Mated By Moonlight: Mated in Hope Falls, #1

By C.D. Gorri

Some things are only clear by moonlight.

Maxwell Rose has two Wolves fighting for dominance inside of him. The volatile beasts have driven him to the brink of madness more than once, and he is desperate for relief.

The last thing he wants to do is go home and open old wounds. But when his stepfather dies, he must return to Hope Falls to settle the old man's will. The only thing stopping him from getting in and out of the quaint New Jersey town is James Mazzi.

Jamie heard Max was back, and it is killing him. Can he forgive the man who walked out on him and broke his heart eight years ago?

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.D. Gorri
• Release date: Sep 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223278023

Book preview

Mated By Moonlight

MATED BY MOONLIGHT

Mated in Hope Falls

C.D. GORRI

C.D. Gorri

Contents

Mated by Moonlight

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Epilogue

Reading on a BUDGET?

Beware… Here Be Dragons!

Have you met the Barvale Clan Bears?

Other Titles by C.D. Gorri

Excerpt from Purrfectly Mated

About the Author

Mated By Moonlight

Copyright ©2023 C.D. Gorri

Mated In Hope Falls, Book One

Cover Design by CDG Cover Designs

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author

Sale of this book without a front cover may be unauthorized. If this book is coverless, it may have been reported to the publisher as unsold or destroyed and neither the author nor the publisher may have received payment for it.

No part of this book may be adapted, stored, copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

For the lovers out there, always be true to your heart. xoxo

Mated by Moonlight

Some things are only clear by moonlight

Maxwell Rose has two Wolves fighting for dominance inside of him. The volatile beasts have driven him to the brink of madness more than once, and he is desperate for relief.

The last thing he wants to do is go home and open old wounds. But when his stepfather dies, he must return to Hope Falls to settle the old man’s will. The only thing stopping him from getting in and out of the quaint New Jersey town is James Mazzi.

Jamie heard Max was back, and it is killing him. Can he forgive the man who walked out on him and broke his heart eight years ago?

Prologue

Eight years ago…

Max emptied his drawers, carelessly tossing his belongings into the oversized duffel. The black Wolf inside of him whined piteously, while the white Wolf snarled his rage.

Unlike most Wolf Shifters in the Hope Falls Pack, Maxwell shared his soul with two supernatural beings. And those beasts were total fucking opposites, always pushing and pulling him in different directions.

The fight he’d gotten into today was the last straw. He’d been working on the pimped out 1968 ‘Vette that belonged to the Pack Alpha’s son and heir, Camdon Wyatt, but the prick had come to get it early.

Where’s my ride?

He’d snarled at Max, already egging his beasts on with his haughty sneer and condescending appraisal. His Wolves didn’t like the arrogant male as it was, but the full moon was only hours away, and Max was barely hanging on by a thread.

You’re early, he’d replied.

He wanted to warn the slightly younger male to walk away. To tell him this would not end well for him, but the prick would’ve taken it as a challenge to his position. Fucking Wolves were always fighting when they should be talking. At least, that was what Jamie always said.

Jamie.

His heart squeezed inside his chest thinking of the gentle Witch who’d caught his eye and given him his first taste of acceptance. He’d found love on those dark nights with Jamie in his arms, but that was over now. Unimaginable grief pressed down on him, and the white Wolf inside him snarled viciously.

The beast was always angry. Scared, really, but he would never admit that to anyone. Still, somehow Jamie always seemed to know what was wrong. One smile from the handsome male could send the vicious canine belly up and looking for pets and cuddles. It was laughable, really. Two Wolves inside of him, but they were both lapdogs for Jamie.

What was he going to do without him?

Fuck if he knew, but he couldn’t endanger the Witch with his presence.

Not now.

Max had seriously fucked up this time. He’d sealed his own fate when he’d laid hands on the Alpha’s son. Even now, the wounds on his knuckles from punching the fucker’s face until it was bloody gave him no satisfaction.

Figured you wouldn’t know dick from fixing a car, Camdon had sneered, Oh wait, if it was a dick, you would know all about it, wouldn’t you?

He’d looked around to see if anyone had heard his oh-so-clever joke, and Max closed his eyes to count to ten. The bastard was not prejudiced as far as Max knew. He just really hated him. Taking shots at whatever he saw as a weakness.

But Max knew better than to give in to such antics. His stepfather, Steven Greywolf, had taught him better than that. The older man was half-Lenape and a damn fine mechanic.

He’d taught Max everything he knew from the time he hooked up with his mother. Poor Gracie had lost her battle with breast cancer two years ago, and they both missed her like mad, but they had each other.

Being gay wasn’t a weakness. Max knew this. But he still wanted to punch the fucker’s lights out. Still, he’d held his cool. The meditative exercises Jamie had been teaching him really worked.

Then Camdon spoke again.

Asshole.

I said, where’s your little princess partner? Maybe he can keep me company while I wait.

That was when the shit really hit the fan. Max might’ve let it slide if the stupid Wolf hadn’t grabbed his dick and said what he had next.

I could use a good knob job. Camdon grabbed his cock again, and Max saw red.

What is going on here? Steven had come running when the sounds of the two Wolf Shifters fighting reached him outside.

Camdon was lying on the ground bloody and unconscious when Max’s gaze snapped to his stepfather. His white Wolf was still riding him hard, but Steven raised his hands and bared his throat submissively. He knew the younger male was the more dominant, and at present, a little more than volatile.

Max, the Alpha’s son needs an ambulance, he’d said, and Max cut off his growling, shaking his head.

Oh shit, what did I do? he whimpered.

I got him, son, but you have to go. Pain had etched the old man’s face. Take the money in the coffee can on the fridge and get out of town. Go to Uncle Joe’s in Miami. Call me when you get there. He will know what to do.

Leaving Hope Falls was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do, but he knew it was for his own good. Jamie’s too. Max’s inner Wolves were too out of control to remain around the normals and other supernaturals in town. He had to protect the ones he cared about, and the only way to do that was to leave and never look back.

Chapter 1

Good morning, Roy, the usual? James Mazzi tied the spring green apron around his waist and set about preparing for the morning rush.

The coffee was almost ready, and the day’s special muffins and rolls were cooling on the racks. Moonlight Café was now open for business.

Thanks, James. Have a good one. Roy, one of his first customers dropped a dollar in the tip jar. He did that every day, no matter what James said, and grabbed his roll and coffee to go. He was a nice man. A schoolteacher who specialized in working with at risk teens. There were plenty