Throne of Wolves: Wicked Wolves, #3

By Amelia Shaw

A curse to break, three men to love and a pack to save from extinction.

Moving in with the wolf pack has taken some getting used to.
Everyone is really suspicious of Michael and I,
And the boys are having trouble getting along.
When the Alpha wolf finally admits to being the cause of the curse we think things will get better,
but there's another bombshell waiting to go off.
And this one might be the catalyst that undoes everything.

Fans of Jaymin Eve and Linsey Hall will ravage this steamy #whychoose romance.

*** This is the THIRD book in the series. The stories are best read in order.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tamsin Baker
• Release date: Aug 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201804305

Book preview

Chapter 2

XANDER

I wasn’t sure if Kyle felt quite the same pull as me to get home, but I was anxious to get there and progress on breaking the damn curse. We’d learnt so much about the curse that had plagued our pack for so long, and I wanted to share that information with my family. Especially my dad.

The drive was long, but we’d left relatively early and the three of us guys took turns, both with driving the car and sitting with Monique in the back. After the night before when she’d taken all three of us, I had to assume she was feeling a little exhausted in a physical sense.

None of us tried to do more than cuddle her, and steal a kiss or three.

I hadn’t thought I’d be so relaxed on the trip. After all, we had a bloodthirsty warlock after us. But having a large family around me was more comforting than I’d expected it to be. Wolves were pack animals, and in our town, each family was its own mini-pack, within the larger pack.

Before our trip, my family had been me and Kyle. And now that we’d found Monique and Michael had joined us, we were an even more complete family. A little unconventional, but still.

How much longer? Kyle called from the backseat, where he held our mate in his arms.

I’d seen a sign but not for a while, so I made a guess. About an hour. Not long now.

I hope yours and Xander’s families like me, Monique said, her voice small and feminine amongst the deeper sounds of Kyle, Michael, and me.

Michael chuckled from his place beside me in the passenger seat. Yeah, and that they don’t shoot me on sight.

I glanced across at him. Don’t worry. We don’t carry guns in the pack.

He snorted and looked out the window. Why doesn’t that make me feel any better?

I grinned, before turning up the radio. We drove the rest of the way in comfortable silence.

When I pulled the truck off the main road and began weaving my way down the dirt track that led to our pack, my heart beat a little harder. We were almost home! And we hadn’t yet been struck by any of that strange magical lightning that had chased us to Michael’s cottage.

Monique sat up and stared out the side window into the wooded forest. "Wow. It’s really beautiful around here. Different to the realm. Wilder and more untamed-looking, but kind of... real. Majestic."

I nodded, staring out the windshield at the tall trees and greenery that surrounded us. I cracked the window a little to breathe in the fresh scent. Yeah, it is. Though I have to warn you, the pack grounds themselves have seen better days.

What do you mean?

A sigh fell from my lips, making my chest ache. The lack of females born over the past thirty years has taken its toll on the pack’s morale. The people, and the pack lands, have suffered. You’ll see what I mean when we get there.

I slowed down as we passed onto pack lands. After a few more minutes on the dirt track, we hit the edge of our town. I turned onto the main street, still dirt, and coasted through the center of town in the direction of our cabin.

We passed people going about their business, mostly without smiles or laughter. Little boys ran up and down the street, but even in the children there was a solemnity that couldn’t be denied. There were no flowers, no fruit trees, no laughter, like there had been in Monique’s town. The depressive nature of my people and the curse that hung over all of us made it hard to breathe once more. I’d forgotten that feeling, even in the short time Kyle and I had been gone.

When we reached our cabin, I pulled the truck up outside and turned off the engine. Despite everything, I was glad to be back. Particularly so now that Monique was here, too.

We’re home, I said.

Is this your place? Monique asked, and a credit to her vibrant nature, she still sounded excited, even surrounded by the subdued nature of our territory.

Yeah. Kyle and I built it when we paired up ten years ago. It’s a bachelor cabin, so when we build our family home, some of the younger guys will take over this one.

Michael sat forward in his seat, his gaze interested as he stared around. That’s a good idea.

Yeah, I agree. Not that Kyle and I ever thought we’d get to the family home stage, but its how it was always done in the past. Helps the pack grow and gives the young guys their own space.

