Page 1 of The Wolf Guard’s Mate (Marked Beneath the Moon #3)

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OLIVE

I scrubbed a sticky spot on the countertop, trying not to let my attention linger on the giant man in the corner booth.

I failed.

Like always.

I was pretty sure Hunter Savage was the one who had gotten me my job in the bar. He had played a massive role, at the very least.

And he had been there every time I worked since the very beginning. Through the entirety of every single shift.

I would’ve wondered if he was getting paid to do it, but he was the guy who paid everyone else’s checks. So it was pretty much guaranteed that he was there because he wanted to be.

We never spoke.

He just sat in the corner and nursed a glass of whatever drink he’d brought with him while working from both of his laptops.

I was pretty sure he was just drinking water, which was positively boring. It took a hell of a lot for a werewolf to get drunk, so it wasn’t like a glass of whiskey would cloud his senses in any way.

He never came up to the bar, and never asked for a drink. He never flirted. He rarely spoke to anyone—and if he did, it was only a work conversation with someone I recognized as one of the pack’s top enforcers.

We had never had a conversation, even though we were technically sort of related. My twin sister had married one of his triplet brothers. So, we were sort of… siblings-in-law? Or at least, his brother was my brother-in-law.

I’d taken to calling him my brother-in-law in my head, in hopes that it would ease my attraction to him. I knew his history with my sister, after all.

His wolf had claimed that she was his. He’d been overprotective of her, but absolutely disinterested in mating with her or even being friends with her.

If he’d never been attracted to Nova—and she was confident he hadn’t—then he sure as hell wouldn’t be attracted to me . I looked like the softer, weaker, less-tattooed version of her. And considering she was barely over five feet tall, she wasn’t exactly terrifying.

Werewolves respected strength, and my appearance absolutely didn’t scream “strong” in any way. It did, however, earn me lots of tips. Being small and pale with long, dark hair had benefits.

Despite the tips and some flirting, none of my customers had asked me out.

I was pretty sure my sexy brother-in-law was to blame for that somehow, and I had a plan to find out the truth.

Jake, one of my buddies in the pack, plopped down in the stool across from me.

“Hey, Oli Pop. Can I get a whiskey sour?” he drawled, flashing me a wicked grin.

Jake was an enforcer. At least, I was pretty sure he was. I hadn’t come out and asked, because I was still trying to figure out what was and wasn’t allowed in a werewolf pack.

My sister had turned me two-ish months earlier, and then she left Crimson River to go convince her mate that he wasn’t insane. Which was a long story. She’d only gotten back a few days ago, so there hadn’t exactly been time for her to teach me about being a werewolf.

I was figuring it out, though.

Sort of.

My first heat hadn’t hit yet, and I was more than a little terrified about that. The sex didn’t scare me, but supposedly there was some kinky wolf stuff that came with it.

It had been years since I screwed anyone— fuck you, breast cancer that made my life hell for so long and nearly killed me —so I really needed to get back in the saddle before heat decided to strike.

Nova had warned me about the tingle she always felt a day before heat came on, and I was trying to watch for that. But since I’d never felt it before, it was a crapshoot.

Anyway, Jake had volunteered to ride out heat with me when it happened. I was pretty sure he just wanted to experience the wolfy sex, but whatever. He was nice, and I wasn’t about to spend days in hell during heat for the sake of avoiding a few hours of unique sex.

“Of course.” I flashed him a smile and dropped my rag in the bin with the others. After washing my hands, I made the drink and brought it over to him.

“Any sign of heat yet?” he checked.

“Nope.”

“Damn, I’m getting antsy.”

“That makes two of us.” I leaned over the bar, scanning the small crowd. It was fairly empty, as weekday nights after 12 AM usually were. We were open until two, so I still had an hour and a half until last call. That was fine, though. I’d always been a night owl.

“What time are you off?” Jake asked me, and I watched Hunter through the corner of my eye.

Jake’s question was planned.

He had agreed to help me figure out for sure if Hunter was threatening people not to ask me out, or if the guys were just keeping their distance because he was there. The bar I worked at was one of the most popular in Crimson River, so most of the patrons weren’t part of our pack.

“A little after two,” I said, still eyeing Hunter.

He didn’t react physically, but Jake’s slow grin told me he’d done something.

“That’s pretty late,” he said, and I slid him a receipt someone had discarded.

Jake scribbled over the back of it before sliding it to me.

Hunter says you’re off limits. And not to call you Oli Pop

I mouthed, “Thank you.”

“Thanks for the drink, Olive. Let me know when heat’s starting?”

“Yep. See ya.”

He tipped the drink back and set the glass down before striding away.

Everyone else in the building was doing their own thing, so I went into the kitchen for a minute to let the guys back there know I was going on break.

Afterward, I stepped out from behind the bar and crossed the room.

Hunter’s eyes didn’t leave the screen of the laptop he was focused on as I slid into the booth across from him. But he tensed a little, which was interesting.

I closed his laptop halfway, though that was kind of risky. I could definitely piss him off. I was pissed at him, though, so that seemed fair.

I said in my most cheery voice, “Hey, brother-in-law.”

