Phases 1 Taken By The Pack Cheryl Dragon

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I know. I m so glad nothing bad happened. But my brother is still laid up. He needed
help and things got crazy. Danny sat down and looked at Brandon.
Brandon smiled. I know how it is. Family business.
You know, don t you? Danny asked.
Brandon leaned back and smiled. I know a lot of things. Tattoo artists hear all sorts of
conversations. People in the chair talk about anything.
Know what? Justin asked.
Danny smiled. You didn t tell him?
Obviously, it s better coming from you. Brandon unwrapped his sandwich and grabbed
a bag of fries.
Danny sat and put a straw in his drink. At the hospital, the day you saved Frank s life, I sort of lost
it. I came out to the family. No plan. No idea what to say. It just flew out of my mouth. He sipped his
drink.
Justin s entire posture changed from a frown to a smile. You re out?
Danny nodded. To everyone but my Dad. He s had blood pressure spikes with the
chemo treatment, so until he is one-hundred percent stable, we re not telling him.
Well sure. Brandon supported Danny before Justin got on a high horse and fell off.
Okay, yeah. That s just great. Congrats. Justin stuck with happy. So why didn t you
call then? Plenty of gay guys here for support. And we haven t seen you at the Pipeline.
Brandon rubbed Justin s shoulder. Babe, relax. Eat.
Sorry. Justin turned to Brandon. How did you find out?
My sister, but I wanted you to hear it from Danny. We need to talk. Brandon knew
once the dialogue had begun it d be okay.
It s my fault. I ve been slowly telling people at work and friends of the family. The
focus is on Frank. I didn t want to upstage him. Danny picked at the French fries.
Not even us? Justin began to eat.
I wasn t sure how to. I d overreacted to your stuff. Then when my family stuff
happened, you saved Frank. You re both just way too good.
It s the human thing. Justin shrugged.
Please, you hoped this would soften Frank up somehow. Not that he d know it was us.
But you already sent him that proposal. Brandon had to keep it all honest, or it d never work.
He got it. He s interested, Danny said. He doesn t like helicopter rides.
Justin smiled. Serves him right.
Brandon kicked Justin under the table. So Danny, are you planning on going to the
Pipeline? Even just for fun. If you ve got your eye on a certain guy, we can tell you if he s single or a
player. Or twisted.
I m not sure I m ready for a relationship yet. I thought I wanted it, but I m still adjusting to my real
life and my gay lifestyle fitting together.
Then you need to go to the Pipeline. Stop thinking so much and just enjoy the eye
candy. It ll happen, Justin said.
Brandon nodded. Absolutely. Burn off some energy and have fun. We re free tonight if
you don t want to walk in there alone. Just your gay friends from high school. No pressure.
Danny blushed. Actually, if this went well, which I think it has, I was going to invite you two out to
my house tonight for dinner and whatever.
Brandon saw Justin s smile grown. Sure. Sounds great.
Six o clock? Danny suggested.
Perfect. Brandon nodded.
The men settled down to eat in earnest. Brandon didn t bring up the pack idea, but Justin didn t either,
so Brandon went along and played it cool for now. Even if Danny had screwed every gay man in
Seattle, he needed to find his way in Fairbanks. First step was achieved, and they d see how tonight
went. One step closer to the pack.
Chapter Seven
Being out to the family left Danny feeling free, but he didn t do any of the things he d expected. Or
apparently what Brandon and Justin thought he d do. Danny wanted to go to the Pipeline and dance
and kiss guys without fear or guilt.
Not any guys. Brandon and Justin.
That was the trip up. He couldn t get those sexy shifters out of his head. It seemed like a dream,
intense, unexpected and finished in a jarring turn. Avoiding them was easier, but people were
surprising him lately.
Danny wasn t the best cook but managed not to overcook the pasta or burn the sauce. The
garlic bread was toasty but not black. When the doorbell rang, Danny felt a rush.
What was wrong with him? Two men? Shifters! Two weeks ago, all he d wanted was one
guy and to have the outing over with. This complicated everything and they d only spent a little time
together. But he couldn t help it. He wanted them. He d invited them out of pure need.
Danny opened the door, not sure if they d be in wolf or human form. Tonight, it was
human, dressed and they d even driven over in a car.
Hey, he said.
Hi, Justin said hesitantly.
Smells good. Brandon broke the ice and kissed Danny as he entered.
Danny smiled and kissed Justin as he walked in. Pasta. I m not a great cook.
We re not picky. Yesterday, I ate a fox, as a wolf. Brandon made himself at home as
they went to the kitchen. He poured wine into the glasses. We owe you an apology, as well.
Danny set the huge bowl of pasta on the table. Really?
Justin sipped his wine. Yeah, I should ve been honest with you about the hunting thing
and talked to you directly.
We didn t know how to break the ice. Brandon sat down at the table. If we
approached you for sex, you d have locked up and thrown us out. If we were direct about the hunting,
same result.
Danny put out the garlic bread. Probably.
Believe me, we talked about it. Trying to hang out was what we wanted, but if you were
playing straight& Justin shrugged. We overheard the hunting thing, and we had to act. It was
planned, but we should ve handled it better.
Full moons make us have poor judgment. We re more impulsive. Brandon dished out
the pasta.
They ate, and things seemed relaxed. Danny refilled the wine. Well, I m glad you don t
make it a habit of kidnapping people to get your way. The shifter thing is still a shock.
Justin wiped his mouth. Good pasta. Don t worry about the shifter thing. Think of us as a native
Alaskan tribe. We go back to before Alaska was even discovered. Some humans know about us, of
course. Interbreeding obviously produces a shifter, like me.
We protect our own. Brandon jumped in. Hunting is something we live with, but the
aerial part, I m glad it s behind us now. Seems like if Frank won t, others are reluctant.
Danny nodded. I think that fueled his ego as much as anything. People respect him, and
his survival story is impressive. You re really going to do the wilderness experience? he asked
Justin.
Shrugging, Justin swirled the wine in his glass. Frank and my boss liked the idea. Create a hands-on
experience for people who never get see this level of nature and adventure. Not as expensive as the
helicopter thing.
I appreciate it. Danny kissed Justin s cheek and felt foolish for a second.
Justin blushed. It s good for us, too. You want to hunt caribou for a real Alaskan meal, fine. Teach
them old school ways with a bow.
Problem solved. Brandon wiped his mouth. So now what does the future hold for our
Danny?
Danny set down his glass. The question was all on him. I don t know. Things are all
over the place. I went from very boring and predictable to gay wolf shifters, being out, my brother
nearly freezing, and now he has a job.
It s your life, Danny. What do you want? Brandon asked. We can help. We d like to
be friends.
Justin leaned in. Yeah, if you walk into the Pipeline alone, I think you might be mobbed by horny
men wanting fresh meat.
Danny knew where they were headed. The lust and heat filled the room. I wouldn t be
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