Long Road Home by Chandra Ryan

and visiting with the others in the pack.
    Drew smiled. “Let’s not keep him waiting too long, then.”
    “He’s probably busy unloading the shipment from Texas even though I told him I’d do it when we were done. He does too much.” Since winter had set in, Thom had gone with him on several cross-country trips. The time alone had been amazing, but Hank loved seeing the grass poke through the slushy remnants of snow. Planting would start soon. With local crops once again available, there would be fewer road trips in both of their futures.
    “I’m sure Gee’s patrons are thankful for the fresh produce you brought back. As am I.”
    Pride filled him at his Alpha’s praise. He hadn’t realized how much he missed being purposeful. He would always be grateful to Drew for giving that back to him. He nodded at Drew before turning his attention to the others. Most had already shifted. Taking a deep breath, he focused his energy and allowed his shift to sweep over him. He’d been sitting behind a wheel too long. He needed to run.
    Drew shifted quickly and then howled at the moon. The edge of excitement filling the air became contagious. His howl filled with joy before he followed his Alpha across the night landscape.
     
    ***
    Thom carried the last box of produce into Gee’s place as a chorus of howls broke the silent night. Gee would probably call him crazy, but he would swear he heard his mate’s. The deep timbre made him shiver, and his skin broke out in goose bumps.
    “Can I make you a hamburger while you wait?” Gee set a pint of beer in front of him. “My cook’s on the run with the others, but I’m sure I can still fling a patty or two.”
    He shook his head. “I’ll wait.” When he glanced around the bar, a sense of community filled him. He recognized most of the humans, but there were a couple new faces. Evidence Los Lobos continued to grow. “Busy night.”
    “Yep.” Gee’s eyes lit with pride. “Good to see the pack growing again.”
    Thom raised his glass in a toast before taking a sip of the drink. For the next hour, he drank his beer and chatted with the others in the bar. He might not live in Los Lobos, but the residents always made him feel welcome.
    When the mates walked through the door, excitement and joy replaced the calm. He understood the change in mood. Anticipation filled him at being in Hank’s presence again.
    “Did you miss me?” he asked as he pulled Thom to him. A demanding kiss robbed him of his chance to answer. He wouldn’t complain. He loved how openly devoted Hank’s kisses were.
    His head swam with desire when Hank broke the kiss. “Want to throw something together for dinner at home?”
    “I think I know what I want.” Preferably after his mate had fucked him senseless. The way his gaze lingered on the fly of his jeans made him hard.
    He threw a twenty on the bar before he took Hank’s hand and allowed the man to lead him out of the chaos. “Crazy isn’t it? Six months ago, I thought I was about to lose everything. When you walked through my door, everything changed.” He waited until they’d climbed up into the cab of the semi to continue. “I love you.”
    “Bet your sweet ass you do.” Hank winked at him. “As soon as we get home, I plan on sucking your cock until you scream.”
    Thom moaned. The next two hours would be torture—the sweetest torture imaginable. “I always wondered how cults recruited new members. Guess now I know.”
    Hank’s rich laughter filled the cab. “Six months ago, I didn’t think I’d ever have a reason to laugh again.” The cab fell into a happy silence. “I love you, too.”
     

 
     
    You’re invited to take a run with the Black Hills Wolves….
    A year of change since Drew Tao defeated his father and took over the Black Hills… A year of chaos as wolves return home, new packs are merged into the Hills, and human mates join their pack… A year of hope since the pack pulled back from the brink… Together, they