Excerpt for 'To Claim a Mate'

Here is an excerpt from my latest book ‘To Claim a Mate’

The scent hit Cole the moment he walked into the club. It wasn’t the usual smells of sweat, lust, and sex common in these venues. No, something tantalizing and provocative, instead.

And it appealed to the wolf inside him.

He shook his head as his instinct started telling him the scent was something special. No, it couldn’t be… Narrowing his eyes in the dark haze of the entrance, Cole let his vision focus into hunting mode, trying to weed out human from wolf, for it was the smell of his own kind he sensed. He found it hard as the Wolfsbane pill he’d swallowed worked quickly. Contrary to popular myth, Wolfsbane did not kill a shifter. Although intensely toxic to humans, it did keep the animal in him at bay.

It was extremely unusual for him to find another wolf in the city, let alone at the club. And, yet, it was more than that. Some primal instinct called to him.

This was the scent of a mate. Somehow it didn’t matter it wasn’t female. It was his soulmate.

Cole’s heart started beating quicker in anticipation, and he strode forward, drawn deeper into the club.

Andy was still there, though. Notwithstanding his augmented animal senses, Cole had almost forgotten about him. The club’s owner got right to the point—diplomacy the least of his attributes. “I think it’s time you contracted a new sub, man. It’s been, what, six months since your last full-time guy?”

The club owner was right. Cole had only ‘played’ with unattached subs lately having little desire for the effort a contracted sub meant—the last one had got too close to finding out Cole’s inner animal. Now his brain—or his wolf—yelled there was only one contract for him. His mate’s.

But where was he?

Cole needed to get away from Andy and track down the alluring aroma. “Sounds good. I’ll take a turn around the rooms and see if I can track down any likely partner.” In more ways than one.

Annoyingly, Andy followed him into the next room. The club was split into several sections for those wanting to experience different activities—one just had chains hanging from the ceiling and a wall of whips. Only one couple at a time took turns there as this gave the Master space to wield a long-tailed implement like a bullwhip without hitting anyone else. To protect any viewers, transparent screens closed it off.

The couple in residence were a long-time Master and slave.

“Ahh. Those two,” said Andy with a sigh. “Great to watch. Jordan will never part with Keiron, though.”

Cole had a fondness for a whip, although Dominance was his forte. He could use the whips, or, indeed, other tools, in any number of ways including drawing erections from the subs and getting them to wait for their climax. It was similar to making a beta wolf await his attention.

They walked through another room with padded benches and a wall of paddles. Cole glanced around the room, but he knew the person he wanted wasn’t there.

Andy grabbed his arm as he started to walk on. Cole nearly snarled. The scent was preventing the Wolfsbane working and he had to work hard to hold his animal in check.

“Not so quick. Now Christian over there, is looking for a new Master.”

Irritated by the break in his quest, Cole looked in the direction Andy indicated. He had seen this tall blond before. Not his type at all. Human or otherwise, he preferred them small and dark haired.

“Nope. Not interested.”

Moving on, Cole was drawn into a room which had a cross in each corner of the room with plenty of space to wield the equipment. The walls were covered with floggers of varying types, although nothing stopped a Dominant using an implement from another section.

Cole halted. He’s here.

The scent was at its strongest, practically dragging him toward a slender man in his late twenties, with brown hair the color of hazelnuts. The sub was in the process of being tied face up against a cross on the far side. His chest was bare and sleek, and he wore skin-tight jeans.

The Dom wanted to rip the man’s clothes off and devour him on the spot. So intent was he on reaching his prey, he nearly missed the Master who had finished tying the submissive and came around to inspect the restraints, standing directly between Cole and the object of his hunt.

Stopping in his tracks, Cole’s hackles began to rise. A possessive instinct rose in him to fight off his rival. Except there were rules in BDSM and it didn’t include tearing out the throat of another Master.

Andy caught up with him and saw him staring. “Who have you found? Oh, this is Master Dirk. Jared is the sub he is playing with.”

Cole took a moment to calm his inner wolf, unclenching his fists before he triggered his claws. His voice was raspy as he asked, “Are they new? I don’t recall seeing either of them here before.” Actually, he couldn’t care less about this new Master. He only had eyes for Jared.

He didn’t hear Andy’s answer, because, at that moment, he caught the gaze of the bound man. Tangible electricity crossed the room and hit Cole like a silver bullet, slamming into his heart, nearly causing him to change into his wolf in front of everyone. It took everything he knew about Dominance to keep hold of his human side and push down his animal half.

Meanwhile, the submissive’s eyes opened wide in shock, and he bit his lip. Cole’s keen wolf eyesight could detect Jared’s fierce trembling, as he tightly gripped the ropes that held him. Cole willed him to hold on and not transform in front of everyone as the two shared a look of instant attraction, desperate need, and the desire to have sex.

And yet it was more than that. So much more—an inner knowledge, assurance one has finally found one’s other half, and didn’t even know one was looking.

Taking a deep breath, Cole narrowed his eyes as he gazed on Jared, drinking in the beautiful sight before him.

He gave a slight smile of acknowledgment.

Oh yes, this is my mate. And woe betide anyone who comes between us.