Free Bound (Wolf in Exile Part 5): Werewolf Shifter/Vampire Paranormal Romance by Ambrielle Kirk, Amber Ella Monroe

CHAPTER ONE
    H e needed his woman .
    Thane’s need could only be described as a relentless craving. A craving that he’d learned to curtail to protect the woman who owned his heart—to save her from even himself. The urge to ravage her completely would never stop. He was a different animal now. But he hungered for the same woman. The bloodlust inside of him would only build until he gave in and consumed what would satisfy this driving need once and for all.
    Snowflakes fell all around him, piling as high as three feet off the ground around his home. It wasn’t until shortly before the triplets were born that he’d been able to set foot back inside the family home where the tragedy involving his parents had occurred. Newly renovated and restored, the old Silex mansion was now the birth home of his offspring.
    When Kalena had suggested giving birth to his children here, it had surprised him and filled his heart with promise at a time when hopefulness was difficult for him. But out of tragedy, hope was reborn. He had a future eternal mate and three children to look after now.
    As they’d been hired to do, four wolf shifters stood guard at nearly every corner of the house. All of them had spotted Thane the moment he materialized in front of the mansion. They either sat or lay on the wraparound deck or just outside of it on the snow-covered lawn. They were there to guard his new family. The main threat had been eliminated, but Thane wasn’t taking any chances. If the babies weren’t so young, he would bring them with him everywhere he went. Of course, that wasn’t possible. They needed their space and time with their mother, too. And more importantly, he wanted to see them grow into independent adults, fully capable of looking after themselves.
    They were only five months old now. Two boys and one girl. Young and vulnerable. But with him as their father, and the loving-but-sometimes-overprotective Kalena as their mother, their future held promise.
    Thane hardly noticed the biting cold as he peered up at the bedroom windows where the curtains were pushed aside, allowing a nice view of Kalena— his love . He felt as though he was more accustomed to her nightly routine than she was. As expected for this time of the evening, she stood near a dresser while folding and putting away some clothes.
    She wore a long, silk robe that clung to her womanly curves, allowing him to admire how perfect she was. Perfect for him. Her hair was wrapped up loosely and carelessly in a bun, which meant she had recently prepared herself for bed.
    Thane had just arrived home after attending a meeting at UCON’s headquarters out of state, which had resulted in nearly three days of discussions. But decisions had to be made in a timely manner, and none of the Council Heads wanted to drag the issues out over the holiday season. For the last half-year, they’d met to discuss the realignment of all territories, and had nearly accounted for all wolf Packs and vampire covens in the world, among other things.
    Oversight of their kind would only work successfully if everyone were accounted for. The covens and Packs that appeared to have disappeared off the face of the Earth were the main sources of Thane’s—and the rest of UCON’s—concern these days. But business was over with for now. He was home. He hadn’t been able to get Kalena and the triplets out of his head all day. He was looking forward to the rest of this month and vowed to spend every day of his vacation with them.
    Kalena had been patient with him as he worked through the kinks of the neglected position he’d accepted on UCON’s ruling Council just nine months ago. But she didn’t have to verbally express how much their relationship had suffered because of the time commitment involved. He loved Kalena with all of his heart. He didn’t want to lose her. His focus needed to be on her and his babies.
    Every year, UCON postponed all meetings and suspended most business operations so