The New Wolf

By RJ Scott

A dangerous lone wolf is intent on destroying the beginnings of a pack and when Connor is attacked and near death, there is only one thing that can save him. A wolf shifter’s bite.

After a hate crime leaves one of them near dead, Veterinarian Josh Nolan and Cop Connor Vincent are starting a new life in Black Creek, a remote town on the edge of the Green Mountains range, Vermont.

Josh is taking over his grandfather's practice, and Connor starts a new position with the local sheriff's office.

When Connor becomes curious about unsolved crimes going back fifty years he can't know the kind of secrets he begins to unearth. Or the danger that he puts himself and Josh in.

• Language: English
• Publisher: RJ Scott
• Release date: Jul 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781785640728

RJ Scott

RJ Scott is the author of the best selling Male/Male romances The Christmas Throwaway, The Heart Of Texas and the Sanctuary Series of books.She writes romances between two strong men and always gives them the happy ever after they deserve.

Book preview

Chapter One

Talk to me, babe Josh Nolan asked. What’s wrong?

He hugged Connor from behind, relieved when the big man, after initially stiffening in protest, finally relaxed back against him. They’d only been in their new house for four days, and the tension in Connor had grown to the deadly silence phase. Josh hated it when his husband went quiet—it often meant something was wrong.

I was just thinking, Connor’s voice rumbled.

Josh’s heart sank. He had been waiting for Connor to say something ever since they’d set foot in the town.

Shorter than Connor by two inches, Josh couldn’t see past him to the point Connor was staring at. Their red-roofed white wooden house with the wraparound porch backed onto the edge of the forest, and there couldn’t be much to see. The house was at the furthest point west in this small town of Black Creek. Josh knew the view was one of trees and more trees, a dark wall in this late evening light.

Are you unhappy here? Do you think we did the wrong thing moving here?

Connor shrugged.

Josh rested his forehead between Connor’s shoulder blades and inhaled the familiar scent of Connor. Guilt consumed him over what had been his decision all along.

He was the one with the ready-made business to come to. Taking over his grandfather’s veterinary practice was perfect for him. He didn’t want to specialize in pampered family pets in the city; he wanted to cover the myriad of animals taken to the clinic in the middle of nowhere, as his grandfather had done up until he died ten years before. The clinic had been in the hands of his grandfather’s partner since then. One call to say he was retiring and Josh knew moving here was the next step in his life. But whereas he had been ready to go on, he wasn’t entirely sure Connor agreed with the rapid change in their life. For better or worse, Connor had said at the time, and Josh thought that they’d made the decision together.

But maybe they hadn't at all.

I don’t think we did the wrong thing, Connor finally said. His voice was firm and brooked absolutely no argument. I needed out of the city. He turned in Josh’s grip and leaned back against the windowsill before tugging Josh closer and pressing his head into Josh’s chest. Josh cradled his head and wondered what to say next.

This last year had been hard. Too hard for either man to have come through it all unscathed. Consciously he sought out the scar at the back of Connor’s neck where the knife had sliced through muscle. Josh had almost lost the only man he’d ever loved, and the scar was the sole visible reminder. It didn’t mean their hearts weren’t scarred with fear and anger though, and that was what worried Josh. Albany PD had pushed Connor through counseling, but the unprovoked attack left Connor a different man—quiet and reserved in a way that sometimes Josh couldn’t break through.

Then what is it? Josh asked softly. You’ve been so quiet since we moved in.

Connor moaned gently and pressed a kiss to Josh’s neck. It hadn’t been that long since they’d taken a shower together in the temperamental old cubicle off the main bath. They’d laughed and fooled around pre the main event back in the bedroom, and Josh had felt at peace. A quick check around the house and he’d come back in the room to find Connor all twisted up in his thoughts.

Promise you won’t laugh? Connor mumbled. Josh gently pried Connor’s forehead away from the skin contact and looked down into green eyes filled with emotion.

Never, Josh promised.

It’s too quiet, Connor began. I keep waiting for the shit to hit the fan and for the sirens, and I’m just on edge.

Josh considered Connor’s explanation. For Josh, nothing had changed except the type of animals he had treated. From dogs, cats, and hamsters, he would be moving on to equine care and treating wild animals. The learning curve had been steep in the three months he had commuted between Black Creek and Albany, and he’d been challenged every day, even though Edward went with him everywhere to ease the transition.

And now Connor was here as well; had moved from Albany with its crime stats and the sprawling city with all its secrets to this middle-of-nowhere town. A place where he and the other deputies in the sheriff’s department shared vehicles and patrolled larger areas.

I wouldn’t laugh at that, Josh said finally. I can’t imagine how hard it was to give up the city and come here. I’m sorry you had to leave and move here just because of me. You had a career…

Connor shook his head which stopped Josh talking. I’d go anywhere to be with you, and I promise you I was ready for a change in my career, Connor said. He spoke firmly and deliberately again. Like he was expecting Josh to argue with him and wanted to leave no room for discussion. I love you. I will get used to being here and not feel so tense.

But…I want us to both be happy, Josh said unnecessarily. The decision that they had made to leave Albany had been an easy one for Josh. When Connor was beaten, it made both men take a step back and re-evaluate everything. Connor hadn’t been on duty when he was hurt; he and Josh were at the movies and had left with the crowd. Lost in talking about the film, they’d not realized someone was following them. Official police reports labeled it a mugging, but Josh and Connor knew better. Given the anti-gay crap the attacker had been shouting at them it was far more probable that he wasn’t happy with Connor and Josh holding hands.

Josh couldn’t even think about that night without feeling sick. Holding Connor in his arms as he bled onto the sidewalk in front of a McDonalds, he had felt every part of his life fracture. There was prejudice everywhere, and Josh wasn’t stupid. Moving to Black Creek didn’t mean that they wouldn’t find bigotry. Still, his grandfather and Edward had been in a committed relationship until Josh’s grandfather’s death. Zachary Nolan had loved living here, said no one thought twice of having a gay couple in the town. Josh assumed—more like hoped—Black Creek would accept Josh and Connor as a couple.

They could be out here, in a way that wasn’t possible in the city with Connor’s job.

I don’t mean to worry you. I am happy, Connor said gently. I just looked at my phone and Proctor left a message. It pulled me back into everything he’s going through.

Is he okay? Josh asked quickly. Proctor was a good man, Connor’s ex-partner on the force, and working with a new guy now.

He’s doing well. The newbie spilled coffee all over his back seat—he was just telling me the story, is all.

But you still miss it? The city?

I don’t miss a thing, Connor stated. I just haven’t lost that city instinct yet. I can’t fully relax. He huffed a laugh then added, It’s too damn quiet.

Relief flooded Josh—Connor wasn’t regretting things, he was adjusting to the new life. He slid to his knees in front of Connor and shuffled in between Connor’s legs. He looked up and used every ounce of his puppy dog eyes to make the unsuspecting Connor laugh. Then he lifted one eyebrow as Connor began to smile.

Would it help if you fucked me into the mattress? Josh asked innocently. Connor groaned again, apparently this time not in disappointment at himself, but at Josh’s words. They switched when they felt like it, but it was Connor who ran the show most of the time. The