Wolf Lust: Outcast Pack, #5

PROLOGUE

12 months earlier

It wasn’t a formal gathering; they didn’t have them as they weren’t an actual pack. They were a random collection of packless—either because they’d left to make things easy for their family or were officially cast out—gay wolves who’d gotten invited to run on Kyle’s rural property. Most of them knew Con and had hooked up with him at some point; Miles would like to say that he wasn’t part of that club, but he was, even though it was pre-Gideon.

And he hadn’t been invited to run back then because Con hadn’t met Kyle yet, so the idea of being able to gather with other gay wolves was a dream that didn’t even exist.

If Con was bothered by being around his exes, he didn’t show it. Well, were they exes when it had lasted one night or less? But today there was a new face at Kyle’s for the run.

You found another one? Is that like your secret superpower? Miles teased.

Con lifted his hands. Not me this time.

I invited him, Sam said. Mark knows Simon’s ex-wife’s brother.

Like that wasn’t a mouthful to remember. So much so that it took Miles a moment to fully process, and when he did, the question fell out of his mouth before he could stop it. Ex-wife?

All eyes turned to Simon, who stared at the ground. He was tall and dark-haired, but that was about all Miles could see of him. He smelled delicious, though. He wanted to say like oranges and sunshine, but that was stupid because wolves always smelled warm and who the fuck smelled like oranges?

I was married. I thought I could make myself fit in to the pack. Simon lifted his gaze. He had dark brown eyes that were full of painful things he didn’t want to speak about. He wasn’t the only wolf to have that look in his eyes. We separated a year ago because I couldn’t do it any longer, and she didn’t want me to pretend. It was months in the making.

Oh. That was a bit different and a bit tragic. And he felt like an ass for asking. Does that make it easier or worse?

I don’t know. Simon extended his hand, and Miles hesitated.

His thumbnail was black and cracked from where he’d dropped a brick on it, and as usual, his hands were rougher than coarse grit sandpaper. They were not the kind of hands that guys wanted feeling them up.

Miles.

Simon’s grip was firm, and he didn’t flinch away. His lips had a nice curve that Miles wanted to lick to see what he tasted like. It wasn’t often that a man had such an instant effect on Miles. Surrounded by wolves was not the time to radiate lust because they’d all become aware in about three seconds.

You a tradie?

Yeah. There was no point in denying the obvious. He took his hand back. Bricklayer. You?

Chemistry teacher.

That meant he was smart. Hot and smart. For a moment, Miles let himself imagine what it would be like to date another wolf instead of having to hide this part of himself from Gideon. It was that or tell Gideon about the paranormal world, and he wasn’t ready to do that. He’d had a conversation about it with Sam not that long ago. Given that Sam was a Coven Agent, it had seemed like a good place to start. These days, the Coven wasn’t too keen on telling any human anything.

Lying to Gideon about being a shifter wasn’t the same as lying to your wife about being gay, though. Gay or bi? He had more questions. They formed at the tip of his tongue, ready to leap into the world.

Then Simon gave him a fleeting smile that brightened his eyes. In that second, Miles wanted to kiss him more than he wanted to talk.

Simon looked away, and the moment was over.

Miles took a breath and tried to push down the annoying spike of lust. Simon’s life wasn’t any of his business, and he had enough dramas of his own. When he came out here for a run, he told Gideon he was catching up with old friends. Gideon had asked if he could come a couple of times, and Miles had told him no one brings a partner.

It wasn’t a good answer, and Gideon hated it, so Miles didn’t run very often.

We’re really informal, Kyle said. But I ask that you don’t invite anyone without checking with me since this is my home. Otherwise, most text me and ask if they can come up. Usually, it’s not a problem. It’s a big house with spare bedrooms.

Simon nodded. I have my kids every other weekend, so I don’t know how often I’ll get up here.

Sam put a hand on Simon’s shoulder. It’s an open invitation, not a requirement. Most of us live in the city⁠—

Which isn’t always easy, Miles said. Running into another wolf, the first thing they ask is what pack you’re from. Saying none brought an automatic sneer and invited trouble. Sometimes he lied and said his old pack. He hadn’t been kicked out, but only because he’d left first.

In that heartbeat, he knew why Simon had tried so hard to fit in. Having a place to belong mattered. He wasn’t sure where he belonged. And while he loved Gideon, telling him about the paranormal world didn’t feel right. The more he thought about it, the less he wanted to do it, which probably said something about his relationship.

Simon had a bigger set of balls than him. He’d left everything so that he didn’t have to live a lie.

Shall we run? Or do we want to sit around and talk about our exes? Kyle grinned at Con.

Con flipped him the bird and pulled off his shirt.

Miles was still undoing his laces, giving his semi time to disappear, when Con, Sam, and Kyle walked outside naked and ready to shift.

So there’s no hierarchy? Simon folded his shirt and placed it on the back of the sofa.

It took Miles a moment to realize Simon was talking to him. He glanced up and felt the heat of lust swoop through his blood. No. We aren’t a pack. How could they be? Packs had couples and kids, and the only couple they had were Sam and Mark, and Mark wasn’t even a wolf. He was a witch. Just respect that this is Kyle’s place, and he lets us use it. Have you been getting out much since the, um, split?

Not really. He raked his fingers through his hair. I haven’t dated in over a decade, and it’s all changed. And I’d never… He shrugged.

Never been with a guy before? He took off his shoes and socks, wanting to keep his clothes on for as long as possible, which was a weird feeling.

I have now. But I don’t want to just hook-up like Con. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Miles laughed. Sam warned you about him?

Yes. He’s a familiar to a witch. That’s unusual for a wolf.

I guess. Sam could be prickly and, from what he’d heard, literally made people disappear. He covered up all kinds of things that the Coven didn’t want humans to know about. That Mark was a cop only made their relationship even stranger.

Miles tugged off his shirt and then his jeans. He needed this run, and not only to enjoy the shift. But he was aware of the way Simon’s gaze drifted over him. He had a small outline of a wolf tattooed on the back of his hip. He’d had it done in Bali with a group of human friends about five years ago. They’d been obsessed with finding their inner animal, something he’d found amusing at the time. He didn’t speak to any of them anymore.

Coming? Beyond the big glass windows, three wolves waited on the lawn. They’re waiting.

I haven’t shifted with anyone for a while. Even as Simon spoke, he shucked his jeans.

We won’t bite. But Miles wanted to. There was something about Simon that made his heart beat a little faster, despite the reasons not to go there.

The top one being that he had a boyfriend waiting at home.

Coming a close second and third were Simon’s divorce and the fact that he was smart and professional, and Miles was a high school dropout. Simon walked past him, his perfect ass begging to be bitten.

Instead, Miles bit his own lip, hoping the sting would kill the sudden heat in his blood.

CHAPTER ONE

Even though they’d driven out to Kyle’s place together, the way they had so many times, Miles still stopped and stared when Simon walked out of the bedroom in the gray suit. Was this the first time he’d seen Simon in a suit?

Miles had seen him in slacks and a shirt, but now he was all buttoned up, and Miles wanted nothing more than to undo the top button and lick his throat. Maybe bite him a little.

For one dizzying moment, he wanted to be the one getting married today. To Simon.

He shook his head, trying to clear the thought.

What’s wrong? Did I miss a spot shaving? Simon ran his hand over his cheek and jaw.

Nah, you look great. Could he sound any rougher and less educated? Nah. What was wrong with a simple and normal no?

Simon smiled and lifted an eyebrow. I took too long. You should’ve knocked.

"I’ve just gotten out of the