The Cougar Shifter: Summer Solstice Ménage

By Louisa Bacio

The past haunts. The future heals.

Years ago, cougar shifter Lorelai sought shelter in Los Lobos after being scarred and tossed from her pack. She’d isolated with the help of one young wolf who wants more from their relationship.

Ever since Jonah came to live with Lorelai, he’s known she’s destined to be his mate. What he didn’t expect was to share her with another Wolf, Shilah.

After leaving the Black Hills Wolves, Shilah fought for his place, only to find himself back home in a very different his role.

With the magic of the Summer Solstice, Lorelai needs to learn to love herself before loving them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Decadent Publishing
• Release date: May 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781683615385

Louisa Bacio

A Southern California native, Louisa Bacio can’t imagine living far away from the ocean. The multi-published author of erotic romance enjoys writing within all realms – from short stories to full-length novels. Bacio shares her household with a supportive husband, two daughters growing “too fast,” and a multitude pet craziness: Two dogs, five fish tanks, an aviary, hamsters, rabbits and hermit crabs. In her other life, she teaches college classes in English, journalism and popular culture. Check out the latest happenings via her blog http://louisabacio.blogspot.com

Book preview

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The Cougar Shifter

Summer Solstice Ménage

Copyright  2021 by Louisa Bacio

ISBN: 978-1-68361-538-5

Cover art by Fantasia Frog

Smashwords Edition

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

The past haunts. The future heals.

Years ago, cougar shifter Lorelai sought shelter in Los Lobos after being scarred and tossed from her pack. She’d isolated with the help of one young wolf who wants more from their relationship.

Ever since Jonah came to live with Lorelai, he’s known she’s destined to be his mate. What he didn’t expect was to share her with another Wolf, Shilah.

After leaving the Black Hills Wolves, Shilah fought for his place, only to find himself back home in a very different his role.

With the magic of the Summer Solstice, Lorelai needs to learn to love herself before loving them.

Dear Reader,

The Black Hills Wolves series holds a very special place in my heart. Summer Solstice Ménage will be my third book. In Claiming the She-Wolf, we meet Tala, who embarks on the renovation of her family home into a B&B after her brother Shilah leaves town.

I’ve always wondered what happens when Shilah returns, and how he finds his new place in the Los Lobos Pack.

Magic exists in so many ways that we don’t understand, and I fully believe in influences seen and unseen, especially through Lunar cycles. This story plays with some of those ideas, and also stereotypes of aging.

Throughout this story, the Cougar shifter, Lorelai faces her insecurities. In order to be worthy of love, she must learn to love herself.

May this story bring some magic into your lives. Thank you for taking this journey with me.

Louisa Bacio

Dedication

Thank you first to Kate at Decadent Publishing, and all my friends and readers who continue to support the writing magic.

Summer Solstice Ménage

The Cougar Shifter

Black Hills Wolves

By

Louisa Bacio

Chapter One

I don’t share. Shilah glared at his sister’s husband. In the year Shilah had been gone, Yas had moved into his house and edged him out.

His bro-in-law raised his arms. Dude, there’s plenty of room. It’s a B&B now. You can stay.

But there’s only room for one man of the house. And to think I invited him to stay, too. Although, when he’d met him on the trail outside of Los Lobos, he never dreamed the guy would hook up with his sister.

Tala rubbed his arm. Come on. Don’t be like this. You just got back.

Her touch reminded him of all the things he’d lost in his life. Family topped the list. He pulled away and hefted his pack over his shoulder.

Sorry to disappoint you. Again. I guess you were right before I left. You can make it on your own after all.

Before the front door fully closed, he heard Yas say, Let him go. He’s got something going on bigger than me being here that he needs to work out.

Asshole. Taking over his life. It had always been his role to take care of Tala. He was the protector of the family. But you left, and she replaced you. His conscious nagged. I’m the one being the asshole.

Grudgingly, he noticed the changes at the house. They’d made it into a home. All the peeling paint and broken boards on the front porch were gone. As he stormed down the front steps, nothing squeaked or creaked. Damn, he hadn’t seen it look this good in years. If ever.

The happiness of the mated couple inside acted like a beacon for the entire fucking house. Sure, he was working through some shit. He’d left Los Lobos in search of his future and came back with nothing to show for it. Life outside of the pack didn’t suit him. He wasn’t used to hiding his nature, and it wasn’t like college offered a shifter club for full-moon runs. Or at least not one he’d been invited to join.

Hell, no wonder so many members had returned after Drew took over. Now, where would he go? He didn’t much feel like renting a room above Gee’s Bar. That would be embarrassing with his sister running the B&B. Everyone would know they’d had some sort of falling out, or maybe that Yas was the more dominant wolf. The hairs on the back of his neck bristled at the thought. No, he’d rather save face.

Then again, he’d rather not go au naturel and sleep out in the woods, either.

The main area of town held so many new business, from book stores to a coffee-and-pastry café. Shilah stepped into Los Lobos Books & More and lost a bit of his bitterness in the sweet smells of vanilla and chocolate. He dropped the duffle into the corner, next to an empty table. It clanked against the metal leg, causing a few other patrons to glance his way. He suppressed the urge to growl at them. No reason to share his ill mood with everyone else.

A woman with wrinkles around her smiling eyes greeted him at the counter.

What can I get for you, young man? I’m thinking a cream puff and hot cider might take a bit of that chill off you.

It’s not too cold out there, he said. They were coming up on the Summer Solstice, one of the most beautiful times of the year and his favorite. All sorts of goodness filled the display case, but the thick brownie captured his attention.

Didn’t exactly say it’s cold, did I? She pushed her glasses a bit higher up on her nose. Perhaps, you’re the one bringing in the chill.

Is it that obvious? He’d been in the restaurant for less than a minute. Not looking for advice. How about one of those brownies? He pointed to the tempting dessert. And a cup of coffee, black. Please.

One eyebrow arched as she evaluated him.

Probably deciding if she should say another smart-ass remark.

Glad you at least remembered your manners there.

He laid his money on the counter, leaving extra for a tip, exchanged it for the goods, and returned to his table. The moment he sat down and sank his fork into the cake-like square, chatter in the restaurant picked back up. It was like everyone knew he wouldn’t blow once he got a bite.

Little did they know.

One bite of the velvety texture, and he closed his eyes. Frosting covered the top layer, and the rich chocolate burst against his tongue. He opened his eyes, dropped the fork, and picked up the brownie, taking a huge bite. Maybe he’d sit his ass here all day long and eat.

A jingling of bells on the front door alerted that a new guest was entering. Shilah stayed focused on swallowing and the next bite. A pair of boots stepped into his focus, and he followed the pathway of jeans up until he met the amused gaze of Ryker, the pack’s Enforcer.

Shilah scooted the chair back, letting out a scratching noise.

Don’t stand, Ryker said. I’m not staying long. He turned the chair in front of him around and sat down,