Betas Unraveled (Lone Wolves Book 3)

By Tielle St. Clare

With the other Lone Wolves partnering up, Random finds himself at a loss with what to do. Thankfully, teasing the prissy, uptight Cledwyn provides him ample entertainment.

Cledwyn values duty and responsibility. And control. He’s big on control. Random’s casual attitude about life—and his irritating flirtation—puts Cledwyn’s teeth on edge.

Except Random’s flirtation is sparking desires Cledwyn never expected...or experienced.

But when old enemies return and threaten their Alpha, the two Betas must band together to protect their Pack...and maybe find a bit of pleasure along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tielle St. Clare
• Release date: Oct 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310158834

Book preview

Betas Unraveled

by Tielle St. Clare

Copyright © 2015 T. L. Green

Smashwords Edition

Cover design by Erin Dameron-Hill / EDHGraphics

All rights are reserved. This e-book is licensed for individual readership only. No portion of this e-book may be resold or redistributed in any format.

To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at www.tiellestclare.com

Author’s Note

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters and events are creations of the author’s imagination.  Any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter One

Random stopped at the kitchen door and surveyed the scene. Josiah sat at the table, textbooks spread around him, a well-chewed pencil clutched between his teeth. Ah, the life of a werewolf college student. Cledwyn sat at the corner of the table, sipping coffee and reading. And ignoring Random.

He chuffed a silent laugh. Not for long.

Random strolled into the room and leaned his elbows on the kitchen table right next to the younger wolf.

So, Josiah, what are you doing later? he murmured, keeping his voice low, seductive.

He’s on patrol, Cledwyn announced.

Random didn’t bother to look in the Beta’s direction. He leaned closer to Josiah, tipping his head so he met the kid’s eyes.

Want some company? I’m off tonight. We could—

He’s got company. Cledwyn stood, jarring the table as he moved and slamming the edge into Random’s thighs. Me.

Random placed his hands on the tabletop and pushed himself upright. He raised his gaze and met Cledwyn’s serious stare.

Ah, Wynnie, why don’t you take the night off? You could go to the bar and, I don’t know, maybe get laid.

Cledwyn barely reacted to the mocking nickname, but the tightening at the corners of his eyes told Random he’d struck a nerve. Maybe that’s what he needs, he thought. A good hard fuck. Not that Random was volunteering.

The other Beta so wasn’t his type. He liked his men small and pretty. And temporary.

Cledwyn wasn’t going anywhere so yeah, no fucking the uptight prick. Talk about an awkward morning after.

Cledwyn crossed his arms over his chest. Unlike some of us, I don’t shirk my responsibilities for the casual pleasure of fucking anything that moves.

Random widened his eyes in mock outrage and looked at Josiah. I think he just called me a slut.

No. Cledwyn shook his head. I inferred you were a slut.

"Now he’s inferring I’m stupid."

Josiah’s lips curled into a smile but he bent his head down as if to hide his reaction.

Josiah, why don’t you go get ready? We need to head out of here in a few minutes.

Josiah nodded, gathered up his books and walked out the door, though Random couldn’t help but notice the longing in the kid’s eyes as he glanced back. Random winked to tell him no hard feelings.

The soft smile returned to Josiah’s face. Random kept up his own grin until the younger wolf disappeared into the living room.

Once he heard Josiah’s footsteps on the stairs, he leaned his hip against the table, crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Cledwyn. They’d been working together as Rowan’s Betas for about five months. The two men hadn’t exactly bonded, but most of the time they managed to stay out of each other’s way.

Until Kia had hooked up with Madge. Now, they were essentially down a man so Random found himself in Cledwyn’s company more often. The interactions provided entertainment if nothing else.

Why don’t you let the kid have some fun, Wynnie? Random drawled.

The Beta returned Random’s stare, his eyes serious, no hint of laughter, not even a twinkle in his gaze.

I’m fine with him having fun, just not with you.

Random straightened and tried to crush the grin teasing his lips. He totally understood a parent wanting to keep their young, impressionable son away from someone like him but Cledwyn wasn’t Josiah’s dad. And Josiah wasn’t that young. He’d turned twenty a few months back. That made him legal for the majority of what Random wanted to do to him.

He held his hands away from his side. What’s wrong with me? he asked hoping the innocence in his voice wasn’t too overdone.

Cledwyn pursed his lips and stared straight into Random’s eyes. I want Josiah to understand that getting fucked doesn’t mean he has to get fucked over.

Finishing his announcement, Cledwyn turned on his heel and stalked out of the kitchen.

Clever, Random muttered. Asshole.

Now that’s a pot-kettle situation if I ever heard one, Craigh, the Alpha Mate, said coming up behind Random. Why do you do that? Craigh strolled in taking the spot Cledwyn had vacated.

Do what?

Tease Cledwyn and Josiah.

