Wolves’ Triad

  Wolves’ Triad

  By Lauren Dane

  Previously published under a different title

  The tri-mate bond is a myth

  That’s what Tracy Warden has believed all her life. Werewolves have one true mate, someone their wolf bonds to physically, mentally, emotionally. She didn’t expect to find her mate so soon, but Nick, second to the Pacific pack’s Alpha, is undeniably hers. The scent of him, the irrefutable way their bodies call to each other—it’s the beginning of a new life for them both.

  Until Tracy meets Gabe, and everything she thought she knew is turned upside down.

  None of them expected this. It shouldn’t be possible. But the bond they share can’t be denied—and before long, they don’t want to deny it. The triad makes them whole, and two alpha wolves in her bed—in her life—make Tracy wonder how she ever lived without the tri-bond.

  But there’s tension in Pacific, tension that goes much deeper than mere pack politics. Gabe, Nick and Tracy will do anything to protect each other, and their new bond is about to be put to the test...

  Watch for more Cascadia Wolves stories coming soon from Lauren Dane and Carina Press!

  This book is approximately 65,000 words

  One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise! Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise

  Dear Reader,

  Happy New Year! I looked back at some of my Dear Reader letters from past Januarys going back six years, and it looks like in many years I’ve reiterated our commitment to bringing you great books, memorable stories and excellent authors. It’s always tempting to try and one-up the year before, with things like “buy our books and...watch us swallow fire!” and “...we’ll bungee jump off the tallest building in the world!” But the truth is, since I’m a reader at heart, I know the only promise I want from a publisher is to not try and trick me with misleading genre labeling and to keep giving me the stories I want to read. So that’s what the Carina Press team will continue to work to do for you, our readers, in 2017. Sorry, we’ll have to save the fire swallowing for another year (and the bungee jumping for never).

  We start 2017 off in the best way possible, with USA TODAY bestselling author Alexa Riley’s first full-length novel, Everything for Her. This contemporary romance, available in print, audio and digital, shows just what happens when a strong, possessive hero finds the woman of his dreams. Get ready to read this with an ice bath (or a snowbank) nearby!

  Appropriate for the new year, we have four other new series starting this January. First this month, from the author of the quirky urban fantasy series Monster Haven is a new spin-off series, Djinn Haven. When a reaper goes missing, djinn and expert soul chaser Kam must recover the reaper’s ring before the souls inside it are trapped forever—but the past she ran from a hundred years ago is about to catch her and change everything in To Catch a Stolen Soul by R.L. Naquin.

  Popular LGBTQ author Sean Michael joins Carina Press and launches the Dragon Soul series, five sizzling hot paranormal male/male erotic romances. There are dragons. And did I mention dragons? Meet the Beteferoce brothers. Five dragon shifters, each with a strong elemental power. And each with a fierce desire to find his soul mate. In book one, Branded by Flames, dragon-shifter-slash-firefighter Jake is beginning to tire of his search for a soul mate. Until he meets Shae, a former navy welder who’s into power play and rough sex...

  Welcome to Luminous: where your pleasure is our purpose. With her new erotic romance trilogy, Stacey Lynn tantalizes readers, bringing us into the world of deep desire, naughty play and all-consuming love. Don’t miss Dominate Me, book one in the Luminous trilogy.

  In Off Base, navy SEAL Zack Nelson wants peace, not a roommate, after trading the barracks for a fixer-upper rental. Especially not Pike, who sees the things about Zack he most wants to hide. A virgin hero and his flirty new love interest make this Out of Uniform spin-off series from #gaymers author Annabeth Albert a must-read.

  We say a fond farewell to the Black Ops: Automatik series by Nico Rosso with the final book in this romantic suspense trilogy that’s been called “an action movie in book form” and “romantic suspense at its finest!” In Seconds to Sunrise, former SAS operator James Sant gets a second chance to help people with Automatik, but when a protection assignment brings him close to war widow April Banks, he finds himself hoping for more of a connection than ever—and she’ll have to discover if she’s ready to start living again. You can also buy the first two books in the trilogy, Countdown to Zero Hour and One Minute to Midnight.

