But she wasn't going to win this one.

"He wasn't my boss, babe. He had something I needed, and I thought he was the only one who could do the job. After I met you, I realized just how stupid I was." Her eyes were cloudy with tears, and she started to reach out for him. He moved his hands and leaned back out of her reach. "I should have talked to you but by then the man I was working for had Chelsea. After he killed my father, he took her as insurance that I would do the job. I couldn't risk Chelsea."

"Of course not." He had no idea who Chelsea was. Probably her dog. "I would like a name, Charlotte."

Her jaw tightened, and she looked down at her hands. "Chelsea is my sister's name. I know I didn't tell you about her, but she's younger than me. She's more...fragile. You remember how I told you about my father?"

Her Russian mobster dad. Yes, Vladimir Denisovitch. He had a rap sheet about twelve miles long in twenty-two different countries. If he'd followed the Russian mob practice of tattooing his crimes on his body, Ian was sure there hadn't been an inch of skin left on Vlad's flesh. But his crimes against Charlotte were even worse. However, Ian no longer cared. "I asked for a name. I don't need to know about your sister."

"You're going to be difficult."

He shook his head. "Not at all. If you don't want to talk, you should feel free to leave. There's nothing at all difficult about it."

She took a long breath before speaking. "I'll tell you, but I want you to stay calm."

Everything fell neatly into place. There was only one name he could think of that would truly enrage him. Or would if he really gave a s.h.i.t about her. "Then it's Eli Nelson.

An Unlucky Moon From USA TODAY Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan A Dante's Circle Novel Hunter stood in front of Dante's Circle, the sunset beating down on him. He narrowed his eyes, the brown contacts he wore irritating them. He hated wearing the d.a.m.n things, but yellow eyes seemed to scare the humans. He hadn't worn them the last time he'd been here, but he'd forgotten.

After spending four years battling demons and doing things that would haunt his nightmares for years to come, putting a thin film over his eyes to keep from scaring the little humans hadn't occurred to him.

People milled around in the early evening sun, talking and going about their day. Most of them were humans so they didn't realize they were venturing around a walking shadow of death. A pixie pa.s.sed him and froze, her eyes widening. She blinked then scurried off, as if too afraid of what he could do rather than remembering that, to most predators, prey running away only egged them on.

Hunter wasn't one of those predators though. Despite his name, he didn't feel the need to hunt after prey when the one he truly wanted was within the walls in front of him. It had been a month since he'd seen Becca. A month since she'd lain in his arms, her body pale, healing.

He could still remember the howls echoing off the walls. It hadn't been until later that he'd realized those howls of anguish had been his own. Though he hadn't known much about Becca-still didn't-the wolf within him knew everything he needed to know.

Becca Quinn would be his mate-was his mate.

Now he just had to convince her of that.

Leaving for a month to let each other heal and work his way through the labyrinth of lies and betrayals within the Pack might not have been the best idea in retrospect. From what he knew of females, he was pretty sure leaving without any form of communication wasn't the smartest thing.

He'd have to court Becca-something he had no idea how it worked or what it entailed. Maybe Ambrose and Balin would help him. Even in h.e.l.l, the angel and demon had known how to make Jamie smile. Hunter was pretty sure Ambrose had messed something up before they'd gone to h.e.l.l in the first place. Hunter took that to mean that if the eons-old warrior angel could make mistakes and come out of it okay, surely he could.

Hopefully.

Hunter was the Beta of the Nocturne Pack, yet right at this moment, he didn't know if he had the strength to face her. He'd never had a mate before, let alone a human one-or whatever Becca was. He wasn't exactly sure, and the triad hadn't exactly been forthcoming with details.

Most wolves within his Pack mated other wolves. That was just the way of things. Wolves had one true mate-sometimes two if they were in a triad. That was it. Sure they could mate others and have children, but it wouldn't be a true mating. All other supernaturals had the same idea of true bliss.

Finding one's true half was a blessing.

A rare one.

The moment he'd stepped into that alley and had seen the red-haired G.o.ddess, he'd known she was the one for him. It had hit him like a freight train. Where most men would have thought it was crazy, Hunter had welcomed it.

He'd known she was his.

Now he just had to figure out what to do about it.

His Pack wanted him to mate-at least the ones who wanted him alive anyway. He had a true mate, but she wasn't part of the Pack. Hunter knew this would be an issue, but he really didn't care. All he wanted was the sweet-scented woman who drugged him like an elixir with her presence.

A human b.u.mped into him and gave him a dirty look, presumably for standing in the middle of the sidewalk. He didn't blame the human for being annoyed, so he blinked at him rather than growling. The human's eyes widened, and fear seeped from him before he took off at a brisk pace in the other direction.

"Scaring people again?" Balin asked as he walked toward him from the parking lot.