I opened the car door and groaned as I straightened out my legs. I hated long stretches of driving as a general rule, but especially the feeling of being restricted and tight behind the wheel.  It made my shifter rear up, wanting to run free through the woodlands.

Kyle and I led Monique and Michael up the path and into the house.

It’s a simple cottage-style place. Two bedrooms, one living space, one bathroom, I said, gesturing around to the various parts of our home.

It was not at all the impressive cabin that Michael had magicked out of thin air.

I love seeing where you and Kyle lived before you met me. Monique’s eyes were wide as she stared around the living space. But... I really need to pee.

It’s through the bedroom, I said, pointing to mine. Either one. They both have a door that leads in to the bathroom. Jack-and-Jill style.

Oh, cool. She grinned and ran off.

Silence settled in the air as Michael walked around the living area, looking up at the ceilings and running his hand along the window frame.

Was he going to criticize our home, because it hadn’t been built with magic? I opened my mouth to snap at him when he said. This is really beautiful. Did you build it yourself?

Yeah. We did, Kyle said.

Wow. Michael smiled. It’s really impressive.

The words were nice, but I still wasn’t sure I believed him. Nothing like your cabin.

Michael shrugged. Yeah, but using magic is cheating. I couldn’t build something like this with my hands if you gave me five years and unlimited supplies.

He actually sounded like he meant what he said, which I had to admit, felt good.

Gonna need something bigger for Monique, though, Kyle said.

We could combine forces, maybe, Michael said, a thoughtful look on his face. You guys build, and I can use a bit of magic to embellish if it’s needed.

Even better. I grinned and nodded at him. We were all starting to think like a proper family now.

Monique strolled into the living room, a smile on her face. This place is gorgeous! So cozy. Whose bed are we sleeping in tonight?

I couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up from my throat. You want a repeat performance of last night?

Her eyes twinkled as she grinned at me. Don’t you?

I scooped her up in my arms. Hell yes. Why don’t we start now?

Monique giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck. We’d eaten dinner on the road and the sun was already beginning to set.

Don’t you want to go and tell your parents you’re back? she asked.

I growled playfully at her. Hell no. I want to take you to bed.

Kyle and Michael stared at her, their lustful gazes matching.

A rapid knocking on the front door interrupted the moment.

I growled for a whole new reason. Shit.

The door swung open to reveal my parents standing on the top step. Dad’s smile was huge as he stared straight at me, with my mate in my arms and her happy squeal still ringing in the air.

Mom. Dad.

Have we caught you at a bad time? Dad asked, raising an eyebrow.

Monique kicked her legs to get down, so I set her on her feet.

Ah... Yes. Not at all. Come on in.

My cock had already begun to harden at Monique’s enthusiasm to get into bed, but with the sudden appearance of my parents, my arousal was doused.

Mom and Dad stepped into the cabin and shut the door behind them. The additional two adults made our living area feel small and I wished we already had that large family home built.

You’re back, Mom said, rather redundantly but with a smile on her face. When did you get in?

I quirked an eyebrow at her. About five minutes ago, which I’m sure you already know since you would have received a report from at least one pack member the moment we arrived.

Several reports, actually. My mom grinned wider as she came forward and gave me a quick hug. Then she turned toward Monique, her gaze curious. Hello. I’m Tania.

Kyle sniggered and I wanted to smack him. I settled for shooting him a glare that said it would be his turn next. I was sure his parents weren’t far behind mine.

Mom, this is Monique. Monique, these are my parents, Tania and Max.

Monique pressed into my side. Lovely to meet you.

Her tone was shy.

My mom raised her gaze to me, her eyebrows lifting. Are you going to explain how you and Kyle seem to have multiplied into two extra people?

I sighed. Can this wait until tomorrow?

My dad chuckled, as if guessing why I wanted them gone. He studied Monique with a speculative look, and then grunted like he was satisfied with whatever he saw. Give us the short version, son.

I suppressed a groan. Okay, fine. Kyle and I went looking for the witch that cursed our pack, and we found Monique instead.

My parents both turned their gazes more intently onto Monique. She giggled with a nervous air, and pressed even harder into my side.

You’re a witch? Mom asked.

And my fated mate, I said, wanting that point clear right from the start.

Mom’s eyes widened and Dad’s jaw dropped.

Mine too, Kyle said, stepping around my parents to take hold of Monique’s