  Julie Moffett returns with No Living Soul, another Lexi Carmichael Mystery! An ancient secret is no match for amateur sleuth and professional trouble magnet Lexi Carmichael. Lexi and friends need to find and safeguard an ancient artifact before it falls into the wrong hands. You can start here or go back to Lexi’s beginning and read No One Lives Twice.

  Emery Harper follows up Person of Interest, her first Celeste Eagan mystery, with In the Bag. Celeste Eagan thinks she’s gotten her life back on track...until her BFF drags her into the middle of yet another murder investigation, one that has killers, the police and even a suspicious new friend all chasing after her.

  As you can see, we’re starting 2017 off right with a great mix of romance, mystery and urban fantasy. And still not bungee jumping off tall buildings. We look forward to delivering to you plenty of excitement without the need for drastic measures, and we hope you’ll let us know some of your favorite books throughout the year.

  As always, until next time, my fellow book lovers, here’s wishing you a wonderful month of books you love, remember and recommend.

  Happy reading!

  Angela James

  Editorial Director, Carina Press

  Dedication

  This one will always be for Tracy Williams, a wonderful friend gone way too soon. #cancersucks

  Author’s Note

  These Cascadia Wolves novel/novella reissues enable me to bring back a series I’ve loved since day one. Some of the earlier books had been unavailable for a few years so I’m thrilled to be able to bring them back with some neatening, tightening and updated covers.

  The stories have not changed from the original editions. The editing and revision I’ve done was to hopefully make the stories easier to read and stronger overall, but the core of the story remains the same.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Excerpt from Wolf Unbound by Lauren Dane

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Lauren Dane

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Tracy Warden grabbed a cup of coffee in the spacious kitchen belonging to her brothers and sister-in-law. It was a room that felt like home. A room she’d cooked numerous meals in, had shared coffee and drinks in with her sister-in-law and best friend, Nina. Before Nina came, the room—the house—had been nice enough, but somehow the love she brought, the laughter and joy, made it a home.

  Tracy often wondered if it was about Nina or the connection she had with Lex. Wondered if she’d ever have that sense of belonging in a place—to someone—that Nina and Lex obviously did.

  “Have some breakfast, Trace. There’s plenty. You know how Cade is when he cooks. He’ll pout like a four-year-old if you don’t eat anything.”


  She looked back over her shoulder at Nina and laughed at the irreverence with which her sister-in-law treated their Alpha and the oldest brother in the Warden family. Cade may have scared the bejesus out of everyone else but Nina was fearless. Of course, considering the past year and a half of Nina’s life, what did she have to fear that she hadn’t overcome?

  “You’re going to get me into trouble, old woman,” Tracy snickered as she joined Nina at the table.

  “If you think I didn’t hear that comment, Nina, you’re mistaken,” Cade said in a growl as he came into the room and put a platter of bacon and another of eggs and toast down.

  “Oh, I’m all aquiver. I beg your pardon, Oh Supreme Tool, er, Alpha. Please don’t discipline me with your scary frown and spatula.”

  Lex came in, kissed the top of Nina’s head and sat, trying to stifle his smile.

  “He needs to take you in hand,” Cade groused as he sat and began to heap food on his plate.

  “Oh, he has. Can’t you recognize the satisfied look on his face?” Nina said, one eyebrow up as she put a napkin on her lap.

  “TMI! Let’s talk about something else, please, while I still have an appetite,” Tracy joked as she buttered her toast.

  “TMI?” Lex looked puzzled.

  “Too much information.” Nina winked at her sister-in-law.

  “Yes, like how Mom keeps coming over here looking for you, Tracy. She says you’re never home. Are you ducking her?” Cade had his big-brother-Alpha face on.