Cledwyn’s got a stick up his butt and needs to relax. He slouched against the table. And I’m not teasing Josiah. Have you seen the kid? He shook his head and grinned. That’s one sweet looking ass. I know you’re mated and all but only a dead man could ignore an ass like that.

I’ve seen it. I like Rowan’s better. His fingers curled into his palms. Nice and firm. Perfect to hold onto.

Random waved his hand. More than I needed to know.

Craigh’s lower lip curled out into a thoughtful pout. What I’m saying is if all you wanted was good looking with a nice ass, there are a dozen guys down at The Distant Howl ready to bend over any flat surface for you.

Random opened his mouth to protest, but Craigh didn’t stop.

And the thrill of the chase has never been your thing.

Random sighed, knowing Craigh spoke the truth. Why chase something that didn’t want to be caught? Particularly when there was plenty of prey eager to offer themselves.

I’m bored. With Kia moving in with Madge and Rowan getting all domesticated with you. Craigh growled. Random didn’t even laugh. Teasing Craigh had become a dangerous hobby. Rowan got pissy when anyone messed with his mate. I don’t have anybody to play with. He fluttered his eyelashes at the Alpha Mate. Unless you want to play with me.

"Right. And my entertainment would be watching Rowan rip your head from your body."

Random chuckled, knowing every word contained the brutal truth.

Craigh shook his head. When you three first moved here, I wondered why you’d become Lone Wolves. Living with you all for the past six months, I’ve figured it out.

Random raised his eyebrows.

You’re all assholes.

He laughed. No lie. Before Random could launch into a story to illustrate the fact, the back kitchen door burst open. Rowan walked in, blood dripping from his forehead.

Craigh leapt forward.

Oh my God. Are you okay, babe?

Rowan tried to brush away his lover’s hands, but Craigh wasn’t a little bitty wolf. He might be an Omega but the guy topped six feet, almost as big as Rowan. Craigh slapped away his mate’s protests and dragged him over to the sink, grabbing a cloth and wiping away the blood.

What happened? Did someone attack you?

Yes. Rowan tipped his head back and let Craigh dab gently at the wounds. Madge.

Madge!? Random and Craigh asked at the same time.

Rowan held up his hand, stalling Random’s shock. He’s having a day. He found a stash of silver and took it onto the roof.

Kia and Rowan were working to break Madge’s strange addiction to silver. The metal in his blood tormented the human and poisoned the wolf, stopping the animal from appearing. Kia believed his mate would be able to shift once he got purged of the silver. Madge agreed with the concept in theory. Until he had a rough day. Then he always seemed to find some hidden pile of silver and play with it.

So how did you get bloody?

I went up there to talk him down and he threw the box of silver ingots on my head.

Ouch.

Just be glad Kia got rid of all the melting pots or you’d be a hot silver statue right now, Random pointed out.

Rowan and Craigh turned as a unit and faced him.

What? That’s a silver lining right? Get it? Silver lining?

You’re not helping. Craigh waved him away. Get out.

He rolled his eyes and wandered toward the door. He didn’t have patrol and he wasn’t scheduled to work. Rowan was being comforted by Craigh and it sounded like Kia had Madge challenges to deal with.

Random sighed. Well, nothing for it. He’d just have to go to The Distant Howl and find someone to fuck.

* * * * *

Cledwyn glanced over at Josiah, slouched down in the front seat of the car, feet up on the dash, bent in a way only the young and flexible could manage. Even having a werewolf’s ability to heal, Cledwyn would need a chiropractor to get out of that position.

You okay? Cledwyn asked when Josiah hadn’t spoken by the time they reached the edge of Pack lands. Their Pack stayed fairly isolated and contained so the threat from other wolves remained minimal. A human buffer zone between them and the next nearest wolf pack made it unlikely anyone would challenge for their land.

Werewolves, like most predators, wanted to broaden existing lands—not conquer some distant parcel for a vacation home.

Still, Rowan approached the situation with caution and Cledwyn supported the decision. He’d always believed the previous Alpha had been a little lax on security. And morals. And finances. And nepotism.

Rowan might be a Lone Wolf by nature and kind of an asshole in person, but he seemed to honestly consider the Pack his first priority—though his mate occasionally took the number one position, as one might expect. Cledwyn squirmed in his seat at the thought.

He’d never been around openly gay men before, certainly not under the former Alpha. Rowan and Craigh were the first gay couple he’d known well. Witnessing their loving, if sometimes obnoxious, relationship had changed his opinion on gay men.

Not that he’d been a bigot before. It had just been something beyond his existence. Now, it was a daily experience.

And sometimes a nighttime curiosity, but he pushed those thoughts aside and concentrated on the young man next to him.

Josiah sighed and stared out the window.

You okay? Cledwyn asked again.

Yeah fine.

Don’t give me any drama. What’s wrong?

Nothing. Josiah crossed his arms in a pout.

Cledwyn clamped his lips together and waited. He’d known Josiah long enough—hell, he’d babysat the kid—to recognize when pushing worked and when it didn’t.