moon

By Celia Breslin

British Alpha wolf Jake Marsden spends his days among humans, pursuing a lucrative music career and avoiding his pack’s politics. When his current DJ tour takes him to the US, he stops in Los Lobos to visit family, and runs into the one Wolf he never wants to see again—the mate who rejected his claim.

While visiting her brother in Los Lobos, free-spirited Lexi Luparell is shocked to encounter the Wolf she’d denied when they were teens. Now she must face her guilt for the cruel way she spurned him all those years ago, make amends, and admit the truth. Jake was right all along—they’re meant to mate.

Lexi would love to explore the mate concept and her overwhelming attraction to virile, Alpha Wolf Jake, but he wants nothing to do with her. How can she break down his defenses when she’s the reason he built them in the first place?

Jake dates only human women now. Lexi had her shot at being his mate, and she threw it away. But when her life is threatened, he may have to rethink his position and do whatever it takes to claim his one true mate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Decadent Publishing
• Release date: Sep 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781613338940

Book preview

Under a Mating Moon

Black Hills Wolves

By

Celia Breslin

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition

Under a Mating Moon

Copyright 2015 by Celia Breslin

ISBN: 978-1-61333-894-0

Cover art by Fiona Jayde

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

Look for us online at:

www.decadentpublishing.com

Black Hills Wolves Stories/Decadent Recent Releases

Wolf’s Return

What a Wolf Wants

Black Hills Desperado

Wolf’s Song

Claiming His Mate

When Hell Freezes

Portrait of a Lone Wolf

Alpha in Disguise

A Wolf’s Promise

Reluctant Mate

Diamond Moon

Wolf on a Leash

Tempting the Wolf

Naming His Mate

A Wolf Awakens

The Wolf and the Butterfly

Infiltrating Her Pack

Omega’s Heart

Raven’s Claw

Claiming the She-Wolf

Worth Fighting For

Dangerous

Uncaged

Coming Soon

Promiscuous Wolf

A Cougar Among Wolves

Disquieted Souls

Long Road Home

Wolf’s Holiday

Winter Magic

A Mate’s Healing Touch

Also by Celia Breslin

Diamond Moon

A Note From the Author

Hello Dear Readers,

Welcome to the world of the Black Hills Wolves. I like to believe there’s someone out there for everyone, and that if you miss your first opportunity at your happily ever after, Fate will provide another moment to make things right... Jake and Lexi may find their second chance in Los Lobos, if they dare take it. I hope you enjoy their story.

Happy reading!

xo,

Celia

http://www.celiabreslin.com/

Under a Mating Moon

British Alpha wolf Jake Matthews spends his days among humans, pursuing a lucrative music career and avoiding his pack’s politics. When his current DJ tour takes him to the US, he stops in Los Lobos to visit family, and runs into the one Wolf he never wants to see again—the mate who rejected his claim.

While visiting her brother in Los Lobos, free-spirited Lexi Luparell is shocked to encounter the Wolf she’d denied when they were teens. Now she must face her guilt for the cruel way she spurned him all those years ago, make amends, and admit the truth. Jake was right all along—they’re meant to mate.

Lexi would love to explore the mate concept and her overwhelming attraction to virile, Alpha Wolf Jake, but he wants nothing to do with her. How can she break down his defenses when she’s the reason he built them in the first place?

Jake dates only human women now. Lexi had her shot at being his mate, and she threw it away. But when her life is threatened, he may have to rethink his position and do whatever it takes to claim his one true mate.

Dedication

To my family – love you! Cheers to beta readers Mahalia Levey, T. L. Reeve, and Carmen Fox for their feedback and quick turnaround. And thanks to my editor Heather Long and the fab Decadent Pub team for welcoming my wolves to The Black Hills.

Chapter One

Bloody hell. A pub? Jake suppressed a disgruntled growl from his seat in the truck and scowled at the too-cheery sign identifying the establishment as The Den. Indeed, the name sounded quite pub-like. What happened to lunch? His uncle had said they would stop in Los Lobos for a bite, not a pint. Guess this was the price he paid for agreeing to run errands with the man. He opened the door of the old truck and it groaned, reflecting Jake’s dark mood.

He’d come to Los Lobos a few days ago for a break from the club and bar scene, from smoky rooms packed with people either drunk or on drugs, bodies gyrating to booming music. Music often provided by him, DJ Lone Wolf. His moniker should keep the groupies at bay, but so far during this US club tour, he’d received abundant, unwanted offers of empty sex with girls too drunk or high to know any better—like the tiny blonde bird at the last gig in Chicago. With her blown-out pupils and her reddened nose caked with dried blood from one too many snorts of coke, she’d reminded him of Liz.

