Jaecar was ordered to join the males next to the fire in the camp the eve before the Mating Moon. The males discussed what females they planned to hunt, knowing their lustful need to mate would rise to insane heights tomorrow.

Already they were making crude remarks, their blood heating. And there'd been several short spars already. Mostly between the Hayden brothers who seemed to be forever antagonizing each other.

All of them discussing how they'd mate Vanna Rae first than getting in a shoving match before they all agreed they'd share her as they did all things. From the spoils of battles, to the food Hunter found for them to the woman they all wanted to mate.

Jaecar shook his head at them. Somewhat disdainful of how heated their blood had already became.

Even Draven was quiet. Watching beyond the camp with a predatory gaze.

Jaecar twisted to see what woman his gaze followed, though he had little need to check his suspicion...

Lyra Lani was creeping beyond the shadows with Marta, one of the wisened female elders, heading for her hut. But not without the Alpha rising to follow her step.

Jaecar realized he wasn't the only one hoping to seduce a woman before he'd become too feral to act as a civilized being. He'd been racking his brain for hours. Wondering how he could charm her. Persuade her to submit to him before the moon.

His close friend Magus took a seat next to him.

Magus was a rare addition to their pack. A creature half mage-half wolf he was immensely rare. There was purportedly only one other such creature in existence. And he was allegedly the Commander of King Detry's Mages Guild.

"What are you so pensive about?" Magus queried.

"Same thing you are, I've no doubt."

"I'm far less pensive than I should be." Magus was trying to hide a self-satisfied smirk and failing.

"Found a way to tempt Zyra have you?" Jaecar asked in wonder. Knowing how many men had wanted the seductress though all had failed to peak her interest. "I thought all the males had given up on her."

"That's fair!" Magus sat up and his eyes widened Jaecar. "You know how she can camouflage in the trees, evading all us hunters. And about her touch." Magus lifted a finger in example and made a zapping sound as he pointed it. "A man could well lose his part to her gentle touch!"

"Then what have you planned?" Jaecar's black brows lifted in interest.

"I intend to play as unfairly as she."

"How's that?"

"A spell an old friend gave me."

"The mage Commander when he trained you."

"Nay." Magus shook his head. "We rarely saw him. The one that truly trains is his Second in Command, Hawk. He was my mentor."

***

"And what spell did he give you?"

Magus beamed. "One to melt a woman who's toyed with you too long. One he wrote for a particular little mage that had been teasing him below the breeches."

"Oh?" Jaecar was more than impressed. Shape shifter that he was, he had extraordinarily little understanding of mage magic.

As if on cue, Zyra Momay sauntered over to the camp. Knowing full well the effect she had on all the males in her tiny robes. Especially the eve before the Mating Moon. All eyes were on her, in her small leather straps coursing over her shoulders and cinched at her waist to cover the back and front of her but leaving a tantalizing view of the bare expanse of her legs.

She was as confidant as any man in this camp. Absent the fears the other females had of being killed during mating.

Because Zyra was a mage in her own wright. Having enough abilities to evade the males. She had the full ability to choose one of her own but instead she amused herself with mercilessly teasing the only creature she saw as rivalling her magic.

Magus.

She sat down on the other side of him and Jaecar didn't miss that she'd soon but Magus hand under the leather flaps at the front of her. Pushing him in and grinding her hips forward.

Jaecar shook his head. Disgusted at her teasing. If there was one woman in camp that didn't deserve the respect of the males, she was certainly it. Jaecar almost pitied Magus. Hoping that the spell Hawk had given him would work on the little succubus.

***

Without conscious thought, Jaecar found himself heading for the most reinforced hut in the camp. One with extra boards staggered in each direction over the windows, doors and even the support walls until the hut appeared more of a fortress.

It was ironic that it was Jaecar himself that'd made it nearly impenetrable. But a glance at the roof revealed the tiny bit of overhang he knew to be the hatch that he had planted up there.

A way in that Samantha couldn't barricade.

Jaecar had gotten the idea from a construction that Draven had requested his help with on a cabin further out in the woods.

One Draven had designed to torture a potential mate.

Jaecar remembered the chains that had been hooked to a pully attached to a beam. He grimaced, pitying whatever woman Draven intended them for.

He could be a damn ruthless bastard when he wished.

Without even intending to Jaecar found himself peering back at Lyra Lani's hut. Having a suspicion who the alpha had designed the cabin for. Unsurprised when he spotted Draven on the step there. Cast in candlelight as he was leaning in the doorway.

Trying to persuade Lyra Lani of the very same thing Jaecar was hoping to persuade Samantha of tonight.

Not a good night for it though. Jaecar wished he had more time. Already his blood was boiling at the idea of mating Samantha. He'd hungered for her for years. Knowing her smell, sensing their connection but knowing she'd be terrified of the taking, he'd thought to spend the years teaching her to be comfortable and then persuading her to trust him for a mating.

Now he feared he'd end up hurting her because he'd run out of time. He couldn't let Draven have her.