His gaze finally lifted to me, his jaw clenched. “We’re not siblings.”

“You adopted Fletcher when Aspen mated with Enzo, and he’s her brother,” I countered.

“That was different.”

“Because he doesn’t have tits?”

Hunter couldn’t stop his gaze from lowering to my breasts, just for a heartbeat. His eyes flicked back to mine immediately, and I almost thought I saw his cheeks redden.

That couldn’t have been right, though.

“No,” Hunter said, far too late.

“Whatever. I have no desire to be a Savage.” I leaned over the table. “But I need you to stop scaring guys away from me. It’s been years since I had sex, and I have to get back on the horse before heat strikes. I don’t want my first experience in ages to include knotting.”

His cheeks reddened further, and holy shit, I was right about the blushing.

That was actually kind of sexy.

Then again, the gigantic, tan male with wavy, dark hair and a scar over one of his eyes didn’t need to blush to be sexy. His sexiness never faded.

The blushing just made him seem more human, I guess.

“You’re the first unmated female wolf most of these men have ever met. They’re only interested in you because of that,” Hunter said.

“So?”

His forehead creased. “They’re objectifying you.”

“I don’t think you’re picking up what I’m putting down here, Hunt. Can I call you Hunt?”

“No.”

“Yeah, I’ll come up with a better nickname. Anyway—what I’m saying is that I want to be objectified right now. I want to have hot, wild sex with random men who are attracted to me. And I can’t do that with you threatening everyone who talks to me.”

“I haven’t threatened any of them.”

I rolled my eyes. “When the biggest, most powerful dude in the city tells a guy that a woman is off limits, the guy listens. Clearly.”

“I’m not the most powerful.”

“Really, Terry? That’s what you’re going with? Enzo obviously wins, but even if Clay is stronger than you, you’re number three. People listen when you give them orders.”

Hunter’s whole face wrinkled. “Do not call me Terry.”

“It’s worse than Hunt, huh? I’ll keep brainstorming.”

“Or you could just use my name.”

“Siblings need nicknames.”

“We aren’t siblings, Olive.”

“We might as well be. You’re obviously not attracted to me, so?—”

“What?” he growled.

I gestured to myself. “I look like Nova. You weren’t attracted to Nova. I get you’re trying to do the brotherly protective thing, but?—“

“How the fuck did you come to that conclusion?”

I blinked.

He leaned toward me, resting his massive arms on the table.

Somehow, he was even bigger than I’d realized.

I leaned back. Mostly because he was huge. And gorgeous. And maybe slightly terrifying. He didn’t look anywhere near as friendly as my sister’s mate, even though they had almost the same face.

“Well?” he asked, his voice lowering.

“It’s not exactly a secret that you weren’t interested in my sister.”

“I wasn’t interested in taking a mate. What she looked like was irrelevant.”

“So you were attracted to her?”

“Given she’s mated to my brother, there’s no appropriate answer to that question.”

“That’s actually fair, Honey.”

His nostrils flared. “ Honey ?”

“Your eyes.” I gestured toward them. “And your name is Hunter, so it actually works. Anyway, whether or not you’re attracted to me hardly matters, unless you’re offering to break my cancer-driven abstinence streak yourself. And since you’re not, I’d really appreciate it if you’d stop scaring away the candidates.”

“You have a fixation with putting words in my mouth, Oli Pop .”

“You’re not offering to break my streak… are you?”

“Olive,” the cook called from behind the bar.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw him talking to a group of customers. They had all ordered mixed drinks earlier, so they probably wanted refills. Which the cook wouldn’t know how to make.

“Pause the conversation. I’ll be back.”

I opened his laptop screen as I slipped out of the booth and crossed the bar. The group at the counter looked over at me, so I put a little sway into my step. Looking good always led to more tips.

“Sorry,” I apologized, putting a smile on my face as I took my place back behind the bar. The cook disappeared, and I took over again.

When they walked away with their drinks, I checked for anyone who was eyeing the bar again before knocking on the kitchen door and going back to the booth.

“Alright, unpause,” I said as I lowered Hunter’s laptop screen again.

His eyes were dark when they met mine. “I’ll do it.”

“You’ll do what?”

“Break your streak.”

Oh.

Oh .

I’d been lusting after the man since I got to town, so if he was offering, I definitely wasn’t going to turn him down.

My eyebrows lifted. “Are you sure? It could make things weird between us at holidays and stuff.”

“It would just be sex, right? No strings attached?” he asked.

“Obviously. I don’t want a mate.”

“Neither do I.”

“Just one night, then,” I said.

“One night,” he agreed.

“Deal. Book us a hotel room—we’re not screwing in the Lodge or in my cabin.”

“Agreed. I’ll drive us when your shift ends.”

I hesitated, just for a moment. I wanted him, but the situation was slightly more complicated than a normal one-night stand.

“This isn’t a weird thing that has something to do with lingering feelings for my sister, right?” I asked.

“No. Feelings that never existed can’t linger.”

“That’s fair.” I held out a hand. “You have a deal.”

He shook my hand.

Electricity burned my skin with the touch, and my wolf stirred. She studied him with interest.