Liz had died from her drug use. At least he saved this one. Well, he’d handed her off to security after a stern, don’t-put-poison-in-your-body lecture. Hopefully she’d listened. Unlike his dead girlfriend.

He shook his head to dislodge the jaunt down bad memory lane, but his gut twisted tight. A year later, and the guilt remained. He should have paid more attention to Liz’s destructive habits. Instead, he let his music studies and nightly DJ gigs distract him to the point of neglect. Selfish wanker.

Stepping from the truck, he regretted his choice of Dr. Martens and jeans for such a searing and sticky summer day, especially when a sudden, hot breeze bowled into him. He scented the air, ripe with the smells of a small and secluded mountain town—dry grass and pine, parched earth and tarred pavement, compost and fried food. The latter two came from the bar. His appetite fled and he sneezed, eliciting a bemused chuckle from his uncle.

Uncle Robert motioned to him from the bar door. Come on in, Jake. Best burgers in town.

Los Lobos was so small, it was probably the only food in town. He ran a hand through his hair. Sure. It might irritate him to hang in a bar but it wouldn’t kill him. Not like Liz.

His uncle disappeared inside. Jake followed. Afternoon sunlight streamed into the place, lending it an unexpected bright and happy air. Hardwood floors gleamed, remarkably free of the usual scuff marks, cigarette butts, and other trash typically underfoot in a place like this. Small, steel café tables dotted the room, all occupied by Los Lobos pack members. The murmur of conversation quieted as attention shifted to him. Strangers were seldom welcome in pack territory even if they were related to a pack member. Of course, Drew, the Tao pack Alpha, had granted permission for Jake’s visit, but that didn’t change the fact these Wolves didn’t know—or trust—him at all.

He stood tall under their scrutiny and gave each Wolf good eye contact, releasing a bit of Dominant power while he was at it. The other Dominants responded in kind. Power flooded the room. Chairs scraped on hardwood as several men pushed back from their tables and surged to their feet. Shit. This was why he stayed away from Wolves, why he’d left his parents and the Coventry pack behind, and why he chose a life studying music at a lesser known uni in London. He preferred living among humans over this constant, ridiculous posturing and useless aggression.

But, still, his father’s Alpha blood wouldn’t allow him to back down regardless of his rational mind’s opinion of the situation. He snarled and stepped forward.

A thunderous boom sounded from the bar. A huge man, presumably the bartender, wielded a baseball bat and glared at the men. Simmer down, curs. Three words delivered with quiet but lethal intent.

The Dominants returned to their seats, shooting one last glower in Jake’s direction.

Uncle Robert settled on a barstool in front of the burly bartender, seeming unfazed by the altercation his nephew had almost experienced. Get over here, son.

Jake slid onto the stool next to him and suffered his uncle’s good-natured back pounding. Gee, this is my sister’s boy, Jake. Jake, this is Gee, the most hardass Werebear in North America and the owner of this fine bar.

His proper British upbringing kicked into gear. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Gee.

Gee grunted and set his bat under the bar top. Gee. Just Gee. Drink?

The row of beer taps and line of bottles beckoned, and he held up two fingers. Whiskey. Neat.

Another grunt from the Werebear. Uncle Robert ordered a beer plus two burgers and fried pickles for them both while Jake attended to his phone and the series of impatient texts he’d received while in his uncle’s truck. His agent, Phil, hadn’t let up for a second since Jake left Chicago to spend his time off between gigs in Black Hills, South Dakota, far from any potential promotional opportunities.

Damn, Jake. Check your e-mail now. I mean it, man. Need this ASAP! Forget it, read this.

The last text included an updated itinerary. Phil had added some venue additions to the West Coast leg, ones extending the length of the tour if Jake approved. Did he? He’d lost his taste for the scene, but the longer he continued—even on autopilot—the longer he would remain out of England and away from Coventry pack politics. His father wanted to talk about his succession to Alpha, a position Jake had little interest in. Better to stay in the US, even if his work sucked the joy right out of his soul.

He sent a quick, Sure, to anxious Phil then accepted the drink Gee slid in front of him. Thank you.

Gee arched a brow and shot Jake’s uncle an enigmatic look. Polite pup.

Uncle Robert laughed and tipped back his beer. My brother-in-law moved his family to England when the boy was fourteen. Seems to have rubbed off on him.

The Werebear snorted. Explains the accent.

He frowned. I don’t have an accent.

Yes, you do, both men replied.

Jake shrugged. His phone buzzed and the screen flashed with a text from Phil. A thumbs up icon plus several dollar signs. At least his agent was happy. He flipped the device facedown on the bar and took a drink, relishing the