When Killian next opened his eyes, golden sunlight dappled the walls and carpet. He groaned and rolled over to find another warm body was occupying his bed. Zayden was still asleep, one arm lying across his eyes, the other draped over his chest. For a few seconds, Killian was mesmerized by the way the bassist’s rib cage rose and fell from his deep breathing. Then his pale-green eyes traveled to Zayden’s Adam’s apple and carotid artery. Saliva pooled in his mouth as he propped himself up on one elbow to give himself a better view. He could hear Zayden’s heartbeat, smell the delicious copper-scented blood flowing beneath the skin . . .

Killian pulled back as if he’d been burned. He still found it hard sometimes to control the bloodlust even after years of being a werewolf. When he was younger he’d run with a pack of purebloods that had taught him how to control his wolf side—but he, like Zayden, had been bitten. Teaching a ’wolf who was made and not born took time—and right now, that wasn’t a luxury Zayden had. Killian wasn’t even sure how he would be able to mentor the beta when their bandmates were in the same house with them nearly twenty-four/seven.

Speaking of Zayden . . .

Images of last night ran through his mind, and Killian groaned. He needed a cold shower, like, right now.

*

Okay, so the water wasn’t freezing cold, but the heat felt wonderful. Rogue’s lead vocalist gradually became aware he was humming the intro to a Scorpions single, but he didn’t care. Then the vocals kicked in: “It’s early morning, the sun comes out. Last night was shaking and pretty loud. My cat is purring, it scratches my skin. So what is wrong with another sin? The bitch is hungry, she needs to tell, so give her inches and feed her well. More days to come, new places to go. I’ve got to leave, it’s time for a show.

“Here I am, rock you like a hurricane. Here I am, rock you like a hurricane.”

Killian sensed Zayden stirring through their pack-bond but didn’t think much of it. By now he was rinsing the lathered shampoo out of his soaking hair. When he was sure the shampoo was completely out, he reached for the bottle of conditioner and set about with the next step of bodily hygiene. He was still singing “Rock You Like a Hurricane” under his breath, though he was fairly certain Zayden was the only one able to hear him: The bathroom he was currently using was just off their room.

“My body is burning, it starts to shout. Desire’s coming, it breaks out loud. Lust is in cages ’til storm breaks loose. Just have to make it with someone I choose.”

Zayden had silently entered the loo and was just leaning against the wall, but since Killian had his eyes closed and he still smelled like the bassist, he didn’t even notice.

“The night is calling, I have to go. The wolf is hungry, he runs the show. He’s licking his lips, he’s ready to win. On the hunt tonight for love at first sting. . . .”

“Here I am, rock you like a hurricane. Here I am, rock you like a hurricane. Are you ready, ready, ready, ready? Here I am, rock you like a hurricane. Here I am, rock you like a hurricane. C’mon, c’mon, c’mon! Here I am, rock you like a hurricane. Rock you like a hurricane!”

Then it was on to the guitar solo . . . and body wash.

Zayden, watching Killian’s blurred outline in the shower, grinned and shook his head. There was so much blackmail material here it wasn’t even funny. He’d probably be arrested for voyeurism later, but he didn’t care. The bassist’s eyes glowed turquoise as his enhanced vision took over, washing everything in infrared. Yeah, he was definitely enjoying the view.

“It’s early morning, the sun comes out,” Killian sang softly. “Last night was shaking and pretty loud. My cat is purring, it scratched my skin. So what is wrong with another sin?

“The night is calling, I have to go. The wolf is hungry, he runs the show. He’s licking his lips, he’s ready to win. On the hunt tonight for love at first sting.

“Here I am, rock you like a hurricane. Are you ready, ready, ready? Here I am, rock you like a hurricane. Here I am, rock you like a hurricane. Well, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. Here I am, rock you like a hurricane. Here I am!”

The water ran for a few more seconds, then shut off. Zayden reached for one of the towels, ready to hand it to Killian when he slid open the glass door.

“Thanks,” Killian said automatically as he accepted the towel. Then he realized exactly how the towel had come to be in his hands and his gaze found Zayden. His cheeks flushed crimson. “How much of that did you hear?”

Zayden’s grin was deliberately wicked. “All of it. I didn’t mind the view either. And I must say”—here, he broke into song—“last night was shaking and pretty loud. My cat is purring, it scratched my skin. So what is wrong with another sin?”

Killian groaned. “You’re never going to let me live this down, are you?”

“Never.”

*

Minutes later, both lupines were dressed for the day in jeans and T-shirts and were heading downstairs. When they reached the kitchen, Team Rocket and Ryan were already at the table wolfing down food (no pun intended). Zayden and Killian hesitated before stepping over the threshold into the room, Zayden deferring to his lower rank in the pack by staying just behind the singer.

“How’d you sleep, Neil?” Killian asked casually, sitting down beside the guitarist. Zayden took a seat right next to Shane, and Team Rocket were instantly boxed in. The subliminal message was clear: Try to run, and we will stop you.

“Grand,” Neil replied tersely, his body tensing. Both werewolves knew he was lying: his heartbeat stuttered over that one word.

Killian leaned in closer. “You’re sure?”

“I didn’t,” Shane said bluntly before Neil could answer. “We kept hearing noises.”

“Noises,” Zayden repeated, trying hard not to look at Killian.

“Noises?” Ryan asked, bewildered, as he looked up from his breakfast.