“Your wolf isn’t claiming me, right?” I asked Hunter.

“He’s not even a little interested. Yours?”

“She’s curious, but she always is.”

He nodded, releasing my hand. “You have more customers.”

I went back to the bar, trying not to look over my shoulder at Hunter on my way.

Had I really just agreed to sleep with my sort-of-brother-in-law?

Hot damn.

The rest of my shift went by slowly. As always, Hunter waited in his booth, still working on his laptop. The second one was open and set to his side, and I couldn’t help but wonder what he had on the screen.

When I finished closing up, he was ready and waiting at the back door. I locked it behind us, and glanced at Hunter. “We should probably drive separately to make for an easy escape.”

He dipped his head in a nod and walked me to my Jeep.

The Jeep he’d given my sister as an apology present, actually.

That was awkward.

I opened the driver’s side door, then hesitated.

“Maybe we shouldn’t,” I began, but Hunter’s lips met mine before I finished.

They were warm.

Silky.

He parted my lips with his tongue, and I moaned at the taste of him.

Honey and gin.

Definitely gin.

He hadn’t been drinking water after all.

One of his hands landed on my hip, and he stepped closer. His erection met my belly, and I wrapped my hands around his face, pulling him down more.

His bag hit the ground with a thud, and his other hand found my hip too.

I pulled him down harder, and Hunter growled, pulling away.

My chest rose and fell rapidly as he stared down at me, his honey eyes bright gold.

“You want to back out, Oli Pop?” he rumbled.

“No.”

“Good. Get in the car.”

I didn’t dare protest, not willing to risk him walking away.

When Hunter followed me in, I climbed over the center console and took the passenger seat.

“You should climb over that again,” he said, and I glanced over my shoulder.

“You enjoyed the view?”

“Immensely.”

“I can arrange a better one if you make it worth my time.”

His eyes flashed, and he started the Jeep. “The hotel’s only a few blocks away. I already checked in on my phone.”

“You in a hurry?” I teased.

“I’ve got better things to do than talk to a receptionist.”

I smiled.

“Buckle up,” he warned.

“I like to live on the edge.”

“Not with me. Buckle up.” The vehicle didn’t budge.

I flashed him an annoyed look, but buckled my seatbelt.

He finally pulled out, and my annoyance faded.

I could deal with his overprotective thing for one night.

“How many people did you threaten to stay away from me?” I asked.

“You don’t want to know.”

“I do.”

“You don’t.”

“Did you count?”

“Technically, no.”

“Technically?” I checked.

“Yes.”

“What does that mean?”

He didn’t answer immediately, so I waited.

When he still didn’t answer, I poked him on the arm. “Come on, Honey.”

“That nickname isn’t going to work for me.”

“Answer my question.” I poked his arm again.

Hunter grunted. “There might be a spreadsheet.”

“A spreadsheet ?”

His knuckles clenched on the steering wheel. “It seemed like a good idea.”

“Why?”

When he didn’t answer, I tried to poke his arm again.

He snagged my hand and laced his fingers through mine, squeezing my palm lightly. “Quit it.”

“Then answer my questions.”

“There are no unmated female werewolves in the city other than Sydney, and she rarely leaves the pack’s land. Her boyfriend’s reputation is enough to protect her when she does. You don’t have that. Anyone who shows too much interest is a risk. I already failed to protect your sister; I wasn’t going to risk letting you get attacked the same way.”

“Damn. I thought you were going to say you wanted to fuck me yourself.”

He snorted. “Do you take anything seriously?

“Nah. I should be dead right now. I’ve had enough seriousness to get me through however long I last as a werewolf.”

“I don’t think that logic works.”

“My tits aren’t trying to kill me anymore, so I’m going with it.”

“Your cancer was in your breasts?”

“Mmhm. These ladies are fake, so prepare yourself.” I shimmied my shoulders.

He grimaced.

“If that’s a deal breaker, you can get out of my car right now. I don’t care if you’re the one who bought it,” I said firmly.

He scowled. “Your breasts are obviously not a problem. Tits are tits.”

“Then why did you make that face?” I gestured to said face.

He didn’t answer right away, so I poked him again.

He grudgingly admitted, “I was thinking it must’ve been a nightmare to go through cancer alone.”

“Oh.” I sat back in the chair, my anger suddenly gone. “Yeah. It wasn’t fun.”

“How did you do it?” He sounded like he genuinely wanted to hear my answer.

We were just supposed to be hooking up… but Hunter’s personality didn’t exactly seem casual. It didn’t surprise me that he was asking big questions, and I didn’t have a problem with it.

“I couldn’t control the cancer, but I could control my attitude. So I did. And it was still hell—but I had hope, and it kept me alive as long as it did. Now that I’m not dying, I want to really live, you know? I’m just not quite sure how. And the medical debt is intense, so that sucks.”

Hunter pulled into the hotel and parked, turning to look at me.

I flashed him a smile, and he studied me. “You’re impressive, Olive.”

“It’s the fake tits. They’re better than my real ones were.”

He shook his head, but I could tell he was fighting a smile. “Let’s go.”

He liked me more than he wanted to admit. And not just because of the tits.