With Caution

still pack land, but it’s unmarked and on the outskirts of the pack land. John and I thought it would be best to separate our packs as much as possible.”
    Dago came out from the trees, smiling. “Hey.”
    How had Dago gotten here? They were all up to something. “Hey.”
    Running up to them, Sterling bounced on his toes and looked at Jake expectantly.
    Jake groaned. “It’s killing you, isn’t it?”
    Nodding, Sterling squinted at the trees, like he was trying to see through them.
    “What’s going on?” Remi squinted too, but he didn’t see anything. He took a whiff and didn’t smell anything unusual either. He raised a brow at his high-handed mate.
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    Chuckling, Jake dug into his pocket and pulled out a key ring with one key on it. He threw it to Sterling. “By all means, show your brother what’s going on.”
    Catching the key, Sterling smiled. “Really?”
    “Oh absolutely, you’ve kept the secret a whole week, it must be a record. You deserve to be rewarded.”
    “Jake—”
    Sterling grabbed Remi’s hand and jerked him toward the trees.
    “To the left,” Dago yelled from behind them.
    Switching directions, Sterling nearly ripped Remi’s arm out of the socket. A branch he pushed past came back and whacked Remi in the chest.
    “Oof. Sterling, for the love of—” A brand new shiny Harley Sportster with orange tank and fenders sat in the clearing. “What the—”
    “Jake and I picked it out last week when you were at work. We even got to test-drive it.” Sterling tugged him toward the bike. “It’s been at Rhys’ for the last three days.”
    Sterling tossed him the key.
    Remi stood there, his mouth ajar, and let the key hit him in the chest.
    Stepping up beside him, Jake picked up the key. He took Remi’s hand and put the key in it.
    The bike was for him? No one had ever given him something like that. Hell, he didn’t own anything as nice as— What was he thinking? He couldn’t accept it. Jake had already done so much for him.
    “Stop shaking your head. I’m not taking it back.” Jake kissed his cheek and squeezed his shoulders.
    “But—”
    Jake growled. “Just say, ‘I love you too, Jake. Thank you. What a great bike.’ Then go look at it before we go hunt.”
    Remi turned around, still thinking about arguing. He couldn’t let Jake buy him—

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    J.L. Langley
    Everyone else sank into the background talking to one another. Some even started undressing, preparing to shift. They all pretended not to listen, but Remi didn’t miss the sideways glances.
    Jake stood there, gazing down at him, a soft smile on his face. “Yes?”
    “I do love you too, but—”
    “Then prove it by taking the bike without giving me any shit.” Jake grinned and grabbed his face. He slanted his mouth over Remi’s, giving him no room to protest. Jake pulled back. “Congratulations on the EMT position.”
    Everything in him argued that the bike was way too much, but it obviously made Jake happy to give it to him. Making Jake happy made Remi happy. And it was a fucking great bike. Taking a deep breath, he grinned. “Fine, you win.”
    “I always do, pup.” Jake nipped Remi’s bottom lip. “Now say, ‘Thank you, sir,’ and let’s go look at your new bike.”
    Chuckling, Remi nodded. He couldn’t remember ever being this happy. He had Jake, Sterling was safe and Remi was finally allowed to live his own life. “Thank you, si—”
    “Oh, man! I thought y’all said this was easy.”
    Huh? Remi turned toward Sterling’s voice.
    Sterling stood in the middle of their pack, who’d all shifted already, naked with his back to Remi and Jake. The other wolves stared at Sterling with their heads cocked to the side.
    Turning, Sterling held up fur-covered, claw-like hands. “I think I screwed up.”
    How had he done that? The only wolf Remi knew of who could change more than their eyes and teeth without a full shift was Keaton. And Keaton had three—
    “Holy shit, he has three forms.” Jake gasped. “I guess it’s a good thing we don’t have to leave right away. Looks like Keaton just got himself a new student.”
    Remi nodded his agreement. Holy shit.

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    About the Author
    JL has been talking since she was about seven months old. To those who know her it comes as no surprise, in fact, most will tell you she hasn’t shut up since. At eighteen months, she was speaking in full