Hunter shrugged but nodded toward the demon who had become his friend. "I didn't growl or bite him. I thought I was doing well."

Balin shook his head and chuckled. "You were. I don't really get it up here either." Up here being the human realm rather than the h.e.l.l realm that Balin had lived in for three hundred years.

Though Hunter's own Pack was dark, gritty, and slightly demented, he still preferred it to h.e.l.l.

Balin gave him an odd look then shook his head again. "We haven't seen you in a while. Did you get things taken care of?"

Hunter thought back to the looks of pity and fear within his Pack. "Not fully, but I've been away long enough."

"You're not going to tell me what you needed to do, are you?"

"I can't." It was true. Though Balin had helped save Hunter's life, he wasn't Pack. Some secrets needed to remain within the confines of their own species-something the demon should understand.

"You're here for Becca, aren't you?" Balin crossed his large arms over his chest and glared.

Not that Hunter knew exactly why the demon happened to be glaring, but it didn't sit easy with him. Hunter's hackles rose, but he toned them down. It was good that Becca had people to take care of her-even if the warnings were misplaced.

"Yes. She's mine," he answered simply.

Balin narrowed his eyes. "Remember that these women are not like those you know." The demon looked around at the humans who were oblivious to the rising tension. "Let's go inside. We can talk a little more freely there."

"You'd stand in the way of a bond?"

Balin shook his head and led them to the front door. "No, but I will stand before her to ensure it's what she wants. You left her high and dry and confused as h.e.l.l a month ago. Don't think you can just prowl in and think everything will be okay."

Hunter frowned. "I know I will have to court her. I plan to ask you and your mates for help."

Balin blinked, his hand on the door. "You're going to ask for help? I thought you were an Alpha wolf."

"I'm the Beta of my Pack, but I'm a dominant. That doesn't mean I don't know how to ask for help when it's necessary. Becca isn't of my Pack, and I want her to remain safe. Bringing her into my Pack right now would be dangerous without all the facts, and I don't plan on forcing her to be with me."

Balin snorted then opened the door, leading them into the bar. "You're saying all the right things, but I have a feeling you'll act all wolf and think she should bend for you."

Hunter clenched his fists. "I'm not as enlightened as some. Fate made her for me, and the course has been set. I will not break from that."

The sweet scent of mate and woman filled his nose, and he turned to see the G.o.ddess of his dreams. She'd put her curly red hair in a tangle on the top of her head so little ringlets fell down her neck. Those pieces seemed to beg for his touch, and he had to remember not to reach out to her just yet. Her long neck would be perfect for his tongue, as would her ample b.r.e.a.s.t.s. There were more than a handful, and he wanted to know the color of her nipples.

Would they be a dusky rose or a dark red when he licked and sucked them so they became pointed peaks? Her waist was a tiny thing that flared out to hips that would be perfect for his hands as he gripped her, pummeling into her heat from behind. Her a.s.s was perfect, not those small ones that women seemed to love, but with enough meat on her to make his mouth water. He couldn't wait to see her naked and wondered if those freckles that dotted her nose were anywhere else. He had a feeling he'd love licking each and every one, learning her curves and her taste.

Those jade green eyes bored holes into him as they lit fire. She tapped her foot, then raised her chin. It seemed his mate wasn't happy to see him. He'd known this would be the case, though the wolf within him seemed disappointed she didn't immediately rush into his arms and declare her undying love and need.

No worries. That would come.

He ignored the other patrons as he strolled toward her. He knew he moved more like an animal than man, but he didn't care. Becca would have to learn he was a wolf, not the man she might have dreamed of.

Fate wouldn't give him a mate who couldn't accept the animal within him.

It had already been cruel enough.

He stood in front of her, their bodies a whisper apart. Her scent enraptured him, holding him close.

She tilted her head and blinked at him. "You're back."

To purchase visit http://www.amazon.com/Unlucky-Moon-Dantes-Circle..

About Lexi Blake.

Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn't until she started writing romance that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places. Lexi believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome or foursome may seem. She also writes contemporary Western menage as Sophie Oak.

Other Books by Lexi Blake.

Masters And Mercenaries.

The Dom Who Loved Me The Men With The Golden Cuffs A Dom Is Forever.

On Her Master's Secret Service Sanctum: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella Love and Let Die Dungeon Royale, Coming Soon.

Masters Of Menage (by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake) Their Virgin Captive.

Their Virgin's Secret Their Virgin Concubine.

Their Virgin Princess Their Virgin Hostage Their Virgin Secretary, Coming Soon.

CONTEMPORARY WESTERN ROMANCE.

Wild Western Nights.

Leaving Camelot, Coming Soon.

URBAN FANTASY.

Thieves.

Steal the Light.

Steal the Day Steal the Moon, Coming 2014.

Steal the Sun, Coming 2014 Steal the Night, Coming 2014.

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