“Noises,” Shane confirmed. “Neil here wanted to go investigate”—he ignored the dirty look the smaller guitarist flashed at him—“so he dragged me out of bed—thanks for interrupting a perfectly good dream, by the way—”

“You’re welcome.”

“—and when we went upstairs to look . . . well, I’m now scarred for life.”

The other three Rogues just stared at him for a moment. Killian broke the silence by saying, “I think that’s the most we’ve ever heard you say at one time, Shane.”

“Oh, shut up,” Shane grumbled, starting to push his chair back from the table. His escape route was blocked by Zayden’s arm, which had shot out to grasp the back of Shane’s chair. He looked at the bassist in confusion, who smiled slightly and shook his head. “Nuh-uh. We’re not done yet.” Was he imagining it, or were Zayden’s canines longer than normal? Shane blinked, and the illusion was gone.

“We’re not?” Neil questioned.

The expression on Killian’s face was suddenly feral; and Neil, Shane, and Ryan were instantly uneasy. Killian backed up Zayden, saying, “We’re not. Now, what kind of noises did you hear, eh?”

“Since when are you Canadian, Killian?” Zayden cracked.

The alpha werewolf’s response was a raised, stiff middle finger. “Shut it, Zayden.”

A corner of Zayden’s mouth quirked upward in a half-smile. “You really think that’s going to work?”

Killian’s enhanced vision took over for a millisecond as he stared the bassist down; the beta turned his head away. Zayden mumbled, “I guess it will.”

“Why do you want to know what kind of noises we heard?” Neil asked Killian. “It doesn’t really matter, does it, since Shane and I accidentally walked in on you shagging Zayden.”

Shane shuddered. “Thanks for reminding me, Neil. Too bad it wasn’t a dream.”

"You’re the one who pinched me!”

“All I said was you weren’t dreamin’. I never said anythin’ ’bout me. ’Sides, if I recall right, I was still half asleep.”

“Lucky you,” Neil muttered.

“Nah, ’twas Zayden and Killian who got lucky.”

“True.”

Ryan almost choked on a piece of toast. “Wait, let me get this straight: You two”—he pointed at Team Rocket—“heard weird noises, went to check it out, and walked in on those two”—he pointed at Zayden and Killian—“doing the deed?”

“Unfortunately, yeah,” Neil answered.

Ryan suddenly looked thoughtful. “Come to think of it, I think I did hear a howl.”

The two lupines in the band exchanged nervous glances. Killian said, “A howl?”

“Yeah, sounded like a wolf.”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” Zayden interjected sarcastically, “but we’re in the Colorado Rockies. There’s bound to be wolves.”

“Wolves have been extinct in Colorado for quite some time, actually. They were only recently reintroduced,” Shane corrected. When his bandmates stared at him, he shrugged. “I like canines, so what? Shoot me.”

“Seriously?”

Shane smacked Neil upside the head. “’Course not, you idiot!”

“So what was it, then?” Ryan mused.

Neil shrugged. “You said it sounded like a wolf . . . so maybe it was a werewolf.”

Panic flashed across Killian’s empathy link. In the next second, the chair Zayden had formerly occupied was empty and in danger of falling over. Killian was soon on his heels. He caught up with Zayden at the top of the stairs, reached out to touch his shoulder.

The beta whirled around, eyes glowing. “They know,” he hissed.

“No, they don’t,” Killian reassured him. “Neil was joking; besides, Jordan wiped their memories. They don’t know about us, Zayden. They can’t.” The singer had both arms on either side of the bassist, boxing him in, having backed him up against the wall. Killian’s eyes, watching Zayden’s face intently, glowed yellow-green. “Relax, Zayden. Listen to me: They. Don’t. Know.”

A rattling breath was Zayden’s only response. “You’re sure?”

There was a split-second hesitation before Killian replied with “yes.” It wasn’t long at all, but it was enough for Zayden’s temper to flare. He growled angrily; bared his fangs; and lunged forward, aiming for Killian’s throat.

Killian reacted instantly, stepping back and to the side. His hand shot out, grabbed Zayden by the collar of his T-shirt. The alpha easily lifted the beta as if he weighed nothing at all, snarling his fury at the inferior ’wolf’s attack. Challenging an alpha was just not done. In larger packs, a challenge was a fight to the death. That aside, Zayden was his mate, and this just felt wrong. But with both their wolves in control, there was no way Killian was allowing this to go unpunished. The alpha ’wolf slammed the beta down on the floor, snarled his victory.

Zayden, facial features wolfed out, snarled and bucked, desperately trying to get his feet under him. “Let me up, Killian!”

Killian put his face close to Zayden’s, eyes glowing dangerously, fangs jutting out, claws pricking the bassist’s skin. “No.”

“The others probably heard us. Do you want them coming up here? I sure don’t.” Zayden was starting to change back from the partial shift; gradually Killian loosened his hold on the bassist’s shirt. The singer’s ’wolf retreated back into the shadows, leaving his features wholly human—or as human as he ever was, anyway.

“Sorry, Zayden, but I had to.”

The bassist snorted. “Your ’wolf is one scary mother—”

“Don’t even go there. And watch what you call my ’wolf.”

Zayden smirked. “What was that you were singing earlier? Oh, yeah: The wolf is hungry, he runs the show. He’s licking his lips, he’s ready to win. On the hunt tonight for love at first sting.

“Here I am, rock you like a—”

“Zayden?” Killian interrupted.

“Yeah?”

“Shut up.”