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was instinct, and sometimes it could get out of hand.
He knew why John hated him. He d thought all those years ago that his
friend had forgiven him. Now he knew differently. Olivia s death had been
an accident. She d been trying to prove that she was superior to him. He
didn t understand why she was so driven and why it mattered all of a sudden.
That last day, Derek had gotten it into his head that if he just let her win and
make it look good, she d back off, so he issued the challenge. Olivia had
jumped on it and declared he should be the first to hunt for them. He agreed.
Her scent had been easy to pick up. She wasn t as clever as John or
himself at finding ways to mask it. The moment he came upon her in the
thicket, he d realized his mistake. Olivia grew angry and snapped him. Her
attacks became more aggressive, like she was looking to hurt him. Back then
it didn t take much for Derek to lose his temper, and in wolf form, his
instincts took over self-preservation and the will to fight. Before he knew
it, his jaws had clamped around her throat and a shake of his head had
broken her neck.
The pack leader, his father, had investigated and come to the conclusion
that it was an accident and that Olivia had incited him, a young, undisciplined
werewolf. While he realized Derek hadn t meant to kill her, he still paid the
price exile from the pack. Later when he made his fortune, his family had
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invited him back, but he refused. Even if it wasn t obvious they wanted to
get their hands on his money, he d never really forgiven them for abandoning
him, nor forgiven himself for what he d done. He d thought he was more
fortunate than he ever deserved that his best friend forgave him. Now he
knew differently. John had been harboring his hatred for fifteen years.
Memories of the past faded from Derek s immediate thoughts when a
small cottage came into view. There was no mistaking both John s and
Channing s scents. He crouched low toward the ground and stalked closer
while pricking his ears forward and back to catch any sounds. When he
stepped onto the back porch, he paused. A small window stood above him.
He could break it and jump through, but he had no idea how close Derek
was to Channing and if he held a weapon on him. When voices reached him
from just beyond, he strained to listen in.
I don t want to be with him anymore than you want me to be,
Channing was saying. Derek clenched his jaws tight to keep from growling
his hurt. Channing went on. You know how this bond works. It makes me
feel like I love him, when I know I don t. I mean he didn t even give me a
choice. He attacked me, and next thing I know I m a werewolf. Not the plan
I had for my life let me tell you.
Derek paced in confusion a minute. Channing knew what he said wasn t
true. Derek had explained it to him, that bonding didn t make a person love
his mate. Had he not believed him? Then it came to him. His baby was
counting on John being ignorant of that fact, but to what end?
You know that if I sleep with someone else, our bond will be broken,
right? Channing asked.
So? John spoke with hesitation.
So, it s one more way to get back at Derek if his mate is taken away
from him. Imagine his humiliation to find out I chose someone else over
him. It almost happened recently with another guy. I m pretty sick of the
number of men from his past at this point.
If Derek could have frowned in his wolf form, he would have. He didn t
know if Channing was looking to delay whatever John had planned to do to
him or what. John wasn t gay, so he couldn t imagine the man going for the
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idea, and bringing in someone else would get messy. Channing hadn t
thought this thing all the way through. He needed to take action before it
went too much further.
To his surprise, John chuckled. You know I m not gay. I assume you
were offering yourself to me.
Offering myself? No. Derek heard steps and guessed that Channing
walked toward John. He wouldn t accept John touching Channing or
anyone else for that matter. John would be dead before more than a fingertip
touched his mate. When all was silent, he strained his ears to hear more. A
growl started in his throat at John s tone when he spoke again.
I I don t like& John stuttered.
Come on, Channing interrupted. I know a curious man when I see
him. You ve wondered. Maybe not with me, but with Derek. But you hate
him, and I get it. Just think of putting your dick in the place he s claimed as
his own. Maybe we could even take a few pictures to tease him with. If I m
dead, the pain will fade. Trust me. Derek is a cold son of a bitch. He s all
about himself. No, the picture the sex that s the way to strike an arrogant
man like him, in his pants, over and over again.
Derek saw red. He backed up a few paces and crouched ready to jump
through the window. He had heard enough.
I have to admit I like the plan, John declared. I m& uh& nervous
about it. You know. I haven t done that before.
All you do is get it hard and stick it in, Channing said. Here, I ll show
you.
At the sound of the zipper going down, Derek shattered the window and
landed in the middle of the floor. He barely paused a second before he was
on them. He sent Channing flying backward and lurched for John. In an
instant, his old friend shifted, and they tumbled about the floor, biting at
each other while trying to get the upper hand. Derek pounced onto his chest
and knocked him to the floor on his side. John twisted away, and they faced
off again.
Around and around, they circled each other. John was the first to strike.
He came at Derek, but Derek leaped to the side and spun to catch the other
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wolf around the throat. Déjà vu washed over him the moment John howled
in pain, and he let go to back away.
John dropped to the floor panting, and Derek watched blood pool on the
floor by his throat. Seeing it brought his humanity back, and he shifted. He
leaned over John to have a look, but the wolf snapped at him. All the fight
was gone, so Derek wasn t too worried. Accept that this is over, John.
Please. I don t want to kill you. If I could go back and give my life for
Olivia s I would, but I can t change what happened. I m sorry.
Derek heard Channing s sound of protest, but he didn t turn away from
his friend. After some time, John shifted, but his labored breathing hadn t
improved. I worked tirelessly& nights& to create that formula. I could give
you a timed release. The dosage would build up in your system until it took
full effect. You were too stupid to know, too predictable. I own the shop that
supplies it just for you. He laughed without humor, and Derek saw the
sorrow in his eyes. I knew it was her. She was to be mated to me, but she
fell in love with you. It drove her mad because she knew it could never be. I
will never forgive you for that.
Derek reached a hand out to touch his friend, but John ducked away.
Before he knew what John intended, the man had shifted again and jumped
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