Life at the Jarvela farm hobbles on when the new year rolls in. Losing his wife and co-alpha in the storm of the decade emotionally paralyzed Sean, though he tries to cope and attempts to pick up the pieces with their children. Rider, another alpha, could give him the love and comfort he needs, but Sean is too depressed to recognize the possibility of having a male partner, and he goes into mental tailspin.<br><br>To safeguard his own heart, Rider makes the hard decision to leave for a while, and Sean turns his energy and sadness into working on the neighboring Metsala farm with the other members of their farm family. But Sean isn’t really getting better, and that won’t change until he can let his wolf out again. If he doesn’t, he might lose his sanity too.

Howl Sweet Howl

“They’re all fine. Let’s get coffee and something to eat. They told me you didn’t have dinner.”


“Barely had lunch.” Sean shrugged, feigning casual relaxation. He couldn’t fool Rider though.


Rider went closer to Sean, who finished pulling a T-shirt on and hugged the man close. “I promise it’s all good. We just need to get over one last hurdle.”


Sean tensed in his arms and Rider wanted to hit himself on the head for spoiling the semirelaxed state that had been starting to take over as soon as their bodies touched. Crap. Rider took Sean’s hand and pulled him toward the kitchen, pointedly ignoring Jude’s room.


Once he had Sean sitting at the table and put on some coffee, Jude and Anton came to the kitchen. Well, almost, since they hovered in the doorway.


“The wolf’s back, then?” Jude asked, beaming a smile at his dad although his body language was cautious.


“Yeah.” Sean exhaled and relaxed a bit. Then movement caught his eye behind Jude and Anton, and he tensed again.


Chapter 33