Free Ruled by the Pack: Wicked Wolf Shifters 5 by Anna Craig

an area where werewolves mingled far more commonly and far less aggressively with humans then the Wicked Mountain Pack. Once modern times had begun, and human populations exploded, it was impossible for werewolves and other shifter types to keep up with the ancient levels of control, and, as Jackson now knew, had often been downright cruelty, of human beings.
    He, of course, had soon learned how much damn fun he could have with that, as over the decades breathless hordes of human shifter groupies who didn't fear literally being eaten alive by werewolves discovered the sexual prowess of their gorgeous bodies, long lives, and oftentimes centuries of experience in the arts of pleasure and other forms of entertainment.
    Not that Jackson give a rat's ass about any of that anymore. Not now that he recognized that Tamsin was the sole woman to ever gain a foothold in his heart. One he actually wanted to be there. The only one.
    As soon she caught sight of him, the confident young human woman raised her arm and waved at him as a big, self-satisfied smile spread across her face. Taken aback and perplexed, Jackson slowed his steps, glancing from her to Tamsin.
    "Jackson! Jackson, I was beginning to think I wouldn't find you. Well, this place is absolutely gorgeous. I mean, I've seen the pictures online and all that, but it's a lot more grand in person."
    Every single eye swiveled back and forth from the young woman to Jackson to Tamsin and back again. Except Tamsin. She stared at Jackson with that mask that was beginning to raises his hackles in purely possessive fear. She might be able to hide it from everyone else in here, but he could sense that beneath the mask of her face, both fear and fury were looming.
    The young human woman, still smiling with something that seemed like triumph, started to move toward Jackson. Tamsin snapped her head around with a quick glance at one of the Reginald bodyguards. At her nod, the hulking wolf step forward and gently but firmly stopped the young woman's progress by planting his body direct in her path.
    "Um, excuse me." Clearly still having no sense of the fact that the mood in the room had instantly tipped from shocked confusion into a dangerous wariness, the girl gave him a little smile as she tried to step around him, still in her trajectory toward Jackson. "There he is. I told you I was here to see him."
    The large werewolf shook his head. She tried to step around him, and he shot out his hand to grasp her arm just above the elbow. Outraged annoyance flashed across her face, even as some of the estate humans widened their eyes at her reaction and seemed to melt back into the crowd, out of the way. "What do you think you're doing? Let go of me. Jackson! Call off your dog, would you?"
    Now shocked gasps from all the other humans in the room rang out, quickly stifled by glares from most of the werewolves. Sensing the situation was about to get ugly, and still completely in the dark about why what was going on and why Tamsin wasn't taking better control of it, Jackson put out a conciliatory hand. "The question is, who are you? I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met." He kept his voice polite, curious, and cool.
    In that same split-second, he suddenly had a horrified thought that she must be some sort of groupie from his vacation. Oh, shit. No wonder Tamsin look like she wanted to freeze out the world with her face. Perfect timing. Well, at least there was an easy answer for this.
    "Or, perhaps I met you at the party on the island last month? Release her," he commanded the guard.
    The guard didn't release her arm. Instead, he looked at Tamsin, clearly awaiting her command instead. Jackson shoved down his growl. Everyone in the room knew he outranked Tamsin, but never once had he challenged her on it due to his deference to her role as sister to the alpha. And now, there was no way in hell he was going to step on her toes. Not after everything had changed. Not now that she knew she was his—
    Whoa.