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Actually, yes, he is. You can t feel him, but I can. By you
twinning to Maxwell, he s losing something, or thinks he is, but he
also recognizes that we have a potential to end a long, deep-rooted
strife between two shifter groups.
Like the Capulets and Montagues from Romeo and Juliet?
Quinn asked.
That is a perfect analogy. Danny drew Quinn a little closer.
Maybe you and Maxwell will form an alliance between the feuding
houses of the bears and wolves.
Let s hope.
In what seemed too quick of a time, the limo stopped. Neither he
nor Danny said anything to each other as there was no point. After
telling the driver to stay with the car, Danny exited the vehicle and
then helped Quinn pull Dylan out. Dylan seemed able to walk with
help, but he wasn t exactly cognizant. There was a lone hurricane
lamp in the window of the cabin, so they carried Dylan that way.
As soon as they neared the door, it opened. A short and
remarkably pretty young man wearing tight jeans and a snug polo
shirt bowed. His graying black hair was long and draped over his left
shoulder. My mate bids you enter.
The three of them walked sort of sideways into the cabin since
Dylan still couldn t stand on his own.
Essentially, the cabin was one large room with a wood-burning
stove situated in the center. To the right of the doorway there was a
modified kitchen area. To the left there were two chairs and a small
table. Right in front of them there was a bed with one occupant on top
of the quilted cover.
Maxwell. Quinn wanted to run toward him, but he couldn t, not
with Dylan on his arm. Moreover, he didn t have Danny s permission.
So instead, Quinn let his gaze wander over Maxwell like he would
memorize his every line. All Maxwell wore was a swath of rich
purple fabric swaddled around his hips. He looked like a man out of
96 Anitra Lynn McLeod
an old graphic novel, perhaps a man plucked out of time. Maxwell
wasn t tied to the bed, but lying there, as if he were waiting for
instructions. He looked so good that Quinn got hard after one glance.
My mate and the leader of the Lone Pine Wolves, Grayson
Reems. The little one bowed, lifted his hand, and into the light cast
by the lamp walked a tall man with beautiful gray hair and eyes. His
skin was almost the color of moonlight.
Go to him and kneel at his feet, Danny spoke directly into
Quinn s head.
Releasing Dylan from his grip, Quinn wanted to do as Danny
suggested, but he had a better idea. Quinn lowered himself to the floor
and moved slowly toward the aptly named Grayson on his hands and
knees. He stopped once he was at Grayson s feet.
Look at me, little one.
Quinn lifted his head and peered up the length of Grayson s body.
He wasn t as tall as Maxwell or as heavy, but he commanded respect
by his very presence. He wore perfectly fitted black jeans and a long-
sleeved black shirt. Sleek, sophisticated, and most definitely
comfortable with command, Grayson stood looking down at Quinn
for a long time.
Grayson cupped his face and examined him without emotion.
When he lifted his thumb and stroked it over Quinn s bottom lip,
Quinn held so perfectly still he almost stopped his heart from beating.
It was the exact same thing that Maxwell had done to Quinn in the
club. Over and back Grayson s rubbing thumb tracked along Quinn s
bottom lip.
You are not of my kind, and yet you are. Grayson darted his
gaze to Danny. Does he fit in with your sloth?
He is different, and yet he does mesh with my brethren, Danny
said.
Grayson frowned slightly at the term. In the hierarchy of the pack,
they didn t quite see themselves that way. They were brothers of a
sort, but they were more packmates than family. It was a small
Dangerous Alpha 97
distinction in word, but in thought, it was almost entirely different to
a man like Grayson.
I think I would be proud to have you as a part of our pack.
Grayson released his hold on Quinn. He turned his attention to
Maxwell then asked Danny, Would you welcome him into your
sloth?
Danny considered Maxwell for a moment. I would.
If our plan should fail, we will destroy the very foundation of our
groups. Grayson gave a heavy sigh.
Danny nodded thoughtfully. However, if we succeed, we will be
greater than the sum of our parts.
A speculative flash brightened Grayson s eyes. You make a most
valid point. I am unaware of any two shifter groups who have ever
crafted an alliance. Not one that lasted for any length of time, at any
rate, before one broke the treaty by eating the other.
Perhaps, Danny said, you and I can show them the way.
Perhaps. Grayson returned his attention to Quinn s face. With a
gentle tug, he drew Quinn to his feet. When we twin, we have the
pair lie together.
Danny nodded at Quinn.
With his permission, Quinn climbed onto the bed. He wanted to
leap into Maxwell s arms, but he didn t. Instead, he lay down next to
him.
Hold hands.
When Maxwell took his hand, Quinn practically burst into tears of
joy. He couldn t speak, but he squeezed Maxwell s hand and was
ecstatic when he squeezed back.
By your leave? Danny questioned, looking at the empty spot
next to Quinn.
Grayson nodded.
Danny helped Dylan over to Quinn s side of the bed and placed
him on his back. Weakly, Dylan clung to Quinn s shoulders, but he
seemed to be coming around.
98 Anitra Lynn McLeod
Grayson snapped his fingers, and another man, a very tiny man
with long brown hair and delicate features, was laid gently on the bed
next to Maxwell.
This is Preston, our nexus.
Dylan, our nexus, Danny said.
Both leaders turned and looked at the four of them on the bed.
Quinn felt like he should say or do something, but he had no clue
what. Maxwell opened his mouth as if he would speak, but then the
little Preston plastered his mouth over Maxwell s.
Before Quinn could object, Dylan did the same thing to him.
It wasn t a kiss so much as Dylan was drawing out his breath.
Once he d sucked him empty, Dylan struggled to reach Maxwell, who
lifted up to meet him halfway. When he did, Dylan breathed out into
his mouth. When Dylan moved back, Preston leaned over and
breathed out into Quinn s mouth.
They repeated this until Quinn thought he d simply float right up
to the ceiling. He was so light, so filled with energy, he could almost
turn himself into photons. The knowledge of how to change himself
into any creature he wanted hovered just beyond his grasp.
But it wasn t enough. No longer could Quinn block himself from
hearing the screaming of Maxwell s soul. The sound was as
disturbing as nails on a chalkboard and as mournful as a fog horn. All
Quinn wanted to do was soothe Maxwell s ache.
It s not working. Preston pulled back.
No, it s not. Dylan pulled back.
For the first time the two men, the two nexesus, considered each
other, and Quinn thought there was a spark of recognition between
them. Dylan seemed on the verge of saying something when Preston
cut him off.
I m sorry. The souls are screaming, but the bond isn t fully
connecting. Preston kept his gaze locked to Dylan.
I feel that, too. Dylan reached for Preston s hand. When the
contact came, Preston blushed and looked away.
Dangerous Alpha 99
As glad as Quinn was the two men seemed interested in one
another, they already had one mismatched couple to attend to. Rather
than speak, Quinn coughed pointedly, drawing their attention off one
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