  “I keep telling you to rekey the gate code so she can’t sneak in here,” Nina murmured to Lex, who nearly choked on his coffee.

  “She’d just climb it, she’s ruthless when there’s prey in her sights.” Lex grinned behind his cup.

  Cade looked at Lex and tried not to smile, but lost the battle. “Okay, so she’s...”

  “Pushy? Come on, Cade! She keeps dropping in at my house with werewolves in tow who she just ran into at the grocery store or some such. It’s blatant and annoying.

  Megan and Tegan just hide from her when she comes over here, Lex married Nina, and you, you’re the Alpha and she has to be nicer to you so I’m vulnerable to her attacks.”

  “Don’t you want to have someone?” Lex asked quietly, his fingers playing with the ends of Nina’s hair.

  Tracy softened. “Yes. Yes, I do, Lex. But I don’t want to date some suck-up that wants an in with the Alpha’s family. I want my mate. I want the kind of connection that you and Nina have.”

  “Fair enough, doll.” Nina reached out and squeezed her hand. “You’ll find him. When you least expect it.” She grinned then. “And boy is he in for it!”

  * * *

  After breakfast, Tracy went into the office to start the accounting paperwork she did part-time for the Pack business and Nina moved about the house dealing with the plants before she went in to her gardening business for the day. Her florist shop had been burned down a year and a half before and instead of opening another florist’s she’d gone and opened up a full-scale nursery on the Eastside that had further nurtured her love for all things green—and had done extremely well in the bargain.

  Lex Warden tried not to notice how good his wife looked as she reached up to water the plants on the shelves above the kitchen counter. The morning sun streamed through the window and over her body. Normally she was hard to ignore but this morning it was even worse as her skirt inched up ever higher as she moved.

  Seeing the creamy café au lait skin of her thighs reminded him of the particularly fabulous way she’d said good morning and he had to shift in his seat as his cock hardened against the buttons of his fly.

  “Hello? You still with us, Lex, or you planning to ravish your wife?” Cade snapped his fingers in front of Lex’s face as he followed the direction of Lex’s glance. Nina Reyes-Warden was quite a specimen and Cade harbored more than one of his own fantasies about his sister-in-law. He certainly couldn’t blame his brother for the goofy, dreamy smile he wore. His brother had been totally head over heels for his mate since the first moment he’d taken a deep whiff of her, and Cade envied that.

  Lex snorted as Nina turned and rolled her eyes at both of them. “Jeez! Can’t a girl water plants around here without being objectified?” She squirted water at both of them and sashayed out, smiling to herself.

  The phone rang and a few moments later Nina walked back into the room and handed the receiver to Lex. “It’s the Enforcer from the Pacific Clan.”

  His fingers brushed hers and he watched, satisfied, as her pupils widened and her breathing sped up. He sent her a cocky grin and she mumbled “fucking furry tease” on her way back out of the room.

  Cade motioned that he was going into his office to work and Lex nodded shortly before taking his call.

  Lex came into the office half an hour later and threw his long frame into a chair. “That was Nick Lawrence calling about more border bullshit. I’ve sent Dave down to pick up three of our wolves who’re in jail for fighting with Pacific wolves. This dispute has gone on long enough. Someone is going to end up really hurt or dead.”

  “Call the Mediator. You know it’s unavoidable.” Cade took a sip of his coffee, chuckling. The National Pack had a mediator, a man who came in to solve inter-Pack disputes. It was a pain to deal with bureaucracy like that, but Alpha wolves made for ridiculously complicated negotiations. It was better to call in an expert before wolves died.

  “I know. Better we deal with this now.”

  Cade nodded. “And anyway, the wolf who’s been in the shadow seat was made Mediator three years ago. I hear he’s good. Young. Forward thinking. When you get together, take Nick aside and ask their opinion about the issue of Pellini Group’s influence on the National Governance Council.”

