Page 99 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

Shane only called me mate when his alpha teetered on the edge of taking control. And it catapulted me into a completely different headspace.

I liked trusting someone enough to give them control, to know I was safe and protected. My therapist said it had something to do with growing up in a “state of chaos.” A phrase I still didn’t fully comprehend.

With Jason, I loved how he nurtured me. How this burly alpha softened for me, and how he handled me when I pushed his buttons. Things with Shane had always been more vanilla, my beta naturally deferring to his alpha.

But when played like this—predator and prey, Shane morphed into a lethal hunter, one that tore my submission from me. It was hot as hell.

It made me feel free.

I squirmed against Shane’s hold, and he snarled.

“Hold still.”

My breath quickened, my pulse thrumming in my fingers.

“What do you think?” Jason asked, his deep honeyed voice as smooth as a caress.

“About what?” Shane asked.

Jason crowded my front, blocking out the sun and covering me in his shadow. The tip of his tongue pressed against his right incisor as he trailed his fingertips along my throat.

Every second that passed made my dick harder. I adjusted myself in my joggers, and Shane gave me a warning tug.

“Please,” I whinged.

They ignored me. Each breath stuck to my ribs, anticipation building like a rolling fire.

“I’m thinking one of us chases our little omega, while the other hunts our desperate little beta.”

I knew exactly who wanted me.

“Works for me,” Shane said, yanking me into his chest. “If you’re good, I’ll even let you come when I catch you. Run, Mate. Now.”

A sting radiated across my ass with a crack. I didn’t look back, taking off toward the immature maple trees along the ridgeline.

My heart tried to kick out of my ribs, each thump mirroring the slight pulse between my ears. It wasn’t long before I heard the rapid pounding of feet behind me. Shane had stayed true to his word, not giving me the same head start as Mia.

Jerk.

I may not have drenched the forest in a syrupy haze like our omega did, but Shane didn’t need it to find me. My fingers grazed his bite mark as his steps grew louder.

A downed tree blocked my path, and I slowed, changing direction, not daring to risk tripping while trying to jump over it.

“Shit!”

My sneaker caught on a branch and I stumbled. So much for that fucking plan.

I barely steadied myself, diving over a moss-covered log. My boots slid in the damp soil. I covered my mouth, quieting myself as my back pressed ramrod straight into the rotten tree trunk.

“Oh, Mate. You are not hidden,” he tsked. “We can do this one of two ways. First way, I come back there, pin your face into the dirt and fuck you until I come. And then I’ll drag you back to the house, hard and desperate and refusing you release.”

My lungs burned as my fingers scrambled for purchase in the dead, crunchy leaves. There was no point in trying to be stealthy. Shane knew exactly where I was.

“Or option two. You come kneel in front of me, letting me use that hot mouth of yours how I like. And then when I’m finished, I’ll rut into you until your cum stains the ground. What’s it going to be, Mate?”

We both knew which option I was going to choose.

In any other circumstance, I’d make a snarky comment and sprint away, chuckling as Shane cursed. But being chased by this alpha turned me into a pliant, submissive beta who just wanted to be a good boy.