  Lex sighed and finished his coffee. “I can’t imagine they like it any more than we do. Most of the Packs don’t like it. I say we deal with it now, before they get any more power.”

  “That’s treason and I forbid you to talk like that outside of this house.” Cade’s voice was sharp. Warren Pellini and his connected wolves had found an in into the National Pack governance structure. Right now Pellini had the ear of a few powerful wolves, and they were all uneasy.

  “Hey, I can do my fucking job, Cade. You don’t need to forbid me like I’m some unranked wolf.” Lex pushed his chair back and stood, eyes flashing.

  “Whoa!” Nina rushed into the room and put herself between them. “Knock it off, both of you! You don’t see me and Tracy doing this sort of thing, do you?” Nina tossed an annoyed look over her shoulder at her sister-in-law, who was watching the exchange with similar annoyance and concern. “Boys, boys, put your cocks away please. If you don’t, I’m just going to break out the ruler and measure them once and for all. But let’s do this instead—shut the fuck up and stop the swaggery Who’s the Biggest Baddest Wolf crap. At least before lunch.”

  She placed a hand on each of their chests and felt their pounding hearts beneath her palms. Their hearts in her hand, it meant something. The three of them were tied to each other in a really elemental way and sometimes she was the bridge between two very strong males.

  The anger and challenge drained from them and she allowed herself a little sigh of relief.

  “God, you’re full of shit for someone so hot.” Cade leaned in, kissed her forehead and looked around her at his brother. “I didn’t mean offense by it. I do trust you to do your job. I trust you with my life every day. This is worrying me more than I realized, I suppose.”

  Lex relaxed a bit and pulled Nina to him with one hand, her back to his chest, and grabbed his brother with the other and cupped his neck. “Of course. I’m sorry I overreacted.”

  Tracy snorted. Turning around, she picked up the pile of paper she’d been working on, and put it in front of Cade. “I have to go to work.” She shook her head at her sister
-in-law. “Better you to have to deal with this crap than me.”

  “You’re going to work dressed like that?” Cade frowned at Tracy in her very short denim skirt, her legs encased in fishnet stockings. She was wearing a tight red sweater and her golden-brown hair hung in loose curls around her face and shoulders.

  “No, I forgot my boots.” She reached into the hall closet and pulled out a pair of high-heeled boots that laced up the front and came to her knees.

  “Holy crap! Trace, you cannot possibly go out in public dressed like that!” Lex narrowed his eyes, hands on his hips as he took his baby sister in.

  “Why not? She looks amazing.” Nina kissed Tracy’s cheek and turned back to look at her husband.

  “That’s the point. That skirt is too short, the sweater is too tight. The boots, they’re...they’re...” At a loss for words, Lex just gestured at her wildly.

  Tracy winked at both her overbearing brothers and pulled her coat on. “They’re really gorgeous, aren’t they? I love them.” Looking back at Nina, she grinned. “Just call me or have your guy call me and I’ll bring those pots back here tonight.”

  Blowing them all a kiss, she sauntered out of the room, yelled her goodbyes to everyone else and left.

  * * *

  Aside from the accounting work she did for the Pack, Tracy was lucky enough to have the refuge of her record store, Spin the Black Circle. She had loved the place since the first moment she’d found the empty storefront two years before but it was an added bonus that her mother hated it and didn’t want to come near it. Tracy was spending a lot of time there lately and was strongly considering kicking out the tenants who lived upstairs so she could move in there and have a great reason to keep her mother away. She was also fortunate to have a manager who loved the store almost as much as she did and who ran the place with amazing efficiency and the help of a small but great staff.

  After several hours at the store, she went home to get some paperwork for Cade. The house was one that she’d spent a lot of time in as a kid. Her grandparents had turned the Pack over to her father before Tracy was born, and as a result they had a lot of free time to spend with their grandchildren.